Wednesday, January 14, 2009

FACEBOOK FINISHES FIRST

Yep, it seems like Facebook is taking over. I guess it is much easier to just type a short sentence rather than a looooong paragraph. Even posting a whole photo album is easier, so that is probably where you will find my pics.  OK, let's see, Christmas was nice. Went to Trav and Traci's at 7:00 Xmas morning and watched the kids open presents. Got home around eleven and put on our jammies and watched movies. Had the most delicious crab legs and filet mignon dinner. New Years.......JR made menudo and the kids, Tammy and Sig, and a friend from work and her husband came over on New Years Day and joined us for some munchies, menudo and tamales. We had a very nice New Years. Trav and Traci might be heading off to Kansas. I am happy for them if that is what they want, but I am going to miss them immensely. Having been able to have Zach and Zoey here for the past 7 years has spoiled me. We love being grandparents, and to actually be close by is even better. Unfortunately, Taylor, our granddaughter, was never in the same area as us, so we saw her only five or six times a year. Being able to see Zach and Zoey much more often has been awesome. Having family here to celebrate holidays with has been very nice. Now we will be losing all of that. Why does the United States have to be so big? Anyway, if this is what will make them happy, then we will be happy for them. We will visit as often as possible, and thank goodness for iChat and Skype. I guess we are at least more fortunate than people used to be years ago, we can at least see people online. Anyway, Traci is interviewing for a job in Kansas and will know definitely sometime next week, or, maybe, even by the end of this week. Travis hopes to go to Chiropractic school there as well, and I hope all his dreams come true. We are facing such hard economic times right now that it makes me nervous for them. I hope and pray that everything goes well for them, because, for those of you who are parents, you know that your happiness rides on your kids' happiness.  Well, that is kind of my life in a nutshell.  Look me up on facebook if you want daily happenings, and I will try to post on my blog more often.

Until later,
Ciao, Baby!

Monday, December 1, 2008

NUMERO UNO

Zoey celebrated her 1st birthday at her party on Sunday.  She absolutely loved the cupcakes!!!








Until later,
Ciao Baby!

Saturday, November 29, 2008

A THANKFUL THANKSGIVING

We had a great Thanksgiving with Travis, Traci, Zach, Zoey, Sig, and Tammy. I am thankful for my family. The other half of my family spent their Thanksgiving in Santa Cruz with Bobby and Rachel, and they had a great Thanksgiving too. We all have so much to be thankful for. A few pics below.

50% of the cooking team!

Grandma, Zach, and Zoey


Zoey's first Thanksgiving!

The other 50% of the cooking team

Zoey just loved her Uncle Sig

We're ready to eat!

John, Sig, and Tammy

Until later,
Ciao, Baby!

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

THE LAST TWO WEEKS

OK, it's been a while, but the last two weeks have been busy and fun. Donna came to visit while JR went to Hawaii with JJ. We had a really nice time. We stayed down in Laughlin. She came in Friday afternoon, and we enjoyed a Lemon Drop before we met my Godmother at Harrah's for some drinks and conversation. Then, as you can see, Donna did a little gambling. Saturday we went to Zach's soccer game, then did a little shopping. We got Zoey a Christmas dress, and Aunt Donna spoiled Zach, buying him a game for his Wii, which he loves. After that we went over to Trav and Traci's for a visit and had a fun time playing Wii Fit. Well, it's not really a game, it's an exercise program, which I do not like, as it says my age is 65, and I know I'm much more fit than that! After that we went back to Laughlin and ended up in our room drinking Lemon Drops and having some good ole fun conversation. Sunday we got up early, since the time changed. We went to Harlow's for brunch (thanks, JR), and it was fabulous! I love that place, and the crab was especially exceptional, as well as the stuffed shrimp. That day Donna was a little burned out, she can't keep up with her 65 year old sister! Alas, it was Monday...I went to work, and Donna headed home, but all in all it was a fun girls time to remember.

At Harrahs enjoying our drinks!

Donna, she just can't stop gambling!

Zach...playing his new video game

Zoey, in her pretty Christmas dress!

This weekend (Sunday and Monday) we took Zach to Las Vegas to see the Thunderbirds fly in the air show. I haven't been to see an air show since I was about Zach's age, but it left a big impression and I have always wanted to do it again (cross one thing off my bucket list). It was totally awesome, and Zach really enjoyed himself. It is totally unbelievable the way they can synchronize their flying. There was so much to do and see. Then we headed to the hotel, where we relaxed with a martini, and then headed out to dinner. After dinner JR did some gambling while Zach and I lost our money at the arcade. We were all sound asleep by nine. Zach fell to sleep in the middle of eating his doritos! The next day we ran a few errands and then Zach got to play at the playground at Town Square until our movie started. We went to see Madagascar, which was really good, even JR liked it!  Then, unfortunately, all good things come to an end, and we had to head home. Zach was not a happy camper about that, which was ok because it just showed us what a good time he had. It was a totally awesome two days with Zach, and thanks Trav and Traci for letting us take him. I know it is hard for you, Traci. Now Zach is off to the Hemophilia convention in Colorado on Wednesday, and, hopefully, will get to see some snow!


Zach, when we first arrived

Zach in the plane the soldiers fly in and jump out of

Zach with one of the soldiers

Awesome!


Nosedive!

Four of the six Thunderbirds

I actually got all six, I'm awesome!

Zach with his F22, which he totally loved!

Grandpa and Zach after a looooong day!

Until later,
Ciao, Baby!

Monday, October 6, 2008

THANK YOU

Thank you to my wonderful family for all their supportive comments. They mean more to me than any of you know.  I'm sorry for such a depressing blog, but sometimes it feels good to just put pen to paper, so to speak. Things are getting back to normal. Sometimes I just dwell on things too much and they become bigger than they really are. I find that I probably need to change my actions so I don't expect more than I get, and that is something I will work on. Thank you all again for your love and support; it means the world to me. You're the BEST!

Until later,
Ciao Baby

Sunday, October 5, 2008

BLOGGING ETIQUETTE

Is there blogging etiquette?  Are you allowed to blog when you are depressed, or only when you are happy?  That's the question for my fellow bloggers.  I am probably going to break blogging etiquette because I am depressed, hurt, sad, and unhappy. What got me into this state doesn't really matter. Let's just suffice it to say that it has been a hard week; with work and family.  The question is, how do you break out of this depression?  When I am depressed I really and truly don't want to talk to anyone or take any phone calls.  I literally force myself to do what I have to do. I'm a firm believer that depression runs in my family; whether that is true or not doesn't matter.  I feel fortunate and am thankful that I can pull out of my depression by myself, although it takes a few days.  Sometimes I wish that I could just run away and hide. So, for all you who get depressed, truly depressed, don't feel alone, we all go through it. I just thank God for friends and family that help to get me through it, even though they don't know it most of the time. And, for those of you whose phone calls I may have ignored, please bear with me, I have faith, and I know that things will get better.  Thanks for listening, and I apologize for such a depressing blog, but I truly feel that blogs should be honest, or else we are just kidding ourselves and other.   

Until later,
Ciao Baby! 

Monday, September 1, 2008

PHOENIX AND THE LASEFICHE SEMINAR

We had a blast at the laserfiche seminar. Cindy and I left on Tuesday. The seminar started Thursday evening, and ended Friday. Thankfully, they sped through it and we were done by about three on Friday. We shopped until we literally dropped. We left at 7:15 Tuesday morning, as JR had to drop me at Cindy's and he had to be at the golf course by 7:30, and believe me, nothing interferes with his golf. Cindy and I arrived in Phoenix about 10:30, picked up some beading thing she needed from someone she found online. JR made me promise to carry my pepper spray everywhere I went. I told Cindy since we didn't know these people she was getting her "tumbler" from, the plan would be for me to wait in the car (with my pepper spray handy) while she went into the house. Well, I waited, and waited, and waited.  Thought maybe I should call her on her cell, but saw it was still charging in the CAR! After thirty minutes she finally came out. The people were old and wanted to show her all their jewelry and even invited her to stay for coffee. She told them she had a friend waiting in the car (I think she had coffee with them). We usually have a special mission when we go to Phoenix, and this year it was to get Cindy a Wii, which you cannot get in our neck of the woods. Well, since we were somewhat lost trying to get to the mall, we decided to stop at the first Target we spotted to check out the Wiis. Well, first stop...successful. There were four Wiis just waiting to be bought. Cindy told me to stand guard over the Wiis while she went to find some help. I questioned why I needed to stay with the Wiis since there were four of them and no one else around. Well, I thought we were just going to buy a Wii, but after she got the Wii from behind locked doors, she went insane! She started grabbing every Wii thing imaginable, covers for the controllers, more controllers, battery chargers, etc. It was amazing....I could not believe it....  awe struck, that was me. Well we finally got out of Target after receiving directions to the mall. Cindy was so excited about her Wii she was beside herself (I learned more about Wii this week than I ever needed to know). We spent the remainder of the day at the mall. Found some great buys! Got to the hotel about 4:30 and checked in. Decided to go over to the bar for a drink and dinner. I ask for a Lemon Drop and Cindy asks for Chivas. The waitress comes back and asks if 12 year old Chivas will be ok.  Cindy says sure (she is not a drinker) and I'm thinking "how about 12 hours old." After we ate I told Cindy her drink was probably going to cost more than our dinner and she couldn't believe it.  Sure enough, when the bill comes, her drink is $18.00 (I later pointed out at Costco that she could have gotten a whole bottle). There goes our per diem! Just joking, this was our money that night!! I also pointed out that I could have had about three Lemon Drops! That night we go to the pool. I tell Cindy it is her turn to be in charge of the pepper spray (the thing is getting on my nerves, as it does NOT fit in my itty bitty purse). We grab the pepper spray and head down to the pool, which we find loaded with dead bugs (seems they are having a bug problem and the filters can't keep up).  We find a little spot with no bugs so we sit in the pool for a little bit. Decide to head back to our rooms and Cindy says "are we allowed to take the towels?" I say "who's going to stop us?" Get back to the room and want to get ice for the ice chest. Cindy is going to carry baggies to get ice in.  I say bring the whole ice chest (it has wheels) to the ice machine. Cindy says "can we get that much ice?" I say "I think the ice cops are off duty now." Man, talk about following rules! Wednesday we shopped from 9:00 in the morning until about 8:00 that night. We also bought more Wii stuff. We were exhausted. I'm still carting the pepper spray....only people we have wanted to spray are the drivers! We decided to try our clothes on Wednesday night and find that we need to go back to the mall Thursday and make some returns. Yes, we tried them on at the store, but, hey, what can I say....we're women, we change our minds. Thursday, back to the mall to do returns, but not to worry, we found a whole bunch of new stuff! Head back to the hotel about 3:00 and meet up with another girl from work at the Golden Spoon Yogurt Shop. Get back to the hotel and are too pooped to attend any seminar classes (which are really for IT administrators anyway). Went down to their welcoming party about five, then went over to the bar about seven. Thankfully, Cindy decided to join me in drinking Lemon Drops that night! We had a great time, and then went to gamble a little at the casino, with my pepper spray! Only thing to spray is a frog, but no one will let me! Friday attended the seminar, where we ate breakfast from 9 to 10, had classes from 10 to 12, ate lunch from 12-1, had classes from 1 to 3 (except our classes were 1:15 to 3:00 since Yo misread the schedule). Got out at 3 and they had a big old ice cream cart, soft pretzels with cheese, candy bars, etc. Basically, all we did was eat that day!!! Since it is early, Cindy, Yo, and I decided to go to a little mall by the hotel, where, you guessed it, there is a Target. Cindy needs a nunchuk! That night Yo and I went to the bar and then to the casino and Cindy stayed in the room and rented Sex in the City. Cindy insisted that we leave at six Saturday morning as she had commitments for that day back home. We were home by 9:30, and I was pretty pooped out, but can hardly wait until next year!

This weekend we picked Zach up on Saturday and took him to Pied Piper Pizza, and then he spent the night. He is so fun to have....he has so much energy and so much curiosity.  JR and I laugh at his antics all the time. JR taught him how to make scrambled eggs from start to finish....he did really good, only burned himself once. I miss him when he leaves!

Today (Monday) is a holiday. Just got odds and ends done. Back to work tomorrow. Primary election in Mohave County and we are on pins and needles waiting to see what some of the outcomes will be.  Keep your fingers crossed for us!

Until later,
Ciao Baby!