When will it quit?!?

This rain is getting ridiculous! We just start drying out and progress is made on repairing roads and BAM! we get nailed again. Yesterday we got a couple more storms, only a little over 2 inches of rain but the damage it did is unreal, they say we have more coming today. We live on top of a ridge so other than a little water in the basement, we dont get much damage, but to get anywhere we need to go through the valleys so at times we get stranded. I'm posting a couple pictures that I took yesterday when an Amish neighbor and I went to check the flooding. My daughter had to come out to pick up Randi and drove through some of the water in the picture, she said she probably shouldn't have but was determined to get out here, she could feel the water pushing her car. It was so sad to see an Amish man standing just above the flood water, his family was on the other side standing in their driveway and the water was going too fast for him to get to them. It just needs to quit! If we could go a couple weeks without rain maybe it wouldn't flood so bad when we get an inch or two. I'm also putting a brighter picture up, this is looking across the pasture next to our house after the storm a week ago, after that one there was a beautiful full double rainbow and the sky was amazing! I always try to look for a bright spot but after the back to back storms last night there wasn't one. Everyone pray that the forcast is wrong and we won't get the heavy rain predicted for today!!!

Happy Independence Day

About time for an update. It's been so busy around here, first the floods the first weekend in June and then having the Amish replacing our roof and porch. I've also been babysitting my sweet little granddaughter, Randi as well as planting flowerbeds and driving Amish so I guess thats some excuse anyway. Today was a pretty great day, Corey arrived from Minot last night and today he, my granddaughter Kendra, and I took a long walk down in the pasture to see what effect the floods had on our creek. It was quite shocking, the creek has changed course and because the water went through with such force, the bottom land looks nothing like it did before. We did see several schools of chubs (small fish) and found a deep sinkhole that was full of tadpoles so at least the creek is recovering.
When we got back to the house Michelle was there with Brandon, Kerri and Randi so Corey finally got to meet his new niece. Then it was off to Culvers for lunch, there is no Culvers near Minot so Corey was craving it. We hadn't been home long when he decided we needed to go to LaCrosse so he kept Mom on the run most of the day. It's so awesome having him home, even for a short time. He'll be heading back Sunday morning but hopefully will come back in September for a real leave.

It's Really Spring

Finally it feels like Spring, my favorite season of all because the beauty of God's creation is all around us. The trees are ready to leaf out, the flowers are breaking through the cold soil, and seeing the adorable baby animals is so exciting. For a little while all the beauty and rebirth can distract us from the sadness happening in the world.
Got a call from my youngest daughter yesterday letting us know that Alex will have a brother or sister in December, 2 grandkids in one year! How is that for awesome?!? Makes me kind of sad that he or she will be born so far away so I will have to be content with pictures instead of cuddles, there really needs to be a law that grandchildren can't be more than 50 miles away from grandparents. I also got a phone call from my little brother, he never calls though I hear from him almost daily by e-mail. He just wanted to verify addresses for the kids because he was addressing graduation announcements for my niece who will graduate in June from High School. I haven't seen them in 8 years so am hoping we will be able to go down to Slidell for the graduation festivities. It would be great if Corey can arrange for leave so he can go with us, he and Catherine were the ring bearer and flower girl for my youngest sister's wedding, such an adorable couple.
Next week Michelle will find out when she will be going back to work. She works at the Country Club so it will depend on how soon they can get the greens dried out and groomed. I'm so excited about being able to take care of Randi while she works, I plan on doing a great job of spoiling her. I've been spending way too much time all alone (except for the dogs and cats) in the last year since losing my job at the Assisted Living, so I welcome having this precious little bundle to fill my days.
Better get going, we are supposed to get rain this afternoon and I want to go for a walk in the woods before it comes. I want to try to locate the coyote den we have on our land to see if they have pups. I realize they are unwanted predators in our area but the animal lover in me just can't let those who want to kill them know where they are if they have little ones.
Until later, take care

Spring(?)

What crazy weather, you gotta love Wisconsin, temps near 40 for a week then a nice little blizzard followed by more temps in the 40's. Got tired of waiting for Spring so I planted some garden seeds last weekend, they all sprouted so I have a real good start on my garden.
I've been so busy lately. My beautiful granddaughter Randi Lea was born on March 14 at 11:25 a.m. She weighed in at 7 lbs 2 ozs and is 20 inches long. She is such a little sweetheart and my daughter said she's never fussy, is a real good eater and so far has never spit up. She will be coming here for Easter along with Mom, Dad, her sisters and Uncle Matt. Can't wait to see her again, they change so fast! I get to babysit for a little while on Wednesday while Michelle goes to get a haircut, nails done, just a little pampering. When Michelle goes back to work on April 14 I will start babysitting Randi full time, when school gets out I will also have my granddaughter Kendra. The older granddaughter Kerri has a babysitting job so won't get to see much of her. I bought a swing for Randi to use when she's here, now I have to get one of those portable play yards. They are so neat now days, most have a bassinet insert as well as a changing table, awesome for Grandma's who don't really have room for a full size crib, dresser, etc. Between babysitting, my Amish runs, garden, etc I will be gloriously busy. Hopefully it will help the time pass until Corey and Catelyn can come for a visit.
Last week I was busy with Amish runs, 7 in one week is alot. It's great getting to know the neighbors and their families. My husbands parents always had good relations with them but my brother-in-law and sister-in-law told the Amish they weren't welcome here after my father-in-law passed away. I don't understand their attitude and won't tolerate it so once again the neighbors know they are welcome in my home. Besides doing taxi work for them(for which I get paid) I also accept phone messages for them and deliver them, I won't take anything for doing it so they stop by with homemade bread, fresh eggs, and just this week one of the girls baked me an apple pie and brought me a quart of fresh maple syrup. I also had the pleasure of one of the elderly ladies coming over just to visit. It's so wonderful to have neighbrs like that and I know my father-in-law is smiling down on me for mending the fences.
That's about it for now, have to get the pineapple upside down cake baked for tomorrow, already baked the homemade rolls and boiled eggs for deviled eggs. We will be having ham, cheesy scalloped potatoes, sweet potatoes, rolls, green bean casserole, mandarin orange fluff, and the upside down cake with whipped cream. Hope everyone has a wonderful Easter and if your kids can't be home like a couple of mine won't be, that you get a call to brighten your day.

I'm a Bad Blogger :-(

Guess I'm pretty bad at blogging, completely forget I have one until someone mentions it!! My life is pretty laid back and boring so don't really have much to write about. Right now I'm anxiously awaiting the birth of my granddaughter. I made the bouquet in the picture for her baby shower on the 23rd of January. It's made of silk flowers and rolled up baby items, look close and you can see onesies, a bib, 2 pair of pants, socks, etc mixed in with the flowers. I was very pleased with how it turned out but it was a pain figuring out how to do it with just a picture to go by. The next picture is my puppy Joey out playing in the snow in our front yard. When he goes out, it's very hard to get him back in and I'm sure that will only get worse with the warmer weather. I'm so excited to finally see winter coming to an end, this week the temp is supposed to be above freezing every day, finally an end to all the ice. Now I can get my garden seeds started in anticipation of spring planting. The last picture is my beautiful oldest granddaughter, Kerri, she turned 12 in December and is growing up way too fast, almost as tall as grandma now and she wears the same size shoes so likes to "borrow" mine.
Corey continues to thrive in the Air Force, he's finally getting the field training he should have gotten shortly after arriving at Minot 2 years ago. They had a very in-depth, 3 week long inspection at the beginning of January which they passed with flying colors. Corey was picked out along with 2 other Airmen to be commended for their knowledge of their job and professional behavior during the inspection. I've always known he was outstanding and it's great that the Air Force also recognizes it. He has also been recommended for the SOAR program, the Air Force enlisted to Officer program and now must decide if he wants to accept.
It's going to be an exciting week! My daughter is going to be induced if Randi Lea doesn't come before Thursday. Not only will I finally be able to hold my newest granddaughter but the 2 older ones will be spending the weekend here with Grandpa and I! Saturday is my Dad's birthday and I know he will be thrilled to have his newest great-granddaughter born so close to his birthday.
I will definitely get pictures posted on here when she arrives!

The weather outside is frightful

What a difference a day makes! Yesterday it was almost 40, the snow melted alot and today it's about 2 with a -15 windchill. Gotta love Wisconsin weather, if you don't like conditions just wait 24 hours because it will change. It's nice to have a fresh blanket of snow for Christmas but the way it's blowing I think most of it is headed to the other side of the state.
Corey called last night to let us know his Christmas cheese box arrived, he was so happy to get it. He also liked the JCPenney E-gift card I sent him, said he will be using it to buy some long sleeved shirts. Yesterday Minot had a high of 7 degrees with a windchill of -12 and he said he's really sick, not what a Mom wants to hear when her son is so far away. I told him what I used when I had the same thing, very bad head cold, I just put 2 Tablespoons Cider Vinegar, 1 Tablespoon Real lemon juice, 2 Tablespoons honey in a cup and filled it with boiling water. I drank that 3 times a day and the cold was pretty much gone in less than 36 hours. He didn't think that sounded so great but said he would make some hot lemonade to see if that helps. This will be his first Christmas away from home, it's tough, I should be used to it since Matt was in Okinawa one year and in Iraq 2 years in a row for the holidays but somehow the first time with your youngest gone is harder. I could tell it's hard for him too, he was checking his friends My Space's and saw that many were heading home from college, somehow he just can't coordinate his leave with their time off so hasn't seen many of them since he joined the Air Force.
It will also be the first Christmas without Catelyn and Alex, so it's triple hard this year. Haven't heard yet if they recieved the box of gifts, the cheese box, or the Christmas card with Steven's gift card(son-in-laws are so hard to buy for). I'm just very thankful that Steven finished his BNOIC training at Fort Leonard Wood and was able to get home for Christmas. Catelyn and Alex were alone for 2 months, including Thanksgiving and last year Steven was in Korea so they couldn't spend the holidays together. If she can't be home, I'm thankful at least that she has her little family together. I so admire these young military wives who keep the homefires burning while their husbands are away.
My husband Dave will most likely have to work on Christmas, milk still has to be delivered on holidays but Matt will be joining me for dinner at Michelle's. It will work out better for her having everyone there rather than bundling up the girls and gifts to bring to our house then Brandon's Mom's, this way both families will be together in one place. We bought the ham and fresh veggies for veggies and dip so she won't have too much to do, I'll be bringing Cheesy potatoes, Scalloped Potatoes, home made rolls, and Christmas goodies, I think Brandon's Mom is bringing a salad and dessert. Since Michelle is supposed to restrict her activities since she's been having minor complications with her pregnancy this will be much more relaxing for her so hopefully Randi Lea will settle down and wait until closer to her due date to make an appearance. She has an appointment on Thursday with the same high risk Doctor I had with Catelyn.
Guess I'll close this novel for now, take care all.

Can't Believe I'm Doing This

I'm venturing into an unknown realm here, inspired by some amazing Moms I've been blessed to know through the Air Force Moms & Dads group. My life is incredibly boring to some though I consider it just quiet and peaceful, well as peaceful as it can be with 4 kids, 3 grandkids, 3 dogs, 4 cats, and a pair of cockatiels. Add into that mix a truck driver husband who isn't around much and living in a rural area surrounded by Amish miles from civilization and you have a view of my quiet life.
My kids, grandkids and critters are my life, this is a way to share them with the world as well as keeping friends and family informed on what is happening in their lives.
Sit back, get to know my world.