Kindergarten vs Cattleguardan:

Two special little boys in our lives and two interpretations of starting school:

1. Kindergarten:

Blake started Kindergarten this year and was very excited about it. He is like sponge and absorbs knowledge like no other child I've known. A very smart and perceptive little boy. It is wonderful to see a child love to learn as he does.

2. Cattleguardan:

Where as Blake started Kindergarten, Desmon started "cattleguardan". Not sure how to spell it but that is what it is. And before you wonder how in the world he got that out of Kindergarten, it is easy. He is to meet the bus on the other side of the cattle guard on his road, sounds almost like what other people are saying, "kindergarten"/"cattleguardan". So cute!! Desmon is a ton of fun and has grown up around adults so he hasn't played with other kids that much. Give him an adult and he will talk away!! Desmon and Blake have become good friends and play together occasionally.

Kids and school, such a precious time in their life.

Weekend Recap:

Friday:
Had a very good day at work so decided we needed to go out and celebrate. Dwayne and I ate at Applebees. The food was very good. Sometimes when we go, it is so busy and the food is just okay. I think with more competition in town, the service is now better and the quality of food is better than it had been.
Saturday:
Dwayne went to Vichy to help pour the floor on Kenny and Shelley's house. I did his job of going to the bank and to MFA. Such exciting ventures we have!! lol
That afternoon, I watched Nathan and Blake while April went to a bridal shower. The boys had a lot of fun and it is neat to watch Nathan be in awe of his big brother. No matter what Blake does, Nathan cracks up laughing.
Sunday:
My Mom's parents are buried at Watt's Cemetery out around Edgar Springs, MO. They still have their memorial day the same as when the circuit preacher came around years ago. He always came on the fifth Sunday of whichever month if fell on. It was in August this year. I feel bad that I always refer to them as Mom's parents instead of my grandparents. I don't know if it is because they died before I was born or just what, but I seldom refer to them as my grandma and grandpa. Mom was only ten years old when her Mom died just five days before Christmas. I think this has had a big impact on my Mom losing her mother so young. After losing her mom so young, my Mom grew to have a close relationship with her dad. It was then especially hard on Mom to lose her dad.
Mom and Dad by Grandma and Grandpa Williams Grave:

I drove Mom and Dad out to the Watt's Cemetery yesterday to "decorate" the graves. This was a big event in my childhood. Mom would try to save money each year to have a new dress. Mom got up way before any of us to cook dinner to take. She made fried chicken, several pies (usually raisin for my cousin's Otis and John) and other dishes. This would all be packed into a cardboard box along with our plates, (no paper then, our everyday dishes were used)and real silverware. I don't remember Mom taking drinking glasses so we most probably used Aunt Mary's. The day was spent visiting with family. We most often went to Flat, MO to my Aunt Mary and Uncle Ike Mathis' house. There was always tons of food and family you didn't see but maybe once a year. It was always a fun time.
This year was no different, Mom got up early, fixed us a lunch of fried chicken, stuffing, potatoes, muffins and water in quart jars. One difference was the food was packed in a cooler versus the cardboard box. We ate our lunch under the bridge in Newburg after enjoying a ride through the countryside off Highway J. Mom and Dad reminisced about times they spent here and there as we went through.
The Spring: (off Hwy J)

Mom and I:

Dad and Mom:

Sixty-Three Years Married and still very loving:


Yesterday was bittersweet. I loved the time spent with Mom and Dad, the tradition of visiting the graves on the 5th Sunday, eating lunch and just being together. But the day also reminded me of how close the day is to come for me to lose my parents. I really cannot complain, I (and the rest of my family) have had many, many years with my parents and enjoyed all of the many times together. I have much to be grateful for.

If you have a moment, please say a prayer for me. I am at a difficult time in my life "letting go" of my parents. I shouldn't be doing this but it seems as if I'm mourning them before they are gone and in the same breathe I am so grateful for their life and enjoying each moment spent with them.

Late Weekend Recap:

Work and life is so hectic right now, I can't seem to get caught up.
But it is good, I LOVE my job and my life is at a good place.
Saturday:
The morning was spent watching TV with April. Good times spent together that I'm going to miss when she moves out. It's the cycle of life and I am truly happy for her and her new life in St. Elizabeth. We will still have plenty of times together, lunch, shopping, etc. I am so happy God blessed me with a daughter. I love my sons very much and we are close, but there is a special bond with a mother and daughter.
I cleaned house (a much needed job!!) in the afternoon. After supper, I went to Rolla to buy groceries. Came home, fixed corn casserole and chocolate chip cookie bars to take to Mom's for Sunday Dinner.
Sunday:
Chad came by just as I was getting up. He was leaving at noon to go to Columbus, NE to work on a job. It was good to visit with him and wish him a good trip and work challenge. Chad needs a change in life and I think this will be good for him. I miss my old "Chaddy" and it is wonderful to see that side emerge again. He is a very caring, compassionate young man and I am proud of him. Chad is a person to reach out and help anyone even at a cost to him, qualities we should all have.
After Chad left, I went to church and Pastor Karen had a very wonderful message, very inspiring.
I had a Pastor's Parrish Committee Meeting after church. It went much longer than I anticipated. Came home, rushed to get my dishes to take to Mom's for dinner. Luckily, they were all running late and didn't have dinner finished yet when I got there. I really enjoyed the afternoon visiting with my family. We hadn't gotten together for Sunday Dinner for over a month. Mom outdid herself as usual with dinner, but at almost 81 years old, I think we need to take over and let Mom have a break.
Came home and read a good book all afternoon. I fixed a Mexican supper of tacos, refried beans, and rice. Todd, April, Mike, Dwayne and I had a good evening visiting. And of course, you can't watch TV with Todd without bursting out laughing with him and all of his comments. One of a kind, Todd is!! Wouldn't trade him for the world!!
Monday:
I had a doctor's appointment in Jefferson City so April and I took the opportunity to make it a day long event. We did quite a bit of shopping and April was able to find items for her new house. Furniture shopping wasn't too good as we could not find any furniture in the style April likes (or even that I would like-you know like the old lady furniture)
We ate at El Jimador's as I had never ate there before. It was okay, but I wasn't overly impressed. We took the scenic route home. I enjoy seeing roads and houses that I haven't seen before.
Poor Dwayne, he had to heat up leftovers for supper as I didn't cook.
On another note: My doctor's appointment went very well. It was so wonderful to have good news on my health and to know I'm in a kind of "remission" on my lupus!!

I am so grateful for my health, family, job, extended family, friends, etc. God is good!

Wendy's:

After work, April and I rode with Dwayne over to Kenny and Shelley's house site. Dwayne was helping Kenny mark the water lines for the plumber. Blake's Grandpa Mitch brought Blake's log house over and sat it in their new yard.

Blake and Nathan had a good time playing in it.

Nathan thought he was so big standing at the cutout windows and door.

He also like crawling in the grass and was quite fast at it.

Blake liked telling "his April" about his day at school and riding the school bus.

The fun wouldn't be complete at the house site without playing with your bike on a dirt/gravel pile.


We then went on in to Rolla and stopped at Lowe's for April to get a rug for her new house. I'm sure glad we waited until Dwayne could go with us as it would have been quite the hassle of me and April carrying it to the front of the store and trying to load it.



We then ate at Wendy's. When Wendy's came to Rolla in 1977, it was a great place to get a fast food hamburger that didn't taste like the run of the mill burger.
The patties were square, about one half inch thick and was a little bigger than the bun. Very good and tasty. Through the years they have downsized the square shape and then also started making the patty thinner. Last night takes the cake!! The very small, almost card size patty is now very, very thin. I would be so ashamed to put my name on a product so small. Seems like everyone is downsizing in products, a candy bar is much smaller, snack cakes get smaller all the time, etc. I for one would rather pay a few extra cents and get a product worth it's size.

Ho Hum Weekend:

I actually had a very nice day on Saturday so I shouldn't say the whole weekend was ho hum, boring, etc.
Saturday, Shelley brought the boys to the house for Dwayne to watch while we went to a friend, Amanda's baby shower. The Bullock Family sure knows how to put on a feast!We had tons of food, tons of fun and just enjoyed the afternoon.
I didn't even fix Dwayne supper as I was full from eating at the party and went to bed early.
Sunday:
I went to church, was very sleepy all through church and just plain lazy. I went home and slept all afternoon. When I woke up, I told Dwayne we would just have to have our family meal out as I was too tired to cook. Dwayne stepped up to the plate, fixed supper and cleaned the kitchen.
We had a nice evening visiting with Todd and watching our Sunday night shows. I fell asleep during Army Wives and missed most of it so off to bed I went again.
I really hope I'm not so tired next weekend, I feel as if I missed out on life this weekend.

I hope everyone has a great week.

There'll be times like this............

Last night April and I went to Rolla to shop around for furniture and accessories for her new house. Not much luck on the furniture. Not too crazy about the styles they have out right now. April did have luck at Lowe's on finding a couple of rugs.

On the way home, I pulled in to Dairy Queen to get us a couple milkshakes. As we were waiting in the drive-up, I start singing (and believe me, I cannot sing), "You're gonna miss me, there'll be times like this, you're gonna miss me". April tells me I'm a dork and I just keep on singing it. Then I said, wouldn't it be something if that song was on the radio now? She's like, yeah, right.. About a mile on down the road the song came on the radio!! I was in seventh heaven and really started singing it to bug April. (worked, too)
I could not believe the song actually came on at that time!! I (jokingly) thanked God for the timing. I did not mean it to be irreverent and I think God appreciates humor, too. Plus, he knows how I am.

Hopefully, April will be grateful for "times like this and she's gonna miss me" when she moves. lol

Wonderful Weekend:

Friday:
I went to Rolla Friday evening to buy groceries and then to pick up the neices/nephews/friends from the roller rink and take them home(three different houses to drop off kids). They always seem to have a good time.
Saturday:
Watched a little TV and made my dishes to take over to the lake for our reunion.
I started this reunion in 1997 at Meramac Springs in memory of my husband's Grandma Rea Lennaman. She had passed away in January of that year and it was a way for the family to get together. We have had family in from Florida, Washington and from around the state. The siblings Doris (my mother-in-law), Uncle LeRoy and Aunt Rita have all passed away. Aunt Carol (married to LeRoy) is the only one of her generation left. And we love her, she is a very nice lady, aunt, friend, etc.
We had a good turnout and stayed visiting on up until 8:30 that night.
Stopped by Todd's on the way home as he wasn't feeling well. I didn't realize until we got there I haven't been to Todd's house for well over a year! And he only lives five miles away! Of course, he comes home to visit, we just hadn't been over there.
Sunday:
My brother-in-law, David invited us to go to the river with him, their cousin Mark and his friend, Susie. We put in at 89 Bridge and spent the day relaxing on the river. I love to go boat riding and I enjoyed the day immensely. The river isn't as crowded over there as it is close to home so that made it even more enjoyable.
After we got back to Vichy, we headed over to Kenny and Shelley's house site to see how it was coming along. Visited for awhile but Dwayne was in a hurry to get home as April was watching Blake and Nathan. We played with the kids and just watched TV the rest of the evening.

It has been almost a year since I started blogging and there have been times I've been so busy I didn't post about some of my much loved neices, nephews, greats, etc. I hope to do better in 2011 and remember a special tribute on each one's birhday.

I am grateful for great family and friends.