tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15902167718736193892024-03-05T02:28:32.850-06:00Grams Made ItGrandchildren - Cooking - Sewing - Crafts
Finally time for the things I love to do!Vicki @ Grams Made Ithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14830960886130900689noreply@blogger.comBlogger411125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1590216771873619389.post-51264514658539255582018-07-12T20:46:00.000-05:002018-07-12T20:46:57.553-05:00In Memory of My Sister Kay, November 8, 1949 - June 24, 2018Some of you may know that I come from a big family. My parents had six children. There were two boys followed by four girls. I am the fifth child of those six. <div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I want to tell you about my sister, Cherilynn Kay. She was the fourth child and was four years older than me. Kay was born in 1949 and it was clear early on that something was not right. Since I wasn't born until 1954, I'm not sure exactly when they first realized there was a problem. For as long as I can remember, she was labeled "mentally retarded" which was what they called it in those days. My earliest recollections are of her on the floor, flailing her arms and legs while screaming for hours and hours. She could not talk or communicate at all for a very long time. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYdUbs6TVATWnUkTEC-eLigTA_UuQtQp1y1wyWGy2pRaU5RrmZiJ7BsMKJy6q1BrgbeqBKQjlMTyDVLu0LDraarUXbsBdZtm0tcr57x25wkRO-0hHa-KzNEXROUwTgiL03EGb-vdfilUg/s1600/Kay+Collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYdUbs6TVATWnUkTEC-eLigTA_UuQtQp1y1wyWGy2pRaU5RrmZiJ7BsMKJy6q1BrgbeqBKQjlMTyDVLu0LDraarUXbsBdZtm0tcr57x25wkRO-0hHa-KzNEXROUwTgiL03EGb-vdfilUg/s640/Kay+Collage.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cherilynn Kay Skelton, November 8, 1949 - June 24, 2018</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
As you might imagine, my parents were devastated and desperate. I remember them taking her to specialists in Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, Shreveport, and anywhere else they thought someone could help. The diagnosis was always the same and they all recommended that she should be placed in an institution and basically forgotten. I don't think that was an unusual recommendation at that time, but my parents would not hear of it. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
When I started school in 1960, she was in the same school as me but in a special ed class. I'm not exactly sure what year she started school. Let me just tell you that in the early 1960s, special ed was vastly different than it is today. There was not much consideration of what was best for those kids nor of what they needed. Her class was in the school basement and I don't think they ever even took them outside for recess. They were kept totally separate from the general education kids. There was no such thing as mainstreaming. By this time Kay was just starting to be able speak, but she was always difficult to understand. She had a severe speech impediment. Most people could never understand her speech. I was probably the person who could best understand her and when I was a teenager I would work with her every summer to improve her pronunciation. Over the years, with a lot of practice, my name evolved from "Bicki" to "V-V-V-Vicki." I loved that once she learned how to say it she very carefully pronounced my name for the rest of her life. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
In addition to her other challenges, Kay was legally blind. Sometime around 1961 or 1962, Mom and Dad placed Kay in the Texas State School for the Blind in Austin. It was basically a boarding school. She didn't do well there and I think she was only there for one year. Shortly after that, she was placed in the Texas State School for the Mentally Retarded in Mexia, Texas. While it was a full residential program, my parents treated it like a boarding school. She went to school in September and came home for Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, and every summer. She made tremendous progress in this home and slowly learned to read and write a little bit. A speech therapist worked with her to improve her speech with limited success. In 1964 when our family relocated to Corpus Christi, Kay stayed in Mexia until the Corpus Christi State School opened in 1970. Kay was among its first residents. After she was relocated to Corpus Christi, she came home every weekend. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
In the mid-1970s, there were a series of problems at the CC State School which included allegations of abuse and neglect as well as several instances of residents who wandered off. When Patrick and I got married in 1975, Mom made the decision to move Kay back home. While that did protect Kay from all of the things that were going on at the State School, she immediately started to regress because she was not getting reinforcing therapy and classes.</div>
<div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
When my Dad died in 2001, Kay took it quite hard. My parents already had cemetery plots and had previously had headstones set for themselves and for Kay. When she saw her own grave she assumed that meant that her own death was imminent. It took us a long time to calm her down and I'm not sure she ever understood completely.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
After a few years, Mom was no longer able to take care of her and we moved Kay into an assisted living group home in Corpus Christi. After Mom died, my sister Bylinda and I took over shared responsibility for Kay. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
We later moved her to Seguin near Bylinda where she lived for the past several years. In May of this year we moved Kay to a group home in San Antonio, about six miles from our home in Converse. She liked the new home because it was all female. (Her home in Seguin was coed.) She also liked the fact that the residents of this home go to church on Sunday morning. She really missed that in her other homes. </div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Mom was never willing to talk to us about Kay's diagnosis. None of her brothers and sisters knew what caused her problems or whether they were genetic or related to something else. Mom had told us that she almost miscarried with Kay and was given a medication to stop it. She kind of led us to believe that medication might have caused Kay's problems. Once we took over her care, we were able to do some research in her medical records and discovered that her actual diagnosis was Dandy-Walker Syndrome. Dandy-Walker Syndrome is a congenital brain malformation involving the cerebellum and the fluid filled spaces around it. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I have long contended that if Kay had been born later, her diagnosis would not have been "mental retardation." She could do many things and had an amazing memory. She could not live on her own because she could not handle money and was way too trusting of strangers. But she could take care of her personal grooming. Her memory was almost at a savant level. If she ever met you, she would never forget your name. She never forgot her nieces and nephews birthdays or wedding anniversaries. She could remember every single one of our cousin's names and birthdays. She knew all the lyrics to almost every song in the Baptist Hymnal. She rarely forgot anything. More than anything else, Kay wanted to be like the rest of us. She wanted to fall in love and get married and have babies of her own. It always broke my heart when she would talk about that.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
On Sunday morning, June 24, the ladies at Kay's new home got ready for church and were heading out to get in the van. Kay was excited to be going back to church. On the way out the door, Kay collapsed with a heart attack. The caregiver started CPR and called 911. The paramedics worked on her for about 30 minutes but were not able to revive her. To say we are shocked is an understatement. She had just recently had her annual physical and was given a clean bill of health. She had no history of heart problems. She didn't have any of the classic warning signs. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
After a lot of discussion and some scheduling problems, we have decided to have her remains cremated. We will hold a family memorial service at the gravesite in Bryans Mill, Texas sometime this fall. She will be laid to rest next to Mom and Dad, just as they wanted. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9LjszTLOVElB6K-YcWfAAhFYbIrSwi2GqvhX4lUbzBEL23LAS-IYqXfMiDxgFoWQjN6J8y6KZF-q0AzVRmkYa_cG1zNsT4zhiUYS-ILFsAaY8gaW-Doan3Vk_LY5Hk3LWwwIsaffTiJA/s1600/Blog+Signature+Cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="508" data-original-width="755" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9LjszTLOVElB6K-YcWfAAhFYbIrSwi2GqvhX4lUbzBEL23LAS-IYqXfMiDxgFoWQjN6J8y6KZF-q0AzVRmkYa_cG1zNsT4zhiUYS-ILFsAaY8gaW-Doan3Vk_LY5Hk3LWwwIsaffTiJA/s200/Blog+Signature+Cropped.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Vicki @ Grams Made Ithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14830960886130900689noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1590216771873619389.post-29405774544093247942018-03-07T21:39:00.003-06:002018-03-07T21:39:54.733-06:00BACK TO BLOGGINGIt's time for me to get back to blogging. I've been gone a long time. It's been 580 days since my last blog post. So much has happened in the past year and a half. Over the next few blog posts I'm going to give you a brief recap to catch you up.<br />
<br />
The biggest news is that we have relocated to the San Antonio area. Needless to say, it has been quite an adventure. We lived in the same house for 32 years. Patrick lived in Sinton or Corpus Christi his entire life except for a couple of years during college. I lived in Corpus Christi since I was 10 years old.<br />
<br />
This was a move that we wanted to make to position us for retirement, but it has not been painless. We are learning to live in a new city. We love San Antonio ... the history, the culture, the restaurants, and being two hours closer to almost everywhere.<br />
<br />
The bonus is that Katy and her family live in San Antonio. Plus, we're an hour closer to Nick's family in Houston. We're able to spend so much more time with the grandkids.<br />
<br />
Here's how it happened so fast. <br />
<br />
The company that Patrick works for moved into a new facility in San Antonio early last year. Since we have always hoped to retire to the San Antonio area, he mentioned to his boss that he would be interested in transferring. His boss indicated that a transfer would be a good possibility within a year or so. He suggested that we get ready to put our house on the market, but said "don't do anything yet." Fast forward to March, less than three months later. He calls and says "We're ready for you in San Antonio. Put your house on the market and move."<br />
<br />
We called our friend, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/katywithcoldwell/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Katy Groth</a>, and listed our house on a Sunday afternoon. She put it on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) on Monday morning. We had our first offer by noon that same day. If you are buying or selling in the Corpus Christi area give her a call. She's awesome! They eventually withdrew their offer, because a home inspection identified a couple of problems and they weren't comfortable with that even though we were having the problems repaired. We accepted the second offer less than two weeks later with the caveat that they wanted possession immediately after closing. WHAT?!<br />
<br />
I immediately started looking for a home in San Antonio. We were very fortunate to find a fantastic real estate professional who was a huge help. If you are looking to buy a home in the San Antonio area, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/simonsayssale/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Chris Martinez</a> is your man. Over the next month, he showed me at least 24 houses. We wrote offers on three before we found the one that we bought. The housing market was crazy fast. I would find a house and call Patrick to make the two-hour drive so he could see it and we could make an offer. By the time he would drive up, before we could make an offer, it would be sold. When I found the house we bought, I made an offer without him and he drove up the next weekend to see it. He didn't think it was perfect, but he was happy with my choice.<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, we had to move out of our house in Corpus Christi on April 10. Lucky for us, Katy and Travis have a spare bedroom that they graciously let us live in for about a month. We moved into our new home the weekend of May 5th with the assistance of our kids and their spouses. Basically we moved twice, once into storage and again from storage into the house.<br />
<br />
Immediately after we moved in we had to do some renovation in the kitchen. More about that in a later post.<br />
<br />
Both of the real estate professionals I mentioned in this post went above and beyond what we expected to assist with buying and selling. Katy and her husband actually removed the hurricane shutters on the bedroom windows so it would pass inspection. Christopher was very hands on in making sure all the items on our home inspection were taken care of and getting the house cleaned and ready for move in. I had no idea that Realtors were this hands on. I thought they just sold houses.<br />
<br />
On the subject of blogging, I've decided to try to give it another go. It may not be as frequent as it once was, but I'm going to try. I miss this creative outlet and occasional chronicling of our life.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Vicki @ Grams Made Ithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14830960886130900689noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1590216771873619389.post-62450542977994789602016-08-04T22:50:00.000-05:002016-08-06T10:40:56.887-05:00North To Alaska<b><span style="font-size: medium;">Day 5</span></b><br />
<br />
Day 5 of our vacation brought us to Skagway. We woke up to a view of the train and Skagway's well know ship graffiti. For years, ship's crew members have painted the ship's names and flags on the side of the cliff alongside the dock in Skagway.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixaABORLsBvydnTo4P1EnjG-I_3siXe8apdQNwfpHEaJVONRFqWRFdZq9Aky_C_6mGQxquWb-uAN_w5Ml6yeFONyBZ2KpwnE6hxebAvZEj1VpKxjSbOogRqODCRL1TTC43on9gV91Rleo/s1600/Skagway+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixaABORLsBvydnTo4P1EnjG-I_3siXe8apdQNwfpHEaJVONRFqWRFdZq9Aky_C_6mGQxquWb-uAN_w5Ml6yeFONyBZ2KpwnE6hxebAvZEj1VpKxjSbOogRqODCRL1TTC43on9gV91Rleo/s640/Skagway+1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
If you've never been on a cruise, you may not be familiar with the huge variety of excursions when the ship is in port. We are not big on excursions. They can really run up the cost of your vacation higher than you planned. Plus, we enjoy getting into the towns and doing what we want to do on our own schedule. Our Alaska cruise had an exceptional number of excursions available and it seemed that everyone was doing excursions at every port. We were warned that, in Alaska, excursions go rain or shine. If you book in advance, you can't cancel even if the weather is bad. They will not refund your fees if the pilot decides to fly or the captain feels like it's safe to go out on his boat, you are stuck.<br />
<br />
The only excursion we booked in advance was a trip on the White Pass & Yukon Railroad. We chose the White Pass Summit Excursion. It's only a 40-mile round trip and it takes a couple of hours. Cruise ship passengers get dockside service which is very convenient. We literally walked off of the ship and onto the train.<br />
<br />
The White Pass & Yukon Railroad is a historical civil engineering landmark (so is the Eiffel Tower). It was built during the Klondike Gold Rush of 1898 and was an amazing fete of engineering. There were two crews working, one from the North and one from the South. It took 26 months to lay 120 miles of tracks. Thirty-five thousand men worked on the project and used 450 tons of explosives. They worked year-round in deep snow and temperatures as low as 60 below.<br />
<br />
The scenery and views on the trip are nothing short of spectacular. When the train topped out at the summit, we were actually in Canada. We were not allowed to get off the train, but we were parked there for about 15 minutes while they changed engines for the trip back down. On the way back, Patrick and some of the other passengers saw a bear eating berries along the side of the track. I didn't look fast enough.<br />
<br />
The most interesting part of the trip was that you can actually still see the trail that the gold miners followed into the Klondike. So many men climbed the trail in the late 19th century that the trail is still visible today. We were very interested to learn that Canadian officials required each prospector to carry 2,000 pounds of food and equipment with them on the trip to the gold fields. This was to ensure that they didn't starve. So many pack animals died along the way that part of the trail became known as "Dead Horse Trail."<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRLSTRROvJmwtTWS3CCzIqZOQv0EGBQRJh_scMOQs2rWoo4061iFtlhk0-NdhqVtFf1O51R_VKhDMqcPXgraCP7TFvbUZkgMeXJcsM4DAsmnozr_NwA-vcz4MsKrGOrX9h3U8Cp-Zg6KQ/s1600/Skagway+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRLSTRROvJmwtTWS3CCzIqZOQv0EGBQRJh_scMOQs2rWoo4061iFtlhk0-NdhqVtFf1O51R_VKhDMqcPXgraCP7TFvbUZkgMeXJcsM4DAsmnozr_NwA-vcz4MsKrGOrX9h3U8Cp-Zg6KQ/s640/Skagway+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The center photo on the bottom row shows the original wooden bridge next to the new steel bridge.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
We were back in Skagway around noon so we got a ride into town on the S.M.A.R.T. which is the municipal bus system. You can ride all day with a $5 pass. The cruise ship dock is so close to town that we really could have walked. It could not have been half a mile.<br />
<br />
Downtown Skagway features boardwalks and restored buildings. One of the most interesting places is the Arctic Brotherhood Hall which is covered with 8,883 pieces of driftwood. It is the most photographed building in Alaska. Skagway is also home to the oldest hotel in Alaska, the Golden North Hotel.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUd-UGXy8sbAe34pFez05co8lIzj1i2gHHpqq4b_U8W3yPaJko-HIwI7-9ORZuCyl6qz4T2NjACO16UQQsmVaGmsN6O_fxLHmdJ0u2NzjPQU0Xt2KjsBibeoUFop2GLrrvvyxNgwYs340/s1600/Skagway+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUd-UGXy8sbAe34pFez05co8lIzj1i2gHHpqq4b_U8W3yPaJko-HIwI7-9ORZuCyl6qz4T2NjACO16UQQsmVaGmsN6O_fxLHmdJ0u2NzjPQU0Xt2KjsBibeoUFop2GLrrvvyxNgwYs340/s640/Skagway+3.jpg" width="448" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Skagway was the gateway to the Yukon Gold Rush. During the Gold Rush the population of Skagway swelled to more than 10,000. Today its population is less than 1,000 and it's economy is totally dependent on the tourist and cruise industry. One of the shopkeepers told us that they basically have to earn their entire annual income in the three month summer season.<br />
<br />
We did a little shopping and ate lunch. There are some really nice shopping options that feature local artisans. We were also interested to learn from one of the shop owners that some of the scenes from the old movie North To Alaska were set right outside on the street in Skagway. It was easy to imagine John Wayne walking down that street.<br />
<br />
We really enjoyed the day in Skagway and our trip to the White Pass Summit. We were also delighted to find a coffee shop that served Starbucks Coffee. However, it was not actually a Starbucks outlet. We did sit and enjoy a hot cup of coffee before catching the bus back to the ship.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKgPTI_9ueEBC__sHnS7e0yfb4BwfPYYmMqxwZcBYn77Qbkhs0AUbVFcKR3zqQWsi1Kc1RhO9wY5KNDGoEdM43woEErgReGot89HjyrnRzpRdwnOCIZO18cTWfCnmmSWblkc0AvQ_c1ro/s1600/Blog+Signature+Cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKgPTI_9ueEBC__sHnS7e0yfb4BwfPYYmMqxwZcBYn77Qbkhs0AUbVFcKR3zqQWsi1Kc1RhO9wY5KNDGoEdM43woEErgReGot89HjyrnRzpRdwnOCIZO18cTWfCnmmSWblkc0AvQ_c1ro/s200/Blog+Signature+Cropped.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Vicki @ Grams Made Ithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14830960886130900689noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1590216771873619389.post-1674015926374391742016-08-02T15:47:00.000-05:002016-08-04T09:04:06.335-05:00Some Personal Notes & Adventures in AlaskaI continue to be so far behind in getting my travel stories published. Since we returned from vacation, we've been crazy-busy. We spent a weekend with Katy's family in San Antonio. We've been to Houston to see the boys for a long weekend. We try not to go more than a month without seeing them in person. We want them to know us and be comfortable with us. We've had the princesses down for a visit. I've had a couple of really big sewing projects to do. I went back to Houston to take care of the twins so the Aggie Engineers could get away for a long weekend. It just seems like time gets away from me.<br />
<br />
We also had to make a trip to Waxahachie to celebrate the life of Patrick's sweet Aunt Carrie as she was laid to rest. She was an amazing cook and raised a beautiful family. I never once saw her when she didn't bring a smile to my face. I will miss her at our family gatherings. I'm not sure what Uncle Paul will do without her, but I know his family will be there for him. Rest in Peace, Aunt Carrie.<br />
<br />
Only two days after that, we celebrated the life of my good friend Beverly's husband, Tim. Tim was an Alzheimers patient who had been in a full-time care situation for a while. Beverly was completely devoted to making sure that Tim was taken care of. I know it was hard on the entire family. Tim and Beverly were so much fun to be around. They always had a gentle "war of words" going between them. They played off of each other like only couples who have been together for many years can do. He once told me I didn't have to worry that something was going to break Bev's heart, because she didn't have one. I will always remember how they gave each other a hard time, but he was always at her beck and call. Anything she needed, she only had to ask. Tim is the first of our group of friends to pass. I guess we've reached that age. Rest in Peace, Tim.<br />
<br />
So now, back to our vacation.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<b>Day 4</b><br />
<br />
On Sunday we arrived in Juneau, the capital city of Alaska. Even though it is the second most populous city in Alaska, it's still kind of a small town with a population of around 32,000. It is also the second largest city in the USA in terms of area. It's larger in area than both Delaware and Rhode Island. One of the unique things about Juneau is that it is not connected to the rest of Alaska by road or highway. The only access to Juneau is by boat or airplane. Since our trip mostly hugged the coast, we found this to be the case in a lot of places. Often the houses we saw along the coast had a boat or seaplane parked with no indication of a car or driveway. It's definitely a different lifestyle.<br />
<br />
Our first order of business was trying to get my camera repaired or buying a new camera.<br />
<br />
Right in the port area, just where we got off the ship, is a Visitor Information Center. We headed straight there to ask about a place that might be open on Sunday. The visitor's center was staffed by two really nice and amazingly helpful volunteers. It turned out that one of them was the mailman. He knew everyone and he knew where everything was right down to their actual address. When I told him what I needed he said, "I'll find someone who can help you." He took out his cell phone and started calling people. Then he marked two or three locations on the visitors map and told us how to get to each one. All were within walking distance so we headed off down the street.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij4BcRZkYF8v1sMlScgNkxmt_myIQPmaHNPTt_PWSXECW7XmWHuFOM_19vFRdWGfOWKZrP6_s-941puxW_JTPw_yFZ1OFPXsVdYmS_BqSDSNVoPrfV90tFN9PueSXk4ZJZVHS0Ra_nLfM/s1600/Juneau1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij4BcRZkYF8v1sMlScgNkxmt_myIQPmaHNPTt_PWSXECW7XmWHuFOM_19vFRdWGfOWKZrP6_s-941puxW_JTPw_yFZ1OFPXsVdYmS_BqSDSNVoPrfV90tFN9PueSXk4ZJZVHS0Ra_nLfM/s640/Juneau1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
We got help at the very first one, less than a one block walk. He took a look at my Nikon and knew immediately what the problem was. He explained that the Nikon J-1 has a sensor that often goes bad. Nikon will fix it, but in his experience, it doesn't stay fixed. He recommended not putting any more money into that camera because the problem was likely to recur.<br />
<br />
He showed us several inexpensive options for a replacement camera. We bought a little point and shoot and were on our way in less than thirty minutes.<br />
<br />
We had several things we wanted to see and do while we were in Anchorage. First thing was a trip out to Mendenhall Glacier. We took a shuttle bus which was very inexpensive and only about a ten minute ride. On the trip out we saw dozens of eagles along the waterfront. Our bus driver was a local artist whose work is displayed in the Anchorage Museum. He was very entertaining and funny. He gave us our first lesson about the Tlingit Indians. Tlingit is actually pronounced like klink-it. All members of the tribe are either Ravens or Eagles. He explained that Eagles marry Ravens and Ravens marry Eagles. Whether you are an Eagle or a Raven is determined by your mother.<br />
<br />
Upon arrival at the glacier, we took a short hike on the one of the nature trails. When we arrived it was about 60 degrees and drizzly. We were hoping to see some wildlife, but didn't have any luck. But the hike was quiet and peaceful. We only saw a couple of other people on that trail. Next up was a hike out to the waterfall and glacier.<br />
<br />
It's roughly a mile hike out to Nugget Falls and Mendenhall Glacier. A two-mile hike didn't seem like very far, but it was very tiring. We were definitely ready to sit down when we were finished. This trail was fairly crowded with a lot of people making the hike. I'm a slow walker so we got passed a lot. It was definitely worth the hike. It was the closest we got to any glacier; we saw about five glaciers during our stay in Alaska. The waterfall was beautiful. What doesn't show up in any of the pictures is that there were dozens of little birds who kept flying right into the front of the falls. They were small, about the size of the purple martins we see in our neighborhood. We could not figure out what they were doing. The native flora was so different from what we see in South Texas. I really enjoyed seeing it everywhere we went.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-OpdbA9jAkr-NSdGvEaYe7avdezasSmz8W-t6STKHqUBF2YM37uwSat22420-BJP0KNqJamjPplCw1cvuWW1b4ycdI8osbHs3Plf4ID5Zzv_lgOhdBdSOz1vObeYqjj_04FAkPHuF78w/s1600/Juneau+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-OpdbA9jAkr-NSdGvEaYe7avdezasSmz8W-t6STKHqUBF2YM37uwSat22420-BJP0KNqJamjPplCw1cvuWW1b4ycdI8osbHs3Plf4ID5Zzv_lgOhdBdSOz1vObeYqjj_04FAkPHuF78w/s640/Juneau+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
We took the shuttle back to the port area and took a tram ride up to the top of Mt. Roberts. It's an 1800 foot ride up one of the most vertical trams in the world and runs right through the rain forest. At the top are trails, a gift shop, a theater, and a restaurant. We had planned to do a little more hiking, but just as we got to the top, a thunderstorm blew in. It was rainy and windy. Instead of hiking we decided to have some lunch at the Timberline Bar and Grill and take in the movie. We split an order of crab nachos which were delicious and more than both of us could eat. The views of downtown Juneau and Gastineau Channel are spectacular. There is also a Raptor Center for the rehabilitation of injured eagles on this mountain. The theater features a show about the native Alaskans and how they have worked to preserve their language and their heritage. It was very interesting and we learned even more about the Tlingit culture.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU1zhzF5XbaLvBz3xkA0lozObep6WqvWpzai8022jS7TxENtszu6CoQ8xvaNNk5jTmyKypHWJnLU3nFSwot7XXiUV3MfEyBW0fx-tykKQrfGuzG31QK4z640nG2j6eEKsLjRbdbBMPcK8/s1600/Juneau+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU1zhzF5XbaLvBz3xkA0lozObep6WqvWpzai8022jS7TxENtszu6CoQ8xvaNNk5jTmyKypHWJnLU3nFSwot7XXiUV3MfEyBW0fx-tykKQrfGuzG31QK4z640nG2j6eEKsLjRbdbBMPcK8/s640/Juneau+3.jpg" width="448" /></a></div>
<br />
Because it was raining, we did not get to explore the area outside of the restaurant and visitors center. With a good wind blowing, the ride back down the tram was rough. At this point, we decided to head back to the ship and get out of the rain. It was a good day.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKgPTI_9ueEBC__sHnS7e0yfb4BwfPYYmMqxwZcBYn77Qbkhs0AUbVFcKR3zqQWsi1Kc1RhO9wY5KNDGoEdM43woEErgReGot89HjyrnRzpRdwnOCIZO18cTWfCnmmSWblkc0AvQ_c1ro/s1600/Blog+Signature+Cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKgPTI_9ueEBC__sHnS7e0yfb4BwfPYYmMqxwZcBYn77Qbkhs0AUbVFcKR3zqQWsi1Kc1RhO9wY5KNDGoEdM43woEErgReGot89HjyrnRzpRdwnOCIZO18cTWfCnmmSWblkc0AvQ_c1ro/s200/Blog+Signature+Cropped.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: #bd081c; background-image: url(data:image/svg+xml; background-position: 3px 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: 14px; border-bottom-left-radius: 2px; border-bottom-right-radius: 2px; border-top-left-radius: 2px; border-top-right-radius: 2px; border: none; color: white; cursor: pointer; display: none; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: bold; line-height: 20px; opacity: 1; padding: 0px 4px 0px 0px; position: absolute; text-align: center; text-indent: 20px; width: auto; z-index: 8675309;">Save</span><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: #bd081c; background-image: url(data:image/svg+xml; background-position: 3px 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: 14px; border-bottom-left-radius: 2px; border-bottom-right-radius: 2px; border-top-left-radius: 2px; border-top-right-radius: 2px; border: none; color: white; cursor: pointer; display: none; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: bold; line-height: 20px; opacity: 1; padding: 0px 4px 0px 0px; position: absolute; text-align: center; text-indent: 20px; width: auto; z-index: 8675309;">Save</span>Vicki @ Grams Made Ithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14830960886130900689noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1590216771873619389.post-12739017839057396632016-07-01T14:35:00.001-05:002016-07-01T14:35:44.460-05:00Our Alaska Adventure<b><span style="font-size: large;">Day 3</span></b><br />
<br />
The third day of our vacation was a sea day with no port of call. The highlight of the day was a sail by of the Hubbard Glacier. This was the only day of the whole trip that was not sunny and warm at least part of the day. The day was drizzly and cold. This was the view from our stateroom as we approached the glacier. The clouds hung low over the mountains and the water was littered with ice.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiDertttR5RCrlFfxTXyF0zLRVmEpjchqDv6KsZasN7Z1EZiL9F73ZrxsU1_xXoXBon-zEjOatvORqB_kXITBVwxa408cO0DmCPR3rjc3VmtR2Q3m_vSBBvHjPHnm-kfeFUB_1FUd-y9M/s1600/Glacierwakeup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiDertttR5RCrlFfxTXyF0zLRVmEpjchqDv6KsZasN7Z1EZiL9F73ZrxsU1_xXoXBon-zEjOatvORqB_kXITBVwxa408cO0DmCPR3rjc3VmtR2Q3m_vSBBvHjPHnm-kfeFUB_1FUd-y9M/s640/Glacierwakeup.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
One of the reasons we chose Celebrity for our cruise was that it offers an educational component with a naturalist on board to provide information and answer questions. The evening before we visited Hubbard, we attended a one-hour presentation about glaciers by Celebrity's resident naturalist, Milos Radakovich. He also provided loud-speaker narration as we sailed into Disenchantment Bay past the Hubbard Glacier.<br />
<br />
Hubbard is the largest tidewater glacier in North America. It flows 76 miles from its source in the Yukon into Disenchantment Bay and is 1,200 feet deep. We sailed quite close to the glacier and then the captain cut the engines to allow us to hear the glacier. I had no idea that a glacier makes noise, but it does. It creeks and crackles and groans as it moves and calves. The naturalist told us that it's not unusual for it to be rainy or drizzly in this locale because, in his words "the glacier makes its own weather."<br />
<br />
Just a reminder that, at this point in our trip, our photography was limited to our cell phones and Kindle Fire cameras. Some of it is not too bad considering.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizISBGmAZm6ULqKQV6JF0-KrhPACpcwOX1nvcM-ueZuQJ9tBLUbrikHAMJ4A_tFvaJ_y0lerFZsicKhLhfiLxnOeHU9uCtw98i5mwxJYkScotV4FWByVxiyt3zarQ-BGNm_ahy0Uia8ds/s1600/hubbardglacier.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizISBGmAZm6ULqKQV6JF0-KrhPACpcwOX1nvcM-ueZuQJ9tBLUbrikHAMJ4A_tFvaJ_y0lerFZsicKhLhfiLxnOeHU9uCtw98i5mwxJYkScotV4FWByVxiyt3zarQ-BGNm_ahy0Uia8ds/s640/hubbardglacier.jpg" width="448" /></a></div>
<br />
I was very surprised by the amount of color visible in the glacier. I had read some tips for photographing them and trying to capture the beautiful blue that is the dominant color, but it was more beautiful than I expected. We were lucky that it was an overcast day which made the blue easier to capture with a cell phone camera.<br />
<br />
One of the most interesting things to me was the line in the water where the glacial melt meets with salt water. It's very delineated and interesting to see.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLJoBeKtZovOERS560dpfmMfiMIw49uK8BXMEI1IjPSN5lG8Sq7uAIQJOHPBlwnlYOls6uqFeno_ilkbrOxPjYJ-aGGUKF7fMtBgZJbH4uHF-2liz1FyIOyhOWjokeCwf0u6Nly8MQ0mI/s1600/Glacierwater.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLJoBeKtZovOERS560dpfmMfiMIw49uK8BXMEI1IjPSN5lG8Sq7uAIQJOHPBlwnlYOls6uqFeno_ilkbrOxPjYJ-aGGUKF7fMtBgZJbH4uHF-2liz1FyIOyhOWjokeCwf0u6Nly8MQ0mI/s640/Glacierwater.jpg" width="606" /></a></div>
<br />
Here we are on our balcony sailing past the glacier and the icebergs.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE84Ns18_3arezF_3n7olQKj9zd7PA5Q-gAJoAKJi4pA7bOP34rQXMl_wr-XuxDlhN_bdWZcmYwWqAsPwfNNOVIMjt5iYMv5NI1PToeyB4jVqqevMpynmMcIbf09-oRvW2Q3YUMlLUk3Q/s1600/icebergwatch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE84Ns18_3arezF_3n7olQKj9zd7PA5Q-gAJoAKJi4pA7bOP34rQXMl_wr-XuxDlhN_bdWZcmYwWqAsPwfNNOVIMjt5iYMv5NI1PToeyB4jVqqevMpynmMcIbf09-oRvW2Q3YUMlLUk3Q/s640/icebergwatch.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
One of the concerns I had in booking our trip was that I wanted to be sure we got a cabin with a balcony where we could be sure we had a good view. It turned out not to matter at all. The passages that we sailed from Seward to Vancouver were narrow enough that there were beautiful views on both sides of the ship. And, at the glacier, the captain made a turn and sailed in both directions so it was visible from both sides of the ship.<br />
<br />
The rest of the day was spent having fun on the ship. Every afternoon between 3 and 5 o'clock, if we were on the ship, they brought hors d'oeuvres to our cabin. It was always something very light and savory. We really enjoyed it. In the evenings we had dinner at 7 o'clock in Blu the ship's Aqua Class restaurant. The top picture is our stateroom on deck 7 of the Celebrity Millennium.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeb5tFVL0XGJRFlUEm5GTKSG4MBozk_OBYOBTwq-f_F4yJjf1OxS4PmfoHsf7HYosPNTUMsD8Bg6A_dwoCe2BkU4mudxro-qIsipD92MMt-v19dNWelX1_mM2FlKKJwV8tPnV_Lt8zP8I/s1600/roomandfood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeb5tFVL0XGJRFlUEm5GTKSG4MBozk_OBYOBTwq-f_F4yJjf1OxS4PmfoHsf7HYosPNTUMsD8Bg6A_dwoCe2BkU4mudxro-qIsipD92MMt-v19dNWelX1_mM2FlKKJwV8tPnV_Lt8zP8I/s640/roomandfood.jpg" width="448" /></a></div>
<br />
Both the food and the service were amazing. I could get used to this kind of life.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1r7oKAzYbrAWhqhJGn2KAjxNERe0dEDShYyu60Rrw6ugzLlAUyUrOwLdsBiQeO_62x8EMHBJWtnmqu-I6wlJ5bilrxXoKLm_Vlx1wkSffonzJ0j_dsPvNgkgwpKaex7jbx3fukNl6AM4/s1600/Blog+Signature+Cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1r7oKAzYbrAWhqhJGn2KAjxNERe0dEDShYyu60Rrw6ugzLlAUyUrOwLdsBiQeO_62x8EMHBJWtnmqu-I6wlJ5bilrxXoKLm_Vlx1wkSffonzJ0j_dsPvNgkgwpKaex7jbx3fukNl6AM4/s200/Blog+Signature+Cropped.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: #bd081c; background-position: 3px 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: 14px; border-bottom-left-radius: 2px; border-bottom-right-radius: 2px; border-top-left-radius: 2px; border-top-right-radius: 2px; border: none; color: white; cursor: pointer; display: none; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; left: 42px; line-height: 20px; opacity: 0.85; padding: 0px 4px 0px 0px; position: absolute; text-align: center; text-indent: 20px; top: 2586px; width: auto; z-index: 8675309;">Save</span><span style="background-color: #bd081c; background-position: 3px 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: 14px; border-bottom-left-radius: 2px; border-bottom-right-radius: 2px; border-top-left-radius: 2px; border-top-right-radius: 2px; border: none; color: white; cursor: pointer; display: none; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; left: 42px; line-height: 20px; opacity: 0.85; padding: 0px 4px 0px 0px; position: absolute; text-align: center; text-indent: 20px; top: 2586px; width: auto; z-index: 8675309;">Save</span>Vicki @ Grams Made Ithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14830960886130900689noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1590216771873619389.post-1845037700844688182016-06-25T09:53:00.000-05:002016-06-25T09:53:08.864-05:00North to Alaska and Home Again<b><span style="font-size: large;">Days 1 & 2</span></b><br />
<br />
We've been home for a little more than a week from our amazing adventure to Alaska. It turned out to be one of our best trips ever. It truly was great.<br />
<br />
We started out early on Wednesday morning with a drive from Corpus Christi to Burleson where we spent the night with Danny and Jeanne. We left home for the five and a half hour drive as Texas was in the midst of one of its worst rain and flood events ever. We were very lucky to make it all the way without encountering any bad weather.<br />
<br />
We got on the road early and stopped in San Marcos for a little shopping and lunch at Centerpoint Station. We love their hamburgers. We shared one of their cheeseburgers and an order of onion rings. They were delicious and sharing a burger left us room for kolaches later.<br />
<br />
This was probably the most leisurely drive we've ever taken to the DFW area. Traffic was light and we were trying not to arrive before Danny and Jeanne got home from work so we took our time.<br />
<br />
If you drive through this part of Texas, you probably know that stopping for kolaches in West, Texas is almost obligatory. We usually stop at the Czech Stop. This time we decided to try a place we have not stopped before, Slovacek's. Oh my goodness! Their kolaches are outstanding. My favorite was peaches and cream. We picked up a dozen to share with Danny and Jeanne. I will also note that Slovacek's has very nice facilities and very clean bathrooms. That's a big plus for me. We liked it so much that we stopped again on the way home.<br />
<br />
We got to Burleson shortly after Danny and Jeanne got home from work and we all went out for Mexican food. We enjoyed a nice visit with them that evening.<br />
<br />
On Thursday, Danny drove us to DFW around lunch time and dropped us off for our 3:15 flight to Anchorage. This is where our trip took a turn.<br />
<br />
We were pleasantly surprised not to encounter long lines at the TSA checkpoint. The TSA Pre-check turned out to be a very good investment. But at DFW, even the regular checkpoints were not too bad that day. The boards were showing that our flight would depart on time. So we went upstairs and had a nice lunch before heading to the gate. As I mentioned before, Texas was in the middle of a weather "event." Shortly after we boarded, there was an announcement that the flight was holding for passengers whose connecting flights were weather delayed. We waited about an hour on the plane. The other passengers arrived, boarded, and we were all ready for take off. But not really!<br />
<br />
The next announcement was that we were now delayed because the plane had mechanical problems. They were working on it and expected to be underway in a short time. The next announcement informed us that they had tried to locate another plane but none were available. The problem was with the plane's water pump. The plane would operate fine, but there was no water for drinking or washing hands. After another wait, we saw them bringing cases of water and boxes of hand sanitizer on board. In total, we sat on the plane for about three and a half hours before we finally took off.<br />
<br />
We finally arrived in Anchorage at 1 a.m. Thursday. Taking into account the time zone changes, our bodies felt like it was 4 a.m. We got a taxi to the Hilton, checked in, took showers, went to bed for what was basically a nap. We had to board the train at 6 a.m. So we were up at 5 a.m., dressed and out the door by 5:30 for a three-block walk to the train station.<br />
<br />
Our travel books said that it is an easy walk, which is true. We weren't too worried about the walk because all our luggage rolls. What the travel books left out is that the last part of the walk is a large staircase down the side of a hill. We made it, luggage and all, with time enough to grab some coffee in the station, snap a couple of pictures, and board the train. We were happy that our luggage was checked from this station all the way to the cruise ship. That meant we could spend the afternoon in Seward without having to keep up with our luggage.<br />
<br />
The train ride was gorgeous! We took the Coastal Classic and booked Adventure Class tickets. That gave us access to a domed viewing car. This stretch of railroad is considered the most beautiful in Alaska. It runs along the Turnagain Arm into the Kenai Mountains from Anchorage to Seward. The train provided a "tour guide" who provided narration along the way.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG0Z58h_PD_VKWAygBLVH5zn3ZM6puPy5eflVSMWlZAM5lW7AwqD_Fv5SD2EW4CEZZ-R5u9a6_RLk1m6dohy6Y_eiucaUZwK_9vIrvzIF0nL52cNgXlV8Re6OY_rA0HLWcyfz3qEcsYjQ/s1600/AlaskaRR1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG0Z58h_PD_VKWAygBLVH5zn3ZM6puPy5eflVSMWlZAM5lW7AwqD_Fv5SD2EW4CEZZ-R5u9a6_RLk1m6dohy6Y_eiucaUZwK_9vIrvzIF0nL52cNgXlV8Re6OY_rA0HLWcyfz3qEcsYjQ/s1600/AlaskaRR1.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
We saw dall sheep and our first bald eagles from the train. We saw many more eagles during our week in Alaska.<br />
<br />
One of the most interesting things we saw from the train were stands of dead trees that were the result of the Great Alaskan Earthquake (also known as the Good Friday Earthquake) in 1964. The earthquake registered 9.2 on the Richter Scale and caused the ground around the Turnagain Arm to drop as much as 8 feet. The salt water that covered the ground around the trees both killed them and preserved them. In other places the ground was thrust upward more than 30 feet.<br />
<br />
I had never heard of this earthquake, but was kind of fascinated by the small bit of information they provided. I have since done a little research and learned that it was the second strongest earthquake ever recorded. It caused tsunami waves is more than twenty countries. More than 139 deaths were attributed to the quake and tsunamis in Oregon and California as well as Alaska. It wiped out several native villages and caused a large number of landslides. If you want to read more about it check out the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1964_Alaska_earthquake" target="_blank">Wikipedia listing for the 1964 Alaska earthquake</a>.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIpYOU5zCrRLuLuxsC85Th85gCg6pjMYTpIrHnnoK7-xW94NoPAx0Y9CM0Vy_gZSxKB1A4gN3xWlWDMlHqMjgQse32J4ms8S0WGieKMIxeCWsF2qsBhWG9UHtiVvbNwQETnPaqyCilSmw/s1600/Earthquake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIpYOU5zCrRLuLuxsC85Th85gCg6pjMYTpIrHnnoK7-xW94NoPAx0Y9CM0Vy_gZSxKB1A4gN3xWlWDMlHqMjgQse32J4ms8S0WGieKMIxeCWsF2qsBhWG9UHtiVvbNwQETnPaqyCilSmw/s1600/Earthquake.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
About this time is where the second (and thankfully last) problem of our vacation occurred. About two hours into the train ride, my two-year-old Nikon 1 J1 DSLR camera stopped working. Every time I turned it on I got a lens error and it would not take any more pictures. So we were reduced to using the cameras on our phones, potentially for the rest of the trip. Needless to say, I was extremely disappointed.<br />
<br />
When we arrived in Seward, we got our first glimpse of the Celebrity Millennium. We were happy to see that the cruise line provided buses from the train to the ship. The travel books had indicated that we would have to take a local shuttle which runs on a 30 minute schedule. We were also pleasantly surprised to be invited to board the ship early and have lunch aboard before venturing into Seward. It was only about noon and our staterooms would not be ready until 3 o'clock, but the main dining room was open, which was nice. We ate lunch and hopped on a shuttle into downtown Seward in search of a camera shop or electronics store. No luck. You could buy jewelry, gems, t-shirts, and souvenirs, but there was no place to buy a camera or to have one repaired.<br />
<br />
Seward is "the mural capital of Alaska" with somewhere around 35 murals located in the city. They paint a new mural each year during their annual mural festival. You can see all of them at the <a href="http://sewardmuralsociety.blogspot.com/search/label/Splash" target="_blank">Seward Mural Society's web site</a>. They were really interesting and beautiful.<br />
<br />
Seward is a small town of only about 2,500 people. There is approximately one coffee shop for every resident. I exaggerate, but seriously, I counted more than twelve on the main drag alone. We found this to be true pretty much everywhere in Alaska. There is always coffee. It was also here that we first encountered Alaska's amazing vegetation. It doesn't really get dark this time of year, so the plants just absorb all that sunlight and produce really big flowers, fruit, and vegetables. The poppy in the photo below was roughly the size of a dinner plate and, no, that is not an exaggeration. It took me a day or two to figure out that I needed something else in the photos to give some idea of the size.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBx7UR-MY5dnklGw6asW8-6NAYdJg1BtZrftAD7wi7ozixMeTKrmBqE12mfa4peSeCfkITsqanPv0C3bnsOS6o2uVBoPWbYCbFynH8IsbIsHTl1zLLmuyYZo-KV-NyX13WyMXq-YR1RWw/s1600/Seward.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBx7UR-MY5dnklGw6asW8-6NAYdJg1BtZrftAD7wi7ozixMeTKrmBqE12mfa4peSeCfkITsqanPv0C3bnsOS6o2uVBoPWbYCbFynH8IsbIsHTl1zLLmuyYZo-KV-NyX13WyMXq-YR1RWw/s640/Seward.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
After looking around a bit and enjoying some of that local coffee, we caught the shuttle and returned to the ship where we checked in to our room for our first evening on the ship. As we boarded, we were greeted with champagne and welcomed aboard.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDsB9RSp1KRJLXRLQHBiRwb4LK6VCoDf1MLQMGA1Q5Jkwke_8zmLmzZ1r_JRvwAA4hANeYjbSILcWRowuFnlNp7_f3Jfv_jO84Pm_3VcHHZRjVO7LPx023fDVc8ujkmQkamGVekIEfDaA/s1600/thumb-15.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDsB9RSp1KRJLXRLQHBiRwb4LK6VCoDf1MLQMGA1Q5Jkwke_8zmLmzZ1r_JRvwAA4hANeYjbSILcWRowuFnlNp7_f3Jfv_jO84Pm_3VcHHZRjVO7LPx023fDVc8ujkmQkamGVekIEfDaA/s1600/thumb-15.jpeg" /></a></div>
<br />
I was quite impressed with Celebrity's security. They took security photographs on that first day which were loaded into their security system. They used a scan card system any time we got on or off of the ship and we had to remove hats and sunglasses so they could look at the picture on their monitor and confirm our identity. Anything we brought on board had to go through an airport-type security every time. My bionic husband with his artificial knee, metal plates in his leg, and titanium heart valve, set off the metal detector every single time both on the ship and in the airport. It's no big deal, he's used to it now.<br />
<br />
Celebrity was also quite serious about cleanliness. Free-standing hand sanitizer dispensers were located all over the ship in every lobby and outside every elevator and dining area. Upon returning to the ship each day we were greeted by crew members holding large sanitizer dispensers. They used it on every single person, always saying "Happy, happy, washy, washy!"<br />
<br />
The flight delay from DFW to Anchorage and my camera failure were the only things that went wrong on a trip that totaled about ten days. I can't really complain about that. I'll tell you more in the next few days. And, yes, there are lots more photos coming.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1r7oKAzYbrAWhqhJGn2KAjxNERe0dEDShYyu60Rrw6ugzLlAUyUrOwLdsBiQeO_62x8EMHBJWtnmqu-I6wlJ5bilrxXoKLm_Vlx1wkSffonzJ0j_dsPvNgkgwpKaex7jbx3fukNl6AM4/s1600/Blog+Signature+Cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1r7oKAzYbrAWhqhJGn2KAjxNERe0dEDShYyu60Rrw6ugzLlAUyUrOwLdsBiQeO_62x8EMHBJWtnmqu-I6wlJ5bilrxXoKLm_Vlx1wkSffonzJ0j_dsPvNgkgwpKaex7jbx3fukNl6AM4/s200/Blog+Signature+Cropped.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Vicki @ Grams Made Ithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14830960886130900689noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1590216771873619389.post-27399400819769917442016-05-31T16:07:00.000-05:002016-05-31T16:07:35.355-05:00Our Bags Are PackedI'm sitting in my living room with my feet propped up. My laundry is done and my house is clean. I spent most of the past two days getting ready for vacation. I don't ever remember actually being ready to go this far in advance.<br />
<br />
We depart Corpus Christi tomorrow morning. Our first destination is Burleson where we will spend the night with Danny and Jeanne. On Thursday afternoon, we fly out of DFW to Anchorage, Alaska where we will spend the night. Very early on Friday morning we will board the Coastal Classic Railroad for a scenic trip to Seward. In Seward we will board the Celebrity Millennium for a seven night cruise.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6cQ7ks47y3EJ6kviS3_pcBQu4wK23lQlkayRNH-Z0eXkFpCD49oGTgkAiyQg0cLrnUAJptS65uLTlVfKWnlwpbEnOMt9D2q5OcFruJ6ZYuozQO2_u2Fo7R7NbD8dRFEb2IevazgTJ6rU/s1600/thumb-12.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="412" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6cQ7ks47y3EJ6kviS3_pcBQu4wK23lQlkayRNH-Z0eXkFpCD49oGTgkAiyQg0cLrnUAJptS65uLTlVfKWnlwpbEnOMt9D2q5OcFruJ6ZYuozQO2_u2Fo7R7NbD8dRFEb2IevazgTJ6rU/s640/thumb-12.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Ports of call are Juneau, Skagway, Ketchikan and Vancouver. Our cruise route will include Icy Strait Point and the Hubbard Glacier. We have also booked an excursion on the White Mountain Pass and Yukon Railroad.<br />
<br />
As long as I can remember I've dreamed of going to Alaska. This is a bucket-list trip for us. We'll be gone a total of 12 days. By the time we return we will have traveled in cars, planes, taxis, buses, trains, cable cars, an inclinator, and a cruise ship.<br />
<br />
I will take my computer along so I can keep a daily travel journal, but I won't be publishing a blog while we are gone. While the cruise line does offer an internet package, it is expensive, and other travelers report that it is spotty at best. So, other than an occasional picture from my phone when we're on shore, I will be unplugged for the next two weeks.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1r7oKAzYbrAWhqhJGn2KAjxNERe0dEDShYyu60Rrw6ugzLlAUyUrOwLdsBiQeO_62x8EMHBJWtnmqu-I6wlJ5bilrxXoKLm_Vlx1wkSffonzJ0j_dsPvNgkgwpKaex7jbx3fukNl6AM4/s1600/Blog+Signature+Cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1r7oKAzYbrAWhqhJGn2KAjxNERe0dEDShYyu60Rrw6ugzLlAUyUrOwLdsBiQeO_62x8EMHBJWtnmqu-I6wlJ5bilrxXoKLm_Vlx1wkSffonzJ0j_dsPvNgkgwpKaex7jbx3fukNl6AM4/s200/Blog+Signature+Cropped.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />Vicki @ Grams Made Ithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14830960886130900689noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1590216771873619389.post-32392687666917639692016-05-27T07:56:00.000-05:002016-05-27T07:56:21.788-05:00We BlinkedWasn't this just yesterday?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivwTTD8BD0du8NPhmvjgAHWxxy50NRVk4SuJXqP-GEJFN2rdmoVILI-CkkdOPqm0i1EFzBr3bHCqY1ntJmqMJabXZNV90_GvCxv57QVSfedgOCnyJojqEG1Nsjc5SZuHC0zeJzfJSA4vs/s1600/thumb-11.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="382" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivwTTD8BD0du8NPhmvjgAHWxxy50NRVk4SuJXqP-GEJFN2rdmoVILI-CkkdOPqm0i1EFzBr3bHCqY1ntJmqMJabXZNV90_GvCxv57QVSfedgOCnyJojqEG1Nsjc5SZuHC0zeJzfJSA4vs/s640/thumb-11.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
All of a sudden this happened.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlbekB8uGGBxK-0d8Xpx04TQaZjHMJ5nObIwlMBJ3fBTT4WUQmOkIYCmRZaBIn3GW-ysmqd0KBr4dbOsRlcSfD67tjCH4Rvyv-NqoVeWBI24CSu3NAarLFoqD6KFnWgDhpgh-okg1znEU/s1600/0.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlbekB8uGGBxK-0d8Xpx04TQaZjHMJ5nObIwlMBJ3fBTT4WUQmOkIYCmRZaBIn3GW-ysmqd0KBr4dbOsRlcSfD67tjCH4Rvyv-NqoVeWBI24CSu3NAarLFoqD6KFnWgDhpgh-okg1znEU/s640/0.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Lookout world, here comes June! She's definitely ready for kindergarten. Is kindergarten ready for her? She does everything with gusto and enthusiasm. There is no doubt that she thinks she can do anything her big sister can do. Most of the time she can. I'm pretty sure she's going to be running the world some day.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1r7oKAzYbrAWhqhJGn2KAjxNERe0dEDShYyu60Rrw6ugzLlAUyUrOwLdsBiQeO_62x8EMHBJWtnmqu-I6wlJ5bilrxXoKLm_Vlx1wkSffonzJ0j_dsPvNgkgwpKaex7jbx3fukNl6AM4/s1600/Blog+Signature+Cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1r7oKAzYbrAWhqhJGn2KAjxNERe0dEDShYyu60Rrw6ugzLlAUyUrOwLdsBiQeO_62x8EMHBJWtnmqu-I6wlJ5bilrxXoKLm_Vlx1wkSffonzJ0j_dsPvNgkgwpKaex7jbx3fukNl6AM4/s200/Blog+Signature+Cropped.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Vicki @ Grams Made Ithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14830960886130900689noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1590216771873619389.post-23912600707718091202016-05-17T22:19:00.000-05:002016-05-17T22:21:55.194-05:00Hello AgainI know it's been months since I posted. So let's start with a little bit of catch up.<br />
<br />
Since I was here last Ezra turned 7 years old in February. This was the first year we didn't go for her birthday party. She had a roller skating party. We did, however, go for her actual birthday. That day was just a family celebration. She has now lost several teeth and is finishing up first grade. She is the spitting image of her mother in looks and temperment.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivEv4QybAFQpMOfOX9IYpSo1Fu5VGvpgg6qT91sudKeApsStRFqDqdQhwZxQ3GlEDWX8BpMxj5lU3c0kluQFgrZMx3riyjZHG9zxOq6O1w38tLvQqQv3RCQIM1Xk7fMoUrwMUljZmjAlU/s1600/20160327_112759.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivEv4QybAFQpMOfOX9IYpSo1Fu5VGvpgg6qT91sudKeApsStRFqDqdQhwZxQ3GlEDWX8BpMxj5lU3c0kluQFgrZMx3riyjZHG9zxOq6O1w38tLvQqQv3RCQIM1Xk7fMoUrwMUljZmjAlU/s640/20160327_112759.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
<br />
June turned 5 in April and had a cowgirl-themed birthday party at Chuck E. Cheese. She's about to graduate from Pre-K at her private school to kindergarten at the same public school that Ezra attends. She is a firecracker. She thinks she can do everything her big sister can do ... and she usually can.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGbwmIGjKNIgElOZ3ELbBIrnUV3Cg8LmlNBekjOn7Du9nqQMmbIaUKAfgsmAnz3VwPNr0szNsY1A0IKk3xz1JMe0XpxsBbNpLmbpPMV6ZMDhsDDPN9igoayF_b3IzAE66C0b1hGSbohN4/s1600/20160409_112818.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGbwmIGjKNIgElOZ3ELbBIrnUV3Cg8LmlNBekjOn7Du9nqQMmbIaUKAfgsmAnz3VwPNr0szNsY1A0IKk3xz1JMe0XpxsBbNpLmbpPMV6ZMDhsDDPN9igoayF_b3IzAE66C0b1hGSbohN4/s640/20160409_112818.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
<br />
We did go to San Antonio for June's birthday party which was followed by their school's spring carnival. The weather was perfect and we spent the entire afternoon on the playground.<br />
<br />
Ezra and June, along with their friend, Arabella, made their karaoke debut. They actually did very well. I really thought they might have stage fright, but they didn't. They stood in front of the crowd and sang the entire song.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZb_3iVlw3LFbrJhnjW0XdzKxTYnh9ANr1kCy_VeGIxQrxbMvu-awkA7h0oPU09L42IycVZJkSXQMp0pp6owdTb9xjvwcASbNVp_OMQTuc0DWNZdERlmFVnv3X7-SmUij7m8zBqLZeaOw/s1600/20160409_171618.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZb_3iVlw3LFbrJhnjW0XdzKxTYnh9ANr1kCy_VeGIxQrxbMvu-awkA7h0oPU09L42IycVZJkSXQMp0pp6owdTb9xjvwcASbNVp_OMQTuc0DWNZdERlmFVnv3X7-SmUij7m8zBqLZeaOw/s640/20160409_171618.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
<br />
Last weekend both girls learned to ride their bicycles without training wheels. Katy reports that they used a "balance bike" and it took less than 24 hours for both of them learn.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSvZWwRqId4pMLgUPQL8pwL0Sg8RpAGD5lvoyw-G24FhwtFv4R7mkkcxTgyCtkbXHc-_cpyq2aL4gNocM1FHbgfoQEODFO9sdKd4xnOKvBFWGtBE-4UNZOEIhxOPDiuA4T9zVq47-2clQ/s1600/6454.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSvZWwRqId4pMLgUPQL8pwL0Sg8RpAGD5lvoyw-G24FhwtFv4R7mkkcxTgyCtkbXHc-_cpyq2aL4gNocM1FHbgfoQEODFO9sdKd4xnOKvBFWGtBE-4UNZOEIhxOPDiuA4T9zVq47-2clQ/s640/6454.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE6W9KCe-m1xMvnM4EoKRKvmw-RdtToYa7qHC7zQS9WyMrN2sN2kBXxMy7pG3NY3ujUjZFKygHzaLho4UwKT42Xs24bNj1YANpZTFmHnCOpokm6IjxdUaPwqFpA2DBRoBLu4lAS0g2yUQ/s1600/6455.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE6W9KCe-m1xMvnM4EoKRKvmw-RdtToYa7qHC7zQS9WyMrN2sN2kBXxMy7pG3NY3ujUjZFKygHzaLho4UwKT42Xs24bNj1YANpZTFmHnCOpokm6IjxdUaPwqFpA2DBRoBLu4lAS0g2yUQ/s640/6455.jpeg" width="360" /></a></div>
<br />
The twins are four months old. They now weigh in at more than 15 pounds each. They are hitting the usual milestones, sleeping well, and laughing a lot. I have finally learned how to tell them apart, most of the time. But I have to see both of them.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSx7z1HT_jVuydF15Cek5YKXcnvJTbuQKX2Be88x96i2tiDC9t7eITXpOo0GshrWT3KXkt0NX5yTEcIgefhiBvOPqMyGekgfcbppm2-Khzlp8eXlOpY_gYkzEL5xcsUEvOb1fehrvD-F4/s1600/6306.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSx7z1HT_jVuydF15Cek5YKXcnvJTbuQKX2Be88x96i2tiDC9t7eITXpOo0GshrWT3KXkt0NX5yTEcIgefhiBvOPqMyGekgfcbppm2-Khzlp8eXlOpY_gYkzEL5xcsUEvOb1fehrvD-F4/s640/6306.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
No matter where they start out, they end up sleeping close together.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8EX_wV4Jloen3uggPy471KV_IR2MVs4Sf8X0ell3yvTLTFADoAhbokllyhhBw46XK2Q5oR-FLVDeEppUH_gRp1BBMKIwl3Q7JBlETrW2qvGI_rI9bK5VA993RM-7L5diVwRHm6j5AjpM/s1600/6210.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8EX_wV4Jloen3uggPy471KV_IR2MVs4Sf8X0ell3yvTLTFADoAhbokllyhhBw46XK2Q5oR-FLVDeEppUH_gRp1BBMKIwl3Q7JBlETrW2qvGI_rI9bK5VA993RM-7L5diVwRHm6j5AjpM/s640/6210.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Marie has returned to work in the past two weeks. The twins are cared for at home by a nanny. Nick gets about an hour of Daddy time with them in the afternoons before Marie arrives home. We face-time with them a couple of times a week and we try to see them in real life at least once every 4-6 weeks. We want them to know us and be comfortable with us.<br />
<br />
Last weekend we celebrated with family when our niece Camey graduated from Texas A&M University Corpus Christi with a BS in Environmental Science. She has worked hard for this accomplishment and we are all so proud of her. Graduation was held at our local convention center which, for security reasons, doesn't allow bags inside. Therefore, I arrived without my glasses and without my camera. This is the best picture I could get with my phone. We were seated in the top tier of the arena.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7m2XhPuCGWcv7ttEmQTnzpBLkSK0nmtpwTfIRIM6gC8tmjW4Dh7bg86_JwLx158CkcgBwggznzJFh181p-LuIf-YNjh4xkVKBbhPKPRgshzhljNighgsPpYcyuTBt0Wdc74qgQ8Efitk/s1600/Camey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7m2XhPuCGWcv7ttEmQTnzpBLkSK0nmtpwTfIRIM6gC8tmjW4Dh7bg86_JwLx158CkcgBwggznzJFh181p-LuIf-YNjh4xkVKBbhPKPRgshzhljNighgsPpYcyuTBt0Wdc74qgQ8Efitk/s640/Camey.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
<br />
TAMUCC is known as "The Island University." Their team mascot is Islanders. The leis worn at graduation are part of that Islander tradition. Camey graduated Cum Laude and has now moved on to job hunting. We are confident that she'll find a great job and her future will be bright.<br />
<br />
Patrick and I are still doing great. This weekend we will meet Danny and Jeanne and some of the Valenta cousins in central Texas to visit a couple of wineries and enjoy some down time. Nick and Marie will come over to Moulton on Saturday afternoon to join us for dinner and bring the twins for a visit. We're looking forward to that.<br />
<br />
I'm seven working days from the end of another school year. We'll finish up at noon next Friday. On June 1, Patrick and I will leave Corpus Christi for a vacation trip to Alaska. It's a long way, about 4,500 miles each direction. We'll be gone twelve days. The trip will include planes, trains, cruise ships, cable cars, and automobiles. This is the trip we gave each other in celebration of our 40th wedding anniversary last November. We are so excited. Don't worry, you'll be getting a day-by-day recap at some point. This is one of my "bucket-list" items.<br />
<br />
I am committing to resurrecting this blog as much as possible. So look for more entries soon.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1r7oKAzYbrAWhqhJGn2KAjxNERe0dEDShYyu60Rrw6ugzLlAUyUrOwLdsBiQeO_62x8EMHBJWtnmqu-I6wlJ5bilrxXoKLm_Vlx1wkSffonzJ0j_dsPvNgkgwpKaex7jbx3fukNl6AM4/s1600/Blog+Signature+Cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1r7oKAzYbrAWhqhJGn2KAjxNERe0dEDShYyu60Rrw6ugzLlAUyUrOwLdsBiQeO_62x8EMHBJWtnmqu-I6wlJ5bilrxXoKLm_Vlx1wkSffonzJ0j_dsPvNgkgwpKaex7jbx3fukNl6AM4/s200/Blog+Signature+Cropped.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />Vicki @ Grams Made Ithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14830960886130900689noreply@blogger.comCorpus Christi, TX, USA27.8005828 -97.39638100000001927.3507198 -98.041828000000024 28.2504458 -96.750934000000015tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1590216771873619389.post-38970988344328420512016-01-20T13:43:00.003-06:002016-01-20T13:43:46.581-06:00That Was FastLast Thursday, I was enjoying my January vacation, known in our neck of the woods as "the stock show break." My next-door neighbor and I were having a girls day out. We had been to lunch and were browsing some of our favorite artsy-crafty type places when at 1:52 p.m. I got a text message from Nick that said "Prolly having boys today!"<br />
<br />
I texted back "WHAT?!" And he replied, "Liam didn't grow too much this past week so we are prolly having them today we see the doctor shortly."<br />
<br />
Mary Lou and I immediately headed home, about a 30 minute drive. I called Patrick and told him to let his boss know that he was leaving. There was some discussion between us of whether he should work until five o'clock and then take the rest of the week off. I'm sure you can guess that my reply was something like I'm packing when I get home and we're leaving. Make arrangements now and meet me at home.<br />
<br />
By the time he got home I was packed. He only had to add his things and we were on the way. We were on the highway by the time Nick messaged that the c-section was scheduled for 7 p.m. Without traffic, it's approximately a four hour trip from our house to Nick's house. The hospital is a little bit closer. We were traveling northbound with no problems until we got to the Richmond-Rosenburg area where traffic came to a screeching halt. We sat on the highway without moving for about 30 minutes. I seriously considered getting out of the car and yelling at somebody, but I decided it wouldn't help.<br />
<br />
We were pulling into the hospital parking lot when Nick texted that they were taking her back to delivery. We made it to the hospital five minutes ahead of Liam and Logan. Here is their first family picture. We got to see them in their bassinets as they rolled them out of the delivery room and up to the NICU where they spent their first few hours.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFiSjf4TabK47-Lpn84Uyec7XGimv6nxklWjj90L6p1TF4HQd15wogjhWLh4b80dYziw_Sa0PrxB99-rRLhA2Imjhv1uaJcd04T0NnTiVpvVq2Enhgy53V15ACCaR-OSyNMJKJkWzA8Qo/s1600/thumb-3.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="468" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFiSjf4TabK47-Lpn84Uyec7XGimv6nxklWjj90L6p1TF4HQd15wogjhWLh4b80dYziw_Sa0PrxB99-rRLhA2Imjhv1uaJcd04T0NnTiVpvVq2Enhgy53V15ACCaR-OSyNMJKJkWzA8Qo/s640/thumb-3.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
Both Mom and babies are doing well. I am so proud of Nick. He was there with her all the way. I really thought he might be one of those dads who just couldn't hang in there for a c-section birth, but he did. He documented every moment with photos.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWHoVsWInoYFDM9zWN6XQLA9dgbK7GBihyphenhyphenRRrdPLIy_0rrfbHf0TKbHzwpVn5DkQTrIB3U6EHxFQ7UpUnXWUstdA1UrR-Z0gvKgpxz0kBmshzxmXZo4RM6J5OX9mt9OZ32245MZVKj9cM/s1600/IMG_0189.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWHoVsWInoYFDM9zWN6XQLA9dgbK7GBihyphenhyphenRRrdPLIy_0rrfbHf0TKbHzwpVn5DkQTrIB3U6EHxFQ7UpUnXWUstdA1UrR-Z0gvKgpxz0kBmshzxmXZo4RM6J5OX9mt9OZ32245MZVKj9cM/s640/IMG_0189.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPbXONrhV19EBjAipgze6_IxY5sWC6jSg8TvDC5KRqKFrETRWz02HSnA-ZvyNsc-R3hLvZKcFRptqKPXzD3IMgmXwLZBB9mymDwPTKmoJPdOb8axqxJDkjM_ff6wigSH_yb9drFv5HOdU/s1600/IMG_0228.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPbXONrhV19EBjAipgze6_IxY5sWC6jSg8TvDC5KRqKFrETRWz02HSnA-ZvyNsc-R3hLvZKcFRptqKPXzD3IMgmXwLZBB9mymDwPTKmoJPdOb8axqxJDkjM_ff6wigSH_yb9drFv5HOdU/s640/IMG_0228.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Here are the vital statistics. Liam (on the left) was born first at 7:34 p.m and weighed 5 pounds 8 ounces. Logan was born at 7:35 and weighed 6 pounds 1 ounce. I have a whole lot of trouble telling them apart. But I'm beginning to be able to see the differences.<br />
<br />
They all came home from the hospital on Monday and life is settling into as much of a routine as you can have with two new babies. The Aggie Engineers are both needing sleep. I've been encouraging them to nap whenever they can. We're all working together to get everything done. I'll be here through next Wednesday. Katy is coming in on Thursday and will stay until Saturday to help out and meet her new nephews. When I go home next week, Marie's family will take over. I think, once Marie is able to recover from the c-section, they'll do fine. They seem better prepared than anyone I've ever seen. It wasn't quite as organized as they would have liked, because the babies came earlier than they expected. But it's definitely getting there.<br />
<br />
We couldn't be more delighted.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjapm7Y68knAh-MH3oavfv8ZlTboooC_19h5alfOwBfOUy_j_B_joXj3-0zo5AseD3bdsWq48zp6fv-lQWOJNHYOLds8M9FRn0jeSsDyohLX-e9USyurNsFzpurGnJZi5lhTkxDdc93g9I/s1600/Blog+Signature+Cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjapm7Y68knAh-MH3oavfv8ZlTboooC_19h5alfOwBfOUy_j_B_joXj3-0zo5AseD3bdsWq48zp6fv-lQWOJNHYOLds8M9FRn0jeSsDyohLX-e9USyurNsFzpurGnJZi5lhTkxDdc93g9I/s200/Blog+Signature+Cropped.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
Vicki @ Grams Made Ithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14830960886130900689noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1590216771873619389.post-59381016706095854432016-01-05T21:53:00.001-06:002016-01-05T22:23:52.038-06:00Now We Wait!You may remember, when I last posted I told you that our Aggie Engineers are expecting twins. I know, it was a long time ago. I'm sorry. Time just gets away from me these days.<br />
<br />
I thought you might like an update. The pregnancy has been progressing well. There have been little or no complications. Wow! A review of my last post reminded me that I haven't even told you that they're expecting twin boys.<br />
<br />
The due date is the around the first week of February, so we are down to the wire here. Nick reported yesterday that the boys are now more than five pounds each. I was surprised at how well Marie is still getting around. She's walking around with around eleven pounds of babies. I have been where she is. Nick weighed in at 10 pounds 5 ounces. In my mind it's a miracle she's able to stay upright.<br />
<br />
Due to her advanced pregnancy, a road trip for her was out of the question, so we all celebrated Christmas at their house. We had a great time. But, it was the first time ever that we haven't spent the holiday with our own parents. Patrick's Mom is the last surviving parent we have. It was just different to not be with the rest of the family. But, we realize that the time has come for changes. At some point family traditions have to pass to the next generation. Time will tell what we do in the future.<br />
<br />
Nick and Marie have done an amazing job of preparing. When we arrived on December 23rd, Marie was washing dozens of little bitty baby clothes and blankets. It really brought back memories of when I did the same thing. I took advantage of the time there to snap some photos of the nursery. It's all prepared for the arrival of Our Little Princes.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkvTrDwGN3omp4cq6pxmI0RrP9xz-3cgjCOsIshp3q1Ut6Qv6Y8WWI1OAJ-LDlpKTS79nTfJdJEaTg8RgNWhkNZGepu0dYhfW8qajuuPhs9a7vA03MQuk6RkE54576StJ-CGJEDKR-Ouw/s1600/Nursery2+Collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkvTrDwGN3omp4cq6pxmI0RrP9xz-3cgjCOsIshp3q1Ut6Qv6Y8WWI1OAJ-LDlpKTS79nTfJdJEaTg8RgNWhkNZGepu0dYhfW8qajuuPhs9a7vA03MQuk6RkE54576StJ-CGJEDKR-Ouw/s640/Nursery2+Collage.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
I thought you might like to see the nursery. There is a feature wall done in stained wood and the other three walls are a soft green. They did all the installation themselves. They chose a wild animal theme with soft neutral colors. Marie and I collaborated to make the curtains and the bedskirts. She sewed the sheets and quilts. The fabric is animal prints, arrows, and chevron. There is a rocking chair all ready for late nights and an MP3 player for lullabies.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUhZdbtGzKITPshkP-mh9AVVSKC9nmdRxTsi_jSz23npDW38Gi8ui-6cz8JdJQ2HCHDcBuuiVfbflTGbLlMmy6hgdAP7MGCyrLqQdCryuOhiFno_FJEw0XvJXpqMF45S_KqSIpp_AVUk4/s1600/Nursery1+Collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUhZdbtGzKITPshkP-mh9AVVSKC9nmdRxTsi_jSz23npDW38Gi8ui-6cz8JdJQ2HCHDcBuuiVfbflTGbLlMmy6hgdAP7MGCyrLqQdCryuOhiFno_FJEw0XvJXpqMF45S_KqSIpp_AVUk4/s640/Nursery1+Collage.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Since you've seen it in the photos, I may as well go ahead and tell you, the twins will be named Liam and Logan. They will carry their grandfathers' names as well. They will be Liam Patrick and Logan Arthur.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0QfJ7cudcFVXTmkI2WdnoGRO8DhvWnmt3Y00dSs-GgIJsEgpMW-r4Fg9Xl8MRfzO7hBjPTPpp2ri-3-J-WKcZytnWtWopKU25dqBO7jrmaWpk9dhRv8-KcfpSWtlMoGPSbqzPDU3wPAY/s1600/Names+collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0QfJ7cudcFVXTmkI2WdnoGRO8DhvWnmt3Y00dSs-GgIJsEgpMW-r4Fg9Xl8MRfzO7hBjPTPpp2ri-3-J-WKcZytnWtWopKU25dqBO7jrmaWpk9dhRv8-KcfpSWtlMoGPSbqzPDU3wPAY/s640/Names+collage.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
On the subject of grandfathers, Marie's dad, Art, lost his long battle with cancer the week before Christmas. He died knowing that one of the boys would carry his name. Our hearts broke for the Rojas family as they went through the loss of their beloved father at the holiday season. He really was a person who sparkled with love and personality. His family is a wonderful legacy. Nick and Marie were able to get special permission from her OB/GYN to fly to El Paso for the funeral.<br />
<br />
I promise to write more soon.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjapm7Y68knAh-MH3oavfv8ZlTboooC_19h5alfOwBfOUy_j_B_joXj3-0zo5AseD3bdsWq48zp6fv-lQWOJNHYOLds8M9FRn0jeSsDyohLX-e9USyurNsFzpurGnJZi5lhTkxDdc93g9I/s1600/Blog+Signature+Cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjapm7Y68knAh-MH3oavfv8ZlTboooC_19h5alfOwBfOUy_j_B_joXj3-0zo5AseD3bdsWq48zp6fv-lQWOJNHYOLds8M9FRn0jeSsDyohLX-e9USyurNsFzpurGnJZi5lhTkxDdc93g9I/s200/Blog+Signature+Cropped.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />Vicki @ Grams Made Ithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14830960886130900689noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1590216771873619389.post-666767488276498672015-07-22T12:05:00.000-05:002015-07-22T21:06:03.193-05:00Two for the Price of One!We've settled into the hot part of a South Texas summer. Temperatures are running in the mid 90s every afternoon with the heat index hovering around the 110 degree mark. Most of the day it's just too hot do be outside.<br />
<br />
Patrick continues to recover from his knee replacement surgery. This is his third week back to work. He mostly sits at a desk all day so the doctor let him go back after three weeks instead of the usual four. He has to set an alarm on his phone and get up and walk every hour to keep his knee from stiffening up. He's doing really well and walks without any assistance and with much less of a limp than he had before surgery. He goes for a two-hour therapy session after work three times a week. The therapy is a little painful, but he says it really helps. The hope is to achieve much more mobility than he has had previously in that knee.<br />
<br />
Katy, Travis and Our Little Princesses visited us before and after their recent vacation to South Padre Island. They were here for the Fourth of July celebration. We went down to the bayfront to watch the fireworks. It's a very nice place to go for fireworks. There is always a breeze off of the water. This years show was supposed to start with a light show on the Harbor Bridge. However, thanks to some illegal fireworks that were shot right under the bridge, the light show did not go. After that we were a little disappointed. The fireworks show was less than fifteen minutes long. The City of Corpus Christi had all on-street parking blocked off so we had to pay $10 for parking on an unpaved vacant lot. All in all, it was a disappointing evening, but the fireworks were beautiful.<br />
<br />
We have some very big news that I've been dying to share with you since we found out. I've just been waiting for the okay from the Aggie Engineers. Nick and Marie are expecting ... TWINS! We are beyond excited. They have been trying to conceive for several years so this has been a long time coming. They waited until they were sure that the pregnancy was viable to share the news outside the family. Here is how they announced it.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0LV4rAehs4RxDC37g8nc1mFJxqGbJW3O1qU8tum0my6Ri-DmguJG_jfP2Cpli5BPCW6OCgwOstdGEyX060V5i3SSk7C1oJzXuqYukR5FTLQV3AlYDjkQqqpvBPio-IsbWSBLoRpNEshA/s1600/11412057_10106859553062554_3102666653788337939_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0LV4rAehs4RxDC37g8nc1mFJxqGbJW3O1qU8tum0my6Ri-DmguJG_jfP2Cpli5BPCW6OCgwOstdGEyX060V5i3SSk7C1oJzXuqYukR5FTLQV3AlYDjkQqqpvBPio-IsbWSBLoRpNEshA/s640/11412057_10106859553062554_3102666653788337939_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Their due date is the first week of February. However, we've been told that with twins we should expect an early arrival. We won't know for a few weeks whether they're boys, girls, or one of each. We're just hoping for healthy babies.<br />
<br />
Marie is a twin herself and is just taking it all in stride. Nick is a little bit freaked out about having two babies right off the bat. These two are "our little overachievers." I'm not at all worried about them being able to handle two babies. Besides, Nick has assured me that they're getting my room ready so I can come for frequent long visits. All I have to say about that is "I'm in!"<br />
<br />
I'll try to keep you as up-to-date as I can about the progress of the pregnancy while still respecting the Aggie Engineers' privacy. In the meantime, here are our first baby pictures.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOecIZK-HAmLIZtN_8InwagWCb8xQ4o9y1A_E4nbfxQmA_GiEE6HcdhMqaDzdxfkgz8RQNoioEI3k8TO2KixOK8V-oMmMVKrdYDpPeSztEMqM934Fog6y_tnKoSwtLukKJmNXjGLcAPtI/s1600/From+Skitch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOecIZK-HAmLIZtN_8InwagWCb8xQ4o9y1A_E4nbfxQmA_GiEE6HcdhMqaDzdxfkgz8RQNoioEI3k8TO2KixOK8V-oMmMVKrdYDpPeSztEMqM934Fog6y_tnKoSwtLukKJmNXjGLcAPtI/s640/From+Skitch.jpg" width="570" /></a></div>
<br />
More soon! Stay cool and have a great summer.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjapm7Y68knAh-MH3oavfv8ZlTboooC_19h5alfOwBfOUy_j_B_joXj3-0zo5AseD3bdsWq48zp6fv-lQWOJNHYOLds8M9FRn0jeSsDyohLX-e9USyurNsFzpurGnJZi5lhTkxDdc93g9I/s1600/Blog+Signature+Cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjapm7Y68knAh-MH3oavfv8ZlTboooC_19h5alfOwBfOUy_j_B_joXj3-0zo5AseD3bdsWq48zp6fv-lQWOJNHYOLds8M9FRn0jeSsDyohLX-e9USyurNsFzpurGnJZi5lhTkxDdc93g9I/s200/Blog+Signature+Cropped.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />Vicki @ Grams Made Ithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14830960886130900689noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1590216771873619389.post-22297563658048735682015-06-10T17:47:00.002-05:002015-06-10T19:38:16.109-05:00Here and NowIt has been a while since I've been able to dedicate as much energy to writing this blog as I would like. I've reached a place where "life" has been getting in my way. Now that it's summer, I would like to think I'll have more time, but somehow, with everything that's going on I doubt it. Maybe I should just close it down under the circumstances, but I don't want to do that. Sometimes writing this blog feels like my lifeline. So, for the time being, I will just go along as often and as well as I can and hope that you will stick with me.<br />
<br />
Here's what's happening here and now.<br />
<br />
Both of our little princesses played soccer this spring. They played in a YMCA league and in their very young age groups, they didn't keep score. Both girls did very well. Ezra took to soccer much better than I thought she would and kept a smile on her face the whole time she was on the field. She had a great coach who gave lots of positive feedback to everyone and made sure every child played and had a good experience. We need more youth coaches like him. June was really good at soccer. She's very well coordinated for a four-year-old. She scored several goals in every game. Her coach was a little less organized, although I appreciate her efforts. Trying to coach a group of four year old kids is like herding cats. At best, it's organized chaos. We made a trip up specifically to see them play and we were able to catch another game when we had to go to San Antonio for a business dinner.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEwPk93U_vQJ48CFLI0nhA9R4ADGUSlzCryf677ZYIBWG5-c1dC7N4K2YqhA19RWP8Cf8BQ3j80g1CmrBKgK9Wx9QyfCvVdtPPA6bvBeUsUn01yWZXGMsC07XLUpWvmJdRNa_9xvLPpUg/s1600/11118505_10204118480183016_7829558758202825383_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEwPk93U_vQJ48CFLI0nhA9R4ADGUSlzCryf677ZYIBWG5-c1dC7N4K2YqhA19RWP8Cf8BQ3j80g1CmrBKgK9Wx9QyfCvVdtPPA6bvBeUsUn01yWZXGMsC07XLUpWvmJdRNa_9xvLPpUg/s320/11118505_10204118480183016_7829558758202825383_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Last weekend I went to San Antonio for Ezra's first dance recital. While I really enjoyed it, it was really long. We sat through 28 performances of ballet, tap, tumbling, jazz, hip-hop, and a few other things I don't even know the names of. The performers ranged in age from 2 to approximately 60 (which included some grandmas). Ezra was in the 20th group. It was so long that my knees hurt when I finally stood up.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyNztGbC92oO8D4H6RYVEtVnjj4VFO3JqCSoMJIuXHEGmPUTNf45fTVV_7TpFp1YMBgO0Wh1IMWtOFHo3BOAxinKWcX2XwyrmL-a29GcHagJ_qWAN_EQt1CJdfja3eYUyzJSDoxoRHb6A/s1600/Recital2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyNztGbC92oO8D4H6RYVEtVnjj4VFO3JqCSoMJIuXHEGmPUTNf45fTVV_7TpFp1YMBgO0Wh1IMWtOFHo3BOAxinKWcX2XwyrmL-a29GcHagJ_qWAN_EQt1CJdfja3eYUyzJSDoxoRHb6A/s640/Recital2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
I think Ezra's favorite part of the whole thing was that she got to wear stage makeup. It was her very first time to ever wear makeup and, as you can see, she was thrilled and cute as a bug. It also didn't hurt that her friend Arabella was right next to her through the entire performance. Arabella's mom, Andi, and Katy were stage moms for their group. As you can see from the group picture, Ezra is the tallest in her group. It's a position she will need to get used to, just as her mom did. I was particularly pleased with her willingness to perform in front of such a large audience. The recital was held in the Lila Cockrell Theater in the San Antonio Convention Center in front of a packed house.<br />
<br />
I was very impressed with what a good audience June was. For a 4 year old, she was amazingly well behaved and patient throughout the entire performance. Did I mention it was long?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0E7inriuU9TEUjnxyWH8Xh0Ng1bFt09JyNOT_bIFberisBugzje9kufzMv7BhAhzjjQDoYkbzOAoVkRYj2FqbosvOtYOCDEoRc7qoJsAkARCLD-MTEoFeLpBVG43EZWQmtpyL5kZKlO0/s1600/Recital1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0E7inriuU9TEUjnxyWH8Xh0Ng1bFt09JyNOT_bIFberisBugzje9kufzMv7BhAhzjjQDoYkbzOAoVkRYj2FqbosvOtYOCDEoRc7qoJsAkARCLD-MTEoFeLpBVG43EZWQmtpyL5kZKlO0/s640/Recital1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
There were a couple of reasons that Patrick didn't make the quick trip to San Antonio with me. One of the things that has been keeping us busy is his mother. Friday was her 85th birthday. She has been having health problems for a while now. I have not written about them before because she is a very private person and would not want details of her life on the internet. But, the family has given me permission to share at this point.<br />
<br />
Mama Ruthie, as I've called her since our marriage almost 40 years ago, has been in frail health for about two years. On Valentine's Day this year she fell in the entry of her house while opening the front door. As a result of the fall, she broke her pelvic bone in three places. After about two weeks in the hospital, she was moved to a nursing home/rehabilitation center near our home. She made very slow progress and since then has only been able to walk with a walker and someone to assist her.<br />
<br />
About three weeks ago, an alert nurse noticed that she seemed confused and unresponsive. She contacted Mama Ruthie's doctor on Saturday morning. The doctor immediately had her transported to the hospital emergency room. At the hospital, they confirmed that she'd had a stroke. After about a week she was responding well to treatment and therapy so was transferred to the rehabilitation center of the same hospital. During the transfer, Patrick noticed that the side of her face started to droop again and she exhibited weakness on one side and seemed confused. He called it to the attention of the nurse who immediately called the hospital's crash team. They were able to intervene quickly and prevented more extensive damage. But, back to the hospital room she went.<br />
<br />
After a couple of days, they started therapy again. This time she was not cooperative. Some days she would do part of the therapy, but then she would say she was too tired or just say she didn't want to do any more. Eventually, she completely refused to do any more therapy. After she refused therapy four days in a row, they discharged her in accordance with hospital policy. She declined to return to the nursing home/rehab center, so she went home. She is very weak and can not walk nor take care of her personal needs. The two strokes have damaged her short-term memory. She can't remember things like who has visited or when she last ate.<br />
<br />
She has two adult daughters and a teenage granddaughter who currently live in her home. They have assumed the role of caretaker. With very few exceptions, since Valentine's Day one or both of us has gone to the hospital or nursing home daily. Now we visit her at home every few days. She is the last of our parents and I can feel her slipping away a little more every time she falls or has a medical incident. This is going to be tough.<br />
<br />
The other reason Patrick didn't go to San Antonio for the recital is that he is having knee replacement surgery today. He is actually in surgery right now and I'm writing this from the waiting room outside the OR. He will be in the hospital at least 3 days and then he will start daily therapy. I will have to drive him to therapy and take care of everything at home. We have told his family that we are out of taking care of his mom for the foreseeable future. I expect that he will be able to return to work in about a month. I really hope that nothing more happens to his mom while he is recovering.<br />
<br />
We are also dealing with some issues with our home. When our drought finally broke earlier this spring, we had about 3 inches of rain in less than two hours. It was early morning on a work day and we were having coffee in the living room. Patrick got up and went to the kitchen. I heard him ask me if I spilled something. I replied that I had not and got up to check. We quickly realized that water was coming into the house around the baseboards. Fortunately, we were still at home and were able to use towels and mops and keep the flooding somewhat at bay. Also luckily, we do not have any carpet. All our floors are vinyl planks that look like hard wood. Two or three days later, on Friday night, it happened again. Basically, a cloudburst stalled right over our neighborhood. Again, we had 3-4 inches of rain in just a couple of hours and water came in around the foundation. This time the power failed and we were trying to hold the flooding at bay in the dark. This time every room in the house had water except for the front bedroom.<br />
<br />
Last summer, when Patrick lost his job, we seriously considered dropping our FEMA flood insurance. The policy came due right in the middle of his unemployment and it was seriously on the table. We've lived in this house for 30 years and never had any problems with flooding, so we didn't think it would be much of a risk. I feel so lucky that we didn't drop it. Who could have known that we would have so much rain so fast so many times this year? We have not yet received our settlement, but the preliminary paperwork shows that it will pay an amount adequate to replace all the floors. We feel very blessed.<br />
<br />
After the second big rainfall, we had a french drain system installed all around the back yard. Again last Friday we had almost 4 inches of rain in under two hours. The drain system worked well except for one drain which was too high. As you can see in the photos below, that one drain allowed water to pool on the patio. We have since had it lowered so it should work in the future. It didn't quite keep up last Friday, but it kept up well enough that we did not get water in the house.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr3X6AcbWVEIkzHDtB8Wdm9z6BT6xSOazeAXO4Xda8Z-AIwAd8CrDDXeuuu8jNXuIS4u46EWksueWT0TzHjUN3Q0A4gLzO61CJRrGbBWxEu_90l0ot5lLq22AbVltfvIwStpUMvw8SqV4/s1600/Flood1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr3X6AcbWVEIkzHDtB8Wdm9z6BT6xSOazeAXO4Xda8Z-AIwAd8CrDDXeuuu8jNXuIS4u46EWksueWT0TzHjUN3Q0A4gLzO61CJRrGbBWxEu_90l0ot5lLq22AbVltfvIwStpUMvw8SqV4/s640/Flood1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Later this summer, Katy and I will go shopping for new flooring. After Patrick recuperates adequately from his knee replacement, we'll be getting new floors.<br />
<br />
So, please forgive me if I don't post more often. As I think you can see, my plate is full. I really enjoy blogging and love hearing from all of you. Please stay in touch. I will do my best to keep you up to date.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjapm7Y68knAh-MH3oavfv8ZlTboooC_19h5alfOwBfOUy_j_B_joXj3-0zo5AseD3bdsWq48zp6fv-lQWOJNHYOLds8M9FRn0jeSsDyohLX-e9USyurNsFzpurGnJZi5lhTkxDdc93g9I/s1600/Blog+Signature+Cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjapm7Y68knAh-MH3oavfv8ZlTboooC_19h5alfOwBfOUy_j_B_joXj3-0zo5AseD3bdsWq48zp6fv-lQWOJNHYOLds8M9FRn0jeSsDyohLX-e9USyurNsFzpurGnJZi5lhTkxDdc93g9I/s200/Blog+Signature+Cropped.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
NOTE: I just spoke with Patrick's doctor. The surgery took exactly as long as expected and went well. There was much less damage to the knee than he expected. He'll be in recovery for a while yet, then moving to a room. He will be in the hospital until at least Saturday.Vicki @ Grams Made Ithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14830960886130900689noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1590216771873619389.post-21916684237371673012015-05-11T10:43:00.000-05:002015-05-11T10:43:39.351-05:00June's BirthdayLast month we celebrated June's Birthday. I can't believe our littlest grandchild is 4 years old. At four years old, June is so much fun. She will charm you with her kindness and tenderness one moment and blow you away with her larger than life personality a moment later. She loves Iron Man and Queen Elsa and she thinks Captain America should be President. She sings enthusiastically with very little prompting and has quite an astonishing memory.<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOwktUeFto6XMmCaB7XKXgTByGXtAk7-y_NC4TUfjOv91qdjaSa5Nl-Dh-PsUr2RD9lsbZOlTkDmeJzTA_Wttx5QxxakoB2JPO2octJhZ7O59868CdAVrz-4VM7d0qQB3Wy5KDo_4yQEA/s1600/June+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOwktUeFto6XMmCaB7XKXgTByGXtAk7-y_NC4TUfjOv91qdjaSa5Nl-Dh-PsUr2RD9lsbZOlTkDmeJzTA_Wttx5QxxakoB2JPO2octJhZ7O59868CdAVrz-4VM7d0qQB3Wy5KDo_4yQEA/s640/June+4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Her birthday party was at the world-famous San Antonio Kiddie Park. The Kiddie Park is America's oldest children's amusement park. It first opened in 1925 and they have worked hard to preserve it's 1920's style while renovating it over the years to maintain safety standards. I remember going there when I was a kid and it has hardly changed at all. It's like stepping back in time. It's such a great place for a birthday party.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuIiBwe6gMd3cObiBKKto5KTx80uvP32jT6TtLTpdBxNR2Rtwh8Mmg9PQueqq8eEqPV-oLSG1QbyOQk8xmKHL8VFnFEJTd8MpkcbNj9-Mp2AFnsRu3H8v-xXGXl_r0hzc0UIdzyaKhXFs/s1600/June4+collage1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuIiBwe6gMd3cObiBKKto5KTx80uvP32jT6TtLTpdBxNR2Rtwh8Mmg9PQueqq8eEqPV-oLSG1QbyOQk8xmKHL8VFnFEJTd8MpkcbNj9-Mp2AFnsRu3H8v-xXGXl_r0hzc0UIdzyaKhXFs/s640/June4+collage1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
The party featured popcorn, pizza, lemonade, cupcakes, and birthday cake. It was an overcast day and, thankfully, the rain held off until the party was over.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitGjIldz7krqeLTpTKp2SEV5NdHdWXFSupoq0A_R0EQLEVKWvp4f1L_wqiyJMDmQYsMJ_xpd-JIaRIgYCluvhAQZZ1I-mXOEgtH1h2felBvyQ2ko-2hveCAXsBYuwn_xk11XdXtaj1g4s/s1600/June4+Collage2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitGjIldz7krqeLTpTKp2SEV5NdHdWXFSupoq0A_R0EQLEVKWvp4f1L_wqiyJMDmQYsMJ_xpd-JIaRIgYCluvhAQZZ1I-mXOEgtH1h2felBvyQ2ko-2hveCAXsBYuwn_xk11XdXtaj1g4s/s640/June4+Collage2.jpg" width="448" /></a></div>
<div>
June's friends from day care came to celebrate with us. And, of course Omi, Pa-Pa, Pop-Pop, and Grams were there to help with the party and celebrate.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmZ8cIZroFH8_tCTfi49t-LAgXIYj7HvB2xMqD720Xr6OPk1iDLl9pi2LwI7ArZ31w1X7CRMFKZQAs7UNk1-GX-57Oj4RhTnX7T8iwYHT9mqCz7FXxJUuvsYK8zZZbtd5LI99C6_i0s5U/s1600/June4+Cake+Collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmZ8cIZroFH8_tCTfi49t-LAgXIYj7HvB2xMqD720Xr6OPk1iDLl9pi2LwI7ArZ31w1X7CRMFKZQAs7UNk1-GX-57Oj4RhTnX7T8iwYHT9mqCz7FXxJUuvsYK8zZZbtd5LI99C6_i0s5U/s640/June4+Cake+Collage.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Our beautiful Queen Elsa cake and Olaf cupcakes were made by my friend Marta. They were beautiful and delicious. As you can see above, cutting a doll cake is interesting. When we got to the point you see above in cutting the cake, a guy from the party next to us leaned over and said "Queen Elsa is showing the goods." It cracked me up, so I snapped the picture.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjapm7Y68knAh-MH3oavfv8ZlTboooC_19h5alfOwBfOUy_j_B_joXj3-0zo5AseD3bdsWq48zp6fv-lQWOJNHYOLds8M9FRn0jeSsDyohLX-e9USyurNsFzpurGnJZi5lhTkxDdc93g9I/s1600/Blog+Signature+Cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjapm7Y68knAh-MH3oavfv8ZlTboooC_19h5alfOwBfOUy_j_B_joXj3-0zo5AseD3bdsWq48zp6fv-lQWOJNHYOLds8M9FRn0jeSsDyohLX-e9USyurNsFzpurGnJZi5lhTkxDdc93g9I/s200/Blog+Signature+Cropped.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Vicki @ Grams Made Ithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14830960886130900689noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1590216771873619389.post-18009259198074416762015-02-25T22:15:00.002-06:002015-02-25T22:15:51.334-06:00Can You Believe It?Our eldest granddaughter, Ezra, turned six years old last weekend.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1btjXoNhp7Yg9hxSsW8zGGrYleW9x2B9QL1SqjGpUjoj23LMkosslV7lxNIjbHnjsklAKnwWXup-MYAiAqE9COeUryNuOWWf2wnA-M0UEMWZYTzFvsplwTxnO5zu15KuT96sZlaZrDoI/s1600/Ezra+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1btjXoNhp7Yg9hxSsW8zGGrYleW9x2B9QL1SqjGpUjoj23LMkosslV7lxNIjbHnjsklAKnwWXup-MYAiAqE9COeUryNuOWWf2wnA-M0UEMWZYTzFvsplwTxnO5zu15KuT96sZlaZrDoI/s1600/Ezra+6.jpg" height="640" width="512" /></a></div>
<br />
We celebrated with a birthday party at Artworks Art Studio. As the children arrived, the party started by everyone joining in coloring a banner that said "Happy Birthday Ezra."<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1wPKX2J7THDP0vfYuoQLmIHhSPfdsou448odMHQNLpArsUwdPnXWftIkU7M6j1yTotG0UvIhgNhCFqesENz9CfsAfUl3YGY0BG9GCTXCTlr18rNeDbrgkV-6AFwU8YcLL59V1x95qGI8/s1600/Ezra+BD+Collage+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1wPKX2J7THDP0vfYuoQLmIHhSPfdsou448odMHQNLpArsUwdPnXWftIkU7M6j1yTotG0UvIhgNhCFqesENz9CfsAfUl3YGY0BG9GCTXCTlr18rNeDbrgkV-6AFwU8YcLL59V1x95qGI8/s1600/Ezra+BD+Collage+1.png" height="640" width="448" /></a></div>
<br />
Party favors were small buckets full of crayons, tablets, pencils, stamps, and other art supplies. Ezra and June splatter painted the buckets on their patio at home.<br />
<br />
There was a choice of sandwiches - peanut butter & jelly or ham & cheese. For snacks, Katy had a popcorn bar with Reece's Pieces, M&Ms, and honey roasted peanuts to mix in with popcorn.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDc2HGN2oITZnzfxeXXYUnerL6Ponhb-aApan0uM_slmDe1jFyUP-ADf5McVeJmUx4_OQM5OfzrmWfehiVJ7ZD_l_5XlOwtl2rKisSYVfCSdya1fn3I7WCU1hP13gpWaIy1IUpwLPN1UY/s1600/Ezra+Birthday+Collage+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDc2HGN2oITZnzfxeXXYUnerL6Ponhb-aApan0uM_slmDe1jFyUP-ADf5McVeJmUx4_OQM5OfzrmWfehiVJ7ZD_l_5XlOwtl2rKisSYVfCSdya1fn3I7WCU1hP13gpWaIy1IUpwLPN1UY/s1600/Ezra+Birthday+Collage+2.png" height="640" width="448" /></a></div>
<br />
I absolutely adored what Katy served in lieu of a big birthday cake. Each child got a cupcake served on an artists palette. The cupcake was frosted with seven-minute frosting and surrounded with a variety of colored M&M minis, gummy beads, jimmies, and Swedish fish. The kids had a whole lot of fun decorating their own cupcakes.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgs1JLowHcmNfW8dEv6uqR51ReygV_723KAHSBl2_APc9cWcBvalyRCVsf4BHHyGNfUDDpw2iMOSO8LTGkZVjj7lykoDVXJWWOdebj-IbBkBv7erMiq1F9MQoPu-HPudN6OgNutL9LLFs/s1600/Ezra+6+BD+Collage+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgs1JLowHcmNfW8dEv6uqR51ReygV_723KAHSBl2_APc9cWcBvalyRCVsf4BHHyGNfUDDpw2iMOSO8LTGkZVjj7lykoDVXJWWOdebj-IbBkBv7erMiq1F9MQoPu-HPudN6OgNutL9LLFs/s1600/Ezra+6+BD+Collage+3.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
The party was organized in art stations including collages, record player art, stenciled lace, and several others. When they booked the party, Ezra got to choose which stations her guests would do. There were twelve kids in all including Ezra and June. Katy invited all the students in Ezra's kindergarten class. More than half of them came to the party. I was happy to see that several of the boys were there. This "art party" was the quietest party I have ever seen. The kids were genuinely captivated by all the art activities.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmiUjYBc2f4U1SnueN25nTo-DN07Q4L61k_At3L5qIoaJe4v0CuOX6DSFEB9a7tkzLmaoUVMm3uHhrrN4o-p7ITUBFSuL2ZniprwR_L6aXDd152u98HL91vVIRPcCtyRom-Ux1Ui-cSZY/s1600/Ezra+6+BD+Collage+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmiUjYBc2f4U1SnueN25nTo-DN07Q4L61k_At3L5qIoaJe4v0CuOX6DSFEB9a7tkzLmaoUVMm3uHhrrN4o-p7ITUBFSuL2ZniprwR_L6aXDd152u98HL91vVIRPcCtyRom-Ux1Ui-cSZY/s1600/Ezra+6+BD+Collage+5.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
As you can see from the photos above, the party was a group family effort. Everyone had something to do. All four of the grandparents who were present played a role in making the party work. Katy and Travis greeted guests, met other parents, took photos, and kept everything running. It was truly a group effort and a lot of fun.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjapm7Y68knAh-MH3oavfv8ZlTboooC_19h5alfOwBfOUy_j_B_joXj3-0zo5AseD3bdsWq48zp6fv-lQWOJNHYOLds8M9FRn0jeSsDyohLX-e9USyurNsFzpurGnJZi5lhTkxDdc93g9I/s1600/Blog+Signature+Cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjapm7Y68knAh-MH3oavfv8ZlTboooC_19h5alfOwBfOUy_j_B_joXj3-0zo5AseD3bdsWq48zp6fv-lQWOJNHYOLds8M9FRn0jeSsDyohLX-e9USyurNsFzpurGnJZi5lhTkxDdc93g9I/s1600/Blog+Signature+Cropped.jpg" height="134" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />Vicki @ Grams Made Ithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14830960886130900689noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1590216771873619389.post-53271794496920450862014-11-11T09:25:00.000-06:002014-11-11T09:26:17.967-06:00Daddy's War<div class="tr_bq">
Today is Veteran's Day. The first thing I want to do is say thank you for your service to all veterans, reservists, and active duty military personnel. I am grateful for all the blessings bestowed on our country and acknowledge that, without your service, they would not be possible.</div>
<div class="tr_bq">
<br /></div>
<div class="tr_bq">
I'm going to do something a little different on my blog today. </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy9i_MGDP8xWoidlwtZUbk9_1Qr8vgWHjABYssoCib_M8rOuzssEWgip7dwI-jEaf7T4nynn4RR_QCwFDHKtAxOIFDQQf9PxmS9ZT14doWK_1K_A1gpKLFnyWnxDwWnrpzO9WOwIVtJmE/s1600/JOSkelton.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy9i_MGDP8xWoidlwtZUbk9_1Qr8vgWHjABYssoCib_M8rOuzssEWgip7dwI-jEaf7T4nynn4RR_QCwFDHKtAxOIFDQQf9PxmS9ZT14doWK_1K_A1gpKLFnyWnxDwWnrpzO9WOwIVtJmE/s400/JOSkelton.jpg" width="291" /></a></div>
My dad, James Oran Skelton, served in the US Army during World War II. Although he was very proud of his service, he rarely spoke of it. I know he talked about it when he was with other veterans, including my brother Charlie, my brother-in-law Mack, and my cousin Rod. But never with us kids.<br />
<br />
When we cleaned out my mother's house, we found a file folder that held some of the papers related to his service including his discharge papers. I brought it home, stuck it in a drawer, and promptly forgot about it. I found it again last summer when I was doing my annual sorting and cleaning of paperwork. It looked interesting so I made myself a cup of coffee and sat down to sort through it. What I found was a handwritten account of Daddy's service from his induction to his discharge. I believe it was written in the late1960s when he was trying to get some disability through the VA.<br />
<br />
I think you might find it interesting, so I'm publishing it today in honor of Veteran's Day. It's kind of long but I wanted to post it all. I did not verify the spelling of the European cities and the grammar is as he wrote it.<br />
<br />
<i><b>PART ONE - INDUCTION</b><br />I received my draft notice in January 1943 to report to Linden, Texas, on February 23, 1943 for induction into the United States Armed Forces.</i><br />
<div>
<i><br /></i></div>
<div>
<i>I reported to the Induction Center as ordered and there I ceased to be a civilian and became a member of the Army. I will never forget that day back on February 23, 1943. I guess there were close to 5,000 of us boys there. We were sent into a large tin building and ordered to take off all our clothes. Evidently the building did not have any heat because soon after we disrobed we were all shaking from the cold.</i></div>
<div>
<i><br /></i></div>
<div>
<i>We really got a good examination from head to foot. I was found to be in perfect physical condition. They asked me which branch of service I wanted and I told them Air Corps, little good that did for I was sent to Camp Walters, Texas Reception Center where I received my uniforms and vaccinations, and I do mean vaccinations. We would have to remove our shirts and line up and it seemed we got vaccinated for every known disease and some that did not exist, I know I had an awful sore arm for several days.</i></div>
<div>
<i><br /></i></div>
<div>
<i>I left Camp Walters, Texas on March 5, 1943 to go to Fort Knox, Kentucky. </i><i>I arrived at Fort Knox on March 7, 1943 and was escorted to the barracks of the 740th Tank Battalion just in time to see one of the old dilapidated barracks go up in flames. (I am sure they were condemned in World War I.)</i></div>
<div>
<i><b><br /></b></i></div>
<div>
<i><b>PART 2 ā BASIC TRAINING</b></i></div>
<div>
<i>I began my basic training on March 15, 1943 and soon learned the penalties for unbuttoned shirts and un-shined shoes. I also learned to love the Fort Knox weather which read rain, snow, and sleet. Then freeze at night, but if I thought that was bad I had more to learn about it, for when I started driving instructions and had to bivouac in Area 19, I found that it was really rough. I still donāt know why we could not have stayed in the barracks and gone to the driving range each day.</i></div>
<div>
<i><br /></i></div>
<div>
<i>My training instructions went something like this:</i><br />
<div>
<ul>
<li><i>5 a.m. Reveille </i></li>
<li><i>5:30 a.m. Breakfast of either burned eggs and raw bacon or raw eggs and burned bacon </i></li>
<li><i>6:30 a.m. Police the area </i></li>
<li><i>7:30 a.m. Warm up the tank </i></li>
<li><i>8:00 a.m. Start driving </i></li>
<li><i>8:15 a.m. Get stuck in the mud and spend the rest of the day getting out of the mud </i></li>
<li><i>Spend most of the night cleaning up the tank </i></li>
<li><i>Repeat the same operation the next day.</i></li>
</ul>
<i><br /></i><i>On May 12, 1943 the Battalion was relieved from Assigned to Special Troops Armored Forces, and was assigned to the 8th Tank Group under the command of Colonel Fad D. Smith.</i></div>
<div>
<i><br /></i></div>
<div>
<i>Sometime around the end of May or the beginning of June of 1943, I was hospitalized for what they thought was an attack of appendicitis. I was in the hospital for a few days. I now know that it was appendicitis because I suffered from the same symptoms for several years and then had surgery for appendicitis.</i></div>
<div>
<i><br /></i></div>
<div>
<i>How I lived through basic training I will never know. I worked all hours of night and day in all the bad weather for which Kentucky is noted and believe me a G.I. rain coat was never meant to keep a person dry. We suffered a lot of exposure and hardships in basic training which left us all tired and fatigued.</i></div>
<div>
<i><br /></i></div>
<div>
<i>I completed my basic training on June 14, 1943. The Battalion then entered in Unit Training which in reality is a continuation of basic training. In fact some of the outfits called it Advanced Basic.</i></div>
<div>
<i><br /></i></div>
<div>
<i>On the July 5, 1943 we were in the field as usual, and we underwent a simulated gas attack from the air. Although I had my gas mask it did not keep the gas from getting on my ears, neck, hands, and all the exposed part of my body. I really burned and itched for a while.</i></div>
<div>
<i><b><br /></b></i></div>
<div>
<i><b>PART 3 ā DUTY AND ASSIGNMENTS</b></i></div>
<div>
<i>During Advanced Basic Training I fired all the small arms, revolvers, rifles, sub-machine guns, 30 caliber machine gun, 50 caliber machine gun, and the 75 mm tank gun. I did well with them all.<br />While all this was going on someone in Washington was cooking up great things for me. On August 7, 1943 I was granted a furlough, along with half of the battalion. Of course, I am sure if we had known what was in store for us when the furloughs were over, we would probably have told them that we didnāt want a furlough.</i></div>
<div>
<i><br /></i></div>
<div>
<i>When we returned to Fort Knox after our furlough, we found that we were again to undergo a change. Our battalion had been chosen to participate in one of the Armyās most closely guarded secrets. Because many of the boys could not pass security checks, there were considerable changes in our personnel. I received my top-secret clearance and moved from the main post to āArea Xā where we were confined. We were, you might say, prisoners of the United States Army.</i></div>
<div>
<i><br /></i></div>
<div>
<i>The thing we were to train with was so secret that we received no orders through the mail; all were brought by special carrier directly from Washington.</i></div>
<div>
<i><br /></i></div>
<div>
<i>No one was allowed to leave āArea Xā for any reason for fear that somehow this closely guarded secret might leak out.</i></div>
<div>
<i><br /></i></div>
<div>
<i>During the time we were receiving Technical Training at Fort Knox āArea Xā a group of high Army Authorities were in Arizona to set up a camp for us to train in. They chose a valley about 10 miles wide and 40 miles long, completely surrounded by mountains.</i></div>
<div>
<i><br /></i></div>
<div>
<i>No man having joined up with our outfit could be dismissed for any reason so there had to be a hospital constructed along with our camp so it took some time to get it set up.</i></div>
<div>
<i><br /></i></div>
<div>
<i>We received orders to leave āArea Xā Fort Knox and go to train to Bouse, Arizona, but when we reached the railroad station there was no train ready for us, so we bivouacked near the Gold Vaults for about 5 days, until we could secure transportation.</i></div>
<div>
<i><br /></i></div>
<div>
<i>We boarded the train on the October 12, 1943 and arrived in Bouse, Arizona on October 15, 1943. Trucks were waiting to carry us to camp; this was my first introduction to the desert of our far West. I was soon to learn that everything had a sting or bite to it. The area was filled with such things as rattlesnakes, sidewinders, Gila monsters, tarantulas, and scorpions.</i></div>
<div>
<i><br /></i></div>
<div>
<i>On my way to camp I passed an ammunition truck which had blown up, and scattered duds for about 200 yards in all directions. I began to wonder just how realistic the desert training was to be. I was soon to learn that it was to be plenty real.</i></div>
<div>
<i><br /></i></div>
<div>
<i>I still suffer from the hardships I went through in desert training. Prior to the time I was in Arizona, I had never been bothered with hay-fever. Now I have it all the time. It was caused by so much dust.</i></div>
<div>
<i>While in the desert some of our restrictions were lifted. We were allowed to go to town once a month, but there was a catch to this, we had to go five on a pass. All of us had to stay together and watch each other so there would not be a chance to make a slip as to the kind of training we were getting. I still cannot reveal the training or what it consisted of. Although it was never used, it is still top secret, and will probably revolutionize tank warfare if it is ever put into use.</i></div>
<div>
<i><br /></i></div>
<div>
<i>On March 15, 1944 we received orders that we could no longer draw supplies from the desert training center, so we would have to look elsewhere for clothing and equipment to fill our overseas quotas. By this time we had completed our training cycle so all that was left for us to do was police the area and salvage as much of the camp as possible, and then go to Fr. Knox, and draw clothing and equipment in preparation for the excursion to Europe.</i></div>
<div>
<i><br /></i></div>
<div>
<i>We bade goodbye to the jackrabbits and rattlesnakes and on April 24 we boarded the train for Fort Knox, Kentucky.</i></div>
<div>
<i><br /></i></div>
<div>
<i>When we left the desert we knew that we were scheduled to go overseas, but as we neared Fort Knox we wondered if the orders would somehow be changed and we would sit out the war in the āHeadmasters Office.ā</i></div>
<div>
<i><br /></i></div>
<div>
<i>We arrived at Fort Knox on April 28, 1944. It was standard operating procedure at Fort Knox to entrain and detrain in the rain and our unloading process did not violate the regulation, we were soaked to the skin when we reached our quarters, which by the way, turned out to be the same old dilapidated barracks which we had occupied during our first stay at Fort Knox.</i></div>
<div>
<i><br /></i></div>
<div>
<i>We expected to be in Fort Knox no more than two weeks but it stretched into several before we left and as usual we spent most of our time in the field.</i></div>
<div>
<i><br /></i></div>
<div>
<i>Although we were far from combat zones, we got a taste of what it would be like when one of the boys picked up a 37 MM dud and brought it to Observation Point 6, where our company was taking instruction. He began hammering it on a rock and it exploded killing three men, and wounding nineteen others. I was lucky I was not wounded, but my nerves were shot to hell. I will never forget that day, June 6, 1944.</i></div>
<div>
<i><br /></i></div>
<div>
<i>Finally we received orders to arrive at Camp Kilmer, New Jersey not before July 20 and not later than July 21, 1944. On July 19 we boarded the train for Camp Kilmer. Needless to say it was raining.</i></div>
<div>
<i><b><br /></b></i></div>
<div>
<i><b>PART 4 ā OVERSEAS AND COMBAT</b></i></div>
<div>
<i>At Camp Kilmer we were given another physical examination for overseas duty. We left Camp Kilmer on July 24 and by noon we were aboard the USS General William Mitchell. On the morning of the July 26 we sailed from New York. A few miles out of the harbor we joined a convoy of 15 other troopships and 16 fast tankers. At last we were off to war.</i></div>
<div>
<i><br /></i></div>
<div>
<i>The USS General William Mitchell was a new type ship, she had no port holes and we soon found out, no ventilating system. It was stiflingly hot and everything smelled so bad. I was really seasick all the time. The ship although new, left a lot to be desired.</i></div>
<div>
<i><br /></i></div>
<div>
<i>The only excitement during the trip occurred one evening. A small speck appeared off our left on the radar scanning disc. Everyone thought it was an enemy submarine. The fact that we were in āHellās Cornerā which is about a dayās run from Northern Ireland added to this belief. We were really relieved when it was discovered to be a school of fish.</i></div>
<div>
<i><br /></i></div>
<div>
<i>We landed at Liverpool, England on August 6, 1944. At 3 oāclock on the August 7, we left the ship and boarded the train for Glynderwen, Wales.</i></div>
<div>
<i><br /></i></div>
<div>
<i>We arrived at our new Camp Rosebush to find it nothing more than a windswept side of a rocky hill. When it wasnāt raining, the wind was blowing and most of the time it was doing both. There we became a part of the 9th Armored Group.</i></div>
<div>
<i><br /></i></div>
<div>
<i>While in England, I had the misfortune of getting my ring finger, right hand, almost cut off. I was inspecting Tank Guns on M-3 Tanks. Someone had left the spline shaft out and the breech block fell on my finger causing a compound fracture. I stayed in the hospital for several weeks. I am still bothered with this, as it did not grow back straight. It also caused me considerable embarrassment the rest of my Army time, because it was impossible for me to salute properly. It took lots of chewing outs because of it.</i></div>
<div>
<i><br /></i></div>
<div>
<i>We stayed in England until the 29th of October 1944, I will never forget that date when at Waymouth, England we loaded on the L.S.T. boats and crossed the English Channel. It was a rough passage.</i></div>
<div>
<i><br /></i></div>
<div>
<i>We landed on Utah Beach on the 30th of October 1944. It was raining and sleeting. We bivouacked for the night and soon learned we had no orders for our movement East. Believe me, Utah Beach left a lot to be desired in the way of cleanliness, comfort, and facilities. It was an expanse of mud which had been churned into a fine soup by thousands of vehicles.</i></div>
<div>
<i><br /></i></div>
<div>
<i>We left Utah Beach on November 2, 1944 and bivouacked that night in a field near Brecy, France. As usual the bivouac area was knee-deep in mud and it was raining.</i></div>
<div>
<i><br /></i></div>
<div>
<i>We resumed the march the next morning to Brecy, St. Hilaire de Harcourt, Sees, Maulins le Marche, St. Anne, Longny, Leferte, Vidame, Senouches, Chateauneut, Maintenon. We bivouacked for the night at Maintenon, went through the outskirts of Paris the next day and bivouacked that night on the Eastern edge of Paris at Clichy, Sous, Bais. We again resumed the march on the 5th of November and followed the āRed Ballā route.</i></div>
<div>
<i><br /></i></div>
<div>
<i>I canāt remember all the towns we went through, but I do remember that it was just one big rain storm. I think we spent more time pushing trucks out of the mud holes than we did riding in them. It was awful cold.</i></div>
<div>
<i><br /></i></div>
<div>
<i>We finally arrived at Neufchateau, Belgium which was to be our headquarters for a while. The camp consisted of an apple orchard in which we pitched our pup tents.</i></div>
<div>
<i>By this time winter hd really set in in Europe. We really suffered as each man had only two blankets, one for a bed and the other for cover.</i></div>
<div>
<i><br /></i></div>
<div>
<i>It was here that I got my first taste of the German V-1 flying bomb or Buzz bomb as we called them. Shortly before dark, one came over at an altitude of about 300 feet and the engine cut off directly over the camp. Boy was I scared, it landed about one-half mile from my tent. After the bomb had crashed we really enlarged our foxholes or āwellsā we called them because they were always full of water.</i></div>
<div>
<i><br /></i></div>
<div>
<i>The first night at this camp there was at least 50 buzz bombs passed over our heads. Apparently headed for Antwerp, Belgium. Our camp was directly in line with Antwerp which was the target.</i></div>
<div>
<i><br /></i></div>
<div>
<i>Later in the month when the Germans attempted to destroy Liege, Belgium with buzz bombs a good many of them malfunctioned in flight and landed quite close to camp. Some days we counted 103 buzz bombs. Today, looking back on what I encountered during the war, I still consider the buzz bombs as one of Hitlerās most terrifying instruments. In addition to its destructive power, the noise it made was very deafening. It also had a habit of playing tricks such as passing over the camp and them make a complete turn, dive, and then explode. I still think that perhaps the Germans had some kind of control over them and was trying to bomb our camp. If I live to be a hundred years old, Iāll never forget Belgium and the buzz bombs.</i></div>
<div>
<i><br /></i></div>
<div>
<i>While at this camp we turned in all our tanks to the United States Army Reserve. We spent most of our time day and night patrolling the area and hunting out German Paratroopers which was being dropped behind our front lines. We captured quite a few.</i></div>
<div>
<i><br /></i></div>
<div>
<i>On the 17th of December 1944, we received orders that the Germans had made a breakthrough and that we would probably be called on to fight with what weapons we had. This consisted of our personal weapons which was mostly of 45 automatic pistols, with a few carbines and sub-machine guns. We really felt let down as we were tankers and not foot-soldiers and had never had the fundamental training of a foot soldier.</i></div>
<div>
<i><br /></i></div>
<div>
<i>On the 18th of December our Battalion received orders to send a company to an Ordnance Vehicles Depot at Ayniaille, Belgium and draw any kind of vehicles we could and then get into combat. The company I was in was chosen, āCompany C.ā When we reached the Ordnance depot we found that they had very few tanks which were suitable for combat and none had combat loads. We worked all night and finally pieced up about fifteen tanks.</i></div>
<div>
<i><br /></i></div>
<div>
<i>We entered combat the 19th day of December. It was really rough, I remember that I got very sick just from seeing the dead and wounded soldiers along the road. I think I vomited up most of my insides that first day. Iāll always remember those men begging for help that we just had to pass on our way to the front.</i></div>
<div>
<i><br /></i></div>
<div>
<i>We were attached to the 119th Infantry Regiment of the 30th Infantry Division. In our first thirty minutes of combat we knocked out three German tanks and killed many German infantry boys.</i></div>
<div>
<i>We had stopped the German breakthrough, better known as the Belgium Bulge, but could we hold them back? We had been well trained and were too scared to retreat. We dug in for the night and moved out the next day.</i></div>
<div>
<i><br /></i></div>
<div>
<i>The Germans had regrouped during the night and we really caught hell the next morning, but we continued to advance.</i></div>
<div>
<i><br /></i></div>
<div>
<i>At about 4 oāclock on the evening of the 20th of December the tank I was riding in ran over an anti-tank mine. It stopped us cold. It split the tank bottom from end to end. I was blown against the top of the tank and rendered unconscious. I donāt know how I got out of the tank. I came to at an aid station where I was treated for a head wound. My ears hurt very badly and I was nearly dead with a headache and my lungs felt like they would burst.</i></div>
<div>
<i><br /></i></div>
<div>
<i>Nevertheless, every man was needed for combat. On the morning of the 21st we continued in combat and I continued to feel worse.</i></div>
<div>
<i><br /></i></div>
<div>
<i>On Christmas Day 1944, we were trying to cross a railroad. The Germans had it zeroed in so we called for Air Support to knock out the German tanks so we could get through the underpass and continue our attack. Some way or other they got us mixed up with the Germans and bombed hell out of us.</i></div>
<div>
<i><br /></i></div>
<div>
<i>When it was over we found that out of a Company of Infantry boys that was with us, only 19 were able to fight and out of seventeen tanks we only had five left. When the US planes started bombing us, we had all left the tanks. I donāt know how, but somehow I swam across a river which was nearby and got up against a cliff. I was wet all over and it was so cold my clothes froze on me. Somehow I recrossed the river and rejoined my outfit.</i></div>
<div>
<i><br /></i></div>
<div>
<i>We really sweated that night because we knew that if the Germans realized how few men we had left we would be overrun.</i></div>
<div>
<i><br /></i></div>
<div>
<i>My head and chest still bothered me. I had heard of blast concussion but I did not realize it was so bad. My throat felt dry and sore and I had begun to talk with a hoarseness.</i></div>
<div>
<i><br /></i></div>
<div>
<i>We continued in combat day and night. There was no such thing as sleep while in combat. By this time I was really fatigued and under a great strain. I felt weak all over. I did not know it then, but I did not have many more days left in combat. Somehow I managed to keep going until the 4th day of January 1945. By then my throat was so sore that I could not talk, my ears so bad I could hardly hear, and my head hurting so badly I could hardly tell what I was doing. I donāt remember going to the hospital. I have been told that elements of the 82nd Airborne picked me up and took me to the hospital.</i></div>
<div>
<i><br /></i></div>
<div>
<i>I must have gone through several field and station hospitals, but the first I remember was in Paris, France. I donāt know how long I remained there, but I was sent from there to England. I was not able to be flown to England because of my ears, so I had to go by boat. I had pneumonia, bronchitis, laryngitis, and fatigue. I know now that it was caused by the blast I received when my tank ran over the mine. I am still bothered with my head, ears, throat, and chest. Before concussion I could holler as loud as anyone. Now I canāt. I have spent several weeks out of every year since then not being able to speak above a whisper. From the first cool weather, my voice bothers me most of the time until warm weather the next Spring. My neck and head hurt all the time.</i></div>
<div>
<i><br /></i></div>
<div>
<i>I did not see any more combat, as I stayed in the hospital until about two weeks before the end of the war in the E.T.O. When I was discharged from the hospital, I was sent back to my Company. I was on my way back, at a replacement center in France, when the war ended. That was the happiest day of my life.</i></div>
<div>
<i><br /></i></div>
<div>
<i>I donāt know just when I rejoined my company but it was two or three weeks after the war was over. After the war, we more or less relaxed. Of course we still had duties such as guard and check points to perform, but we were not under the strain we had been during combat.</i></div>
<div>
<i><br /></i></div>
<div>
<i>I came back to the United States in December of 1945 on the USS Cald Dail Victory. The voyage was quite different from the one I spent going over, although I did get seasick. My head, throat, ears, and chest were still bothering me but by now I had accepted the fact that I would have to live with it.</i></div>
<div>
<i><br /></i></div>
<div>
<i>I landed in New York and went to Camp Miles Standish. From there I was sent to Fort Sam Houston, Texas where I received my discharge. While there I did not make an application for compensation as I wanted to get home as soon as possible.</i></div>
<div>
<i><br /></i></div>
<div>
<i>During the time I was in the Army I received the following awards, American Theater Campaign Ribbon, E,A,M,E, campaign ribbon with three bronze stars, Good Conduct ribbon, two overseas service bars, and the Distinguished Unit Badge, (Presidential Citation) Go 9 Hq. 740 Tank BN, and the Purple Heart.</i></div>
<div>
<i><br /></i></div>
<div>
<i>I received my discharge on the 9th of December 1945 and returned home. Soon after my discharge I found that I was so nervous that I had to have treatment for nervous indigestion. Every year since then I have had to have treatment on my throat and chest.</i></div>
<div>
<i><br /></i></div>
<div>
<i>I have held down steady employment since my discharge with liberal sick leave and annual leave being used when I have had the winter attacks. Until April 29, 1960, when I became so ill with the same symptoms as I have had for the past 15 years that I have been unable to work most of the year. I spent from April 29, 1960 until June 13, 1960 in hospitals for treatment for my head, neck, and ears and from August 12, 1960 until September 12, 1960 in the hospital for headache, neck and ears, which I believe is caused by post-concussion.</i></div>
<div>
<i><br /></i></div>
<div>
<i>As I write this my neck and head hurts to bad that I can hardly stand it.</i></div>
<div>
<i><br /></i></div>
<div>
<i>I certify that to the best of my knowledge that this is a true history of my Military Service as a soldier in the United States of Americaās Army.</i></div>
<div>
<i><br /></i></div>
<div>
That's my dad's story. I know there are millions more like it.</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Out of curiosity, I did a web search for Bouse, Arizona. I had never heard of it and did not know anything about it. There is not a lot of information about it, but I found <a href="http://bousechamber.org/explore.htm" target="_blank">this</a>. I could not find anything about what my dad called Area X in Kentucky.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjapm7Y68knAh-MH3oavfv8ZlTboooC_19h5alfOwBfOUy_j_B_joXj3-0zo5AseD3bdsWq48zp6fv-lQWOJNHYOLds8M9FRn0jeSsDyohLX-e9USyurNsFzpurGnJZi5lhTkxDdc93g9I/s1600/Blog+Signature+Cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjapm7Y68knAh-MH3oavfv8ZlTboooC_19h5alfOwBfOUy_j_B_joXj3-0zo5AseD3bdsWq48zp6fv-lQWOJNHYOLds8M9FRn0jeSsDyohLX-e9USyurNsFzpurGnJZi5lhTkxDdc93g9I/s200/Blog+Signature+Cropped.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Vicki @ Grams Made Ithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14830960886130900689noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1590216771873619389.post-86544406007391778112014-11-10T22:39:00.000-06:002014-11-10T22:39:18.859-06:00Anniversaries, Birthdays, Dirty Dancing, Cathedrals, and The SagaOn Saturday, Patrick and I celebrated our 39th Wedding Anniversary. We celebrated by spending the weekend in San Antonio. We didn't really have any plans except to attend the matinee performance of <i><b>Dirty Dancing</b></i> on Sunday afternoon.<br />
<br />
On Friday evening, Ezra and June went to parents night out at Junie's day care center. That gave us the opportunity for a grown-up dinner out with Katy and Travis. We ate at Tong's Thai which is near their home. I had Honey Pecan Shrimp. It was absolutely delicious. I would order it again right now. Patrick had Pad Thai which he said was delicious too. After dinner, we went with Katy to pick the girls up from Night Out. I love walking in and watching them interact with the other kids and waiting for them to notice us.<br />
<br />
On Saturday, we had a family luncheon for my sister Kay. Besides being our wedding anniversary, it was Kay's 65th birthday. We met at Chuey's for a long, family lunch. We had so much fun, Bylinda brought Kay and two of her teenage grandchildren, McKinzey and Connor. Her son Zack also came. Katy's family and Patrick and I made ten of us. We ate and talked and, instead of cake, we had sopapillas with honey. Yum! Kay had fun and we sat and visited for more than two hours. It just proved that we need to get together more.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKfWKNEdWSM0a7oPK3RjYWOHlsBpAZqlX9AAvjuSIdeDiFmAtUTEEJdkw0U2oPX7ri9s00BSMovHC7Sbda3rsJ2hIG-WpbErqqB1dXSMJDa-H9UviOVJNqfYezxyaevH0KoafqPPy8JTA/s1600/Kay.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKfWKNEdWSM0a7oPK3RjYWOHlsBpAZqlX9AAvjuSIdeDiFmAtUTEEJdkw0U2oPX7ri9s00BSMovHC7Sbda3rsJ2hIG-WpbErqqB1dXSMJDa-H9UviOVJNqfYezxyaevH0KoafqPPy8JTA/s640/Kay.jpg" width="496" /></a></div>
<br />
Saturday night, we didn't have any plans. Travis went to his monthly poker night and we decided to go downtown to the Main Plaza at San Fernando Cathedral to see one of San Antonio's newest attractions, <b><i>San Antonio/The Saga</i></b>. This is a video art installation by French artist, Xavier De Richemonte. It is AMAZING! The 25-minute show is free and plays at 9:00, 9:30, and 10:00 p.m. on Tuesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.<br />
<br />
First, a little bit of history about the Cathedral which serves as the "screen" for the show. The San Fernando Cathedral was built between 1738 And 1755 and is still an active Catholic parish. It is the oldest operating sanctuary in North America. It faces the Main Plaza which is one of only four colonial plazas remaining in America. We have attended Mass in this cathedral several times. It is known as the burial place of the heroes of the Alamo. The remains of Davy Crocket, William B. Travis, and Jim Bowie are interred inside.<br />
<br />
On Saturday night, we paid $1.80 for a parking place about two blocks from the cathedral. We took lawn chairs and blankets along with mugs of hot chocolate. There was not a large crowd. I would guess less than 150 people were there. There was a wedding party exiting the cathedral just as we arrived. As you might imagine, Our Little Princesses were very excited to see the bride and groom.<br />
<br />
The show is accompanied by music and a little narration. It is fast-paced and bright and will hold the attention of any age. Every one of us enjoyed it. Our 3 and 5 year olds loved it and sat attentively on our laps for the entire show.<br />
<br />
My new camera takes most excellent nighttime pictures so I snapped a bunch. Enjoy.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEdy25-d_6I2jBMEPozhZxc3yecuIZA6Rp0Ts2eGn9BJl9qIiGcnM91itZS4lBPHyoOOUNTpKuoAACVUlS4dOXDl3RUB6Azm9hgt4FqwNfOcsN47-zVfPw9M7cnjiKUBgu53iDBzATE_A/s1600/Saga2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEdy25-d_6I2jBMEPozhZxc3yecuIZA6Rp0Ts2eGn9BJl9qIiGcnM91itZS4lBPHyoOOUNTpKuoAACVUlS4dOXDl3RUB6Azm9hgt4FqwNfOcsN47-zVfPw9M7cnjiKUBgu53iDBzATE_A/s640/Saga2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-adaly7vShM3iG2hDAdVeA-UCqcqnqjC0NWnB4v4c4DaRb_9mj1nzsc_A9QE0gGxuoffkpuOPjZNWTHztxOr4CquQUeSmnOZqYddETy6Hg4VqFN58eVEUXz20ZXvVJzspxmPs3b6bvXI/s1600/Saga3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-adaly7vShM3iG2hDAdVeA-UCqcqnqjC0NWnB4v4c4DaRb_9mj1nzsc_A9QE0gGxuoffkpuOPjZNWTHztxOr4CquQUeSmnOZqYddETy6Hg4VqFN58eVEUXz20ZXvVJzspxmPs3b6bvXI/s640/Saga3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_cJ-Tg_AYTFLehk7QbJtj_4Nzl8zX1GlSDnOLOK5CpqlaF4HnSj0SoVUZ2dybWTxbay3YETCMphhZkx64fML7jxeRS9dbg2IperC9zewW3VelPdsgpzTn1mx3-EwXS6jwNn2ZWK9EiLY/s1600/Saga4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_cJ-Tg_AYTFLehk7QbJtj_4Nzl8zX1GlSDnOLOK5CpqlaF4HnSj0SoVUZ2dybWTxbay3YETCMphhZkx64fML7jxeRS9dbg2IperC9zewW3VelPdsgpzTn1mx3-EwXS6jwNn2ZWK9EiLY/s640/Saga4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6sU1C1KF4S3qgVZQZwLQpIACJjmKmWUzT0pNTa9KPjBoFEbJ88G604siBUTEUM5dO3a8qjJuKLcW1MHQOziOoAVPVs0BpAZLZRHap7g7NzyQIZFnNo9rXrop1hMP4vE2Zj23sWe5HxC8/s1600/Saga5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6sU1C1KF4S3qgVZQZwLQpIACJjmKmWUzT0pNTa9KPjBoFEbJ88G604siBUTEUM5dO3a8qjJuKLcW1MHQOziOoAVPVs0BpAZLZRHap7g7NzyQIZFnNo9rXrop1hMP4vE2Zj23sWe5HxC8/s640/Saga5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglTOvK5rOIhNS40JC5f6Li0KtaAQz4_LOxuu7x7fmkK8A5qEj4iVydQ7w-CBpE8nHlDffL2hy3scmWjXMCc6Kyen6G1DJKop2jAg0UgEUYkmKWsooK5VXh4sT5uDA5YgVNKd8AU8TQ2-s/s1600/Saga6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglTOvK5rOIhNS40JC5f6Li0KtaAQz4_LOxuu7x7fmkK8A5qEj4iVydQ7w-CBpE8nHlDffL2hy3scmWjXMCc6Kyen6G1DJKop2jAg0UgEUYkmKWsooK5VXh4sT5uDA5YgVNKd8AU8TQ2-s/s640/Saga6.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxbAj_Bpsqcq7a8j03QbL27jwgIDRn2HCdEH8fMEos_emjduKPGHmLyalatSG8nBgbZaAYKNjOe7hZTnvB_QQoV07QAXnM4JK5yOeiLNJref-iFnbh73yAxkcFe_yP8A-uz1KmcGUwfGA/s1600/Saga7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxbAj_Bpsqcq7a8j03QbL27jwgIDRn2HCdEH8fMEos_emjduKPGHmLyalatSG8nBgbZaAYKNjOe7hZTnvB_QQoV07QAXnM4JK5yOeiLNJref-iFnbh73yAxkcFe_yP8A-uz1KmcGUwfGA/s640/Saga7.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7UlQG3-OkOOly2WpRtWMOHTJwuuuVkBB5vxiAM88MeVlUijWaxtSzA09Nt2sQZBDO9Hcd2nNIKh3G8fgGa_V1ZYpnSM7eYcD6bYNrS3i4IKZ8gaxbSyCvcMrolsIRKBrXDI1JOj4MAhA/s1600/Saga8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7UlQG3-OkOOly2WpRtWMOHTJwuuuVkBB5vxiAM88MeVlUijWaxtSzA09Nt2sQZBDO9Hcd2nNIKh3G8fgGa_V1ZYpnSM7eYcD6bYNrS3i4IKZ8gaxbSyCvcMrolsIRKBrXDI1JOj4MAhA/s640/Saga8.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX5ppwUm0dwQISMIgyjzVLdak-G6DK2G0meBIsP9uu22lihueOFJQJsJ6LAYjWcMtdwO1YTN3_mg9p8OYmPcn63Wa7Td1Dkh4XCX-l3hvbhAiMPmdvr6eSo-zUKWz7ci9qtoicc5HPZME/s1600/Saga9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX5ppwUm0dwQISMIgyjzVLdak-G6DK2G0meBIsP9uu22lihueOFJQJsJ6LAYjWcMtdwO1YTN3_mg9p8OYmPcn63Wa7Td1Dkh4XCX-l3hvbhAiMPmdvr6eSo-zUKWz7ci9qtoicc5HPZME/s640/Saga9.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi58eklyjDZyPjACxOJNY9Lz4sLCNgRNzydzmxwB45O9x92GKF9o3UjVeZZm0XjkDkTfj9Kb41cN1vM18uc8exzIe1yu_mw13kIk39-Mx_Bz3F43YrqoV5O7D5HrOcSqFsd2Ub9k1oewPE/s1600/Saga10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi58eklyjDZyPjACxOJNY9Lz4sLCNgRNzydzmxwB45O9x92GKF9o3UjVeZZm0XjkDkTfj9Kb41cN1vM18uc8exzIe1yu_mw13kIk39-Mx_Bz3F43YrqoV5O7D5HrOcSqFsd2Ub9k1oewPE/s640/Saga10.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivVNAVy_8LsD-Dmx8P0zTCrmA9sSJRRZCMmRSjC8SqVdZRO9U6VgqItxqiFN5YESz4p0anOWna_EAtvHkZIF2VPZYE23l9SlEMg93885rCysaKWWFKa1DU7HK9dQWzeVLwuqU53LSWVBU/s1600/Saga1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivVNAVy_8LsD-Dmx8P0zTCrmA9sSJRRZCMmRSjC8SqVdZRO9U6VgqItxqiFN5YESz4p0anOWna_EAtvHkZIF2VPZYE23l9SlEMg93885rCysaKWWFKa1DU7HK9dQWzeVLwuqU53LSWVBU/s640/Saga1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
On Sunday we were treated to a matinee performance of the Broadway Road Show of <b style="font-style: italic;">Dirty Dancing </b>at The Majestic Theater. My friend Heather bought the tickets and then wasn't able to use them, so she gave them to us. The show was awesome, one of the best I've seen. The singing and dancing was outstanding. It was a great show with a great cast. If you are a fan of the movie, you will definitely enjoy the play.<br />
<br />
San Antonio is such a great city to visit. We love it for lots of reasons, not the least of which is that Our Little Princesses live there.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjapm7Y68knAh-MH3oavfv8ZlTboooC_19h5alfOwBfOUy_j_B_joXj3-0zo5AseD3bdsWq48zp6fv-lQWOJNHYOLds8M9FRn0jeSsDyohLX-e9USyurNsFzpurGnJZi5lhTkxDdc93g9I/s1600/Blog+Signature+Cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjapm7Y68knAh-MH3oavfv8ZlTboooC_19h5alfOwBfOUy_j_B_joXj3-0zo5AseD3bdsWq48zp6fv-lQWOJNHYOLds8M9FRn0jeSsDyohLX-e9USyurNsFzpurGnJZi5lhTkxDdc93g9I/s200/Blog+Signature+Cropped.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />Vicki @ Grams Made Ithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14830960886130900689noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1590216771873619389.post-42914073320129514372014-10-09T21:37:00.000-05:002014-10-09T21:37:33.591-05:0011th Annual Valenta Family Golf TournamentThe family golf tournament has become a tradition and a fun family outing. As I told you in an earlier post, for the second year, the tournament was at Lost Pines Golf Club in the Bastrop State Park.<br />
<br />
The tournament is officially known as AVAT which stands for the Adolph Valenta Annual Tournament. It was named in honor of the family patriarch. It is mostly a family fun day. There are a few serious golfers in the family, but far and away, most family members are not golfers. The purpose of the tournament is just to get the family together and do something fun in memory of Grandpa. He would have loved it.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvbsLzZiWpb-iQcMp5S-_dy6P5LyDQjBqfBrDXKnceN54pxvMpXGKrHXo7VypMKsc8AolGcJf6rKYKBmai3DuaNIGKS1JlS4EtcRjky35CHpg6ygQJVbat9r5H2AJcTVdRnMHWa4q3334/s1600/DSC_0733.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvbsLzZiWpb-iQcMp5S-_dy6P5LyDQjBqfBrDXKnceN54pxvMpXGKrHXo7VypMKsc8AolGcJf6rKYKBmai3DuaNIGKS1JlS4EtcRjky35CHpg6ygQJVbat9r5H2AJcTVdRnMHWa4q3334/s1600/DSC_0733.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Uncle Johnnie, Mike, Gary, Uncle Paul</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Pictured above are the people who are most responsible for starting the tournament and keeping it going through the years. Mike and Gary are first cousins who handle all the logistics of the tournament every year. Uncle Johnnie and Uncle Paul presented them with the first Adolph Valenta Memorial Award. The presentation honors someone each year who embodies the spirit of the Valenta family.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiVIRTsjpsxC70fI9GxIUcLlGA8EjxyJkL1sckhwRkH-WGVaYECIgm7ZdjYXDPiLPAoCjqIAt9sVlMPD5w7Z0Bmva8BJGWFBZP85L4Nmu2zoOPZmYmtulvHIFW0AvCwgGrJasM-eIQQkw/s1600/Golf+Awards+2014+Collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiVIRTsjpsxC70fI9GxIUcLlGA8EjxyJkL1sckhwRkH-WGVaYECIgm7ZdjYXDPiLPAoCjqIAt9sVlMPD5w7Z0Bmva8BJGWFBZP85L4Nmu2zoOPZmYmtulvHIFW0AvCwgGrJasM-eIQQkw/s1600/Golf+Awards+2014+Collage.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Individual awards are given for closest to the pin and longest drive.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
This year's tournament had approximately thirty players. Some of the teams had four players and some had five. Many of the players are beginners and it's all in fun anyway.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9iiYNV2EY7d6Qv8PqgNn_7CnH4CZIdq-09ln3OKnpG-fX7ZibvF1-tINOxp6ZqedurxoUyI6nCzcKRq2znHIYW4m3s9JsEI3h-WzROpMsCMMp8JaHx2a0RR8fmZghsQDSOI4-OCzDypY/s1600/Golfers+playing+Collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9iiYNV2EY7d6Qv8PqgNn_7CnH4CZIdq-09ln3OKnpG-fX7ZibvF1-tINOxp6ZqedurxoUyI6nCzcKRq2znHIYW4m3s9JsEI3h-WzROpMsCMMp8JaHx2a0RR8fmZghsQDSOI4-OCzDypY/s1600/Golfers+playing+Collage.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
The tournament is a scramble and teams play best ball, best position. I'm pretty sure that the scorekeeping is creative. Once again, the point is to spend time with family and to have fun.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizsCD-kll2lv5zd_K61_uuFq4uzU4h-MuuFE0daWPwOdyxrWQAASk2DSMVNWOMVqvwcKvnFgit7gpOhBB8F7wht6geSHkfilqdgml_mJchFFqsyWL_CKjmIRd6sAI2KXhfjvbm-sEson4/s1600/Teams+2014+Collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizsCD-kll2lv5zd_K61_uuFq4uzU4h-MuuFE0daWPwOdyxrWQAASk2DSMVNWOMVqvwcKvnFgit7gpOhBB8F7wht6geSHkfilqdgml_mJchFFqsyWL_CKjmIRd6sAI2KXhfjvbm-sEson4/s1600/Teams+2014+Collage.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
As you can see, players come in all ages and sizes. Everyone is welcome regardless of skill level.<br />
<br />
Those of us who don't golf just cruise from hole-to-hole visiting and taking pictures. We all enjoy it, especially Our Little Princesses.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnBMhc5R5pBBsH1LpNhqgFcUv36Ia4NRypA6MjW-3zHa1sJGTMCPFHU9g5K6nQb8g9WYa25PzInhxFGs-aQ2jpGU6YnWbcTnlZYLw-wIWt21NRwt-VhsDvt3iPATcJqJgsJCfgtgXxi3k/s1600/Cart+Cruising+Collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnBMhc5R5pBBsH1LpNhqgFcUv36Ia4NRypA6MjW-3zHa1sJGTMCPFHU9g5K6nQb8g9WYa25PzInhxFGs-aQ2jpGU6YnWbcTnlZYLw-wIWt21NRwt-VhsDvt3iPATcJqJgsJCfgtgXxi3k/s1600/Cart+Cruising+Collage.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
We end the day by gathering at the picnic area for sandwiches and chips followed by homemade cookies and rice krispy treats.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZwfc8VhOhwZ0F77qRITSkkoXxJ2jmfTt-RfTbLtNrVHAQPljIZ0ZJDPyx85QNnF6oUk24gAwNB59zuzIHoRAWONAYwro6J9qGXtALhY_q1F7QVrUeEBMxeo7BX8YgWYp85vN_yDQJBSQ/s1600/Golf+Lunch+Collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZwfc8VhOhwZ0F77qRITSkkoXxJ2jmfTt-RfTbLtNrVHAQPljIZ0ZJDPyx85QNnF6oUk24gAwNB59zuzIHoRAWONAYwro6J9qGXtALhY_q1F7QVrUeEBMxeo7BX8YgWYp85vN_yDQJBSQ/s1600/Golf+Lunch+Collage.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
Then awards are presented.<br />
<br />
I would be remiss if I did not share with you my single favorite moment of this year's golf tournament. There is a gas station that sits just across the highway from one of the holes. We were there taking pictures when Chase and Thomas realized that they could buy beer there. That's exactly what they did. The allowed the next team to play through and they made a beer run ... literally. Here is photographic proof.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSvxceVYgUyt6FqVPd_aB9suAXgoP57Towmc2EPyNOplHhsDM6zRT_tnLya1icGXwmQ6xwGoDo_03WqnyRJ47MxICxyQfcR38vF0xLKlorZb54rnJtzboUen28I57pRAbYZh2qzjSBgW4/s1600/Beer+Run+Collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSvxceVYgUyt6FqVPd_aB9suAXgoP57Towmc2EPyNOplHhsDM6zRT_tnLya1icGXwmQ6xwGoDo_03WqnyRJ47MxICxyQfcR38vF0xLKlorZb54rnJtzboUen28I57pRAbYZh2qzjSBgW4/s1600/Beer+Run+Collage.jpg" height="320" width="640" /></a></div>
I thoroughly enjoy each year's golf tournament. It gives us an opportunity to spend time getting to know each other. It seems like life goes so fast and we live so far apart that time gets away from us.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjapm7Y68knAh-MH3oavfv8ZlTboooC_19h5alfOwBfOUy_j_B_joXj3-0zo5AseD3bdsWq48zp6fv-lQWOJNHYOLds8M9FRn0jeSsDyohLX-e9USyurNsFzpurGnJZi5lhTkxDdc93g9I/s1600/Blog+Signature+Cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjapm7Y68knAh-MH3oavfv8ZlTboooC_19h5alfOwBfOUy_j_B_joXj3-0zo5AseD3bdsWq48zp6fv-lQWOJNHYOLds8M9FRn0jeSsDyohLX-e9USyurNsFzpurGnJZi5lhTkxDdc93g9I/s1600/Blog+Signature+Cropped.jpg" height="134" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />Vicki @ Grams Made Ithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14830960886130900689noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1590216771873619389.post-21295449578993814862014-10-07T17:02:00.000-05:002014-10-07T17:02:17.550-05:00Weekend in the Lost PinesThe last weekend of September, we made our annual trip to the Valenta Family Golf tournament. Two years ago, the tournament moved from Bluebonnet Golf Course in Navasota to Lost Pines Golf Club in Bastrop. Lost Pines is actually located inside of <a href="http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/state-parks/bastrop" target="_blank">Bastrop State Park</a>. After our first visit there last year, we decided that this year we would rent a cabin in the park and make a family weekend of it.<br />
<br />
Bastrop State Park has thirteen cabins that were built in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). The entire park has been awarded National Historic Landmark status because of the landscaping and enduring craftsmanship of the CCC. (<a href="http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/state-parks/bastrop/park_history" target="_blank">Source</a>) We were right in the middle of watching Ken Burns' documentary mini-series, <a href="http://www.pbs.org/kenburns/the-roosevelts/" target="_blank">The Roosevelts</a>, on PBS. So we had just been brought up to date about the CCC. That made it all the more interesting.<br />
<br />
You may remember that in 2011 the park was ravaged by the most destructive wildfire in Texas history. The fire came very close to the cabins and the stand of loblolly pines which gives the park it's name. They were saved by the hard work of many firefighters. Today, you can see the stark remainders of the trees that burned; but you can also see that recovery is underway. <br />
<br />
Bastrop State Park has partnered with the Arbor Day Foundation, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, and the Texas Forest Service in the Bastrop Lost Pines Forest Recovery Campaign. I am also proud to say that our Aggies from Texas A&M University are lending a hand with replanting in the park. You can read about their efforts <a href="http://replant.tamu.edu/node/137" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFtXPD5MKJCqocytzo9Z9N8xLiXau8k0_XPbuuPE6lznV9eaTut8qIyT7Ty1mVIeYpuKT1GN_s1_z2zni_cnnD9dVZ_fv-0xCZpusK4_M7eBaRIYyYBZwwn86iW87W2gmGbQy-5NfTudA/s1600/Bastrop+Fire+Collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFtXPD5MKJCqocytzo9Z9N8xLiXau8k0_XPbuuPE6lznV9eaTut8qIyT7Ty1mVIeYpuKT1GN_s1_z2zni_cnnD9dVZ_fv-0xCZpusK4_M7eBaRIYyYBZwwn86iW87W2gmGbQy-5NfTudA/s1600/Bastrop+Fire+Collage.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
We were lucky enough to rent Cabin #12 which sleeps eight, so we could all stay together in one cabin. The cabin has central heat and air, four bedrooms, two baths, a common room with a dining table that seats eight, and a kitchen with a refrigerator, stove, and microwave. You have to bring your own kitchen utensils and coffee pot. The furniture in the cabin was built on-site by the CCC using local resources. Outdoors is a picnic area with two tables, a barbecue pit, and a fire pit.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4otzYJZMvbgT9Iyl5C_ig1XT1maGYiww7jWgnqmhecFTRb5ybuqaSQHdNBy7CgtQV2Lare_sOHYIeTffpKz9SDogXQe1H8U-Wu7CJOMXljqDe3P3FDFWcdPVWN2njx6Y1-kg4GKoV05g/s1600/Cabin+12+Collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4otzYJZMvbgT9Iyl5C_ig1XT1maGYiww7jWgnqmhecFTRb5ybuqaSQHdNBy7CgtQV2Lare_sOHYIeTffpKz9SDogXQe1H8U-Wu7CJOMXljqDe3P3FDFWcdPVWN2njx6Y1-kg4GKoV05g/s1600/Cabin+12+Collage.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
We all took the day off on Friday so we could arrive early and have plenty of time together. Check in time at the cabins is 5 o'clock, but if no one else is using the cabin, you can check in early. We all arrived around noon and were able to check in early. Pop-Pop bought cane poles for Our Little Princesses and he took them down to the lake right away for a little fishing.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii5DzcDI_3N44w0i_7uwfvgI1QqRykAeZtvVVMsVKqvkCPqx5pOcz4oF0EknjqDmuCq6_mizFh1pRTZyF5h5FS7I3FoXEojVRc5Vx0_2Ngw4k5MYD1ZQKx7Hh88UUIb1z2TnVOlx1i1wo/s1600/Fishing+Collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii5DzcDI_3N44w0i_7uwfvgI1QqRykAeZtvVVMsVKqvkCPqx5pOcz4oF0EknjqDmuCq6_mizFh1pRTZyF5h5FS7I3FoXEojVRc5Vx0_2Ngw4k5MYD1ZQKx7Hh88UUIb1z2TnVOlx1i1wo/s1600/Fishing+Collage.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
On Friday night we had tortilla burgers for dinner. Nick grilled the burgers and tortillas outside while Katy made the refried beans and did all the prep work.<br />
<br />
On Saturday morning, it sure was nice to be able to get up, have a leisurely breakfast, and be at the golf course in just a few minutes. In previous years we had to drive an hour or more. (There will be a separate post about the golf tournament later. I have lots of pictures to share.)<br />
<br />
Saturday evening, Travis manned the grill and we feasted on ribs, potato salad, and lots more. Then we stayed up late playing our family's favorite card game, Shanghai.<br />
<br />
It was a beautiful night and we sat outside around the fire pit just enjoying the time together.<br />
<br />
I want to share a quick tip that you might find handy if you have kids and plan to be in the great outdoors after dark. Any time they're going to be outdoors after dark, whether they're camping or at a festival, Katy brings glow-in-the-dark necklaces and bracelets. She gets them at the dollar store, so they're cheap. As soon as it starts getting dark, she gets them out and puts them on the girls. It makes it so much easier to keep up with them after dark and they love them.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHwEMbsmtDWbSr60TGPnatwJo8l-PPYM-ooMVHgrVhsb1XO9wJ3ZNB8x2fPmjbNOg6_HRENCERy9qD3ocLymtosruHUM9x4QaCf2VOFtOts5LdT75SAaGQf0bqaPu4sH_a86FbwRySO1Q/s1600/Fireside.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHwEMbsmtDWbSr60TGPnatwJo8l-PPYM-ooMVHgrVhsb1XO9wJ3ZNB8x2fPmjbNOg6_HRENCERy9qD3ocLymtosruHUM9x4QaCf2VOFtOts5LdT75SAaGQf0bqaPu4sH_a86FbwRySO1Q/s1600/Fireside.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
I love sitting by the campfire at night. I also love mornings at the campsite. Both mornings we were there, Our Little Princesses were up early. Katy and I took our coffee out to the picnic tables and the girls had hot cocoa. She came prepared with watercolors, markers, and artists tablets and the girls painted for a while, while some of the family chose to sleep in a little.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgez0a5bLYkAM5eluKRZeaaERStFC6cGoGPZdZBPSpZM4Z41DR9JE-hM9XxJTCH89vTtFixPy19-575qWYs3fJwMH442js9HHkt8yKEaX5Kr87zQ-lF-jyEw3QZMRk2liELZ_aq8VPIZm0/s1600/Morning+Collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgez0a5bLYkAM5eluKRZeaaERStFC6cGoGPZdZBPSpZM4Z41DR9JE-hM9XxJTCH89vTtFixPy19-575qWYs3fJwMH442js9HHkt8yKEaX5Kr87zQ-lF-jyEw3QZMRk2liELZ_aq8VPIZm0/s1600/Morning+Collage.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
All too soon our weekend camping adventure was over and we all headed back to our separate homes. We all agreed we will do it again next year.<br />
<br />
On the way out of the park I snapped a few pictures of the other cabins. I love how they just blend in to the forest.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIze-VafwaCtFzLcwD6Zde44OQ_d6w9aEEIl8ugDSImBGrMlP70mWANdqGRk6Ewt9qR_iA3ozAIM_4RDeGjE4EH9yI3SnJG7HwBRvrUs8ihebZ5MXZXFpZ64V8WB1TJ_vpN1jNgQ1TAYE/s1600/Cabins+Collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIze-VafwaCtFzLcwD6Zde44OQ_d6w9aEEIl8ugDSImBGrMlP70mWANdqGRk6Ewt9qR_iA3ozAIM_4RDeGjE4EH9yI3SnJG7HwBRvrUs8ihebZ5MXZXFpZ64V8WB1TJ_vpN1jNgQ1TAYE/s1600/Cabins+Collage.jpg" height="320" width="640" /></a></div>
It really is a great park. I wish I had visited it before the fire.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjapm7Y68knAh-MH3oavfv8ZlTboooC_19h5alfOwBfOUy_j_B_joXj3-0zo5AseD3bdsWq48zp6fv-lQWOJNHYOLds8M9FRn0jeSsDyohLX-e9USyurNsFzpurGnJZi5lhTkxDdc93g9I/s1600/Blog+Signature+Cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjapm7Y68knAh-MH3oavfv8ZlTboooC_19h5alfOwBfOUy_j_B_joXj3-0zo5AseD3bdsWq48zp6fv-lQWOJNHYOLds8M9FRn0jeSsDyohLX-e9USyurNsFzpurGnJZi5lhTkxDdc93g9I/s1600/Blog+Signature+Cropped.jpg" height="134" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />Vicki @ Grams Made Ithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14830960886130900689noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1590216771873619389.post-17050451584818155082014-09-13T23:47:00.000-05:002014-09-13T23:47:04.721-05:00Grams Camp - Session 2 - Especially for EzraI am so far behind on my blogging that I may never catch up. So please bear with me while I finish my summer posts.<br />
<br />
The second week of Grams Camp took place way back in mid-July. This year we decided to do separate weeks of Grams Camp for two reasons. First, I thought it would be easier for me to have them one at a time. Second, Ezra has been asking for almost a year now if I would teach her to sew. I knew that those lessons would be easier in a one-on-one format. She has stayed with us many times, so there was no reluctance or trepidation on her part. She was very excited.<br />
<br />
The first thing she wanted to do was make a pom-pom wreath just like <a href="http://www.gramsmadeit.blogspot.com/2014/07/grams-camp-session-1-just-for-june.html" target="_blank">June did when she was here</a>. So, we made a trip to the Dollar Tree and bought pom-poms and glue. My friend Janna had given Ezra some very cute little felt decorations which Ezra also wanted to put on her wreath. Naturally, she chose the pastel pom-poms instead of the deeper colors that June had used. If pink is one of the options, I guarantee that she will choose pink every time. Here is her wreath.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5vH4k3m_vwvkvFZrndle7K5-HY_mvN8yIGu-XK0BFFxr-9ZCrzBJYehapYtMn2x5jQOFYmaOno3Itnw0K9uw-77j1VZD64x9Pl9KXyJnZhO9lzyBg4bRF2hBvpxytTYRKPzzMIuuI4eo/s1600/Ezra's+wreath.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5vH4k3m_vwvkvFZrndle7K5-HY_mvN8yIGu-XK0BFFxr-9ZCrzBJYehapYtMn2x5jQOFYmaOno3Itnw0K9uw-77j1VZD64x9Pl9KXyJnZhO9lzyBg4bRF2hBvpxytTYRKPzzMIuuI4eo/s1600/Ezra's%2Bwreath.jpg" height="640" width="580" /></a></div>
<br />
Katy and I decided that we would split the wreaths. She took one home to hang in the girls' room and I kept one for their room here. Ezra was a little bit sad that I kept the one she made and June got to take hers home. This one looks great in their room, which continues to evolve from Uncle Nick's room to the Princesses' Room. The colors match the rug I have in their room. I think she'll be happy when she sees it hanging there.<br />
<br />
I decided to wait until she asked to tackle the sewing machine. At 5 years old, I think she's a little bit young for my electronic machine. I really wish I had my grandmother's old treadle sewing machine. It's what I learned on and they were so much simpler and slower. Instead, we started with a little hand sewing. I showed her how to thread a needle and gave her some fabric to make some practice stitches. She was very patient and worked on hand sewing for quite a while. <br />
<br />
Then we moved on to the sewing machine. First I had her practice straight line sewing on a scrap of fabric just to get the feel of the machine. I sat next to her and used hand-over-hand to help her learn to guide the fabric while keeping her fingers out of the way of the needle and presser foot. I sat with her and let her play with the fancy stitches for a while and we changed the colors of the thread a couple of times, just because she wanted to.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1bdTKMBt4M_-1hIU2bw-DBA0G7JictrfhxCLlUcrBWHJdoEDJiltf2zQX1cp9avNtJPg21-1sOIvCq_bQCm7ixUoiPKjF47AVdEtH7HyC32HtiUdMUIz9krdYOpqeBkaFS0J0-wCJZSw/s1600/Sewing1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1bdTKMBt4M_-1hIU2bw-DBA0G7JictrfhxCLlUcrBWHJdoEDJiltf2zQX1cp9avNtJPg21-1sOIvCq_bQCm7ixUoiPKjF47AVdEtH7HyC32HtiUdMUIz9krdYOpqeBkaFS0J0-wCJZSw/s1600/Sewing1.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Then we graduated to some dot-to-dot follow the number sewing sheets that I downloaded from <a href="http://www.skiptomylou.org/2013/03/05/sewing-activities-for-kids/" target="_blank">Skip to my Lou</a>. She really liked those because it felt like she was making something. I liked them because they helped her learn that she needed to sew slowly and deliberately. They also helped her learn to turn corners by lowering the needle, raising the presser foot, and pivoting the fabric. You can see in the photo below that she signed her work. I will be framing this dot-to-dot and hanging it in their room.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO8Vw7bRiROc6_CZzcgPzR0m-E0osrTFFBO2m3Df1sXphL2_Rv50ND_3ReSbO8GRm2KR4zqlJstX0NGBw7P0u9Eo_0cmIo9hrXfoVhtIDKf5SP0hcD-yz8L4GYzkLptgD9-fyNGuR1GQc/s1600/Sewing2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO8Vw7bRiROc6_CZzcgPzR0m-E0osrTFFBO2m3Df1sXphL2_Rv50ND_3ReSbO8GRm2KR4zqlJstX0NGBw7P0u9Eo_0cmIo9hrXfoVhtIDKf5SP0hcD-yz8L4GYzkLptgD9-fyNGuR1GQc/s1600/Sewing2.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
She really loved using the sewing machine, but she wanted to actually make something. I thought that was important too, so the next day we went to the fabric store and I let her choose two different fabrics and coordinating ribbons. We decided to make magic wands.<br />
<br />
I printed out a star pattern and showed her how to pin and cut the fabric. Then we sewed the star leaving one side open. I helped her trim the seams, turn the fabric, and stuff the stars with polyester fiberfill. Then we inserted a bamboo skewer which had the pointed end coated with hot glue so it would not be sharp. I secured the skewer inside the star with hot glue. After it cooled, Ezra used her hand stitching skills to close the opening in each star. Then we added ribbons tied into bows. I think they came out really cute and she loved them too.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf0m7OAa6Fw8rYsxpl9ShxCUZ_WziLWTZrzNIU2XNi5tRggExZ1p35w3EzQmt2CqVPuiW64NhVZtQ7LiCqcJ9nOp4u6wdwXJ3D8CMSCNZkCz0OTg4nJ-lt1HX7s5i-j5vu-pa74tfv0JA/s1600/Sewing3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf0m7OAa6Fw8rYsxpl9ShxCUZ_WziLWTZrzNIU2XNi5tRggExZ1p35w3EzQmt2CqVPuiW64NhVZtQ7LiCqcJ9nOp4u6wdwXJ3D8CMSCNZkCz0OTg4nJ-lt1HX7s5i-j5vu-pa74tfv0JA/s1600/Sewing3.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
We also had plenty of time to relax during Ezra's week of Grams Camp. We watched <i><b>Mary Poppins </b></i>and I introduced Ezra to Shirley Temple's The Little Princess. She also spent one day playing video games on my Kindle. One day was enough of that for me, so after that day, I restricted her access to the Kindle and we read books, cooked, and watched movies. Here she is on my bed playing with my Kindle Fire. In the second photo you can see her long, long legs. She's definitely going to be tall just like her mom. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuqltXEalTcE9eK7qfn1rXqdkQaZzsB0YrXcYPW2BuoVBoEQlTAhxUBYzF1BETI7Eeoukv-VDv9Uzpm7wKt1cohYtf1LfaQs2-NcH2xTvSUbl04HvVxLvFZCHxrK36WQp_z4jM-kMaYfM/s1600/Summer+2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuqltXEalTcE9eK7qfn1rXqdkQaZzsB0YrXcYPW2BuoVBoEQlTAhxUBYzF1BETI7Eeoukv-VDv9Uzpm7wKt1cohYtf1LfaQs2-NcH2xTvSUbl04HvVxLvFZCHxrK36WQp_z4jM-kMaYfM/s1600/Summer+2014.jpg" height="640" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
We would go outside early in the day or just before dark. There was very little outdoor play because it was extremely hot. We've
had heat index readings well over 100 degrees for days on end.<br />
<br />
I think two weeks apart from each other was good for both the girls. It was really fun to have some one-on-one time with each of them. It also gave each of them one-on-one time with their parents. In between the two weeks, I spent almost a week at their house while their dad took a canoe trip. That was fun too.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjapm7Y68knAh-MH3oavfv8ZlTboooC_19h5alfOwBfOUy_j_B_joXj3-0zo5AseD3bdsWq48zp6fv-lQWOJNHYOLds8M9FRn0jeSsDyohLX-e9USyurNsFzpurGnJZi5lhTkxDdc93g9I/s1600/Blog+Signature+Cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjapm7Y68knAh-MH3oavfv8ZlTboooC_19h5alfOwBfOUy_j_B_joXj3-0zo5AseD3bdsWq48zp6fv-lQWOJNHYOLds8M9FRn0jeSsDyohLX-e9USyurNsFzpurGnJZi5lhTkxDdc93g9I/s1600/Blog+Signature+Cropped.jpg" height="134" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />Vicki @ Grams Made Ithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14830960886130900689noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1590216771873619389.post-72968565047350108502014-08-25T20:27:00.000-05:002014-08-26T12:01:40.140-05:00The First Day of SchoolToday was the long awaited first day of school for Our Little Princesses. Ezra started kindergarten and June started a new day school where she's in the Pre-K3 group. They were both very excited. <br />
<br />
Here's Ezra this morning at home and then in her classroom.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT4s6U996G5OaawSJ9jKOAPCsg5_j3VsC2-vK47Kz-qBQTY_YYhJQLcCUw4EuPCHyVjkxmGnh9p3iDOGte6C4ouuAxkfsmU4-XErWYIu6yuDxmLxxOMTfjrNeeR9ofMoiJK8p2JprlYh8/s1600/Ezra+Kinder+Collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT4s6U996G5OaawSJ9jKOAPCsg5_j3VsC2-vK47Kz-qBQTY_YYhJQLcCUw4EuPCHyVjkxmGnh9p3iDOGte6C4ouuAxkfsmU4-XErWYIu6yuDxmLxxOMTfjrNeeR9ofMoiJK8p2JprlYh8/s1600/Ezra+Kinder+Collage.jpg" height="320" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
And here is June all ready to go to her new school. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRAzJiiB7LTDDWD9UEIo-1pgp1HpPQz9qJYTZX42pxJPiZFxsHKO2QWXRrwie_kNcxnZ2DO-cP2pSk8CiBZRu4CeMZexYQpp2k3Yp1RG3VcvaH2Xi8JzLYJguTOwJ-7OzsKRUf3jbj3L8/s1600/June+PreK3+Collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRAzJiiB7LTDDWD9UEIo-1pgp1HpPQz9qJYTZX42pxJPiZFxsHKO2QWXRrwie_kNcxnZ2DO-cP2pSk8CiBZRu4CeMZexYQpp2k3Yp1RG3VcvaH2Xi8JzLYJguTOwJ-7OzsKRUf3jbj3L8/s1600/June+PreK3+Collage.jpg" height="320" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Katy said that they both did great and didn't have problems with being in a new place.<br />
<br />
Years ago, when Katy started kindergarten, her transition was not smooth. I did all the things I thought I needed to do. I took a day off of work and took her to the school for a tour and to meet the principal and her teacher. She had been in day care for three years already, so I thought this would not be a big deal. I was wrong. She really, really hated going to kindergarten and it did get better, but she never really got comfortable at that school. Thank God, the next year our neighborhood was assigned to a different school that she liked a lot better.<br />
<br />
I was delighted to hear that Ezra's new school really has a good plan to help ease the way for kindergartners. On the Friday afternoon before school starts they held an open house. The parents and students got to see the classroom and meet the teacher. Then on Saturday morning, especially for the kindergarten, they had a play date on the playground at the school. Each student got a color-coded name tag. The color of their nametag identified the students who will be in each class. They played together and had bottled water and popsicles for a couple of hours, basically just getting to know each other. The parents came too, so it was also an opportunity for the parents to meet each other and visit for a while. I think it's an absolutely brilliant idea. <br />
<br />
We're going to Skype with the girls in a few minutes, I can't wait to hear about their day. But here's a preliminary report. The first picture was tagged "5 minutes after I picked her up." The second picture came a little later.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtoM8M1r1mRQ9jnCD81Xh8roEyRn4srVtfFy8NS_obxk8aSyyXmECG6826JjyHBLVuzmuWQ9r4nFwhSsmq36KOMTCVNiUn1KARZUkGtgEnHei5E0Wv7O28SKYwChVN5b4ofdbnzQLLp6I/s1600/End+of+Day+Collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtoM8M1r1mRQ9jnCD81Xh8roEyRn4srVtfFy8NS_obxk8aSyyXmECG6826JjyHBLVuzmuWQ9r4nFwhSsmq36KOMTCVNiUn1KARZUkGtgEnHei5E0Wv7O28SKYwChVN5b4ofdbnzQLLp6I/s1600/End+of+Day+Collage.jpg" height="320" width="640" /></a></div>
It looks like the day started good and ended great with a little nap in between. It doesn't get any better than that.<br />
<br />
Special thanks to Katy and Travis for snapping the photos and sending them to Grams.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjapm7Y68knAh-MH3oavfv8ZlTboooC_19h5alfOwBfOUy_j_B_joXj3-0zo5AseD3bdsWq48zp6fv-lQWOJNHYOLds8M9FRn0jeSsDyohLX-e9USyurNsFzpurGnJZi5lhTkxDdc93g9I/s1600/Blog+Signature+Cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjapm7Y68knAh-MH3oavfv8ZlTboooC_19h5alfOwBfOUy_j_B_joXj3-0zo5AseD3bdsWq48zp6fv-lQWOJNHYOLds8M9FRn0jeSsDyohLX-e9USyurNsFzpurGnJZi5lhTkxDdc93g9I/s1600/Blog+Signature+Cropped.jpg" height="134" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />Vicki @ Grams Made Ithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14830960886130900689noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1590216771873619389.post-35873316747763575372014-07-08T18:38:00.000-05:002014-07-08T18:38:11.418-05:00Grams Camp - Session 1 - Just for JuneOne of the things that has been important to us since Our Little Princesses came along is for them to be comfortable staying with us. They live about two hours away, so it's pretty easy to get them for a weekend.<br />
<br />
Ezra has visited us alone many times, starting well before she was a year old. But, as the second child, June has never been to visit us alone. This summer, Ezra is five and June is three, so I thought this might be a good time to split Grams Camp into two separate sessions. Towards the end of June, Omi had invited Ezra to go to vacation bible school, but June is not quite old enough yet. Katy and I decided that would be a good week to have June come for a solo visit.<br />
<br />
Katy and Travis came and brought both girls for my birthday weekend. When they left on Sunday, June stayed for the week. Katy had tried very hard to prepare her for staying alone, but it was clear that she was feeling a little uncomfortable about the rest of the family leaving while she stayed behind. <br />
<br />
As part of the preparation, they had watched the episode of <b><i>Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood</i></b> that teaches that grown ups come back. The episode is titled <a href="http://www.pbs.org/parents/daniel/episodes/" target="_blank">Daniel Goes to School</a>. We ended up keeping that handy and watching it a couple of times during the week.<br />
<br />
Overall, she did great. The secret was keeping her busy. It was really fun to spend one-on-one time with her. When you get her alone, her personality just shines. She's much quieter when her big sister is not around. I was also impressed with her attention span. For a three year old, she can focus on a project or craft for quite a long time.<br />
<br />
We started with a trip to Dollar Tree where we bought some crafting supplies and some paint with water kits. I bought two kits for a total cost of $2. Each kit had several pages similar to the ones you see in these photos. Each kit also came with a set of markers and a couple of printed pictures to use them on. She painted these for a little while almost every day she was here. I definitely got my money's worth with these. I will say, the markers were kind of messy, so I threw them away after the first or second day. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgonZ0BlysAzLwk8CRpc3af94Kvtac3c96yr_uTzljT3keb-fB_mAQga0mXsigaE4deMoEG9-25rqhQHV_v4X-9M-7MUAYg0U9tObombFb-d85ll2iWh-1XUi7okC9QDhV9dNu7Y8M7cTU/s1600/June+painting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgonZ0BlysAzLwk8CRpc3af94Kvtac3c96yr_uTzljT3keb-fB_mAQga0mXsigaE4deMoEG9-25rqhQHV_v4X-9M-7MUAYg0U9tObombFb-d85ll2iWh-1XUi7okC9QDhV9dNu7Y8M7cTU/s1600/June+painting.jpg" height="320" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
The other thing we got at Dollar Tree was the supplies to make a wreath. For the base we used a straw wreath out of my craft closet and I bought eight packages of pom-poms and four bottles of glue for a total of $10.<br />
<br />
I moved the kid's table into the living room and covered it with newspaper which I taped into place. We used plain old white school glue which I poured into a disposable bowl so she could just dip the pom-poms in the glue and stick them onto the wreath. It worked perfectly. She loved creating this project and it kept her busy for several hours. Part of the time I worked with her and part of the time I did other things in the room. I did have to help her fill in the inside of the wreath and I helped her fill in some of the blank spaces she left between the pom-poms. When it was finished I added a ribbon from my craft closet and hung it on the door of the Princesses' room.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAEzkGPoXUOjPmC6-IQEqrfX4Qcxlgyu2a-wxhuM6rGwOdpON0SXCrLKgTh_2e6I5RCQrWZc-m5XJI1Fh2w5fbNhOoyHkrNGT47XpIDkTZZVJ_1z8p-_Q44XEBbWbImHzAPfYY-_Y7a9E/s1600/June+wreath.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAEzkGPoXUOjPmC6-IQEqrfX4Qcxlgyu2a-wxhuM6rGwOdpON0SXCrLKgTh_2e6I5RCQrWZc-m5XJI1Fh2w5fbNhOoyHkrNGT47XpIDkTZZVJ_1z8p-_Q44XEBbWbImHzAPfYY-_Y7a9E/s1600/June+wreath.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
We really had hoped to be able to go swimming a couple of times during June's visit, but the weather did not cooperate. We had thunderstorms and rain almost every afternoon while she was here so we had to otherwise occupy ourselves.<br />
<br />
We got a lot of mileage out of the pom-poms. There were quite a few left over from the wreath project and she played with them a lot. I have a big can that I normally keep colored pencils in. She emptied the pencils into a plastic basket and used the can to hold her pom-poms.<br />
<br />
I have a ceramic teapot and two cups sitting on my coffee table. I've never used them, I just thought they were pretty and bought them from the silent auction at the family reunion last fall. She filled them with pom-poms and played tea party with them off and on all week. So on Wednesday afternoon, when it was raining yet again, I decided we should have a real tea party.<br />
<br />
One of my fondest memories is tea parties with my Granny. She would make grape Kool-Aid and let us serve it out of an old aluminum teapot. She always had homemade cookies to serve with it. We would spread a blanket out in the yard and have an afternoon tea party.<br />
<br />
I let her choose a tablecloth for her little table and we added a mason jar of flowers so we had a centerpiece. I let her brew the tea using my Keurig coffee maker. I didn't have any cookies, but we had cheese and crackers with fresh strawberries.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-dhYxwzN8ALK9amOHQ70J9kmAK-N-u_2uypFE6lmW2_CpZWU8yc_1Bh4vE4lapTK1LjeguUxAbRHYH3z1dpRt3aU4no5ATPgLGj69WOr41gWS4nqKJP9k_sepFvhP-zfuISK12TErxwQ/s1600/June+tea+party.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-dhYxwzN8ALK9amOHQ70J9kmAK-N-u_2uypFE6lmW2_CpZWU8yc_1Bh4vE4lapTK1LjeguUxAbRHYH3z1dpRt3aU4no5ATPgLGj69WOr41gWS4nqKJP9k_sepFvhP-zfuISK12TErxwQ/s1600/June+tea+party.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Since she was here during the week of my birthday, she went along when Patrick took me out to dinner to celebrate. She also got treated to frozen yogurt one evening after dinner.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcMchIKSC-cgsr4ee7ibAzhBh21b-uw0dt539-aETOccM8QaFSnn9aVeom3PcSejuJpwIDPrLmgmEd9QqLjLI63wKCUuG3lu2wUN9cmFjM5md1bP07RlV4SqGN6TANbKJFta53ne1s880/s1600/June+dining.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcMchIKSC-cgsr4ee7ibAzhBh21b-uw0dt539-aETOccM8QaFSnn9aVeom3PcSejuJpwIDPrLmgmEd9QqLjLI63wKCUuG3lu2wUN9cmFjM5md1bP07RlV4SqGN6TANbKJFta53ne1s880/s1600/June+dining.jpg" height="320" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
In my absolute favorite moment of the week, on one of those rainy afternoons, we were watching a movie when she climbed up on my lap and this happened. Only the two of us were at home, so I picked up my cell phone and snapped this selfie.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijZrhxqwXm0Bz0qUb5FfEX-JF3-DyNyVJ_8ILpJM6fCMkoQDHVozBSRL5W1xYLtd1QcNQ95asUMvAgscry2aeJrX7OmfQmbDjLC3tlmLmEtXt5FCztR71dC78_BmdwEMvfv-ZLG17Dows/s1600/June+napping.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijZrhxqwXm0Bz0qUb5FfEX-JF3-DyNyVJ_8ILpJM6fCMkoQDHVozBSRL5W1xYLtd1QcNQ95asUMvAgscry2aeJrX7OmfQmbDjLC3tlmLmEtXt5FCztR71dC78_BmdwEMvfv-ZLG17Dows/s1600/June+napping.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
There is nothing better than spending a quiet couple of hours cuddling your sleeping grandbaby.<br />
<br />
On Thursday evening, we drove to Three Rivers and met Katy and Ezra for dinner. Both of the girls were so excited to see each other and June was particularly happy to be back in her Mommy's arms. She was very clingy all through dinner. I don't know if we'll get her to visit alone again any time soon.<br />
<br />
She wasn't weepy or upset at all the entire time she was here. The only problem we had all week was getting her to go to bed at night. We finally ended up putting her in her car seat and driving until she fell asleep every night. Some nights it worked quickly and some nights we drove for a long time.<br />
<br />
Next week, I'll spend the week at their house to take care of them during the day while Katy works. Travis is going on a canoeing trip. The week after that, Ezra will spend the week with us for her week of Grams Camp. She wants to learn to sew, so I'm working on a project that might be simple enough for a five year old to work on. She's very enthusiastic so I want to make sure we capitalize on that and don't frustrate her. I'll be telling you all about it.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjapm7Y68knAh-MH3oavfv8ZlTboooC_19h5alfOwBfOUy_j_B_joXj3-0zo5AseD3bdsWq48zp6fv-lQWOJNHYOLds8M9FRn0jeSsDyohLX-e9USyurNsFzpurGnJZi5lhTkxDdc93g9I/s1600/Blog+Signature+Cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjapm7Y68knAh-MH3oavfv8ZlTboooC_19h5alfOwBfOUy_j_B_joXj3-0zo5AseD3bdsWq48zp6fv-lQWOJNHYOLds8M9FRn0jeSsDyohLX-e9USyurNsFzpurGnJZi5lhTkxDdc93g9I/s1600/Blog+Signature+Cropped.jpg" height="134" width="200" /></a></div>
<span id="goog_1470131529"></span><span id="goog_1470131530"></span><br />Vicki @ Grams Made Ithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14830960886130900689noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1590216771873619389.post-64816553154467157372014-07-06T16:45:00.000-05:002014-07-06T16:45:50.122-05:00When I Wasn't BloggingWhile I was absent from my blog life went on, I just didn't write it down. Honestly, I feel the need to bring you somewhat up to date.<br />
<br />
When I was not blogging, I had a birthday. Not just any birthday, but one of those milestone birthdays. On June 22, I turned 60.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicu1J5b_hG0ww6G6sExBrZhBs64ZzLvYAzW8xqjBcS9d2SJYZ6ezeFeZp9BWkZsEXvQD1V84ZSDzXgV6VItf6d9JucFptZw4N3yK3pdR9Alpw-hVNtlm8Xx-tztglUwx90VYXPs3XOsUI/s1600/Grams+60.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicu1J5b_hG0ww6G6sExBrZhBs64ZzLvYAzW8xqjBcS9d2SJYZ6ezeFeZp9BWkZsEXvQD1V84ZSDzXgV6VItf6d9JucFptZw4N3yK3pdR9Alpw-hVNtlm8Xx-tztglUwx90VYXPs3XOsUI/s1600/Grams+60.jpg" height="400" width="356" /></a></div>
<br />
I celebrated with my great-neice, Sway, who turned one the same day. She let me borrow her birthday crown.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwGrKUKjoUqLfASQh7r0-JBQdx5EKULnXSKig5Z_9QGa2MqXTLJkVrTIbKoW8zgi7uZdK0Gegpv9cn9Bf-qQ0N7ZQvRWD91Ic0LdmT1mPwSG3vN2BY4g37e2GkNb_HAO-_lznAJE-dWKU/s1600/sway.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwGrKUKjoUqLfASQh7r0-JBQdx5EKULnXSKig5Z_9QGa2MqXTLJkVrTIbKoW8zgi7uZdK0Gegpv9cn9Bf-qQ0N7ZQvRWD91Ic0LdmT1mPwSG3vN2BY4g37e2GkNb_HAO-_lznAJE-dWKU/s1600/sway.jpg" height="640" width="420" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
Our Little Princesses came to celebrate with both of us. It was so much fun to have them all together for a little party.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfwIw7KGR59Hjn7ozAtCM90prO2xLNzlzg7QHJhPEsFY7oxIqIvuCIWlElcGYaXKgkujLPyUZbxt42mDNr3LaWEEfJ8ofj0cNgvpyZIC0Np7uG-WqT6vJ8_0Cl-okb5E5T50ZOEjuqiDw/s1600/Sway's+party.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfwIw7KGR59Hjn7ozAtCM90prO2xLNzlzg7QHJhPEsFY7oxIqIvuCIWlElcGYaXKgkujLPyUZbxt42mDNr3LaWEEfJ8ofj0cNgvpyZIC0Np7uG-WqT6vJ8_0Cl-okb5E5T50ZOEjuqiDw/s1600/Sway's+party.jpg" height="640" width="612" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
As you can see, they had a great time.<br />
<br />
Now, there is one more thing I must show you from my own birthday. My husband got me the most hilarious birthday card ever. It looks so innocent and sweet from the outside. Then I opened it and realized that even in his sixties, that 8th grade boy is still alive and well. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo0-1yxoLvvHI6c8lBPzkrS5sbjitwLroEy6kbak9QsE0nzZJGp5EZnt4PRaRKBENYAt14q_HQ0k-xrnIaGojVtuNO4arVEQ9PGo3LTd9aiD77RvGac9WgIQSpP2LM3Mux2YwNMBkfigg/s1600/birthday+card.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo0-1yxoLvvHI6c8lBPzkrS5sbjitwLroEy6kbak9QsE0nzZJGp5EZnt4PRaRKBENYAt14q_HQ0k-xrnIaGojVtuNO4arVEQ9PGo3LTd9aiD77RvGac9WgIQSpP2LM3Mux2YwNMBkfigg/s1600/birthday+card.jpg" height="498" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
I had a great birthday. It was especially nice that Katy, Travis and our Princesses came to celebrate. While they were here, we also went to the beach. There's another blog post coming about that trip.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjapm7Y68knAh-MH3oavfv8ZlTboooC_19h5alfOwBfOUy_j_B_joXj3-0zo5AseD3bdsWq48zp6fv-lQWOJNHYOLds8M9FRn0jeSsDyohLX-e9USyurNsFzpurGnJZi5lhTkxDdc93g9I/s1600/Blog+Signature+Cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjapm7Y68knAh-MH3oavfv8ZlTboooC_19h5alfOwBfOUy_j_B_joXj3-0zo5AseD3bdsWq48zp6fv-lQWOJNHYOLds8M9FRn0jeSsDyohLX-e9USyurNsFzpurGnJZi5lhTkxDdc93g9I/s1600/Blog+Signature+Cropped.jpg" height="134" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />Vicki @ Grams Made Ithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14830960886130900689noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1590216771873619389.post-2106201025716789142014-07-05T23:18:00.000-05:002014-07-05T23:54:17.951-05:00Independence Day In My Home TownI have always loved local celebrations of the 4th of July. I love how each community has its own traditions that give Independence Day a local flavor.<br />
<br />
When we lived in Texarkana as kids, we would often go to watch the fireworks at the lake. After we moved to Corpus Christi, our parents would load all eight of us into the station wagon and take us to the bayfront, where we would sit along the seawall, and watch the fireworks over Corpus Christi Bay.<br />
<br />
When our kids were little, we would take a blanket and a picnic and drive across the bridge to Corpus Christi Beach and watch the fireworks over the bay. They used to fire them from a barge that was anchored in the bay. <br />
<br />
Back in the 1990s, we were visiting Patrick's aunt and uncle in Dallas and got to see their neighborhood kids put on their own parade with bicycles, wagons, and pets all decked out in red, white, and blue. The parade culminated in a festival at the park. It was a real taste of Americana.<br />
<br />
A few years ago, we went to Boston for the 4th. It was a dream come true. We spent the entire day in the park surrounded by people from all over the United States. And the fireworks were spectacular. Since then, we've gone down to the bayfront to see the local fireworks a couple of times. Now they shoot them off the deck of the USS Lexington Museum on the Bay.<br />
<br />
This year, we drove downtown to check out our city's festivities. The City of Corpus Christi's celebration is now called the Mayor's Big Bang Festival. There was a 4th of July Parade along Shoreline
Boulevard, FREE Kids Zone, Art Walk, FREE park and ride services, a
Harbor Bridge light show and the grand finaleā¦ a fireworks display off the USS Lexington! The parade started at 6 pm and
fireworks at 9:30 pm.<br />
<br />
We got downtown around 4:30 and everything was already packed and it was 97 degrees. We drove around for a while and checked out several locations. Then we decided to come home. It was just too hot and too crowded.<br />
<br />
As we drove down Ocean Drive, we noticed that many of the homes were decorated with flags this year. In case you're not familiar with Corpus Christi, there are many fabulous and stately homes along the bayfront. If you visit, it's definitely a drive you should take.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfIuG23LztowNev3cXagWdAg428v4G4EklkZ4BTkfRahUDep2XdtHywNvPCrndFeZgikDJx-wq79VPv6KQvB2m_Oi8ckOb2hBjYtVrzyrSmrN02d1yB_osR8bTOfkeMs7JJwU3EWOaSqA/s1600/Flags+on+4th+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfIuG23LztowNev3cXagWdAg428v4G4EklkZ4BTkfRahUDep2XdtHywNvPCrndFeZgikDJx-wq79VPv6KQvB2m_Oi8ckOb2hBjYtVrzyrSmrN02d1yB_osR8bTOfkeMs7JJwU3EWOaSqA/s1600/Flags+on+4th+2.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
One of the things that has become a tradition in Corpus Christi is the hanging of large American flags from cranes all over the industrial district. They started displaying them shortly after the September 11th attacks and it's grown every year. This year, they were not only in the industrial district, they were at several construction sites around town.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI5MiBnIV-ZqrTMVdq_uKkhcmowCjUF2OLw2S40Y4WnjMaCI68iIKZFppvkLa2kInMOiTLgV06XUXFC908lK2fmtJr7gqpcWr3Rcn-ZRhUlVW_dTJzsBGjjv-hfcn21aLR3GAqizqsqlk/s1600/flags+on+the+4th.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI5MiBnIV-ZqrTMVdq_uKkhcmowCjUF2OLw2S40Y4WnjMaCI68iIKZFppvkLa2kInMOiTLgV06XUXFC908lK2fmtJr7gqpcWr3Rcn-ZRhUlVW_dTJzsBGjjv-hfcn21aLR3GAqizqsqlk/s1600/flags+on+the+4th.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
It is one of the things I like best about the 4th of July in Corpus Christi. Since we decided not to stay for the fireworks, we decided to take pictures of some of the flags. After that, we drove about six miles north to Odem and had dinner at The Railroad Seafood Station. We love their fried shrimp and avocado salad. Then we came home and watched our favorite July 4th movie, <b><i>Yankee Doodle Dandy</i></b>. James Cagney is brilliant as George M. Cohan. I've seen it about a million times and it never gets old.<br />
<br />
I hope you had a great 4th of July with a celebration of this uniquely American holiday that had a little local flavor.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjapm7Y68knAh-MH3oavfv8ZlTboooC_19h5alfOwBfOUy_j_B_joXj3-0zo5AseD3bdsWq48zp6fv-lQWOJNHYOLds8M9FRn0jeSsDyohLX-e9USyurNsFzpurGnJZi5lhTkxDdc93g9I/s1600/Blog+Signature+Cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjapm7Y68knAh-MH3oavfv8ZlTboooC_19h5alfOwBfOUy_j_B_joXj3-0zo5AseD3bdsWq48zp6fv-lQWOJNHYOLds8M9FRn0jeSsDyohLX-e9USyurNsFzpurGnJZi5lhTkxDdc93g9I/s1600/Blog+Signature+Cropped.jpg" height="134" width="200" /></a></div>
Vicki @ Grams Made Ithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14830960886130900689noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1590216771873619389.post-34342174861869772022014-07-04T15:25:00.000-05:002014-07-04T15:25:55.332-05:00Let Freedom RingPop-Pop (formerly known as Grandad) and I are heading out to take some pictures of our city's July 4th celebrations. I'm hoping to do a little photo-essay tomorrow. I am the proud owner of a new camera. He got me a Nikon J1 digital camera for my birthday last month and I'm still learning to use it. Wish me luck.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh06hWYDpXuABvhy2-woH5wgan9OuD4voajZhtvXTF6Vfu8GsGwzqDCWSxM5iMg1ZqMzBklcaqLS-7-MFYA4x2Zima8xmkOKZkO_UoLGl8X5YDlYWJjhGLfwPpr_BtnhXBrxEenXRoC-OY/s1600/4th+of+July.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh06hWYDpXuABvhy2-woH5wgan9OuD4voajZhtvXTF6Vfu8GsGwzqDCWSxM5iMg1ZqMzBklcaqLS-7-MFYA4x2Zima8xmkOKZkO_UoLGl8X5YDlYWJjhGLfwPpr_BtnhXBrxEenXRoC-OY/s1600/4th+of+July.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
This picture of the Corpus Christi Harbor Bridge was taken at Whataburger Field during the Corpus Christi Symphony's Pops in the Park concert. It was taken with a Samsung Galaxy S-3 phone.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjapm7Y68knAh-MH3oavfv8ZlTboooC_19h5alfOwBfOUy_j_B_joXj3-0zo5AseD3bdsWq48zp6fv-lQWOJNHYOLds8M9FRn0jeSsDyohLX-e9USyurNsFzpurGnJZi5lhTkxDdc93g9I/s1600/Blog+Signature+Cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjapm7Y68knAh-MH3oavfv8ZlTboooC_19h5alfOwBfOUy_j_B_joXj3-0zo5AseD3bdsWq48zp6fv-lQWOJNHYOLds8M9FRn0jeSsDyohLX-e9USyurNsFzpurGnJZi5lhTkxDdc93g9I/s1600/Blog+Signature+Cropped.jpg" height="134" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />Vicki @ Grams Made Ithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14830960886130900689noreply@blogger.com