Oregano/ and Life with Brad

Brad loves oregano on everything- it's his new favorite seasoning.  When I come home from work expecting Italian food for dinner (according to  the smells coming out of the kitchen) I'm surprised to see that it's a crock pot roast covered in broccoli and summer squash with oregano-a-plenty....  Hmmm...I had to grab it away from him when I made some chicken tacos last week.  Good thing we buy that stuff in the bulk Costco/Sams containers and always have a backup bottle on hand.
Carrie suggested to me that I leave him a list of something to do each day while I'm at work. One morning last week, his chore was to mop our bathroom floor.  Around noon he called me at work and asked for directions. He couldn't figure out why there was no fluid coming out of the mop.  Sadly, it was because he was using a vacuum instead of the Swiffer. After leading him to the right tool, he had trouble getting the pad on the bottom (and "broke it all up", but then taped it back on).  The conversation getting to that point took around 15 minutes.  When I got home, after scoping out the floor, I asked which floor he had done, because it would have taken quite an imagination to believe he had done OUR floor...Oh well...It was a good idea.....(check out the tape)

He was so proud of the fact that he had made me something special for dinner.  He thought he was grilling me a buffalo burger to go along with the hamburgers he'd grilled for he and Gramma.  As I noticed the size of the burger (huge), I questioned where he got it. He showed me the package in the freezer (another package of hamburger) and I mentioned that I had written "buffalo" on the others to distinguish it from the hamburger.  Did I forget that he can't read? Yup!  Another new feature at our dinner is the "combo-vegetable".  He likes to combine 2 to 3 vegetables..squash and broccoli or  cauliflower and carrots and previously green beans and asparagus.
This weekend, he needed some sweetener for his iced tea and it took 3 trips to the store for him to remember what it was he needed, the first two times, he got the "other thing" he wanted, and as you know, he currently does NOT run out of lifesavers! Always has an extra bag on hand within easy reach! On the bright side, he has been playing bridge every Wednesday at the Senior Center, where there is an endless supply of 80+ year old women who want to be his partner.  One of them comes to pick him up every week.  On Saturday, he REALLY wanted to play bridge with me (I thought we were going to the kids soccer games) and stated something to the effect that we may not have that many more opportunities to play...What does that mean? Anyway, we played and got first place and he was happy. (and I was surprised)
Sunday, we talked about getting together for dinner and how difficult it is to cook for 4 dieters and a vegetarian!  Rory and Grayson were hanging out with us, so I asked Rory what he wanted for dinner, and predictably he said "french dips".  The three of us went to the store and got some sliced beef, some provolone and buns and a gallon of ice cream and chocolate syrup, came back and put the beef in au jus in the crock pot.  Meredith brought some salad and rice krispie treats and we were in business. The dieters had "bunless" sandwiches, the vegetarian some fish, and the kids rejoiced with extra helpings of ice cream.
It was a windy day, so the kids wanted to try flying kites and they did......try without much luck (it's possible that a few pieces were missing after being in our garage over the winter!

 

 At dinner, Carrie remarked at how much Curt and Sophie look alike- true that!  Same coloring...

 Rory and Elijah were comparing "notes" (on their phones) and both commented that they were anxious for Sarah to get here with her scissors....We are ALL anxious for our upcoming hair "appointments", Sarah!  Oh, and by the way, congratulations to Emma for getting chosen to be in Production (theatre at her school) after reading a monologue for her tryout.  Happy Monday!

Eggs-Actly!

Easter seems to always have a way of sneaking up really quickly on the calendar.  It wasn't until Saturday that we even confirmed where the festivities would be held....my house or the Frost house.  The Frosts were gracious enough to host this year, although Carrie had a broken toe and was not moving so fast.  Don and Vicki (my brother and sister-in-law) and Mom joined us for dinner. Spencer chose a Honey Baked Ham (his favorite) and we dieters (Meredith, Carrie and I) had turkey instead.  The crock pot full of mac-n-cheese was also "off limits" while we loaded up on the baked brussel sprouts and salad.  It was a yummy Easter dinner (as if we've ever had a holiday meal that WASN'T yummy!)  Afterwards, we played "Cards Against Humanity" (always appropriate for a religious holiday...) which provided lots of laughter. (and embarrassment). Mom brought an ambrosia cake and Emma made some cute M&M snacks.

 The kids had their usual Easter Egg Hunt, with just the four youngest participating this year.

 

 Once again, we had beautiful weather, after the previous few days of cold temperatures.
Erin (my co-worker) sent this cute picture of baby Stella in her Easter dress! (6 weeks old)

 I had Thursday off work this past week and spent the day going to Denver to see a new neurologist for Brad.  Meredith met us at the appointment, and we all really liked the new Doctor.  He changed some of Brad's meds to hopefully keep the seizures from continuing and reconfirmed that he doesn't want him driving.  Brad, of course, heard THAT conversation differently than did Mer and I.  That is going to be an ongoing battle, I'm sure.
On Friday, Carrie brought the kids to the house for the day, and I ended up picking up Rory and Sophie at Tasha's to take the four of them to a movie, "HOME", the alien animated movie.  I'll bet most 5 year olds would have found it very entertaining!  Afterwards, we dyed eggs at the kitchen table, with Grayson an Gabi being the most interested. Sophie and Corbin did a few, then were outside playing.

 

 I will be so sad when they all outgrow that tradition!

Spring Break

The Frosts are in Omaha enjoying the sights and a visit with the Yaws.  From the pictures I've received, I' d say they're having a blast! How could they not?- the Yaws' are some of the most fun people we know!  On their way out, they dropped Emma off in Ogallala to spend time with her friends, and will pick her up on their way home tomorrow,
Early Saturday morning, Curt called and asked if we'd like to go to Colorado Springs with his family for the weekend and having made no plans, of course we agreed to go.  The weather was gorgeous so we went to Cave of the Winds Saturday afternoon, arriving around 3:30, with a closing time of 5.  As we waited for our tour to begin, Rory and Sophie wanted to do the ropes course. (I should have remembered that Sophie and Gabi wouldn't do the one at Corbin's birthday party....)Anyway, they got all "geared" up for it, where Sophie made it up the stairs to the beginning, then back down!

 

It WAS super high! 

 Still awaiting our cave tour, Sophie and Rory got in line for the Zip line and made the last ride before we departed on our tour.  Sophie said it was the "funnest ride" she's ever been on.

 In true "Griswold family style" the cave adventure was quite something else.  I'd forgotten how off balance Brad was the last time we were there, with it even worse this time. At the beginning, we were tempted to go back when he was so wobbly, but we wanted to keep going. Then, a few minutes into the tour, I stopped to get a photo, not realizing that we were at a "fork" in the cave, thus taking a wrong turn and separating ourselves from the kids. We caught up with the group, only it wasn't OUR group...Curt had a moment of panic, but we backtracked and eventually found them, and emerged from the tour with everyone together and having learned all we needed to know about stalagmites an stalactites!

 Afterwards, we went into Colorado Springs for some dinner, then back to our "HOO-Tel" (as Grayson called it, for a swim (a luxurious 12x12 unheated pool).  Sunday morning, we drove to Manitou and had coffee at Good Karma (bummer that Pam was in Tennessee at the time) and then let the kids play in the Arcade.  Grayson was in heaven!  After a quick drive through Garden of the Gods,  it was on to the Zoo.

 

 

 It was the usual giraffe feeding, followed by a dip-n-dots break with some antic by Grayson.

Happy Spring!