You get quite a bit done too Diana!!

For cleaning the cabinet surfaces, I use the good old Murphy's Oil Soap. It always makes my cabinets look great and feel like new. I haven't started cleaning them yet... :) I ran my errands and then came home and put together a shower caddy on one of those pole thingys...lol Now I'm on the darn computer again.

I may start here in a few minutes.....or not..lolol. I have to get my hair cut at 9 tomorrow morning so I'll probably start when I get home. Sure hope so!!!

We got the snow Sunday night and Monday morning....about 9 inches total but it's suppose to get into the 50's this weekend and it's above 32 now so it won't stick around long. Now....if spring would just hurry and get here before anymore winter stuff.

This kind of weather sure doesn't help the mood very much. I need sunshine and warmth so bad. It does help when the sun is out for me to sit at the big window and take it all in. Makes me feel so sleepy, but it does help my mood some.

Wow!! You got a lot of snow!! Ours pretty much melted the next day and there's only snow where there were big drifts. Feyn had a huge drift in front of his house on the road and had to pull every people out of it.

I'm trying to get ready for Easter. I think that my neice, Natasha, and her three kids are going to come and spend the night on Saturday. Plus her sister, Jamie, and her three kids are probably coming too. I don't know if they're spending the night or not but I suggested that they stay at Mom's. It will be good to see them. They both have new babies and I haven't seen Jamie's.

I've decided that I'm going to serve tacos. I can have the meat already cooked and the girls can bring the goodies to go on top. I was originally planning on ham but nobody else is interested in fixing what goes with it. Tacos will be easy.

We also have the Baker Easter picnic on Saturday. It's suppose to rain so I'm not sure what will go on with that. They always go to a creek or somewhere interesting outdoors. In fact, Glen, his brother, Mark, and Dean, are all out looking for a place right now. If I can get everything cleaned and ready then I may be able to go this year. I'm usually home getting ready for Easter. However.....it's not something that I enjoy going to.

The snow isn't sticking around much. We still have some just in spots...nothing much. I'm so glad. It was 49 degrees today and the sun felt so warm. Since there was no wind blowing at all, I opened the front door. The screen door is all glass right now so the sunshine sure felt warm coming in.

Still haven't got started on the kitchen cabinets...lol. But hey....I have one heck of a clean bathroom....lolol. I did dust real good and run the sweeper today, but that is about it. Also took a nap.

I think tomorrow I'm going to Lafayette and test drive a couple different vehicles. I've been wanting a different one as you know, so I thought it at least try them out. I'm really wanting a Toyota Camry or Honda CR-V. I am (probably) going to wait to purchase one in June because that is when everything we have will be paid off. Looking forward to that!

Also want to go by this house that may be something decent for Ricky. Just want to check it out and get out of the house for awhile.

Still haven't heard anything yet about a job I interviewed for. She said she would let me know this week, so maybe tomorrow I'll find out if I got it or not.

I'll keep my fingers crossed about the job.

We had a really nice day yesterday as well. I got hot while shampooing carpets and had my front door open too. I'm wondering WHY I bother to shampoo the carpets.......Karlie walked on the area that I had just done and left huge chunks of mud.....I picked it up but still! Then this morning Dean knocked the table that my coffee was on and......well, at least the whole cup didn't spill.

I'm not sure what I doing today but it will be cleaning and getting ready for Easter! And going to the grocery store!

This weekend we were able to relax a lot, which was nice for a change. We both had Friday off, so we did some house cleaning and then just watched some tv!

On Saturday we made a trip to Costco because we needed two things, and we left $402 later. On the plus side, we don't have to buy groceries (other than fruits and veggies) for a long time! We also decided to clean out our closet, and put together a large box of clothes for donation. I'm so glad Scott is finally purging some of his stuff! He honestly still wears t-shirts from when he was 14. He still wears pants from the 90's, and you know, pants that were COOL for teenagers in the 90's and are NOT COOL now lol! I still wonder how they even fit, becuase he's 6'4. Must have gotten his growth spurts early in life!!!

Sunday I started putting together a slideshow on our trip to Africa. I'm presenting a lunch and learn on Wednesday for my office. It's so hard to choose only a portion of the pictures! We spent most of Sunday evening in front of the tv. I just felt like doing nothing.

Our laundry room is on hold for now while we wait for our friend (a plumber) to come over to rough-in our pipes. Then we need my brother to check Scott's electrical work and say it's okay, and we can start putting up the drywall. So in the meantime, Scott has been working on our basement. It was partially finished (a few unfinished walls put up) but we have decided to completely change the design, making a smaller bedroom and a much larger living space. Scott spent the weekend taking down some of the walls and it makes the space look so much bigger already!

Oh and Scott starts a new job in 2 weeks. He was contacted by a headhunter a few months ago, and decided to try for an interview with this company. They liked him, and sent him an offer a couple of weeks ago. The salary they offered was substatially more than he or I make now, so it was hard to turn down. It also will cut about 45 minutes off our daily commute. I'm excited for him to start, and I really hope he likes it there!

Wow! Lindsey, so many changes in your life. I can see why you would be tired and needing a day in front of the TV.

You all have been cleaning house and doing so many things! I'm just trying to keep my head above water at school. It is such a busy busy time!

I went to Houston to see my kids over Easter and we had a good time together. My daughter is having some issues with anxiety. She has a generalized anxiety disorder and with the death of her dad a couple of years ago and then Gary this past year, she is having a hard time. We got to talk a lot and I think she feels some better. I convinced her to see a therapist because I think she has more issues than she can work out on her own.

I'm doing fine. It will be a year next month that I lost Gary and I'm feeling pretty good. I still miss him every day but things are getting so much better and so much more normal. I'm looking forward to school being over and having a bit more time for myself!

Lindsey, you are soooo busy!! I'm sure that you enjoyed an evening in front of the tv!! Everything will look so nice once you get it all done!!

Gayle, it's so hard to believe that it's almost been a year without Gary. I'm sure that it's been so hard on you. I know that your family has been such a great help and also your work! You're amazing!!!

We had a very busy weekend. First.....Glen's family's Easter Picnic.......we had it closeby by the river. It was such a fun day and the weather was so beautiful!!

Then on Sunday after church I had my family over.....with my brother's family. It was so good to have my neice, Natasha, here with her new baby. She's the one that I went down and stayed with a few days. Then her sister was here with her new baby....only a month old!! And of course, Baby Jed was here so we had lots of babies to hold!! You could tell my Mom was thrilled to have everyone here. I also had a nephew that I haven't seen for awhile as well. Oh.....and Natasha brought a friend and his 4 kids!!! Trust me.......we had a housefull!!! I think that we counted about 30 or so.

I was really questioning why I bothered to shampoo the carpets!! With no grass in the yard......and I'm not kidding......there was mud tracked into the house!! Oh well.....the kids were really well behaved so I'm not complaining much about the mud!!

Now I'm just trying to get things back into order. Also I just realized that our cruise is in about 10 days!! So I'm trying to get things bought to take with me! I'm so excited!! Glen's getting fustrated though because it's time to plant corn and it's been raining so he's getting grumpy about the cruise. And......we have rain expected all week!! Maybe next week he can at least get started then Feyn can work on it while we're gone.

HI Everyone,
Spring is such a busy time for everyone. It seems that they are out and about doing things - not to mention work is busy for me at this time of the year. But school will be over in a month and I can catch my breath!

I have been working in my yard some, not too much, but getting my garden in shape. I noticed a tiny baby tomato on one of my vines yesterday! I mowed all the dead grass off and mowed my leaves into mulch. That really wasn't too hard since I have a riding lawn mower. LOL! The yard looks nice now. We haven't had much rain this spring so things are not as pretty as usual. I'm afraid we are not going to have any rain over the summer so I am gearing up for that. I'm thinking about removing some of the grass in my yard and replacing with beds for a few native plants that don't have to be watered much. I've contacted a landscape designer but havent heard back from them yet.

I'm going to Las Vegas this weekend! I like Las Vegas, but not to gamble so much, just to people watch and look at all the sights. I have a friend in California and she and her husband are coming to Vegas for the weekend so I'm meeting them. It's only 2 days, Friday and Saturday, then home on Sunday.

Hope everyone is having a wonderful spring.

Diana, your cruise is going to be so much fun!

Gayle, I wouldn't call what we are having "spring" lol! We still have about 3 feet of snow everywhere, and it just keeps snowing. We have had snow now for almost 26 weeks - half a year. Last year by this time our grass was turning green!

I hope you have lots of fun in Vegas! I don't like to gamble either, but I enjoy walking around there and seeing everything, like you said!

Speaking of Vegas, we got an invitation in the mail a couple of weeks ago from my best friend's mom. She is having a vow renewal ceremony in Las Vegas in November, and she wrote on the card that she didn't tell her daughter she was inviting Scott and I, and her she is in the "wedding" party, so if we come it will be a big surprise to her!!! I thought that would be so cool to say to my friend "Have fun at your mom's ceremony and we'll talk when you get back!!!" and then just show up there!!! Unfortunately, it is the week after my brother's wedding in Mexico :( So it probably won't happen... the only possibility is that coincidentally, the ceremony is on Friday, and on the following Monday, a conference/training thing is starting in Vegas, and I have been asking to go for the past two years (it was promised when I was hired, but they haven't had the budget to send me yet). I am going to try to secure a spot this year and see if my company would pay for the flight a few days early if I pay for the hotel room until Monday when the conference starts. So I'm holding on to that glimmer of hope lol!

Yesterday, our friend came over and put in the plumbing for our new laundry room. Scott finished the electrical in the walls too. Now we just need to have it inspected and we can cover the walls. I think today he is going to start framing a linen closet. I'm going to do some cleaning and probably start removing things from the back entrance closet - we are going to be tearing that down and rebuilding it on another wall. It just never ends lol!

Oh yeah, and Scott's sister had a baby girl this morning! So I am an aunt again! My best friend is scheduled for a c-section on Thursday. Babies everywhere!!!!

Today has been such a wonderful, beautiful day and I've really enjoyed being outside. Usually I rake the small limbs and sticks, but just can't do it as well, sooooo I used our leaf blower and it works great!!! Ricky was sweet enough to pick them all up after I got them blown into a pile.

Then I cleaned out my van, hadn't done that since last fall and boy did it need it. No wonder I haven't lost weight....seen evidence of what I've been eating in the van...lol. It needs washed, but I just can't do that anymore. The bending over and scrubbing just kills my back. So...I'm thinking of taking it to this car wash that will get it squeeky clean for me.

Also advertised some items on local "For Sale" sites on FB. Sold Mom's 3-wheel bike and a wall lamp I had. The people came to pick them up today. Also sold a hose reel with a hose on it and it was picked up today too. That was a quick $75.

I put something on FB that now I wish I hadn't. I put that I wished FB hadn't turned into a recipe site. There had been sooo many recipes and pictures and although I did enjoy them and I copied and pasted a lot of them in my word program, I just got tired of seeing so many. When everyone shares them I was seeing some the sames ones over and over and over.

Besides my weight, I'm going to work on keeping things to myself a bit instead of voicing it out there on FB.

Well, think I'm going to go for another walk. Love being outside in the sunshine! Hope you're all having great weather too.

THREE FEET OF SNOW! :eek:

LOL Gayle, that's EXACTLY what I thought! I'm in capris, a t-shirt and barefooted right now:p

The weather is so crazy right now!! I know that some are still getting snow!! I have to say that I'm finally ready for warmer weather.......and we get some a couple of days a week!! LOL Then we have snow, rain, or whatever!! Glen keeps putting away his long johns only to have to pull them back out again!! LOL

I got my hair cut and highlighted yesterday. I need to wash it and style it my way to see if I like it or not. The girl I go to is just ok. There's another girl that I really prefer to go to but she's always booked so far ahead so I stay with Jennifer and just cut a little more when I get home!! LOL

I've been slowly getting things ready for the cruise. I need to start packing and getting ready. We have to be in Muskogee by 5:00 on Saturday to get a good seat on the bus. I'm so ready!!

Glen has been doing things for the girls lately. He got a trampoline put together for Dae Lynn's kids......and they are loving it!! Then yesterday he moved a shed for Jaci. She is so excited about it! I don't know what she's going to do with it but I guess we'll see.

I picked up pizza and took it out last night when the guys got done. I got to see the baby's room! It's so cute!! Of course she's still working on it. They had one large bedroom that they built a wall in and made two rooms. It turned out so nice!! Oh.....and Jaci's at 28 weeks!! Little Ali Kay is coming quickly!!

I think that today I'm going to work on laundry so we have everything clean when we actually start packing and I'm going to start picking out what I'm taking. Tonight we have the Alley. I may beg out so I can still work on getting ready to go. Amy should have plenty of helpers tonight. I'd also like to leave the house clean. It's so much nicer to come home to a clean house. I wish that you were all going!

I'm trying to pack for our cruise and, believe me, Dean's NO help!! He took everything I had laying out and put it in a suitcase!! I was trying on some clothes and he even packed the shirt I had on!!

Glen's been trying to pack his scuba gear and Dean's pulling it out faster than he can put it in. Glen's pretty fustrated with him because he's got to have everything in it's place.

It's a good thing that it's nap time!! As far as packing......I'm ready to quit and just go! It's fustrating because Glen's got to have help on every little thing! UGH!!!!

We leave TOMORROW and I'm so excited!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That sounds like so much Fun, Diana! It will be great for you to have a vacation with your hubby. You have been through so much in the last year, a little R&R is certainly in order! Take lots of pictures, and don't forget the sunscreen;)

Whooo hooo Diana...... have a lovely time on your well deserved cruise, i know you will enjoy.

My goodness has this place been a ghost town. Hope everyone is doing great. See most everyone on FB so that is good.

I spent a few days last week helping Linda (2tiredmom) go through her parents house to get ready for a sale. Her parents lived just a few miles from us. I so enjoyed being with her and catching up and just having a good time. On Saturday night her husband and MIL and my husband and I went out to eat. We both got to see people we hadn't seen for awhile so the whole evening was nice with great food.

My graduating class has been meeting or trying to meet once a month at a local restaurant. Our next one is on Saturday evening. It's for anyone in our class and their family. We've had 4 or 5 get togethers so far and only about 5 show up. There are so many still living here and in cities that are within an hour drive, but do not attend. We always give a month's notice when the next one is scheduled and reminders leading up to the get together, but we just can't generate enough interest and not sure how at this point.

Our 40th class reunion will be held in June and many show up for that, so maybe we can encourage others to attend. It would be so nice to catch up with eveyone.

Not much else has been happening with me. What's going on with the rest of you?

Today was a work day.... at work. LOL...

Now I am getting supper ready: Sausage links ~ french toast ~ scrambled eggs - I like my breakfast for supper! Making enough for lunch tomorrow..

Rained all day.. the grass is all green and growing. But still chilly!

Saturday I am going to a very nice consignment shop a friend shared with me. I took quite a few things over a month ago and hoping to trade items I sold for new items Saturday... AS IN: Hoping my stuff sold!!!

Then Sunday my first auction of the year. Sounds like a really good one. Elderly lady sold her home and is going to a assisted living home. I feel bad for her having to sell her beloved belongings and move out of her home, but looking forward to maybe bring something into my home I can love as much as she does..

Well my sausages are browning nicely and french toast needs cooked.. so off I go. Hope all is well with everyone!

I love auctions too and there is one tomorrow night and one Saturday morning. Would like to go to both, we'll see. Hope you find some treasures!

I hope Janet can get back on 4WT SOON!!!

My classes are finally over and I am finished grading my papers and have submitted my grades. Now, I have to do all the things I put off in the crazy spring semester!!!

I'm going to Oklahoma this weekend to see Gary's family. I haven't seen them since before Christmas since I couldn't get up there over Christmas due to bad weather. It will be a nice weekend, but, this is the month Gary died, so that will be hard for all of us, I know. It's very hard for me this month, I keep thinking of things that happened just before he died and it makes me sad. But my friends/family are helping me a lot to keep pushing forward.

I hope everyone is warming up and having some nice weather. We've had a cooler than normal spring, but no rain so that is very BAD. Actually, we are supposed to get some rain in the next couple of days, so keep your fingers crossed for us! Of course, it's supposed to rain the weekend I am traveling, but I won't complain! LOL!

We went directly from winter to summer! The melt happened so fast that many communities in the province declared states of emergency because of flooding. Quite a few highways have detours because they are under water. It's crazy! But I'm glad for the weather now because this winter in our province was the snowiest winter in recorded history, and we had the coldest spring in recorded history. We had over 6 months of snow!!!! Yikes. I saw this on facebook and it made me laugh: "Saskatchewan - where you can get frostbite and sunburn in the same week." It is so true lol!

This has been a tough week for us so I'm happy it's the weekend and I can relax. We are having a garage sale tomorrow and our friend is coming over with some of her own stuff for it. My parents are coming out too, because they love garage sale weekend in our town! We have a lot of houseware type stuff this year because we replaced most of our kitchen stuff with wedding gifts. Hopefully we get rid of most of it!

Saturday night, Scott is heading down to his parents' place to stay until Sunday. On Saturday his brother in law has a fight that we were all invited to. I don't like watching fighting so I am staying home, plus the tickets are expensive. I have the option to go out with some friends if I stay back, or another girl said she might come over for a visit because she'll be at a wedding in our town that night too. Or I can just enjoy some alone time! Whatever happens, I won't be bored.

We are having a cold spell, but it sure has been beautiful! Today was the last Friday to drive the bus this school year. Next week we go Tuesday, Wednesday and then Thursday will be our last day. I'm so ready too!!! lol Then I'll have to get the bus all cleaned up and take back to the bus lot for the summer. I'm going to try and do some of it this weekend while it's cooler.

Not sure yet what we'll be doing for Memorial Day weekend, no set plans. Tomorrow is about the only day planned for me. I'm taking the powerwasher in to my Mom's house and washing the siding down. Should only have to wash down two sides unless the remaining two really need it so it shouldn't take much longer than an hour if that.

Monday I would like to go to a nearby covered bridge and have a picnic by the water and take some pictures. Just have to wait and see what the weather is like.

Today was a great day... weather was nice but high 50's, sun was out so it actually felt pretty good!

I went out and bought a new dryer. Old one finally after a year of patience and dread to see how long a load of laundry would tumble/dry until it over heated and stopped, before clothes were dry.... laundry day had clothes hanging everywhere! So.... last week it gave up. Totally. I got a really good deal at Sear's. Will be delivered this Thursday evening.
I am happy. No more worries about the old one giving out.. it gave out!

Then celebrated by doing a little shopping. Got a pair of capri's ~ 2 nice tops ~ all for $6... half price day at consignment shop... all look brand new!

Then off to get a battery for my watch. Plus flowers for my hanging planter out back. Back home and repotted flowers, trimmed a small plum tree, swept out the garage.. now getting ready to heat up leftovers from last night.. broasted chicken from local VFW.

I think I had one of the most productive days for at least a month for me! Lets hope I can continue this and get some much needed things done around here.. winter was long and I need to keep busy for awhile.. but then tomorrow maybe my first golf game.. we will see...

On Saturday, I got my bridesmaid dress for my cousin's New Orleans wedding :) I went shopping with a friend, and texted my cousin pictures of all my choices. In the end, I made the choice against the one she liked best (she had two favorites, and I took her second favorite lol). It's black and makes me look very hourglass-shaped which I love :) It is to my knees and there is a lace detail at the top that is high to my neck but cut-out across the chest sort of... and the back is lace. I should find a picture because I don't think I'm describing it well lol!

On Sunday, Scott and I demolished our current mudroom area! We took out two closets (a large coat closet and a triangle-shaped utility closet). It was so much fun to kick the drywall down :D We used to come in from the garage, and to the right was a small room with laundry, about a 2.5 foot wide walkway, and the closet facing the laundry. So now that is ALL gone and the laundry will be moving to our brand new laundry room :) We will build a closet where the laundry is currently (hasn't moved yet) and the whole rest of the room will be open, other than a bench with storage that Scott is going to build. It will be so much easier for bringing in groceries, and I'm sure we'll really see the benefits when we have children getting ready to go outside in the middle of winter :) Can never have too much space!!!

Okay pictures!!!
Dress front and back when I tried it on in the store.... and the new mudroom after taking down the drywall, and then after Scott removed all the framing.

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The dress is just beautiful on you! I know you're excited about coming to N'awlins!!

Taking down those walls sure opened up your space! We don't really have mud rooms here, because we don't have winter messes. That space will be filled with little boots and coats and backpacks before you know it, lol!!

Oh I am so excited! Mostly just for another vacation lol! I am counting down the weeks :) 16 left to go!

I am glad Scott came up with the idea to take those closets out. It really does look so much bigger now. I'm just anxious to get it finished, and get the laundry room finished, and to not be living in a construction zone anymore! It will be at least a couple of months still though. We are doing everything ourselves whenever we find free time.

Sorry that I've been MIA. I don't know why. My blood sugar really had me bummed........but it's doing a lot better now. In fact.....it's been running a little low sometimes but I have a doctor's appt in a couple of days so maybe she'll do a little fine tuning with my meds.

I still need to put pictures on of our vacation. I honestly haven't even looked at them. Everyone is so interested in Glen's underwater pictures. I was going to put them on this weekend but Glen went diving again and took the camera with him.

Yep....I spent the weekend home alone while Glen went diving. Tammy was getting certified so their whole family went.....plus some friends......and of course, Glen and Logan. I stayed home and planted flowers and TRIED to clean the house. I know.....I know.....I said that I wouldn't plant flowers because of the chickens but Glen started working on the chicken coop and PROMISED that the chickens wouldn't bother my flowers........well.......the coop isn't done......so the chickens are still out.......AND in my flowers......again. I'm one fustrated woman!!!! It doesn't help that Glen is getting busy with farming and probably won't get it done. Ok....enough complaining about that!!

Dean's been soooo funny!! He has begged and begged for a bow and arrow. We went to Wichita last week and Dae Lynn looked at Target but didn't find one......later I found one at our local dollar store......so she went and bought one. It came with some kind of holster to hold the arrows. She saw him playing with it later and was amazed that he had the holster on his side. She thought that he'd gotten a rope or something and tied it on........and then she saw him reach down and pick up the Elmer's glue..........YEP.....he'd glued it to his side!!!!

THEN.......a couple of days later.......Dae Lynn left Dean in the car while she ran back in to get something. She wasn't gone long but he managed to open two sticky mouse traps (that Dae Lynn had gotten for spiders not mice) and he stuck them to the bottom of his feet........they were his "scuba fins" so he could go scuba diving with Papa!!!! That sticky stuff doesn't come off easily either!!! Oh my goodness what that boy can get into!!!! Gotta' keep an eye on him ALL THE TIME!!!

We've got storms coming in again tonight. I hope they're not bad. I hate the destruction that comes from them. We always keep an eye on the weather.

I haven't read the other posts but I'll catch up soon with everything. I hope all is well with everyone!!

I see a few of us pop in here now and again... :) It's so good to keep in touch as much as we are, wish it could be more. Facebook really has dropped a bomb on 4WT hasn't it?

Lindsey the dress is really pretty and you look great in it. The renovations are opening a lot of space for you. Scott must be really good at invisioning what something will look like and then goes for it. That's a good man!

Diana I'm hoping by now that your blood sugar is under control. I can't stand the thought of something happening to you. We all are ready for your pictures. Maybe it would be easier to post them on FB or in a photo program like Photobucket, Flicker, etc. That way you can load them faster and easier and then we can look at them with just one click. Just a suggestion. I'm sure Glen got some good shots, but I'm more anxious to see the ones you took.

That Dean is a little dickens isn't he. Ya just can't help laugh at his antics. Hes' just so darn cute and you have to admit....the little guy is using his thinker. Can't believe he used glue...lol.


I've been at the Recorder's office now for 3 full weeks and I really love it. It's hard to remember everything so I have lots of notes, but I know I'll get it. There is a lady a few years younger than me that has been there 15 months and still makes lots of mistakes so it's one of those jobs that just takes you awhile to learn.

Yesterday Rick and I went to Ricky's girlfriends graduation open house. Neither of us wanted to go, but we were sent an invitation and we wanted to support Ricky. The open house was in a back room of a bar with of course bar decor everywhere. Not something I would choose for an 18 year olds graduation, but hey. I was totally shocked when she walked in the room wearing a formal...lol. Honestly, without any exaggeration, it looked like she walked into a Goodwill store, put it on in the dressing room and then showed up at the open house.

When or if I find some pictures that someone might have taken I'll post them for you to see. Audra is her name and she is overweight. Not an insult, heck look at me....lol. BUT...she has zits on her back, chest and shoulders and the dress was strapless. It had an empire waist and was royal blue in color. The top part of the dress was med-large sequins and the bottom had a netting type material over a silkier type material. I did ask Ricky this morning what he thought of her dress and well, he thought the same thing as me. She looked like a little girl playing dress up. Her family didn't act like it was a little far out there at all, so they must be use to it.

A meal was served and it was good. We left after about 90 minutes. We spoke with all of her parents, (her mom and her boyfriend, dad and stepmom and her former stepdad and his wife). Wow! Two sets of grandparents were there and only one set spoke to us. They seemed nice and had good things to say about Ricky.

Just glad it's over with. Her Mom even said something about we should go out for a meal or something some time. Hmmmmm......I don't think so. :0 I guess her mom likes being the center of attention and her ex-father-in-law layed the law down on her and told her it was Audra's day and to not take that away from her. Again.....WOW.

I've been waiting for this update! LOL! No, I can't imagine having an 18 year old's graduation party at a bar, for heaven's sake, that doesn't sound right at all. And then for her to wear a formal to a BAR, well goodness gracious, that's really odd to me too.

But I'm glad you and Rick made an effort, to support Ricky. That's all that matters. I know you don't approve of her, and I know Ricky knows that, so it is good that you showed support and were pleasant even though you don't support the relationship.

I'm running around getting ready to go to Europe on Thursday. I go to Houston on Wednesday and we fly out of Houston Thursday evening. We arrive in London about noon on Friday. Last weekend Brooke and I planned out every day and she typed it up so we would have an idea of what we could do each day. We even put in all the subway stops/changes to each location. Now, if I can just figure out how to buy a subway ticket, we'll be set!!! I went to the bank and got some pounds and euros. We have to use pounds in London and Euros in Paris. The exchange rate is not good right now, this will be an expensive trip!!! But oh well, it will be fun.

How exciting Gayle!! You'll take lots of pictures and post them won't you? ......Unlike some one else on here who took a cruise? Lolol

How long will you be gone? I know you'll have the best time, just be safe and aware of your surroundings.

I'll be gone till the 18 th and you bet, I'll take lots of pictures!!!

Oh i hope the weather is good for you Gayle........ have a lovely time.

Hi Diane, the forecast is wonderful for us, as we are into the 90's now (and it will only get hotter and hotter as the summer progresses). It looks to be in the 70's during the day and 40's - 50's at night. I don't even care if it rains which I'm sure it will! LOL!

That is so exciting Gayle!!! I can't wait to see your pictures :) You are going to have so much fun!!!

Janet, I was once a grad escort for a graduation in a city high school, and they did their dance/party part of the evening in a bar. There was no alcohol, of course, but there were snacks and music and dancing. Everyone was there in formal wear, BUT the meal with family and more formal part of the evening was done in a big hall before the party portion started! It is really common to do that here.

Being the small town girl that I am, our meal was in the hockey rink, the ceremony and "grand march" were in the school gym, and the party was in a farm yard :)

Ricky may or may not be with this girl for long, but he will have to come to the realization on his own. I know when I was younger (and even older lol!) my parents did not like some of the guys I dated. I'm still grateful that they never told me that. I feel that if I had known, I would have tried harder to see the good and prove it to my parents, but in the end I felt I could end things more easily if it was my decision alone.

I have been busy as usual! Scott was away for the weekend with my family (the guys all get together for a weekend sometime around father's day to go to a lake and golf, fish, and have drinks!). I decided to have two of my girl friends over on Saturday because their husbands were away too. One of the husbands came home that night and came over, and he noticed the siding on the house behind the barbeque was melted and warped :eek: We had barbequed burgers earlier. I was SICK thinking about how upset Scott was going to be, but in the end, it can be replaced pretty easily and there's no way it happened JUST from us. 10 minutes on medium heat wouldn't do that much damage! I just wish it would have happened with Scott barbequeing because I still feel so guilty about it!

I also spent the weekend working on some exchange student problems :( There is less than a month left and it bothers me to know someone is still so unhappy and her host family is not willing to work on it. We still have things to work out there this week and if we can't figure anything out, we may look at moving her for her last few weeks.

Oh and I am really excited about the birthday present I just got Scott!!!! His birthday is not until the end of July and I am awful, just AWFUL, at giving gifts. He always does so much better than me!!! Anyways, he's a big Vancouver Canucks fan. His dad's family lives in B.C. and he said he just always loved the Canucks because his grandpa loved the Canucks, and they would watch games together growing up. So, I talked to my brother about the best player on their team, past or present, and he mentioned Cam Neely, who later played with the Bruins for ages, but played with the Canucks for a few seasons in the 80's. He is the most famous player they've ever had. So I browsed ebay, and what do I find, but a used Canucks hockey puck, with Cam Neely's autograph and a certificate of authenticity. I bought it. I also found a Canucks team photo from the 85-86 season, which would have been Scott's first hockey season in life :) He was born in July 1985. So I bought that, and I can find a frame for it when it arrives. Finally, I found this really gorgeous glass puck display case on a black wood base, so the puck can be displayed. My fingers are crossed that this gift is going to make me wife of the year!

Lindsey, what a nice gift you got for Scott!! I'm sure he'll be excited about it!! Oh, I finally looked at the pictures of your dress......How beautiful......you AND the dress!! Also....your laundry room looks very nice! I can't wait to see the finished pictures!!

Gayle, I hope you're having a great time!! I can't wait to see pictures!!

Janet, you did a good job by going to the graduation party. I'm sure that it meant a lot to Ricky.

I'm glad to hear that you're liking your new job! You'll get the hang of it one day!!

Shada.....I wish you lived closer......you do all the things I love to do too!! Garage sales.....consignment stores......estate sales!!! Fun!!

I've been so busy!! The weather has been so beautiful!! We still don't have our airconditioner on......it's usually on the first part of May!! I'm still working on flowers in the yard and still have a few more to plant but I'm getting closer to being done. In the meantime.......the house is a really huge mess!! I have got to get things cleaned up because I am so embarassed that it's so bad.

Dae Lynn's 30th birthday was yesterday. I bought her an antique sewing machine base with a nice wooden top that was cut down into a coffee table the other day. It was soooo cute and I would have bought it for myself if she wouldn't have wanted it!!

We had a baby shower for Jaci last night. She got soooo many nice things!! You could tell that Nate's Mom and I had really been buying a lot of things and that was only half of it because we have another shower on Saturday morning. We have 3 to 4 weeks left......the 3rd of July is her due date!! I can't wait!! You can tell that Jaci's getting nervous about the delivery.

I have a busy day today.......more work in the yard......including digging up some hostas for Dae Lynn (she's really gotten into planting things this year!!!) We're going to a couple of garage sales later this afternoon. There's a refrigerator that I want to check on for Dae Lynn. I have some sedum that I bought on e-bay and it needs to be planted. The pieces that I got are sooo small and they're going to have to be babied for a little while. Oh......and I finally got my greenhouse cleaned out and it's a lot more usable now. So I'm enjoying that!

My blood sugar levels are so much better.....if fact, I'm having problems with going too low now. My medicine just needs to be tweaked and I'm working on it.

Also my computer is running just awful! I found a list of things to do to help it run better and I've done all of that.......I'm thinking that it's about time for a new one. Glen's been talking about it as well so maybe we'll get two. We'll see. I just hate to have to buy a new one when I really don't "use" my computer for work but I'm so tired of it running slow and having looooonnnnnnnngggggggg pauses!!! LOL

Love ya'll!!!

Ricky did appreciate us going so I'm glad we went. Hopefully it will be the last event we ever have to attend with her family. Not my kind of people by any stretch of the imagination.

We've gone to look at a few houses for Ricky. Been mostly in bad shape for what he can afford. Rick and I were going to try and help him, maybe buy a house and sell it to him on contract, but we know he'll move that piece of white trash in with him, so he's on his own to buy one. I'm not liking her more and more all the time. Lazy!

I'm pretty sure I'm selling my mother's house. The people living in it would love to buy it so I will be visiting my attorney on Monday to see what needs to be done. I'd rather not pay the high fees of a Realtor. It was just too soon after Mom's passing to sell the house. It's an old house that will not go up in value unless major updating is done and I'm not willing to put the money into it for a rental. Hope I'm doing the right thing, I do feel pretty good about the decision, but always have doubts about whatever I do. Are any of you like that too?

It's been so beautiful the past few days. Highs in the high 70's to low 80's and sunshine with a breeze. I love sitting out in the swing especially of a morning.

So far today I've mopped the kitchen floor. I've had to spray for ants in the kitchen and I think they are done coming in. I also sprayed outside. It needed mopped in a bad way with dead ants and poop stains from the dogs.

Next weekend is my 40th High School Reunion. There are things scheduled for 3 days June 14th through the 16th. On Friday the 14th there is a tour of the library and an informal gathering at one of the restaurants in town. I'm not going on the tour, I've seen our library many many times, but I am attending the informal gathering. I told Rick he was welcome to go and I think he is going. On Saturday there is a luncheon at Arni's Pizza and then a tour of the old Jr. High building (called Old Stony) and then a tour of the High School. I'm really anxious to go on the tour. Been quite a few years since I've been in either of the buildings.

Then Saturday night there is a buffet meal at Arbor Wood, it's a really nice (formally a Country Club) place to meet, eat, have music...etc. It's located in our beautiful park. For that I'm going with a bunch of my high school girl friends, no husbands, although I think only two or three of us are married....lol Really looking forward to that night. Sunday will be a goodbye brunch at a classmates house. We have people coming from all over so I'm anxious to see everyone especially the ones that haven't been able to attend previous reunions. I'm sure it will be a good time!

Well, if I don't get busy I won't get anything done and will regret it when Monday gets here. Hope you all have a great weekend.

Hi I read some of the updated posts and glad to see everyone is doing well. I read that Gayle has gone to Europe how wonderful, I hope that she is having a great time in which I am sure that she is.

Janet I see that Ricky is still dating that girl what can I say, sad but we cannot say anything my daughter is dating a guy for 5 years he is a nice guy but I don't feel he is for her but I cannot say anything for she fights with me . So I will try to shut my mouth she has been in school for so long and has not dated many guys at all maybe one before and she is starting her new professional the world is at her fingertips but she does not see it. It breaks my heart and I pray it would end but she says he treats her wonderfully. I just wish she would go out there and not settle. It is very hard Janet but there is nothing we can say or do.

I am busy with work and had in laws in from Fla. they leaving tomorrow. I can't complain the market seems to be moving , its either feast or famine in this business . I am also getting ready to have a graduation party for her. It started small and now its turning into 100 + plus people yikes I am overwhelmed . But it should be beautiful.

I miss talking on here FB is ok I am getting tired of it. Just like to keep in touch with people and love looking at photos.

It's good to see you back here posting Gina :) I miss it here too. I am going to try posting here more often and hopefully we can find more time to talk like we used to around here!

In the past three evenings, I've had three meetings and three reports to write for our exchange students! They all leave soon - on the 28th of June. Before that, we'll need another set of meeitngs and reports with all of them, attending a "thank-you" barbeque they are putting on for their host families and everyone who has helped them along the way, and attending their graduation ceremony at the high school! I will be sad to see them go because they are all such great girls, but really excited to have a summer free of meetings and reports!!! We have been told that there probably won't be any students next year for our town, which is a relief because we were on the fence about if we'd do this again or not.

Oh, for my birthday, Scott let me go to a ceramics shop (this woman actually lives next door to my brother and runs ceramics classes in a shop in her back yard!) and pick out anything I wanted. I took ceramics classes when I was in high school and lived at home. It's something I really miss doing! This time, I won't be taking the classes because we live out of town, but I picked up some peices that have already been cleaned and fired and are ready for painting. I got three little turtle lawn ornaments, a Noah's ark lamp (I am making it as a gift for our neice's baptism next month), and a tortilla and salsa serving set for ourselves! I've decided Wednesdays will be my ceramics night - Scott is away at ball on Wednesdays, and he already set me up in the basement with a table covered in plastic, and put a nice bright light above it. I am so excited to get started!

Janet, I thought you might keep your moms house to move into, someday.........

I know Gayle, I thought so too, and who knows I still may. It's an option I need to be on my laptop so I can type better. Have a lot to catch you up on. I hate to let it go, but it's old and really needs some work that I'm not willing to put into it. I just don't know what to do. If I have time this weekend with the reunion going on, I'll try to be back.

For the record Gina......I honestly hate that girl and as soon as Rick brings her out again, she'll know exactly how much.