16-11-28 (Read 2/28/26)

We had Deck the Halls yesterday. Beth and Rodney left for Houston before we started, but they stopped by on their way out and visited with us for a little bit and Beverly and JA came over and got to see them for a few minutes. Beth called later in the evening to see how it went. She and Rodney got stuck in miles-long traffic jams, so got home about three hours later than they usually would have. I can't remember exactly where she was in Louisiana when she called but it wasn't nearly as far as she wanted to be. 

Beverly and Annette sat on the patio and visited. Beverly talking about Standing Rock. Morgan sitting on the swing, holding Jaden, which she did for most of the afternoon. 

Barry stayed in his rocking chair and watched a football game. Brandon sat in mine and they talked easily about the game, and bees. A little while later Zak joined them, sitting on the sofa. 

Andrew spent the afternoon in the front bedroom, rolling up the Saran wrap ball of presents The game is something he saw online and thought would be fun. He is especially looking forward to watching others play it. He's helped me find dice and the saran wrap --- it has been a fun thing for us to do together. 

JA had to work, but got home in time for supper and for birthday singing. 

John and Kim were in Huntsville, but lots of people asked where they were. 

Chris and his new girlfriend got here about 5:00. Afterwards, Tyler asked me what my first impression was. I asked him what he thought, how he felt around her. He said that she has a special freezer at Drew's that she doesn't let just anybody get into, but she lets him. 

Brittany was studying, Faith wasn't feeling well. Barry got the volleyball net up for me, and most of the younger kids played volleyball and ran around kind of like a Goodtimes. Willo and Vivian were sick, too. 

Angela asked where I wanted to put the Family Promise bags, and I told her the bed. She did that, but then came and asked if I'd like her to put them on a spot on the bedroom floor so that I wouldn't have to move them later on that night. 

Things have just shifted. There aren't as many little kids running noisily through the house, and all of the kids and older grandbabies not only can do more, but offer to do more. There's just a lot less stress and trying to get it all done for me. I showed them where the Family Promise things were, and they set up the process and got it all done. Beverly said, "Mom, it is really pretty great for you to do this." 

Tori and Josh had to leave for a little bit to go get Zoey from the vet. Annette told them she was proud of them for being prepared for the expense. 

Chelsea came with Jaden, and left him with us for a few minutes while she ran to the laundromat. She said she told Evan it felt weird to do that. I think it was the first time she left him anywhere. 

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. 

16-09-03 (Read 5/18/26)

Josh's birthday hurricane.

16-04-11 (Read 7/16/26)

Josh and Tori on the swing

Josh, hug

Papa and I cooked supper together

Big hug from  Beverly this morning.

Hugging Josh bye --- he said he noticed he always seemed to hit me around my cheek, but he's worked out a solution. He bends his knees just a little. 

Josh and Tori swinging.

Papa and I cooked supper together.

Big hug from Beverly this morning. 

16-04-22 (Read 7/10/26)

Lunch with Tori and Josh.

Barry and I had just pulled in to Benja's when we got a call from Tori --- she and Josh were at Taste of Thai. Did we want to join them. Pefect timing! 

16-04-24 (Read 7/9/26)

Josh boost his confidence boost Taurus confidence Tori apostrophe s confidence with the mint

Josh, Barry, Tori and I talked about the excess plants that we have, and their taking some for their patio. Tori said she was afraid she would kill them. A little bit later, when Josh and I were standing alone together for a minute he said, "I have an idea. We could take some mint, because it is so easy to grown, and maybe that would boost her confidence." 

16-03-28 (Read 7/16/26)

It's just that I feel drowsy. I woke up feeling like I'd had a deep sleep, though. Woke up at 4:40 and didn't really get much rest after that. Maybe that's why the drowsy. Anyway, I started a load of towels, so we've gotten a head start on that. 

The boys got off to school without any trouble, and so that was good. 

I got out of the house and headed this way on time, which is good because I really need to get my workouts back in place. We've filled the living room up, so I don't really know what I'm going to do on rainy days, but I'm going to have to think of something. 

Andrew came out Saturday and made some more things for their Spartan workouts. We got to visit some, and get some hugs. He helped us clean up the shop and put the plants away before the rain. 

Beverly and JA made an Easter basket for us, but when I sent her a text to thank her, she said, "Wasn't me. Must have been the Easter Bunny." Tori and Josh brought it over and left it on the dining room table while we were in the pottery barn. When they told Beverly where'd they'd left it, she said, "They're going to know that the Easter Bunny couldn't get inside." Tori protested that the back door was open. Josh said every big Easter Bunny he'd seen had been magical. 

Beverly seemed especially happy yesterday, and she said it was because she had all three of her girls together. 

Beth, Morgan and I had a sweet time ordering Morgan's graduation announcements. 

Evan and Chelsea stopped by. 

I got to visit with Angela, Tori, Kennedy, Josh and John while Beverly and JA were hiding their Easter presents.

16-02-28 (Read 7/14/26)

I sent Priscilla an email....

got a kick out of this, and I thought you might too. When Tor and Josh were here this afternoon, we played a card game that was like Go Fish in that it involves asking one of the other players for a particular card. We were a few rounds into the game, and it was Josh's turn. He'd just cleaned up, getting cards from Angela and Tori. He turned to me, and he hesitated. I honestly thought maybe he was debating the protocol on getting the grandma's card, but it all went too fast for me to consider that much. Finally he said, "I'm just going to go with Granny." While we three girls were laughing, with his unfailing politeness, he added, "Is that all right?" ....I'm not conveying it well here, but what he had been weighing was what to call me. wink emoticon I told him that if he couldn't choke out "Her royal highness," "Granny," would be just fine. Good times.

Hope you had a happy day!

((Heart smiling))....thank you for sharing. He's quite entertaining, especially when he doesn't KNOW it! So glad he has such a wonderful family loving on him.....

16-02-28 (Read 7/14/26)

Beverly to Annette....that was a sweet thing to say.  (I don't know what Annette said, it was just part of their goodbye hug.)

Josh and Tori made the brownies.