Let's Put It All Together

On Friday morning, I made a quick trip to IKEA to pick up a daybed for the lake house. It seems there are times when we need more places for people to sleep. A great problem to have since it means a house full of family and friends. :)

I have written about IKEA before, and it really is quite an amazing place. Jennifer and I were there a couple weeks ago on a Tuesday, and the place was packed with mommys and kids. Turns out kids eat free on Tuesdays. Combine that with the childcare area, and it seems like a great way to spend the day.

I have also mentioned the fact that shopping at IKEA by yourself is hard work, especially if you plan to buy furniture. While everything is efficiently packed in flat boxes, the boxes weigh a ton. And I mean a ton. The handy carts are, indeed, handy, but they also have wheels that swivel in all directions, meaning they roll away when you're trying to load. I was able to help a couple of women who were struggling to load their stuff. IKEA folks don't offer to help, though I learned that they will help if asked. Thank goodness! Otherwise I would still be there trying to inch the boxes off the shelf and onto my cart. Whew!

After all that, I thought I deserved a little treat. The aroma of fresh cinnamon rolls greets you as you approach the checkout area. Those IKEA folks think of everything!

They are even offering a Mother's Day Brunch! And moms eat free! Genius! (Although brunch at IKEA would not be my first choice for a Mother's Day outing.) But that's just me.

The sign shows just how easy it is to get home with your boxes. That's right. Easzzzzy as pie!

I brought my big van, and after waiting around for a bit, I finally located an IKEA guy to help load the heavy stuff.

This woman found IKEA guys to help her fit all her stuff......

into that little car. I think she bought a patio table and six chairs.

And she followed me all the way to my exit and kept on going. We could have carpooled. :)

Friday night at the lake, I managed to assemble one of my purchases. A handy IKEA wine rack.

Saturday, Bryan and Jennifer joined us at the lake, and at Big Woods Brewery to celebrate their first anniversary.

We had fun watching video footage of their wedding day, and remembering the fun and special celebration from one year ago.

Happy Anniversary Bryan and Jennifer!

And of course, we celebrated with Big Woods' famous Pulled Pork Nachos. Best. Ever.

After dinner, we got to work assembling the daybed from IKEA.

Jennifer and Bryan just put together a dresser and nightstand for the baby's room, so they are self proclaimed IKEA experts.

It is rather amazing that this flat box of boards will actually make a sturdy and attractive bed.

Bryan and Jim followed Jennifer's instructions.

Bentley watched me as they worked on the trundle.

Such a handsome boy!

Work resumed the next morning.

Ready to assemble the drawers.

Jim's drawer,

Bryan's,

and Jennifer's. I was just in charge of photos. :)

Ta da!!

Jim unwraps the mattress.

And Jennifer tries it out.

It will make a nice extra bed for when the house is full. And I do love a full house. :)

And when the work was done, Jim took a well-deserved rest.

Hard to believe, I know.

Run for the Hodgepodge

Just a quick little Hodgepodge today during my lunch break from jury duty. Be sure to click on the button below to visit our hostess Joyce!

1. April showers bring May flowers...what have you been showered with this month?
Well, there was that sudden little hail storm at the hardware store, but that's about it.

2. What is the nature of compassion?  Is it learned or innate?  Can compassion be learned?  If you're a parent is this something you've purposely sought to instill in your children, and if so how?
I think compassion can be innate, and there are surely folks who are born with a tender and caring heart, but is also taught and learned by example. I have been blessed to have examples of compassion in my life, especially my parents and in-laws. I hope what I have learned from them, and others in my life, has been reflected in me and passed on to our children.
A wise thought by the Dalai Lama:
If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.

3. Do you prefer to watch romantic comedy or romantic drama...or are you rolling your eyes saying bring on the action flicks?
Romantic comedy is by far my favorite movie genre. I want to be entertained with a good story, I want to laugh, and I want to walk away feeling happy about the ending. Here are a couple that fill the bill.

My favorite scene from My Best Friend's Wedding: 
'I'll Say a Little Prayer for You.'

And of course, Pretty Woman. "I want the fairy tale."

4.  It's April which means baseball season is officially upon us here in the US of A. Humphrey Bogart is quoted as saying "A hot dog at the ballgame beats roast beef at the Ritz." Agree or Disagree?
Well, I am a sports fan, and I enjoy the atmosphere of the stadium or ballpark, but not so much for the food. Last summer, I made my first trip to Wrigley Field in Chicago.

My brother and I took my dad for his 80th birthday. We had a great time.

As for food, though, I'll choose roast beef at the Ritz. Small filet, please. :)

5. What's something in your community or city that needs fixing or improving?
I don't know if this is considered my community or my city, but this old barn of ours definitely needs fixing. Poor PeeWee still lives there. Not sure it's gonna happen though....

6. Share a song you enjoy that mentions flowers or a specific flower in its title.

It's almost Derby time! I'll share one of my favorites, by Dan Fogelberg, Run for the Roses. Enjoy!

7. April 22nd is Earth Day...do you believe there's life on other planets?  That wasn't the question you were expecting was it? 

Nope. And no it wasn't. :)

8.  Insert your own random thought here.
A beautiful sunrise,

a beautiful friend,

a beautiful daughter (with a cardboard paint salesman).

Mamas and Boys and Bruce, Oh My!

Last Saturday, I headed to West Lafayette for my last Moms' Weekend at Purdue. Seems like just yesterday that we were moving Adam into his dorm at Cary Quad, and here he is, a senior.

I saw this truck on my way up. That's a lot of coffee!

The boys at AGR greeted the moms, and we enjoyed a nice lunch together. I gave special thanks to their cook, Jackie, for taking such good care of Adam, and making sure he always had something to eat. :) Sometimes that's a bit of a challenge. He's a picky one, that Adam.

After lunch, it was time to move downstairs for the auction. The moms donate items, then bid against one another to purchase said items at highly inflated prices. Genius!

This year, it was a treat that one of the boys (I call them boys) is a real auctioneer. He did a fabulous job fast-talking the bids up and keeping track of the winning bidders.

They auctioned off a wide variety of items, including full coolers, mirrors made of tractor tires,

illuminated cattle skulls,

and this cute little bucket of goodies, which I was able to purchase. I thought it would be a good addition to our tailgating set-up.

A couple of the boys and their families donated this unique set of barstools and table. It's amazing what can be done with a welding torch and a couple of kegs.

It was a hotly contested item, bringing over $1000.

Just what everyone needs in their home. No, I was not the winning bidder.

And just for fun, one of the boys modeled the embroidered tie up for bid.

 And he was quite the model.

Doesn't every fraternity have a truck in the basement? Oh, boys.

After shopping or naps, we enjoyed dinner together with the senior class and moms. Alex, Adam, and Alan are being photo bombed by Kyle. Oh, boys.

Next stop, the world famous Neon Cactus.

 We arrived early, and waited for the doors to open.

 The whole group posed for a picture.

We even got a photo of Adam and his mama.

Inside, we got our Cactus Cups, and found our seats in the piano bar.

 Courtney came along too.

We played a card game while we waited for Bruce to get started.

Kyle explained the game to the moms. We weren't very good at it. I think I might have lost.

 Kyle's mama gave him a little pinch.

Adam's friends Kyle and Alan and their moms pose with us.

Adam and me.

 Alan and his mom.

And heeeeeeerrrre's Bruce! Bruce is the world-renowned piano man at the Neon Cactus. He is talented, entertaining, and a little bit inappropriate. (Actually, a lot inappropriate.)

Elton John showed up.

He even did a country song or two.

Clark danced with Kyle's mom,

and Kyle danced with Clark's mom. I didn't do any dancing.

Back at the house, I posed with Adam on the formal stairs which may only be used by alumni or seniors nearing graduation. It was a fun evening with a good group of boys. My last boy. To graduate. Oh my!