What a week...

 First of all, my Daughter has had that nasty bug going around!  She has been quarantined away from her family to keep them from getting it!  So... the troops pull together to keep the crew going!  Their Daddy has done an awesome job and the entire family has pitched in.  Autumn doing the girl's hair, Austin doing the laundry and all of them missing their Mom's hugs!  She is on the mend, thank you for your prayers!  While she has been down, Ganky and Pa helped too!  I have picked the girls up at the bus stop and fed them, homework etc. and gave them some extra hugs:)

One day on the way to pick them up, I stopped at the bank!  I asked the lady for a sucker for my Grandchildren.  She said what color?  I said, any color is fine:)  She gave me every color!  That pile of suckers sure made big smiles!

I have enjoyed riding with my sunroof open this week, not today... it is chilly today!  70s one day 30s the next!

We even did a little shopping on the way home one day!  We stopped at Dollar General.  They picked out chips and snack cakes for their lunch!  While reading the prices, Alex said, "I thought everything in here was a dollar":)  Sweet girl!  Alex grabbed all of the bags to help get them to the car!  She said "it's ok Ganky, they aren't heavy":)

AND every day, I have them an "after school" snack when they get in the car.  They have lunch pretty early in the day and after the long ride... they just need a little something to eat:)

We had bad weather yesterday, lots of coverage on TV and I wanted to watch it upstairs.  COULD not find the remote... looked in every crack and crevice!  Finally found it here!  My sweet BIG TALL grandson had it right where he could find it:)

We were sitting right smack dab in the middle of this mess yesterday waiting on the bus!

So, ON to today!  It is a beautiful day here in the South but down right chilly:)  I am up and drinking my coffee, watching a little news!  We had bad weather in North Georgia yesterday, lots of damage for lots of folks!  I feel really bad for them!

I hope you all have a SWEET day!  BIG HUGS to all of you!

My Friend's Husband...

On December 10th, I asked prayer for my friend Lynn's Husband Ron!  He had just been diagnosed with brain and lung cancer.  He passed away yesterday morning.  I was shocked and so sad for Lynn.  She and Ron have been married longer than me and Marc, I hugged my hubby last night just because he was there:)  Lynn and I worked together for many years, she was Marc's secretary for many years and we both love her to pieces.  After I received that news yesterday, it made me think... what would you do IF you knew your time was so short on this Earth?  Would you call someone you haven't seen in a while, would you make an extra effort to visit a family member that you haven't visited lately, would you eat extra desserts that you don't eat because of a few pounds, would you go down on your knees more often to thank God for blessings in your life, would you squeeze your Grandchildren a little tighter...  We don't know which day is ours, that is why we should always live each day as if it is our last.  Be kind, be happy, enjoy!

This picture was made before Christmas.  Lynn is to the left of me!  She is the sweetest, most kind, helpful and loving friend!  Please pray for her.  She has Sisters who will be a great support for her, I am sure of that!  She has a wonderful Church family and I know they will surround her with love!  Thank you in advance for praying for my Friend!

BIG HUGS to all of you!

Hello DSL, I missed you...

Our U-verse Internet came and went!  After a LONG day with a VERY nice technician in and out of my house until after 6:00PM, we were left the same way the day started at 9:00AM!  DSL was fine with us but we were told it was going away in our area!  Reluctantly, well I was actually forced to change:)  We made the appointment and as it turns out the records were wrong and WE couldn't have this service!  I was OK with what we had anyway:)  So, I have the same service that I had yesterday morning!  Now to make sure that they don't charge me for all of the dos and undos:)

While my Daughter is recovering from a nasty virus, I am helping with these four younguns:)  Austin doesn't smile until after I snap the picture:) 

I picked Alex and Avery up at the bus stop and helped with homework.  Autumn and Austin came after school!  I made dinner for a bunch of people vs two, chit-chat, giggling and off they went for their sleepy time!  I pray that my Daughter feels better this morning!  I also pray that nobody else in the family gets it!  Thank you all for you prayers:)  I am up and at 'em this morning, thankful for normal at my house!  Gotta get going, it is time for my yearly mammogram!  That's important:)  Have a blessed day dear friends, BIG HUGS!

DSL was fine with me...

We have the entire house working on DSL!  It was just fine with us!  BUT NO... change is a'coming!  SO, we were scheduled this morning for U-Verse Internet installation between 9:00 and 11:00!  Good time for us:) Nice guy comes around 9:00, we talk to him a lot beins we are both retired from BellSouth/AT&T.  He goes in and out, up and down... not gonna work today!  Hmmm, excuse me Sir, we don't have anything now... NO PHONE OR INTERNET!  RuhRoh!  In and out up and down!  FINALLY back to square one!  We could do without the phone 

BUT not the Internet:)

The DSL worked fine for me and is once again!  Oh, but they will be back to install the newfangled dohicky when they correct the problem!  We'll see how that works:)  In the meantime, when he moved the sofa... I vacuumed the dust bunnies AND found some missing toys!

That's all I have for today!  This installation try has cost me half of the day!  My Daughter isn't feeling good today!  Perhaps just a stomach virus but I would appreciate if if you would whisper a prayer for her!

BIG HUGS to all of you dear friends!

A win, a loss, visits and hugs...

Won this one and lost the next one!

They played great and I believe that Austin played his best games EVER!  I asked him if his Coach mentioned what a great game he played and he said he did:)  So... One more game and Basketball Season will be over!

Back home after the game and a sweet visit from this Beauty:)  I love getting their sweet hugs, no matter how big they get... they still give hugs!

Silliness from the one with a million facial expressions:)

A little Sister wrestling:)

And finish it off with a horseback ride!  Avery named her horse Ginger Snap:)  Oh how they make me smile! 

It was a LONG day yesterday and I was happy to see bedtime roll around!  It is gonna be a gorgeous day here, the sun is shining thru the blinds and the temps are mild:)  I am grateful for so many things in my life!  Have a blessed day dear friend, HUGS!

He shoots, he scores...

Basketball is winding down!  Only a few more games!  Tournaments today and another game or two but this Season will be done!  We have enjoyed it so much! 

Austin shoots and scores:) 

I was at Tracy's yesterday and just had to snap a picture of my Grandpups:)  Aren't they cute?  
BB and Munson!

Tracy sent me a picture of these two enjoying one of their Christmas gifts from us:)  They are precious!

Not much time to chat this morning, gotta get my coffee down, contacts in and clothes on... we have basketball tournaments:)  Have a blessed Saturday dear friends, HUGS!

Yawn...

Occasionally I have one of those nights!  Not too often, thank goodness... but I just couldn't go to sleep!  I watched the news, as always and said my prayers, as always... started thinking about the freezing rain and the morning commute for my Grandchildren!  It didn't happen and they made it just fine:)  I knew that their Parents would take them, but I worried anyway!  Also, Justin and Bradley (My Nephews) are planning a trip to Kentucky!  It doesn't look like that is a good idea with the weather in North Georgia... so I was thinking about that too!  Oh well, I see a nap in my afternoon:)  

SO... I am having my morning coffee, watching GMA and trying to get my day going!  Hope you are having a great morning where you are!  BIG HUGS!  Yawn...

Sign, lunch and found...

Do you read Church Signs?  I do and couldn't help but take a picture of this one 

to share with you:)

I was on my way to the Olive Garden for lunch!

I was meeting this dear friend, Joan!  We worked together for years and have remained friends, getting together occasionally for lunch and a little shopping!  We ate our lunch while chatting and laughing!  Then we went over to the Mall to walk off our lunch!  In and out of shops, giggling at some of the clothes we CAN'T wear:)  She is one of those friends that no matter how long we go without seeing each other... we pick up right where we left off!  She is raising her teenage granddaughter and is doing a great job at it too!  Sweet friend!

I picked Austin up from Basketball practice, had him a sack full of yummies for the ride home!  We chatted and laughed about so many things:)  I cherish these chats more that they will ever know!  Not many games left for him but one today:)  This pic was from his Birthday dinner in December!

Leftover spaghetti, garlic bread and a broccoli casserole for dinner, YUM!  The casserole was so tasty, I could have made a meal off of that!  I think I am in trouble, I actually like my own cooking these days:)

The found part of this post is this!  IT is the bottom to the family punch bowl!  Missing for years!  When my Sister Barbara's house flooded, this piece went missing!  It was not with the big part and well, my Sister had looked... I had looked and we had together decided that we just would never find it!  My husband is so good at rearranging things and had packed it in a different box!  He isn't in trouble, he is the BEST for finding it again!  I ran in the house and could not wait to call my Sister to tell her that we once again have the two pieces together:)

So that was a "Duke's mixture" of stuff for my post today:)  Gotta get up and get busy!  Have a blessed day dear friends!  HUGS!

Smiles, coins, spaghetti...

I picked these little smileys up at the bus stop and headed to make a little visit to my Sister and Brother-in-law!  These little girls sure made the day of their Great-uncle for his Birthday:)  They gave him hugs, cards and cupcakes!  We even sang:)  It was a fun visit and it really made Poppy (aka Jerry) happy!

My day was filled with lots of other fun things too:)  I sat in the dealership to get an oil change and a recall for  my airbag!  A little shopping with my Daughter which is ALWAYS fun!  We tried on skinny jeans, hers looked good... mine not so much:)  Then after Alex's homework was finished, Autumn stopped by for dinner!  She had been for a workout and it was so nice to see her cute face peeking thru the window and ringing the doorbell over and over and over:)  I made baked spaghetti and... it was the best that I have ever made!  This is all that was left!

  

My Sister gave the kids a fifty cent piece and one for Autumn and Austin!  Alex is learning about money and look what she had on her homework!  She was looking at that one and I grabbed her coin and laid it on her page!  We both smiled!  Thanks Nanny:)

SO that's all for my Tuesday, on to today!  I am having lunch with a dear friend that I used to work with!  I haven't seen her since before Christmas!  I hope you have a wonderful day dear friends, HUGS!

Wanna go shopping?

That's what I asked?  These two sweeties said YES!  They had the day off from School and Austin had a wallet full of money to spend:)  So I picked them up and we head out to the closest Mall!  I had $30 in free cards to use and we used those too!

Austin wanted a specific shoe, they didn't have his size at our Mall!  Darn, we had decided we would just order them on-line.  BUT, I walked outside the store and called another Mall... they had his size and off we go to the Mall near where I used to work!  He got TWO pairs of shoes and a watch!

He was happy with his sack full of goods and his wallet was a good bit lighter!  Autumn just enjoyed shopping with us:)  She got some earrings and a new pair of shoes too!

It was nice to get out of the house and do a little shopping while spending time with my oldest Grandchildren!  I love to have that time with them, chatting and laughing, eating and shopping, stopping for an ice cream and a milk shake and doing some more chatting and laughing!  It WAS a good day, they hugged me and thanked me for taking them shopping... AHHH smiles all around!  I love them all and they are growing up TOO fast, therefore I will cherish each day!

Have a blessed day dear friends, BIG HUGS!

Sunday smiles and frowns...

  Continuing with the cleaning... My Hubby brought in this huge trunk!  Oh ladies, it is filled with memories!  I went thru each paper and picture and enjoyed every minute of it!

It had Birthday books from 15 years ago!  Autumn's 2nd and 3rd birthdays!  She just turned 17:)

School Days scrapbook with her very first artwork from when she was TWO!

It was mostly Autumn's stuff but Austin had some in there too:)

Autumn had made this sweet Valentine for her Parents:)  OH HOW SWEET!  It was a sweet walk down memory lane!

I walked down memory lane while watching my Falcons LOSE to the 49ers!  No Super Bowl for us :( BOO HOO!

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But it will be a battle of the Brothers!  I know it will be a great game!  Congrats to the winners!

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I didn't go to Church yesterday but stayed inside my warm home!  Now it is Monday, a holiday for most and just another day for us!  I may run up to the Mall for a little shopping!  Right now, I am getting my day started and watching a little GMA!  Have a blessed day dear friends, HUGS!

Basketball, football and cuties...

Austin's Basketball game Saturday gave these cuties the opportunity to show their style!  Aren't they cute?  I asked them if they matched their clothes and Avery said yes!  I love them and their cuteness:)

My Austin coming onto the floor!  He is one of the starters and gets to run thru the Cheerleaders:)  One of which is his Girlfriend:)

A little warm-up, Austin shooting!

AND a great game against a great team!  We lost but wow, what an exciting Saturday at the basketball game!

A little time after the game for Austin and Macy:)

Avery was invited to a Birthday party at Build-a-bear!  That girl LOVES stuffed animals:)

And a little silliness back at her friend's house:)  SWEET!

That's all for my Saturday!  Well, I did make a trip to the grocery store!  How do TWO people eat SO many groceries?  Now today, the Falcons are playing and I'll be glued to the TV watching!  I know that they are underdogs but I'll be pulling for them!  Have a blessed day dear friends, HUGS!

Brrr and cabin fever...

Gonna get chilly next week but the sun is shining:)  I know that many of you have these lows as your highs but in the South... that is COLD:)

We have had SO much rain lately, it is nice to see the sunshine!  I have been spending TONS of my time inside getting my stuff organized!  I am ready to get outside!  It looks like this weekend is gonna be perfect for that!  Austin has a basketball game this morning and our Falcons play tomorrow afternoon!  Between now and then... I am gonna get out of this house!  I guess you could say I am getting cabin fever:)

Have a blessed day dear friends, BIG HUGS!

Pecan turtle bars...

I am not sure where I got this recipe!  I always try to link back... soooo if it is YOUR recipe, please let me know!  I saved it at some point, printed it out and decided to give them a try!  Austin had a basketball game last night, they won... he played an awesome game:)  Home for chili that had been cooking all day in the crock pot!  My Hubby has a little bit of a sweet tooth at night!  He exercises enough that he can eat this kind of treat!  SO... before we left for the game, I whipped him up a little treat!  A couple of mistakes that I made, putting them in a glass dish.  I think they would have cooled quicker in a pan:)  Second mistake, making them just before having to leave the house:)  Well, here they are and they got rave reviews from the taster in the family:)  He said they were DELICIOUS!  

My Brother Leon gave me some pecans for Christmas and this is how I used them:)  

Ingredients
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups packed brown sugar
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup pecan halves
2/3 cup butter
1 cup milk chocolate chips

Combine flour, 1 cup brown sugar and softened butter in large mixer bowl.  Beat at medium speed of electric mixer 2 to 3 minutes or until mixture resembles fine crumbs.  Pat mixture evenly onto bottom of un-greased 13x9 inch baking pan.  Sprinkle pecans evenly over crumb mixture.

Combine 2/3 cup butter and remaining 1/2 cup brown sugar in small saucepan, cook and stir over medium hear until entire surface is bubbly.  Cook and stir 1/2 to 1 minute more.  Pour into pan, spreading evenly over crust.

Bake in 350 degrees oven 18-20 minutes or until entire surface is bubbly.  Remove from oven, immediately sprinkle with chocolate pieces.  Let stand 2 to 3 minutes to allow chocolate to melt, use knife to swirl chocolate slightly.  Cool completely in pan on wire rack.  makes about 48 bars.

Not much going on with me this morning!  It is chilly outside and I don't have anywhere to go:)  I may just stay in and work on my organizing of my trouble areas in my house!  The more I do, the more there is to do... UGH!  Oh well, I will be happy when it is ALL finished:)  Have a blessed day, stay warm and be happy!  HUGS!