Family, Friends and Food

What a great day...Friday and Saturday were a little rainy so the kids were unable to play outside, hence 7 little ones running around in the house...Lots of good food...family and friends...15 adults and 7 kids...a few were missing...if all could have been here we would have had a total of 33 !!!!!

Busy, Busy, Busy

As is probably the case with most everyone there's so much to be done this month and next. I have my week all scheduled (on paper, so as not to overlook something). I hope Monday was not a prelude for Tues., Wed., etc...things took longer than I had planned.

I decided to put out a few Christmas decorations...I knew that Brian would like that...I usually wait 'til a couple of weeks before Christmas but as we're having the family for Thanksgiving felt it would be nice to do that. All my things were packed away and stored in Eddie's garage. We had to go through several boxes to find the things I wanted to use for now.....the manger scene, the village and some greenery to put over the kitchen cabinets...with lights, of course. That shouldn't have taken four hours, but it did. Brian found lights to string up all over his room...his favorite thing to do whatever the occasion. I forgot my camera so no pictures :(

Eddie has been busy painting his bedroom...He finished the final trim work last night. Tomorrow, after work, he plans to put up the Christmas lights on the roof.

Grocery shopping, house cleaning and some food preparation today and tomorrow. Bob will be going to Canton to get Laura's Expedition..we need it for transport while everyone is here. I want to be able to go to the airport tomorrow night with him, but will have to take Eddie's car as well as the Expedition to have enough room for that.

Gotta get started now...

Slide Show: "America The Beautiful"

Video: "Da Man"

Brian does his "practicing" out on the "back porch"...After much begging He agreed to allow me to video him while playing his horn...he's soooo shy.

Viedo: It's a shame that this boy is so shy :)

Yesterday I had the pleasure of going out on a very cold morning to Bobby's school at 8:30 am to see a school full of screaming kids enjoying getting out of class for about an hour...the occasion was some kind of rally/recognition ??? and Bobby was one of the chosen five to lead in the singing...what a ham he is!!!

Anticipating next week

Just got offline with Luby's Cafeteria...ordered just about everything we'll be needing for Thanksgiving dinner for twelve adults and four little-to-big boys..I plan to prepare two vegetable casseroles, tea and bread...and that's it! Luby's will be preparing turkey, dressing, gravy, waldorf salad, cranberry salad, and two pies...

Alabama family,as well as Nicki, will be arriving Wed. pm....CAN"T WAIT!!!!
Holiday's with family and friends is always so special..

Seems like Monday

But it's not...it's Tuesday...Monday came and went quickly, sadly, as we made our way up into central Oklahoma to say goodby to our friend who left this world last week. Bob was most likely the only man at the funeral who was not a former coach or football player. Bill was a coach all of his life and had many friends in that profession.
We enjoyed seeing his two sons for the first time in a long time. Walt, who is an attorney in Big Springs, Tx. was born near the same time our second child, Laura was...while we were neighbors in Mena Ar. back in 1955...we've only seen him once as an adult. Walt exhibits the same gentle, kind, softspoken manner that Bill had. Bret, the younger son is now 50 years old!!!!,a handsome man and lives there near his mother. I'm so glad that he's near her. They both favor their father, but Walt more so than Bret.
Beth is not well...really needs to get all this past few years behind her...if there is such a thing possible. Bill has been sick for eight or nine years and I pray that she finds some peace, rest and perhaps even some good times ahead. We love you, Beth.

Remembering Bill

Going to Oklahoma tomorrow.......our dear, old friend, Bill Shipman, passed away Thursday. Alzheimer's had taken him from his wife,Beth over the past 8 to 10 years so he's in a much better place today....but still a loss for her. What a dreadful, mercy less disease. I hate it!

We met Bill and Beth when they were our neighbors in Mena, Ark. back in 1956.....a long time ago. He was the local high school football coach there and went on to coach in Irving, Texas and Andrews, Texas. Even thou they remained in Texas for the last 50 some odd years and we relocated to California and Illinois we stayed in touch and after we moved back to Texas in 1988 we were able to spend some time with them during the last 20 years.

For a number of years it was our custom to spend New Years weekend with them at their home in Oklahoma...enjoying driving around the countryside, reminiscing about old times and watching football, of course!

Bill was an easy-going and solf spoken fellow, (unusual for a successful football coach)...loved animals, football, Oklahoma, Beth, his booze, ice cream, and coffee. Even after he reached the stage in his illness where he could not speak he would smile when Beth brought him ice cream. The last time I saw him he smiled...don't know if he knew who I was but he was still smiling...

Bob bless you Bill...rest in peace.

My Monday

Been sitting here with my friend (the computer) since 2 am listening to the rain...haven't heard raindrops and thunder in an awfully long time. Don't understand why I have to spend 3/4 hours during the night awake instead of sleeping. 'Been surfing from one blogspot to another trying to find one in a language that I can read...so many are in languages other than English.....interesting tho.

Yesterday was a hard day...but by my own making. I still,sometimes, spend days acting like someone other than a 73 year old...foolish..
The boys were out of school so I spent Sunday night at their house. Bob called around 9am and reminded me that Monday was my day for a B12 injection...I had forgotten. He arrived around 10am and off we went to see the Doc's nurse...that didn't take long. I dropped Bob off at the apt. so I had the car...that was a mistake.

We were hungry so Bobby, Brian and I had lunch at Madeline's...a real treat for me as I've not eaten out for a couple of weeks, due to my cough. It was cool and so they had a fire going in the fireplace and Brian got us a table beside it. I had their delicious Cinnamon French Toast with fruit and boysenberry syrup, Brian ordered the French Dip and Bobby their pizza. I got each of them one of the mini deserts..Bobby had a cookie that came with the kids pizza so Brian ate the cheesecake with fruit and the vanilla pudding with fruit,

Next Bobby got a haircut at Coolcuts for Kids...He likes that place 'cause he can play video games in the process...and it was close by.

Our next stop was just three doors down...Lane Bryants...The boys were pretty good during the hour (at least) that I spent trying on things...they had their ipods...I walked out with $240. of clothing in one medium size plastic bag...2 bras, 2 pj's, 3 shells, and two pair of jeans...incredible the cost of things.

Target was just across the way so off we went. The boys looked around for at least another hour. I availed myself of one of those electric scooters...I knew we would be there a while and I was pretty tired by this time. I purchased some groceries and browsed around and then waited at the Pizza Hut station (our designated meeting place)...they showed up in about 15 min. I had warned them going in that they could only purchase something from the Dollar Spot and they, surprisingly, obliged me.

It was 3:30 by the time we got home. I had started cleaning their rooms before we left so finished up there...I made Mexican Stack Up but when Eddie arrived home around 6 I was too tired to eat and just took off for home...taking Bob some supper with me.

So much for my "hard" day...all in all it was enjoyable.

What A Voice !!!!!

Missing my "Alabama" family and friends

Ya'll check out Barb's website http://www.agentletouchsalonandspa.com
They're having their "customer appreciation day" today...it's always so much fun...food, entertainment, ladies having fun doing some Christmas shopping in the gift shop...wish I was there..

Ah...Saturday afternoons....Just waiting to watch The Texas Longhorns game ...it's a very nice day outside but I find myself glued to this blog... :) Been trying to add another slideshow but no luck :( it doesn't want to obey orders...I've contacted Photobucket ...hope to get a reply soon. I've done it before ie Rx for the Heart, Birthday Bash, etc...but not working this time...maybe it's just me :) doing something wrong...I seem to forget much lately...

I miss........

Now that we are a "one car family" my husband accompanies me everywhere.....most times it nice to be together..but...

I miss going to my two favorite stores, Hobby Lobby and Target Super Store, and staying for an hour or more looking at all their neat stuff.....

I miss going to Barnes and Nobel and browsing in the books...

I miss spending time in a garden center looking at the flowers.

I miss going to Starbucks and sitting outside to have a coffee instead of just going through the drive thru...

He's willing to take me where ever I want to go (most times) but I know that he's outside waiting in the car...

Poor, pitiful me...:(

God bless the USA

I agree with what Mr. Obama said: "It's not about red states and blue states, it's not about Republicans and Democrates, it's not about black and white...we are all Americans."


Artist: Lee Greenwood Title: Proud To Be An American


If tomorrow all the things were gone,I’d worked for all my life.
And I had to start again,with just my children and my wife.
I’d thank my lucky stars,to be livin here today.
‘ Cause the flag still stands for freedom,and they can’t take that away.
And I’m proud to be an American,where at least I know I’m free.
And I won't forget the men who died,who gave that right to me.
And I gladly stand up,next to you and defend her still today.
‘ Cause there ain’t no doubt I love this land,God bless the USA.
From the lakes of Minnesota,to the hills of Tennessee.
Across the plains of Texas,From sea to shining sea.
From Detroit down to Houston,and New York to L.A.
Well there's pride in every American heart,and its time we stand and say.
That I’m proud to be an American,where at least I know I’m free.
And I won't forget the men who died,who gave that right to me.
And I'd gladly stand up, next to you and defend her still today.
'Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land,
GOD BLESS THE USA