They make my world go round

Why does summer have to be over? Why do they have to go to school? We were just starting to have some fun!!!

BOYS!!!

Last Friday we took the punks and went to some yard sales. We love us a good yard sale. I gave them some money so they could make their own purchases. I think it is funny to see what they buy. Last time Connor bought a little coleman camp stove.
When we got home I got them some propane and we roasted marshmallows.
That was fun.
So, this time when we went, Caleb found a ball hitch. It was 50 cents.

Then Connor found one, too. They each bought them and said they would put them on their four wheelers.






































When we got in the pick up they got out the handy wipes and started cleaning their balls. I said, "Boys, quit playing with your balls, we have more yard sales to go to." They said, " we want to make our balls shiney." Whatever........ I'm glad that girls don't have balls to play with. We have way more important things to do.

Happy 95th Birthday Grandma

A little over a week ago we went back home to celebrate my Grandma's 95th birthday with her. There were lots of family and friends visiting. Some came from as far away as Wyoming.




















Grandma had five of her brothers come to share the day with her.


There were kids and grandkids, great grandkids and even great, great grandkids.


























When you are 95 years old, there isn't much you want or need. So, all of us, her family, got together and spiffied up the church. We put in new sod, new shrubs and new light fixtures. The trim got a new coat of paint. We stained the front doors and front steps. New gravel and new bark was spread around. A cute new sign was hung over the front doors. It all turned out really nice and made Grandma happy.

Then we partied. . . . . . There were around 150 of her family and friends that came to wish her a happy birthday. See, she is not just special to us but to everyone who knows her. She was the cook at the school forever and she is pretty much Grandma to all who live in her town. Even the UPS man was there. Heck, he stops by her house and watches an inning or two of a Mariner game with her now and then. (She hardly ever misses a Mariner game.) The Schwann man stops by every two weeks to see what she needs. Then he brings it in, takes it out of the boxes and places it in her freezer. Then he writes her check for her and she signs it. If she happens to not be home, he looks in the freezer to see what she needs, puts it in there and catches up with her next time to get paid. He's cool.
We put a tiara on her head and made her "Queen for the Day." In church on Sunday she requested that we sing "How Great Thou Art." She said it was her favorite song. As we sang I started leaking a few tears. I heard sniffles behind me. I like to call that liquid love. I know the song is about Our God but it was like we were singing about Our Grandma too. Happy Birthday sweet, sweet Grandma. Let's party again next summer for your 96th.

It ain't right

Sometimes people do things that are just not cool. They may even be really nice people, but they just get talked into something that just isn't right. Sometimes they expose a side of themselves that you would rather not see. This happened to me recently and it was rather unpleasant. But it is "behind" me now, and I don't ever want to experience that again. . . . . . . . . . . .













You see, I took the little punks to the park. We were having a great time, enjoying the fresh air and sunshine and then we saw this. . . . . .























EUWWWwwwww :) You know what I mean. It ain't right.

Good Times

When you were young were there certain things that you will always remember about someone or some place that you went? I can remember when we would go to my cousins Grandma's house, there was this ladle hanging by the kitchen sink. That is what we used to get a drink of water. Not a glass. Not a cup, but a ladle. It was so cool. I also remember when we stayed the night at Uncle Paul's house he would always make us popcorn with real butter and gave us a soda pop in a bottle. We thought we were special. This last weekend Stacy and the kids traveled with me back home to attend a wedding at a friends ranch.

It is a five and a half hour drive each way. We had barely started on our trip when the little punks started asking "are we almost to Freddie's yet? "Freddie" is a little old Indian that lives out in the middle of a meadow close to where we were going. He lives there alone. He doesn't own a car. He rides a bike. I don't even think that he has electricity. He has an old chair out on his front porch and he sits there and waves to everyone that passes by. The punks couldn't wait to wave to Freddie.



When we finially got to "my town" we stopped to see my Grandma. She is an amazing lady that will be 95 years old next month. She lives alone except for her cat,"Stupid." Stupid was given to her years ago by her neighbor when he moved away. He was the one who named her Stupid. For some reason the little punks love to go to Grandma's house just to see her cat and call it Stupid.



The wedding was beautiful. Grandma was beautiful. We got to wave at Freddie. And, Stupid........ well she was older and stupider than the last time we were there.
The little punks made smores by the fire. They took apart an old lawn mower and they danced with the pretty girls at the wedding. Sunday we headed back home. Freddie wasn't there on the porch when we went by. But when we go back next month for Grandma's birthday party I am sure that we will be looking for Freddie and maybe, if we remember, we can pack some treats for Stupid the cat.

Philosophy

PHILOSOPHY: if God has a face, surely it is that of a child. and if there is a place called Heaven, it must smell like a baby. and if we do live forever, it must be in the pure joy of a child's innocent laughter. and if we have lived before, then the arrival of your baby feels like reconciling with the most important spirit you've ever loved or will love. in the eyes of a baby, we feel all the fragility and all of the magic of the universe and beyond.

(I don't know who said this...but it is true)

Welcome baby Maddox

Louis and Mindy's family grew by two feet last night!! Maddox Jay arrived at 10:55 pm and weighed in at a whopping 8 pounds 13 ounces. Everyone is doing fine. Stacy and I stayed in the room with them and helped welcome Maddox into the world. After lots of pushes and a couple of #*?%#'s he finally arrived...... And then I cried.

My baby had a baby!!! But then I smiled a giant smile when I saw how proud they both were. When I got home there were lots of teenage kids running around my house. Some in the hot tub, some not. I was not happy. Who told these kids they could be here while I wasn't home. Then I started to cry again. Teenageers make me crazy. Soon I was smiling again thinking about Mindy and Louis and what they just signed up for....... teenagers someday! As I layed down in my bed I started crying again. It was just so hard to not have Jay here to experience this whole day with me. He would be so happy. Today, the sun came out, the birds were singing. The only kids at my house were the ones that live here. I went back up to the hospital to see my newest grandbaby. He is just perfect. It's a good day. I have alot to smile about. (this is the song that was playing in the labor room last night...tonights gonna be a good night)