Zebra Feet

Zebra Feet, is what I call this. Thank goodness my sandals had some coverage. Otherwise, my skin might have matched my toes.

THE " BOY " of summer!!

Landon was lead off batter today. He hit the ball to the infield, and was thrown out at first base. The helmet he wears glows out there in the sun.

It was a hot one, sitting in the sun. But I would not have been anywhere else. Here is a short clip of his hit.

Atomic Veteran's Memorial Highway

This is the sign that will mark a portion of a Kansas Highway as "the Atomic Veterans Memorial Highway." AWESOME

Retirement for a special lady!!

One of my oldest, best est friends is retiring from her job. She has been an administrative secretary for East High School for 16 years. I had the pleasure of being invited to her retirement breakfast today. It was so nice. Those present were her Mom and Brother along with a family friend....and ME!! What a wonderful moment for her. Surrounded by family, and friends, celebrating one of the most important times in her life. There is a basket on the table, it was full of cards of well wishes, a piece of the old gym floor (that's a WOW), and other wonderful remembrances. A scrapbook was made of loads of memories of her years there. She had to give a little speech, and I found my self tearing up. She was introduced by one of her former bosses, and he did a great job, of telling us just who she was in her job, and what she has meant to all that have crossed her path. Congratulations SHARON!!!

It's the beginning.....not the end. Enjoy your time, you have earned it.

My Special Gardens

Everything is so green and pretty. I guess the rain is good for something. The pictures are of my attempt to have a green thumb. First is my very first peonies. I am thrilled.

Gramcracker Four Garden is a whimsical garden. There are gnomes, and flower pots made by Valleri and Emily several years ago. They are painted with flowers and butterflies. There is a stepping stone that frames four little tiny hands. This is a prized possession of mine. I have a planter pick with a flower and hummingbird that sways in the wind. It's glass so it catches the light; its from Shelbie and Landon. The garden is a fun place to look at. The plants are all in pots. The tree roots don't allow planting in the ground. This is also the place that a pogoda sits. It is the only thing I have from our gardens in Newton. Gary gave it to his sister, but when she moved from her home, she gave it back to me.

As you can tell, this memory garden I call Gramcracker Four is a symbol of love and memories. I also have a red headed woodpecker on the tree, a memory of a garden past.

This garden I call my Aunt Celinda garden. My aunt loved flowers and her yard was always full of all kinds. There is a rose, peonies and petunias. My aunt was a very special person in my life. The first plant to go into that garden was a yellow rose. It was planted shortly after she went to heaven.

A pretty statue of a little girl is nestled in the garden, along with a lazy gnome in a hammock. A gnome that lights up at dark is welcoming all who want to visit. Two items in this garden are Mother's day gifts from my boys. The petunias and in the upper right corner is a planter full of

moss. It is a girl holding the pot. She has a purple ribbon in her hair. Special things in a very special garden.

A view from a distance. Hope you enjoyed your tour today.

The First Games of Summer 2009

When the games of summer start, you expect it to be warm....right? Well, someone forgot to tell old man winter to look at the calendar. It was a cold day in the ball park. I had a ton of clothes on, but just couldn't keep my hands or ears warm. Landon played first and it was the coldest then. Clouds and no sun. When Shelbie's game started the sun finally made an appearance. It was still chilly, but not as bad as earlier in the day. The kids played well, and of course I think they are the best. It wasn't a good day for picture taking. I hope to take better ones next time. It's great fun to watch the kids, they put their heart and soul into the game. I am looking forward to the games to come.

Here we are AGAIN!!

The motley crew was together tonight for dinner. I have to laugh out loud when I look at this picture. Mary was told to move because she was blocking Marsha. OMG Mary, is that a Betty Boop smile? I told her that I would crop her out if it was bad.........I lied!! We had a great time, good food and lots of laughs. It is so nice to be with this group. I think we should form a RED HATTERS group. What fun it would be to traipse in to a restaurant decked out in red and purple. Of course Mary Beth would have to wear PINK, she's not old enough to wear RED...........yet!! Taking a vote from my readers out there. Yea or Ney!! It was Spears tonight with good food and absolutely great pie. No spills tonight, darn. Next time it's Mexican. Yahoo my favorite!!

Before I Was A Mom

Before I was a Mom, I never tripped over toys or forgot words to a lullaby. I didn't worry whether or not my plants were poisonous. I never thought about immunizations. Before I was a Mom, I had never been puked on. Pooped on. Chewed on. Peed on. I had complete control of my mind and my thoughts. I slept all night. Before I was a Mom, I never held down a screaming child so doctors could do tests. Or give shots. I never looked into teary eyes and cried. I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin. I never sat up late hours at night watching a baby sleep. Before I was a Mom, I never held a sleeping baby just because I didn't want to put him down. I never felt my heart break into a million pieces when I couldn't stop the hurt.! I never knew that something so small could affect my life so much. I never knew that I could love someone so much. I never knew I would love being a Mom. Before I was a Mom, I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my body.. I didn't know how special it could feel to feed a hungry baby. I didn't know that bond between a mother and her child. I didn't know that something so small could make me feel so important and happy. Before I was a Mom, I had never gotten up in the middle of the night every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay. I had never known the warmth, the joy, the love, the heartache, the wonderment or the satisfaction of being a Mom. I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much, before I was a Mom . ~ author unknown

Happy Mother's Day to all. It is my prayer that joy and love fills your

heart and soul.

A PRINCESS AND A PRINCE

Shelbie & Landon

I am suppose to be cleaning up this place, but in doing that, I found this picture of Shelbie and Landon. So I decided I needed to scan it to my blog. I guess this is a "rest" period. I remember when it was taken, and I put it away because I wanted to find just the right frame for it. It's a good picture to have been taken in one of those mall picture booths, don't cha think. Of course it doesn't hurt that they are just good looking kids does it? Must take after the Gram~cracker. (this is where you smile) They have changed a lot since this was taken last August, taller, cuter etc. etc. Love to my sweeties in Newton!!