6th time is a charm?

Labor Day weekend I somehow broke off a 1.7 x 1.4 cm piece of cartilage/bone. 

Yesterday they went in to fetch it! 

They had to add an extra hole in the back of my knee to get this thing out! 

I didn't get to keep this little nugget but I'm glad to say its gone. Now I'm on a 4-6 week recovery course and hopeful that my knee is back to normal (or at least my kind of normal) soon. 

After 6 surgeries this knee is anything but normal! 

Luckily I have a wonderful family, great group of supportive friends, and cat that likes to snuggle so I'm well taken care of. Oh, and a 20 page paper to write for my Master's class......

I think I'll wait until I'm off the narcotics to get going on that one! 

Deep thoughts

Deep thoughts by Josie

I found her sleeping last night in her graduation gown. Asked her this morning what that was all about. 

"It's comfortable and you don't like it when I sleep naked."

Then she informed me that she had an awesome breakfast planned. I turned around to find 3 pancakes with 2 pieces of a chocolate bar on each pancake. Naturally, I asked what was going on. 

"I had to do it this way- I couldn't find the chocolate chips."

Pots of gold

Children are the rainbow of life.....

Grandparents are the pot of gold! 

Josie is so lucky to have such caring grandparents and great-grandparents!

Her love for life, learning, reading, laughing, gardening, fishing and fun come from them. 

10 years!

Happy 10th Anniversary, Brent! 

You are my friend, my partner in crime, my own personal comedian and a wonderful father. 

I am so proud to call you mine! 

Not-so-traditional anniversary gifts

Its our 10th anniversary tomorrow and Josie has been very concerned about what sort of gifts Brent and I are going to give each other. I tried explaining that an anniversary is sort of like a grown up birthday and presents aren't that big of a deal. She wasn't buying it. Then I explained that there are traditional gifts designated for each anniversary year. Hallmark says we should be giving each other tin/aluminum or diamond jewelry. I was given diamond earrings for Mother's Day and the pontoon is aluminum so I think we're covered on both fronts. Again, Josie wasn't buying it.

To ensure that a proper gift exchange occurs Josie has sat down with both of us and helped generate a list of gift ideas. Below is the list she provided to me:

• Night without (CPAP) mask
• Free kiss (from momma)
• Dinner out (but not too spicy)
• Your choice of movie (at home, while Jo watches separate movie)
• Dinner at home (but something we all like, and not spicy)
• Golf on Sunday (on TV)
• Day off from mowing
• Golf every day for one week
• Catch a Muskie (that can mount on wall)
• Ice cream for dinner
• Coupon for steak (instead of what mom wants)
• A day without mom (because she's sometimes annoying)

Again, we have the pontoon and we're going out to dinner tonight. I think we're covered. 

Happy anniversary!

Happy 37th anniversary to the people who have taught me how to love, laugh and persevere. 

We're so thankful for both of you! 

Luckily its too hot today to muskie fish! 

More sad things

Positive:

Making new friends

Expanding your horizons

Negative:

Straying too far

Straying too long

Your mom unable to find you after checking 4 friend's houses and 2 cul de sacs

Sad thing:

Losing privileges shortly after gaining them 

At least she's crying to the cat and not me! 

Sad things

I came up to bed last night around 10:30 and Josie was sleeping in my spot. I promptly woke her up (because its my spot!!) and asked why she had crawled into bed with us.

          Sad things, mom. I don't want to talk about it.

So being the loving mother I am, I continued to prod her until she finally spilled her guts.

          Its just that no one ever wants to trade treat bag things with the birthday kid.

Say what? More prodding.

          All my friends seemed to really like their treat bags from my birthday party and they were all               busy trading Laffy Taffy flavors but never traded with me.

I'm now starting to get the idea and am sorry I asked in the first place. Then the waterworks begin.

          Its supposed to be a special day for the birthday child and you made me say goodbye to                       everyone so no one traded candy with me. I really wanted another cherry flavor.

Great. Back on me and my mothering ability. Time to roll over and get some sleep.

          Mom, are you listening to me? How can I get another cherry flavor?

In the interest of sleep I mumbled something about buying another stupid bag of Laffy Taffy and keeping the whole bag for Brent and I but trading out one cherry to her.

Sad things indeed.