Christmas Eve

My heart races this Christmas eve, as it gets closer to Christmas. I feel so blessed for it to be my year for the holiday. It's not very often in our busy schedules that we can all get together. Just think: Jack, Molly and Max in the same house running wild. I can hardly wait!!!! So, it is now 4:55 pm and I am anxiouly waiting for the kids to get here!!!!! I will have the camera ready!!!!!!!!!! Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I love you all! Auntie and Nana

This is really how I feel about being OLD!

A friend sent this to me & this really sums me up! Enjoy!



I would never trade my amazing friends, my wonderful life, my loving family for less gray hair or a flatter belly.. As I've aged, I've become kinder to myself, and less critical of myself. I've become my own friend. I don't chide myself for eating that extra cookie, or for not making my bed, or for buying that silly cement gecko that I didn't need, but looks so avante garde on my patio.

I am entitled to a treat, to be messy, to be extravagant. I have seen too many dear friends leave this world too soon; before they understood the great freedom that comes with aging.

Whose business is it if I choose to read or play on the computer until 4 AM and sleep until noon? I will dance with myself to those wonderful tunes of the 60 &70's, and if I, at the same time, wish to weep over a lost love ... I will. I will walk the beach in a swim suit that is stretched over a bulging body, and will dive into the waves with abandon If I choose to, despite the pitying glances from the jet set.They, too , will get old.

I know I am sometimes forgetful.But there again, some of life is just as well forgotten. And I eventually remember the important things.Sure, over the years my heart has been broken. How can your heart not break when you lose a loved one, or when a child suffers, or even when somebody's beloved pet gets hit by a car? But broken hearts are what give us strength and understanding and compassion. A heart never broken is pristine and sterile and will never know the joy of being imperfect.

I am so blessed to have lived long enough to have my hair turning gray and to have my youthful laughs be forever etched into deep grooves on my face.So many have never laughed and so many have died before their hair could turn silver.

As you get older, it is easier to be positive. You care less about what other people think. I don't question myself anymore.I've even earned the right to be wrong.So, to answer your question, I like being old. It has set me free. I like the person I have become. I am not going to live forever, but while I am still here, I will not waste time lamenting what could have been, or worry ing about what will be. And I shall eat dessert every single day (if I feel like it).

Thanksgiving 2008

There is nothing better than getting the family together - wasn't it just great! If only Sid & Matt and Jodi & Mike and Jack and Molly had been here! You were SORELY missed. The food was great, the company was great, and I'm ready for next year!!!! I've been thinking...what was my favorite part.....I think it was sitting out by the fire and watching all the kids play. They played and played and played. My play area was all I hoped it would be!!! Don't we have such sweet kids! I was sad that Jimmy and Jason were sick, I hope they are better now. I really don't think there is anything better then just getting together - wasn't it sweet to see Kasey's & Dales baby! Just think! another baby in the family - let me say it first - I get to hold her EASTER!!!!Anyway - hope you had as great a time as Bobby & I had!!! Love you all!

Show me your TEETH!

Okay, okay, okay - enough has been said about "Show me your teeth, Max" But, a pic says so much more!!! Is this the cutiest or what! Now that I figured out how to add pic's with my new cheap laptop, I will post more pics.

How I feel about Halloween

Okay, okay, okay - it's been a long time since my last post.....I just haven't had anything to say - I've been reading other posts and commenting, and just this moment I have something to say. It's about Halloween! It's been mentioned to me by several people that Halloween may not be the holiday to celebrate..... so that's the reason for this post....how I feel about Halloween. Halloween is not even a holiday to me - it's just a time to get together in the fall and have a party, tell scary stories, give out candy and celebrate being a kid. To me it's a kid's day - all rules are out....and it's a time for us to play with the kids and pig out on food, and laugh and just be with family. I won't go into how I feel about ghosts, witches, or the dead - let's just say that the Bible says not to talk to the dead or practice witch craft. So... with that said, I really like Halloween, just because it's a time to get together and catch up on family and maybe scare a couple of people. So I hope you all had a great time as I did, and just consider Halloween a time to get together and enjoy each other, I think this past Halloween was the greatest and hope next year will be better!

New sidewalk

Bobby & I dug, framed up and poured our new sidewalk leading up to our gazebo. I must say that without Jack & Molly's help I don't think we could have done it. I took my camera out to get pic's, but the only thing I got with my camera was cement dust!!!!! Sorry guy's, you were so cute helping. As most of you know we bought a cement mixer - and it is really cool!!!! Jack kept our bucket full of water without getting the water on the sidewalk, Molly kept the empty bags of cement put in the trash, and both Jack & Molly filled bucket w/cement mix for me to put in the mixer. Chuck showed Jack (hands on) how to use the finishing tools. And...Molly was taking it all in and when I was doing the edge of the sidewalk - she said, "Nannie you are not holding that tool right - Chuck said to hold it like (she showed me)" Man, that kid has great ears!!!! Anyway, thanks kids for all the HARD work!

Poor Max

So.......Cody won't beat me to the punch!!!! I will agree that I may be a little lax in the watching over Max, and I do get sidetracked easily - but I just feel like crap yesterday for poor little Max (I do however feel better today). We took him walking around the block at first in the stroller, but he preferred to walk. I was admiring a house at the instance Max tripped on a bad sidewalk, I don't know how the poor baby did it, but his nose, face and upper lip are now skin free! It really hurt so bad, and I carried him home the rest of the way with him crying - I'm so sorry Max, Nana does love you and will never take her eyes off of you again. And....please Cody, do not post pictures - I don't think I can take on Mrs. B and Jessi at the same time (or for that matter at separate times either).

Bucket List!

Okay at my age you really can't have 100 things!!! So I'll just prob stop at 25 unless I get really creative!!!

1. Travel to Australia for at least 10 days.

2. Go to Scottland with a Scottish band!!

3. Find my desire for nice clothes again...

4. Quit finding projects to do for the grandkids in my backyard.

5. Have more parties for the grandkids.

5. Go camping in Arkansas in the fall w/the leaves changing color!

6. Finish just one book - and....have the desire to read more....

7. Get rid of at least 30 pounds.....

8. Get another boat and KEEP IT!

9. Get my mastive (sp) dog and talk bobby into letting him sleep in the bed w/us!

10. Find the love of walking...

11. Of course this one prob should be #1 - be a nicer person!!

12. Win the lottery and make everyone I know happier w/less bills.

13. Let my hair go grey!

14. Make sure everyone knows how I want my funeral, and what I want to wear in the......you know casket....(that word is kind of hard to type when you are my age)

15. Learn power point!

16. Get a fantastic camera.

17. Get a pair of Jimmy Choo sunglasses!

18. Don't be so selfish

19. Get matching towels in my bathroom.

20. Convince Molly I do read better than her!!!

21. Take at least 1 cruise per every 3 months!!!! and......all the excursions too, and......always have a patio room!!!!

22. Have at least once a year - a vacation for everyone in our family - including all in-laws, and their brothers and sisters and parents and have it all catered so that all anyone does is play games, talk, laugh, and enjoy all the time together with GREAT memories!! The bigger the family the more fun. And.....no one has to pay a dime!!!! Why couldn't I be a trust fund baby!!!!

23. Have a cousins reunion every year (and Betty Sue be there without worrying about puppies).

24. Live closer to my kids and Betty Sue.

25. Get a Volvo like Cathies!!!!!!!!

Camping in the fall

Camping in the fall is the greatest time. We went to Cedar Hill State Park this past weekend and were lucky enough to get a site by the water. I wanted to have a Ghost theme, and bought ghost lights, and a couple of hanging ghosts. I had a little hand puppet theatre that I spray painted black and brought stuff for the kids to make hand-puppets. They put on a show that was so cute! I also bought them some little latterns so they could carry them around in the dark. Max was so happy to have the same thing that the big kids had. It took him no time to figure out how to turn it on and off. My grandkids are the smartest!!! The only thing I didn't do great on was getting all the food things together - I WILL DO BETTER next time! The beach at the park was really just a mud hole - it was bad - but we have an outdoor shower on the camper so watching those "little naked bodies" shower was the cutest thing! Thanks everyone for making the effort for coming camping - I know with everyone working it is really hard to do anything on the weekends. So thanks - we had a blast!!! ps as usual I didn't take any pics

New deck

Yesterday Bobby and I finished a deck I have been planning for a long time. It's located behind the trampoline - so when the kids are jumping we will have a seat to watch them. I also put in a campfire firepit. I will have to wait until spring to landscape it - but I think it may be one of my favorite place to sit!!!! It wouldn't surprise me if Molly & Jack find it to be a great new stage for their wonderful plays!!! I just to build some steps for it then it will be finished. Hope everyone is doing great with Cody & Nicole back to work, and Jack, Molly and Max back to school!!!!!!!!!! Love, Nana

A Michael Mama Moment

So this weekend I became a little kid again, and went to my sisters farm!!!! It was such a blast - I really don't know why I wait so long between trips.....

When we get there the first step is the county fair (who even has county fairs anymore). I don't think my own kids much less the grandkids know what a county fair is. First thing - frito pie! - next step look at my hero sister's blue ribbon - if there were a Michael Phelps in the fair world it would be my sister - 10 blue ribbons, 6 red ribbons, and i think 5 white ribbons - i'm sure I have my #'s mixed up - BS you could clarify this with your comment. I was so proud of her, and of course everyone had to speak to us and I was surprised they didn't ask for a autograph!!!!! I was soooo cool.

Next after checking out all Wal-marts with a 30 miles limit - we hit all the clearence isles!! Then chicken fried steak at Pumpkins - what a life. But, the best part was still to come.

When we got home, clean dog pens (twice) because they like to poo on freshly cleaned cement, washed water bowls, feed them regular dog food (from the vet of course), then fed them scraps and talked and made them feel loved - which they are - then raise or lower the sun screens depending on what time of day it is. Then feed pheasants, peacocks, turkeys, chickens, and guinnies and a few kittens. But the best of day was when the guinnies went to roost - of my goodness it was the best of times. If you didn't know - guinnies are really dumb - they fly up to roost on a pipe all facing east - a few at a time - the later ones fly up hoping to find a good spot and of course there is room where they fly - so they walk across the backs of their buddies knocking down 3 at a time until they find a spot - after watching this over and over by the time the sun goes down they have all found the perfect spot. It was the greatest trip ever!!!! I say we do some family get together @ Tuttle!!!!!! It was so much fun!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I love you little sister, and thanks for the great time.

Grandparents and grocery carts!!

As a note to nana's and papa's all over the world - do take your "Little delight" to the grocery store - even if you don't need any groceries!!! They will enjoy the carts & your excuse when you run people down - is: "This thing is so hard to drive!" Try to say it without laughing! FYI: Nicole did not pick out the outfit and I did pick the pink car over the blue one - for future use!!!

Little "Pork Chop"

As an experienced Nana - keeping Pork Chop for the weekend was going to be NO TROUBLE, the ONLY concern I had was - are his parents going to be happy? I needed them to be really happy so they will let him stay over again. So with this in mind, we baby proofed out house again, bought heathly food, no additives, no juice only fruit, and real yogurt, and a few learning toys ie: swing, puzzles, blocks, walker. Well, as it turned out we really didn't need all that - that little pork chop was as happy as he could be - and his parents were delighted to see this remarkable baby again, unharmed and happy! So I'm pretty sure the weekend was a success and we'll get to do it again. On the not worrying side, we had such a GREAT time with Pork Chop - he is such a delight and happy boy, whom has great qualities from both his parents. And, thank you Jack and Molly for teaching Nana how to play. Being a Nana is the greatest thing in the world!! Thank you Cody and Nicole for letting us have this opportunity, and Thank you Jodi and Mike for letting us keep Jack, Molly and Mattie. It was truly a remarkable weekend.

PS. Max loves mashed potatoes & yes those are potatoes in his hands, on his arms, and on his fork......yeah (that was about 3 potatoes)!!!!

10 days without hugs & kisses

A few days in the mountains makes you really appreciate family. We really missed all the kids, and were anxious to see them when we got home. So lucky us, Jodi and Mike had booked a motel and a get away - and the timing was perfect!!!! We could hardly wait to put our arms around Jack and Miss Molly.....and it was just as grand as we thought it would be. We had as much fun playing w/the kids as we did in the mountains. And....yes the quotes from Jack and Molly flowed as usual, and the stories are plentiful, and somehow I fell younger with the kids than I did without them in the mountains.Does that make sense? I guess to Nana's and papa's all will understand. So...thanks Mike and Jodi for sharing those beautiful children, and Cody & Nicole....Max is getting close for us to keep!!!! Love to all.....Nana

What a great 10 days!!!!!

We just spent a few days in a place where you really felt God's hands. Bobby hasn't fly fished in a few years, and was wondering if he even had any desire to get back into the stream....well for him not knowing if he was enjoying it - he left every afternoon at 5:30 and didn't return until 9:30 - so you tell me. He ended up catching over 80 fish and about as many got loose. He did not even try to catch the stockers, and only went for the natives. Even though it cost a small fortune to go so far, it was a trip to talk about for years. I on the other hand.....had fun cleaning the camper, knitting, carving on the tree trunks, but most of all my arms ached for grandchildren......so when I went shopping I felt I was close to them while picking out clothes for them. I do love to vacation - but I do like to have family around also. If I had it to do over again, I would without a doubt go - but I would do my best to convince some family to go too. I will try to do a video of some pic. I did however make close friends with the chipmonks, and birds. At one time I had 8-10 hummingbirds on a feeder, I fed the chipmonks, peanuts (shelled and party ones), grapes, cantalope, cherries, bananas....they were a blast to visit with - but I didn't get a single pic. Just like me. Anyway I'm home now, and Bobby is walking tall, as he should be - he is absolutely the BEST Fisherman in the New Mex area!!! Glad to be home - Nana

Today is one special day!

Today is Max's birthday.......one year ago, Cody & Nicole entered the hospital appearing to be so calm and collected, only later to give birth to "One special child". God blessed the entire family with the birth of Max. As I think back over this past year - it has truly been a blessing...

No one realizes the importance of Grandchildren unless you are a Grandparent. There isn't a day go by when I don't look into Jack's, Molly's, and Max's eyes and thank God everyday for them. I ask God to protect them and never let them have any doubt that they are loved and wanted, and that they know they are soooo special. Little Max and grown from Goose, to Pork Chop to just Max. He is so loving and kind that I wished everyone could get a hug and kiss from him everyday. I will always remember when Papa and I took him to Subway and set in front of the door - with his hair blowing with every entrance, and when we left, everyone in the store saying bye-bye Max, and him showing all his teeth and waving bye-bye back - then giving them one last fake laugh. I know how lucky I am to be a small part of Max's life. Thank you Cody & Nicole for sharing such a wonderful child. Love, Nana

Fantasy weekend

What a great weekend I had....Mike when out of town to be w/buddies - so Jodi & kids came to visit.....It was GREAT!! My backyard is becoming exactly as I wanted (somewhat). The kids jumped and jumped on the trampoline and would go from pirate ship to theatre to swings to tent.....we watched very little TV - because we loved being outside. I really love having the kids here. Day one was late - but Jack and Molly were excited to ride in papa's new truck - it was amazing - they talked and talked and talked all the way from Keller to Granbury. Fri a.m. was off to the farm - which wasn't a blast - but we did pick beets, apples, peaches, onions and look around in the heat of the day. When Jack told the owner he (Jack) needed some AC - and so did the owner - we decided to go home. so more fun at Nana's house. Sat. was fun also - went to the city beach....which I must admit was really quit fun....unbelievable for Granbury....then some shopping, finding great buys on shoes, and $1 toys that the kids really liked. Molly was brave - saw a frog and wanted us to catch it, which was a negative, then I told her to be brave and quick and just reach out and get it - she snatched it up and named it "buttercup" after the movie Princess Bride. She carried it around and rubbed it, then set it free. What a sweet heart. Jack was the best boy ever...he had so much fun playing in the tent and running the show. He has the best imagination ever....he will write plays and be famous I KNOW! Well, as usual I'm sad I didn't take pictures. Well, gotta go.

pic c

more pic a

more pics

more pic

more birthday pics