Friday

We both slept in this morning.  It was raining softly on the roof, so it was easy to sleep!!  After we got around, we went to Bob's.  He and Ann went to Cantril with us.  It was really, really crowded!  I didn't think we were going to find a parking place!  We got our popcorn for the winter.  They were giving away both coffee and ice cream cones, so that was probably why there were so many people.

This evening we went to the Recovery Room for tenderloins with Bob & Ann.  I'm stuffed!

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Thursday

We're in O-town.  It was a great day for travelling and when we got here, it turned out to be a sunny beautiful day.  We had a meeting with our financial advisor and then we had a Canteen!  They are so good.  They are really good when you only have two Canteens in aa year!  Our financial advisor gave us a couple of things - a book about Alexander Hamilton, a cookie jar shaped like a football, and a dozen chocolate chip cookies from Blaine's Bagels.  Yum, yum!  I probably won't lose weight this week.

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Getting Ready

We're heading out tomorrow morning to camp in O-town.  We will leave in the morning and hope to see a bunch of friends...and my brother, of course!  So today was a getting-ready kind of day.  We've got the camper pretty much loaded - just need to get the refrigerator stuff in the morning after breakfast.

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Rainy day

It was raining when I got up this morning...and it has rained off and on much of the day..  SE Iowa finally got some rain - unfortunately it came with wind!  Hope everyone is okay down there.

Dave mowed today, both at Bryan's and here at the condo.  He wasn't done more than 5 minutes when it started thundering and raining.  Phew!  Lucky he didn't get wet!

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Monday

Today was cleaning day for us.  Thank goodness for Dave.  I can't vacuum and dust on the same day.  If I dust and Dave vacuums, we get it all done in a couple of hours.  Thank you, Dabe!

Today was also another procedure for Baby O.  She was all smiles before her procedure.  The doctors were able to fix the stent they put in a few weeks ago - it had collapsed a bit during her heart surgery.  The docs were very happy with what they saw today and are so far planning to send her home soon.  She is Super Girl!  Thank you all for the prayers!

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Sunday

Today was the last sermon in the series about the Lord's Prayer.  I've often wondered why we say, "Lead us not into temptation..."  Change the words a bit to 'Lead us not into trial."  To me, that makes far more sense.  After church we went to Morg's where we split a breakfast.

Tonight we went to Bryan's for dinner.  Aidan and Erin both have colds.  I sure hope we don't catch a cold.  I swear he's growing every time we see him.

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Saturday

We had a fun day today....Dave got to go to Bryan's.  I met 10  of my PEO sisters for a tour of Dysart.  We saw gardens that this lady had at her house.  Then we toured their historical museum and saw a country schoolhouse plus a video about the Orphan Train that came to their town.  Five children were adopted in this little town.  They have their stories as well as one of the little boy's homemade coat.  Very moving.  Then we had a good lunch downtown.  Fun morning!

Amazing for a very small town!

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Friday

I have had a very dull day.  Dave is cleaning grout and I worked on paperwork, including reconciling bank accounts.  I also did a bit of applique but it was gray here today, so it was a little hard to see.  We've been watching CNN for the past couple of days, so I switched to Fox for a while.  CNN is so professional compared to Fox.  I'm tired of all the speculation...I just want it all to end.

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Thursday

I've never watched the national news so much in my life.  Very interesting stuff, depending on which news network you are watching!

Dave and I had a good day.  I worked on my appliques for quite a while, plus we went to run errands.  Then this evening we went to Waverly to watching Clayton and his band.  It was fun to see the family - even Bob & Ann were there.  I even had Blaise on my lap and I got to feed Rowyn her bottle!  Clay & his brother and dad were in good form tonight!  They are very good!!

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Wednesday

Regency North (our condo association) had a coffee this morning.  That was nice!  It was good to visit with the ladies.  I sat with the ladies and Dave sat with the men.  I think there were around 25 of us.

I went to WW around noon while Dave was mowing at Bryan's.  I lost another pound!  We didn't eat lunch until Dave got home at 3:00.  Needless to say, we didn't eat supper.  Now I'm watching the Cubs and Dave's watching Iron Man.

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Tuesday

I had a bad night last night.  I was still awake at 4:38 am!  I got up about 8:15, so I didn't get much sleep.  I didn't take a nap today because I want to sleep tonight!

I was able to get a pedicure today while Dave used a carpet cleaner on the camper.  It's hard to keep carpet clean when it rains and when we have a little 3 year old eating in there.

After watching the Cubs lose again, I switched to CNN to get a handle on what could happen in the US.  Interesting discussions depending on which network you watch.  I just hope that some common sense prevails.

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Monday

It was a dark and drear day here today...much like fall.  It rained or drizzled most of the morning and some in the afternoon.  Then it turned off to just be cloudy.  The temp never got above 70, but we had the patio door open for some of the day.  I love having it open.  I can hear the hummers zip to the feeder when I'm on my computer.

I did the Sept newsletter and calendar today and got them sent to the Ranch.  For some reason KC (the manager) wants to talk to me.  I wonder what that's about.  I guess I'll find out tomorrow.

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Sunday

Super sermon today - continuation of the series on the Lord's Prayer.  Today was about forgiving our debts and debtors.  Very interesting and thought-provoking.

After church we went to Walmart and too Sam's Club to get some groceries.  We took naps when we got home because neither of us was hungry.  Then Dave went to Bryan's while I watched the Cubs lose again...I'm starting to get upset.  We need to find our sticks!!  One run isn't going to win a lot of games!

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Home again!

We had a good 4 days, but it's always good to be home again.  We saw lots of things at the Fair.  The Iowa State Fair never disappoints!  The quilts this year were amazing!  I don't know how the judges decide which ones to honor!  The baby animals were precious as always and our pork chops on sticks were very good.  We said good bye to the Fair on Friday afternoon and  went back to the camper to rest before evening.  Our evening festivities began with wine at one of my sorority sister's home.  Seven ladies - no shortage of conversation and laughs!  Love and miss them!

We got home about 2:00 today, unpacked and did the laundry.  Even watched the Cubs lose...boo!

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State Fair

This was our first day at the Fair.  We had a great day!  We went through the 4H building - these kids are so very talented!  Sudi, the kids had made lots of quilts this year!  That was fun to see.  There also seemed to be many more photography entries.  The top 20 were awesome.

We also went through the horse barn, saw the big bull, the big boar, the big ram, and the big pumpkin!  We split a wrap in the drizzle and then had some ribbon potato chips!  The baby animals were darling again!

Came home and both of us took naps.  After supper, it rained...poured, actually.  Now it's quit!

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Camping Again

This time we're near Ankeny at Cherry Glen State Park.  It's a beautiful campground with wonderful parking pads.  We stayed here last year, too.  Tomorrow morning we'll go to the State Fair for a few hours.  We got here around 4:00 this afternoon and we've just been hanging out since we got set up.

I went to WW before we came..  I lost .2 of a pound.  Not much, but at least it was a loss!!

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Tuesday

Dave and I went to the chiropractor today - that was much needed.  This evening I walked to my PEO meeting just up the street.  Felt good, but now it's dark when the meeting is over...plus, the way back is uphill!!

At PEO I had to give the projects report, and I had the program.  I took my computer and showed a slide show about the area where we live in Florida.  I'm going to be the initiate in our "mock" initiation next month when we have our official visit.

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Monday

Today was a help the condo association kind of day.  Dave and our maintenance man worked on tearing out shelves in the room where we keep our folding chairs.  Then Dave painted the room while the maintenance man put together a rack for holding the chairs.  They also put up 3 storage racks for all of the decorations and items the association uses when we have meals downstairs.  We ladies worked on washing all of the folding chairs and card tables, plus going through all of the paper goods and table decorations.  It was hard work, but it needed done and we're some of the youngest residents!  Both of us are pretty stiff tonight!

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Sunday

Church, then a nap!  Gotta love Sundays!  This evening we went to Bryan's for supper.  Burgers on the grill!

Aidan was fun.  He even pottied in the big potty.

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Big Day

I was exhausted last evening so I didn't blog...in fact, I went to bed a little after 9:00!  We had a big day!

In the morning, we went to the farmer's market to get some tomatoes, sweet corn, and watermelon.  Then we ran errands after that.  About 1:00 we  left for Linda's so we could visit with the family before Kaylee's baby shower.  Got to see Bob & Ann, Kaylee, Linda, Al, Marilyn, Vicki, Allison, Blaise and Rowyn!  Blaise wanted us to stay overnight because Grandpa Bob was going to!  I got to color with him...he told me to use orange!  (I was coloring a fox, so that was appropriate!)  Rowyn is just all smiles!  She is adorable!

This is the card I made for Kaylee!  She loved it! Fun shower!  She got lots of gifts.  Clayton will play in the Netherlands again this year - for Leiden again!  They leave in a couple of weeks to go over the pond!  Baby will be born over there!!

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Friday

I had a fun day today.  Jan and Joyce came to Waterloo to have lunch with me.  We determined that we hadn't been together since our wedding 28 years ago.  Obviously we had a lot of catching up to do.  Our lunch lasted almost 3 hours!!!  Fun times.  I sure miss my Ames friends!

This afternoon I watched the Cubs game while Dave took a nap.  Now this evening I am actually watching the Mesquawki Pow Wow live from Tama.

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Thursday

Today was a clean house day!  I dusted everything, then when Dave came back from mowing at Bryan's, he got the vacuum out for me.  I vacuumed the bedrooms.  He vacuumed the bathrooms, the kitchen and dining room.  I vacuumed the office and the living room.  We fixed BLTs and fresh sweet corn for lunch - yum!

This afternoon, Dave went to the grocery store while I did paperwork.

Baby O got her breathing tube out.  I guess she was a bit PO'd to have it in again.  They had to get it out quickly!  She's in quite a bit of pain, but they're giving her pain meds.  Hopefully tomorrow will be a bit better day for her.  Keep her in your prayers!

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Thanks be to God!

Thank God that Baby O's 2nd heart surgery is over.  Her daddy says she's doing great.  They were going to take her breathing tube out once she woke up, so hopefully that's already done.  She's a Super Girl!  We had a Pastor once who talked about popcorn prayers...that's what I was sending up all day.  I'd think  about Baby O and send up a little prayer - many times!  Hopefully she's done with surgeries for a little while.

Weight Watchers went well this week - I lost 2.4 pounds for a total of 43.4!!

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Tuesday

I slept until 9:30 this morning!  The only reason I woke up at 9:30 was Dave came in to tell me he was running some errands.  Had he not come in, I probably would have slept until noon!

I worked on a card for Kaylee's baby shower - I'll take a picture after I get it done.  I think she'll like it!  Then this afternoon we did something we hadn't done here.  We went to the Farmer's Market.  We got some beautiful sweet corn, some beautiful tomatoes, and a dark green watermelon.  We had some of the melon after supper...it was really good.

Cassie got a call today that Oaklyn's doctors want to do her heart surgery tomorrow starting at 7:00 AM.  So they went to Iowa City tonight.  Oaklyn is so cute...she's just all smiles tonight.  God bless her.  Tomorrow they'll open her chest again and she'll be on a bypass machine for around 6 hours.  They're going to re-route her blood flow during this surgery.

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Monday

Pretty uneventful here today.  We got lots of rain in the night and it was still raining this morning.  Dave and I went to Younkers and to Wally World, mostly to get my walk in.  I was able to find Aidan a pair of pjs, jeans, and a shirt.  We also got a couple of outfits for the new baby girl.

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Sunday

This is our 28th anniversary.  Where does the time go?

We had a good weekend camping.  However, it rained yesterday...and last night...and this morning!!  We ate breakfast while the storm moved through and then we finished packing up and came home!  Since we got home, it has rained 3 different times.  I hope southern Iowa is getting some of this rain because they need it so badly.

It's good to be home!

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Friday

We're in a nice little campground called Pine Lake State Park.  We're near Eldora and near Steamboat Rock.  It's not a big campground, but we're right near the lake and we don't have neighbors too close.  On one side of us is a road so Aidan has plenty of grass/dirt to play in!  He was absolutely covered in dirt this afternoon!!

We had another good day today.  Went to several scenic outlooks and just enjoyed God's beauty!

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Wednesday

I didn't lose weight this week - I gained 4 tenths of a pound...darn!  Tomorrow I will be lighter, but today, NOT.  This is only the third time since January 13th that I haven't lost.

Other than that, I didn't do much.  We packed stuff to go to the camper because we leave tomorrow for 3 days near Eldora (Pine Lake State Park).  Should be fun.  May not have wifi, though.

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