Texts and meltdowns

So I got a text from Sarah Grace this morning. Ella was having an emotional morning and apparently had a melt down because she wanted to go to Gramma Debi's. I was a little verklempt. 

So I went into the workroom before school and made a short little video. 

This picture is after she watched. Grandma mission- accomplished. 

So nice that someone in this world wants to be with me that bad. :). Well there might be one or two others, but they haven't gone that extra mile and had a melt down.  Lol

If needed, I'll send you all a short video too! Because that is how I roll. Joy givers, unite!! xo

I'll be with you soon my Ella Bella

Love u, 

Gramma Debi 

Thursday morning musings

Well one more day of birthday month is coming up - after today I guess.  Somehow I feel like my birthday is like a little separate entity unto itself....  I hesitate to say it's own "month" but should have its own page on my calendar!  :D

Anyway, I am trying to rustle up some enthusiasm for the day.  I have had a lovely couple days with my sister and niece, we have done some really nice things and it has been spectacular to spend some unexpected time with them.  I had today planned for a week or so, and I will be kayaking with a friend who I hadn't seen in a year!  My friend Jen who I constantly channel when I am paddling.  I always imagine myself kayaking like her, relaxed, calm, and not working too hard to accomplish what needs to be done- and by that I mean she never looks like she is expending unnecessary energy.  If this sounds negative at all, I don't mean it that way.  I think she is the zen master of kayak!!

I am a tired girl today.  I have not been sleeping the best, and I have not been getting the "cardio" that I am used to and that actually wears on me quite a bit.  Basically, I have worn myself to a frazzle and I am feeling the effects.  I need a vacation from myself I think.

Today has some promise of surprises  as well as some great friends sharing their thoughts as we paddle on a lake.  Sounds like a restaurant stop will happen for lunch- paddle up dining anyone?  This is cool beyond belief.   

The next few days will also be a whirlwind of company, and Ella, and Flambeaurama and cooking and hopefully a lot of family time.  I hope it doesn't rain Sunday, as the big parade will be going on as well.  

So I hope I didn't sound ungrateful or spoiled or something, but it is not my most happy morning today.  But hey, it is my birthday month and my blog and I can whine a little if I want to!  :)

So I am going to have a little more coffee and get ready for the day and wait for surprises and for Ella and the Mad-first son and his lovely Sarah and anything else that the day throws at me...

And it is sure to be a joy!

Mother's Day weekend with COMPANY!!

Rawr!!

Gramma's morning selfie with Ella

I was absolutely DELIGHTED to find out that the oldest Mad-son and his lovely Sarah and of course that bundle of energy and joy, miss Ella, were coming for Mother's Day this year.  Mother's Day tends to be sort of a sad day for me lately.  Not that I can't get the MA to take me to breakfast or anything, but first of all my mom- as I have discussed is slowly slipping away from us, and second, it is just nice to have all your kiddos around.  At least the elusive Mike is here every year!  :)

Mad-oldest son, Jon, and I

So having another Oswald kid around is pretty awesome, not to mention the other parts of his family, including Mr. Mannington the dog!  We had an enjoyable weekend, and were treated to nice sunny weather.  It wasn't super warm, but at least it was not cloudy.

MIke, Jon, Sarah Grace and Ella

Uncle Mike giving either Ella or his mom the side eye for continued goofiness.  Jon knows to never break his photo smile!

I had the best time with little miss.  She was a hoot and a delight and as her mom said, Gramma had a shadow this weekend.  I held her every chance I got, and we played and smooched and hugged and she made a game of taking my glasses off and on and then I tickled and kissed her belly.  sigh.  It was so much fun.

Oh my heart is stolen

That is one big ole pancake!

I informed everyone that really the only thing I wanted for Mother's Day is breakfast out.  I did NOT want to make pancakes!!  And so we went!

Ella and Papa- you've notice by now that the tongue is a thing right now....

Carrying sticks around the yard 

And finding more sticks.... and pinecones.  

Water and a little tv

There could have been a little silliness going on at times

Ella gives my giant hand a gimme 5!

Always so sad to say goodbye.  But we will see her soon!

We certainly wish Greg and Sarah Jane and little Greggy could have been here, but their turn is coming up here very soon!  

It was such a fast weekend, but it was one to hold in my heart and treasure.  So nice to spend time with Jon and Sarah- even if we FaceTime every week, it is still the best to be face to face.  And of course having a Mikey sighting is pretty spectacular as well.

It was such a joyful weekend! 

Grand babies and visitors

It has been a while since I did any sort of personal post- I have been rocking and rolling the last few months.  I saw my Ella-Bella 3 times in 5 weeks, and then just recently I met baby Greg one weekend and then spent extensive time with him and his parents over Memorial Day.  Life just doesn't get better than THAT! 

We had a bit of company with the new baby and his parents- and that was so much fun. 

An armful of LOVE

She's a busy little thing- I can't wait to see her running at full tilt!

4 gen pix- Great Grandma Kutz, Gramma Debi, Daddy Greg and Little Greg

The above pictures were taken a couple weekends ago in Waukesha- Had to make the trip down to visit Greg and Sarah.  I finished with an overnighter at Jon's place, too, and then headed home to prepare for the Memorial Day weekend, where I was fortunate enough to have the kiddos come here.

Momma Sarah and Greggy

This child was reaching for the rings at 2.5 weeks!!  

My sister and her hubs came on Saturday, bearing large gifts and that was just freaking awesome.  Their visit that is!   I didn't get a pic of her holding the baby or even of her with Bill!  Plus we had some local friends stop by- The Bablick families: Denny and Luann and Tim and Missy and kiddos.  The next day the Busbys and Joe and Brenda stopped over, so it was an action packed weekend.  Very fun to see all of them.  The baby did great- really.  He does like to eat, so his sleep time was pretty short.  He's growing fast!

A whole crew of Bablicks came over to say hi!

Joe and Brenda stopped by

Seester Rose and Lucky

Gramma spent a lot of time holding this little guy!

You just gotta love baby toes

I had to look for a pic of Grandpa holding Greggy, and this was all I found!  Gotta work on that next time

I tried to hang out with the little one so his mom and dad could go outside and not worry about things.  Greg also gave us a hand doing some work inside the garden shed, and Sarah is no stranger to powertools, so she was out there as well.  It was fun to be inside with the little one.  We all sort of took turns with him.

I, of course, managed to cook a LOT of food and the elusive Mike made several showings.  It has been a really great few months traveling a little and having guests and just experiencing a lot of JOY!

AND of course, it is not snowing so that is icing on the proverbial cupcake!!  :)

Mother's Day 2014

Ah, Mother's Day again adjusts it meaning in my house.  In a new role besides a daughter-in-law, I also have a new mom in my family.  Another Grandchild has entered the clan and it is amazing and awesome.

I wanted to call my  mom and talk to her about this new baby boy.  She was such a strong supporter for me when I had my kids. She came up for at least 4 or 5 days each time a baby was born.  For the first one, it was nice to have a knowledgeable person in the house with me (no internet, kids!!) and then for the next two it was someone else to be able to hang out with the siblings.  Back then - and this was only about 30 years ago, there wasn't quite the culture of the dad  being involved in every aspect of the process.  And especially up here in the middle of the northwoods.  The MA was also deeply involved in building up his new business, and he worked then, as he does now- a lot.  So I do not hold any fault- the Grammas were the go to supply of babysitters, internet websites and emotional supporters.

But as most of you know, my mom can't really hold up much of a conversation that would involve discussing the past, or deep, emotional sharing that a new grandson and his new mom and dad  would warrant.  There would be so many comparisons that would need to be made,  and extrapolations that should be worked on, as my son was an active child to say the least and he was SO different from his older brother. And of course, as children are, his younger brother was SO different from them.  Anyway, it is better not to bring on the sadness about things that can't be and see her next weekend when I am in that area.  She does better when you see her.

Anyway, here are a few TBT type pix that I needed to post today.  Because new babies in the house make one more than a little sentimental and just because I am the mom and I can!

Hey, do you know how hard it is to find pictures of me with the kids???  I was always running the camera......  sigh

With baby Mike

My three boysies

Oh boy- this was a while ago

Oh he was a pill

Ella crosses her legs at the ankle like this

Very young Jon

Little Greggy

Gotta figure out how to call Grandma!

Card for Grandma

Flowers from the kids

It is lovely and sunny and I want to get a bike ride in later.  I hope you all have a fantastic Mother's Day, whether you are a mother or not!  And it will be a joy!

Let me start to catch up- photos first

Ok, kids,


(oops I am not supposed to say that, apparently it is condescending sounding to some, but to me it sounds humorous and inclusive, so there is that!)

Oh poor poor Lola

I know I have not been on line much lately.  Well that is not true, I have been online, but not on the blog.  This blog is a place where I release some inner conversations and lately those discussions have been in closed session.  I will talk about some of it coming up in the next few days/weeks.

BUT I have been neglecting my photography a bit, for a variety of reasons, but I downloaded and edited last night after a good 5.6 mile walk.  I still have time on my hands as the MA is slaving away at work, but the end of that is near.  YAY.  As much as I like alone time, it gets old after a while when he doesn't get home until 9:30.

Momma to be SarahJane with the doggies making a snow fort

So I have a variety of pix from  long past snowy to more recent.  Pix of all sorts of things from baby showers to sunflowers and things in between.  It was FUN to do this last night, but again I am running out of room on my disc, so I have to figure out the whole external hard drive  thing ASAP.

Ella Bella and their posse

This first group, though, is more people sorts of things.

Next post is the landscapes and such.

Sleepy girl with Grandpa

Grandpa ruining pancakes for Ella by giving her syrupified ones!  LOL
Suddenly pancakes can not be unadorned. At least she like REAL syrup.
Full disclosure: Grandma gave her cake for the first time.  oops

Greg and Sarah making a snow fort- Ruger is ever hopeful someone will throw the ball

Grandma, I lost mah shoe!! 

I gotta get out there

3 generations all feeling lil Greggy and momma Sarah

Miss Maggy acting up again! 

And the cow says.....

BABY TOES

I'm ok Gramma, don't worry!

let's go faster dad!!

Are you kidding me?? 

This woof doesn't run away like mine does

LOVE dat wild hair

LOVE that face

Uncle Ed, Bella, Dee with Greg

Bella and Ella!  2nd cousins

Shaking the dickens out of that rattle

Jon, ella and Great Grandma Kutz

Grandpa and Ella hanging out at the Pal Cafe

After 3 months without my kiddos and grand girl fix, this has been so much fun to look through these pics and post them.  Oh and of course the D-O-Gs.

This seems to be a tad Ella heavy, but I didn't think anyone would complain.  AND pretty soon she will have a spotlight to share when we welcome our little Grandboy into the family!!  Little Greggy is coming within the next month and this is SO exciting and SOOO much fun.

Next up some outdoorsy pix....

Hope this is adding a little joy to your life.  :)  It sure has to mine!