Diary of a School District Employee on Spring Break: Days 7, 8 and 9

Yep, here we are.  As often happens in the saga of normal diary writing, there are just some days that get away from us, and before you know it, you have to condense the fun into one entry.  

The reason this time is a good one.  The Guzmans (Lisa, Hondo, Mo and Mara) arrived around 9:30 p.m. on Thursday night, and the best part of the break began!  My Mo gives the tightest hugs when we are reunited, and I love it! Mara warmed up quickly, too, and can say "Gramma" now (heaven!)!

So, Friday--

Kelli came down to spend the day with us, too, so we colored, got out Play-Doh (old and too dry), and just visited and visited.  The major event, unfortunately, took place early in the evening, and had nothing to do with our guests.  Lisa and I finally got a chance to head to Target to buy Easter supplies, while Kelli got the girls ready to go play outside.  Right after they went out, Josie attacked Viva, and they began a huge fight.  Kelli was a rock star...she instinctively grabbed a girl under each arm and fled to the house. Then she got out the hose and sprayed them, trying to break it up.  She called us, but I told her to let them fight it out. This happened last summer while she and I were in Orem. Our neighbor called to tell me they were fighting, and she hollered at them but they wouldn't stop. I don't know what triggers it.  Regardless, it continued, and Kelli called again.  So Lisa and I abandoned our outing and headed home. By the time we'd arrived, Kelli had used the hose again and succeeded in stopping the fight. They'd worn each other out. Viva was bloody and traumatized. She wouldn't let me touch her.  So we separated them for the rest of the night. It became obvious after an hour or so, though, that while Viva was outwardly the worse for wear, Josie had it worse.  She was limping, and when we shut her into our room on her bed, she didn't move the rest of the night until morning. I was worried about internal bleeding.  We certainly can't afford to fix that.  

So, Saturday--

Josie didn't get up to go outside in the morning, Viva was feeling much better. I called Michael and we took her (Josie) to the vet.  I intended to have Josie put down, but the gals at the vet talked us into a basic exam to determine her injuries first, before making that decision. I felt it was the least we could do. The exam determined that she didn't seem to have serious internal damage, so we brought her home with an antibiotic and some phone numbers of shelters/sanctuaries. She's doing much better now, but we can't keep her. 

Lisa and I finally did our Easter shopping, and then Grandma and Grandpa Gray came down to visit and share an early Easter dinner with all of us. Kelli and Tyler are both sick, so they couldn't join us. It was such a nice visit, though, and a wonderful meal!  They left shortly after dinner, and we set up supplies to color Easter eggs.  It was so fun! Mo was delighted, it was just like magic for her when Lisa pulled out the first egg from the dye cup! So cute! 

We got the girls bathed and to bed, and then Lisa and I put together the baskets.  Hondo laughed at all the candy and goodies we got, but hey!  That's the fun!

Sunday--

Girls woke up, came out and saw the Easter baskets.  So fun! The Easter bunny got them each a cute little stuffed bunny, Mara latched on to the purple one right away!  Then giving Mo instructions on how to hunt for the Easter eggs that were hidden in the living room was so adorable!  She had so much fun finding them! Lisa and Hondo reminded me that I have had Easter with them every year.  I didn't remember that, but I don't doubt it! It's just worked out that way!

This weekend was General Conference, too, but what with the doggie drama and guests, I didn't get to watch as much of it as I had hoped. Thank goodness for lds. org!

Sunday highlight...Lisa handed Mara and her bottle to me late in the morning, and my sweet girl fell asleep on my lap, so we snuggled while they packed and cleaned up.  They left a little after 1...tugged at my heart, I helped Mara climb down the front steps and she toddled off toward her car, but then turned around and took a few steps back toward us, as if to say, "Aren't you coming too?" Sweet girl!  

I took a lovely long nap that afternoon, and then Mikey and I snacked on leftovers for dinner. Then it was time to figure out what to do with the kids during library this week....and just like that, spring break was over.  

I'm glad I didn't plan to travel, because I really needed this week home. Loved so much of it, and though I can't truly say I'm refreshed, I am at least a little bit renewed. Now I'm just determined to make the best of these last 6 weeks. They'll fly by, as they always do! A lot will happen between now and then, with the biggest event the arrival of Beau Michael Sadler! Jen's c-section is scheduled for April 30, and we are all praying that her blood pressure stays low until then! 

The fun never ends..........

Thanks for listening.  

Diary of a School District Employee on Spring Break: Day 6

Another lovely day.  Thursdays are (usually) Mikey's days off, and so most of the year we do not get a day off together.  Even during the summer, or on extended vacation days (like now, and Christmas), I am often gone, doing the Gramma thing, and so we don't have time together.  Thankfully, this Thursday was the exception.  And it was wonderful.

We were both fairly motivated to get some extra work done around the house, because Lisa, Hondo and the girls were due that evening.  So, I tackled things like cleaning the stove top, the microwave, getting laundry folded and put away...while he vacuumed (he does a WAY better job than I do) and picked up dog doo in the yard.  I did some mending on my jeans and fixed my Book Fair apron.

We each took a turn running errands...he did the bank, got prescriptions and fruit, and lunch.  I went out later to get more ice (gotta have that Sonic ice!) and a DQ treat.  Then we watched The Desolation of Smaug, and I crocheted more than I probably have in the last 6 months.

Dinner was delegated to Dominos, and then, at last, the Guzmans arrived about 9:15 p.m.!  My Mo just gives the best, tightest hugs, and she and Mara were both so excited to check out Gramma and Grandad's toys.  It's been about a year since they've been here at our house, so everything is new again!

What a blessed day.....time alone with Michael, and then a daughter, son-in-law and grandchildren!

The fun continues............

Diary of a School District Employee on Spring Break: Day 5

Wednesday was wonderful.  Absolutely wonderful. I stayed in my jammies until after 4 pm and didn't feel one little bit bad about it.  Oh, I still puttered and did a few things around the house...a load of whites, washed some pots and pans, etc.  

*Hung up these wooden craft projects, one that was a gift and the other that I made at a Relief Society function.  I was actually pretty pleased that I had some leftover hardware to put on the backs so they could be hung.  

*Crocheted some more on the endless afghan (it is referred to in several past posts, and yet never completed!) and watched Saving Mr. Banks.  Did some Googling/Wikipedia reading on P.L. Travers....Disney definitely 'sanitized' this one as well, but in this case, I'm glad.  She really was a miserable, cantankerous woman.  It really is amazing that she created such a wonderful character.  She really hated the movie, but as Walt was assumed to have said to her, "That ship has sailed".  She wouldn't give movie rights to any of the rest of the books, but you know what.......that's OK.  This one will always be my favorite, and a classic all on its own.

*Face timed with Stef about 4, she just laughed at me when she saw me in my nightie!  So I did shower.

*Went to Target, spent my usual $100.  (You know how they have dollar stores?  Target is my $100 store).

*Michael went straight from work to meetings, so we ate late, watched a little TV and went to bed.  

Moving on.............

Diary of a School District Employee on Spring Break: Day 4

I actually had to go back and look at which day I was on.  It's almost like my dad, who's been retired for 20 years or so now..he takes great pride in the fact that he doesn't know, or care, what day of the week it is.  Well, he does keep track of what day he goes to shoot on the archery course.  Anyway, I'm actually at the point in my vacation that I have to stop and think about what day of the week it is...how fun is that?!

As for Day 4, it was so nice!  Here's why:

*Ate a leisurely bowl of Cap'n Crunch
*Showered, etc.
*Headed up to Grand Junction: first stop, Kelli's house
  Kelli and Tyler are in their last month of living in a basement apartment on the Redlands.  They've just been accepted to rent a little duplex, also on the Redlands, but above ground and (Kelli enthusiastically notes!) with a dishwasher!
*Kelli and I drove separately to my haircut appointment, where I had my usual pampering and enjoyable visit with my "personal stylist", my brother's stepdaughter.  She gives me the family rate, and I love my haircut.
*Kelli and I hurried to Chik-Fil-A for a quick lunch, then met my mom at the movie theater to see "Cinderella".  It was Mom's idea, and I was happy to have my mommy take me to a Disney movie!  When my kids were little, Mom loved having us come to visit, so she could justify seeing the kiddie movies with the grandkids!  Well, she still does it....so what if the grandchild is 23 1/2? :)  This type of outing is one of the best reasons Kelli and I have for living back here on the Western Slope.  Quality time with my parents and my brother and his family is priceless.
*Kelli left us to go do laundry/grocery shopping, and Mom and I went to her house, where I finally got to meet the rat terrier mix they just adopted.  He's about 8 1/2, they renamed him Coot, and he's a love bug.  He worships my dad already, and they're so happy to have a dog back in their lives!  The few months before they found this little guy were hard on both of them.  My dad has never been without a dog in his life.  This is a win/win for them and for that little rat (terrier).  
*Had dinner with mom and dad, and headed back home.  Again, any time I can just hang out with my parents is priceless to me.  They're 76 years old, still going strong, but I don't want to waste any time that I'm given with them.

Thus endeth the Tuesday of spring break, 2015.  On we go.