Happy New Year!!!!

Happy New Year to everyone out there!

I am looking forward to another happy year.

My resolution this year is to be more patient with the people in my life. Mostly my husband. After 40 years of marriage, it seems that I take him for granted more and more. He is the most important person in my life, my best friend and the love of my life. I want him to know that, and I am going to make a honest effort to show him how important he is to me.

Life is good!

Happy New Year!!!!

Fabulous

Jill gave me this Super-Fab Award!!! I don't think that I deserve the fabulous award since I don't post very often, but I am not one to turn down an award, so THANKS!

Here are the rules to receiving this award:

1. You have to pass it on to 5 other fabulous bloggers in a post.

2. You have to list 5 of your fabulous addictions in the post.

3. You must copy and paste the rules and the instructions below in the post.

Instructions: On your post of receiving this award, make sure you include the person that gave you this award and link it back to them.

My Addictions:

1. Blogs! I love to read other people's blogs. Some of my best "friends" are friends I have never met, but love to read about.

2. I love reality TV. My favorite is the Amazing Race, but anything reality is something I have to watch.

3. Hairspray, I know I have listed this one before, but I really cannot survive without my hairspray! I know it dates me, but hey.

4. My family. I cannot live without my family. I have been so spoiled by being able to live by my family for so long. I do not take it for granted for one minute.

5. My new addiction is Bubbletown! It is very addictive to play, as you know that you will make it "next time". Ya, I have been stuck on level 13 for days now. I have to give this addiction up soon!!!!

I am tagging anyone who wants to do this that has not been tagged already!

Life is good!!!

100 Things

I saw this on Trina's Blog. Please feel free to steal it from me. Everything I did is in bold.

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Totally copied a post from someone else's blog to your own

Valentina's Welcome Home Day

Today marks one year that our dear Valentina came home!!!!! Oh what a blessing she is. I can watch her all day long. She loves to play, laugh, sing and dance. Boy can that girl dance!!

And Asa, who has been in West Virginia for 10 days with his mama and daddy is coming home today!!!!

I love November 25!!!!

Life is so very good!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thank you to all our Veterans!!!

Get out and VOTE!!!!!

Vote!

I am so excited to be a part of this election!

I am so excited that my grandchildren are growing up in an era where the color of your skin or your gender do not matter in the race for President of our United States.

Get out and Vote!

It is a priviledge not every one in the world has.

We have that priviledge!!!

Vote!

Happy Birthday Cameo!!!!

Happy Birthday to my baby girl!!! I cannot believe that it has been 33 years since you were born!! I still think of you as my baby girl, and it is so wonderful to be able to watch you be a loving, kind and doting mother to your daughter. Happy Birthday and I know we will have a great day! Thank you for being the kind and loving daughter you are to me. I love living by you and love that we have a good mother/daughter relationship now. I feel blessed everyday and love my life!!!! Thank you!

Life is Good!!!!!!!!!!!!

Valentina

Valentina came over to visit in the trailer today. I had bought her a tea set last year before she even came home because I loved the pockadot on it. Today, I decided to get it out to see if she liked it. She did. It kept her entertained for quite a while. I took a "few" pictures of her. It is rather hard because she moves so fast at all times!!!!!!!!!! She just goes all the time!!!!!!!!!!!

Life is Good!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's The Weekend!!!!

I don't know why, but I am excited about the weekend this week!!! We have the usual soccer game Saturday morning, and Sunday is Valentina's Christian Blessing. Cameo has bought her a precious dress and was going to look for shoes today. The girls went shopping again!!! We have all gone shopping every afternoon this week. Trying to find something to wear on Sunday. Trina is the only one that is still going to be naked!!!!! I decided I needed some time alone and that I needed to clean my place. Papa is working today, and I have the trailer all to myself this afternoon!!!!!!!

The weather is beautiful this afternoon. It was really foggy this morning, maybe that is why Trina is fighting a manic spell, maybe not. She will be ok. At least it is nice to know that she will be ok. When she was first diagnosed with Bi-Polar, it was harder because we did not have the times in the past to know that it was temporary and that she needed to ride it out, and now we do. It is still hard for her and us too that love her. I thank God everyday for the medication she is on, and that it is working for her. It was not easy finding the right meds, and I am grateful that she did not give up when the first ones did not work, but kept trying new ones.

Cameo is feeling better also. She said yesterday she is feeling great. I am thankful for that. It is hard when they are both down. Trina needs more people when she is down/manic. Cameo withdraws from us all and wants to be all alone with her thoughts.

This weather has me thinking alot about my parents. It is the time of my Dad's birthday, and my parents anniversary. I was born on their 15th anniversary. So since my dad died, my birthday was always kinda sad. We always use to celebrate together. After Daddy died, I would try and spend it with mom, so she would feel better. The last year or two, she did not remember dates, so it was not as important

Wow, I guess I am like Trina today, Debbie Downer. Not really. I guess I am just thinking how really blessed we are. We are a family, and we help each other get through rough times. And then enjoy when we are all up!!! The girls are always there for me when I need a pick-me-up too.

I am so happy that we have our Valentina home this year. A year ago, we were still waiting to go and pick her up, and now she is home and making us laugh every day so much. Asa and Valentina together are hilarious. Valentina walked over to Asa this morning and hugged him a long time. He hugged her back, looked at her and gave her such a gentle kiss. Ohhhh. What is there to be sad about then!!!

We are blessed and life is good!!!!!!!!!!!

Some Random Pictures!

Papa and I had to run some errands a couple of weeks ago taking with us a couple of little tykes.

We took our machine armed guard with us since we were going to the bank.

Valentina was rather bored with the "Storm Trooper" " Can he ever take that off Bobbi"? She pronounces Beya as Bobbi. So cute!!!

Oh, yea, I do have a face. A cute one at that!!!




A tomato plant decided to grow right outside our trailer this summer. It decided to grow too late though, and is going to freeze any night now. It will never ripen now. I guess I should bring them in and fry them into Fried Green Tomatoes!!!

Soccer Day and Pumpkin Patch Day. One and the same.

This was taken at Old Spaghetti Factory after Asa's soccer game. Asa adores his Valentina and she loves him too.

At the "Pumpkin Patch" AKA: Chapman's Greenhouse

Valentina was still on antibiotics and was not feeling well, and had just waken from her short nap, so she wasn't too happy while we were there.

Asa is always ready to pose though!!!

The kids on the wagon, instead of the pumpkins.

Josh, Trina and Asa. What a cute little family!!!

Asa had so much fun loading up his pumpkins, he did not want any help!!!!!!!!!

This is the only photo I had where Valentina looked at all happy. Grandpa had his hands full! But at least Valentina looked like she was having alittle fun! It was so cold. She held on to her little pumpkin the whole time.

Life is Good!!!!

We're Back!!!

Yes, we are back, and I need a big rest!!!! I don't think we will ever get things done in Gdale. There is so much work to keep up five acres of land, a shed, shop and house. We got three projects done, and came up with 10 more!!!! We roofed the shed, cut and stacked wood, and re-roofed the front porch, reupholdstered three dining room chairs, plus cleaning, sewing and other normal things.

Life is Good!!!

I love and miss you Daddy!!!

Well, I didn't post about my Dad's birthday on his birthday, the ninth. I guess I just needed to celebrate it privately. My dad was so special. He was such a strong Christian man. He did not preach to us kids, just lead by example. I am so glad that my girls were able to live next door to him in Gdale for so many years. They thought so much of him. I loved to help him do work. My sister and I helped him build their last house. That was one of the things my dad loved to do, build his own houses. When he retired, he told my mom he wanted to move to Gdale and build one more house. And he did. He died there, in his house that he built, seven years ago. Even though seven years have passed, I always think of him several times a day. I still remember the things he taught me, such as always to be honest and truthful, and I still miss him alot. He was a very big part of my life.

I love and miss you Daddy and always will.

How Should You Vote?

I found this interesting. Take the quiz....

I was found to be 20% Republican 80% Democrat Go figure!!!

http://www.blogthings.com/shouldyouvoterepublicanordemocratquiz/

After The Party

Well Asa's birthday party went very well and now it is back to the real world.

Papa works again tomorrow, so our trip to GD is out. I feel so torn when I go to GD. When I am here in Vancouver, I miss my little cabin. The cabin seems so roomy compared to a 24 foot fifth wheel trailer. Granted, I am not in the trailer much during the day, but it still seems small. I do know it is alot more than most of the world has, so I am not complaining. And when I am there, I miss the girls and my babies.

Have I told you how funny those kids are? No matter what is going on in my life, or how tired I am, they can always make me laugh so hard. When I go to Cam's house, Valentina pats the floor for me to sit down by her. She likes us all to sit on the floor with her. What a scream of delight she gave us the other night when we walked in. Asa is so hilarious. He teases us all of the time.

I am so glad that both of them have so many people that love them. They both share each others Grandparents and Aunts and Uncles. Asa's Uncle Todd is Valentina's Uncle Todd. Valentina's Grandparents are Asa's grandparents and vise versa. They share Valentinas' Aunt Lori and both love her so much. She gave Asa his favorite present, a Star Wars Sand Trooper costume and blaster!!!!!!!! He looked so cute riding around in his electric Jeep Grama gave both the kids in his sand trooper outfit and using his blaster. So Cute!!!!!!!!!!!

Here are some pictures of the Birthday Party Day.

Look at that concentration!!!

This is the sand trooper costume from Aunt Lori, Asa loves it and looks so cute in it!!! Uncle Norm is putting new batteries in his new blaster as Asa used it so much the first set of batteries were toast!!!

Valentina with her Papa!!!!

Asa is teasing me here. He would make faces everytime I wanted to take a picture of him. He was so busy running around, I hardly got any photos of him.

Asa was trying to put the soccer cones on Valentina's head all the while she was yelling "NO NO NO" He trys to love on her too, but she is always yelling "NO NO NO"

The little Princessa looking beautiful in her party dress from Aunt Margo.

Being silly

She is a climber. She has No Fear. She does fall, but does not learn. She loves to climb! She is unclothed because she got her dress so wet pouring water on herself, the dress was literally dripping water. She was performing for us.

Happy Fourth Birthday Asa

Asa's birthday is tomorrow, he will be four and I am just thinking about when he was born and a baby. What a joy that baby has been. He is four now, and just gets to be more and more fun everyday. My little Blue Power Ranger. He is wearing his ranger costume everyday all day, but it makes him so happy that even Trina, that likes him to always be well dressed, lets him wear it everywhere!!!!!!!!! Non moms I am sure will not understand, LOL, Moms will.

Nine months

Wearing my bra as a hat.

My darling little cowboy!

Happy Birthday Nieto!

Global Orphan Team

Please take the time to read Julia's blog. She just returned from visiting orphanages in Guatemala including the one Valentina came from. This could be Valentina.

http://thejujucrew.blogspot.com/

Please Pray

Please pray for Krystal and Elviz and Gershon!!!

http://braydenboy.blogspot.com/

Another Meme

Tell 6 unspectacular quirks about yourself.
Tag 6 other bloggers.
I am having a really hard time coming up with 6 quirks about myself since I see myself as normal :)

1. I prefer to drive a pickup rather than a car.

2. I have to put my right pants leg on first and also my right shoe.

3. I am one of seven children, six are still living. (Papa is one of 14, 12 of who lived to adulthood, and are still living)

4. I love to travel, but I fall asleep alot when I travel, so I do not take my turn driving very often. Papa on the other hand, can drive 14 plus hours without stopping. I really do not do my share of driving :)

5. I live in Cameo's driveway most of the time in a 24' fifth wheel trailer. Not much cleaning required here.

6. I do not have any friends other than family.

Weekend Post with Photos !!!!!

Well, we left last Thursday night for G'dale. Our plan was to not have to work on projects, but to just relax and have a nice time together. Papa had worked 73 hours last week, he is suppose to be part time, Ha!!!! We wanted to go dancing Saturday night, and go on a long drive on Sunday or Monday into Eastern Oregon. Our plans were not to happen, but we had a nice time together anyway. :)

We got to G'dale Thursday night and slept in without an alarm clock, nice. We always have our morning coffee outside and watch the deer. Friday afternoon, we just relaxed out on the back deck, had a few drinks and talked and listened to each other all evening.

Saturday, we worked out in the shop alittle bit, but no project we had to get done, just some sorting and cleaning. Then we got showered and dressed up and drove to the Yakima Valley to go dancing!!! Ya, didn't happen. We got to our fun place, and it was boarded up!!! They had closed it down!! It seems we just find a new place and it gets closed down!!! We drove to the other places we use to go, but they were still closed down too! All four of them! About 10, we decided to head home, THE BATTERY LIGHT WAS ON!!! Papa drove fast so that we could get home before the car died! There is no phone service for 50 miles over the pass, so we really needed to get home before it quit. We made it!

Sunday, papa drove the old 1967 Ford pickup to town to order the alternator, it wouldn't be into town until Tuesday, so our long drive was out of the question at that point. :) Sunday, we just piddled around the property, sitting outside in the evening, drinking and watching the deer. There were three deer that just hang around the cabin all day and night. I say that they will sleep in the shop in the winter.

Monday, we decided was a work day, so Papa put on the roofing to his shop extention, while I sewed new curtains for the cabin living room, and sewed a quilt for Asa. I had made one for Valentina a couple of weeks ago.

Tuesday, papa went into town to pick up the new alternator, we installed it on the car, packed up and came back to Vancouver.

We had a nice time together, but was glad to come back and see the girls and kids too. Papa is back to work, we are back to the real world. It was good to be with the kids again today.

I had to get back for a mamogram and ultra sound today because I had found a breast lump two weeks ago, but after the mamo and ultra sound today, it is not cancer, so thank you God!!!

So here now are the pictures......

Valentina likes to get in Papa's Corvette and play around. She played in it as we packed up the car. One of us stands close to her so she will not fall out.

She was not happy at all when she had to get out when we were ready to leave, poor baby girl, Papa and I had to go in her house with her so she would stop crying.

We stopped by to tell Asa and Trina goodbye also.

Asa loves papa's Corvette too, here he is using it as a prop for his modeling shot.

Good bye girls and grandkids, we will be back!!!!

Dressed up to go dancing, self portrait. I love papa when he dresses up with his hat, buckle and boots!!!!! Even after 40 years of marriage he still looks good!!!

Papa sitting out watching the deer and drinking a beer on the back deck.

The tame deer.

Old curtains.

The new curtains I sewed for the four windows, and I love them! I had the white lace for 10 years at least!!!

Life is Great!!!!

We're Back!!!!!

We are back and had a great time. Will try to post pictures tomorrow. :)

Happy Thursday

Well, I and my man are off for the weekend!!! He has been working every weekend this summer, and he has agreed to take off one weekend a month to spend with me!!!! This weekend we are going to G'dale, and where ever else we decide to go! Saturday night we are driving the 50 miles to the valley and going dancing. I love to dance with my man!!!! It has been a long time since we have been out dancing, so I am going to enjoy it alot!!!! We have to be back on Tuesday, but that is 6 days with my husband. Yay!!!!!!!!

I will miss my girls and babies, but we will be back before you know it!!!!!

Life is Good!

A New Treasure

For years I have been looking for a little vanity table where I could sit and roll up my hair and put on my makeup. I finally found the perfect little thing! It is tall enough for me to be able to sit on a little stool that my grandmother had and it is just perfect!!! I had decided that I needed to get out more, so yesterday, I decided to stop at the Goodwill and there it was!! I am rather excited about that. It will look so cute in my bedroom. It doesn't take much to make my day huh? I will post a picture when I get it set up in G'dale. Now it is still in the back of my truck.

Asa started Fall soccer tonight. I went with Trina to watch practice, it was really fun. The coach is good and has a lot of things they work on. The kids are all so cute.

Cameo and I have started walking in the mornings with the kids. Asa walked all the way there by my side. Valentina was in the stroller, and made Asa walk beside her and hold her hand the whole way there. As soon as we turned around to come back, Asa said he was too tired, so we took Valentina out and put Asa in the stroller. Well.... Valentina was too slow, and she didn't like to walk that far anyway, so we put Valentina on Asa's lap, and he held on to her the whole way home. It was really cute and sweet.

Grama came soon after we got home, and we had a nice time with her as usual. When she comes, she gives Valentina her bath, and Valentina gets to have a nice long bath instead of her 5 minute one Cameo or I give her. Valentina loves her Grama!!!!

Life is Good!!!!

Thankful for....

1. The sun. I know winter and unstoppable rain is just around the corner, so today I am very happy for the sun!

2. Living by Cameo and only a mile away from Trina. It is so nice to live so close to my girls and their families. Trina brings Asa to me at 7am, Cameo stands at her front door and calls Asa and I over around 8 when Valentina wakes up. I really have it very good.

3. Our G'dale place. It is nice to take a couple of days a week and escape to the country. I love to sit outside on the decks and enjoy the deer and birds and am so grateful for that place.

We Have Come a Long Way....

This is a historical Presidential election. I hope that we can all appreciate the history that was made last week by nominating an African American for the President of the United States. I was born in 1952 and my husband was born in 1941. In our lifetime, we have gone from my husband, being Hispanic, not being allowed to go into "white only" stores in Texas to this. And this week a woman has been nominated for the vice presidency. I believe that voters on both sides are excited to vote this year. While we have a very long way to go, we have come a long way, and we as parents and grandparents have the opportunity to teach our children to be race and gender blind. This is exciting! Vote!!!!!

Thankful

I am going to try to post three things I am thankful for each week. I have so many blessings in my life.
1. My family:
Papa, my dear life companion. We have fun together, makes me laugh, and can outwork anyone. Trina, Josh and Asa, Trina is a joy, Josh is a dear and my Asa is so FUN!!!!!!!!!
Cameo, Norm and Valentina, Cameo is a sweetheart, Norm is generous and Valentina is so FUN!!

2. My truck:
Everytime I drive by a bus stop, I thank God for my vehicle.

3. Sandi and Rod:
Norm's parents are so wonderful. Not only do they love Cameo, their daughter in law, like a daughter, but they love Trina like a daughter too and love Asa as their grandson.

Photos From Last Weekend

Here are some cute photos from our fun swim weekend last week. The weather is not warm enough to swim this weekend, and besides, Asa is sick and not feeling well. Trina had us over for coffee this morning, and we stayed for lunch also. Yummy scalloped potatoes and vegeburgers. Both my girls are great cooks.

Here is Trina with the kiddos out on Cam's deck.

I love these two pics of Cameo and Valentina. Don't they look alike? It is amazing to me that they look so much alike. God does amazing things!

Asa and MumMum swiming. Asa wanted to use goggles so his eyes didn't get wet, but I am not sure that they worked all that well.

Swimming with his floaties and goggles. He loves the pool this year.

Here Valentina decided that she wanted to try on a coat that was made for Asa's Star Wars figures. You can see how small it is, but she sure tried to get it on.

"I'll try two hands, maybe that will work.

"Maybe if I shut my eyes real tight it will go on, Beam it on Scotty"

" Okay, I give up"

My handsome guy, Papa !!!!!!!!!!

Life is good!!!!