Grandkids

Caleb & Connor got to come and spend some time with Nana & Grandpa while Mom & Dad got some R&R out in California. Tater loved having 'his cousins' to play with every day!

It was quite draining physically...it's been a while since I had to keep up with 3 kids every day. But it was uplifting emotionally because I got to experience some of those moments in their lives that I don't normally get to share...sleepy snuggles with Connor and bedtime talks with Caleb...wouldn't have traded it for anything!

And, of course, I documented the days with pictures....

The boys loved playing outside everyday...and Tux got a LOT of lovin'!

Grandpa got to play with the boys and pull them around in the wagon...the three of them won't all fit in that little wagon much longer!

Teeth-brushing time was LOTS of fun! ;-)

I made a sign for Caleb & Connor to send their love to Mommy & Daddy through Facebook!

Tater went to 'school' on Tuesdays-Thursdays, Connor went on Mondays-Wednesdays, and Caleb went on Mondays-Wednesdays-Fridays.

Tater & Connor enjoyed a quiet morning on Friday while Caleb was at school.

Then we picked up Caleb at school, and Grandpa joined us at the park for a picnic!

Dinosaur chicken nuggets (with Ranch dip, of course), cheese, and grapes...

but Connor wanted a bite of Grandpa's hamburger.

Then it was play time! Grandpa helped the boys swing before he had to go back to work.

(Don't you just love his 'park attire'?)

They were literally racing around and around climbing up and going down this slide time after time...even Connor!


They had a great time until Nana said it was time to go....not a popular idea...

Naptime was n..i..c..e..


Caleb had 'homework' to do one day...cut out three pictures of things that start with "O".

He thought of Oak tree, Ogre (Shrek), and Oatmeal, then I scurried around to find pictures for him to cut out. I ended up using the copier to copy my Shrek DVD case and a box of instant oatmeal! The tree we found on the front of a catalog.

Connor wanted to do his 'homework', too.....soooo serious!


Dinosaur-shaped cinnamon toast for breakfast....mmmmmmmm!

These croquet mallets...they were the source for a world of imagination...

They were deer rifles, lawnmowers, lasers, hammers, canes, hockey sticks, golf clubs...

Ah, yes....grandkids....

Happy Belated Birthday, Dana

Yes, my baby had a birthday three weeks ago. But there was too much happening at the time to post a blog. Her birthday was August 26, and that was the day the Lord decided to call home my mother-in-law (see 'Mothers' post). Since that time we have spent most of our weekends and some weekdays in Odessa going through her things, cleaning out her town house, and getting ready for an estate sale. The estate sale was this past weekend. I had intended to post Dana's birthday blog on Sept. 4, the day between Jenni's and Melynda's...but that didn't happen either. So here I am, three weeks later, giving Dana birthday thoughts, and she won't even be able to read it probably for another week or two! She is in Spring (Houston), surviving Hurricane Ike, and the electricity is out in her area...which means no computer, not to mention lights, TV, and AC! Nevertheless, here is my belated birthday blessing to my baby!

Happy Birthday, Dana!

Here is my baby girl, Dana Marie.

Or Dana-bug as we called her when she was little.

We knew she would be the last...the baby...and I guess we always treated her that way. But we didn't spoil her! Her two big sisters took care of that!

Dana, my baby girl...my shy, quiet little shadow.

I was fortunate enough to be a stay-at-home-mom for her first two years.

And I was fortunate enough to have her stay at home longer after high school, all the way through her college years until she married.

She was still shy and quiet...she just didn't follow me around like my shadow any more.

She has grown into a lovely, strong, Christian young lady. She is a loyal and dependable friend. She is a wonderful wife, a friend and companion to her junior-high sweetheart, Levi! They have been married just seventeen months. And she is a daughter who has become a friend.

(But I lost my fashion consultant when she left home!)

I have always prayed scripture for my girls. My favorite one to pray for my girls and for Kerry's kids is Jeremiah 29:11-13. But one scripture that comes to mind as I think about Dana, now 24 years old and just beginning her 'grown-up life' away from home, is this one...this scripture was put to music and was a song we sang together in a praise team group a few years ago.

If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea,

even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.

Psalm 139:9

Happy Belated Birthday, Dana-bug!

Happy Birthday, Melynda

This is my little "Playpen Princess"

This is Melynda, and today, September 5, is her birthday!

Melynda has always been a very sensitive and caring person with a sympathetic heart. When she was little, she always wanted to pray for a little friend who was sick, or for someone she had heard mentioned at church who needed prayer. She wanted to be everyone's friend and felt life should be fair and equal to all.

She has found out that life isn't fair, but she is a peace-maker; she still tries to make everything right. I think that is why God has placed a desire in her heart to work with children who have experienced the unfair realities of life. She wants to help make things right in their world.

Melynda is an organizer, a planner. She loves matched sets of anything. She likes order...to a degree.

She is a wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend, confidant. She will lend an ear to listen or a shoulder to cry on. She will do whatever it takes.

She has become a woman after God's own heart, seeking to do His work, in His time.

Happy Birthday, Melynda! I love you!

Happy Birthday, Jenni!

See this precious baby girl?

This is Jenni, my first-born.

Jenni, my precocious preschooler.

Jenni, my bright, bouncing little girl.

Jenni, my on-the-go junior-higher.

Jenni, my singing/studious high schooler.

Jenni, my daughter who has grown into a beautiful young lady,

a loving wife, an awesome mom,

and a fantastic, caring middle-school teacher!

Jenni, who has become the godly woman I always prayed she would be.

Today is her birthday, and I just want to tell her how much I love her,

how proud I am of her, how I admire her determination and independence.

There will be times when she feels victorious.

There will be times when she feels defeated.

There will be times when she feels elated.

There will be times when she feels depressed.

But every time, God is there for her.

And she knows He is there.

She seeks Him and He is there.

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord,

plans to prosper you and not to harm you,

plans to give you hope and a future.

Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me,

and I will listen to you.

You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

(Jeremiah 29:11-13)

Happy Birthday, sweet daughter of mine!