I am 'child' sitting this week for Teri while she and Jeff are gone on a business trip. The girls are no problem (except for keeping up with their schedules) as they are 10, 12 and 13. However, Rudy is another story -- he will be 2 in about two weeks and keeps me on my toes -- on my feet, rather. You see the basketball goal above? Rudy loves to play ball -- any kind from football to basketball to baseball. Yesterday, he thought it would be fun to throw the football up into his basketball hoop and he's a good shot -- but then he just picked up the basketball and gave it a heave and this is where it landed! So, since the football wouldn't go through the hoop obviously, it was "Nana!!" (Or pronounced "Nunuh!") Then, "Baa-ball" . his rendition of basketball, I'm sure! I'm not sure who got more exercise -- him or me? (Not that I don't need it!!)

And the schedule -- Rudy has swim lessons everyday, there are soccer games, homework to be done, kids to be fed, and "Did you get your lunch ticket?" as we walk out the door at 7:15am!! Whew!

And now I hear Rudy calling -- or rather, I see him jumping on the couch so it's 'Nunuh' time again!!! He's laughing thinking that what he did is quite hysterical -- and it looks like he is losing his pants ... why have I lost the knack for changing diapers -- maybe because my baby is almost 33???

(Oh, by the way, while I was writing this, I heard Rudy say, "Nunuh! Football" and a green and black rubber football came flying at me! I caught it -- sort of -- threw it back to him and he caught it!)

Happy Birthday, Marley, a day late!!

Don't worry -- I called her yesterday and left messages on Marley's phone to say "Happy Birthday" and I'm spending most of next week with the kids while Teri and Jeff are off on a business trip. It's so appropriate that Marley chose to be born on April 15th! Go figure! Not hard to forget, for sure! And she decided to make it really good by arriving at 3am!! But, she is one special gal who has brightened our lives over the years.

It's just hard to believe that she is 13 already! Just yesterday, I was holding her in my arms as an infant. And then bribing her to go to kindergarten with dance shoes. She was determined NOT to go to school and hung on to her dad's legs. Teri called me in desperation so I asked Marley what she wanted really badly -- she wanted new dance shoes. I told her if she would go to school for just three days, I would come over and buy her dance shoes. Well .. that was a long time ago. She is finishing up grade 7 -- just one more year before she heads to high school. She has lots of friends -- no lack of them at all and is busy with all kinds of activities. I'm not sure how well she likes to fish but this photo was taken during spring break.

Tax season is over -- woohoo! My neighbors probably heard me yell "Hurray" last night -- just kidding but inside I was quite excited that it was now over -- well, sort of. I filed almost 100 extensions so have my work cut out for me over the next months!

So, tonight, I will relax a little more -- actually, Sandi, Tyler and I headed for the beach today -- and I got quite a bit of sun in just a little over an hour. We always warn the northerners who come down and head for the beach -- do not stay out long and make sure you are protected with plenty of sun screen!

Enough for now .. I'm getting sleepy writing .. and I'll start to ramble really soon!

Easter Morning

Tyler (Sandi's 8 year old) is usually less than thrilled -- way less than thrilled -- to stand up in front and sing with others. Usually he insists, "No, thank you!" However, yesterday morning was different -- as you can see (he's on the far right), he was quite happy to do the motions. The first song he didn't know as well but the second song .. "There was a shake and a rattle and the stone was rolled away" (or something like that) ... of course, I decided to share it here!

RJ's Birthday, etc.

It seems I have little time to get things posted on my blog ... I guess that must mean I am busy and that is a good thing, I think. Although I am looking forward to my schedule slowing down somewhat!

We celebrated RJ's 6th birthday on Saturday. His birthday was one month ago -- March 11th but it seemed that our schedules were so crazy that his birthday celebration was put off until Saturday. But we had a great time .. he's quite the little guy and as he told his mother (Shonna), "I'm 6 years old. I am a man now!" Hmmm ...

So, here are a few of the photos that were taken that day ... Ava must have known she couldn't have cake -- so she just decided to chew on her foot!

Congrats ...

Happy Birthday to my little brother, Thad, who turned 50 years old today ... as he said, "It's just another year!" He's my little brother who towers over me at around 6'4' or so!! But, he's still my little brother!!

And congrats to our granddaughter, Regan, who will be 12 in June. She just won third place in a speech contest in Winter Haven. As you can see, she was quite thrilled with her medal (and she also got $20!)

Spring Break, etc.

They say a picture is worth a thousand words ... who is "they" anyway. However, if that is true, then following are well over 10,000 words! The grandkids celebrated Spring Break in a variety of ways -- but most of the time, the beach is involved since it is only a couple miles away! Kamen and Tyler were ready to go (above) and Tyler knew it was photo op time so donned his 'okay, I'll smile' expression!

Fishing at Fort Desoto -- Tyler and his friend, Jake, took in fishing along with Tim, of course.

Nana's pool can be a good substitute for the beach sometimes.!

And we must not forget Ava ...

And RJ is sure the view is better from this perspective!

Ava is so much fun and Kasi's a good mom!

Oldest and youngest -- Marley, 13, and Rudy, almost 2

The three gals -- Bailey, Marley, Regan

What is it about boys and wanting to stand on their heads or hang upside down?!

Trying to fish at an early age -- Rudy and dad, Jeff

And Marley is trying her hand at fishing, too!

Love playing in that sand!

Now it's nap time -- for mom and daughter!

And now it's on to Air Hockey!! And cousin competition!!

Tyler was quite amused!!! This was probably after he told RJ, "RJ, you gotta listen to your mom 'cause it's in the Bible!"

Spending a Sunday with Family!

On the last Sunday of the month, Glenn Oaks Health Campus invites families of residents to have 'dinner on us'. They actually have very good food and it is great way for families to get together. I was able to be here this time so got to see several family members along with visiting my dad.

Rachel and I are, in his words, his 'sweethearts'. As we were growing up, he would tell people he had three sweethearts -- my mom, Rachel and me. I am indeed blessed by having wonderful parents. It seems like just yesterday he was pushing the swing at the park and I was calling, "Higher, Daddy, higher!" Now I look at him and realize that one of these days he will be pushing to go "higher" and it will be to join my mother in heaven. In the meantime, I watch with mixed emotions as he struggles to see yet is so excited when we all are together.

Of course, we all have our cameras out to take pictures ... and this was no exception. So, here goes ... Rachel and Allen ...

Mark's daughter, Annalisa, and me .. she could almost pass for one of my kids!!

Seth Mark was sharing the scent of his favorite cologne with Grandpa! He sprayed it on G'pa's wrist so he could smell it!

Joel's daughter, Jacinta .. I'm not sure why my dad closed his right eye!

Uncle Thad is a favorite of the nieces and nephews! Obviously!

And the "three little boys" as they were known growing up with Dad

Rachel doesn't look old enough to have a 21 year old daughter!

Cousins!! Jene', Jacinta, Annalisa & Kellina

And Rachel's youngest gals -- Shaley, 12; Juliana, 11

Where, oh where, have I been?

I looked at the date of my last post -- yikes!! It has been a while! I have been going through 'taxing' times ... it's that time of year and April 15th is right around the corner. But, that date doesn't just relate to taxes -- we have a granddaughter (Marley) and a son-in-law, Ron, who share that birthday!! So .... until after April 15th, you may not see a lot of me here ... I may not see a lot of me here ... or anywhere. Is that what they mean when they say you meet yourself coming and going.

Maybe I should go to a spa then -- Tyler told Kasi she should go to a spa where they would put pickles on your eyes!! Oh, and oatmeal on your face!! Not sure where he learned all that but he certainly knew enough to share -- we didn't want to correct the 'pickle' thing ... that was just too funny!!

I've been around Robin Hood's barn, it seems. Is that like 'six of one, half a dozen of another' ... going around Robin Hood's barn. I think that means the long way around and if that be the case, I have done that this week - landing in Dayton Sunday evening and being welcomed by this little guy (above) peeking out from underneath his blanket!! (He belongs to friends Jeanne and Clint Underwood.) And then heading to Sycamore Ohio where I spent a couple nights with Tim and Nova Ferguson and worked (taxes) at their home. Then it was on to New Castle PA for a couple hours and then heading back towards Indy -- in lots of rain so called it a night (last night) in Columbus Ohio before heading in today - and starting work again. It seems like it never stops but that is a good thing right now.


So, if I am sparse for a while -- wish I could physically be more sparse -- I am just 'taxing' along for the next few weeks!!

Running again ....

Teri's girls were out running again today -- in a two mile run. Regan told me that she thought it was a one mile run until she got there and found out it was two miles!! But, she did very well.

Marley ran it in 17 minutes, Bailey in 19 minutes (and seconds on each one of them) and Regan in 23. (She has the shortest legs!!)

Rudy would rather stay home and eat!! Teri told me that he mumbles some words which then ends in EAT!

It looked like a bomb had exploded ...

I have heard that term/description of a tornado/hurricane or a war zone. But, not quite a description of a leg!! Yesterday was my final follow-up appointment with my orthopedic surgeon (Dr. George Canizeras, above). Whew -- I can finally spell his name!! I had just decided to call him "Dr. C" since I couldn't seem to ever get it quite right!

He shook his head as he described what he had seen on the x-ray -- "It looked like a bomb had exploded in your leg." He followed it up with, "All I can say, someone upstairs was certainly looking out for you!!!"

When he came in the room, I already knew from his assistant that it had been quite a morning with other patients. So, he had just picked up my chart, was a little quiet and then looked up with, "Oh, hi!!" Bright and cheery .. He asked, "How are you doing?"I said, "I think great since I walked from one end of an airport to the other." He said, "You're kidding, right?"

I assured him I was not and I'll have to admit, the walk had been a long one. (lol!)I really don't have a super pain tolerance but I guess I have him fooled. He said, "I couldn't believe it when I talked to you in GA and you sounded bright and chipper. You should have been in horrific pain." I assured him that as long as I didn't move my leg, I had no pain. Moving it -- well, that was an entirely different story.

He still is shaking his head -- but we know and he knows that his hands were guided by the great Hands of a healing God!!! I am so blessed!!