Happy Birthday Grandma

Today would have been my Grandma's birthday.  She was born on April 30, 1920, in Howell County, Missouri.  She wanted to be cremated and have her ashes scattered there, but that didn't happen.
She was the oldest of three.  Her family moved around alot when she was a child but eventually they settled into Kansas. Her dad worked in the oil fields.

The picture is from 1998 and is my mom, Grandma and me.  My dad was running for sheriff (he won) and a new prison was being built in Burlington with an open house one night (before the prisoners were put in) and you could have your picture taken behind bars for a charity donation.

Diner

We normally don't have school on Mondays. We didn't today. Stayed home all day. Andy and Alex spent the day playing together, without fighting. When it was time for lunch, I called them over to get their mac and cheese (their choice) and Andy said "Let's pull into this diner for some lunch"
We had leftover apple pie as well.

Stamps

Way back when I was a young child, I started collecting stamps. My grandma Smith actually got me started right before my family moved to Germany. While I was living in Germany (dad was in the Army) I learned about soaking the stamps to get them off of the envelope.
When we came back from Germany and I was working on some stamps and put them in water, Grandma was (I think) a little shocked. She had never heard of doing this.
A couple of weeks ago, Magie and I were at a friend's house helping the friend get ready for a moving sale. This friend, Kathy, gave me some stamps for Andy's collection. He may not get them all.
What brings up the stamp story? My mom called this morning and said that Grandma had passed away early this morning. There will be a graveside service on Wednesday back in Kansas.

The Calendar is filling Up

Our calendar is filling up, fast. This week started with Monday auction. Scored (9) 8 foot 2x4s for $5. These will be used to enclose the dining room. Going to use the folding doors that didn't fit the boys closet.
Tuesday will be laundry day.
Wednesday we head to town for hay and splash pad.
Thursday is meat package day and some general shopping.
Friday is pantry day as is Saturday.

Next week Eliza and Jack have hair appointments and it's county fair time. This year we are going to the Kit Carson County Fair in Burlington. We lived there for years and it's nice to go back and see some of the people and my parents live close to there. Plus it's the home of the Carousel which you should check out. It's over a hundred years old.
Before we had the satellite Internet, picture downloads would take about an hour. The two pictures took about 4 MINUTES. This is just totally awesome.

Big 8

Alex turned eight this weekend. On Saturday my parents, Peter's mom and sister came out for a small party. Peter fixed hamburgers and hot dogs on the grill. My mom brought a grape salad and MIL brought a veggie platter. We also had chips. Forgot the cake and ice cream.

Several years ago a friend made Andy a dinosaur blanket. When my mom asked what Alex would like for his birthday I asked her about making Alex a bug blanket. She couldn't find bug material so she sewed butterfly and dragonfly patches on a safari blanket she made. That's the blanket Alex is draped in one of the pictures. He's been sleeping with it since.
We did have the cake and ice cream on Sunday night which worked out since it was his birthday.

Father's Day 2011

We started Father's Day weekend by going fishing. Naturally. Peter got to drive the new truck. We went to our usual fishing hole, Willow Springs Pond. It has mostly blue gill, as shown by Alex's catch. He released it, on purpose. It also has a few lake trout, not very big ones. We did see a turtle. There have also been a number of cranes on previous visits

While Alex and Peter were busy catching the fish, Andy and I took Eliza for a walk around the pond. It's not a real big pond but there are two of them. We don't eat the fish we catch because just across the way is the water treatment plant for Fountain. Sometimes the smell can be...just bad.

During the walk we observed two sets of Canadian Geese families. One family had three juveniles and the other family had one youngster. Both families had both sets of parents. I'm guessing this wasn't a good year for goslings.


So...Happy Father's day to my dad. I hope this post makes sense, I'm doing it on four hours of sleep.

Speedy

Since I wrote a post about Andy, I have to write one about Alex. He wanted it to be about how fast he can run. This child has been running since he was born, almost. Our house sits at the bottom of a hill and the driveway goes up the hill (makes for not so great run-off when it bothers to rain) Since he started to walk/run, Alex takes that hill at a dead run all the way to the top about 100 feet or so.
He tells me he runs faster than some of the older kids at school as well. He's very competitive. I'm thinking he will be very athletic in school, in addition to being on of those brainy kids. He'll be graduating from college in a few years at the rate he's going. And his principal was worried about Alex graduating when he was 17. He will but will turn 18 a few weeks later, my cousin did that and she turned out okay. But in the meantime, the picture is of Alex almost 2 years old.

Musical tastes

Nine year old Andy has begun developing his musical tastes. Right now he likes jazz and celtic music. He will sit and watch Celtic Thunder on PBS. I always knew that Andy had good taste in music when he was three years old and his favorite song was "One of Us" by ABBA. I would have to play it over and over when we went on a car trip. And the car trips from out here in the boonies can take awhile.
Andy will come and tell me when a song that he thinks that I like is on the radio. He has been listening to 92.9 in the mornings. He thinks that Goose and Woody are just too funny.

Memorial Day 2011

The earth didn't expire a week ago so everyone was out in droves to celebrate Memorial Day. It seems that people are losing the original idea of Memorial Day. Instead of honoring the fallen soldiers, it has become the official start of summer and everyone, and I do mean everyone, has to get out and drive. They were talking on the radio this morning about the beginning of the driving season and how it might be curtailed because of the high cost of gas.
Looking at the traffic on highway 24 today, it doesn't look like driving is being curtailed much.
This weekend was also Territory Days in Old Colorado City. Melissa took her boys on Sunday and she said it was jam packed. We had thought about going but now I'm glad we didn't.
Peter stayed home with Andy and Alex today while I took Melissa to lunch and to buy her belated birthday present. She's reached the age where it is easier to let her pick out what she wants. She Had Talked About getting some CDs of music she likes but when we got to the store (20% off this weekend) she picked out horror movie DVDs instead. I don't know where she gets this, not from me.
I also picked up season five of "McGyver", the boys, especially Andy, really like this show. Melissa suggested a few shows that, ummm, no, not happening.
There's a news report out that has doctors saying that you shouldn't give energy drinks to children. Like prudent people didn't know that energy drinks give children even more energy and as if they didn't have enough already.

21 years old...and I'm feeling older

Friday, the daughter turned 21. Needless to say it makes me feel old, especially since she has two little boys of her own already. She had her first legal bloody mary for her birthday. She was talking about getting a tattoo but she's phobic about needles anyway. When we got her ears pierced at age 7, she thought she was done after just one ear. When she was in junior high a "friend" pierced her ear with a second hole, and yes it got infected. Melissa pitches a fit about having blood drawn, or she passes out. So the idea of her getting a tattoo would be kind of funny.
So for her birthday, tomorrow I'll take just her for lunch and then shopping for some music CDs she wants and she really, really needs new tennis shoes.

Just to give a heads up for family reading this, my parents wedding anniversary is on Wednesday.

Viewers

I was looking at the stats on this blog and it said that I had readers from France and Russia. I took a year of French in college but that was many, many years ago. My great-great grandfather came to the United States from Russia back in the 1870's.
And since my camera is working (happy dance) another picture. Mostly for my parents. This is Andy working on a science project that he got for his birthday this month.

Come on Saturday

So this Saturday, if all goes well, this little lady will be coming home with us

PetHarborPet

We've (meaning me) have decided to name her Ruby, after Barbara Stanwyck's real name, Ruby Stevens. We used to have a Keeshond named Katie after Katherine Hepburn.
Ruby has been at the shelter for two days, way to long for a little dog to stay there without her people coming to get her. There are a number of dogs needing homes. Older dogs who need a last home, a few younger dogs who can spend a long time with you. A large number of pit bulls. Labrador Retrievers are in abundance. My dad had one, Duke, when I was a kid. He was named after John Wayne. I can never volunteer at the Humane Society. I'd be bringing so many animals home. There is also a red slider turtle for adoption. And a black and white rabbit.
I think that Ruby will make a nice younger sister for Eliza (see picture of Eliza to the right).
And I bought a new camera today so hopefully I'll be able to add pictures to the blog now.

Parent teacher conferences

I don't worry about P/T conferences. Andy and Alex are both doing so well, makes me so happy I could just cry. And yes I take credit for their intelligence, after all, they are my babies. So their father's genetics had a little bit to do with it, but mostly it's mine.
Andy's in the third grade and is doing, according to the tests, the school work of a fifth grader. But I'm not going to move him up. I really don't want him in the upper grades with some of those students. The only suggestion his teacher had was to get Andy to read more fiction. He reads a lot of non-fiction.
Alex is a first grader in a second grade classroom. But he has the academic skills of a third grader. This one, no concerns. Doing well. Makes a mom proud.
On a really sad note, bff Magie's Min-pin, Penny, died today. Magie found her several years ago, half-starved, along the road. Penny was very protective of "her" family and loved the baby kittens, goats, whatever needed mothering, Penny was right there. She will be missed.

My friend Magie

The new picture at the top was taken by Magie about a year ago. The highest peak you see is Pike's Peak.
Now that the situation has been resolved I can let you know what has been going on.
On December 22, 2010 Magie and her three daughters took some Christmas presents to a family that they have been friendly with for FIVE Years. There had been a disagreement between this mother and the school over a religious presentation at the school, basically the school said the mother could not give a religious presentation at the school. Magie was trying to explain this rationally to the mother and make things "right" between the school and this particular parent. So when Magie takes the gifts to the family the mother hits Magie in the face breaking Magie's nose and glasses. Because Magie wanted to know why the mother was acting so irrationally, Magie went into the house. Magie left soon after and went to a friend's house who called the paramedics because of Magie's injuries. The assaulting mom called the Sheriff's department, wanting Magie arrested. Supposedly this mom was also under the influence of "medical marijuana" but let's not get into That Issue.
So Magie was arrested and spent several hours in jail. What does my best friend do while in jail? She is singing Christmas carols to the other inmates. Magie does have a wonderful voice, she's one of our church's soloists.
Magie gets released on bond. My seven year old money hungry son, Alex, offers all of his money to get his Aunt Magie out of jail. It wasn't necessary but it does go to show the level of caring that people out here have for Magie.
So after several court appearances, making a long and suffering story short, today Magie accepted a deal which lowered her "crime" from a class 5 felony to a petty offense. Instead of facing 1-3 years in prison, Magie received 18 months unsupervised probation and has to complete a mental health exam. Around the issue of why she's such a nice person and takes presents to someone who doesn't want them. A large number of people wrote letters of recommendation for Magie. I did. But then she's my bestest friend and will be taking care of Andy and Alex if for some reason Peter and I cannot. Unless the mental health exam says that Magie is a deranged lunatic, then I might have to rethink the care plans.

Facebook, emails and prayer

I've been having trouble getting on Facebook. Finally got on tonight but couldn't get Happy Pets to download. Figures.
We have really slow internet, course we live in the middle of nowhere, so it figures. I get really disgusted with the slowness, especially seems to affect my email. My mom, who should get her own blog going, has been sending me emails about my uncle. If you don't mind, please say a prayer for my Uncle Tedd. The doctors discovered a brain tumor and it's not operable. They were going to do chemo on it, but discovered blood clots in his lung. So it is a waiting game for the blood clots to clear before starting chemo.
While you at it, say a prayer for my dad that his blood clot has gone away when he goes to the doctor next week.
On a positive note, my Alex was named student of the week in our local newspaper. I'll be buying a number of copies to send out, scrapbook and such.

I'm not bragging

Really, I'm not bragging, just stating a fact. Alex, who is seven and technically a first grader, is in a second grade classroom doing second grade work. He recently took the NEA (or some other acronym) test which has nationwide results. Alex scored in the 99%, nationwide, in spelling, reading and math. So, yes we are doing the happy dance around here. Alex will be graduating from college in a few years. That part is a joke.
But on another topic, we (meaning me) brought home Princess on Tuesday. She is a 10 week old Chihuahua. Princess is the granddaughter of my best friend Magie's dog Ariel. Magie wants my llama, also named Ariel. Somebody will need a new name.

Cute and Adorable, but manly

I have some cute and adorable men in my life. My oldest son, Andy, is 8 year old. Notice that I have photos. This first photo is of Andy and my oldest grandson, James.
Andy really likes being an uncle. He is always going up to James (who turns one year old on September 24) and saying "Hi James."
I can't get another photo to load so I'll do a series about my men.

New Arrival

Finally it has happened. Melissa gave birth to Derek Steven at 2:39 a.m. on September 2, 2010. He weighed in at 6 lb 14 oz. Mother and baby doing well. Grandma is tired. I have James right now. Melissa and Derek will come home on Friday, baring any unforeseen incidents. Derek was born with the cord around his neck. Melissa had an epidural about 4 hours before delivery. She had very little pushing to do. She has an excellent OB.

A New Year

School started on Tuesday. Andy, who is a third grader, seems to like it. He hasn't complained about homework yet and he's had some both nights. Alex, on the other hand doesn't like the first grade at all. He keeps wanting to be sick. Our school combines Kindergarten and 1st grade, which we did last year. There are 12 in Andy's class and 17 in Andy's class. Our largest class is the combo of 4th and 5th for 19 students.
Had our first board meeting tonight. It went well, not a lot of arguing.
I'm going to start volunteering next week on Tuesdays and Thursdays at the school. Just in the afternoon. But if Melissa decides to have the baby I'm out of there.
Speaking of Melissa, she had a OB appointment today. She's dialated to 1 cm. So we are on baby watch.

A Rose by any other name.....

...would still smell as sweet. When W.S. wrote those words I don't think he meant it to be used as Melissa does. Whenever James has a smelly diaper (and the word smelly is mild for some of the smells) she says he smells like a rose. She was taking him to the bedroom this afternoon for a change and told Andy and Alex that James smelled like a rose. A & A came up to smell, Andy got too close. They aren't agreeing that James smells like a rose. Andy isn't happy about the smelling.