We Interrupt This Work Day...

If there's any golf you want to watch during the year – besides the tournament my company sponsors in January – it's The Masters. One helluva course and it means so much to all the competitors.

Unfortunately, work gets in the way. How dare it? But thanks to a rain delayed start today, I could catch some after work. My first thought seeing the windy conditions was I'd be swinging so hard right now! And would definitely not go where I want.

If it was nice and warm and sunny like yesterday, I'd bypass television viewing and actually get out golfing. But it was sketchy weather this afternoon and downpouring by 6 p.m. That's why I freaked out on my way into town tonight when the emergency sirens went off. I mean I was literally driving by the town hall and police/fire station and it was ear-piercing loud!

I pulled over to text Jim (who was in town visiting his dad) and check the radar. Nothing looked siren-worthy.

Thank god I checked the local news stations too. That set me straight. All counties cancelled BUT not my county. I thought these drills used to be at 1 p.m. or something. I gotta pay more attention.

At the end of the day, we're all safe and there was no need to be alarmed. 

Unfortunately, that means business as usual. So I still have to work tomorrow. Even though my work day might be occasionally interrupted by some activity down in Augusta. Just sayin'. The weather dudes – or maybe just me – say there's a good chance!

Miles to Smiles

 

We decided to celebrate our mom's 92nd birthday two days early for several reasons. One, it's hard to gather on a Monday. Two, some folks had Palm Sunday plans tomorrow. And three, half my family is under a winter storm storm warning Sunday into Monday. Something like 10 to 15+ inches possible. Depends on who you listen to.

So 6 of 8 R's, 2 spouses, and 1 grandchild gathered at my sister Rayna's in Siren. The usual 4-hour trek for us.

Lunch was some of Mom's old favorites – meatloaf, potatoes, baked beans, corn, and her classic strawberry Jell-O with slices bananas. Mom liked it. Great job, Rayna!

After lunch, Mom, per usual, was ready to play a game. Her "tell" when playing cards is to start humming when she has a good hand. All of her children are quite aware of this.

Today she says, "Who wants to play cards? I need practice humming!" I hope I'm that confident and sassy when I'm 92!

Although Mom started out strong, Carter ended up winning in the last hand. The way she's smiling, I don't think she minded. Time with any of her kids or grandkids is precious to her.

We managed to get home by 8 p.m. Daylight for most of the trip and a full moon chasing shadows for the last part. Thanks to Jim for driving. And thank you, deer, for staying in the fields and ditches.

Be careful everyone in the snow zone tomorrow!

Family Christmas Number One

It was a white family Christmas Up North today. Well, the 4-hour commute was a bit icy and dicey in many spots, that's for sure. 

Still, we made sure to take a longer route so we could stop and see Dad.

Got to the Siren Senior Center a bit after 1 p.m. Saw this sign right away and I'm not sure who brought it, but I'm sure it was appropriate!

Had time for a little Sequence before lunch. Mom's got her game face on, that's for sure!

I made a Peppermint Bark Trifle for dessert and it stayed intact for the drive!

Did I need to make dessert? Turns out, not really. But you can never have to many desserts. Can you?

Speaking of sweets, our sweet boy Carter did a video call so Grandma could see him and his aunts, uncles and cousins, too! Virtual hugs just have to do sometimes, I guess.

Lots of littles there today. Got to meet my new great-nephew Arlo, who's about 6 months old.

It took a minute for Kloey and Nils to share. Do most 17-month-olds share? Not really!

They just need more blocks! Then it was easy to share! Such cuties!

Speaking of cuties... had to get my annual selfie with the niece who made me an aunt! Love my Car-Car.

The "Best Dressed" award should got to my great-nephew Michael who came straight from a hockey game.

Looks like a cut-throat game of UNO!

I still maintain I'm one of the tallest aunts. It just doesn't look like that when I'm paired with these two!

My twin loved the blanket I crocheted for her! It was my Hallmark-movie-multi-tasking project!

And look what she found for me – a fox decoration and fox sox! Love them!

My great-niece Millie says "I'm the No. 1 Lego tower builder!"

Somebody had to get those Packers sunglasses (I got at the game) out of my house! I told Nell she couldn't wear them since she wears glasses. "I can make it work!" And she did.

Mom and her twinsies!

Lene and I trying to prove that we're LADIES! 

Mom and her 8 R's! Hopefully someone got one where we're all looking at the same camera AND smiling!

And some of us were smiling at the end of the day! We did have to resort to watching some of the Vikings-Raiders game on a phone. But it was worth it to see the final few minutes. With a final score of 3-0, it must not have been very pretty to watch on the big screen anyway!

Hubby and I got home safely at 10 p.m. Roads were much better on the drive home. I mean, that's my opinion as a passenger both ways. Thanks for driving, sweetie! 

And thanks for another great Christmas celebration, family! 🎄

Family Dinner, er Winner

When my oldest sister decided to move back to northern Wisconsin from Arizona, she wanted to be sure she saw family on a regular basis. So Rayna invited her siblings (and spouses if available) to join her the second Saturday of each month for a game day and dinner.

I missed the first one since we were getting cupboards installed that day, but made sure to get to this one.

I timed my 8 a.m. departure to be sure Hawkeye Dairy in Abbortsford would be open for ice cream for breakfast – my tradition when traveling Up North. And be sure I had an hour to spare browsing through Hobby Lobby in Rice Lake. 

Shortly after noon, I was at Rayna's new digs in the Siren area. A brand-new two-bedroom apartment. It looked so nice and is the perfect amount of space for her. 

Seven out of eight of us siblings were there today – and we got a little spoiled because Grandma RoAnn brought my great-niece Khloe and she was so cute and entertaining! 

Rayna was already in the Christmas mood with two twig trees decorated, music playing, and a nice Vikings fireplace if you caught the color change just right!

Grandma Ro and Khloe. Those dimples!!

Ron, Nell, and Romey. And don't ask me how I was holding my phone. Weird angles. This is when we started playing a card game and I went out with the hand up top (those 2 jokers) and felt confident.

But the queen of cards rules! Mom just kicked my butt today. First in Sequence and then in Crowns or whatever that game was called. She must know by now we all get our competitive streak from her! She's doing good, though, and it was great to see her. 

Great to see everyone! And enjoy a tasty dinner and dessert – thanks, Rayna!

On the drive home, it was dark and I was quite concerned about deer, especially after Jim texted me the picture of this buck he saw on his way to church this afternoon.

Wow. As luck (or not) would have it, I had snow and rain my whole drive back this evening so the bucks were snuggled at home with their new brides and such. 

Thank you, Lord, for lots of smiles and safe miles today!

R Family Reunion

For the first time since our December of 2019 family Christmas celebration my mom and her 8 R's and their families got together. Stupid pandemic.

It was a really fun day yesterday and so great to see just about everyone in our clan. We met at a park in Siren and had absolutely perfect weather – high 70s, a little breeze, and no mosquitoes! My nephew and family from South Dakota came – haven't seen them in a few years – and there were lots of littles running around. 

Lots of yard games. Even my mom got into it with a game of "Jarts" or whatever they call it now.  And lots and lots of laughs.

It was my brother-in-law Ken's 60th birthday so he had to show the little kids he could still climb the monkey bars. They should have been much more impressed!

Can you tell they're sisters?! Sit up straight and stick your chest out. And whatever you do, don't laugh, Ro and Romey!

My nephew Tim was very proud of his t-shirt. I knew I should've worn purple!

My niece Beth towering over her mom and Aunt Rayna (home from Arizona this week).

Nothing says cool like my favorite cowboy – nephew Zach.

My nephew Travis and his girlfriend and my niece-in-law.

So happy to see Tim again, except...

For that ugly shirt!

Rayna and Ron, who pointed out there's only 2 of the 8 kids with "unprocessed" hair. Ha.

Pretty true. We all look good being together and healthy and happy!

Eight out of the 11 grandkids. Matthew had left and Tony and Carter couldn't make it.

Grandma joined the grandkids but the sun was so bright, she put on Caryn's sunglasses. Then Zach did a rock-n-roll sign and Caryn couldn't stop laughing. And I love this photo. And I love these kids!

And then throw in their families. So blessed! And so grateful we could celebrate everything we've missed in the past 18 months.

We had the pavilion for the day, so Jim and I stayed in Luck instead of driving back late. Today, we got up, grabbed a breakfast sandwich at the Luck gas station, then headed over the Luck Golf Course

Got on right away and played 18 hilly holes. Beautiful weather. Nice course – it's been about 15 years since we last played it. And I had a nice score on the back 9. Two pars and drum roll, please... my first birdie of 2021!

At the bottom of this picturesque hole lies a Callaway golf ball. It used to live with me.

Pretty, though!

There were some narrow fairways. This one reminded us of golfing in the Dells with its drop off right off the tee box.

Jim bought me a golf ball. Good thing I didn't play with it and lose it in the tiny lake!

On the way home, we had a picnic lunch in Cumberland – Burger King at a picnic table by some church – and got home by late afternoon. 

I don't think the cat missed us. For real. She had tons of fresh air instead of a closed up, air-conditioned house. So she's content and sleepy. I had lots of fresh air this weekend, too. I think this "good sleeping weather" will be perfect for us all.