Moving Sale

As I mentioned a few posts ago we had a moving sale at my Grandma's house.  It has been bittersweet.  It's the last house my Grandpa lived in.  It's the house my Mom died in.   It's the house I ate almost every Sunday brunch in when I was growing up.  It's where we celebrated Christmas and Easter. 

It's full of memories. 

And that's the reason Grandma is leaving.  For her the memories of grandpa are too strong.  And as she's getting older and wasn't driving as much.  And our local private college owns an assisted living place just a few blocks away. 

My aunt Pat spent weeks at the house after Grandma moved out organizing what was left and getting ready for the sale.  Then several other family members dumped their stuff off and messed up her wonderful organization.  Sorry!  But we stayed and helped for the two day sale so I think we're forgiven:)

I could tell you about the heat...or the lack of people...or the $52 worth of drinks the girls bought to resell to make pool paint money...or the amount of people that asked how much I'd sell the Eos for.  One guy even asked me to put the top up and down for him.  He was so cute.  About 70 and wearing his overalls.  I love old men:c) 

But instead I'll just show you two pictures that I took that are so simple, but mean so much.

I don't know if I ever heard this album played, but the cover was so cute I had to take a picture.  The memory it brought back was the stereo console that always sat in front of the window in the living room.  I can remember playing records on it or coming in and hearing the radio on.  Even after it wasn't used anymore, it was still a fixture in the living room.

And then there's this.  I cried.  I'm crying now.  Grandpa wore hats all the time.  He always wore the old guy 'snaps in the back to tighten' hats.  But this one, this one is special.  There's a local restaurant that had commercials with a guy named Earnest that always talked to 'Vern'.  Earnest went on to make movies.  But I'll always remember him from the commercials.  I don't know where Grandpa got the hat, but it's so perfect for Vernon.  

I put this photo on Facebook and a few people shared memories of my sweet Grandpa.  So I basically cried....off and on all day. 

So even though the house hasn't sold yet, Grandma has moved into her apartment and all the stuff is gone. 

But my memories will be with me forever.

They're Home!!

And apparently worn slick out.

Memorial Day

How'd you spend your Memorial Day?

Boating at the lake?

Pool side?

With family or friends?

I spent mine in bed until almost noon (which was glorious) and then working in the yard. 

I know you're jealous.

We started the day with no plans besides yard work but a text from my cousin Amanda gave us a goal to work toward.  They had driven into town for the day and wanted us to join them for dinner.  I suggested Pop's and we set the time.  They went to the zoo but we hit the back yard.  That doesn't seem right. 

After they ended their zoo time early we quickly showered and headed that way.  Our group of 10 had grown to 16 before we knew it....and Pop's really isn't set up for large parties.  It's a gas station after all.  After waiting about an hour we were seated, at 3 separate tables.  And there was one person who only had one cheek on the booth the entire time we were there.  I don't need to name names. 

But you know what?  Everyone had an absolute blast.  Kennedy, Reagan, and their 13 year old cousin Skylar ended up at a table together.  They looked completely uncomfortable.  Kennedy and Reagan pulled out their cell phones and started playing while they waited for their food.  Skylar only spoke once during the in the restaurant time and it was to say he wished he'd had his phone, but he was grounded from it.  As soon as they were done eating they asked if they could go outside to a big grassy field and play.  We of course said yes and finished our meals and chatted before heading out.  By the time we got out there they had seriously bonded.  As in running around chasing each other.  For about 30 minutes.  Non-stop.  Then the bubbles came out and even McKinley played with them.  The adults spent a lot of time chatting, and me?  I of course took pictures.

So my Memorial Day was alright.  Good sleep, good food, fun location, yard work accomplished, and wonderful time spent with family. 

Who needs a crowded lake?

Not this girl!

She's Gradeated!

Friday we headed to Lubbock for Ashley's graduation.  We wouldn't have missed it for the world.  We also got to see the Funk's and catch up on some serious family bonding:c)

Saturday night we headed to one of my least favorite places.  The Texas Tech campus.  Only for Ashley.  And Tyler two years before.  I wondered how they got all three high schools through when I noticed this on the overhead screen.

They do all three on the same day!  Wow.  I don't think I've ever been to a 10 a.m. graduation.  Luckily we were attending the 6 p.m. one.

Shawn had bought me a doubler for my telephoto lens earlier that day so that I could get some good shots of Ashley getting her diploma.  I really wish I'd had a few days to play with it.  That much weight and distance is an adjustment!  I didn't want to keep changing lenses so I couldn't get the whole class in one...unless I took it from an image from the overhead screen. 

My class of 72 looks incredibly small.

Tiny.

I can't even imagine a class this size.  I think there were over 500. 

Ashley had told us that the girls were 'supposed' to wear heels.  It was interesting to see all the interpretations of heels.  And it was interesting to see all the different heels!  These kept catching my eye.  Probably because they were sparkly:)

I have a friend named Tammy that grew up in the same small school that I did.  She didn't finish there though.  We lost contact and it wasn't until she popped up on myspace years ago that I found out she'd moved to Lubbock.  Two years ago when we were there visiting the girls and I met her, her son Stormy, and her twin daughters at a park and caught up.  Because of that I got an invitation to Stormy's graduation and party.  Tammy had no idea that I was going to be in town.  And I decided to surprise her!  As we walked into her house I realized I didn't know a single person.  So I had to explain who I was to everyone who was staring at me.  Finally Tammy came around the corner and got a pretty big surprise!  I loved it.  I got to spend some time with her family, we swapped some stories, and left with a big smile on my face.

Later that night I posted this picture on her Facebook wall. 

We both love how the school board member is....scratching his nose.

And then it was time.  Our Ashley!

And then it was time.  The turning of the tassel.  Unless you're Ashley.

Yep.  She pulled it right off.  And spent a few seconds just staring at it.

Only Ashley.

And for the final picture I finally got the doubler, the telephoto lens, and the shaky arms to align.  So...one good shot from the whole night.

And the pre-graduation shot.....

Isn't she beautiful?

Aren't I fat?

Don't answer that second one.

I beg of you.

Finally.

There's a restaurant around these parts that's known for it's fried chicken. 


We've never been able to go because it's over 30 minutes away and Shawn has to be that close to the hospital.  But something happened tonight.  He wasn't on call.  I don't know how that happened.  I don't think he is either.  But we decided to celebrate.  With chicken.  We're fancy around these parts.  The girls had a piano thingie at 7:30 so even though he wasn't on call, we still had to rush.  Luckily it was a miserable rainy day and the highway was almost empty and there was plenty of seating when we got there. 

If you're going for fancy, this is not your place.  You seat yourself, there's no printed menu (it's hung on the wall and shellaced into the table top), and no plates.  Luckily I'm a sucker for history so it's all okay. 
But there is one problem.  I don't do bones.  I eat meat that's on a bone...but only if someone removes it for me.  Luckily I married an awesome man who is willing to do that for me.  But I also got a BBQ sandwich just in case:)  Let me just say, I was the only one who didn't care for the chicken.  Or the sandwich.  And I couldn't have the nachos because they used canned cheese.  But the fried okra??  So worth the whole experience. 

Oh, and the windows made it more fun.



So if you ever find yourself in, of all places, Okarche, Oklahoma, stop by and get yourself some Eischen's.

And let me know if you don't like meat on the bone.  I can't be the only one.

Family Party

We had a family party a few days ago to celebrate my Aunt Pat's 65th birthday. The party was really to introduce her one and only granddaughter, Olivia, who joined our family in July. Olivia flew all the way from San Francisco for the occasion. She was nice enough to bring her parents Scott and Adrienne with her as well. You might remember them from their beautiful wedding in Tucson. When trying to plan dinner for 27 people the restaurant choices were pretty slim. I got a phone call from my Aunt Marcia saying that since we had a big house and were centrally located she wondered if we'd host. I of course said yes because when we were renting this house and it was sold out from under us we prayed that if God gave it to us we'd use it to serve Him by opening it to friends and family. We've certainly done that with the pool. I of course said yes and started cleaning.

Do any of the rest of you look at your house differently when you know people are coming? I clean stuff I don't normally clean, like baseboards. And chandelier crystals. I like to entertain from time to time to ensure I don't lose control of the house:)

The evening came and I had to run to my Aunt Pat's house (two doors down) to take family pictures for her. Four generation pictures. That was neat. Then I ran back down to get everything ready. The rest of the evening was a total blur. My couch from the living room is getting reupholstered and I was so worried about only having a love seat. But when I sat up two card tables and eight chairs in the living room, it was wonderful to not have a couch in the way.

I'm sure the food was wonderful (because we had our traditional Christmas Eve Stack-Ups) but I spent the entire dinner time busy. I refilled ingredient dishes, put up tables and chairs, took down tables and chairs, made drinks, moved my picture table over, moved the coffee table to the den, hand picked rice out of the living room carpet, cleaned up after 11 children, and banged on the laundry room door to hush the dog.

I did sit down to eat dessert though. It's all about priorities folks.

Shortly after that I had to hop up to take group pictures. I was trying to decide where when Shawn mentioned using the professional lighting we hadn't returned to my neighbor. Soon my living room had orange extension cords, 26 people, chairs, peacock feathers to tickle the younger ones, and some sweaty people. Our house has never been able to keep up with a crowd. One vent in the living room, and one in the dining room don't really keep the temp at a pleasant place. We were all in it for the cause though.

Here are a few of the good ones. Let me say first, it is nearly impossible to get all the children and the parents and grandparents smiling at once. Or even looking at the camera. But, it was fun and shows the real family. We're not all posed types of people. We're real. And we didn't attempt to hang the backdrop. We were already losing the focus of the younger children about 3.5 seconds in.This last picture is the funniest to me. I was trying to direct Kennedy to focus first, center everyone, and count for us. And at the same time, lose 40 pounds, foof my hair in just the right place, and wonder if my makeup was melting off. I was missing what was happening on the front row. Shawn (left end) and Jeremy (right end) were cracking each other up because apparently Shawn had no idea what to do with his hands. It seems that he's never been on the front row of a picture! I have four pictures all with his hands in different places. Love that man!

After a whirlwind day and evening I was so glad we had the big, centrally located house. And you know what? Who cares about the dusty baseboards or the chandelier crystals? It was about all being together for that time. Although we really missed the cousins that live out of state, we don't know where we would have put them if they'd come!

Merry Christmas!

Since it's New Years Day it only seems fitting that I'm blogging about Christmas Day. Maybe a New Years resolution should be to blog a little faster.

Doubt that will happen.

Santa was good to the girls this year. One Santa took the other one shopping for a simple guitar and the other Santa insisted we leave with a keyboard and stand. It's a good thing one Santa had a new job this year and saved her money. The thinking of Santa #2 was that with three girls playing piano and the piano being up against our bedroom wall, it would be nice to have another piano that came with head phones somewhere else in the house.Genius I tell you.

The guitar was a hit and a teacher is soon being contacted. But the hit of the Santa gifts?A rubber chicken key chain. Of course, to her, the laptop Santa #2 felt was necessary was a hit. Santa #1 has to make sure computer time and website regulations are being followed so she wasn't as excited. You know it's a good sign when the keyboard has your name on it! After our traditional Christmas breakfast it was time for gifts.

After dining at my fabulous bosses house Shawn couldn't stop talking about their salt and pepper pump grinders. I asked some questions, did some internet searching, and finally found them. Sorry I didn't get a picture of them opened. The funniest part of this gift was him demonstrating to everyone how they worked and hearing a funny sound. He'd peppered the wrapping paper on the floor in front of him. Every year there's one gift I'm so excited to see opened. When it's for my aunt Janis, it's even better. She is impossible to buy for because what she wants or needs, she gets for herself. But this year I knocked her socks off. There is a tree by her house that she mentioned to me once she just loved. She asked me to take a picture of it for her. After I did I put it in a folder on my hard drive and promptly forgot about it. She never asked for it either. But after driving by it a few months later, I got an idea. So I started taking a picture of it in every season. Yep, I'm cool:DShe was very surprised and I couldn't be happier.And now, just a few fun Christmas faces. And my gift?? It wasn't a surprise but I was thrilled to get it.

Especially with a tag like this.

At our wedding rehearsal my wonderful former Senior High pastor was our officiant. When he got to the 'Do you Stephanie take Shawn part' he said he couldn't say that. If he did, we'd be married. So he said, "Do you Milk, take Cornflakes to be your lawfully wedded husband?" Since then we've called each other those names. We always put it on our Christmas gifts to each other. A Keurig! I'm so deeply in love with it. And since no one thought to get a trash bag at the beginning of gift opening...and no one was willing to leave during it to get one...we had a big pile of trash. That became a lot of fun before Mommy made them get out so I could find the carpet.

I need to see carpet.

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas surrounded by your family.

What was your favorite gift?

Minty Snowmen, Women, and a Hula Dancer

It's that time of year! Time to make our traditional Minty Snowmen. Last years were cute, but we stepped up this year.

So that I wouldn't lose my mind, I doubled the recipe this year. I measured out three tablespoons for the colors, and just started making bodies. We ended up with two for each of the girls, and one each for Shawn, Me, and Mom and Dad.

I started working on mine but of course needed pictures. I asked Shawn to take a picture of me so I could remember that I did it.

This is what I got.Thanks honey.

You can see my new wedding ring though!

Not well though.

And here's the picture I got of Shawn. He finished quickly. You'll see why later.

Everyone else was deep in concentration.Reagan did something we've never done before. Mixed colors. Why have we not done this before? Leave it to the youngest to one up us. So here are our finished products.

Reagan liked what I did and made a scarf. I always have toothpicks out for help placing sprinkles. Reagan had watched Gogo incorporate the toothpick and she did the same thing. Why haven't we thought of this before?? Soooo cute!Reagan's second one....got a bit over worked. The hat misshaped the head and in trying to save it, we couldn't. It ended up looking like a bird. So, Reagan made a bird.Gogo was a first timer. She got right to it and really impressed us! When Dad joined the merriment he added feet to it and it promptly fell over flat. Kennedy decided to make a lined jacket this year. How cute is that?! And a two layer scarf! I'm telling you, in a few years our pieces of art will probably be good enough to be auctioned off. What?? It could happen. And now Shawn's. He just wasn't feeling it this year. As evidenced by this. It was two sided though to convey his mood. McKinley decided her second one needed a friend and reworked the dough to do these. Cute! And her first one is the hula dancer. She's our first hula snow person and I must say, really darling. And I saved the best one for last. Simple, classic, and very cute. If I do say so myself. What?? Don't you agree??