When it rains, it pours!

Wow, we had constant rain for 2 days, a short break on Sunday, and it is raining again! This is what our front yard looks like :(

First Robin!

I saw the first robin of 2009 today! For some reason it always thrills me - spring will be here in no time at all :)

Michael's Birthday!

Michael & Lea spent the weekend with us to celebrate his 29th birthday! We sampled Buffalo Wild Wings for lunch, then enjoyed dinner at the Packinghouse Restaurant, followed by the movie "Flawless".

Lea is getting close to her due date - May 6th (also Lea and Claire's birthday)! She is still working at the U of I hospital, but plans to end work near the end of March. They need time to hunt for an apartment in St. Louis and get things ready for the arrival of "baby girl".

Lea got Michael the "clear play" DVD and a year's subscription. If any of you have not heard of this, it is cool. You can put filters on any DVD release and remove violent scenes, sex, nudity, etc. - the things that make movies rated "R".

Birthday / Valentine's Day

This is me with my 2 cousins from Cochranton, Pa.

Happy Birthday to my cousin, Katy! She's the cute one on the right :) Anita is the "young" one on the left. We have been meeting in Cincinnatti at my brother and sister-in-law's home during the summer, and hope to be able to do it again this year. (Jim & Jo, can we come?!)

I found 2 old pictures from Valentine's Day past - but couldn't get them to upload! One was a cute one of Michael and Brian in 1993; the other was Rob and I in 1998. I had too much hair anyway, so maybe it's better it didn't upload :)

This year we went to the Packinghouse restaurant - famous for it's cinnamon rolls. The shrimp was delicious - Megan will want to go there with us some time.

I have tomorrow off from school so will probably start working on our income taxes.

A day off from school is NOT a day off from work!

Sandy

February Thaw !

Lucky Illinois - we have had some southerly winds that brought the temperature up to almost 60 degrees on Saturday! The birds were tweeting like crazy - but only til Wed/Thurs when the temps go back to the 30's. But I took a walk in just a sweatshirt and took the Christmas lights down and cleaned up the garage a little and it felt so good to be outside :)

Hope you all have a good week and a Happy Valentine's Day!

No YMCA for me!

Nope, I don't need to exercise at the YMCA - all I do is haul wood from the back yard to the house! When a tree falls in the Village of Henderson, Rob helps cut it up, puts it in the truck, and puts it in the back yard. Then it's my job.
I was watching a news clip from an area hit by the latest ice storm and a family was chopping down their wooden fence to burn in the fireplace for heat! We are in good shape here with our own fuel, food, and water storage. It's a good feeling :)

Christmas With Michael & Lea

We had Christmas with Michael & Lea after I returned from Sequim. They had fun spending Christmas with Lea's family in Texas where her sister now lives.