then and now

Kids (and Nanas) say the darndest things!

2012-02-18T11:07:00.003-06:00

I have really enjoyed teaching this year...especially because I get to teach my grandson, Denver! The first week of school he called me "Mrs. Jordan" and that just sounded weird for my grandson to call me that, so I told him he didn't have to call me that...he could still call me Nana. He came up with "Mrs. Nana"! I loved it!
We've been studying the Solar System during science for the last month and they have loved it. Each of the three classes made a scaled model of the Solar System and we shared those with NASA during a video conference. Later we made our own models. Some made dioramas using shoe boxes and my very own "play-dough". (FYI...the play-dough wasn't nearly as easy as the directions stated! The kneading made my arms for hurt for days!!!) Others made posters of the planets. All of these were done in class. I had posters, play-dough, constuction paper, markers, pipe cleaners, beaded trim and glue scattered all over the room. It looked like a disaster area but the kids loved it and I enjoyed seeing them be creative...adding little details...the Asteroid Belt...rings around the outer planets...dwarf planets, such as Pluto, Ceres and their favorite Makemake!
As we were discussing the sun, I told my eager little listeners that the outer part of the sun was called the "corona". I asked one of my Hispanic students what "corona" meant in Spanish and she replied "crown". I repeated (in my horrible Texas drawl), "Yes...corona means crown!" Obviously, it sounded like I said "crou-on" because my adorable, smart grandson raised his hand and said, "Mrs. Nana...Do you mean if I go to Mexico and I want to color, I should ask for a corona?" Well, that took me by surprise because honestly, I was just waiting for someone in the room to announce that their parents drank Coronas! I know I must have looked somewhat puzzled...I tilted my head and looked at him and asked him to explain. He said, "You know...I need a crayon to color with! Do I say I want a corona?" OMG!!! I started laughing when I realized I had pronounced "crown" with such a Texas accent that my own grandson misunderstood me!!!! We all had a good laugh and I started trying to say "crown" the correct way!
Crown-Crayon-Corona....After the week full of projects, I think I'll take the Corona but a "crayon" and coke might be a good choice, too!!!!
Happy weekend all!

Frustration

2011-11-28T20:19:00.002-06:00

It is beyond me that anyone can take a perfectly normal positive conversation and completely turn it around to make it negative. Long time...no blogging....but I just had to get that off my chest!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Shocked by the Clothesline!

2011-02-06T17:09:00.005-06:00

I grew up in a large family...3 older brothers, 1 older sister and a younger sister. Barbara was 17 when I was born, Terry was 13, Larry 10 and Richie was 7. My family had endured lots of hardships before I came along. In fact, the week before I was born, the doctors at Warm Springs Gonzales had called my parents to come get my brother, Terry and bring him home. The news was...he would not walk again. You see, Terry had polio. He came down with it when he was only 8 years old and he had been in hospitals for five years. One day he was a healthy boy, running around the farm and the next day he was paralyzed. Terry almost died several times during his first few months with polio. It must have been a frightening time for my parents and my siblings. I can't even imagine! During this same time, my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer and she had one breast removed. Children were shuffled to aunts' and uncles' homes and they were without parents and a brother. Through all of this, they survived. Mother lived for another 46 years and Terry lived for about 50 more years. And I had an extremely normal childhood...with the exception of a mother with only one breast and a brother who could not walk and who slept each night in an iron lung. Lots of pranks were pulled in our household....some quite funny...some quite dangerous!
One prank was pulled on me by my brother, Richie when I was only about seven. I was a small child. At age seven, I may have weighed about 40 lbs.....I was a "shrimp". I was a whiny shrimp at that. I never ate. Most of our family meals were devoted to trying to get me to eat so that I wouldn't "blow away" in the West Texas winds! This caused me to cry and my cries prompted my brothers to recite the old saying..."Nobody loves me, everybody hates me, I'm going out to eat worms!" More tears would follow until I was in a rage! On this particular summer morning, Richie had gone out in the backyard to bring some clothes in off the clothesline for Mother. In the process, the clothesline had shocked him.....You see, Terry was an avid Ham Radio operator and his radio antenna was attached to the clothesline poles. Evidently, something had happened and his antenna was not grounded properly. So, Richie thought it would be funny for the "shrimp" to get shocked!
I ran to the backyard to fetch the clothes....I was so small that I barely even reached the clothesline. So I tiptoed and stretched to reach the clothespins, but once I did, the electricity caused me to grab the line. My other hand shot up to pull my other hand away and both hands were glued fast to the line. Electricity was flowing through all 40 pounds of my skinny little body! Richie was watching out the bedroom window....hoping to see something funny...only to see his little sister shaking and screaming! I could feel my toes digging into the soft damp ground...I knew I would soon dig to China if someone didn't save me! Richie ran from the house and jumped off the ground to tackle me. We landed on the ground....I was lifeless. I couldn't move at all. He carried me as I screamed and wailed into the house where Mother promptly lay me on her bed and began to put clean clothes on me...(including clean panties...Heaven forbid I go to the hospital without clean panties!). My fear was that I would be like Terry...confined to a wheelchair the rest of my life! However, by the time I got to the hospital, I was moving my arms and my legs.....Luckily there were no burns on my hands....just a scared little girl and a scared and very sorry big brother! Daddy quickly grounded the antenna, but it took me years to be brave enough to touch that clothesline again. It was....just a prank....and we lived through it...giving us another story to tell as we grew older! I still tend to avoid clotheslines..........

The Last Ft. Worth Stock Show

2011-02-06T11:26:00.007-06:00

We braved the icy conditions of the roads Friday morning to venture out to the Ft. Worth Stock Show. I worried that we wouldn't make it. It began snowing about 8:30 on Thursday night. We had made taco soup and invited Jenifer, Colton and Tracey over for a hot bowl to warm us up and some buttermilk pie to fatten us up. I love my Crossfire buddies....I would have loved for all of them to have come over...we always have such a good time! Anyway, Tracey slipped on my front steps as she left and she ended up getting SIX staples in the back of her head....I felt so bad even though I (I'm ashamed to say....) LMAO when she fell! So...after the fall from the ice and snow, I was worried that we wouldn't make it to the stock show. However, Donald heated up the pick-up at 5:00 a.m. on Friday morning and we began our adventure in the ice and snow. Lauren had even sent me a message on Facebook and gave me a thumbs up on the roads (thanks!). He put it in four wheel drive and we headed up north on the icy roads! Luckily the roads had enough snow on them for some traction. We seemed to be the only ones on the road until we got to Weatherford and just like magic...there were more cars/trucks on the interstate. The snow fell on us all the way to Ft. Worth. We made it and hurried through the mud and slush and ice into the cold, smelly barns to find Dillan. He was just coming into the show ring when we got there....Those judges don't mess around...if they like your steer, they send you to the middle....if not, they send you out the door and unfortunately, Dillan was sent out the door! Donald and I browsed in the exhibit hall where I found a concho belt and some delicious dips. We also chowed down on some stew in a bread bowl, giant baked potato and a delicious, famous Ft. Worth Stock Show cinnamon roll! Kevin, Cari and Tristin had made the trip up, and they bought Tristin a cowboy hat. Dillan did NOT ask for money to buy fake cigarettes or sand art this year!!!! I guess that's one of the good things about being the parent of a senior!!!! It is a little bittersweet.....our last big show at Ft. Worth for Dillan. However...there are the grand kids and Denver will be old enough to show next year. I only thought I was through with the stock shows! I guess there will be more early morning trips....more smelly barns....more muddy boots....more cinnamon rolls....more good time and good memories!!!!

VOMIT=$8.00 tip?????

2010-12-30T10:22:00.004-06:00

Last night was a busy evening at Crossfire Cafe....to say the least! Customers were filling the seats and I was the only server. In the midst of all the bustle and hustle, the hostess came running to me telling me that the little girl at table 32 had barfed! Well, I knew exactly who it was, and she wasn't little...she was about 10 and pudgy at that. LeAnne assured me SHE COULD NOT CLEAN IT UP, so I ran to the back to get my "safety gloves" and found some old towels and a black tub! Great...just what I needed. I put my smiley face on and went to the table to find the daddy sitting there with a big grin on his face. Vomit had covered the table. This child had spewed all over the table and all three plates! Obviously she had thrown up her entire dinner, plus her breakfast, lunch and some of her Christmas dinner as well. I began wiping the slimy goo off the table...trying not to add my own vomit to it. There were about 6 tables sitting around me, watching me as I tried to clean and make small talk to dear old dad. He informed me that he and his 4 kids all have a gagging reflex problem. (Really???? Take a barf bag with you, dude!)

Me: I have four children...and I teach school. I'm used to vomit. (NOT like this though!)

Dad: (Leaning back in his chair...sporting a smug look while chewing on a toothpick) Yea....all four of my kids have a gagging problem. One of my sons hates the dentist. All he has to do is see the dentist coming his way and he starts gagging and throwing up.

Me: (I'm sure the dentist hates your son, too!) Oh, really? Well, let me have your plate and I'll clean up underneath it. (He doesn't move....just lets me pick up his plate of vomit, along with his wife's plate and daughter's plate)

Dad: Could you bring me the check and a to go coke for my little girl?

Me: Sure.....Do you need anything else? (like a giant plastic trash bag in case her gagging reflex starts up again in the car?)

I haul the black tub of puke to the back porch....cursing under my breath! The cook staff gave me a look of dismay as I rushed toward the trash bin! I take back the bill and a to go coke. The "little girl" and mom had returned at that point. None of them said "Thanks for cleaning up Donna's puke!" They just left.......and graciously gave me an $8.00 tip. Now normally that is a great tip....but for cleaning up someone else's body functions....I DON'T THINK SO!
I began disinfecting the table....wiping it over and over....spray and wipe...get a new towel...spray and wipe....repeat, repeat, repeat!
Luckily, the restaurant began clearing out....good...hopefully no more pukers were left!

Honestly folks.......................................................$8.00???????

Oh....Happy New Year!

Mama Gaga

2010-11-10T23:38:00.004-06:00

This is Dillan's senior year. It is really hard to believe that he will be graduating and all the nifty things he does this year will be for the last time! We had the senior pep rally last week and it was absolutely so much fun! I felt like a school girl at a slumber party while we dressed in our "Lady Gaga" attire! I was so pleased with the mothers who joined us and I loved seeing all the creations they came up with! I was proud of myself. I didn't forget the dance and I didn't cry at the end of the pep rally. It was good to see such a great group of teenagers! I'm so proud of all of them. So many of them have gone through a lot...parents divorcing...parents dieing....and I just look at them and see a group that has stuck together and have survived! It seems like yesterday they were in third grade and I was trying to teach them to multiply and use "higher level thinking skills"!!!! What a great group! I'm so glad to have been a part of their lives!

The Eagles

2010-10-11T21:24:00.004-05:00

What a lucky gal I am! My sister's hubby was given tickets to ACL - Austin City Limits - for Sunday night and the Eagles were the last band to perform. I was just ecstatic to have this chance, I mean , my GOSH....THE EAGLES! This was THE group I loved when I was in high school! How many times did we drive around the square back in Anson, Texas singing "Take It Easy" or "Witchy Woman"???? I never even imagined I would have the chance to see them in person! But...yesterday...10-10-10...I set out towards Austin, Texas....having NO IDEA where I was going! As much as I've secretly wanted to be a "hippie"...I've never even been to Zilker Park! Luckily Cari guided me via telephone....she knew exactly how to get me there! I parked at Congress and Riverside and walked about 10 miles...it seemed! I was told it was closer to 1 mile! I followed the crowd....people of all races...style...age....all of us marching towards our destination....passing a vast array of people who gathered along Barton Springs Rd. Some were vendors attempting to sell their wares to the thousands who passed them! There was everything from organic pitas to colorful glass pipes and bongs to "Keep Austin Weird" t-shirts! Musicians also played along the way with ukuleles, guitars and tambourines hoping passerbyers would drop some coins in their tip box. One laughing group sat in a small trailer park sharing a bottle of wine! All the while we trudged on being tempted by the pedicabs that rang their bike bells and called for us to let them "take us on a ride to the park!" I finally made it after about a 30 minute hike. They checked my Life is Good backpack and sent me on into the gates where Lisa waited with my FREE ticket. I looked out onto a sea of people who walked throughout the park....all of us there because of our love of music and our dream to see musicians that we loved. We bought drinks and found a place to throw down our blanket while we listened to Band of Horses and Norah Jones. We moved toward the Eagles stage while Norah sang....walking swiftly through the mass of strangers....bumping and nudging them as we plowed forward, finally finding a spot near the left side of the stage. Eight o'clock finally arrived, along with the roar of the crowd in anticipation to the first song! We stood and smiled and laughed amidst a crowd that sang and danced and swayed....all of us moving to the beat of the music underneath a sliver of a crescent moon....beautiful night....beautiful weather....perfect....all of us enjoying a "peaceful...easy feeling..."

Thank you, Lisa!!!!

I'm Warning YOU!

2010-09-26T21:14:00.006-05:00

What a weekend! I rose with the sun on Saturday morning....4:30 a.m. to be exact! Donald was off bright and early and I decided to get on the road and head to Lisa's in LaGrange.....really we had grand plans of heading to Warrington, Texas....home of one of the largest antique fairs ever...the Warrington/Round Top Antique Fair. You may be asking yourself why I have a picture of a yellow porta-potty. That is my story....and let this statement be on the record....I AM WARNING YOU. I have a history of stomach problems...from way back in high school when as a 17 yr. old I spent my Thanksgiving holiday in the Anson Hospital having a barium enema. The diagnosis back in 1972 was that I had a "nervous stomach" and I was put on meds for my "problem"....which consisted of going to the bathroom immediately after eating.

Well....Saturday morning was absolutely beautiful! I saw the sun rise and loved the picture it painted until the sun rose high enough to blind me! I stopped at Starbucks in Temple and grabbed my usual venti skinny vanilla latte and lowfat berry muffin. Loved every bite and sip! Anyway, I began to feel like my stomach might act up, but I was looking forward to my trip and I put the "pain" in the back of my mind....telling myself that it would go away. I surprised Lisa by getting to her house at 8:30 in the morning...we hopped in her Explorer and headed the mere 7 miles to the crowds of people who had gathered to buy or barter or browse or binge! We headed to our favorite spot...Junk Gypsies and decided that the prices on t-shirts had sky-rocketed and we just "browsed"! We set out on a journey to find the "cheapest cute stuff" we could find. Before long, we were starving and I decided that some food on my stomach would make me feel better. We found foot long State Fair corn dogs and some ribbon fries and a much need table under a shade! After filling our tummies, we set out in search of a bargain. It didn't take long for me to start looking for a porta-potty. As much as I hate to "go" in one of those things, I knew I HAD to find one. We knew exactly where to find one...there were some located behind a barn and there were shade trees near them....as well as some tables and chairs near (but far enough to be on the safe side). Now....this is where you may want to sign off........

I was sick....really sick....like I was not gonna make it sick! I locked myself into the "yellow box" and started sweating. I really wanted to die....now this sickness I have gives me, you know...the "D" word. And I don't like having "D" in a "yellow box", but there was nothing I could do. I sat and sat and sweated and sweated for about 15 min. Wearily, I shuffled back to where Lisa was sitting and I told her again about how sick I was. And then it hit me again...I had to go back...once again I was in the "hot yellow box" for about 20 minutes....I returned to Lisa when it hit again....and I scooted on back to the "stinky hot yellow box". This time I was sure I was gonna die. I was so hot....I can't believe I feel the need to tell you all this but...I'm thinking it might make you feel better about yourself if you are ever in my shape......well, I was so hot, began to take my clothes off. Off came my shirt and my capris....just sitting there in my bra and panties....sick and sweating. Lisa came to check on me and I actually had her to open the door for me while I sat there...until someone came near. My hair and body was dripping with sweat. I finally dressed (hard to do in one of those things...) and returned to Lisa. About that time, an answered prayers occurred...the lady that lived on the property near the porta potties, drove up. Lisa actually knew her and went over to tell her I was sick and asked if we could go into her house so I could use her bathroom. Honest Injun....I went into a complete stranger's house to go to the bathroom! Oh...it was wonderful....the air conditioner was on and a blast of cold arctic air hit me in the face as I entered the stranger's house. It had to be turned down to at least 55 degrees and I didn't even think twice about the big black pit bulldog that was sitting on the couch when we walked in. It felt wonderful. I sat on normal "potty" in a normal bathroom and I began to feel as if I was gonna survive! After about an hour of being sick....I felt better. The "sickness" always seems to leave as quickly as it arrives. I looked back on the events of that horrid hour and asked myself if I really sat naked in one of those "yellow boxes". Oh...it was bad...I just can't tell you how bad, BUT once we left the lady's house, we set out with a new outlook on life! Poor Lisa...she had to wait on me and my sickness...but thank goodness she was there to open and shut the porta potty door for me! In order to remember my stay in the "yellow box", I found some really cute "yellow box" flip flops and I bought them. They actually made me feel much better!

What is that smell?

2010-09-12T21:03:00.007-05:00

I smell like breast milk and spit-up. It's not my breast milk or my spit-up. I've been keeping Madilyn and Denton this weekend so Hillary could go to Austin with her hubby, Dennis for her birthday. She left me about ten 6-8 oz. disposable bags full of breast milk so I could feed Mr. Denton. I put them in the freezer but before I knew it, they were thawing...one by one... in the fridge! He was so good and he didn't seem to mind the bottle he was getting it from at all! But he ate and ate and ate and I was beginning to get worried. What if he drank all his milk??? And then, he spit up an entire bottle on me. It was yellow and curdled. I suspected that this may have been some of the milk from early June that Hill had frozen after he was born....BUT....we didn't have milk to spare! What if he needed more????I began to worry even more. She sent a large container of liquid Similac, but I knew if I had to open it, that it would ruin before he drank it all. So I began to plan......I would get out of the house someway and go to the grocery store. But how the hell was I gonna go anywhere with these little beings in tow. I had not left my house since Friday night when Donald and I took Denton and Madilyn to the football game...which by the way was great fun....we sat with Gina and Denver and Averi....but since Gina is assistant principal, she had to "monitor" the end zones and make sure no one was playing in the end zones (school rules and another blog)...but Averi and Maddie entertained us with cheers. Madilyn is quite the hip shaker!!!! Anyway, once we made it home that night, Madilyn and Denton went straight to bed. And Denton slept til 6:00 the next morning. Averi came over to join us about 9:00 Saturday morning. She wanted pancakes, so while Gina was there to hold Denton, I made pancakes for my grand-daughters! After that...I stayed pretty much 100% busy. I forgot what it was like to have a baby and small children! And at one point in my life, I had a baby, a 9 yr. old, a 14 yr. old, and a 17 yr. old......I was an expert! But OMG, that was years ago!!!! This morning I spent holding that precious baby...I couldn't stand to put him down and let him cry. So I rocked and fed him and burped him and read to the girls and fed him and burped him and changed him and fed him and over and over! Lunch for the girls was a peanut butter and granny's jelly sandwich...chex mix...mandarin oranges...I ate the edges of their leftover sandwiches and three pretzels from the chex mix and four mandarin oranges...I noticed after lunch that I was still in my pajamas. So, I lay Denton down and pulled on a Life is Good t-shirt and my khaki Columbia shorts. The girls were playing "mommy" with several dolls and of course my old cell phones....I was rocking Denton and noticed that Averi and Madilyn were in the other recliner, rocking their babies and "talking" on their cell phones. We all took a nap and I woke up with a greater appreciation for life!!! It was time to feed Denton again....I'm counting "milk bags" and trying to calculate how long they'll last if he eats 6 oz. every 3 hours or 8 oz. every 4 hours....math.......I look down and notice my tshirt has "milk" stains all over it! And I'm beginning to really smell. I've not had a shower since Friday morning and it's about 5:30 p.m. on Saturday by now! The girls are hungry, so I prop Denton in the crook of my left arm and throw a box of chicken nuggets in the microwave, and warm up some macaroni and cheese and open a can of corn to heat on the stove top. The girls chow down like they are in a five star restaurant! I eat 1/2 of Maddie's leftover chicken nugget and a spoonful of corn. I'm beginning to wonder if I've eaten today! Luckily, the girls want dessert later, and I fix them a root beer float! Averi drinks all of hers, but Maddie shares, hmmm, maybe three sips with me!!!! I put the girls in the shower while I get Denton ready for bed. My kitchen is a wreck. There is an empty can of corn, an empty box of chicken nuggets and velveeta mac and cheese all on the counter. Paper plates are on the table.....four dirty bottles are in the sink along with my coffee cup and the empty float cups....kernels of corn are on the floor...and there is a chicken nugget under the kitchen table. I'm tempted to pick it up and eat it....I'm hungry! I don't have time to clean nor any desire. I get the girls out of the shower and put them in their matching jammies and get their beds ready on the floor. We turn "Ice Age" on for the millionth time (today!!!) and I begin to smell my shirt....not good! Worse than that, I'm beginning to wonder if I even put deodorant on this morning. I know I didn't brush my hair all day! No one wants to lay down to sleep except me....I'm tired...and I stink. The girls are fighting over the same mattress that I've put on the floor. They finally crawl up into Dillan's bed....I put Denton in his playpen...and I put two pillows at the end of the baby mattress that I had put on the floor for Maddie....I collapsed on the baby mattress, not caring that my feet were hanging off the end of it. Denton only sleeps about 30 minutes so I get up with him and give him his midnight bottle (only four bags of milk left!). We rock in the recliner and sleep there until about 2:00 a.m. I head back to my baby mattress....he wakes again about 3:00 and we head back to the recliner where we sleep til 5:00...I fall onto my baby mattress not caring that my feet are on the floor! He wakes at 6:00 and the girls follow at 7:00. Donald agrees to watch them while I go to the grocery store and get more milk and some bananas. I still smell like spit up, but I do have on a clean t-shirt and clean shorts. I don't remember if I put on deoderant....again...I've still not showered since Friday morning! The grocery store is freezing...I'm glad I remembered my bra! I grab the food and find a can of powdered Similac...just in case he doesn't like the liquid Similac!!! I return to hungry girls and a hungry baby. We have biscuits and honey/butter for breakfast....I eat...finally! We bathe Denton and lather him lotion. He smells so good and I'm jealous of a 3 month old! Gina picks Averi up about 9:00....Maddie was not too happy about that, but I reminded her it was her mommy's birthday, so she made a birthday card just for Hillary. I decide to go to Alco...a major decision on my part...but we do it! I get them into their carseats and remember that I've still not put on makeup or brushed my hair or taken a shower!!! Who cares???? We make it to Alco and I find Hillary a card and some dish towels (what a crappy gift!!!). But we made it! We survived and soon....with only one bag of breast milk left....Hillary and Dennis return! What a fun weekend we all had!!! Before I knew it, they were pulling out of the driveway, heading back to Waco...leaving me with a sweet smell on my shoulder......no more little ones in the house....no more "Ice Age"....no more singing "The Fox went out on a chilly night"....ohhhh.....I miss them.....maybe I'll go take a shower!!!!

Wicked Witch rides in Thunderstorm

2010-07-28T14:46:00.004-05:00

After several hours of watching Hannah Montana and The Suite Lives of Zack and Cody, I had enough! You can't imagine how excited I was when Denver turned to an old Donald Duck
cartoon! It was short lived and soon Hannah and her dad were reading the script as they told silly jokes about body functions. Anyway, before going insane, I suggested a bike ride! We all pulled on our shoes and dashed out the door to get on the bikes. Denver and Averi reminded me to do a "bike check" (thanks to the bike show we had at school this year) and sure 'nuf, we had to air up three tires! Thank goodness the streets in my neighborhood are fairly level. However, I'm sure I could see my legs becoming muscular as I pumped that bike down the street! We all rolled along singing one of my favorite Harry Nilsson songs..."Driving along at 57,000 miles an hour...look at those people standing on the petals of a flower...look at those petals pumping for a little bit of power....wow o wow o o o!" Anyway, we were having a good time until we started hearing rumbling from the sky. The clouds were turning dark and noisy! I could just imagine a tornado swooping down and carrying me into the sky while I was on my bike....and all the school kids would see me riding through the air and think of me as the wicked witch in Wizard of Oz....By the way....the song you hear as she is riding in the clouds is the song I hum whenever I see anyone on a bike or when I'm on a bike. So after a good 45 minutes of riding, Averi informed me that her knees hurt. Thunder and tired legs sent us back to the house to relax and.....watch...oh, no...you've got to be kidding...Denver has Zack and Cody on again.....These shows are really as bad as you can imagine!!!!!

Two Gypsies

2010-07-23T21:08:00.010-05:00

Lisa and I met at Hillary's on Sunday, July 18. We loaded up in the Black Honda and sped away, stopping immediately at Sonic to load up on caffeine! We headed out of Waco towards East Texas....promising each other we would stop whenever and where ever we wanted to stop!

By the time we got to Corsicana we were beginning to feel hunger pains....the almonds and walnuts we had been snacking on weren't quite as filling as these two traveling gypsies needed. We stopped at Collins Street Bakery with high hopes of a delicious sandwich and maybe some of the baked cookies that lined the glass shelves. However, after waiting 45 minutes on Lisa's sandwich (they lost the order!), we left the joint with heavy hearts. They did take half off our sandwiches and a bag of cookies that no one else wanted.

Ruby joined us along the way. She was too much for us at times and we had to put her in the trunk!

We picked these two fellas up to keep Ruby company, but had to let them out down the road because they had horrific gas.

Soon the rolling hills turned to piney woods....tall trees towering over us like skyscrapers...and the highway turned to a red brick road.....and there we found Richie and Linda's apartment!

It was great to see them! We went to eat at Jason's Deli....wonderful as always. It makes me feel like I didn't eat too much when I eat all their fresh, organic food. I stuffed myself with all the makings of a salad, organic humus....pudding sprinkled with granola....Full of good food, we returned to Richie and Linda's house to laugh at facebook and all the events in our lives! We climbed into bed....it was just like going to a bed and breakfast. The bed was soft and covered in a white down comforter...just perfect until a few minutes after turning out the light, we were blinded by a bright fluorescent light, similar to a UFO shining in the window. The television had come on for about 5 seconds and scared the peewadins out of us!

After a good night's sleep, we headed to LaPorte to visit with Larry and Margaret Ann. It was wonderful to see them. We puttered around the backyard and laughed about our memories of Mother. It never failed that after a visit to Larry's, Mother would go home to West Texas with the goodies she had taken from their tropical backyard paradise and try to plant them in that hard red dirt in her hot, dry backyard!

Notice the mailbox...it came from Mother and Daddy's house in Anson! And then notice the Christmas lights on their back porch.....leftovers from a Christmas party! They loved them so much they left them up!

Supper was a typical bay side dish.....shrimp boil! We could have fed a dozen more! It was wonderful!

On the way home....we made a quick trip to IKEA! We browsed the top floor and then finally found the IKEA cafe! We loaded up on coffee and Ballerina cookies! Neither of us will be ballerinas after the amount of food we ate on our trip!

As Ruby says, "Folks...I can guarantee you....we had a wonderful time! But now....On the Road again....Like a band of gypsies we go down the highway....We're the best of friends...Insisting that the world keep turning our way...and our way!"

Hey Cupcakes!

2010-07-15T10:36:00.008-05:00

It takes a lot of car seats and patience to buckle up FIVE precious pieces of cargo!!!!!
Now...Let the wild rumpus begin!!!!!
What happens with Nana....stays with Nana!!!

Steak and Shake was delish!!!! Personally, I did not stay on any sort of healthy diet during my stay in Austin!

Waiting for the bats to fly!!!!

Denton would rather be snoozing, but Madilyn ready for the flight!

It was great to have Lisa and my niece, Bonnie to help hold a hand....Five kids....Five adults....it was definitely helpful...We felt like we had played a basketball game that night....the Kids won!!!! They may have been little, but they were feisty!

Hi!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Before this happy picture....Hillary had to jump in after Madilyn! I walked in to find Hillary's shorts and t-shirt dripping wet....Madilyn decided to go into the pool WITHOUT her floaties and Hillary decided to go in WITHOUT changing into her swimsuit first! Maddie wore her floaties after realizing she couldn't "walk in the pool" like Denver and Averi!

Denton....3 weeks and Tristin....9 1/2 months! Wow...what a difference a few months makes...as well as a few meals!!!

Nana crew! Averi, Denver, Madilyn, Tristin, and Denton....

hey cupcake! on Congress Ave.....amazing cupcakes BUT, I suggest you go at night or during the winter months to avoid the heat that reflects from that shiny trailer!!! Wow it was hot!
You might want to take a new box of Wet Wipes because you will have icing all over your face and hands.....it would be convenient if they offered a shower afterwards!

Kevin joined us for this excursion!

What an amazing time I had! Let me just say, it was much easier to travel back in the "olden" days....we spent 50% of our time unbuckling and buckling car seats!!! Since Cari lives in Buda, I took Hillary and Denton to her house to stay. I wanted to stay at Hampton Inn with Denver, Averi and Madilyn so they could swim and be loud and jump on the beds in the motel room. Luckily this motel had a rule...Rule 32823 You can only jump on the bed between 6:00 p.m and 7:00 p.m. The kids were great....they all took turns pushing the button on the elevator (they chose the floor we could stay on...which was 4...I'm sure they would have chosen 9 if they had offered it to us!). They also took turns helping me with the key-card. Lisa and Bonnie came to join our fun and after a swim, we headed to Steak and Shake for supper before heading to the Congress Bridge to watch the bats. The bats were not cooperative at all and didn't start leaving on their nightly flight until after dark...so we couldn't see as much as we wanted. We stopped by Amy's Ice Cream for a late night snack....sooo good! We didn't get to tour the Capitol, but I promised them we would go back during August for that. Nana sorta got lost on the way to the Capitol and the kids sorta fell asleep on our way. So we settled for a slushie! And of course, we stopped by hey cupcake! on our way home and it was fabulous! I'm ready for another trip....well, not today. I need to take a few naps and do a few pushups before I take them all again!

Contacts

2010-07-07T23:12:00.005-05:00

Okay...so I'm as old as..well...let's just say I'm over half a century (ouch). For some weird reason, I decided I should try contact lenses. Today was my first day. I had to go for a "tutorial" and it was embarrassing. I nearly failed. I know I frustrated the he!! out of the poor "tutor". I could not get the fricking contact in my left eye. I got the right contact in after three tries. But, OMG, I could not get in the left. I wanted to cry. I was so mad at myself. I know the lady that was helping me was thinking "This is the oldest woman in the world to come in and try to wear contacts. As old as she is, surely she can get the darn thing in her eye." I know I heard those words come out of her! I know she felt the same way I do when I try to teach a third grader how to explain multiplication and they can't! "Sweetheart, can you show me with your tiles how you multiply 5 x 2?" For some reason, they can't show me! "Honey, make five groups of two" and they come up with two groups of four. It drives me crazy and this is what I was doing to this lady today. She kept telling me to open my eye when I was putting the contact in, but my eyelids would not cooperate....at all. It is abnormal to keep your eye open when your finger is headed toward it! After about 15 attempts, I finally got the lefty in....I was elated and then she told me to take them out and do it all over again. I obeyed, unwillingly. And I finally got the hang of it. However, I had no makeup left under my eyes and I had wiped half of my eye shadow off. I looked like a clown...an OLD clown. I wore them for the prescribed 5 hours and I was able to get them out without calling 911! Mission accomplished...now we'll see about tomorrow!

Out of Shape/Signs of Aging

2010-07-01T12:33:00.005-05:00

I am so out of shape! It hit me this morning when I awoke to sore legs....I'm sad to say that it may be because I went up a long flight of stairs! Sad, huh? Lazy ladies should take the elevator and NOT the stairs...especially if you've spent your summer sitting on your rear checking out FACEBOOK, playing FARKLE or catching up on HGTV! But Lisa and I were determined not to appear as old as a couple of old sisters who shuffle around the mall in their SAS walking shoes and matching t-shirts. So we high stepped up the flight of stairs at The Shops in Waco! http://www.shopsofriversquarecenter.com/ I really love this place, but in order to enjoy it you have to venture upstairs. Lisa and I had just enjoyed a Rt. 44 Sonic drink (hooray for happy hour!) and lunch at Hillary's. We felt it would be best to take the stairs instead of the elevator so we could burn off a few calories...once you get up the stairs there seems to be about 5 acres of "wonder"! Oh...so much to see! We walked and browsed and "oohed and aahed", sniffed and dabbed and even made a few purchases. It was wonderful until 24 hours had passed and my legs began to hurt! I know...it is sad and I have plans to start walking and exercising again..I really do..just as soon as I go to get a coke at Sonic (it's Happy Hour!), check my FACEBOOK, play a few games of FARKLE

and finish watching this episode of House Hunters!

JUST SAY NO!

Braggin' Rights

2010-06-30T23:48:00.004-05:00

This is a bragging post! Hillary and Dennis welcomed Denton Karl Thom into the world on June 21! Hillary had a smooth delivery and Denton was just perfect. I'm so blessed to have five adorable grandchildren...along with their parents...and of course Dillan who hopefully is years away from parenthood! Just want to show my little brood off!

Dillan just off the plane from 10 days in Europe. He was extra excited to get his iPhone back!

Tristin....he's 8 1/2 months and is growing up way too fast! He is cutting teeth and learning to crawl. He'll be walking before we know it!

Madilyn...just about an hour before her little brother was born. Denton was 6 lbs. and 13 oz. and 20 inches long. Isn't he a doll?

Cousins....Denton, Averi -5, Denver-7, Tristin 8 1/2 months and Maddie-3.

Proud Uncle Dillan and big sister Maddie

Home from the hospital....so so sweet!

Maddie came to Nana's house for a few days after Denton was born. Averi and Denver came over for a sleepover...we sang and danced and turned flips and rode bikes and swam and tried really hard to sleep!

The night before Denton was born, Hillary asked Maddie what she would do once Denton was born. Maddie said, "I'm gonna stick him back in!" Looks like she may have changed her mind! Isn't this adorable?

Caldrea

2010-06-30T22:57:00.006-05:00

I love the days when Lily comes to clean my house! There is nothing better than coming home to a clean smelling house...floors mopped and vacuumed...furniture dusted....bathrooms clean (no nasty commodes)....kitchen spotless.....rugs scattered in all the wrong places (that drives me crazy, but I'll not complain too much). While in Waco, I shopped at my favorite place...The Shops. This week all their Caldrea products were on sale...40% off! I was ecstatic! I love Caldrea products. My favorite fragrance is Ginger Pomelo....let me say it is heavenly! The countertop cleaner is super and makes the kitchen smell divine. The all-purpose cleaner can be use anywhere...I guess that's why they call it all-purpose cleaner. Lily uses it to mop the floors and clean the bathrooms.

My new fav is the Linen Spray! It can be used anywhere to make the house smell fresh and clean. I love to spray it on my sheets before I go to bed or I guess you could spray the sheets when you wake up...whatever or whenever...you'll love it.

Now this bad boy brush is just what the doctor ordered. I bought it on sale as well! It is gigantic....it's about 10 inches long and the brush will cover a large area! I think I might even want to clean my floor or my shower with it! Or if I really want to clean my teeth, I can use it for my daily tooth cleansing.

If you are looking for some super cleaning supplies...you might try these products. I think you'll love them. At least buy the Linen Spray and just squirt away and at least your house will smell good even if it's dirty!

Grandmothers

2010-06-22T08:40:00.004-05:00

I officially have five grandchildren now and that makes me sound like an old lady who sits in her rocker with a dip of snuff watching "Days of Our Lives"! Do you remember your grandmother??? Mine were OLD by the time I got along!

Mama Cox had a butt-load of grandkids...since she had 16 kids of her own. (Those reality shows have nothing on her!) Mama Cox lived in Anson on the "north" side of town....just off the street that took you to the "New Addition" (which I always thought was hilarious cause the houses were built in the 50's and 60's....I wonder if it's still called the "new addition") Anyways....she lived in a little two bedroom house with no air conditioning (we all had no air conditioning...just window units...except for those who lived in the "new addition"...now those houses had the real thing!). When we went to see Mama Cox, she would be sitting in her rocking chair just a rockin away and dipping snuff, while a trickle of the brown molasses looking juice would barely escape the edge of her smile before she wiped it away with a handkerchief! I loved Mama Cox...she later moved to the rest home and died peacefully..in her rocking chair after reading her Bible....now that's the way to go! That was the first and only time I ever saw my daddy cry!

Mama Warren lived in Abilene...on the north side of town...just as you come in from Anson. Her house was also without air. We had to go see Mama Warren every Saturday and in the summer on a week-day every now and then... and let me tell you...it was a chore! She was addicted to "Days of Our Lives" and pain-killers. Lisa and I hated to go there...there was nothing to eat unless she had a box of saltine crackers and nothing to play with. Mother finally let us leave some paper dolls there and when we went we would go to her bedroom and play paper dolls while Mama W. and mother discussed the lives of Doug and Julie on "Days" and Mama W. planned her next trip to the drug store. After a while, we would get ready to take Mama W. to town (which meant grocery store, drug store and Thornton's dept. store). We watched in awe as Mama W. put on her old shoes (they looked like the type the wicked witch of the west wore in Wizard of Oz). Now, Mama Warren had big toes that had to have been 4-5 inches long cause they curved behind her other toes all the way to her little toe and beyond, if I remember correctly. I prayed nightly as a child that my toes would not grow like that. Once we got her shoes on, she would grab her purse and we would all head to town for a terribly boring trip. Mama Warren had a fear of escalators, so we had to coax her to even get on one. Lisa and I would go up and down them 5 or 6 times trying to convince her to get on...and that was the best part of the shopping trip. If we were good (very very good..."you girls be nice...Cheri don't be ugly to Lisa!") we got to go to Mackey's Toy Store after we left Mama Warren at her house with a fresh box of saltines and a supply of pain medications. We usually only got to look at the toys, but the store had air conditioning so we were fairly happy. I always wanted to get on the bikes and bouncing horses while Mother was steering us over to the doll section. Anyway, Mama Warren later moved to a rest home. We would have to visit her there and dodge the old women who would try to grab Lisa and I for a hug. Mama Warren died when I was about 13.

So...there are my memories of my grandmothers....hopefully I can leave a better memory with my grandkids.....so I vow to always have a fresh box of Nabisco Crackers...a beautiful pedicure...toys galore.....and a Bible next to my rocking chair! I'll hide the snuff and the pain pills until the grandkids leave so I can "dip" and relax while I watch "Days of Our Lives"!

Grandkids Galore!

2010-06-21T00:35:00.002-05:00

Tonight is my last night to be Nana of four....tomorrow (or should I say "today"...it's already after midnight!) I'll have my 5th grandchild! I'm so excited and so blessed! If all goes as predicted, Hillary will have a baby boy...Denton Karl. I can't even sleep.....but luckily Madilyn has passed out for the night! Hopefully Hillary and Dennis are getting some shuteye. We asked Maddie tonight how he was coming out and she said Hillary was giving him a key! Then we asked what she would do with him when she saw him and she said, "Put him back in!" OOOPS!

As for me, I'll share my lap and all my love with one more precious addition! I can't wait to meet him and "fall in love" all over again! Hillary and Dennis are leaving at 5:15 a.m. and I'm staying here with Maddie until she wakes up. Then we'll load up and head to the hospital. Pictures will be posted.

Hi! My name is Cheri and I'll be your server.....

2010-05-31T00:12:00.003-05:00

"Hi! My name is Cheri and I'll be your server tonight. May I take your drink order or get you started on some appetizers? We have some really good onion rings or jalapeno shooters."
For the past two years, I have repeated this phrase over and over.....not only do I teach school, but I also work at Crossfire Cafe as a server/waitress...choose whichever you choose to call me. The word server sounds more like fancy schmancy restaurant or someone who goes to church all the time....and waitress pretty much reminds me of the ladies who work at Jake and Dorothy's in Stephenville...walking around taking orders with a cigarette hanging out of their mouth! Well...here's hoping not to offend anyone...and maybe make a few helpful suggestions on your next eating out experience!
The following experiences are true...the names have been changed to protect the innocent.
Me - "Would you like water with your beer/tea/margarita/wine?"
Jill - "Oh...no...I don't need any water."
Me - I hurry off to wait on other tables...running food back and forth when I see Jill waving at me.
Jill - "You know...I do believe I want some water."
Me - (smiling) "Of course let me get that for you. Have you decided what you want to order for your meal?"
Jill - "Yes...I want the filet....medium rare...well maybe just medium....hmmmmmmmm...if I order medium and it is too done then I won't like it. Let me just order medium rare. Is that very red in the middle....oh....let me think....yes....medium rare."
Me- "What two sides do you want? You get two sides and a salad. Our sides are baked potato, mashed potatoes, french fries, green beans, fried okra or green chile grits."
Jill- "You know I think I want to change my order....Jack you order first."
Jack - "Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh...Okay....well.....let....me.....see....hmmmmmmmmmmm...How big is that filet?"
Me- "It's 6 - 8 ounces."
Jack- "Well how big is the ribeye?"
Me- "It's 12 ounces."
Jack- "Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. Let me see. Which one would you get?"
Me - "My favorite is the filet! (smiling...as I look around at 3 other tables who need my help)"
Jack- "Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm....do you think I would like it? I think I'll get the ribeye cooked medium rare. Now is that still red in the middle?"
Me - "Yes...it will be a bit pink. What two sides do you want?"
Jack - "Now, what are your sides?"
Me - "Baked potato, mashed potatoes, french fries, green beans, fried okra, and grits. You also get a salad"
Jack - "How are the french fries cut? Are they frozen?"
Me - "We actually peel the potatoes and put them through a french fry cutter."
Jack- "What about the mashed potatoes.....are they from a box?"
Me - "No. We boil our potatoes and then mash them...just like Grandma!"
Jack- "I think I'll take a baked potato. What comes on them?"
Me - "Butter, sour cream, bacon and cheese."
Jack - "Well, well, well....so much for the diet! Let's just get it loaded. And then I'll take the fried okra. But could you get them to fry it and make sure it is crispy but not burnt?"
Me- "Yes. What kind of salad dressing would you like? We have Ranch, Thousand Island, Vinaigrette, Blue Cheese and Honey Mustard "
Jack-"I want French."
Me -" Sir, we don't have French."
Jack-"Oh....no.....I just don't even want a salad if you don't have French. I can't believe you don't have French. Do they not have any anywhere???"
Me - "No, sir. I'm sorry." (I look up to see impatient customers sitting in my section...and decide to hurry the process along.) Okay, maam...have you decided what you wanted to eat?"
Jill- "Well, it all looks so good. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm....let me see. Jack did you get the ribeye or the filet?"
Jack - "Ribeye"
Jill - "Hmmm. This is so hard. I want the filet, but I think I've decided I want it medium. Could you ask them not to make sure there is no fat on it and not to cook it near any fat or use any butter?"
Me - "Sure. Now what two sides did you want?"
Jill - "Now what are the sides again?"
Me -"Baked potato, mashed potatoes, french fries, green beans, fried okra, or green chile grits. You get two sides and a salad."
Jill - "Hmmmmmmmmmm. I want green beans, but no butter on them. And I want a baked potato with sour cream only on it. Could they put just a few little pieces of cheese on it?"
Me- "Sure. Now what about a salad dressing?"
Jill - "Hmmmmmmmm. Do you have a diet dressing?"
Me- "No...."(It's getting close to closing and I have 3 more tables to wait on!)
Jill - "Well....just get me Ranch on the side. I don't want onions."
Me - "Ok....Is there anything else?"
Jack-"You know....I think I will get a salad with Ranch, no Honey Mustard, no just put Ranch on the salad. And I need to change my fried okra to french fries. I'll just share those with our little Junior. He is also out of formula. Could you take this back to the kitchen and warm his milk for him? And we never did get that water we asked for! Could you bring us some water? And could you put some in a little Styrofoam cup for little Junior?"
Me - "Of course I will!" (order placed....and finally brought to the customers )
Me - "Is there anything else you need?"
Jill-" Yes...we need napkins."
Me -" Sure ...let me get you some. Can you think of anything else?"
Jill -"No...just napkins." (I go to fetch napkins and return with a buttload of them for little Junior to tear up...I'm sure.)
Jill - "Oh, thank you. But could you go get us some ketchup?"
Me- "Of course....are you sure there is nothing else?"
Jill- "That should do it." (I hurry for the ketchup and return.)
Jack - "I could use a beer. Could you go order one? What kind do you have on draft?"
Me- "Bud lite, Coors lite, Miller Lite and Ziggenbauch (sp?????) Are you a member of our club? We are a private club and can only serve alcohol to members."
Jack - "I don't remember."
Me - "Could I run your driver's license?'
Jack -"What???? Can't you see I'm over 21???? "
Me - "Sir, it is our policy. I'm sorry for the inconvenience."
Jack -"Here...I'll take a Bud Lite."
I return with a member ship card to sign and the happy couple eat and drink as they give little Junior french fries and bread and an empty styrofoam cup....all the while little Junior is throwing french fries on the floor, along with his bread, torn up napkin and tiny pieces of styrofoam that he has nibbled and spit out. While waiting, I fill their glasses up 6 times with tea, four times with water, grab another beer and refill their bread basket even though they still had four pieces of bread in it...yet insisted on needing more bread.) They loved their food...Jack and Jill were full and happy...said..."Best steak we've ever had!" I smile but once they leave, it looks as if little Junior has had a field day under the table....the floor is covered in napkins, french fries, bread and styrofoam. The styrofoam pieces are so tiny they evade me as I try to sweep them up.
Best of all....this $60 table leaves me a whopping $3.00 tip. I pick it up and clean my area.
At the end of the night after I've waited on 12 - 15 different tables and filled countless tea/water glasses or run to the bar for a drink...after I've visited with at least 45 people or repeated the sides at least 40 times...after I've cleaned my tables and swept the floor...after we've mopped our areas and run our reports, I add my tips up....sometimes I'm quite pleased. Then, there are some nights that are just a little disappointing.....but on those nights, I always tell myself..."Cheri, that's $45 more than you had when you came out." I check out....grab my apron and book that contains my tip money...walk to the car and hope that tomorrow will be a better night!

My New Bra

2010-05-29T00:20:00.004-05:00

What the heck????? So, here's the deal....... Cari gave me some of her old bras after she gave birth in October. Boobs grow during pregnancy and after (if you breastfeed). After Tritstin came along, she had grown out of her bras, so she handed them down to me....hand-me-down bras. She gave me several and most of them were just a bit too small and worn. You know how you get attached to bras...I'm thinking she just wanted them to be given to someone who would take care of them...anyway, I did keep some of them, which is quite exciting because the cost of a bra can easily equal 1/4 of a days work! This morning I grabbed one of her hand-me-down bras and put it on. It fit great...however, after I put on my shirt, I realized the straps were a little tight. I started working on it, trying to find the contraption that loosens or tightens it. So, I've got my shirt pulled over at the neck working away on this "new bra" and I notice a little snap at the bottom of my front strap.....I mashed the snap and OMG......I realized I HAD ON A NURSING BRA!!!!! It was too late to change, so I wore it to school and laughed about it all day! I'm thinking you're never too old to wear a nursing bra.....and it was a great conversation piece!!!!

Words with Friends

2010-05-21T21:15:00.003-05:00

Lately I've become addicted to WORDS WITH FRIENDS. It's not the type of addiction that calls for rehab or at least not yet. Hi. My name is Cheri. I am a wordaholic. I know it can be quite irritating to those around me. I sometimes take my iPhone to the lunchroom with me (the office might call) and I try to sneak in a few words while munching on a bowl of Honey Nut Cheerios. I took it to the library the other day while Kayla and I listened to 33 third graders read the bibliographies they had written and show the creature in camouflage they had created in science. The temptation overtook me after the 7th child tried to read their own handwriting and I let my addiction take over. After about three plays and a dirty look from Kayla, I took my phone back to the room and left it there. I had a major anxiety/separation attack, but Kayla assured me it would be okay. My addiction is also very irritating to Donald. I think the fact that my phone dings at odd hours of the night with the night owls I play against is about to get the best of him. Regardless...I love the game! I've actually expanded my vocabulary. I'm sharing some of my favorite WORDS and their definitions! I'll begin with my favorite new word.......fard.

FARD - to paint the face with cosmetics
DIPT - transitive verb or intransitive verb of dip....(that's right...dipped or dipt..who'd of thunk????)
AHI - there, near the listener
QI - pronounced chi. Chinese word for natural energy of the universe ( the Q is worth 10 points. And if you're lucky...you can place it on a DW (double word) or TW (triple word)
RETE - network of blood vessels
LWEI - name of a network of rivers in Angola
FER - another word/dialect for FOR! (I'm thinking maybe Texan dialect...Whatcha wanna do that fer?)

I'm hoping my sister gets an iPhone for her birthday...she is a mean scrabble player and I'm thinking we could really get into some games during the summer! Well...I'm off....I think I need to fard.

WARNING!!!! FIRE HAZARD!

2010-05-16T12:17:00.005-05:00

I don't know if any of you have seen the news reports or read of the massive amounts of schools that have burned because of children's work that has been hung on the walls of teachers who were ignorant. These teachers had no idea that if they hung their student's stories or proudly drawn artwork that a fire would attack these pieces of work and cause the school burn down! It's so sad! I've spent hours reading and grieving for all the schools that have burned (Haven't you?). And all because of these crazy teachers who wanted to show their student's work! Another reason all these school are burning is because some teachers are ignorant enough to actually bring a couch into their classroom. Nevermind that children love to sit on the couch and snuggle up with a good book and let their imagination wander into never-never land! Or, too bad that some children get sick at school and find comfort taking a nap or resting on the teacher's couch. None of that matters....all that matters is that ALL TEACHERS MUST GET RID OF COUCHES BECAUSE THEY ARE A FIRE HAZARD! It doesn't matter that these children spend hours at school and that some teachers try to make their classroom homey with a couch or the student's work or decorative posters hanging on the walls. No no no no no!!!! We must save all schools from burning. We must make our rooms sparse and lifeless. Take all the artwork from the halls. Take ribbons and pictures off the lockers! We are losing too many schools because of these teachers who have the nerve to include these hazardous items in their rooms. The good news is...our school will be safe! The FIRE MARSHALL has blessed us with his presence and opened our eyes to our ignorance. Our school will take all the papers off the doors (you know...IF there is a fire in the hall, the door will burn faster if the papers on the door catch fire). We will be free of self-portraits adorning our lockers. We will only hang papers on the bulletin board. We will nevermore hang artsy/craftsy decor from our ceilings (for fear of fire). We will rid our rooms of the soft old couch that children love to sit on. I even loaded my old couch up on Saturday and deposited her at the dump! I shed a few tears as we dropped the couch off....lots of stories have been read on that old couch....a few naps have been taken because of a child with a headache.....lots of comforting has been done because of hurt feelings at school..... but that really doesn't matter now, does it???? I'm wondering what we will do with all the books in our rooms? I certainly hope they aren't considered a fire hazard!

TOMS - ONE FOR ONE

2010-05-11T21:31:00.006-05:00

I went shopping a few weeks ago and bought myself some new shoes. I had looked for TOMS last summer, but couldn't find them in my size. I found a place in Waco near the Baylor campus that sold them and I treated myself to a pair of black ones. I had no idea how much I would like them. They are wonderful and "with every pair you purchase, TOMS will give a pair of new shoes to a child in need. One for One." What a cool idea! These are now my favorite shoes...not too dressy, but comfy deluxe!

So on Saturday I took Dillan to Barton Creek Square Mall in Austin after the band contest and we found them at Nordstom. I chose a new pair of olive TOMS...too cute! Dillan even bought a pair of black ones, but first he called Will to make sure he was okay with him buying the "same color" Will had! You can see how much I've worn the black ones...they are already dirty! This summer, I plan to buy some and try to paint them! Anyway, so I figure I've helped to donate three pairs of shoes to a child in need...makes me feel better about buying new shoes!

Peace, Love and Boots

2010-05-03T19:57:00.004-05:00

On Saturday Donald and I went to San Saba to Harry's.....a western store that has been there for years. I love the way the old wooden floors creak and how the store smells of leather! A few years ago his brother bought Harry's. They've spent lots of time and money renovating the store. There are like four sections downstairs....men's boots, men's clothing, children's boots and clothing, and women's boots and clothing. Upstairs has another section where you can find a vast array of hats..Bonanza hats...old man hats...George Strait hats...felt hats...floating down the river hats..even $1000 hats!!!! Donald immediately went upstairs to try on hats....he doesn't need one, BUT I'm sure he felt compelled to try as many on as he could. He even tried some on identical to ones he owns....I told the salesman that NOW I knew what it was like for a man to wait on a woman in a shoe store! Well...speaking of shoes....we ventured down the creaky staircase and I decided to go look at the boots...just one more time. I've looked for months for a new pair of boots. Well, Saturday was my lucky day. I found a pair that I absolutely fell head over heels in love with. I grabbed them...I pulled them on and walked in them. They were perfect! We bought them and I wore them to the Sweetest Loop dance on Saturday night. Everyone loved them! When I showed them to Dillan....he was even impressed! I've got to find something to wear with them now......

TAKS TEST

2010-04-28T23:22:00.003-05:00

The past two days we have given the TAKS test to our third graders. I swore my life away to the secrecy of the test and vowed not to look at it or inform anyone of the information on it....hmmm. Well, anyway, I'm tired of this silly test. On Tuesday, we gave the math test. Our "babies" spent 2-3 hours working on this test. I was blown away at the intensity of which they worked.....their little faces puzzled...stretching their little hands after using strategies...wondering when it's time for lunch....asking the most important question, "Aren't we having recess????"....work, work, work. Today we gave the reading test and they spent 3-4 1/2 hours. These kids are serious about this test and they don't want to disappoint anyone! I wanted to kick the test makers in the face. Why do they give a test that requires these children to sit for this length of time? Surely there is a better way to test them. Adults don't even sit for this length of time and work on anything. High school students who take SAT or ACT tests work for 3-4 hours...(I think). It is so much stress on these kiddos. I realize there must be a way to measure their knowledge, but it has gotten out of hand and from what I hear, the test will change and become even harder. Surely there is a way to test in a shorter amount of time! Funny thing is....we usually know who will pass it before the test is even passed out for them to take! The new test will be called STAR...I believe. We shall see what the STARs have in store for us!

Hillary's Shower for Denton

2010-04-19T19:08:00.003-05:00

Denton Karl Thom....due to arrive the last of June! We can't wait for him to join our family! Cari bought beautiful flowers in Austin and made the cute initials! Leanne Jackson make an adorable and delicious cake! Gina's punch was a BIG hit!

Two adorable girls....Madilyn Bryce Thom...she'll be the big sister and Averi Grace Poe...she'll have a new cousin!

Hillary and I.....She's so beautiful! She has that "motherly" glow! Lisa and Darlene enjoying some refreshments!

Cari helped Hillary record all her gifts. She got the cutest little boy clothes! He'll certainly be the best-dressed newborn boy in town!

Maddie and Averi enjoyed holding Tristin! He'll have a playmate soon!

Gina (aka...Aunt Jeanie...as Maddie calls her) enjoying some time with the little ones.

Hillary and Dennis....both so thankful for all their gifts for little Denton!

Dillan's Prom

2010-04-19T18:35:00.006-05:00

This was Dillan's first prom and he asked Megan Massingill to go to the prom with him. Megan was expecting Dillan to pick her up at 4:45, BUT Dillan didn't get home from Lubbock...where he had gone for cotton judging (where the team won 8th in State!) until 4:15. He went to his dad's to get his tux and went to the Bottlinger's to get Charlie's King Ranch truck and finally got to the house at 4:35 to get ready!

He jumped in the shower and got his tux on. Cari was a great help with his cuff links and hair! She dried his hair while I put on his tie while he was buttoning his shirt!!!!

It was a group effort, but we got him out of the house in 10 minutes!!!! He headed to Megan's lookin' pretty good!

Megan looked adorable! I can't believe they are old enough to go to the prom!

They all decided to eat at Storm's due to lack of time to go anywhere else! As Dillan backed out of Megan's drive, he backed up and reminded me he needed $$$$ to eat! Thank goodness they were only going to Storm's.....I didn't have that much cash with me! Here he is with Megan, Nic, and Maura. An entire crew of Juniors joined them at Storm's.

Dillan threw in a few poses for me. He's such a funny fella!

Actually....Nic and Megan are dating! But Dillan loves Nic, too!!!!!

I had to leave for work, but Cari and Hillary went to the Grand March to get more pictures! It was fun to see them all dressed up! I find it hard to believe they will be Seniors next year! It has been a fun group of kids to watch grow up!!!

Mama Cox's Buttermilk Pie

2010-04-05T21:01:00.018-05:00

Over the Easter weekend I pulled out a frozen buttermilk pie that I had baked at Christmas and then frozen "for later". Well...noone touched it! So I kept two pieces and gave the rest to Cari and Kevin....telling them to take a piece to Dillan. Our two pieces were eaten last night. Dillan came by this morning on his way to school and wanted pie for breakfast...for some reason he hadn't gotten his pie from Cari (????). So I promised him a pie for dessert tonight. This is my grandmother's recipe and it is delicious and super easy. I doubled the recipe and it gave me 3 pies. I usually make my own crust, but because of time and convenience I used a Marie Callender's frozen crust today! I'll give the recipe for a single pie. Like I said, I doubled the recipe and made three pies. They freeze well. Just let them cool and wrap them in foil. Stick them in your freezer and enjoy later. I always think, "If you're gonna make one, you might as well make 2 or 3!"

Cream 1 stick of (real) softened butter with 2 cups of sugar.

Add 3 heaping tablespoons of flour and continue to mix.

Beat in 3 eggs (mine came from the Evanson's. Aren't they beautiful?).

Add two teaspoons of vanilla. I've used all my Mexican vanilla, which I love!

Add 1 cup of buttermilk and mix well.

Pour into an unbaked 9 inch pie shell and bake at 350 degrees for 50 - 60 minutes.

Enjoy your pie..........It is a real treat!

Mama Cox's Buttermilk Pie Recipe

1 stick butter

2 cups sugar

3 heaping Tbl. flour

3 eggs

1 cup buttermilk

2 tsp. vanilla

Cream butter, sugar, and flour. Add other ingredients. Mix well. Pour in an unbaked 9 inch crust. Bake at 350 degrees for 50-60 minutes.

Steps for a fun Easter Weekend

2010-04-04T21:50:00.031-05:00

1. Play a game of basketball....get all hot and sweaty! 2. Have a picnic! My grandkids love to have picnic in Nana's backyard. We had grilled cheese sandwiches, Chex mix, mandarin oranges and a root beer. Denver wore an old wig for the occasion!

3. Go to the Polster's for a "reproduction" lesson! They have a pond with two frogs mating and a whole pond full of frog eggs!

Momma and Daddy frog getting it on!

4. Take lots of pictures while playing in the driveway!

5. Learn to ride a bike! Donald taught Denver how to ride a bike and he really took off on it! He had a few "ouchies" from falling, but he really did a great job!

6. Paint Easter eggs! We boiled about 3 dozen eggs and they were beautiful once we colored them.

We even had company! Bella came over for a lesson in coloring eggs...unfortunately she got some of the dye on her dress. Sorry Alyssa!

Averi and Maddie as they colored eggs.

Results of a good time! It took lots of Ajax to get our fingers clean!

7. Get all the cousins together! Tristin loves his older cousins!

8. Make homemade cinnamon rolls with the girls! This was so much fun and Averi and Maddie were very helpful!

9. Go outside to get a little sunshine! Tristin loves to go outside! Cari will be quite busy this summer!

10. Have an Easter egg hunt and inspect all the goodies! We got all the eggs hunted just before I went to Crossfire to work! I hope everyone had a blessed Easter! As you can see...I did!

Making Cinnamon Rolls

2010-04-04T21:04:00.009-05:00

There is nothing better than homemade cinnamon rolls. I have to confess...It has been years since I've made any. But I had all the grandkids with me Saturday morning and we decided it was the perfect morning to get flour all over the kitchen and ourselves.

Denver didn't care to help, but Averi and Maddie loved getting on the stool and helping Nana roll out the dough.
Tristin didn't know what to think about all the chattering!

Averi helped me ice the baked cinnamon rolls. We had been waiting 2 hours for this!

And the finished product......

This recipe came from my dear friend, Beverly Phillips. It is really easy and delicious!

Beverly's Cinnamon Rolls

2 T sugar

6 T shortening

1 tsp salt

Mix together until smooth.

Stir 1 1/2 cups lukewarm milk into above mixture.

Mix 2 packages dry yeast into mixture.

Add 4 cups flour and mix with wooden spoon.

Cover with damp cloth and let rise until double or about 30 minutes.

Take half the dough and roll out flat on floured surface.

Pour 1/3 stick melted butter over dough and spread.

Cover with sugar and cinnamon.

Roll up and slice. (Repeat for other 1/2 of dough) Put in pan and let rise 30 min. Bake 10-15 min. at 375 degrees.

Ice immediately!

Beverly's Butter Icing

1/4 cup soft butter

2 cups sifted powdered sugar

2 T cream or milk

1/8 tsp salt

1 tsp vanilla

Mix in order given. Beat on medium speed until thick enough to spread - more cream or sugar may be added to give desired consistency.

After cinnamon rolls are iced....eat immediately! These are best with a glass of cold milk or cup of coffee. But they are especially delicious when shared with someone you love!

Enjoy!

Gone too soon

2010-04-01T23:47:00.003-05:00

My heart is heavy tonight. I just learned that a former student/friend has died. Denial....Oh, no...are you sure? It couldn't be true.....But it is. A young man is gone. I taught him in 3rd grade...he was only my daughter's age. I was in the play, Dearly Beloved, with him. He was funny and happy and had ambition. He had gone from being one of my students to a friend. I'm so sorry for his family. I'm glad he was my friend. I'm glad I got to spend some of his last days with him. I have happy memories.

The other young man who was killed was married to one of my former students. My heart is breaking for his family...for his young wife and child.

I pray for these families...for peace and for understanding.

Twiggy

2010-03-29T18:42:00.008-05:00

My hair drives me crazy. At this moment I need a haircut like NO other! I'm trying to think of what I want to do with my hair...I'm just having a little trouble. I'm tempted to let it grow, so I can pull it back into with a rubber band....I won't call it a pony tail...that sounds like I have a long tail bouncing back and forth! I just want to have it long enough to pull it back and not do a thing with it. But then, I remember how I get headaches when I pull my hair back. Maybe this time I won't. Maybe I'll just get it whacked off! When I was in the 8th grade I had long hair. It was down to my waist....my mother loved my long hair....long hair was all I knew. But back in 1968 there was a new star on the horizon! Her name was Twiggy. I decided that I would cut my hair like hers. It was a short cut...very short! I'm not sure why my mother gave in, but she did. I had my hair all whacked off (I found my 1968 curly pony tail in my cedar chest a few months ago!). I loved it....but what would my friends think? Now for those of you who have a memory of being 13, you know that your friends can at times be blunt. I still remember walking into the gym the next morning before school....that's where we gathered before school started. All the girls were sitting together and shouted in unison, "Cheri looks like Twiggy!" I was so embarrassed. I don't know why it bothered me....that was the person I modeled my haircut after. The truth was....my hair and parts of my body did look like her! (Not my face!) She was known for her short hair and flat chest. I had not blossomed in the breast area one bit...in fact I didn't even wear a bra. My mother said I didn't need one...my best friend would bring one of her bras to school each morning and I would change into it in the bathroom and then out of it before I went home! So there I was in all my glory...flat chest and short hair. So....I'm back to square one...WHAT DO I DO WITH MY HAIR???? I know that the Twiggy cut is out of the question!

Signs of Aging 13/Fatigue

2010-03-29T18:22:00.004-05:00

I've probably already written about being tired, but too bad...here I go again. I was exhausted today. Fatigue sat in with a vengeance. I left school early enough to go to the Post Office and check my mail. I'm expecting a package so I needed to get there before 4:00. Once I checked my box (no package) I raced to Sonic for my Happy Hour Coke. (Love them!) I pulled into my garage and hit my garage door remote control. I guess there was something about the hummmm of that crazy garage door closing that just lulled me into a nap. I put my head on the back of the headrest and thought...."I'm just gonna sit here a minute." Before I knew it, my head hit the steering wheel! Scared the pee out of me! I had fallen asleep. It was pitch dark in the garage and I really wasn't sure where I was! I grabbed my Rt. 44 Coke and ambled into the house. I glanced at the clock....it was 4:25! I had dozed for 25 minutes......IN MY CAR!!! Luckily there is no sign of bruising where I hit my head! It will be an early bedtime tonight...hope I make it through Dancing with the Stars!

My friend, Gladys

2010-03-27T09:02:00.007-05:00

When I moved to this house 3 years ago, one of the first things I remember was being startled by a noise at my living room window. There, pecking away was a female cardinal. She wasn't too pretty compared to her male counterpart who was a beautiful bright deep red...She was brown with just a bit of red on her wings and a beautiful red beak. That first morning I assumed that she hit my front living room window by accident. After about 5 minutes of ceaseless hits, she stopped only to move to my side living room window. That first summer she tried to visit each morning. She has continued to return. She usually comes around 9:00 a.m.....so on school mornings I don't hear her. But weekends, holidays and summers she's there....perpetual....round-the-clock she is! Even visitors comment, "Did you know you have a bird trying to get in?" I've grown quite fond of her. I've named her "Gladys". She has lots of desirable qualities....and a few that some may think unfavorable.

She is sort of a "plain Jane" but so am I....

She is quite stubborn.

She is persistent.

She knows what she wants (that's in here).

She doesn't give up on getting in (I think she likes me!).

She must have a good sense of humor because she keeps running into that window!

She's happy.

If I could, I would ask her in....offer her a cup of tea and maybe an English muffin. I like her!

Cracks

2010-03-27T06:34:00.004-05:00

I'm tired of seeing cracks. And I'm not even talking about teenage or adult cracks...I'm talking about kid cracks. At school I'm exposed to about 5-6 cracks a day. I think baby cracks are cute. In fact there is nothing cuter than a babies bottom BUT once you get in school...I'm not much on cracks. I even see them during lunch....talk about losing my appetite....ewww. If I could just eat one meal without feeling compelled to put a quarter in the "jukebox", I'd be happy!

Some cracks are bigger than others but at this point it doesn't even matter the size. It's the beginning of someone's butt....I just want to walk by and pull up their britches or give them a wedgie or yank down their shirt....but I won't do that. I would really get in trouble!

I adore my students...even those whose cracks I view on a daily basis....I just am not sure I wanted to get to know them that well! Even some of my students are offended by the crack exposition and they "report" about the crack show. It makes it hard to do group work and play games on the floor when someone's crack is exposed.

I realize it is impossible to find high waisted jeans for kids...but there are things such as LONG shirts. Maybe that should be part of the dress code...I think one of our old rules was to tuck in your shirt. So we could add more rules.....Rule #192 Don't show your crack. Wear a long shirt to cover your crack.
But then they would probably have to write another rule.
Rule #193 You can wear a long shirt if your crack shows, but if your crack doesn't show you must tuck your shirt in.

I guess there isn't much I can do about it....Oh well...gotta go....It's the butt-crack of dawn and I've got to get busy!

Teresa...Teacher of the Year

2010-03-25T22:18:00.006-05:00

Tonight Kayla and I were M.C. for the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce. We performed as "Pearl and Ruby". We had a wonderful time, but we were also there to honor our dear friend and teaching partner, Teresa Collett. I love Teresa. She is a wonderful friend, mother, grandmother, daughter, sister and TEACHER! She so deserved this honor. She has been so helpful to me as I teach. Summer before last....just a few weeks before her daughter's wedding, she found out she had breast cancer. When she shared the news, we were in shock..denial...not OUR Teresa! We prayed and prayed with her....right there in the classroom or even in the car or in her home! She spent half the next school year at home while taking chemo. We missed her so much! She adds such spark to our team...she has the most wonderful humor and shares amazing stories. She takes such time with her students and cares for them all. Teresa made it back to school after Christmas last year. She has been an example of strength and stamina and faith. Thank you God, for blessing our school with a wonderful teacher like Teresa. Thanks for blessing our lives with a friend like Teresa and thank you for allowing her to come back to teach with us!

No Dancin' in Anson

2010-03-22T19:43:00.005-05:00

My youngest, Dillan is going to the PROM with Megan Massingill. Now growing up in Anson, Texas in the Bible Belt of Texas....20 miles north of Abilene where three Christian Colleges made their home, I was not privy to dancing. There was "no dancin' in Anson" and that meant there were no proms. That's right...none...zilch...nada...zero! There was an actual city ordinance that stated there would be no dancing within 100 yards (or feet I don't recall) of a church. The First Baptist Church shared the high school parking lot and the Church of Christ was across the street from the high school. Even though we had a Jr./Sr. Banquet, we were not allowed to have a prom. I had no idea how to dance...it was a sin! It was against the law! We always had our banquets in Abilene and it never occurred to us to have a PROM in Abilene! Once I moved to Hamilton, I realized there were REAL LIVE PROMS!!! These came complete with the Grand March where everyone within a 20 mile radius of Hamilton came to see who wore what and who went with whom! It was beyond my small town no-dancing belief!

Tonight Holly brought Megan's prom dress over so we could decide what type of tux/shirt/vest/tie Dillan should wear. It took me back in time to when my oldest kids started wanting to dance. It was quite a shock to me and I had no experience in the dancing process. So, I'll share my stories...........
My first experience with my child being tempted with dancing was when Derek was in the 7th grade. He had been invited by an older, taller, more developed (in my eyes) 8th grader. I wasn't ready for my little boy to go to these dances....my momma always told me that dancing led to sex and I wasn't at all ready for Derek to be tempted with sex! All I could imagine was my little 4ft. 9in. boy dancing with a 5ft. 4in. girl and her having her breast in his face as they danced the two-step. What would I do???? I couldn't allow him to be tempted this way, and much to my relief, he came to me one night telling me he really didn't want to go anyway. Such relief...he would not be tempted! I told him to tell her, "My mother wants me to wait until I'm in the 8th grade to go to the dance." Surely next year when he was an 8th grader there would be someone closer to his own height at least to dance with and part of the temptation would be diminished!

When Derek was a Junior in high school, he was dating a Senior and they went to the prom. I had no idea you had to order a tux! Luckily, I overheard someone talking and we got one ordered. What I didn't order was the corsage.....The day of the PROM, I happened to be in the flower shop and noticed that people were picking up corsages....Oh...crap....what had I NOT done??? I begged Jill to please whip up a corsage for Derek's date....which would have been just hunky dory if his date's mom hadn't come in to pick up Derek's boutonniere! Now this lady had grown up with proms and she had triplet daughters and lots of experience with PROM rituals! She was not happy with us because of our ignorance of the proper procedures of proms!
He made it and hopefully was not tempted!

Once Hillary got to High School, the girls all went to the "beauty shop" to get a makeover and an updo! I went to the beauty shop to check on her progress and before I left, I asked how much I owed....I could have sworn she said $15.00 so I left a check with Hillary and left. Moments later I got a call from a horrified Hillary...."Mom....it wasn't $15.00, it was $50.00!" Oh...crap...I thought again...I'm just not good with this prom stuff! I was terribly embarrassed!

By the time Cari got to High School, I had the prom procedure down. By this time Cari had figured out that you could order dresses off the Internet and that is just what she did. However, once her dress arrived, it was too big. We took it back to True Value so FedEx could ship it back and Holly told me she had a closet full of prom dresses that Cari was welcome to....Cari wasn't tempted. I'm thinking Holly was in High School in the late 80's and this was almost 20 years later! Hillary reminded me that Holly's mom, Della May had also offered Holly's prom dresses to her!

So, when Dillan came by telling me that he was taking Holly's daughter, Megan to the prom, the thought crossed my mind....Would Megan wear one of her mom's prom dresses???? I was told that Holly offered! But Megan found a beautiful black dress with a white halter top! So now we just have to get Dillan all duded up....black tux, black vest, white shirt, white tie and WHAT KIND OF SHOES DID YOU SAY DILLAN? Black Converse???? I'm sure they'll look great when put together...along of course with red rose wristlet for Megan and a red boutonniere for Dillan.

So...needless to say this momma has come a long way. And I've learned that dancing DOES NOT lead to sex!

Signs of Aging 12/Mom-Nana

2010-03-22T18:12:00.007-05:00

Usually I write about the negative signs of aging, but today I will be POSITIVE! I absolutely love being Mom and Nana! I have 4 wonderful kids and 4 amazing grandchildren...soon (in June) there will be 5 of the little critters!
I was able to spend my Spring Break with most of them. Derek, Hillary and Cari are all married and now have their own little brood to raise. Dillan is still in high school and he is sooo busy. Derek took him to Houston last week to show his steer in the Houston Stock show. Gina and I were able to watch the show on the Internet...it was great. Dillan's steer placed 12th and he made the sale! I took this picture of Dillan over my computer! I was really proud of him. If he isn't working with his steer, he is playing sports. Right now he is playing baseball...so I spend my Tuesday and Friday nights at the baseball games. Most of Dillan's friends' parents seem to be a bit younger than me...but hopefully that will keep me younger since I am a Nana!
Grandkids may be the best part of getting older. I loved my time with them over the week. They don't stop for a minute and keep me on my toes. When Donald is here he really loves to entertain them. He is great with them! Denver is 7, Averi is 5, Madilyn is almost 3 and Tristin is almost 6 months. Hillary is due in June and is in the process of moving Maddie out of the nursery and into her own "big girl" room. Now Miss Maddie is not too sure of moving into her new room...it is now the guest room and Maddie's main concern was "Papa (Donald) won't have a bed to sleep in!" Isn't that sweet??? Grandkids are great for loving and spoiling and we can't wait to spoil and love another one!

10 Great Adventures on Spring Break

2010-03-21T20:38:00.002-05:00

Spring Break has been wonderful! Here is my recap of my week of adventure!

Last Saturday I went to Waco to spend the day/night with Hillary and Madilyn. What fun! Dennis was gone so it was a girls' day! We shopped and played and then on Sunday I helped Hillary paint her bedroom. Donald stopped by and napped while we painted!
On Sunday afternoon, I met two of my best friends from Anson and we stayed at the Gaylord Texan. We laughed so hard....it was just like high school minus all the drama that comes with teenagers!
Monday morning after breakfast, Kathy, Debbie and I went to Grapevine Mall to shop! Did I mention we had a blast????
Tuesday was reserved for Nana! Denver, Averi and Madilyn all spent the night with me! They rode trikes/big wheels, played basketball and watched Ice Age (about 5 times). They were sooo good and I love to watch them as they play.
Wednesday was a beautiful day and we had a picnic out in the back yard complete with peanut butter sandwiches, bananas and root beer!
I left Wednesday afternoon for Austin to see Cari, Kevin and Tristin. On Thursday morning we went to IKEA and then met Teresa and "her" Cari for lunch at The Domain. Cari Hawn is due in just about 3 weeks, so "my" Cari filled her full of lots of good new mommy information. Tristin was amazingly adorable and perfect during our lunch!
The weather was still beautiful on Friday, so we gathered Tristin up for another shopping adventure. We shopped for birthdays...Madilyn, Gina, and Kevin...and for baby goodies for Denton...who will join Hillary, Dennis and Maddie in June.
After shopping and getting lots of baby sugar from Tristin, I left Friday afternoon for Bruceville-Eddy to watch Dillan play baseball. Once again I met Hillary and Maddie at the game. The boys won and Dillan even scored a run for the Bulldogs.
Saturday we awoke to freezing temperatures. Donald and I enjoyed the day piddling and then braved the wind and cold to go to Kool Beans in time for a coffee and oatmeal-raisin cookies. We worked at Crossfire Saturday night. It was good to see all my working buddies and to make a little money to pay for all that shopping!
Today was Sunday...and the last day of my adventure. Dillan came over and he went to Stephenville with us to watch Alice's great adventure in Alice in Wonderland. I loved it! We topped it off with onion rings and a chicken-fried steak dinner at Montana's. Of course, I had to stop by Chi Hua Hua's for a Dr. Pepper before we returned home.

So now I'm exhausted but very happy. However, I still need to unpack and pick this house up before I get back into the swing of things. I'm feeling very blessed to have had such a great week full of adventure after adventure with my family!

The First Day of Spring????

2010-03-21T00:07:00.005-05:00

I think Mother Nature is a little confused about the weather! Yesterday was lovely...Cari and I shopped in Austin at the San Marcus outlet. We wore jeans, t-shirts and flip-flops and Tristin wore a cute little baseball onesie. We ate lunch OUTSIDE at the Red Robin cafe! We were loving the weather and were even concerned that Tristin might get blistered from the sun!

I drove from Austin to Bruceville-Eddy to a baseball game that I thought started at 7:30 but instead it started at 6:00....I made it by the 4th inning. Hillary and Maddie were there....the sun had set so the temperature was beginning to drop to the 60's....but still was great weather for a baseball game, especially one we won!

And then this morning we awoke to freezing temperatures! And what was with that wind??? It was blowing like crazy! I guess it went with the saying...."March blows in like a lion and out like a lamb"....but I'm thinking it's time for the lamb part of March! Anyway, as I was driving in from Crossfire tonight at 11:00, the temperature was 33 degrees! On top of that, I was told we had snow flurries three different times today!

I'm ready to wear my new Spring clothes. I'm tired of my sweaters and heavy coats and scarfs and boots. I want to wear my new shirtdresses with leggings, my new floral tops with skirts, and my lightweight cotton sweaters and t-shirts and khakis from J.Crew. I'm ready to walk in the mornings and not have numb fingers and toes from the low temperatures.

So....Mother Nature....look at the calendar and let's get with the program! It's time for bluebonnets and yard work. It's Springtime! And I am officially ready for it!

Signs of Aging 11/The "M" word....

2010-03-15T18:54:00.007-05:00

Sunday afternoon, I met two of my best high school friends, Kathy and Debbie, in Grapevine at the Gaylord Texan. We had hoped that LaBecca could join us, but she lives in California and wasn't able to make it. (She doesn't know this yet but we are planning a trip there to see her at some point!!!!) We had a wonderful time...but it seemed that much of our conversation revolved around the "M" word...menopause!!!! None of could imagine being as "old" as we are! We laughed until our sides hurt! It seemed we all had our own stories of "M" and they weren't all pleasant, but certainly worth a lot of laughs! All three of us are now school teachers and mothers and grandmothers....but once upon a time, we all spent countless Friday and Saturday nights "riding" around the square in Anson or driving to Abilene to ride around Mac's! We talked about High School romances, our children, our crazy lives and the conversation always seemed to get back to "M"!

Kathy was able to get us a fabulous room on the 9th floor overlooking the atrium....we had our very own little balcony! We ate a delicious meal at the Texas Sports Bar. Our only upsetting event was when we returned to our room, Debbie couldn't find her camera! I referred to Signs of Aging/Forgetfulness...which is a sympton of "M". We called but no one had turned in a camera, so we fled back to our eating spot and luckily found the camera on the stool where we were sitting! We laughed all the way back to our room and found our way out to the balcony with our cokes and diet cokes where Kathy shared her Fiber One bars with us! This made us all laugh to realize that we even needed FIBER!!!! We watched people scurry around on the bottom floor of the atrium....just enjoying themselves as we were!

We stayed up until 2:00 a.m. until we finally fell into a deep slumber (all but Kathy!). This morning we ate breakfast and drank coffee and then shopped in the boutiques in the Gaylord. After we packed up we headed to Grapevine Mall and shopped some more! I found two adorable shirt dresses and my favorite find...elle perfume!

It was wonderful to spend time with two beautiful friends.....it was great to share pictures of our children and grandchildren and to share stories of grownup women....who were all dealing with "the menopause"! Hopefully, LaBecca can join us on our next adventure and we can reminisce more events! I was reminded of one of my favorite lines in the play "Dearly Beloved"...."You are going through the change! Look at you...mood swings, weight gain, and that unsightly facial hair. You're having "the menopause". What's the big deal?" Well, it is a big deal and luckily we had each other to laugh about our "M" stories as well as our past stories.....our future is ahead of us! I can't wait to see them again!

Elle....finally found!

2010-03-15T18:42:00.005-05:00

I'm sooo excited! I finally found my favorite perfume! It's elle by Yves St. Laurent and it smells divine! I bought my first bottle about a year ago and I quickly went through it. I wanted more for Christmas but Dillard's and Macy's had discontinued it. I was shocked and upset! I finally found it today at a Perfumia shop in Grapevine...and I got it at 1/2 price!!! I had found some on Amazon two days ago and ordered that, too...so now I'll have two bottles of this amazing perfume and also a bottle of the elle lotion! I have just sprayed and sprayed myself today! Yummy....I smell good!

Signs of Aging 10/Gray Mare

2010-03-10T23:11:00.004-06:00

The Old Gray Mare...she ain't what she used to be! That's me! I'm just exhausted! Is it because I'm so darn old??? I don't even know why I'm blogging...I'm so tired. But these have been some exhausting past few weeks!

1) I was in a play last month and we practiced like crazy! Night after night....and then we had seven performances. We sold out 3 of the performances and added an additional one on Tuesday night. I wouldn't get home til 11:00 on the night performances. It's always a little depressing after the play is over because you develop such great friendships and I always miss my "new family". But it was lots of fun and maybe I'll be rested by the next time I decide to be in another play.

2) Monday morning, Tracey Bullard and I decided to start walking AT 5:30 IN THE MORNING!!! So we walked Monday, and dumb a$$ me thought we were walking Tuesday morning, so I got up at 5:15 and about 5:45, after Tracey didn't show up, I remembered we weren't gonna walk that morning. Ugggggggggghhhhhh! I put on a pot of coffee and watched some scrapbook show on HGTV! So, this morning Donald and I were up before the roosters and walked with Tracey (wearing her Bucky Beavers)....So now I'm tired cause I had to work at Crossfire tonight!

3) This year we decided to complete Solar System projects IN CLASS.....so many of the kids don't have anyone to help them and sometimes other parents spend too much money on them. We just want to see something the kids do, so we worked on those this week. Now, mind you that's 32 projects in my class! But the kids did a great job and I loved seeing their creations. Some of them made posters and the rest used Play-Dough and made the Solar System. I'm just plum tuckered out though from bending over and cutting and pasting and hanging planets!

Those are just three things that have made me tired lately. Next week is Spring Break and I'm really looking forward to it! I think I'll go see Maddie and Hillary on Saturday! I plan on going to the Gaylord Texan on Sunday night and meeting two of my best high school friends. I can't wait to see them! Tuesday I'll go to Dillan's baseball game and then Wednesday I'll head to Austin to visit with Cari and Tristin for a few days. Then it will be back to H-town to work Saturday night at Crossfire. Maybe Denver and Averi can come over on Saturday or Sunday for some backyard baseball and tricycle races!!! Wait....just reading that makes me even more tired! But it will be a fun tired....a week of sleeping late...and playing with old friends and my grand babies! This old gray mare better eat her oats!

Acadamy Awards...

2010-03-07T20:40:00.005-06:00

i'm feeling a bit underdressed as i sit watching the academy awards. unlike those on stage....i am wearing nike warm-ups and an old red hoodie that one of my daughter's "accidentally" kept from school many years ago. i've somehow managed to pull my hair back in a pony tail. i can't imagine sitting in that audience with all those people all dressed up in clothes that i can only in my wildest dreams imagine wearing! but IF i were there, perhaps waiting to receive an award from the film that i'll star in someday, i would wear BLACK. you just can't go wrong there...it's classy and slimming....i need both of those "sewn" into the dress i'll wear! but tonight i'll sit back and imagine what it must be like to walk the red carpet, wearing this Victoria Beckham black wool and silk blend.....i love it! not sure how it would look on me, but....i'm just dreaming! night-night...i hope this wool blend doesn't itch!

F.Y.I.

2010-03-05T23:16:00.004-06:00

F.Y.I......Very good after a long week and a hard day at work.....F.Y.I....very good when you are with friends you love.....F.Y.I.....very good when you are needing a better outlook on life....F.Y.I.....very good. Period.

Poetry from a Jr. High Girl named Cheri

2010-03-02T23:29:00.004-06:00

When I was a young girl, I, like many others was horrified of writing. Way back then, in 1969, I was a scrawny buck-toothed girl in the 8th grade. My English teacher decided to teach a poetry unit. Now I was just a West Texas tom-boy. I was only about 4 ft. 10 in. and barely weighed 80 pounds soaking wet! I had no desire to write a poem...my interests were in shooting baskets with my flat basketball! However...I had been given the assignment....WRITE A POEM. I was not a happy camper....what would I write about??? That very evening as I sat in my den watching "The Smothers' Brothers" show on TV with the family, I heard them sing the following song...

There is a season - turn, turn, turn And a time for every purpose under heaven A time to be born, a time to die A time to plant, a time to reap A time to kill, a time to heal A time to laugh, a time to weep To everything - turn, turn, turn There is a season - turn, turn, turn And a time for every purpose under heaven A time to build up, a time to break down A time to dance, a time to mourn A time to cast away stones A time to gather stones together To everything - turn, turn, turn There is a season - turn, turn, turn And a time for every purpose under heaven.

Once they finished, a light bulb went off in my head...(a dim light bulb)....I could write a poem about that song...I had never heard of plagiarism.... I went right to work...

To everything there is a season.
A time to love, a time to hate.
A time to be born, a time to die.
A time for war, a time live.
A time to laugh, a time to cry.

yada yada yada... it went on a few more verses....I can't really remember them all now. I was just happy to get that blasted poem written. I wrote it in my best cursive and even drew a cute little picture to illustrate my new poem. I went to bed that night relieved and quite proud of myself. The next day I turned in my poem. I just knew Mrs. Harper would love it....and what was that? She was calling me to her desk. I quickly approached her as she sat primly in her double knit suit...dark black bee-hive hairdo....wearing dark red lipstick that rubbed off onto her front teeth....She looked at me, smiling ever so slightly, her dimples were so deep set in her cheeks, I wanted to stick my finger in them to see how they felt....."Cheri, did you copy this?" I was shocked....had she watched "The Smothers' Brothers" show?? "Oh, no. I didn't. I wrote it." I hadn't "copied" it....I had merely heard a song and "used" the idea!!!! She looked down her nose at me and questioned me once more. Smiling at her I assured her I had written the poem and not copied it.......

Well, a few years later, I was reading the Old Testament. I got to Ecclesiastes 3 and I nearly fainted....there was MY poem....in the Holy Bible!!!!!! Well, no wonder Mrs. Harper thought I had copied that poem....there it was in the Bible, right smack in the middle of the Old Testament. She thought I had copied from the Bible!!!!! I always wanted to tell Mrs. Harper my story....but she died before I ever got a chance to! So....Mrs. Harper....if your spirit is floating around...and you can somehow hear me.....I really didn't copy from the Bible!!!!!!!

P.S.....Rachel Bottlinger made me think of writing about this today...she posted Ecclesiastes 3 on Facebook....Thanks, Rachel....thanks for the memory!

Signs of Aging 9/Falling

2010-03-01T23:09:00.003-06:00

This morning was a bit dreary....it was cold and damp. When I first looked out my window this morning, it was so foggy it caught my breath....I have a problem with fog. I can't breath in it! Honestly, I can't drive in fog...when I see fog, I can't breath. So if I'm driving I have to shut my eyes to breath...so I figure that is really not too safe, so I just refuse to drive in fog! Anyway...I was so disappointed to see such a gloomy morning! However, I knew I had to get through the day. I had school to teach and another performance of "Dearly Beloved". After my English muffin and cup of coffee, Donald suggested I take his pick-up to school and he would take my Honda to J&J's for an oil change. Didn't really want to drive the pick-up to school...it's so high! I have to hike my leg up really high...it's so unflattering...and then hop up into the pick-up. I feel like I'm trying to get into a saddle on a horse! I suggested that I take my car to J&J's and he pick me up and take me to school...then he could pick me up at lunch and take me to pick up my car. So.....that was the plan....I taught math ( geometry...plane figures) and some science (solar system....Mercury and Venus)...had TAKS intervention and then took the kiddos to lunch. Afterwards, Donald picked me up for a trip to J&J's....in the rain....yes...it was still raining! I leaped into his pick-up....I felt like a high jumper trying to get up into that truck. We pulled in to J&J's and I got ready to dash to my car. There was a red pick-up parked next to Donald's....and like a gentleman, Donald hopped out of his pick-up to open the door to my car for me. I threw the door open and got ready to make a dash in the rain to my car....and wouldn't you know...as I put my right foot on the running board, I began to fall. My boot slipped right off that wet, muddy running board...only my mind and the rest of my body didn't realize my foot was slipping. It just kept going....I realized I was falling. I didn't think I would ever stop and the bad thing was, I couldn't stop myself. I had an umbrella in one hand and a Sonic cup full of Dr. Pepper in the other. I finally landed....flat on my rear....on the wet muddy ground. I looked to see if there was anyone in the red pick-up next to me and thank the Lord...it was vacant. However, that red truck did block anyone who was driving down the highway from seeing my "graceful" fall! In fact, Donald couldn't even see me! All at once I heard him shout, "Where are you?" He ran back to the pick-up...I guess he saw the umbrella bobbing up and down. He helped me up....I was laughing so hard, I could hardly get up! Luckily I wasn't hurt...just a little wet! Falling is not fun...especially when you are getting old like me! I made it to my car without any more falls! He wanted to know how I felt tonight...and I insisted I was fine....but I believe I'm beginning to feel a bit sore! I think that fall may have jostled this old lady more than I thought! So if you were driving down Hwy. 36 today about 12:20 and happened to see my grand performance (not the one in the play!) I hope you got a good laugh! I would hate to go to all that trouble and then not have anyone enjoy it!

New Phone for the Birthday Boy!

2010-02-24T22:39:00.004-06:00

Dillan Ryan will be 17 on Sunday....and all he wanted was an iPhone! WELL...I went to Stephenville today after school and got him one! You can see by his expression on his 2nd picture....he was really excited!

Actually these pictures were taken earlier this year....I forgot to take a picture of him tonight when I gave it to him....(refer to Signs of Aging-Forgetfulness!).
When I got in from Stephenville we went to eat at The Garden (that's what he calls El Jardin). He ordered shrimp nachos and he shared them with me. As soon as we got to the house, we started syncing his phone....that was after he went to weigh himself to see if he gained any weight after supper (he weighs religiously after a meal to see if he's gotten heavier!). Unlike me...I wouldn't dare weigh after I ate!
I'll share more of Dillan's "birth"day later...........hope he always knows how proud I am to be his mom!!!

Snow Day!!!!!

2010-02-23T20:17:00.006-06:00

Today it snowed and we got to get out of school early! In preparation for the snowy day, as I left school I stopped by Sonic and got an egg only breakfast burrito for lunch and bought two Rt. 44 Cokes!!!! I didn't want to get stuck at home without a drink! I drove around town and took some pictures of the beautiful snow! I had big plans on making a snowman, but I just never got around to it. I've really enjoyed my day at home...all snugly in my favorite robe and being a MAJOR couch potato! It was a great day to be home! Luckily, I don't have to be at school until 9:30 tomorrow, so maybe I'll sleep late. Who knows....I may wake up early and make that snowman!

Couldn't resist the urge to make that snowman! I went out after I wrote my blog and made a little snowlady!!!!

Signs of Aging 8/ Snow

2010-02-22T23:02:00.008-06:00

As old as I am, I never grow tired of snow! I love it! In my opinion there is nothing more beautiful than snow falling and resting on tree branches and then making a blanket on the ground! I know it can be a real head-ache....but technically, it is still winter! I grew up further west in Anson, Texas...a small town about 20 miles north of Abilene. Behind our backyard was a cotton field and you could see the horizon for miles and miles, so when it snowed the white just went on and on. If it snowed during the night, my momma would always come in to my cold bedroom the next morning and bend over my bed and recite this poem:

Good morning, Mr. Rabbit!
Your tail is mighty white.

Of course Mr. Farmer,
It snowed last night!

After that, Lisa and I would jump out of bed and immediately begin to beg to go outside and play in the snow! We were never really prepared for snow! We didn't own snow boots or toboggans or even mittens! So we pulled on a pair of socks and our tennis shoes covered with a plastic bread bag! Luckily we owned a coat, but we had to use socks for our mittens! That didn't deter our trip outside! We loved it...not as much as Mother...she liked to keep a tidy house and she didn't appreciate Lisa and I running in and out of the house to warm up! But we would....we never grew tired of the snow and would play for hours! We made snowmen and had to beg for scarves and hats! We were never allowed to use a carrot for a nose, but that didn't stop us from begging for one! I guess our snowmen were pretty pitiful!

Our fingers and toes would become numb. It's a wonder we didn't get frostbite! Our noses would turn red and begin to drip and the tops of our ears would turn beet red from the freezing temperatures!

If we were lucky and had all the ingredients, we would make snow ice cream! It was the best winter time treat ever! Now, Mother didn't believe in letting us eat the first snow of the season...there was some rumor about the first snow being filled with some type of pollutants! We could usually beg her until she gave in. It was delish!

Tomorrow morning if I awake to snow and we don't have school, I have big plans. I'm gonna make a snowman and make snow ice cream....that is...if I have the right ingredients! I think I'll lay out my "snow clothes" just in case! I hope I can find my mittens!

First Performance

2010-02-20T23:24:00.004-06:00

Tonight was our first performance for Dearly Beloved. It was so much fun and we had a wonderful audience. There is just something about others taking time to come watch! "Singing those songs was the most important thing in my life. It was exciting and uplifting. I loved being somebody!"....a line from the play....but it's great after putting so much time into a project for people to actually PAY to come see it! I feel so much better to have tonight under my belt....I was so nervous this afternoon before the play, I actually got sick! Thanks to a dose of my "tummy pills" I made it through the night! I don't even feel like I have to go to bed with my trusty tape recorder tonight.......So 'Nytol'....come see us if you can!

Dearly Beloved

2010-02-18T23:02:00.003-06:00

The play...Dearly Beloved.... has been consuming my life! Opening night is Saturday, February 20! I practice all the time! And believe you me, I need it! My character in the play is Twink Futrelle and I've spent the last 15 1/2 years trying to get Wiley Hicks to marry me! I tend to be a "titch bit" controlling....hmmm...I wonder if they gave me this part for a reason! I have had a wonderful time with my sisters....Frankie (Kayla) and Honey Raye (Susan)....even though we fight like typical sisters!

I've been a little worried about all my lines. In order to practice, I tape the other characters' parts on my teensy weensy tape recorder and then I just say my part. It's crazy! Wednesday night I went to bed with my trusty tape recorder going and I fell asleep at some point....unfortunately I awoke the next morning to a dead tape recorder! Thank goodness for my drawer full of AA batteries! I stuck two of those little suckers in on Thursday morning and IMMEDIATELY began to practice again as I got ready for school!

I've also been a little worried about our singing debut, but tonight we worked out all the kinks and it sounds much better.

After tonight's dress rehearsal, I feel much better about the play. So....if you are bored or you need to be cheered up or if you just want to watch a group of wanna be "thespians", come to the play Dearly Beloved. Our show times will be this Saturday and Monday nights at 7:30 and this Sunday at 2:00. We repeat the performances next weekend...February 27 - March 1.

Break a leg!

Sometimes....

2010-02-17T21:44:00.002-06:00

Sometimes I just want to...........you know.....I get so.....ooooooooooohhhhhhhhhhh....why do people...............if I could just.............can you believe..........what are they......................sometimes I want to just...........................why on earth would...............I feel like.....................sometimes I just want to......................

Signs of Aging 7/Memory

2010-02-15T22:32:00.003-06:00

I know I've already touched on losing my memory as I grow older....but.....I'm in a play, "Dearly Beloved" and I am having the worst time remembering my lines. I'm sure after they finish with me in this hilarious play, they'll find a much younger model....one complete with a better mind and arms that don't sag!!!! I can say my lines perfectly(well...not exactly perfectly) here in the comfort my own home while parked in my recliner and wearing my jammies and warm robe! So, in my fervor to insure that I memorize all the lines, I'll sign off tonight and start practicing. Again........

Signs of Aging 6/Confusion

2010-02-09T00:15:00.004-06:00

Oh...sometimes I just wonder why such weird things happen that throw me into a state of pure confusion! Dillan borrowed Donald's laptop on Sunday so he could work on an English paper. He brought it back Sunday night because Donald needed to post some pictures of trailers he wanted to sell on Craig's List on Monday morning. He told Dillan he could come back at 7:15 Monday morning to get the laptop and take it to school so he could get some help on his paper. We set our clocks Sunday night and settled down for a "short" winter's nap! Donald's alarm went off at 6:00 a.m. and he busied around making a pot of coffee and getting our English muffins ready for the oven and then went into the living room to post his pictures. I finally crawled out of bed about 6:15 and hopped in the shower to wash my hair. I went ahead and dried it and put on my makeup and clothes. I puttered into the living room to check on Donald when he stated that all his pictures had been deleted and he would have to start over. I had just glanced at our digital clock in the bedroom and noticed it was 7:00. I thought, "Oh gosh, he only has 15 minutes to get those pictures reposted before Dillan comes by for the laptop." I was unlocking the front door for Dillan when I heard "my" alarm clock going off. Confused, I shuffled into our bedroom and saw "my" clock set at 6:00. I looked at the digital clock and once again I saw 7:00. I then glanced at the bathroom clock and saw 7:00...now the bathroom clock had not been changed from our previous time change...I was really confused. I hurriedly asked Donald if he had changed the bathroom clock to the correct time.....No, he hadn't. So I asked, "Well what time is it anyway?" (There's nothing worse than being confused about time!) We looked at all the clocks in the living room...the large one over the fireplace, the middle size clock on the wall, both of the clocks on our iPhones AND the time on the television....OMG! They were all set at 6:05 by this time. I wasn't even supposed to be out of bed! Somehow the little button on Donald's digital alarm clock had been set to Eastern Standard Time and it had automatically changed the time.............I had gotten out of bed at 5:15 a.m. and I did not like it one little bit! However, we had a good hour to drink a few cups of coffee over some delicious English muffins spread with blackberry jam and to laugh about the confusion over the clocks! I'll be checking that silly clock tonight...you can bet on that! One Monday morning of confusion is enough for me!

scared

2010-02-03T20:40:00.004-06:00

just sitting here listening to noises in my house while i try to watch american idol....it's like something is hitting my roof...and it's not even raining right now. i think it's pecans falling and i am not going to be scared.

i don't like scary noises and i don't like scary movies or scary books. now i can't even go take a shower...just because i've changed my mind about being scared. now i am scared.

sometimes i'm scared about situations in my life or my family's life. that's no fun either. being scared of life is more like worry. i try really hard not to worry, but sometimes the evil "worry wart" pops up and i can't get rid of it. i worry about my kids and their feelings. i always want them to be safe and happy. there is so much to life and not all of it is easy...and sometimes school or jobs just suck. i'm amazed at how people can be so insensitive to others. that's when it's time to turn it all over to the Man upstairs. i'd rather be scared of noises or movies or books than to be worried about my kids! so...dear God...watch over my kids and keep them safe and full of assurance! thank you!

Signs of Aging 5/Teeth

2010-02-01T22:28:00.006-06:00

I went to the dentist today. I don't really like to go to the dentist...even as old as I am! The first time my mother had to take me I was only about four and I had a mouthful of cavities. Mother had promised me a new pair of cowboy boots if I would go....I really wanted cowboy boots...I was a major tomboy and my mother dressed me in dresses and scratchy can-cans and black patent shoes and little white ankle socks that had lace around them! When I got to the dentist office and they put me into the chair, I slid out of the chair and said, "I really didn't want a new pair of boots!" The next trip they had to give me a "little pill" to calm my nerves before I had my dental visit! After that it was just a constant battle. I was born with bad teeth.

Today's visit was my first visit in a year. Last year I had to have a crown put on one of my teeth. Now, let me just say I have so many crowns in my mouth, that I should have a royal family living inside my mouth.....Kings, Queens, Princes and Princesses have made a home inside this castle I call my mouth! There are silver, gold and porcelain crowns. I have one silver crown that tops a baby tooth! It has been there for years! The older I get, the more royalty I have. Today I had my teeth cleaned so that was much cheaper than adding another royal member! However it still wasn't that cheap!

I've also noticed the "commoners" in my kingdom have become yellow over the years. I've decided to whiten them....that will require a bleaching kit that will cost $100. Hopefully after the bleaching, the royal members won't kick the commoners out, since I'm sure my regular teeth, that have yellowed with age, will shine and sparkle so much that the crowned teeth will be jealous. Have your sunglasses ready for a new sparkling white smile in this old mouth of mine!

I may even buy myself a new pair of cowboy boots!

Life is Good!

2010-01-30T10:00:00.002-06:00

"Life is Good"....love those t-shirts and caps and purses and whatever else they sell! Yesterday I had a few"life is good" experiences...which was good cause I was not feeling too "bueno vida" yesterday!

The JV mothers take turns sending food to the boys before they go to an out of town game and yesterday was my day...snacks and chips. I put the bag of goodies in my chair at school, so I would remember to take it to them at 3:00. Wouldn't you know I forgot???? (Signs of Aging)....I was in mid sentence with Gina and I'm not even sure of what I was saying, but somehow it occurred to me to take the snacks....Luckily it was only 3:05 and they weren't leaving until 3:20....I had time to run to the high school gym, even though it was 30 degrees outside.

As cold as it was, I'm about to tell you something that warmed my heart! I gave Dillan the bag of snacks and hugged him and told him, "Play a good game. I'll see you there...I love you!" and I hugged him and he actually hugged me and (this is what absolutely warmed my heart and almost brought me to tears right there underneath the EXIT light in the Hamilton Gym) he replied, "Love you, too." This is the first time in almost six years that he has said this to me. I just wanted to cry...I was so happy! I wanted to smile as I ran all the way back to the elementary campus, but the temperature was so cold it froze my teeth!

Lost the game, and after the game he came up to where Hillary, Maddie, Donald and I were sitting. He even leaned against me as he put his armpit (yuck) on my knee! Sounds gross, but it was a lean...a touch...contact!

Now what makes this so special??? I lost lots of time with Dillan after my divorce. It nearly killed me and I've spent lots of lonely occasions...whether it was a game, a stock show, or a holiday....when he wouldn't speak to me. But he is now and I can't tell you how happy this makes me. He was mad and had every right to be angry as h*(( at me.....I just love him so much...he's my "baby" and I'm so thankful that he is finally coming around again..........

Life is Good....La vida es buena.....leven goed......das Lebgen is shoen.....

shut mouth...keep foot out!

2010-01-29T23:25:00.004-06:00

there is so much i want to say but can't. i will keep my mouth shut and therefore keep my foot out. sometimes i say things i shouldn't. especially at church....i used to always make controversial comments and it would really make people angry....they didn't agree with my point of view and i didn't agree with their viewpoint.

i will instead write on something that is quite unimpressive...i am watching HGTV's house hunters and i do believe the wife who is buying the house with the husband could quite possible be the dingiest (dingy...like ding dong...not discolored) human i've ever listened to. i thought toddlers and tiaras was bad....but this particular segment was bad....just saying. i love this show cause i always like to guess which house the buyers choose, but tonight i don't even care. she is so weird i hope she gets a bad house. omg! she is so weird, she actually chose the bad house.

i will try to be positive about the the three games i watched tonight. all three teams lost. hmmm....like i said...i will try to be positive....hmmmm....can't....let's move on.

tomorrow is saturday and i am ready for a morning off. we will go to denver's basketball game and then the grocery store and then it will be time to go to crossfire to work.

i need a good night's sleep...
nytol................

New Book

2010-01-27T23:17:00.004-06:00

Donald came in tonight from O-K-L-A-H-O-M-A (Oklahoma! OK!...I always have to sing that when I say or write Oklahoma.) It was really good to see him, but the best part was he brought me a gift! My sister-in-law, Karen (she's married to Donald's twin brother, Ronald) sent me a book called The Pioneer Woman Cooks. I loved it immediately! It's full of recipes and pictures and stories. He told me that he thought the writer, Ree Drummond, had a blog and I remembered that I had seen The Pioneer Woman blog somewhere....I went to Betsy Killian's blog and sure 'nuf...there it was! She follows her....I believe it's called a "professional blog".....and after looking at it, I understood the difference....she is a professional at blogging! WOW! Well, I've only been looking at the book (while trying to read her blog at the same time) for about 30 minutes and I feel like we are already old friends! Funny...she hasn't a clue I exist, but I'm sure we would be very good friends IF we could just meet! She also inspired me to write on my "unprofessional blog"! Let me just recommend this book. It may be a Christmas present or birthday gift or wedding gift in the future! That's how much I love it! And if you can't find the book you can go to her blog/web page http://thepioneerwoman.com/
Enjoy and thanks, Karen! I love it!

Monday's Signs of Aging 4

2010-01-25T21:40:00.004-06:00

Tonight I feel the need to discuss hair color. I know this may come as a shock to you all, but my hair is no longer a true "warm medium brown." Once upon a time it was....or maybe more of a "warm honey brown." I have been coloring my hair for more years than I care to disclose. The first time I noticed my gray hair was the second year I taught and that was about 20 years ago. One day at lunch, one of my students looked at me and quite seriously said, "You have some gray hairs." I looked right back at him and glaringly said, "Yes, and you gave me every one of these gray hairs." After that I began to occasionally color. I was too young for gray hair. Now I'm not.

I'll never forget the day I waltzed into the room with a fresh color on my hair, and all the kids said, "Your hair is orange!" I was horrified and quickly told them, "It is NOT orange. It is ash honey brown." After examining it in the mirror during my break, I had to agree...it was orange. I called a hairdresser and had professional redo my color. Lesson learned...never use any color with ash in the description.

My sister is always quick to let me know I need to color my hair. I'm careful to always buy the magic box and color it before I see her. I knew if she could see me yesterday, she would quickly without any hesitation at all tell me..."You need to color your hair." I was beginning to look like a skunk, so yesterday I went to Target and started looking for the right color. I never can remember which brand or the exact color I used the last time. (I've already discussed losing my memory on Signs of Aging) I wasn't surprised that my memory failed me again. I grabbed a box of, oh darn, I've already forgotten....the magic color. After a dinner with Hillary, Dennis and Maddie, we drove home and at 9:00 p.m. I began to paint my hair. I use an old paint brush to color my hair...I'm sure the professionals would die if they could see the procedure, but it works for me. I can do the front and sides, but Donald has to come in for the beautification process and color the back. He forgot to put the gloves on last night, and he ended up with dark stains all over his hands! But we got it done and today I went to school with warm medium brown minus the gray streak that I had previously.

I'm just not ready for a complete head of gray hair. I'll continue to hide this particular sign of aging until I feel old enough to have gray hair. Not sure when that's gonna be. I'm sure I'll be buying the magic box for several more years!

Another long day at the hospital

2010-01-20T21:18:00.003-06:00

Well, our little Tristin is still in the hospital...I feel helpless! Cari said he didn't have a good night last night. They finally gave him Tylenol and that seemed to help him sleep. When I spoke to her at noon, they had put a feeding tube in his nose...oohh...makes me want to cry. He had not eaten since 7:00 a.m., so at noon they decided he needed the tube. He is so congested, it is just hard for him to eat. She said he slept from noon until 5:30, so he really must be exhausted! I think Cari got a little nap in there at some point. I assume they took the feeding tube out, because he nursed and then took a bottle around 6:00 p.m. and then he dozed back off. She said he finally smiled at them tonight...which is so unlike Tristin...he is such a happy baby. They will clean his nose again tonight, and that is no fun at all. They are watching his chest...that shows how labored his breathing is and it seems that he is still having a great deal of trouble. His lungs are still congested. Cari and Kevin are just exhausted. Please continue to pray for Tristin (and Cari and Kevin). Hopefully, tomorrow I will have much better news and they will be headed home!

Sick Baby

2010-01-19T23:25:00.003-06:00

This morning Cari sent me a text saying she was in an ambulance taking Tristin to Dell's Children Medical Center! Scared me to death! I knew he had felt bad and was congested but AMBULANCE!!!!! I quickly went to the office and asked for a sub. We have a wonderful group of people to work for....they quickly found someone for me and I waited til noon and for word from Cari to see what the doctor said. Unfortunately they wanted to keep him, so I headed to Austin. I had never been to Dell, but it was a wonderful place for children. I wish I had taken pictures of it...everything there was geared towards children. I saw so many sick kids though! They all had on masks and you could hear crying and coughing and oh it was so sad! But I felt so comfortable and grateful that they had taken Tristin there. Kevin was holding a sleeping Mr. T when I found them in the ER. He woke up about 2:15 and we changed his diaper and he just lay on the bed like a limp dishrag! Finally he perked up and Nana got a itsy bitsy smile out of him. Soon, he was eating and smiling and was feeling a little better....I guess as good as a baby with RSV, two ear infections, and an oxygen tube in his little nose. They put him in his own room(complete with private restroom) about 4:30...which was good cause I had been needing to "tinkle" since I got there at 2:00, but I didn't want to leave him! We had lots of doctors and nurses to come in to check on him...all taking very good care to keep him happy...well, until they came in and put a saline solution up his nose and sucked out all the "boogers". He didn't like that...not one little bit. I had not eaten, except for my "perfect attendance" popcorn at 10:00, so I traveled the maze(got straight past the first elevator, take a left to the second elevator, go to the first floor, take a right yada yada) to the cafeteria while Cari was nursing him and Kevin went home to get clean clothes. I discovered lots of healthy food to choose from, so I got a salad, delicious chicken tortilla soup and a sugar free chocolate pudding. Then I did something I had never done before...I ate by myself in the cafeteria! Once I got back to the room, we watched American Idol. They hooked him up to oxygen again...since his oxygen level dropped. Cari had crawled up in the bed with him...they looked so sweet. Once Kevin got back, we put his jammies on him and he was getting sleepy. I knew he was in good hands and I also knew Cari and Kevin were exhausted...they had been up since 3:00 a.m. I was so glad I went to see him! He's such a precious baby...and as I left I knew we were so blessed that he wasn't as sick as some of the children there. Thanks to all my friends who prayed for Tristin today....and I'll continue that prayer tonight...for Tristin and all those other sick children!

Oh...and I think I figured out how to take the "verification" thingamadoochie off! Let me know if I did!

Monday's Signs of Aging 3

2010-01-18T21:15:00.003-06:00

Clothing for the old but "young at heart" is hard to find, which is another aging problem I've encountered. Now I like to dress somewhat fashionable, but there are times when age gets in the way. Today was one of those days. I pulled out my Vera Wang (from Kohl's) black long sleeved t-shirt and topped it with my silky leopard blouse, so I wouldn't FREEZE wearing the silky top! I found my black skirt and pondered over what I should wear under my skirt on my "old" legs. I thought about wearing a pair of black Spanx tights, but I remembered I had purchased a pair of black leggings at Wally-World a few weeks ago. They were really cute leggings with black buttons on the ankles of each leg. What I didn't notice when I bought the little boogers, was the brand.....Miley Cyrus. OMG! When I put them on, I realized they must have been made specifically for Miley herself! The waist, or what I thought should have been the waist, only barely covered my, excuse me, crack! Who has ever heard of hip-hugger leggings? Now when I was in High School, I wore hip hugger jeans all the time and now it seems that the only pair of jeans I can find are what I consider hip-hugger. But who on earth wants to wear hip-hugger leggings? I pulled the suckers up ALL DAY LONG!!!!! Thank goodness I had a skirt over them so no one could see what I was exposing....ugh...makes me sick just to think about it! I'm not sure what to do with Miley's leggings. I can't imagine being that desperate to wear them again! They were cute, buy they felt horrible! If anyone out there needs a pair of slightly worn Miley Cyrus leggings, let me know...Age will not allow me to wear them again unless....no....there is no "unless"..............give me a call....they are free!

Monday's Signs of Aging 2

2010-01-12T23:52:00.002-06:00

Yes, I realize that it's not Monday. It's not even Tuesday, however it was just a few minutes ago! I guess this is one of the signs of aging....forgetfulness. Yes! I started a weekly episode of writing on the signs of aging just last Monday and what do ya know? I forgot all about it! I'm sure that forgetfulness is one of the most irritating signs of getting older. I can't tell you how many things I forget. I have a fear of Alzheimer's (I may have forgotten the correct spelling on that). Sometimes I'll go to one of my co-worker's room to tell them a really good story about one of my students and sadly to say, by the time I've walked a mere 10 feet, I will have forgotten completely what I had to share with them! I've even forgotten words I want to use as I write. I'm always trying to tell my friends something and I can't even remember the word I want to use. That happened today and I can't even remember the word I had to use because I couldn't remember the word I wanted to use. It's just horrible.
Another horrible part of aging is....wrinkles. Oh my....how depressing they can be. Sometimes I look in the mirror and I don't even recognize myself. I have wrinkles under my eyes and creeping down the left side of my chin. I think that is the gully that drool flows down! (Drooling was covered last week.) Wrinkles aren't even fun in my clothes much less on my face! I've tried pulling my hair back tightly and that works as a quick face lift, but I can't walk around town pulling the skin on my face back all the time. I've thought of getting a face lift but I really need a new bathroom and kitchen and I'm thinking they may cost about the same. And to make things worse...I've run out of night cream. I vowed not to buy another bottle of night cream (complete with retinal, collagen, Vitamins c and e and other ingredients that promise to prevent the signs of aging) until I ran out of the one I have. Well, it happened last night. I may have to find a jar of Vaseline and slather that all over my face. I can't imagine what I would look like if I never used these beautifying products.
That's all the aging problems I can think of tonight. It's after midnight and I've got to find that jar of Vaseline. I just can't remember where I put it!

UNdecorating

2010-01-05T22:09:00.003-06:00

I always dread taking my Christmas decorations down after "the Season to be Jolly" has passed. I'm a Christmas decorator and I have decorations in every single room. To be honest, it's a major chore to get my house back to normal. Once I pack away my decorations from each room, I'll begin in the living room. I'll tediously take each ornament off the tree. By the time I've packed these ornaments away, I find myself yanking the lights off hoping and praying I don't break the wire or the tiny light bulbs. I then pack each Santa away... carefully turning them...eyeing them...checking the bottom for a worn price tag to see if it was a 1/2 price Santa and then lovingly wrapping them! Once those are packed away, I "de-mantle" my mantle! Each clear globe/glass dome that covered the pine cones that were perching atop silver baby cups are wrapped with white tissue paper and placed in their plastic tomb til next Christmas. Now, I like to leave my snowmen out until at least February. Snowmen are NOT Christmas decor! They are winter decor! I'm quite adamant about that, BUT this year I was on a roll and I sadly packed my little white snowmen away with the....Christmas decorations. One reason I did this was so I would know where and what was packed!

Last year after the first of the year rolled around, I came home from school to find all my decorations down and packed. Donald had worked all day to get this done for me. I couldn't believe he had done this for me! Now I know I have lots of decorations but I think he had to buy about 5 more of those plastic storage boxes to get everything packed. I couldn't figure out why he used so many boxes! This year I began to unpack for Christmas and I realized why so many more boxes had been used. I just don't think men know how to pack like women do! He had labeled (over my labels) each box with masking tape (torn with ragged edges...not cut). I began opening each box and was amazed at what I found. One box was full of kitchen towels! I had wondered where my Christmas tea towels were! The next box I opened was....well what was this? It was brown...it had needles on it... was that the faint aroma of pine I could smell? OH MY....Bless his heart (my momma always said you could say anything you wanted to about someone if you said "Bless his heart" before you said it)....He had packed a cut/live Norfolk Pine centerpiece...complete with a candle in the center! One of my friends had given it to me as a gift last year! I had assumed he had thrown it away, since I knew the branches would eventually die! He had used one large plastic bin for this "soon to die" table topper! I laughed and laughed when I found this! Upon inspecting other boxes, I was sure I could have "crammed" several more objects in them! But the table topper was just too funny!

After I found that I vowed that I would make sure I packed my Christmas goodies myself or at least kept an eye on my "helper"! I used about 5 fewer boxes this year than we used last year. And I don't think I packed any live (soon to die) center pieces! I left the lights, tree, packed boxes and outside decorations for Donald to store and he did a wonderful job! He is very organized and he put everything away very neatly!

So now I'm ready for a new year....and hopefully next Christmas, I'll know exactly what I've stored in each of my neatly labeled boxes!

Monday's Signs of Aging

2010-01-04T21:04:00.005-06:00

Today I've decided to try and write something each Monday about aging and all the benefits that come with it as well as all the embarrassing aspects of the ugly word!

With aging comes drooling....and that does not necessarily mean drooling over a handsome man! I mean the type of drool that uncontrollably drips down the left side of my mouth heading straight for my chin and southerly to the lap. Does this require me to carry an embroidered hankie with me or to keep a Kleenex in my coat pocket at all times? My mother used to drool...not badly...I don't want you to think of her as an old woman in a rest home drooling away. It was just a subtle little dribble that slipped out. She always caught it before it rolled off her chin. I guess that is why we found wadded balls of Kleenex in each of her coat pockets that we went through after she passed away. (We looked for money, but found old Kleenex!) Now it seems I'm carrying on this trait. I can be sitting watching t.v. and I'll feel a wetness creeping down the side of my face...it's so embarrassing! Please, if you see me drool, don't tell me.
Strange bodily noises have also begun to escape. It's quite humiliating. My children (my own flesh and blood) used to come home telling me that their teacher had gas and would blame it on them. I couldn't imagine any self-respecting teacher blaming a student on gas, but I'm getting ready to start blaming! Now back to mom...she never had gas that I know of. And you certainly didn't talk about it or heaven forbid actually "do it" around her. She called it "breaking wind" and I'm sure she never admitted to it. But as I age, I think she may have silently done so....I don't think its possible not to! I do solemnly promise not to blame this on any of my students this year...now I can't promise for next year, but for those of you who have students in my class this year, I can assure I won't blame them for any uncontrollable bodily noises.
Now a plus to aging is that you have grandchildren. That is worth all the drools and noises that come with age! I love them all so much. I can't even remember what life was like without them. I really enjoyed Christmas with them and they gave me wonderful pictures to enjoy. They put the pictures in a book...when I started looking at it, I began to cry! It is a treasure to always keep! They also gave me a calendar with their pictures decorating each month's page. The kids also talked Dillan into getting his picture made with them. I just loved it all!

Those are the three signs of aging that have been bothering me lately. Hopefully my memory won't fail me too much until my next Monday's post on the dreaded signs of aging!

Confusion and Frustratation

2010-01-03T21:23:00.003-06:00

Sometimes I honestly think I must be the biggest idiot (that's i-d-i-o-t) in the world. I am not good at computer technology at all. All I have to do is get near a computer and it stops working! This makes me so sad and it even makes me want to cry at times. There are many things that I don't know how to do because I know if I ask for help, it is frustrating to those who are knowledgable about computers because it is as natural as breathing to them....and to me it's like I'm suffocating...literally suffocating...like putting a plastic bag over my face and taping off all air flow! I guess sometimes, I would rather be a computer i-d-i-o-t than to ask for help....and be given the "look" or be given the "oh that's easy! all you do is kjeo48rya4q9874tr g948y4r"...that's the language I hear for their directions and it's extremly hard for me to understand!
I don't even know how I can blog, but I can get the writing down. Now other things in the blogging world frustrate me and then I become infuriated and even want to say bad words. I have been trying to post pictures on my Christmas blog since early this morning. I just couldn't figure out how to download the pictures and get them in the order I wanted them. I mean MY GOSH..if you hit browse and find a picture and download it, you would think the pictures would download in the order I downloaded them in. But OH NO...they download in the reverse order and then they don't make any sense with my comments....After several hours of ranting and raging and threatening to throw the computer and even open a bottle of wine and consume it in 3 swigs...I decided to download my pictures in the reverse order that I really needed them to be posted. In other words, the last picture on my blog, was my first picture to download. This was much easier and it actually worked! Does anyone else have this problem or am I the true i-d-i-o-t that I'm afraid I am?????
Another problem I have has to do with m-e-m-o-r-y and that may have something to do with
o-l-d a-g-e! I can't remember how to sync my phone with my computer and I think once I learn again, I will sync it every day for a year so I won't forget! I hate being so unknowledgable (a better word than s-t-u-p-i-d). I know that I'm supposed to find my itune icon, but I don't know what the h-*-l-l to do after that and I don't know how to even begin to help Donald sync his phone with his new computer and this makes me feel very unknowledgable.
Okay...so this will maybe get my frustrations out .....until I try to download pictures for my blog again.....Any sympathy or advice will be greatly appreciated!

Christmas 2009

2010-01-03T21:00:00.004-06:00

Christmas 2009 has come and gone....all in all, it was wonderful! I always think that Christmas is the highlight of every year! Dillan slept on the couch and luckily didn't scare Santa away!

He loved his hunting boots that he got from Cabela's...I think he has waded through cold water 2-3 times this year looking for a shot deer! Maybe these will help!

Santa brought Tristin "Sophie the Giraffe" and he loved it! Cari and Hillary get in the Spirit of Christmas.....as well as Gina.

Sweet little cousins, Averi and Madilyn, waiting for the gift opening!

Tristin just didn't even quite make it through the stockings!

I found Derek's old Cowboy jersey and gave it to Denver (along with a new Aggie helmet and uniform!) Noone in the house knew who #11 was! How sad!

Dillan's friends, Nic and Ernstes joined the festivities!

Dillan sang and played for us on his new guitar! We had a wonderful day....I guess I should start buying for next year!

Dancing Anson Style...Memories of my Childhood

2009-12-08T17:30:00.009-06:00

As you know, I took the kids to see The Nutcracker on Sunday. It's a beautiful ballet...I can't say I'd ever been to a "gen-u-ine" ballet before. I did go to Hillary's ballet recital when she was only 4, but I don't think that counts. But when Lisa and I were younger we would pretend to be ballerinas. We made our nephews join us. Mother had a collection of old albums of the classics and several of the songs from The Nutcracker were on that, so we would gather in the living room (the forbidden room...no playing in the living room) and dance. I remember loving the "Dance of the Sugarplum Fairies" and "The Flight of the Bumblebees". We whirled and twirled and jumped and laughed. I was always the leader, so I'm almost positive that I was in charge of the choreography. Thinking back, I had no idea what these songs were from. I had no knowledge of The Nutcracker, so I have no idea how I knew to "boss" my fellow dancers into a frenzy of whirls and twirls and ungraceful leaps. None of us had any type of formal dancing instruction. We were just "country bumpkins" with huge imaginations. However we danced our hearts out. Now, I really don't even know how we were allowed to dance in the living room. Our parents must have been involved in some serious Wahoo game or maybe a game of 42 or 84. If they had known we were dancing in the living room....we would have been in major trouble. WE WERE FROM ANSON AND THERE WAS NO DANCING IN ANSON, much less in the living room.

Our other favorite dance and act was to our favorite album "The Royal Guardsmen" and their songs "Snoopy and the Red Baron" , "The Battle of New Orleans", "Peanut Butter" and our all time favorite "The Man who Shot Liberty Valance". We actually acted these songs out...so they were much more "religiously correct" than the dancing we did to the classical songs. Jeff and Greg were more eager to play along in these songs. We entertained ourselves for hours with the songs on this album.

Life was simple then. Thank goodness for our imaginations...and for parents who would occasionally forget the NO PLAYING IN THE LIVING ROOM RULE! Oh the memories of childhood!

Tristin and Maddie

2009-12-08T00:50:00.004-06:00

Couldn't resist sharing a picture of Tristin and Maddie! Aren't they just adorable? Tristin was so excited to see someone more "his age" when he woke up! He was so happy to see her and she was just as happy! It was a fun morning!

Silly Dilly

2009-12-08T00:08:00.004-06:00

We went to San Saba on Saturday to watch Dillan play basketball. Afterwards we went to Harry's. Donald's brother owns this store so we thought we'd stop by to check out the boots and hats and other western wear. I wanted boots, but couldn't find any that I could afford! Dillan found lots of hats. He had a blast trying them own....didn't buy one, but he did try on quite a few and we had fun while we were at it!

Christmas and The Nutcracker

2009-12-07T23:56:00.007-06:00

Denver, Madilyn and Averi after seeing The Nutcracker in Austin on Sunday afternoon. Do you think the kids were a little exhausted after sitting through the ballet? Can you tell they are working hard on posing??? My sister and her daughters, Bonnie and Brianna; Gina, Denver and Averi; Hillary and Maddie,;Cari (Tristin got to stay with his daddy!) and I all went to see the ballet! The kids looked adorable and we all had a wonderful time. We drove back to Cari's in Buda afterwards and we let Averi open some of her birthday gifts.

Wishing all a Merry Christmas!

Police Alert -"One Officer on Duty"

2009-11-24T00:37:00.004-06:00

Tonight we had FCAS (Fellowship of Christian Athletes/Students) at the house and we really had a wonderful time. About 20 kids showed up for Hot Dogs with Chili, Beans, Chips and .......mmmmmmmmmmm Smores! The kids were all so pleasant and grateful! Sheriff Bewley came to give them a speech about good choices and commented on the "one officer" on duty tonight. Well, after the group left, I decided I needed a Coke from Sonic...you know I have that Bulldog Card and I get a Rt. 44 for only $1.07 anytime I feel the urge for a little caffeine. Well, wouldn't you know...I found the "one officer" on duty! As I turned off Henry, (and yes, I did have my blinker on), the car that I was meeting turned behind me with FLASHING LIGHTS! OMG! What had I done? I was on the phone with my sister, Lisa, and I told her I was being stopped, so we hung up. The "one officer" came to my window...all the while I'm trying to figure out what I had done wrong. Well, come to find out, I had not put my blinker on at the proper "100 yard blinker turn on time". I'm not even sure I know where 100 yards is, especially at night! Anyway, he took my DL and went to his patrol car to check me out! When he returned, he told me he was only giving me a warning...thank goodness. I told him the sheriff had supper with us...and had given the speech at FCAS....He sorta laughed and didn't seem too impressed. I was hoping some 18 wheeler wasn't speeding through town while he was giving me my "talking to" or that some druggie wasn't making a drug run through town! Oh well...I guess I learned my lesson. And let this be a warning to all of you....Don't forget to turn your blinker on 100 yards before you turn OR the "one officer on duty" just might get you, too!

Calf Fries...hmmmmm

2009-11-16T22:54:00.007-06:00

I was reading Kaley's blog and she mentioned....bull nuts...what I refer to as calf fries/mountain oysters or my favorite...as Kaley put it "fried nastiness"! It reminded me of a story....a true story (honest to goodness) that happened at Crossfire Cafe last year. Once I started working at Crossfire, I began to notice our "regular customers" and I began to look forward to seeing them. Some of my favorite customers are these "regulars"! One family comes in from the Dallas area, so they are what I call "city folk". They have land near Cranfills Gap, but they always come to eat with us when they come to the "country". I've come to love this family.... The first time they came in, I noticed that their daughters (about 9 and 12) must go to private schools....they came in eager eyed, dressed in their navy/khaki skirts topped by white polo tops....so cute! I was lucky enough to get to wait on them and each time they came afterwards, I would get their table. I quickly learned what they wanted to order on each visit! He would always drink tea...she drank white zinfandel...the girls got water....but they always ordered appetizers....Shooters (jalapeno peppers stuffed with cream cheese and grilled over the fire) and Calf Fries (fried nastiness). Then they would order steaks for supper, and top it off with dessert...peach cobbler with ice cream on the side and chocolate cake. We would always visit about their plans for the weekend and I would talk to the girls about school. After about six visits, this adorable family came back once again and once again I got to wait on them. I was always happy to do this...they began to order the usual...tea, wine, 2 waters, shooters and calf fries. But this particular night, he quite innocently asked me, "Cheri, just what part of the calf do the calf fries come from?" Now, I know the color from my face must have disappeared. I replied, "You really don't know?" (I knew they were from the city, but they had been eating the "fried nastiness" for months!) The sweet wife was sipping her wine and she quickly looked at me and said,"OH, NO! Is it bad?" I tried to explain without letting those precious girls not really realize what they were munching away on....He just looked at me and shook his head....she nearly slid under the table (with wine in hand) and I was waiting for her to throw up....the girls kept munching....oblivious to it all! I think she ordered another glass of wine after that...I noticed she didn't eat much of her steak....
I haven't seen them in a while...and I've missed seeing them....I do know that when they come back to see us, calf fries won't be ordered!

Houses

2009-11-15T19:42:00.003-06:00

A few weekends ago, I was blessed to have both daughters, their sweet husbands and adorable babies spend the weekend with me. I was absolutley ecstatic! It was wonderful. Dillan joined the crowd, as did Gina and her two. We sat cramped in the living room, laughing and visiting and watching the kids (all but Tristin) run through the house like they were race cars at the Daytona 500! Around and around they went...from the living room to the front hall to the hall to the kitchen to the dining room and then back to the living room! It reminded me of the days of my youth, when my sister, Lisa and I would race through Mother and Daddy's house while we chased my older sister's, (Barbara) two older sons...my nephews. They were only a few years younger than Lisa and I. We loved the chase! It's one of my favorite memories...later my younger nephews and nieces, and then my kids made the same chase through the house while the adults played cards or dominoes around the kitchen table. Denver, Averi and Maddie also love the chase! It was exhillerating...to say the least! That night, I realized we needed an extra bedroom...so we let Hillary and Dennis sleep in our room and Donald graciously bedded down on the twin bed in the sunroom. I took my place in the recliner with Tristen (I get night duty when he's here! It's wonderful to rock and let him sleep on my chest!) until he awoke at 2:00 and Cari fed him and took him to bed with her and Kevin. I crawled into the twin bed and we slept til the sun began casting sunbeams in through the french doors. I decided we needed a new house...a bigger house...I wanted everyone to have their own room and to have a place to be comfortable. We had looked at a "hogantic" house and I decided we needed to look again and just take the plunge. It has a beautiful yard with massive oak trees and two acres of yard...four bedrooms, three bathrooms, two living areas...my mind raced. I could just see the Christmas tree in the corner of the living room! The kitchen was big...there would be no "butt bumping" as I cooked...there were two bathtubs (my house has zero bathtubs) for the grandkids to bath in...and for me to relax in. The only problem was....our house was not even on the market...but they would do a lease purchase and give us 6 months to sell our house. However, after much contemplation and a long visit with Cari....we decided it was just too risky to jump into the bigger home. What if we don't sell this house and we have to move back after 6 months....eeeeeeeeeeekkkkk! We'll stay in this home, where we are cozy and quite happy! Donald and I talked about it and I think a big weight was taken off our shoulders. He had literally developed fever blisters worrying about it! And that's what is so great....we can discuss and focus on what we really need. I think we both got the cart before the horse! Anyway, he called the realtor and told them we had changed our mind and they were very nice about it. We will just work on our current home...putting in a bathtub and maybe enlarging the kitchen at some point. We're also going to buy a sleeper sofa to put in the sunroom for an extra bed! I've lived in several houses in the past few years and I've turned them all into my "home"....I really don't need lots of fancy stuff to make it a home (however I would like a bathtub!).....I think it's just the love you put into a house that makes it a home...bathtub or not!!!!!

Salem Witch Trials

2009-11-04T22:10:00.006-06:00

Dillan has been working on a research paper about the Salem Witch Trials.......hmmm......the pictures are of him AFTER he completed this project tonight!

Really, I started playing with my iPhone and I found a new app and this was one of the examples I was able to make! After making it I thought it looked a bit bewitching. I thought of the tragedies that occurred during the 1692 witch hunts. If you've never read about these tragedies it might be something you want to research. I had never really read about this...if I did, I don't remember! I'm still in awe of what happened and why!

The story began when two young girls became sick and began complaining of being bitten and pinched by something invisible. Some believed these strange fits occurred after a group of girls met in the woods to "divine what sort of men their future husbands might be." After this the girls began showing strange symptoms and having "fits". Doctors began to watch these girls. One doctor decided it must be witchcraft and convinced one of the slaves, Tituba to make a "witch cake"....made of rye meal and urine from the girls. The cake was fed to a dog....if the dog began displaying the same strange symptoms, then they were bewitched! This scared the girls and their strange behavior worsened. (Tituba was an Indian with African background and was familiar with African influences of the occult.) The girls accused three women of tormenting them and the women were arrested. Two of the women denied the charges, but then Tituba confessed to being a witch, and accused others of causing the "afflictions" on the girls. Some of the accused were not liked by people in the town, but soon "good church goers" were being accused and taken to jail and many of them were hung. Those who confessed to witchcraft were given reduced sentences, yet those who denied any witchcraft were hung. Strange, huh? Many times witchcraft offered an explanation to many of the sicknesses that the doctors were unable to cure. Some even compared the fits of hysteria to the "quaking" of the Quakers.

I'm not sure anyone has ever come up with answers. I do know it must have been a great tragedy....women and men were hung...some chose hanging over lieing about being a witch! All in all, I enjoyed reading the information. Sometimes we think we live in the "worst of times" but after reading about the Salem Witch Trials, I'm reminded that life has not always been perfect. We will always face trials....some will be easy to overcome, but some will be quite fearful...just as these Salem residents!

Fun Times in LaGrange

2009-10-21T21:11:00.003-05:00

I thought I might share some of the fun pictures we took of our new "friend"! These masks only cost a dollar, but they were worth a million dollars in laugh!

My niece Bonnie even joined the fun!

Lisa wore her mask proudly...even though she was embarrassed when I wore the mask around the WalMart parking lot and waved at all the customers!

Dillan and the little 'uns

2009-10-21T21:05:00.002-05:00

Just wanted to share a few pictures of Dillan and his two nephews and two nieces! I was so glad he went to Austin with me the day Tristin was born! He was so excited about our newest addition!

How Could I Resist?

2009-10-21T20:31:00.004-05:00

For some reason I have ballooned! That's right...it's like someone just blew me up! It's really irritating. I think I must have gained about 10 pounds since last year. Every time I decide to lose it, someone tempts me. Yes...THEY tempt me. Today, Darby, our wonderful volunteer prepared delicious nachos...complete with chips, salsa, shredded cheese, velveeta cheese dip, and chili. Oh, don't let me forget the desserts...cakes and cookies. How could I resist?
Last night, Donald and I went to eat at Ortegas. We ordered my fav...quesadillas...we usually share an order, but last night I was on the phone when he ordered.....low and behold, he ordered me a full order! How could I resist?
On Monday, we surprised Jennifer with food for boss's day.....we had desserts and salads. I tried to stick with the salads but the desserts were so enticing...how could I resist? That night, Donald worked until dark, so I made one of our favorite quick meals... grilled scrambled egg sandwiches on oat bread....yummy! How could I resist?
Sunday I had Mexican food again....quesadillas of course....chips and dips....I salivate just thinking of it....How could I resist?
Saturday we got up early to go garage sale shopping! We had our coffee and English muffins, which was healthy enough. But all that shopping made us hungry so we drove out to Kool Beans and ordered my usual...low fat sugar free vanilla latte and chowed down on French toast and apple scones...How could I resist?
The week before we celebrated Teresa's last treatment for her breast cancer (yea!) and we feasted on every type of pink food and pink dessert known to man (and woman of course). It was a beautiful spread for a beautiful woman....How could I resist?
The week Tristin was born I went to stay with Cari....I made a chicken pot pie that was to die for. I'm afraid to make it here...I'm afraid I will eat the whole pie! I also made several other dishes for her to freeze and eat later....we had chicken and spaghetti and a chocolate cake from Kevin's mom...delish...and of course I couldn't leave without making cookies for the new family and their neighbors.....How could I resist?
Oh, the lists of food goes on and on.....and I realize now that there must be a little devil sitting on my shoulder saying "How can YOU resist?" After seeing all the good food I've been eating, I think I understand why I've gained weight! Well, I'm getting control of myself. Tomorrow I'm starting my new diet/way of eating......I've got to or I'll be buying an entire wardrobe! So I'll be making better food choices....no Cokes or Dr. Peppers....no sweets....no chips and dips....no quesadillas (that's gonna be hard)....but I've got to do it! How can I resist??????

Life

2009-10-14T21:18:00.006-05:00

Life....confusing as it is...it is what it is! Days come and go...some are good, some are bad, but all in all they combine together to make what we call LIFE. I always thought my life would be perfect. That was my dream. I wanted my children's lives to be perfect...that was my dream. But the older I became, the more I realized there is no perfect life. Things happen...sicknesses, heartbreak, happiness, sorrow, death, births, divorce, marriage....life. My life is not and will not be perfect. It is what it is. My children's lives will not be perfect. As much as I want their lives to be without sorrow or pain....I know I cannot prevent tears any more than I can prevent smiles! I can't....tears happen...they come and go like thieves in the darkest night. We become disappointed. We lose faith in those we love. People who some think are perfect, fall from their high pedestals like autumn leaves falling from trees in a forest. We are then raked away and put into a compost pile to rot away, by the self righteous. We wander from what we know is right, and once we return, we find that we are not always wanted. We are shunned....Those who have stayed high on their pedestals look down on us and shake their heads and fingers as if we are murderers. "I told you so!" they exclaim as they look down their self-righteous noses at those of us who have fallen. "Tssk, tssk, tssk...." they whisper as they shake their heads and look the other way. We are not perfect....I am not perfect...That is what my Lord came for. He came to be perfect. He came to take my sin and my debt....He nailed it to the cross and He died for me. He died so that when I (we) mess up, we can have His grace....He knew I would fall from that pedestal....He knew I would be raked away by some...raked away to rot...in their eyes. I pray we can all love each other....accept each other....forgive each other....this is what life is.....loving and forgiving......knowing we aren't perfect. I pray I don't look down on others. Life....It's hard, but so worth it. So worth all the happy times....holding a new grandson and smelling his sweet breath....seeing your granddaughter and watching her run to you as fast as she can to give you a hug...catching a granddaughter's shy smile and hugging her...flashing the "I love you" sign to a grandson as you see him in the hall at school.....seeing your son walk down the hall to ask you for a favor......giving advice to your daughters on the phone about raising children.......gabbing for hours to your sister and brothers about the old days....taking your husbands hand in yours and knowing he knows how you feel.....angry words shared with a loved one....all of this is what life is about.....good or bad....we take it one day at a time....This is what life is!

Tristin Hunter....October 1, 2009

2009-10-02T01:06:00.003-05:00

He's here! Tristin arrived about 5:00 p.m.! Cari called me this morning about 6:15 as we were walking. I've been taking my phone with me on my morning walks...just in case...and sure enough, we heard the phone as we were chatting along in the dark...we looked at each other and shouted, "Cari!". We knew it had to be time. She was on her way to the hospital so we cut our walk about 30 minutes short and headed back to the casa. I started calling and texting everyone I could think of to let them know of her condition and that I would not be at school! I told Dillan I wanted to make sure they were going to keep her, but I promised him I would pick him up by 10:00. That seemed to satisfy him and it gave me time to get things together and to gather my senses!!!! We left about 10:15 and drove with my flashers on all the way...what fun! Luckily I didn't see a cop! Once we got there, she had dilated to a four and had been given an epidural. Dillan and I went to eat at one of his favorite spots...Steak and Shake...and by the time we got back, Cari decided she would try to nap. I left Dillan to nap with her...and I went to Walgreen's to get Chapstick for Cari and snacks for Kevin. Once I returned, we watched HGTV and the fetal monitor....by 4:00 the contractions were regular and I "suggested" to the nurse that they check her. She seemed shocked that no one had checked her since noon, and sure enough...a mother's instinct was true...Cari had dilated all the way and was ready to push! They hurried us out of the room. While Cari pushed, a crowd gathered....grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins and friends! Trisitn Hunter was born about 5:10 and they finally let us in to see him about 7:00. He was beautiful! And just as soon as I saw him...I fell in love again! At first, I thought he looked like Kevin, but then I realized he really looked like Kevin's dad, Eugene! He is definitely an Ulrich! We are so blessed to have this little fella join our family. He is just as perfect as the others! We took lots of pictures and held him and ooohed and ahhhed over him like he was the only baby in the world! I got to change his dirty diaper and by then, the little munchkin was hungry again. We left him in good hands...Cari was ready to nurse him again and Kevin was standing guard like any proud papa would! Congratulations Cari and Kevin! You did a great job!

Grandchildren

2009-09-30T18:09:00.003-05:00

As of today...I still only have 3 grandchildren (Cari hasn't had Tristin yet!). And let me just say....when I say grandchildren...I mean GRANDchildren. They are all just grand..wonderful...fabulous...sensational...glorious...splendid...magnificent...I could go on and on! All three are completely different! I guess that's what makes them so special and makes me love them in a special way.

Denver Dwain Poe....what a wonderful kid! He's my first grandson. I remember the day he was born. We (about 20 of us!) gathered in the waiting room for the grand arrival. We thought HE was going to be a SHE until just a few days before he was born. (I had purchased hundreds of dollars of little pink outfits for who we thought was going to be Averi Grace.) We couldn't wait to see this precious little boy. Oh...he was certainly worth the wait! When I saw him all I could see was a miniature Gina! I thought he looked just like his momma! I expected him to look like Derek, but I could not see an ounce of Derek in that adorable baby boy! Needless to say, I fell in love! Denver has been a treasure to our family. When Denver comes over he keeps me busy...usually playing a game of baseball or basketball. Honestly, there is nothing he can't do! I love to watch him play sports already! My favorite sport to watch him play is soccer! He is awesome! He plays with the intensity of a pro! I get to see Denver every day now because he is in first grade and his classroom is across the hall from me! What a joy to hear, "Nana!" as I'm at school and to top it off with a hug and a kiss!

Next we were blessed with my first granddaughter....Averi Grace! This time I got to keep all the little pink outfits (I had returned the others and exchanged them for blue!) that I had purchased and Gina got to use the name she planned to use with Denver. Derek and Gina once more had a beautiful baby and once again, I fell in love! She was(and is) everything you could order in a little girl. I didn't get to the hospital in time for the actual birth....however, we did make a practice run to the hospital the week before she was born. Derek had gone hunting and Gina thought she was in labor, so I got to drive the "getaway car" to Waco...only to be told she wasn't ready to come. She was also, certainly worth the wait. We were a little worried how Denver would react, but he fell right in to the role of a big brother! Averi has a beautiful smile and she is already a "little mother". She is such a nurturer and she loves to take care of her brother! She loves to come to Nana's and play. She tends to be a bit shy but as soon as she gets on her tricycle...you'd better get out of the way. She's not at all shy once she gets behind the "wheel"! One of her favorite things to do is to help me sweep when she comes over....so I always get to do a little tidying up when she visits. She'll be in kindergarten next year...so I'll be blessed with two of my little sweetie peetie, tootie pootie, honey bunny, sugar bugars at school!!!

Madilyn Bryce is my third grandchild! She is just a joy! Hillary and Dennis certainly combined their genes when they created this little creature! The day she was born there was a gigantic halo around the sun! I think it was a sign telling us that she was going to be a special little girl. I made it to the hospital before she was born and was waiting in the waiting room when she arrived. I fell in love once again! The family gathered once more and we all agreed that she was a "keeper". Maddie is a bundle of energy and love. Some days she looks like her mother, and then a second later she's the image of her daddy! She has a beatiful head of auburn curls! Her personality is just like Hillary's....she's strong willed and full of energy. There's never a dull moment when Maddie is around! She is usually going 100 m.p.h.! She received a bicycle on her 2nd birthday and she began riding it immediately! She loves to play with her "Denber" and "Avewi" and they love to play with her. It's so much fun to see the three of them together...and Madilyn usually keeps them in line! She spent the week with us this past summer after she had surgery on her thumbs for "trigger thumb". I walked in one day to find her trying to cut her cast off with a pair of scissors! That's our Maddie!

Now, I'm waiting on grandchild number 4....Tristin Hunter Ulrich. He will also certainly be "worth the wait" and I am positive that once again....I will fall in love...and I can't wait!

Senior Ring

2009-09-29T21:17:00.003-05:00

Yesterday, my "baby" son, Dillan, who is 16 1/2 came sauntering down the elementary hall with a quirky smile upon his face....he raised his right hand high into the air, as if to greet me with a high five, so I in return raised my right hand to "high five" him. Hands met in the air...and he ever so slightly grasped my hand, as our hands fell to our sides. It was a good feeling...one I don't feel very often...sixteen year old boys don't really like to "touch" their mother's hand...that is an activity that disappeared years ago. Once upon a time, my little boy didn't mind grasping my hand. We would walk hand in hand...swinging them between us as we discussed why butterflies flutter from flower to flower or maybe just talking about what he might want to be when he grew up. I wanted to hug him...but I knew better than to try that...you know he is sixteen and he really doesn't like to hug his mom(even though I want to squeeze him like he's still a baby!).

Anyway, he turned to walk with me back down the hall to my classroom and he began to ask me what I had planned...hmmm...this might mean he has homework that he needs some help with (don't let it be math or Spanish!)...but his request came as a big surprise! He wanted me to go help him pick out his Senior ring. I got a lump in my throat...I didn't know it was time to order Senior rings...can he really be old enough?..."Yes," I tell myself. Of course he's old enough. He has his driver's license...he's a Junior in high school...could he really be ready for a Senior ring? It seems like just yesterday he was born... He was such a fat baby boy...rolls and rolls of fat around his legs...he was full of "sugar" and he smelled like heaven to me. But look at him now...he's taller than I am and he is slim and handsome...he doesn't have chubby little cheeks that drip with sugar...his face is that of a young man, not a bouncing baby!

And what was it that he wanted? Oh, yes, a SENIOR RING! I quizzed him and asked him if he really wanted a Senior ring. "Oh, yes," he replied. "Everyone is getting one!" Well, I wanted to retort the old saying, "Well if everyone was jumping off the roof, would you?", but I knew better. He wouldn't find that humorous...he was excited about the prospect of being a Senior! How could I refuse? We climbed into my dirty black Honda and cruised over to the high school to see what we could find.

There were other parents standing in line waiting to make the purchase of "a lifetime"...all of us had these weird looks on our faces and I'm sure every one's heart was skipping a beat...just wondering how we got to this place! We all agreed that "just yesterday we were starting 1st grade!". Luckily, the people who waited on us knew all the right questions to ask. That made it much easier for Dillan to make his decision. I could tell the man who waited on him, could probably fill out the form with his eyes closed. It was so nice to have him making his suggestions. Otherwise, we may have still been sitting there going through the catalogue trying to decide on just which symbols should be placed on the Senior ring! Dillan chose the least expensive metal (thank you!), black onyx stone placed in the crestview style. He has 2011 on one side and DILLAN on the other side of the stone. He placed a bulldog beneath his name and chose the symbols for basketball, baseball, and football ("I'm playing football next year" he told me) to be placed beneath his graduating year. I wrote a check for $50.00....to be followed by $300.00 more before Christmas.

We turned to leave...and I asked Dillan if he was pleased with his choice. He was, he said. I'm pleased, too. My baby boy has grown up into a funny, appreciative, and kind young man. I'm pleased because he knew he could come to me to ask for his Senior ring. I got to help him pick it out...he valued my opinion and that gave me such comfort! As we left the high school, I wished I could grab his hand and discuss the butterflies and what he wanted to be...but I knew I couldn't. I would just walk next to him...."Thanks," he said... I walked away, but turned to look at him as I got to the corner of the school so I could get one more glimpse of him. I caught his eye as he was climbing into his white pickup....there it was...a million dollar smile and a thumb's up.....now if he can just wait for the Senior ring to get here!

Reflections

2009-09-23T18:29:00.004-05:00

I rushed home from school today to see what all I had missed on Facebook. Well, I had a major shock when I looked at my computer and I saw the reflection of a face....at first I didn't recognize it as mine, because it looked just like my mom was looking back at me! I began to laugh out loud and I realized it was ME! This is not the first time I've seen my mom when I should have seen myself. Now, my mom died about seven years ago, so I would really love to see her, but not when I should see ME!

I've been shopping before when I've seen her. The first time that happened I was in the middle of Dillard's (one of Mother's favorite stores as I recall). I was shocked to see "her" standing across from me, so I quickly glanced at her face again, only to realize I was looking at my own relection in a mirror!

I've also seen her when I've brushed my teeth and I see my reflection in the bathroom mirror. I tend to stand like she did as she brushed her teeth. I've noticed that I clench my left fist as I brush my teeth with my right hand.....just like dear old Mom!

Mother always stood with her hands on her hips (that's called "akimbo"...standing with hands on your hips....I learned that when I read "Strawberry Girl" by Lois Lenski....I had to look that word up in the dictionary!) I also stand "akimbo" quite often. I've seen her standing akimbo when I've seen my reflection in mirrors more times than I can even count!

This summer my family had a family reunion.....Mother would have loved it! As I looked at the pictures we took, I saw Mother along with us! She was there in my sisters' faces..... Barbara and Lisa...... and me! I miss my mom and it was really good to see her....even though it was just a reflection!

Fall

2009-09-20T15:50:00.004-05:00

My favorite time of the year is fall! I love the cool mornings and evenings....the scent of leaves burning on a fall afternoon....the cheers of a crowd at a football game...the leaves on the trees turning from bright green to an array of golden yellow, orange and red....pumpkins sitting in front of the grocery stores waiting to be placed on porches or even made into pumpkin pies.... shops are filled with the latest fall fashions.....pear trees are overloaded with fruit....kitchens are filled with the aroma of spices and warm pies baked from the bounty of the fall harvest...Halloween decorations adorn front porches and youngsters plan and purchase the scariest costume they can find. What's not to love about fall?

When Dillan was only about four, I walked outside one fall afternoon to find our front yard strung with toilet paper. I had wondered what was keeping him so busy outdoors. White streams of Charmin were blowing in the breeze from shrubs and the lower branches of the trees. His riding toys were wrapped like mummies in an Egyptian tomb. I was amazed and confused as to why he had done this to our yard! He promptly informed me that "It's fall! You're supposed to put toilet paper in the yard!" I had to laugh because I knew that each year of his short life he had witnessed me pulling toilet paper from trees after his older brother's and sisters' friends had wrapped our house on Halloween night.

A few days later, he flew out the door with one of my fruit baskets and ran to our pear tree. He wanted to pick the pears that were heavily hanging from the branches of our pear tree. He had somehow remembered the year before, when I had taken the same basket out to the back yard and picked pears (the ones that hadn't been pecked on by birds!) to make pear cobbler.

Good memories...however one memory of fall that rests in my mind and heart is not so happy. The year before Dillan was born, I had a baby girl on October 1. I named her Autumn Rose. She was born with anecephaly...she had no brain. I was heartbroken. She was born when I was only 4 1/2 months pregnant with her. I never saw her or even held her. She was quickly taken away from me. I believe the doctor thought it would upset me more to see her. She would have been a senior in high school this year. It took me months to recover from her loss but God had plans for me...I had Dillan a year and a half later....a true blessing from God. He was and still is "perfect"!

And so today...after all the good and bad, happy times and sad times, I know that fall is the perfect time of year! I was blessed with her...even though I never knew her. God continues to bless me with the beauty of this....my favorite time of year...FALL!

Garage Sales

2009-09-19T14:12:00.003-05:00

I love garage sales! There's nothing better than to dig around in someone else's rubbish and find the perfect item to add to your own collection of future rubbish. I set my alarm for 7:00 this morning intending to hop up, make a pot of coffee, grab a cup and set out on an exciting venture. My allotted garage sale money was waiting to be spent! Unfortunately, I dozed off and didn't get out until about 9:00. I threw on my jeans and my favorite "Life is Good" t-shirt, tied my tennis shoes into double knots and dashed out the door, with a full coffee cup and money in hand. I just knew that all the "good stuff" had already been purchased and hauled off to another person's home. It was a perfect morning for our search of treasures! The clouds and the breeze kept the temperature just right for a fall morning. We took the pick up truck, just in case we found something we couldn't live without. Our first stop was a little disappointing, but we had high hopes as we climbed back into the truck and set off on our adventure. House Two was better. We found riding toys for the grand kids! Now, mind you, we already have two big wheels, a tricycle, a pink bike, two Little Tyke trucks and a John Deere tractor! But the big wheels are Denver and Averi's. Maddie really needed the little pink big wheel that we found at House Two so we bought it for $5.00. Sitting next to it was the cutest little car for a toddler....now I know that Tristin hasn't even been born yet, but I knew that by next spring/summer, that precious little boy would be needing his own little vehicle to scoot around on at Nana's house, so we plopped down another $3.00 for it! (What a steal!) The morning was already a success! We traveled out of town to House Three and found a table with two benches that, sadly to say, had just been purchased. Oh well, we decided we didn't even have a place for it! I did find a really cute crock with blue hearts on it and an adorable old creamer decorated with a bluebird ( I love bluebirds) so I snatched those two items like they were sale items from a Neiman Marcus! My morning was good. I knew my "Life is Good" t-shirt would bring me good luck! We were running out of coffee, but we decided to try House Four. Now House Four was not pleasant. The odor was rank to say the least. An old couple had lived there for years and I honestly believe they had every crystal ash tray known to man. Boxes of greasy kitchen utensils sat on the floor...stacks of old record albums cried, "Play me, please, just play me one more time!" as I sifted through them hoping to find an old Beatles album! However, as much as I searched for treasures, I realized it was mainly just trash. We left with nothing but a faint odor that lingered on our clothes. House Five was near Aleman. We drove and drove for miles only to find we had passed it! As we crept up the lane toward it, we decided they had already closed for the day. I checked the paper to confirm the address and realized that House Five would not have it's garage sale until next week! We laughed and agreed we both needed another fresh cup of coffee, so we headed back to the house. We placed the riding toys next to the other 7 that we own and I sprinted into the house to find the perfect spot for my crock and creamer. Hmmmmmmm! A sense of accomplishment fell upon me. I did find some goodies on my treasure hunt! All is well! We're planning on visiting House Five first next week on our Garage Sale trip! I just know they have some "good stuff"!

Nesting

2009-09-18T17:35:00.003-05:00

I remember when I got ready to have my babies, I would nest. I spent my time cleaning the bathrooms and kitchen.....that included mopping floors and cleaning out the refrigerator...and organizing the pantry(canned goods in alphabetical order). I would clean every drawer in the house and cringe when anyone went near a drawer to even consider taking something out of it. My silverware (well, it wasn't really silver...stainless) was neatly placed in their little cubicles. Pots and pans were arranged in the cabinets and all my bowls were stacked like the stacking cups my children loved to play with. I scrubbed with Ajax and Spic and Span...used gallons of Pine Sol....scrubbed toilets as if I planned to drink from them! Windows were shining and the smell of Windex filled the house. I would make sure all the clothes were clean and ironed (yikes...) and folded and neatly stacked away in their specific spot. I made sure the garage was clean (heaven forbid someone seeing a messy garage) and the yard was perfectly groomed. This huge task would surely get me ready for labor and the precious arrival I was expecting from the stork. Well, today, I suppose I was nesting for Cari. She is due any day now and I want to be ready. Instead of getting my house ready for the big day, I tried to get my classroom ready. I've written lesson plans for the next three weeks! I have all my papers run off...hot off the press! They are hidden away in folders that I've labeled for that specific day. I have lesson plans for the day on top, followed by an attendance page, class lists for each class, and a daily schedule. Under these I've placed my daily papers. I've informed my teaching buddies where my teacher manuals are. The science experiment for Wednesday is ready and waiting! Salt, food coloring, cups, paintbrushes and paper...are all there. We'll be studying "solutions" and the class will mix the salt with water and food color and then they'll paint a picture with the solution of salt, water, and food color. Hopefully, when their masterpieces dry, the salt will be left on their paper! I'll have the sub (or me if I'm still there) to hang them like an art museum full of Van Gogh's work. All is ready and waiting! Now, if my nesting was in vain, I'll be extra ready for myself and I'll do the entire "nesting" activity all over again for the next week!

Out of the mouths of third graders....

2009-09-17T22:16:00.002-05:00

Last Friday was "Grandparent's Day" and we had more grandmas and grandpas than you could shake a stick at! They came from all over the great state of Texas! There were smiles everywhere! They all came to eat with their precious grandchildren and enjoy fine dining in the cafeteria! Not sure about 5 star dining, but the atmosphere was wonderful! Everyone was happy....that is until my sweet little darlings came back to my classroom after 30 minutes of dining and visiting. One set of grandparents wanted to come to my room to see where their precious grandchild spent most of his waking hours. "Mr. and Mrs. Grandparent" happily walked in and one of my curious students sauntered up to us and politely asked, "Are you Mrs. Jordan's grandparents?". Well, I wanted to find something to crawl under but decided that I wouldn't fit under my desk....I promptly said, "No, sweetheart. Please sit down," all the while hoping and praying (yes...we do still pray in school!) that the kind couple (who are only about 5 years older than me) didn't hear her. Well, that didn't satisfy her and she politely asked the SAME question again....this time, "Mrs. Grandma" said, "What did she say? Did she ask if I was YOUR grandma?" and then "Mr. Grandpa" asked, "Does she think we're YOUR grandparents?". I started apologizing and quickly escorted the pair out of the room before anyone else could question them on their status! I did not tell my little sweet darlin' that I'M a grandma myself! I spent the next few minutes wondering why she even asked that question! Oh well...out of the mouths of third graders........

Dressing Up

2009-09-16T16:55:00.004-05:00

Personally, I hate to dress up. Today I wore a navy pencil skirt, starched white blouse topped off with a red jacket. That's right....I looked just like a flag. All I needed was a star on my chest and I could have been hung on a flagpole! I opted not to wear heels...however I did wear navy flats. I've tried wearing heels, but OMG, they hurt my feet. I was uncomfortable all day long in my skirt and blouse. It felt like my shirt was coming untucked and I hate that. Pencil skirts are hard to sit in and I had a hard time sitting! Donald told me that I looked really pretty and professional this morning. I tried to tell him that I don't enjoy dressing this way and I compared it to him wearing a suit and tie every day. He got it! That was the only comparison I could think of to let him know how I hate to dress up. I don't think I'm a better teacher if I dress up at all. I can do a great job teaching when I wear jeans. Now, I don't mind wearing dress jeans, and I can even "dress" up my jeans, but we can only wear jeans on Fridays unless we have the much coveted "jean coupon". I love to get "jean coupons" and I tuck them away in a safe spot so I can use them later. Then at the end of my teaching year, I find all these unused coupons and I don't even need them for my summer vacation because I can wear jeans anytime I want during the summer! So, my goal this year is to use my "jean coupons" and not hide them away like an old miser hides her $100 bills under a mattress! I will of course continue to dress up, because so many of my clothes that I've bought are "dressy". I will put on my "big girl panties" on my "dress up" days and endure the pencil skirts and blouses. I will plaster a smile on my face and graciously thank those who comment on how "nice" I look. I will, however, secretly wish I was wearing my jeans. I do own some skirts and dresses that aren't so dressy. And when the weather is warm, I don't mind wearing a more casual skirt or dress. They are cooler than a pair of pants or jeans. But the past few days, my room has been freezing and I've had recess duty. I've had to wear my jacket in the room and even take a blanket out to the playground to cover my exposed legs (covered in goose bumps!). I'm looking forward to Friday...jean day! I plan to wear my new black jeans and my new t-shirt (it has 3/4 length sleeves and it looks like a snake skin) that I bought last night at Express. So on Friday, instead of looking like a starless flag, I'll look just like a boa constrictor slithering down the hall and I'll be a happy teacher! Hissssssssssssss!

There's no place like home...

2009-09-11T00:01:00.003-05:00

Donald just returned from Kansas. Kansas, as he expected, was wet! It rained 7 inches before he could even leave THE COX MOTEL....he was stranded for several hours, waiting for the rainwater to subside on the roads. He didn't get to see Dorothy and ToTo but he actually saw a tornado! He showed me pictures he took of it. The first pictures showed funnels dipping from the black, eerie sky. Then, WHAM! TOUCHDOWN...a tornado! He returned home, driving in the rain all along the way with lots of pictures of the flood he witnessed, his old apartment at the auction and pictures of one of his best friends, Maggie. Maggie is Donald's dog...she's a talented border collie and Donald loves her as much as Maggie loves him. When he drove up to the auction, she ran to him "crying"! I've heard her cry! He hadn't seen her in weeks, so Maggie's cries were quite expected! Donald had to leave Maggie in Kansas. I know he wanted to bring her to Hamilton, but we don't have a fenced backyard. And Maggie loves to be around cattle or sheep and neither live in our backyard! She loves to herd and help at the auction. I wish we could find someone near who needed a hard working border collie. I know he hated to drive away from her. But, he's home....and I'm glad. He was glad to finally get here...It's a long drive and once you've gone away, and then return...you know that "there's no place like home!"

THIS IS IT

2009-09-10T22:48:00.005-05:00

Tonight I am somewhat weary. I realize that as a teacher, things I do or say can become so misunderstood! I consider these children "mine"! My goal is always to teach, comfort, console, laugh with, and open their eyes to the wonder of a world full of hope. My responsibility is greater than I sometimes feel I can carry! But each year I open my heart and arms to new children whose eyes are wide and minds are ready to be filled with knowledge! I attempt to make learning fun...I want them to love school. They have to have a love of school and a yearning to come each day ready to embark on new voyages! My prayer each day is to give them tools to use each day of their life....not just so they can pass a test at the end of the year, but so they will become successful in life. And I ask myself...how can I ensure that they receive these tools for life? What can I do to make sure they go home with something they've learned and then can use it tomorrow or even years from now? I always tell my students that we are like a family in my classroom. They sometimes spend more of their waking hours at school than they do at home, so we have to create a setting that is safe and rewarding. So, my weariness will send me to bed tonight....hoping for a bright new day that will give me another chance to provide all the knowledge and care to every child I teach. I pray for each child and for their parents or caretakers and for all teachers everywhere. Remember....THIS IS IT!

HOMEWORK

2009-09-09T23:21:00.004-05:00

As soon as school was out today, I headed toward Waco so I could take Hillary birthday shopping. I like to take my girls out to shop, so I can get them something they really like. I had just pulled into the gas station in McGregor ($2.35 a gallon...woohoo!), when Dillan called to ask me what I was doing. Now, I always know what this means....he has HOMEWORK. And this call was no different. He had English homework that he wanted my assistance(synonym for help) with. Naturally, I called Hillary and postponed our shopping date and headed back towards H-town to help my youngest with his HOMEWORK. He arrived about 7:00, hungry as a horse, so I hopped into the car to buy one of his favorite meals...chicken from Chicken Express. 7 piece meal, fries, roll and a large Dr. Pepper. (I suggested Crossfire and a chicken fried steak, but he said he had too much HOMEWORK....eeeewwww). He inhaled his greasy food and we got started on his paper. Now, my new computer does not have Word (yet), so he didn't have the help of the computer's thesaurus. I didn't realize how convenient that silly Thesaurus was! He spent the next hour and a half looking up words in an old Thesaurus I have....thank goodness I could find it! He quickly discovered he used try or tried way too many times! So he substituted attempt, strive, execute, undertake, struggle, endeavor, sampled for all twelve times he attempted to not use the words try/tried. He struggled with that! Other words incorporated into his paper were labor, reimburse, bestow, impart, obtain, seize, sacrifice, forfeit, execute, affixed, allot, acquire, approaches, poses, fetch, oblige, craves....wow, I'm exhausted after all that! After reading it over, it certainly did not sound like words he usually uses, but it was more interesting after all those substitutions! Hopefully, he acquired some knowledge by using interesting vocabulary as he composed his composition! Ha ha! We had a great time...his right shoulder started hurting after he had written for such a lengthy time (in the same place mine hurts after I write or sew or paint), so I gave him a good ole neck rub...he has knots in his shoulder just like I do...stress knots! He still had Spanish HOMEWORK, so he went to his dad's to finish that and go to bed. I'm so glad he came over!

BEAUTIFUL

2009-09-09T22:50:00.003-05:00

Today, I asked my friend and neighbor "across the hall" if she would help me with my blog. I've been trying for two days (seems like two years) to change my background. Shelley worked on it tonight and it is BEAUTIFUL! I love it! Thank you so much for creating such a BEAUTIFUL background! I owe you so much, however I don't have much! But, if you need anything, please let me know. As long as you don't ask me to help with your blog decor, I may be able to help! Thanks....it's BEAUTIFUL!!!

All alone

2009-09-08T23:48:00.002-05:00

Tonight I am alone...all by my lonesome...no one here...nada...single....by myself....lonely...solo... uno..."One is the loneliest number that you ever knew! Two could be as bad as one, it's the loneliest number since the number one.... oooooo." I feel like Tiny Tim in The Christmas Carol! "I'm all alone, alone in the world. I'm all alone in the world. Millions of (something) la la in the world, I'm all alone in the world." Well, darn, I've forgotten the words to that song! I'm alone because Donald has gone to Kansas...gone to see Dorothy and ToTo...gone to find the Wizard and the Tin Man, Cowardly Lion, and Scarecrow. (Now that I've seen Wicked, I'm not too worried about him running into the Wicked Witch!) Gone to the land of rain, where the rain falls like torrents from the dark rumbling sky and tornadoes that dip from the black sky like a thief in the night! He's gone to the fields of amber grain and rolling hills. Gone to see the Amish and follow them as they plod along in their horse drawn buggies as they go home to their homes filled with lanterns and battery operated generators and cell phones (used only for business of course). Gone to see his twin brother and to look at auctions in Kansas.....the state that taxes you for each roll of toilet paper you own and any extras you might dare to buy or possess! oooooooooooohhhhhhhhh! He did call to say he found a cheap motel ($35) with a room that is the size of a matchbox! Well, not really that small, but he did compare it to our laundry room! He said it had a bed and it was clean and an American ran it! (Score!!!) He also said the name of the motel was...get this...THE COX MOTEL! How cool is that! Cox is my maiden name! He may have found some of my long lost kin! He also found a little hole in the wall to dine in that sold a $5.95 roast beef sandwich, so he was fed and happy! I miss him. I don't know why I haven't gone to bed and tried to get some sleep! He has already gone to sleep...he's probably dreaming...about one of his weird dreams where he loses something or is walking around without his shoes on in a muddy pasture chasing cattle! Instead, I piddled in my yard, talked on the phone to anyone who would talk to me, registered Dillan for the SAT test (which took forever!), checked on Cari (she's better), checked facebook and FINALLY graded papers! So, after such an unproductive night, I decided to try to make my blog look "pretty" only I became frustrated when it wouldn't work. So I will settle for an ugly background. If you are reading this, just imagine a beautiful shabby chic background and Jason Castro or Carly Simon or James Taylor or Jason Mraz singing sweet love songs in the background. Close your eyes...imagine...close your eyes....zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. Ooops...just fell asleep...going to my lonely bed!

Too late tonight

2009-09-07T22:21:00.001-05:00

I think I said earlier that I wasn't envious enough to take something away from someone, but if I knew how to take my sister's background and music off her blog and put it on mine, I'm sad to say, I would. I've already called her tonight to share an amusingly, sad email :-):-( that I received today and she didn't even tell me of her blogging antics. I want music and I want a pretty background, but I think it's too late tonight to get that done. I want to post pictures of Hillary's party and write funny stories, but I think it's too late tonight. I want to use special words...the ones that writers use to make people smile and ponder, but I think it's too late tonight. I want to read all the blogs that I follow, but I think it's too late tonight. The truth of the matter is.....is that it is (is that correct or did I use is too many times this late at night?) too late tonight to get all that I want to get done. So I will close my blog tonight and continue again tomorrow. I am waiting on Cari to call me. She is sitting in the ER in Austin, Tx waiting to find out why she feels so bad. I hope she doesn't have the flu! I will close for now, and I will wait for her call...a call that is never too late at night to get!

Hillary's 30th Birthday

2009-09-06T21:23:00.001-05:00

Next Saturday, September 12, will be my oldest daughter's 30th birthday. Hillary Ann (Hitchery Dan - that's another story) will be 30! That's hard for me to believe, because as old as I am, I still feel like I should be about 30! Isn't that crazy??? Anyway, we decided to throw a surprise party. Our secret plans began weeks ago...whispering and wondering and making lists and plans...soooooo much fun! But we realized that we would not be able to celebrate her birthday on the 12th....I would not be in town and Cari would be only 3 weeks from her due date. So, this weekend, Dove Festival Weekend...Homecoming Weekend...would be the perfect weekend to throw the party! Dennis, Hillary, and Maddie would come home. Cari and Kevin would be in town...hopefully most of Hillary's friends would be here. So the plans began! I tried to find email addresses and Cari sent out e-vites. I found phone numbers and called friends. Some email addresses were wrong and unfortunately didn't go through but we had a blast planning! I wasn't sure how I could pull this surprise off. Hillary was at my house for most of today. Luckily, she and Maddie took a long nap while I got the final stages of the party together! Now, Dennis is not very good at telling lies or keeping secrets, so I think she was beginning to get a little suspicious on their way to the party, but all in all, we pulled it off until she saw all the cars and pick ups and recognized them. We had a wonderful time! I was so happy to see her smile! It was good to see her friends and their kiddos! Maddie had a wonderful time playing with her cousins, Denver and Averi, and her momma's friend's girls! We ate watermelon, chips and dip, and had crackers with cream cheese dip and some wonderful birthday cake (thanks Leanne!). It was great to see all my kids together and to see all my grandkids. It was really more like a party for me! I don't get to see my kids all together very often. So this was extra special for me! The kids got to swim and run around acting like horses and laugh together. It was just great to see everyone! So, Hillary, I hope you enjoyed your party as much as I enjoyed seeing you there!

envy and competition

2009-09-06T21:09:00.001-05:00

I am not always envious of others BUT I am very competitive. Last night I got home from a long night at Crossfire and I found that my sister had started a blog! I was amazed, impressed, pleased, and JEALOUS! Not the type of jealousy that makes me want to take something away from someone or say mean things to the other person....but just enough jealousy to get my competitive nature going! And, I must add, I'm not really competing with Lisa...I just want to blog with her. My youngest daughter, Cari, and my daughter-in-law, Gina, both blog, so I decided to join the "blog club". Now, Lisa's blog was wonderful and I won't even be able to come close to her first entries. They brought tears to my eyes and gave me some really special and funny memories. So, here's to blogging! May we all learn from each other and add some humor or different outlook to our readers' lives!