On The Road Again

It was fitting that the Willie Nelson song On the Road Again came on the radio today during our roundtrip travels to Hudson and back. My sister Rayna and brother-in-law Paul will be on the road in their moving truck on Tuesday, heading to Mesa, Arizona.

Yup, moving again after a 4-year stint in Hudson. Before that, they were in Texas for 10 years or close to it. That Willie Nelson song has pretty much been Rayna's mantra in life!

Even though I had said my goodbyes a few weeks ago, hubby pointed out that he wasn't with me to bid them farewell. So the R Sister Gang of just 2 today (and their fellas) met up for lunch and illegal hugs goodbye. Again. Will definitely miss them, but will especially enjoy seeing them when the chilly Wisconsin winter returns!

It was a gorgeous day today. Almost too nice to be on the road, but we're so glad we made the trip. And we still got something done when we got home.

Our new flags arrived so they are up and representing our MLB loyalties. Now we just need the season to start! You can also catch a glimpse of my new hanging flower baskets. What kind of flowers? Well, they are a mix of red ones, purples ones, and some yellow and orange one.

If it's not obvious, this girl knows a helluva lot more about baseball than gardening!

Good (bye) Friday

I took today off so I could get out of the house. And make a special delivery. And attend Good Friday services (online, of course).

It just happens that my oldest sister and her husband are about to move from Hudson to the Phoenix area in the next few weeks. It just happens that during my recent decluttering stint, I found a plethora of bubble wrap they could use for packing.

So today we met at a somewhat halfway point in Osseo to make a trade. I'd give them the bubble wrap and some Easter cookies – and they'd give me hugs goodbye.

I know. We are guilty of bending the rules. Don't worry. We played it 100% safe and did not let our guard (or masks) down. I felt like we were meeting up for a Wild West duel of some kind! But we both walked away alive.

I had tears in my eyes, but I'm happy Rayna and Paul are moving (again) to someplace warm (again) where they don't have to deal with Mother Nature's mood swings! Believe me, come Monday when I have a snow shovel in hand, I'll be reminded (again) why she's the oldest and wisest sister!

Side note: It was so nice to get out and take a road trip! Even by myself. Just to not be in the house or in my office. I'll never take freedom for granted again.

Rub-a-Dub Dub

Have ducks in row. Will travel...

I splish-splashed my way over to the Wisconsin-Minnesota border in the rain today to celebrate the upcoming birth of a new great-niece or great-nephew, courtesy of my nephew David and his wife, Sara.

My sister Rayna and I hosted a baby shower for Sara at Rayna's place in Hudson. Since the parents-to-be are not finding out the sex of the baby, we went with a generic rubber ducky theme. And it turned out adorable!

Here's momma-to-be with her little baby belly.

Super adorable (and tasty) cookies courtesy of Zest Bakery in Stevens Point. They did an amazing job!

And little mini-trifle bowls... er, bath tubs! I put graham cracker crust on bottom, then cheesecake pudding (died blue), then some whipped cream. Each duck also had a number on it so you weren't just picking a dessert, you were participating in the Pick A Duck game for prizes!

Those turned out pretty tasty, too. And somehow stayed intact for the 2 1/2-hour drive over! Lucky ducks!

Was nice to see my mom and most of my sisters and some nieces, too. I headed back to Rapids around 4-ish. Jim was at a wedding for his mom's side of the family this afternoon and evening. He got home about 8 and we went together to a wedding reception here in town. His friend from high school was home from Colorado for a nephew's wedding. Great to see Pete and his wife. We're just gonna have to get back out to Golden to visit them again!

Enough travel for one day, though. I'll probably be counting ducks in my sleep...

One-Car Birthday Parade

I am willing to go to great lengths for cake with good frosting. 350 miles, in fact.

It just happened that my mother and mother-in-law both have March birthdays. And both had parties today – 175 miles apart. So my Honda Accord created a one-car birthday parade from Wisconsin Rapids over to my sister Rayna's in Hudson for Party No. 1 and back to the east side of Rapids to Jim's sister Sherry's house for Party No. 2.

And now I'm party-pooped.

Knowing we'd be late to Party No. 2, just Carter and I went to No. 1. Hubby had things to organize for his mom's party.

Here's the birthday girl with the yummy cake my niece Ashley created! 86 looks pretty good on her, doesn't it?

And here she is with her greatest gift – her 8 R's!

It was so nice to see everyone! Christmas seemed so long ago! Also got to see some nieces and nephews, too, and sweet baby grand-nephew Hans. A total sweetie! While Rayna and Paul had billed it as a birthday party and game day, we couldn't stay for the games.

Took a three-generation picture and hit the road by 3 p.m.

Got to Sherry's house and everyone was done eating so Carter and I ate so we didn't hold up the cake-eating process too much.

Since we missed Colin's birthday in February – he was on his belated honeymoon – he got in on the March birthday party. The birthday "kids" from left to right: Baird, Grandma, Colin and Casey.

And here's the birthday girl with her handsome grandsons: Carter, Casey, Clayton and Colin. Quite the group! Was great to see everyone together there, too.

Yes, the cakes were worth the miles and miles of driving. But more importantly, it was so good to see all those familiar, smiling faces on both sides of the family.

Family is everything. Even worth a birthday parade.