Catching up!!!

Wow.  It's been almost 8 months since I posted on this blog.  Wow.  I haven't gone that long without posting something since I had my CaringBridge site starting back in 2006.  Amazing what all can happen in 8 months!  I guess I'll try to catch you up a bit!  :)

First..... since it's, as the doc says, inevitable (duh), Candice and Eric are going to be parents again any day now!  Parker will be a big brother and I get to be a Grandma again!  How's that for an awesome Christmas miracle?!  I can't wait, even  tho I have to, to start spoiling the new little guy!  It is a "little guy", who will be named Logan Michael.  He and brother Parker even have a new sled, complete with an engraved name plate on it, waiting for him at Great Ma's  house for Christmas.  Now he needs to get here so that he can enjoy it.  Or rather, we can set him in it and oooohhhh and aaahhhhh over how cute he looks in it!  ;)


So, I guess I'll just start with the kids, starting with the oldest and working my way to the youngest, with other updates on them all.


Amber and Dustin are still happily living in Denmark, IA.  The have a great time with their friends and neighbors and are probably the most happening spot in that little town!  Molly, BamBam,, and Pebbles, my first Grand Puppies, are all still here and keeping things interesting.  Amber still works for the same Nursing Home that she has worked for for years and Dustin is still a railroad guy. 


Eric and Candice and Parker are just waiting for that  new little guy!  Candice did quit working for the dentist that she had been working for, and now works for the railroad, too.  She doesn't travel for her job though.  She is on leave now, but that is her new thing to do when she isn't taking care of my grandkids!  Eric completed railroad engineer school last summer, so now gets to drive the trains.  They keep busy and will be even busier once Logan arrives.

Amy and Christopher are still in Ames.  Christopher completed his CPA testing and is now officially a CPA.  He still works for the same accounting firm in Des Moines.  Amy is still going to ISU and has about another year to go.  She is planning a trip to Equador in the spring for some school related training.

Jordan is a Jr in high school already!  He is still very involved in band and choir and plays and speech related activities.  He got his driver's license last summer, when he turned 16, and I am quite happy to let him do most, if not all, of the running boys to activities!  Jordan is also,, ummm, tall.  About 6'4" or 6'5" at last check.  And, size 15 shoes!  We bought the only pair of size 15 shoes in town at the beginning of the school year this year.  Lordy.

Since Jordan is a Jr, then Jonah is a Freshman!!!!!  Wow!  He is following in his big brother's footsteps, and is also involved in band and choir and plays and speech.  He's not quite as tall as Jordan, but he has grown a lot in the past year, and his shoe size is up to a 13.  (Maybe I should purchase stock in NIKE or Adidas????)  Jonah was fortunate enough this past summer to spend a week on the campus at the University of Iowa for a talented and gifted student program.  He had an awesome time! 


After leaving my job at the doctor's office in September, I began a new job at the Keokuk Area Hospital.  Then, a few weeks ago, I went back to work at the doctor's office.  So, I'm working both jobs and loving them both.  Having two jobs does take up a lot of time, does cut down on my hours that I have to do things like sleep, and certainly tends to keep me busy!  But, so far it's working and hopefully it will continue to be that way!


All of our pets are still around.  I was quite worried about Buddy for a while, but he is doing better and I'm hopeful that he will continue to improve and play and snuggle and be my Buddy!  He suffers from seizures.  For a period of time, he lived under my bed and didn't much venture out from under it.  But, some med changes and some diet changes have helped!  He is back to playing with toys on occasion again and can jump up onto laps again!  Welcome back Buddy!  :)


We had a wonderful, awesome, amazing vacation last summer.  My mom,, who still lives right next door  (aka "Across the Way"), rented a huge house, on a mountain, outside of Glenwood Springs, CO.  We had 19 people there on one night, cooking and talking and laughing and having such a good time!  Mom, Amber, the boys and I drove out in a rented mini van.  (Just about the only way to have room for Jordan in a vehicle!)  Amy and Chris drove out from Ames.  (Their rental vehicle didn't like the mountains and died there, but they did get to us after a bit of a delay!)  Lee, Julie, Hunter and Maddie drove from Oregon and met us there.  Cousin Eric and Karen came from Chicago.  Cousin Kevin came from Florida.  Auntie Di and Uncle Ralph came from Maryland.  Marge joined us from Denver.  Aunt Carol and Uncle Bud ventured down from Divide, CO.  It was so much fun!!!!  The scenery was amazing.  The weather was great.  We cooked and talked and laughed and ventured out to do some rafting, to visit the amusement park on the side of the mountain, and to do a bit of site seeing.  Makes me ready another great vacation next summer, so I guess I'd better come up with something, huh???


So, that's it in a nutshell.  I can't make any promise but this.... I will try to get back to updating this and posting on here a whole lot more often than every 8 months!  Hopefully it will be soon, with new grandson news!  :)