Making it through the Day, Dad in tow!

If today ends without incident we will have had a great week.  Since last Wednesday there have been no inappropriate behaviors. Life is good.  Dad will be pouring through my coffee table books at a fast pace.  I like the slower timing of my life, it is the first time I have been a housewife who did not have to work.

   Thank God for my family--this week especially for Carol.   Dad's new 1bath, 1 room suite with smoking area is all set up with smoke and fire detectors, fire extinguishers and a a general new look.  I told my Dad I was raising the rent.    He is a little more responsive than he was at AG, as we are not medicating him so much.   He does smile.

Thanks Mom for helping!

Art's arrived in Long Beach

Art's throne ---note the coffee cup, ashtray, phone and cigs--oops! where are the cigs????

 

Art's new apartment--3rd one in 2 months --- Carol did all the work. That is a pseudo leather couch, hopefully mostly pee proof. His artwork and photos have not arrived yet. New rugs, new furniture. For those of you familiar with my old guestroom/office; the couch is where the head of the bed was.

Margaret "Peg" Vigars Wilke 1916-2009

My mahvalous mother in law, Peg, passed away yesterday. Her sons all have been elequent. I am just me. "Bye Peg, you will be missed." Credit to Dave for the picture.

Back to life--or not

We are continuing to ask for thoughts and prayers as family and friends struggle with illness and loss. I am back in CA. I actually worked one day.

Devin says too cute!

Yes, even Devin was back on the East Coast. His friend since grade school, Adam, got married Saturday. And Devin got to spend some time on Carol's boat on Block Island, and then Scott, Soen and Sadie showed up and a grand time was had by all. Grandma Bonnie is in upstate New York with poppa Butler. PaKit will join us on the East Coast on 8/5. We are hoping for poppa to stay safe so Kit and Bonnie can visit all on the East Coast.

I am not allowed to put Devin's stuff on Facebook, and this is a copyrighted picture.

Green River, Utah

Finally, life is back to normal. Kit is doing well. I left Long Beach yesterday. I drove 12 hours. This am I am up and getting ready to drive to Butch's. The countryside yesterday was desert and then beautiful mountains and mesas. The color changes are awesome.

Hard to believe

Grandchildren are great in NC.   Soen lost his first tooth.  I am currently spending a day in Washington, DC.   John's Memorial service, Saturday,  was beautiful and touching.  People talked and sang and there were hundreds of people.  The Fourth Estate en masse.   Mark and Sharon's twins are tall and handsome.  Jackson, Robin and Nancy were impressively composed.  The brothers all did a great job at sharing John's childhood.  I met Kit's cousins, Fran and Wayne, and their families.  Thanks to all.  Today, Washington relaxing.  

Too much work

Just finished third week of full time work.  2 1/2 to go before leaving for Washington, DC for John's memorial service.  I want to be working in my kitchen, which finally got water yesterday--a whole month with no water in kitchen sucks.  

Wilke

John and Jackson at a family volleyball game in Maine, almost 3 years ago. Jackson is much taller now. John still said he was taller than Jackson when I saw them last in December, 2008. It was a fantasy to which Jackson was willing to let John hold. I have been looking for pictures from family gatherings. I can't find many. I was often jealous of Nancy, because her husband would be off with her on some couple adventure, just the two of them, while the rest of us were hanging out with the family, doing what we "should". John would explain these adventures as hikes or runs. They did have fun together.

May 3, 2009 Sadness

I have spent most of the time I have been back from North Carolina helping family and working full time.  Working is over rated,  the family--underrated. 

 I would like to give kudos, props, thanks to my sister-in-law, Nancy N. Wilke.   What a strong, heroic woman!   Nancy was married to John R. Wilke, who passed from this life on Friday.  John "wasn't dying" and did not want anyone around him feeling that he was.    

 Nancy honored his wishes and yet managed to bring him home for a week before he breathed his last.  All his brothers got to be with him at his home in Bethesda in a very intimate way.  They watched the Red Sox and the sunsets together.  Nancy shared his end with them.  Hurray for all of you--having the courage to be with John and greet death, and all its indignities, with fortitude.  I love you.  

I am BonnieBlue today

The family is odd.  I wish I was home.  I want to do something fantastic with the grandchildren.  The weather stinks.  

Smnuggles are us!

Saturday was a good day. Friday was not so hot. Friday Smadie was in the room. I am calling the difference between Sadie/angel and Sadie/that is not my grandkid the Sadie/Shmadie dicotomy. Suggested by Michaela. I do not know how to spell "shmadie" so I made it up.

Friday, everything and anything caused a torrent of "no, no n--ooooo!" followed by screams. Saturday she woke up bright and shiney and never cried all day. The photo here is from Friday night, as Michaela tries to coax the Sadie out.

On the Farm

I am just trying to get some of these pictures on line. I am not at home. Kit will add narrative later.

The beginning out of order

The Three Wilke boys

Harold wound have been Sadie and Soen's great grandpa. Ida and William --great great grandparent's. By marriage.









Stanley, Harvey, Harold in the buggy .
























Wm and Ida Wilke
and boys












Wm and Ida Wedding

Super Star of Room 16

Jade is a bright child who has the rare behavior issue. She has been trying really hard despite drama. Her teacher, Mrs. O thought she deserved to be a March Star, because she is working so hard on school work. Her reading is improving rapidly.

Soen sings at school--maybe 4/7/09

The boy does not like these performance things. His first soccer game he played with his hands in his pockets, too. Soen did do his share of stomping on the last song, when he was finally warmed up. Soen is one of the tallest kids in his school so his position was in the last row. That was fine with him. The last picture here I would title, "Yes ma'am. Whatevah you say, Ma'am." I am teaching him to speak in Rhode Dylin' before his Aunt Janet arrives tomorrow. The kids were too cute.

Back in the day

Just in case you think I do nothing in CA, this is a picture of my special friend Jade, who here is a title character in a play called The Deer and the Vine. Here she is dying as the deer ate all her leaves. When I am in town I help with Jade whenever I can while her Mom is single parent teaching school, going to school, caring about her sick Mom and being universally disliked by the school district employees where she is president of the school board. This is shool district where I worked before retirement and where I still sub when I can.

Pictures by grands

More kid stuff

Pictures Taken by Sadie and Soen

We were on the way to the soccer game and Soen asked if he could take pictures with my camera. As camera is pretty sturdy I complied. Both kids used the camera with remarkable results.

Soccer player extrodinaire!!! 4/4/09

Soen in Flight

April 4th. Soen keeps team from being scoreless. 2 goals.

Soen and Sadie share chair as Soen carbs up on Craisins.

Soen is getting props from Mom after his 1st goal scored in his life

Sadie has the post beach, post nap mandatory Sponge Bob icecream.
She had already started the ice cream when she heard the ice cream truck. She found it hard to ask for an ice cream from the truck when she already had one in her hand. But, seconds later, she did ask.

At Carolina Beach. They played a little wave tag and mostly made irrigation system. Granny and Sadie
carried the water. Though we brought a few toys, Grandma Bonnie's coffee cup was the
toy of choice.

Somores

The day was great. This is the postlude to Soen's soccer game. Did I tell you he rode his two wheeler without trading wheels for the first time today! 4/3

Visit April 2009

The kids, Scott and Michaela, and Sadie and Soen, are a busy family, hard working and lucky, they thrive in Wilmington, North Carolina. They have been there for over two years now and they love it---the beach, the warm weather, the beach. Scott plays golf. Michaela runs away her stress. MY grandchildren keep them very grounded. These particular photos show Sadie struggling with toilet training. Note the positive reinforcement on the toilet tank. Showers are a necessity as the kids play outside when possible and get filthy. Also, wet hair with detangler and conditioner is the only way to get a comb thru Sadie's hair. Right now she is in watching a movie with her bro and Mom. I thought Sadie was going to have her 3rd shower today because she had marshmellow in her hair. Michaela got it out. Yes, marshmellows, because we had somores for dessert after the first hot dog cookout of the season. This has been one of the coldest winters in many years in NC.











Here Soen is having post shower snack---note: 2 forks---sharing with sister is important. Sadie spends quite a large amount of time trying to be Soen.












Sadie is on her way to soccer game. Her Mom sometimes calls her, "Hot mess."