Lazy day!!

So the sun was shining bright through our windows when I awoke at 7:45 this morning and couldn't go back to sleep!! I thought I might as well get up and do something productive. I went downstairs and flipped through the TV channels. I know - that is not very productive but I was trying to get motivated. There was a cute movie called Rebounds playing so I started watching it. After a while I heard hubby moving around upstairs so I decided to make scrambled eggs, biscuits (not homemade this time), gravy and sausage. I love warm breakfast on chilly mornings however I do not cook breakfast during the work week so this is a special treat. Robert let Olsen out of the pen while I finished cooking. After breakfast I had a movie from Netflix called Couples Retreat - so we watched that movie. Notice there has still been no productivity going on here!! After the movie I read some blogs, checked facebook - still nothing productive yet. Then it was time for lunch so I heated up the left over Rotel chicken from dinner last night and heated up some pinto beans. By this time the Aggie men's basketball team was playing tu so of course we had to support the Ags. I decided I at least needed to get out and get some sunshine. I played with Olsen and finally convinced Robert to go walk with me. We got back and I decided that I wanted to try a recipe that I read about on The Link Home blog called Cocoa Pie. I started putting that together while I heated up some leftover pizza and made us a salad. The cocoa pie is cooling on the counter while I type this post. So much for productivity but there is a lot to be said for the lazy day!! Everybody needs a kick-back day every now and then!! Productivity can wait until another day! Off now to try that cocoa pie.

P.S. The Cocoa Pie is wonderful!!! And it is so easy!!

Happy Birthday,Chandler!!

Seven years ago today, I joined the best club in the world - the grandmother's club. I told you all about this club in a previous post. Our first grandson, Chandler was born and my world hasn't been the same!! He has been such a blessing.



Chandler was born and then all of a sudden he was walking and talking. What a little sweetheart and he knows his Granna loves him very much!!!



He is handsome, funny, smart and so much fun to hang out with. Right now he loves Lego's!! I love to hear him read and he reads everything. We were at church with them on Sunday and I noticed he was reading the words to the songs when they would put them up on the big screen.

He had a birthday party with friends last Saturday. They played with Lego's, "pinned the logo on the Lego", and some other board games. He had a good time. Here are some pics from the party.















Happy Birthday, Chandler!! I love you soooo much!!!

Rainey and her babies!!

Rainey has a doll that eats goldfish crackers. I guess she thought her baby was hungry and Rainey takes care of her babies!! Rainey brought her to me on Saturday and said, "Baby eat goldfish."



This baby had a BAD rash so Rainey doctored her up!!! I think she was supposed to be taking a nap but she needed to take care of her baby's rash instead and when Rainey's mommy went to check on her - this is what she found. Silly girl! I believe the Desitin is kept in a different location now!!

Wreck 'em!!

The weekend of the "great snow", we had already made plans to visit Austin. Robert and I along with Kylie, Steven and Chandler headed west on Friday morning. The roads were wet but traveling was not a problem. By the time we were half way there -there was only the slightest hint that it had snowed!

Even though the kids were not in school because of the snow - Chandler's mommy said that every experience can be educational. We first resisted and told her that we weren't doing school stuff because it was a snow day!! But then we decided to try. We had brought the DVD player since it is a 7 hour drive. Chandler was watching a movie - actually he was starting the 3rd movie and that's when his mommy got on the education kick!! LOL He wanted to hold onto the map and he kept following it along and would occassionally ask where we were and would then tell Grandad the next town we were looking for - even though Grandad had the GPS on, it was more fun to get directions from Chandler. This was the social studies portion of the trip.


I always pack up some snacks/candy for trips. I had brought along some fireballs and Robert and Steven got out some of those. Chandler decided to try one. He made it pretty far before the "physical reactions" got to him. This was the science portion of the trip.


We got there about 3 and had not had lunch yet so we picked up Austin and headed to Freebird's!! If you have not been to Freebird's you need to give it a try!! Freebird's wraps the burritos in foil and then people get extra pieces of the foil and form it into different things - for example- initials, animals, etc. I got a piece of foil for Chandler and he made this airplane or something.



We (most of them unwillingly) took some pictures around campus. I had wanted to find and photograph this hand sculptor with the alphabets that I had seen in pictures.





On the Tech campus there is this huge silver ball. When I took Austin to orientation, I wanted to ring it so badly but I figured Austin would die from embarrassment so I decided Chandler and I would go make some noise. All of these activities took care of the music and art portion of the trip. You know - to satisfy Chandler's school teacher mommy!!





On Saturday we went to eat breakfast in the hotel. I was sitting at the table with Chandler and Robert had gone to fill his plate. I was watching people walk by and saw the A&M basketball coach. Of course Robert didn't believe me. He thinks I don't know anything. Then we saw a few of the basketball players walk by and Robert got up and went out and talked to one of the assistant coaches. We finished breakfast and then we were milling around the lobby when the players and coaches finished their meeting. Coach Turgeon-the head coach noticed Chandler's A&M t-shirt and came over and shook his hand. I didn't have my good camera - just the cell phone but I did get a picture.



Austin was in desperate need of clothing but he never acts like he needs anything. Kylie, Steven, Chandler, Austin and I went to the mall and found Austin some jeans and shoes. While at the mall we made a stop at the pet shop and Chandler wanted to bring this little cutie home.



And then of course a trip wouldn't be complete without eating at my favorite - Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers!!! After lunch we went back to the hotel to get ready for the basketball game. Texas Tech was scheduled to play Texas A&M. Yes - I wore my Tech shirt because it was "all about Austin" weekend! :) We enjoyed the game - Aggies won. Afterwards we went to Double Dave's Pizza. It was soooo good.









On Sunday morning we had an early lunch at Abuelo's and then headed back home. We had a good time but I sure do miss my boy!!!

Winter Wonderland indeed!!

Yes - I know everyone else has already posted about the snow but I was out of pocket with limited computer access. And - I did want to document this momentous occasion. The snow was beautiful and made for some great pictures, unfortunately we left town and didn't really get to enjoy it. There was no snow where we were!! Anyway . . . enjoy the scenery.






Olsen had a good time trying to fetch his rope. The snow made him a bit more hyper than usual.





Weatherman says there is a possibility of snow again next week. We'll see!!

It's a dog's life!!

Okay- so it was past due for Olson's visit to the vet. A couple of weeks back I decided that I was going to have to take him myself since his master is away at college and Robert doesn't get home until after the vet is closed and I wanted to get it done before the cold spell hit at the end of that week. We haven't sold Austin's pickup yet - which happened to be a good thing because I was not about to put fido in my Tahoe. The bad thing is Olson is not used to riding in the truck anymore. Austin used to take him a lot when he was younger but since Austin has been away at college Olson and I don't go joy riding so much! The first trick was putting the collar and leash on. He didn't like that so much. Since the demise of Austin's first lab involved his collar I just cannot leave Olson's collar on all the time so he is not used to that either. The jingle of the hook and the rabies tag scared him and Olson tried to bolt immediately!! Luckily I had a good hold on the leash. The next trick was getting Olson into the truck. He didn't want to go. My pockets were filled with treats to coax him along. He wouldn't go until I finally got in myself and he jumped in behind me. He was very nervous and I couldn't reach the door to close it behind him. I knew if I got out on the driver's side- he would follow me. So we both got out. Finally after about 15-20 minutes of coaxing I was about to give up. I tossed a treat in the floorboard of the truck and he jumped in after it. I quickly slammed the door and said "That's what I thought."

He loves to play with Chandler.


Rainey likes to boss him around. She says, "Sit down!!"

We headed to the vet's office and did I tell you that Olson is not used to riding in the truck and that the truck has a stick?? Well, Olson did pretty well. Even though it was cold - he was sweating. I turned on the AC and nearly froze myself to death. We were clicking along pretty well until we got to the 2 lane part of our road and when he noticed cars passing us he got all nervy again. We made it to the vet's without having a wreck. I made sure I had a good hold on the leash before I opened the door because I knew he would knock me over trying to get out. He was very good while at the vet's office. He got a shot and got weighed - 86.7 pounds!! Keep the weight in mind for the remainder of this tale.

He is a rescue dog - even if you don't need to be rescued!!

When we walked out the door of the vet's he had to sniff around and tinkle on everything so I didn't rush him. I wanted him to be calm when it was time to get back in the truck. The 18 wheelers on the highway made him quite nervous. After a while I felt that I had given him enough time and I was afraid if he tinkled any more he would become dehydrated- I really didn't think there was any more fluid left in his body.

Keeping the pool free of critters. Here he is after a frog.

So I open the passenger side door and thought I could coax him in with another treat - but no - he was done with the treats. No amount of coaxing, tugging, tossing treats in the truck was going to work this time. I would try to pick him up but remember he is nearly 87 pounds. I tried just getting the front end into the truck and then working on the back end. He was like a kid who just goes limp and I could not pick him up. I just know Doc Reed was sitting in his office hee hawing!! This went on for about 15 minutes and I was sweating from all the tugging and pushing. I finally gave up and went around to the driver's side and called Robert almost in tears. He was still at school. I told him that Olson would not get in the truck and there was no way I could get him in because he would just slump down to the ground. He was not budging. Yes - I guess I could have gone back in to ask for help - but no - that would be too embarrassing. Yes - I guess it would be more embarrassing than spending 15-20 minutes pushing, pulling - trying to coax that silly dog to get in the truck. Robert needed to get things gathered up and would be on out to help. Then for some unknown reason-maybe I tugged one more time just right-Olson jumped into the driver's side floorboard. And again would not budge!!! Keep in mind - he weighs 87 pounds, I am worn completely out and the truck has a stick!!! Yes I need to be able to reach the clutch and the brake but either I was going to have to reach it over Olson's huge body or I would have to spend the night in the vet's parking lot. I called Robert back, put it on speaker phone because I needed all hands and feet to drive. I told him we were headed home and I hoped we didn't wreck!!! I am not very good with the stick shift even without a huge dog under my feet. We get almost home and then Olson decides he wants to move and I said oh no buddy you are stuck until I stop this truck in the driveway of our house. Through this whole ordeal he looked so dejected - like it is an insult to have to get in the truck and wear a collar but the minute we got home and I let him out of the truck he was back to his old self - so excited and hyped up. I said I am so sorry Olson. I am glad we made it safely home and you were a good boy at the vet's but I am completely worn out and I am going to have to take a shower and go straight to bed!! Gosh - I am worn out just recanting this tale!! I think I'm going to have to go to bed!!

Remembering . . .

Sixty-eight years ago today, my parents got married early on a Sunday morning at their pastor's home. And afterwards - they went to church. My daddy was 21 and my mother was 16. Wow!!! I know this is not very clear but this is the original article from the newspaper about their wedding.



This is a picture of my parents sometime after they were married. Aren't they a cute couple!!



They were married, I believe, 3 years before my oldest sister, Ann, was born. A couple of years later they had my next sister, Barbara. For the next 10 years - she was their form of birth control. LOL Once they finally succeed in getting her to sleep in her own bed, they had my brother, Steve; 2 1/2 years later I was born and 2 1/2 years later my younger brother, Jim was born. I loved having lots of brothers and sisters and we have always been a close family. My mother passed away in 1988 - 20 days after Austin was born. At the time of her death, my parents had been married for 46 years. My father passed away in 1999. I was truly blessed to have been raised my Christian parents and to grow up with awesome brothers and sisters.

This picture was taken a couple of years before my mother passed away. Still a cute couple!!



Happy 68th Anniversary, Mother and Daddy!! R.I.P.