Nama and Poppy

Ryan got BLOGGED

2012-02-01T01:46:00.001-06:00

We started the morning off taking his mom to the airport after breakfast tacos. Waved her off and headed to Krispy Kreams. Why you ask, because we can.

Poppy had promised Auntie Jenny he would put the trimming up after he cut the boards for her new home.

Ryan found them to be a great roadway for the 30 minute trip to Auntie Jenny's house.

She lives here... White Dove Meadow...

Our sick little boy was welcomed into his creative Auntie's home. How cleaver Jen.

Jenny was working on her off day fixing up her new place. Love the rug Jen. Well I love the whole place but hadn't seen the rug.

Quick tour of the house. Auntie Jenny's room. Yes that would be a darling little child's chair on the wall as her end table.

Heading through the room into the walkway that thinks it a closet but is really a storage, office, sitting area. Then into the living room. No pictures, yet.

Out onto the back porch and down the stairs..

Come on Nama, I'm not sick anymore. Follow me...

Hey, Lola, I'm not sick anymore right now.

We walked past the horse training circle. Yeah, I know nothing about this. I think I will one day.

Climbed the fence at the half way mark of the hike

and wished upon a cloud...

Then tried every moving piece of equipment we could climb on.

The red Jeep looking one, the orange tracker that scoops things up and does multiple other things, so I'm told,

the yellow riding lawn mower

and last but not least the golf cart that he rides on when they feed the goats and donkey's etc.

Really Nama, you need to educate yourself on boys things and animals.

Ryan walking up to his private attic room, so says Auntie Jenny

where the sign will hang, Ryan's Attic Room.

Down the stairs and to the left into Auntie Jenny's kitchen and to the right is the barn with two stables.

"Hey, what kind of animal is that?" says Nama.

Ryan says, "That's not an animal Nama, those are Evan's drums and he has a hole right there in that big one."

I brought along sidewalk chalk and so we made a message for Auntie Jenny.

Here i some of Poppy's work. I'll get the trim boards after they are painted. He hung the picture and fixed the hinges on the refig door which Jenny had attempted and did a good job but just needed the Dad touch. Or so I thought until I saw Jenny holding the door in her hand. Anyway, hats off to you Jen for your attempt. Not much you can't do girl!

After the fun morning that turned into afternoon we had to stop at Costco to get a prescription for Poppy and it took W A Y to long but we hung in there. As I saw this adventurous champ of a sick grandson begin to slow down and try to hold his head up I realized we had skipped lunch (not including snacks). The cheeks were beginning to turn flushed and his head leaned against me. I want you to know this child never complained, No not once.

Finally we made it home for an hour and half before our doctors appointment. O yea, he's sick. But we were having so much fun.

So Doc, what's the verdict. Can I stay at Nama and Poppy's one more day. They forgot to feed me lunch and give me a nap other then the quick winks on the drive home, so I think I'll give them another chance tomorrow to redeem themselves.

This boy makes the best of every situation. Has tons of fun and rarely complains.

For this young grandson being the prefect boy he got to choose a toy at the store (CVS). It's a Nama thing.

Here is the Hot Wheels race track for being such a trooper.

Mind you people, I, me, mother of three girls, Nama of two girls first had to venture out in her mind and figure out how a racetrack is put together and make it work. Directions you say... No, there were three pictures and 55 pieces. Only words were, Picture #1, Picture #2 and Picture #3. Took this old lady over an hour. Ryan just watched and tried to help as much as he could. God has gifted this child with patience. (Most of the time)

BIG DAY, Full day, but he slept 13 hours mom and dad.

Next morning he had a bowl of cereal and two of Nama's scrambled eggs and fruit. I left at 10:30 in morning and Poppy worked on taxes and Ryan played with his leap pad and watched Christmas buddies.

So he rested on the second day with lunch and O forgot the nap again.

And so goes the day in the life of Nama's grandson when he's with me on sick leave. You leave them with me and what goes on at Nama and Poppy's goes on the blog.

Get sick soon buddy, not sure I can top that day but we'll come up with something!

Long Distance Grandparent Ideas

2012-01-19T19:20:00.001-06:00

CREATE, IMAGINE, AND EXPLORE! If you are so inclined.

Some of us are long distance grandma's and some are not and some are both. The internet has helped close this gap with Skype and iChat, etc. Today I have discovered a site that will help close the gap even more in different ways.

This site was brought to my attention by a friend in CA and I think this is such a clever idea and I wanted to share it with the grandparents that want more involvement with their grandkids whether they are away or living in the same town as you.

The blog is all about craft ideas and science projects for kids. You can look at the blog and get ideas for yourself and get the supplies together and CREATE, IMAGINE, AND EXPLORE with your grandkids or send it to them and Skype while you both do the project together.

The blog to the site is:
http://blog.kiwicrate.com/

The site: http://www.kiwicrate.com/overview
This site has themed crates of arts , and science projects (with the supplies) for kids. It's delivered monthly for a fee. Go to the site and get more information if you are interested.

I love both of these sites and hope you all do as well. Enjoy!

Thank you Tim!

Nature and wild life

2012-01-15T22:18:00.000-06:00

Saturday morning at the Loft.

Waffles, tacos, great coffee, and play time with Jessica and the boys.

Mr. Hollywood with a little cowboy theme.

Tootles came by to help Auntie Jenny move into her new" barndominium" - carriage house.

Sammy just finished sweeping up the floor taking a break... then

Snack time. The boys are in 7th heaven when they visit Auntie Jenny in the woods. Lots of woods to explore and attic to play in, a barn to pretend and fire pit and always the attention of their Auntie Jenny. Golf cart rides and goats, donkeys, and it goes on and on. What kid wouldn't love it here.

Sneak peek into Jenny's new home.

Before the Arnold's left SA we went to Bass Pro as I posted below but found some more pictures.

Malyn found the camp ground and a skunk!!!!

Dennis was explaining all about hunting and the animals. Sutton was so interested most of the time. She kept calling the cougars and wild cats pup pup.

She never expected to free load her visit. She did her job pushing the cart around as much as she could.

Look what the girls caught.

Quick look at some of the activities over the holidays.

2012-01-06T17:15:00.001-06:00

Dec. 17 was our Christmas with all the family. All boys must wear strips! :)

Malyn painting her ceramic dinos. So intense this little artist.

Reading is always a favorite.

I don't have a picture but Mattie Sue is reading now. Chapter books!

We have best buds here! They had so much fun together.

Ryan and Sammy waiting while their dad put the trampoline together. It was a hit with this family.

Jumpin Soupie!

And they all fall down..

but get right back up and jump till they drop again. Lots of laughter was had by all. Great for the parents. Zip them in and watch them.

Eventually we decided two at a time. Sammy and Eli did great bouncing for their 10 minute time.

HELPERS

OOPS Lola! Sammy Samerton to the rescue.

We put the kids to work as the sun set. Eli and Sammy were young enough to fall for the "want to help clean up?"

They took a break to swing and talk over the day. Sammy, "So you having fun here Eli?"

" You bet Sammy, lets jump again."

Eli was a big help to Poppy taking down the tree. (actually Boo helped and made it all go so much faster) Thanks Boo.

Boo and Chesley went to Jenny's new carriage house to help her fix it up. Boo painted and Chesley put the frame work up. Looking good Jenny.

Off to Bass Pro with Nama. Malyn got a bird and Mattie Sue got kettle corn. They loved the animals and aquarium and seeing Sutton there with Dennis and Cindy.

Auntie Jenny and Eli the blue eyed babes shopping.

My most precious daughters!

Lots of car rides to and from many places.

Hummm does this picture tell a story?

Auntie Jenny and Sammy.

This about sums up the two weeks. Lots of laughter and fun loving memories.

Thank you God for my family.

2012-01-06T16:36:00.000-06:00

If you're good in the Fiesta Store and don't touch anything we'll buy you a Christmas Cookie. We didn't want to wear out Elfe's name.

Christmas morning. Eli was Santa's helper.

Then we put Eli and Malyn in a box to try to hold them off until the rest of the family got here.

Stocking were opened before family came and Malyn got a Parrot Puppet peeking out her stocking.

THEY ARE HERE!!!! CAN WE OPEN THE PRESENTS NOW!

Beautiful Day in Texas

2011-12-29T23:33:00.000-06:00

Harberger Park

Queen's of the Hay Stack!

This was one of the many rides that went around and around.

Pirates look out!

After the park we headed up the hill near my house and fed the fish.

Yearly tradition.

Then ended the day at

Chris Madrids.

Mom and Auntie's and Eli were shopping, Boo was golfing, and Chesley was working out.

I decided I should go there once a week. New Years Resolution. Probably one that I'll actually keep. :)

Worth a quarter?

2011-12-23T20:28:00.003-06:00

MERRY CHRISTMAS

YA'LL

Whoever stays on the step gets a quarter!

HO HO HO! WHAT AM I GOING TO DO WITH A QUARTER? says Eli

Working the Holiday's

2011-12-21T19:20:00.000-06:00

Yes, Mimi and Nama are working over the holiday's!

Shopping, cooking, wrapping, and spoiling grandchildren.

San Antonio has some Good Looking Firemen!

2011-12-08T01:26:00.000-06:00

Wednesday 12:30 AM

The man in the apartment above my moms fell asleep with a lit cigarette, in a NO SMOKING building.

5 Fire trucks come to the rescue. 4 police cars come to take the man away. :) Hooray!

Hard to tell from picture but the firemen had just made a hole in the ceiling to try to get all the leaking water to drain out of one place. Worked! After much scurrying around to get things moved and covered we all just waited to get the water to stop.

Water began to leak in her office. More scurrying around to move and cover computer and paperwork away from where the water was about to come through. Worked. Thanks to our SA firemen. So handsome, so efficient, so kind so buff. They were always there to explain what they were doing or about to do and the process.

Buckets were everywhere catching some really gross water.

Next day when we come back I saw this is the trash bin.

and this on the ground.

Evidence - cigarette smoking was the cause.

I began to feel like I was on CSI. I was taking pictures and looking for plastic bags to put the evidence in and take back to the ~~lab~~ . Apartment manager.

Closer picture of the hole made to drain the water from upstairs.

Few of these pictures just show the water marks and believe me it looks like they were about to cave in.

Before I got there they said this section looked like a water fall coming down. They made another hole here as well.

(next day) When we came back we cleaned up the kitchen and throw away the soaked cookies etc.

More shots of the ceiling.

A little dirt collected between the floors of the apartment. This is what was pouring out of the walls. I say just gut out the apartment and start over but not sure that's the plan just yet.

Under the sink had 1/4" water in it the next day so we cleaned that all out. Aftermath of the waterfall. Nice of it to fall near and on the kitchen sink. Always an upside to everything.

This is noon the next day. We hear water splashing down from upstairs but it was doing it outside. They said this is the water that would have come into her apartment but they were sweeping it all out over the staircase.

I have to say the apartment has been wonderful so far. They have really jumped on getting it dried out with about 8 dehumidifiers going for three days they say and then will decide what they will have to do to repair it for moving back in.

Meanwhile they are going to put my mom up in another apartment. So the SA adventure of my mom from Ohio over a year and a half ago continues.

This all could have been so much worse and we know that so for that we are grateful and are going to make the best of it. Meanwhile my mom is staying with us until the place they have for her to use is ready.

PS THIS SITE IS STILL UNDER CONSTRUCTION. I CAN'T FOR THE LIFE OF ME FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO IT. SOMEDAY PERHAPS BUT IT'S A PRETTY BUSY TIME OF THE YEAR SO THIS BLOG CONSTRUCTION SITE ISN'T A PRIORITY!

Nama's Elf

2011-12-05T16:03:00.000-06:00

Still under construction! Just wanted to add this little guy!

Under Construction

2011-12-04T20:05:00.000-06:00

I'm trying to figure out this back ground on the blog. Not that this is looked at but I'm just trying to keep my computer/blog/creative :)/ skills up to date. Or maybe a brain workout for my aging brain.

We'll see if I can or can't figure this out. Say a little prayer. Hope to see you again!

Thanks for stopping by.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY STACY

2011-11-25T21:44:00.000-06:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY STACY!

O dear a bake in the box cake. Sorry about that.

Jessica say's happy Birthday...

Santa and Jenny wish you a happy birthday...

You loved to play dress up. (sound familiar )

and you loved art work. Hummm I think I know some little chips off the old block that are just like their mommy. :)

Love you my little buddy, Happy Birthday and many more!

Love MOM

Today I'm grateful for my three daughters

2011-11-23T01:08:00.000-06:00

I am grateful for the opportunity to go to this cozy, peaceful, holiday decorated, coffee house, in Spring Branch, with the most precious girl running it. My daughter, Jenny Rudd.

I am grateful for this day of quiet time, organizing time, and visiting time, catching up time and drinking my "small soy, no water added, chai tea".

This is the corner chair with perfect lighting and a fire place next to me. (Next time I'm there it will be colder and the fire will be going)

I stayed from 9:00am to 1:00. I had a short visit with Jenny and we talked over some gift ideas. I enjoyed my quiet time and watching Jenny at work inter acting with the guests.

I now understand the commercials where the parent is talking to the child behind the wheel of a car. The parent only sees her little girl but in reality she's all grown up and in my case, running a coffee house, putting out fires, serving people, helping me, listening from the heart to people that are pouring their hearts out to her. Then I wake up when I hear her grown up voice and my heart beams with joy at the love she is spreading daily.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas around the Loft. Take a break and have a cup of coffee or two and some breakfast or lunch.

I talked or texted each of the girls today and so my day was complete. Thank you God! You have blessed me with three beautiful girls.

Interesting and random facts about me...

2011-11-13T19:38:00.002-06:00

I have a bird named Malyn and an angel named Mattie Sue

and two "Minions" named Ryan and Sammy. (thanks to Mimi)

a cat named Jana, a UT fan named Jenny, and a bum named mom.

Found out they have "crazy hair day" in CA.

This young lady has the cutest crazy hair I've ever seen.

I used to talk about people that cut other peoples heads off in pictures. Couldn't understand it.

Well, now I do because this is the third picture I took in CA that I cut off someones head. Age - eyes-?? don't know. Just happens I guess. Sorry Stacy!

My newest grandson "Eli" has discovered the water at the Metlox Park in Manhattan Beach.

Love what this gentleman is doing.

trying a little water (3rd child gets to do that)

Why Nama, must I pose for you?

I'm walking at the water park. He loves it. Next time he'll wear a bathing suit.

I have been home bound after a surgery I had so I've been pretty bored until..

I got my new iPhone (thank you Cindy for taking it to Apple to get it started up)

This is my first picture I took with the new phone. Thanks model mom.

The phone sat in a box until my selfless friend picked it up and took it to Apple to get it all set up.

My boring life changed.

Last but not least for sure.This is my new diet. I go from elderly peoples food to baby food daily.

After my surgery, Laparoscopic endo nissen fundoplication, I was put on a liquid and soft food diet. So these are just a couple of the foods I eat. Thank you Janet for the HappyTot fruit. Love it!

A little of this and that of my last days in CA

2011-11-01T20:36:00.000-05:00

This is Eli not sleeping. Just hanging out letting us know he's not wanting to be where he is.

The homework is done a totally different way now a days. Mattie Sue puts her spelling words in the iPad and then she practices the words all week. She says them then spells them then writes them out. She puts the new spelling words in the iPad each week.

Ball, cars, trucks, and a play table. Busy Eli goes from one to the other.

Halloween parade and party at the girls school. Malyn had a parade for the parents. Here Eli is watching all the dressed up kids walking by.

This is Malyn's class posing for the camera.

There goes the bird from Rio. Jewels Arnold.

Inside this mom and baby on board are helping out with the inside party for Malyn's class.

This room mother had this party down perfectly. Each table had an activity or food. So fun. In the back ground is Stacy/Eli and Julie.

Our night out. Stacy and I went to

Cafe Rio

Old Navy and Joann's Fabric. Yes it was just what we wanted to do. Sweet Nicole met us after dinner and Joann's fabric was the final destination. Even with our preparation and lists we were overwhelmed.

Stacy and Boo went to a Halloween Party so the girls and I filled the night with dinner at "Islands" then to the movie:

3D Puss in Boots.

Mattie Sue at Islands eating her favorite, grilled cheese.

Always time for an Old McDonald ice cream cone.

Then we stopped at Petsmart to get Perry (the bird) a toy for her cage.

The girls loved looking at the animals at Petsmart. We texted Stacy to see if she wanted a hamster.

World Market was next door to Petsmart and we found all sorts of interesting things.

Next door to World Market was the old Boarders store turned into Halloween Store. Mattie Sue said take a picture of me inside this scary clown. So instead of saying No way, I did it. Hope she doesn't have nightmares. I think she was a little scared. Look at her arms.

BOO AND A HAPPY HALLOWEEN TO YOU ALL.

Beautiful Angel and Jewel from Rio.

Last of the CA pictures.

Wish we all could be California girls...

2011-10-29T01:52:00.001-05:00

Mom and babe attached at the pumpkin patch.

Pony rides

Malyn the with the pumpkin body and Eli sitting so so sweetly.

Why does this young man get all the call backs after his auditions? :)

I would have gotten these but they wouldn't let me take them on the plane. :(

Malyn getting a hair cut. Malyn has not wanted her hair cut AT ALL but then decided one day to do it. So we headed to Snip-it's right away.

Stacy: "How much do you want cut off Malyn?"

Malyn: "55 woooowo!"

Manicure for Mattie Sue and Pedicures for Stacy and me.

Three inches cut and not wanting either manicure or pedicure. Passed the time on iPhone playing games and feeding my fish.

Mattie Sue's flowers on her nails. So pretty.

Backwards day. Milk shakes, root beer floats, and cookie ala mode. And for dessert sliders and french fries. (In that order) So fun when Nama's in town.

Mattie Sue walking the dog

Malyn walking the dog.

I really need to take the time to edit the pictures but it's pretty busy here. Just want you to get an idea what we do.

When I come once a year we try to get all the fun we can squeeze into one trip.

Eli's 1st Birthday Party

2011-10-27T00:54:00.001-05:00

Precious angel helping out and awaiting the arrival of the guests.

There are cupcakes, scarecrow mix, bowtie pasta, fruit and drinks.

This is the photo booth. Most pictures were taken by a friend of Stacy's that is a photographer. So those will be coming later.

Games for the children. This was hammer the golf tees into the pumpkin.

This was throw the bean bags into the mouth of the one eyed flying purple people eater.

Now why didn't we have the girls stand backwards. ?? Malyn is saving her full outfit for the real halloween.

O who's that lady bug sneaking some food before anyone comes to the party???

Food

Pippy and the Pirate

Pippy and the ?? lady bug or bat or whatever I look like.

Love the Pippy Longstocking outfit stacy.

Clark Kent

The first guest arrive: tiny pumpkin, cute cat, Elmo, and a French man. Siena will be in another picture. Great job Sven...family.

Ruby Sue was was our sweet pumpkin.

The General showed up late as he was busy with the war (I mean acting all day). But he made it and stole the show.

Here are all the kids that were there at the time I took the picture.

Stacy and I feel like Halloween is over but the girls do not nor do the stores or TV shows etc. :)

HOLLYWOOD

2011-10-26T00:08:00.000-05:00

We are actually at the trailers of the actors for "Parks and Rec" with Amy Poehler.

This particular trailer happens to be (according to me) housing the most important guest star, Boo Arnold.

Just had to get me walking into one of the trailers. Just had too.

Boo is a policeman packing heat!

Trailer is equipped with sofa, internet, mini kitchen, bathroom, TV, etc.

Chesley and I loved this fun unexpected day downtown LA. Thanks for inviting us on set Boo.

This is the trailer that makes you look just the way they want for the part.

I have no idea what I was doing. Maybe just so excited to be experiencing this day.

Much to Chesley's dismay we left the set of Park and Rec and headed to the fabric district. We were there Wednesday but only to meet Hugo and get our elastic ribbon while the guys were driving around calling us. So Stacy and I were elated to find out we were heading back to the same area again Thursday.

Nope this just isn't what we are looking for, come on mom we've only got a short window with dad hanging on.

no mom

It's got to be here somewhere. Chesley you are a champ, thanks for documenting our search for what everyone was saying no we don't have anything like what we were looking for.

Then Michael Levine fabric store suddenly appeared.

Eli was showing us which ones he liked best.

So we were overwhelmed and ended up buying one of the patterns we saw on Pinterest. We shall return Michael.

This may seem like a full day to some but we were only half way through the day.

LUNCH: Valentino's Pizza. The best pizza, just the way I used to have in HS. cheesy and greasy! Yummy. One of Stacy's favs. :) Now ours!

I'm going to have to make another post for the party which I'll do tomorrow night.

The Birthday Day

2011-10-25T01:15:00.000-05:00

The Birthday Boys started out the day with Snookies Cookies delivered to the door with cold milk and 18 delicious cookies.

Poppy teaching Eli how to eat his first cookie.

Eli was a fast learner, right to the very last bite.

We had a busy day but a tour was still planned for 4:00 PM. A surprise family event. But first, here we have our multi tasker tour guide up to her elbows in basil making pesto bow tie pasta for Eli's 1st birthday party the next day. (along with cupcakes, setting up the garage for party, sticking a movie in for the older birthday boy, pulling all the loose ends together for Friday night. Reason being: there was a very special surprise tour planned the next morning (day of the party). I'm telling you if you ever want to come to LA I have the person to call for a VERY fun filled time.

After a 20 + minute drive we came to our destination! Up the stairs we went...

to "Lucky Strike" bowling alley!

Here we are finding our balls and putting our shoes on and getting ready for the family bowling fun.

And he's off to a good start...

Had to sneak in a picture of the birthday boy and his mommy. :)

This is the first game and if you will notice Pam's score... had to show my family I'm still alive and well.

If you want to know where the scores went from here you'll have to ask one of us.

Dad and daughter bowling side by side.

The fun LA family. Three adorable children, and an actor, and the social director of the year.

This could easily be in the Star magazine of the actor out with his family. :)

After Bowling it was Johnny Rockets for the birthday dinner.

Eli cruising around outside waiting for dinner. Not one to sit and wait. He's a mover and a shaker that one.

Birthday ice cream and song sung by the wait staff.

Happy Birthday (again) boys.

The fun is just beginning... wait until tomorrow's day.

(I'll be adding some of Wednesday's day to our Friday).

California Birthday Week

2011-10-23T16:30:00.000-05:00

Day 1

Malyn and Mattie Sue came to the hotel with us and stayed for two nights of fun!

Embassy Suites is full of fun. The elevators were a big hit. How pushes the buttons? One pushed the outside and other the floor number.

Poppy and the girls in the elevators pleading for me to hurry up before the doors closed.

Sisters, best friends forever! Fun in the pool.

Eli practicing his walking. Won't be long.

The girls had their own room with coloring books and mini kitchen with snacks and drinks. We were all set for a fun filled night. Yummy breakfasts and happy hour with popcorn. What more can a kid ask for?

Stacy and Boo had the 4 days Chesley and I were here full of fun and adventure. Each day was a surprise and we loved every minute of it.

Wednesday we headed for downtown LA, after dropping the girls off at school.

Here we are in front of Wurstkuche (best hot dogs in town).

Chesley at bar with a cool beer.

(Our tour guide knew just when to arrive at each place. We arrived just before the crowd so we had the place to ourselves for a while)

Eli was on his own private tour, trying to show us the way to the eating area.

Wurstkuche Click on this and you'll see the menu. Best way to describe this restaurant.
Here you see Bratwurst- Mango Jalapeno with chicken/turkey and Bratwurst- Duck/bacon with jalapeno peppers and Sausage-grilled onions, sauerkraut, sweet peppers and spicy peppers. Topped off with Belgian fries and a cold beer.

Eli and Nama just enjoying each other.

Mimi's House and beyond....

2011-10-18T00:45:00.000-05:00

This is the pool...

where the three cousins swam for 2 hours.

This is the Mimi (she's the best) that took on the three little cousins for the afternoon and night and morning!!!!!! Malyn loves TX and Mimi and Papa and Belle as much as her cousins.

The is the witches broom that sings and dances as you enter the Knockes Halloween House.

This is the 2nd pool for the cousins. Malyn wanted so much to swim in Cindy's pool with the diving board. It took her two chocolate candies to get her to get into the big pool. Another candy to jump off the board.

This is Malyn surfing in the Knocke ocean. Ryan cheering her on.

Aaaaand she's in!!!!! "Don't jump on the float Malyn. Jump in straight out into the water then swim to the float." Guess where she jumped?

Auntie Jessica and Malyn cheering on the soccer player. RYAN TOOTLE. #4.

Such a colorful little munchkin with her strawberry lemonade drink.

Ryan in action.

5th water break.

Still working on the cool refreshing drink. It's tough cheering for ones cousin in 89 degrees. "I think I'll take a nap."

Look Nama, that is the same truck we have in CA.

Malyn got to join the team in the after game treat. Snow cones from the CA truck.

This is the 2nd puzzle (glow in the dark, I might add) Malyn put together. The puzzle mania talent has spread throughout the family.

Another full day

2011-10-16T00:55:00.000-05:00

Malyn and I are having so much fun.

Poppy and Malyn went on the adventure on the trail behind our house. Double fisted with parrots and a peacock around her neck. Like I said, she loves birds.

Maybe she has a special connection with animals. Here she is with Mitzi. (Mitzi doesn't like little kids or crowds of people) but Mitzi and Malyn are friends now.

Courtney and Lance got married Sat. night. Courtney looked like a star! What a darling couple and what a beautiful wedding. Congratulations to you both.

Jenny and Jessica at wedding eating "Cathy Young Cake" The host is in the back ground. Thanks Tom and Jana for a lovely evening.

Jenny and Melanie celebrating with some fancy moves.

Sisters. You girls looked beautiful.

Mother and daughter

A special thank you to Millie and Russ for watching Malyn while we were at the wedding. Thanks so much.

Malyn came to town...

2011-10-15T00:31:00.000-05:00

Welcome sweet girl. We have a fun filled day planned for you. So get your luggage and lets get going...

Come on luggage, Nama's waiting and we've got things to do.

First stop Nama Dotty's for chicken nuggets and ice cream.

Malyn loves birds and she and Nama Dotty saw one in the tree. Malyn said, "I think it's a Mocking bird"!! She knows her birds.

We stopped off at the house for about 10 minutes before leaving for the movie. "Dolphin's Tail"

Poppy and Malyn are ready for the movie. Popcorn and drink in hand.

It was a wonderful movie. We all loved it.

After the movie we picked up Ryan to go to the country and celebrate Auntie Jenny's birthday.

Happy Birthday Auntie Jenny!

Here we are in the back yard of this beautiful home in Spring Branch. We were caught up in all the football and golf happenings on 281 so it took us an hour to get there. Ryan said, (during the terrible stop and go traffic) "Nama, when we get there it's all going to be over." We were late for the party but everyone waited for us. Kids took a nap in the car on the way out so they were ready for a good time.

After a wonderful enchilida meal the kids went on a safari with Evans.

This is Evan's driving the "animal truck" (Ryan's terminology for the golf cart). They saw goats and Llamas. The donkey didn't come out of his barn.

This is Malyn with a baby goat. She said she was so soft and she nibbled on her boots.

After the safari they come in for cake and ice cream. O yes and brownies. I didn't get a picture of the birthday girl. Really mom, what's up with that????

That would be 5 celebrations so far. I do feel like I need to make a banana cake for Jenny sometime. First year I've not done that. I'm very sad about that. So there WILL be another celebration for daughter number one.

I've pretty much worn Miss Malyn out so not sure we'll make the 5K tomorrow morning or not. Hope to but with Malyn being on CA time we just might not make the 8:00 AM start off time. Hope I'm wrong. You'll know if we did with the next blog post.

Boswell's and the Meabons have nothing on us! We're still celebrating.

2011-10-13T23:47:00.000-05:00

As of tonight we have 4 celebrations down with many more to go.
We celebrated Chesley's birthday tonight along with a much more important celebration. Remission. Chesley is still in remission as of Wed. 7 years now. Worth a Celebration, don't you think?
Dinner at Yard House. Since the restaurant doesn't have a dessert for "still in remission" day we opted for the birthday dessert instead. (week early). No pictures!

After that I headed over to "Drew's American Grill" to give my middle child a hug and kiss for her 35 year celebration. Me and my quirky smile with my beautiful 35 year old. Ekks What happened to..

this little munchkin???

She and her beautiful sister grew up.

What a bunch of beautiful girls. I guess you know your daughters are getting older when they are excited to see you pop in and surprise them. (I should have brought some cupcakes :))

and you see how they are sitting at the table...

all the men at one end of the table

and the woman at the other end. :)

This picture is funny to me because the girls were just a chit chatting away and the men were not talking to much. Then the food came (much later than it should have) and the eating began.

So this ends the Oct. 13th day but we now have Oct. 14th. My precious oldest was born 37 years ago.

Mirror (is that right) babies to their mother.

We're just getting started. More blogs with parties to come.

Two celebrations down and many more to go...

2011-10-12T20:23:00.001-05:00

Best birthday gift ever. Chesley got back from MD Anderson and everything checked out fine. He is still in remission. Since this may be the last night for celebrating Chesley's birthday with my mom so we went to Big'z tonight and guess who was there???

The famous soccer player. They practice at Big'z. Perfect place.

This is Ryan eating after a very sweaty practice.

Here is Sammy eating Ryan's left overs. Sammy already had a full meal.

Soccer ball players heading home for baths and bed. Jessica said they always sleep well on Wed. nights.

Happy Birthday Poppy! Congrats on your good report!

Beginning the birthday celebration for the month of October.

2011-10-11T23:58:00.002-05:00

Whenever we all get together the smiles and giggles begin. (story behind the laughter that is behind the smile) We started the evening off with great appetizers and salads that we all shared. Wine for the birthday girls!

Ended the evening off (at the table) with the BJ's warm birthday chocolate chip cookie al a mode.

My precious daughters each got one of these scrumptious desserts but they shared one with grandma Dotty and me. (not sure I'd have been so generous). I'd like to hope I would be but don't think so, not when it comes to chocolate chip cookies. You see this is my weakness.

Seriously you are sharing this with me. Thank you!

See it brings the "all out, throw the head back" laugh. I'm in heaven and it's not even my day. Well, I did give birth to the two girls so that should count for something.

This evening actually had a few different levels to it. First of all it was the welcoming, hugs, kisses, how have you been, so glad we fit this into our crazy busy lives chit chat.

Then we began to talk about insala's (sp? I'll be back to change that) and how learning about them can and will affect our daily lives. We talked about Riverside's Soul2Sole 5K race coming up. (sign up). We heard and saw how Jessica has been a positive force in her daily work and some very hilarious Ryan stories.

Learning and bonding more through stories of their passions and how they are living them out. Thank you Lord for these two beautiful blessings you brought to me in October (1973 and 1976) in my life. Actually birthing days are Oct. 13 and 14. :)

THEN THE PHONE RANG: STAGE TWO OF OUR FUN FILLED EVENING.

OUR ENTERTAINMENT BEGAN:

FYI: The fire station visited Ryan school today. Each kiddo got a fire hat.

TEXT MESSAGE FROM ROD, (home with boys). I'm not sure how the text message went but Jessica began to laugh so hard she had to just show us the picture then finally read the text. Something about choosing between : A.

or B.

Well the sister - in - law had to upstage him. (Rod's the brother she never had) so she tried with this picture and said

He picked B. can you believe it? I was sure C had it in the bag!

Ryan got into the act. (All this is by way of pictures on the phone. How great and fun are the photo phones and text messaging??? Just love it.)

Sammy!!! Sorry Sammy you'll never make the funny face contest. To cute no matter what you do. Try again next year!!!

STAGE THREE! YOU'LL HAVE TO ASK ONE OF US.

I heard Jessica say towards the end of the evening, "let's do this more often". (We used to do this once a month) Now how blessed is that for a mom to hear? We need Stacy here to complete the 5some.
There is more to the evening, blessings were given and promises to keep this going, birthday or not.
We'll be meeting Nov. 5 at GUADALUPE STATE PARK from 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM.
Come to the 4th annual crazy fun event. I'll be there, three days out of surgery so you can too. I'll have to just cheer you on but I'll be there!!

5 Birthday's in this family when October rolls around...

2011-10-10T22:05:00.000-05:00

Don, Jessica, Jenny, Chesley, and Eli.
Pictures to follow.

Soccer "The Ryan Way"

2011-10-06T20:32:00.000-05:00

Stop the game! The grandparents are here!!! Big hugs then back to the game.

OK Game on and lets go team...

A goal for the grandparents...

A somersault for my mom... (He already knew the game plan).

OK I'll give the team a little help here

Hey family, we got a win coming. Go get in line at the snow cone machine, please.

Yo Ry, I'll be there next year. I'm learning how to play from the sidelines. Good job Bro..

I wish I was 4 and could play soccer.

End of the game line up.

Big hug for Mimi. Welcome back Mimi. I made a goal for you!

And now for the reason for the soccer show.

Mouth is open and ready to munch down on the cool ice.

My team. The snow cones kids.

Teaching, learning, and training...

2011-10-02T18:07:00.001-05:00

Jenny told Ryan all about her trip to Israel. Pictures and stories. Ryan loved listening and seeing everything she had to say and show. She told it all like mini bible stories. So sweet.

Jenny got us all up and dressed and said we're going on a hike and treasure hunt through the woods behind our house. (there is a walking trail there). She loaded up the wagon with water, bananas, grapes, and gold fish crackers.

Ryan on his scooter (sorry mom, no helmet, couldn't find it) and Sammy in the wagon we started our adventure into the woods.

Ryan and Jenny raced and always stopped to look at interesting things for our bag of treasures. I was riding on the scooter. We also took a trash bag to pick up the trash.

Then Jenny found a dried up creek down a small slope or mini canyon. :) She told me this is a boys play ground. They threw rocks, picked up rocks, talked about what animals lived in the woods, etc.

They found a rock house with lots of rooms..

We all added different rocks into the rooms and O if I had room to add all the darling quotes the boys said I would.

Auntie Jenny teaching Sammy how to throw rocks and pee in the woods and watch for little creatures. You can't tell from my pictures but the other side looked like little caves here and there. We asked the boys who they thought lived in the caves. Ryan said BEARS.

Ryan would have stayed down there all day if we had let him. He loved living in the boys canyon. He was pretty sure footed and will do well on other adventures.

After we got back on the trail again we walked a while looking at cactus plants, different shaped rocks, and made some trail markers so we can find our way back and also to mark the spot.

Ryan got up on the "stage rock" and began to perform for us which we caught on video.

When someone walked by us he stopped and said, "Good Morning" then continued on with his performance.

Sammy was content in the wagon most of the time eating grapes and drinking water and taking it all in. Rock throwing was hard work and tired him out.

We brought all the collected rocks home and washed them to bring out their natural beauty. (Forgot to download the picture). Later.

Thanks Auntie Jenny, that was the best day. Especially since it was early morning and still COOL outside. Fun fun day.

She's Back...

2011-09-30T22:10:00.000-05:00

Jenny arrived back to the USA today (Friday). Need I say anything about how she loved her time in Israel following the Rabbi? Her expression tells it all. To experience her trip one has to see her pictures and hear her stories. I was spell bound and hung onto every word as she relived her trip to me over lunch.

Anxious moms, wives, husbands, kids, and parents were there waiting for their loved ones to get off the plane.

Four wives, waiting for four husbands. Look at the happy, waiting, wives!

Let the hugs began. I love this picture of Jen and Jenny and in the back ground you will see Jen's husband with their boys hugging their dad. :)

Mom and son. Teresa went on the tour last year and her son, Colton, went this year.

Sweet Linda there waiting to see her husband but helping out with the children waiting for their fathers or mothers or both.

Friendships were made that will last forever.

Scott (Rabbi) gathered the group and said a prayer and the Shema. "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and all your might"

PS Jenny has been asleep since 3:30 this afternoon.

Drew's American Grill

2011-09-24T18:27:00.000-05:00

We tried out a new restaurant and were very pleased. We met Drew (owner) and the wait staff was very attentive.

Mom had tomato bisque in a bead bowl and Lamb Lollipops.

Dessert was Homemade Banana Pudding that was delicious. There were three spoons digging into that pot of goodness.

We were surprised with a vase that had this cotton candy in it. ?? Don't know why but didn't take me any time to eat it.

Give the place a try, it's on the corner of 1604 and Stone Oak.

We all liked it and will be back.

The bakery next door (attached to American Grill) will open soon.

Jenny is going to Israel

2011-09-17T11:55:00.001-05:00

Jenny is going to Israel with the GTI Tours. Check out the Blog for Jenny's tour.

All this has to fit into the orange and black bag next to Jenny. And under 45 lbs. ?? Really??

Nutrition for the trip.

Before we could let her go we had a little going away dinner for her at the Tootle's house.

Grandma Dotty has been to Israel so she and I decorated the table with her souvenirs from her trip in the 80's. What a fun time they had talking and looking at the places Jenny will be going.

Here are some postcards and a rock picked up from Jerusalem and maps and other interesting items brought back from her trip.

Grandma Dotty explaining some of the interesting things they did.

What I failed to get a picture of is the pin my mom is wearing. It's made of shells from the Sea of Galilee. Also she is wearing a dress that she bought there.

A rock from the Sea of Galilee.

Ryan was wondering what all the fuss was about so Nama Dotty took the time to explain to him about her trip to Israel and Auntie Jenny going to the same place. Such a sweet moment. Grandma's are good at taking the time to explain to the children. :)

Jenny decided to take the bag that Grandma Dotty got on her trip. Perfect! We all are very excited for Jenny and her new place of travel and this inspiring life changing trip. Maybe if you click the picture you'll get a closer picture of the pin on my mom's dress, made of shells from the Sea of Galilee.

She did it!!! She got it all in the bag and with weight to spare. Good job Jen!

Dad and I are so excited for you and can't wait for the first post on the Blog.

Dropped off at airport at 10:05am. She's pretty excited!

15 days in two bags under 40 pounds.

May God bless your journey and keep you safe.

We love you.

See you on the blog.

Mattie Sue

2011-09-03T23:41:00.000-05:00

Mattie Sue and Boo came to town!! What a fun surprise! After feeding them dinner, Mattie Sue and I drove over to Nama Dotty's apartment for a quick hug and kiss and ice cream. :)

(I have not edited any of these pictures because I somehow have a whole new photo program that is unfamiliar to me.) Due to the Lion program that Apple offered. Don't download it unless you know for sure what you are doing.

Cindy to the rescue: I had a dr. appointment and so Cindy (what in the world would we do without Cindy) offered to take care of Mattie Sue. Mattie Sue said she loves her house because it's so neat and clean. hummm . and has a pool.

Here you see my little swimmer jumping...

cannon ball...

then dive. She does free style, backstroke, and breast stroke like a champ.

We dropped Poppy off at Bass Pro or Pro Bass and decided to go in as well. Mattie Sue was overwhelmed and wants to take her sister back when they come in Dec.

One of the coolest places in town when the temps are in the 100's.

We made sure the barbie doll saw all the stuffed animals throughout the place.

The Arnolds went on a camping trip not long ago and so Mattie Sue was interested in the camping section as well as the animals throughout the store. If you look hard you'll see Mattie Sue peeking in the tent window.

Needed a hunter here to explain why these animals were fighting.

Mattie Sue and this Elk ? or Deer were having quiet a conversation. I'm wishing Poppy was with us and not in the restaurant.

Well after our safari at Bass Pro we decided we were hungry so we spotted the golden arches and make a quick turn to visit "Old McDonald" as Sue says.

"Nama, I'm not sure I'd post this picture. I usually don't get this strawberry milk shake with my happy meal." But like I said what happens at Nama's stays at Nama's.

Mattie Sue is quite confused with this TX weather. It's burning hot outside and freezing cold inside. What's the deal. Yes mom, little pampering here in the lounger with dinner next to her. I went all out with spoiling her. :)

This is the sweet face I have seen in my rear view mirror since Thursday evening.

Friday night was spent at Auntie Jessica's house with her Auntie Jenny, Uncle Rod, and Ryan and Sammy. Swimming, pizza, and fun with the cousins. You'll have to see the pictures of that evening on Jessica's blog.

Below we have two excited kiddos heading for the Smurf Movie with Nama and Poppy.

Here they are ready with their booster seats for in the movie. Sue didn't end up using hers but Ryan loved his.

Here we are all decked out with popcorn, candy, and a drink and more extra treats in Nama's purse.

No Mattie Sue does not wear real glasses. She wants to be just like her Nama. :) I'm going to hold on to every moment of her wanting to be just like Nama. We put on our Mexican dresses each night too. Ahhh I've been in heaven!

Sat. we visited Nama Dotty again and went to her pool. What a fun pool. Under the bridge..

swimming with Nama Dotty..

standing under the water falls..

and hanging on the waterfalls.

Last night of pampering so in the big tub with door open to bedroom watching "Annie" the movie. I mean can life get any better? Yes, Nama was baking ch. chip cookies for her.

Fastest 3 1/2 days in my life but well worth it. I'll take whatever I can. Thank you Arnold's for the visit.

Last of the cool weather and great veggie and fruit stands.

2011-08-28T15:23:00.001-05:00

Forgot this picture last post. We actually stopped by this place 5 times while in Ohio. :)

Always pretty flowers in Ohio, no matter what time of year it is. Well, except in the dead of winter. Then it's beautiful snow covered pine trees. :)

Found a friend. This is for you Mattie Sue, Malyn, and Ryan.

Next two pictures are for the girls... Remember this?

when you used to do this?

Lunch at the club on another beautiful Ohio day. Yes, I have a light sweater on outside on the patio. :)

Our semi yearly golf cart tour of the lake and surroundings.

More beautiful flowers.

Work day. Cleaning out the storage. If you look closely you will see my dad sitting on the chair saying yea or nae to things. We found his old ski hat from 40 years ago so he decided to wear it.

We were loading car up for trip to Goodwill. One trip in our car and we realized it would take 50 to get it all done so thanks to Carey he will be taking all the stuff in a truck.

The night before our hard day of work. Don and Bev came in Wed. night and back again for the weekend. We had a family dinner at the club Friday night which turned out to be such fun. Lots of laughs and chit chat.

My dad and his chocolate sundae. He only takes one bite then passed it around expecting it to be gone by the time it makes it back to him because he's not supposed to have sweets.

I know, but as he says, he's 91 and has lived longer then we have. :) Funny man.

I was able to visit my girl friends in Bellevue for an evening and what fun it was catching up. Pizza, drinks, great salad (thanks Patty for suggesting and arranging our get together) and great company. Sorry I didn't take pictures. We were all so happy to see each other I forgot.

I drove past our old house, little bitter sweet! Wanted to go inside and take a peek but decided not to even ask. I want to remember it as I do, filled with my parents things and all of us cooking and eating and having fun in the special country kitchen.

Ohio in the summer...

2011-08-16T09:15:00.001-05:00

First stop Don and Bev's in Findlay. My sister in law had a PERFECT lunch ready for us after our 2 1/2 day drive from the oven to the cool weather of Ohio.

One happy husband eating fresh corn, tomatoes, and fresh fruit salad. Perfect Bev. Thanks!

PS Chesley was first to sit down and start eating. He was so excited about the Ohio corn and Bev pulled through big time. Made the drive worth it right off the bat.

Below are the Naked Ladies in full bloom. See picture above and you'll see them out the window behind Chesley. I blogged about these beauties last year.

Mary Elizabeth giving Auntie Pam a smile between bits. :)

Lucy taking a break to give Auntie Pam a smile.

My niece, Mary, and kiddos came over to see us. What a fun surprise and what adorable children.

Below is Lucy and Elizabeth walking over the bridge in my brothers front yard.

Look Auntie Pam a baby snake. (see Chesley standing in the back ground).

Only love of nature here in the country.

Noah found a baby toad.

If you look hard you will see (in very big chalk drawing) I (heart) U. Good job Lucy. We love you too.

After that wonderful welcome in Findlay we headed to Catawba Island for my dads but first our favorite place... Bergmans Farm Market.

Below you will see a MAN ON A MISSION!

Where does he look first. So much to see so much to decide and choose from.

Peaches

Plums

Melons (huge melons)

and last but not least tomatoes. (not as good as Chesley's home grown) But good enough.

Final destination reached. Favorite place to sit. Perfect evening. Two happy campers after roasted chicken and fresh corn dinner. (O forgot the corn picture)

Mitzi and Maddie loved exploring the grounds and smells.

Maddie loved watching the boats coming in after a day on the lake.

The sun sets on the first day in Ohio.

Day in Comfort

2011-08-08T23:17:00.000-05:00

What is one to do when the temperatures are over 100 with the heat index 105?

We drove (in AC car) to Comfort, TX. We went into High's cafe in Comfort, TX and had some great food. (In AC).

Smile on three... one, two, three,

thanks mom.

Back in the air conditioned car and drove to Sisterdale, TX to the Sister Creek Winery.

Uncle Frank knows everything about wine and making it. It sounded like it anyway.

Chesley and Frank tasted the wine and mom and I stayed cool inside the winery.

Then... on the way home we had a blow out! So much for the staying cool. Lamar (Chesley's brother), came to the rescue and took my mom and I to his house to stay cool while Chesley and Frank stayed with the car waiting for AAA to come and fix the tire. We were on IH 10 at Ralph Fair Road.

Knowing we couldn't keep the AC running for long before it would stop cooling, we were very happy that Lamar came to get us. AAA took almost an hour getting there. The car sitting in the sun, eventually read (inside) 107 for the outside temp. I'll always remember to take a cooler with water in it on any day out in the car just in case of trouble. We were fortunate enough to have water and can't imagine if we didn't.

The traffic was so bad that I knew we couldn't make it across the highway and then up the steep hill to the gas station just 500 yds away.

LESSON if anyone is still with me here----Always keep the cell phones charged or have a car charger and have plenty of water in your car. It's worth the trouble getting a cooler and putting water in it. You never know when this could happen.

Uncle Franks here!!!!!

2011-08-07T23:14:00.000-05:00

My mom's brother, Uncle Frank, come to San Antonio to see his sister and the rest of the family here.

Here he is with all his admirers. We llllove Uncle Frank.

The family dinner. Actually Don Strange helped me out with this one. Pork Roast and was it ever good. Thanks Don, they all thought I was a good cook. :) Just look at those happy faces. Rod loved it so much I couldn't catch him without his mouth full. :) Brooke, do you see your bed in the back ground. Been there since Jan. If only it could talk:)

The girls! oops Grandma didn't get the memo about the strips. This was not planned. We just think alike.

I just loved this picture. Dad (Rod) with the bathed boys.

Really! They don't come much cutier than this. He has one very clear word... BALL. It means lots of things. Sammy is obsessed with balls. I understand he wakes up saying ball and greets his mom he hasn't seen in a week with the word, ball. Trust me, he has us all fooled. He knows much more. Just only interested in balls of all sizes and shapes.

Memories from CA

2011-07-24T18:37:00.001-05:00

Beach day! Best friends and sisters.

Sisters make a beach trip double fun.

Happiness is seeing the girls so excited.

And of course Nama had to join in on the fun. We rode the waves. How on earth the under tow didn't take us out to sea I'll never know. Maybe we just wanted to keep riding the waves and wouldn't let it take us away from the fun.

Eli was checking out the action behind him. All clear, no waves heading our way mom!!

One of Nama and girls project. Paper plate with rainbow and Noahs ark and animal cookies.

Malyn's plate.

Mattie Sue's plate below.

Modern world. This is a squeeze pouch with a spoon attached on the end. Just squeeze and out comes the food. I laughed the whole way through the first time I did this.

Eli loves to crawl under, over, around, in and out of about everything he can find. He never seems to get stuck and always figures out how to get out.

Girls and I having an icee at Target waiting for mom to finish helping Naz get some things to take home to her family.

Quick bath. He loves that too. Happiest baby on the block.

Movie time: Cars 2 after a delicious dinner at Old McDonald's.

Another fun project. Butterscotch chips melted/ Chinese hard noodles/ mix together and form a nest then put some jelly beans in the nest for the eggs. Afterwards the girls picked out their favorite bird and we looked up on the computer how that bird makes its nest. Malyn picked a Peacock and Mattie Sue picked a Humming Bird.

Mom and Eli didn't get to go into the water because Nama decided she had something to prove to her dear sweet granddaughters. They said, "Nama, you're to old for a bathing suit!" Well when they saw me riding the waves that was the end of that little theory.

This is Mother's Beach. The roped in area is all very shallow and the kids can use their goggles to see the bottom without it being to deep.

We are the picture family. Me taking a picture of Stacy taking a picture of the girls. :)

It's a Marina. The girls and I pretended this is where Nemo's dad swam into and found Nemo in the building in the distance.

Mattie Sue, our back stroker!

Stacy getting every minute of the "Hail to the Chief" day.

"Arnold, party of five"documented the whole process by my new CA friend Jen, the master chocolate chip cookie maker.

How did I get home with only two cookies. O well, I guess I'll just have to make some more to stay in practice. Hummmm!

I'm in Heaven in case I'm missed.

2011-07-19T01:00:00.000-05:00

Greeting from my little buddy Eli.

Being serenaded by two of the sweetest musicians.

Mattie Sue driving by herself around the Race Track.

Malyn driving by herself shooing away another driver that is getting in her way.

Mookies and Nama in our Solace shirts at a Solace Event.

Picnic in the park with country western music.

Cute little cowgirl

dancing and rolling down the hill.

Malyn feeding the ducks and the turtles.

Nama and Mattie Sue. We are one happy couple.

Mom and her baby boy loving the beach.

Can't get much cutier than this.

The family posing at the beach. Picture tells a story is you study it.

We all ended up riding the waves and brought half the sand from the beach home. This was such a fun and memorable day. Girls saw a different Nama today. I couldn't get enough of riding the waves. Mattie Sue said, "Nama, don't you just love this?"

CA I'd love you and I'd love to live down the street from from this precious family.

Sweet Pea crawling on the sand. He loved to crawl on the sand and he loved to eat the sand. :)

Thank you Mimi. Happy 4th of July.

2011-07-04T15:40:00.000-05:00

God bless America, Land that I love...

Our little patriotic boys...

Uncle Sam says Happy 4th of July.

These are the boys at Mimi's house. Thanks for the pictures and decorations for my blog Mimi and Jessica.

Pool Party with teeny tiny boppers.

2011-06-25T20:41:00.001-05:00

Sammy stopped by the Kruger's early to help Joe get the pool equipment in top shape for the on set of many diapered children heading over to visit with Kim and CJ.

CJ being the good host and offering a little water to his little friends.

Miss Piper, the beauty queen of the day sporting the new sunglasses style. Picture will show up in Style Magazine. Don't be late with showing off the new style.

Sammy telling Piper, "at least you don't have to wear this contraption to be near water."

Bribed by the cookie Pied Piper aka Jennifer with ch. chip cookies if they all sit on the grass. Done! CJ got his first taste of chocolate by cousin Abby. :)

Chesley and Joe far far away. They were the life guards. Well, Joe was. Chesley was the look out.

Ryan jumping into the pool to his mommy for the 100th time.

Who are you talking to Brooke? You're kids are over there with their daddy learning how to swim.

Piper telling Sammy to make this face and you'll get all sorts of things. It's the thinking look.

Sammy thinking I'm going to grow up someday and we are going to be friends because she's so smart and pretty.

Sammy and Jessica sitting on the grass. This is her wild child quietly eating a cookie.What's wild child mean Jessica?

AND saved the best for last. Home made buns by Kim. I got to take some home. But I'm not sharing! Just saying people.

Thank you Kim because Sammy kept coming over and eating my pulled pork sandwich. So when he leaves in the morning I'll bring them out and sit and eat the whole thing.
Thank you Krugers for making a fun afternoon for the girls and their kids and husbands.

Friends on Friday

2011-06-24T21:07:00.001-05:00

This is our Friends on Friday day. Maybe a first with more to come??

Kim Lovejoy and sweet CJ and Martha and Jess and I all drove to Comfort, TX first to get our take out lunch at High's.

Thirty five years ago I'm sure I was holding Kim in my arms with Martha standing next to me. (Not at High's but somewhere I'm sure). We didn't take pictures back then.

You girls are just adorable!

This is our picnic area. Bending Branch Winery. This is a must visit for wine lovers.

CJ, Kim, Jessica, Ally, and Martha. Here we are having our delicious lunch while our girls did the wine tasting and reminiscing. Carter aka CJ loved it here and was an angel.

I told Oreo he had to go now because we were going to eat and he just looked at me then put his paw on my lap. So he ate with us. He likes me. :)

This little munchkin likes me too. He thinks I'm funny. Ha, he's the funny one.

On our way home we saw this road and Martha said, why not explore and see what this place is all about.

Riven Rock Ranch Resort click to see website.

I took the pamphlets and info so I didn't take anymore pictures. But look at the website and all I can say is we were in God's country today at both the Bending Branch Winery and Riven Rock Ranch. Beautiful views.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

2011-06-21T22:33:00.000-05:00

I was so blessed to be thought of through out this month. Peach cobbler set for a Diva!

Cookie with chocolate frosting another night.

Breakfast, movie, shopping and lots of laughs.

Ryan and I celebrated together. May is close enough to June so we share. Here we are getting ready to blow out the candles. My cupcake is going around with the Happy Birthday song. :)

Ryan had some M&M's but saved the white one for Nama's birthday. He had it in a zip loc bag and was so happy to save it just for my special day. I felt my heart inside of my body busting with love.

Sammy is learning to eat with a spoon and he is doing a great job. But then with banana cake with frosting to eat helped get the food on the spoon and into the mouth.

Are we like loving those eyes. They are a beautiful brown.

My anthropologie apron from CA along with the home made card was worn all day.

After Ryan's white M&M he gave me this which was a stacked cooling racks for the chocolate chip cookies we always make here which I'll wear my new apron while taking them from the cookie sheet to the new racks. I have a few more days to make the cookies before the diet begins in July (maybe).

Ryan loves cupcakes and gifts. Not only for himself but he loves giving gifts and seeing people celebrate their birthdays. Am I like the luckiest Nama or what??

Father's Day

2011-06-21T21:36:00.000-05:00

Bottle of wine, fruit of the vine...

Chickie enchi's, home made hot sauce, guacamole, and Jessica's homemade banana pudding (Cindy's recipe) much to Chesley's excitement. I had threatened Chesley with his life if he said anything to Jessica about not liking her banana pudding. He was a little anxious about it but much to his surprise she said it was Cindy's recipe. O the smile on that mans face.

Father's Day dinner, missing a few family members. :( You were missed.

Our little man with his big guys hat. Thanks Jenny. Ryan loved it.

Brotherly love here. Little more coming from the one that was hoping to take over the driving.

The boys gave Nama Dotty a bag of goodies because she always has one for them so they surprised her with her own from them. But the most precious look on Sammy's face tells the story. He loves what he put in her goodie bag and intends to eat it and is VERY happy about the thought of .

My camera is sick. It's in need of either retiring or fixing or exchanging it for the new iPhone 4 with that great camera. Hummm! My camera acts up every year about the same time, June 21. So annoying.

One of my favorite things....

2011-06-20T20:24:00.000-05:00

Skyping with the CA family. This picture tells such a funny story.

First of all, Schroeder, aka Eli, is in the back ground, playing Beethoven had my full attention. Stacy and Jenny are texting pictures of us skyping etc. You can see Jenny and I in the little square in the bottom left corner. Stacy is seeing what we were seeing from here. Does that make sense? Might be much funnier than it is to anyone.

Anyway, I love skyping. It's a Thumbs Up Thursday for me.

Happy Father's Day

2011-06-19T15:16:00.000-05:00

Happy Father's Day Chesley! (My Diva month is one day shorter then the actual month due to father's day) :) Started our day off with breakfast and gifts and "it's all about you today"

Little of this and a little of that.

Below is my grandfather and dad in Palm Beach.

My dad and great grandfather and my grandmother. My dad's mom. Isn't she beautiful!

A boy and his dog!

My dad!

I found this from my dad to his dad. There was a card attached. :)

Happy Father's Day to all the Fathers.

Diva

2011-06-16T17:07:00.000-05:00

It's not even my birthday and I'm all decked out thanks to my birthday Diva fairy. I struck gold when she took me under her wings of my Diva education. I have gotten computer surprises, yard sign surprise, jib jab surprises, a singing monkey, the cuzy sp? that says "Former Princess , Reigning Queen". (which I've used since I've gotten it, just in case Chesley forgets who reigns this month. AND last but not least my crown. Now that seals the deal. I'm officially Diva, Queen of June.

Now I get to pass on the lessons to my Divo (?) the man of the house. He will wear a huge smile on his face the whole month of Oct. I need to start making notes of ideas for his month. I will love doing it because he will LOVE the attention more than anyone I know.

Anyone want to double dare me to wear my crown out and about?

Learning to be aware and appreciate life.

2011-06-11T14:04:00.001-05:00

This month has brought so many things to light for me. Probably because being a Birthday Diva you start off thinking about all the pampering and things you want to do. That means taking the time to think about what you do each day and how you're going to fit into your normal routine some time for what YOU want to do. Then I'm blogging it, so it's like out there for all to see. Most likely just for family and close friends. I'm sure any perverts have disregarded this blog a LONG time ago. :)

I'm working on filling my days in with my spiritual self, material self, my wifely self, my motherly self, my friendly self, my awareness self, well, you get the drift! Since I'm ADHD my days are filled with a little of some of each.

My Birthday Diva Fairy helps keep me on track and not let me forget. I'm so glad because I'm learning things and I might have given up but I'm pretty hooked now.

This week I was fortunate enough to go to Corpus Christi, TX to the Southwest Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church. I witness, along with other friends in my Emmaus group, a friend Denise Barker, in my Emmaus Group, being Ordained into a lifetime of ministry. The Deacon of Ordained Ministry exemplifies and leads the Church in service to God in the world, remembering and celebrating the gifts of God and living faithfully in response in God's grace. She indeed is a gift and example to us all how to listen and use her gifts God has given her.

This is Denise in the middle and the rest of (most of) our Emmaus Group.

Also this week my youngest granddaughter graduated from preschool!

Malyn Grace Arnold.

This is my fun loving, adventurous, happy, and excited graduate. I love her smile. I love her eyes telling a story about her Diva Day of graduating.

See the fun loving, excitable happiness just bursting out of her precious face. Is she saying, "We did it! We've graduated from Sand Tots."

We had another grandson graduate from High School this year. Peyton Harrison May. Congrats Peyton!

Diva Day

2011-06-09T22:36:00.001-05:00

Jenny's home safe and no bad weather. Only rain. Rain?? what's that?

Jessica, Ryan, Sammy and I picked Jenny up at the airport. Jenny about jumped out of her skin when she saw the boys. Clearly more excited to see them than Jessica and me. The boys were all smiles and equally as excited to see Auntie Jenny. Such a sweet bond those three have.

Jessica and the boys went home and Jenny came to my house. We stopped for some kind of tuna tower?? Girl was HUNGRY! While she was eating and telling us all the stories and showing us pictures, I wanted to keep her company and had some milk and cookies, because I can. You know, it's the diva thing! :)

After dinner I handed her soap, shampoo, razor, fluffy towels, lotion and a robe. We washed all her clothes. Curled up on the sofa and got caught up on the last two Bacheloretts. Yes we are actually watching it. Crazy I know! So staged!

Jenny woke up at 10:30am. I went to Taco Cabana and Starbucks. (Imagine that). I brought back breakfast and we began our Diva day. She looked at all my stored up make-up from the free gifts. We tried all the lipsticks on and laughed at some of the old colors that once were "IN". We looked at some old jewelry and she helped me pick out an outfit for my weekend trip and some jewelry for her weekend trip.

She also hung a full length mirror in my closet. It's been leaning against the wall behind the closet door for 8 years. She decided my closet needed a chair.

Jenny thinks I have a chair fetish. I had to agree. Not sure how that happened. But I walked around the house and counted all the chairs inside and outside. Anyone care to guess? Very embarrassing. She helped by hiding one in my closet. It works.

Chesley is still trying to figure out just what this Diva thing is all about. Of course he's already not liking the fact that my birthday and Father's Day are in the same month so you can only imagine how he feels about this. But I have Oct. to make him the male diva. Maybe then he'll understand. Sounds like fun.

THE RUG!

Love it! Thanks Cindy! Now I have to change the dining room chair covers. Add some other touches and the room will be complete. O, see some of the many chairs? Feel free to leave a guess.

Now the Den which we will tackle next week.

and the trend continues.

2011-06-07T11:32:00.001-05:00

I have a birthday fairy that delivery's special birthday messages... Here is one of them. I am learning from one of the best birthday diva's just how to turn a birthday into a birthmonth! AND How to be a diva. I'm still in the learning stages! Thank you Diva!

"Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You."
— Dr. Seuss (Happy Birthday to You!)

The rug hunt goes on.
I will know Wed. if Cindy and I decided on the right rug on Monday for our dining room. Hard to tell from this picture but you can sort of get the idea. I'll post a picture when the rug is decided on. Thanks again Cindy. Hopefully one room to go.

I'm always reading the "long distance grandma". This month I sent (to CA) can of chow mein noodles, pkg of butterscotch morsels and jelly beans. Melt the butterscotch morsels and mix with noodles and form into birds nests. Add the mini jelly beans and there you go! Cookie if you want to eat your art work.

I'm hoping to finish "Cutting for Stone" and "Loved Walked In". We'll see! I just finished the trilogy of "The Hunger Games". Fast read and I liked it! Movies coming out in March.

BAKING

one of my favorites

chocolate chip cookies... I didn't even take the time to stage a proper presentation for my cookies. I just snapped the picture, poured a glass of milk and gobbled some up. Then realizing I'm a diva this month, I ate some more.

One of my life's biggest favorites. It's more then the cookies themselves. It's the memories of my mom and I making them, then my daughters and I making them at all times of the day and night. :) When ever the thought or taste buds over powered us and we went into action. I went into action Friday night.

Pomegranate Blueberry Sugar Free/Fat Free Vanilla Latte

Stacy and I share these over the phone. It's a treat because I have to send away for the ingredients. "The Coffee Bean" (they were around before Starbucks). They are in CA. I have heard that there is one in Austin. Could that possible mean they will eventually come to SA?? by June 21. ? :)

103 today! What I'll be tooting around in today!!

Jenny is in Haiti as I posted earlier. This is Haiti today. She is supposed to leave tomorrow (Wed.) Praying for a safe trip home.

Rain is north of us, south of us and east of us. "REALLY, weird weather, stable yourself out!!!!"

June 4

2011-06-04T17:17:00.000-05:00

My day to relax and reflect didn't happen but I still have 26 days left so that will happen I'm sure. BUT the best so far is the text message I got from Jenny. Jenny is in Haiti. She left Thursday at 3am. She is there with her church on a mission trip and I was sure I'd not hear from her until she returned to the states. Tough on a mom but I was working on accepting it WHEN... I heard my phone make the ding. The you have a text message, ding. Much to my surprise it flashed Jenny Rudd. I almost dropped my phone from the excitement from seeing her name and swinging around to sit down to read the text, which turned out to be, not only a text, but a short video as well.

Now I'm sure that little short conversation will end up being one of my precious gifts both sentimentally and costly. She isn't on an international plan but well worth it.
THIS IS WHAT SHE TEXT:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I'm doing great. Falling in love with Haitians. I love you, mom!


No bugs in bed. Lots of dirt and mud. If you can, will you check how much it is 
to text internationally? If not much I'll send you frequent updates. If not I 
should stop texting.

(THEN CAME THE VIDEO BUT I CAN'T FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET IT ON my blog. but this is the caption to it.)

Those are kids waiting for me to comeback and play.

 ----------------------------------------------------------

Sadly I informed her not to continue to text. I think that short connection was about $50.00 but the best $50.00 that will be spent this month. Wish we had gotten an international calling/texting plan for that week. What was I thinking??
Just knowing she was there safely and falling in love with the little children was good enough to see me through to Thursday.

Another special surprise was from Stacy. She sent me a video of Eli trying to work his way through the iPhone video she was taking. Or so I'd like to think that is what he was doing. Actually he was working on his crawling skills. Perhaps tomorrow after church I'll teach myself how to put video's on my blog. :) after all this is all about things I want to do, right? :)

JUNE a special month. A new experiment.

2011-06-03T23:07:00.001-05:00

Birthdays have taken on a new dimension in my life. At least I'm going to give it a try! I have two pretty special friends (Janet and Brooke) that have told me that birthdays are for celebrating the entire birthday month. I'm going to try to be a birthday diva just like them! I'm going to practice by doing something each day of June.

This is June. June is MY birthday month! Do I get a gift each day??? Gifts aren't always things, sometimes they are time spent with friends and family or doing something for someone else. And then again they are also things. :) Lets see how I do. Janet and Brooke, you can let me know how I'm doing when the month is over or while it's going on. Maybe you have some ideas for my first year of celebrating birth-month!
June 1 Dedication day! Good deed day! Thinking of others day! Emmaus friends had our monthly get together and since it was June I was given 12 birthday cards with money in it. I donated all the money to the Magdalena House.
June 2 Planning on buying two 9' X 12' rug for our new wooden floors. This takes some decorating expertise which I do not have. I don't even live in the same book of a decorating person. There fore I call on my personal decorator, Cindy. I hope she still likes me when and if we find a rug or two. Those suckers must weight somewhere near a ton so it's a BIG deal to have them brought here and laid out just to say ahhhhh no, sorry don't like any of them except the one that is too small. So they are loaded back up in the truck and back to the store. (courtesy of the store). Well sort of $45.00 for there hard work. My gift today is a gift of friendship. Cindy came over with Sutton in tow and helped and encouraged me. I would have settled for the "to small rug" SOOOO glad I didn't.
June 3 Today I made up for yesterday, so gifts today were: Trip to J Jill, Bath & Body Works, and Anthropologie. Lunch at Chris Madrids with friends and dinner at Carrabbas with my mom. Chesley is off fishing for the weekend so Saturday is going to be my quiet time and time to reflect. :) We'll see how that goes. It's 55 minutes from now.

Sammy Samerton

2011-05-27T23:12:00.000-05:00

Spider man Sammy tossing his web...

My busy little buddy today.

Sammy telling me where everything is in the kitchen cabinets.

Reading time is always a favorite with Nama.

Very happy to be playing with Ryan's cars and trains in the secret closet. :) He thinks this is very funny.

Sammy loves to watch me bounce the ball. If I could do it, he would have watched me all day long. This is Sammy trying to bounce the ball.

Secret fun with Nama.

Smiling Sammy! Look at those pearly whites!!!

Swinging Sammy!

Sandbox Sammy!

Strolling through the roses Sammy.

Standing Sammy!

Playing Sammy!

Tomato Update

2011-05-26T10:14:00.001-05:00

As the storms in Ohio rage and I am continually getting updates from my brother in Ohio. The texting team passes on the info to the people in the room. In his case in the basement. Last he text: "hail storm and still tornado's in the area, Go Scotty" Really, thinking about American Idol. O yeah, there is no TV in their basement and probably no electricity. They do have a generator so perhaps they did see it. My cousin is in Indiana and we were keeping touch with her as well. Everyone was OK.
Meanwhile we of course were concerned and praying for all up north. But also took my mom outside to see the tomatoes. So here is an update on what seems to be an acre of produce in a very small space:

Below are all different plants just filled with these fruits from heaven. They are sooo good.

My mother told me a story. When she was a little girl they also had tomatoes growing. They were next to her sand box. She crawled under the sand box cover and would reach out from under it and grab a tomato and eat it seconds after pulling it from it's growing home. She loved the warm ripe taste of the tomato in her secret hiding place. :)

I asked Chesley what in the world did he do different this time.?? (last years crop, not so good.) He says must be the May touch. Best crop he's ever had and he hopes to repeat it next year. Secret?? Don't know, I really think it's surprised him as well. Fine by me. HEB watch out, CEM is about to take over.

Maddie and Mitzi always enjoy coming outside to survey Chesley's fine work on his pride and joy.

Beautiful job on the yard Chesley! He is a happy camper today. Played golf and shot in the 90's. (good since he just started a few yrs ago) He got his fishing license today and they couldn't believe his age. He couldn't wipe the smile off his face.

Ohio... Got to love it!

2011-05-14T15:04:00.000-05:00

I love Ohio in the springtime. I'm sitting at Rudder's, the "local gathering place" where they have free wireless internet. I'm enjoying watching the locals coming in and getting lunch and chit chatting. Local music being played and smelling the homemade soups and other dishes they prepare for this community.
Northerners have had a tough winter this year so the signs of spring are welcomed "in" with such enthusiasm and everyone is busy fixing up their yards and gardens. It almost makes the cold winter days worth it when you see the new growth, flowers blooming and birds singing. You see lots of activity going on outside since people have been home bound, pretty much, most this year.

One day I took the golf cart out and with my camera in hand, I captured some of the new buds making a day bu of their new beginning to life.

Pictures above and below are in my dad's front yard. The tree in picture below is what we see when we open the front door. It's a daily reminder of spring.

The next few pictures are what I took on my journey in the golf cart.

Tulips in all colors and sizes.

This is a neat picture because you see mostly spring but one lone tree waiting to wake up.

This is Saturday morning and I'm on my Dad's back deck watching people getting their boats all spruced up and ready for a summer of sun, water skiing, fishing, and sailing. First they have to be placed into the water after being winterized and nestled in their winter boat storage's. So they too will be waking up and doing their job.

Ahhh the birds. The birds are everywhere. This is a bird lovers paradise out here. If only I knew their names. They come flying by my dads window to their summer home after being south for the winter. REALLY I have seen so many beautiful birds pass by. I think this is the highway to the north for these delicate species that God created.

Here is my dad reading his paper and magazines.

My dad has always said it's God's country up here. In the spring we see God at work here with there being such a difference in the seasons.

Momma bird protecting her eggs in her homemade nest. Birds can always find something to gather together to make their safety net for their young. Ummm God does always "give us this day". The birds never think twice about it in the springtime. They know God will provide for them. And He does.

Wonderful Day

2011-05-08T21:24:00.002-05:00

The Mom's!
Jessica and Rod invited us to their home for Mother's Day.

The Dad's

Rod, the cook. This was the best BBQ chicken I've had. Thanks Rod.

Our entertainment. Mimi aka Millie, and Ryan doing a dance for us. There has to be a reality show for them.

Auntie Jenny and Sammy making us all laugh.

The Gift of Love! Painted by Jenny with Jessica and Stacy's suggestions and help over the phone and pictures of the progress. Ahh the technology of today. I'm so touched by your expressions of love to me. It's all my children and grandchildren as flowers. Me in the Sun shining down on my children. On each stem you'll see their names. In my name is a cross. Each flower has the personality of each child. O I love love love this and will always cherish this.

On the bottom right corner is a flower blowing it's seeds in the wind to continue the love of this family.

Thank you girls for a perfect day.

Two of my three precious daughters.
Stacy and family in CA on Mother's Day. We're all together by way of blogging and phone.

Featured

2011-05-06T10:35:00.001-05:00

My daughters and I are being featured on Brooke Swallow Meabon's blog!! Really? I'm going to be featured in the same blog with such gifted and talented girls? Honored is all I can say! Love sharing with whomever will listen to me about my precious girls. Thank you Brooke.

Please take a Peek in Our World by Brooke. She has a world that will both inspire you and perhaps learn about how the young woman are changing our world and making it a better place by sharing ideas and concerns and forming a blog community.

www.peekinourworld.blogspot.com

Anyone Hungry??

2011-05-02T20:29:00.002-05:00

Watch out HEB, Central Market, and World Market...

the May Market is about to open.

It's time to get the canning book out and learn how to can some of these babies!!! Pam's Hot Sauce with homemade tomatoes and Spaghetti Sauce will be ready for fall 2011. Yummy!

The Royal Wedding

2011-04-30T23:09:00.000-05:00

I was all about the Royal Wedding of William and Kate and loved every minute of it. I asked my mom to spend the night and get up with me at 3am. She did and we did in fact get up and watch it all. We were very happy that we did it and didn't wait and DVR it.

We had planned on having tea and English Muffins during the ceremony but our eyes were glued to the TV and 3am just seemed to early to eat. We eventually (during commercials) got tea and Cinnamon Rolls and Quiche.

When the wedding was over 6am we went back to bed. After waking up 9:30am we did what we planned before we realized we would be too tired. We had tea / cream / and cookies aka scones. :)

We are having our carpet ripped up and wood floors put down so my house is in the beginning stages of boxed up "stuff" that needed to be off the floor, out of the china cabinet, off the desk etc. Reason for our little corner on the kitchen table with the lovely back ground. O well, I did get the English china out and held my cup with my pinky finger sticking out to balance the cup. Also notice the ring on my finger. Yea, like I said I'm all about the Royals. It's the princess coming out of me. Chesley had a hard time understanding this whole infatuation I had.

Prince William was born on the same day as I was. Just saying.

Easter 2011

2011-04-24T23:36:00.002-05:00

Early church service, celebrating the risen Lord, then a gathering of family. What could be better? Perhaps the rest of the family all together! But we rejoiced in the Easter Blessing.

The Easter Bunny came by our house and dropped off some toys and eggs for the Tootle boys.

Ryan found the eggs right away. (Two previous hunts) so he was pretty quick at finding all of the eggs.

Sammy on the other hand was just delighted to run and play and pick up the eggs and throw them.

No one heard me say, "Say Cheese".

Sammy was so excited to show Nama Dotty one of the pink eggs filled with candy. I love his little arms outstretched with excitement.

Family attempt. So funny. Parents were happy to pose but Ryan was being bit by a mosquito and scratching it and Sammy wanted to run.

Poppy's tomatoes.

Auntie Jenny is always a hit with the boys. Ryan's is trying to pose with his Auntie while looking at his "pick it up alligator".

Jessica was shooting one of the rubber band kites. This girl has award winning expressions.

Rod is trying to teach Sammy how to prefect the flying technique.
Note to self: get a picture of the flying kite.

Auntie Jenny looks like she has it down pat. Looks are deceiving! Ask Jenny where the kite landed. :) Hint: same place my first one landed.

How to get a kid to take a picture: Give him two eggs to hold, one in each hand and put the sun glasses on him and say, "say cheese". Works every time.

Ryan never needs any tricks when it comes to showing off sun glasses.

Sammy took one of Ryan's eggs and Ryan sort of had a melt down. (church-hungry-tired). The look on Sammy's face cracks me up while poor tired, hungry Ryan broke my heart. Sometimes it's hard being a Nama.

Sammy is fascinated with chairs. He climbs up on them and just sits there with those big brown eyes looking at anyone who will look at him with his ability to climb up and sit all by himself. What is going on in that precious little boys mind?

One of the toys left for Ryan was a paddle with rubber band and ball at the end. Once again we see another expression of Jessica trying to master the bouncing ball.

Jenny sits crossed legged and proceeds to get one bounce in.

The turtle sun glasses were a huge hit and were passed around. And Jessica had another expression to flash at the camera.

Micheal and Ryan were working very hard at getting the Toy Story stickers out of the egg, while Sammy was trying to convince Nama Dotty to empty one of the candy eggs out into his little hand.

Poppy was great at getting the candy out and Sammy was great at stuffing it all in his mouth at once.

Above, is Chesley giving the sling shot kite a try. He did it the first time. It went flying across the yard. Good job CE.

Below is Sammy with a mouth full of candy.

Easter Dinner!

The Lord has risen!

Hallelujah!

TOMATOES are here again!!!!!!

2011-04-22T20:58:00.001-05:00

It's so much fun coming out each night to see how the tomatoes are growing. If I just get a chair and sat in front of them I'd see them grow, I'm almost sure of it. This is the first picture I took on March 16. I guess my handy husband's watering system is working.

Next one the beginning of April

April 22

Ahhh what's that I see---- A tomato.

Actually there are lots of tomatoes and blooms that are showing there pretty little selves. I've teased Chesley so much for the huge cage he built and continued to add to each year. WRONG!! We have trapped (in a heart friendly trap) a raccoon so far that has been digging in the other gardens. I'm sure that the tomatoes that are there would have be eaten by now.

This time you were right! :) You may continue to update that cage every year.

Seder Meal / Holy Week / Bible Study

2011-04-22T00:58:00.000-05:00

.Our Bible Study teacher put on the Seder Meal for us during bible study this week. What an educational and informative day.
The Seder is a ritual performed by a community or by multiple generations of a family, involving a retelling of the story of the liberation of the Israelites from slavery in ancient Egypt. This story is in the Book of Exodus (Shemot) in the Hebrew Bible. The Seder itself is based on the Biblical verse commanding Jews to retell the story of the Exodus from Egypt: "You shall tell your child on that day, saying, 'It is because of what the LORD did for me when I came out of Egypt.'" (Exodus 13:8)

The Passover Seder Plate (ke'ara) is a special plate containing six symbolic foods used during the Passover Seder. Each of the six items arranged on the plate have special significance to the retelling of the story of the Exodus from Egypt. The seventh symbolic item used during the meal—a stack of three matzot—is placed on its own plate on the Seder table

Best thing to do if you are interested is go to www.Wikipedia.com and look up Seder Meal. They explain it all so well. Not as well as our Seder Meal but such a wonderful family tradition to follow. You will understand the picture below much better. Just to much to write.

Since the retelling of the Exodus to one's child is the object of the Seder experience, much effort is made to arouse the interest and curiosity of the children and keep them awake during the meal. To that end, questions and answers are a central device in the Seder ritual. By encouraging children to ask questions, they will be more open to hearing the answers.
The most famous question which the youngest child asks at the Seder is the Mah Nishtanah - "Why is this night different from all other nights?" After the asking of these questions, the main portion of the Seder, Magid, gives over the answers in the form of a historical review. Also, at different points in the Seder, the leader of the Seder will cover the matzot and lift their cup of wine; then put down the cup of wine and uncover the matzot—all to elicit questions from the children.

After the Seder Meal we were once again enlightened with Lynda Ryan describing the journey Jesus took starting on Good Friday through Easter morning. The 4th and 5th graders, over 7 1/2 months built the city of Jerusalem as it looked in the days of Jesus.

If anyone is interested in seeing the this model it is in the University United Methodist Church Atrium.

The children did an amazing job with Lynda Ryan heading it all up. What a blessing those children had in making this and learning about the Holy Week along with biblical times. They had to have gotten a real feel for what it was like to walk along side of Jesus.

Below is the poorer section of Jerusalem. The children made this houses. If you'll notice on some of the houses there are stairs attached to them. They would climb up the stairs to their roof tops. One reason to call out to their neighbors.

I tried to show the whole city with the temple on the left.

Thank you Molly and Lynda. I have learned so much on that day and I will not forget it for a long time.

Happy Birthday MOM !! Happy Birthday Nama .T

2011-04-15T22:36:00.001-05:00

April 15! A birthday party with a fiesta flair. Jessica and Jenny organized a fun girls dinner for their grandma. (Nama . (dot) T to the great grand kids.)

We had Jenny's expertise in decorating and Jessica's gourmet cooking to celebrate the evening.

This girl is serious about putting this dinner together. I really just chatted with her as she cooked.

Sammy above and Ryan below were busy with their own way of getting ready for the party.

When the birthday girl arrived we had a photo shoot with her birthday/fiesta attire on.

Sammy was just to tired from the long day of preparing for the party to join the party so off to bed Auntie Jenny took him. He's waving good night and blowing kisses.

The time is getting closer for the unveiling of the birthday dinner.

Jessica made chicken crepes with home made crepes by Cassie Cassab and green salad with roasted asparagus.

Fun picture of some pretty hungry people. Ryan didn't want that dinner and so he wasn't very happy when he was told he would have to eat dinner before the cake that he had been waiting for ALL day.

Notice above what is on the TV. Can anyone guess?

Happy Birthday Mom!

There isn't anyone more excited about birthdays than Ryan Tootle.

Nama . T likes the pictures that Ryan drew today for her birthday gift.

Maybe Ryan gets his talent from his Auntie Jenny. Below is her home made card. Always a treat for our family to receive one of her cards.

Thanks Jessica for the special idea and wonderful food to help celebrate your Grandma's birthday. We are all blessed to have you girls in our lives.

FIESTA IS HERE!!!

2011-04-12T22:37:00.000-05:00

Fiesta and Easter all so close together so just a month of celebrating!

Ryan and Jessica were at NIOSA enjoying Clown Alley getting face painting and all the celebrating done for the younger ones. Jessica will post pictures soon.

Meanwhile, Jenny was home working her magic on Ryan's Fiesta Float for school. The picture below is exactly what he did when he walked in tonight. He walked right over to the table and just stared at the float. Studying every detail of the hard work that Jenny did on his float.

The theme was based on Jessica's work.

Here Jenny is showing Ryan everything that he had said he wanted on the float. O he was so excited and decided which child in his class would get which candy off the float.

Jenny was able to figure out how to have Ryan's favorite character from Toy Story guiding the Float.

Good Bye Nassau

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Good bye pool with a bar with drinks and umbrellas for shading us.

Good bye ocean

Good bye quiet time and waves swishing onto the sand. Good bye beautiful aqua water and blue sky. Good bye salt water keeping me afloat during beach time. Good bye white soft sand.

Good bye Love Birds holding hands and kissing each other.

That's what it's all about! LOVING one another!

Thank you all you friendly happy Bohemians that helped make our trip so memorable.

Day Four in Nassua

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Compass Point

We headed to Compass Point on my brother and sister in law's recommendation and had an Eggs Benedict breakfast. Yummy.

They say the sunset is only second to none and can be enjoyed from their pier that extends 120 feet into the ocean. I added a full picture of the pier at end of this post.

These are some of the pictures of the 18 brightly colored bungalows that line a lush path of native flowers and towering palm trees. Each has it's own balcony to also see the beautiful sunsets.

Chesley sitting in the restaurant below. Of course we were the first ones here. Had to take a cab here. Early morning.

Some of the bungalows were like tree houses.

Some of the flowers that line the paths throughout the grounds.

Then we headed to the Atlantis on Paradise Island. This is the Marina area. They allowed us here, in the Marina Market shopping area, and the casino. Really??? It was going to cost us $39.00 each to get into any other part of the Atlantis. Then an additional $40.00 for the aquarium and $120.00 for the Water Park. So needless to say we only lost $75.00 in the casino. Guess we have to stay there next time if we want to see any other part of it.

What they did allow us to see was beautiful.

My dad always said, "There is always a bigger boat." Well this one was pretty big."

Walking into the Marina area with one of the Atlantis buildings in the back ground.

Marina Market Shopping Street.

BEST melt in your mouth Rum Cake I've ever tasted.

Chesley wanted to taste some of the local beers. Here are two. He liked the one on the left best.

We came back much earlier then we anticipated because of our limited tour of the Atlantis. We didn't want to spend anytime in the sun today so it's the Masters Golf Tournament in our room along with reading and relaxing. That is FINE with me!!!

After Chesley finished critiquing my blog, he asked me to put this picture in so people can see the length of the pier.

Day Two in Nassau

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With clouds in the sky and the threat of rain and a little bit of sun burn we decided to head downtown Nassau Harbour. This is the main street we walked down.

We caught the bus in front of our hotel ($1.25) and headed to the Straw Market downtown.

Overwhelming, an ADHD's and mans worse nightmare.

How do I tell the sweet Native with a British accent trying to sell her goods, no thank you???

Do I need that purse, or the native fabric or the cover up, or the straw beach bag? O my I don't know what to do.

Leave... (not one purchase)

Graycliff Hotel with a cigar making room attached.

The tobacco leaves come from Honduras and other South American countries. The people making the cigars are from Cuba. They all were very nice and explained everything they were doing.

Rolled and ready to have the (cigar ring) put around it and cut.

There were three cruise ships in the Harbor.

On the wall near the place where the cruise passengers were ready to board, there were these dancing Star Fish for sale.

Government House, Residence of the Bahamas' Governor General and site of the colorful changing of the guard ceremony.

And here we have our founder, Columbus. He landed in Nassau first. So the history here says. British Colonial Hilton Nassau, The site of Fort Nassau on the western end of Bay St. Nassau's main shopping thoroughfare.

Inside of the hotel.

Old gate leading into the street.

Out of space so I only have one picture of the inside of the Pirates Museum of Nassau. I actually took 12 pictures and got a little carried away. I really liked it but it wasn't even on any of the pamphlets we had. We just came across it and ventured in. Very interesting to me.

Last but not least I had to get a picture of a car with the steering wheel on the right side. So strange. They drive on the opposite side of the road. Scary!!! We chose not to rent a car. I'm so glad!!