Retail Therapy

After two weeks of recovery from the generous sharings of my runny-nosed grandbabies, I felt like setting a shopping date with Mamaw. We had several shopping expeditions before Thanksgiving, and she was itching to go again. I went to pick her up Sunday afternoon and Papaw came out to see us off. He looked bad--red-rimmed eyes with dark circles around his eyes. She admitted to me that he had been "trying to fix" the ceiling fan over their bed and had fallen from standing on the bed flat onto his back, hitting his head and back hard against the floor. They did not tell anyone. He was afraid they would send him to the hospital and check him out and he said he wasn't going to go. After two days, they finally told the nurse there because he couldn't sleep or eat because he was in such pain. She looked at his back and it wasn't bruised, so she just gave him pain medication and didn't send him to the hospital. He finally slept Saturday night and was able to eat a good breakfast and lunch Sunday. Mamaw and I went to Dillard's where she bought three pairs of shoes and to WalMart for groceries. She has lots of energy when shopping, and I think it really helps her frame of mind--and she hates going anywhere on the bus. When we got back to their apartment, Aunt Martha (Mamaw's brother Roy's wife) and her daughter Jean were there. They had been trying to visit with Papaw but he wasn't very informative. They were asking who the people in the digital photo frame were, but he said he didn't know, that he couldn't keep up, but that Mamaw tried to. When Mamaw and I walked in, they looked at me and laughed. They said when they had asked him where Mamaw was, he said she had gone shopping "with some old lady." Thanks, Papaw. He's clueless, but he's happy, which is more than I can say about Mamaw. Martha was so complimentary about their apartment and asked Mamaw if she liked it there. She said it was okay, but that it wasn't home (in a pretty pitiful tone). Papaw spoke up from his recliner and said, "This is our home." I know it's hard to get them to answer the phone, but keep trying to call. Mamaw went on and on about the last time she talked to Allison. Thanks, Allison, it meant so much to her. Maybe we can get her past this funk she's in. We'll go over and see them next week and she knows we're going to get them Christmas Eve for dinner and Santa. Between shopping, chatting, eating, and watching little ones play, I'll bet her mood lifts. I know mine will!

Thanksgiving Memories

Seems like a year since I posted. We had an incredible Thanksgiving here with all my incredible family. The little ones are a joy to watch when they're together. And it makes my heart happy to see my big ones back together again. We had a huge feast Thursday with much less left over than usual. Funny how that happens...the bigger the family gets, the more I cook and the less I have to put up afterwards. Friday was girl's day out, with all of us getting a pedicure and lunch away from the rowdy fellas. Audrey joined us, and I can tell she'll fit right in with the ladies of the family for future outings. Saturday we started dragging out the Christmas boxes, and began the long process of tree assembly and ornamentation. What fun! Dade and Luke helped me set out some of the International Santas, and I explained what country each was from and what Santa is called there. I can see lots of teachable moments in the future with a globe and stories about how Christmas is celebrated in other countries. We had so much fun all the long weekend! Then it was over, everyone went home, and Pa Pa and I sighed in the peacefulness--and then sneezed. Our widespread progeny left us happy memories while sharing the bounty of their coughs and runny noses. After my second trip to the doctor, and two shots in the rear, I'm finally feeling somewhat renewed if still coughy. It only took one trip for Rodney. Now it's time to get ready for the next big get together--Christmas! I can't wait!

Happy Anniversary, Tommy and Allison!

I can't believe it's been six years! Two young people with big dreams and lots of love setting out in the world to make it on their own. Well, that love grew...and grew...and grew. Where there were two in that little family six years ago, now there are five. And the fun has just begun!

Turkey Day is Coming!

We had a busy weekend with a Thanksgiving preview, including family and food. Friday evening, we took Mamaw and Papaw to Traditions to meet Monroe and Mary Margaret Rieger, old friends of theirs. They had so much fun, telling stories about other old friends and the good times they used to have together. Saturday morning, I went and picked up daylilly bulbs I ordered through Keep Tyler Beautiful. They'll be so pretty in the spring! Then, I went to the Truman Smith Center for their Thanksgiving Feast. We had turkey and dressing and all the trimmings and were entertained by a local bluegrass group who were really talented. I saw many of the parents of my students and then had a speaker come to tell them about things they need to do to plan for when their children are no longer in school. Then Rodney and I went shopping and bought Christmas presents for some good little boys. (Can you guess who?) Yesterday and today were so cold! Rodney got all the fireplaces going and ready for our big Thanksgiving Family Feast and Fun Days which will be here so soon! I got lots of things done today getting ready for the holiday. We're going to have such a great time together, and I can't wait!

The Turkey Trot

(A poem for my favorite little ones)

Five little turkeys standing at the door,
One waddled off, and then there were four.
Four little turkeys sitting near a tree,
One waddled off , and then there were three.
Three little turkeys with nothing to do,
One waddled off, and then there were two.
Two little turkeys in the morning sun,
One waddled off, and then there was one.
One little turkey better run away,
For soon it will be Thanksgiving Day.

Veteran's Day Tribute to My Hero

In 1970, Rodney was called to duty in the United States Army. He bravely served a tour of duty in Vietnam. I'm proud of him, and am grateful for the sacrifices made by him when he was so young.

Never Forgotten

My father, Lester Thomas, served his country in the South Pacific during World War II. He was at Pearl Harbor when it was bombed by the Japanese and stayed in the navy until the war ended. His father, George Thomas, fought in Europe during World War I. They were young men who gave up much for the freedom we have today.

Sunshine and Family Fun, Part II

This weekend was so full, I had to add a second part. James spent the night last night, and gave our new Karaoke machine quite a workout. I can see many happy (if not quite tuneful) family evenings ahead. His main reason for coming was for PaPa's help in a science project. He had to build a vehicle that would roll down a ramp made entirely of recycled materials. Starting with an almond container, they added wheels made of old golf balls and assorted extras, and it looks great. And it will even roll down a ramp! While they were hard at work, I took Mamaw for some needed retail therapy. She has lots of energy for shopping--wore me out. We went to Dillard's and Penney's, and she got some new tops and a velour track set (seems to be the height of fashion at the Hamptons). I came home, did some laundry and ironing, made some red beans, sausage, and rice, and am waiting for Cindy and the other boys to get here as I write this. Whew! What a great weekend!

Sunshine and Family Fun

The weather today was perfect, and that was the way the whole day went! Tommy came by with his two rough, tough little fellas and we went and picked up Mamaw and Papaw and had lunch outside at McAlisters Deli. We visited, and laughed, and ate, and enjoyed being together. Tommy and the boys were just passing through, so they couldn't stay long, but we made the most of their visit.

After they left, I went Christmas shopping. Dade has given me his wish list, but he's the only one. Then PaPa brought James home. He's spending the night here so he and PaPa can work on his science project. More on that later. What a full weekend, and it's still only Saturday!

I'm Proud To Be an American

The election is over and our new president, Barack Obama, will be inaugurated into office in January. This is a historic first for our country. It wasn't what we planned or hoped for, but we voted and our vote counted, and that is our right, our privilege, and our duty as citizens of this great nation. The United States is much more than one person or one way of thinking. We are strong because this country was built by giants and heroes, people who stood for their beliefs and fought for what they saw as right. We are descended from those great men and women, and we should be proud of what our nation that they fought for is today. It has faults, and it has problems, and it's had sad days and happy days, good times and bad, but this nation is the greatest nation on earth. People from other countries risk their lives every day to be able to live here, in the land of the free and the home of the brave. We are blessed to be able to call this great land (and state of Texas) our home. We are Americans, and the pride we have in what our nation has been and the expectation of what it will be in the future keeps us going through bad times.

Katy and Christmas

This has been a busy week. Bogey got a new friend named Katy. She belonged to a little boy who couldn't run and play with her, so her family wanted her to have a new family who could give her lots of love and attention and who had another dog she could play with. She loves to play with Bogey and to sit in PaPa's lap.

Today, we went to see Mamaw and Papaw and took them shopping. We took them to a computer and showed them the blogs with the pictures of them with Dade and Luke and Audrey and the video of Susan on the news in Tampa. Mamaw fell down last week and is a little sore, but she is feeling much better and she and Papaw enjoyed shopping and eating one of Jucy's big hamburgers for lunch with us.

Now, I have a big job for all of my family. I want all of you to think about what you want for Christmas. It's time for me to buy lots of presents for good boys and girls (no matter how big they are) and I want to know what all of you want.

A Good Weekend

This weekend Tommy and Allison and Cindy met us at Mamaw and Papaw's old house in Fruitvale. Cousins Allie and Jesse were there, too, and baby Audrey. We cleaned up some and went through old things and found lots of pictures and special things that belonged to Mamaw and Papaw. They are living in an apartment in Tyler, now, where there are lots of people to help them. If we're lucky enough to have a very long life, there comes a time when we have trouble living alone without any help. We went to visit them afterwards and and had fun talking to them and being together. We love them very much and want them to be happy. We're looking forward to many visits and holidays with them since they are close enough for us to bring them to our house to be a part of our big, happy family. Families are made up of people of all ages who share stories about days gone by and look forward to years to come with each other.

Heroes

It's almost time to choose a new president. We do that every four years by voting. This family is Republican, for the most part, and that means we're voting for John McCain for president. He is a good man and was a soldier in Vietnam where he was captured and held prisoner for a very long time. PaPa was also a soldier in Vietnam where he fought for this country. My father was a soldier in World War II and was in Pearl Harbor when it was bombed. His father was a soldier in Europe during World War I. Our relatives also fought in the Civil War and in the Revolutionary War for our freedom. You come from a long line of heroes. They were brave men who fought for what they believed in and earned us the right to live in this country and vote for who will lead us. That's what being an American is all about.

Getting Started

I want a place I can share what's going on in my life with my incredible family. Tommy and Allison, in Houston, have two rough and tough cowboys, Dade and Luke, and a princess, Audrey. Susan and Matt, in Tampa, have a little redheaded baby bear of a boy named Benjamin. Cindy and Ray, in Longview, have a teenager named Tyner, a pre-teen named James, and a couple of rug rats/charmers named Joshua and Christopher. She has an interesting life (to say the least). These are the people I care about and want to stay close to (in spirit even though we live far apart).