Yes, another grandson, who proudly displayed his "business" for us, we are all very excited and happy for him to appear around May 28th. 
What a WONDERFUL Christmas Day! Too much food..lots of laughs and great gifts shared with each other. Getting them to all sit still for a picture was a Christmas miracle! Calls from Chad & Nicole in Phoenix, Petri's in Hillsboro and brother Brian in China helped in making our day great. We even had a great weather surprise with snowfall on Christmas day! Now that hasn't happened for a long time. Another Christmas gone by and now it's off to bed I'm getting up early tomorrow and catching the big sales for Christmas lights, wrapping paper, ornaments, etc. Need to stock up for next year when there will be two grandbabies to wrap presents for..yippeeee!! 
Happy Birthday!!!! Hope it's a good one . . . . Here is a little Chad trivia!WE LOVE YOU!!! A little Saturday morning favorite...maybe Lucas will enjoy too!
VanHalen Concert . . . Don't worry kids! I won't be throwing any grandma underwear on stage! Just lots of singing and dancing, it would completely embarrass you if you were there . . . . like it's going to embarrass your DAD!! PaaaNaaaMa...PaaNaaaMaaaaa....
My boys, they are all good hearted men, good father's, good husbands, loyal friends, and they are very caring son's to their Dad and I.
My mom and mother-in-law, that they are healthy, fun to be around and are still able to live independently and enjoy their lives to the fullest.
My daughters-in-law, I couldn't have asked for better wives for my son's, they are loving, spirited, fun and I see the love they have for my boys in their eyes! PLUS..they have given and will be giving me FABULOUS grandbabies!
My friends, you know who you are, the one's who are there via phone, get togethers, emails, they have been and continue to be an important part of the happiness in my life.
My crazy in-laws, you are what keep this family going, we have formed lasting traditions, seen each others kids grow and have a love for each other that runs as deep as blood relatives forever.
My brother & his family, though you live in another country, have another life that doesn't mesh much with ours, I feel sad that we aren't all closer, I am thankful that you are a part of my life, however much that may be.
A job that brings me joy each and everyday that I go to work.
My health (knock on wood), except for some old lady hot flashes, I think I'm doing pretty good!
Oh no...it's my last one...better make it good! The GREAT meal I'm gonna have tomorrow with the help of many of the above mentioned people in attendance!! woohooo!!
HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYBODY!
I am happy when my Mommy & Daddy come and get me, Grama and Grampa are starting to look tired. They will have to rest up for the next time I come and stay!
This is it.....the last OSU home football game. I have been cooking away and we are getting ready to pack up for our last tailgater of the season. Today's weather is ok so far, there may be a few showers later, but that's ok..we have had great weather all season. The menu for our game day extravaganza is beef brisket, armadillo eggs, bbq ribs, cheesey potatoes, and the usual huge assortments of salads and desserts. My contribution today is a couple big pans of chicken enchiladas, pumpkin bread and a cajun spice vegetable dip. As usual we will not be too worried about not enough food!! Now we just have to hope our team shows up, Canfield is out this game and Bernards is back in so we will have to see how this backup quarterback can handle himself. It is the Huskies and their record has been crappy this year, but anything can happen. Either way we will celebrate or drowned our sorrows at a fabulous tailgate feast! GO BEAVS!
Each Friday before the Veterans Day Holiday at our high school an assembly to honor veterans is held. Veterans in our community from any war or conflict are invited to attend. We usually have nearly 100-150 show, all dressed in their military uniforms or some piece of uniform from their past or present. Alot of them are alumni of FGHS. It is always very well attended by community members, of all the yearly assemblies at school what impresses everyone the most are how the kids act. They are the first to rise and applaud, be quiet when appropriate, give standing ovations where it seems necessary and listen to the speaker that has been invited to address the veterans and the student body. All the various military organizations are represented Navy, Army, Marines, Air Force, etc. Our high school band plays impressive renditions of all the branches "theme" songs I guess you would call them. Students hear stories of battles or heroism and they really get a sense of the sacrifice made by these ladies and gentlemen. One specific speaker that came to address the school a couple years ago was Brigadier General James Sehorn. A former FGHS graduate who served in Vietnam and was held in a POW camp for a number of years before his release. His family lived across the street from us until his return home in the early 70's. I use to babysit his two daughters. He shared stories of his unwaivered love of his country, comrades and family, which helped to get him through the darkest days of his imprisonment. You could have heard a pin drop in our gym of 1750 students listening to his every word. Alot of foreign countries and unfortunately ignorant Americans choose to bad mouth our politics and way of life. All you need to do is listen to a Veteran speak and you gain a whole new respect for what we have as Americans. Each year that ceremony gets me choked up and I'm sure tomorrow will be no different. So all of you who appreciate your freedoms, let's do the old fashion thing, with a look in the eye and a strong steady handshake..thank a Veteran this weekend!
I am plopped in the front room on the couch watching one of my fav shows. Dale is in the family room watching Monday Night Football (of course). This is how "old" people survive..one watches what they like in one room and the other in the other room. What did people do in the old days with only one TV?? It's impossible here. Anyway I am listening to my show and I keep hearing noises in the other room. I keep ignoring it until finally I get up out of my comfy chair and go to the family room. Here is what I see.....Dale reclined in the chair, Monday night football on the TV (blarring of course since he can't hear so well), and on his chest is the portable DVD player and he's watching Bonanza!!!?? What are you doing??? I say, "Well, sometimes the game gets boring".."well, then why don't you just change the channel, I ask", " Because I might miss something."...OH Brother!!! So back to the other room I go..shaking my head..watching my show..you know the one..Dr. 90210. Tonight I am watching as Dr. Rey does a facelift and tummy tuck on some Hollywood lady..can't miss that...may need to see him one day...ha! Oh no..here comes Dale asking me what I'm watching . . .
Today is a perfect day...it's really sunny outside, crispy cold and the leaves have begun to fall. I am sitting on the couch with all of my back issues of Better Home's & Garden's magazines cutting out recipes and watching old horror movies. 
We have some great news! 
When you work in an office you celebrate birthdays. A couple times a month we celebrate various birthdays by bringing homemade goodies into work. I have done this for as long as I have been working .... like almost 100 years now ....it feels like. I know some of the best recipes I have accumulated over the years have been from different people that I have worked with. Actually if I counted up all the dozens of cookies I've brought in or desserts I've whipped up...the calories would be in the bazillions! When the boys still lived at home and hubby still says it, "I suppose you are having a birthday at work again, since you never make that stuff for us." That answer is "correct" I say. "This stuff is bad for you. You don't need to be eating sweets". They would walk off...grumpy..with the "that's not fair" look. When I grew up Mom didn't make sweets because my brother was a diabetic. So, I never really knew what I was missing I guess. Since I've been married and started a family, I still rarely make desserts or sweets for us. Plus, they really aren't all that good for you. I suppose if I want my sweet tooth satisfied I just wait for an office birthday party and a new recipe. Here is a good one I've brought in for the chocolate lovers in your office:
One week and counting until Chad, Nicole and Lucas are back in Oregon......yipppeeeeeee!!! Everybody is really looking forward to their return home. Lucas has a bed all ready for him at grama's house. 
Some like summer, some like winter, some like spring....I love Fall. I like it when after months of being in the sun attempting to stay cool in the warm weather I can put on a sweater again. I like that I can wear sweatshirts and layers of clothing, I've missed that. My coats and jackets are being revisited again this month. I like that I can order a pumpkin spice or gingerbread latte, just because it's October and it just tastes better in October (ps. note how I haven't quite cut back yet..oops). I enjoy the changing color of the leaves. Have you ever really stopped to notice that? This begins the start of nesting inside the house for the next few months, in front of a fire in the fireplace, curled up on the couch snuggled up in an afghan reading or watching TV. This is beef stew, chili and cornbread weather. It's my birthday month, it's high school homecoming, it's halloween, it's time for a mammogram (oh geezzzz..not that again), well it is October!
