Who looks like...

Kennedy at age 2-1/2 (she is five years old)

...her cousin, Kennedy? Mirai, that's who.



Mirai - age three years

I've noticed more and more how similar they look at times.



Mirai again - taken this week

Two beautiful girls. Not that I'm prejudiced or anything. Nah...never.


Kennedy - five years

But I can certainly tell they're related!

How to warm a heart...

...isn't so hard. All you have to have is a Baby Emery who LOVES her brothers. Then add said brothers, sit back and watch the show.






It never fails.

Who can resist that??? Not me.

If you have one of these....

Granddaughter Mirai

who likes Cheerios for breakfast, and three schnauzers, who would LOVE to have Cheerios, then you usually get this:

Sophie "Please, please, PLEASE!!"

You should have seen the light in their eyes, WILLING Mirai to drop some more Cheerios. What a symbiotic relationship.

Izzie, the "Patient One"

Who needs a vacuum when you have a dog? I've often thought I should rename my three to Dyson, Hoover and Decker.

Photomania....

My Mom, Dad, Sister (Kati) and me (clapping my hands) - 1960 or 1961

...has taken over my house! The advent of digital SLR cameras has heralded in a new generation of "amateur professionals" who can take wonderful photos, email them, print them, etc. And having six grandchildren, I now have a photo glut. But do I want to pare them down? Absolutely NOT! And I don't have them out for others to "oooo-and-ahhh" over. They are for me. While we all live in the same state, we do not live in the same town. I do get regular doses of my children and grands for which I am thankful but when I'm back in my regular domicile, I do miss them all. And photos help ease the ache that absence brings. So, other than replacing some baby photos of the now almost-six-year-olds with current pics, they aren't going to go anywhere.

Tim and Megan's Bridal Shower - 2003


Jenjer and Chris - Mirai's birth - 2007

Which leads me to my dilemma - how to harness the emotional power of my photos without reverting to wallpapering my house in them and ending up on one of those "hoarder" reality shows? I'm sure my house cleaners were very happy to find this week that I'd removed approximately 10 of the framed photos from our master bedroom (anyone who is willing to come into my house and DUST with all the "stuff" I have, having to pick it up and put it back, is almost a saint!) but the photos need to be removed from the frames and put elsewhere.

Mike and I after our wedding - 1976

Jennifer and Jason with Emma - 2000

I've thought about doing old-fashioned scrapbooks for each of the grands, putting in the photos from frames when they are replaced with newer offerings. But there are many photos with multiple children in them as well as having six grands - that would be six books going at one time. I've also considered scanning them all and putting them into photobooks by year - which really seems to be the most practical way to go. But it also requires a TON of scanning, cataloging and then making the books. In the long run, I do plan to do this but that will require a chunk of time which I do not have right now.

Uncle Charlie and me - 1957


My Grandpa Crawford - whom Timothy favors greatly! 1926

Jennifer and Megan are good about making annual books with their photos - kind of a Family Yearbook. And I've been the recipient of several of these and LOVE THEM! I seriously need to get into the habit of keeping the jpgs all organized and do a little each month on them. I also need to update Quicken so getting to photos is going to take some serious discipline on my part. :)

Kennedy and Ben - "Kissing Cousins" 2006

So, for now, I've about decided to purchase large linen covered note boards or framed cork boards (like this one at Pottery Barn) and put one on either side of my computer desk in my study. And I also have a French note board in my dressing area with photos on it. I noticed some large framed pin boards at Home Goods a few weeks ago for $49 which is about half of what Pottery Barn wants so I should go back and see if they still have them.

Mike and Shelby, England - 2003

It's funny ("peculiar", not "ha-ha") the power of a photograph. Almost like the memory triggered by smell, photos can take you back in time in an instant. And for those of us fortunate enough to have had great childhoods, loving families and, in comparison with a lot of the world, a GOOD life, photos help cement us to our past and give encouragement to "soldier on" in the future. I mean, who can dwell on bad thoughts with a photo of beloved grandparents smiling down on you? As with most things, a balance is called for or we'll spend our time, thoughts and days dwelling on "what was" and not on "what is". But for me, photos help make me feel connected to those with whom I'm, at least for today, separated from. And give me encouragement until we are reunited again, whether it be in heaven one day or in Fort Worth next week (cue "Circle of Life" in background....)

Disney Vacation - 2006

I'm having a Mac attack...

...and I'm not at McDonald's! I recently received my custom ordered MacBook Pro which my lovely husband gifted me for Mother's Day. And let me tell you, having over triple the hard drive space and a faster processor is bliss! It's like the lunchtime drive through line at our local Chick-fil-a; fast, functional and friendly! Even the transfer of data and applications from the Time Capsule was very fast - only 8 hours wirelessly. (The Apple Store said it would be about 24 hours.) The main thing I'm excited about is having the ability to keep more photos stored rather than having to dump them onto an external drive asap so as to not bog down the system. I guess you could say I'm lovin' it?

So, enough emoting about my new toy.

Summer is upon us and with that brings the humidity and heat for which Houston is infamous. Even the dogs, who normally love a "sit in the sun" time, are quick to get out, do their business and trot back into the cooler, drier house. And the texture of my hair is competing with the Wicked Witch of the West's broom for "most hideous texture". I'm winning.

But with summer also comes visits from the grands, pool time and lots of Chick-fil-a iced tea runs. Even though I have no "at home" children anymore, it still seems like life slows down a bit as schedules are relaxed, speed limits for school zones are on vacation as well and, gross though it may seem, I get a kick out of watching the frogs swim in the pool after dark as if to proclaim, "Hey guys! Check THIS one out!" I guess some folks swim with the dolphins but we're stuck swimming with the frogs.

I will soon be bringing you photos, glorious photos, right after I figure out how Aperture works (hey, I got it loaded...that was enough for one day). Grandchild #6, Lady Emery, is a sight to behold with all her long locks at the tender age of 3-1/2 months. Kennedy graduated from preschool last month. Luke and Ben are playing t-ball. Lleyton started preschool last month. And I hope to see Mirai next week. So lots of grands catching up to do - a picture is worth a thousand words so perhaps you'll get off lightly on the novella part.



Following Kennedy's ballet recital - yes, we support the arts. I'm not sure the arts will return the favor.

Have a great summer! May your a/c not conk out, your mosquitoes be few and your watermelons thumping good! (No jokes about the watermelons folks. This is a family website...)

It's Shaun the Sheep!

I want to give more information about my aforementioned "must see tv" about Shaun the Sheep series. If you've ever seen any of the Wallace & Grommit movies or shorts, or "Chicken Run" (the movie came out years ago), then you're familiar with the original "clay-mation" of Aardman Animations Ltd. The stories are hilarious for both adults and children, making it the perfect win-win viewing scenario! I bought one DVD last month at Target and Ben, Luke and I promptly fell in love with Shaun, Shirley (the BIG sheep whose coat is so thick things get lost in it), Bitzer the dog who basically runs the farm for the farmer, the Pigs - oh, the Pigs!

I went to amazon.com and found even more of them seeing as how we are now addicted. If you've ever read "Click-Clack-Moo, Cows That Type", then this is a live animation series similar to that but only with sheep on a farm in Britain. SO much fun!

Shaun the Sheep Lyrics

He’s Shaun the sheep
He’s Shaun the sheep
He even mucks about with those who cannot bleat

Keep it in mind, He’s one of a kind
Oh...Life’s a treat with Shaun the Sheep

He’s Shaun the sheep
He’s Shaun the sheep
He doesn’t miss a trick or ever lose a beat

Perhaps one day, You’ll find a way
To...Come and meet with Shaun the sheep
Oh...Come and bleat with Shaun the Sheep!

© Aardman Animations Ltd 2006

And time rolls on...

I got a sweet phone call early this morning. The phone rang and I saw it was from my eldest daughter's cellphone. I answer with my usual (probably overly loud), "Oh, hey!" only to be met for a moment of silence. I say "Hi!" one more time and then hear Ben, eldest grandchild, start singing the theme from the Shaun the Sheep series (which, frankly, if you've never seen - you have to beg/borrow-but-not-steal/buy a copy - more about that later). Anyway, he finishes the chorus, giggles and then says, "Gramma, I lost my tooth!"

Oh. Wow. Oh. My.

Am I actually old enough to have a grandson who is old enough to start losing teeth? Which means, of course, that Kennedy, Number Two grandchild, who is only days behind Ben in age, will be loosing them too soon. Not that I'm the type to get all maudlin about age, brown spots, crow's feet, etc. We all age - some better than others - it's inevitable and the sooner we come to grips with that (like, in your TWENTIES folks), the better for ALL concerned! But what struck me is that we are moving into New Next Generational territory. I've basked in the glow of babies in the house once again with the births of my (now six) grandchildren. I've enjoyed dressing real live dolls vs. the ones I used to buy (for those who've known me that long). I've become known by sight and name at Gymboree stores and Janie and Jack too. I can rattle off the top ten things to buy for a new mom today that are trendy, fun and functional - actually TESTED in the homes of my own children! I'm a Hot Gramma Commodity!

But losing teeth. That's way beyond babies and toddler-hood. It's school, first crushes, the LITTLE Lego bricks, reading. So much more. And, like every parent/grandparent before me, I ask myself, "Am I ready for this?" He obviously is. And I'd better get on board. I have much to offer my grandchildren (and I don't mean just in the Visa or Amex arena). I need to be thinking, planning, executing how I can help enrich their minds, their morals, their values. I want to be a gramma who gets a call from a crying teenagers who spills out, "Why are (mom, dad, fill-in-the-blank) doing this to me?" and will listen to what I say. And that starts now, has started when they were born actually.

One of the best investments Mike and I can make is not in the financial markets but in the future of our grandchildren. And just like a financial plan, we need to be focused, know the risks, weigh the outcomes and MAKE THAT INVESTMENT! They are precious children. And we want to do our part to help them succeed in their spiritual life, their personal relationships, their careers whether they be in the world's marketplace or in their own home. We all have influence and we need to be aware of how we wield that influence. It is so utterly important.

So I've been really dwelling on this this morning as I bask in the glow of that phone call from Benjamin. God my have the "whole world in His hands" but WE have the "whole world" in our hands too when that world is our family. And like that corny ad for All State Insurance, we ask ourselves, "Are WE in good hands?" With focus on God's word and His will for us, I would say, "Yes indeed."

It's a whole new world now. :) Love you, Ben, and hope the "tooth fairy" is accounting for inflation; your Mother got $1.00 - $1.50 for HER teeth back in the 80s...I'm just sayin'...

The many flavors of Costco stores...

Mike's old Dell laptop died. Actually, he literally pulled the plug on it seeing as how the plug was part of the problem. The laptop itself had been degenerating at an alarming rate for the past several months but like most things in life, we just limped along with it hoping it would hold out just that much longer. Well, HE did. If it had been MY laptop, I'd have launched a huge and full-blown campaign to replace it at the first sign of trouble. But then, I'm a Mac. And I fear he may be a PC. So I don't really have trouble with my laptop. And he always has trouble with his so probably didn't see the writing on the wall - until he really couldn't see the writing, not on the wall, but on the screen.

But my intent with this missive was not to extol the obvious virtues of Macs over PCs but to say we went to Costco today to buy him a new one (contrary to my pleas to get him to consider the One True Laptop, a MacBook Pro). And as we were going to Morton's Steakhouse for a celebratory dinner this evening, decided to go to the new (well, to us anyway) Costco on Richmond near the Galleria. On a Friday evening. On a holiday.

It was crowded, but laid out pretty much like every other Costco we've ever been in. But other than the very nice gentleman who helped Mike decide between the various laptops on offer, I noticed that this Costco, for wont of a better term, was "frosty". I usually shop at the Costco in Southlake, TX - near Keller where, those of you who know anything about me know, I am half the time. Lovely store, friendly people work there, even the customers are nice. and if you want the full scale "howdy-may-I-help-you" treatment, go to the one in Fort Worth. Usually we go to the one on I-10 here in Houston - they're okay. Not overly warm but not "frosty".

But this one in the Galleria area? F-R-O-S-T-Y! Even the customers were "don't get in my way". I honestly don't know what the problem was - couldn't put my finger on it. But I felt it was a shame. And I also think it's a stinkin' shame that there are TWO Costco's in Houston relatively close to each other when all of us out here in the west Houston area, the Energy Corridor for Pete's sake, could really use one out this side of town (we have two Sam's Clubs, but not one Costco). I have a sneaking suspicion that if we had a Katy Costco it would rival the Fort Worth store in friendliness on both fronts - clientele and employees. So, if any of you Costco execs out there run blog searches on customer satisfaction, I hope you find this and (a) tell the Galleria Costco to loosen up a bit and smile every once in a while and (b) open a store in west Houston asap!

Oh, and a Central Market would be nice too (although I doubt Costco could do anything about that....)

As for Mike's new laptop, he got a great deal on an HP - and - when we went to get it from Customer Service, the box was huge causing me to question if it was the right product. Turns out we got a free printer as well. But I'd rather have a friendlier store environment personally. Yeah, I'm weird like that.

I still think he should have bought a Mac, however. Sigh...

Breaking the silence...

I know I've been silent on this blog for such a long time with the exception being Emery's birth in February. I have been totally preoccupied by a few things not the least of which a possible career change by Mike. He was approached in January, the very day we set out for our Disney World trip, with a job offer that was intriguing. It was out of the blue, totally unexpected and we were alternately scared and honored by the prospect.

And of course it all had to be "hush hush". And you know me. Motor Mouth. She Who Does Not Have a Volume Button. Mrs. Overkill on Info. So I've stayed under the radar, kept "radio silence" and attempted to look nonchalant. We went back and forth on it, played "Devil's Advocate" with each other about the pros and cons. And we prayed. Oh, how we prayed. I don't believe that God throws down bolts out of the blue and in a booming voice indicates directly what He wants you to do. But when you are praying, and praying specifically, your eyes are opened to many details, many scenarios, many implications. More clarity.

We finally came to a conclusion just week before last. He would accept the new position with the new company. Today was "technically" his last day at his former employment. Tomorrow morning he has a meeting to go through handover notes with his (now former) boss. And in the afternoon he reports for what I will call "Mike's Excellent Adventure" - aka his new job. (I was even tempted to get him a shiny new lunchbox, a fresh notebook, pencils and box of Crayolas.) In between we will meet for lunch and try to absorb finally all that has occurred the past three months.

For me, this is the first time we have had a major job change that did NOT involve packing up a household, looking for new digs in a different city (let alone a new COUNTRY), arranging pet care and transport. No change of doctors. No new dentists to find. No forwarding of mail nor endless "Change of Address" cards to send out. The new office is even relatively close to his former corporate address. So I've had more time to think about this and the implications for our family - the new job will entail more international travel for the first few years, we are good friends with "the Boss" and his wife so will this impact that friendship - stuff like that. But now that it is happening, we are beginning to feel a calm. Whether it's because it's just "done" or because we made the correct decision I don't know. But we are moving forward and that's a lot better that wondering "what if?"

So I hope to be back on the nets again with much more regularity (no digestive jokes please), more reporting of the antics of the most adorable grands in the world, incisive observations of life in general and my life specifically, snappy repartee and the usual quality drivel you have come to expect from this reliable source.

After lunch I will kiss Mike goodbye and send him off to his first day and admonish him to play nicely with the other executives.

Perhaps I should have cookies and milk ready when he gets home.

Look out nets, I'm BAAAACK!

Lady Emery Elizabeth

Our sixth grandchild - and third granddaughter - was born this morning. Jennifer and Jason are the proud parents of Emery Elizabeth Brewton, born at 7:32 a.m., 8 lbs. 13 oz and 21 inches long. And talk about hair - the girl has that in spades, just like her mama before her. When Mike brings up the album with Jen's baby photos in it, I'll scan and post a photo of her - they look so much like each other in my mind. Labor was mercifully short (about 4 hours), delivered by a midwife at a birthing center and, joy of joy for this gramma, home 4 hours later! Today ended up being a marathon with a scheduled granite countertop install for Jen and Jason (which was completed under my watch while they were gone), a first-time clean with a new company at our place, keeping the boys while mom and dad were away and the birth of the baby! We were laughing about it this evening after Luke and Ben were in Ben and we were all watching the Olympics and enjoying Emory - who knew that today would be one of the most hectic yet productive days for us all? Jen's tiptop - the afterbirth pains aren't fun but other than that, it was a textbook delivery. Emery is "so chill" as her folks say - very calm, pooping like crazy, nursing like a pro. It's been an amazing day!