We got a letter from Aaron's Commander this last week. Included in with all the other stuff was a great website.This is Echo Company arriving at processing.You can just see Aaron's face over the big guys right shoulder. It looks like he is being addressed in this picture.
Here, everyone one running out of that "cool" gas chamber, They don't look like they had as much fun as Aaron did.
Oh yeah, Climbing ropes.
The picture on the top left, looks like they are practicing a rescue. Aaron is standing alone to the left of the picture. Well, that's all for now. I'll keep everyone posted with new pics as soon as I get them.

And Lucy says:
Pat-a-cake, pat-a-cake
Little Baker Man
bake me a cookie
as fast as you can.

Roll it up and cut it out
and put it in a pan
then put it in the oven
Hurry, Little Baker Man

Cover it with icing
as pretty as you please
and soon we'll have a cookie
for Jacob and me.

It may be old and outdated but it is kid-friendly and obviously Mother approved.
I Love "Sonic the Hedgehog!"

MOM? "I'm just going to get you out of this hole."

Hey, What Happened?

Just one more ring.

The end result, some very tasty and I think pretty cool looking Home-made sugar cookies with home-made Buttercream icing and lots of candy sprinkles.

Well, maybe, just a taste.

We tried to get Lucy to help, but playing with 20 pounds of "Candy" under the dining table was more fun.

Making cookies is prety messy work. But you get to taste as you go and raw cookie dough is pretty good. Jacob really liked making hand shaped cookies by using his little hand as a pattern.

Yesterday was a busy day. I spent all morning cleaning my house and all afternoon with my grand children. Jacob and I made cookies.

We got a letter from our son, Aaron, the other day. He is spending his summer with Uncle Sam in Missouri. He is in boot camp at Fort Leonard Wood. He writes,"I've been having a lot of fun the last few days... On Friday, they took us to the gas chamber and it was pretty bad. But, at the same time, it was pretty cool. The gas they use is tear gas... They made use go in with our gas masks on, break the seal on it, then clear the gas out of it (putting it back on, of course). After that, we had to take it off and say a few things, one at a time. When they felt we had been in there long enough, they let us out. It made my eyes burn and water like crazy. It made my nose run for like 2 minutes straight, snot just pouring out of it. My chest felt like there was a fire inside it and my skin burned all over. After about 10-15 minutes, my skin quit burning and the other stuff stopped after about 5 minutes. It was actually a lot of fun."

I don't know about the rest of you, but I can't imagine, my skin burning for 20 minutes and snot pouring out of my nose being a lot of fun. He also talks about, running over bridges, climbing over logs and up ropes, jumping ditches and crawling under barbed wire as if he is on a Sunday Picnic at the beach. I am glad he is enjoying the Army, but I don't think I will be joining up any time soon. That is just too much FUN for me.

Jerry And Saul relaxing on the love seat!

Where did Lucy come from? Oh how, we wish, we knew!
How can she be so special, at the ripe old age of two?
Wher did she get those curls and that angelic smile?
How did she learn such charm, in such a little while?
Where did Lucy come from, with that precious cherub's face
that gives us such sweet kisses and blesses us each day?
The angels must have brought her, for,
her Mommy named her Grace
and only God can grant that,
HE must have sent her to this place.
Where did Lucy come from?
We don't really, even care!
We love just being near her
and we're so thankful that she's here!
Love, Gramma and Papoo

Annoying People

We have a woman at work, who walks in the door, smiling and greeting everyone. That is usually not too annoying, considering, I am in a fairly good mood, too, when I first arrive at work. But, she doesn't stop there... What really bugs me is her laughter. She laughs all night long. I am not kidding. She laughs at everything, uncontrollably. She laughs so hard, you would think she is going to wet herself. ALL NIGHT LONG!!! EVERY SINGLE NIGHT, FOR EIGHT HOURS STRAIGHT!!! She laughs and laughs and laughs. How in the world can anyone possibly find that many things to laugh at? I just want to throw something at her. I want to yell at her to, "STOP IT!!" I'm a jerk, right? I should be happy for her that she enjoys her job so much. I should feel some kind, warm and fuzzy thoughts toward someone who has so much joy in her heart. Well, I DON"T! Her constant maniacal laughter is driving me insane. I work in a nursing home, I raised four kids, I live near a railroad track, I grew up in South Dallas and my lullaby as a child was the sweet song of police sirens and barking dogs. I have learned to tune out most annoying noises, including a ringing telephone (while I am trying to sleep). Why can't I tune out that laugh? I think I need professional help or at least a Valium before I clock in at work. I have learned, over the past few weeks of struggling with getting into this house, how to be patient, how to be humble and how to overlook the small irritants in my life, I just can't seem to get past this. How do you tell someone to quit being happy ALL the damn time? Life just isn't that funny!!!

Sometimes when I sit and think, I actually have a thought or two, about what I am doing now and other things that I SHOULD do. And then the thought occurs to me, that THINKING'S not too safe, and I really should stop doing it, before it is too late!!!

Tish and her new "baby", Candy. Candy is a 5 yr old, American shorthair. Tish adopted from the SPCA. She is spayed, declawed, housebroken, microchipped, and a sweetheart, who just happens to weigh 20 pounds.

Jacob was not happy about "Bonk" leaving. I don't think he really understood what was going on. He just knew, he didn't like it.

Krysta telling her little brother, "Goodbye"

Here's me and Aaron, saying, "Goodbye" at MEPS in downtown Dallas on June 20. I was really sad to see him go, but I am so proud of him.

We are now officially moved into the new house. After a very difficult last two weeks, I finally feel half way human. We signed our papers on June 15th, started moving on the 16th, took my son and turned him over to the U.S. Army on my birthday, the 19th. Went to Bunko with Krysta, that evening, then the real hard stuff began...we were supposed to get our electricity connected on the following Monday, but instead of hooking everything up, the service man told us that we had to move the meter base, put all the wires in conduit, put in an outside breaker, etc. My mind was trying to keep up with what he was saying while my heart was sinking as I tried to figure out how much this was going to cost. All I really felt like doing was crying. We finally managed to contact someone to do the work for us and found out that he would only charge us $1000.00 Not bad really, considering that other people (in the know) said it would be around $1500.00 After another week of work, everything was ready to be turned on. We notified TXU, they were going to come out that Monday and get us going. They never showed up. We had been staying here for 10 days, in the heat of the summer with no electric, which means no A/C, no lights, no T.V. Basically living like cavemen. Every night dinner was an adventure, we were so tired of eating out. Finally, Tuesday morning, I had taken all I was going to take. I called TXU, demanded to speak to someone who could make decisions, and when I got him on the phone, I threw an old-fashioned, "Scarlet O'Hara", poor-little-me, screaming, crying fit. Our electricity was turned on within an hour. I was so upset that my poor husband left work and came home to make sure I was o-kay. What a sweet man!!! Well, the good news is; we now have all the common luxuries of the human world now. I have been cooking dinner every night, watching cable T.V., sleeping with the A.C., a ceiling fan and an oscillating fan, while snuggling under my favorite fuzzy blanket. I can get a cold drink out of the fridge and ice out of the freezer. I can wash clothes and put them in the dryer. I can get on the internet!!!! I have rejoined the modern world and it feels great. Last Sunday, we made our last trip to Little Elm to turn in our keys and take a last look around to make sure we didn't forget anything. Moving is finally over. all I have to do is unpack and I have all the time in the world to finish that. I got a letter from my son, he made it to Boot Camp and is settled in. He sent me his address so we can keep up with each other. And the best of all Jacob spent the whole day with us Saturday. He had so much fun that when Krysta came to pick him up, he told her she was supposed to wait for him to call. He didn't call, so why did she come? He wasn't ready to leave. That is why we moved out here in the first place, to be closer to Krysta and the grandbabies. And we have seen them almost every day. They have had dinner with us several nights this last week. My life is now happy.
If there has to be a lesson in all of this, I'll warn you to pray and thank God for the little blessings in your life, because even for 10 days, life with out them is, well, you know.