What a Cute Idea!

I think Jessica got this idea from Pinterest, truly the source for all things cute, creative, and crafty! She takes a photo each month of Storm with his monkey to track the progress of his growth. Here are the first three months:

July 2014

August 2014

September 2014

Home Again!

We've been on the road the past week visiting our oldest son and DIL in Kansas. I miss JD and Janel so much during the year and enjoy every moment we're able to spend with them.

We left last Tuesday afternoon to try to outrun the moisture from Odile, which never materialized in our part of the state. We arrived in Manhattan, KS mid afternoon on Thursday. The purpose of our trip, besides spending time with the kids, was to lay flooring in their home.

Dan and JD got started on Friday morning and finished the job on Sunday around lunch time. It looks beautiful! It's amazing how changing your flooring can change the entire look of your home.

Duke attempting to make friends with Piper

Dan laying the new floor in the entry 

JD working on the kitchen floor 

Part of Janel's container garden,

she has quite the green thumb!  

Me and Janel!

Janel and JD 

Piper, our new grand-cat 

Nym

Me and my son!

Duke, Dan, JD

While the boys were busy working, Janel and I were busy having fun!! Having our priorities straight, the first thing we did on Friday was head to Picture This Plus in Abilene, KS. In case you've never been there in person, you may not know that PTP is on the basement floor of the building and a new and used bookstore is on the street level. The bookstore accepts donations and gives a store credit that can be used at either the bookstore or PTP. Of course, Janel used her credit at PTP! Next time we go I'm going to take our books and see what credit I can get.

Marilyn and her staff are all terrific and available to help in any way needed. I bought four fabrics and one pattern. We'll back there again next July and of course, will stop in again. We also visited a couple of antique shops in Abilene and had a delightful lunch at Mr. K's Farmhouse. Then we ran up to Salina to Sam's Club and then back home.

On Saturday morning, I attended Janel's card club and actually made some cards! I was so nervous about this because I've not really used stamps before (Janel sells Stampin Up products). But Janel walked me through it and I thoroughly enjoyed myself!!

My first attempt at stamping

After lunch, we headed down to Aggieville for the 125th year celebration. Then Janel took me over to the mall.

On Sunday morning, we sat outside and stitched while the boys were finishing up the floor. It was glorious weather, and a nice change from stitching in the air conditioning in Phoenix!! We also got to stitch outside on the deck that afternoon after the boys were through using the saw out there.

Sunday night we went to The Little Grill for dinner. It's a Jamaican place with live music almost every night. We went there last time we were in town and loved it. It's on our list of places to definitely go every time we visit!

I came home inspired to speed up my stitching! It's hard to leave them; Dan and I agreed that we start missing them as soon as we pull out of their driveway. But this year they're coming home for Thanksgiving so I will see them soon. Since JD and Dan worked so hard while we were out there, I want to be sure to have lots of down time for them to spend together here. Jessica, Janel, and I are planning a lunch at The Spicery which will include stitching time for all three of us. I can't wait to see them again!!

Snips and Snails and Puppy Dog Tails...

We were so fortunate as parents, we had two girls and two boys. We had all of the joys and challenges of raising kids of both genders. They are definitely different!

Now we have two granddaughters and two grandsons. What fun it is to have joys and challenges, yet not be responsible!

Last week was basically boys week at our house. I'd like to share some of the fun with you.

Rascal, Dan, and Thunder building the train track

Storm smothered in toys provided by Thunder

He loves to watch those monkeys!

Poor Storm, he can't even see Thunder for all the toys

Chillin' out with Gramps

Hurricane Season?!

A week ago today we awoke to rainfall courtesy of Hurricane Norbert. More rain than I can remember receiving in my 37 years of living in Phoenix. All of the freeways were closed down at one spot or another. The washes were all running, leaving surface streets flooded. School was cancelled in most of the Valley for the first time that anyone could recall. It was amazing. We normally receive 7 inches of rain annually and we got 4 inches out here in Surprise. Chandler, on the East side of town, received almost 6 inches of rain!

We don't have storm drains in Phoenix. The streets are built to be the drains. Needless to say there was no where for all of that water to go. Each neighborhood is required to have retention areas to collect the water from the streets.

The greenbelt behind our house - filled with 4+ feet of water

Another low spot back there.

The sidewalk that runs directly behind our house.

There is a dip and this is 5+ feet of water making it impassable.

Although the amount of rain we received was unusual, getting moisture from a spent tropical system is not that unheard of. It happens every few years or so.

Today we are bracing for the moisture from Hurricane Odile. She is much stronger than Norbert was and is turning in to Mexico much closer to Arizona. As of this morning, the weather forecasters are not even venturing a guess as to how much rain we may receive. They're just telling everyone to prepare. 

Two hurricanes in one year! Awesome!

Never Forget

Do You Remember?

Can you recall what was going on in your life 13 years ago today? I can't either. It was a Monday so I'm sure that Dan got up at 5 am to take JD to early Band Practice. He returned home and the other kids and I got up at our regular times and we all got ready to go to school and work.

I can't recall what I was doing at work, I think we were trying to decide what type of a Christmas Event we were going to plan that year (I worked at our church). We all came home from school and work, ate dinner, did homework, watched TV, went to bed on time We expected to get up the next morning and do it all again.

We had no idea that the world as we knew it would cease to exist the next morning and a new "normal" would begin.

What's going on in your life today? Are you moving through your day on auto-pilot? Are you expecting life to continue in the same fashion day after day, month after month, year after year?

Maybe it will.

Maybe it won't.

Being a news junkie, I hear all of the threats, specific and non-specific, I pay attention to what's going on in the world, I'm aware of important anniversary dates. I am not afraid. I do not let the threats scare me into not living my life. I do not have stockpiles of food, weapons, water, ammunition, or generators stored in my garage.

I'm not saying I bury my head in the sand. I make preparations for the "just in case" like having some cash on hand, making sure the car is usually full of gas, making sure my cell phone is charged.

And I have faith.

I may not be able to recall the details of Monday, September 10, 2001, but I know I had faith that day. Even as I watched the horrors of the next morning, I had faith.

Today as the alarm bells sound all around us, and the horrors that are being committed are too terrible to be watched, I have faith.

That's why regardless of what tomorrow brings, 13 years from now I will look back on today and know that I went about my day without fear, but with faith.

Do you not know?

Have you not heard?

The Lord is the everlasting God,

the Creator of the ends of the earth.

He will not grow tired or weary, 

and his understanding no one can fathom.

He gives strength to the weary

and increases the power of the weak.

Even youths grow tired and weary,

and young men stumble and fall;

but those who hope in the Lord

will renew their strength.

They will soar on wings like eagles;

they will run and not grow weary,

they will walk and not be faint.

Isaiah 40:28-31

Official Three Month Photo

Oh my, I can't believe Storm is already three months old! We managed to get our official photo made in addition to some cute cousin photos:

Official Three Month Photo

  

Boys Day at Grammy's house

Thunder has a tight grip on Storm

Gramps came home just in time for a photo

I think Storm has had it with the picture taking!

Thunder

I was chasing Thunder around the house with my camera the other day. This is the result:

 

Isn't he a cutie/!

Student of the Month, Cousins, Birthday, Siblings - Goodbye August!

August ended on a high note! Sunny was picked as Student of the Month for her Kindergarten class. Yippee! I was able to go to the assembly to watch her get her award. Well, I went to the assembly, that's true; but I did not see her get her award. She was afraid of the school mascots and was off in a corner! I got a picture of her when they dropped me off at home! Way to go Sunny, we're so proud of you!

On Sunday, Jessica, Adam, and Storm and Zach and Skye came over to celebrate Dan's 59th birthday. In addition to a delicious lunch, we got in some swimming time. Skye is a little fish and loves to swim. Storm was very calm for his first time in the pool. I got some great photos of the cousins. Dan is absolutely thrilled with his gift which is a ride in a race car with a professional driver. He has two years to use the coupon and you can bet I'll go along to get photos when he goes for his ride!

The birthday guy with his cookie "cake"

Storm practicing his sitting

Skye enjoying her cousin

Storm wasn't sure when Jess first dipped him in the pool.

Skye is standing by to help!

Handing off to Gramps - relaxed baby

Storm's first swim with Gramps

Isn't this a sweet Daddy/Daughter photo?

Tio Zach ferrying Storm across the water

More cousins cuddles

Skye helped to blow out the candles

Every photo had Skye's tongue sticking out - oh well!

Playing with Duke

Grandkids - the joy of my life!

Jessica, Dan, Zachary 

My oldest and my youngest

Skye wanted to play ring around the rosie, which we all did as soon as the picture taking was over!