Spa Weekend with Live Entertainment

I had a wonderful weekend. Monette came to visit for the first time after her lung transplant.  She looked fantastic!  Thanks to all who prayed for her.  Then Jim, Michelle, Jeremy & Justin came to spend the night Friday night.  It was like Christmas. They brought me tomatoes, peppers, apples, two sets of Egyptian cotton sheets (They feel soooooo good) and socks.  The guys cleaned my car, carried mulch bags in the back yard and helped clean out the garage. (I can actually walk through it now.)  Michelle gave me back rubs and foot massages.  It was heaven.

I was really enjoying my spa weekend when the live entertainment showed up. Clyde and Jennie came Saturday afternoon and brought Emerson.  Emerson found a lady bug and wanted to keep it. I was giving him one of my “Let it live its life as God intended” speeches.  You know, “It’s one of God’s special creatures. If you keep it, it will die. But if we put it in the garden it can eat other bugs and have babies and you can come visit them anytime.”  Jim tried a more masculine tactic, “Ladybugs stink.”   Emerson looked at him and said, “Yes, they have developed the ability to emit that odor as a natural defense mechanism to keep predators from eating them.” That boy is smart!  I shudder to think of the questions he can ask.

When we recovered from our shock, we all went out to the local Pumpkin Patch.  We hadn’t been there 10 minutes when a beautiful little 5 year old girl walked up to Emerson and said, “My name is Hannah, what’s yours?” What a pick up line!  She latched on to him as they went from animal to animal and checked out all the things to see. (Smart and a lady’s man.)

We topped it all off with Aunt Jennie’s apple dumplings and ice cream. They were delicious. (Got to get that recipe on the StalkerClan.) Thank you all so much for everything. I am truly blessed to have such a wonderful family.

I don’t say it often enough but I hope each of you knows how much you are loved. eMail from Luci

Best'est Grand Dad Birthday

A certain special Grand Dad in Florida is having a birthday today.

All those guinea grandkids sure are lucky to have such a special Grand Dad.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY RANDY !

Missing Mom and McDonalds

Last week Traci decided it would be a good idea to head for Texas to see if they might be able to get some work for her tree service. She left Cameron with his best friend Ramon and his mom Tammy. He really likes staying with Ramon.

Well, the first day I came home from Kentucky, Jennifer, my friend from work, called to let me know that Cameron's teacher had come by the office looking for me.  She told Jennifer that Cameron had cried for his mom most of the day and he informed her that even his Grandma was out of town in Kentucky. She felt so bad for him and told Jennifer to have me call her.

As soon as I got off the phone with Jennifer I called Cameron at Tammy's house. I asked to speak with Cameron.

Jeff:             "Cameron"
Cameron: "Yes, is that you Grandma?"
Jeff:               "Yes Cameron. Are you okay?"
Cameron: "Yelp, I am doing good. I am outside playing with Ramon."
Jeff:               "Did you have a bad day a school?"
Cameron: "No! I had a good day."
Jeff:               " Did you cry at school today?"
Cameron:  "Oh yeah. I forgot. I only cried when I thought about my mom."
Jeff:                "Do you want me to come and get you and let you stay at my house?"
Cameron:  "No, I want to say at Ramon's. But will you go to McDonalds and get me a hamburger and some fries?"
Jeff:                "Do what?"
Cameron:  "I want a hamburger and some fries."
Jeff:                "Young man, I am not going all the way to Interlachen and then to Hollister to get you a hamburger and fries. And what about everyone else there? Don't you think it would be rude of me just to bring you a hamburger and fries?"
Cameron:  "Well, you can bring some for all of us. "

I spoke with Traci and she is on her way back today. I have a feeling I know where she will be going first after she picks up Cameron. Poor Baby, he was forced to eat homemade meals all week. I should  be so lucky.

Posted by Grandma Jeff

Can You Imagine...Genealogy in the Future

Finding that website with photos of  Randy's relatives from a century ago has got me thinking.  Frankly, it has me worried.  I'm wondering, what will future generations find on the Internet when they go searching their family tree? 

Can you imagine what it might be like in the year 2108? 

Picture young Justina Schell, a perky seventh grader at the KY-IN-OH Tri-State Consolidated Middle School. In history class she and her 35,000 classmates are asked to write a report about their ancestors and how they lived a hundred years ago.  

Little Justina wastes no time.  She taps the screen of her iPhone Super MAC PC and searches the Internet for information about her 112 year old grandfather, Old Justin 'Guitar Zero' Schell of Laurel County, Kentucky.  Can you imagine her surprise when, after a few taps, she runs across this photo of her great-grandmother?

 

 

In her George Jetson world of the future, imagine her shock at finding her great-grandmother was a primitive, rough, uncivilized mountain-mama.  Will she get a good grade on her history report about the tough life her ancestors must have lived?  How they lived in tents and cooked over open fires.  How they had to wear Walmart bags on their heads to stay dry. 

---

On the other hand, can you imagine Justina's classmate, young Billy Clyde Gillespie Stalker. (Yes, basketball will still be king in Kentucky.)   He searches for information about his grandpa, Bryan 'Big Fish' Stalker but instead finds this photo of his great-grandfather...

 

 Can you imagine how he is going to run to school, bragging, the next day? 

Yes, the Internet sure is going to change genealogy in the future, I'm just not sure it will all be for the better.

Meaner 54, Where Are You?

Sister Sherry was born in 1954 and turns 54 years old today.  She told me to be sure to point that out. Wikipedia has a lot of  information about the number 54.  Its actually a pretty interesting number.

Whenever I hear that number, I can't help but think of the old TV show "Car 54, Where Are You?"  YouTube has lots of clips from the show.  You can watch entire episodes if you want.  They are usually divided up into small 10 minute or so segments.  Here is an episode entitled "That's Show Business"... 

• Part One
• Part Two
• Part Three
• Part Four

(Gee, that just proves that I've got way too much time on my hands. But so does Sherry so maybe she will watch them.)

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SHERRY

Get Me to the Church on Time

Click on the green arrow to check out this short animation...

 

GOSH, as of today I only have 30 days left to help Jennifer change her...uh, I mean help her make up her mind for sure.  Yeah, that's what I meant to say.  

NOTE: If the player above does not work try THIS LINK.  It will take you to the GoAnimate site.  You will still need to click on the green arrow there.

Happy Birthday Amber Bamber

I called Amber yesterday to sing my usual Happy Birthday song. She informed me that Jevon had really gone all out for her special day. He had roses in the bed room and a really nice card and sweet notes posted all over the place. She was trilled.

Then Caleb came in and saw all the notes and flowers. He looked around and asked, "What is going on Mom? What is all this about?"

She looked at him and answered, " It's my birthday Caleb!"

Caleb, shaking his head said, "No, it's not Mom."

She insisted that 'yes indeedy' it was her special day. She said he became very quite. She wondered just what could he be thinking?

1. I need to make Mom a card.
2. I need to give Mom a birthday hug and kiss.
3. I didn't get Mom a present and I feel really bad about that.

She waited for what seemed like an eterity for his reaction to the fact that it was her birthday. This is what she got... " Well Mom, if it really is your birthday, where is the birthday cake?  I want some."

Good thing Jevon came through.

Posted by Grandma Jeff

A Storyteller's Birthday

One of our favorite storytellers is having a birthday today...

 

 

Of course, with Jevon, Austin, Caleb and Caitlyn around to provide her with material, she should have stories to tell for many years to come.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMBER

The Lunch Club

During the first week of school I had to go to Caleb's class a couple of times and drop off things like snacks and supplies.  One morning his teacher, Mrs Cox, was talking to me before class started and she asked me if Caleb had talked to me about lunch the day before.  "No", I said. "What happened?"

Immediately she turned to Caleb for his explanation, but none was offered.  So she looked at me almost apologetically and said, "Well, Caleb and his little partner in crime (I instantly knew she was speaking of Eli) got into some trouble at lunch yesterday and I'm sorry to say that they both had to eat their lunches at the detention table." 

I turned to Caleb for his reaction.  He looked confused.  "Caleb, did you have to sit at the detention table yesterday?" I asked. 

"Oh!",  he finally responded.  "You mean when me and Eli sat at that special table by ourselves?"

I thought I was going to explode with laughter but I knew that I had to get to the bottom of why he was in detention.  "Caleb," I said in a serious voice, "Detention is not a special table.  It is like a time-out table and it means that you did something bad to get there.  So you need to tell Mommy why you had to go there." 

"I didn't do anything bad, Mom.  I promise."  

Mrs.Cox informed me that he and Eli were wrestling in the lunchroom and that wrestling is strongly prohibited.

"Oh....", I said.  At this point I must have had a very guilty look on my face as I confessed to Mrs Cox that we allow Caleb and Eli to wrestle when they are together, as long as it is in good spirits.  Mrs. Cox smiled and explained that they should limit the wrestling to when they are out of school.  I agreed.  I turned to Caleb, "So, now do you know why you were at the detention table, Caleb?" 

"All I know is me and Eli were wrestling and some big lady came and tapped us on the shoulder and said, 'You and you!  Take your lunches to that table and don't move.'  And we did.  And we ate the rest of our lunches at our own table by ourselves."  He looked pleased with himself as he explained.  His teacher looked pretty amused by Caleb's translation of the days event.  I could tell she too was trying not to laugh.

Later that afternoon I called Melissa to see if she knew anything about the infamous "lunch detention".  She has no idea and before I could get past the words lunch and detention she was hollering, "ELI PRESTON BROWNING!  GET IN HERE NOW!"  She immediately asked, "Did you get lunch detention yesterday?" 

He quickly replied, "No."

She countered with, "So you didn't have to sit at the detention table with Caleb yesterday?" 

I could hear him in the background as he squealed in excitement, "OH!  You mean when me and Caleb got to sit at the special table!"  I thought I was going to die laughing.

When I told Austin about his delinquent brothers he responded, "My Gosh!  I've been going to that school for 4 YEARS and I've never gotten lunch detention even once, and both my brothers get it the first week of school!"

Posted by Amber

Early Birthday Kickoff

A certain Jacksonville Jaguar fan we all know got an early birthday present yesterday.  Her favorite team beat the once powerful Indianapolis Colts, scoring a game winning field goal with four seconds left in the game.

We hope the Jaguars continue to beat everyone they play...except the Bengals of course,  or the Steelers or...

Happy Birthday Veronica

Caleb Starts Kindergarten

I think I have told most of you that Caleb started Kindergarten this year.  Caleb was so excited I thought he was going to pop.  I, on the other hand, felt like a kid who lost it's puppy.  I must admit I experienced a bit of separation anxiety. 

He wanted to ride the bus the first day, but I refused to give him up that easily.   When I went to school to pick him up I saw Melissa (Austin's mom) waiting for Austin and Eli (Austin's little brother on his mom's side).  Eli is in Caleb's class, by the way.  She and I gave each other our prediction of how we thought the day had gone.  We both agreed that we felt sorry for the poor teacher who had gotten the terrible two-some. 

Soon Caleb and Eli were ushered out by some teacher's aids.  I was so excited.  I rushed to Caleb and scooped him up.  "How was your day?  I missed you so much!!  What happened?  Did you make any friends?  What did you do?"  I bombarded him with questions. 

Caleb very calmly and quietly looked up at me and said, "I can't tell you anything until I talk to Austin." 

I must have looked like a balloon deflating.  "Are you serious?"  I pleaded. 

"Yeah, I can't talk to you right now, Mom.  I need to see my brother first."  I looked across the   bench where Melissa and Eli were in a feverish conversation about the days events, then back to Caleb who remained stone faced. 

Austin's grade came out a few minutes later and Caleb excitedly rushed to Austin, just as I had rushed  to him moments before.  He gave a sideways glance back at me to make sure I wasn't eavesdropping.  They whispered back and forth for what seemed like an eternity. 

When Caleb came back to me he said simply, "I had a good day.  I played with Playdough, I ate lunch, I hate nap time, and I didn't get to go to the playground.  Can we go home now?" 

To this day I still do not know what secrets the brothers hold.  I am an outsider now.  If anyone needs me I will be in my bed with the covers pulled over my head.

Posted by Amber

Best Baby Sis has a Birthday

As Sherry would say, "Our most favorite youngest baby sister is having a birthday today."

Here is a photo from back before she got so gobby, and bossy, and grouchy and...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MICHELLE !

Coffee Pot

Rite Aid had their coffee pots on sale last week regularly $35 for $22. I purchased one and used a $10 store coupon; which make it $12, but there is a $5 rebate on it also. The coffeepot will end up costing me $7.

I wanted you all to know I replaced my spare coffeepot now. The last time Jeffery was in, the one Mother had tore up and I replaced it with my spare. Now if one breaks down I can just replace it with this one. If you all wants to know the truth, I wanted two coffeepots, but they only had one.

Posted by Sherry