Leave It To Davis

Nice Afternoon

2012-01-27T20:30:00.000-06:00

I had such a nice afternoon today just sitting at my mother's house and visiting with her and my daughter and watching my granddaughters run wild around my mom's house. Yes, she puts up with it...and says not a word...maybe because they are carefully running and never have broken anything, or maybe because we don't come over enough and she's afraid of making us mad by saying something, which it wouldn't. Whatever the reason, she sure has a lot of patience.

There is an old telephone in her formal living room where a lot of breakable things are. This particular phone isn't hooked up, but it sits beside the couch on the end table. Every single time we go over, both the girls head into the living room to pick up the phone and pretend they are talking on it. I know that will be the one thing they will always and forever remember about my mom's house. Also in the living room, there is a globe....you know, the world globe....the kind that is on a stand that you can spin around and watch As The World Turns....hee..hee....sorry about that....couldn't resist....anyway, they LOVE to stand there and spin that world around and around. Over in the corner sits a bookcase. It's a very unimpressive bookcase.....just 5 shelves....not ornate.....but on the bookcase's top two shelves sit little bunnies that my mother has collected. They are glass or ceramic, and they beckon the girls to come touch....and they haven't broken one yet. Over on the other end table is a glass cocker spaniel that looks like a cocker spaniel that my mom and dad once had. They know not to touch this. Even the baby knows not to touch the dog.

The den holds a leather rocker recliner that was my dad's chair. All the kids love to lean over the arms of the chair and rock it back and forth, lifting their legs off the ground. Inevitably, they will scoot across the arm to land belly flop style on the seat. Then they slide down the foot of the chair onto the floor and back to the arm again. This is as irresistible to them as the old phone. You can tell them to stop, but they just cannot help themselves. They MUST ride that chair. In front of the chair on the coffee table lays a magnifying glass that my mom uses to read the paper....and usually, there is another on the other end of the coffee table....I don't know why. Each one of them will pick one up and press their nose and mouth and eyes against the thing so that they look like some kind of weird deformed monster....it's hilarious. My mom leaned over to me today as they did this and whispered in a laugh, "I just got through cleaning them with Windex from the last time they played with them." I asked if she wanted me to get the Windex and clean them again, and she motioned, no, no, no....smiling all the while.

Back in her bedroom, while we were helping her to look for her mom's necklace that she thought she couldn't find (but she found rather quickly), the girls climbed onto her huge, comfy, high bed and nestled into her pillows, even though the quilt was on the bed. Her bed was made up to look like a cover for a decorating magazine. They each held onto one of her stuffed animals, and laid back. My mom turned on her tv for them to watch, and they got very, very still.....for about 15 minutes, then back up and down the hall they ran.

After a couple of hours of visiting, it was time to say goodbye....and of course, the girls were sad to go. They always have so much fun there. When I got home and was cooking, thinking back on the day, I thought about how much fun I always had at my grandparent's houses. We always loved going upstairs at my dad's parents, then sitting on our butts and pushing off the top step, delighted to be bumping all the way down to the bottom stair,only to get back up and do it all over again. At my mom's mom's house, we loved to run around outside and catch lightning bugs, then put them in jars she provided and watch them blink off and on....only to release them again....unless my brother got them and sometimes he would smash them on the brick to see how it would shine fluorescent green. Wonderful memories....and my mom has made some wonderful memories for my granddaughters, on top of all the memories my mom and dad made for my daughter. You're the best, Mommy!

Too Pretty To Be Inside

2012-01-27T00:22:00.000-06:00

I took my camera out and took a picture of this swing....I used telephoto, so I didn't realize there was a pot with a flower in the seat of the swing.

One of my neighbor's benches....under their tree.

A lost crayon on the driveway.....

And my two beauties laying in the sun.....

I love days like today.....

Chicken Hawk

2012-01-27T00:17:00.000-06:00

My daughter's neighbors have chickens in their back yard. They kill them and eat them. I think they have some competition, as this chicken hawk was eyeing their birds from the top of my daughters roof.

You can even see his little beady eye is you look closely. I wouldn't want his talons to lift me up to be his next snack.

While Strolling To The Park One Day.....

2012-01-27T00:12:00.000-06:00

The rainstorms have made the trees start to bud out and soon it will freeze and kill all the little buds on the trees....sad.....even sadder is the fact that soon all the "country" that was once surrounding out little
subdivsion will be devoured by "progress".....we decided to take a stroll this morning and take some pictures before it all completely disappears.

This used to be where a very old bait and tackle shop was....it was there for over 40 years....every time we would go to the lake, I would know we were getting closer when we saw this old store. It has been gone at least 5 years now. There also used to be an old house sitting right near the road that the bushes and grass had grown so much, you could barely see the house....it's also been gone at least 3 years....to make way for progress.

The construction crews are out here every sunny day now, opening ground for what will be another apartment complex....and yet ANOTHER Cefco Corner store. There is one just one mile down the road, and there is another apartment complex that actually will almost back up to the new one.

This is the walking path the city constructed and planted crepe myrtles, butterfly bushes, and other shrubs along about 10 years ago. When it was first constructed, EVERYONE used it. Then so many houses were built out our direction, you could no longer cross the street to get to it.

Those are the only two trees left standing in a field that was adorned with many trees.

This is what is seen all along the walking path now.....litter from construction.

Where there was naturally flowing waters from rains, they have concrete to guide and control the water, which isn't such a bad thing.....our subdivision used to flood on the main street everytime it rained really hard.

The really sad thing is we used to see deer here....hear coyotes howling at night....no more.

Those are the apartments the new ones will back up to. There are many offices that have opened in the last few years, and the traffic is horrendous out here now....and we have no light to exit our subdivision.

You can see a house just over the hill. Those people were smart when they bought 5 or so acres to build on.....but I know they won't be happy about yet another apartment complex.

Look at all the pipe they are using....

There is the plan for the corner store, the apartment comples, and then there are more lots for more businesses.

Just two years ago, this farmland sold. It had corn growing on it every year, and we loved walking the path and watching the corn grow.....no longer.

Now, it is a private school, complete with football stadium in back....I didn't get it in the picture.

This is looking back towards our direction from the corner by the school.

This will be a street leading to the new apartments.

This is a road they finished last year....I do love the sidewalk, and so do the joggers. I bet the people who own those houses and the land hate it though....they have lost their privacy. This used to be a little farm to market road.

See the big Texas flag I always take pictures of.....

This intersection is already busy....but soon, it will be crazy congested

On the other side of the road, it goes back down to two lanes, and further down this road, there is still countryside. So sad that soon, this will all be bustling city. I will really miss the peace and quiet we first had when we moved here....well, I already miss it.

What An Honor

2012-01-26T14:05:00.000-06:00

One of my new blogging friends, Beth, over at http://bmariede.blogspot.com completely surprised me today with the kindest, most generous statement that has ever been made about me....and then she gave my blog a Leibster award, which in German means favorite or beloved. There are a few conditions to recieving this award. They are:

Liebster" means favorite or beloved in German, and this award helps to draw attention to blogs that aren't too well known.
Here are the rules for this award:
Upon receipt of the award, one is to:
1) Link back to the blogger who gave it
2) Paste the award on the blog
3) Choose 5 blogs to pass this award to (they must have fewer than 200 followers)
4) Let the recipients know about their nomination by leaving a comment on their blogs.

I want to tell Beth that this is such an honor for me to be given this by one of my new friends and fellow bloggers. Thank you soooo much. I cried when I read what she said.

My 5 blogs that I pass this onto are:

1. A blog that I discovered maybe a year ago when the young lady that writes the blog was in Aghanistan....she made me laugh, and she loves M&M's and dogs, too. http://365dayswithoutdoghair.blogspot.com/

2. My niece's blog, which started it all for me....she has been my inspiration to capture our lives for our posterity. http://mikeandstaci.blogspot.com/

3. My blogging friend in England who has shown what a wonderful person she is by keeping all her momma's blogging friends up to date on her condition...Saz, you are soooo sweet!
http://aliceinwonderful.blogspot.com/

4. My daughter's blog, because I am so PROUD of you for sticking to this and recording your children's lives for them to remember. http://gingerandjesse.blogspot.com/

5. Liz' blog....because she, too, has stuck with her blog and is recording her and my son's life together.... http://firsttimeslizbryan.blogspot.com/

I love all you guys.....you know, I would have Moannie's blog on here, but she has over 200 followers. I hope this encourages you all to keep on blogging.

Looney Times

2012-01-24T13:29:00.000-06:00

I took pictures of the cartoon Hubby and the kids were watching so you could see what
they think is so funny. I couldn't get a good picture of the girls when they were
laughing, but they were....and we were....they just don't make cartoons like
this anymore. It's a shame.

Add caption

This is how we spent our morning.....they love Looney Tunes.....and chips.

Sometimes It's Just a Sheet of Paper

2012-01-24T08:02:00.001-06:00

There are two pieces of paper in two frames hanging on my bedroom wall. They are certificates that our employers awarded to us for working for them. My hubby's is thanking him for 39 years of service, and mine is thanking me for ten years of service. I don't have as many years racked up because Hubby took care of us alone for 10 years while I was privileged to stay at home raising the boys. (thanks, Hubby!) Those certificates mean a lot to us. I won't make it for my 15th year certificate because of the implementation of the new program due to take place 2 to 3 years from now, or so my boss tells us. It's ok. I'll have more time to spend with Hubby.

Yesterday, I was looking through my bottom drawer for a letter I received in reply to a letter I had written. It is from Ann Landers. I cherish that letter. She was really kind in her reply. I couldn't find it, but I know I still have it SOMEWHERE! When I find it, I am going to scan it and put it on here. While going through the drawer, I found letters from Patricia....these were letters telling me about her kids, or about her hubby, or encouraging me through some chapter of my life (she is always good at that! Thanks, Tricia!) There were letters from my dad.....complete with cartoon drawings....I love to take these out and read them, as they were his words, his handwriting. It's a little piece of him left here for me to cling to. There are also letters from Hubby.....love notes he left for me around the house....silly, but dear to me.

In the same drawer are mine and my daughter's high school diplomas. These don't mean as much as they did when we got them. When I got mine, it meant I was just about guaranteed to find a decent job. The same for my daughter. They meant we could start out at a place and work our way up, if we proved ourselves. I was really proud of mine. These days, a high school diploma won't do much for you. It's almost just a sheet of paper.

Both bosses in our department have degrees.....one a masters, one a bachelors. I have had great respect for the one with her masters degree.....that is, until yesterday. When I walked into the department, I saw a young lady (barely out of college.....maybe 22?) standing at our imager, feeding the imager....stack after stack of papers. She was standing. She wasn't looking at what she was doing....just feeding them. Now, both of our bosses contend they know everything about our job. One section of our department has gotten way, way behind and the boss with the masters degree decided the people who they hired to help with the new program could be utilized to help catch us up, even though NONE of these people have even worked in our setting before. hmmmm.....seems like our masters degree holder might not have either. She says she has, but she is the one with this great idea. I watched as this young lady took over our job. I was laughing inside, trying to make the decision to go and suggest they rethink this decision, or just keep it to myself like everyone else.....or do the people on 1st shift not realize what is going to happen?

After first shift left, I opened up some of the files to see if my fears about this great decision were correct. They were. Some of the documents have bar codes that tell the imaging machine what to do. Others don't. The masters degree holder also had one of the young men that are learning the new way to do things to prep the papers......big guffaw laugh here.....it is the blind leading the blind. This kid, poor kid....didn't know what he was doing.....and he didn't take the bar coded papers and put them at the back of the stacks....so all the papers with bar codes assigned themselves....then the next 15 that had no bar codes went right up under that one. Now, Liz, you are probably the only reader I have that can appreciate how stupid of a decision this was! You see, now when the imager that has to work this batch sits down to assign these papers, it will take twice....maybe three times as long to work each batch.....or they will have to delete the batch and reprep the papers and rerun them themselves. Our masters degree had them do an ENTIRE wall like this yesterday. I showed my co-worker, Joyce, last night. We sat there in awe of the ignorance of our bosses. They have not a CLUE about our job. Joyce said someone should tell them before they run more today.....I said we only have high school diplomas....they won't listen to us. lol lol lol lol lol roflmao........

You know, sometimes a degree is just a sheet of paper. This proves it. Experience is worth so much more, sometimes. It made me think of a song I learned when I was about 10 in the Girl Scouts...."Make new friends, but keep the old....one is silver and the other gold." I think this should go for employees, too. Companies should realize that experience at something is sometimes worth all the diplomas and degrees in the world.

49 Cent Blouse And Hide and Seek

2012-01-23T22:48:00.001-06:00

Today was a warm, sunny day perfect for going outside. My daughter brought the girls over to show me what she bought for them at Ross, her favorite store and my most hated store. She paid $2 for this Hello Kitty dress for Jayma.

She bought this Minnie Mouse dress that had been a ridiculous amount (I can't remember how much she said the original price was) for $2, also.

I tried to get the girls to stand together for a picture. McKenna was attempting to get Jayma to turn around so I could see her face.

She the lovely purple blouse Ginger got for 49 cents!!!! I wish they had one in MY size!!! No such luck!!!

Ginger came and sat down by me and we watched the girls play hide and seek. It was funny. Jayma would count when she was supposed to hide, and hide when she was supposed to count....but she could count up to 17 perfectly!!!

McKenna trying to run and hide before Jayma peeks to see where she is hiding.....

Too late....one thing Jayma is GOOD at is peeking....it was so cute!

Here she has her eyes closed while peeking. lol

And she's off.....to try to hide

McKenna tells her ready or not....here I come......

When McKenna found Jayma, she tried to pick Jayma up, but hugged her instead. Jayma is almost as big as McKenna!

Notice that big curl in the back of Jayma's hair.....natural

Now it's Jayma's turn to hide.....

McKenna was trying to get Jayma to mind her here. She told us Jayma was going to have to sit in the naughty chair.

McKenna was getting onto Jayma here. She looks like she's dancing the watusi!

This is such a funny picture. McKenna looks like she is going to throw up, but she was just saying NO to Jayma. lol

Hat finally came over and helped McKenna to tame this little ruffian.

McKenna and Hat exchanged "hi fives".

Time to go home....Mimi has to go to work and the girls need a nap.

Jayma is always the last one home.....

March 5, Here We Come....

2012-01-23T13:16:00.002-06:00

My daughter called me last night and told me that she and her hubby could go to New York for less than $600 if they go in March....and stay at a 4 star hotel....that price is for each and includes the flight round trip. I told her that would be fine with me. She said back to me, "That's alright????" I answered yes, and she said she was going to come over and hug and kiss me. She did. Makes a mom feel good when she gets a hug and kiss without asking for it. Why should she hug and kiss me because I said they can go in March? And why would they ask me if they can go then? Because it means 5 days and 5 nights of babysitting for us. I won't mind, as long as they will do like they did last time they went.

New York City was always the dream destination for my daughter. From her first viewing of Splash, where the mermaid took her name from the street sign on Madison Avenue, she said she wanted to go there someday. Then Madonna came along, and my daughter always aspired to be the next Madonna, so she decided SOMEDAY, she would go there. I have never been anywhere, besides New Orleans, where my cousin lives, New Mexico (Carlsbad Caverns once), Houston, and Texarkana....those are the furthest places from home that I have ever been. Because of that, I never believed she would make it to New York. She did on September 6, 2010.

When she landed at the airport and got a taxi, she called me on her cell phone and was telling me about what all she was seeing...you never heard such an excited voice in all your life. I told her to take pictures of the things she was seeing with her cell phone and send them to me....she did, and that started days of texting and receiving pictures. We decided to send them to my email instead because it was easier to put on my blog that way. I documented all their vacation on my blog....and I felt like I was right there with them. They ate at an outdoor burger place (the Shake Shack) that has a live cam on their website. She called me when they were there, and I could actually see everything they were doing and who was there at the restaurant eating at the same time they were. It was so cool!!! +

I can hardly wait for them to go again so I can live vicariously through her. Last time, they went to see Mary Poppins and La Cage Aux Foile on Broadway and sent me pictures as they were entering and leaving the theaters. She had tickets to the Jimmy Fallon show and DIDN'T GO because she was too tired (they had walked all day...can you imagine????). I was upset with her!!! She is trying for David Letterman tickets this time and maybe she will get them. I hope so. I hope Madonna will be there....she does start another tour soon. Or George Strait....that would make my daughter happy. Or Johnny Depp. lol Anyway, the countdown has started and the clock is ticking. 41 days.....it's gonna' be so much fun!!!

Post note.....they don't have tickets for David Letterman that week....awwwww.....but she said she's gonna see if she can get Jimmy Fallon tickets again. She better go. They want to go to see Spiderman on Broadway and Rock of Ages, or Wicked.....I made her a deal....I will only keep the girls if she buys me tickets to see Michael Jackson The Immortal Tour by Cirque Du Soliel. She said she will....and she has to buy herself one......that makes me DOUBLY excited!!!!

Have A Little Talk With Myself....

2012-01-21T18:38:00.001-06:00

The other night as I was drying my hair, I was transported back to some fall afternoon in 1963. I was 8, and had recently acquired a new friend, Becky. There were very few girls in my neighborhood for me to play with and Becky had just moved into a corner house that was two story with a detached garage. I was so excited to find some other girl to play with. She was a year younger than me, but she had a big family with lots of older sisters, one which was a candy striper at the hospital, which I thought was ultra-cool since I had gone to see Tammy And The Doctor with my grandmother earlier in the year and had fallen in love with Sandra Dee. Becky invited me to play inside her house and of course, I accepted the invitation like flies on stink. I don't remember anything else about that day. I don't remember her room, or what we played. The next memory I have is of Becky telling me that I could not come into her house again. We would have to play in the "play house" which was her detached garage, complete with used furniture...full size furniture, as her parents owned a furniture store downtown. As I was reliving these events, I asked myself what I had done to be forbidden to enter their house again? Was I that horrible of a child? Did I break something? Did I take every toy out that Becky owned and didn't help to put them away?

That led me to daydreaming of Laura, another of my childhood friends at the age of 9. When I was....oh, maybe 10.....Laura invited me over after school. I remember walking into her brick, two story mansion....wow....I had never seen anything like it....and being introduced to her mom, who looked like she was as old as my grandmother. Laura also had many older brothers and sisters and was the youngest. I remember waiting while Laura's mom talked to Laura, then Laura returning to tell me we had to play outside. She had a rabbit named Harvey, so that was fine with me. I didn't mind. But now that I think about it, what did Laura's mom say to Laura so that I was not allowed inside her house? Did I look like someone who would steal some of their nice trinkets? Was I dirty? Did I smell? Laura did stay friends with me through junior high....even came to many of my birthday parties. Then when high school time came, that was the end of our friendship. I saw her once as an adult and she did speak, but we no longer had that friendship tie.

This made me really depressed thinking about these times.....because as I got older, it seems the friends that were my friends in jr. hi and hi school were really after my brother. lol It makes me wonder just what was wrong with me? I always liked myself.

As an adult, I have "friends" at work, but really aren't they friendly acquaintances? I have had a few "friends" who were neighbors, but those friendships never lasted once we or they moved. My "best friend" has always been my mom, my daughter, or my cousin, Tricia. Maybe I'm not outgoing. Maybe I don't smile enough. Maybe I complain too much. Maybe that was why my dad didn't take ME to the carnival. I'm still doing some soul searching. Pardon me while I do this....it helps me to put it down on this blog, for some reason. Has anybody else ever felt this way?

The Green Thing

2012-01-20T17:47:00.001-06:00

I received this in an email from my brother-in-law today. Hubby and I really enjoyed it and thought you all might, too. I didn't write it....don't know who did, or I'd give them credit. I just want to share:

Some of you are old enough to remember ALL OF THESE, while some of you have never experienced them.

The Green Thing

Checking out at the store, the young cashier suggested to the older woman that she should bring her own grocery bags because plastic bags weren't good for the environment.

The woman apologized and explained, "We didn't have this green thing back in my earlier days."

The clerk responded, "That's our problem today. Your generation did not care enough to save our environment for future generations."

She was right -- our generation didn't have the green thing in its day.

Back then, we returned milk bottles, soda bottles and beer bottles to the store. The store sent them back to the plant to be washed and sterilized and refilled, so it could use the same bottles over and over. So they really were recycled. But we didn't have the green thing back in our day.

We walked up stairs, because we didn't have an escalator in every store and office building. We walked to the grocery store and didn't climb into a 300-horsepower machine every time we had to go two blocks. But she was right. We didn't have the green thing in our day.

Back then, we washed the baby's diapers because we didn't have the throw-away kind. We dried clothes on a line, not in an energy gobbling machine burning up 220 volts -- wind and solar power really did dry our clothes back in our early days. Kids got hand-me-down clothes from their brothers or sisters, not always brand-new clothing. But that young lady is right. We didn't have the green thing back in our day.

Back then, we had one TV, or radio, in the house -- not a TV in every room. And the TV had a small screen the size of a handkerchief (remember them?), not a screen the size of the state of Montana .

In the kitchen, we blended and stirred by hand because we didn't have electric machines to do everything for us.

When we packaged a fragile item to send in the mail, we used wadded up old newspapers to cushion it, not Styrofoam or plastic bubble wrap. Back then, we didn't fire up an engine and burn gasoline just to cut the lawn. We used a push mower that ran on human power. We exercised by working so we didn't need to go to a health club to run on treadmills that operate on electricity. But she's right. We didn't have the green thing back then.

We drank from a fountain when we were thirsty instead of using a cup or a plastic bottle every time we had a drink of water.

We refilled writing pens with ink instead of buying a new pen, and we replaced the razor blades in a razor instead of throwing away the whole razor just because the blade got dull. But we didn't have the green thing back then.

Back then, people took the streetcar or a bus, and kids rode their bikes to school or walked instead of turning their moms into a 24-hour taxi service.

We had one electrical outlet in a room, not an entire bank of sockets to power a dozen appliances. And we didn't need a computerized gadget to receive a signal beamed from satellites 2,000 miles out in space in order to find the nearest pizza joint.

But isn't it sad the current generation laments how wasteful we old folks were just because we didn't have the green thing back then?

Please forward this on to another selfish old person who needs a lesson in conservation from a smartass young person.

76 Degrees in January????

2012-01-20T16:30:00.000-06:00

Can you believe it was 76 degrees today????? Poor poor us come May, June, July, August, September, and probably October. I don't like cold, but it beats the heat we are set to endure this next spring and summer. Hubby is outside right now mowing the lawn, and when my daughter and I went to Marshall's today to look for a hand towel, people were looking a summer clothes. They might as well pack away those coats and left over winter things that are left in the stores. I do hope we get some more freezing temps before the heat stays with us, or we are going to be plagued by insects this year.

It was really wierd this past summer. I think it must have been too dry even for insects here. We usually have a million flies trying to get into our house when we barbecue, but this past year, there were no flies....not until Fall. Then, all of a sudden, those pesky flies returned from their migration or whatever was keeping them away. Oh, and because of the drought, we didn't get to barbecue very many times before all outdoor fires were banned.

On thing that hasn't changed from last year is the wind.....wind.....wind.....wind. I am glad I switched over to wind energy, but good grief.....can't that wind just stay out where those wind turbines, or whatever makes the wind energy, reside? I mean, it is ridiculous how long it stays windy around here. The sad thing is, it's even too windy to enjoy the wind....a kite would get torn up in the gusts that we are experiencing. Hence, the reason Hubby stayed home....to windy to hunt.

I guess I will go outside and enjoy what's left of the evening with him. For tomorrow, the weather is supposed to change again.....I think I heard 52 will be the high. No wonder so many people get sick!

T

More Moldy Oldies.....

2012-01-19T22:17:00.000-06:00

As I was scanning in more of our old photos, I ran across these cuties. They are of my sons, who are now 21 and 17 years old. I miss them being little. Boo hoo.

Both my boys standing in a field of Indian paintbrushes and bluebonnets....

Son No. 1 making a silly face.....

Then smiling at me with those pretty blue eyes.....

Son No. 1 was so serious and Son No. 2 so laid back....just like now

Son No. 2 chilling on the couch while his brother was at school.

Son No. 1 on his way to school

Both the boys at Halloween about 1996

Isn't he just adorable acting like he was a good boy all year?

Son No. 1 had proof....his good citizen award from school ....Santa couldn't ignore that!! Wow! Our grass was sure green that year for December!!!

What's So Mezmerizing?

2012-01-19T14:29:00.000-06:00

What could be so mezmerizing that my kids can't take their eyes off the tube?

At the same time keeps the attention of a 36 year old, 21 year old, and a 2 year old?

It's the thing that is at the end of this yellow hand.....have you guessed yet?

Why, it's SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS!!! You would have thought they were under some kind of spell the way they were staring at the screen......

Like Mother, Like Daughter, Like.....Nanmama?

2012-01-18T22:49:00.003-06:00

I was always told I looked like my grandmother when I was young....

what do you think? Do the three of us look anything alike?

I never agreed with the statement that my daughter looked like me, until tonight when I was going through my Picasa images and both

of these pictures were unnamed. It could be just the hairdo, but for the first time ever I see a

distinct resemblance. My daughter may cry if many of you agree. lol

Jocko

2012-01-18T22:26:00.000-06:00

This is a picture of Jocko. He was my daughter's constant companion when it was bedtime until she was married. Why did she love that monkey so much? My daddy gave it to her. Everyone who knew my daughter knew about Jocko. You could touch any other doll in her room....any other stuffed animal....you could throw them around, but if you dared to mistreat Jocko in any way, you were read the riot act!!! He was her first and only monkey. She, however, was not his first owner.

You might ask where he came from.....or you might not, because you really might not care. However, if you keep reading this post, you are going to find out. It was probably the year 1967.....I was 12, and my brother was 14. It so happened that one of the traveling carnivals came to town....but this carnival was a little different because it was being sponsored by one of the civic clubs in town. This meant that you wouldn't waste quite so much money should you decide to try your luck, or for that matter, your skill, at one of the many games on the fairway. For some reason, my dad always liked to take my brother to these and leave me at home. I need to do some soul searching to see if I can figure out why.....maybe I asked for too much.....maybe I whined too much.....maybe I complained too much. I don't remember, but whatever the reason was, I was not invited to this particular "guys night out".

It seemed that while at the carnival, my brother talked my dad into letting him try out his skill at knocking bottles over with a ball (or something to that effect), or maybe even it was the other way around....possibly my dad talked my brother into trying his arm out....whatever the case, my brother threw the ball, not my dad. Now, at 14, my brother was still a shrimp. He didn't really have a big growing spurt until he was 16. He drove his own car at 14 because WAY back then in 1967, a 14 year old could still get a driver's lisence (that just makes me gasp when I think about 14 year olds out on the highway!!!). My brother's first car was some big old red car that the doors wouldn't stay shut. He had to tie the doors together with rope in the middle so they wouldn't fly open when you turned the corner ( I guess they didn't inspect cars back then???). My brother was so short (how short was he?), he had to sit on 2 pillows just to see over the dash. I guess he could have used a booster seat, but they didn't make them back then. Pretty funny now when I think back on it. Anyway, I kind of got off the subject here. The reason I told you all of this is to show how small my big brother was. Now, I am sure the guy behind the ball throwing tent didn't think my brother was big enough to knock those bottles over. For each time that you knocked the balls over, you won a prize. My brother knocked them over so many times, they finally asked him to please quit playing the game. He was going to shut them down. I'm sure the carnival guy was shocked at my brother's ability to throw that ball! He showed up at home with a car load of stuffed animals, one of which was this stuffed monkey that my dad named Jocko.

My mom actually let Jocko sit on her bed everyday for years, decorating her pillows with such glamour. One day, we were honored with the visit of my little cousin, Sheila, who was just a little bitty girl.....maybe 3 years old. We were big enough that there weren't any toys around anymore, and she was bored, so we got Jocko for her to play with. She loved him, but most of all, she loved his banana, and half-way chewed it off. Maybe she thought it was a real banana. I'm not sure. Jocko must have loved having the attention of a little girl because when my daughter was just about 3, she wanted to play with him, too. I think Jocko must have been smiling at her, beckoning her to come and play. Of course when it was time for us to go home, my daughter didn't want to give Jocko up....and Jocko didn't want to go back to sitting on pillows for the rest of his life. So, after much crying and pleading, Jocko was allowed to go home with my daughter. This was the beginning of a (so far) 33 year relationship.

Yes, she still has Jocko. He no longer sleeps with her, which is terribly sad to me. He does have a shelf in her closet that is reserved for him. He has become frail in his old age, and his fur is very thin....the banana split in two, and one half is shoved inside the other half. The yellow fur almost has turned grey it's lost so much of it's color. His tiny white sneakers are no longer white, but instead are a dingy grey.....but, his smile is still there on his little face....and he could still charm a little three year old girl. This has got to have been the best value for a dollar that my dad ever spent! (and my daughter sure is glad my brother had a winning streak that night!)

My Girls.....and My Guy

2012-01-17T12:21:00.001-06:00

Hubby said Jayma looked like she has been to Mardi Gras.

One of the girls always gets this little Texaco truck to play with when we are outside.

It was a windy day, so it was hard to get a shot with the girl's hair out of their faces.

How this picture got in the middle, I don't know....but this is the end of our morning....all three of them lined up watching Bugs Bunny....that's Hubby's favorite show.

Hat didn't have any trouble keeping his hair out of his face.....lol

Jayma was playing with a little "robot" that she found in my son's old toys.

This picture looks so funny....that's Jayma's hair blowing down below the truck....it almost looks like a dog.....or Alf.....lol

To my brother's family.....can you believe we let them CLIMB on top of Hat's pickup? ooooo daring!

Yes, you see Hat's arm close to Jayma to make sure she doesn't fall off on the concrete.

Then he helped her down.

I loved this picture.....don't ask me why, but I think Elmo next to a toy warrior looks funny.

Hat tried to look like Elton John from his younger years here.

Those are actually 3-d chalk glasses.....Hat was trying them out.

I love digital photography.....you don't have to pay for the film and so you don't have to be picky when you take a picture.....we'd have picture overload had I had one when my boys were little!

For Moannie, Lee and Lavonia, Glenn Jr., Patricia, Paula, and Joyce.....

2012-01-15T23:44:00.000-06:00

Movie Time Machine

2012-01-15T22:05:00.001-06:00

I took a movie time machine back to 1954 tonight and watche The Last Time I Saw Paris for the first time. I remembered that song, and it had an all star cast, so I figured it would be worth watching. Turns out, it was based on a short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald, who was a drunk writer. This story was based on his life.....what story there was. It was choppy, didn't make any sense (a guy gets a kiss from a stranger in a crowd and falls instantly in love with her.....then they get married after one date? Hey! I even dated my husband 6 WEEKS), and Van Johnson stinks as an actor. But, the saving grace of this trip in the time machine was to see Elizabeth Taylor, Donna Reed, and Eva Gabor when they were their most beautiful. I was amazed at their beauty....with no touch up! All three of them.....and then Roger Moore.....the man who played James Bond in the 70's.....came into the story as a tennis player....and good grief! He was YOUNG.....must have been about 20. He had a baby face! Anyway, I would have fallen asleep had the women not been so glamorously dressed. I have to say that all three of the women played their parts well. I just don't see what ANYBODY ever saw in Van Johnson!!! yuck. Walter Pidgeon played the father of Donna Reed and Elizabeth Taylor and he was very good....and a very likeable character! If you have never watched this movie, you need to see it, at least long enough to see how pretty all three actresses were when they were young.

Love Those Beatles!

2012-01-13T21:37:00.002-06:00

As you can see by my 17-year old's room, he loves the Beatles. Can you imagine? Almost 50 years after taking the world by storm, kids STILL love their music. Because of his love of their music, I surprised him last year by getting him the picture of them crossing the street (was it Abbey Road?) and the clock with A Hard Day's Night on it. He LOVED the movie Across the Universe that was entirely written around Beatle's songs....and I gave him that last year at Christmas. We had rented it so many times from Netflix, I figured he needed his own copy. Then HE purchased The Beatles Rock Band....and played it night after night after night for many, many months. This is what the Beatle's corner of his room looks like:

I show you this to tell you this:

Today, my daughter and I went to pick up Hubby's prescriptions and the pharmacist was out to lunch, so we decided to go to an arts and crafts store here and shop around. I bought a cute sign for my kitchen (that will be another post), and then we went to Ross to see if I could find something that looked like a guy to put on his wall in his bathroom. I had bought him a new shower curtain a while back that was on sale to lighten up his small bathroom because his old shower curtain was leopard print and his bathroom was so dark. The new one was beige with lilac, mint green, and torquoise flowers coming up from the bottom of the curtain like they were growing.....I know....not very manly, but hey! It was a great buy!!! He didn't complain....said it was okay.....cuz he loves purple. There had been two pictures we had made with his and his brother's names on them back when they were around 7 and 10. The pictures were of a coyote and a lion, and it told what each of their names meant. My older son has been gone nearly 2 years now, and I figured I could take it down....he isn't coming back.....and put up something that is more like my younger son.

We went to Ross and found nothing....NOTHING. Their stock was so depleted that we didn't even stay and look long, which is so unusual for my daughter to leave there without squawking if we didn't spend at least an hour looking and trying on clothes. We walked up to Bed Bath and Beyond because it was such a pleasant day....sun shining and no wind.....a little chilly still, but nice. We looked around at the sale things they had placed strategically in front of the door, then walked on to the pictures....and I saw what I saw last year when I was redecorating our house.....a picture with all the Beatles albums pictured in rows...very colorful in a black frame. I wanted it for him. But it wouldn't "go" with the bargain curtain I had purchased before. We decided to go and look at the shower curtains and see if there was anything that would do for a young man. My daughter spotted this:

I asked what it was.....she showed me it's faces that you text.....PERFECT! And even better......on SALE.....$4.99!!! Yes, it was plastic, but it is SOFT plastic. Isn't it CUTE????
So we bought the curtain, the Beatles picture, a new bath mat (also marked down)and some picture frames they had marked down to $.99, and after a quick return trip to Sams for Hubby's meds, home we went with the surprise for my son.....

It was 4, so I was hoping he was home still before going into work. He was....and was in his room with the door shut getting dressed for work. I took the Beatles picture in to see if was going to fit above his towel rack....the only wall big enough for a picture this big....and I held it up.....YIPPEE!! Perfect fit! My son asked through his bedroom door what I was tearing up in his bathroom and I told him to come see. This is what he saw:

OOOOOO......dont you know he LOVED me?????!!!!! He did. Then he told me that he needed a new shower head.....his started spewing water up towards the ceiling this morning while he was bathing. This was great news. This gave me an excuse to go back to Bed Bath and Beyond and get another surprise for him.....some guitar pieces that hung on the wall....sounds strange....but it was cute. My daughter informed me on the way back that they were hooks. I didn't believe her. She was right. The three hooks were $20. NOT on sale....so I passed them up. But, I knew the picture of the baby animals that had resided over the toilet tank wasn't going to "fit" anymore with the theme of the room, so I decided to look at the pictures they had one more time after I picked up his shower head. When I searched again, I found these:

They are made out of stone or stone-like substance, and I LOVED them. So, I got them and made my way back to the car where my daughter was sitting with my granddaughters because they were tuckered out and napping. I told her I was driving down to Hobby Lobby really quick because I remembered a gnome dressed like Elvis that would be cute sitting on the toilet tank. A tiger cub has sat there for the past 17 years.

Into Hobby Lobby I went where I was drawn to the sale aisle after seeing that all the Elvis gnomes had sold. Searching, searching, searching......what was this drawer with a peace sign in it? AAAAAAWWWWWW!!!!!! I was so EXCITED!!!!!! It was a picture inside a drawer that someone had placed there.....maybe they were hiding it so they could come back and get it .....or maybe they just set it down there.....I don't know, but I picked it up and knew this was it!!!! See for yourself:

Can you believe I just happened upon that ????? I couldn't!!! Well, you KNOW I had to get this!!! And then I thought, "But what is going to take the tiger cub's place?" I glanced down, and low and behold, this is what I found:

It's a box.....perfect for storing extra rolls of toilet paper, that is the same colors as the picture. Well, this was just what the doctor ordered!!! I took them all home, hung them all up, and installed his new shower head. I was so proud of myself, and I was on a shopping success high!!!

I may go back tomorrow and buy those guitar hooks....they really would just MAKE the bathroom!!! Now I have to ask myself this question: Will I ever be able to get him OUT of the bathroom???? He camped out in there before when it wasn't a room he enjoyed. Now, he may LIVE in there! lol

Oh, and "V" Peace!

Sleeping Beauties

2012-01-12T05:46:00.000-06:00

Tuesday morning, while the girls and I were in the play room, I noticed all had quietened in the house outside of the play room. I went to investigate and these scenes were what I found....(I had to blur out the top photo because of the vulgarity of Zeke's position....didn't want to offend anyone. lol)

This is what retiring does.....

Dry Winter?

2012-01-09T12:34:00.000-06:00

The weather channels had been forecasting a continuation of our drought here in Texas, right on through the winter. Since it rained or drizzled practically EVERY day during December, I figured the drought was over. Then, like, the next to the last week of December I heard that the drought wouldn't be over unless we got 5 more inches of rain in December ALONE.....and even though it did rain most of those days that were left.....or at least drizzled, I dought that it was 5 inches equivalence.

Last night, around 2 a.m., we were awakened by our dogs going mad panting and whining like it was the end of the world. I went to check on them, and soon heard what they were hearing....THUNDER...it was far off at first, but the lightning was putting on a show in our kitchen. The dogs were terrified. I sat with them, petting them and trying to assure them that everything was going to be alright until all the thunder stopped. It must have rained at least 5 inches last night alone....we haven't heard that much rain coming down in a long, long time.

This morning, Hubby and I went to Wallyworld with all the other retirees in town. We got some cookies and some coffee cake, and then heard what we thought was thunder....next minute, you could hear the rain beating the roof in on Wallyworld. We decided to look around for a little while since we didn't bring in an umbrella.

When we got home, this is what our back yard looked like:

I only wish our grass would have been that green this past summer when I spent $100 for grass squares that dried up like hay even with all the watering we did.

It sounded like 5 inches of rain coming down, but the rain gage shows just over 1/2 and inch. I cannot believe that could possibly be right. The wind was blowing so hard, it must have blown most of the rain away from the gauge. But you know what? I'm sure thankful for ANY rain we are getting right now.

Even if it makes my yard a muddy mess....

For my puppy dogs to track right in the kitchen.....

I tried to capture how strong the wind was blowing, but you just can't tell by looking at the flag....

Ooooo, look at that green grass!!! It's winter rye grass, but it sure is pretty this time of year.

And this is what my puppies are doing now....Duke thinks he is special because he is

older and has a bad back.....he climbed up on the leather couch, which infuriated

Hubby....Dukes nails need to be cut....so I quickly got my throw and put it down

for Duke to lay on. Hubby didn't like that, either....said Duke will make it stink

and Duke's hairs won't ever come out....but hey! It's my throw...Hubby's is

camoflauge.

Poor LaMonte and Zeke have to lie on the kitchen floor....but at least they have rugs and towels and blankets. We pick up the dog beds so they won't soak them when they come in from outside.
Well, that's all for this rainy day afternoon. I have to go to work soon. Joyce was taken to the ER again yesterday for her asthma, and the doctors wanted to hospitalize her again. She talked them into trying a different drug. They are giving her two days to rest and try it and see if she gets better or she will be admitted again. Say a prayer for her. She is 62 and got pneumonia last time, the week before Christmas. She nearly died...they said if she had been one day later, she wouldn't be here now. We would be lost in our department without her....like I have said before, she is our sunshine in there. Because she was out last night and will be for at least two more days, I will be going in early to try to help catch up on what she would have accomplished....which is a LOT.

I hope the weather is whatever you need in your area, that you aren't getting 18 inches of snow, and that you are experiencing good health.

Blurb Vs. Blog2Print Books

2012-01-08T22:05:00.000-06:00

The proof is in the pudding, right? Or seeing is believing....

so let's compare the two printers who I have used to print blog books.

The book on the left is the Blog2Print paperback that I had made last year for $56. As you can see, it is a bit larger than the Blurb book. (Blurb does have different sizes of books you can make, but I chose this one because it was closest to the Blog2Print size) The only color on it is the cover. The inside is black and white. Let me say that I put absolutely no work into the way this one was made. I just said, "upload blog" or something to that effect...and "use the least amount of space" or something to that effect. It was SUPER easy. It has held up well considering that it has actually been read and looked at multiple times. We even reference it when we are arguing about when something happened.

The book on the right is my book printed by Blurb. It cost $86 with a discount from retailmenot.com and using the cheapest shipping. It is hardback and in color. I put about 15 hours or so of work into the way the pictures were arranged and moving the posts over from one page to the next so that they would take less space. It wasn't difficult, just time consuming.

The Blog2Print book could have been hardback and in color, but would have been considerably more. It seems like it would have been close to $200, but that may not be exactly right. Last year's book had 476 pages and this years has 389. Last year's book was mostly posts that were written where this year's book has LOTS more pictures....I got a good camera. lol

The blurb book has a wrap-around jacket and is plain blue underneath. They have the option of printing the pictures and title on the book itself for a few more bucks, but I was cheap when it came to this.

You can print text on the back of the Blurb book....both allow pictures.

This is the way the Blog2Print pictures look in black and white. They aren't bad if you have had regular photos developed to keep and these aren't the only copies of the pictures you own.

One thing I loved about the Blog2Print book was they included the comments after each post. Of course, you had the option of omitting them, or partially omitting them. I chose to include them.

This is the way the pictures look inside the Blurb book. Very good quality color photos with many options on how they are displayed. You can include more that were not in your blog, or just the ones that were on your post. It's your choice.

As you can see, you can have your pictures printed large or tiny....and the Blurb program alerts you if your photo isn't going to be good quality at the size you chose, and then the program will correct it after you give it permission. Pretty nifty, huh?

You can display them with no borders or with border, with colored backgrounds, or full pages. They let you decide. It's your book....you have the freedom to choose. You can even put text on the photos....I did just that, but I need more practice, because I chose yellow print on top of the yellow shirt my granddaughter has on....kind of hard to see here, but it shows up better in the book itself.

You can add decorations on the pages....pick a different one for each page, or the same throughout....it just depends on how much time you want to invest in the little details. They also have printed pages....designs for backgrounds. I couldn't tell how much that would inhibit the ability to read the page, so I skipped that for this year.

You can end up with a lot of dead space if you don't go through your book page by page and carefully move things around. You see here on the right, I have over half a page blank. That can add up when you have over 300 pages.

This is the Blog2Print book...the dedication page. I don't remember if they had a table of contents, but if they did, it was optional and I didn't get it. I kind of wish I had.

I put the dedication for my second book on the inside of the jacket. That may prove to be a mistake if the jacket doesn't wear well. I didn't put in a table of contents on this one either. sheesh. Will I ever learn?

The title page of the Blurb book looks like this.....

And they have a page that shows the author and tells the authors name ...pretty cool, huh? If you have a blog with lots of pictures, you should definitely go color....with either printer. Blurb can be cheaper...it can be more expensive, too, if you get the better quality paper and larger size. I think this paper is great for me, because no one but my family will ever look at this. If you are printing a cook book, you might want the better quality paper and spend a little more.

So this is my review of the two choices I found....Blurb and Blog2Print. They both make beautiful books....if you want easy....Blog2Print is great. If you want more artistic freedom to create, Blurb gives you LOTS more choices....just makes some of the choices difficult....for me, anyway. Happy blogging!!!

Second Edition

2012-01-06T07:18:00.000-06:00

Jan. 30, I sent my blog to be printed for the second edition of Leave It To Davis. Last year, I used Blog2Print, which I was happy with because the black and white version in paperback only cost me $56. I thought that was pretty cheap, and that was about all I wanted to invest in it at that time. That was four years worth of posts, which ended up being 476 pages. I wasn't sure anyone would ever even pick it up. I have been amazed how many times I pick it up myself, and then my kids have actually opened it and showed it to their friends.....made me proud.

My niece, Staci, told me when I got ready to print my next blog book, contact her because she used Blurb to print hers every year and it didn't cost much more to print it in color. I didn't contact her because she and her family and my brother and his wife were out traipsing around the woods in Arkansas where there was no communication (no cell phones, no Internet, no tv....can you imagine????? not for me, but more power to them!). I had tried Blurb last year, but they give you so much creative freedom (placement of pictures, color of pages, if you pages are solid color or have print....you get the idea) that I went crazy and it was taking TOO long. With Blog2Print, you just hit upload my blog, then you scan through and decide if you want to delete anything or not. It was super easy. I was happy with the result, but I was also sad I didn't get it printed in color and hardback....that would have set me back $180. I just couldn't justify the difference in price. I had been ordering my pictures off Kodak Gallery, who have really great deals on pictures, by the way, and so I didn't feel like I needed the pictures in color in my book. I have regretted that decision.

This year, I decided Blurb would be the one to use. I had already put all the pictures I wanted in my book, so I didn't have to mess with it a lot this time, but I did go through and make some pictures bigger, used different photo layouts and condensed some of the posts where there wouldn't be quite so many small pages. After using a coupon from retailmenot.com, it ended up costing me $86.15....the coupon was worth $13.79. That was for over 400 pages....I think it turned out being around 480. I used standard shipping so I wasn't expecting the book to come until the 17th. I got an email from Blurb this morning saying it has been shipped, and it should be here on Saturday. I'M SO EXCITED!!! When it arrives, I will take pictures of both of them to show the difference so that anyone who is thinking about making a book out of their blog can see the difference. For ease, Blog2Print was sooooo easy! The upside on their version was it also printed the comments on each post. I never could figure out how to get the comments onto my Blurb book, but I figured I could just come onto my blog and go to the comments and print them all off. I hope that works. Then I'll just put them inside the back of my book and if anyone wants to read the comments, they can.

I can't wait til Saturday....just one more day!!!!

My First, My Last, My Everything....

2012-01-06T00:47:00.003-06:00

While I was watching Rango tonight, Hubby asked me to get him a brownie and some milk, which I promptly got for him. While pouring his milk, he called me and said, "come here....hurry.....hurry." I left his brownie and milk on the cabinet, and ran into our room to find him watching a video of....Barry White singing this song....which Hubby said he called and requested for me for our anniversary. Well, that just made me melt.....enjoy......

Lyrics included for my mom, who is hard of hearing.....
My first, my last, my everything,
And the answer to all my dreams.
You're my sun, my moon, my guiding star.
My kind of wonderful, that's what you are.

I know there's only, only one like you
There's no way they could have made two.
You're, you're all I'm living for
Your love I'll keep for evermore.
You're the first, my last, my everything.

In you I've found so many things,
A love so new, only you could bring.
Can't you see if you,
You'll make me feel this way,
You're like a first morning dew on a brand new day.

I see so many ways that I can love you,
'Till the day I die....
You're my reality, yet I'm lost in a dream.
You're my first, my last, my everything.

[instrumental]

I know there's only one, only one like you
There's no way they could have made two.
Girl, you're my reality.
But I'm lost in a dream,
You're the first, you're the last, my everything

2012 Resolutions

2012-01-05T01:45:00.000-06:00

1. Save money....for Son No. 2's wisdom teeth removal....by spring break.

2. Save money.....for a new roof....by September.

3. Save money.....for rebuilding the chimney....by November.

4. Lose 30 pounds......you did it before. You can do it again.

5. Spend more time with your family.....your mom.....your hubby....your mother-in-law....your grandchildren.....your children, not necessarily in that order.

6. Learn something new. I don't know what yet, but pick something and learn it.

That's all folks!

Happy Anniversary, Baby.....Got You On My Mind....

2012-01-05T01:40:00.001-06:00

To my Hubby....thanks for the past 39 years. Who'd have believed we'd make it this long? I don't think anyone would have on our wedding day....maybe not even us. lol But even though our road has not always been paved, and we've hit some chug holes, even had a few flat tires and took the wrong turn and lost our way, our destination has been worth the trip down all the rocky rough roads. I would marry you a million times again....and I hope you feel the same. All my love to you!

A Little Bit Of Sugar Helps The Medicine Go Down....

2012-01-04T14:35:00.001-06:00

Hubby is up and moving this afternoon. He quit throwing up his guts at 4:45 this morning, and quit having the screaming ----- at around 9. We slept until nearly noon, then ate chicken soup and chicken sandwiches. Son No. 1 and Liz took care of the girls this morning for us. I was sure to pay him before he left so babysitting wouldn't leave a bitter taste in his mouth....I want him to help again if we need him to....and he was left with them alone when Liz had to go to work at 11:45. Cole, their Pomeranian, helped babysit, too.

It was payday for me today, so my daughter and I went to the bank and took the girls just to get out of the house for a little bit. The girls seemed happy to see me as they crossed the street to our house so they could board our car. McKenna started picking up speed, then ran and threw her arms around my legs. She looked so adorable in the little outfit she had on....turquoise top that had three layers with black piping separating each layer. She had on black tights and books to match. Jayma was feeling much better, though she didn't sprint across the street, rather strolled. She was outfitted in black with a hot pink and lime green ribbon loosely strewn around the back of her neck, which I thought odd. But the girls do odd things at this age.

Last Monday when we took my mom shopping at Kohls and Hobby Lobby, I had cleaned all the girl's toys from the back of the Cherokee. After getting situated in their prospective car seats, each one started asking for a toy or a book. Alas, no toys or books were to be found in my car, so they started playing tug-of-war with Jayma's ribbon. This went on for the twenty minutes it took to go to the bank and drive through McD's for drinks. Then they got bored and just started whining. I guess I should never clean out the toys!

Ginger was telling me about how Jesse left the amoxicillin out on the cabinet when it said to refrigerate, which is so like Jesse. He and I both forget things all the time. Ginger called the pharmacist to make sure it was still good, which the pharmacist said it was fine since it isn't blazing hot this time of year. Jesse told Ginger the only way he could get Jayma to take the amoxicillin was to put some Splenda in it because it tasted so bad....but with the Splenda.....she took it with no complaints!!! Good thinking, Jesse!! I wouldn't have even thought of that, though I should have. After all, a spoon full of sugar helps the medicine go down....and I guess Splenda works just the same....just like toys on a car ride, or a twenty when you babysit!!

Sick As A Dog.....Hubby

2012-01-03T23:11:00.000-06:00

Tonight, Hubby called me at work and sounded really weak telling me he had thrown up and felt like passing out. I asked him if he wanted me to get one of the kids to bring me home, and he said if I could call and see if one of them could come get me later. I called Son No. 2 and asked where he was, and he was in a town 15 miles away at a Chinese restaurant, so I asked if he could be back by 8:30 to pick me up. He said yes. I went back to work. Less than 20 minutes later, my daughter called saying she was at my house.....Hubby had called her and told her he was on the bathroom floor and couldn't get up.....she had hurried over there, even though she was still wet from her shower. She said he was pale and on the floor in the bathroom and there was vomit on the side of the toilet and it looked brown.....Hubby had said it was black. I told my daughter to ask him if he wanted to come to the hospital.....he said no.....I told her to ask if he wanted an ambulance.....he said no.....so I told her to hand him his phone and come pick me up.
When I got home, Hubby was on the bathroom floor curled up in a little ball, with no shirt on. I made him get up, and tried to get him to the bed, but he hit the toilet and started pewking again. My two sons and their girlfriends got home pretty quick and Son No. One helped me get Hubby up, but Hubby refused to get in the bed. Not wanting to get sick, Son No. One and Liz headed home. Son No. 2 never even came in the room....I'm glad....he's too skinny and can't afford to pewk!!!
About 15 minutes later, the diahrea started....followed by more pewking. I don't know if I am having sympothetic pains or if I will be sick later, because then I started having a severe headache. I took an Advil, got Hubby into bed finally and covered him up (he was white as a sheet), and we both went to sleep around 8. At 10, I woke to the sound of heaving from the bathroom. Hubby was back in there with his head in the toilet. Poor baby. I hate throwing up. I don't want to be sick. HELP.
I thought maybe if I posted this tonight, you all might say a prayer for us both so maybe it'll pass over me. Maybe 6 years ago, we all took turns having that roto virus that makes you feel like you're dying for 24 hours, then miraculously disappears. I don't ever want to be that sick again....please!

It's Fun To Go The Dairy Queen....

2012-01-03T14:37:00.000-06:00

The merry, merry Dairy Queen...so let's delight your appetite and eat a little at Dairy Queen tonight. Wasn't that how the jingle went back in the 60's? That's how I remember it.

Every time we would drive home from church when I was a little girl, and I would see that DQ sign, I would sing that little song. I was trying to throw a hint in my parent's direction. Apparently, they didn't get the hint, or they didn't think that was good food, or maybe we were just too poor to eat at DQ. Whatever the reason, we didn't go.

When I was in jr. hi, before the football games, my friends and I would go to the DQ by the high school (it's not there anymore), and have ice cream before the game. It was always so much fun to meet there and act like we were grown up. It was within walking distance of the stadium, so our parents felt safe just dropping us off there.

Advance about 3 years.....I got my first job at the Dairy Queen. It wasn't the one downtown or by the high school....it was the one on 57th street (no longer in existance). I rode to work in the summer heat with my un-airconditioned car rolled up tight so as not to disturb my plastered hairdo that I was so proud of....I had gone to the beauty shop for the first time EVER with my first paycheck from DQ. I worked the summer, fell in love with my hubby there, and then quit because school was starting and I wanted to make good grades. Before I left, I had made several friends, one of whom would turn out to be a life-long friend, Doris.

Another 18 years down the road....Hubby and I started going to DQ practically everyday for lunch. I would go and pick him up and we would eat our kid's meals together because I was working the midnight shift and this was one way we were able to spend some quality time together just talking. Guess who managed that DQ. Doris. She was always glad to see us, and her son and his girlfriend both worked there, too, and we became good friends with them as a couple, as well. But, then I started working days, and we stopped going, and we lost touch with all of them.

Today, little Jayma was sick and had an earache. Ginger took off to take her to the doctor's office, as did Jesse. We kept McKenna so they would be able to give their full attention to what the doctor said. When Ginger got home, she asked where we were eating, and when we told her DQ, she said she wanted to go, so McKenna and Ginger went with us.

When we walked in the door, who greeted me with a kiss on the cheek, but Doris! I was so glad to see that she was still the manager here. She gave us samples of peppermint ice cream cake, then I placed our order. For the four of us to eat today, the total was $26. I nearly fell out of my seat. And my meal was a $5 special. And McKenna just had a kid's meal. Hubby and Ginger each got a steak finger basket. After reeling from the price, I noticed Hubby had picked up his cup to fill it, and had not made it to the drink machine. He had stopped at a table.

His old hunting buddy, Sandy, and his wife, Cynthia were sitting at a table having their lunch, and Hubby was busy catching up on all Sandy's hunting stories, and hearing about their son, Sandy, Jr. They are nearing 70 years old now. I have known them since they were in their late 20's. Any time Ginger and I would see them out shopping, they would always stop and ask about all of our family, and would carry on over the babies. It was so nice to see them. I know Hubby enjoyed the conversation. It's sad that time and circumstances have driven them apart.

When I joined Ginger at the table and told her Hubby's food was going to get cold because I couldn't tear him away, Ginger turned to McKenna and told her that we used to bring her here when she was a little baby. I had forgotten about that. Then I remembered that Jesse met us there one time, and we all ate together. We have had a lot of good memories at the DQ. It seems that for generations now, it's been fun to go to the Dairy Queen!

Bacon! Bacon! Bacon!

2012-01-02T21:20:00.001-06:00

Every single morning, around 6 a.m., my three puppies whine until I make it into the kitchen. Then, like little furry soldiers, they all line up in a neat little row with paws up, as if they are saluting their commanding officer. Why do they do this? They are awaiting their Bacon Strip. It's the only time they will hold up their paws for a shake with their momma. They LOVE bacon. Those Bacon Strips smell just like real bacon and it drives them utterly crazy. I don't know what it's made of, but you and I know that it isn't real bacon. I am fooling them.

My son, who is 17 and will be 18 in just 4 more months, LOVES bacon. He loves it so much that he and his friend Alex tried wrapping some kind of food with tons of bacon and baking it in the oven a few months ago, and when it didn't turn out the way they thought, they were severely disappointed. I wish I could remember what that was they tried to cook that way....seems like they layered bacon with something, and then wrapped it in bacon and the center bacon didn't cook....it was just fatty and gooshy. ugh. That is how much he loves bacon. He wasted his hard earned money on the bacon to try to make a new bacon dish.

Every single Sunday morning, Hubby and I go to get a number 5 combo at Whataburger.....that is a bacon cheeseburger with fries and a soda. What makes it so special? The bacon, of course. I love pizza with bacon. We always order the meat lovers pizza at Pizza Hut and it's so great because it has BACON. I love when Taco Bell adds bacon bits to their chicken chalupa! I love it so much, I have to go practically everyday!! The bacon bits beckon me....they call my name! I follow the sound as if I'm hypnotized....hypnotized by BACON.

Naturally when I was strolling down the chip aisle last week following my daughter, my eye was startled by the word BACON. Oh, I know you have seen bacon flavored chips before. We have had our taste buds thrilled by that bacon flavored powder they apply to the chips, as well. But this was a different product.....something I had never seen, and would never have imagined that they would make in a bacon flavor. You have to see it to believe it....so I bought some. Here is what I saw:

Yes, that's right.....bacon flavored popcorn. No, I haven't had the nerve to try it yet. Neither did my son. But, Lauren, his girlfriend couldn't wait to try a bag! She popped some the next day while they watched a movie and she ATE it!!! She even said it was pretty good.

So, for all you people out there who love bacon.....here's to you!!!

Need Prayers, Please.....

2011-12-31T22:11:00.000-06:00

I just got this email from my sweetest cousin ever, Patricia.....

"Paula's brother was sent home from the hospital today and placed on hospice. Today is Lavonia's 73rd birthday. What a present, huh? I called Lavonia and she was in the middle of the hospice people talking to her so I let her go. Keep them in your prayers. It's a horrible way to start the new year.

Tricia"

For those who don't know, Paula is Patricia's mom....my aunt.....and Lee is her brother, who is married to Lavonia. Lavonia treated me like another niece when I was growing up. Paula is the sweetest person, just like Patricia (I guess that's where Patricia got her sweetness). They all live here, but Patricia lives in Louisiana. Please remember them in your prayers, as this will be a hard time for them all.

Perfect Ending To A Near Perfect Year

2011-12-31T21:37:00.000-06:00

After everyone was gone, Hubby discovered that Ginger had opened his NEW bag of unsalted chips....imagine....the nerve of her! So he had us rush to the store and buy him TWO new bags to replace the one she opened. Then he wanted us to go to the natural food store and see if they had any new unsalted chips. On the way there, we stopped at Cracker Barrel and I bought the cutest clock EVER. It had been $29.99, and was on sale for $9. I got it because I happen to like snowmen, but it is also grey, red and black like the room is decorated with. I had no idea what this clock did until I got home and put the batteries in.

When the minute hand passes the hour mark, a Christmas Carole plays!!!! It has about ten songs on it. Hubby protested saying this would keep us awake at night....but guess what!!! See that tiny little dot in the black circle right above the snowman's head? It is a light sensor!!! It won't play songs when it is dark. Isn't that the cooliest thing EVVAH??!!!!! I LOOOOVE it!!!! I'm so glad I had the lady at Cracker Barrel go get the stepladder and get it down. I didn't care if it was Christmassy.....I wanted it and intend to keep it up all year long!!!

The whole reason we went in there was to buy one of these watches that I had seen before Christmas and wanted. You buy the bracelet part separate from the face. They had them on sale today....buy one get one.....higher price prevails....so I had to buy two bracelets and two faces!!! Aren't they pretty??? They had all colors. You get the entire watch for $16.....then get one free. When I took the pictures of these, Hubby asked me if I was going to take a picture of his empty wallet, too. He thinks he's funny. lol

After we went there, we went to Pizza Hut and I got a meat lovers thin crust pizza for Hubby and I to have for supper. It was on special for $10. YUMMY!!! We devoured it then I went to change the sheets on Son No. 2's bed and feed his fish for him since he is working tonight, then going to see Lauren. While I was changing the sheets, I kept hearing what I thought sounded like a car door closing. I figured one of our young neighbors was having a party. The noise kept on and on until I finally took a look out of the window. I didn't see any sign of life. Boom, boom....what was going on???? I stepped outside and saw what the commotion was.....they were shooting off the fireworks display at the golf course down the road....the ones that they couldn't shoot off this summer on the Fourth of July because of the dang drought. This was great. I called Hubby outside and we stood, arms wrapped around each other to stay warm, inside the truck bed so we could get a better view until they were all over. What a perfect ending to a perfect day.....and a pretty near perfect year!!! Again, Happy New Year to you all!!!

So Beautiful, I Had To Take Pictures....

2011-12-31T20:58:00.000-06:00

Bare limbs against the blue Texas sky.....

A lonesome dove (wasn't that a movie?) sits atop one of our bare trees.

This is the top of a Christmas tree that we got from a neighbor about 10 years ago. It was supposed to be a miniature, but it is big now. It's one of the only green things in our yard now. I thought it made a pretty picture. Ginger thought it looked like cactus growing in a field. lol

This little bench is sitting in back of a building far off from our house....I was just trying out the zoom lens on this one, but thought the picture was pretty.

I shot this just pointing up into the live oak tree in our yard....

Another dove sitting in another tree....those two need to find each other.

A trail left by a jet in the blue sky....not a single cloud in the sky today for me to draw something out of.

The sliver of the moon that was in the sky at 5:27....pretty, huh?

This afternoon was so beautiful and clear and cool and warm at the same time, I just had to take pictures of the little bit of nature in our yard....bear with me ( it isn't BARE with me, is it? lol) (BEAR with me seems like your talking about being an animal....this is difficult for me and I'm and American....how do foreigners ever learn our language?????)

The After Party.....

2011-12-31T20:24:00.000-06:00

After the party and every last one had gone home except the girls, they went outside and sat with their grandpa....Hat.....and he suggested they play in the sand box. They took him up on that one with no hesitation. I got these pictures.....loved this beautiful day!!! What a way for 2011 to end!

Jesse had to work today, but he was able to come for a burger for his lunch, but then had to go back before cake. He did get off early so that the girls did get to spend all evening with their daddy.

Gone To The Dogs.....

2011-12-31T20:15:00.000-06:00

The dogs enjoyed the party as well.....here are pictures of just the dogs.

Too much partying makes you too pooped to poop.....poor puppies.....it was a wonderfully warm sunny day, though, following a month of drizzle and rain and cold weather!

Happy 4th Birthday, McKenna

2011-12-31T20:07:00.001-06:00

Four years ago, our lives changed forever. We fell in love. We fell in love with the most beautiful little girl ever born. And I am not biased. We are so blessed to have this sweet little girl for our granddaughter. She is helpful, kind, and loving. Today we got together as a family and celebrated her birth. I cannot post all the pictures we took....it would run over into older blogs there are so many, but I am going to post the best....if not for anyone out there in blog land, for my family....because I have a book made for them to keep and treasure from my blog each year now.

Ready Or Not, Here It Comes!

2011-12-31T02:30:00.001-06:00

And I'm not ready for 2012. I have had the absolutely best year this year!!! I loved 2011. I went to see George Strait in concert TWICE this year, and Reba McEntire was on tour with him; saw Foreigner, Journey, and Night Ranger in concert all three in one night....first time for Foreigner and Journey, second time for Night Ranger; saw the awesome, talented, beautiful Katy Perry in concert; saw the sweet, gifted, georgeous Taylor Swift in concert for the second time; saw the Dixie Chicks with Asleep at the Wheel, Lyle Lovett, the Texas Tornadoes, Willie Nelson, and Christopher Cross in concert together for the first time.....remodeled my kitchen, painted my bathroom, got new living room and dining room furniture; watched my No. One Son buy his first brand new car all on his own after getting a new job all on his own; watched as my daughter cooked cookies with her daughters, sewed dresses for her daughters and became cost-conscious to the point of shopping at Goodwill for a lot of their clothes as she took on extra hours at work; watched as No. Two Son took on the responsibilities of an aquarium and kept the fish alive nearly a whole year now and has kept his job at Chikfila a second year while maintaining his grades in school; and last, but far from least, "gave my permission" for my hubby to retire (he never needed to ask!).

Our expenses have gone down. We actually have a little savings. We might even be able to roof our house or fix our chimney this next year. Hubby and I enjoy spending time together....oh, yeah, sometimes we get on each other's nerves, but not much. I AM STILL EMPLOYED...even though my job is doomed, for the time being, I still have a job. For this, I am ever so grateful. I hope by the time it plays out, we will be in the place where it won't even matter.

All my kids seem happy. They may have bad days, but on the whole, they seem really happy. That is something to be ever so thankful for . None of my relatives died this year. Last year was a different story.....I lost several cousins....this year, some relatives got sick, but they got well! Praise the Lord!!!

Our cars are running.....our water heater works.....our heater and air conditioner work.....no appliances went out (besides the water heater)......and the fireplace is still standing.....and we don't have a leak in our roof YET.

The termites didn't invade our house this year (thanks to mounding sand all around our foundation).....we never had an invasion of ants this year.....and we didn't have swarms of grasshoppers, mosquitoes or crickets take over our outdoor lives.

We did have a horrible drought that we thought would never, ever end....but December surely took care of any lack of water we had....it rained or drizzled practically ever day!!!

Yes, I have much to be thankful for. This year is one year that I have to stop and thank God for. Now I have to say goodbye to 2011, and it is with great reluctance that I do so. I printed my blog book for this past year today. My last book was three years all together. This one was just one year, and I had more in just this one year than I did in the past three. Today when we all get together for the last time in 2011 to celebrate the 4th anniversary of McKenna's birth, I'll have to take lots of pictures with my camera that I also was blessed with this year so I can begin my blogging for my blog book for 2013. I just hope I can find enough to take pictures of and write about to fill a third blog book.

I hope the next year will bring us all peace, hope, and harmony, and that your 2012 will be as happy and blessed as my 2011 has been. Happy New Year!!! And Happy Blogging!!!

Some Of My Favorite Oldies.....

2011-12-31T00:48:00.000-06:00

Brady (Son No. 2) when he was but a wee lad

I got a new digital frame for Christmas and have been scanning some of our old pictures into the computer. I started with some that were not in photo albums, for some reason, so if for some reason I have blogged these before, forgive me.....but these are some of my favorite old pictures....

Brady again.....but I just love the picture here because of his little toes and fingers....and he has Gumby!

Me, when I was pregnant with Brady....around Christmas at my mommie's house....before she had her kitchen remodled.

Bryan helping out Brady.....giving him a push when Brady ran out of gas....wish our grass still looked like that!

Staci, my sweet niece, Ginger, my little girl, Me (I wish I still looked like that!), my Mommy (wow....she must have been 49 or so in this picture....she was so beautiful!), Steve, my brother holding Caleb, my nephew, Joan,my sister-in-law, who was carrying Tyler at the time, and my dad's mom....who was also my grandmother.....Nanmama.

My mommy, Stevie and me.....wasn't my mommy beautiful? And so YOUNG!

Bryan, about 8.....

Ginger , about 2......

Bryan, about 3, stealing a kiss from Ginger, about 18

Bryan, around 2....having cake.....

Joan, Tyler, Caleb, and Bryan......they were all so SKINNY!!!

Nanny, (Melissa Nelson) holding Ginger Melissa.....this is Hubby's maternal grandmother.

Me, around 21, holding my sweet baby Ginger.

Hubby and Bryan taking a nap.....

When I had my great Cannon camera that used real film....I could really get some great pictures of the kids! And Bryan was very photogenic!!!

My favorite cousin in the whole wide world, Patricia, with her mommy, Paula

One time when I caught Ginger being really sweet to Bryan and was watching tv along side of him.

Fifty Some Odd Years Ago......

2011-12-30T22:20:00.000-06:00

Who are these precious little cherubs??? Why, that's ME and my big brother, Stevie!!! Aren't we just the cutest little kids you ever did see???? They must have told us to hold hands, and you can see how thrilled he was to hold mine......but me? See that huge smile???? I adored my brother from the day I was born. Still do. There isn't a nicer person anywhere. not one.

Friday Evening With Grandmommy

2011-12-30T21:55:00.001-06:00

I decided there is no better time to start on a New Year's Resolution than now. This evening, I got Ginger and the girls and we called up Grandmommy to make sure she was home before going across town to see her. She had just arrived back home from Denton. She and Jim had ridden up to Denton to see his granddaughter and her family, and Grandmommy had a great time. She was willing to have us come over to visit, too. Surprisingly, she wasn't too tired for us to come.

I took these pictures of the girls playing. Jayma hasn't been feeling very good....runny nose.....and has been a little cranky for the past two days. Jayma had a stinky poo poo diaper while we were visiting, and we found out then that I had used the last of the diapers in the diaper bag yesterday. I wasn't ready to leave, because we had only been there 10 minutes or so. I suggested that Ginger take my car and go buy some diapers at 7-11, but Grandmommy had a better idea....run down to Dollar General to buy a bag. So while Ginger was gone, we didn't want Jayma sitting in poo, so we used one of Grandmommy's pull-ups, which was HUGE on Jayma. We decided to use a kitchen towel pinned like a diaper to hold up the pull-up. It was falling down and Ginger got home just in the nick of time with the diapers.

Jayma and McKenna had fun exploring all the delicate breakables in the living room while we watched a true crime show in the den. After about an hour and a half, we decided it was time to go home. Never fear.....we are going to see her again tomorrow when Hubby cooks hamburgers for McKenna's fourth birthday!

I know, I know.....you never saw my mother look like this either. And that is exactly why I had to take a picture of it tonight. lol Isn't that hilarious????

Yes, this is Ronald Reagan.....my mom has his calendar on her computer room wall. I loved Ronald Reagan....didn't everyone? Anyway, I had to take a picture of him.

I also had to take a picture of this.....she hadn't put her bags up yet from her trip. Normally, everything is in place.

McKenna checking herself out in the bathroom mirror.....the same mirror I used everyday when I was at home.....from the time I was 9 til I was 17. I didn't live there very long in the whole scheme of things, but it sure felt like half my life was spent right here in this bathroom.

Before her poo accident, Jayma was mesmerized by Grandmommy's magnifying glass.

How can that carpet be ....oooo.....about 15 years old (is that right Mommy?), and still look that new??? And be BEIGE????

McKenna examining Grandmommy's bunny. Grandmommy said her bunny was very old, but I never saw it before. Am I just not very observant? Did anyone else miss this bunny?

Okay.....what is up with McKenna's face here? Does anyone else think the side of her face looks like there is a hand on it? Could it be my daddy's hand? Hat thought it looked like fingers. And it looks like her face is being pulled a little to that side. eerie music playing......weird

Ginger, fixing to sneeze...

Don't you wish you were here? Enjoying the crime show with us?

After looking at these pictures at home, I couldn't figure out where the light is coming from in the atrium.....eerie music playing......

The girls couldn't tear themselves away from the living room.

I was thinking.....I never take pictures in the living room.....always in the den or the atrium. I made that bird house over there....and I papered the walls for Grandmommy's birthday probably ten years ago....maybe longer. I did a pretty good job....hasn't fallen down yet!

There's Jayma's make-shift diaper. Isn't that hilarious???? Poor baby.

I don't even remember taking this shot......eerie music playing......

That bunny looks possessed.....it's looking right at the camera! How did that happen???? eerie music playing!

In this shot, the bunny is facing forward!!! How did THAT happen?????

I don't make a diaper out of cloth very well anymore.....hard to believe I ONLY used cloth diapers on Ginger, isn't it? lol.....of course, that's been a third of a century ago!!!

Grandmommy holding up the new blouse I took to her.....

She said she LOVED it.....I thought it was really pretty, too!!

Can you tell Jayma loved that magnifier???

She was looking for clues.......

Jayma looks like she's seen a.....well, you know....
eerie music playing.

Aren't her chunky legs adorable???? I wish chunky legs stayed adorable all your life!

Jayma looking like she lost her best friend.....she did......her diaper!!!

Just A Few More Days.....

2011-12-29T00:32:00.000-06:00

Can you believe it? Just a few more days left in 2011. Three days, to be exact. It seems like yesterday that I was making my list of resolutions to break this year. Let's have a look back and see how I did.
Number 1 was to shred the paper on my dresser. I did finally accomplish that task about mid August....then it piled up again, and Hubby and I shredded it again in about November. Currently, there is a small pile that needs shredding. You might ask why I don't shred those papers as I acquire them. I don't leave the shredder plugged in because of my granddaughters, and I have too much tummy fat to want to bend over and get the cord and plug it in. That's just plum pitiful.

Number Two was waste less time on the computer and get some things DONE. I specifically mentioned Snood. Okay. Let's look at these two parts of this particular resolution. I have spent way less time on the computer, first because Hubby retired and he needs some attention. But also, I redecorated my kitchen and cleaned out some drawers and painted the bathroom. Snood.....well, that's another story. I have advanced from EVIL to ARMEGEDON. I also bought Snood Poppers, which is very addicting, but is also very hard to get past the second level....I kind of gave up on it. So, my second resolution is up for grabs. Did I achieve it or not?

Number Three was to stop buying things at H.E.B. just because I get something free with it. This is also iffy. I have quit buying so MUCH just because I get something free....that counts, doesn't it? I don't think I have had anything expire that I got free this year. That's a good thing. The bad thing about this one is Hubby and I are eating out more, which could account for the fact that I'm not buying those meal deals as much. We just don't spend as much at the grocery store as we used to.

Number Four was to save....I was going to put up $10 out of each check. hmmmm.....didn't accomplish this one. But we do have a savings, which we never did before, so does it matter if we got it by putting ten out of each check, or if we just saved one lump sum? I give myself half a check on this one.

Number Five was to spend at least 30 minutes a day in play with my granddaughters. I meant when I was babysitting them. I didn't accomplish this one.....but it isn't my fault. Hubby takes over a lot of days and colors with them, or plays with them. They adore him and would rather have his attention than mine. I do play with them when they ask me to....and I print off color sheets, or make them tents, or fix them peanut butter sandwiches.....they get my attention, anyway. Half a check.

Number Six was to spend more time with Hubby. I get lots of checks for this one. I have even sat and watched football games with him. We watched game shows and yelled our answers at the tv. We have gone to eat breakfast, lunch and dinner. We have walked around the neighborhood and we have gone shopping. We moved our son together. We visited his mom together. This one has been a joy to accomplish. We are closer than we have ever been.

Number Seven was to spend more time with my mom. FAIL. I don't even get to call her every day like I used to. I miss talking to her while I cook. I get home so late most nights that I feel like she is already asleep. Sometimes when I do call, I can tell she is watching tv, so I let her go quickly so she won't miss the final 15 minutes of something she has been watching. I have to try harder on this one this year.

Number Eight was to use less sarcasm with my kids. I wanted to praise them more and let them know just how much I love them. I think I am doing better at this. How about it, Ginger? Would you give me a check on this one?

Number Nine was to praise Hubby more and let him know how wonderful I think he is. Check. Not only have I let him know how wonderful he is, I gave in and we now have a camoflauge recliner and comforter. I finally decided it's his house, too, and he should be able to have something he loves to look at. You know, I actually enjoy knowing he is enjoying them. It's kind of like that Christmas feeling all year long. This just shows it doesn't hurt to give in.

Number Ten was to curb my anger and not let the little things get to me. I feel like I am mellow most of the time, but my kids might tell a different story. How about it, Ginger? Do I get a checkmark on this one?

This has been one of the best years of my adult life. I hate to see 2011 go. The next couple of days I will be thinking of things to list for this year's new year's resolutions. How about you? Got anything you want to change in your life? Now is the time to put your ducks all in a row and see how they stand.

Our Christmas Day

2011-12-27T12:52:00.001-06:00

We took very few pictures. I suggested that Son No. 2 be in charge of the camera, and he declined, so the few we took were taken before we all ate and opened presents. Too bad.....we had fun. Grandmommy came over and ate 3 pieces of pie a teeny tiny piece of roast a teeny tiny spoon of potatoes and a teeny tiny spoon of green beans. lol Pie was most important. We had a wonderful night and enjoyed each other's company and the food.

Brady got a WII and a game and was so excited to open them at 5:30 before I went to work.

McKenna loves to pose.....anytime, anywhere.

Ginger showed up in a cap.....what's up?

Jesse waiting for food, watching the game.....

Jayma had some "messy chips" Doritos.

Logan, our loyal trash boy on Christmas day.....he always collects the paper and puts it in a

trash bag for us.....thanks, Logan!!!

Thankful

2011-12-24T23:05:00.000-06:00

This Christmas, I am most thankful for our health. So many of my friends are not so lucky this year. Joyce, my co-worker and our joyful person at work, had her lung collapse on Thursday. She is currently in the hospital. Kathy, another of my co-workers and favorite people in the world, has been off for three weeks now after having her ankle operated on. Tuesday, another of my co-workers and one I consider to be a dear friend, went home on Thursday throwing up and turning yellow....it was weird the color she was. She was still out Friday. My blog friend, Moannie, has been having chemo for cancer and is weak, but is at home for Christmas. My cousin, Glenn, may have cancer, but I haven't heard for sure what the results of his tests were. And of course, everyday there are so many people in the hospital....but the worst day to be there is Christmas Day. So on this Christmas day, I want to say a prayer for all the people who are not up to par....who are sick at home, or in the hospital, that God will heal you, or ease your suffering and pain. And I want to thank God for the health of my family. For this we are especially thankful.

Christmas Tree

2011-12-16T17:34:00.001-06:00

I cannot even imagine that it's Christmas time again.....even though I am through with most of my shopping, and have been for a couple of weeks now. It just doesn't seem like an entire year has gone by. Ginger and Jesse went shopping today in Round Rock at the outlet mall and Hubby and I kept the girls all day. They were so sweet all day long. I would never mind keeping them for Ginger and Jesse to go out if they always acted so perfect! When Ginger and Jesse came over to get the girls, I saw Jayma sitting down by the tree with Foofah(sp?), admiring the lights. It was one of those Kodak moments....and of course, I NEVER have my camera handy (how do you do it, Staci?). But, just on the chance that I might be able to catch her before she moved, I ran and grabbed my camera. These are the pictures that I got instead.

I used the flash on this one, but it just didn't capture the moment....because I only had one lamp on in the living room, and it wasn't this brightly lit, so I tried without the flash.

And might have been successful had she not been curious as to why the flash had gone off. Shoot. Maybe next time, I'll get that perfect, unposed shot.

I thought my tree looked beautiful in this picture.....

I took these without the flash thinking the tree looked better that way, but McKenna seems blurred.

I even lightened them up with Picasa, but I guess flash would have been better.

McKenna loves to pose for pictures. She's such a little ham!

Jayma wouldn't stand back by the tree for me.

McKenna loves to turn her head to the side in her bashful pose. lol

Then came the unposed moment again.....

Of course, Ginger needed to have her picture taken by the tree, too

And I just couldn't help getting Jesse to pose right under the star, unknowingly, so it looked like it was placed on top of his head. lol (That was mean of me, I know)

I used the flash on this one, and it turned out wonderful of all three of them.....let's see if we can get Jayma in the picture for a great one!

This made me remember the year we took pictures for over thirty minutes, and the kids were screaming crying by the end. lol

See how bad the tree looks with the flash? yuck

If Jayma would have just let go of Foofah for a few minutes, so Jesse wouldn't have had to dodge her!

Merry Christmas, from Ginger, Jeese, Jayma, and McKenna!

Update On Glenn

2011-12-15T11:18:00.000-06:00

I received this email from Tricia this morning:

"I talked to Glenn at lunch. The doctor put him on insulin for his diabetes. He starts tonight. Hopefully he'll give himself shots and see if he feels better.

Tricia"

I cannot imagine how he feels....on top of heart trouble, thinking you have cancer, then finding out you need insulin. Please keep him in your prayers.

Prayers Needed

2011-12-14T14:32:00.001-06:00

I received an email from Patricia yesterday saying that Glenn was at the doctors office. They think he may have prostate cancer. She said she would keep me posted. I received this email today:

"Glenn will have a biopsy on Jan 3rd. It's a procedure in the office. He says he's not worried because he knows it can be cured if caught in time. He sounded exhausted. He says he never feels good. He is going to his regular doctor today about blood work. I'll call him tonight about that.

Please pray for him.

Patricia"

Please include Paula and Patricia in your prayers as well, because this past year has been a really hard one for them.....as you read, if you read my blog, Dan was in the hospital back in February and March, Glenn was in the hospital, Suzanne was in the hospital, and Lee, Paula's brother has been in and out of the hospital with cancer all year. This has not been a good year for them. Please pray for all of them. I pray this next year will bless them all with good health. I know they are all tired.

Duke The Magical Dog.....A Story Written By Son No. 2

2011-12-12T08:54:00.000-06:00

This was Son No. 2's English project back in 2005. As usual, Mr. Procrastinator didn't have it done the night before it was due, so he wrote the story, I illustrated as he told me what to draw, and he colored the pictures. I was so proud of our joint effort, I wanted to preserve it. It cost too much to make into it's own book, so I am putting it in my blog book. Enjoy.

Perfect Evening

2011-12-10T22:47:00.002-06:00

I just spent the perfect evening with my honey. After telling each other about our day while I peeled potatoes and cut them into cubes, Hubby went to take his shower and I cooked chicken fried steak, green beans and Hawaiian rolls. yummy! Then while we ate, we sat at our tv trays in our respective rocker recliners, and watched Family Feud....for two hours! It was on the game channel....something I never, ever do is watch tv. Why? Because I can't get into any of the new programs. But this was SO MUCH FUN....just me and Hubby, sitting and shouting out our answers at the tv like the contestants could hear us. And we were right.....we got those answers down just about every time. We had fun laughing at some of our answers that were not as great as others. During commercials, I went and put the food up , then ran back to my chair, making it just in time for the next round. I was amazed that Hubby knew who Lady Gaga was.....one of the questions was, "What singer can you NOT imagine being a grandmother?" My first answer was Madonna. His was Lady Gaga. huh??? YOU know who SHE is???? This is a man who NEVER listens to new music....only the oldies.....and HIS answer was better than MINE!!! We decided this had to be at least four years old because Lady Gaga was not one of the answers, and we are SURE that would have been number one if they were to ask that today! She would have beat out Mariah Carey and Jessica Simpson (who they referred to as Tony Romo's girlfriend....when did that end?). Anyway, this was more fun than I have had in a long, long time. Thank you, dear Hubby, for joining me for a great time tonight.

We had fun laughing and then reminiscing about other old game shows we used to watch regularly....Hollywood Squares, Let's Make A Deal, The Price Is Right.....and then we started thinking about all the old actors that were in those Hollywood Squares.....Henry Gibson, Joan Rivers, Paul Lynde, Jim J. Bullock, Alf and Rich Little were some of our favorites. We loved watching the people dress in costume for Let's Make a Deal, then give away a new car for curtain no. 3, which had a mule behind it. And who didn't love Bob Barker on the Price Is Right? It always brought tears to my eyes when someone would win a new car in the final showcase. Those were the days.....

I Hate Change

2011-12-08T23:48:00.000-06:00

I hate change.....not the kind that jingles in your pockets.....I hate the kind that is inevitable.....kids growing up and leaving home.....hair losing it's color and turning grey......"things" aging and deteriorating right before you eyes.....roads being widened to accomodate 100,000 more cars everyday.....vcr tapes being replaced by dvds.....albums being replaced by cds......walkman radios being replaced by mp3 players......mail being replaced by email.....paper medical records being replaced by electronic medical records.......you get the picture. Change makes me worry. Oh, sure....it usually ends up being the best thing that could have happened.....but at the time, we couldn't see it that way. When they lowered the hemlines in the 80's, I said I would NEVER wear long skirts, long shorts, or those tight legged jeans. I did eventually give up and wore them all. I never wanted to wear pointed toe shoes, and I never did, but I did give in a little and rounded the toe up instead of being square. Yes, even though I eventually give into the new ways, I do hang onto the old just as long as I can.

We received an email at work tonight that was inviting all the employees in our organization to explore the new opportunities that were going to be in abundance because of a new program that is coming into place that will do away with mine and the other ladies' jobs that are in our department.....at least those of us that are too old to go to college and learn new programs and programming for the computer. We knew this was coming, but didn't think it would be so soon and we hate to see the change come. Why? Because we will be the ones losing our jobs. We will be tossed away like old dish rags. They will keep all the young ones they have recently hired because they are young and can learn all the new technology with ease.

Change is hard. I just hope this change comes slow.

So Busy....

2011-12-07T23:30:00.000-06:00

I haven't posted much lately, largely because I cannot think of anything to write about, and then largely because my hubby keeps me sooooo busy!!! Or maybe I keep him busy! At any length, we are busy doing something day and night.

We decorated our house for Christmas TOGETHER this year, putting our lights around the roof, and putting our tree up in the living room....and a little tree on our counter bar for the kids to sit and gaze at, which they do every morning. McKenna and Jayma love to sit and rearrange the reindeer and manger scene....and the M&M tins that are little shops of an M&M town that I collected over the years.

Lately we have watched Christmas movies with them on Netflix, and I have watched old 60's movies at night by myself way into the early morning. Then up again by 8 or 9 the next morning, eat breakfast, and the girls come by 10. The afternoons have largely been spent in trips to Walmart or HEB for food or Christmas presents. Then off to work again by 3:30, and many evenings, Hubby goes hunting. I don't know how Hubby ever had time to work. lol

But nothing outstanding has occured....which can be good, but leaves me with nothing to write about on my blog. No. 1 Son's girlfriend, Liz, bought her first very own car yesterday....a Volkswagon Rabbit....and it is in perfect condition outside and inside....and is a 2007. I was (and am) so HAPPY for her. She really needed a new car!!! Back in October, No. 1 Son traded his Mercedes for a 2012 Honda Civic. He loves it! It is really cool because it has a screen on the dash that is for displaying your "favorite" picture on. Right now, he has a Happy Holidays sign. After Christmas, he will change it back to his and Liz's picture.

Son No. 2 has been working his hiney off.....and falling asleep in class because he has been working too much. Now he has cut back his hours some, thank goodness, and maybe I will know I have a son at home still.....or maybe not.....he is always over at Lauren's house if he is off. cry boo hoo.

That's about it.....just waiting for Santa to come.....

What Hubby Does On Cold Rainy Nights.....

2011-12-02T19:12:00.001-06:00

For an early Christmas present, Hubby wanted a stationery bike. He has so much energy, he can't just sit and watch tv. So, last weekend, I got him this bike, put it together, and so far, he has ridden 8 miles on it!

He puts it out in the middle of our bedroom and pedals away!

See how fast his feet are pedaling?? He's gonna' live to be 100.

Me.....I like laying by the fireplace and watching the logs burn.....

Hubby is proud of his deer head hanging over the mantle.

Even if it is the fireplace on his nightstand! Don't you just love that lamp???? I got it at Cracker Barrel on the markdown table!

Today, We Give Thanks.....

2011-11-24T21:13:00.000-06:00

For our granddaughters so sweet

who made cookies for us to eat.......

For children who show they care......

For sons who have little hair.....

For the sweet girlfriend of Number One Son....

For holidays where we can share the fun......

For the little table I've had since a child.....

For Hubby dear, who hunts in the wild.....

For pots and pans and the stove where I cook......

For the "little tastes" that Hubby took......

For a back door that keeps us safe and warm.....

To God for keeping us from harm.....

For McKenna , my prissy Little Miss......

Even when her uncles she won't kiss.......

For my Mother.....without her, none of us would be here........

For digital cameras that bring us all, though far away, so near.......

For Cajun COOKED turkey that I just had to heat......

Then slice off the bone for my brood to eat........

For No. 2 Son and his silly faces......

For my daughter texting her Hubby in other places....

For smiles between members of our family......

and smiles shared with us with family might-as-well-be......

For glasses and grey hair and bracelets on wrists.....

For chalkboards on which to write our thankful list......

For baby blue eyes......

and in-love sighs.......

For tongs to grab hot food.....

and keep you from seeming rude.....

For rolls that fill up your tummy......

For chocolate pies that are so YUMMY....

For forks with which we eat.....

For Mimis that are soooo sweet!

For times when we feel shy.....

For times when we look to the sky.....

For chewing......

and opening.....

Stirring......
.
brooding......

For simmerings......

and siblings.......

For hugging....

for empty plates

for full mouths....

and someone to dine with.....

For seconds and thirds.....

and Thanksgiving birds.....

for hoodies.....

and goodies................

and brisket so lean................

for aromas...............

mashed potatoes........

disciplining without being mean......

For filling your plate...........

For food that is great...........

                                              For the children who ate.....

For arms to reach.......

For our mothers who teach....

For Thanksgiving Day.....For all this, we say....
Thank you, God, for all our blessings!

Update on Jesse's Mom

2011-11-21T14:03:00.001-06:00

Donna was found in her car, in a parking lot far from the establishment she was heading for, with the door open, during a snow storm this morning. The business was closed over the weekend. She was unconscious when they found her. She went into cardiac arrest, died, was revived and kept on life support. Jesse and his brother were going to have to make the decision to keep her on life support or take her off, but they have been spared this decision. She passed away to be with our Lord at 1:30 this afternoon. My thoughts and prayers are with Jesse and his family.

For Anyone Who Tried To Watch My Daughter's Video....

2011-11-21T00:28:00.001-06:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IOJB11fxPt8

Click on this link......

Prayers Needed

2011-11-20T21:02:00.000-06:00

My daughter's mother-in-law left her home last Friday morning on her way to the insurance office. She never came home. She lives in Colorado, and they have issued a "silver alert" for her. The police have been notified. That is about all we know right now. Her name is Donna. Please help by praying for her safety and her safe return to her loved ones.

His Old Stomping Grounds.... That Lead To His Hunting Grounds

2011-11-14T14:14:00.000-06:00

Hubby and I had magical morning. We took a trip back in time to my hubby's old stomping grounds. We started out at the house that he calls home. This is the way it was, and then the way it is today....and it's for sale....we wish we were rich and could buy it and restore it to it's former beauty.

Hubby had many happy memories of coming home and seeing his momma cooking in the kitchen window.....he could taste her food as we drove up into the driveway. He got teary eyed as he told me about how Trixie, their collie, would always be waiting for him in the driveway.

This is the view behind his old home place.....still undeveloped, it is home to a horse and a donkey. That would be wonderful to look out at everyday.....

Next we drove by the house we had built back in 1980. The payments were only $143 a month. If only we had known what we know now, we would have had it built on a piece of land by itself instead of the little subdivision we built it in....for years, most of the houses were in disrepair, except for ours, which we sold to his cousin, John, who took such good care of it , it still looks as good as the day we bought it.

From our house to the football field where Hubby ran a 95 yard kick-off return touchdown at the start of the game, opening game, his senior year.

He and our neighbor spent many nights watching football games at this field in the 80's. The policeman (there was only one) looked the other way when he saw them drinking a beer at the game.

This is the back of the school building that use to be the elementary, jr hi and high schools....all in one. My cousin's grandfather, Mr. Sonnenburg, was the custodian at this school. When Patricia and I would go to their house to spend the night in the summer, Mr. Sonnenburg would take us up to the school and treat us to some ice cream. We also played on the swings and see-saws there. Little did I know my future husband was just right up the street.

Hubby was wondering what they did with the stands and the lights. There are still a set of little stands, but the big wooden ones and the concession stand.....all disappeared.

Picture of Hubby and his little brother, Mike. Hubby was proud of his football jacket.
He also ran track and played baseball.

I think he was thinking about how much fun he had on this field....and how wonderful life seemed then.

We drove by the house that the Sonnenburgs moved into in the late 60's or early 70's. They were wonderful people who never met a stranger and who treated me like their own....and treated the kids at the school like they were his own.....we loved the Sonnenburgs.

This is the exact spot where Hubby and I drove one July 4 about midnight and set off a row of Black Cats. Hubby thought it was hilarious and I was scared to death they would catch us and arrest us....even though setting off fireworks at that time in a city limit was not against the law. I was afraid they would get us for disturbing the peace. I am sure they just laughed and said, "Kids!!!" Back then, that is what people said....boys will be boys....they're just being kids.....

Across the bridge that spans the highway, we stopped at Nanny and Gramp's house. Hubby told of how Nanny would cook him and Gramps butter fried potatoes. They were his favorite. Do you get the feeling he loves food? lol

Down the country road about 2 or 3 miles, lived his other set of grandparents...Gongey (sp?) and Grandfather. They had a big farm with lots of land and this two story house that Hubby told me was so cold when they would spend Christmas Eve there, that they could blow smoke when they got up in the morning. They also spent many summer nights there, fed the chickens, sheared sheep, and mowed the acreage. After we married, we would go see Gongey and she always had a Dr. Pepper in her refrigerator when we would arrive. After visiting for a few minutes (not enough....she died soon after we married), we would go and shoot Hubby's gun at the creek. His cousin, John, would show up and visit some while we were there.

Hubby's Uncle Tucker had an old mare named Sundance that Hubby would saddle up and ride for him....he said times were good back then.

After visiting his old home town, we drove on to where he hunts now....he showed me his sea cane patches that those rascally coyotes come out of hiding to meet their demise.

This is how it looks from the road......

A short way around the bend, we met up with some of his friends that come and lick his pick-up when he drives into the gate. lol

Can you believe right here in Texas, someone is building a castle???? I think McKenna will want to buy this house someday!!! She will have to show her prince the castle she wants to live in!!

After seeing all these places, I understand why he loves to go hunting so much!! It was so peaceful.

That house was WAAAAAYYYYY far away....and my camera brought it up this close. Amazing. This is more field my hubby treads through to hunt those coyotes.

The "road" there was made by Hubby driving to the spot to set up to call.

Those coyotes like to den up in those tree lines...right there by the plowed fields. (we sure could use some rain for the farmers!)

I thought this windmill standing in the green field was beautiful. I would love to live on a farm.

Hubby knows so many farmers and they love him for killing those coyotes that kill their sheep and calves.

It was a beautiful day for a drive, though HOT for this time of year..... the clouds were coming in....maybe we will get some rain. See the ground up close....the cracks show how dry it is!

Just a beautiful view.....

This is the view from the spot where Hubby was crawling under the barbed-wire fence and met Mr. Rattlesnake....who soon met his maker. Hubby didn't like Mr. Rattlesnake shaking his rattles at him.

Such beauty....Hubby loves hunting here.

The cattle are WWAAAAYYY far off here.

Look at how big those hay bales are.....

Hubby in his favorite spot.

I just adore this man....we had such a good time together today!

I got him to stand right next to the hay bales to show how big they are, but that HUGE weed was in the way!!

Some pretty little yellow flowers in the field

Those are big sticker burrs on the ends of those huge weeds....ouch!

We turned around to go back to the Jeep and this is what we saw....even our Jeep looks prettier in the country!

Wish our house was on top of this hill....but we'd have to get rid of those snakes!

One last Hubby made road through a field and we were on our way home. I will cherish this day forever! Thanks, Hubby, for allowing me to take pictures of the places you hold dear in your heart.

Lasting Impressions

2011-11-07T07:57:00.002-06:00

It was an azure blue sky, birds singing, butterflies winging, bees buzzing, hamburgers on the grill kind of May day. I was still a stay at home mom with my 4 year old son. The morning was filled with excitement and anticipation as this was the first of many awards ceremonies that we would be attending over the years that would honor No. 1 Son, who was the ripe old age of 6. My hubby was even taking off work, as my daughter was, so they could attend the festivities with No. 2 Son and me.

We actually listened to the principal give her speech about how this was the class of 2009.....that seemed so far away in 1997. As she spoke of how each child was a winner in this class of 6 year olds, my eyes welled up with tears, and as a tear found it's way down my cheek, I glanced over at my daughter, who was wiping her cheek, thinking she was the only one who was so proud that she was crying. As her little brother and our first son walked across the stage and collected more sheets of paper than his little hands could hold, all four of our chests filled up with pride. Our little family had done a good job encouraging him this past year, and he had finished kindergarten with a bang....collecting every award he could collect at such a young age. When he joined us, we asked if he could come home with us now, for it was the last day of school. His teacher smiled and told us could take him. Returning home, he proudly displayed all his awards on his bed, spreading them out so he could see each one.   I told him to come go with us....we were going to get him a surprise.

Hubby had to go back to work, and we left to go to the mall.   We told No 1 Son he could have any toy he wanted because he had worked hard this past year. What did he want? A Power Ranger. So we went to the mall, ate, and shopped for several hours. When we left with my little man beaming with pride in himself, the skies had turned a navy blue with a weird greenish color, for a terrible storm was making it's way into our area. The air was heavy. We had seen these kinds of clouds before and knew we needed to get home quickly. I took the shortest route, which was 31st street then turn and go under the bridge that was I-35. As we traveled away from the mall, we heard something we never heard unless it was the first Saturday of the month at 11 o'clock......the civil defense sirens. We thought maybe they had a malfunction at first, but we decided to turn on the radio to see what was going on.

It seems they had spotted tornadoes both below and above out town, and one was heading our way. As I neared the bridge, the weatherman spoke the words, "tornado moving along I-35".....he spoke of how one had already struck a town named Jerrell, north of Austin, wiping out an entire subdivision. We were approaching the overpass that was I-35, and I had heard that if you were out in a tornado, you should park your car and crawl up under the overpass as close to the top as you could. Terrified, we four parked along with others who apparently heard the sirens, and we all squished up under the road near the top of the concrete. My boys were terrified. We were terrified. So were all the others who were making this mass of concrete their protector. We waited for what seemed like an eternity, but was proabably only 5 minutes, to make sure that we could leave safely, but how would we know when it was safe? We had no access to information tucked away under the road. We decided it would be safer to go home.

Once we got home, we turned on the news to see what was going on. There was video of Jerrell and they were showing all the devastation there. My sons were watching the news with us and those little brains were absorbing all of this, computing what all this meant, and storing it away in their minds. Anytime there has been those type of skies....those dark navy skies with weird colors meshed in....my kids are thrown back to that day that started off so happy and turned so tragic for so many others.

What made me return to this day in my mind? I opened the blinds to that kind of sky this morning. The sky looked like it would deluge us with water any minute....and toss us about with wind....but, so far....nothing. And because it has been warm the past couple of days, and a cold front is suppose to be on it's way, it wouldn't be impossible for a tornado to happen in November, but they usually just visit in the spring and summer months.    It seems that day made a lasting impression on me, too.