After speaking with my brother yesterday, I decided to post a recent picture of my grandkids. Chris and the kids came over today so I got out my trusty camera and took a few pictures. This is Hannah. She is 4 years old and will start kindergarten this fall. She is always wide open. She likes to dress up and is really girly when she's not being a tomboy.








Next you will find Cole. He is now 18 months old. Here lately, I can pick up a camera and tell him to smile and he puts on the cheesiest smile you have ever seen. He is growing & learning so fast. It helps to have 2 older sisters. He is a joy to be around. (But they all are.)

This would be Kayla. She is 6 years old and in Kindergarten this year and doing very well with her grades. Both her and Hannah are taking dance and will have a recital in May. Kayla will probably have some surgery this summer on both ankles. She is having problems with her feet & legs. She is not happy about this surgery so we don't talk about it much. They are talking about putting pins in her ankles. She is flat footed so hopefully this will help her.

I thoroughly enjoy reading the blogs even though they have gotten pretty slim lately. Except for Leigh, she is great about updating hers. Libby is starting back but everyone else seems to not be as good as they are about writing. As I told Lanny, all we do is work up here. We don't travel or do much else so it is hard to come up with things to talk about.

Also, I am working on our cookbook, but I admit, I have been very slow at it. But I will let you know when I get close. If anyone has anymore recipes, send them to me. It is not too late.

I guess I had better go for now. Until next time.......................

December 7, 2008

I was just thinking about all of the Christmas traditions everyone has. My youngest memories go back to having Christmas in the mountains at Granny's house. I remember the house being so cold but we would wrap up in home made quilts and dared not to move or we would get cold again. And we couldn't forget to take our pee pot and put it under our bed so we wouldn't have to go to the outhouse during the night. As big a chicken as I was (and still am), I wouldn't have dared go outside in the dark. We would always go the Christmas program at Granny's church and bring home fruits and nuts in our bag.

Then after Grandfather passed away, we started having Christmas in New Ellenton. One of the best memories I have is after dinner on Christmas Eve, we would all load up in the car and ride around and look at Christmas decorations. I still enjoy that still today. Then we would go home and open 1 gift and go to bed to wait for Santa. The next morning, we would open our gifts and then go to Lanny's where Margaret would have breakfast for all of us. We would see what Santa brought the girls and then go back to Mom's where she and Granny would prepare our Christmas dinner. Mom would always have lots & lots of food prepared. Looking back, I don't see how she did it. Dad would help in his own way but Mom did all of the work and shopping. Everyone would be at Christmas dinner at Mom & Dad's house. Do any of you remember all of us in her little house? I remember the year that I made ponchos for Lana, Libby, & Kim. I don't believe Leigh was born yet. I was so proud of those. I have pictures of the girls wearing them.

Now, I would like to hear from all of you about your Christmas traditions either comment on this or send me a email. I would love to hear about yours. Remember how much I love each and everyone of you. Until next time...............

Happy Birthday, Mom!!!

Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday dear Mom! Happy Birthday to you!! Trust me, it is better typing it than singing it. I never got to take singing lessons.

Today is Mom's 81st birthday and she is still going strong. Her back gives her some problems but she is a trooper and keeps plugging on. I have very special memories of her while I was growing up. One of the best was the summer we spent at Clarks Hill. She didn't have any suntan lotion so she used motor oil. Believe me she got very very dark. We had a ball that summer. Another was the episode at the beach with a falsie. You younger ones probably don't know what it is. Well, Mom lost hers and it washed up on the beach and drew a crowd. We tried to get her to claim it but she wouldn't do it. I just don't understand why!!! Ha Ha

Take care and remember how much you are loved. I trust Nancy will show this to you.

Love you. Until next time..........

Kayla is so excited. She has had a loose tooth for a while but wouldn't let anyone pull it. Well, today, with Mom's help, it came out. She was so excited that she called me to tell me all about it. You see, she is spending the night with me & Jim tonight so the Tooth Fairy will have to come to my house. We have been keeping one of the girls every Friday and taking them home on Saturday. It is our time to spend with them one on one. Jim and I have really enjoyed spending this time with them. We compare Kayla to Chris growing up and Hannah to Brian growing up. Kayla is laid back and Hannah is wide open all of the time. We are hoping Cole will be between the two girls. As you can tell, I am a proud Nana.

Until next time..........

Kayla's Preschool Graduation

I know it has been a long time since I posted on my blog. As you can see, this is a special day for us. I can't believe she is 5 Years old and will start kindergarten this fall. They grow up so fast. Chris and Jill went to her orientation last week. I was surprised what all she had to know before she even starts school. My question is: What about all of the children that did not/could not go to a preschool? What do they do? Struggle, I guess. She was so proud at her graduation. I am very proud of her as well as Hannah and Cole.

I do keep up with everyone's blogs and I will try to do better with mine. I am really glad that Libby got me on this blog thing. Thanks, Libby!

Until next time..........

I am finally taking the time to send everyone my grandchildren's Christmas pictures. Kayla is now 5 years old (going on 18), Hannah is 3 1/2, and Cole is now 6 months old. They really enjoyed Santa this year. Christmas Day, Jim and I had both of our boys and their wives along with the 3 grandchildren to open gifts and eat, eat, and eat. We really had a good time. Then they all came back for our annual New Years Day feast of black eyed peas, collards, corn bread and this year I read something about cabbage having to be served. So I did.

New Year's resolutions, anyone? Mine are always the same - lose weight, get organized in everything, more patience, and try to always see the best in people. The last one is a new one as I don't see people always in the best light. That, I am going to try to change. Anybody else want to share what you would like to change in yourself for the new year??? Oh, yeah, another one is to keep in touch better with all of you. Our family is the most important thing to me and keeping in touch tops the list. Remember, I love each and everyone of you. You make me proud.

Until, next time.......

H A P P Y B I R T H D A Y - B I G B R O T H E R !!!!

Tuesday, December 4

I looked high and low for a typical teenage picture of you and this is all I could find that showed your true self. Since I am not too savy on this blog thing yet as far as pictures go, I couldn't even figure out how to enlarge without getting too grainy. Pictures this old doesn't look too good blown up. I hope you have a wonderful birthday (even though you have to work).

I love you a whole bunches. Until next time ..........