March Madness
Well, here it is, my family letter/blog/LJ for the month. Due to some issues in blog-land, I'm going to try a new thing. Basically, put my monthly family letter on my blog. This will also encourage me to do my family letter, which is also a good thing So, March started out with me in South Carolina. My baby nevvy was getting blessed*. While a happy time, this was also a sad time, as my grandpa Allan had chosen the week before to finally 'give up the ghost', and pass on to the next life where my grandma and Mom were waiting for him (we’d known he was on his way for about a month). The funeral was the same weekend. Since I already had my plans, while I could have changed them, I decided to continue on to my sister's house for the celebration of life. I did send flowers, so I could be there in spirit if not in body. My dad told me later that he had the mortuary take them up to the burial site to be with the casket there as well (the burial site was in Springville, Utah, about a 3 hour drive from Cedar City where the funeral was held). But back to where I was. Beckie's in-laws, Roy and Nancy and a brother-in-law, came, and I have to say, she really lucked out with her in-laws. Nancy is fabulous. I hope I can have a mother-in-law like her someday. Saturday the menfolk took the older kids down to Charleston to see the sights, leaving the baby with Beckie and Nancy and me, and we had such a good day. I had rented a car so Beckie wouldn't have make the 2-hour drive to Charlotte to get me, and I ended up with a Prius--a RED Prius, no less. No worries about gas, it still had 1-2 gallons in it when I returned it. It was a way cool car. So when we had to run errands, this is the car we took. Very fun. Particularly after I figured out how to get it started (no key to turn in the ignition, a power button instead-weird). We made the chili for Sunday dinner, realized we were a couple ingredients short so went to the store, then got our lunch at a little bakery, and watched a movie in the afternoon. We even ran to Lowes to get painting supplies. Nancy and I got to hold JackJack all we wanted, which was great.
Sunday was really nice as well, everyone dressed up in their Sunday finery (yes there are pictures, and yes, they are still in my camera. Deal with it). Beckie actually got to hear the blessing--the last two she missed because of her other children. I actually missed Collin's as well, since both Bonnie and Malena were acting up, but this time they were both really good. So was Collin. Sunday afternoon was a typically lazy time, with naps, movies and playing with kidlets. And a very good dinner, too (Beckie gave me the recipe so i can repeat it when I choose).
Monday morning after the girls went to school, we painted the big living room. When they moved in last November, it was this dark paneling, so Doug painted primer all over it and stopped. Beckie found the color she wanted to paint it, ran it past Doug (because they both have to live there), but nothing else had been done. So Nancy decided we would paint it while we had four adults there to do it (hence the painting-supply run on Saturday). JackJack sat in his swing and basically slept the whole time, as I said the girls were at school, and Collin helped. Yes, the three-year-old was actually a great help. As I was taping up the base boards, he was very encouraging "You only have this much farther to go, Aunt Julia. You're doing great!" I decided I needed to take him home with me, because he is such a good little cheerleader. And so helpful! Willing to take stuff to the trash or find more tape rolls for us. So fun! We were done in about 2 hours, with a little time to spare before people had to leave to catch planes and whatnot. Collin and I had a rousing game of hide-and-seek while the others did the touch-ups.
The whole time I was there Jack took the opportunity at least once a day to spit up on me. Friday I had to change my shirt, and when Beckie said that they understand about spit-up, there was no need to change my shirt, I explained, “No, it was WET.” She gave her little baby a high-five. Yes, he got me on Saturday too, and twice on Sunday. The second time he was sitting on my tummy facing the TV, and I said something to him. He turned his head to look at me and deliberately spit up on me. Beckie was saying all weekend how he likes to be part of conversations and will talk to you just like you know what he’s saying and even listen, so I’m convinced it was a reaction to what I said. Don’t remember what it was, just that I laughed very hard. Jack is a very fun baby.
I returned to Maryland and promptly got sick. A head cold that lasted-well, I’m still congested as I write this so I’m thinking it’s still here. I managed to get to work and be somewhat productive, only taking a day or two off work, which was good since I had a major review last week of the stuff I’ve been working on for the last year and a half. Church didn’t fare so well-I managed to still do my callings, but I opted to stay home and sleep for two weeks in a row. I did make it to church on Easter Sunday, but left after Sacrament Meeting to go home and rest some more. I actually only went to support the Ward Choir, but when I got there they really did have enough altos so I’m thinking they didn’t need me; I should have just stayed home.
I did go see “Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day”, which I quite enjoyed. There was quite a bit of bare legs and backs in the beginning, but no bad language, and it was sweet in the end. I plan on seeing “Jumper,” but we’ll see if that happens before it leaves theaters, probably next week. I also managed to finish the Farscape series, which I was renting via my blockbusteronline. It ended very well, although I do wish D’Argo hadn’t died L
So I do my work during the day, I do my obligations in the evenings, and I spent a lot of time just crashing in front of the TV. Oh, but one of the things I also did this month was participate in our Relief Society project for Breast Cancer Survivors. One of the talented women in my ward came up with this as a tribute (hope she’s ok with me showing everyone):
Savage Mill Sisters
I also had a landscaper come by and do a proposal for a patio in my back yard. It was really nice, and with my tax return I think I can do this, so I’m getting a patio! Patio party at my place in May! Or June. Or maybe July. We’ll see J
So that’s my month of madness. Hope yours was less insane, or at least not so filled with being sick.
* In my church (remember, I'm a Mormon), we get baptized when we're 8 years old. When we're babies, we get a name and a blessing in church on Sunday. When Christ was on the earth, he often would call little children to him and bless them. This is why we bless the babies.
So, March started out with me in South Carolina. My baby nevvy was getting blessed*. While a happy time, this was also a sad time, as my grandpa Allan had chosen the week before to finally 'give up the ghost', and pass on to the next life where my grandma and Mom were waiting for him (we’d known he was on his way for about a month). The funeral was the same weekend. Since I already had my plans, while I could have changed them, I decided to continue on to my sister's house for the celebration of life. I did send flowers, so I could be there in spirit if not in body. My dad told me later that he had the mortuary take them up to the burial site to be with the casket there as well (the burial site was in Springville, Utah, about a 3 hour drive from Cedar City where the funeral was held). But back to where I was.