Happy Birthday, Clay!

Hard to believe Clay is 14! We had a great weekend; Clay wanted some friends over to celebrate his birthday, so he invited 3 (and he made 4) on Friday after school. It was a beautiful day and the boys ran around and played outside for quite a while. Then they enjoyed pizza and fresh fruit before heading out to see a movie (I think it was "17 Again"). When they got home, they played cards, watched tv, and finally went to sleep. They were all up bright and early the next morning and helped themselves to muffins, boiled eggs, and juice I had out for them. Then they played Euchre for a while and gradually left as their parents picked them up for various activities - a barmitzva, a baseball game, and a walk for the March of Dimes.

We scurried around picking up a bit to get ready for Aunt Sharon, Uncle John, and Mike's visit. Then we relaxed and enjoyed a rainy Saturday! On Sunday, Sharon, John, and Mike arrived. It was so good to see them; it's been too long. Sharon and John are some of our oldest "joint" or "couple" friends. I met Sharon while working at St. Luke's Hospital (she is one of the best nurses I've ever worked with ... ok, THE BEST!). So Sharon and John have been through our dating, engagement, first house, births of our children ... everything! Mike is one of their 4 children. Sharon and John are the boy's godparents, and have been "aunt" and "uncle" to them, as well as surrogate grandparents, babysitters, friends, and neighbors all rolled into one! (Oh - we bought our first house on the same block as theirs!)

So Sunday was just perfect, visiting, eating, celebrating Christmas and missed birthdays, as well as Clay's birthday. It was interesting that Harrison commented after they left that they are "really nice people." It was the first time he saw them as people beyond the roles they've filled in the boy's lives - I guess Harrison is growing up!

Mike is the absolute, hand down king of all things laundry. Mike knows all the makes and models of washing machines and dryers imaginable. He not only did all our regular laundry while they were here (several loads), but all the towels, and all the bedding (2 double beds, 1 queen, 1 king), including blankets. When the boys and I walked into the laundry room yesterday evening, Clay just stopped in his tracks and said "WOW." Imagine seeing every single item (including those pesky fitted sheets) not only perfectly clean, but without a single wrinkle, and all folded PERFECTLY. Every towel stacked up in perfect allignment. Every sheet set folded to exact size. Clay almost didn't want to make his bed because the sheets looked so perfect!

So on top of the fun and great company, I also got the gift of one day of perfect laundry! Kinda like it was my birthday!

The second picture is of Clay last week; he won the characature division and had it displayed at the Forest Hills Fine Arts Center. It was funny because he just sketched his teacher in class, and the teacher submitted it. If you see the Batman drawing as well - that is what Clay really likes to do (superheros), and he does them better than the one there! No offense; that is a very good Batman sketch, but Clay does better. So it was kind of amusing to us that this 2 minute, goofy thing of his teacher won in the characature catagory!

So I've been riding that darn stationary bike. 6 miles today. I have a lot more energy and need to go a lot further than that, but I just can't force myself to stay on it any longer. Quite honestly, I have a hard time even getting my heart rate up to a decent level in that time (about 35 minutes). I use an up and down hill program, but I don't pedal like a madman because I have to distract myself, so I watch tv and then my legs slow down! I'm going to try to do 40 minutes tomorrow and keep increasing it. I ought to feel like I've done something when I get off and need to burn more to stay on track with the President's thing. On the upside, the foot is doing great. It aches by 6 or 7 every evening, but doing fine all day. Keeping the sticky tape stuff on for support really helps and I'm not even favoring it when I walk until late in the day. So, I have decided I can do 6 weeks for my foot and I am now in week 2. A third down!

Just Call Me Dr. Laura

Well! My final defense (dissertation) was today and I passed. I won't actually "graduate" (the ceremony and all) until December, WOW, what a milestone! One of my committee members confessed he has been teaching me this past semester in Florida (well, my work, not "me") ... which is a cool feeling, having spent many, many years teaching other people's work.

Soooooooo ... now I'm rather wound up, sure I won't sleep for several hours and thinking about all the stuff I've put off for years (clean my office, etc) because "I have more important things to do than clean house!" I'm gonna have to find a new excuse. ;-)

Easter

Well, after early church, we drove across the state (hey - great way to do Easter ... spend 4 or 5 hours driving!!) to visit Grandma and Grandpa. We went out for Easter dinner (lunch), which was really good. Then we went back to their house to exchange baskets, play Uno, and celebrate Clay's birthday. Quite sincerely, the driving wasn't too bad. I drove both ways and on the way there, all 3 guys just slept. It was sunny and beautiful and I enjoyed watching all the sherriffs hiding out along the highways (waiting to catch people speeding to church??). The way home was just as nice; we enjoyed the sunshine and enjoyed looking at places and changes along the back roads we drove.

I was surprised how much traffic there was on the way home; maybe people returning late from spring break. So there's a picture of Grandma and the boys out in the sunshine (although it was much colder there than at home ... never got out of the 40's). The boys were thrilled to receive anitque zippos from Grandpa in their baskets (they both collect them) and antique pocket watches.

I got a unique Easter basket ... smoked pork chops from Jack's! Those are my favorite type of pork and nothing can compare to Jack's Market. That is one thing I have missed sorely in GR ... FANTASTIC meats. I've tried just about everywhere anyone has recommended around here, but nothing comes even close to the quality and flavor (or price) of Jack's meats back in Saginaw. The smoked pork chops are about an inch thick, juicy, even if you cook them on the grill. The beef is always so tender you can cut it with a fork and amazingly flavorful ... and always at least $2 cheaper per pound than anything I've seen here. Even the roasts are more tender and flavorful. The chicken is also great there, as are homemade sausages of all types, lunch meats, etc. One thing our whole family loves is the round steak for making swiss steak because it has the bone in, which I can't find in GR. I always buy some extra bones to throw in as well, because we all love the marrow! I think I may have to make a run to Saginaw to go shopping at Jack's and stock up on meat!

Happy Easter!

Wishing everyone a joy filled Easter! I liked the above picture because it portrays the 3 Marys. ("John 19:25-27 Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene.") I believe Christ's intent was for these women to lead the church, but the men, being men of their times (and I guess just being men) stomped that out. Jesus was always supportive of women and children and asked for them when other men wanted to turn them away. I cannot believe his wish was for women to be disallowed from participating in his ministry, as some would have us believe.

By the way, did you know that "Jesus" is the Greek translation of his name? His name in his own language (Aramaic) was Yeshua ... which in English is Joshua. My kids ask me why people in Spanish name their kids "Jesus" (well more often, "Jesus Maria!") and I reply "Why do people here name their kids Joshua?"

Checking In

Been busy around here; nearing end of semester (3 more weeks!) so I have stacks of term papers and homework assignments and presentations to go over. I'm nearing the end of dissertation as well, so that's also taking up many extra hours. Upside is spring break and the boys seem to be just loving being home with no schedule ... eating, playing games, watching movies, playing pool, etc. when they feel like it! Also makes it a whole lot easier on me to not have to get them up and make breakfast in the morning. It's amazing how much easier morning is when all you have to do is YOU! OK, I guess I'm ready for summer vacation for my kids!