Dusty turns one year old

Dusty had a birthday on Easter. My sister gave me a recipe for dog cookies so on Saturday I made some because I knew Sunday, we had plans. I had not worked with dough in awhile and realized what I had not missed. It was worth it because all of the dogs seem to like them a lot. Mark had been anxious to plant grass seed and especially in the back yard where all the construction was and he did that on Saturday. On Sunday, after church, we went to Hometown Buffet in KC with Mark's mom and Ike and it was awesome. They had grilled sirloin steak that was so tender. I have been dealing with a head cold for several days (or allergies?). Above is a picture of Dusty with his birthday toy.

Fun in Chillicothe

We spent the weekend in Chillicothe (where I was born and raised).

Mom and Aunt Shelly got moved into their duplex there on Friday and are very pleased with it. They have much more room now. We took mom to lunch a little less than a week early because we won't be going two weeks in a row. On Saturday night we helped one of my best friends from high school along with her husband and family/friends to celebrate the 50th wedding anniversary of her parents at a dinner. There was a slide show and it was very nice. The pastor who baptised me (the time I was immersed) at the First Baptist Church there, was at the celebration and it was so good to see him. We usually go to church there when we are in town but he had retired and moved away but recently moved back. On the way home today, we stoped by Breckenridge, Mo. where Dad's ashes are to be buried on Labor day weekend. The tombstone is already there, beside my grandfather McLauglin. We took pictures of his High School also.

Delany Ann (above) is six months old today. Mom is going to be her new babysitter. Delany can roll herself over and is such a mommas girl!

Last weekend and some concerns

Last Saturday night was so fun! We had gift certificates from a website where I paid half price for a restaurant in Atchison, Kansas (actually outside of there). The place is called Cedar Ridge and is an old barn converted into a restaurant and I love it! Meals are served family style on Saturday night and it is awesome food! We went with the Lawhons in there 4 wheel drive truck and ended up doing some "mudding". The hilly dirt road leading to the restaurant was so muddy that we almost got stuck. Once we got there, everyone loved the food and the atmosphere and we got back out just fine

I have a concern for Pam McLaughlin. She is the mother of four of five of my half siblings and was my dad's wife for many years. She has pneumonia and is on her second round of antibiotics. They have also found that her heart is enlarged and leaking/working poorly. She is only in her early 6o's. She is to see a cardiologist on 3-17. Please pray for her and my siblings as I know this has to be very hard since we just lost Dad in November and at this point, we have no idea how bad Pam's heart is. Please pray for it to be treatable and for her full recovery.

A pleasent suprise

Friday night, as planned, we had friends from Chillicothe who came for super and an overnight stay. The guest room had only been used one other time, so far. The next morning, we had breakfast out and then went to Kansas City. We went to a discount clothing store in Platte City and then to look around at Metro North. It turned out that my sister and her family were at Metro North and so I got to see the kids for the first time since Christmas and this was such an awesome surprise to run into them. Delany had just fallen asleep in her stroller and Colton was getting a football autographed by a Kansas City Chief, in one of the sporting stores. Mom is planning to move to Chillicothe in about three weeks and there will be an extra room in their duplex so we can go and see everyone more often. Mom is going to babysit Delaney in the daytime as their Amish sitter is going on a mission trip. After the mall, we came home and warmed up Beef Burgers from Friday night and they headed home. We were able to attend church Sunday and I was able to do Bible study and lunch with the ladies today and I was glad because the weather prevented both last week.

I have not forgotten how to blog.

Just not a lot to say. Weekday routine includes chores and errands (when Mark gets home to go with me) and looking forward to something decent to watch on TV in the evening. We did go to Lee's Summit on Valentines day with Mark's mom and Ike for Mark's brothers' birthday. Mark tunred 50 on Wednesday and his brother turned 54 on Thursday. His wife fixed spaghetti and Cheesecake and that was the first time we had seen their home. We saw a movie on Saturday (Definitely, Maybe) at the theater and saw The Game Plan on video Sunday. I recommend The Game Plan highly but not Definitely Maybe. We have also had dinner out. I have not driven for some time now, due to ice and when I went shopping with a friend yesterday, took a minor fall on ice. I am fine but did not attempt Bible Study outing today and we had to miss church due to weather on Sunday.

Happy Birthday Mark

Mark turns the big 5-0 today! We had dinner at a steak house on Saturday night with his brother from Kansas city and his wife, his other sister-in-law and his mom and Ike.

How many days till spring?

Mark got to test drive the snow blower yesterday. He had a little bit of trouble getting it started but once it started, it worked good. He was out about two hours and still has to dig the cars out. We probably had 7-8 inches. I am trying to remain busy at home as I a not out in this stuff.