The Last Few Days......

The first few days of this new month and year were on the slow side.

The pace picked up on Wednesday.

Louis Dean had his mandatory Medicare Wellness Check up and he was not happy about it.

Still, he came home smiling.

While neither one of us got around to getting our flu shot this year, they Physician's Assistant gave LD a pneumonia shot. As she was ready to plunge it in, she said, "Just relax your arm."

"It IS relaxed," he said.
 "OH!" she said.

Not bad for a 81 year old!!

Then we drove over to Quadville and swapped vehicles to bring the quads over.

Amber has been very ill since Saturdy - as in sick in bed and can't get up kind of ill! We had already planned on a Quad Wednesday and by keeping them overnight and into Thursday, this would give her some time to recover. 

As we were pulling out of the driveway, we asked them what they wanted to eat for lunch.

Hamburgers!!! Granddad's HOMEMADE hamburgers!

We stopped at the nearby Aldi and all four kids helped me shop for the fixings.

They were so good.

I received lots of compliments on them and their behaviour.

They were a big help and loaded the things into the cart.

The whole 'get a shopping cart for a quarter and return it for your money back' thing intrigued them.

Plus they have never shopped at Aldi to begin with so it was a different experience for them.

They loaded things IN the buggy and then were amazed when we were given a different buggy. 

Then they unloaded the stuff and I gave each child a ten cent plastic bag and they divided the purchases up. Chips and soft stuff went in one and so on. Logan and Harrison are the strongest so they put the heavy items in their bags. Then we pushed it all to the car, unloaded them, and returned the buggy. They all wanted to see how you got the quarter back so we did it over and over again.

Who knew going to the store could be so much FUN??

We had a late lunch since the quads had just finished breakfast when we picked them up.

That gave us all some free time. 

Louis Dean was watching the news in the den.

Harrison and Trystan were playing with some magnets in the living room.

Logan was coloring at the den game table.

Kailey was using markers on fabric squares in the sewing room.

I was in the kitchen doing some lunch prep.

All of a sudden Kailey whipped herself out of her chair at my sewing machine and whirled into the kitchen screaming, "MEEMAW!!!! There's a RAT in your house!!! He just came in!!!"

Good grief!!! Really?? I ran in there to look and just about that time something sailed over my head.

It was a bird. A small bird.

It flew into our bedroom. Bless its heart, it was scared.

It flew from one side of the room over to the closet doors - banging into the mirrors.

I was afraid it was going to hurt itself.

He flew into the guest room and that's when I went out to the gazebo and got the butterfly net.

He was on the side of a picture frame so I put the net over him and then wondered how I would get him down in it. No need. He perched right there on the side and I slowly carried him outside.

Still, he didn't get off the net. I even went in the house to get my iPad to take some photos and he stayed right there until I got back. 

We were beginning to wonder if he really was injured when he hopped off the net and then - bingo!

He flew right back into the house!

We had left the screen door open hoping he would fly out and didn't close it.

It was quite an adventure!

He did fly back out and we shut the door!!

It was a really cold day so I'm not sure why Kailey even opened the sewing room door except that she probably wanted to go out and visit the gazebo.

We ate our hamburger lunch in the den.

While I did the dishes, Granddad read How the Grinch Stole Christmas to the kids.

I had a good fire burning so we gathered up pillows and blankets and settled down to read and nap.

I read the last chapter of On the Banks of Plum Creek and then we read the first few chapters of By the Shores of Silver Lake. I think we started reading the Little House Books to the quads when they were about 2 years old. I'll have to go back and look. They - and WE - have enjoyed introducing them to Ma and Pa, Mary and Laura and Baby Carrie.....and Jack the brindle bull dog. He died in the last chapter of On the Banks of Plum Creek.

Since we had a late lunch and then took naps, it was dark when we woke up.

The kids were alarmed but I assured them we had plenty of time to play games and do things!

And we did!

I went out to get something out of the gazebo and heard water running.

A pipe had busted on the back pond.

Louis Dean to the rescue!

We have a cut off for the back water that allows us to keep the water on in the kitchen.

So he cut off the water and fixed the pipe but we couldn't turn the bathroom waters on until the next morning. I filled mop buckets up with water for flushing the toilets and we skipped baths.

I might say that a bucket full of water is HEAVY!

We all slept well. I leave water and snacks for the kids and they know to play quietly until everyone is awake. By 9:00 we were all up.

The kids dearly love hash browns and cinnamon rolls. 

The egg muffins (as seen on Facebook lately!) was not a hit.

Our next activity was to make Dilly Bits!

Now that's a sure fire hit with them and were made at their request!

We gathered our stuff up and left Granddad at home to rest. He wasn't feeling well.

We arrived back in Quadville in the late afternoon and Amber was still pretty sick.

The kids know the Rules of the House.

At home Mama and Dada rule.

At MeeMaw's - MeeMaw rules.

As a matter of fact - on Christmas Eve when we were about to do the gifts- and someone said "Mike's in charge," meaning he was the one to hand them all out,  Harrison - quick as a wink - said in a loud voice, "NO, he's NOT! In THIS house, MeeMaw's in charge!!!"

Well, since Amber was so sick, I told the kids - with her permission - that as long as I was there that day that I would remain in charge. Kids understand rules. Even exceptions.

We had a good time decorating the giant gingerbread men that Neighbor Stephanie gave them!

You can sure see each little personality in them.

Harrison and his dad went off that evening for some 'Guy Time.' Wise Mama and Dada!

Amber rallied long enough to do the girls nails.

This is Logan's. She took my phone and proceeded to take lots and lots of pictures.

This is my favorite one!

What a clever child.

Plus she made videos for me.

One of them she is telling me, "You can watch this anytime you want and you can see me."

Here's a short one I can share.

There's a lot of background talking because Harrison and his dad had just come home and we were in the next bedroom hearing all about their Guy Time.

She took several pics of me but this is the one most flattering!

I talked to Summer this evening and she is still in New York City.

Their flight home today was cancelled due to the snow storm.

She has paced herself and held up pretty well.

I'm so glad she was able to go!

Now THIS is the view I have had all day and I'm happy I have a pretty bedroom to look at.

Louis Dean and I are both sick.

He is coughing and hacking and gagging.

I have what feels like a head cold. 

I know I'm sick when I do not even want to get out of bed.

So I have just stayed here.

Louis Dean has stayed in the den and watched Gunsmoke.

Lots and lots of Gunsmoke. It's that or the news.

I'm really not feeling well and once I get better I hope to NOT hear either the news or Gunsmoke for awhile. I am even looking forward to the  blood and guts programs like Blue Bloods and NCIS!!!

Enough of Matt Dillon and Miss Kitty.

The novelty has worn off for me......or perhaps I am just feeling sick and tired.

That's it! I really am sick and tired.

So I bid you good night as I go back to bed!

Stay well and stay warm!!