Kalli and the pumpkins

Kalli decided to carve pumpkins on Saturday. No newspaper, but many knives, a silver and black Sharpie, spoons & a strawberry tool were used. She also decided we should be able to use the stringy-stuff that is in the inside of the pumpkin. Oh, the mind of a soon-to-be 18-year-old!

She made a typical jack-o'lantern face. You can see the Sharpie on the pumpkin; Kalli did scrape it off with her fingernail; very much like scraping off a code on a piece of paper. Brought back many memories for her - it's

the little things they remember about their childhood.

A new picture with Briar!

She is almost finished with obedience school. One more week of class; we'll see how much she's learned.

She is a great helper - ha! ha!

Kalli's "new friend", Micah. They have been friends since middle school. He didn't want to carve a pumpkin, but Kalli has great persuasive skills. Need I say more!

Both pumpkins are on the porch with tealights in them. They are BOO-tiful!

K in the sunflowers!

I'm trying my hand at photographing people. My guinea pig is my beautiful, youngest daughter, K. She is a senior this year, and frankly, the two people I want to take her pictures do not live near me. So, I'm taking a few throughout the year to see what transpires.

I've always said "I want to take her picture in the sunflowers" that are everywhere in September, but it never fails that we wait too long. This year I drug her out of the house one evening when we should have been focusing on dinner. They turned out okay, but I can see I need plenty of practice.

The pesky sun made for some interesting shadows.

I think the last one is the best!

We'll try again next week - it's fall break!

Briar

I've decided today is the day I need to post something. Our puppy is the evil dog that is responsible for tearing apart any stuffed animal, rope or plastic toy that is given to her. She has obliterated all of the animals from our dearly departed Rusty. She cannot stand for any stuffed object to have stuffing, eyes, ears, legs, etc. The squeaker in any toy is subject for fair game. Rubber or plastic - you are dead! She is the great rescuer of socks. She loves to play with the neighbors dogs and cats. Great relief - Rusty was NOT social.

We have grown to love this vivacious mutt of a dog. Kalli picked her out at Petco on East weekend. Her mom is a border collie - she does not look like a border collie. Just so you know, Kalli picked the "calm one". There is more to tell, but it would take too long. There's always another day.

My baby is 22 today!

I cannot believe 22 years ago today I gave birth to a 6lb. 14oz. baby girl!  We thought it would be a boy - good thing it wasn't because we didn't have a boy name picked out.  She arrived three weeks early - please don't be jealous.  We definitely weren't ready - Bill had to go buy the crib mattress and put the crib together in the evenings while we were in the hospital.  We called my mom to tell her to bring a camera when she came to work that morning - she was a nurse on the same floor in the hospital, but not in OB.  She only stayed a few minutes because she had to get to work - Sister let her come down once we had her, right after 7:30am.  That must be why they have such a great relationship - Granma Virgie - gotta love her! Since she was early she turned a little yellow - stayed seven days in hospital - not exactly the Ritz!  I have so many great memories with this precious bundle of joy that I would be telling tales all night long.  

So tonight she is out with many of her crazy sorority sisters that are truly a family.  Even though we didn't see eye-to-eye on this, she needs to know that we still love her and this is part of growing up. It's tough making decisions and then following through with those decisions. 

I've always seen her on her birthday so it is a little bittersweet.  Tomorrow will come and I will get to see her beautiful face once again.

Happy Birthday Lauren!  May this year be full adventure.  It's bound to happen.

love you always, mom 

Rusty, sweet dog and puppy

It is with great sorrow that I write about my beautiful Rusty.  He was the dog I never wanted.  I must have known that when he would die, it would break my heart into more pieces than I could ever imagine.  

Rusty found us in June 2000.  He wandered onto our lawn and Bill and the kids fell in love with him.  I didn't.  I didn't want a dog because I knew I would be responsible for one more "person" in my home.  I did fall in love with him.  He never failed to love.  He brought laughter to our family.  He didn't care for the cats in the neighborhood, the squirrels in the trees or the skunks on the golf course.  I can't count the number of tomato juice baths he was given.  He was a great walking companion, the great protector from the UPS and FedEx man, and my friend when the rest of the family was gone for the evening or night.  I will miss the red hairballs  on the tile and the masses of red hair in the vacuum.  I will miss that we had to carry him into the dog wash. He was afraid of water.  He was petrified of thunderstorms. He loved to bury the steak bones we gave him.  He howled at all sirens, inside or outside.  He loved Bill the most.  Kalli taught him tricks - she was trying to teach him right and left.  We always called him "puppy" even though he was far from being a puppy.  He loved the guinea pigs.  He had two stuffed dogs that he slept with every night. I will miss the fact that he was just the best dog God could have sent to us - he came potty trained.  I guess I thought he would live forever, or at least as long as I lived.  What was I thinking?

Rusty left us on March 29 after becoming suddenly ill.  We will miss him so much.  He will forever be in our hearts.  Rest in peace sweet puppy.

Spring Break in the wind

It seems that this break has just breezed by way too fast.

It could be that time won't stand still for me and just let

the people I love stay in one place for more than a moment.

Lauren left for Panama City with a group of sorority sisters 

on Friday and came back Thursday.

Jordan came home on Saturday.

Bill left on Sunday for Washington DC to attend a class for the 

Guard and came back home on Friday.

Jordan, Kalli and I went to Dallas on Monday and Tuesday.  The plan was to see King Tut, but I didn't plan ahead - NO tickets.  So we thought we would go to the Aquarium.  Can you believe there was a very long line?  Kalli made the command decision to not stand in line and head on back to OKC.  We did eat at two of our favorite eateries and did some shopping at Northpark, Allen Outlets and a new favorite, Home Goods.  I have learned my lesson, thank you very much. (Kalli & Jordan @ the Aquarium.) 

Kalli left on Thursday morning on a mission trip to southern OK to spruce up a handicap campground (dare you to say that fast five times) with our LifeChurch campus youth group.  She text me last night to let me know "it's a tad cool here".  I don't think she packed any "warm" clothes. She gets back today!

I will have everyone around tonight and half a day tomorrow before everyone scatters again.  I am extremely sad about this.  I hate that everyone is growing up!  I don't know how this happened.  

If I could find the clock that would turn back the hands of time, I would.

If I could bottle them, I would.

If I could put bricks on their heads to stop them from growing, I would.

But since I can't, I will love them while they are here and enjoy their

faces and their sounds as much as possible until we are all together

again.  

Jordan's home!

Jordan is home for the week!  I just made him chocolate chip cookie dough, and some cookies.  I can't ship cookie dough - I should figure that out for him.  Wouldn't that be a nice surprise.