What we came home to

Cats, cats cats. We came home to this.


And everytime I sit down at the computer, Squirt sits on my lap and becomes Prince Drool. I think I will rename him Shadow, because he has been following me everywhere, and meows if he can't find me until I answer him.
New cat toy, as least to us, dad got it at a yard sale a couple weeks ago, and they love it.

Will post some pictures from our trip tomorrow. Tonight I need to finish cleaning up the kitchen and go to bed, I am very tired tonight.

Rainy day

Quite a thunderstorm and rain went through here today. Kind of a nice change from the hot weather we have in central Calif.

"Angel Face"

One of my mom's favorite roses. This was planted in her honor. The plant is blooming and is just so beautiful that I just had to share it!

New pictures

I posted some more pictures on Picasa. Not all just a few.

Ya Think?

Ok, Miss Chloe is putting on a show. She flops on the rug then rolls all over.
She stretches out her claws and starts kneeding the air ~ as she has her eyes on you just waiting for the pet. Is that bagging or what? Dad is the first to go over. If you could see the look on her face, just pure ecstasy.... I can hear her now " Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh.............purrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr................."

Purrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr Then Keith adds his touch, and it gets louder "PURRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR....."
Now just remember I have no cute 'little' kids here to post pictures of and other then the rat, it's kinda dull, with cleaning and washing, etc.

EWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!

We found a rats nest in a box next to Kandy's dog house, and she just stared at them. It had a mama and 6 (now deceased) babies. I am not surprised as all our neighbors have complained about rats in their yards and I do think Kandy has kept them out or Kittyboy has, I am surprised now that Kandy really didn't do much. She got one baby and stared at the rest, dad had to kill them. I am always a little sorry when babies die like that they were not very big, but alas not for long as rats carry disease and other stuff. Dad cleaned the patio and bleached where the nest was. We put out sticky traps as we are sure mama will come back later looking for her babies. Good riddance! That is the only place we have seen signs, but we are checking all other areas, just in case.

Drats

DRATS! I just did a blog and hit the wrong button and now it is gone!
Finally, I finished Gary's album, which he was suppose to get right after last Christmas. I will get that in the mail soon. I was able to update the album with some pictures the girls had and of their visit here.
Kayla had a little boy last Wed. I found out she had left David (not my brother~ her husband) because he was going out on her!

As I put away my album stuff, I am contemplating what my table will look like tonight when my sewing stuff is out. I need to finish some sewing and do some mending. Then get ready for our trip to Colorado

As life goes, I now have some errands to run.......... so it is off I go........
Love to all

I finally know!!!

In the latest edition of Parents Magazine there is an article about antibiotic resistant bacteria. When Elizabeth was 9 months she had an extremely nasty staph infection that was antibiotic resistant. She had MRSA, just as described in the article. Nasty infection! I now know what it was exactly!

"Maternal love, like an orange tree, buds and blossoms and bears at once. When a woman puts her finger for the first time into the tiny hand of her baby and feels that helpless clutch which tightens her very heartstrings, she is born again with her newborn child."

-- Author:Kate Douglas Wiggin

Heartstrings;
Time was, when a tiny soul, Clothed with flesh and bone Entered my life and carved Its image upon my heart. What lies ahead? Asks my heart.

Just imagine a journey through life, watching and helping little ones turn into young men and women...you never quite know what the next step is going to be like. I don't know where that quote is from but it rings with truth.

Kinda quiet

After we got back from the airport, we were both tired. I only got 1 1/2 hours sleep the night before, Dan got at least 4. (Thanks heavens that Elizabeth was awake to wake us up or we would not have gotten the girls off in time) It has been kinda quiet around here without the girls, I do miss them and their company. Gary called last night around10:31 pm our time (1:31 am in Ohio) Kayla had her baby - 10 days early - he weighted 6 lbs. 7 ozs. Both mom and baby are doing good. Gary took her in the day before and stayed with her at the hospital.

I got out my scrapbooks, need to so do some journaling in my Oregon trip album (summer of 2002) and to finish up my album for Gary. I am waiting for some photos I ordered from Snapfish of the girls recent visit that include : boating & water play, Yosemite and the Aquarium.

Everyone's gone this morning except me (that happens alot) so I am going to finish up some paperwork and head to the County Office of Education in downtown Fresno and renew my credential ~ which expires in 2 weeks. I called yesterday and have all the information I need. I will then come home and do some mundane chores (that no matter how well taught~ everyone else who lives in this house has conviently forgotten how to do) ah....... I should say Keith and Elizabeth are only part time residents in this house now ~ Keith works and attends summer school and then is usually over at a friends. Elizabeth is at someone else's house most of the time, and does her schoolwork. Keith is the only one who seems to respect what I do and Thanks me and comments on it. He is maturing into a really nice young man.

We (Dan, Keith, Elizabeth, Ryan and I) went to see the new Harry Potter movie yesterday. A little more intense, but we all enjoyed it.

Tearful Good-byes

We left this morning at 1:45 A.M. to get to SFO at 5:00 this morning. After standing in line, checking in, etc, etc, etc. we got to the airline gate. This girls boarded 1st. Everything was alright until the tears come. When the girls got teary eyed, I did too. They said they wanted to stay longer. We are glad they had a good time, it makes for good memories.


Mariah and Samara just before boarding the plane. Having Mariah and Samara visit was pure joy. We did what we could and had fun doing it. Their last night Eric came down and took the girls and Keith to the movies. I know they had a blast doing all they did. AND they have already asked to come back. We'll see how things go.Their plane at take off.

Everything seemed to go as planned, but then due to circumstances in Atlanta they missed their connection. Instead of leaving Atlanta at 3:01 P.M. they left at 9:50 P.M. We found this out when Dan called Gary because we hadn't heard anything. The flight is just under 2 hours so they should be arriving at Erie, PA.

Monday July 2 ~ jumping off rocks

This should have been before the previous post. If you look you can see bodies (live of course) of Elizabeth, Mariah and Samara jumping off rocks into the lake.
Ryan's head, and Mariah's splash.
Mariah and Samara did not jump off the high one, just Elizabeth and Ryan.
In order of head's: Ryan, Samara, Elizabeth, Mariah and Dan.

Water play day

Caught with his mouth open, actually he was jumping up out of the water when I snapped this shot. The water was really refreshing.
We took the girls out on the boat for the last time today. We went early because it was going to get really hot, 110 today. (Even the pavement in the shade was hot.) Mariah was able to get up on the knee board today, and Samara was able to scoot up and had a good ride. The girls go home Monday, their plane leaves SFO at 6:15 A.M.
We take our lunch and then find a beach to stop, swim and eat. Because it is a man made lake, beachs show up as the water recedes. It was relaxing and refreshing. Keith was able to go today, but Elizabeth had to finish up some school work and get some photos in today. One of her camera (film) lenses got bent somehow, so she switched her digital lense and used that, but still had to get the photos developed, scanned and sent off. Here is grandpa sitting on the back of the boat. He had Keith do all the driving, pulling and taking the boat out of the water ~ while dad did all the supervising. He is trying to give Keith better experience so he will be able to use the boat, without his dad.

Elizabeth isn't left out entirely. We took the boat out on Monday and Keith worked , but Elizabeth was able to go. Ryan even went. Elizabeth and Ryan were jumping off rocks into the water, and even the girls did. That was a fun day also.

July 4th and 5th

Bought our fireworks and then sat in the front yard to watch ours and the neighbors. It was fun. Keith worked 12 hours that day so he was tired when he got home. Jenny and Alex came over to watch with us. Got up early on the 5th and headed up to Yosemite. Just Dad and I with the girls. Keith worked and Elizabeth needed to finish some homework.
it was 103 in Yosemite. 110 when we got home...yuck!!!
I believe both girls enjoyed it, though Samara enjoyed it more. She said it was more fun then the aquarium, because she loves the mountains. I think Mariah enjoyed the aquarium more.