Calories, Schmalories!

Don't you just LOVE the new 100 calorie snacks??? They're perfect! That is unless after eating one snack, you say to yourself....."that was only 100 calories, I think I'll have another." Thich then turns into another and before you know it, you've eaten 600 calories.

One of my friends asked if I have any diet tips. Here's one.....don't snack like I do.

That is so sad.

I cleaned my room for nothing???

Son #4 is home for the summer. He got home on Friday and started work on Monday. He's a worker.....he likes his "gadgets". There was no t.v. in his room and he was ending up sleeping in a recliner almost every nite until he tired of that and bought himself a t.v.




But, of course there's cable to be considered.....he got the box....it wouldn't hook up right and we needed the cable guy to come out and do whatever they do.....

I said oh, no, not unless you clean up that room! He's got a great work ethic, but a messy room. I noticed his door was open today. Very unusual. As you can see Max and Molly were thrilled as there's no other place they would rather be than on his bed.





The cable company rescheduled. You see where this is going don't you?

He's going to have to clean it up again........ :)

Thank you and Happy Birthday!

First let me thank every man or woman who has given their life for my freedom. I am proud to be an American and relish our freedom.

And now......my sister turned 60 today! Yesterday, her daughter in law hosted a wonderful birthday luncheon/party at the retirement center where my mother lives. Here in pictures is the day.


Three Sisters






She had the birthday, he got the car????




This is all of us.....and mama. We are standing in birth order and I'm number 3. I looked back at other pictures of us through the years. We are getting old.




Opening presents!



The birthday girl with the hostess! Again, great job, Jo!





That cake was just as good as it looks!

Well, except for that one little thing......

You're all about raw power. You're tough, you're loud, and you don't take crap from anyone. Leave finesse to the other cars, the ones eating your dust.

O.K. the part about not taking crap from anyone......that is so wrong! I'm not sure how they got that, but I take plenty of crap from plenty of my children people! I must do it in a nice way huh???

I saw this quiz over at Leslie's blog.... http://leslieinvancan.blogspot.com/ and just couldn't resist!

Go on over to her site to take the quiz, because this tough, loud, no crap taking woman couldn't get the linking right. Surprised? Didn't think so.

Through the years....

These are a very few of the pictures of my FIL, papa (pronounced pawpaw) during the last few years since we've had digital.



He dearly loved traveling in our motor home. We had good times on trips.


He was so proud of the grandchildren.

This is one of our son's college graduation.


Papa with his brother during a family reunion. His brother is the only sibling left. He was so faithful to visit papa every day.



Nobody ever loved a good meal more than papa! His friends called him Mikey from the commercial some years ago where the older brothers gave the cereal to the younger brother and said "Give it to Mikey, he'll eat anything!" Of course, Papa wanted his french fries real crispy with no salt. He believed with all his heart that if the grease was hot enough, you could fry all the fat out of fried foods. No, he really believed that! He loved anything that crunched!
Papa's 80th birthday.
Another grandson's birthday.
As unusual as it may seem, I love my in laws as parents and as friends.
Papa wasn't able to attend Matt's "coating ceremony" but he was able to go to lunch afterward.

Christmas. This was during his chemo and radiation. He handled that really well and never lost a hair!


This was really 5/5/05. (My camera was wrong!) Another grandson was getting married and we took advantage of being dressed to get a family picture. This was about a year and a half before we knew he was sick.

Papa loved my grandchildren and they loved him. My daughter in law referred to him this way....."He was always a strong, friendly and smiley man" Others have referred to him as a real gentleman!
One of our many trips to the mountains. They had a timeshare there and we took many happy trips with them. They were very generous about having us with them on trips......plus they loved for my husband to drive! :)

Russell always fixes pancakes, waffles, bacon and whatever else you could want for breakfast on Christmas morning......remember, Papa loved to eat! This is some time ago because it was before we remodeled out kitchen.
Another Christmas photo with children and grandchildren.
Christmas at our house when we first got little Mikey for papa......he became our dog, but papa had visiting rights. This is before I got rid of the "antique" player piano.

These are just a few glimpses into our lives with papa. You'll notice he and mema are always very close. They would have had their 60th wedding anniversary in June.

He was described fondly by so many people. We have gotten cards and letters from his friends......one friend said "Les is the only man I know that there was never a bad word said about." He was honorable, Godly, loving in word and deed.

Grace, Grace, God's Grace.......

Our family is truly experiencing God's grace! One week has passed since my FIL died and for the most part, we have felt that peace that passes human understanding.

What a full week! Russell's sister is still here and has been helping my MIL clean out closets and finish up all those things that you don't think about until you have to actually do them. My in laws have so many close friends and they have all gathered around and have been a huge comfort!

I was thinking of posting a few pictures from the funeral, but as I looked at them, it didn't seem appropriate to share our grief online, so here's a light one of my nephew and nieces desecrating the cemetery studying the Lord's Prayer. They were really very good during what must have been a long service.

Today, MIL and SIL were meeting friends for lunch, so I called two of my friends that I haven't seen for a while and we made plans to meet for lunch. We went to a restaurant I like because they have weight watcher's dishes, but it isn't one that we frequent as a family. Toward the end of our lunch, one of my friends said, "look who just walked in!" Low and behold, it was my MIL and SIL. We were leaving and went over to say hello. It's a small world after all! It felt good to be doing something normal...well, as normal as things get here in what my DIL calls "normal land". I did have that nagging feeling that I should be doing something.

I took a light comedy over to my mama's and we watched some before she went to bingo. I felt very productive!

Our sincere thanks to all of you who have prayed for us during this time.

Because I'm a Cat.

No, I won't look at you, I'm busy being a cat.