Baby Days

Well, if you have been wondering where I have been lately, here are a few pictures to fill you in. 

 

 

This is grandbaby # 13, born in November

These are #14 born in December, along with #13

Here is #12, born in October

 

And here is a better picture of #14

 

Here is #11, she turned 1 in November

 

 

 

So, to recap... Three little baby girls in three months plus a 1st birthday has been keeping this grandma busy.  Sadly only one lives close enough to see frequently.  But I keep up with the others by text and facebook and see them as often as I can.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Easter Break

Finally, it has arrived.  Nine glorious days of no school (work).  This week I have two Tupperware parties to attend, a day out with grandkids scheduled, a visit to the littlest granddaughter, a doctor visit, and a cookout on Easter Sunday.

I have already weeded two flower beds and plan to do some research on how to take care of Hostas.  There are three in my yard and two of them look like they might need some TLC.

The big plan of the week is to go through two large boxes that contain many memories, treasures and some junk.  When I got ready to move (six years ago!!) I threw anything that might appear to belong in a scrapbook or memory box into two boxes and tape them shut.  Two weeks ago, on the spur of the moment I decided to look for a scrapbook on the eve of a family event.  I searched, high and low, and did not find that silly scrapbook anywhere.  In my mind I have a picture of exactly what that book looks like.  In hindsight, I think that the execution of the scrapbook never got of the ground and that it exists only in my mind.  BUT! It is a stupendous idea and I just might make it happen someday. ha ha

Anyway, getting back on topic.  In the mad search for things unfound, I have now ripped the tape off of the two boxes from the basement and was eager to see what treasures they behold.  A trip to WalMart yielded some sturdier containers and I am now organizing things into memory boxes for each of the kids.  They will be happy I am sure to find many report cards (some years better than others), certificates from bible school and sports, scout badges, drawings, letters, newspaper clippings and other miscellaneous items that moms keep.

The kids' stuff fit in their boxes pretty well but now I still have a big pile of other stuff I have kept to go back through and make tough decisions on.

I guess I had better get back to work.  Hopefully there will be more updates as the week goes on.

Tina

WWW Wednesday (on Thursday)

OK, I know, I know, it is actually Thursday.  But I found this prompt at Should be Reading and wanted play so here goes.....

To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…


• What are you currently reading?

• What did you recently finish reading?

• What do you think you’ll read next?

I am currently reading:  A Stolen Life, a Memoir by Jaycee Dugard

Description from Amazon

In the summer of 1991 I was a normal kid. I did normal things. I had friends and a mother who loved me. I was just like you. Until the day my life was stolen.

For eighteen years I was a prisoner. I was an object for someone to use and abuse.

For eighteen years I was not allowed to speak my own name. I became a mother and was forced to be a sister. For eighteen years I survived an impossible situation.

On August 26, 2009, I took my name back. My name is Jaycee Lee Dugard. I don’t think of myself as a victim. I survived.

A Stolen Life is my story—in my own words, in my own way, exactly as I remember it.

I recently finished reading The Starry Child by Lynn Hanna

Description from Amazon

THE STARRY CHILD is a spell-binding, unforgettable story of a star-crossed love that survives through the ages, a tale as timeless as the mystic Scottish legends and forbidden lovers among the heather of long ago. Yet it is as vibrant and alive in the present day as those whose fates now hang in the balance. It's the story of a young mother who learns that her own destiny is forever tied to a man she hardly knows, a man of the Highlands. Yet in her heart, she realizes that he's someone she has always known. And at the center of it all lies an undying love held in secret by a little girl.

This book was awesome.  I could not put it down.  It was hard to go to work a couple of days because I wanted to stay home and read.  Which brings me to the next question....

What I think I will read next is the next book in the Starry Child series: Circle of Time by Lynn Hanna

Description from Amazon

The magic of Scotland... A love story that crosses the centuries... Another magnificent, award-winning time-travel romance from the author of The Starry Child

With The Starry Child, author Lynn Hanna created a unique contemporary novel based on the legends, lore, and love of Scotland. Now Ms. Hanna returns to this enchanting world--where the sole survivor of a plane crash on the rocky coast of Scotland discovers the key to his wife's forgotten past, his daughters' dreams, and his own heart...

I hope the second book is just as great as the first.

Tina

Done Being Friends

Done Being Friends by Trisha Grace
From Amazon:
Faith and Zac grew up together. Faith grew up in a supportive and loving family while Zac’s family was basically non-existence. Both have the money and looks, and they could not be more suited for each other. They have been friends for their whole life. Best friends. A line that neither dared to cross. But when Faith’s father collapsed and was sent to the hospital, her perfect little world was turned upside down. When Zac saw Faith in the arms of another, he saw the real possibility of losing her and decided to step up. But not everyone is happy about the change and amidst the chaos, more trouble awaits.
 
My Thoughts:
 
I do not recommend this book.  I bought the book for free for my Kindle.  The book was very poorly written and had many, many typos and other editing mistakes. It was very hard to follow in the beginning and I had lots of trouble keeping the characters straight. I thought it was very predictable and kind of boring. I have a problem where I have to finish what I start or I probably would have put it down after the first few chapters. 
 
Tina

A to Z Challenge 2012

I joined the A to Z challenge hosted by Strawberry Splash Reviews.  I tried an A to Z challenge a couple of years ago and failed miserably.  But I'm going to try it again.  Part of this challenge is to review each book and I am new to reviews.  So my main goal is to read the books and my secondary goal is to review them. 

I have a few hundred books loaded on my kindle and always have trouble figuring out what to read next.  I plan to just pick a letter and see what books are available for that and go from there.  Wish me luck!!!

A. Always the Wedding Planner, Never the Bride by Sandra D. Bricker

B. Bridleton by Becky Barker
C. Circle of Time by Lynn Hanna
D. Done Being Friends by Trisha Grace
E. Excuse Me, My Brains Have Stepped Out by Pandora Poikilos
F. Full Circle by Mona Ingram
G. The Glory of Green (The Green Series) by Judy Christie
H.
I. I Want it Now! A Memoir of Life on the Set of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory by Julie Dawn Cole
J. JANE MILLIONAIRE by Janice Lynn
K. The Kitchen Shrink by Dee DeTarsio
L. Last Summer by Theresa Weir
M. Me and the Ugly C by Becky Dennington
N. Not Your Everyday Housewife by Mary Campisi
O.
P. A Previous Engagement by Stephanie Haddad
Q.
R. Ryan's Return by Barbara Freethy
S. A Stolen Life by Jaycee Dugard
T. Talk of the Town by Lisa Wingate
U. Untied: A Memoir of Family, Fame, and Floundering by Meredith Baxter
V. Vada Faith by Barbara A. Whittington
W. What I Thought I Knew: A Memoir by Alice Eve Cohen
X.
Y.
Z. Zen Queen by Kirsty McManus

E-Book Challenge 2012

I joined the 2012 EBook Challenge hosted by Workaday Reads. The challenge runs from January 1, 2012, to December 31, 2012.  You can start at any time.  I am choosing the memory stick level of reading 50 ebooks this year. 

Here is my list, I will update as I go......

1. Last Summer by Theresa Weir
2. Three Girls and A baby by Rachel Schurig
3. I Want it Now! A Memoir of Life on the Set of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory by Julie Dawn Cole
4. Learn Me Good by John Pearson
5. Talk of the Town by Lisa Wingate
6. Ryans Return by Barbara Freethy
7. Always the Wedding Planner, Never the Bride by Sandra D. Bricker
8. Done Being Friends by Trisha Grace
9. Bridleton by Becky Barker
10. Me and the Ugly C by Becky Dennington
11. Into the Free: A Novel by Julie Cantrell
12. I Am Nujood, Age 10 and Divorced by Nujood Ali and Delphine Minoui
13. The Starry Child by Lynn Hanna
14. Circle of Time by Lynn Hanna
15. Full Circle by Mona Ingram
16. Untied: A Memoir of Family, Fame, and Floundering by Meredith Baxter
17. What I Thought I Knew: A Memoir by Alice Eve Cohen
18. Inconceivable by Carolyn Savage
19. The Glory of Green (The Green Series) by Judy Christie
20. Zen Queen by Kirsty McManus
21. Excuse Me, My Brains Have Stepped Out by Pandora Poikilo
22. Not Your Everyday Housewife by Mary Campisi
23. More Than Memories by Kristen James
24. Marrying Missy by Sarah Elle Emm
25. Marriage Pact by M.J. Pullen
26. Momnesia by Lori Verni-Fogarsi
27. A Previous Engagement by Stephanie Haddad
28. The Kitchen Shrink by Dee DeTarsio
29. JANE MILLIONAIRE by Janice Lynn
30. Vada Faith by Barbara A. Whittington
31. Blue Moon Bay (Moses Lake) by Lisa Wingate
32. My Emily by Matt Patterson
33. Daddy, Come & Get Me: a dad's adventure through a Guatemalan adoption by Gil Michelini
34. The Roux in the Gumbo by Kim Robinson
35. Our Husband (a humorous romantic mystery) by Stephanie Bond
36. Head Over Heels by Sara Downing
37. Ireland Rose by Patricia Strefling
38. Get Bunny Love by Kathleen Long
39. Cherry On Top by Kathleen Long
40. The Keeper by Suzanne Woods Fisher
41. Honeymoon With Harry by Bart Baker
42.  Bengali Girls Don’t: Based on a True Story (Memoirs of a Muslim Daughter) by L.A. Sherman
43. Queen of New Beginnings by Erica James
44.  Becoming Fearless: My Ongoing Journey of Learning to Trust God by Michelle Aguilar
45. Don't Shoot! I'm Just the Avon Lady! by Birdie Jaworski

2011 E-Book Challenge Recap

I realized I never posted the recap for my 2011 ebook challenge.  Here is the post where I listed my books.  My goal was to read somewhere between 20 and 50 books.  I met my challenge with 48 books.  I was just shy of the 50.  I think that was pretty good since I didn't even own my Kindle for the entire year. 

I really enjoy reading on my Kindle.  I have found so many free books that I have only purchased a couple of books that were not free.  I even checked out a couple of books from the library.  It was great to not have to drive there.  The books are delivered in seconds.

Stay tuned for the 2012 Challenge...

Tina

Goodbye 2011

Looking back on the past year I have to say it was a good one.  I am blessed with my husband, two kids I produced and 5 bonus kids, with several spouses and significant others, and we added our 11th grandbaby. My parents are healthy.  We both have jobs that keep us in what we need.

Hubby with our 11th grandbaby.  She's a girl!


I didn't post as much as I thought I would.  There is always next year.


We went on a couple of fun trips.  We went 4 wheeler riding a couple times.  We went to visit kids and grandkids in Georgia.  Spent a couple of days in the Smoky Mountains.  Went ziplining!  Spent lots of time with family.

I bought a Kindle and love it!  I have more books loaded on there than I can ever read. I joined an online E-Book challenge.  I haven't totalled up my books yet but I think I did well.

We had the invasion of the Cicadas this summer.  That was an experience that I would be happy to never have again.

We celebrated many family birthdays.  My dad turned 70 with a surprise party at the park.

I have wonderful friends that try to get together once a month or so for a girls night out.  We really enjoy those. We have a wide range of ages and places in our lives but we all get along so well.

Tonight will be a fun night at home with kids and grandkids.  We will play games and ring in the new year.  Looking forward, I have no resolutions.  I just hope to continue enjoying life with great family and friends.

Tina

Merry Christmas 2011

Merry Christmas!

Hubby and I started off our celebrating early in the month when we traveled a few hours to attend a Christmas wedding.

Hubby and I at the Christmassy wedding of a niece.

My Dad has done it again.  He hand carves an ornament for each couple and child in the family.  It takes him several hours per ornament. It is always one of my favorite gifts of the year.  You can see some of the past ornaments here.


This year's ornament

 Dad always tries to have the ornaments done by Thanksgiving so we have them to hang on our trees each year.  He was successful again this year.  The bear is laying on the black Friday ads as you can tell.


The back of the ornament.

Shopping and wrapping are done. Yay!  Hubby and I are spending a quiet Christmas Eve at home.  I have to cook a couple of dishes for tomorrow's family dinner.  I'm going to try to watch a few Christmas movies and read some Christmas books that I downloaded to my Kindle.  I will make our Christmas Eve dinner of pizza and spend some quiet time in front of the tree.

Tomorrow, we travel to my brother's house to celebrate with my family.  Probably we will spend the night with my son.  Tuesday, Hubby's daughter, husband and new baby will come to celebrate with us.  Wednesday we pick up a cousin from the airport.  He has been out of the country for a month so I'm sure there will be stories to hear.

New Year's Eve plans are not finalized yet.  We have been invited to a cousin's lake house and also my son and family want to come here so I'm not sure what we will pick.

Happy New Year!!!

New Grandbaby!

Our newest granddaughter was born this week.  She is so cute and perfect.  Mom and baby are doing great.

Here is my first time holding her.

Here she is with PaPa

After her bath and some warm clothes.

We are pretty excited grandparents.

Tina

Party!

So I had my Tupperware party the other night.  I was really worried that I wouldn't have very many orders but I did pretty well.  I ended up getting about $150.00 worth of free stuff.  My consultant was wonderful.  It was actually her first party.  She did a great job.

We had fun visiting and eating and drinking margaritas.  The consultant made a salsa using the products.  It was kind of chunky but tasted good.  Some of my friends had never been to a Tupperware party and did not own any.  Two of the girls decided to have their own parties.

Tupperware has changed a lot in the many years since I last had a party.  For one thing the prices have gone waaayyyy up.  I guess that happens with everything though.  Also, I remember the orders being sent to the dealer and she delivered to the hostess.  Now it all gets shipped directly to the hostess.  I think that is good in a way but the dealer does not get to check and make sure that the order is correct that way. 

One of the things that really bothered me is the shipping and handling.  There is a 10% shipping and handling fee with a minimum of $4.50 shipping and handling for each individual order.  Even if you only order a $15.00 item.  I had nine orders from my party so that was a total of at least $40 for my order.  Actually it was more because some people ordered enough that their S&H was more than that.  I actually had more orders than that but added a few of them together so each person would not get screwed over the minimum.  I can't see that a box or two of Tupperware should cost more than $50 to FedEx to my home.

All in all it was a good experience and I can't wait for all of my stuff to get here.  I'll try to post photos then.

Tina

Random Updates

• I updated my e-book challenge page today.  I am up to 34 books.  My goal is 50 so I am well on my way.
• Celebrated my dad's 70th birthday
• I checked out and read my first Kindle library book.  It was easy except that you have to use wi-fi to download the book and I work primarily on 3G.  I had to park in the local McD's parking lot to download.  I will definatly be checking out more books on my Kindle.
• Celebrated my birthday.
• I'm having a Tupperware party in a couple of weeks.  I am excited.
• New granddaughter is due in less than a month.  Can't wait.

• Grandson turned 3 this month.  He had a great party with lots of friends and a bounce house.
• We went a a 4 wheeler ride.  It was fun.  I love going in the fall.
• Had our 17yo grandson spend a couple of days with us.
• Hoping to go hike some trails and enjoy the fall weather today.  Hope to have some georgous photos to post soon.

Tina

Zipety Do Dah!

A few weeks ago, we got to do something we have been wanting to do for a long time.  ZIP LINE!!  On a recent trip we stopped in the Gatlinburg area for a couple of nights.  We spent the first day exploring the Smoky Mountain National Park.  I'll post about that soon.  The second day we decided to go ziplining.  I did much research online and decided that Smoky Mountain Ziplines was the place to go.  By the way, this is not a sponsored post.  We paid for our experience and the photo CD on our own.

I had read great reviews for them and liked the fact that they have many lines for you to do and not just one like some of the other places.

Once you get there you have the obligatory waivers to sign and then they fit you with safety equipment.  IN this case a helmet, gloves and a harness.  Then they load you up in the back of an army truck and drive you up the mountain.

They are all about safety and make sure you follow all of the rules.  Our guides were Peach and Diesel (Cale).  They gave us instructions and explained why their rules would keep everyone safe.  I was a little nervous at this point hoping I would remember everything.  The first two lines are very short and they are just basically for training.  The lines get longer and faster each time.

Once I got past the second line, my nerves were gone and I had a blast.  Peach and Deisel were very funny and our entire group had a blast.

On one of the lines we were told that the photographer would be taking our pictures.  He got several good pics of everyone in our group.

It was a beautiful day.  Rain was in the forcast and we had been told what to expect if it came but the weather held out for us.

At the end of the lines, we got back in the army truck and they drove us back to the starting point.  There is a store and they provide free beverages for the zipliners.  You can buy pictures of your experience.  They sell them individually or you can buy a CD of all of the pics of your entire group with a photo release.  I think the CD was only $20.  It was a great deal.

We had a great time!!   I would love to go zip lining again.

Summer fun in June

Another trip to the park.

Granddaughter turns 6

Snow cones are good and they turn your mouth fun colors. My favorite is Blue Eagle!!

Tina

Mother's Day 2011

I just realized that I posted Father's Day pics but not the Mother's Day ones. We all got together at my Son's house for our first cook out of the year. It was a beautiful day and Son made ribs in honor of my Mom who has been wanting them.
Here is Son and Daughter-in-law.

My Mom.

Hubby, Grandson and my Dad.

Grandson being silly and making faces when I try to take his pic.

He was worn out and ready for a nap.  He does not sit like this unless he is tired.  He is alway on the move.

It was a very nice day!!

Tina

Father's Day 2011

Father's Day weekend started out with some fun.  Well, actually the fun came a little later than planned.  My brother spent the night with us Friday night and we got up very early to take off for the country.  We were expected to be there at 9ish for an all day ride.  It is a 3 hour drive.  SEVEN HOURS later we arrived.  First we drove through a huge storm, then we stopped for breakfast at the golden arches.  A few miles down the road we decided to stop for gas at the exit with the lowest gas prices we had seen.  We started to pull off from the pump and heard.. thump, thump, thump.

Luckily we were still in the parking lot so we pulled over and found that there was only one lug nut holding one of the trailer wheels on and the holes on the wheel were all worn out to twice their size.  The wheel had carved a groove in the hub.  God was sooo looking over us because if that wheel had fallen off while we were on the highway it would have been a disaster.

Hubby unhooked the trailer and left me at the Wendy's to keep an eye on it while he and my brother went to look for parts.  It is a very good thing that I had my Kindle in my purse.  They came and went several times and finally got it fixed.  By this time the rain had finally cleared up and we were back on our way.

The rest of the group had decided to wait for us so we got started off on our ride about 1:30 pm.  I think there might have been 20 people all together.  Minutes after taking off, another friend had trouble with her ATV and had to load up and go home.  So that was another delay.  But!! After all of that, we had a wonderful day.  It wasn't too hot.  We stopped to swim in a couple of (cold!) creeks, ate a lot. and enjoyed the ride and the company of friends.  There was only one other mishap.  Hubby's cousin jumped in the creek with his glasses on and lost them.  The creek was clear and you could see the bottom but those glasses were hard to find.  I think it took half an hour or more but find them we did!

It was a long exhausting day and we pulled in our driveway about 1:30 am after getting up at 4:30 that morning.  But we had a great time.

Then, it was time for a Father's Day dinner at my parents house.  My kids went together and got hubby a hammock.  Here is Daughter-in-law and grandson giving it to him.  He is always surprised when my kids give him gifts because his family doesn't do that.  Grandson kept saying, "Open it! Open it!".

Grandson found a tiny little kitten that wanted to play with him.  He liked it for a while and then he was annoyed that it wouldn't leave him alone. 

Here are me and my Dad. 

The next day, Daughter and Boyfriend came over to watch Hubby use the hammock for the first time.  They had to work so couldn't be there when he got it.

Finally time to relax....

I hope everyone had as nice a Father's Day as we did.

Tina

Cicadas are not fun!

It is the year of the Cicadas.  I have all my life called these things locusts, but apparently I have been wrong.  I have no idea what the difference is but I guess there is one. 

Anyway, here is one of the lovely creatures.  Please notice the red bulging eyes.

Here are several of the shells on one of our trees.  The one in the middle is hatching. Or whatever you call it when it comes out of its shell.

Cicadas come visit in droves once every thirteen years depending on what article you read. Some say seventeen years.  We have lived here for almost 6 years and this is our first experience with them so time will tell.  I have seen some here last year but only a few.  Now there are MILLIONS!  I am not sure that I am exaggerating.  They fly around and land on you.  They are very annoying but I don't think they bite.  If I understand it correctly they come out of the ground as nymphs when the ground temps reach 65 degrees Fahrenheit.  They crawl up and tree and shed their skin.  I have always called these shells. 

Here is another picture of some of the shells.  We have many large trees on our two acre property.  They are this thick on every tree and fence.

After they come out of their shells, they are everywhere.  They fly around, they sit on the deck rails, and they make lots of noise and mess.  Here are some on the tree.

Then, they mate.  The male cicadas make a sound to attract the females.  This sound by itself is not very loud but when you get the hundreds and hundreds of them together it can reach up to 85 decibels.  In case you don't know, that is very loud!!  Louder than a jet airplane. They only make this noise for about 10 hours a day.  The mating period lasts about four weeks.

After they mate, the females lay their eggs in trees and then they die.  Oh my, do they die.  They land dead everywhere.  I sweep hundreds off my front deck every day.  They are all over the yard and guess what?  As they decay... they smell!  It stinks so bad.

The cicadas in this picture of my front deck are alive.  They crawl back and forth down this rail all day long.

About six to ten weeks after the eggs are laid, they hatch into tiny nymphs about the size on an ant.  Then they crawl underground and live for thirteen years until the cycle starts all over again.

I have just the last couple of days been noticing a decrease in the number of cicadas on my porch and also a slight lowering of the decibel level.  I am hoping they are on their way back underground.  I will be marking my calendar for May/June of 2024 so I can go on a long vacation!!

Tina