more Feb, March and April

In my Feb 4th blog there are pictures of the visit I made to Albuquerque with my 2 youngest grandchildren(Cate and Finn) and their mothers. Two weeks after that visit, my mom suffered a minor stoke. I was glad I had made the trip for her to meet her newest grandchildren. I returned on Feb 15th to be with my sister Dorothy and prepare for what we believed was my mother's death. She was going to be 97 years old on the 25 of February. My sister Rita had arrived earlier for a visit and was there when the stroke occured. In two weeks my mom had gone from a lively active woman to someone who didn't recognize her family or surroundings.


The beginning of a very sad week was spent preparing for the worst. But, when I left to go home on the 19th, having set up the plan for mom's death, funeral and burial in NJ. She was outside saying 'Cheese" for a picture with my sister Dorothy. Mom, I guess didn't believe it was her time. But, I was back to Albuquerque the first week of March after a fall resulted in a pelvic injury and left her bedridden. She was in bad mood following the fall but made a firm commitment to get better and ultimately get back to walking.
The good news is she celebrated her 97th, is looking forward to next year and is getting a little better everyday, uses a walker which she hates because she believes people will see her and think she's old. There's even talk of a NJ visit this summer.
In between the work and visits to ABQ, Erinn celebrated her 30 something birthday on February 12th. I made the chocoholic a 'From Scratch' Chocolate cake. ("Mom's Best Chocolate Cake"-Joanne Weir)

A delicious cake and another great event.

Ronnie had her spring break-2 weeks off from March 8-21. We booked a week in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic from the 12-19 with our former Murphy Drive neighbors and good friends Mike and Babette Morgan. This was our 3rd trip back to The Iberostar Bavaro Resort. We had been there in 2002 and 2005. It is the BEST! All inclusive and very relaxing with warm sunny weather and friendly staff.

Cate couldn't wait to try on her native skirt from the island(over her Pj's)

Later she did a little art work on the stair spindles while her mother was busy cleaning. Those are Kotex panty liners. She was very proud of her work.
The weather in NJ was rather nice while we were in Punta Cana so when we got home we took a day trip to the Jersey Shore. Poor Kat had to work so she didn't join us. Lunch at Mr Shrimp and dessert at Strollo's made it a great day with the kids.

Ronnie had a birthday on the March 31. It was a quietly celebrated birthday. I can't seem to find any pictures, probably because most of the grand kids were sick. But it was a nice day(I think-no, I'm sure)
Meg had the family in for brunch on Easter Sunday morning followed by an Easter egg hunt in the backyard. Tiernan Patrick and Cate are waiting by the back door waiting for the start signal. Another delicious fun day.

My monthly week in Vegas was April 5-9. It has become a very reasonable place to get a hotel room. The crowds just aren't what they used to be and hotel occupancy hangs around 50%. I don't usually stay downtown because I don't like the casino hotels. However, the MGM has a non-casino hotel -The Signature adjacent to it's Grand, it is a non smoking suite hotel and it's now about $99 a night- one block off the strip. A very enjoyable Las Vegas destination and one I'll book again. Here are pictures from my 38th floor balcony looking west to the Strip and looking down at the pool.

The street performers need a license in Vegas and one of the soldiers from ToyStory was being cited by LVPD.

I had a trip 14-18 going from Trenton to London Ontario to Orlando then Miami. It was a rather disappointing stay in Florida-rainy and cool for the 5 days. I was glad to get home and spend a non flying week with the grandchildren and do some work on the lawn and at the beach house. Approaching the end of April- Patrick, on the left, Finn,center and Tiernan posed reluctantly for a before and after haircut photos Patrick is turning 6 on the 26th, Finn will be 2 on July 30, and Tiernan was 8 on Feb 5th.