Friday, January 8, 2010

Busy and Growing Family

Oh my, it's been a busy week.  This was my first day in a week to spend alone in my own house and get some cleaning done here.  It's Friday, 5:00 p.m., and I'm finally sitting down with a glass of wine and catching up on my writing.  My Bob should be home shortly and is bringing home Chinese take-out.  This has become our new Friday night ritual.  We used to go out to dinner on Fridays, but we just don't feel like going out, especially in this weather.


The snow just keeps coming down.  Those schools that didn't close today ended up dismissing early.  I keep measuring the amount of snow by looking at how much is piled on my back deck railings and table. 

This was yesterday morning.  There's more now.


We need to get this shoveled off soon or it's going to get too heavy. 

                    Mom and Dad's house



My dad shoveling.  I know he's smiling, but he's not really having fun.


It's also very cold outside.  It was 8 degrees at 9:00 this morning and it's 16 degrees at 5 pm.  It's beautiful if you're lucky enough to be inside a warm house. 
Last weekend I wasn't so in love with this weather.  We moved Austin and family about 50 miles away, but with the back roads and the bad weather it takes about an hour and a half to get there.  Bob and Austin loaded the U-Haul themselves and I don't know how they did it.  I helped on the other end and spent the night with them Saturday night so I could continue unpacking and cleaning on Sunday.  It was so late, dark, cold and snowy that the U-Haul didn't get un-loaded until Sunday morning.  What a job!!  Bob and I came home Sunday and Bob said he felt like he just ran a marathon and I said I felt like I was hit by a truck.  We made a promise to each other that our furniture moving days are over.  The boys can find friends or hire professionals.  They have too much stuff now and we're getting too old.  We can do it, but the recovery time has increased greatly.
On Wednesday I went back down to the kids' new house with a car load of left behind items and continued the unpacking and cleaning.  The house is nice with a lot of potential, but it was really left dirty by the previous tenants.  I'm tired of cleaning but I can't make myself stop when there is still more to do.  I came back home Wednesday night and will not allow myself to go back down until maybe next Wednesday.  As long as Melissa is still asking for my help I will continue cleaning, fixing and decorating.  With her being pregnant I don't want her to lift too much or move furniture.
After I got home on Wednesday, exhausted and sore and getting into a hot bath, my #2 son, Brandon, called from Spokane.  It was 10:30 at night and I was surprised that he called that late, but he was telling me about their move into their house on Monday (see, if we're not there they find a way) and that they have a new mattress and new washer and dryer ordered and to be delivered when Diana returns from her visit here.  Diana arrived at her parents in Pittsburgh last night and she and Baby Riley will be stopping by my house tomorrow.  So I'm thinking to myself, why is he calling me so late and telling me this.  But I'm glad he called me so I'm asking questions about the house, mattress and washer and dryer.  Then he says, "and we also have another baby coming in August".  Oh My!!  Baby Riley is only 7 months old.  I am thrilled, though.  Brandon said that is why they called me first, because they knew I would be excited.  They were surprised but happy with the news themselves.  So now I have two new grandbabies arriving this summer.  That will make five grandchildren in six years for us.  I can hardly believe it. 
I now have more baby quilts to sew and baby sweaters, hats and booties to knit.  I just don't know how I can keep up!  I can't sew and knit fast enough!  I think we may be done with new babies after these next two, but I said that seven months ago!



8 comments:

Theresa said...

Oh Nina, babies are precious, congratulations! I hope you get some well deserved rest after all that work! Hang in there and enjoy your weekend! Love the snow pictures, we had a dusting last night but nothing like you have! Hugs from Georgia!cor

Anonymous said...

Nina, after reading a few of your blog posts I think we are truly long lost sisters. It's amazing how much we think alike.

Your family sounds wonderful and congratulations on the new baby on the way. I also love to go and do for my adult kids. When our oldest daughter and her hubby purchased their 2nd home she was pregnant and we traveled to CA to move them.I did almost all the cleaning and my hubby moved furniture with son in law. We were beat but the kids were happy and it took away a lot of their stress to have us there.

I adore my family and your words tell me the same holds true for you. So nice to meet you!

Annette said...

Oh Nina...how exciting for you! Congratulations! And yes, our children really can find ways to cope when we can't help!

Andrea said...

Gosh you are busy! Your family is so lucky to have you. Congratulations on the new additions!

StitchinByTheLake said...

We reached the point where you are a couple of years ago Nina - we can't recover like we used to so our best bet is to babysit the children during a move for our kids. That's more fun anyway. :) We won't be having any more grandchildren either (everyone's been "fixed") but I do have a 21 year old grandon who is "pre-engaged" whatever that is. That means a great-grand for me in the next few years! I don't think I'm old enough for that but time does march on. blessings, marlene

Cottage Rose said...

OH Nina; How exciting for you,,to have two new babies this year... I know what you mean about not having enough time Quilting,, I am almost done with the baby quilt I am making for a dear friend's daughter their first.... you photos are so pretty,, but would not want to be out in it... take care and stay warm,, and don't move to much.....

Hugs;
Alaura

Manuela@A Cultivated Nest said...

It was 10 degrees today, and yesterday, and the day before that.... Chinese take out sounds good. My husband and I used to do that every Friday night when we were dating.

Congrats on the new additions!

Manuela

Nancy/BLissed-Out Grandma said...

Hi, I was skimming a few of your posts and noticed that you will have grandbabies in one family about 15 months apart. That's the age span of our two, for whom we provide daycare every weekday. We also work - my hubby at home and me halftime at the office - so I know what you mean about being busy! It's a wonderful thing, though...the best time of my life!

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