Zoo Pics

Found the camera cord, and here are a few of the zoo pictures from last week.

Jacob, Reece and Ahlyssa, butterfly buddies.

Cammie

Camryn has the wildest hair when she wakes up from her nap. :o) She's giving me the "mean look."

I was looking for something to put on her and found these little overalls in the closet. I think she looks adorable in them. She liked them, too. I used to dress my kids in overalls without shirts in the summer when they were little.

She's a delightful little girl. I love her tiny hands.

Summer's Bounty

Veggies from my garden--tomatoes, onions, two kinds of peppers, cherry tomatoes and a handful of basil.

The peaches are what's left from our trip to Fredericksburg. I've been eating them like crazy; they are delicious. I want to make a cobbler if I can keep from eating them all. :o)

I used the small tomatoes that Josh brought home to make roasted tomatoes; they are outstanding! I cut them in half, seasoned them with salt and pepper and some of my home-grown basil, put them on a cookie sheet and drizzled them with plenty of olive oil. I roasted them for 2 hours at 300 degrees, and they came out perfect. I've been eating them on round crackers spread with cream cheese and topped with a roasted tomato. Yum!! Thanks, JoAnn, for the directions.

My onions are Texas Sweets, and they are supposed to be "giant." I think they are small because they were grown in a small container (wooden window boxes). They are very sweet and good, even if they are small. We've already used them in cooking a few times.

It's so nice to have fresh fruits and veggies!

Catching Up

It's been a fun and busy week, with Ahlyssa and Jacob here. Of course they've been in the pool every day.

On Thursday we went to the zoo with Kelly. We went early, but it was still pretty hot. We didn't see everything, but we saw the animals the kids wanted to see and were done by noon. Then we rode the train around the park--about a 15 minute ride. Reece liked that more than the zoo. I took a few pictures, but I can't find the cord I use to download them from my camera to my computer. If I find it, maybe I'll post pictures later.

On Friday, Kelly, Lys and I had a girl's day out. We went to Fredericksburg and looked around a little bit, then bought peaches and tomatoes on the way home. I took a few pictures with my cell phone. We shopped in the old-fashioned five and dime (Dooley's). That's Lyssa in the purple hat, and Dooley's is where that red sign is hanging in the other picture.

That evening, Josh brought a sack of small homegrown tomatoes that one of his customers had given him, so I have lots of tomatoes to use up quickly. I think I'll try JoAnn's version of oven roasted tomatoes stored in olive oil. Sounds yummy to me!

Jason and the rest of his family arrived this morning. They will be here for the weekend, then take Ahlyssa and Jacob back home with them, and leave Lily here with us. We were hoping Caelen, our 15 year old grandson, would stay too, but he said he had things to do at home. :o( It will be lots of fun having Lily with us, though. :o)

Have a great weekend!

Great-Gran Goes Swimming

Father's Day was so much fun!

We took Reece and Jacob to Mass with us. On the way to Mass, I told Jake to do whatever we did--stand when we stand, sit when we sit, kneel when we kneel. He said okay. Then I asked him if he knew how to make the sign of the cross. He said yes, and immediately crossed his arms out in front of his chest, forming an X. I laughed so hard. It was so cute!

He was very, very good at Mass, doing exactly what I had told him to do. Reece decided to be a little pill, so I had to take him out for a few minutes. We came back just before Communion. They went up to the rail with me and knelt, and I had told them to fold their arms. But I neglected to tell Jacob not to receive, so he opened his mouth like everyone else was doing. The priest was about to give him the Body of Christ when I realized what was happening and shook my head. He looked at Jacob and smiled.

I guess he doesn't bless the children during the Eucharist, because he didn't bless Reece last week, or either of the boys yesterday. He did say during his homily that he would be available after Mass "under the tree" to talk with us, give special blessings, etc. It was Father Moses again; once again I liked his homily. We didn't get a chance to speak with him, but I hope next week that we can, just to welcome him and tell him how much we appreciate that he is willing to celebrate the TLM for us.

We went by Mom's to pick up Teddy and let her change clothes and get her swimming suit. Then we came home and celebrated Father's day by swimming and grilling T-bone steaks. Kelly and Mike were here, too, and we all had so much fun.

On the way home yesterday evening, Mom said that she had a really good time and that she was glad she went swimming with the kids. They immediately surrounded her when she got in, and were so happy to show off for her. :o) I could tell that she was really enjoying herself. She was tired, though, and was still in bed when Ahlyssa, Jacob, Reece and I went over there today. We had to knock and knock on her door before she finally woke up to let us in.

Today is Josh's day off, and he and Cyrise went to the river again. The baby and the little girls are napping, and Lys is in the pool with Reece and Jacob. They are having a ball out there! I will join them when the girls wake up, and I imagine Papa will get in, too, when he gets home from work.

Happy and Excited!

Our eight-person household is about to become a ten-person household. Ron and Reece are on their way to meet Jason at our halfway meeting point. They will bring Lyssa and Jacob back with them. I'm so excited to see them, and looking forward to having them with us for the week.

When Ron woke Reece up this morning, he sat straight up in bed and said, "Gramma, I'm going with Papa. Then I'll come back and take care of you." :o) He was eager to get dressed and get going. But when they got in the car, it wouldn't start. The battery was dead. Ron got it charged, and they were going to stop and have it checked on their way out of town.

Jason and the rest of his crew will come next weekend to pick up Lys and Jake and probably leave Lily and Caelen.

Because of the cancer and chemo, the grands didn't stay with us at all last summer. We have always had them for a week or two during the summers, and I missed them so much. I'm so thankful that things are "back to normal," and I can spend time with them.

Have a great weekend!

Reece's Birthday Faces

Reece had a fun birthday. He spent the afternoon with his mommy and daddy while the girls stayed home with me. They went to the river and had a picnic in the park. When he got home, he wanted to swim again, in the pool.

He opened his gifts almost as soon as he got home. He was excited to get a Playmobil police station with a motorcycle and some little people, and a Playmobil police car with a policeman and a bad guy. He's had so much fun with them already.

As soon as Papa got home, he started the coals and Josh grilled hamburgers, hotdogs and pineapple slices. It was all so delicious, and I ate a hamburger and a hotdog! I usually can barely finish a hamburger. The pineapple on the hamburger made it taste like a gourmet burger.

After dinner Reece blew out his candle and we had cake and ice cream. By that time the kids were really tired, so it wasn't long after that that I put the little girls to bed. I have become the official bedtime storyteller and tucker inner. :o)

Today I put the girls down for their nap about 1 PM, and Reece and I played with his police station, then we played in the pool until around 4. By then the girls were up and Aubrey was in the pool with us. We got out and played with his Hot Wheel City for a bit, then the police station again, then Papa came home from work ready for a swim. So he and Reece and Aubrey are back in the pool again!

I was going to make enchilada casserole for supper, but we're out of cheese, so I think we might try the new Freebird's nearby. Josh and Cyrise want to go to a movie tonight.

And that's how the past two days have gone here. Ron's gone to Gran's for me during his lunch hour. He usually takes her some lunch, and she looks forward to seeing him. And it saves on gas. He's a sweetie.

Happy Birthday, Reece!

Today is Josh's day off, as well as Reece's sixth birthday, so they went to the river for a picnic and swimming. I hope he is having a ball and enjoying his day with his mom and dad all to himself. :o)

I've been wrapping presents. The kids got him a birthday cake this morning, and we'll grill hamburgers and hotdogs for dinner tonight when everyone gets home--a little family party.

May God bless our little June birthday kids, Lily and Reece.

I love you, Reece! Happy, happy birthday.

Happy Birthday, Lily!

Hi Lily,

I heard you had a really fun birthday at the skating rink. I'm so glad it was a good day.

We are looking forward to seeing you soon. I will take you birthday shopping. :o)

I can hardly believe you are nine years old!

I love you, sweetie! Belated happy birthday!

Whitsunday

Our Lord Jesus Christ, being seated on the right hand of God, sent, as He had promised, the Holy Ghost upon the Apostles, who, after His Ascension, continued in prayer at Jerusalem, in company with the Blessed Virgin, awaiting the performance of His promise. Let us pray in like manner with the Church: "Come, O Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Thy faithful and kindle in them the fire of Thy love." (The Roman Missal, 1962)

We have a new priest at St. Pius X helping with the Latin Mass. His name is Father Moses of Jesus and he celebrated the Mass today. I like him. Here is where he is from. I'm excited to learn more about him and the Mission of Divine Mercy.

During his homily, he mentioned that the Sequence used in today's liturgy is a wonderful prayer for all of us sinners to pray, asking the Holy Spirit to be with us. It's a beautiful prayer.

Sequence

Come, Thou Holy Spirit, come,

and from Thy celestial home

shed a ray of light divine.

Come, Thou Father of the poor,

come, Thou source of all our store,

come, within our bosoms shine.

Thou of Comforters the best,

Thou the soul's delightful guest,

sweet refreshment here below.

In our labour rest most sweet,

pleasant coolness in the heat,

solace in the midst of woe.

O most blessed Light divine,

shine within these hearts of Thine,

and our inmost being fill.

Where Thou art not, man hath nought,

nothing good in deed or thought,

nothing free from taint of ill.

Heal our wounds, our strength renew,

on our dryness pour Thy dew,

wash the stains of guilt away.

Bend the stubborn heart and will,

melt the frozen, warm the chill,

guide the steps that go astray.

On Thy faithful who adore,

and confess Thee evermore,

in Thy sevenfold gifts descend.

Give them virtue's sure reward,

give them Thy salvation, Lord,

give them joys that never end.

Amen. Alleluia.

Friday Chatter

Just a quick note to let you know that the results of my CT scan were perfect. I saw my wonderful doctor on Thursday and he said there were no signs of swollen lymph nodes or cancer. I'm so happy and relieved. I'll be going back again in 3 months. They are keeping close track of things.

He said I do have a lung infection, but it's not pneumonia. He prescribed a Z-Pak, which should knock out the infection pretty quickly. I don't feel bad at all, just coughing now and then and a little out of breath and tired.

Reece and I picked up Papa at the airport this afternoon and he is glad to be home. He said it was a lot cooler in Colorado Springs than it is here. He went swimming with Reece and Aubrey late in the afternoon. They are all glad he's home, too.

Reece went with me to Gran's today. We stopped and got some lunch on the way home and had a picnic in the park. It was sooo hot, but he enjoyed it. He loves being outdoors.

Ron took me out for a catfish dinner this evening. It was nice to spend time together, just the two of us.

Have a great weekend.

Summer Daze (yeah, corny)

Not much to blog about lately, so here's cute little Gina bean.

Reece and I took Papa to the airport Sunday afternoon. He will be back on Friday.

I had my CT scan yesterday morning. Don't know the results yet. I did talk to my doctor on Monday, and he said my lab results from May 31 looked good--nothing out of the ordinary. I've had a deep chest cough for about a week, and told the doctor about that. He said he will be able to see what's going on when he sees the scan, even better than a chest x-ray. I seem to get this every now and then, and suspect that it's just something going around.

It's been hot and we've spent hours in the pool. Reece never wants to get out. He and Aubrey are doing great at going underwater and holding their breath. He loves to glide out to me, but he is stuck on that and won't go to the next step of moving his arms and legs to actually swim. Cammie was going underwater with no problem a few days ago, but now she doesn't want to do it. Sometimes she screams like a little tea kettle, and I'd just love to plunge her little screaming head underwater.

I've been reading some old books. I'd never read Madeleine L'Engle's A Wind In The Door, so I read that. Then another of the kids fantasy books turned up, Pawn Of Prophecy by David Eddings, so I read that. There are more in that series, but I don't know if we have them in the house. I'll have to look. Now I'm re-reading Running With The Demon, the first in a three book series by Terry Brooks of Shannara fame. Classic good versus evil and summer escapism reading.

Hope you're having a peaceful, relaxing summer.

Reasons To Be Thankful

Summertime.

Ninety-plus degrees every day.

AC running all day long, keeping us cool.

Sun tanned little boy, sleeping in.

Late breakfasts on the patio.

Afternoons in the pool.

Deep, deep blue skies and snow white clouds.

This summer I don't have cancer.

Miracles.

I was reading my blog archives from last June, when I was in the midst of my cancer treatments. It made me cry because it brought it all back so clearly. The tears were not sad tears though, but (mostly) tears of joy and thanksgiving.

I went for labs on Tuesday, and have a CT scan on June 7. After he gets the results of those, I'll see my doctor later this month. I'm pretty certain everything is okay, but there is always that little pesky fear way back there somewhere that the cancer will come back. I try to have faith and not feel afraid, but every now and then...well, you know.

Meanwhile, it's summertime, and the livin' is easy. :o)