Grandma (1915-2016)

I can't remember if I posted on here or not about my Grandma.  Anyway, my mom's mom died last month.  She was 101!  She lived in South Dakota until just about a year ago, and then my mom and my aunt converged on Grandma's house (with some reinforcements) and basically informed my Grandma that she could no longer live in South Dakota by herself and she was, in fact, coming with them to upstate New York where she'd live with my aunt.  

For once, my Grandma didn't argue.

Anyway, I don't think anyone thought she'd live nearly a whole year longer, but that's what she did.  Her body just gave out and she died peacefully in her sleep on the morning of September 8th.  (Why does everyone shy away from the word "died"?  She died.  That's all.)

It was a Thursday.  I had just finished teaching a Zumba class.  Mara was a preschool.  I was just signing out at the gym when my phone rang.  I saw it was my mom and I just knew.  She asked me if I had time to meet to get a coffee.  I said, "Did Aunt Ruth call you?"  She hesitated, then said, "Grandma died this morning."  "Okay," was all I said.  Because what else could I say?

My mom asked me to speak at my Grandma's memorial.  We didn't have a date planned, of course, because we didn't know when she would die.  Naturally, I agreed.  I felt honored that she had asked me, especially since she said nobody else would be asked to speak.  She said she thought I'd be a good candidate for that.  And, not to sound braggy or boastful, I believe she's right.  I'm not an overly emotional person, at least not in that sense.  I didn't cry when she told me Grandma died.  I knew it was coming so I felt somewhat ready for it.

My Grandma's memorial was held on October 2, 2016, in Vermillion, South Dakota, where Grandma lived up until she went to New York.  It was very odd being back in Vermillion, knowing that my Grandma was not there.  At least, not in the form I was used to seeing her in!  Her urn was there but... that's not the same, somehow.  I spent several weeks each summer in Vermillion over the years.  It was strange to know that this would likely be my last trip (unless I go back to help my mom with the house arrangements at a later date.)

I do have pics from the trip, mainly of Mara being cute in South Dakota, but my phone and computer aren't communicating right now, so I can't upload the photos easily.  I'll have to put them in later.

Photobooth

Well hello there, Blogisphere.  Long time, no see.

Let's just get into it, shall we?

The other day I was playing with the Photo Booth app on my computer and Mara came and crawled into my lap, asking to "see pictures."  So we took a bunch of photos.  Add a black and white filter and they look quite artistic if I do say so myself!  Here they are.

Earth to Kate

Life is crazy... life is chaotic... but life is good.  I haven't had a spare moment just to sit down and WRITE in ages.  I still don't, in fact, but I figured I'd better send out a beacon or else you'd all think I'd abandoned this blog forever, and that's not the case! 

The reader's digest version...

-I got approved to teach 3 more formats at work (strength, ab conditioning and boot camp) and have been busily subbing classes right and left ever since

-We've been working on potty training Mara AND Frank at the same time

-I'm heading out of town for a day trip this Sunday to central Oregon with my dad to look at real estate

-We're going to South Dakota October 1st for my Grandma's funeral

-Corky's marathon is coming up October 9th

-We're going to Canada for Halloween, so I've been working extra to try and make money to balance out the plane ticket cost

-I have been desperately trying to get in miles when possible because I am participating in this 1000km in a year challenge (have been since January!) and I'm running out of time

-I've got less than 2 months to sit for my exam for personal trainer, so studying like mad

-Trying to keep the house from looking a disaster all the time

-Keep myself and everyone else fed, clean, clothed and happy (except the dogs, who aren't clothed but are fed, clean-ish and happy!)

I'll be around... whenever I have a second to breathe! LOL

Picture Dump part 2

I took the rocking chair out of Mara's room and all of a sudden there was so much more space!  But... when did my baby turn into a little girl?! 

Took little miss to Out of this World on a Saturday for a pizza & play date

Life these days

No caption needed here

Fall around here

Port Land

Came upstairs and found this one evening...

My pretty little bug at school...

2 classes down, 1 to go!

That ponytail tho.....

Picture Dump part 1

No rhyme or reason to these. Here we go!

Frank chewing on.... something. Lol.

Snap chat fun

Mara's Halloween costume 

A girl and her dog!

My persnickety kid would ONLY settle for a "grilled seahorse" for lunch, so I conjured up this.

Mara grabbed a tomato and started eating it like an apple.

We have liftoff!

Wish us luck on this one!

My giant boxer boy 

101 Years, 6 Months and 16 Days

My grandma passed away yesterday morning at about 7:30am.  She lived for 101 years, 6 months and 16 days.  I miss her already :( 

Boot Camp

Well, add another class to the list of things I can now teach: Boot Camp Conditioning!

Last week, my boss called me and asked if I'd be willing to sub a Boot Camp class on Thursday night.  The conversation went something like this...

Boss: I need a Boot Camp sub on Thursday, can you help out?
Me: Well.. I've never actually taught Boot Camp before....
Boss: Have you taken it?
Me: Yes, several times!
Boss: If I send you the training materials, would you give it a shot?
Me:... sure!

So there you have it.  It was great! I'm subbing it again tonight at a different gym and actually pretty stoked about it! :)