CATS CATS CATS

A bit of a stressful game toward the end! I was very happy with our team for leading most of the game, but whew....that was a nailbiter! On our feet.....we will have to catch you on the road next week Cats! It will be tough being inside our condo when we are just arriving late on Friday! We may have to find a fun place with large screens!

Spring in Kentucky

Walking in the door to Atlanta Bread for our Sat. treat, I was treated with these beautiful daffodils. Cold temps, snow in the forecast (what?), and these flowers blooming! Spring!
Most years we are in Florida when this early spring tree blooms. It smells wonderful! Austin said when he saw all the pedals on the ground "nana, where did the white leaves come from"?

If work ethic means anything (which we all know it does), Austin will be a success in life (which I don't doubt for a minute).

Grooming them to work hard all their life! My precious girl. A Becky mini me.

Good Saturday morning everyone (well, this is actually to me and a very few of you!)! Spring in Lexington, KY.....KENTUCKY BASKETBALL!!! Go CATS!!! After a very good meal with very good friends (Copper River Grill), we watched a VERY GOOD basketball game. UK came out on top by two points against Ohio State (the number one team). What an upset (I guess you would say?) Clyde was sweating, on the edge of his seat (the sofa) and at the end of the game, we were both on our feet. We were jumping up & down, fist bumps, high fives and just pushing them on to victory. Loved it!

Loving today as we were driving down to breakfast, just looking at the white trees, yellow daffodils, and all the GREEN grass. So good to be alive, so good to be in the hands of God. I was listening to KLove on the way here, Nicole Mullins (I believe) was singing "My Redeemer Lives" and I could just feel His presence. What a feeling. Thank you God.

We are working this week with the anticipation of the next week at the beach. I work all year long, just for that one week of sun and sand. I can't wait. We are taking Ms. Maggie and she is all ready to go. She has a new swimsuit and a few new sundresses.

Here are a few photos of springtime! Happy weekend and week to come everyone. Bring us another Kentucky win boys on Sunday against North Carolina!

More Videos

I don't have a good camcorder, but my cell works! Here are a couple more, one of Maggie and the other of Austin. Maggie can say her days of the week better, but when I get the phone out, this is what I got! For Austin, we were eating at Cracker Barrel with Uncle Jason and AP was doing his homework. He had to make up two sentences that went with the picture. He thought and thought then started writing. We had to tell him a couple of letters were backwards, but other than that he did it correctly.

Good Morning Saturday!

Another sunny (but cool) day in Lexington! We are eating at our favorite breakfast spot. No whole wheat bagels today...ugh...but the egg, swiss, and bacon was hot and yummy. Clyde always gets an orange, cranberry muffin. I bring my laptop, logs on perfectly, quiet atmosphere (don't care for the music) and Clyde enjoys the paper. Nothing better!
Giggle, Clyde just said "this music is driving me nuts"! It's elevator music, and to some it is quite comforting...we do appreciate orchestras but after awhile, it kind of gets to you (to us).

We are getting excited as spring break is now drawing nearer!!! Florida here we come. I cannot wait. I actually get through the winter at school by knowing we will be walking the beach in late March, early April. Looking forward to eating at Aunt Catfish', Stavros (for dress down, no wait, big quantities, locally owned Italian food), Norwoods, River Grill (if we drive over to Ormond Beach) and Bubba Gumps!

We are thankful to our friends, Fred & Michelle, for hooking us up many years ago to the Islander in New Smyrna. It's near enough Daytona that we drive over to eat, but off the beaten path enough to enjoy a quieter atmosphere. It is beautiful and the Islander is so clean with many things for the kids to do. We love it! This will be the first time we go there as "owners" and not just renters (or condo buddies with the Waggoners:)

We have enough room to take some family and we are at "war" within ourselves b/c we want to enjoy the time alone, but we LOVE having the grandkids with us. Due to things beyond their control, Becky & Jason can't go, so we are taking Maggie (3 yr. old) with us. However, not taking Austin is HARD. He is so sweet and been so understanding. Taking Matthew out of state isn't something we want to do at this time. What to do??? This week Austin was telling someone he wanted to go to the beach with nana and pap because he was a "beach boy".

Well, Clyde is packing up to leave, so gotta sign off. No time to reread, hope all my grammar is correct:) Go CATS today in the NCAA against West Virginia!

Sweet Matthew

Today after work, Becky had to run (fast) to the dentist, so she dropped the kids by here. I had the snacks all ready and out on the table. I got a HUGE hug from Maggie and another from Austin and had them all go wash up. While doing that, Matthew starting saying his 10's to 100 in a little poem about St. Patty's Day. I will post the recorded one (iphone, not great quality).

I was just telling Clyde, when they arrived today, as they were passing the TV table they stopped to look at a few photos. Maggie pointed to each of my girlfriends and named the ones she knew. Matthew saw a pic of papaw and he said "I have nightmares about papaw each night." I asked him about that and when they started. We chatted a bit about it and then he asked "does it hurt" when we talked about papaw being in Heaven. After we talked a bit more about papaw not being old, sick, tired, etc., in Heaven he said "I shake my head like this (he shaked his head back & forth) to make them stop, but they don't" (words similar). Hmmm, glad he was able to talk about that with me and I hope I gave him assurance.

Boys Night Out

Austin, Matthew and Thomas with Spiderman.

I know they were in absolute Heaven on earth! They all love Spiderman.
I believe pap said to buy a t-shirt the line was long
and to get it autographed it was longer. So, at age 5, the boys were excited to have their shirts signed by the drivers of the 4 wheelers. They went around the rest of the night trying to show off their signed shirts.

Hey pap, is this where these go? Huh, no Austin!

This is the coolest night ever Pap. They had such a good time.

You can tell by their body language, they thought they were the coolest little boys at Rupp!

All My Boys

This has certainly been a full week. Becky has been in a two day (overnight) technology conference in Louisville and to help out a little, Jessica (who helped out the most) got the kids after school and brought them to nan and pap's house. Jason, who travels out of town during the day, is late getting in at night (evening). We LOVE having them here!!! However, short a visit, they are a delight. They make us laugh. One of those days, I overheard Austin sounding out words, asking pap how to spell this or that, and then he placed his note in an envelop sealed with his name on the back and "to pap" on the front. Sad face:( I have just tried scanning his note to pap that said "thanks for the Monster Jam tickets". He is the sweetest little boy.
The boys like seeing monster jam trucks race when they come here. Pap dvd's the competitions and they all choose a "winner" then root them on.
Last week pap bought tickets for them to go see them race in person tonight at Rupp. He bought one for each Jason, himself and the three boys (Thomas is Jason's girlfriends little boy). So, the six of them are heading down soon to see the "pits" and then the race. Clyde showed Austin the little earplugs they would be wearing. At the end of the evening, he had to laugh when he saw Austin had gone and got his and put them in his ear.
Another funny (to us) was a couple of weeks ago. We had the boys overnight (due to me messing up Becky's van and it was in the shop) so Clyde was taking the boys to school. On the way there, he told Matthew he was the "navigator" and Austin you are the "co-pilot". After explaining what the navigator is to Matthew, Austin said "yeah, you tell us which way to go, and I'll sit here shoveling the coal" (with shoveling actions)....Clyde laughed and told Austin he wasn't a "coal pilot" and explained what a co-pilot is. I guess too much Thomas the Train.
When I got home with groceries recently, the kids were here and I asked them to come help. I told them they were a little heavy (of course I gave them the lighter ones) and as they were bringing them in they were saying things like "this isn't heavy to me, not one little bit"....and other comments making them feel very important and helpful. They were even "flexing" a bit. Then along comes Maggie.....gave her a bag, and as she went in "this isn't heavy to me, not one little bit". She copies everything!

This was sent from Rupp....Austin says his favorite so far tonight is "Grave Digger Legend".

More photos

This is the book Matthew made (with mommy) and took to share last week when he was "student of the week". He is finishing his first year at Huntertown (Kindergarten).
My brother Kent and his son Christopher.

Mom sharing dad's photo (earlier blog post) when he was drafted in the Army (1941). The other ladies on the left is Kimmie's nana, and her mom, Elaine on the right of mom (looking at them from this view). Matthew's family on Daniel's side always come to most big events in his life. His Aunt Laurie (Kim's sister) his cousins Britt Britt (that's what he calls her) and James were all there.

Austin, Matthew & Maggie don't see mamaw often, so this is a sweet hug.

Something I want to add here, this Friday (tomorrow night) my niece, Angie, made contact to each of the cousins and a party is waiting to happen at Becky & Jason's house! (just reread that last sentence and it isn't worded right, but I am out in the waiting room at the MRI place and blogging isn't easy on my lap). I am so thankful they are doing this. Most all the cousins will be there and their families. Her desire is the same for Becky and each of the others I am sure. If they plan on being a family after their parents are gone (say it isn't so!), they want to be connected. Better be connected now! I know it will be tons of fun and more laughter (at our expense?) than you can imagine!

Matthew's 6th Birthday

Although Matthew & Austin are competitive, they are good friends. They love each other, watch out for each other and love Maggie. They are both so sweet to her and treat her with kindness. The photo above, they are playing WII with cousin Caleb. He is very good to both boys. He is much older, but he is patient and teaches them a lot. Anna isn't in the photos (sad) but she is so sweet with Maggie as well. When they got to the house, Anna came upstairs where we were fixing MJ's hair and she hugged Mags and said "I missed you Maggie". Maggie said it back. So sweet!

Last Sunday was Matthew's 6th birthday. With busy days leading up to it for Becky (end of the semester grades, testing, new students coming) and just running a home with her active family, getting a location nailed down wasn't easy. They made final plans for Gattitown, when he woke up on his birthday with a tummy ache. He decided he wouldn't feel well enough to eat much so they quickly made the call to everyone and we met at their house. Then talk about busy, she ran to pick up CUTE cupcakes (Spiderman, of course), big pizzas (Whole Foods, beside Joseph Beth) that everyone LOVED, humus/pita chips, and snacks. We went to church, then I came a little early and dressed Maggie (and she and I picked up her room....). Her room is normally very neat and tidy. Their whole house is adorable. However, the day before, MJ decided she needed something (she told pap she didn't like the panties she was wearing so she was looking for another pair), so she pulled everything out of every drawer she could reach. And the closet. Except for the clothes that were hanging out of reach. So, we had a job. I sure didn't put anything back where Becky had it, but the floor got clean:) She is a funny girl. She is so sweet and loving. I love her so, so much!!!!