Thursday, May 31, 2012

The House is Empty!

It doesn't seem real, but it is, the house is empty! Every doll, dish, table and chair even the piano is gone. They have been divided and and given to family and friends. Gone to be remembered in small pieces. It's as if the family quilt has been disassembled and each piece has been distributed to far away places.
 As you can see the wear on the carpet of a room that was full of joy and well lived in. The songs that were sung by the piano that is no longer there. What are your memories? What stories do you have to tell? Will you write them down or just tuck them away in your memory?
I hope that whoever got the dinning room table is blessed with family, friends, God and good health. There were a lot of stories and prayers at that table. What is your favorite story that you told while sitting at that table? What prayer do you hope that grandma prayed?
Grandmas room......what can I say, still looks peaceful.


And how many times did you swing at the stairs even when you were told not to? Yes, I did swing on it one last time, and mom yelled at me. Well kind of. 

As I close this post always remember that we are a part of a great family. We may not always agree with each other or get along but we are still family. So make peace with those that need it if not for them for yourself. Grandma prayed for each and everyone of us and it's the least we can do for her.

Here are a few more pictures. Remember all the good times and feel free to share them if you like.



We love you Grandma!

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Water Fight!

We had a busy weekend. Rod had to work Saturday morning and I had a 31 party. Which was a great show by the way.
I've discovered that there aren't enough hours in the day. We have a lot of things that need to get done and with Rod working the day shift and me working 3 to 4 nights a week it's hard to do. We even made a list of all the things that we need to get done just so we don't forget anything. Sitting here typing I remember a few things that I need to add, be right back. OK that is done.
Sunday Rod and I worked on getting the end of the house cleaned up. We are making it into a rock garden. We've tried to get different things to grow with no luck. So we've decided to grow rocks. No maintenance needed, lol.
2:00 in the afternoon and Rod and I were waiting for everyone to show up for the big water fight. Rod had 2 large trash cans full of water and 3-5 gallon buckets. In our arsenal we had 2-3' water guns 2-2' , 2 smaller ones and 4 foam water guns. 8 squishy hand grenades and 5 squishy footballs. Let's see if I can remember everyone that came to the water fight. Kara, Brock, Ava, Austin. Susan took pictures and the video. Melanie, Trenton's girlfriend, Thomas her son. Melanie's friend and her two kids. She will have to remind me of their names so I can add them to my story.
Now for the water fight. Check out the video. The next time we have a water fight I hope you are in the area so you can join us. The big kids have just as much fun as the little ones.

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

I like who I am!

Wash Rinse Repeat!

Yep, that is what life is for the most part. We get up do the same thing today that we did yesterday and the out look for tomorrow doesn't look any different. There maybe a few little differences each day but not much changes. Wait, I am mistaken, we change. When we are young we believe what we are told and we view it as the only truth. As we get older we start to see life with a different  set of eyes. We have to live our life and deal with all the heart ache, sorrow and joy all on our own. Our views change, they become our own. We change!

I look in the mirror and I don't know who it is looking back at me. In my mind I still see me at 18 not 48. The person in the mirror looks like she has lived a good life, maybe a little rough at times but good just the same. I think of things that could have been if I would have chosen a different path. but I have no regrets, I like who I have become. I may have been quiet at times when I should have spoken. Loud when I should have been silent. But the things I have been through in my life have made me who I am. I LIKE WHO I AM! Yes I am shouting it, I am who I am. I wouldn't change a thing, well maybe, I wouldn't have gone through the red hair phase.

I can't make decisions for my family only they can do that, they alone. I refuse to feel guilty for the choices that someone else makes. I am not a failure if my kids choose to do something I don't like they are adults. I am not a failure, my kids are grown and have moved out. I guess I finally succeeded at something!

I don't feel guilty for the choices that I have made, they have made me who I am today. I LIKE WHO I AM!

Friday, May 11, 2012

Loopy Ava!

Here it is Friday and I haven't posted anything about our little adventure. On Tuesday Kara and I took Ava to the hospital to have her two front teeth removed. Interesting trip, Ava watched ScoobyDoo all the way there and never questioned where we were going. She was under the assumption that we were just taking a road trip. She did ask me if I had any snacks in the car because she was hungry. She wasn't aloud to have anything until after the surgery. 8:00 in the morning and I know I'm hungry so I feel for her.
We get into the hospital and get into the room. She still hasn't been told why we are here. We get her into her gown and put her up on the bed. She asked me if she was just here to test the bed. She called the room her tiny little house. Then in comes the doctor to check her before they start. Now she has the puzzled look on her face. Kara is filing out papers so it was up to me to let her know what was going on. I held her on my lap and told her they were going to take care of her teeth. She instantly covered her mouth. I also told her that Grandpa was going to buy her whatever she wanted as long as she was good. Once she discovered the buttons on the bed guess what she wanted grandpa to buy? A hospital bed!!!
The nurse brought her a liquid sedative and said that it should take affect soon. Well it made her just a little loopy. As the video will show.


The video was before she went into surgery. When they brought her out she was in tears and her body was shaking from crying. We are glad that is all over. Now she is toothless in the front but that is ok.
You hate to see them when they are hurting, so precious.She did just fine and now she is all ready for Kindergarten. She went through screening on Thursday. I know she is excited about starting school but I just want her to be our little girl.


Monday, May 7, 2012

JUMP!

Yesterday was a beautiful day, Rod worked too hard outside and exhausted himself. When he came inside I found him asleep on the couch. It's hard work push mowing around all the trees, maybe we have too many. I should have taken him more lemonade to drink, I think I only took him one glass.
I worked around the flower beds turning the mulch over and pulling the weeds. Trenton's cat tried to help by almost knocking me over, she wanted my attention. I didn't get much done but it is starting to look better.

             
Kara dropped the kids off around 4:30 so they could have a little fun at our house. We got the bounce house out so they could burn up some energy. It was Austins first time in it and he was having a blast. Ava wouldn't get in it last year she said it was too hot outside. I think it was because she didn't have anybody to play with. Here they are having fun.

When they got done jumping we took them for a ride in the golf cart through the woods. Rod found a duck egg in the middle of the path, he just about ran it over. We stopped at the tiny house and visited with mom and dad. Austin was worried about the egg and kept looking for it in the gold cart. Rod had given it to dad. Ava said that it need somebody to take care of it so her and mom went into the house and brought out the stuffed bear. They had the bear lay on top of the egg to keep it warm. She has a way of coming up with great ideas for a 5 year old. I'm sure the next time she is over she will want to check on the egg in the woods. I hope dad put it on a nest.

Saturday, May 5, 2012

"I'm Bored"

Yep, that is what Ava said the other day when I told her to go play. She said she needed some different toys to play with I think it may have something to do with the room being trashed. Here is a couple of pictures of the room this morning. It looks like two little tornadoes went though it. No wonder why she needs new toys these are a mess. It's hard to play in a messy room but she doesn't like cleaning, she's always too tired. Five years old and already coming up with excuses not to clean.
After working on the room for several hours this morning I finally found the floor. I still need to move the air hockey into the room but Rod will have to help me. Another room down and several more to go. You should see my scrap-room, maybe not.


Friday, May 4, 2012

One Room Clean

My goal for today was to get the Elvis Room back in order. Spring is in the air and I was in the mood to clean. I'm glad to say that the room looks great and Rod will be surprised. He's always complaining that I use the room as a catch all. Today it's just his room, nice and clean.


My picture is just a little fuzzy but you can see that it is clean. Anyone that hasn't seen it in person stop by sometime and check it out. Rod will even show you his outfit and the cape. I do need a manikin to put the outfit on I could use some help finding one. I've got to do a photo shoot with him and the kids in their outfits. I'll post them later for everybody to enjoy. Yes we have outfits for both grand-kids and they both love Elvis.

Thursday, May 3, 2012

The Cabinets

It's 82 outside the sun is shining and the birds are singing. I've got the stereo cranked playing ABBA trying to get myself motivated to clean house. I need all of my groceries put back into the kitchen.

As you can see Rod's Elvis room is trashed! I think he would really like it to be back to normal or at least clutter free. One of my projects for the day. The play room, my craft room, sweep, dust laundry.....you know the drill. Wash, Rinse, Repeat! So is life.

As promised I am posting a picture of the new cabinets. We still need flooring and one more set ordered but it is a start. Hmmmm, Thirty-One Gifts Summer catalog is all about "Life Simplified"



Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Still in Progress!

The old cabinets are out in the middle of the kitchen and It made my kitchen double in size. There was even an echo in the room. The delivered the new ones last week and all we did was just set them where they are going to go. We have a few more things to do before we put them in permanently. We need the cabinets ordered for the outside wall and the flooring needs to be laid. We may have to re-do the drywall on the outside wall because it has issues. Better to get it all done and not have to keep fixing little things here and there.

Anyone that has seen my kitchen knows what a difference this made by just removing the island in the middle. I will more cabinet space than I have ever had. I can't wait until this project is done. I know Rod will be glad when we are finished. He hates it when I start projects.