MISS MY LITTLE ANGELS!

Boy I sure am missing these two little girls! Thank goodness we live in a time where all I have to do is have their mommy send me pictures via the internet and I can see them within minutes of the pictures being taken! I have always said I would have loved to live in the days of "Little House on the Prairie" but now maybe not so much!

Here are a few scrapblogs I did of them with the most recent pics Heather has sent to me!

Enjoy....

Time for reflection, decisions to be made..... blah, blah, blah....

Well, I know it has been a while since I have posted. I have been busy making some major decisions for my life and preparing to carry them out!

This economy, high rent (house too big by myself), high electricity, driving 68 miles a day to and from work and on and on and on... I have decided to make a move into my parents for a couple months, pay off some bills, save some $$$$ and move into Springfield.

Rent is cheaper (even if I have to move into an apartment). I believe I need to downsize right now! Another big plus is cutting my driving time by like 90%! I am excited about that one.

So I hope to make my move into Springfield around March or April. My parents offered this after finding out how hard I was struggling so I thought long and hard about it and it was my only recourse at this time. Thank God they offered!

So I plan on moving in on Christmas day and be totally moved out of the farm house by then. My landlords really don't want me to leave, but they also understand the situation.

Needless to say without Heather and the girls here and all that has transpired since they left I am totally NOT in the Christmas spirit. Not one little bit. I just can't wrap myself around it this year at all. Oh well, It will be here and gone in 3 weeks from today. I have everything bought (glad I started early) and wrapped, mailed off to Germany and am waiting for Christmas eve with my family. Then it will be over for another year.

Next year will be better! Brian and Codie will be back in the states and in Missouri and Heather and David will hopefully be moving about that time to Leavonworth, KS, so all my kids will be alot closer to me!

Update....

Heather and the girls arrived in Texas on Monday a.m. and were moved in by that afternoon. They ended up getting a 4 bedroom, 2 full bath home. She really likes the house, but not all the congestion of Killeen, TX. I think she misses Eudora area! LOL

She is going to get her internet set up fairly soon and will be back online shortly!

I took a few days off and cleaned and cleaned. The silence is deafening though... I really miss them all but I have alot of things coming up to keep me busy in the next few weeks. Lots of travel for work, I am doing another bible study right now, so I plan on keeping myself busy!

Go out and Vote. I voted and was # 17 in Eudora today. Normally I am either #1 or #2... but the parking area was full and there was a line! It is great to see so many people out voting and making their voices heard!

Sunday was hard!

One of the ladies from church got up after the invitation and asked Heather and the girls to come forward. So I went off to go get the girls out of the nursery. Valerie Killingsworth was telling everyone how Heather was heading back to Texas this week to get their housing set up and ready for when David comes home in Jan. So alot of people lined up to tell them goodbye and to come by and console "grandma". I guess it really really hit me that they are leaving and it is soon. I cried all the way home ( 1 whole mile!) and then had to have a talk with myself as I was fixing my lunch. I AM excited for them to all be a family again, but sure am going to miss all three of them. The day they leave is going to be a hard one at my little home.

Me and My Girls!

24 Days left!

Well we found out that Heather and the girls will be leaving for Ft. Hood, TX on Nov. 9th. She is beside herself with excitement. I know she wants to get it all started because that just means David will be home sooner! On the other hand, (I thought I was looking forward to this day) but it is hitting me that I won't have anyone at home when I get home to greet me, have those hugs and kisses from the girls whenever I want one (and they are willing! LOL), sitting and the sofa and having them come sit by grandma, seeing all the new things they are doing or saying each day. I am sooooooooooooo going to miss all three of them so much!

I went to the movie and dinner with a lady from my church and she is also single and living on her own and was seeking advice on how to keep from getting depressed and mired down in the loneliness. She was very helpful with her advice and we have decided that when we both get lonely we will just call each other and go out to eat, movies or just get together to talk. It is great having a good Christian friend I can talk to and be open with. Thanks Miss Shirley!

Oh, and I HIGHLY recommend the movie: Fireproof... It is very moving Christian movie.

What we did yesterday!

My Favorite Time of Year!

Fall is my absolute favorite time of the year! You can turn the a/c off and open the windows, listen to sounds of nature and have a cool breeze at the same time. It is Black Walnut Season and I have been picking up the ones in the yard. Maybe make enough to buy new drapes! LOL

I love the leaves turning all their rich colors. My landlord said one of the trees in my yard is the prettiest one in the county in the fall. I can't wait to see it in all its glory!

Hope everyone enjoys their day! I will.....

GRANDMA!!!

Today I am babysitting the girls as Heather went with her Grandma Butler to Branson with her church. She was excited to get out of the house by herself and be all adult! LOL The girls and I went outside and picked up walnuts.... or should I say I held their attention with it for about 3 minutes then they didn't want to help anymore! They found a dirt pile that was much more entertaining than Grandma and her nasty ole' walnuts. I think I picked up about 6 - 5 gallon buckets. Anyway, while I was plugging away Ivy came running up to me and said Grandma, Grandma, and then Grandma again! And I have yet to get her to say it since. She generally calls me Ma Ma.. which I love also.

Then we came in had a snack and then watched TV a bit while Grandma did laundry, then at 5 I fixed dinner, cleaned up, cleaned up the girls..... bubble bath! Got them dressed and hair all combed, cleaned up the living room floor as well as Ivy's room and now it is only 5:50 and I am done for the evening until I get them to bed....

I use to have tons of energy and patience with my own kids, I am getting back the energy but the patience level is waining... today has been an exceptionally good day though! Thank you GOD!

Well, time to go cuddle with them in the recliner and watch yet another episode of Baby Einstein... I can't wait to see that collection heading towards Texas! LOL

No words needed.....

Great Start!

Well, I had a great start to my Monday. I am all ready to leave around 5:15 a.m. this morning and can't find my keys! I retraced my steps on Friday night and knew where I had left them,
they were NOT there, so then I slowly went through the house looking for them. I then woke up Heather to see if she had seen them. I finally, got frustrated enough that I stopped looking for a bit. Heather got up and I was retracing my steps on Saturday a.m.... (I hadn't used my car all weekend so I knew I hadn't had them in the car).... Anyway, I remembered I had gotten the double stroller out of the lower garage and used my keys to get into the garage. Well it is pitch black out there so I was going to wait until the sun started coming up before I went out there. Then I remembered putting the stroller in Heather's rig and doing other stuff out there, so Heather and I went on a short field trip to her car and I felt under the front seat and waalah! There they were. We both laughted but at that time I was already .45 mins. late in leaving. I had to run to wally world and get my lunch for this week so I ended up being about 1/2 hour late for work. So far, the rest of my morning hasn't been bad. I pray that it stays that way! It is amazing how something can just throw a wrench in your day/schedule and throw everything out of whack.....

Eudora Baptist Whiffle Ball Tournament....

Scott and Belinda Martinsen
Logan Hickman playing first
Rachel after hitting her first homerun

Gina Stokes up to Bat!

Me, and the Thompsons! We enjoyed being spectators!"Cauliflower Power" team!
"Birdeye Boogers" team
Lullel Hickman and some of his team members!
Brad Euliss pitching

The 1st Annual Whiffle Ball Tournament was a blast to watch, maybe next year I will get out there and play! Everyone from little bitty guys and the older bunch had an awesome time.

My sister, Gina snapped all these pictures during the games. My niece, Rachel did really well all day long for the "Cauliflower Power" Team! But in the end, Kevin Marcum's team won the title! He did predict that would happen!

Our Saturday Morning...

Lacy and her fiance' Juan Jones (or as Constance calls it "fuzzy ance")
Logan and Lacy at their apartment
Constance and Ivy at the Rutledge-Wilson Farm
Heather and the girls with a little pony
The Farm

This a.m. we met Gina and Rachel and drove to Springfield to visit Logan and Lacy at their new apartment. It was a really nice place. Lacy's fiance' Juan was there also.

THEN...

We decided on the way home (Constance was asking to go see the animals) that we would go to the Rutledge-Wilson Farm off of West Bypass. It is a great interactive farm for kids of all ages!

The girls like the animals and getting to pet them but today they liked sitting on the tractors the most! We spent over an hour there and then we headed home.

NOW....

Everyone is napping except ME!

Lions, Tigers and Bears oh MY... And Chicken Nuggets

The Lion and his Lioness....
I made a new friend!
Ivy checking out the Hippo in the water!
My Constance!
Having a picnic at the park
Chicken nuggets anyone?
Constance on the slide
Here comes Ivy!
Mom and the girls! Ready for a walk through the zoo!

Today we decided was a good day to skip out on our responsibilities. I had a big list of stuff I wanted to get done today, but we decided to go and enjoy the weather. So we went and got lunch, went to the park for a picnic, played on the play equipment for a bit and then on to the zoo. It was a great day for it with the temperatures at around 75 degrees, sunny, light breeze and the girls had fun. Constance loves the zoo and all the animals, Ivy not so much! Not sure if it will be her thing or not! But she is a trooper and just layed back and watched. I am glad we did this today and all the things I wanted to get done are still here to be done, but we made memories today! And that is what counts!!!!

13th Annual Buddy Walk!

This happy lil' guy is my second cousin, Brady. He has formed a team called, Brady's Bunch to walk in the 13th Annual Buddy Walk for Down Syndrome! He lives in the Kansas City area and their walk is Oct. 18th at the Arrowhead Stadium.

I am unable to walk with them this year :( but will be collecting donations to help out Brady and others like him. He was born April of 2007 and is a sweet boy. If you would like to donate to a great cause plase click on the link below and donate.

Now, how could anyone say no to a precious face like that?

http://www.syssolutions.com/KCBuddywalk/main/Team.aspx?FundraiserId=08498eb8-34eb-4d44-abdd-4e01cb7495df

Grandparents Day

Ivy and Grandma
Constance getting all dolled up for Grandparents day concert!
Constance onstage
Pre-K
Great-Grandma Vote and Great-Grandpa Vote with Constance
Me and Constance

Today was Grandparents day at Constance's school. The group (pre-K) all got together and sang us a song. They did really well for 3, 4 and 5 year old kids. There were some funny and precious moments along the way!





Here are a few pictures from today! Enjoy

100th Post!

Well this is my 100th post, didn't realize I was that close until I logged in!

Anyway, as you know I have been talking about moving to Springfield once Heather and the girls head back to Ft. Hood, Tx in December.

I have been going out to apartment complexes that I am interested in, ( think I have toured about 6-7 different ones). I am so not impressed. I guess it is because I have a great place now, a great landlord and I love it there. It is just the drive, but my little car gets good gas mileage so I really don't have much to complain about in that area.

So over the weekend I prayed about it and gave it alot of thought and have decided to stay right where I am at. My family, my church and my bible study ladies are all there and I don't want to give that up.

I am at peace with the decision and am looking forward to fixing up the place once Heather and the girls are fixing up their own place in Texas. I think both Heather and I are keeping our heads full of thoughts of decorating! I know she will be glad to get her own place again and I know I am looking forward to having my own place again.BUT I am going to miss them so very much! Especially, the evenings when I get home and there isn't anyone to greet me with hugs and kisses.

Ole' Rainy Day...

Well, today is 2nd day of Gustav in our area. I love rain, I always feel like it washes everything clean. Kinda like a brand new start....

I leave today with the other two secretaries from our office for training in Jefferson City so we will have rain all the way there as what we had yesterday is in that area today...

Nothing much else going on right now. I have my post op appt this a.m. at 9:30 from my last surgery and that is about it. They will just check my incision sites and see if I have any questions. I will go ahead and set up a band fill appt. for next Wednesday. We thought about doing it today but with us leaving on business this afternoon it wasn't a great idea in case I had trouble with the fill.

That is my life at this moment in a nut shell... Looks kinda boring once I have it written out! LOL

Having fun!

I have been playing around with changes to my blog site and my other blog site as well tonight. I like the changes I made here. I am really getting into the blues and browns that are so popular right now. So the new blog jpeg I added has those elements in it as well.

I am not sure I have tweaked it exactly like I want it, but so far it is good! Check back later for possible changes. I just love the website www.thecutestblogontheblock.com!

The Blue "Varmit" Marauder"

Well, in the last two weeks I have managed to deplete the Polk County area of many varmits! I hate getting in the car now when it is cool in the a.m., still dark and it is like Russian Roulette out there with all these creatures jumping out in front of me so I can KILL them!

I have even slowed down to 45 or 50 mph while on Hwy 215 so as to give them a sporting chance!

I have hit numerous raccoons, possum's and armadillo's. Also a few birds, squirrels and something I am not really sure what it was, I caught a blurrrr and then whammo! Yesterday a beautiful little fawn jumped out in front of me, but did a 360 and got out of the way. BUT this morning I hit a big ole' turkey... He just stood there looking at me... No damage to my car, but when I got to work I could swear I smelt cranberry sauce! LOL

I drive a small blue car and that is why I named this blog "The Blue "Varmit" Marauder...

Walking for a Cure!

My Grandmother, Lorene Bays with Heather and Brian

Yesterday I received a mailing for the annual "Alzheimer's Memory Walk" that takes place here in Springfield on September 27th. I am in the process of recruiting a team. I have 6 volunteers at this time! Which is great, I only had to ask once and they came running... Great friends and family in my life.



I am also taking donations for this cause and you can go to my webpage to donate or contact me personally. Here is the website:



http://memorywalkspringfield.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=257347&lis=0&kntae257347=E956A7DA2B5B4BA7A4ACA95888CAE363



My maternal grandmother battled alzheimer's the last part of her life and it is a struggle to watch them deteriorate so quickly and the first time they don't recognize you is heart breaking. I can only imagine how they feel seeing a sea of strangers and never anyone that they know.



Let's try and battle this disease!!! I need your support!

Grandma's touch!

Ivy crawled up on lap yesterday afternoon and I started rubbing/lightly tickling her back and Heather snapped these pictures. It brings back many memories of both Heather and Brian both laying across my lap for the same treatment. I still get talked into doing it when Brian visits or Heather ask! They will always be my babies! I can't really do it to Constance, she giggles before I even lay her down! She is the most tickleish little girl ever!

After pre-school (1st day)

One wore out little girl!

1st day of Pre-School

Water fun!

Heather being Heather!
Ivy and Constance washing Grandma's car
Me in charge of rinsing!
Constance washing Mommy's car
The girls and I working hard!
Ivy smiling and all wet!

Today has been an eventful day. First we went to Springfield so I could go to my 2nd band fill at the doctor's office. Last time I went they found a kink in my tubing but were able to put in the fill with no problems. Well, today was a different story! They started the fill and it wouldn't go, so they did an x-ray, paged the surgeon who was in surgery, explained what was going on and he wants to see me next week and schedule a follow-up surgery to go in and fix the kink and probably take out some of the tubing as it is too long for my torso.

Then we did a few errands and came home. I got the lawn mower out and did some of the yard and then the girls came out and mom took over. While she was mowing the girls and I decided to play in the water and wash the cars! Can't say they got REALLY clean but they have the road dust rinsed off of them!