Heather's Car Troubles - But we got to see the last grandkid !

About 3 pm yesterday, we got a frantic phone call from our daughter, Heather.   "Mom?  How can I get my key unstuck from IN my ignition???"
 
She was stranded in a gas station, near her place of work, and had to be to work for 3:30.  She could not start the car or remove the key, because it seems something slid and broke inside of her ignition.  The key could come part way out and that was it.  ACK!  We tried suggesting all of the tricks of turning the steering wheel back and forth, running the car through all of it's shifting positions, or just finally pounding the key back into the lock.  Nothing worked.   She was 35 miles from here, so we couldn't just run and help her.

She called into work and told her boss that she would be delayed.  Turns out her father-in-law Kevin was nearby on the way home from his work, so she called him and he stopped to help.  He tried everything he knew of, and used his brute force even.  Nothing worked.  But he knew a friend, who was a locksmith, who came there a little while later.  They managed to get the key back into the ignition and got the car turned on, but could NOT turn it OFF!   Sooo they showed her how to remove the battery cable and short it out against the frame (dangerous method) to get the engine to turn off.  

Now it was over an hour later, so she called back to work and took a personal day off, which was fine with the boss.  She drove the car right up here to our house, being followed by Jesse with little Jameson in their other car.  Wheeee!  I get to see the grandson and give him his souvenirs now too!  (we were going to wait till Easter)

So we tossed a few pizzas in the oven, and I whipped up a batch of cookies while they were on their way driving up here.  Good Granmuddah's always have cookies, right?  I even had Easter Bunny sprinkles to put on them!

They got to our house, and the guys brought the car right over to Lyle Piontek's shop nearby --- he works on only Saturn cars and has always done good repairs for us at a reasonable price if it was something we could not do right here at home.  He has a lot of junked Saturns to rob parts from too.   He said he would put on a complete steering column and ignition (used)  as her problem was in  both the wiring switch and mechanical lock that has worn a hole right through something.  So they left the car there and came back for pizza at our house.   Her car will be done in a few days and she can pick it up on Easter.  They can manage with just one car, because Jesse works days and is home by 3pm, and Heather works evenings and needs to be to work by 3:30.   They also don't need a day care for Jameson by having that kind of schedule.

In the meantime, I got to have a little Jameson visit with us---  after not seeing him for two months--- what fun!   We gave them all their souvenirs from our trip Out West.    The kids loved their pottery and the Mexican picnic blanket too....

Yes, that is a tequila flavored sucker with a WORM in it!   I hid them inside of each piece of Mexican Pottery that we got for each couple.   (got worm suckers for all three guys, our son and sons-in-laws)  

"C'mon Granmuddah, sit on our blanket and please read me my favorite story? 

"Brown Bear, Brown Bear, what do you see?"

Jameson got a new jogging suit instead of a Mexican Senorita Dress... LOL  It has guitars and says "Rock N Roll" on it.  He was more interested in his articulated snake and dragonfly puppet and little plastic bugs and snakes and worms!  Total "BOY" through and through-----

I got a shot of Jameson on his blanket, now I have one of all three kids on each of theirs! 

After we had our pizza, Erin came over with little Chelsea for a visit, as Mark had to work late.   

So both kids got out the color crayons and I got some new Refrigerator Art to hang up!!!

Sure wish little Allegra had been here too, we need some Refrigerator Art from her now. 

With lots of hugs and kisses, we said goodbye to the little ones.   On Easter Sunday we will all be together, along with Allegra too... and the rest of Steve's family.  We are renting the hall in Pensaukee again this Easter for our family gathering and meal.  There will be a lot of room for the kiddos to run around, and plenty of space for family, visiting, the meal and just gathering in love for the Holiday.

We are hunkering down in the meantime, as a big big storm is heading our way.  Hope this is the Last Blast of Winter, and we can look forward to SPRING???



URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREEN BAY WI
953 PM CDT MON APR 18 2011

...A LATE SEASON STORM WILL BRING WINTER PRECIPITATION TO NORTHERN
AND CENTRAL WISCONSIN...

IN ADDITION TO THE SNOW...STRONG NORTHEAST WINDS ARE EXPECTED
TUESDAY AFTERNOON AND TUESDAY NIGHT. BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW IS
POSSIBLE IF TEMPERATURES FALL A FEW DEGREES BELOW FREEZING. THE
STRONG WINDS AND HEAVY WET SNOW COULD ALSO CAUSE DAMAGE TO TREES
AND POWER LINES.

...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM TUESDAY TO 10 AM CDT
WEDNESDAY...

* THE STORM IS EXPECTED TO PRODUCE A BAND OF 6 TO 10 INCHES OF WET
 PACKING-TYPE SNOW. THE HEAVIEST SNOW BAND IS MOST LIKELY TO SET
 UP JUST TO THE NORTH AND WEST OF GREEN BAY AND THE FOX CITIES.