Our Family.......

Long time, no blog................

It's been a while........ sorry.  Taken a little sabbatical from my own life to care for my mom.  For all of you that have taken care of someone who is dying, you have my sincerest respect.  It is HARD.  Circumstances with my mom make it even harder, but that's another deal.

Here's what's been going on in our lives lately:

 If he isn't the sweetest little thing on two legs, I don't know what is.  Help me, Rhonda, I love this kid!

Family visits.  Ray's aunt & uncle from Georgia.

A few projects around the house....

 

One of my favorite holiday decorations E*V*E*R*!

A picnic.  Yes, even at four months old you can picnic at Grandma's House!!

 Grandma has a bit of a learning curve on the whole feeding cereal thing.  His mama found just a tiny bit in his ear.....

Someone had a little boo-boo.

Mr. Muscle bent it back out.

 Nothing too serious.  A little dent.  But the boys are learning how to work together.....

And now it looks like this:

Just kidding.  Kind of.

We celebrated the 3rd of July because when you have a fireman in the family, you can't be hung up on the DATE, but making the most of being together.

 

 

And now we're all worn out. 

How was YOUR week??!

 

Daddies and Babies......

Yesterday all of us gathered at church to be a part of Baby J's Dedication.

What a wonderful, special time.  Mommies and Daddies dedicating themselves to raising their child to know the Lord.

Dedicating their children back to God.

It's such a wonderful statement to make in front of the church.

Then...... off to lunch!

We got to eat and visit and catch up a little.

 All the people that love Baby J.

 She just think's Uncle Ray is the cat's pajamas.  Don't know why...........

 

AND it was Chad's first Father's Day!

 

His specialty is "The Hokey Pokey".  Baby J demands it at least once a day.

He is "putting his left arm IN".

And speaking of good Daddies.......

I really love this one. 

 

And this one:

 

He's been very good to me.  I think of him as my own Dad.

 

To each one.... "HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!"

 

Girls Trip!!!!!!!!!!!!

This past week we took a "girls trip" to Tulsa. 

This started several years ago when we "girls" of the family went on a trip. 

Just us.

No icky boys.  Well, just one very handsome one ........

Doing things "girls do".  And just spending time together.  This year we were going to Tulsa for the Miss Oklahoma Pageant that a friend of the family was competing in.  Brittany is the cutest little thing, and we've known her since...well, forever.  She is the kind of girl that has it all.  She's adorable, but she's well grounded.  Shell and I hadn't planned on going to the pageant, we were just going to enjoy "girl time", but they talked us in to going.  And are we glad we did!! 

We shopped.......

Found the cutest stuff....

 

He was such a good little shopper!  What a trooper!  Give him a binkie and mama and he's good to go.

Here's a funny little story. 
While on the elevator, I looked down on the top of Baby J's stroller... and realize there is an outfit from a store that has mistakenly made it out...without being purchased.......

So I am thinking for a few steps......we walk up to TCBY Yogurt, that Shell and Ev both love.....and I announce that the ice cream is on me, cause they're going to need BAIL MONEY!!!  Here are their faces:

I thought it was so stinking funny.... and of course my mother in law promptly went back to the store and explained and paid for the item.  It was reeeeeeally funny because that happened to me a couple of months ago.  And of course my daughter is reminding me of that...

I love this store.  The lights....the kazillion different brands of make up.....the smell.....ahhhhhhh. 

Anyway.....

That night they talked us into going to the pageant, and Ev and Charlene went early to get tickets for us.  We were SO glad we went.

 We had so much FUN! 

 

The lights, the talent, the excitement.  We did our best to cheer Brittany on.

  

I thought this little old lady was cute.  She put on her cheetah print jacket and went out to cheer on her granddaughter.  Or neighbor.  The girls name was "Jennifay".  No, not a misprint.  Just like Jennifer, but Jennifay.

Apparently all of the judges were from the Tulsa School of the Blind and Hearing Impaired, because Brittany didn't win. 

 This was a girl, dressed as Michael Jackson, doing a tap routine to "thriller".  And, I don't have a picture of it, because I was laughing so hard I couldn't hold the camera still, but there was an "interpretive dance" to "Home on the Range". 

I kid you not.

The next morning we ate a magnificent breakfast....including pancakes by Maddie.

Charlene helped Baby J "fish". 

We had fun, and laughed and talked and loved being with each other.

 

We had to say goodbye much too soon.  Charlene, you are definitely the "Hostess with the Mostess"!!!

We had a wonderful time!  Thank you!

Tale of Mr. Poopy pants.......

My daughter thinks this is just hilarious.

And since I've been....poopy..about posting lately, I thought..why not??!

Here's the deal.  My favorite shopping buddy and I, plus one addition of a breathtakingly handsome little 3 month old, decide to go shopping.  So we get up, coordinate our leave time according to baby J's feeding schedule and OFF WE GO!!

For a little background:  Baby J is....well, let me put it this way.  If the kid can get work as a professional "poop meister", he'll be rich.

He is also a breast fed baby and therefore does not poop every day.  Which, while that can be a nice break, does make for a bit of a volitile type of event.  Picture "old faithful" with molten lava.  Now you're there.

Anyway, we set out on a really pretty cool morning.  Just chatting and deciding where to go first.  We decide on Kohl's.  (We're no longer welcome at any Kohl's store in the U.S.) For Shell's birthday I had told her that I wanted to buy her an outfit of her choosing.  It became fairly clear early on that she could browse much easier if Baby J was not on her hip.  So he went with me to check out the shoe department.  A few minutes before I left, he let a little "grunt" sound, which stopped us both mid-sentence.  Because we learned the hard way that when this kid poops, you better be ready with a fire hose or car wash, because you're gonna NEED IT. Fortunately he smiles and she says "whew.  That was close.  And I forgot the diaper bag in the car."

So he lets a little "ugh" but it's nothing so we take off for shoes.  I'm on the other side of the store trying on a smokin' pair of white sandals on sale and I hear "UUUUUUUUGH".  Oh my Good Lord, where is a fire escape??!!  Then the unmistakeable "UUUUUGH" and the most horrible, smelly squirt noise..... and the dreaded RED FACE!!

I walked right out of the shoes I was trying on, leaving them smack in the middle of the aisle.....RUNNING through the entire men's section.....then flying through jewlery....WHERE IS HIS MOTHER??!  I finally spot the blonde hair over in the tank tops!

"2-3-4-5-77" I yell as I whiz past (the entry code to my car)  "Defcon 5! Meet me in the bathroom!"

slappity-clak-clak- my heels make so much noise going down the tiled aisles.  But I'm not worried about anyone hearing me - Baby J is screaming at the top of his lungs.  I know this kid.  I have 6.3 seconds until we ALL need a change of clothes!

Whip into the bathroom, unbuckle the straps......it's oozing out the leg openings of his cute little outfit. OOOOOHHHH NOOOO!

Now I have to maneuver two tiny little legs kicking everywhere, and try to get the onesie off OVER his head, streaked with poop.  Apparently Shell decided to take a vacation while out at the car because it's taking FOREVER.  She finally shows up. 

To the casual observer, this had to have been hysterical.  Two grown women wiping everything in sight, wet wipes flying, paper towels, screaming baby....I mean, come ON.  How hard can this be???  We finally get his clothes off, wrapped in a plastic bag, clean him up using every wet wipe in the bag, change clothes, wipe down the changing table, wash our hands....then I pick up the car seat left on the floor and.....poop runs out the bottom. 

I'm telling you.  If he can find work with this special talent...... we can all retire.

Surprise!

Shell's class had a surprise baby shower for her and Josh!

 Actually her friend Heather set it up.  She kept it a secret for two WEEKS!  I can't believe one of the little darlings didn't give it away.

Not the best picture, but this is where the "John Deere" theme comes from.

MUCH better!  Isn't he the most adorable little guy??!  Just saw him this morning and I miss him already.

 They just love her.  She is SO organized.  Sure don't know where she gets that. 

 

Daddy brought him of course.  And they wore matching caps.  I think Chad was involved in a conversation he wasn't too sure about......

The kids were so sweet and kind.  And excited about thier teacher's new baby!  Shell has the greatest job.  It must be wonderful to be adored by a classroom of cute little first graders every day. 

Unlike my job.  Where I'm just an old fart........

And because everyone could use a smile...

I love this picture.  He's laughing at Ray.  And pooping.....

You HAVE to read this......

Undomestic Diva

Not that it hits close to home or anything..............

Happy Birthday, Sweetie!

 

Happy Birthday to the best daughter in the world!  I get mushy and emotional and all gooey this time of year.  She was my Mother's Day "gift" in 1983.  Five days after Mother's Day..... but my most wonderful Mother's Day gift EVER. 

 

This is one of my all time favorite pictures.  I think she was about 3 months old.

 

 

I think he looks like his mommy!  Which means he looks like his Grandpa McMarshmallow!

Now she has her own little Mother's Day present. 

And I wish for her all the wonderful things in life.                                                                  

 And to be as blessed as I am!

Grandpa McMarshmallow........

He's smitten..........

 

But seriously.......... who wouldn't be???

 

He laughs easily...charms immediately.....

 

Sorry - this picture is a little blurry, but you can still see he's adorable!

 

We never knew being Grandparents could be so wonderful.  It's the most amazing, wonderful, sweet, wonderful, heartfelt existence.  Ever.  And yes, I meant TWO "wonderfuls".

 

I took this one when he was "talking" to Grandma.  We have nice, long conversations.  World peace, quantum physics, how much I love him.....

He thinks Grandpa is funny.  And Grandpa has become a giant walking marshmallow.  I knew he would.  I, of course, am a pillar of strength.  I can be strong, tough, handle anything. 

Except this.....

I Love Jay Leno..........

Swine Flu.......... just in time for finals.

Just in the nick of time .............. the Swine Flu!  It is SERIOUSLY a student's best friend.  And perhaps the last hope of some.  In the neck of the woods where I work, any epidemic, pandemic, natural disaster, or unnatural disaster can be a dream come true. 

Stop and think about it from a slacking kids point of view;  you haven't turned in that English paper that was due....oh, sometime around Valentine's Day (where DOES the time go??).  You are now waking up to the fact that spending your senior year sucking face with your girl/boy friend, breaking up, getting back together, worrying about Susie and Billy breaking up, getting back together, oh WHAT will I wear for Prom, planning senior parties, and worrying about which teachers really MEAN IT when they say you have to show up, the occasional lecture from your parents about your 47th tardy in Math, and that damn homework... who has time to actually TURN IN assignments and care about work??!!

Happens the first of every May.  The realization that you have done nothing and now you may  not graduate.  Now is the time for everyone to PANIC!!!!!!!!!!!

Whiskey, Tango, Foxtrot, over???!

This is a disaster of epic proportions.  A Biblical plague-type apocalyptic event.  If you're a lazy senior.  If you've bumfoozled your way through class, cheated off your neighbor, and generally been a slacker.

Enter the Swine Flu.

It just seems WRONG that at a time of possible pandemic (assuming you believe the news) you would actually have young, healthy teen/adults PULLING for the FLU!!  But they are.  Think about it.  Could we BE so lucky as to actually have a case here?  In middle America?  In Leave-it-to-Beaverville??  Why, it might shut down the school system, just like in Texas.  And..perhaps there would be no finals.  And.....perhaps they would just go right ahead with Graduation ceremonies and hand out those sweet little sheets of paper saying you worked hard and passed!  Because.....of course the venue is rented, and no one would forgo that....large, crowded building full of germy handshaking hugging people.  

Yep.  Because if there's one thing more prevalent than a slacking student.........it's a short-sighted one!