Brrrrr... Baby it was cold outside!

Autumn had a tournament on Saturday. Not a REAL tournament but a warm-up tournament.


No warm-up there at all. It was cold and windy. Whatever the weatherman says, it is ALWAYS colder at the the ballfield. That is Pa (just eyes showing)!
Who is that handsome, hooded fella? Bradley, my nephew... Justin's brother. He and Autumn are really good friends and he came to watch the game. He is such a sweetheart! He sat down with me and Pa a lot, I ask him a bunch of questions... He said "Yes Ma'am and No Ma'am" EVERY time. These Simmons kids are really good kids!
Well, this Saturday was cold, I had on fleece socks and fur-lined boots, jeans, turtleneck shirt, pullover, warm coat with a hood, scarf, cashmere gloves and it was still cold. We sit out in it, no cover or getting inside to get warm... we sit there for hours. If it were a real tournament (next weekend) we sit there from EARLY to way LATE! But for this day we played three games back to back starting at 11AM. My Sister, Barbara aka Nanny, offered to keep Alex and Avery and they stayed with her. Thanks Nanny! Austin had practice too and it was just a busy day! We won two and lost one. Great day at the old ballpark. Spring season is long and wonderful.

Autumn is smiling at me:)
Love that girl! So, my blogger friends... Another week done, Sunday again, Church again, my weeks are much the same. No complaints here!

Hugs to all and enjoy your day whatever you do! Praying for Justin!

I found it, I found it..Ooohhh My!

Since this magazine has hit the newstands, I have looked for it. I looked at grocery stores, drug stores, book stores, antique stores and little shops along the route. I really WANTED it! Well, the thrill is in the hunt:) I finally found it, thanks to Dawn over at the feathered nest. She gave me a tip that she had seen it at Ingles grocery store, darn... I had not looked there. As soon as I dropped Autumn off this morning, guess where I went? How did you know? You are correct! INGLES. I shopped for things to fill Justin's box to mail him (another story there) and then there it was right there among the other magazines. I was so excited! It is a really good magazine, $9.95 which is more than I wanted to pay for a magazine. Skipped all the way home, packed Justin's box full of goodies and took a quick peek in the magazine.
I decided to go to McDonough today, to the Post Office, Bank and an antique store. Justin's box was so full and I get to the Post Office to mail it, the lady says $29.
I said but it is supposed to be flat rate, $10.40 or $12.00. She just shook her head and said you used the wrong box. OH NO! I had used the regular box and yes, I messed up! What, should I do? I had no tape, no scissors, and I would have to put it in TWO boxes! So, what did I do? Mailed the package $29, MY BAD:) Justin's GOOD and worth every penney! Love you Justin!

Left the Post Office and went to an antique store in McDonough. Started looking, for nothing in particular, that place was packed full of goodies. OOPS, crash... I knocked over a little glass figure and broke it:( So, me being honest like I am, walk all the way to the front desk to tell them what had happened. I told her to add it to my bill. She said NO, that most people wouldn't have even told them and she was NOT going to let me pay for it. I kept looking and did buy a few more things, all the while with the intention of adding the $10 to my purchase. She WOULD NOT let me pay for it. Wonder if the lady at the Post Office called her:)

Guess what I am doing today? Autumn has a tournament! It is a "friendly", not that the others are NOT friendly, I guess I would call it a pre-tournament tournament. Three games! Love it, can't wait, Go Prowlers! Gotta get the gear loaded up, sleeping bags, heater, chairs, snacks, drinks etc. We love it, oh I think I have already said that:)

So, my friends, that is it for today! Please pray for our Justin, please pray for Julie's Justin, he will be deployed next week Here And thankful that Joyce's Justin is returning soon Here! Three Justins!

Love you all and I hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Do the shuffle!

Do the shuffle, da da da da da da da da da, da da da da da da da da Do the shuffle! Autumn and Austin had to be at school early Thursday morning, 7:10 and 7:20... so my morning got shuffled a bit. Got their breakfast ready and off I go, OMG I have coffee first thing in the morning and then ONE Sprite with my breakfast! I had NO Sprite. Well, I grabbed Aut and Austin a Capri Sun, took them to school and then ran to Kroger for Sprites and a few more things. From there, back home and seriously didn't do a whole lot worth talking about. I watch The Bold and the Beautiful ...
and The Young and the Restless Soaps. OR I tape them, the old-fashioned way and watch them later if I am not at home or busy. But, silly as they may be sometimes... I watch them anyway. So, after the soaps were over...I wanted to get SOMETHING done, so I cleaned the counters in the kitchen, swept the kitchen floor, cleaned the downstairs bathroom and hauled all of the Christmas tubs up to the attic. About 12 trips up the attic steps and back down! Much of these tubs were after Christmas bargains for next year. Dang, why did I do that?

Alex and Avery came for a short visit while Austin went to the batting cage. Alex played games on my laptop...

Avery played with their favorite little house! It was a short visit but a good visit:)

So my friends, that was my Thursday... Hope you all have a great Friday! Praying for Justin!

Not very good at doing nothing:)

I DID read the first chapter, the art of procrastinating. If you missed the book in yesterday's post, click HERE. By the end of that chapter, I decided to put off reading the next one:) What it said was to allow yourself to interrupt what you are doing to do something else. So that is what I did. I started working in my "Antique" room which is where you could find a lot of different things, including some antiques. It has tubs of crafts and cards and estate sale goods... well you get the picture. That is where I put my Valentine tub when I was finished with it and can you believe there were even some Christmas tubs that have not been taken to the attic? Well, I enjoyed piddling in there much of the day. Sorting and getting things straightened out. Along the way, I stopped to look thru a box of pictures and cards. I found some really interesting things. I found bunches of pictures of my husbands ancestors, here are a few... Many were framed!





and I found these magazines and books. Really OLD!
Well, I spent hours looking thru these. Kinda dusty, made me sneeze:)
This book is full of front pages of The New York Times Major Events 1920-1983.

The Art of Doing Nothing said it was OK to sit in the floor and look at old stuff:) I stopped for lunch and a little doze and back at it. My friends, after taking Autumn to school... I never left the house. I must say, I enjoyed it. The last page in the first chapter of the book is Whistling 101, I know how to whistle... do you? Excuse me while I go whistle a happy tune.

Happy Thursday to all of you! Praying for Justin!

The Art of Doing Nothing!

Tuesday was spent in the house ALL day washing clothes, folding clothes and putting clothes away. I put steak in the crock pot 1st thing Tuesday morning with no-salt added tomato sauce and italian seasoning. It was yummy! The rest of the day was spent doing laundry. I don't really like to stay at home all day but I did. I received this book when I retired 8 years ago! I just might read it today. I have lots of things I need to do but after a full day of domesticated duties, I think nothing is sounding really good for my Wednesday!

The chapters in this book are :

1. the art of procrastinating

2. the art of breathing

3. the art of meditating

4. the art of lounging

5. the art of yawning

6. the art of napping

7. the art of bathing

8. the art of tasting

9. the art of listening

10. the art of waiting

I think I will read this book slowly and enjoy each chapter. Many of the titles I think I am already really good at but it is interesting what each chapter talks about. For instance, the art of waiting tells you how to watch a sunset. Now I will really enjoy that one.

So, my friends, I had NOTHING much to talk about today! :) Enjoy your Wednesday whatever you do. We are supposed to get some precipitation, a little snow/sleet mixture. Not supposed to stick because the ground is too warm.

Hugs to all and have a blessed day!

Delayed Valentine Party for Alex:)

Alex didn't get to have her Valentine Party because of SNOW! But she had it on Monday and it was so much fun. Tracy had a dentist appt. so Ganky and Aunt Cindy were her guests!
Alex and her class finishing their Valentine projects!

This is one sweet baby girl!

Mrs. Pauline saying the blessing with the children. She has taught Autumn, Austin and now Alex. Avery next year and she says she will call it quits when she finishes the last of the four:)

After snack they played a game, here is Alex doing a great job ringing the bucket with the heart!

We got to visit with Ms. Avery too! Here she is blessing her snack:)

Sweet Avery!

So... I think Valentine's Day 2010 is officially over !

Have a blessed day and please keep praying for sweet Justin!

Short but mighty doggone sweet....

Sunday morning... coffee, pantyhose, skirt, heels, oops forgot my Bible, back in the house... off to Church. Oops, need gas but I had enough to get there and back. Great service, you see I take notes during Church and send them in Justin's Monday letter. I picked up Alex and Avery on the way home because the "big kids" were going to Stone Mountain for Snow Mountain. Austin's birthday is Dec. 23rd and beins it is right there at Christmas, he had some friends go with him to celebrate his birthday in February. We went out for dinner on his birthday but this was for his friends.

It was a gorgeous day, bright sunshine and we played outside. Avery asked did they have any bathing suits at my house:) I said but the pool is too cold to swim and she said but it is hot outside. Oh well, something tells me we will have this conversation about a thousand times before the pool gets warm. So... they wanted to swing and swing and swing. It was so sweet, they both wanted the white swing and were really good at taking turns. I told them I was going out to the "little house" aka poolhouse, and OMG they had the best time. They played in and out like it was their house, they were pretending I was their Mom and Pa was their Dad. Well I could go on and on with these two and their imaginations. They ran in and out of that little house and slammed that screen door... well it was precious! It's sometimes little things that really make me smile. Those two little girls made me smile this beautiful Sunday. Alex was so sweet swinging her Sister.
I wouldn't take a million dollars for days like this.

Love you all and I hope this will be a wonderful week for each and every one of you!

Finish the job Justin and get back to safety!

Old Friends and Birthday Party!

I met these 4 ladies for lunch on Saturday and we had a blast. We laughed so hard the entire time even when we were getting our pictures made outside on the sidewalk. I went to High School with all and Elementary School with the three on the left. I love them all and can't wait to get together again. L-R Debbie, Cheryl, Celene, Bunny and Me. Celene and I have been friends since diapers. Oh what a fun time!

This is my 60 year old Sister. Doesn't look 60, does she! We had her Birthday party at my Sister, Barbara's house and we had a wonderful time. WAY too much food and again, laugh, laugh, laugh! We do have some fun when we all get together.

Alex insisted we light a candle and sing! Sweet girl!

Britani, my niece's new haircut! Isn't she pretty?


Here is my sidekick, Autumn... hugging on her Ganky! Oh how I love her!

This weekend has kicked my hiney! So busy and I am T-I-R-E-D! I was just thinking on my way home from the party... next weekend, I am not going to pack it so full. Then I remembered, Autumn's first tournament is next weekend. I better be eating me some Wheaties this week to get ready for that:)

Love you all and have a blessed Sunday!

Fun under the big top!

Here we are at the Circus, wait where is Ganky and Pa? Oh, I am taking the picture and Pa is behind me... but here is the rest of the clan and some clapping dude who wasn't with us. It was Jeff's birthday and he really enjoyed his trip to the Circus:) We all had such a good time and I didn't get in bed until MIDNIGHT. Way late for this ole gal! I am up and thinking back about all of the sights and sounds from last night! I will share a few pictures with you.

Autumn wanted a crown and I must say, it sure looks good on her!


Alex and Avery loved the excitement!


My Cousins, the elephants:) How do they get them to do this?

Austin rode with me and Pa and we enjoyed some extra time with him. I got to hear all about his visit to their Private School that they will be attending in the fall. He was super excited about it. He enjoyed the circus too!

Autumn, cuz Britani and Cindy and Jeff at the end to the left.

The Zebras are loose, oh not now... they are actually here in the circus. For those not from Atlanta, a zebra got loose and ran up the freeway here. He was caught and not harmed but it was all over the news.

And this is my sweet Sister and her husband, Jeff... the birthday boy. Now don't they look happy?

Isn't that sweet? Alex and Cindy having a little chat:)

Lot to look up at! Trapeze artists were really good!

See?

This is sweet Avery and her $7.00 box of popcorn! Now it really isn't cheap to take a trip to the Circus. Tracy got us really good seats, $67.70 each 3rd row from the rings... Pa got us 3 hot dogs, 2 fries and two bottles of water $31. Tracy bought toys and crowns and lemonades, oh my... most of those were $7 too, perhaps lemonade was $4, but you get the picture.


Experiencing this night with these precious family members.... priceless. When Justin was about Avery's age, Pa and I took him to the circus. I have a picture of that somewhere and I will be looking for it. He loved the Circus and he asked me for a "Hat dog":) I will never forget THAT night OR this one!
Love to all and I hope you have a wonderful weekend. Mine is super busy! I am having brunch this morning with some of my high school girlfriends. Can't wait to sit and chat with them. Brenda's birthday party tonight. Wonder if I can work in a little nap somewhere? Probably not but I'll be really tired tonight for sure!

Praying for Justin!

Hallelujah!

Hallelujah, Justin called Cindy and said he was OK! Praise the Lord! Cindy was so excited when she called me, she could hardly talk. Oh what a relief, granted he still has more time in Marjah and more danger ahead but we'll take it one day at a time:) I headed out to send him an extra package this week. Hopefully he will get his packages, he was wishing he had something other than MREs to eat:) My Sister was so happy and so were the rest of us to hear from that sweet Marine!
Alex called to chat and wanted to come over to play. I said of course so Alex and Avery came for a little playtime. It was fun as always and here are those cuties. They both got new shoes while shopping yesterday with their Mom. Alex got tennis shoes that tie...
and Avery got "sand" shoes (sandals). She said they call them sand shoes because you can wear them in the sand:)

It is time to get the old cholesterol checked and that means fasting! I LOVE my morning coffee and won't be able to have any until they take my blood. Great thing is that they know how I am and will take it as soon as I get there so I can have a cup of coffee from my tiny thermos:) My honey will be going with me because he needed to get his checked too. They say you can have black coffee but "no thanks"! I'll just wait.

That's all I have for today everyone! I hope you all have a wonderful day! I'll be better as soon as I can have coffee!

Happy 60th Birthday Brenda!

My Sister Brenda is 60 today! Happy Birthday Brenda, I love you! She's the one on the left with the cute bangs, the little one is me. Oh how I love this picture. We were having a big laugh at something.
This is a picture of 5 Siblings before Cindy was born. Brenda is the one in the middle. Barbara in the back, Marshall, Leon and me standing in the chair:)

Some of you don't know that we have a HUGE family! I have two Brothers and three Sisters. They have three children each and I have one, all with spouses. Add in grandchildren some with spouses, great grandchildren for some and there are about 78 of us. That is a lot of folks.

Here are the four Sisters, Cindy, Me, Brenda the birthday girl and Barbara.

This is Brenda with her Children... Regina, Glenda, Bubba and their Mama!


Happy Birthday Dear Sister! I hope it will be an extra special one for you! I love you! We'll be partying on Saturday:)