Christmas Meal

Mine and Matthews conversation just now...over text...

Me: we're have steak,potatos, salad and greens for Christmas dinner. 

Matthew:  Steak!  Yum!!!

Me: Oh and a birthday cake.

Matthew. For who?

Me: Jesus!!!  duh!  Christmas is Jesus birthday!!!! 

Matthew: 😳

Me: You're going to hell!

Look up!

The summer is upon us.  Here comes the sunburns, loud music and lake life.  It's time that we hit the water and sit by the campfires...play volley ball, cruise with the top down and rejoice in the freedoms the outdoor gives us.  Wouldn't it be nice to NOT be tied down to an electronic device?  Actually visit with the people that are with you instead of the ones on your friends list?  Your youth is leaving you... One day at a time... And before you know it these summer days will be gone.. And years from now you won't remember it because you seldom, if ever, looked up.

I am invoking a new rule at my house.  When more than one is present and wanting to visit... NO cell phones or any other electronic device that holds your attention hostage will not be allowed.  I will place a basket by the front door with a note that tells them to surrender it or I will zap it in the microwave!  Okay maybe not the microwave but it will get ugly!  Make the effort to enjoy your surroundings and the people you have in your life right now!  Live in the moment and be grateful that you have friends outside of social media, not everyone does!

We Were His Forever Home

He bed hopped all night and slept with anyone that would let him on thier bed.  He loved our back yard in Guymon that over looked the park.  He would chase the squirrels until he almost caught one and decided he really had no idea what to do with a squirrel.

As a puppy he was a chick magnet at the ball park for Tanner.  He was glad to help... he got lots of attention helping Tanner met girls.  He was on a monthly grooming schedule and strutted his stuff after a visit... but gave me the stink eye when I took him to his appointments.

If we went out of town he would snub us for hours when we got back.  So mad at us for not taking him.

He always had his independence with the convenience of a doggy door.  Coming and going as he please.  He loved not having to ask or wait.

He was 9, when we got Belson, and he became a big brother.  He was extremely annoyed and bothered by the hyperness of a new puppy.    Just when he was getting use to a quiet house with Tanner and Katie both moved away to college, Belson became his new playmate.  We think that Belson kept him young.

Over the last few years of his life, he became the old dog.  Sleeping all the time and not wanting to be bothered much.  Occasionally he would play, but not often.  His tail hadn't been held up in years and  we noticed that he stared off into the distance.

He got to where he couldn't hear or see.  And he became dependent on us to help him outside and bring him back in.  He was letting us know he was ready to say goodbye.

So after 15 years I fixed him a steak dinner and gave him two chocolate chip cookies.  Katie came over and loved on him and took pictures.  Matthew came over too and loved on him, telling him goodbye.

Dennis, Tanner and I were with him when he fell asleep.  He was ready.  He had been loyal to us and loved all of us his whole life.  We were his forever home.

Alex years ago getting loved on my Katie while Belson waited for his turn

Taking a nap on the back patio 

When we brought Belson home.

Alex reading a book. :)

Fake Lashes

No one likes to grow older, but women seem to fight it more than men do.  Botox and girdles... Fake nails and hair extensions.  Lipstick that never fades.  Secret serum that pulls your skin tight in two minutes! (just dont have any emotions while you wear it.). 

We age or we die.  It's not rocket science ...those are the choices.... and since death is less appealing to me than aging.... I reluctantly will choose aging.  

Sigh ...

Sure, my ass is rounder and my face has lots of laugh lines.... (My own fault for having funny friends right?)  I now have to take one a day vitamin for "50 and older", and my glasses have not one!  

Not two! 

But three different prescriptions in them.  

I'm not being dramatic about it either.  I'm stating the cold hard facts.

And since I have colored my hair so often, (31 years but who's counting)...I'm not sure what color it actually is anymore, but Im pretty sure that gray is one of the primary new colors.

Everyone wants to be forever young... Or at least young looking. 

Truth is you can't beat Mother Nature at what she does best, but the one thing I can do is wear fake Eyelashes!

So I guess long story short: 

Doctor visit as you begin to fall apart $52,435.89

Beauty products that don't work $7,345, 727

Waking up with fake eyelashes on... Priceless!

She's A Person

This is my sweet granddaughter Joanie.  I love her very much.

I look at her and automatically get happy!  I find that I plan my life around knowing her.  I plan my days at work around playing with her.  I think about all the many sleep overs we will have with her and her cousins... the forts made of blankets that will no doubt surround my living room, and the amount of cookies we will make and then eat. The holidays we will share, the secrets we will enjoy and the silliness we will get into.  I think about her safety and base decisions on her well being.

To think that just 9 months ago she wasn't here, although she did exist... we did not know her.  And now, she is the center of our families universe.

New hope.
New love.
New understanding.

That's what babies are suppose to do to families.
She has touched the lives of so many in her life already.  And wraps us more tightly around her little fingers every day.  She may only be 8 months old, but she deserves respect, kindness, sensitivity, patience, understanding and love.
 
She's a person.  Not just a baby, and she will always be a prominent member of our family.

Our Forever Home

We are looking to move.....

Not to a far away place, although if I found a castle with a moat..... I would fly across the ocean for that location!  However, I did find a house here in Yukon with a pond right out the back door.  And when I say right out the back door... I meant back patio.... going fishing!  There is NO YARD!  It's a cool concept, and a beautiful view.  It looks like you are living on a lake... but when it rains it pours and when that happens... your house will be floating!  So no.  We are not buying that one.  We have been wanting some yard space.  We have found some acreages that we really like.  We can build a nice home and have some room to grow, and then when the time comes... you can bury us in the back yard! lol

I have several plans and an WONDERFUL real estate agent that has scoured the entire county side looking for a great place and she has talked to several architects about the house I want.  ( I have a DEFINITE KITCHEN PLAN IN MY HEAD)  and maybe one day soon (because we will put it on a 15 year note)... we can get this started.  We aren't getting any younger and I want my forever home to be functional for us now, our growing family, and us as senior citizens!

Squirrel!

Ya know.... I'm a busy woman..... But I never manage to get all my stuff done.... I blame it on my A.D.D, clearly!!!    Today I cleaned out my kitchen cabinets.  Was that my plan for today?   Nooooooo.  My plan for today was to catch up on some daycare paperwork.  My mistake was unloading the dishwasher and realizing how unorganized everything was.  

The BUCK STOPS with you

I just took a quiz that said:

"Most minimum wage jobs are meant to develop experience, not support a family."

As a business owner I agree.  I pay well above minimum wage to most and it's still not enough to support a family.  The cost of living is too high for one income regardless what people make....how do we change this? When does it stop being the employers issue on ' not paying enough'?

Know your spending limits.

A-Twoooooooo

I love this game... My dad made this for me and my family.  We play it often at family events. Nothing says family like eating dessert, drinking coffee and playing aggravation.  And we think about him every time we play it.

My friends do not have gray hair!!!

It ain't right and I am going to color your hair when you sleep if you post one more picture of yourself with gray hair!  STOP THE MADNESS!!!!  We are still young!  Go out kicking and screaming, but NOT GRAY!

Christmas at the Carters ...