Sunday, September 4, 2016

Journaling Life

Last week was a really busy week. I love when I can accomplish a lot, but it seems when I am accomplishing something in one area, another area is going to pot. Ahhh, tis' life. Tuesday I got off early because Judie had an appt. I went to the nursing home to see my Aunt Dorotha, who is 92 years old (I think).



She is precious! We had the best talk, and I really enjoyed it. She is losing her memory, but does well for her age. I want to try harder to see her more often.

I got home early and wanted to mow. Ryan had been sick and was working on college homework. Anytime I can be working outside, I am happy. The weekend before I had been working in my landscaping.


I got the yard mowed and weedeated.



It was so hot outside, I really worried about passing out. When I stopped to take a break, I could feel prickles all over the top of my head. But, I kept pushing, and I made it. One day I took a pic of my car thermometer.



100 degrees!!! I can't wait till Fall.

Thursday I went to Andrew and Nikki's. I was supposed to get there around 1:45PM, but traffic was at a standstill and barely moving for miles!



When I got further up the road,  I saw there had been an accident with a police car. I don't know what happened. I wasn't able to go with Nikki to pick up Mason at preschool. 

Mason goes to preschool Tuesday and Thursday. This was his first day.






Although he is doing wonderful, thank God, these pics make my heart weep. This is the great view out his school window.



It is at a church, and this weekend he was telling me about a church song they sing, which made my heart so happy!

I did get there in time to go get Haley from school, but I forgot my phone to take pics. This was her first day.



It isn't too clear because I took a phone pic of a pic. She is doing wonderful too, thank God! One thing I love about her school is that the teacher sends pics of them to the parents during the day, and progress reports of how they are doing.



A great thing about today's technology. I blurred the other faces because I don't want to randomly post pics of other people's kids. 

Since the first day of school, she has grown up so much! She lost a tooth.

And then a few days later, she lost another tooth!



My babies are quickly growing up! "sniff, sniff"

I didn't take any pics while I was there, but Mason took a few. :)



He took a really good pic of Nikki. She is so pretty!!



She was sticking her tongue out and he said, "no silly face!!" (I think). Hahahaha

I left before dark that evening because I am trying to be more careful after our incident the other night. It was still daylight when I got home. When I got off the interstate at home, this is what came marching from the side of the road.



That was sooo cool, except for the back one was limping a bit. It made me sad for it.

Yesterday (Saturday) I met Nikki and picked up the kids, so she could get some things done before they left for the beach. I LOVED seeing them. I just want to soak up every loving minute with them. 

After they ate lunch, we went outside. They always love that. I have been meaning to buy some play clothes for them while they are at my house. They get wet and dirty. I had some shirts for Haley, but nothing for Masey. So, I just put on one of her shirts backwards, so it wouldn't bother him that he was wearing her shirt. He didn't complain, but Haley said, "it's still purple." Hahaha

Masey LOVES to swing. I think it is his favorite thing to do. Nikki put him in a swing when he was an infant, and I think that is why he loves it so much.

See his little toes in the air? He is trying to swing himself, but I am pushing him too. I sit and push them in the swing, and I love it! Notice his backward shirt? ;)

Toby decided he wanted to lay on my chest to watch them too.



We say he is my grand doggie, and he is the sweetest thing. 

While Masey swung, Haley played in the water.



I love her beautiful smile and messy hair!!



Then it was her turn in the swing.


She is such a little stinker; she filled the squirt gun, so she could squirt Mason as she was swinging.



He said, "no Haley." So, I told him he had to tell her without smiling. (I try to keep arguments at bay). So, he tried to tell her without smiling.



He tried to stick out his lip.


Hahahaha!

She finally ran out of water, and Mason didn't worry about getting wet any longer.


Haley wanted him to spray water on her as she swung.


She got tired of swinging, and they played. 


Mason was the car wash.




They also made mud pies.



We were outside a couple of hours, I think, and I called Ryan and told him to fill the bath tub. We all went upstairs and I gave them a bath and washed their hair. afterwards, Mark rode them his back (horse style) up and down the hall and on his shoulders. They had a blast. Then it was time for me to take them to meet Nikki at her mom and dad's. I loved spending time with them. I love them so. so much!!! I have prayed and prayed for them to have a safe wonderful trip to the beach this week.

This morning (Sunday) Mark went early to the nursing home to stay with his mom (I am going to have to write a post about that). Ryan and I went to church. When we came home, I made several chicken casseroles from chicken I cooked yesterday.



Chicken casserole is Ryan's favorite, so I fixed several to put in the freezer. 

This afternoon I took a nap, and tonight I sat on the back deck. It was wonderful to listen to the bugs and birds singing. We didn't have church tonight because we had communion this morning and it was a longer service.

Last weekend was our "homecoming" at church. It is where we have an invited preacher, sometimes singers too, and lunch afterwards. Martha has been having health problems (pray for her), but she felt like she may be able to go Sunday. I went up Saturday night for us to practice singing. 






I love her house!


This is her den that she recently redecorated (before she got sick).



I love it! The colors are so pretty!!

I got to see the notes Jared was studying for a test.






It is amazing that he understands this. He is studying Microbiology (I think). He is the only one in his class of friends that has stuck with the hard degree in college. The others dropped to an easier degree. He works so hard at it, and I pray he is blessed with a wonderful job when he graduates.

I also got to see what Jared got for his birthday. I wish I had taken a picture of the new mic and recording equipment he got because it was so cool. He also got several fantastic smelling shaving soaps and colognes.


He had so many more that I didn't take pics of, but I'm telling you, they all smelled amazing. He sprayed a little of the cologne on my arm, and I smelled it all night. It was the most soft, wonderful, woodsy smell. I can't explain it. It was the cologne that goes to the soap of the top pic. ^ I want to buy some for myself. Hahaha

Ok, finally, this is my sweet welcome every day when I come home.



See how she is smiling and happy to see me?


She is my sweetheart!

I am thankful Andrew and his family made it safely to the beach. I pray they have a safe week.

I am thankful for a relaxing evening that I got to enjoy being outside.

I am thankful I don't have to go to work tomorrow because it is Labor Day. Yay!!!!!!

Till next time....

Tuesday, August 30, 2016

Protection From a Creepy Guy

This post is about what happened when we dropped off Audrey to her grandmother (Nikki's sister) after the birthday party. 

Several times when I have picked up the kids from Nikki or dropped them off we have met in the old CiCi's pizza parking lot on Broadway. (even when they lived here) In fact, we have met to eat there before they closed. I don't know if they closed or are relocated, but they are no longer there. So, the parking lot is usually empty. This day there was a car parked there when we picked up Audrey, and when we brought her back. There are several businesses across two parking lots on the other side (Party City, Dollar Store, Pawn Shop, Riley's Auto Parts). 

We got back to the parking lot to meet Nikki's sister between 9:30-10:00PM (I think). It was dark. The parking lot was empty except for that (abandoned?) car. I didn't park near it. We sat there waiting with the car running because it was hot. We were watching cars across the way come into the parking lot to see if it was Nikki's sister. She was a little late. A white car with dark windows pulled into the parking lot and drove toward our parking lot. Ryan said, "could she be driving a different car (her car was black)?" I looked and said, "no." I didn't pay any more attention, but Ryan watched that car. As he watched, he saw the guy drive directly behind us and then he saw his wheel turn (from his side mirror) right beside us. The guys window was half way down. Ryan said quickly, "move, move, move, move!!!" I leaned forward as I started to put it in drive and saw it was a black guy with a lopsided hat. Ryan said I was very slow. The guy stared at us. Ryan said he gave him a such a look, that Ryan knew he was up to no good. He was afraid he was going to get shot. We didn't open our windows, and since I started moving, he started moving. He drove straight back out of the parking lot. Thank God!! He did not stop anywhere else. He drove straight to us from the road and straight back to the road. I know God took care of us. Why the guy decided not to bother us and move on, I don't know. Ryan said maybe because he saw little Audrey in the back and decided not to bother us. Who knows. I just know God protected us, and I am so thankful!!

I moved to the Riley parking lot way down on the corner. They were still open, but I didn't feel safe. We watched everyone constantly. Finally Nikki's sister got there and we all left. Ryan and I went to feed Martha's cats. Funny thing, many times I have felt a little creepy being outside there at night because it is in the country next to the woods. But, this time we felt really, really safe. Hahaha I was never so happy to get home in my life. I thought about it, and creeped out about it for days. It has taught me a lesson to be more careful. Life is precious and I don't want us to loose ours. It isn't worth it to take a chance at danger (although we didn't know it was a dangerous place). I should have thought to park in a more populated area (and no where in the city at night!!!!) 

I am SO thankful God spared us from harm.
I am so thankful I live in a place where I feel safe. (I know danger can happen anywhere, but I pray for my family's safety daily.) And the truth is, I don't like to be outside my home at night really.
I am so thankful Ryan was with me that night. I don't want to even think about it otherwise!!

Till next time...


Monday, August 29, 2016

Haley and Mason's Birthday

A few weeks ago Nikki had a birthday party for Haley and Mason. She always celebrates with one party because their birthday's are so close together and they have the same friends. She invited the neighbors, and Ryan and I brought Nikki's sister's granddaughter Audrey. Nikki told me she didn't know who would show up because she didn't request rsvp. Oh my! We were both shocked. I think the whole neighborhood showed up. It was a great block party. LOL





Nikki got a huge, fun water slide for the kids to play.




They had a blast!!! It was the best party the kids have ever had. I heard one little girl tell Haley it was the best party she had ever been to. 




The older boys were jumping high and then sliding down. Of course Haley had to also. She is very athletic. I love this pic of her.





I love that boy's smile!! It melts my heart!






It started to thunder, so we all went inside for cake and ice cream. Nikki made Haley a "Dora" rainbow cake, and Mason had a chocolate m&m cake. I didn't get a picture of Mason's cake.



Nikki amazed me how she made the decorations for the cake.


She also made them individual cakes to use to blow out the candles.



Nikki's friends were a great help in getting everyone their cake and ice cream.








After they ate they played again on the slide, then they went inside to open gifts.



After everyone left, I gave them my gifts. I got Mason a wooden train track on a table. He was so surprised.


I got several smaller gifts for Haley.


My favorite gift to her was a box of craft/card making supplies.


After a long day, they were finally able to play with their toys.







Ryan went outside to put together the trampoline and swing set Andrew and Nikki got the kids. Then they all came out to help. :)




They loved them!!




Mason even pushed Haley on the swing. How sweet he is!

It is hard to see, but he is behind her. 

What a great party they had. Nikki says she is never doing that again, and I say, "Yay!!! Hahahahah It was crazy at times, but it turned out wonderful!!

Ryan and I took Audrey to meet Nikki's sister, then we went to feed Martha's cats (Martha's family was on vacation). By the time we got home we were so exhausted!!

I am so thankful it turned out to be a wonderful block party. Ha!
I am so thankful we made it home safely (to be written about in another post)
I am so thankful they are friends with their neighbors. I only talk to one of my neighbors, and I think it is great when neighbors are friends.

Till next time....