A visit from George W. and Laura

Yesterday was John and my 32nd Anniversary. We spent it as all couples should-shop vaccuuming the water in our basement. Yes, the skies opened up yet again yesterday and the rains came in again. We pulled out all the carpeting in record time. John's lair as he fondly calls his downstairs TV room is now pretty ugly, but we intend to slowly get it back into good condition again so he can control his remote and watch his old movies in peace. He has had to conpromise and watch a bit of reality with me these last few days! If you know anything about John, you know he hates reality TV. Anyway where do George W. and Laura fit into this picture? No, they did not come and help us bail out although John would have welcomed them if they did appear on our doorstep. We had two ducks, a man and a lady duck visiting under our bird feeder all day long yesterday. Unlike us, they love the rain and were feasting on the birdseed that had fallen on the ground. We named them George W. and Laura and we hope they will visit often. It takes our minds off of floods!

Hi Tizzy, I cannot help but think about the terrible drought you are experiencing in Ethiopia while the rains just won't stop here in Wisconsin and Iowa. How I wish we could bottle some of this water up and share it with you and your country. I try not to complain too much about the wet basement because in the big scheme of things it is a small inconvenience which will be short lived and leave nothing behind. Even the memories of clean up will become laughable in time. Now about the two ducks. When you visit Watertown you will see many, many ducks and we will take bread and feed all the ducks. Your mommy and Auntie Alissa used to enjoy feeding the ducks when they were little girls and I know you will enjoy it, too.

Our good friend Joan and a horse clothes pole

When Courtney was born my good friend and college roommate Joan, gave her a plaster rocking horse clothes pole. I am pretty sure that Joan painted it herself, but I can't remember that detail. It was an era of painting plaster objects. I made ornaments, wall hangings, a lamp, an owl and the list goes on. This painting was sandwiched in there somewhere between artex (mentioned in a previous blog) and macrame. Anyway Courtney always used to hang her little pajamas, bathrobe, and numerous belts and purses on this little horse clothes pole. Sometimes she would just sit on its back and hold on to the pole and pretend she was riding. It was such a unique, thoughtful gift that Courtney really enjoyed. I am so glad that we kept it all these years and brought it along through all of our moves because now Tizzy will have it in her room and she can hang all her special things on it and take it for a ride. John and I will be helping Joan celebrate her retirement/birthday this Saturday and I intend to let her know that her little horse will be bringing joy to another little girl. Joan has been such an important part of our lives over the years and I am so excited for her to meet Tizzy.

A special note to little Tizita Desta: Another piece of history to put in your room. I have lots of stories to share with you about my friend Joan. I know you will enjoy this little horse clothes pole just as much as your mommy did.

Twins at the Park

Today my friend Lynne and I took her twin grandsons to Chamberland Park to play. I just had to think of Tizita the entire time since she is just one month older than these little guys. I know she will not be running and climbing as much as they are yet, but give her some time! Courtney and Paul have the same kind of Chamberland type park right across the street from their home in Oshkosh so I know Tizzy will be there often learning how to use her little body on all the equipment. The little twins love to swing and would have done that all morning but when they started to fall asleep in the swings we got them out and let them climb and slide. They must have climbed the same stairs and came down the same slide fifty times until they discovered that throwing the wood chips was much more fun. They took it upon themselves to try and empty all the wood chips out of the playground on to the grass. Finally one exhausted grandma and one exhausted grandma to be took the boys home. What fun things I have to look forward to!
My message to little Tizzy: We are going to have so much fun at the park. I will continue to practice my skills while I wait for you! You just keep working on those walking skills until you get home to Oshkosh!

The rain came down and the floods came up!

I wasn't sure if I wanted to include this in my blog or not, but then I decided I needed to document it. We have had water in our basement before, but never like this. Watertown got over 7 inches of rain on Saturday and Sunday. Our basement couldn't keep it out and the floods came up. ( I am borrowing that phrase from the Bible song, The Wise Man Built his House upon a Rock.) We are on top of a hill and figured we wouldn't have a water problem but apparently this is not true especially when the rains just keep coming! The water was flowing in through the cracks in the cement floor! We were fighting a losing battle for a good portion of Sunday and Monday. Finally on Monday afternoon it seemed to dwindle down to more of a trickle. Our carpeting is completely soaked and every inch of the basement had some water. We have a sewer drain opening, but when this basement was poured, apparently they didn't make the sewer drain the lowest point, but rather the highest, so nothing flows to it! Now I am no house builder, but it seems to me next to not building your house upon the sand (again the song) you should make the drain opening the lowest part of the basement, but that is just me!

We worked in that basement all day Sunday, got up at 2:00 A.M. Monday morning, and then worked down there all day Monday. I have included pictures for documentation. The industrial shop vac was from Maas Brothers Construction compliments of my brother!

Wedding dresses, Cinnabons, and Rainbows

Yesterday we traveled up to Appleton to be with Alissa at her first Wedding dress fitting. The dress fit her to T except for the length. She is going to be a beautiful bride! She was willing to let my mom, myself, and Mallory join her and Courtney in this special moment. After the fitting we headed over to the Fox Valley Mall. My mom and I went off to find wedding shoes for her while the girls took off to do some fun shopping. When we met again to enjoy large Cinnabons and milks we all agreed that the shopping trip was successful for all of us. We headed back to Oshkosh to visit and to play some frisbee disk golf. (Just as a side note, I am the champ at this game!)

The weather turned on us later in the afternoon. Alissa and Nathan drove through torrential rains and flooding on their way home to Milwaukee. The entire city of Milwaukee was flooded with cars in three foot water in some places. We drove home through some heavy rain but luckily had missed the worst of it. At some point between Juneau and Watertown on County M the water was running across the road! In the midst of this scary weather, we did see God's promise in the form of a beautiful rainbow which stretched across the entire sky. It was a reminder of all God had done and continues to do for us! God is Good.

Our basement has water and John is down there now turning on the fans. Let the mopping begin. We are used to it and it always dries up eventually!

My message of the day to Tizita Desta: We talked about you so often yesterday. Mallory decorated your magnet walls in your playroom. Auntie Alissa and Uncle Nathan brought you so many nice toys including a water table, a cabbage patch doll that licks ice cream, and a pink lawnmower that blows bubbles. They also bought you a swimming suit, two polos, and a swimming cover up. Such cute things! Now we just need you here with us so we can see you in the clothes and play with the toys with you!

I wonder if you will be here for Alissa's wedding or will you arrive shortly thereafter. I know it will all work out in God's perfect timing as all things always do. I just am so anxious to meet you.

Top ten reasons I am excited to be a grandma!

1. I am excited to share my favorite books with Tizita. I cannot wait for her to sit on my lap and read with me.
2. I am excited to take Tizita to the zoo, the museum, and countless other places. I want to see all these places through her eyes.
3. I am excited to buy her things. I won't spoil her because I know her mommy and daddy won't allow that, but I love to shop and now I have a reason.
4. I want to take her to Disneyworld, go on all my favorite rides, and watch her eyes light up as she sees Cinderella's castle for the first time.
5. I am excited to sing songs with her and teach her my favorite finger plays. I have so many fun things to teach her.
6. I am excited to have her visit my Preschool. I want to see her interact with the children. I wish she could be in my class, but distance will not allow that so I will have her as a visiting student.
7. I am excited to teach Tizita about Jesus and share my favorite Bible stories with her. There is nothing as heart warming as the faith of a child.
8. I am excited to take her on bike rides and show her our favorite places to ride.
9. I am excited to play at the park with her. Sliding, swinging, and climbing brings out the child in me.
10. I am excited to see John as a Grandpa. I remember how his gentle side came out when our girls were growing up and I want to see that side again. I know Tizita will wrap him around her little finger just like Courtney and Alissa did.

Top ten reasons I am excited to be a grandma!