H N Y

Merry Christmas

My favorite gifts!!

Plans

December 1st. Gosh. It got here fast.
December has a lot going for it. Of course Christmas for one thing. There is a lot to do. I love the Christmas lights, Christmas carols, Christmas plays at churches and schools, and nativities.

BUT, also this December brings a new plan for me. This mom will be away from the wilderness on weekdays and going down home to babysit one of my babies while the mom returns to work. I will be in heaven to say the least.

BUT, not only being with both my babies everyday during the week, I will also get to visit more with family and friends from back home. So watch out sisters out there you will probably get fed up with my appearance at your door all week long for a month.

BUT, I also will be leaving Larry in the wilderness for the week. He will come down during the week some. But he will be busy too. There is hunting going on. And the weather is still warm enough to go fishing. Plus there is some around the house duties that must be done.

The month will fly by I am sure.

Happy Thanksgiving

From my two little turkeys !!

How I Spend My Free Time

Birthday

Happy birthday Trent.

Last of the crew
To have a birthday this year
With cake and gifts and food and fun.

Happy Birthday Trent.

Baby updates

Can't get enough of my two grand babies.

Cohen at bath time

Cohen at 2 months

Brooklyn at 1 day old

gin

Baby's Here

Brooklyn Ann Donaldson. October 4, 2012. 6 lbs 9 oz . 19 1/4 in.

Mom dad and baby are doing well.

And this grandma has already started spoiling her.

Our second grandbaby in 10 weeks . Cohen and Brooklyn. It's wonderful!

Kiss Kiss

Happy 6 weeks old !!

Lately

It's been all things baby. Baby this and baby that for the last eight months when first baby-to-be announcement was made. Then baby this and baby that double when next baby-to-be announcement was made six months ago.

Its been double baby made stuff. Two of everything. One in blue. One in pink.

So in no particular order pictures are below. What the picture shows in pink was also made in blue. What the picture shows in blue was also made in pink. Just not a picture of everything .

gin

Monday is ....

Melt my heart. On a Monday or any other day of the week or weekend.

Having the most awesome family who spends their weekend and weekdays planning and making stuff for a baby shower for your other grandbaby to be.

Just watching this little baby sleep. Everyday is a good day,

gin

Ahhhh, it was a sweet weekend.

I got to play the Mawmaw part where I go to the new baby's home and spoil the little one. Hold him, hug him, rock him, hold him, baby talk to him, dress him, hold him, hold him again.

Two days of sweetness.

And to do a little bit for the new parents. Like laundry, meals, and a little house work to get them thru a few days so all they have to do is spend time with their new addition and welcome their visitors who come calling to see such a grand baby.

Cohen was such a good baby. Eat, sleep for two hours, wake up and stretch and look around for about 30 minutes, and eat again.

It was like clock work. He has the hang of this. Let's see how long it lasts!!

Baby's here

Cohen Blake Ritchie has arrived!

A precious baby boy has arrived,  June 24, 2012, 9.25pm, 7 lbs 12 oz. 22 in long.

Mom, baby and daddy are doing well.

And this grandma is beyond excited to hold him, rock him and spoil him like a grandma is suppose to do.

He is a blessing. Thank you Lord Jesus.

Two for two.

One boy. One girl.

One any day now and one 8 weeks later.

This Mawmaw Nana Grandma Grandmother GG is ready !!!!

Continuing with my fishing explanation from yesterday, I need to explain a few more things.
1) These are not current pictures.
2) The last fishing trip was last month.
3) Because it's just 2 dang hot to sit in a boat at 102 degrees.
4) Or it's rained practically everyday the last two weeks anyway.

Definition of bass fishing :
What you do when you need to get out of the house, take a boat ride, enjoy the sun, work on your tan, get dinner all at the same time, and show 'em how it's done with a 5 pounder.

You have to take the good with the bad.

The bad which means no bathroom facility, eating your lunch with hands cleaned with towelettes, and refusing another ice cold bottle of water because you have to potty soooo bad .

The good means spending time alone with your husband, having your phone for texting and picture taking, and having a good time.

Happy Birthday Jennifer in the month of June.

Happy Birthday Brandon !!!! May 4th.  

The big 32 !!

The Grad

The graduate is beaming bright tonight as we watch the ceremony.

 

All lined up in a row to cheer her on. His parents, her parents, 1 brother, 1 aunt, 1 cousin make for a nice get together.

 Thanks you two for being there too.

 Jennifer and Chris after 2 years of studying, tiredness, and almost no social life has finally seen the light.

 Congratulations Jennifer!!

F.I.S.H.

It's spring time and a lot of stuff is going on. And we threw in a little fishing on the side.. It was not a keeper. It measured too long and too big.   The lake regulations read you have to throw them back. You can't keep the monster. That is strange to me --- it's just a fish.

Bass

5 pounds 9 ounces

21 3/4 inches 

Chris took the catch of the day. 

 


gin

More Birthday

A day out with family.  For birthday dinner at Maria's Mexican a while back.

It was delicious.

Happy Birthday Bobbie and Ginger.

We had other plans to continue the celebration day, but it was cold, wet, and rainy. So we opted for a quick drive back to Bobbie's house for warmth, dessert, and relaxing.
Ahhhhhhh,  nice.

gin

We're having a baby, too!

Congratulations Jennifer and Chris.  How exciting for yall!
And waaaaaay exciting for us!

But it's not all about me. It's all about the mommy-and-daddy-to-be.
But around September 27  it will be all about the baby. And this nana can go wild spoiling this lil' one. Why wait? I can start the spoiling now.



gin

Rewinding the week

Last week I enjoyed my early birthday cake. Nothing's wrong with getting older. I love it. I love birthday cake. And my kids never fail me by "surprising" me with my Gambino's birthday cake. Besides being so pretty, It is delicious.

I cut and serve the cake and even made rounds for seconds.

Made a trip to one of the top 10 places on our list to eat for my personal birthday dinner. It was quite the surprise. We got in the truck and on the interstate and started driving south. The husband already had it in mind where we were going.

 Just me and the husband. No kids invited. No family. Just us. Lovely. Delicious.

Made a quick detour downtown to husbands former work place for business he had to attend to.
It was nice taking in the views while I sat in the truck waiting. He is going to miss this place I think.

 The mail man must have know it was my birthday. A package was left for me. Thank you

Tomorrow is my big day ---

gin

Ketchup

A lot's been going on.

Did I mention we've retired?   Well, technically, not me. But husband has retired. With a 6oth birthday celebration in January and a 42 year career with his employer he has officially become a retiree.

I consider myself retired  too. Cause I am going to take it easy by slacking on the cooking, cleaning, and anything that has to do with housework.

We've been doing some fishing. It's been nice weather --- in the high 60's, like 68 degrees.

We've been doing a lot of eating out.  We really have to get a handle on this retirement thing. We have no structure in our life. Eating when we want and where we want. We don't even know what a noon time lunch is anymore.  And sometimes we just skip dinner.

A few projects around the house is coming together.

It's only been a month, but retirement is fun.

gin