"15 Lbs. in a Peck"

Brooke took Catherine, Liam and I to visit grandma and grandpa. For my own sanity I didn't tell the kids we were going until the last minute because as it was Catherine kept asking "When do I get to see grandma Bonnie?" until I was ready to gouge out my eyes. When we arrived, we were able to surprise grandma and grandpa (they only knew that Brooke was coming), and then we all went to bed, because it was after 10pm.

In the morning grandma made us all her famous "breakfast for 30" and it was great!!!! Catherine and Liam loved the pancakes, especially catching them.

After breakfast Jenny came to help grandma clean the stove. Grandma had a fire in the oven the day before and used a fire extinguisher to put out the flames. It was a big mess. I removed the oven door and took it apart in an effort to try and clean the glass window. Sadly, nothing could be done and the window is still clouded over. But at least the oven still works.

We had a nice visit with Tom, Jenny and their kids. We hope that our bodies have not been chemically altered from eating the pizza contaminated with fire extinguisher residue. (Note: I kept calling Caleb Gavin because they look so much alike!! It is uncanny.)

After lunch Tom and Jenny left and Brooke and I took the kids out to a school play area so they could get some exercise. It was very cold so we did not play there long, but the kids seemed to like getting out for a while and we hoped it would give grandma and grandpa a short break from the cyclone that is Liam. When we returned to the house we found that grandma had put out a spread for us, complete with margaritas. Cheers!!

Here was grandma's idea for keeping Liam manageable... just kidding.

Aunt Sue and Uncle Fred came over to share dinner with us. It was quite the collaborative effort. Aunt Sue read the directions to me and I tried to execute them, and grandma buzzed around getting the side dishes ready. I got to try grandma's neat meat thermometer but I didn't use it right and the meat was undercooked. We had to put it back in the oven for another 1/2 hour or so. We got to have some lively conversations while it cooked and finally it was done and we could eat. It was worth the wait! Pork tenderloin with peppercorn sauce, yum. After dinner we all helped clean up and Uncle Fred washed the dishes!!! (Don, take notes)

After Aunt Sue and Uncle Fred left, we got the kids in their jammies and put them to bed. Then it was quiet enough for the adults to hunker down with some coffee and talk. We learned some interesting things about growing up Lauerman. Grandma regaled us with stories about grandpa's youth (I don't know how much is actual, and how much is contrived, but they were amazing stories and Brooke and I ate them up!) While we talked I gave grandma a pedicure! Her toenails are now a beautiful red color and she is ready for anything. Well, almost anything.

We got up the next day and tried to help grandma get a few of the household tasks taken care of before we left. Brooke vacuumed and I fixed a hook in the bedroom closet. I also counted out their weekly medication and tried to organize it - what a job!! (Hard to believe you need so many pills for just two people. Those things better be working for all the trouble they are worth.) After a couple rides around the room on grandpa's Jazzy we were ready for our photos. We tried to include kids and dog but things weren't going too well and we opted for whatever we could get.

With Liam and Mika



Without Liam and Mika (hm, maybe we should have left them home; well, not Mika)

The ride home was very quiet. The kids and dog had had enough. I think we were all ready to return home to the comfort of familiarity...

Thank you to G & G for putting us up (and putting up with us) for the weekend and to Brooke for getting us down to IN and back safely. Thanks as well to Mika for enduring all of the kids' antics.

FYI: There are 15lbs. of potatoes in a peck. Grandpa will never forget because he had to bag them at his parents' store.