Wow! What a great week!

Love seeing those grandkids smile. Nothing makes them smile like being together and this weekend, Mark and Diana got the dynamic threesome together. After the initial screams of joy at being together, they had a wonderful weekend. No fighting, like normal siblings, not for these three. They were so happy to be together that it was just happy times and hard to pry them apart. They left with plans for their next weekend together in August.

Earlier in the week, Catie had Taylor come to spend some lazy summer time together. They hung out, cruised around myspace and took silly photos of themselves. Two nights before that, Alexis spent the night and she and Catie made some interesting ice cream creations.

On Sunday, Grandma helped to make shishkabob and we all gathered for dinner. Andy and Daniel hung out and there were lots of giggles to be heard from their corner. Justin has been gimping in and out, stopping for a meal (sometimes at 2am) and is planning on going to wrestling camp with Andy on Sunday.

It could be a quiet next week, with Andy gone....wonder what Catie has planned.

Greetings from the Pound

A message to you from the Eaton Rapids Dog Pound:

I woke this morning to a little puppy tongue washing my face. I felt the patter of 4 little feet running up and down my body. I am getting used to it, since 8 week old Lucy Lu wakes me up that way every morning. She barks while she does it too. Shortly thereafter, I hear the barking of 2 puppies and 2 full grown chihuahuas.....and it doens't stop for at least 20 minutes as they race through the house. They are having their morning romp!

Joe calls the house and says....is this the Pound Mommy?

He is absolutely in LOVE with Lucy Lu and has been from the first day. He bought her a collar, got her shots and then says, "well if you can sell her, go ahead." I admit, I haven't had the heart to advertise her, but I have had enough with dogs! They are making Sabrina look good. (who by the way now LIVES on my footstool)

Sabrina will NOT allow me to use the footstool, as it is HERS. I don't argue with that cat. She wins. She bites. So, she sleeps there most of the evening at my feet, perches there first thing in the morning to meow at me and seems to watch all the action from there. By action, (and I DO mean action) I am talking about the puppy wrestling matches.

All is well in the Pound on this beautiful summer day. Grandma seems so content and happy here, Andy is in love and smiles more than ever, Mellow Mikey is doing well (even if he DID get a speeding ticket last night). Mike and Andy actually went to WARP tour together and came home in one piece. Catie is really blossoming this summer, in spite of being 13 and Joe is doing the best he can to get out to his boat, where he is the happiest.

I have found my niche, I think. I am just Mom and it keeps me rather busy. Yeah, I am still attempting to knit a million UFO's (unfinished objects), thinking about scrapbooking and mostly doing the endless laundry of summer. I got as far as startingto clean the back porch this summer. Not doing a whole lot of much, except hanging out with my kids. Can't think of a better way to spend my summer.

Friday Night Family BarBq

Just as I was wishing to see grandkids, Laura granted my wish. Her family was going to gather for dinner and bonfire and we were invited. We picked up Grandma and headed to her brother, Dave's house only to be welcomed into a backyard feast of BarBQ turkey, pork, beef and lots of pot luck dishes. Mmmmmmm! I love eating other people's cooking!!

Had a great time watching the kids play, especially when Alexis and Catie started putting ice down people's backs. Jan got 'em back!

The ball went in the tree and Laura's neice climbed about 3 stories up the pine tree, entertaining everyone.

The kids enjoyed the pool and then finished off the evening with S'mores at the bonfire. Can't think of a better way to spend a Friday night.

Missing Cat Today

It's Cat's birthday today and I am really missing the insanity of the day already. It is only 5:30am here as I write (11:30am in London) and I am sitting thinking of the excitement of past birthdays. She used to get so excited by the day before that she would get sick!

It was never hard to make her happy. A special cake would send her to the moon with excitement. Last year, it was a cupcake tree! These past few years, we have managed to be together every year on her birthday by sharing vacations, planned around the special day. Now that Tate's birthday is so close, we get double celebrations. Chins know how to celebrate. We often turn it into "Birth-Week" by having more than one party and days of "Early Birthday Presents". Joey was always good at that. He coined the phrase "ECP"....which also became "EBP".

I hope today is filled with laughter in London. We are missing her!

Justin and Andy's BAD Night

Justin and Andy were heading to their friend Tully's house, each in their own cars, when Justin left the road to avoid an oncoming car. Andy experienced the nightmare of watching his best buddy crash into a pine tree and telephone pole. He quickly called 911 while helping Justin until help arrived.

Thankfully, Justin's injury could be mended and he is recuperating at Sparrow Hospital from a broken leg and wounds. We all spent the night with Justin at Sparrow, until he was out of surgery and in recovery. Andy and Sam kept him company all day yesterday and the entire family continues the trek to Sparrow, until we have him home safe and sound. He will spend the next months in rehab and on crutches, but will be good as new per the ER doc, by wrestling season. Due to his age, he is in the Pediatric department at Sparrow and his room has a crib. They gave Justin the big bed, but Sam got tired while visiting and decided to try out the extra bed.

Missin' My Kids!

I woke up this morning and realized that I am just missing my grandkids. It has been a couple of week since I got hugs from Daniel and Alexis, about a month since I saw that beautiful smile of Tate's and far too long since Nick and Cameron were in my arms. Life isn't fair.

I read all the old novels about family living close and gathering regularly. We lost Karen last year, Joey is in Kansas, and Cat is in London. How did all that happen and why? Laura is great about making sure we get to see the kids, thank God, but I long for what cannot be. I want Sunday BarBQs with my whole family.

With Joe sick right now, I just can't pull it off alone, but I am committed to spending time with the kids. To see Tate, means I start saving $$ for a ticket to London. Groan! No way around that one.

Nick and Cam live only 20 miles away and I will find a way to get a message to their Dad. Summer is running fast.....but we still have July and August to play. Catie, Nick, Cameron, Daniel and Alexis can have a good time together and I am sure if Joe isn't up to it, Laura will help me.

When Cat returns from London, I will convince Joey to come home and we will have a big party where I can put my whole family together, if only for a day. Until then, I will find a way to get the children all together soon. They need it and I need it.

It is the important part of life, beyond all else. Family.

The Dogs HATE the 4th of July

It was inevitable and at promptly 9pm the noise began. Instantly, the dogs began going crazy and one by one, they were running for cover. With Mike, Andy and Catie all gone to see the fireworks display, I began scooping them up. I carried them all up to our bedroom so I could soothe them, but it wasn't me they wanted! Oddly enough, it was only Josie that lay on the bed with me, while her entire family cuddled with Joe.

CRAZY CAT!

Ever since Sabrina bit me, we have been re-negotiating our relationship. NO animal has ever bitten me, so I had to really think this one over. I decided to keep my distance for the first few days. Maybe she would miss all the love I was pouring all over her and feel bad about biting me. Probably not, but that is what I told myself, since my arm was aching from the shot and I wasn't loving her.

Then she began trying to get my attention. She was as stubborn as I was. She began by creeping all around me meowing loudly. Then rubbing against me and finally turning up EVERYWHERE I turned. As shown above, I went to the porch and had that feeling that someone was looking at me. I had removed the cracked top of the cedar chest and there she was....just staring at me. Was she waiting to pounce and bite?



That night I sat down to knit and she decided to take the plunge.....jumped on the couch and began to rub on me and my yarn. She LOVES wool! She also won't go away until I pay and scratch her.

I got up the next morning and there she was SITTING ON MY LAPTOP!



Unfortunately, she would not get down. I was afraid to push her, as I did not want another bite and she wasn't willing to move with a little prodding. Instead she turns around and meows loudly, as if to say "Who do you think you are?"