Mom always said, "Look it up!"

Happy Mothers Day to all you folk out there who ever had a kid, talked to a kid, or had a mother. That should about cover everybody...
I had a great laugh this morning. Don't tell Jordan. She spent the night at a friend's home, and called me a few minutes ago to come pick her up soon. (I am the only one at home available right now.) I asked her for directions to the friend's home, and Jordan said, "Look it up on MapQuest!!".
(When I was a kid and asked Mom about something, she would tell me to LOOK IT UP because if I looked it up, she'd say, I'd remember it better. So I used to use that command on my kids as well.... in the good old days of dictionery and encyclopedia in actual BOOK form.)
I laughed and said, "Just tell me how to get there". So she and her friend figured it out and told me lefts and rights etc, and gave me directions.
Imagine!! after all these years, I am still being told to "look it up" although now the info is computer available. But I wanted to see if Jordan could just give me old fashioned directions, and she did! whoohoo!
After we hung up, I looked it up on MapQuest. She was right! LOL.

this gets my goat

On Fridays our local mall has a Farmers' Market that offers a touch of that rural farm feeling... if you are willing to enter the goat pen to romp with the goats, chickens, a crazy duck, and plenty of animal waste. The first time Braden got to go into the pen, his Aunt Kim was brave and took him inside the pen for awhile to feed and pet the animals. But this past Friday, Aunt Kim was nowhere to be found, so Mama Kris took Braden into the hellhole... I mean, goat pen. Kris and I are not exactly animal people, unfortunately, (do not tell anyone this, especially Tracy!) but as Kris said later, "You do anything for your kids!". If Kris cringed at all, she hid it well, there was no screaming, and Braden enjoyed the adventure very much.




Hudson enjoyed the Farmers' Market from his view in his stroller, and he seemed very happy to be on the outside of the goat pen for now.
Life is so good!

Travel Town

Sunday we went on an adventure to Travel Town. Braden had not begun the day very happy, but after a ride in Grandpa's van to Travel Town, he was so excited! He wanted to see all the trains, and ride the minature train. His Daddy bought him some more train toys. He loves playing with his Choo-choos. There is a small train ride that takes you around Travel Town twice; Braden wanted to go on it so badly, but when Jordan put him off her lap on the seat next to her in their car, he freaked out and had to get back onto her lap.



Braden also wanted to be carried inside the train cars and engines that are on display. They must've seemed awesomely huge to him.




But Little Brother Hudson just rode in his daddy's baby carrier on daddy's chest and was happily observing everything.

Of course, our outing had to include lunch, so we went to Phillipe's near LA's Union Station, and had French dipped sandwiches with hot mustard that we love to hate. And the candy counter there is a kid's delight. Everybody got some candy, and Braden got his favorite: Peanut Butter Cups!
All poor Hudson got though was a photo in a Phillipe's old fashioned phone booth. Just for the nostalgia of it all. One day maybe the grandkids will join Grandpa in enjoying a few French Dipped sandwiches with hot mustard and a beer!





It was a good day! Thank you, Lord.

Old Friends

We have some OLD nurse friends from Massatwoshits visiting us this week. We went to Santa Barbara for a few days get away, and spend an afternoon in Solvang where one of us inspired the other 3 to have a photo taken. Lovely group picture if I do say so meself. We spent St Patrick's Day afternoon in Dargan's Irish Pub in SB; a good time was had by all. Much laughter, many more memories to share; maybe the friends can go home Sunday to 14 feet of snow and be happy for awhile... not! You're welcome to stay forever Carroll and Duffy!

Pinny is 30 something

Here is a picture of Tim when he was 1 yr old. When Tim was born, older cousin Wendy called him "Pinny" because she could not say "Timmy". Now Pinny is 30 something and celebrating his birthday tomorrow. So his dad and I wish him a HAPPY BIRTHDAY and send lots of love to him and his family! and he is STILL cute after 30 some years!!

See You Later, Grandma!

Tomorrow we will say farewell to a great lady who lived 99 years and truly participated in life, living to see numerous great-great grandchildren. I think she was still driving at 95; driving to birthday parties, ball games, school events. Man! Not many people get to do what she did as long as she did it! We enjoyed getting to know her when our son married one of her great-granddaughters.
See you on the other side, Esther!

The Matriarch

The eldest Gramma Kelly had her 88th birthday celebration over the weekend. She had her wish to have her 4 kids and their spouses celebrate with her. We went to a BBQ joint for dinner then to bro Bob's house for more partying. An added bonus was to have Sanger cousins with us to celebrate too. The grandkids and great-grandkids are scattered around the States, but in 2 years for the 90th, we want EVERYBODY here to party with Gramma. Start saving now!!! and be there or be square!