Ok--who do you think this baby is? Leave your comment and I will tell you the answer tomorrow.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Monday, January 21, 2008
Our Weekend
Brrrrrr!! We have had some unusually cold, rainy weather lately. Though, after watching the Green Bay game last night I have NOTHING to complain about. But I have enjoyed sitting close to the woodstove and staying indoors. AND Jenny and her boys came home for the weekend. It was such a nice visit. We did nothing but visit, play games, play with the boys, eat, and watch a little football. The sausage soup and cornbread Jenny requested was perfect for our cold, rainy Friday night. Mason and Pop-pop played cars a lot and messed around outside together. It was just a nice quiet fun weekend. And now I sure miss them all since they had to go back home today. Thank you, Jenny, Mason, and Grant for coming to see us. Now, I'll go download the cute pictures I took of them. I love my new camera!
Dog Dilemna Conclusion
Don went over to our neighbors with the unruly dogs to talk to them about the problem. They acted like the only thing they could do would be to put the dogs down. Don told them that was not at all what we wanted but just that they kept them home. She said she just couldn’t keep them in all the time, kept saying they would have to get rid of them. Don suggested putting an ad online in the “freecycle” place and they agreed to that but said they did not have a computer. So Don offered to do it for them and put their phone number in the ad and they agreed. By that night he had had two responses to the ads and on Sunday someone came and loved “Megan”, the young yellow lab that is the most trouble. He lives in another town on acreage and has kids so it sounds like a great solution so Megan now has a new home far away. The new owner says he is thrilled with his new dog but it was a tearful farewell for our neighbors.
So why do I feel so awful and so guilty---instead of happy and relieved? Why did they have to let it come to this??? I feel so sad for this nice old couple that had to give up their dog. I hate being so mean. But I know we did the only thing we could do. We begged them to put up a fence, contain the dog somehow, get a neighbor kid to walk the dog daily, do something to keep the dog from being a neighborhood terror and nuisance. We ignored and tried to understand the first several killings of chickens--we have a Lab ourselves who will kill chickens when he has the chance--BUT we keep him contained in a fenced yard. It was just their unconcern for our pets and their safety that finally got to me. We did the Biblical thing and went to him first with our complaints---three or more times---we have three different eye witness reports of the dog with our chickens dead in his mouth and the owners even admitted he brought dead chickens home (and dead cats). How could they be so uncaring and unthoughtful of other people’s animals? What choice did we have but to call in the authorities? Even if he paid our vet bills but still lets the dog roam we were so fearful of Pete being mauled again once he is healed and allowed to go back outdoors. I feared for our other cats, our ducks and guineas, and I want to be able to have chickens once again. I know we did what we had to do to protect our animals but I feel lousy.
I hate stuff like this.
So why do I feel so awful and so guilty---instead of happy and relieved? Why did they have to let it come to this??? I feel so sad for this nice old couple that had to give up their dog. I hate being so mean. But I know we did the only thing we could do. We begged them to put up a fence, contain the dog somehow, get a neighbor kid to walk the dog daily, do something to keep the dog from being a neighborhood terror and nuisance. We ignored and tried to understand the first several killings of chickens--we have a Lab ourselves who will kill chickens when he has the chance--BUT we keep him contained in a fenced yard. It was just their unconcern for our pets and their safety that finally got to me. We did the Biblical thing and went to him first with our complaints---three or more times---we have three different eye witness reports of the dog with our chickens dead in his mouth and the owners even admitted he brought dead chickens home (and dead cats). How could they be so uncaring and unthoughtful of other people’s animals? What choice did we have but to call in the authorities? Even if he paid our vet bills but still lets the dog roam we were so fearful of Pete being mauled again once he is healed and allowed to go back outdoors. I feared for our other cats, our ducks and guineas, and I want to be able to have chickens once again. I know we did what we had to do to protect our animals but I feel lousy.
I hate stuff like this.
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
I'm Back
I’m back. I am re-entering the blog world. I have missed it so so much. I promise not to disappear for so long again. But I had to discipline myself to stay away. The computer just sucks time like a vacuum sucks dust bunnies and I needed to spend that time getting my house and my life back in order.
Seriously, we have been home so very little this year that I actually still had LAST Christmas’s magazines on the table by my favorite chair. And there were still Christmas presents from last Christmas sitting in my office still in their Christmas boxes and bags where I put them on Christmas afternoon of 2006.
You see, we left on December 29, 2006 for Arizona to help when Don’s dad went in for surgery. We stayed there for nearly three weeks and on our way home got called to the Oklahoma ice storms with Red Cross. Then we were home a week or so when we got called to the Daytona Beach, FL tornadoes in early February where we spend three weeks. Then we were home for a week or so before going to the ranch to take care of things there. Then to San Angelo for a bit for Kylah’s wedding and Mason’s birthday then back to the ranch for several weeks.
In mid-April we were sent to New Hampshire for the Nor’Easter flooding there. We spent two weeks there, flew to Ft. Lauderdale and spent three days with Don’s sister, Chris, before departing for a 10 day mission trip to Haiti to repair water well hand pumps. Six days after our return home from Haiti,family from New York arrived. We had a great visit with them and it was now June.
We spent the summer on 5 different Texas disasters--floods in Gainesville, Marble Falls, and Wichita Falls; flooding in San Antonio from Tropical Storm Erin, and damage on High Island from Hurricane Umberto. So we were never home for longer than two weeks at a time. First of September we went to the ranch and stayed there while Don worked on building a new fence until we were called to California for wildfires on the 23rd of October. Stayed in San Diego for three weeks, flew to New York for family visit there and arrived home a couple of days before Thanksgiving when we left again to spend it in Leander with the family. I was home one day after Thanksgiving before I left for San Angelo to stay for over a month taking care of Jenny’s boys and to spend Christmas there. We got back home from San Angelo on December 26 late. On the 28th 12 more members of my family arrived for a visit over New Years.
As of New Year’s Day it had all caught up with me. I was the most exhausted I have been since we worked 15 hours a day on Hurricane Katrina. I burst into tears at the thought of preparing one more meal. I just wanted everyone to go home and to get my house back in order---just to get me and the scattered pieces of my life and house back together. Don was sick with a really bad respiratory infection and I was worried about him. I was so stressed I could not sleep at night. Had it not been for Adam leaving for the Army and me wanting everyone to be there to tell him goodbye and support him, I would have called the whole visit off and just said NO. But it WAS a wonderful visit with everyone and I did enjoy it---just wished it had come at another time when I wasn’t already exhausted and stressed and felt like a stranger in my own home, and my husband had not been so sick.
So, after everyone left I made a big long list of everything that was bugging me that needed to be done to get me back to feeling I was somewhat in control of my life again and I knew where to find things in my house and the clutter was cleared (from my mind as well as my house). And I denied myself computer privileges until I got the majority of my list accomplished.
I have worked hard and diligently the past two weeks and accomplished great things. Maybe if someone else looked at my house they could not see it, but I do.
Seriously, we have been home so very little this year that I actually still had LAST Christmas’s magazines on the table by my favorite chair. And there were still Christmas presents from last Christmas sitting in my office still in their Christmas boxes and bags where I put them on Christmas afternoon of 2006.
You see, we left on December 29, 2006 for Arizona to help when Don’s dad went in for surgery. We stayed there for nearly three weeks and on our way home got called to the Oklahoma ice storms with Red Cross. Then we were home a week or so when we got called to the Daytona Beach, FL tornadoes in early February where we spend three weeks. Then we were home for a week or so before going to the ranch to take care of things there. Then to San Angelo for a bit for Kylah’s wedding and Mason’s birthday then back to the ranch for several weeks.
In mid-April we were sent to New Hampshire for the Nor’Easter flooding there. We spent two weeks there, flew to Ft. Lauderdale and spent three days with Don’s sister, Chris, before departing for a 10 day mission trip to Haiti to repair water well hand pumps. Six days after our return home from Haiti,family from New York arrived. We had a great visit with them and it was now June.
We spent the summer on 5 different Texas disasters--floods in Gainesville, Marble Falls, and Wichita Falls; flooding in San Antonio from Tropical Storm Erin, and damage on High Island from Hurricane Umberto. So we were never home for longer than two weeks at a time. First of September we went to the ranch and stayed there while Don worked on building a new fence until we were called to California for wildfires on the 23rd of October. Stayed in San Diego for three weeks, flew to New York for family visit there and arrived home a couple of days before Thanksgiving when we left again to spend it in Leander with the family. I was home one day after Thanksgiving before I left for San Angelo to stay for over a month taking care of Jenny’s boys and to spend Christmas there. We got back home from San Angelo on December 26 late. On the 28th 12 more members of my family arrived for a visit over New Years.
As of New Year’s Day it had all caught up with me. I was the most exhausted I have been since we worked 15 hours a day on Hurricane Katrina. I burst into tears at the thought of preparing one more meal. I just wanted everyone to go home and to get my house back in order---just to get me and the scattered pieces of my life and house back together. Don was sick with a really bad respiratory infection and I was worried about him. I was so stressed I could not sleep at night. Had it not been for Adam leaving for the Army and me wanting everyone to be there to tell him goodbye and support him, I would have called the whole visit off and just said NO. But it WAS a wonderful visit with everyone and I did enjoy it---just wished it had come at another time when I wasn’t already exhausted and stressed and felt like a stranger in my own home, and my husband had not been so sick.
So, after everyone left I made a big long list of everything that was bugging me that needed to be done to get me back to feeling I was somewhat in control of my life again and I knew where to find things in my house and the clutter was cleared (from my mind as well as my house). And I denied myself computer privileges until I got the majority of my list accomplished.
I have worked hard and diligently the past two weeks and accomplished great things. Maybe if someone else looked at my house they could not see it, but I do.
- Each room is ordered to my satisfaction.
- Thank you notes have been sent.
- Bills have been paid, files cleaned out, bookkeeping caught up.
- Don is feeling much better though he did have to start a second round of antibiotics.
- I took Gina to Dallas and she is happily enrolled in her new school, Christ for the Nations.
- Pete, the mauled cat who has had to live in a cage for six weeks, gets his freedom on Saturday and is healing nicely.
- I have enjoyed getting back in the routine of having a quiet time with God in the early mornings.
- I have potted several pots of pretty pansies to spruce up the dead looking front porch area.
- Don and I have enjoyed quiet evenings alone together watching some of the DVDs we got for Christmas.
- Alisa and I had a nice long lunch together.
- All my Red Cross stuff is organized and ready for our next adventure.
I had a quick run to the ranch and reunited two lost baby goats with their mama’s and was refreshed by the tranquility and peace that reigns there. Only alarming thing is that hunters called us yesterday to say they have heard coyotes and saw a dead goat yesterday so I imagine we might be heading to ranch next week.
But I feel good. I just needed to go into hermit mode for a couple of weeks and take care of me. It just feels so good to have order restored to my life--to begin the year now refreshed and renewed. I was really blessed by Jenny’s blog about God “thumping” her. I needed to hear all that myself. Just please Jesus and all else will fall into place. That’s it--so simple, but often so hard to remember. I catch myself getting all stressed about stupid stuff--how my house looks to others, etc. etc. etc. When all I really want is for it to be pleasing to Him--to be warm, welcoming, inviting, full of love and laughter, full of Him. And me full of Him, too. That is what is important. It is so good to be blogging and sharing thoughts with family and friends again. I have missed all of you. It is good to be back. (uh, beware following post--I was a tad upset.....)
I'm so Mad!!!
I am so mad right now. Early this morning I was sitting in my living room having my quiet time when suddenly I heard all this growling and commotion on my front porch. I ran to the door to see this black lab trying to get our big old tomcat, Big Sir. In his fury to get hold of our cat he knocked over and broke my pot plants. The cat escaped up the tree and I yelled at the dog to get out of here and he took off. It was then I saw coming from behind our house the stinkin’ yellow lab dog that has killed our chickens and ducks and mauled Don’s cat, Pete, to the point of over a $1000 in vet bills. Two neighbors were walking down the street when all this occurred and were my witnesses. Both of these dogs belong to the same owner. Don immediately jumped in his truck and followed the dogs home, confirming with the neighbors walking that these were indeed the same dogs, then knocked on the door repeatedly of the offending owner. Finally his girlfriend answered the door and said she just couldn’t keep the dogs inside and she shut the door in Don’s face. So we called the Animal Control officer out for the 2nd time and issued a 2nd complaint which meant a second fine for the owner.
In December when Pete was injured and Don filed the first complaint, he went to the neighbor who promised he would get a fence built and never let the dog out to roam again. He was very apologetic and even paid our vet bill which was $900 at that time. So we did not pursue further legal action. We had also come to the neighbor three different times when his dog was killing our chickens--each time he was very nice, offered to pay for them, and swore he would contain his dog. I should have been forewarned when he laughingly said his dog was dragging home dead cats as well as our dead chickens. Stupid me. We were nice then and took no money from him, just wanted the assurance he would be a responsible pet owner and contain his dog.
Two weeks ago we found a dead duck right outside our backdoor--one of our ducks. It had no visible damage or mauling to it so we didn’t know what to think. UNTIL neighbors told us this irresponsible neighbor had put a muzzle on his dog and was then letting him roam the neighborhood again. Thus, we figured he had killed the duck by crushing and stomping it, even if he could not bite it. BUT we have no proof of that. Muzzling your dog who terrorizes other people’s pets is not a solution for your problem. I am just so angry. This is an elderly couple--late 70’s I would say--who are doing this. We have tried to be nice and respectful with them but no more. This morning I filed a complaint with the animal control officer asking for a hearing about this issue. They will put lots of demands on him about his dogs and a time period to comply and if he does not they will destroy the dog. Now, I love dogs--all animals--which is obvious by our own menagerie--and it kills me to have to do this but what other choice do I have. I was so angry this morning that had I had a pistol close I think I would have shot him myself.
And the other thing that really makes me mad is the pot he broke was one Jenny and Mason painted for me for Mother’s day and I had just planted it with pretty purple pansies. Dumb, stupid dog. I am going to try to glue it back together. So that is my tirade for today.
How quickly one can go from praising God and worship to all out fury.
In December when Pete was injured and Don filed the first complaint, he went to the neighbor who promised he would get a fence built and never let the dog out to roam again. He was very apologetic and even paid our vet bill which was $900 at that time. So we did not pursue further legal action. We had also come to the neighbor three different times when his dog was killing our chickens--each time he was very nice, offered to pay for them, and swore he would contain his dog. I should have been forewarned when he laughingly said his dog was dragging home dead cats as well as our dead chickens. Stupid me. We were nice then and took no money from him, just wanted the assurance he would be a responsible pet owner and contain his dog.
Two weeks ago we found a dead duck right outside our backdoor--one of our ducks. It had no visible damage or mauling to it so we didn’t know what to think. UNTIL neighbors told us this irresponsible neighbor had put a muzzle on his dog and was then letting him roam the neighborhood again. Thus, we figured he had killed the duck by crushing and stomping it, even if he could not bite it. BUT we have no proof of that. Muzzling your dog who terrorizes other people’s pets is not a solution for your problem. I am just so angry. This is an elderly couple--late 70’s I would say--who are doing this. We have tried to be nice and respectful with them but no more. This morning I filed a complaint with the animal control officer asking for a hearing about this issue. They will put lots of demands on him about his dogs and a time period to comply and if he does not they will destroy the dog. Now, I love dogs--all animals--which is obvious by our own menagerie--and it kills me to have to do this but what other choice do I have. I was so angry this morning that had I had a pistol close I think I would have shot him myself.
And the other thing that really makes me mad is the pot he broke was one Jenny and Mason painted for me for Mother’s day and I had just planted it with pretty purple pansies. Dumb, stupid dog. I am going to try to glue it back together. So that is my tirade for today.
How quickly one can go from praising God and worship to all out fury.
Saturday, December 22, 2007
I'm still here
I miss blogging--seems I have been away for so long. It is just that the computer sucks your time so easily and there is so much to do. I had forgotten how long it takes to get the simple things done when you have kids to take care of also. I am very much out of practice. BUT, I have absolutely loved my time here with Jenny’s boys. I am going to go through severe withdrawal when we go home after Christmas. I am sure I will be depressed for days. They are so sweet and so fun and Gema loves them so much. I will miss snuggling with Grant throughout the day and watching all his cute faces and seeing his cute grins--especially when you change his diaper. And I have gotten hooked on watching Wonder Pets and Curious George in the mornings with Mason and going on “treasure hunts” with him. I treasure every moment of this month I have been here. But it has gone by so very fast…..and Jenny and I did not accomplish near as many things as we had hoped to. My Christmas letter has not been written, my cards have yet to be sent, but that is ok--they will just be New Year cards instead.
But, Bekah did graduate from college and we celebrated that milestone last Saturday. How fast those college years flew by---seems like she just graduated high school. What a wonderful blessing she has been to us. I am just so proud of her.
And Grant was dedicated to the Lord last Sunday in church. I have really enjoyed going to church here--have loved the sermons by Pastor Henry and his son, Landon. I am really looking forward to the Christmas Eve service there. And we still need to drive around and see the Christmas lights around San Angelo--there are so many pretty ones.
I like San Angelo and love visiting here. I can finally navigate around town without getting too lost. Many trips out to Christmas shop have helped out there. I remember back to my own childrearing days when Tammie and I would do our “marathon” shopping trip and get it all done in one long day. We would have very organized lists with what we were getting for each person and then lists of the stores we wanted to go to and in what order and what was on sale there and what we were looking for there. We would head to Austin about 8am and get back home sometimes as late as midnight (Austin was an hour away). We were totally exhausted but we got it all done in one day. It was so fun and now, after many, many trips out shopping--I really like the idea of just going one day and getting it done. Of course, that was in the days before on-line shopping. The Sears catalog is what the kids would pour over and circle what they wanted.
I must admit I am looking forward to being at home for awhile. I have been away from home in MF for so long. We were at the ranch from end of September until we were called to San Diego fires on October 23 and from there we went to New York then back home only two days before Thanksgiving when we left again for Leander then back home for one day to pack up for coming here with Jenny. So technically I have not been home for three months. We will go home the day after Christmas and on Friday three of my children and their families will arrive and stay through New Years. I admit I am a bit panicked about this as I really like to be all organized and the house all clean and food prepared before guests arrive. And there is no way that is happening this time. I have so much stuff here at Jenny’s and we picked up Gina at college and have all her stuff here and then add all the Christmas new stuff……….It just overwhelms me to think about it all. At least there are no Christmas decorations at home to be put away. I brought most of them to Jenny’s so she will get to do that part. But all this is okay. It will all work out and I try to remind myself that 10 minutes after the grandchildren arrive the house will be cluttered with toys and games and stuff anyway so what does it matter. It will be a crazy wonderful time and I am looking forward to seeing everyone.
Well, the house is waking up so my quiet blogging time is ending. Just wanted to post something to let it be known I am still around--just busy--and my mind so cluttered that the thoughts just won’t flow. By bedtime when the house is quiet and I should have the time to write--or even read blogs--I am just too tired and want to go to bed. I have really missed all the blogs and the connection to everyone. Maybe after the holidays when life returns to normal my thoughts will begin to flow again. MERRY CHRISTMAS!!
But, Bekah did graduate from college and we celebrated that milestone last Saturday. How fast those college years flew by---seems like she just graduated high school. What a wonderful blessing she has been to us. I am just so proud of her.
And Grant was dedicated to the Lord last Sunday in church. I have really enjoyed going to church here--have loved the sermons by Pastor Henry and his son, Landon. I am really looking forward to the Christmas Eve service there. And we still need to drive around and see the Christmas lights around San Angelo--there are so many pretty ones.
I like San Angelo and love visiting here. I can finally navigate around town without getting too lost. Many trips out to Christmas shop have helped out there. I remember back to my own childrearing days when Tammie and I would do our “marathon” shopping trip and get it all done in one long day. We would have very organized lists with what we were getting for each person and then lists of the stores we wanted to go to and in what order and what was on sale there and what we were looking for there. We would head to Austin about 8am and get back home sometimes as late as midnight (Austin was an hour away). We were totally exhausted but we got it all done in one day. It was so fun and now, after many, many trips out shopping--I really like the idea of just going one day and getting it done. Of course, that was in the days before on-line shopping. The Sears catalog is what the kids would pour over and circle what they wanted.
I must admit I am looking forward to being at home for awhile. I have been away from home in MF for so long. We were at the ranch from end of September until we were called to San Diego fires on October 23 and from there we went to New York then back home only two days before Thanksgiving when we left again for Leander then back home for one day to pack up for coming here with Jenny. So technically I have not been home for three months. We will go home the day after Christmas and on Friday three of my children and their families will arrive and stay through New Years. I admit I am a bit panicked about this as I really like to be all organized and the house all clean and food prepared before guests arrive. And there is no way that is happening this time. I have so much stuff here at Jenny’s and we picked up Gina at college and have all her stuff here and then add all the Christmas new stuff……….It just overwhelms me to think about it all. At least there are no Christmas decorations at home to be put away. I brought most of them to Jenny’s so she will get to do that part. But all this is okay. It will all work out and I try to remind myself that 10 minutes after the grandchildren arrive the house will be cluttered with toys and games and stuff anyway so what does it matter. It will be a crazy wonderful time and I am looking forward to seeing everyone.
Well, the house is waking up so my quiet blogging time is ending. Just wanted to post something to let it be known I am still around--just busy--and my mind so cluttered that the thoughts just won’t flow. By bedtime when the house is quiet and I should have the time to write--or even read blogs--I am just too tired and want to go to bed. I have really missed all the blogs and the connection to everyone. Maybe after the holidays when life returns to normal my thoughts will begin to flow again. MERRY CHRISTMAS!!
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
Adventures in Babysitting
I am into my second week now and thought I was getting the hang of this. Then today I had the bright idea of taking the boys to the library and park. My first venture away from home with both boys by myself. So Jenny and I switched cars so I would have all the car seats, etc. Story hour was at 10---we began the process of getting ready to leave and loaded into car at 9:30 but barely made it to library by 10. I forgot how hard it is to get it all together with two kids and actually out the door.....And to top it off when we got to library I realized I had left the full baby bottle warming in the sink. Then we get in the library only to find out they are not having story hour in December. How stupid (sorry, Mason doesn't allow me to say stupid)--how ridiculous is that---no Christmas stories????? We were disappointed but had fun picking out some books anyway. I love looking through all the Easy Readers remembering the days of reading the same books to my kids. (I raised 7+ kids--I am not new to this mothering thing) So picked out a few of my favorites and headed for the checkout. That is when Grant decided he was very unhappy and NOTHING would quiet him--not the pacifier, or Mason, or rocking him, or anything. It seemed like the lady took forever to check us out and he was howling like a banchee. Mason was holding the door open for me to make a quick escape. We had forgotten to bring in the book bag so Mason was trying to hold all our books and open the door, too, so of course, the books slid out of his hands into a big pile right in the middle of the doorway. I sat Grant down in his carrier and piled a stack of books on top of him while Mason grabbed the rest and we finally got to the car. As soon as I got Grant loaded and car turned on he stopped crying and fell asleep.
But I had promised the park to Mason so we went down the street to the park. I was not going to wake Grant (my mothering rule is you never waken a sleeping child) so I let him sleep while I stood outside the car where I could keep an eye on Mason playing. After 10 minutes Grant was awake and crying again so I took him out of car seat--grabbed the bottle I had brought that had less than 2 ounces left in it (the new full one being back home in the sink, remember) and we headed for a bench. It was a gorgeous sunny day but with a steady good cold wind and Grant does not care too much for wind. But in the sun it was nice and if I stood and held him with me blocking the wind he was happy for a bit. We sat in the swing and I fed him the bottle and Mason played. We had the park to ourselves except for the occasional adult walker. No other kids there. Mason had fun and entertained himself very well. We stuck it out for about 30 minutes til Grant had had enough and I bribed Mason to leave with the promise of popcorn chicken from Sonic.
I had never exactly tried to find my way to Sonic from this park so I temporarily lost my presence of mind and followed Mason's directions. Mason is 4. Need I say more. Had we turned left on College Hills Dr. we would have quickly found Sonic. But we turned right and took the long scenic route. But we got there. Thankfully, the service was quick and we were back home before Grant went off again. As we were sitting at the table eating, Mason says, "Isn't it good to just be back home, Gema?" Amen, Mason, amen
But I had promised the park to Mason so we went down the street to the park. I was not going to wake Grant (my mothering rule is you never waken a sleeping child) so I let him sleep while I stood outside the car where I could keep an eye on Mason playing. After 10 minutes Grant was awake and crying again so I took him out of car seat--grabbed the bottle I had brought that had less than 2 ounces left in it (the new full one being back home in the sink, remember) and we headed for a bench. It was a gorgeous sunny day but with a steady good cold wind and Grant does not care too much for wind. But in the sun it was nice and if I stood and held him with me blocking the wind he was happy for a bit. We sat in the swing and I fed him the bottle and Mason played. We had the park to ourselves except for the occasional adult walker. No other kids there. Mason had fun and entertained himself very well. We stuck it out for about 30 minutes til Grant had had enough and I bribed Mason to leave with the promise of popcorn chicken from Sonic.
I had never exactly tried to find my way to Sonic from this park so I temporarily lost my presence of mind and followed Mason's directions. Mason is 4. Need I say more. Had we turned left on College Hills Dr. we would have quickly found Sonic. But we turned right and took the long scenic route. But we got there. Thankfully, the service was quick and we were back home before Grant went off again. As we were sitting at the table eating, Mason says, "Isn't it good to just be back home, Gema?" Amen, Mason, amen
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Thanksgiving and Babysitting
I just want to send a big THANK YOU to Tania and Micah and to Tammie and Jess for hosting our Thanksgiving get together this year. I had such a wonderful time and it was so very good to be with all of you. Guys, I appreciate so much you letting us move in with you and bring chaos and mayhem to your homes. Your hospitality was awesome. The food was superb!! Thank you, everyone, for all the good food you brought. I felt like we really got to visit and have fun playing games and just enjoy being together. And the best part for me is getting to see the grandkids have so much fun together. And Adam, it was so good to be with you. Sorry about flaking out on the Capture the Flag--but it was so COLD! And Jerry, I applaud you for being brave enough to come to our biggest family function and live through it. It was a real blessing having you there and I really enjoyed playing games with you. I hope now that you are broke in, you will attend many more get togethers. So to all of you--it was great fun, fellowship and food. How blessed we are to have each other!
It is now the end of my second day of keeping Mason and Grant while Jenny goes back to teaching school. First day was a struggle trying to juggle them both. Mason wants me to play with him all the time and Grant wants to be held most of the time. He is doing great at taking the bottle but is mighty glad when Mama gets home and he is back to the real thing. He really is a good baby--just think he is missing Mama and getting used to me and all that. Today, Mason went to preschool so we had a quieter day. But he still really needed me to hold him lots--he just would sleep lots longer in my arms than in his bed. So consequently, I watched more TV today than in the past 6 weeks. Caught a good movie, lots of food network shows, and two I Love Lucy episodes plus a little news and weather channel thrown in. I even managed to get the laundry done, Mason's room and the kitchen cleaned, and finally finish going through all my mail from when we were in San Diego and New York. Grant was sure glad to see his Mama when she got home after a really long day--at 6:30--but not as happy as she was to see him. The long day had her in tears, she missed him so. Jenny is just meant to be a stay at home Mom. I am so glad I can do this little bit to help her out with this tough time right now. We had a nice spaghetti supper and quiet evening and both boys are sleeping now. Tomorrow I will have both of them again but I think we will try some outdoor time--go for a long walk or something.
Something funny: Yesterday Mason and I were playing tag out front and I was out of breath so I yelled "Time-out" and Mason corrected me by informing me you don't say timeout--you say 'Pause". Is he growing up in an electronic age or what??we even have to pause real games........
I am really enjoying my time with the boys. I am sure once we get into a little routine we can work into doing more fun and creative activities. It is just that it has been awhile since I did this .......
It is now the end of my second day of keeping Mason and Grant while Jenny goes back to teaching school. First day was a struggle trying to juggle them both. Mason wants me to play with him all the time and Grant wants to be held most of the time. He is doing great at taking the bottle but is mighty glad when Mama gets home and he is back to the real thing. He really is a good baby--just think he is missing Mama and getting used to me and all that. Today, Mason went to preschool so we had a quieter day. But he still really needed me to hold him lots--he just would sleep lots longer in my arms than in his bed. So consequently, I watched more TV today than in the past 6 weeks. Caught a good movie, lots of food network shows, and two I Love Lucy episodes plus a little news and weather channel thrown in. I even managed to get the laundry done, Mason's room and the kitchen cleaned, and finally finish going through all my mail from when we were in San Diego and New York. Grant was sure glad to see his Mama when she got home after a really long day--at 6:30--but not as happy as she was to see him. The long day had her in tears, she missed him so. Jenny is just meant to be a stay at home Mom. I am so glad I can do this little bit to help her out with this tough time right now. We had a nice spaghetti supper and quiet evening and both boys are sleeping now. Tomorrow I will have both of them again but I think we will try some outdoor time--go for a long walk or something.
Something funny: Yesterday Mason and I were playing tag out front and I was out of breath so I yelled "Time-out" and Mason corrected me by informing me you don't say timeout--you say 'Pause". Is he growing up in an electronic age or what??we even have to pause real games........
I am really enjoying my time with the boys. I am sure once we get into a little routine we can work into doing more fun and creative activities. It is just that it has been awhile since I did this .......
Monday, November 26, 2007
I'm Trying to Catch Up
Our life has been rather crazy and I am way behind in posting anything so am trying to catch up. We were in New York City on November 16. It is now Nov. 26 and I am at Jenny's house. Will blog more later about our wonderful Thanksgiving. Just didn't want to confuse anyone....
We Love New York!
Don and I love New York City. We spent five weeks here during 911 with Red Cross so really learned our way around the city. Twice we have had big family trips here at Christmas time, too. Each year when we go visit his family we make sure to spend a day or two in the city.
I love just exploring it--getting to just experience it and visit all the various parts of the city. I love the architecture, the different cultures, the foods, the sights, the sounds, the history, just all of it. We always buy a fun pass which allows you unlimited rides on the subway and buses so we zip all over the city.
Some of our standard/favorite spots to visit are:
I love just exploring it--getting to just experience it and visit all the various parts of the city. I love the architecture, the different cultures, the foods, the sights, the sounds, the history, just all of it. We always buy a fun pass which allows you unlimited rides on the subway and buses so we zip all over the city.
Some of our standard/favorite spots to visit are:
- ride the Staten Island Ferry (free) to see the Manhattan skyline and Statue of Liberty
- view from Empire State Building
- WoHops basement restaurant on a back street in Chinatown--best WonTon soup ever!
- Walking through Chinatown, Little Italy, Lower Eastside, Finacial District
- Upper Westside: Big Nick's, Hotel Newton, the great neighborhoods, fruit/veg. markets
- walking the Brooklyn Bridge (where Don proposed to me)
- Metropolitan Musuem of Art
- eating a hotdog from a vendor on the street
- Trinity Church--it is so very old and interesting
- Ground Zero
- Rockefeller Center area
- Riding the magic #5 bus up 5th avenue
- NY Public Library
- Chrysler building
- Grand Central Station
The list could go on and on. Suffice it to say we had a great but short visit to NYC. Just wanted to share a few pics with you.
Monday, November 12, 2007
More
We have much celebration around here. Big pasta supper for friends and family here last night and then the big graduation party today. Lots of good food and fun. Carol was overwhelmed with all the attention and admiration she got on her special day. She has been working on this degree a little at a time since 1992 so it was quite a celebration of her tenacity. I have no doubt she will be an awesome occupational therapist.
I have taken hundreds of photos of the autumn leaves--it is just so absolutely breathtakingly beautiful here. I just can’t drink in enough of this beauty. I had just had to post more pictures.
I have taken hundreds of photos of the autumn leaves--it is just so absolutely breathtakingly beautiful here. I just can’t drink in enough of this beauty. I had just had to post more pictures.
Saturday, November 10, 2007
Hello from New York
We left San Diego on Thursday for New York. What a long day of travel! We were up at 4am and left for the airport two hours ahead of our 7:20 flight. Traffic to airport was awful and the airport lines were even worse. We were thinking we would have time to grab a quick breakfast and Starbucks before leaving but that sure didn't happen. We made it to the plane just in time to walk on it. My body has sure gotten used to that strong Starbuck's coffee and I had a raging headache (caffeine withdrawal) the whole way to Cinncinati. Plane was fully loaded for that 3 hour 40 minute flight across the country. BUT, they did hand us a nice little snack pack for free that I was not expecting--crackers and cream cheese spread, raisins and oreos--so we did get something to eat and I got a coke for the caffeine but still did not fix my headache. When we got to Cinncinati we had to rush again to make our next plane which, of course, was at the far end of the next concourse. But I declared I was going to have my Starbucks even if we missed our connection so we grabbed a large coffee and a sandwich to go and were off and running. They were calling our names just as we entered the gate area so we rushed onto the plane. But, oh, that coffee and sandwich were so good. Great flight and we landed in Newark after being in a circle pattern for awhile waiting for an opportunity to land.
We had arranged for a rental car at Enterprise which was quite a bus ride out of the airport. But they were very nice and at last we were on our way to Claudia's(another sister of Don) house in Ridgewood, New Jersey where family was meeting for dinner. A home cooked meal--it was sooooo yummy and welcomed. Was so fun to see everyone. Don's dad and his wife, Lorraine had arrived that evening from Phoenix and his other sister, Chris, from Florida, had arrived earlier this week. A real family reunion. It was great. We are all gathered here for a big shindig on Sunday to celebrate Carol's (Barb's partner) graduation from college. She is getting her degree in Occupational Therapy. She has worked many years on this while working in the school system, too. She will be great in this field of work.
So that catches you up on us. Tania, I am busy collecting all kinds of leaves for you. Hope I am not supposed to be identifying them for you, too.........It was so good to get to internet and catch up with all you bloggers.
We love staying at Barb's house and after seeing the pictures I am sure you will see why. It is like staying at a lodge in the woods. So all is well with us and we are happy to be here. And God has certainly blessed us with beauty to behold.
We had arranged for a rental car at Enterprise which was quite a bus ride out of the airport. But they were very nice and at last we were on our way to Claudia's(another sister of Don) house in Ridgewood, New Jersey where family was meeting for dinner. A home cooked meal--it was sooooo yummy and welcomed. Was so fun to see everyone. Don's dad and his wife, Lorraine had arrived that evening from Phoenix and his other sister, Chris, from Florida, had arrived earlier this week. A real family reunion. It was great. We are all gathered here for a big shindig on Sunday to celebrate Carol's (Barb's partner) graduation from college. She is getting her degree in Occupational Therapy. She has worked many years on this while working in the school system, too. She will be great in this field of work.
So that catches you up on us. Tania, I am busy collecting all kinds of leaves for you. Hope I am not supposed to be identifying them for you, too.........It was so good to get to internet and catch up with all you bloggers.
We love staying at Barb's house and after seeing the pictures I am sure you will see why. It is like staying at a lodge in the woods. So all is well with us and we are happy to be here. And God has certainly blessed us with beauty to behold.
Thank you, God!!
God is so good. I prayed for there to still be colorful leaves on the trees when we got to New York and it is beautiful. We are at Don's sister's house in Stony Point, NY--it backs up to a state park. Then last night it began to snow--the first snowfall of the year. And we got to see it! It is just so beautiful. I love it! 
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
Look at me now!
I can drive the forklift now. I took a class so I would have my operator’s license to drive it on Red Cross jobs. It was a bit scary for me but I did it and it is fun. In spare time, I practice picking up pallets of stuff and placing them in a box truck then practice taking them out again.\
Things are winding down here. We are leaving on Thursday and I think most of our team will leave before then. Fires are out and the emergency is over. It will be sad to say goodbye to all our friends here. This has been a great experience.
After we left La Costa Resort they put us in another resort--Paradise Island. It is beautiful. I feel like I am in Hawaii--lush tropical vegetation and lagoons are everywhere. The true sounds we hear at night are like what you would hear on a nature sounds CD. The rooms are pretty standard--nice, but not super fancy. It is just a very nice family type resort--and much closer to our work site so no more 45 minute trips to work each day.
So Thursday we head for New York to be with Don’s family. Can’t wait to see them all. And Barb says the colors are really late this year so I just might get to see colorful fall leaves still on the trees.
Alisa says all is well at home with beautiful weather there.
We have not had internet since Tuesday when we had to leave La Costa so I sure miss my blogs.
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Back to reality
Our time is up in our luxurious resort which I have never yet gotten to see in the daylight. Red Cross informed us tonight is our last night here. Don't know where they are moving us yet so don't know if we will have internet or not. We are working long days but we have a great team and love our work. It is still crazy and ever changing and some people have been sent home already so don't know from one day to next what will happen. They opened another kitchen yesterday in the Ramona area north of us. We get up at 5, go to work and load and unload trucks all day long then get home about 9, shower, and collapse into bed and do it all again the next day. But we have had more laughs and fun on this operation and enjoyed our fellow workers more than any operation this year. We work hard but we have a blast doing it. We call our work area "Happyville"--which irritates all the folks who are disgruntled about not getting to do the job they wanted to do. Anyway, I will blog more later--I started one and will add to it. Later.
It's Marme's Fault
OK--here I am loading and unloading trucks all day long and walking all over a huge parking lot so I am getting all this great exercise and should be working off some weight. Then I read Marme's wonderful list of fall favorites and she has to mention Starbuck's Pumpkin Cream cheese muffins! I had never had one before (seldom get to a Starbucks) so thought in her honor and to savor the full fall experience I should try one. I am totally hooked. They are wonderful. I eat one every morning and can't wait until the next morning for another. I do not even want to know their calorie count. We get so little sleep and have to head out at 6am for the 40 mile commute in traffic so we always stop at Starbucks first thing. So if I come home 10 pounds heavier it is all Marme's fault. (But I still thank you, Marme).
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