We got to spend a great weekend with our grandson Connor! My daughter Molly is expecting a girl any day now. We were trying to give her a little break beforehand. Now will have to figure out another weekend once the next one is born. Oh darn! You do what you got to do, I guess! Ha! We had a ball!
Started off the first morning with Connor trying to steal my slippers. He came close! We went walking with him in the Burley every day. We spent a good portion of Friday morning with him at the zoo! It should have been the circus because he can be quite the clown!
Of course, they had a bunch of tractors and he had to try them all!
He and Sarah had to give a thumbs up (or fingers up) if they were having a good time!
Then of course yesterday, I had to put him to work helping mow the lawn. If he is going to stay for the weekend, he has got to learn to pull his weight around here! It might have been harder if it wasn’t so fun!
Needless to say, we kept him busy, but he kept us even more busy! Now we just have to wait for his new sister to come along. We all can’t wait. It is a good thing that Burley has room for two!
We all had a ball, and the weather cooperated for the majority of it. I can’t wait to have more weekends like this. Going forward, we will have a little girl with us as well! This grandparent life is the greatest thing! My son Nick just got engaged last night to Hannah! A lot of excitement going on lately for this household. Can’t wait to see what else the future has in store for all of us. Everybody keep making memories! Keep moving everybody!
As I wrote last week, things don’t always go as planned. We finally got some rain today! We managed to go for a run this AM before it started, but it was so humid it would have been nicer to run in the rain. We were out walking in the Hills last Fall during the rain. You just wear the right equipment! If you always wait for perfect weather, you will rarely go do anything. I will admit, I don’t like running in the pouring rain! But if it is light rain, it actually is a very nice way to workout. I have been out too many times to count when the weather was fine when I started, only to have it rain on me during the run. You just go with it. It is after all, just water!
Even storm clouds can be cool to look at beforehand, but you better be ready with a backup plan if you have not gone outside before they really start rolling in.
You could tell all morning on Saturday that the rain was rolling in. You could hear it thunder in the background. Some of the times after the rain, it can be some of the best sights to see!
I am writing this Saturday evening. It is supposed to rain most of tomorrow too. We have run club at 7AM, and unless lightning out, we will be out there running!
We needed the rain. Saturday afternoon was a good time to take a little nap. I woke up after about 30 minutes when it was really coming down. It was very peaceful to just watch and listen. A time to just relax and forget about everything else. Take the time when it is raining to just sit back and listen. I mean, just listen! I have had other people tell me that a “rainy weekend” is a great way to get some things done in the house or gets some projects done you have been putting off. Utilize this time! Plans may change due to rain, but welcome to weather! Just go with it! Keep moving everybody!
Life always presents challenges. Sometimes you feel like you are cruising along, and then next it feels as if nothing goes right. There are always challenges that come up, but how we deal with them depends on our attitudes. Think about it…things are always changing. One decision leads to one outcome, and then another, and so on. But what if you had made a different decision in the past? That decision could have steered things much different in your life and led to completely different outcomes. What if I had not met Sarah in med school? What if I had not been a runner, I would not have had something in common with Sarah to have the courage to even ask her out? Then the ripple effect. Everything in my life may have been totally different. And the same goes for all of us!
Last year we went out the Black Hills and climbed up Black Elk Peak. As we were getting closer, the fog started rolling in. When it first started coming, it was very cool watching. It was changing by the minute.
We had about 15 minutes of just watching on how fast things were changing. After that, the fog was so thick you could not see anything from the top. People that were coming up after us completely missed seeing anything from the top. That is how fast things can change in our lives too. We started our way back down after that because we could not see anything else from the top. You make a decision based on changes, which leads to another decision, which leads to another outcome, and so on.
Pay attention to things each day. Ask yourself each morning–“What is something good that will happen today?”, or “What is something good that I will do today?” Then at the end of the day, think about what all happened, and ask yourself the same thing: “What good happened today?” And “What happened today that did not turn out well?” Then follow that up by “What am I going to do to change it?” Those changes and decisions are as varied as the sunrise and sunsets. Every day is different. So why should the things in our lives not be different every day?
When we need a break, take one! Just like my grandson Connor. He will go and go and go, and then just like that, comes to crashing halt. Remember to take breaks. Get sleep. Take time to unwind and enjoy the everyday things in our lives as well. Time really does go fast!
When those “daily” challenges come, you have to learn to “push” your way through them. Learn from them. Learn how to deal with them. Make changes and start the next day anew.
Tom, Sue, Sarah and I did the Crazy Horse walk last year. We are going to do it again this year. We may be standing at the finish line, but just remember, the only “official” finish line is when we are no longer here. Otherwise, every day is different. Again, it may not always go as planned, but enjoy the ride. There will be good and bad. Hopefully, there will be more good than bad. Out attitude decides if for us. Make each day a new adventure… A learning experience! Keep moving everybody!
This weekend we spent in Huron celebrating my mother-in-law’s and father-in-law’s 80th Birthday! Not everybody could make it, but quite a few of us did. It was a great weekend. Lots of food, laughing, spending time together. We had a corn hole contest, with the winner taking home steaks!
Well, team Sarah and I came out the winners! Sorry Tanner (my son-in-law). He was going to show us who was “boss”, but I guess we did! Ha!
So much food! The cake was great! Connor also had a ball! He got in the 4 generation picture!
Of course, I got to spend lots of time with Connor as well. He was helping me take pictures of some flowers, and also pointing out some different bugs that were in them.
I took lots of pictures of my mother-in-law’s flowers. You will see them on my Facebook post next week of Reiffenberger Reflections. Amazing! She is quite the gardener! Spend time with your family when you can. The time goes by quickly. Again, keep making memories. These are the times that will be remembered by all! Keep moving everybody!
Sunday we are having a big Birthday party to celebrate Connor’s 2nd Birthday. His actual Birthday is on Monday. The kid is talking a mile a minute. His expressions are hilarious! Many of us will be there to help him celebrate. We had him over last weekend and spent the entire weekend laughing and playing. Never a dull moment with him. Spent lots of time at the parks and pulled him behind my bike in his Burley!
We also went on lots of walks using the Burley as well!
We spent time at the Lake, and he was constantly on the go, running up and down the docks at Jackson and City Park!
Of course, both Grandma Sarah and I got to spend lots of time reading to him too!
We are going to be having a big party with lots of cake for his Birthday. Of course, he has to stay in practice for this whenever he stays with us too!
I had forgotten how busy a 2 year can be. Go! Go! Go! I have to keep working out and running just to be able to try and keep up with him! Then when he crashes, he crashes! And so do we! Keep staying fit so you can keep up with your kids, or grandkids, or both. Don’t miss out on those opportunities. They are all great, and all create memories to last a lifetime! Keep moving everybody!
