Sonic ran a special for the longest day of the year; all milkshakes were 1/2 price. So of course, the grandkids and I made a trip by Sonic for 3 chocolate milkshakes. Yes, I only got 3 and there were 4 of us. I knew Connor couldn't drink a whole one, even the small size. And sure enough, as soon as we got home, he put his shake down on the steps and ran to the bathroom. Well, Kennedy helped herself to the chocolate treat. All was well, Connor never came back of it.
Saturday, June 23, 2012
Thursday, June 21, 2012
Lucifer Is Blooming
I replied, "That's Lucifer." Well, you could see on Mom's face that she didn't seem to like the name. Then she asked, "When does it bloom?" And you know the pride you feel when you give a clever answer just off the cuff. Well, I had one of those prideful moments when I replied, "When it's hot as hell."
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| Crocosmia or Lucifer |
That's a Saga Palm behind the flower.
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
A Hard Day Keeping Grandchildren
Here's the text I sent my daughter on Monday about 5 p.m.
You will need to find a new grandmother for these kids. Connor had a fit about going to speech, so I forgot Kennedy's diaper bag. While we were waiting, she kicked off her diaper. It was too wet to put it back on her, but before I could deal with that, she grabs her bottom and starts yelling "poo poo!" I swooped her up and ran down the hall in horror of what was about to hit my legs, shoes, or the floor. They asked us not to come back. I said, "No problem."
And yes, I left it at that until she called me on her way home. I raised 3 children and taught kindergarten through 8 grade for 22 years; so one would think that taking care of 3 adorable grandchildren would be a piece of cake. And usually it is, but Monday was one of those terrible, horrible, very bad, no good days.
Actually, the morning started out fine. The 6 year old, Connor, was at a STEM camp at the local university. At 2 p.m. I had to pick him up. I had been given directions, but the baby (22 months old) went to sleep during the drive, so I had to carry her into the building. Of course the class was on the 3rd floor. I did take the elevator, but when I got off, a lady was also going to pick up her child, so I just followed her. Little did I know that she had no idea where to go. We walked the entire third floor before we came to the correct room. So I got some exercise carrying a 20+ pound sleeping child.
Connor goes to a speech class 2 days a week at 4:15. Every year we have had at least one "adventure" involving that. You must understand that everyday he screams "I'm not going to stupid speech". But because I always answer him with, "Your mother would never make you do something stupid. Speech is a very smart and cool thing for you to do." Today he screamed, "I'm not going to stupid speech, smart speech or any kind of speech." So I grabbed him by the ankles and drug him until he was laughing and decided he would rather walk. He has a huge crush on the young college student who is his teacher. He was actually afraid that he might have to enter the room being drug by his grammy. I'm being playful, but they do fear that I just might be that outrageous. I told him that would not make a very good impression on the beautiful young lady whom he had expressed his desire to marry when he turns 16.
Anyway, getting things for the toddler totally escaped me. Thank goodness I remembered her. So of course there would be a diaper issue while we were sitting in the waiting room. I did make it to bathroom with her. She sat there for a long time with no results. Then I quietly carried her through the waiting room and to the car. (It was a fabrication that they asked us not to return. Though I wish they had.) There we sat until her brother's lesson was over and his lovely teacher walked him to the vehicle. He had a smile that engulfed his entire face as he informed me that his speech teacher is not married and does not have a boyfriend.
We made it home without anymore issues; diapered the toddler and walked to the park. While they played, I sent their mother the text. She very lovingly picked up dinner on her way home for me, Grampa and her family. And tomorrow is a new day.
You will need to find a new grandmother for these kids. Connor had a fit about going to speech, so I forgot Kennedy's diaper bag. While we were waiting, she kicked off her diaper. It was too wet to put it back on her, but before I could deal with that, she grabs her bottom and starts yelling "poo poo!" I swooped her up and ran down the hall in horror of what was about to hit my legs, shoes, or the floor. They asked us not to come back. I said, "No problem."
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| Actual photo not available |
Actually, the morning started out fine. The 6 year old, Connor, was at a STEM camp at the local university. At 2 p.m. I had to pick him up. I had been given directions, but the baby (22 months old) went to sleep during the drive, so I had to carry her into the building. Of course the class was on the 3rd floor. I did take the elevator, but when I got off, a lady was also going to pick up her child, so I just followed her. Little did I know that she had no idea where to go. We walked the entire third floor before we came to the correct room. So I got some exercise carrying a 20+ pound sleeping child.
Connor goes to a speech class 2 days a week at 4:15. Every year we have had at least one "adventure" involving that. You must understand that everyday he screams "I'm not going to stupid speech". But because I always answer him with, "Your mother would never make you do something stupid. Speech is a very smart and cool thing for you to do." Today he screamed, "I'm not going to stupid speech, smart speech or any kind of speech." So I grabbed him by the ankles and drug him until he was laughing and decided he would rather walk. He has a huge crush on the young college student who is his teacher. He was actually afraid that he might have to enter the room being drug by his grammy. I'm being playful, but they do fear that I just might be that outrageous. I told him that would not make a very good impression on the beautiful young lady whom he had expressed his desire to marry when he turns 16.
Anyway, getting things for the toddler totally escaped me. Thank goodness I remembered her. So of course there would be a diaper issue while we were sitting in the waiting room. I did make it to bathroom with her. She sat there for a long time with no results. Then I quietly carried her through the waiting room and to the car. (It was a fabrication that they asked us not to return. Though I wish they had.) There we sat until her brother's lesson was over and his lovely teacher walked him to the vehicle. He had a smile that engulfed his entire face as he informed me that his speech teacher is not married and does not have a boyfriend.
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| Sketch of fantasy family |
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Some Stepfathers Really Step-Up (reposted)
I married Don in 1992. I had 3 children then; Bridget was 17, Jacquie was 12, and Paxton was 7. Don had one daughter, Piper, and she was 10. Don and I dated for 2 years before we got married, so we thought we knew what we were getting into. We took all 4 children on a 16 hour train ride to Chicago. That was quite a test. Actually, we almost decided that this blend might not work, so we broke up for a couple of weeks after that. Everything actually went well on the trip and Don was very helpful with Paxton, who was only 5 then. But of course it was obvious that all of us living together would be a lot of hard work.
Most second marriages with children do often end in divorce. But Don and I decided that we would not fight over our children. Each of us would do the best we could to treat them all equal and as parents we would stick together. When things really get bad, I like to close my eyes and say, "This too shall pass." It is true. Often times the biggest mistake I make is trying to make something right instead of just staying calm and letting it work out.
Don takes being a father as a huge responsibility. Being a teacher, I had to miss some for the children's school functions, but Don would go to their Halloween dress-up party and etc. He saw that his daughter and my youngest 2 had what they needed to get through college. Paxton and Jacquie got TOPS scholarships, but Don paid their room and board. When my children got married, Don split the "father's" cost with their father.
Don really loves that Bridget and her family live just one house from us. The grandchildren are a part of our everyday lives. They don't have those "step" feelings. He is their grampa and Bridget's dad is their papa. It seems normal to them to have so many men in their lives that love them.
As a mother and his wife, I am so glad for all that Don has done for me and the four children. Love you! Happy Father's Day everyday.
Most second marriages with children do often end in divorce. But Don and I decided that we would not fight over our children. Each of us would do the best we could to treat them all equal and as parents we would stick together. When things really get bad, I like to close my eyes and say, "This too shall pass." It is true. Often times the biggest mistake I make is trying to make something right instead of just staying calm and letting it work out.
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| Don and Piper Don and Chase |
Don really loves that Bridget and her family live just one house from us. The grandchildren are a part of our everyday lives. They don't have those "step" feelings. He is their grampa and Bridget's dad is their papa. It seems normal to them to have so many men in their lives that love them.
As a mother and his wife, I am so glad for all that Don has done for me and the four children. Love you! Happy Father's Day everyday.
Sunday, June 17, 2012
A Baby Shower
Jack will be my 5th grandchild and 3rd grandson. But he is the 1st child for my son. It is a very exciting time in Paxton's and Courtney's life.
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| My 2 daughters on either end and Courtney and me in the middle. |
It was at the Glenwood Tea Room. I found this old picture of the Glenwood Drug Store in the 1950's. The building doesn't look anything like it now. It looked a lot better in 1950. So I thought this picture was pretty cool.
We had a nice lunch and watched Courtney unwrap some very fun and cute gifts. I'll just show a few of my favorite ones.
Saturday, June 16, 2012
Lightening, Thunder and Hail
I went outside to see if Billy Shakespeare was on his new risers or on the air conditioner and thankfully I found him on the risers.
So at least they have kept him off the air conditioner for 24 hours.
Then I looked up at the sky and saw some rather ominous clouds. I got excited about the possibility of some rain.
It was 100 degrees today.
About 5 minutes later there was a lot of wind, lightening and thunder. And then the pounding on the roof sounded much too loud for raindrops. But thank goodness the hail storm was nothing like they had in Dallas yesterday. Where my step-daughter's car got its front and back windshields and a door window broken out, as well as, a lot of dents.
You'll see a Jeep pull up under the Live Oak for protection. I wanted to go and warn him that a lot of large limbs had recently fallen from that tree and the one next to it. He was safe, but another driver who parked on another street under a tree wasn't. The tree fell on his car, but the driver was not killed. So it might not be a good idea to stop under a tree in a thunder and hail storm.
And then of course I saw one of the grandsons out playing in the river of water. I was told later that he was in the hail storm with a helmet and safety glasses. It's great to be a kid and carefree. If I had done that, they would be locked me away somewhere.
It was 100 degrees today.
About 5 minutes later there was a lot of wind, lightening and thunder. And then the pounding on the roof sounded much too loud for raindrops. But thank goodness the hail storm was nothing like they had in Dallas yesterday. Where my step-daughter's car got its front and back windshields and a door window broken out, as well as, a lot of dents.
You'll see a Jeep pull up under the Live Oak for protection. I wanted to go and warn him that a lot of large limbs had recently fallen from that tree and the one next to it. He was safe, but another driver who parked on another street under a tree wasn't. The tree fell on his car, but the driver was not killed. So it might not be a good idea to stop under a tree in a thunder and hail storm.
And then of course I saw one of the grandsons out playing in the river of water. I was told later that he was in the hail storm with a helmet and safety glasses. It's great to be a kid and carefree. If I had done that, they would be locked me away somewhere.
Friday, June 15, 2012
Billy Shakespeare Is Singing In the Choir
Well, he hasn't actually made the choir, yet. But I went to The First Methodist Church's rummage sale and bought a small set of choir risers for him. Maybe he and the girls will start The Nigerian Dwarf Quartet.
I actually have a more practical reason for them, other than just giving him something to play on. I hope to distract him from jumping on the air conditioning unit. It can't be good for a goat to stand on it.
I actually have a more practical reason for them, other than just giving him something to play on. I hope to distract him from jumping on the air conditioning unit. It can't be good for a goat to stand on it.
Friday, June 8, 2012
Stuffed Tomatoes
The local Ag man here recommended these two for my area.
In the past, I have had no luck with heritage varieties, but I hope my luck will be different this year.
My first 2 tomatoes to ripen were the Celebrity. So tonight for dinner I made one of my favorite dishes. I found this recipe over 20 years ago and no longer have it, so I can't write amounts of the ingredients. I rarely measure anything anyway.
First I cook a cup of wild rice. To stuff 2 medium tomatoes use about 1/3 of a package of frozen spinach, thawed and chopped. Half a cup of chopped walnuts. Mixed them in a bowl. Add enough olive oil so the ingredients will stick together.  |
| Sorry for the blurry picture. |
Since these were medium, I cooked some salmon with it.
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| Just another blurry picture or maybe I drank too much wine while I was cooking. |
Friday, June 1, 2012
May Is For Graduations
Chase is my oldest grandchild. He has now completed 5th grade and will move on to middle school next year.
While Chase and his parents posed for photos, little sister is busy looking at the book Chase wrote and illustrated about his life.
When my son, Paxton, finished 5th grade, it didn't impress me as a milestone. But now, I realize that it is one large step toward graduating from high school, which leads to a tearful drive home after spending the day moving him into a college dorm, from which he never returns to live at home again.
I did see a few tears in Chase's mother's eyes when they showed the video of the 5th graders which included pictures from their Kindergarten year through 5th grade. Gee, how time flies and how they change.
But the next evening, I was delivering greetings on behalf of the School Board at C.E. Byrd High School's graduation.
Our current Superintendent wanted the high school graduations to be more formal and for the school board members to be more involved. So board members now wear their college graduation robes and each is assigned a high school graduation to give greetings and congratulations from the School Board and stand with the principal and superintendent to shake each student's hand as they cross the stage to receive their diplomas.
Byrd is by far the largest high school in Caddo and had 478 graduates this year. My legs and hand was very tired after that. I never look forward to going, but I always love it when I'm there.
Some students look you in the eyes and give you a firm handshake and some struggle with both. I even got a couple of hugs from very jubilant young guys. Those were really cool.
I can say for sure that watching other people's children grow up and a lot easier than watching my own.
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While Chase and his parents posed for photos, little sister is busy looking at the book Chase wrote and illustrated about his life.
When my son, Paxton, finished 5th grade, it didn't impress me as a milestone. But now, I realize that it is one large step toward graduating from high school, which leads to a tearful drive home after spending the day moving him into a college dorm, from which he never returns to live at home again.
I did see a few tears in Chase's mother's eyes when they showed the video of the 5th graders which included pictures from their Kindergarten year through 5th grade. Gee, how time flies and how they change.
But the next evening, I was delivering greetings on behalf of the School Board at C.E. Byrd High School's graduation.
Our current Superintendent wanted the high school graduations to be more formal and for the school board members to be more involved. So board members now wear their college graduation robes and each is assigned a high school graduation to give greetings and congratulations from the School Board and stand with the principal and superintendent to shake each student's hand as they cross the stage to receive their diplomas.
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| Does this picture make me look short? |
Some students look you in the eyes and give you a firm handshake and some struggle with both. I even got a couple of hugs from very jubilant young guys. Those were really cool.
I can say for sure that watching other people's children grow up and a lot easier than watching my own.
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