snowballs with Tia

While I was in LA to pick up the girls from my mom's, Ida was able to squeeze us into her very busy schedule. We are so glad that she did - we had a blast - she and I had a date on Friday night - a little Benihana style dinner and went to see Mamma Mia! which was awesome...we sang and laughed. A really fun movie. We stayed out till the wee hours, like we were young again! haha Then we met her for a little while the next day to check out her fabulous new house and had some snowballs before we parted. I had the green sour apple, which you can tell if you look closely at my lips and teeth. It was really good, but I wish I had known that it totally colored my mouth, I would have smiled without showing my teeth!!!

a short vacation

This morning my mom met me at the Big Star (that's what we call the rest area at the Texas/LA border). She's taking the girls to stay with her for a week. I'm not sure who is more excited - the girls, mom, or me! haha. They have big plans for the week, lots of trips to Walmart and the Dollar Tree are sure to be included. They are going to torture my poor father for a little overnight trip down to Hahnville where he's working. They are going to spend the night at the camper. I can't wait to hear how that turns out! haha But, for now, Maks and I are off to lay on the couch and watch tv...

an American Girl movie

Abby got some of our Brownie Troop together to go to opening day for Kit Kitteridge, An American Girl movie. It was just darling. The girls loved it, but not as much as me! Here are some pics Cherie took before the movie - we had a little too much fun in the theater...especially with the Hulk. Megan was mortified. haha!

4 generations

Today is my grandmother's 84th birthday. Dorothy Fussell, MaMa to her grandkids, and GrandMaMa to my kids. MaMa is so incredibly sweet and kind - she's just wonderful. I'm so lucky to have her in my world, and I'm so thankful that my girls know her and love her. Many of my favorite childhood memories include her - Sunday School at her church (she was a teacher), tv dinners and Chek drinks, lots of homemade ice cream (black walnut is a family favorite), summers camping, her letting me lay on the pew with my head in her lap during church (I would not let my kids get away with this!), week long trips to Mississippi to visit with her mom (MaMa Berry), and on and on. She stayed at home with 6 kids, and after staying home just with my 2, I know what a huge job that was. And of course, putting up with my crazy PaPa, who I also love dearly, even when he drives everyone nuts, I just laugh. There is no doubt a very special place reserved just for her when she gets to heaven, just for being married to Harold for 62 years! haha! I love her so much, and I am lucky enough to get to tell her that all the time.

trip to LA

We just got back from a week long visit in Louisiana. We had an awesome time visiting with family (I didn't get to see my busy friend though :( ... maybe next trip!). Here are some pics of the girls and Tyler, my parents and Aaron with Papa Charlie's jeep. All of these kids are growing up too darn fast for me - I can not wrap my head around the fact that Daniel will be a senior in the fall. We were able to spend some fab time with the Edens clan as well, but I didn't have my camera with me those days. And Lauren, the only other person that ever takes pictures at family functions, is in Africa. But the summer has just begun, plenty of photo opps to come.

Friends of Cassidy

Cassidy loves going to Bass Pro Shops - she has 2 very good friends there...Cassidy and Gillian. Cassidy is the little dark fish, and Gillian is the big alligator gar fish. She met these 2 fish at the Bass Pro Shop in Katy, TX. And amazingly enough, when we went to the new Bass Pro Shop in Denham Springs, there they were! Gillian had grown quite a lot since we last saw her - I think Cassidy (the girl, not the fish!) was surprised. She loved visiting her old friends - if you get a chance to go to the Bass Pro Shop in Denham, tell these 2 fish hello and that you know a friend of theirs.

Evil Squirrel

I now officially miss Maggie. Our yard is being overrun with nasty, evil little squirrels. They obviously view my little Maksim as a friend, not a foe. This evil little man (we call him FB - think about a character in the Austin Powers movies) usually sits and eats an entire ear of corn by himself for hours. Now he's figured out how to swing himself into my veggie garden and is helping himself to some of my tomatoes, etc. I am NOT happy.