Thursday Thoughts

It's been a while since I did a Thursday Thoughts post so here I go again.

I was fortunate to have two wonderful grandmothers and also fortunate to have them well into my adult life.  There is just something special about a grandparent relationship.  They do want the best for you but they also like to indulge a bit, which is ok!  Both of my grandmothers were good cooks and food from them was a real gift.  I have certain  foods that make me think of my grandmothers.  One of them passed along the Dr. Pepper gene to me!

Yes, I am one of 'those' mothers!  I don't know how many times I put my kids to bed and snuck back in the kitchen to eat a hidden treat, only to have one of them get back up and I nearly choke trying to swallow a cookie that is half eaten.  Then, I had to hide any evidence of a wrapper or crumbs so that the kids don't start begging for a snack too. 

No way in the world am I ever going to give up chocolate!  I am not a quitter when it comes to eating chocolate.  I believe our school health books should reorganize that whole food pyramid thing and put chocolate in there somewhere as one of the major food groups.  For real...they should!

This is SO true!  I hate being alone overnight especially and every noise is greatly exaggerated to sound as if someone is breaking in the house.  I don't know how many times I've called a neighbor or a friend to come over and check things out.  Of course, so far, there has never been any real cause for alarm.  I hope it stays that way when we move out in the country!

 So, so many people live in the past, especially when there are bad things that have happened to them.  There is nothing you can change about whatever happened in the past.  If it was something bad or tragic, hopefully we learn from those events and don't make choices that put us right back in those situations. 

This is one of Allan's favorite sayings.  He always says it to us when we're complaining about something, especially if it is something we have no control over and no way to change it.  Sometimes, we just have to accept it and make the best out of it.

And finally, this is my last thought today.  There is still an hour left for Sonic's Happy Hour and if you miss that, then go to McDonald's where drinks are $1 all day! 

Weekend Update

Happy Monday everyone!  We've had a pretty busy but fun weekend.
On Thursday night, I went with a group from church to the Fish Fry in Paris to celebrate a member's birthday.

We had such a great time visiting and laughing with each other.  The Fish Fry has the BEST hush puppies around.  I ate so many of them dipped in butter...yummmmm

The staff came in singing "Happy Birthday" to Barbara and brought her a huge roll  with a candle in it.  She promptly slathered it in honey and ate it in front of us without even offering to share!  I guess you can get away with not sharing when it's your birthday.  I'll remember that when it's MY birthday in a few weeks!
Friday night, we got together with this same group, plus some others, for game night at church.  The church provided hotdogs/buns and the rest of us brought all the trimmings.  We ate and then got the games started.

This is one vicious, cut throat group of women playing Skip-bo.  They play for blood and it gets dangerous at times!  Sometimes they play Phase 10 and it gets pretty hairy also!

Von & grandson, "J", had an intense game of checkers going on.  I hope Von let him win!
I volunteered was coerced into playing dominoes.  I do not know how to play dominoes and these guys are serious about their game.  Caral wanted me to be his partner!  I agreed with the condition that he wouldn't yell at me if I played the wrong thing and cost us the game.  He agreed but another man, Jack, must have felt really sorry for me because he came to sit by me to coach me on what to do.

He said I played real good!  Of course, he directed me on each and every play.  I really didn't learn a thing but we won the game! I was totally lost on all of the domino terminology...nello, tricks, trumps.  I have no idea about any of that!

I had a good time but had no idea what I was doing which provided for a lot of laughs.  I'm not sure if they were laughing with me or at me!  I'm afraid I'll be asked to play again since I was on the winning team.  Maybe I shouldn't have played so well!

I know there is NO chance I'll be asked to play dominoes at this table...never, never, never will I have to worry about that.  There is no joking, no chit-chat...just serious domino playing.

 Michael and the kids played ping-pong, although for him, it was mainly chasing wild balls bouncing off the walls and ceilings.

"N" thought she was some kind of ping-pong princess!  She really wore Michael out though so I guess that counts for something.  Anyway, we all had a great time and filled up on food and fellowship.
Saturday morning, I met my sister-in-law to get my niece for the weekend.  After picking her up, we came back and watched Allan's TKD black belt class for a bit.

We left TKD and went to get Happy Meals and have a picnic at the Elephant Walk/Park.  We have such a nice play area here for the kids along with a walking trail for everyone else.
After "K" ate her lunch, she wove a pot holder for me!

She made several of these over the weekend.

She had such a good time and I enjoyed watching her play.

We left the park after she got too hot to enjoy herself.  She wanted to go to my house and play with our animals.

Sandy was loving all of the extra attention she got from "K".  Abby was the only cat that would come around her. Abby is recovering from bladder surgery she had last week, but she was still pretty playful with "K".

  Hershey stayed in his hiding place the whole afternoon.  Oreo was just on guard in case he needed to make a run for it.
It was getting near supper time, so I took her out to mom and dad's since she was spending the night with them.
Sunday was a great day at church followed by more fellowship Sunday night at Braum's.

Playing Catch-up!

I know it's Friday the 13th, but I'm just now getting around to doing my 4th of July post...just a little late!
We had a really fun day on the 4th. 

It started off with Sandy and I being all festive with our flag head boppers on!  It took forever before Allan finally got pics that were any good.  Sandy is not a fan of picture taking to begin with and she sure enough wasn't a fan of having to wear head boppers as she was getting her picture made!

She finally had had enough and got to a point where she wouldn't even look at me!  I was bribing her with doggy treats and she still couldn't be convinced to cooperate any further.
Allan and I loaded up and went to mom and dad's house to cook out.  Allan was the designated griller this time and he did a great job.

He grilled rib-eyes and corn on the cob.  It was the first time he'd ever grilled corn and oh my goodness, it was so good! We'll definitely be doing it again.

My brothers and their families came also.  I just love being around the little kids.  They are so funny and constantly keep us laughing.

These brothers are so cute!  4 year old "C", when asked to wear the head boppers for a picture, answered me saying, "How bout I wear the boppers and take NO pictures?"  I finally convinced him to do both!

"K" was not a huge fan of the boppers either, but she cooperated without too much twisting of her arm.  She is so cute!

I love these kids so much.  They all get along so well when they're together. They were really into searching for locust shells this time.  I think they gathered up every single one out there!

I have NO idea where they get their silliness from!! 

Mom and Dad always enjoy having all of us kids home together.  We really missed  Ashley & Colby not being there though.  I think this is the first 4th that we've not all been together in a long time. 

They did have a good time with their own 4th festivities with the other set of grandparents and also with their 'adoptive' family from church.

Everyone left late in the afternoon since we all had to get ready for church that evening.  After church, Allan & I went out to the Choctaw Plaza to watch their firework display.  It was gorgeous!

I hope everyone had a fun, safe 4th!