Busy, busy, busy

Too busy to visit you all out there, and too busy to share what's going on with me.

I did have company over the weekend, my sweetie pie grandson Noah brought his Mom for her baby shower.  And a nice shower it was!  There were his cousins, all of them!  He got to play and run around with them, and he got to sit on my lap and watch youtube videos of trucks and truck crashes on my lap.
Jessica was upset when he left, because she had such a good time with him.

And his little sister will have lots of nice clothes when she is born!

I chatted with the other grandma, and was sorry that she doesn't live close anymore, she is a lot of fun.  One of the aunts lost a lot of weight and looks terrific.  Got to see Noah's other girl cousin from Tennessee, and it's amazing how fast she is growing up.

The expectant Mom.  

Looks great, and feels great, she says.

Opening gifts, I just realized there are all the girls, the sisters, sisters-in-law, and daughters!

 A balloon toss and the gang all on the stairs.

aren't they cute?

And I learned how to text.  Which proves the point that one never is too old for anything.

(very happy)

Snowy March weather.

The snow plows going by woke me up this morning.  It's supposed to snow all day and into tomorrow morning here.  So please don't tell me about sunshine and flowers blooming and bees flying otherwise I'll add mosquitoes to it in my imagination!

Beginning.  New beginnings are wonderful and scary at the same time.  To meet up with someone at any age brings back all the anxiety one had as a teenager, and one - okay me - must remind myself that I have lived a few years, can tell things, am usually a confident person, and to stop with all the silly stuff and just enjoy.
So I'll enjoy.  And if I focus on that, it all is well.  
Very well!
I also realized I can't blog about our time together, because it wouldn't be fair.  I should tell about the blog, and ask permission or at least warn that I do have a blog.
Those are the thoughts running through my head.

And when I'm not thinking, I am totally happy.

A walk in the woods

A hike in the woods was planned for the weekend.  In preparation to hopefully do more and longer hikes.  The weather was nice, but we still have that chilly wind.

How terrific to come back home smelling of fresh air!
And to have the company of an experienced hiker who brings soup for lunch and a heater to warm it up.

St. Paddy's

Life does go on.  And while there is not a drop of Irish blood anywhere in my family - nada, nothing, nichts - to cheer up, I'll post a few pictures from a few years back, when there was a parade in NYC that was advertised as 10,000 men in skirts.  I am normally not a fan of the bagpipe, but that parade was impressive.
A friend and I went, and we totally enjoyed ourselves.  We also heard of evidence - second hand - of what is under those kilts, if it's true?

So drink green beer

eat green bagels

and if you can still find it, have a green milk shake!

(the German in me shudders)

Japan

It's so very difficult  to chat about mundane things with Japan going through a terrible time which could really happen anywhere on earth.
And two terrible bus accidents in this area which pale compared to the other side of the earth.

As do so many small things here, which are of concern, but really manageable when held up to Japan.

I too, like some other bloggers, will be back once I feel I can comfortably segue from this disaster to more ordinary things.

Mixing it all up

For the weekend we visited the family in Maryland.  It was so great to see them!
We had two little boys playing with worms:

We went out for lunch, and Noah was returning his Dad's wink.  And no, I don't have dirt on my face, Jackson thinks I'm his wrestling/rough housing buddy and head-butted me last weekend.  Totally my fault, and I'll behave a little more grandmother-like in the future (maybe).

The boys played and played, and had a good time with each other

We walked in the woods, had lunch out, and just had a good time in each other's company.

shaking a tree that's their size, and just goofing around.

I got teased because I make phone calls to someone new in my life,

and that's fine.

Rain, rain

It's supposed to be raining today.  Heavy at times.  My house is snug on the side of a hill, and I have no worries about it.  At work, though, it's a different story.  Rain gets in through the roof, since the building is at least 100 years old.  We're pretty much covered via a clever rigging under the roof.  Oh, and Linda is back for the week, I needed help.  I had missed her!
More changes in the air, life once again making unexpected turns.  But it's all good, and I'm looking forward to whatever comes next.

Some more photos from last Sunday.

And I'm spending lots of time on the phone at night.

And it's cool.

Communion

Matthew is officially able to take communion from today on.  There was a little ceremony in church, and I was there with his family, and we had a small celebration in the afternoon.

 The children taking communion

 The proud (toothless) sister

 doesn't it look as if Evan is waving hello?

 I actually made it in a picture!

 No, baby is not drinking, it just looks that way

 Father and son playing Wii

I can't believe how big my first grandson is getting!

Love you, Matthew!

Changes

Saturday is turning out to be a regular Saturday.  And that's fine.  The special something will be postponed to some other time.
Sorry to be mysterious!  Some day there will be an explanation, I promise.

Other than that, it's cold!  I'm complaining, yes, I usually don't dislike winter, but this one took the cake, and can off-put even the most staunch Northern European off winter.

I got ready for the morning walk.  So I better get my shoes/boots on, and get going.

Saturday

I have something to do.

Something I haven't done in ages.

And yes, I'm so looking forward to it!