Claire Ellen Willenbrecht

Happy Birthday to you!

Happy Birthday to you!
Happy Birthday dear Claire!

Happy Birthday to you!

Claire is three today! I'm so excited to be here for your party. Hope I can help Mom and make this your BEST birthday EVER! Love you mucher! Magra

Phone photos

Photos are from my phone. No way of downloading from my camera to this computer. Jennifer and Arie have a different kind of memory card with their camera and I forgot the little wire to connect my camera to the computer.
Yesterday I cleaned off the EX before we went shopping. This is how it looked this morning.
Sarah didn't have school today and Arie stayed home from work due to road conditions. We played outside for a bit this afternoon.
Claire wasn't sure about trekking across the backyard and stayed close to the patio at first. She decided it was okay to go into the deeper stuff and even tossed a couple of snowballs at me!
Time for some tea. . . .

Wednesday

While I'm away Buck has been taking care of the "herd". Lisa sent me this picture of him with all the dogs gathered around waiting for words of wisdom? (or MAYBE a dog treat??)

On the drive out I saw snow on either side of the road. Wasn't sure if there would be any when I got to Jennifer's. There wasn't . . . .that day.

On a cold night it is always nice to have someone to snuggle with. Claire wasn't interested in snuggling but she did announce her mom and dad were "getting married" when she spied them kissing in the kitchen. She saw Cinderella and Prince Charming get married and THEY kissed. The logic of a three year old.

So - it started snowing last night, like I said, and today it hasn't stopped. This is a shot of Jennifer's front yard. They say it will keep coming tonight. We went shopping today and I drove. Haven't forgotten how to drive in snow, thank goodness.

Snow

It is snowing in Colorado! It started to rain around five this afternoon and turned to snow about 8p.m. The girls were already in bed so they missed the first snowflakes but Jennifer, Arie, and I enjoyed the sight just outside their dining area. I'm about to turn in for the night and looks like the snow will continue through the night. I've gotta ask Jennifer how to upload some photos. Looking forward to playing in the snow with the fam tomorrow.

Sunday in Colorado

I made it to Jennifer's house yesterday. Saw a little snow on the sides of the road but nothing here at the house. Today we went to church and came home to nap. Jennifer, the girls, and I went shopping this afternoon. I'll have pictures when I get home. Til then I will just post along the way. We are getting ready for Claire's birthday and Halloween. Hope you all remember Saturday night the time will change. Remember to turn your clocks back an hour. Speaking of time. . . .Colorado is Mountain Time so it is earlier here than in Alabama. No one bothered to let me know how Bama did yesterday. I assume they won or I would have heard the moaning and gnashing of teeth all the way out here. Time to read with the girlies. Kiss Kiss

Gone!

Sayonara (Japanese)

I'm outta here!

Hasta la vista (Spanish)

See ya!

Sizobonana (Zulu)

Later dude!

Arrivederci (Italian)

Buh Bye!

The best laid plans. . . .

Teresa and I ~ ready to work
I "let" Teresa climb on top of the house

I blogged this morning and thought I knew

But after going to Daddy's the opposite is true.

My trip 'cross country is pushed back a day,

They laid on the guilt,

So what could I say?

Dementia is happening to Daddy for sure;

But me being here won't be a cure.

I'm taking a break to see the girlies

My mind is going in little whirlies.

Dementia or Alzheimer's is a disease that affects not only the patient but also the people who are caring for him. Each of us respond in a different way. Mother is determined to care for him alone for as long as possible, Teresa can't get the tears under control, and they think I don't have any. I have shed tears for Daddy and for myself because he is slipping away but when I talk to him ~ he is still in there and he talks to me. Add him to your prayer list that God will hold him in the hollow of his hand.

To those who have listened ~ thank you.

Three Days

As I prepare for my "flight" to Colorado, I thought you would like to see the bird Lisa and Nicole found. It was sitting on the porch above their apartment and when Nicole reached out a hand it hopped onto her finger. They were very responsible (can you believe it?) and took it to a nearby pet store. The workers told them it is an expensive bird. One of them took it home with her and they (the store people) were going to print and distribute flyers in order to find the owner. I have to say "responsible" because they didn't keep it. When she started telling me the story one of the first things I said was "don't be bringing me a bird!" Everyone knows she is a push over for puppies (which end up at our house).
But on to Colorado. . . .I have birthday gifts purchased, but not wrapped. We passed a pile of pumpkins yesterday and I suggested we stop and get a couple to take to Jennifer's ~ Buck said no. (they were decorations on the square ~ not for sale).
Jakob had his last football game on Saturday ~ they lost 12-6. Not a bad game and he did well. Now all that is going on is soccer for Topher IF the rain will hold off and they can get some games in. I need to try and make it to at least one of Elijah's games. He is the son of Nicole, a cousin. He is a ball of energy and when I see him he always has something to tell me ~ sometimes about his bug collection or the latest frog, spider, lizard he has caught.
I have three more days before I start my trek across country to Windsor. Today I am going to Daddy's to mow his leaves. clean the gutters, and help clean the house. Teresa asked yesterday what time I want to start ~ I said 8 a.m. ~ she wanted to wait until nine so maybe it won't be so cold. Tomorrow I will pull out the suitcase and start the packing process. Wednesday I will finish packing after I do laundry ~ make sure all gifts are wrapped ~ pick up a few snackies for the road ~ and try to sleep. If you are on the road Thursday morning WATCH OUT I enjoy this drive and will blow you off the road if you are in my way.
Big hug ~ little kisses !

October

One more Week!

That's right! Only one more week until I head to Colorado! As you can see from the calendar we have birthdays aplenty in October. Veronica ~ cousin Tanya ~ neice Wanda is my sister ~ Jimmy is Teresa's boyfriend? companion? whatever Will ~ nephew Olivia ~ grand neice June ~ cousin ~ and of course you should know by now ~

CLAIRE is our GrAnDdAuGhTeR!

It is almost eight a.m. as I am writing this. Hopefully I will be on the road around this time next week. I keep telling Buck I could just drive straight through with a stop here and there to nap but he is NOT buying it. I will stop somewhere along the way to sleep in a bed and continue my journey on Friday until I reach ~ say it with me ~ COLORADO!!!!!!!!

It's Tuesday!

Ten days until I SEE Jennifer and fam!

Woo Hoo and Hurrah!

Tuesday. . . .what can you say about Tuesday? We are past the Monday blues but not yet to the Wednesday hump day. . . .so let's talk about what's on MY agenda today. I have a stack of clothes to iron and the house is in desperate need of vacuuming but am I staying home to take care of that??? No-o-o-o-o. I am going to the clinic with Lisa this morning to get a shot for her sore throat, sinus infection, whatevertheheck is wrong with her and this afternoon I am going to the doctor with Mother and Daddy.

I plan to get in a little Video Game therapy today. We all finished "Ratchet and Clank: Going Commando" and I have reached the final battle in "Rachet and Clank: Up Your Arsenal". The boys are ahead of me because they chose to move on to the next installment "Ratchet and Clank: Deadlocked" without finishing the second one. I like to finish before I move on and will be able to catch up to them because ~ the game is at MY house and I can play as long as I want. I can take out my stress on the baddies in the game AND save the galaxy at the same time. . . .and you probably didn't know I'm a superhero, did you?

Hope you are having a good week so far. Kiss Kiss

Picture postcards

Picture postcards? Actually these are pictures OF postcards.

I don't know how you feel about postcards but I enjoy sending and receiving them. I try to send interesting ones to family and friends when I am traveling. I am a "card person" and postcards are a great way to say "Hi ~ I was thinking of you while I was away" I also send holiday cards. Did you realize there is a holiday in almost every month? And there are cards for most of them. I start scanning the racks as soon as they put holiday cards out and in between times I look for Thinking of You ~ Miss You ~ Love You cards. But on to postcards I have received this week.... This is Yellowstone National Park. My friend, Tom and his wife Sarah, go there almost every year. If you look closely A. Road was closed due to forest fire B. Road was closed to replace a bridge and C. Road was closed due to a snowstorm. (which by the way ~ put out the forest fire that closed road A.) He is very good about sending me a card each year and they are all different which is pretty cool.
This one is from Jennifer and Arie. I think it is bulletin board worthy, don't you? They enjoyed their vacation in Hawaii last week. She has been trying to get back on schedule this week. The time difference for them was four hours. No big deal you say? Try explaining to a five and two year old why your butt is dragging and they are ready for a usual day of play, play, and play.

This is Lisa's card but I wanted to share it also. What an awesome shot! Arie tried surfing ~ I should have cropped this more and told everyone that is him in the foreground. Cowabunga DUDE! LOL I will be traveling to Colorado in a couple of weeks ~ I'm sure there will be PHOTOS to look at and stories to hear.

Happy Birthday!

October 8th, 2009

Happy Birthday to my sister

Wanda Lee Panter Kehler

Though we are far apart

(she's in New Mexico ~ I'm in Alabama)

You are always in my heart.

Love you Sis!

Happy Fall Y'all

Hello and Happy Fall! It is cool enough in the morning that you NEED something warm to drink, like COFFEE but since I'm not suppose to be drinking COFFEE I think I will try tea. I like hot tea and they make several decaf flavors so I will have a "spot of tea" in the mornings.

I think Buck's truck has been overrun by gremlins. For the last week and a half sometimes it will crank and sometimes it won't. Yesterday when he got home he popped the hood and was standing there looking in when I went outside. All the gauges had gone blank on his way home! I got up this morning thinking I was going to follow him to the mechanic but when he got in ~ poof! the gauges were working. Go figure!

In grandchildren news ~ Jakob's football team won their last two games. (which I was unable to attend so maybe I'm a jinx?) Topher's soccer team only has one loss. (which I missed so maybe I'm good luck for him) Sarah went back to school yesterday after spending last week with her Willenbrecht grandparents while Jennifer and Arie were traveling. Claire, I'm sure, is clinging to her mom today (she is a lovey girl)

The latest on Daddy is ~ we are taking each day as it comes. His dementia is worse and it is wearing on not only him but also Mother who is determined to care for him by herself. I go every day and Teresa goes every evening when she gets up. If you are in the neighborhood stop by ~ they enjoy the company.

Mea Culpa

To the lovely Veronica Panter a.k.a Rocky

A happy belated birthday (October 4th)

I remembered

I sent you a card

I even got you a gift

I just forgot to post about you

m-m-m-m Caffeine!

McCafe is my new friend

Medium mocha ~ whole milk ~ hot

I am not suppose to drink caffeine. And I've been good about staying away from the coffee until Daddy was sick and had to be in the hospital for a few days. After "sleeping" on a chair the allure of coffee called to me and I answered. Since then, Daddy's dementia seems to be getting worse and I've been going by their house in the mornings to visit. It has almost become a habit to drive by McD's and pick up a coffee on my way. I've gotta STOP that. Not only is it bad for my heart rate but I don't even know how many calories are in it (whipped cream and chocolate sauce! Yikes!) I may be "forced" to have one today because Jennifer called last night at a quarter 'til eleven to let me hear the ocean waves from Hawaii. Gotta love her ~ it was only a quarter 'til six there. She was sitting on the beach and thought of me ~ I appreciated that.

What's wrong with this picture?

Last Sunday I wore a hat to church. You would've thought I walked in with no clothes on for all the hubbub it caused. People came up to me to comment on the hat ~ favorably. It was amusing to see the reaction. I can remember a time when most women in church wore hats. Think I'll try a different one this week. Jakob wanted to try it on but I couldn't let him because my hair was "neatly" tucked up underneath.