Chain, chain, chain--chain of love!

I am currently serving as treasurer of the county-wide retired teachers association and we have our first meeting of the 09-10 year the first week of September. SO, in an effort to have everything ready in case of "baby Claire time", I have been getting all my reports in order and preparing the treasurer's report for the meeting. As reports rolled out of the printer, I started searching for paperclips---what happened to all my paperclips???
I know I had at least 5 boxes just the other day...no wait...I got them down from my supply closet while Ben was here...hmm...Ben...OH YAH...now I remember, he needed some for his "work"...and then he said he was making me a "lovely chain"--shoot, where would he have put them--surely not ALL 5 BOXES!!??
He usually "worked" in the spare bedroom. Looking around...not on the bed...or the bookshelf...or the desk...or the nightstand...BINGO! UNDER the bed.
Yep...a lovely chain...5 boxes of paperclips long!

After taking a considerable amount of time disconnecting the lovely chain (how long did that kid spend on this???), I finally decided to curl the remainder in a cup and place on my desk for use one clip at a time.
And so, now each time I stop to free a paperclip I am reminded once more of my sweet boy and his "lovely" chain, chain, chain...chain of love!

Cows and Clouds

Night before last we had a bad lightning storm, but not much rain. Our neighbors to the north didn't fare so well; with golf-ball size hail and high winds--resulting in lots of damage. So yesterday afternoon when the local weather channel warned our area of approaching inclement weather with possible high winds and large hail, we took the warning seriously and scurried about protecting all we could. All vehicles in the barn or garage; yard furniture secured; flashlights and candles at the ready; computers shut off,etc.
Well the rain and wind came, but as usual--since we were prepared--no large hail appeared (for which we are very grateful!)
The greatest damage came in the form of the loss of one cow--we thought at first that lightning struck her, but discovered later that she died trying to birth a calf. The storm probably had something to do with it, but since there was so much lightning, no one ventured out into the storm as usually happens. We probably couldn't have done anything in this case, anyway, but that doesn't make the loss any less.
Those of you in the family know how much the cattle mean to us, so the death of a mother cow (and any resulting offspring) amounts to a substantial loss. Kregg always takes it hard because he keeps a close eye on the herd and pretty well knows every bovine by sight!
These things do happen in the life of a farm, and we are VERY grateful for the rainfall! BUT, we are keeping a close eye on both the cows and the clouds for now!

just waiting...

I've been in Texas City about a week now, just waiting to go to the doctor/sonogram with Mandy on Friday. There have been several times when I thought we would be going to the hospital pretty soon...Mandy gets these REALLY serious contractions...4 per hour would mean a trip to the hospital..but so far, 3 per hour has been the most...guess baby Claire wants to keep us on our toes!
Shawn has his diaper bag packed (yes, he really does have his own bag!) Mandy has most of hers done, and we have the clothes for Claire, Ben, and Chloe ready for the hospital (matching t-shirts with "I'm the big brother" and "I'm the big sister" and then Claire's little "baby sister" onesie).
I'm keeping the laundry and dishes done and trying to prepare evening meals so Mandy can relax some (last night she fell asleep long before the kids bedtime), but waiting is not something that comes easily with me. Waiting actually makes me nervous, and somewhat tense. Wanting to know exactly when something is going to happen so you can be completely prepared, and knowing that that just isn't possible, pretty much drives me crazy. Waiting for a grandbaby seems much harder than waiting for my own kids to come! Guess I felt more in control (haha) when I was waiting for my own. Doesn't make sense, but that's the way I feel.
Oh, well. I'm always telling Ben and Chloe that they need to practice having more patience. Maybe this is my time to practice, too. So, baby Claire, we're just waiting to see you and hold you and tell you in person that we love you.

Fountain of Youth???

conversation after last night's tickling marathon.....
"Nana, now how old are you?"
"57. Ben, you know I'm 57."
"57!!! Wow! (pause) Well, you don't LOOK 57! (longer pause) And, you don't ACT 57!"

Yep, that's my boy!!

Hammock Heaven

Several years ago I bought Kregg a hammock for the yard. He set up hugh poles (in concrete) to hold it and we enjoyed it alot. It eventually wore out and so last summer I bought a new and improved hammock for him. He doesn't actually use it much and whenever I do, I usually feel lazy, start noticing some weeds in the grass or that my flower beds need to be watered and therefore abandon the hammock for yardwork!
Having grandkids visit changes all that!! Chloe throughly enjoys "riding" in the hammock, but Benjamin turns it into a true adventure! We take turns swinging each other; trying to flip the other out while laughing hysterically. We sing silly songs and try to guess what the clouds look like. Sometimes we just snuggle together and talk and talk...Ben LOVES to ask questions about his mother's childhood and about how Nana and Grandpa used to do things. Ben's latest trick is to swing me as high as possible then jump up into the hammock and scare me...he thinks its the "funniest" game ever!
We played in the hammock just this afternoon, and for the span of our time together I never once thought about the yard or the flower beds. I just felt free like a kid again and soaked up all the Ben love I could! Gosh, I love that boy!!