Happy 37th Birthday

On this day 37 years ago I became the proud Mommy of you! As I do every year, I have spent this morning happily nostalgic with the many, many fond and silly memories we made together... You were one of the greatest highlights of my life....
All these people and many, many more are wishing you were here today to celebrate!

Your sister, S'te

Aunt Sharen, Grandma Judy, and of course, MeGrandpa Doland and Your Nieces and Nephews

May God be with you, wherever you are!

Spring 2009!

The Apple Trees have bloomed!

A bit of the garden has been planted - but still much to go!
The cabinets arrived
And I think they are beautiful!
Of course ~ best laid ideas (LOL) ~ a water pipe in the kitchen is leaking - so it needs to be fixed before install~~ and a couple of sockets need to be moved.... but it will be done.... and it will be great~~~

God is Good~

Happy Birthday Dad!

Historical events on your birthday!!

2006

The newly installed Nepalese government votes to strip the King of Nepal of his power leaving him with a largely ceremonial role.

1994

Michael Jackson marries Lisa Marie Presley.

1991

Helen Sharman, at the age of 27, becomes the first Briton in space.

1980

Mount St Helens' volcano in Washington state erupts killing at least 100 people and creating a cloud of ash 2,500 miles long and 1,000 miles wide.

1969

NASA launches Apollo 10 - its mission is a rehearsal for the Moon landing flight later in the year.

1950

In London, NATO formally establishes it charter.

1944

The Second World War: Allied troops led by the Polish Army, finally win the Battle of Monte Cassino in Italy.

See, it was a special day for many!!

Not much.....

going on here. Tim and I are tearing down a wall and getting the kitchen ready for my 'new' (to me) cabinets.
I was browsing through Craig's List to see what kind of good deals were being offered. I happened on a fellow selling the cabinets that he had hoped to put into his house. I got a new sink, fixtures, the stain (they are unfinished), delivery, and install all thrown in!! Not a bad price either. What a great deal for me!! I love to browse Craig's List - it is way better than the 'shoppers' and you can go to any state, any neighborhood, and specify just what you are looking for - or just look at all of it!!!
So we had to hurry the process along a bit more than originally planned. LOL At least I'm pretty sure it was more than Tim had planned..... He crawled up into the attic to see just what was going on up there..... and I started taking off the top layer - paneling ... then we went to the second layer - 4or 5 layers of wallpaper, then to the third layer - plywood, then to the 4th layer - lap siding on both sides of the 2x4's, and finally, the frame which was attached pretty much to nothing! It was anchored into the floor really well and the plywood was wedged into a groove in the ceiling. Amazing! There was definately a lot of wood that went into the trailer!!

So today I need to clean out the 3 cabinets that I now have in the kitchen, stack everything in the back room, and slide these out the door - probably to the deck for the time being, and wait for 'my' new oak cabinets!!! Yay!!!

Keith is still at S'te's - and I miss him. It's only been a week since I left and he won't be home for another month.... I will be so glad to see him again!!!

North to Oregon!

I've made it! I did take a rather round about way to get here but I've learned a few things.

The Golden Gate Bridge isn't Gold!

That little stick of a telephone pole dosen't hold a
candle to a Giant Redwood

And the Pacific is always beautiful!

So, I've made it back to Coos Bay, in good health, in great time, and I can enjoy myself, all by my self. LOL

I had wonderful weather for driving and sightseeing. Sunshine and nice temperatures made for a really great trip. It dripped on me a little bit going through Bandon - but Bandon always drips!! The sun was shining when I arrived and I've gotten busy getting ready to get busy on my projects.

More Mother's Day

The girls got up really early this morning... to prepare a wonderful Mother's Day breakfast of eggs, bacon, pancakes, and french toast sticks for us. Keith got to participate in the breakfast event by going to the store for them and bringing home supplies.... and he got to eat too.... hehee!!

After breakfast the younger ones took turns giving S'te and I facials, foot massages, leg massages, pedicures, manicures, thoroughly giving us the royal treatment as we relaxed in our seats.

After our spa treatments, they prepared lunch for us - burgers and home fries were enjoyed by S'te, Keith, and I. They also finished the laundry, straightened the downstairs, changed the baby, ran the scooby, and did the dishes. Ty came over bringing a personalized card and a HUGE chocolate for me and an adorably cute card for S'te - signed by all! It was a great Mother's Day morning! I do have pictures - but the card reader is packed ... so they will have to wait....

Then I had to get ready to leave... boo hoo!! We got the car packed and said our good-byes - Keith walked me to the car - and off I went!! I only made it about 50 miles before the first stop - San Juan Capistrano - I didn't see any accident - but we traveled very, very slowly for many miles before getting back up to speed. Then coming down the north side of the Grapevine there was a small brush fire that had the southbound traffic stopped (not my side - thank you Lord!!) for at the very least, 10 miles!!! By the time I got to Buttonwillow, I was sleepy, still full, and ready to stop! So here I am.....

It's morning and I am most ready for us to take off again - I am headed over to 101 to travel up the coast and thru the redwoods. At least, that is my plan at this point. The best part of traveling alone - is that I don't really have to have a plan.... hehee. If and when I get lost - if I keep going North - I will at least be headed in the right direction!!!

So now I am - northward bound!!

Mother's Day

I want to honor all the Mother's everywhere.
Not only those who have the title by 'birth' but also
those who have come by the title thru love.

Those who are Mom's in all the ways that count!

Happy Mother's Day to you!!

I've had a really special celebration already! We've had
our Mother's Day a little early this year....
So far today .....

Went to Brayana and Jaleel's football game really,
really early this morning! And they got
their first touchdown of the season...
and then scored again before the end of the game!!

Then
My oh-so-crafty little baby girl gave me this special treat this afternoon!
My favorite animal...... wolves
along with my most favorite of all....
my family!!
A throw pillow made with a portrait of my most
favorite people in all the world!!!

Then
we went on to watch 'Lil-Mak' play his
lil heart out at flag football.

The guy in the blue is Mak! They guy in the white
was their opponents today!
And they tied the game!!!
Horray!!

And to top the day off!!
We had some of the best pizza~

So I've had a great Mother's Day!
How about you?

San Diego

Thanks to all of the help from friends and neighbors - we got all packed up, closed up, and on our way West!

We arrived her at S'te and Rod's home yesterday afternoon. We had a very nice and pretty uneventful travel day. There was quite a bit of turbulence - not unusual for cross country this time of year - but I've definitely been in worse! We waited a little over an hour for our rental car to get ready - but then Keith got a credit for the long wait - so that worked out well!

I was really glad to see the kids. As always they have grown by leaps and bounds. They just keep on growing and maturing!! I can't seem to do anything to stop it! Brayana is now taller than I and Destini is a real, real close second!! I haven't seen Ty yet and Rod is off to his training in Virginia - I won't be here to see him when he returns - but I will see him next month when they stop to get his car!

I plan to be here thru this week and head North on Sunday. Sharen said it is hot over in the desert - so I doubt that I will get over by way to see Dad on my way!

So I look forward to spending the next few days here - helping S'te get ready to move North and enjoying being with my dear family!