Happy Birthday to me....... Today -  March 31, is Ritzywife's birthday # 56.  WOW!!! I can hardly believe how fast the time seems to go by.
I have an aunt that is a couple years older than me that always calls and sings "Happy Birthday" to me every year.  The grandsons and their mama also called and sang.  Was so sweet to hear 2 - 3 year old boys singing to their Ni-maw.  Ritzy and I have plans for this afternoon and tomorrow.  Gonna be a great birthday!
The other day the boys and I were outdoors and Ritzy was mowing the lawn.  Some of the fine grass and dust particles drifted over to where we were sitting in my swing and I told the boys - would you look at that.....P-pa got dirt and grass on Ni-maw...well Calvin did the sweetest thing----he laid across my lap and said..... 'don't worry ni-maw, I'll protect you'.  that was just too precious.  Well later in the day when they were leaving Calvin was giving me a hug and he backed up and was looking at the house behind me and said  'I just love Ni-maw's house'.......i told him that i was so glad he felt that way and it made Ni-maw happy.  That is what it is all about.  Providing a safe, loving environment for those grandkids that tells them they are "welcome & appreciated" anytime.
Even tho it's a bit early I have been fishing a few times, only because it is so beautiful now.  The fish are not there yet, but they will be soon.
 I spent yesterday planting herbs, putting garden flags and wind chimes up, doing some light cleaning outdoors & fishing.  It was awesome to spend the day outside.  Didn't come in till about 8:30 or so.  I LOVE SPRING,  can ya tell??
Now i am waiting patiently to plant the tomatoes & flowers.  I love geraniums, begonias, moss...flowers that don't have to be "babied" .... and I really love the perennials that don't have to be planted every year, haha!  ;-)
 Again.....I LOVE SPRING,  can ya tell??
Ritzywife out........................................

The week started out ok/normal enough I guess until Wednesday afternoon when I received a phone call from my son-in-law.  He was trying to call the daughter.  I told him she was probably taking a nap with the boys since it was around 3:00 in the afternoon.  He proceeded to tell me that he was at the hospital because his Step-dad Tony had been taken there with what appeared to be symptoms of a stroke.  I told Steven I would keep trying to contact Keri.  I finally contacted Keri and relayed Stevens message.  After talking we decided that the son and I would come after the boys so she could go be with her husband and  the family.  Her brother and sister-in-law were going to pick her up.   Keep in mind this was the day we were getting snow and the roads were covered.  So off we went to get the grandsons to spend the night because it was going to be a long one for Steven and Keri.  I kept in contact with her throughout the night and into the morning hours.  I didn't get any sleep either.  I was praying for the family, Tony, and the whole situation.  It was heavy on my mind.
I got a text about midnight saying they were having to make a decision to have emergency surgery and around 5 a.m. keri sent me a text saying nothing could be done.  SUCH SAD NEWS!!!!
Well, Ritzy and I decided the help we could give would be to take the boys and let Steven & Keri do whatever they needed to do to help Steven's Mom and family. 
Hence the crazy, hectic schedule up until yesterday.  Yesterday was the memorial service and I told Keri that P-pa and I would just get the boys after the service and go home and they could be free to do whatever needed to be done the rest of the day.  Keri sent a text telling me they would be here sometime around 8 in the evening.  We had already given the boys their baths, brushed their teeth and given them their milk by the time their parents arrived.  They boys were sure glad to see 'mama & daddy'....and I could finally take a breath and relax.
What is so sad is that the boys were told that Paw-paw was sick and they just don't realize what all this means yet. They have asked about him and where he is a few times.   I just told keri to keep showing them pictures of paw-paw and talk about him.  That way he always stays alive in their hearts and minds even tho they can't actually be with or see him and it's ok to miss him or want to see him or be sad because they can't see him.
Tony was a great guy and you could tell that by seeing all the people at his memorial service.  There was easily 400+ people  in attendance to attest to that fact.  He will be missed.  Anita is going to need our prayers in the coming days/months/years...I can't even imagine what she is going through but all we can do is keep reminding her of how much we love her and how much we care about what she is dealing with.  I just pray God's comfort and peace on her always......
With that Ritzywife is out..............................................