16-10-24 (Read 3/5/26)

Second time this morning that my phone has crashed. "Can't find your SIMS card." I'm really just going to have to go to the AT&T store. 

The temperature in the writing shack seems to be going down instead of up, and I can't find the instructions. I need to finish setting things up. I feel reasonably certain that it is here somewhere. 

We had Goodtimes, and Beth was here, so I was happy about that. Zak and Vivian came, they played a couple of hands of Stewardess with Beth and I. Lots of laughter. 

Michael and Faith made brownies. They've really got that down pat, now. 

Morgan, Angela, Kennedy, Tori, Josh, Beth and Beverly gathered in yard, along with all of their puppies. It was like a new generation of Goodtimes, only with puppies. 

Zak turned on the football game, and Barry and Brandon talked about one of the games. 

Michael, Faith, Noah and I played a round of Stewardess at the start of Goodtimes, and with the exception of Daniel, at that time, we were the only ones here. Noah said, "Some of my cousins are late." 

Chris stayed and got the go-cart running, and they had a lot of fun riding on it. Faith and Skyler talk to each other a lot about Goodtimes. 

Autumn brought Willo, and she had a lot of fun. 

16-08-30 (Read 6/24/26)

In better news...

I got to hold Jaden Connor yesterday. 

Shawn is passing everything, and currently has two A's and a B. 

I got Monday's work done on Monday, even though I didn't get out to the office on time. That means I have a chance of doing Tuesday's work on Tuesday, and I'm happy about that. 

Andrew answered my text.

Beverly and JA got me some Buttershots. A big bottle. ;-) .

Faith came to Goodtimes and didn't have to babysit after all. 

16-08-29 (Read 6/19/26)

Just enjoyed yesterday, and ended it feel happy --- a sense of well-being. Katelyn, the little girl I've been following on Facebook, had a good week, and is getting stronger. Tyler and I had some good talks. Autumn brought Willo for Goodtimes and we've given her the dates for them through the rest of the year. Faith and Skyler picked Willo up in the pool and played with her, and Tyler played with her a lot. (Tyler said more of the big kids need to come to Goodtimes because his brother just stays in his room, or tries to play with the little kids, which isn't much fun for him.) And we did have big kids yesterday! Angela, Tori, Kennedy, and John W were all here, and we played "Nines" together for a little while, and then Tyler joined us. Zak and Vivian came by around 4:00 or 4:30 --- they had come earlier but somehow missed us --- must have been right before noon --- they didn't see any cars, so I told them mine is usually in the pottery barn now. Vivian and I made up a potion for her grandmother --- played with the essential oils for a little bit --- and I made one for Zak, and Kennedy and I got to refill her Itzahug. Annette hadn't been sure if Skyler would make it, whether or not they would be back from their time in NOLA with Annette's mother, but they were, and so we did get to see her. John was my playground duty, and he sent me a text to let me know they were running a little late. He and Noah got here after we were in the pool, and sat together on the glider at the deep end of the pool. It was fun to watch them sitting there together, talking. Noah was sitting at the table later and when I walked by, he put his arms around me and gave me a big hug. Angela wore her new shirt --- the one Kennedy designed for her. It is so wonderful! Barry cooked a big pot of beans while everyone was here, and had fun feeding them all. 

16-07-11 (Read 6/26/26)

We had a nice Second Sunday Supper. There weren't as many of us as usual, but those of us who were there just relaxed and laughed and talked. Laughter at both tables. 

My baked macaroni and cheese turned out much better than my mac and cheese has been lately, so I was happy about that. The roast scared me because I can't find the cut I used to use. Used chuck roast, but dredged it with a mixture of flour and the powder part of the onion soup. Really exceptionally good, so I hope I remember that. The pans of rolls work better than having to deal with cookie sheet, so I'll go back to that. Still have to figure out how to use the rice cooker. 

Today is Andrew and Annette's anniversary. I thought (my book says) they married in 98, but Facebook says 97. I went to the house to try find pictures or something. Looking through the 97/98 pics was so much fun. Such happy days. I remember that they were busy, that there never seemed to be enough time, that sometimes I felt like I had more time to prepare than others, but looking back I can see how much happiness percolated up in all of that. 

Beth is feeling better.

Morgan moved out of her apartment. She and Brandon are going to live with friends while their house is being built. 

Brittany and Patrick sat with us, and in part of the conversation they talked about going out with friends and going downtown. Patrick hadn't wanted to go --- doesn't like crowds, feels pretty sure someone's going to make him mad --- there was laughter and its wane his words, as he glanced at Brit who was sitting beside him, "watching out for her the whole time." 

Beverly, Ange and Kennedy made it home from the Boulder trip today. John came to pick Kennedy up and was sitting in his car in the driveway. We waved. I turned back to wave again as I got to the front of the car ---- and he got out to hug me. 

Noah, re: the chocolate that was all over him: I have an explanation.

Skyler texting Faith to tell her that her friend Sylvia was coming.

16-05-24 (Read 7/6/26)

Goodtimes had some really nice spots in it. 

Annette and Brittany in the pottery barn.

Annette and Brittany in the pottery barn with Papa. 

Kennedy and Papa, as he showed her how to do their project.

Kennedy and Brittany, visiting over Kennedy's project.

John, waiting patiently, but also looking forward to doing his. 

Four of the littler ones, painting the corn hole boards. 

Visiting with Morgan, sitting on the glider out by the pool. 

Little visit with Brittany, sitting in the sun. 

16-04-26 (Read 7/9/26)

I'm just really happy today. I'm in the writing shack with the windows open. I could use a fan. It is a little warm, but I really don't want to close up and and shut out the outdoors. The birds are calling and spring is just everywhere blooming. 

Most of the college kids were off doing other things at Goodtimes, but Kennedy and John W came and all of the non-college kids were here. The pool was clean and clear and apparently warm enough, because they spent quite a bit of time in the pool. Noah stretched out on the towel about as much as he swam, I think maybe because the kids were playing chicken and he knows that's a bad idea. I don't know. Daniel must have been tired --- spent most of his time in the hammock. 

Michelle was great with the kids. She worked on the fort with them, and led them in to making a kite. 

The Stewardess game is taking off. They started their own game of it. It is this generation's "Phase 10." 

Pictures are on Facebook. 

Faith and Skyler, pictures together. Skyler and her little changing self, changing the way she stands for a picture. Both of them --- pics for snapchat. 

16-03-13 (Read 7/15/26)

Once you stop trying to make it a continuance of Goodtimes past, once you realize it is a different animal all together,  you settle in and enjoy the new show.

Beverly and Barry in bonsai garden.

Chris hung out for a little while.

There was a spot, around 3:16, when I checked the clock and remembered Goodtimes past ---- when dress up clothes and craft materials and toys and glitter would have been all over the house, stem to stern. 

We could almost dispense with playground duty, except that I like for the aunts and uncles to give the kids some attention, and I like the kids to be here so that I can visit with them. 

Barry and Beverly spent quite a while in the bonsai garden together. He used to be diving or out in the shop or something during Goodtimes, but he is around more now. 

Chris came about mid-afternoon and hung out for a little while. 

Chris stopped at Waffle House with Shawn and Tyler, and Tyler got permission to come on home when he was finished eating. 

Faith and I got to visit some, and then we played Jenga. And then we played Jenga with John and Kennedy and Papa. I'll have to remember that she likes Jenga. 

We set up to play RISK but when Tyler got here they all ran out to the fledgling tree fort. Later Michael, Daniel, Tyler, Skyler, and Noah set it up in the dining room, and you could hear them laughing and talking about it. 

Barry put on "Little Big Kids," and some of us enjoyed watching that together. 

Goodtimes has almost completely morphed from its original --- a time where couples knew they could have a babysitter, and where cousins could play without too much grown up interference. Half of this centuries kids are siblings, and so already spend quite a bit of time together. It is true that Tyler, Skyler, and Noah are different in the mix, and if this were the starter group I would probably be seeing it that way. Just so different from the starter group. But, more and more I am realizing that and instead of trying to keep it the same, letting it a loose to be its own new thing. 

16-01-25 (Read 7/13/26)

I just don't think I've ever seen Daniel smile as big or look as happy as he did when he got back from going on his ride with Papa to the dirt pit. 

Goodtimes was quieter than usual, but still very good. Faith and Michael made us some brownies. Michael said that he liked to cook, so I'm going to have to remember that as part of Goodtimes. 

Kim and Faith sat at the table and colored. 

John, Michael, Noah and I played Monopoly. 

16-01-26 (Read 7/14/26)

Daniel, big smiles, after going riding to the dirt pit with Papa. 

Faith and Michael laughing in the kitchen, making brownies. Kim helping them.

John, Noah, Daniel and Michael playing minecraft. 

Playing Monopoly with John, Michael, and Noah. 

Getting to catch up with John and Kim a little bit.