Tuesday, April 28, 2009

The rug for the front porch came this afternoon and there it is...above. Like it! Went over to BB&B and picked up mat for inside the door. We had a really large one that was from the front door and out but will use that one now the for back patio. Now if only all the chair covers matched. I know...I could go out and buy some but probably won't...at least not now. The chair down in the right bottom corner goes with five other chairs that we have on the back patio along with the table. The other two green fabric covered chairs we got free from a neighbor who was getting a new set. Think we got four chairs all together and we gave John two of them. The dark green cover on the one chair (Juan's chair) is extra support for Juan since he sits out there for hours. The rug is an indoor/outdoor rug so should be easy to keep clean...although if you notice, I still put the one darker mat under Juan's chair because of his big ole' boots with the black rubber soles. They used to make marks all over the place where he sat. Got that mat after we have the porch enclosed.
And today Alex and I got our plane, hotel and car reservations. We are staying at the Outrigger Hotel on Waikiki Beach. http://www.outrigger.com/hotels-resorts/hawaiian-islands/oahu-waikiki/outrigger-waikiki-on-the-beach
That's the web site if you are interested. You have to copy and paste. We are renting a car since you can go around the island is three hours and would be easier for all the wedding stuff Alex has to attend.

Monday, April 27, 2009

I can't believe that in eight days how much my peony bush has grown. So glad I put the chair over them as they would have fallen over with the first rain. Will have to wait and see what they look like in full bloom. The plant actually reminds of asparagus. Went off to the pet store and grocery store this morning. Food and another new squeaky small toy for GiGi and mostly food for John's lunch. Yesterday was fooled by thinking we were getting a slight sprinkle of rain. That sprinkle turned out to be buckets. Juan had to run out to his truck to close the windows. Talked to John later and he and the girls were at a nearby park when it started to rain. He thought the same thing that it was only going to be a sprinkle. When it started raining hard they started running and I guess Alexis freaked out and was wailing loudly. Think he had to pick her up and run.
Heard from Alex and she has her vacation days approved so will be going to Hawaii with her in September. The more I think about that 12-1/2 hour flight...ahhhhhh. Oh well.

Saturday, April 25, 2009

Well, it was old times again today at my Uncle Stanley's and Aunt Lois's house. Juan and I went there to visit and to see my cousins Elizabeth and Judith who were both in town. Liz made a great rib dinner and I had brought dessert. Was fun talking old times and also current times as to what all everyone is up to now. Always fun to get together with relatives and laugh about who knows what. Coming home we ended up in the rain storm and boy, at one point, was it ever coming down. Hate driving in rain like that...you really can hardly see in front of you. But by the time we got into Canton the rain and left.

Friday, April 24, 2009

The above photo is of Alexandra's friend Alicia and her fiancee Tom. Alicia's family now lives Virginia and Tom's are in Los Angeles. Like some weddings, Alicia and Tom wanted a small wedding with just immediate family and a couple of friends but like things happen..it is becoming larger. Sounds kind of familiar. Ü And, Juan doesn't want to go. Once he found out how long the flight is...12-1/2 hours...that was it. So it will be me and Alex. Believe we will leave September 22nd and come back on September 29th as Alex needs to keep some vacation time. Juan says he will stay home and take care of GiGi and for me to bring him back a grass skirt.

Thursday, April 23, 2009

Okay...John's car is fixed. Cost a bit more because more was wrong with it. Had to get a new water pump, radiator hose, serpentine belt, coolant, belt tensionr pulley, water pump pulley and a new thermostat. And the good news is I have my car back. Ü
The photo above is of Hawaii....Oahu to be exact....and the music is the Hawaii 5-0 theme. Why???? One of Alex's good friends that she met while living in Virginia and has since moved to Hawaii, is now to be married this September 26th. She asked Alex if she would be one of her bridesmaids...Alex said yes. Today, Alex called and asked me if Juan and I would like to go visit Hawaii while she is there. Hummmm. Have always wanted to go...yeah, when I was younger, thinner and wasn't allergic to the sun. But still would be fun. We have to let her know by Monday. Juan at first thought he might like to go but now says no...doesn't like the long, long, flight and his ears bother him when he flies. We'll see. Have four days to think about it. Think Alex would like to have someone come with her as Alicia will be on her honeymoon and Alex will be by herself. I probably will go but will keep talking to Juan.

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Okay...so John calls me last night around quarter to midnight.....not going to make it home with his car he says. He made it to Lilley and Palmer but had to sit there for about five minutes to let the car cool down. It is the water pump that cools the engine that is broke. So anyway, when I'm on the way to pick him up he calls me and says that he made it to Lilley and Ford Road and will park his car in front of Richardson's Drug Store. Take him home and this morning his father picked him up and took him to his car and then they all went to the auto repair shop further down on Lilley. Found out he has something else wrong with the car and it's going to cost him around four hundred....will be ready tomorrow. In the meantime, he has my car and he and Alexis go home. When it's time to take her to school...he can't find the car keys. Ahhhhhhh! Calls his dad...calls me...calls his dad and calls me again as he finally found the keys under some papers. Gets Alexis to school where she is only about 10 minutes late. Am I surprized about all the losing and calling and finding??? Not really as this is John.
On another note, Tina was married either last week-end or the week-end before. Big Indian wedding complete with the groom coming in on a white horse. Just where do you find a white horse???? but was thinking that it probably gets rented out a lot just for Indian weddings. One of John's friends on Facebook is a relative of Tina's and posted photos so John let me look at them. Reception was at Laurel Manor....Tina looked great as did all her friends.

Tuesday, April 22, 2009

Well, the little munchkin loves her new school. First day she got to play dress-up, draw a picture, listen to a story, learned how to sit down with applesauce (or something like that...sitting down with your legs folded and crossed and with your hands in your lap) and made some new friends. Photo above was taken a couple of weeks ago and that cat peeking around the pillow is their cat Piper.
Went grocery shopping yesterday and today to the post office and the bank. John called on his way to work and said that his car was acting up so Juan and I went over to where he works at around 5:30pm with some antifreeze. John and a friend of his came out to look at the car and noticed that the fan belt was loose and that it looked like something had broke off. Told him to call me when he gets home tonight and he will probably have to take Juan's truck in tomorrow and have his car fixed. Always something.

Sunday, April 19, 2009

So here is a solution to falling over peony stems. Saw this online and thought it would look better than stakes with ropes going all around. Will have to wait and see. The chair was an old broken one that Juan found and he just took out the seat in the middle and there you are. Know it looks a little weird now but once the stems get bigger and then all the peony blooms it should look okay....something like the one in the bottom photo. The blooms are so pretty but as soon as it rains...down they all go. Hopefully this will hold them all up.
It was such a nice sunny day yesterday. Didn't really do anything special and not today either although, all the sun has disappeared and the temperature dropped 20degrees. I do believe it's going to rain! Which is good.
Ordered a indoor/outdoor carpet for the front porch. Not really too sure about the color I ordered. Terra Cotta. I mean I like the color but Juan's boots...that's another thing. Will still use the one small carpet for under his chair and feet on the porch. This way don't think it will get that dirty. GiGi should like it. And that it. Tonight watching one of my favorite TV shows...Celebrity Apprentice. Love that show.

Friday, April 27, 2009

Kids, dentists, bicycles and John Wayne. And what do they all have in common? Had to watch to two girls last night because Brandy had to make an emergency run to the dentist. And John Wayne...well, he saved the day along with bicycles. That's him in the photos above. A 2-1/2 pound teeny, tiny, little Chihuahua that lives next door with the "dog lady". When the girls first came over Juan had fixed their bikes for them so they were riding up and down the street. Then the "dog Lady" came out with John Wayne, or Duke for short, and the girls were all over him. John Wayne's best friend is Isis a 165 pound grey Great Dane. Isis treats John Wayne like he were her baby and is very protective of him. Both are sweet dogs. John Wayne is not one of those nervous, yapping dogs like my sister-in-law owns. I call them the Devil Dogs. Bark, bark, bark, bark, bark...geeh! John Wayne or Isis are not for sale and will stay with "the dog Lady".
Imagine John will be over to pick up the girls bikes that we were storing for him here at our house. He has a vacation day today...so a nice long week-end.

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Well, lets see. John's giant TV finally went on him and he sold it on Craigslist. Guess the person works on TVs. So....he bought another one today at ABC Warehouse since the kind he wanted had the better price. It's the one pictured above. Another rear projection television....60". His old one was all one piece and sat on the floor and this one is doing that now until he gets a stand for it. When you play games on the TV guess the bigger the better.
Had both girls today...ahhh. Two together is not a happy time. The older one seems to always get the younger one racing or jumping or just both getting into mischief. Feels like a Benny Hill sketch over here. One more day of the two of them together. Like I said before...one hour seems like an eternity at times.

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Finished the above scrapbook page for Alex's album. In case you can't read what it says: "The Lansing Jaycees held their annual Easter Egg Hunt in front of the Capitol on Saturday, April 11, 2009. The weather was on the cold side but the sun was brightly shining."
"The cold didn’t keep the many, many children from coming out to enjoy the festivities. Over 10,000 plastic eggs were stuffed the previous week-end with candy, toys and stickers."
"Through a raffle, the Jaycees made over $800.00."
We have Sierra today for an hour and for the rest of the week because of Easter vacation. Brandy took Alexis to her new school yesterday and found out that it is closed for the week. Guess no one told them so she starts next week and we have her also for the rest of the week.

Monday, April 13, 2009

Well, the egg hunt was a big success for the Lansing Jaycees as it was for Sierra. She won one of the prize Easter baskets that held lots of candy plus Hannah Montana items, a jewelry box, necklace, and other items. They met the Easter Bunny, Lugnut (the local mascot for the Lansing baseball team, Cricket (mascot for the click-it safety belt campaign, an owl, ferrets, and other animals from the local zoo plus free coloring books and the like. There were TONS of children and they had three roped off areas with over 10,000 plasic eggs containing candy, stickers and a prize in each one. Roped off areas were for the 0 to 3 year olds, 4 to 6 year olds and 7 and up. John was with Alexis and I stayed with Sierra in her section. Countdown for the start of the hunt and within 2 minutes....2 MINUTES....every egg was gone! Alexis managed to get 8 or 9 eggs and Seirra scooped up 7 eggs. She was a little bummed by that since her sister had two more eggs but that all stopped when she won a basket. Thank goodness. Ü On the way home we stopped at a McDonald's for lunch and then drove back home. Later that day Brandy's mother came by and they all decorated eggs. Know that the Easter bunny hid eggs at their house. Finished the above scrapbook page for John's album and will be working on one for Alex's album. Of course, you can click on the photo for a larger view.

Good Friday

Tomorrow myself, John and the girls will be going up to Lansing for the Easter Egg Hunt. Brandy has some shopping to do so will not be coming. Should be fun...especially for the girls as I don't believe they have ever been to an egg hunt. Today went grocery shopping for Sunday's dinner. Guess now it will be only Juan and myself as Alex won't be coming down. Even with things on sale I can't get over at how expensive groceries are now. Geeh...spent $100.00 on ???? Didn't think there were that many items but boy, sure adds up.

Thursday, April 9, 2009

Today Alexis and I did Easter eggs....two dozen! And with today it is the last time we will watch her as she will be starting school next week. Oh, I'm sure there will be some days when we will still watch her...like when there is no school....or possibly sometime during the summer. Not sure if she will be going in the summer or not. She starts kindergarten this fall and am not sure if it full day or not. Know they are switching over to full days for that age. So, get to get rid of all the kids stuff in the family room...not that it's a lot but still...crayons, coloring books, rocking horse, chalkboard and some other things.
And for Easter Sunday it will be just Alex, Juan and myself. Making a pot roast. Ü We are not big ham eaters here....one meal is just enough...don't like the leftover. Have to go tomorrow to the grocery store and get the stuff...maybe even tonight. Will see.

Wednesday, April 8, 2009

So Alexis will be starting nursery school next Wednesday from 1:15pm to 3:30pm. She will go every other week for three days and then the next week will be for five days. She goes to her Dad's house for two days every other week on Monday's and Tuesdays. The place is very resonable. Guess the church only opened up last October at its present location. They take care of children 2-1/2 to 6 years of age from 7am to 6pm but she will only be there for the above mentioned times. Here is their schedule:
1:15pm - Seatwork
1:20 - Afternoon routine, songs, phonics, letters, numbers calendar (children can join when they wake up) (that part is for the kids who are there already)
1:48 - Restroom break
1:55 - Afternoon snack
2:10 - Afternoon recess
2:30 - Bible & Jesus time
2:45 - Story Time or Listen & Color
3:00 - Arts & Crafts Time
3:15 - Language Developemnt
3:30 - Recess or inside free play (of course, this is when she goes home)
So...should be something different for her.

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

Well, John called places about having Alexis attend nursery school. He is going to the New Hope Church here in Canton tomorrow to talk with the people there. She would be going five days a week from 1 pm until 3:30 pm. She really needs to be with some kids her own age and to be able to interact with them. So, looks like we won't be watching her for awhile. The above photo is of the church. It's a Methodist church and does have 20 minutes of church related stuff every day during the time she will be attending. Since Brandy is more into religion than John...that's fine with her.

Here We Go Again

Who said winter was over? Had some snow around here this morning but nothing sticking to the pavement...just melts off. Yesterday met John and Brandy up at Hawthorne Valley to look at the room where the wedding reception will take place. Nice...big room. Will have the wedding shower at the same place and because of that we get a free wedding rehersal dinner for up to twenty-five people. Pretty good. Because they were serving Sunday Brunch, we were all able to taste the food. Not bad. Some items were better than others. They have decided to go with individual dinners and have picked out filet and some kind of chicken...not sure what...but will be served together. Soup, salad, potato, vegetable, rolls, coffee and dessert come with the main dish. They will pick out just what the items are later.
Think we will have chili tonight for dinner. Sounds good on a snowy day.

Friday, April 3, 2009

Was talking with Alex last night about the crafts I have been doing with Alexis and the craft she did when she was 8 years old came up. Alex had told me I should have Alexis make the bunny ears like she did and when I brought this up to Alexis she said, "No...too boring." hehehehe What? Alexandra's bunny costume too boring? Never! Photo is above.
Did I write that John and Brandy have set a wedding date? Well, if I did here is another reminder....June 26, 2010. They are going this week-end to put a deposit down at Hawthorne Valley in Westland for the reception site. Don't think they still know where the wedding ceremony will take place. Looking at the Hawthorne site I noticed they have a garden....maybe the wedding could take place there? Brandy isn't Catholic so don't think they could have it at a Catholic church. Here is the site if you are interested.... http://www.hawthornevalley.com You will have to copy and paste. They are taking the Aspen Room which is the largest. John is already picking out songs he wants played or not played.
Here at home we are adjusting to not getting the Free Press every day. Now it will only be delivered Thursday, Friday and Sunday. So....a new experience is being tested. Juan on the computer. Have been trying to teach him how to read the paper online. Fun!
Oh...and hear someone finally has a computer again....Unlce Stanley! HI!