Unexpected Good-byes are HARD!!

This morning I was awoken by a phone call that a high school classmate and friend of Christy and Tory had been killed in a car accident last night... The young man that was killed was Christy's first boyfriend when we moved to Missouri... they remained friends thru middle school and high school. Christy also had the opportunity to tutor him in Algebra in high school. Since graduation they have kept in touch with each other... I was worried about telling Christy. She took the news fairly well this morning... But, I was not surprised when I received a call and when I answered my phone I heard my daughter at the other end crying, saying..."It's hit me Mom...", we talked for a few until she felt better...

All day long I felt the strongest urge to reach out to each of my children... and let them know that I love them... it made me think about my relationship with each of them. Do they know I love them? Not just love them because they are my child... but I love the person that they are? I did speak with most of my children today.... I've had a hard time focusing on my daily duties today... My mind would wander to the young man's family and all the things they would be having to do and emotions that they would be going thru. I thought about Christy and would wonder how she was doing...

This afternoon I was blog hopping and I stumbled on a very special blog... as I read the entry I didn't under stand what it meant... Here is what it said...

Escape....
Grab your kleenex. Send the kids outside. Open your mind and your heart and
go here for a very uplifting experience.

At first I didn't notice the link... then I clicked on it. Wow!! What a message!! The perfect message for the day I am having!! Oh how I cried.... then I felt a peace come over me!! I remembered what I have been taught!! I feel so much better about the whole situation!!

Meg

Softball... Christy.... and... Abby

SOFTBALL

This past week has been busy... Melissa had a traveling softball team tournament down in Overland Park, Kansas...that she participated in. Her team, the Cobras, played in 5 games. 3 on Saturday and 2 on Sunday. Melissa played center field... her all time favorite position. She loves to catch fly balls... especially if she has to make a diving catch... one of these days I will get a picture of her doing it... I usually get caught up in the game and forget to take the picture... Melissa really has some talent. She's already had a college scout come and look at her and another girl on her school team. Melissa is getting known for her arm... She can catch a ball in center field and from center field thrown the ball home and make the out! This weekend she caught a fly ball and threw the ball home and hit the runner in the head... good thing the runner was wearing her helmet... it was an amazing throw!

CHRISTY

Christy drove over from Columbia to watch Melissa play softball... Watching the young girls play softball made Christy feel old. She played on a traveling team when she was Melissa's age. The first couple of innings she just sat and watched... then she really got into the game!! Christy brought Dutchess with her... The sign at the park entry says NO PETS... But we brought her in with us and just kept her right by us. Since having her 2 litters of puppies and then getting spayed... she really is a VERY good dog... One park employee told Christy that she had to take her out... But Christy talked him into letting her keep her in the park.... Melissa and I really enjoyed having Christy with us at the games... During the games I just take pictures... I go inside the fence and stand in the press box they chalk out, so I can get good pictures. During the first game I almost got his by a foul ball that went by so fast I didn't even see it... the first base coach did the get out of it's way dance so I followed his lead... I was told that the ball missed my rear end by maybe an inch.... whew... that would have hurt!!

and....ABBY (5 months) All Dress up for HALLOWEEN

Tory had called earlier in the week and asked if I would watch Abby while she went to a lecture Monday night... Since I would all ready be in Maryville I told her I would. Christy drove over later to help me... While I was there Tory wanted me to take some picture of Abby in her Halloween costume... she looked so adorable... We were having so much fun just the 4 of us Tory decided to ditch her lecture and stay home with us... I made stuffed pasta shells, spinach salad and garlic bread for dinner. Yummy!! Tory and I had to go shopping so I could make dinner... Abby had gone down for a nap so Christy volunteered to stay at the apartment while we ran to Wal-Mart... When we arrive at Wal-Mart Tory notices that she has 2 cell phones... She has hers and Christy's GREAT!! We hope Abby does not wake up while we are gone!! We get what we needed and head home... as we walk in the door we hear Abby crying... and Christy is walking out of her bedroom with her... Christy did GREAT with Abby... she figured out how to change her diaper and everything... and Abby only has 2 legs and no fur!! Christy was NOT happy when she figured out she didn't have a cell phone... Tory made Abby a bottle and when she was in a happy mood she put her in her Halloween costume and we started taking pictures.... We had so much fun with her!! Tory says that I can not postthe pictures until Halloween... So I am bein good and not posting them on my blog!!

After dinner, Tory looked thru the pictures and picked out some that she wanted to get some prints of... and this time we all packed up and headed to Wal-Mart, good thing it's very close to Tory's apartment. Christy and I walked around keeping Abby happy while Tory got her prints... When we got back to Tory's, Christy and I had fun playing with Abby... We would talk to her in these really deep voices and she would just laugh at us... so then we would laugh at her... We did this for a long time. When it got late I headed home because I had to sleep at the group home. so ... Christy spent the night at Tory's. Christy said that Abby laughed at her deep voice in the morning too... so now we know how to make her laugh... at least this month!!

Okay I have a question to the Mom's and Grandma's what do you think I should do? Should I buy Angel the "Hanna Montana Costume"... that is $20 at Wal-Mart or should I spend a few more dollars and get her a pair of sparkly jeans and a cool Hanna Montana long sleeve t-shirt that she can wear all winter long? I keep vacillating on being a fun what the heck grandma and being the thrifty grandma... While Christy and I were walking around Wal-Mart and I showed her the costume vs. the outfit and she was NO help at all!! The really hard part is that I know Angel needs some winter clothes and it would be helping Eric and Jolene out.... with Halloween just around the corner I need to decide!! HELP!!

Meg

CK Convention in Kansas City !!

A few months ago I saw that Creating Keepsakes Convention was coming to Kansas City...on October 10-11th!! Since I don't have a friend that is creative in the same areas that I am... in fact I don't know a person in Albany that actually scrapbooks or does a paper crafting.... I knew I would be going alone.... and I was okay with that... I know my moto is the more the merrier... but I also like to spend time alone with myself... When I went to the CK website to find out the details I noticed they were looking for volunteers... Cool... idea! VOLUNTEER get in for FREE and the get inside scoop!! But wait! As I scrolled down the page... an announcement from vendors looking for HELP!! Even better.... get in for FREE... work the convention and get PAID!! I emailed several vendors... and Suzanne from the Eyelet Outlet answered first.... and I am so glad she did.... I had a GREAT time. Suzanne did not come to the show... she sent Lisa. I really had an enjoyable time... I spent 2 days showing ladies and a few gents... how to set an eyelet with just a ball point pen... if you are a crafter you know that you usually have to use a hammer and eyelet setter to set an eyelet. Suzanne has created a new type of eyelet called Quicklets, that only needs a ball point pen to set it... Go to her website and check it out... Not only does Eyelet outlet have cool eyelets she has a TON of cool brads....


One of the best things about going to the Convention is all the deals you get... I got my Score Pal, Bind it All and a ton of brads and eyelets below cost...
















I was so tired Friday night... I went to a Mexican food restaurant and ordered my dinner to go... I was so busy all day long I never ate lunch... so I was STARVING... I went back to my room... got comfy... and devoured my dinner.... then I just went to bed!! Saturday I demonstrated Quicklets all day long... Helped Lisa pack up the booth and headed home...

My New Toy

I am so excited!! Today while at work... I took my client... (I have to change her name... HIPPA rules...) Justine to exercise, then we went on a little adventure to a second hand store... and on the way there I took a wrong turn had to circle the block and when I did I found a new pawn shop. When we were done at the second hand store we went to the pawn shop... Justine loves to look around at stores... as long as we make it to Wal-Mart so she can look at the DVDs that is... And there sitting on the shelf was a Classic Kitchen Aide Mixer... looking BRAND NEW and under $50... I grabbed that puppy and took it up to the counter and asked the clerk to plug it in so I could have a test drive... Oh how she purred like a kitten, from the lowest speed to the fastest!! I pulled out my debit card and bought my new toy... She did not come with 2 of the mixing attachments... but I knew that I had some from my old kitchen aide that has been dead for a number of years and sitting in storage...Some would not call this a toy... but to me it is!! I get to go out to MY kitchen... which I am still so GRATEFUL to have and create a culinary yummy!! My fist run with my new toy was the Abreu Family favorite cookie... the Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie... The recipe I make I received from Marilyn Bowers.... back in the early 80's. This recipe makes a ton of soft chewy delicious cookies.... a true classic

Soft Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

From the Kitchen of : Marilyn Bowers

2 Cups Salad oil

1 1/2 Cups white sugar

1 1/2 Cups light brown sugar

4 Eggs (one at a time)

2 tsp Vanilla

3 Cups All purpose flour

2 tsp baking soda

2 tsp salt

4 Cups quick cooking oats
1 12oz Pkg of Chocolate chips

1 1/2 Cups chopped nuts (optional)

Put oil in vary large bowl, and add sugars. Mix well. Add in eggs one at a time, add vanilla and blend well. Sift flour, soda and salt together in separate bowl. Add to wet mixture slowly and mix until well blended. Add oats and mix well, stir in chocolate chips and nuts. Drop by spoon fulls on to greased cookie sheets. bake at 375* for 8-10 minutes

Meet Our Angel!!

Meet our Angel... Angel belongs to Jolene and Eric. I went to her soccer game last Saturday and took pictures of her playing. For this being her first year in soccer she is doing rather well... She is so cute every time the ball goes out of bounds she throws her hands up in the air... no need for a ref to blow a whistle...just watch Angel she'll let you know!! I actually got a picture of her doing it... I sometimes for get to lift my camera up when watching the game, but this time I GOT it!!... She is a little scrapper qwhen she plays... she got right in there even with the big boys!! When she is older and really understands the concept of the game she will be quite good...Angel is a joys to have around... she is 6 going on 26.... very articulate and smart too!! She is in 1st grade but reading at a higher level... I need to take some more time with her and get the Nana bonding time going... time... any one a spare cup that I can barrow???

Little Miss Abby Turns 4 Months

I made a little video of the pictures I like that Tory and I took last week in honor of Little Miss Abby truning 4 months old!!

Enjoy

A Few of My Favorite FALL Things

1. Caramel Apples


2. NEW crop of crisp apples


3. Warm cozy sweaters
   
4. Cool crisp mornings and warm afternoons


5. Smell of leaves burning


6. the brilliant colors of leaves changing
   
7. Scarecrows decorating yards


8. Mums


9. Pumpkin patches


10. Pumpkin Rolls...yummy


11. Hot cocoa in the evenings


12. Craft fairs


13. Halloween decorations


14. Thanksgiving
    
15. My birthday
    
16. Baking goodies

This is a few of the things I love about fall... There are a few things I still miss about living in So CA... and one is going up to Julian in the fall. I can remember piling the kids into the van and having to scold them into getting on long pants and to bring a sweater... because when we would leave home it would be hot outside... but when we got to Julian the temperature would be much cooler... I loved going into all the little shops and looking around... We would always have a piece of apple pie before we left Julian... If any of my kids read this... What is your favorite memory of going to Julian? I'd really love to hear about them!!