A Moment to Myself!!

Okay, the guys are not here... Meech is at Logan's and Doug is not home from work yet, but could be at any time... let's see how much updating we can do before my moment is history!! First.. pics from Buffalo! I'm still not sure I've recovered from our weekend! When I got there Friday nite, late as always, Kisha had been busy trying to keep some good friends busy so they could surprise me! It seems when I get down there I never have enough time to visit friends, so Kisha brought them to me! On the left is my bestest girlfriend Shana, and next to her are the most adorable couple I know, Roman and Marilya. (Hubby is home by the way!)

It was so good to see them and spend some time with them! I still haven't seen Shana's new house, and I didn't get to see Emmy, her almost 1 year old daughter, this time around, but I hope next time!!

Saturday, Kisha & I got haircuts, and went shoe shopping, dropped off sons, and picked up Shana and Kyrie (my other 2 daughters) and then on to massages and pedicures!! below is a rare shot of the 3 girls together and actually looking happy!

This one of Shana just seemed to fit so well, and boy do they look relaxed or what after their massages???

Then, it was time for dinner! We went to Rusty Bones, and had a really good time, the food was good, and the waiter, what a cutie! Of course, we were all pretty tired by then, especially Half Pint (that's Kyrie, who was all of 3 lbs 2 oz when she was born!), so she got dropped home, and the remaining 3 of us did more shopping at Bath & Body. We have really hard water here in Homer, so B & B is fast becoming my favorite store, and the nearest one here is 3o minutes away!!! After picking up Zoe - kins and dropping her and Shana home, Kisha & I went to the wake for Luke. You all know about that, and thank you for checking out Kisha's blog for the details.

As if that were not enough, I still had to make sure to see my other bestest girlfriend, Nancy. No pics to share, she's a knockout, but at 11 pm, I didn't think it would do her justice to take photos to post... next time! Getting home after 1 am, I pretty much melted into bed, then Sunday morning arrived, and we were off to church with all the grandkids! Visiting Good News Family Church always restores me!! After church, we took our crew to Denny's, then picked up their mothers and went to the movies to see the latest Chronicles of Narnia... good, good, good movie!! Sigh... then we all parted ways, and Meech & I shuffled home from Buffalo. It was definately go go go weekend! There are more pics, but I think this is enough for now, and I want to go spend some time with hubby. Oh.. but stay posted, I have new pics of the yard, and some pics of the strangest thing I have ever seen!!! ... Til next time!!!!

Homer's Memorial Day Parade 2008

Okay, I have been remiss again... just doesn't seem to be enough time these days! However, before hubby freaks about me being away from him for too long... here is a slide show of the Annual Homer Memorial Day Parade 2008. I had front row seating since the procession comes right down our street. The photographs (or photographer as the case may be) scream for improvement, but I hope you enjoy it anyway. More later, with the pics from Buffalo!!

Just a little bit for now....

Before I say one more word, I want to direct each & every one of you to Kisha's blog site... (follow the Link to the right). Whether you know us or not, and especially if you do, there is a very important message about God's will, and I couldn't have said it better myself. Our church family in Buffalo experienced a major loss last week, the details are under Kisha's post entitled Yesterday. Please make sure you check it out, there are some things you all need to hear and understand. Since I don't want to take away from the importance of what God is saying through her, I'm not going to add anything else right now. Please talk to your teens about driving too fast, even if they are good kids who don't do drugs or drink... like Luke. I love you all and will update more tomorrow,
Andrea

Shuffling off to Buffalo...

Well, Meech & I are going to Buffalo to visit the girls and the grands and our church family this weekend, so I figured I should update before we go.

Mother's day was really quiet, mostly just me & Doug, however, I think I have a really great husband. He made sure I got the fuscia plant I wanted, and my favorite candy, caramels. We also got 3 pink hycaniths for my little garden... 1 for each daughter. Now I have to work on the boys & grands... maybe I can find blue hyacinths?? Of course, the blues would outnumber the pinks.. I'll have to get more creative than that! My son... well... he needs to learn a thing or two about what is an appropriate Mother's day gift!! So aside from sleeping over his bf's (Homer bf that is) house the nite before, he did make me waffles for brunch when he got here, straight out of the toaster, and even warmed the butter in the microwave. That was not the gift.. the gift, apparently was 3 cases of laundry detergent. No, not bottles ... CASES. Story to that is his friend's dad works somewhere that was giving them away, and the dad insisted Meech bring some home. Okay, softy mom did not have the heart to tell him that ANYTHING that implies work is not appropriate for a mother's day gift. Got any volunteers to do it for me? I haven't even mentioned the idea to Doug to enlighten my son... yet. However, there is a sowing and reaping catch to this story. 2 Cor. 9:6 (NIV) "Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously." The prior Sunday, Abundant Life held a food drive. We contributed food, as well as 1 bottle of detergent, and didn't think anything else about it. We reaped 10 bottles (at least) of detergent. Got Laundry???

I have also been blessed with a job that pays an hourly wage of more than I've ever earned before, but get this, I don't have to do any real thinking. In my prior positions I had lots of responsibilities, and lots of stress.. now, I put things in order (which comes naturally for me), file, key in entries... and knit. Yes, I said knit. Part of what I do is back up the receptionist. Whenever she is out.. which unfortunately is quite often, I make sure people get signed in and out of the building... that's it. So, I was told to bring in something to do... maybe a book or whatever. I asked if I can bring my knitting in, and was told yes. So I greet people, and knit. I'm working on something for Zoe... but in case her mom sees this, I don't want to say what. I'll post pics when it's done. It's a temp job, but I am praising God for the time of rest!!

D has been playing LaCrosse, and loving it. He's also brought his grades up to an 84 average... life is good. Pics to come.. of LaCrosse, not his grades!

Doug, well, he works hard, volunteers with the fire dept, and is still working on my tiered garden, and planning out the little deck I want to add. He needs to learn though that you just can't take two women to one of the cutest touristy/shopping villages and expect to spend only an hour there! Kisha and I will have to make a day of that next time she is here to visit! We'll leave the boys with him!!

I think that's enough for now.. here are some pics from when Kisha was here!

The OTHER crab apple tree

I actually had to go into our neighbor's backyard to get this pic. From our yard, you can't even tell it's like this! That's because it's surrounded by our pine trees and doesn't get much sun in our yard.. but isn't it a fabulous tree!?!

crab apple tree

Ok, so the crab apple tree in the back yard really blossomed today... I sure wish the lilac trees would catch up! Anyway, I am really trying to do justice to it with photos, but only one came out that I really liked. Here you go, Peachy...

... and for those of you wondering... I used to call Kisha ... Keechy Pean, when she was little, or Peachy Keen .... which ... she is.

My sister

I wish I had a picture to post... but I just wanted to share with folks... my sister & I were estranged for the longest time... bad bad teenage years... and are now back in touch. Let me tell you, it's the best feeling in the world! We'll be going to see her and her family in July, I can't wait!

Nagged into updating actually works!!!

Isn't my darling daughter just too funny? Her first post was while she was here visiting, and this last one (thanks for the pic Peachy!) is her way of nagging me to update my site! She is soo right, and I always mean to, but every time I sit down to do it, something or someone gets in the way!! I should find a baby pic of her and post it... just for fun!

Speaking of photos... yesterday was Frump Queen day for me after work. I left on my ankle length forest green skirt, put on my shoe slippers, changed into my long sleeved navy blue t-shirt from the fire dept, and threw on my red & green plaid (yes, Nancy, I said plaid) flannel jacket so Doug & I could do our "Yard walk". That's where he and I stroll around the yard perimeter to see what's popping up with all the rain and warmer weather we've been getting. Yes, I actually went outside dressed like that, which I would never have done in Buffalo. So why is it, back in the house, both my guys decide it's the perfect picture to take??? And proceed to chase me around my kitchen and dining room and ADK porch until they got pics? Now, I'm not worried about Doug posting it anywhere, he's not that savvy with this stuff.. yet, but Meech?? Who knows where his pic might show up once he uploads it from his phone!!!

We've made some additions to the yard... 4 new rose bushes, 1 red, 2 yellow & 1 orange, plus Doug has really been working at building a tiered garden for me behind the garage... and wonder of wonders... the bulbs I planted last fall are really blooming! If you checked out the spring has sprung photoshow, you'll be able to see the progress. By the way, there is a link at the bottom of the blog for older posts, for those of you who haven't seen the other posts. Oh, and Kisha, you'll be so proud of your Mom, I'm growing potted tomatoes!! Woo Hoo! Have to, since I can't pick any of yours!!!

By the way, Kish, remember the little tree in my back yard that we like so much? Here's a photo of what it looks like in spring, just for you!

Gotta go, half pint daughter just called me!

ok if MOM isn't going to post here!

Then I will! HA! And this is why you never give anyone your password either....
Ok nevermind. Here ya go mom - a cute pic of Zoey for you! Love you! Kisha