Weekend getaway

Mike and I are back from a night's stay in the Metroplex. We stayed at Aloft. Here is one view of our room. It was pretty cozy. We shopped a lot. (Mike is turning in to a pretty good shopper.) We saw a movie at the IMAX and ate some great food. If you have not ever eaten at The Original Pancake House, you should. It is so good!

Possum Kingdom

Ryan and Sarah had a good time with family and friends at the lake this weekend. Ryan loves to show off!

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Gratitude

Thanks to all our veterans and current military service men/women for your service to our country!

Gardenia

See how many blooms this gardenia bush has ! 

Yard Work

Kara and Joey worked hard this weekend planting bushes and flowers. The yard is looking real nice. Kara bought a gardenia bush to go on the front porch. That beautiful aroma just belongs with the old homestead as Daddy always had gardenia bushes growing in front of the living room window. He loved to take them to church to pass out to all the ladies. I bought a frost free gardenia bush for my backyard too. I hope I can keep it alive. It is full of blooms and the scent is heavenly.

Driving around tonight, we saw this lone bird perched on top of an electrical box amidst a field of wildflowers. We got over an inch of rain last night and there is a chance of more later tonight. 

Memorial Weekend Plans

1. Clean off computer desk. Done.
2. Learn to roll over in hammock without falling off. Ouch!  (I'll sure be more cautious)
3. Work on scrapbook cookbook so hopefully it will be finished by Thanksgiving '09. Didn't get to it!
4. Finish cleaning out closet. Done
5. Bake something yummy~ Eat some, share some. Done, come get some cake Paula!
6. Sleep in.  (a given)
7. Cut black spot off of rose bush.   (DONE, but not much rose bush left)
8. Read "The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie."  (read Rooftops of Tehran instead)
9. Clean out junk room? or at the very least organize it somewhat?  Nah, not enough time!
10. Give thanks to/for all our veterans for their service to the good Ole' USA! (not just today, but everyday!)

Live, Love, Laugh, Lounge!

And baby makes six....

...grandchildren for my brother Tim.  This newest little one, fresh from heaven, is Sarah Elizabeth born today May 19th. Proud parents are Leslie and Eric and big brothers Andrew and Owen, pictured here.  Don't you know her big brothers will take good care of her!  (Wonder if their next two children's names will start with I and U? If they decide to use all the vowels.)

New Knee

Congratulations to Kenny on his new knee. The surgery went well and he is staying pretty doped up today, but tomorrow they get him up and walk some. Please keep him in your prayers for a quick recovery.
 

All Smiles

Sarah and Ryan at this weekend's offroad event in the Dallas area. Notice her new smile!

THINGS I LEARNED FROM BEING RAISED IN TEXAS

This has gone around the email circles, but just wanted Arthur in Greece to know what to expect when they visit Texas.

Armadillos sleep in the middle of the road with their feet in the air.  
There are 5,000 types of snakes on earth and 4,998 live in Texas  
There are 10,000 types of spiders. All 10,000 live in Texas , plus a couple no one's seen before.  If it grows, it sticks; if it crawls, it bites. 'Twiced' is a word. People actually grow and eat okra  'Fixinto' is one word. There is no such thing as 'lunch.' There is only dinner and then supper. Iced tea is appropriate for all meals and you start drinking it when you're two. We do like a little tea with our sugar! 'Backwards and forwards' means I know everything about you! Djeet is actually a phrase meaning 'Did you eat?' You don't have to wear a watch because it doesn't matter what time it is. You work until you're done  or it's too dark to see. You don't PUSH buttons, you MASH them.  You measure distance in hours. Like its 6 hours from Houston to Dallas .  You'll probably have to switch from 'heat' to 'A/C' in the same day.  'Fix' is a verb. Example: 'I'm fixing to go to the store.'  You install security lights on your house and garage and leave both unlocked.  Yes, Friday night high school football games is serious football!  You carry jumper cables in your car .. . .  for your OWN car.  There are only four spices: salt, pepper, Tabasco and ketchup.  The local papers cover national and international news on one page, but require 6 pages for local gossip and sports.  100 degrees Fahrenheit is 'a little warm.'  We have four seasons: Almost Summer, Summer, still Summer and Christmas.  Going to Wal-mart is a favorite past time known as 'goin' to Wally-World.'  A cool snap (below 70 degrees) is good pinto-bean weather.  A carbonated soft drink isn't a soda, cola or pop. . . . it's a Coke, regardless of brand or flavor. Example:  'What kind a coke you want?' Fried catfish is the other white meat.  We don't need no stinking driver's ed . . . if our mama says we can drive, we can drive.  EVERYONE can't be from Texas . You might say it's a gift from God! And the most important thing we learn growing up in TEXAS is... IN GOD WE TRUST 

Just a little craziness with my Funhouse software. (not too believable of Ryan)

Sarah Smiles

Yeah!  Sarah got her braces off today! She can't stop smiling!

Happy Day Moms!

Kara and Ryan got me a hammock for Mother's Day. I love it! I have always wanted a hammock, as much for stargazing as for reading outdoors under the sun.  I spent most of the afternoon on it, talking on the phone. 

Joey took pictures of Mike and I on it, but they are not blog worthy. :)  ...and for those of you who wonder, we did not exceed the weight limit!)

The kids fixed dinner -grilled chicken chipotle  (delicious) and we had a great time visiting and playing games.  Mike's Mom and Dad joined us too. These are the good ole' days!

Watch your mouth!

A friend related this story to me:

Grandpa was driving with his grandchild belted in the backseat. Someone pulled out in front of Grandpa and Grandpa yells "Stupid son of a Bit*h! To which the little one replied, "Grandpa, we don't say stupid!"

Santa Fe

Pictures of Sarah and Ryan from their recent trip to New Mexico. Such a cute couple~

Cereal killers

Nobody I know loves cereal as much as Robin and Josh. That's why I thought of them when I found this lamp in a magazine. Definitely unique. (Turning the spoon turns the light off and on)