Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving was great! Everyone should consider going to Texas for Thanksgiving. It was near 80 and sunny, then slight overcast. No wind- Just beautiful!!! The Ellis clan was partially in attendance and we were able to enjoy our meal outside at Grandma and Grandpas house.

There were some cousins there, and many missing as well. We missed you!

Here is the entire crowd including Great Grandchildren. (and the dogs- one is not pictured-there were 3 dogs in attendance. I should've brought a cat or two!)

Here is Dustin and Sean. Sean will be leaving on his mission in January. This is the before mission picture-


This is Matt- I told him I would post this one! I am not sure he believed me!!! Silly Boy!

This is Jeff and I!! Since he said I was the favorite Aunt and asked for a picture- then I will give him the status of Favorite Nephew for the moment until I am bribed accordingly!

Here is Tina and her two lovely Grandbabies. She really doesn't look like a Grandma!We had a wonderful time and I took a billion pictures.

Randomness

The weather is getting colder and that makes me happy! I know that is silly, but it is my favorite time of the year! with Thanksgiving and Christmas so close together, we get more days off work than usual. I need days off work!! 3 weeks away from my office ruined me. Kennady was about 6 hours off and we stayed up till after midnight and slept in till after 9 or so. Coming back to getting up at 6:30 really messes with you, and I haven't caught back up on my sleeping pattern yet. I also have no patience for new students. Here is a picture of my co-workers and me.

The guy in the green shirt is Rob- he's my boss that I got to hire. (long story) His wife had a baby a few days before Kennady was born. Carol is in the lavender- she and I work in the same room and I see her more than anyone else. We have become very good friends. The Skinny girl is the new part time help we hired and we dont actually see much of her. the guy in the white shirt is our full time Math teacher who moved here from Chicago with a wierd accent and odd personality. and Linda is the lady in pink. GED teacher and very nice!

Now about my wonderful sisters! Donna and Diana. They are the best and I am luicky to have great sisters. We have one more sister -Dacia. They are both very smart and very pretty and very nice. They both live near and we get to see each other often. Sisters make the best friends!

One time when I was about two, my baby sister Donna (14 months younger than I) was wet (back in the pre-pamper days). I decided to be a big help to my mother who was napping in her room. So I took the baby out to the garage where the washer and dryer were and put the baby in the dryer and climbed up on top of the dryer and turned it on and then went into the house to tell my mother of my good deed. When I told her that I had put the wet baby in the dryer to dry it, She screamed and jumped up and ran out to the garage and pulled a screaming baby out of the dryer. She then drug me back into the house, shoved me into my bedroom and slammed the door. I don't know why she was so upset?! Needless to say, She and I both lived to a ripe old age!

Well- not much else going on in my world yet. We head to Texas for Thanksgiving next week and I am very excited about that. Chad and Christine and Delila are moving to Colorado after Thanksgiving so Chad can attend gunsmithing school. Kortney and Ben and Kennady are moving to Missouri in December!!!! Dustin and his father wrestled last night. it was a pretty close match! scared the cats!

Update on Pictures.

Well, I somehow managed to download my pictures and decided to make a new post before the onslaught of students hit my door next week when we begin registration. SO....

First- Owen Lee! he left on his mission to Romania. He is Dustin's buddy that he hunts skunks with (and other activities that I may not be aware of) We will miss him and we are proud of him!

Now on to Idaho trip and my Grandpuppy Indie. Kendra and Nathan have a lovely puppy named Indie. Nathan also has a lovely red truck!

Now on to Kennady! more pictures!!My Girls!!! (aren't they wonderful!!)

My Boys!! (nothing like a good hairy leg contest!)

Catching Up!

I hate posting without new pictures, but It's been too long. I have been on quite an adventure for the past month and now it is time to get back to the real world. (Bummer!) Three weeks in Idaho were lovely and the new Grand baby is delightful. Little Kennady is a very good baby and her Grandma misses her terribly. I have started the countdown till they arrive in Missouri in December. I took probably well over 300 pictures while there. (and video). I will post more later, and that leads me to the next part of this dialog.

Back at work... we are currently under construction and I have been dislocated temporarily out of my office with MY computer. This computer is not cooperative and I am unable to download new pictures. Next week I get move move back into my nice and newly remodeled office! (maybe pictures!) I have not got caught up on sleep yet, nor gotten my house back in the condition that I prefer. My cats have been happy that I have come back home again and they can go off that terrible diet that Dustin put them on (forgetting to feed them diet!) Dustin seems very happy to get his Mommy back as well., or should I say MAID? He misses his buddy Owen who left for a mission last week. no more skunk catching I guess.

The leaves are all almost off the trees and the yard is a mess. The one picture is what the trees have looked like till this past weekend. Kevin will be home for awhile, so poor guy will have quite the "Honey do" list this time around. That is about it for now- tune in next week for the next episode!

Kennady!

Sorry for the break in my posting- I have been keeping really busy being a new grandma! Go to Kortneys blog for more pictures. I will post some good stuff when I get back to Missouri in November. Kennady is a very wonderful baby and of course the cutest thing ever! I have been totally enjoying the whole experience of it all. I love the cool Idaho weather- wish it would snow. I will have a hard time adjusting back to work and home later! I do miss Dustin and Kevin tho!

My 8 Quirks...

So Jeff tagged me on this one- here goes..

1. I too have sleep quirks. After I go to sleep I wake up usually very sudden about an hour after I fall asleep- wide awake. If I try to just lay there, I cannot go back to sleep, but I have found that if I get out of bed and turn around in a circle twice and get back into bed, I can instantly fall back asleep!(I think I learned that from my cats!)

2. I have wonderful long and interesting, out loud 2 way conversations with myself all the time. If I am trying to make a decision about a two sided issue, we (that's me and myself) have a nice chat, and one side usually is right.

3. I have to sit and park in the same places every time. At Church, at work and even at the grocery store. It makes me crazy if someone parks in "my spot" and if some one is sitting at my desk, or in "my spot" at church, I can hardly stand it. This quirk is a major one!

4. I love to sit somewhere very high and watch people walking below, not knowing that i am above watching them! When I was young, my favorite perch was the tops of trees. I would climb as high in a tree as I could and quietly sit up there for hours just watching people come and go and sometimes even looking for me.

One of my very favorite high spots is at the City Museum in St. Louis! http://www.citymuseum.org/

5. Cat conversations! My cats and I talk to each other all the time. They are very intelligent (well, two of them are) and they always entertain me with their ideas. The language is called Meowineese. They don't usually talk with other people, but occasionally do.

This one is Snoopers. He is old and not very smart. He gets his haircut twice a year.This one is Stupidcat. Don't let his name fool you! He is actually very smart!

And this is Anonymous! She carries on the most conversation and is my dear friend.

Ok, now you can tell that Quirk #5 is tied very closely to #6.

6. I am a cat lover! nuf said.

7.I love SNOW!!! It makes me giddy and happy and cheerful! I love to sled in the snow. Yup! even at MY age! I will Never outgrow that one. Skiing too! and making snow angels and building snow forts and good snowball fights! I really like driving in snow storms and catching big snowflakes on my tongue. I am the first one outside if it snows. I eat off of snowman plates year round and wear my snowman earrings year round. You can never get too much snow I say! ( I realize that Kortney may not agree with me on that one!)

8. Water! I love to swim- anytime anywhere!Sometimes I combine #7 and #8! and get a neat sweatshirt for the effort!

Now I tag Kortney!!

Life comes at you Fast!!

Life comes at you fast!! And it keeps on coming! Another weekend flew by at warp speed and now it's Monday again. How does that happen? I have a theory-Times move at a speed that is proportional to your age. The older one gets, the faster time moves. That is why time drags on when you are a kid, and goes fast when you get old. Weird how that works! Something to ponder.

The weekend was good, but short. I had Leadership meetings on Saturday and church on Sunday. Dustin and I had a discussion on something else to ponder. At my leadership meeting, a good portion of it was musical presentations. the purpose was to help us feel the spirit. It was very nice music and it drove some to tears. But not me. I wondered what my problem was because I was trying to feel the spirit. Then yesterday on the way home from church, Dustin brought up the subject somehow about things that make you feel the spirit. We came to the conclusion that those things vary from person to person. I feel the spirit most ofter when I SEE beauty rather than HEAR. Dustin says he feels the spirit more when he is DOING something that makes him happy- Like riding a moped out on the open highway. Hmmm? now there is something to think about. Speaking of Mopeds...

Dustin and I have come to the conclusion that we would like to have a Moped. I actually voted on a Segway, but my kids all think that I would look terribly funny riding one of those. Wouldn't I look equally silly riding a Moped?

Point made

My point is made again! Yesterday I was visiting with a biology teacher that is probably in his late 50's. He asked about my son and I told him the skunk story. He was absolutely amazed that Dustin didn't get sprayed because he said-"my brother and I got sprayed when we caught our skunk". I was amazed that Dustin's episode of craziness is not an isolated event!! Jeff- point made.

Now on to less amusing. Fall is coming and I am excited. October has always been one of my very favorite months. I love the cooler weather and fall colors. I have always enjoyed a good football game and marching bands. Apples always are their best in October. I really miss attending marching band competitions. If you have never gone to one, you really must!

Also something I miss is Cross Country meets. Now those are exciting!! This is the first fall in many years that I don't have a kid in either event and I really miss that. But I do have something equally exciting getting ready to happen.. A new baby!! I am going to be a Grandma in less than 2 weeks. I get 3 weeks off of work for a trip to Idaho and see my girls and Ben and the new one. The question of a name keeps coming to mind and I will be happy when the name is decided, (which probably wont happen till after birth). I have made a few suggestions, but so far they have all been rejected. What's wrong with Missouri Belle? or Kenora? I particularly like Kortneys idea of Taco Sue! Well the countdown grows shorter for the arrival of little ???

How to catch a skunk

Good day! He didn't get sprayed and he did catch a skunk. How did that work.... Well, you get an old Ice chest and a stick and a long string and a peanut butter jelly sandwich cut in half diagonally (very important to cut it diagonally!) then you put the sandwich on the ground under the up- side down ice chest that is propped up on one end by a stick with a very long string tied to it. Then you go far away and sit quietly and wait for some poor unsuspecting skunk to wander in and decide he wants a sandwich. (thats why the diagonal cut is important). BAM! yank that string and you have a skunk under an ice chest- just what every boy wants! now you take a piece of flat cardboard and slide it under and flip it over and duct tape it all together. (When you flip it, do it real fast and the skunk gets too dizzy to spray) Then you take it and duct tape it to the top of your mothers car and drive very slowly to an undisclosed location and hope that the cop following you doesn't pull you over. That's all there is to it... Bet you didn't know that!!

Boys are Dumb!!!

I know this title may be offensive to some, but what other conclusion can I come to when my son and his buddy say "Let's go catch a skunk!"? Really- that was what they went out to do last night. Why? they just smirked even more when I asked. They did a bit of research on the computer to what to do if you get sprayed and after watching an episode of Myth Busters on skunk spraying myths, the boys came to the conclusion that since the guy on the show didn't get sprayed, neither would they, (even if the guy on the animal planet show did get sprayed). So out the head, armed with a flashlight and a jar of peanut butter, wearing batman shorts and little else (just in case they needed to throw away their clothes?) I then asked what they planned to do with the skunk if indeed they did catch one. That was a mistake! Since when did catching skunks prepare one for a mission? Did they catch one? I don't know. I told them that they were not to come in the house if they got sprayed and they would have to sleep outside or at Owens house for a week if they got sprayed and that they could not use any car that was titled in my name (both cars) and then I went to bed. This morning I did not smell any skunk smell in the house and both cars were in the driveway. I guess I will find out later when I see Dustin what the rest of the story is.

John Wayne and Elvis-

What do John Wayne and Elvis have in common , besides the obvious (dead and famous) ? the answer- they carpool together! Bet you didn't know that!!! I didn't either till Saturday. So, Saturday Mica and I are heading over to my sister's house to pick her up for her Birthday day our (next story), and we come to an intersection that is a mess due to the tourist traffic. As we sit through our 3rd green light because of blocked intersection, Mica says "look who is in the van in the middle of the intersection blocking our path!" I look at the driver and passenger of the older model beat up maroon Chevy van and the driver is Elvis and the passenger is John Wayne. No kidding!! So this is where famous people go when they die! I did see Johnny cash once at the grocery store- but he wasn't dead. I find this so amusing that I just sat and laughed and didn't mind sitting thru another green light. Only in Branson!!!

SO, now on to Donna- my dear sister. Sunday was her birthday. Out of respect, I won't post her true age. My gift to her was a girls day out to Eureka Springs Arkansas for lunch and shopping. After a long drive there (1 hour) we discovered that it happened to be the Poker Run Hog Heaven Motorcycle weekend. There was thousands of bikers there! We couldn't find a place to park forever, then when we finally did and were walking around, we were greatly entertained by the diversity of our fellow visitors. I found it particularly amusing to receive cat calls from the balcony of the Hog Heaven Bar! Little Jovie in her stroller seem to very much enjoy the loud motorcycles. We did have a very entertaining afternoon and Donna always enjoys the sight of a manly man on a bike! Never a dull moment!!

Power Water!

I usually like to post something new when there is something new to post. I am not so sure if there is anything new to post, but I have the urge to to write...

So, last weekend Kevin was home and he always wants to have a family dinner with anyone and everyone who wants to come. This seems to be a ongoing event. We had the whole crowd over and had sloppy joes. Sloppy Joes- now that reminds me of a story-

time to spotlight nephews Trae and Chris. Years ago when these two were just young lads of about 5 or 8 or so, they came to our house on vacation. I was going to fix dinner of Sloppy Joes. their mother said " they dont like Sloppy Joes". I had already started dinner and that's what we were having. So when it comes time to sit down and eat, these two little guys ask "what is it?" I reply, "Sloppy Bobs, have you ever had that?" They admitted that they had not and were happy to try them. After several bites, they wanted more and cleaned their plates and requested seconds. Their mother was shocked!! I guess it is a good thing their father and Grandfather are named Bob! (picture is of these boys with their parents and 10 years later!)

That story reminds me of another one... When my kids were little, they did not like to drink water much. So one day after watching Power Rangers on TV, I asked who would like some "Power Water". Curiosity and too much TV got the better of them and they all wanted some. After determining which Power Ranger was their favorite, I got water in 3 clear glasses and put a drop of the corresponding food coloring in their glass and Wa La!!! Power Water!!! After that, I never had a problem getting my kids to drink water. Aren't kids amusing and so easily tricked!

Spotlight

Ok, so maybe it is time to update on my world again. First lets talk about what it is like to have your baby getting ready to have her baby- not sure what to say! Nerve wrecking! Poor baby! here is the fun part- when I talk to her, I have to be careful to not appear worried or overly concerned. If I fail at that, she is annoyed with me because I worry too much and then she doesnt wnat to talk to me anymore. If I underplay that, then there is the concern that I may appear uninterested or uncaring, and therefore not privy to more information. there is a fine line that one must walk in dealing with a pregnant daughter. But on a very positive note- I am so very proud of my wonderful daughter and I know without a doubt that she is going to be the very best mom to that little person that will be her daughter! She is such a trooper, and bears all her misery with dignity and grace. I love her and I am so very proud of her! and that husband of hers! what a great guy! he deserves a medal! he takes such good care of his family and does it so cheerfully. He is going to be a great father! He is my favorite son-in-law!

Now on to more of the life of me- Last Saturday I ended up heading out to the lake bright and early to go participate in the annual Lake cleanup community project. I ended up donning scuba gear and diving for trash. The lake was particularly murkey and visibility was extremely poor. Several of us ended up tying ourselves together with a rope in order to stay together. I did manage to find some trash- a sewer pipe about 30 feet down! After a few hours of diving, lunch was catered on shore by rib crib and it was good! Then there were door prizes, I won a gift certificate to the cosmotology school! The really great part about this fun Saturday morning was the fact that I was able to use the hours towards my profesional development requirement for my employment!! Icing on the cake!

(this is not the right picture! but it was taken at the lake at a community service event that I participated in! and I DID go for a swim! BRRRR!!!)

Now for another neice or nephew spot light- Evan! Love that kid! He is an 8th grader and taller than me. He is amazing at video games and is a really smart kid. I am looking forward to his Marching band days ahead and going to watch him march and play!

It seems to me that my nieces and nephews like to be mentioned in my blog, so I will do a spot light on them a few at a time- so you can get to be famous for a day! So lets talk about Ava and Diego- very interesting children! I had the priveledge to babysit them last week and it was fun. We played with Linclon logs and built some houses, then Dustin got home and showed how to build a catapault and flip lincoln logs into the ceiling fan! 3 year old boys think that is a riot! before too long, the cat had to run for cover because Diego was using it as a moving target! So, the next day I get a call from their mother (Diana) and she says that her kids said they really enjoyed playing with the toys at my house. two days later she calls and says there are lincoln logs EVERYWHERE! thanks alot! I laughed!

Grand........

Ok, more details: Jovie is the daughter of my niece Mica, and Delila is the daughter of my nephew Chad, who happens to be the brother of Mica. Mica is married to JB and Chad is married to Christine. I am not Grandma yet, but Mica and Chad have given me the privelges allowed to grandma status and I tremendously apreciate that!

Now for the latest exciting news! I have a new Grandpuppy! Not sure what the proud parents have decided to name this lovely fuzzy faced princess, but I am sure it will be an interesting name! She is a West Highland Terrier. Kendra is the proud momma!

Speaking of Mommys... were getting closer to the birth of my first Grandbaby. (see Kortney's blog) and the question has come up- What is my Grandma name? I have asked around of other grandmothers that I know and it is split weather or not you pick your own grandmother name, or the child picks one for you. I have decided to let the child come up with something for me.

My mother has chosen to be referred to as "The GRAND Mother"

My Grandma I called "Gramma Mag".

My sister Donna is called "Nana" by her Grandbabies.

You will need to leave me a message and let me know what you think my Grandma name should be.

Nieces and Nephews!

As I go through and Blog stalk, it takes me back to my memories of nieces and Nephews! So many of them have these Blogs and it is so nice to be able to keep up with what is going on in their worlds. With busy lives and young families, I dont know if there will ever be a time that we all get together again, but this helps us to stay in touch and see the kids that I have never seen in person. Mandy- I remember when I first joined the Ellis clan 25 years ago. you were refered to as "Baldy baby" your youngest little fellow looks just like you did! ( i dont have any pictures to put here, but you were so cute!)

Jeffrey, you ALWAYS and still do have the bigest smile all of the time and you always make me smile! (even when you eat cake!!!)

Matt- What can I say about you?! you were such a cute little funny fellow and everyone thought you and Kortney were twins.

The fearsome foursome- I have high hopes that the four of you will all be wonderful missionaries all at the same time!

And Jonathan- you are so much like my Dustin that I have always wanted to have you come live wtih us! ( But I am not sure that one mother could handle the two of you!)

There are more of you to write about,but these will have to sufice for now. the one thing that I have particularly noticed about the Robert Ellis Grandchildren is that they all have a really interesting sense of humor. wonder where that comes from? Speaking of Ellis men- here is a picture that makes me smile.

Ever hear of "good, better, best" ? I wonder if Dustin can sleep at night knowing what is in store for him?!!

Party weekend!

This one is Delila
This one is Jovie!

What a weekend. Jovie and Delila both celebrated their first birthday togeter at their Grandpa Doug's house. these babies are absolutly adorable! that was on Saturday. then on Sunday the whole clan came to my house to sing Happy Birthday to 21 year old Chad! Love that Chad!

It is always entertaining when we all get together. But the sad part is that we are all not there. Kevin is in Virginia working. Kortney is in Rexburg getting ready to have a baby. and Kendra is in Idaho Falls with my new Granddog. Kendra and Nathan got a puppy on Saturday and so far it has no name. Donna had a Granddog before me- Sawyer. I plan on being a more responsible ( not sure of the proper term for the grandparent of a dog) than my sister was for Sawyer. Now that's a story that made me laugh, I mean cry.

One day Donna was dog sitting Sawyer while Mica and JB were out of town. Donna, being the good Grandparent ( or whatever the term should be) decided to take Sawyer out to play fetch. So She and Sawyer headed out to the Dam where there is a nice grassy area to run in. so toss after toss, all goes well untill a bird flys over head at the same time and direction as the stick. Sawyer sees the bird and goes after the bird, who flys right on by. Sawyer leaps the stone wall that the bird fies over, only to discover it is a wall at the top of a cliff. Donna screams and runs to the wall to see that Sawyer has landed on a ledge about 8 feet down. Beyond this very small ledge is a 100+ foot drop to the bottom of the dam. Sawyer is crying( Donna too) and bleeding and hanging on the edge of the cliff. Donna does manage to get Sawyer to come close enough that she could haul him back up by his collar. Poor dog ended up with a broken leg and a bloody nose. Moral of the story- dont play fetch at the top of a cliff!