A pretty good week

Happy Sunday to you all!  It is late in the day as I write because we have been busy today, so I'll probably be brief.  While we didn't have any grand adventures this week, we did get out for some fun.  This week just seemed a little more slow-paced and I felt like I was able to relax and enjoy some quality time with the girls.  Maybe I'm finally just used to our routine.   Either way, I'm thankful for the fact that I feel more well-rested and not quite so rushed.  Maybe someday life will get back to normal again, but for now I'll settle for more weeks like this.

On Monday, the girls got to have a really nice visit to the dog park.  The weather was nice and I let them run and sniff to their heart's content.  It was a great visit.  

The wildflowers are starting to fill the forest floors and the trees are getting more leaves every day.  This is the time of Spring that I love best of all, so I really enjoy these trips to the dog park with the girls.   Just being outside in the woods surrounded by the beauty of nature really makes a difference in my mood.  

As we left the park, we climbed the snow tubing hill at Hawk Island park on our way back to the car.  It was a beautiful end to our evening.

Earlier in the day, I had left the girls home and had lunch with Nicol and Fiona.  It was Fiona's birthday week, and I was happy to get to spend some time with her.  We had tacos for lunch, she opened her presents from me, and then I got to put her down for her nap before heading home.  She is such a character and I loved getting to spend this quality time with her.  She loves to tell stories and her personality is really evolving.  What a fun age!
 

Tuesday morning started quietly at my house.  Both Peaches and Mina slept in and were happily snoring away most of the morning while I worked. 

I took a late lunch Tuesday afternoon to make the drive to visit my dad.  I took the girls along for the drive and got them out for a walk along the way.  I finished my work day from a McDonald's dining room close to dad's rehab so that I could visit him right after work.  

I had a really great visit with dad that night.  He was feeling pretty good and even said he was feeling stronger.  I stayed for a couple of hours and then made the drive home, making it home just about sunset.  

I had a busy Wednesday morning at work, but I made a point of stopping for lunch so I could get the girls out for a walk because we were expecting some pretty bad storms in the early afternoon.  We took a drive to the gas station so that I could get a Mt. Dew, and I decided to take the girls for a nice walk in the neighborhood there.

It was warm and humid, but we got in a great 2 1/2 mile walk which was much needed by us all.  I made a quick stop at the store on the way home, and we arrived home in the rain.  I got the car in the garage as the storm picked up, and as I found out when I got inside, we had safely made it home in the middle of  a tornado warning.  Luckily no tornados touched down in the area and the weather at my house was never that bad.  The storm moved through quickly and then the weather cleared up for the rest of the day.  Thanks to that nice walk, I had a quite afternoon.

I was glad that the storms moved through the area early so that we could still hold our Wednesday night dog walk.  It was a little chilly and windy, but the dogs that were able to join our walk had a great time.  This time with the shelter dogs always makes my week better, too.  Look at those happy faces!

Thursday I made another visit to see my dad.  It was one of the best visits I've had yet and his progress is noticeable.  He has been told by a casework that they have been reviewing the physical therapy notes and that he may be able to go home in the next week.  I have to say that I thought this was really good news, and I honestly believe he is at a point where this moves makes sense for him.  I know he still wants to work on getting around better with his walker, but I can tell that he actually feels ready for the move home now too.  So hopefully when I write next Sunday, he'll be home.  His physical therapy won't stop then, and he'll still have work to do to continue to build strength and endurance and get back to a normal life again, but this is at least a step in the right direction.

After our visit, I got the girls out for a walk on a trail that I found in nearby Clio.  We didn't take a long walk because my knee was bothering me, but we got in a good mile and they seemed happy with that.  We made a few stops along the drive home to pick up some geocaches to make up for the shorter walk.  It was dark when we got home, but it was a good night.

Because my knee was still acting up on Friday, I took the girls for a run at the dog park on my lunch to burn off some of their energy.  It was just what we all needed.  

I was pretty happy to find my first Trillium of the year while we were there.  Peaches was just happy to be outside!  Part of the reason I enjoy visiting this dog park so much is the joy I see in the girls as they run and explore.  It was a good way to spend my lunch.

Friday was also a big day in our world because these two cuties celebrated their birthdays.   

Fiona is now two, which is so hard to believe, and Picasso turned seven.  Of course Nicol spoiled them both on their special day.  I really love the picture of the two of the together.

After a quiet Saturday morning at home, we headed out to meet up with Vanessa in Marshall for lunch and some fun. 

We had a nice 3.9 mile walk on the North Country trail along the Marshall Riverwalk.  It's one of my favorite spots along the trail, and it was a really nice walk despite the cold.  After our walk, we spent a little time doing some geocaching in the area.  Although we didn't have much success, it was still a great day.

I took some time Saturday evening and Sunday morning to do some cleaning and organizing around the house.  It felt great to have the energy to be productive because it's been awhile since I wasn't just dragging by the end of the weekend.  

We left home late Sunday morning to make the drive over to visit my dad.  I wanted to be able to get the girls out for a walk before we got there, so we may a stop at the Flushing Riverview Park along the way.

It was chilly and windy, so we had a brisk walk around the park.  The sun was shining and the view was pretty, which made for a really nice walk. 

The girls always love when we stop somewhere new, and they really enjoyed our stop here.  We had a nice one mile walk, and then we were on our way to visit dad.

My mom was at the facility when I arrived for my visit so I got have a visit with both mom and dad, which I haven't done in quite awhile.  After my visit, I treated myself to dinner and then took the girls for a walk around Birch Run before heading home.  It was a good way to end our weekend.

I am actually feeling pretty good about the week ahead too.  I have no big plans or commitments, and I'm hopeful that my long drives multiple days a week are nearing there end.  I hope that you all have a great week!