When does life slow down???

This picture is a shot of inside Elvis's Graceland where he has some of his awards!!! We went to Memphis and spent a few fun days there a couple of weeks ago....What a busy man he was!

I haven't been on my blog lately....it seems that I've been so busy! I keep thinking that life has to slow down..only to realize that it is what it is because that's my choice. I must like to be busy...weird because I keep saying that I just want to say for once that, "I'm bored" I just don't even know what that feels like.....I've always told my kids after hearing them say it that only boring people get bored....Maybe that means I'm not boring!


My week went like this (as far as I can remember)


Monday....Pack up from a fun weekend in Tenn...say goodbye to two sweet little grandbabies...ride home for six hours....unpack....shower and crash.


Tuesday....Run walk 5.3 miles with Susie....shop for and prepare dinner for a family of 4....along with me and clarence...enchaladas, mexican rice and cupcakes....deliver dinner to fam - deliver some cupcakes to grandsons....come home eat, get a wonderful thank you call from some very sweet grandsons who said my cupcakes were delicious:) Thank u Betty Crocker!, then shower and crash.


Wednesday....Work cleaning a house for 3 hours....come home....excercise....do some laundry....get ready go clean office for 4 hours come home eat, shower and crash.


Thursday....Run walk 5.3 miles with Susie...shower...go to evansville....return makeup at mall that broke me out....get groceries...come home....unload...fix dinner...shower and crash.


Friday....Pay bills....babysit two sweet grandsons....come home fix dinner....do more laundry...shower ...eat and crash.


Saturday....be at church at 8:00 am...work on making quilts for emergency responders till 2:00...visit River Days booths in town....come home....clean out kitty crate....run on treadmill...bath....shave legs....do toenails and fingernails....study sunday school lesson....


and get on computer....


Of course there's the .....talk to fam and friends on phone time....potty time.....maybe a tv show time in there somewhere....(not sure though) read the mail....check facebook....read Jenn's blog and now Danielle's...prayer time....scripture time (need to make this a priority)....oh yeah and "Hanging with friends time"


Now that I've bored you to death....if you actually made it to this part...I must say that my life is full - busy and I love it!!! I thank the Lord everyday for having the strength I need and the wonderful husband that supports me so that I can do the things I do. I may not have a room full of awards like Elvis but I do have my family! and they mean more to me that all the money or recognition or fame in this whole wide universe!! ....All this reflection of my week has me exhausted....Good night.

Baseball when you're 7.....

A couple of weeks ago I had Triston and Jackson for a few days while mom and dad took a mini vacation.....I got to take Triston to his baseball game. It was soooooo hottttttttt out!! I was so glad that I didn't have to wear polyester pants! Those little guys are troopers. Did not hear one whiny or complainy word from Triston. He went out there and played hard.....everytime he was up to hit he did exactly that - all 4 times - and got on base everytime. (The outfield was a bit boring so he had to find something to do and the dirt was just so close and fun to run hands through).... He even finally got to score. I have to say that I was not really a huge happy camper.....it was hot....I am middle aged which I am convinced can be fatal when combining a hot flash with high heat and humidity. I'm just saying.....Sounds like something to look into. I was glad I got to go...... just wish that they would play baseball during a cooler season...like fall or early spring....even winter would have been better for me at the time.....

I just realized that I am really complaining right now....I saw a post on facebook the other day about how we complain about the heat but the soldiers overseas are wearing all of that gear and are outside all day in the really hot weather. I feel so bad for them and wish they could all come home! My life is really cushy right now compared to them. Really puts things into perspective.

My view.....

Finally feeling the need to post on my blog....I've been busy yet just not very interested in typing. This is my view in the evening when I crash myself into "my" chair which I'm not really sure how that happened except for the fact that my computer....my books and my magazines are all parked on the ottaman of "my" chair and the side table beside it. It's my favorite spot in my house. I even have my own tv remote beside me (sometimes I mess with the tv while Clarence sits on the couch with "his" remote...just if I'm feeling a little bored or mean) I have to admit that it's really nice to have a spot to sit and relax and enjoy the evening....which is what I'm doing right now:)

Saying Goodbye.....

Pennie has been in our family for over 13 years - I can remember her as such a tiny little furry puppy - we loved her - My youngest teased her and My oldest said that she loved him the most- ....Her last year was pretty rough on her....she had gone blind....couldn't hear- had dimentia -and was losing weight fast....

She had an especially rough day a week ago Sunday with a seizure and a couple of hours of confusion and anxiety.

She wasn't eating or drinking on Sunday or Monday and so with the support of my mom being here I made the decision to call the vet and set up her last appointment on Tuesday.

It was a very long drive.....

Here are some Pennie memories...

she loved chasing and bringing back her little tennis balls

sometimes if no one would play she would nose it to the top of the stairs and roll it down just so she could go get it and bring it back up....

one of the first nights that Travis and her stayed home alone over night - he said that she sat on his chest while he tried to sleep shaking and growling all through the night looking around nervously like a booger was going to get them....

The night that Michael was home alone and heard her barking very loudly in the middle of the night - flipped on his light - then heard someone drive away...they didn't know someone was home obviously and drove through our front yard as they left....(she may have saved his life)

All the times she raced the kids in the front yard.....She was pretty fast in her younger days....

I just realized that this is the first time in many years that when I'm home alone - I'm really alone - no little doggie following me around - no kids - it's a very strange feeling....

Pennie was a part of our family - She went with us on vacations - (got car sick coming down the Smokey Mts) She was always here to greet us and love us unconditionally - She's very missed but I know that she is in a much better place..

Saying goodbye is hard to do.........

Our new little critter.....

Michael's girlfriend (Lauren's) mom found this little booger on Friday the 13th - laying in the road in the rain. An all black cat found on that day is a little ironic but she's adorable and oblivious to it all....She's now living in our barn (not sure how that happened) She has a name....Keeko...(not sure on the spelling of that one but the ee and the o are long sounding).....Not sure I really want to keep her (have some pretty bad pictures burned in my head of shoveling a few cats off the road and one that drowned in the horse water...oh yeah!.... and the one that got attacked in the middle of the night by a coyote right outside our bedroom window....(won't go into the details of that one but let me just say that it was a grim night) (My husband who is a professed cat disliker even liked that one...)

Look at how cute......she's even a little sneaky....she's scoping out our old blind dog Pennie...who has no clue that she's being stalked......



I guess I fell for that cute little face and those gorgeous green eyes.....

If it's true about cats and nine lives....Keeko as used up two...the day she was found and just the other night when a big storm was brewing Clarence pulled his truck into the garage shut the door and a few hours later we went out into the garage and there she was....meowing loudly and standing on one of the tires....the only way she could have gotten in is somehow in or on the truck.....a little too risky....maybe that should be her name!
Another little one to put on my prayer list........

The new Nana Toy!

Logan loves for the tomcat to scratch my screen.......

Something about those adorable little dirty feet........

"Nana, How do I get this off?"

Love my phone.....

and so do the grandkids......

Congrats Michael!!

M: married to my daughter - mild mannered - magnificent

I: intelligent - interesting - incredible

C: caring - cutey - charismatic - courteous -cool

H: happy - honest - humble

A: ambitious - active - awesome!

E: exceptional and excellent

L: likeable - loving father and husband and most of all loves the Lord:)

We're so proud of you Michael!

We love you!!!

Young Love:)

I had the opportunity to take some pictures of a young engaged couple this week......We went to New Harmony and spent just a little bit of time walking around - hanging out and snapping photos. (Just look at the way he looks at her and how she glows!) While watching them together - holding hands - smiling sweetly and gazing into each others eyes - it took me back to my first love...... I was smitten!....He was such a gentleman - so cute...so kind - my knight in shining armor. I adored that high school boy. his sparkly eyes- His smile - his sense of humor -his courage -and his beautiful perfectly winged head of hair....

fast forward 30 years...

four kids - (all grown up)....

8 grandkids?....(no way!)

hair mostly gone...

eyes still sparkle...

still full of courage...

Still oh so cute.....

I still love that smile....

and he still makes me laugh....

I guess I'm still smitten.....

Love my man:)

Mothers Day Dinner Pics.....

Bryce taking a ride in Logan's car......

Granddaddy and Triston and Jackson.....

Jennifer and Nash.....




Thomas playing some football......

Granddaddy and Bryce sitting on a log having a chat.....

Logan bringing more wood for the fire.......



The fire that Granddaddy and Michael built......

An injury on Triston's leg from falling off the log by the fire that Granddaddy and Michael built......

Jackson sharing his water with Logan.....

Logan and his yummy marshmellow hands.......

Michael waiting on the football to fly through the air.....

Cute Camden......

Travis telling me to quit taking pictures......

Sweet Angel Triston......

Logan's yummy monster marshmellow......

Mommy and cutey Camden.......

Handsome Granddaddy - awesome fire builder......

Jackson and his sweet smile......

My yummy Mother's Day Cake that my talented daughter made for me...... Thanks to all for a wonderful Mother's Day....Family - Fun - Food - Gorgeous Weather....A few bugs (okay more that a few)...daughter-in-laws toughing it outdoors....sticky fingers....sweet Mother's Day cards....wishing that my daughter and her family were here with us...Life is full....and good....Thank you to my Father above for all the joys of being a Mother:)

Mothers........

Sometimes Mom's have to do "booger duty"

With Mother's Day coming up I had a few random thoughts. I am a mom but to me it's not a day to celebrate myself (even though I do enjoy the special treatment) it's a day to celebrate all the special mom's in my life and just mom's in general (and you don't have to bear children to be a mom - one of the most mothering people I know never gave birth to a child but she is a nurturer through and through - it's her nature) Being around my own sweet mother - my husband's sweet mom - my sisters and sister-in-laws, my daughter and my daughter-in-laws and all the little kiddos - I get to see lots of styles of mothering but the common denomenater is love - sweet, sweet love.....Being a mother is love....it's service and I'm reminded by watching all that they do that it is endless, tiring, having to have extreme patience, caring, knowing when to discipline, knowing when to walk away, knowing when to laugh and having the courage to crash and cry. Jennifer after just having her fourth little boy last week...after enduring labor...afterbirth cramps...lack of sleep...nursing pains....running the baby back and forth to have bilirubin test...lack of sleep...and more lack of sleep - said,

"You know, I just can't believe the human race just keeps on growing like it does! This really is hard!"

It is hard....... but here's to short memories:)....Here's to all you mother's....Thank you for all you do - thank you for being selfless - thank you for loving me and for loving the people that I love. It's so wonderful to have a mom! and to be a mom! My mom is my biggest fan and I know that no matter what, she would never turn her back on me just as I would never turn my back on my own children. (no matter what!!) Here's love to you all:)

Carol.....

I just realized I have very few pictures of Carol so I had to hijack one off of facebook that she took to show her new do......

C: cute - caring - crazy - cantankerous - clever

A: attitude (oh yes you can have attitude young lady - see above picture:) - active - amazing - ambitious - awesome!

R: loves to read - radiant - reliable - reeeeeally loves her family!!

O: oustanding - oldest sister - (okay maybe not)

L: lean - lovable - lively - lovely and my beach buddy.....

Love you Carol!!

Camden.......

C: c.u.t.e! (just look at that little smirky smile)

A: absolutely loveable and huggable

M: Mama's boy:) magnificent and mellow

D: daddy's boy too:)

E: energetic, exceptional, sooo endearing!

N: naive, needy (he is just a baby), nifty, and such a nice baby brother to Logan!

We love little Camden!!!

Josie bug.............

J: just absolutely gorgeous!

O: ornery! outspoken, outstanding, ostentatious

S: sweet, stunning, silly and so sensitive

I: irrational (well, she is only 1) incredible!

E: energetic and exhausting, endearing, excellent!!!!

We love our little Josie!!

Reese............

R: rambunctious (see above bruise on forehead)..... respectful ....... refreshing....... reeeeeally loves his mom and dad!

E: so excited to see his cousins....... eager to learn

E: so easy to love:) and easily loves little Josie....

S: sweet......super...... sensitive...... sometimes silly-sometimes serious (see above picture with mom)...... so stinking cute..... superhero (he's the real batman! don't tell anyone!)

E: energetic..... enthusiastic.... entertaining (see wii dance pic above - I was laughing so hard I couldn't hardly take pictures) and exuberant!

We love our Reese!!

Not a grandkid but a sister:) Teresa....

T: Totally gorgeous, tenacious

E: exerciser, eats healthy,

R: ready to work, really busy!

E: elegant, elliptical rider, high energy, pretty eyes,

S: sometimes silly, such a saleswoman, so saucy!

A: always a high achiever and always a good and loving mom!

I Love you Teresa:)

Triston....

My favorite seven year old.....

T: Tenacious

R: rambunctious - respectful

I: incredibly intelligent

S: smart and sensitive

T: totally cool

O: obviously gorgeous!

N: nice - not nerdy - neat - not a nose picker - noble and nifty!!

Love my favorite seven year old grandson!!!!!

Family + Florida = Fun

I visited family in Florida last week with Danielle and her two youngins and boy did it go fast!!......I think that my mom enjoyed having us but probably breathed a huge sigh of relief when we left - having a couple of little ones around can be life changing to say the least even when they are really good they are really busy!!

Danielle and Ashlyn created this beauty - Chocolate covered cherry cake......

Martha Stewart and Bakerella hard at work.....

Danielle hijacked Grandmothers ipad and reeeeeeally wants one Michael:)

We did go to the park one day - The weather was gorgeous.....We also went to the beach but didn't want to take my good camera and my point and shoot has died...but it was beautiful and fun - take my word for it.....Reese loved the water even though it was cold - Josie wouldn't have any thing to do with the sand or water - she was pretty stressed out about it so she did what her Nana does when she gets stressed - she sat on the blanket and ate snacks..... I actually got to go one day with Carol - just me and her and no kids - that was a huge treat..........I could hear kids off in the distance but could relax because I wasn't the one responsible for keeping them from drowning:)

It was very windy at the park....We didn't stay too long - Josie couldn't catch her breath!

Took time to relax - so nice....Danielle finally finished reading Hunger Games and clued me in on what happened in the last book - loved the first two but just couldn't make myself finish the last one....

Okay Taylor my gorgeous, sweet, always happy niece.....you made the blog!!!! Thanks for letting me tag along on your photo shoot with your personal professional photographer - AKA - mom...AKA Misty - my sister-in-law who happens to be my photography question go to person....

We did so much more there that I didn't get pics of- but have great memories to cherish. Can't wait to go back.....