A Lot Can Happen in 10 Years

The last ten years almost seems like only a few months ago.

1999 - I had 3 children still living at home and 

one still had another year of high school. 

 My baby boy before he started shaving his head.  Even he hadn't met Jessie yet.

Nate and Becky (at Aaron & Miranda's wedding) 

We had some strong suspicions they might get married someday.

Karl & Jenny - I believe this picture was taken when we were first getting to know Karl - this may have even been our first introduction.

 But here it is just 10 years later - 

2009 and we have 3 married children and 5 (soon to be 6) grandchildren.

What I don't understand is - how come I have aged 10 years but my kids (except for Stevie's shaved head) all look about the same?

Tagged by Kathryn

8 Things I'm Looking Forward To:

My morning coffee

Any visits with my grandkids

New grandbaby in November

Joe & Sandi coming for a visit

The T's 50th Anniversary Party

KC trip

Finally finishing Mists of Avalon so I can move on to something new

Autumn - (not a big fan of summer)

8 Things I Did Yesterday

Manicure

Talked to Spencer & Coen on the phone

Schnucks

Hardward Store

Laundry

Dinner out

Read more of Mists of Avalon

Watched Bones on DVR

8 Things I Wish I Could Do

Take longer walks without pain

Carry a tune

Take long roadtrips to NE USA

Visit Ireland, Scotland, & England without getting on a plane or boat

Cook better and eat healthier

Say the right things at the right times

Be SuperMom/SuperNana

Catch up with my reading lists

8 TV Shows I Watch

House

Bones

NCIS

Tudors

Food Channel

Life

Lie To Me

Harper's Island

8 People I Tag

Jenny

Becky

Lindsey

Kelly R

Sherri

Christi

Terri

 Jessie( but I'm not sure that's what her blog is about)

The Impossible Easter photo

I had forgotten how difficult it was to get a good family Easter photo.  I can remember promising almost anything to just get all three of mine to sit still for a few moments so we could snap a picture.  

Well, kids haven't changed any.  At least now we have digital so you don't feel like you've wasted a bunch of film.  You wouldn't believe how many pictures I have of my furniture and floor because the child in my viewer disappeared before I could snap the button.

We tried to get all 5 to sit on the couch for a group shot. Talk about fun :) - we did manage to herd them all into the same room but we could not get them to sit on the couch together - someone was always taking off.

Here's the best I could get - but I'm sure my kids got much better pictures that they will share with Nana & Popo.

This is truly the only shot I have of Coen -

 this child is forever in constant motion.

Jackson is the only cooperative one -

 but of course he is just beginning to become mobile.

Even Spencer hates to pose for pictures - he use to be easier to catch.

Ayden can almost be convinced if she's being held but you have to be quick.

I managed to sneak this one of Grace while her mommy was distracting her.

If you want to see what most of my pictures look like - below are some of the better ones - I think I had to delete more than I saved because it was just furniture or part of an arm or leg.  It's really kinda funny because they know why you're calling their name so they just totally ignore you or refuse to look at you - sweet little stinkers - they're still adorable cuties.

Neotez Past

Last night we went to the Neotez dinner and I was reminded of

 some of my favorite photo memories.

The Old Man, the Boy, and the Mule

   The other day someone was talking about the problem they were having  trying to please several different people at the same time.  I was tempted to tell them this story that my mother told me when I was trying to please everyone while planning my wedding.  

I can remember exactly where we were - I had just driven us home from Kroger's and we were parked in the car across from our house.  We just sat there in the car while she shared this little nugget of wisdom.  

You've probably heard it before but sometimes it's good to hear again and remember to accept that you just can't please everyone!

   There was once an old man, a young boy, and a mule going on a long journey.  As they started out the old man placed the young boy on the mule and he walked along with them.  The first town they came to all the people watching them clucked their tongues and said, 

   "Why is the old man walking while the young boy gets to ride?" 

So they switched places and the old man rode while the boy walked.   The second town they came to all the people watching them frowned and said 

"Why does the old man get to ride and the young boy have to walk?"

So they both climbed up on the mule.  As they came to the next town all the people were shocked and said, 

"How can you make that poor mule carry both of you?"  

So they both got off the mule and they both walked next to the mule.  As they got to the last town all the people watching laughed at them and said, 

"Why are you both walking when someone could be riding the mule?"

Look Who's TWO!!

Coen - sweet  innocent little whirlwind that is just too cute.

Jenny on her 2nd  birthday - I can see some mother/son resemblance - especially in the cheeks and that little smirk they both have.   (The others in the picture are Sherri, Grandpa & Grandma McCoy and me - You notice almost everyone else in the picture is trying to help her blow out the candle?) 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWEET COEN 

 Love you always!!

Are We Being 'Schnucked'?

Ok - I just want to know - what's the deal?  I know that I don't keep up with current events, politics and stuff like that - but am I only going to be able to get 'Schnucks' brand stuff at Schnucks soon?  I have noticed the increased amount of items that look like the brand I'm use to but are really Schnucks - (they thought they could fool me - ha) but now  they don't even offer me the other brand at all.  I'm sure a lot of this stuff is the same with just a different name - but I can tell by looking at those cookies that they are not going to taste as good - so I didn't buy any.  And my garbage bags are ok but they are not as thick as my old brand.  And I admit - once - just once - they did fool me and the Schnucks brand cheese just didn't make the grade with me.  Maybe I'll switch over to Shop and Save or make the trip all the way to Dierberg's - are they doing the same thing?  Oh - and I almost forgot the real kicker - once they eliminate the 'other' brand - the Schnuck price is the same as I was paying if not more!

Butter Tub Cereal Bowls??

    It seems most of the movies and books I've read lately have been about WWII - and how there were just regular people willing to help escapees just to stay alive.  Even amidst all that evil there were still many brave people who were willing to do what was right in spite of the threat to their own lives.  I have a theory that there are some (but too few) people who just almost always can be counted on to do the right thing.  There are many, many who are just in it for themselves.  But I think the majority of us are somewhere in between - we feel really bad for the one needing help and we just hope we have what it takes to step up to the task.

On a smaller scale,  I've always loved those commercials and the movie about "passing it on" - "it" being an act of kindness.  Last night at small group someone was talking about some 'random acts of kindness' they had witnessed lately at checkout counters because of the economy and loss of jobs.  It reminded me of stories my mom use to tell me about the Depression.  She said there were always men and sometimes families stopping at the back door seeking a little of whatever  could be spared.  Somehow, they were always able to scrape up some food or clothes to share.  That attitude always remained with my parents.  I particularly remember daddy and I taking bags of groceries down the street to an old german couple who could barely speak English.  But I know my parents were always willing to help out - even if it was just to send me next door to shovel the walks.  They were little things but  it was just what you were suppose to do.

I'll be the first one to tell you I don't understand the politics or the technicalities of our failing economy - and I have no idea if I should start saving my butter tubs (why exactly did people who went through the depression save these??) or worse - start saving catalogs for toilet paper.  But I really wonder if we'll be seeing more 'random acts of kindness' or if society has gotten so far gone that the thieves and violence are going to take over.  I thinking maybe we all need to step up and look for those opportunities to lend a hand when we can and then to tell them to "pass it on".

A Few Lessons I've Learned

These are just a few of the things I've learned through the years - sometimes I need to be reminded of them and maybe you  will find a nugget you wish you knew.

1- Even if it's only a Christmas card - never lose contact with old friends.

2-Things are seldom as bad as someone complains, get another opinion and give it time.

3-Take more pictures.

4-Write down everything.

5-Keep a journal of memories.

6-Never pass up a hug.

7-There's no excuse for being unkind. (from mama)

8-People who tell you a secret will tell your secrets. (from mama)

9-Those few pounds you gain every year eventually add up.

10-Learn to drive a stickshift.

11-Before your children leave home make them teach you the secrets to the tv remote, the answering machine, the computer, and your own cell phone.

12-Treat your children's spouses as your own children. (from mama)

13-Do your very best at any job you're given to do - no matter how menial.  (from daddy)

14-Laugh at yourself. (from Joe & Jimmy)

15-It's enough food until it's all gone and then it's just gone. (from Nancy)

16-Your heart holds more love than you can ever give away - no matter how many children or grandchildren - and they are ALL your favorite.

17-Teach the children Bible songs and Bible stories.

18-Kids are a lot tougher - physically and emotionally - that we give them credit for.

19-It's ok if he doesn't change poopy diapers as long as he cleans up "dead critters.'

20-There is no magic face cream.

Page Turners

 The last few weeks my free time has been filled with some books that have been real "page turners".   A lot of people would not enjoy these type novels but they were 'escape' type novels for me that I not only enjoyed but found hard to put down.  They may even be older books - 2 of them have been sitting on  my "to be read" shelf for a while.  

Timeline is by Michael Crichton and is about quantom time travel back to the middle ages.  Really enjoyed the bad guy's ending!

The Hades Factor by Robert Ludlum & Gayle Lynds is an international thriller about a deadly virus.

Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay is our book club book and although horribly sad because it was based on a real incident - (the roundup of Jewish families in Paris in 1942) - it was well written where you wanted to keep reading.  The ending was a little weak but most of the book was good.

I couldn't help thinking how all three of these books could easily be turned into a  good movie.  But read them first because you know what they say "Don't judge a book by it's movie."  If anyone wants to borrow them, let me know.

I guess I better start looking for my next book to read - so many books and so little time!

Spencer is 5 Today

I don't have a picture of Karl when he was 5 but here is Jenny on her 5th birthday.

And this is a picture I stole from Jen's blog on her now and Spencer at age 5.

I can see some of the mommy in Spencer but the curls are all Karl for sure.

He's has such good looking parents he can't help how cute he is!

The birthday party is tonight - HAPPY BIRTHDAY SPENCER!!

Love you always!

Jessie & Millie's Birthdays

Jessie's birthday is tomorrow and Millie's was last week so this past Saturday we were able to get together and do a combined celebration.  I didn't get very many good photos (I think I was too busy playing with the kids and cutting cake)  but I did manage to get this one of the two birthday girls!  

  Happy Birthday Jessie 

and Happy Belated Birthday Millie!

A Blog for Spencer

The last few times I've been over to see Spencer he has crawled up in my lap and asked me to tell him a story - his mom says he's been asking her for stories a lot lately and he has his favorites he likes to hear.  She and I usually tell him a true story about someone in the family but sometimes he makes up his own story that he wants you to tell - like the one where I catch an octopus.   

Jen likes to tell him about when she and Becky dressed up Stevie in a dress and I do actually have that picture but I wasn't sure if Stevie would appreciate that one being on the blog.  (I"ll show it to you when you come over though, Spencer)

Another favorite of his is when I was a little girl and I'd visit my grandparents on the farm.  Since they had outdoor plumbing you had to make a trip to the outhouse when the need arose.  Grandpa had a mean old rooster that would chase you across the yard and try to spur you and Grandpa would come out and chase the old rooster away. 

Above is a picture of my Grandpa and below is a picture of me at the farm.

Another favorite story is when daddy took me out in a boat at Reelfoot Lake to fish and I refused to bait my own hook or remove fish from said hook.   I was catching fish so fast that he never had a chance to do his own fishing - and that was my last trip out on a boat because he said I couldn't go again until I learned to do my own baiting - which I was never gonna do!!  

This is a picture of me with my catch that day.

He also likes to hear about my friend Roger - how we would not ring doorbells but I would stand outside and holler "O Roger!" at the top of my lungs.  I told Spencer about me trying to jump over the fire hydrant and splitting my head open.  I told him how Roger and I often played "Superman & Supergirl" or played with his huge train set that he had.   Below is a picture of us playing 'house' - although I was a tomboy Roger was fair in playing 'my' games too.

One more favorite of Spencer's - about our trip to the library on a hot day when the car windows were down and Jen saying in her very matter-of-fact way "Becky just threw her shoe out the window."  Below is a picture of about how old Mommy and Aunt Becky were at that time.

And the last two pictures are just some I thought Spencer might get a kick out of.  

This is your mom's collection of stuffed animals when she was about your age.  Some of them are probably Aunt Becky's too and most of them are curtesy of GG.

And I just thought Spencer would like this picture of Uncle Stevie and Popo since he is so big time into Superheroes.

I guess I'll have to start remembering some more stories - I can always use some help if anyone can think of any I could share with the grandkids.

Extinct in America

I recently got an email about 24 things about to become extinct in America.  Most of them were no surprise because we've seen them coming due to the internet and new technology.  

The Wild Horses and the Milkman kinda surprised me because I thought they were already extinct.  

I think the saddest one is #9 - but thanks to Stevie I still get a letter now and then - just because he's such a sweetie and he knows it brings me a smile and makes my day.  

Here's the list in case you weren't aware:

24 - Yellow Pages

23-Classified Ads

22-Movie Rental Stores

21-Dial-Up Internet access

20-Phone Landlines

19-Chesapeake Bay Blue Crabs

18-VCR's

17-Ash Trees

16-Ham Radio

15-The Swimming Hole

14-Answering Machines

13-Cameras that use film

12-Incandescent Bulbs

11-Stand-Alone Bowling Alleys

10-The Milkman

9-Hand-Written Letters

8-Wild Horses

7-Personal Checks

6-Drive-In Theaters

5-Mumps  & Measles

4-Honey Bees

3-News Magazines and TV News

2-Analog  TV

1-The Family Farm