Matthew's 7th Birthday

Dear Matthew, Today you are turning 7!  We had a party for you yesterday at your house.  Guests included, Kimmie, Christopher, Daddy Daniel, Nana & Nanny (Kimmie's mom & grandma), Aunt Lori, Britni & James.  Then there was granny & granddaddy Keith, Aunt Amy & Aprile, cousins Anna & Caleb.  Me (Nana), pap, mamaw and grandpa (Kent).  Uncle Jason sent a gift (x-box game!)  Of course your mom, dad, Austin & Maggie were all there.  You got lots of neat things.  Your big gift from mom & dad, granny & granddad, nana & pap was an X-box 360, Kinect.  You have had a big time playing it already.  You got a skateboard from Kimmie (plus lots more).  Aunt Lori brought a filled pinata and lots of other things.  You got money from mamaw & grandpa (Kent).  Mamaw actually also brought you a Precious Moments from her personal collection.  It is one on the farm, because you like Uncle Jessie's farm.

On Friday night, you had two friends from school stay the night (one left late around 11:00), Caleb & Austin and you made five.  Mom said you all did well.  This was your first sleepover, other than cousins!  Here are some pictures for you to remember this birthday.

Mamaw with Matthew, Maggie & Austin (85, 7, 4, and 6)

This is Matthew's first Precious Moments from mamaw.  It is one of a little farm boy!

Caleb & Austin playing x-box

Granny Keith, Aunt Aprile, Anna and Aunt Amy

Thanks granny for making me an Angry Birds cake!

Opening presents!  Matthew read every card:)

Take your best swing Matthew!

Everyone got a baggie full!

President's Day

This is a random entry, nothing real "big" this week or last weekend.  Mainly, we are enjoying UK basketball now!  On Saturday we had a small group here for the game against Ole Miss.  It was a 4:00 game and Michelle brought barbecue.  I made a dip from Pintrest that had sour cream, cream cheese, cheddar cheese, chopped ham, green onion, hot sauce and worcheshire sauce....all mixed up and put in an Italian loaf and baked for an hour. Everyone liked it and it was all eaten!  I also made dipped strawberries, and another Pintrest idea was to take Pillsbury chocolate chip cookie dough (roll), pat it in a wrought iron skillet (how do you spell that), bake till soft in middle.  It continued to cook after taking out.  This took on the taste of the skillet, it cut and served up very easy.  Although it was not home made, it was very good.  Susan Wiley brought the best fresh veggies and spinach dip.  Tricia came a little late, brought her daddy (which was the best surprise) and some CC cookies.

We enjoyed another good ABF (adult Bible Fellowship) class with our new group.  They are so welcoming and the teaching is straight from the Bible.  The members are very nice and really make us feel good to be there.  We took the red car after church, to Paris to eat at our favorite little Mexican Restaurant there.  Yummy.

Monday morning we took off early for the day in Louisville.  It was President's Day and Clyde worked late on Friday night.  Instead of getting the money, he decided to take the day off with me on Monday.  The day was very nice (for February)....warm & sunny.  We enjoyed the time together.  We went to the mall (St. Matthew's, I believe).  First off we stopped at the Pandora store.  I let the salesclerk, who was very helpful, take my bracelet, clean it, then take the beads all off.  She laid them out, added different ones I could buy, to make it better.  About my bracelet, Clyde bought it for me two Christmas' ago without my knowing it.  I don't want to say that I don't like it, because I do.  Who could not like it?  What I don't like is the cost.  I feel like, for what it is, it is just too much.  The charms are so expensive....most of the ones with gold are $70 upwards.  There are some around $50 or so, but for one little charm...whew.  I added three gold (plastic) beads on my which do help "round out" my bracelet. However, with tax....$127.00.....to me that is TOPS.....for three little plastic beads!  WHAT.  I know to anyone that has a bracelet, that is very little.  I'm sorry that I don't feel better about the cost.  There are just so many things I want/others need.  Oh well, I do appreciate it and am thankful he bought it for me.

It was sort of my day.  From there we ate at the Cheesecake Factory....yummy.  Then he bought me a green cover/keyboard for my ipad.  Also, while at the Zag kiosk, he had the boy put a sleeve (skin?) on my iphone with a protector for the front.  Not a cheap stop.

On the way home, we stopped in Shelbyville at Claudia Sanders which we found was closed on Mondays:(  So we drove on to Frankfort, Jim's Seafood.  Then home again to continue our week. 

Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day has come and gone.  The week before, I made Monster Cookies for each of the boys teacher's including their special area ones.  I did this early so I made sure to get them to them.  Austin's teacher wrote a nice note saying she loves baking and asked for the recipe.  It's a good one, and I got it to her. 

The picture below is the way Clyde ate his strawberries & monster cookies!

Valentine's week (the night before) I made more cookies, took a pan by mom's house and made a baggie for my bus driver & monitor, and a baggie for my co-worker, Viv.  For my other good buds, I bought a bag of Dove chocolates and gave them a little baggie.  For my two sweeties (Clyde & Jason Allen) I made sure they had plenty of cookies and dipped chocolate strawberries for them.

I gave Jason some suduko cards, gum & mints and for CB a UK sweatshirt.  Clyde and I went to Outback and enjoyed our meal a lot. 
After leaving OB, we took the kids over their VDay gifts.  Each got PJ's, Maggie got stickers and the boys each got two matchbox cars.  Then each one got a little baggie of candy.  It is Jason K's birthday so we took him a giftcard to Movie Tavern.

This was a very thoughtful gift.  Clyde mentioned getting me an ipad cover/keyboard, which I do need.  We have looked off and on since Christmas.  He has checked prices and quality everywhere.  I will get one, just not sure when.  However, he knows I have needed a jewelry box for a long time.  So, he went on line and checked them out at Dillards, JC Penney, etc., and wound up getting this one at Dillards.  I like it a lot and am currently filling it up....fast.  He also bought a pair of earrings to go inside!

Winter Garden Inside

This blog is named "Lantern's Garden" suggested by my hubs.  I LOVE being outback as soon as the weather warms up and plant any and everything I can.  However, during the winter I don't venture outside much.  So, here are a few pictures of my indoor flowers.  Again, the sun was coming through the front so the pics are dark. 

I have sure enjoyed this Christmas Cactus through the years.  It blooms periodically and is fixing to do so now.  There are many buds ready to burst.  Missed Christmas by a month or so, but will bloom near Valentine's Day!

This yellow flower is a rebloomer and just beginning another round of blooms.

This orchid is looking bare, but on close inspection.....there are a few buds ready to bloom.

Hard to tell, but this is a planter that was given by my ABF class when dad died 1 1/2 years ago.  It is full and doing well (with very little care by me).

My routine is to water once a week, usually on Sat. morning.  I add a few cubes of ice to the orchid while giving a good watering to the others.  I have to say I neglect these more than I give attention, but I do enjoy them when they are blooming!

Weekend

On Friday, we ate dinner with friends at Copper River Grill.  Good food, BIG portions.  I will post Cheryl's hamburger, that she ate half of.  The atmosphere is fun and the food is reasonable and as I mentioned, big portions. 

The pattie is under the onion strings...

Saturday was a laid back day.  I made a lasagna for J. Cook & family in the morning, to be delivered later in the day.  Then CB and I ran a few errands and ate at Qudoba.  Then home for the UK game.  After the game, we ran out to the dollar theater (Lex. Green) to watch Jack & Jill.  Adam Sandler was both J & J....funny, but way too stupid.

Sunday has been good.  For the first time in many years, we joined another ABF class (Sunday School).  Our CPA class has separated and since then, Fred W. was the teacher on Sundays (when we attended).  Since he and Michelle (our GREAT friends) are leaving Southland, we needed another leader.  No one was able (willing) to step up and teach, so it was decided by all of us, to try the class taught by Larry Wells, Guy Colson, and Sam Sternberg.  The entire class made us feel SO welcomed.  They asked if any of us wanted to go into the rotation to teach that would be fine (no).  They mentioned how they give to a couple of mission projects, and if we had anyone in mind, we could talk about including them next year in the giving.  They had us introduce ourselves.  Over and again, they pulled us into the conversation/discussion, etc.  I liked it a lot and hope the others did as well.  This is something time will tell.

After church, we took the red car and drove to Harrodsburg, heading for Eddie Montgomery's.  As it turned out, we stopped at Shaker Village and ate at the Winter Kitchen.  Pics to follow.

Chella

This is Chella.  Not sure of the spelling of her name, but she is living with Becky & Jason's family.  Yesterday, Tuesday, January 24th, they were called and asked to take her to live with them.  When they went through the system to get Matthew, they are certified foster parents.  Although Matthew was never meant to live with them as a foster child, he was in the system for awhile, until they were able to get all the classes in, he lived with Tina.  Becky went to get him most every night and kept him a lot.  Then all the papers were in order, and he went with them full time.  Fast forward almost three years, and in September his adoption was final.  This will not be the case for this little girl.

She has a dad that loves her and cared for her but for now he is unable to keep her.  Maggie loves having "a sister" and they are playing as fast friends.  Becky took half day off yesterday and took her to the doctor and  to try and get her in a school...either Wellington or Rosa Parks, but they weren't able to take her.  She has no medical records or other necessary papers to get in school.  As far as Becky knows, she has not been in any daycare or school of any type.  Today, I stayed home with them, as MJ has a cough and needed a day away from her daycare. 

They think she is five and that her birthday is in March. She is a very sweet little girl.  She doesn't seem to know her letters very well, but seemed to know some sounds they make.  Same with her numbers.  MJ knew all the letters by site and could say them quickly.  I found out today she likes apples and marshmallow treats.  She likes playing with play dough!  We had a good day.

She made lots of shapes and wanted to bring them to me to show them off.

MJ loves using the tiny cookie cutters to make lots of fun shapes.

This was taken before they left to go check out a daycare.  They were being silly.

Love you sweet girls!

Austin's 1st Award

This is Austin's first official award at Wellington. 

I think it is for greatest "Academic Growth" in this past semester for Ms. Poer's class.  The family of each student receiving an award was invited to attend, so Becky & I went. 

We were pleased when we heard Anna's name being called for a "Good Character Award" for her class in Kindergarten.  Yeah Anna!

The teacher on the left is Austin's, Ms. Poer.  Matthew's teacher, Mrs. Tipton, is on the right.  She is expecting a baby boy in May.  Austin also has a reading teacher, Ms. Sagan.  They all seem to care for the boys and Becky likes them a lot.  The boys do as well!  For that we are thankful!