After the Storm

This is our neighborhood in Billings after the tornado and thunderstorm that went through the area Sunday afternoon. You can't see our house in the picture but we are 4 or 5 houses up from the house on the bottom left of picture.

The lowest level of our home was flooded when the window well filled with water and then came through to the house. We just had the carpet laid on Friday afternoon and two days later we vacuumed up over 70 gallons of water.

The tornado did extensive damage to the Metra and several business, but amazingly, there were no injuries.

My Blahhhggg

What a blah blogger I am, six weeks since my last post. I have been extremely busy the past month, with getting the house ready to sell (it hasn't), the Billing house ready to move into (we haven't) and getting all my retirement "stuff" in order (I have) that I haven't even thought about putting anything on here. My last day of work is two weeks from today, which also means my last pay check. (Yikes!) When I'm done working I plan on doing a better job with this thing or else give it up entirely.

Took the kids shopping Sunday and while I was looking for a new pair of sunglasses, Caelen and Luke found themselves each a pair along with coordinating hats.

HOUSE FOR SALE

Thirty years in the same house produces a lot of memories. Ken was 30 and I was 29 when we decided we would build a house. The optimism of youth! We had the house framed and enclosed, then we set out to finish it. Ken learned about plumbing, wiring, finishing and I learned to keep my mouth shut and do what he told me. That kind of partnership would never work now, I can no longer keep my mouth shut and he knows it. Ha Ha!


Five years ago we remodeled our kitchen. It's the hardest thing for me to leave. We added lots of cabinets and I will only have about half that many in the new house. But then, there are a lot more restaurants in Billlings so I don't plan on cooking as much either.
Our children and grandchildren are having a harder time with us selling the house than we are.
We will be leaving this house, but we'll take the memories with us.

Some Great Diet Advice

My five year old granddaughter told me this today, "Grandma if you would just quit eating so much junk you wouldn't have to worry about being fat". I think she's on to something.

Easter 2010

Wow, I can't believe it's been over a month since my last post. What a slacker! I need to do this more often or give it up. The little guy below is part of why I haven't been posting. Him and his sister keep us pretty busy. Caelen and Luke waited by the window anxiously waiting for their cousins to arrive so they could start the Easter egg hunt.

The Easter bunny even hides eggs for the big kids. Taylor found hers pretty quick but the boys really had to hunt for theirs.

Luke even got into it, he did pretty good for being only 1 1/2. Of course, as soon as he found out there was candy in the eggs he wanted them all.

Kenzie found one with money in it so she was really excited.

The Easter bunny should have brought Talen suspenders! She is always losing her pants (no butt). Wish I had a little of that problem

Zac found his egg in the tree. He wasn't around last year so he didn't even think to look in the tree, we had to finally point it out to him.

It was kind of a windy, blustery day, but the sun did come out later so the kids could play outside.

We finally closed on our house in Billings, now we just have to sell the Colstrip house. Hopefully, we'll have it on the market by the first of May and sold soon after!

Mom's Birthday

Yesterday was my mother's 80th birthday. This picture of her was taken at her confirmation in 1944. I have always thought she had an oriental look and in this picture it really comes through. Her ancestors came from Russia (they were Volga Germans) who lived in a small village raided many time by tribes of Mongolian soldiers. It would be interesting to know if one of those soldiers could be an ancestor. : )

This picture was taken a few years ago at my nephew's wedding in Denver.

Last weekend we had an open house to celebrate her birthday. She doesn't like being the center of attention and had warned us for the past year that she didn't want any big to-do for her birthday, but while Brenda and I were on the cruise, my sister Jennie and my neices planned a celebration. Mom wasn't happy about it at first, but she ended up having a great time. A lot of her old friends showed up as well as a large number of family members.

Mom's four kids and their spouses.

Ken, Bill, me, Brenda, Mom, Jim, Jennie and Dan.

Mom and Jim, her favorite and only son.

My granddaughter Taylor was mom's first great-grandchild. We took a four generation picture when she was little so we wanted another one with her all grown up. This is Taylor, my daughter Cami, Mom and me.

Little More of the Dream Cruise

Our stateroom was at the very back of this ship and the theater was at the front of the ship. We walked this really long hallway many times.

After we had been on the ship for a week I noticed that the bottom lights on the glass elevator changed colors. I'm very observant!

At the beginning of our second week we were surprised by this Bon Voyage basket from Carnival cruises.

This is Empress Bee and her husband Sarge from Florida. I have read her blog for a couple of years so it was fun meeting them.

Hannah and Johnny were another couple we met, first on the internet, then on the cruise. We had a lot of fun with them and plan on keeping in touch. We hope to get to Georgia to visit them.

Rich had a birthday on the cruise and our fun loving waiter, Julio made sure we celebrated in style.

This was another one of Julio's trick. He placed the glass of water on Duane's hands and then a spoon in his mouth. Try to get out of that one.

I don't know what Ken and Bill were yukking it up about, but whatever it was, it must have been darn funny.

Sue and Duane on formal night.

Brenda and Bill.

Rich and Maureen. New friends from Canada.

This is the picture going on my fridge to remind me to quit eating!

This is why I look like I do in the above picture. I really love dessert! I won 104 dollars on the 2 cent slot machine so I treated Ken to dinner at the fancy pay restaurant on the ship. It was an amazing meal topped off with this chocolate sampler. YUM!