Evie and Santa Toy

Ron bought this climbing Santa a few years ago. I think it is the only Christmas decoration he has ever bought. The kids think it is hilarious!

Jackson's Bike Ride

Jackson went and grew up! He can ride a bike. And wasn't afraid of the hill in front of our house.

Christmas Memories

I love Christmas! The grandkids just made everything so much more fun. Seeing their excitement was great.

And I loved my gifts. My kids are really good at picking out personal gifts. Amanda used the kids hand prints and foot prints to make a pot, that was from the Thomas family. The Dowler and Tripp family arranged the picture of all the grandkids. I asked for a picture, and they had already planned it.

I like to celebrate Christmas for the complete month, extending into January. So the decorations and tree will not come down until Friday.

But then we start planning for spring blooms!

radiator

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Disco Donna

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Branson Trip

This is kind of a tradition, visiting Silver Dollar City and staying at Stonebridge Resort. This cabin at Branson is very resonable in price, convient to stay at, roomy enough for 13 people.

I bought the PJ's at the Holiday House for the grandchildren. I thought they were so cute.

I pulled them out and showed them to Jackson. He was not impressed that his wasn't Batbam pj's, but at least he wore them for a little while.

Barn Raising!

We are having a lot of work done to and around our house. The barn is so exciting. We have all of Ron's yard equipment in the barn and my Christmas stuff, along with 20 plus years worth of belongings.

Now the contractor is working on turning the garage into a pool house.

After Christmas, we will start on remodeling the house. I will post pictures as work is completed.

I plan on having room for our family events in the future!

Veronika's Birthday!

For Veronika's birthday, I gave her season tickets to the Arkansas Arts Center Childrens's Theatre. We will be going to see 6 plays this year. The first was "Treasure Island". After spending the weekend in Hot Springs, we kept going and went straight to the theatre.

The play was pretty good. It was a pretty strong story, with a lot of noise and action. We sat on the front row, so a couple of times the actors were right on top of us, I thought they were going to fall in our lap. So Veronika was a little upset about that. But she didn't mind the fighting and swords. Her main concern was if the swords were real and the blood was real. Also, the pirate with the peg leg, that was interesting. After the play was over, they had a question and answer session and he showed how he had a peg leg. Very interesting.

Next month we go see, "Junie B Jones and a Little Monkey Business!". I am sure that will be Veronika's favorite!

Pretty Girls at the Wedding!

Aunt Juanita is my mother's sister. She has always been so kind and we have always loved spending time with her.

Our girls cousins joined us for a picture. Actually, the only other cousin would be Vincent Junior(as we call him), Ann wanted a girl picture. Anita and Vincent are missing from the picture. I hope we have another wedding to dance at! We always have such fun!

Evie and Violet were dressed alike. I love getting them matching outfits. Actually, I like to dress all the kids matching.

They are so pretty!

Garven Woodland Gardens

Ann and Daniel and myself went to Garven Woodland Gardens, while the rest of the group slept or watched the Razorback game.

I think we had a more enjoyable afternoon.

The gardens are lovely and we had a nice walk and a nice visit.

A Hair Raising Experience!

We spent the weekend in Hot Springs for a family wedding. I just wanted to have a family weekend, so we spent the weekend there.

Friday night, we all met and went to Coy's for dinner. Great service, not so great food!

Saturday, we went to the Mid America Museum. I think the kids enjoyed it. It's educational and fun. The adults saw the "Body" exhibit. Real human bodies preserved and on display. It was interesting, and more than a little creepy.

Babysitting

Friday night, Ron babysat the boys all by himself. I came home from Amanda's Arbonne party, the boys were bathed and playing happily with Poppa in the play room. And some people thought he couldn't babysit by him self.
Saturday, we all went to CrackerBarrell, then to the zoo and McDonalds. McDonalds has some really fun Batman toys.
Then came Sunday! We babysat Violet! Andrea and Steve went to see Les Miz at the Rep. The picture is from my iphone. I couldn't get to my camera to take this. She was sitting so happy, and would turn around to smile at me. She was so sweet. We sat outside, Violet really enjoyed the dogs, Bruno licked her toes, she thought that was great! The hummingbirds came close to check her out because they could tell she was sweet.

Moonflower & Morning Glory

The white flower is a moonflower. It opens at night and has a nice fragrance! The morning glory and moonflowers are so beautiful. They make me smile, I think because I grow them from seed.

I thought about how gardening is like parenting. You prepare the ground, plant a seed with tender loving care. You give it water, maybe give it feed, you dig out the weeds, you patiently wait for it to grow, then to maybe you are blessed with a lovely bloom. Sometimes you grow a tree that gives you cooling shade.

I think that is why I garden now that my children are grown, nurturing a plant reminds me of nurturing my children, and being blessed with being able to watch my children nurture their own children.

Aunt Juanita

Andrea, Violet and I went to Jordan Contorno and Jennifer's wedding shower Sunday afternoon. Aunti Juanita wanted to hold Violet. Aunt Juanita is my aunt, Andrea's great aunt and Violet's great great aunt.
Aren't they both beautiful!

The Hummingbirds!

Ron likes to sit on the back deck and read the paper after work. We have more hummingbirds than ever before! We decided to try holding the feeder. My gardening and birding books have acticles and pictures of people hand feeding the hummingbirds.

It was really funny to have them flying all over me. Ron and I both held the feeders. The viedo of me was too long to post. They landed on my hands with such a light touch, and I could feel the wind from their wings.

We are going to try it with the grandkids next, to see if they can hold the feeders, not have them flock to us when we hold sugary treats.

God Thought Of It First

Ron and I watched the boys while Brad and Paula went to the game Saturday. Andrea, Steve, Violet, Amanda and Evie came over to watch too. We played outside, rode the tractor, RTV, and the sea dos(on the trailer), ate their favorites foods (at my house anyway), strawberry fruit bars and night-night cereal.
After everyone left, we settled down to read. Tucker picked out "Things That Go", after he made me read if for the second or third time, Jackson asked me, " Does God make airplanes?"
Of course I thought that was such a profound question for a little guy!
I ransacked the toy closet to find the book, "God Thought of it First", it answers just that question.
I felt so blessed to be able to have that discussion with my grandchild, such a simple pleasure, read a book, discuss God! Such a smart litte boy. Such a blessing for a grandmother!

Silver Dollar City 2007/2008

First picture is Silver Dollar City November 2007, second is September 2008.

Notice the addition of the two baby girls! Notice Tucker is crying in both.

Someday, Tucker is going to look at pictures and ask why we always took pictures when he was crying. He is such a sweet, lovable boy, except when you make him do something he doesn't want to do, he wanted a hat!!! He had to leave the hat and have a picture! That was 2008, in 2007, he was just sick with a stomach bug.

We all decided Violet has the best time, she didn't cry the whole weekend. The rest of the kids all took turns, but it was a great weekend. I love these trips!

We rode go-karts, bumper boats, cooked breakfast, just visited!

Ron & Donna

This is from Brad and Paula's wedding, June 14, 2003, we just look so much older in the later wedding pictures!

1. Who is your man? Ron

2. How long have you been together? We have known each other for 36 years, married for 31 years

3. How long did you date? 5 ½ years
4. How old is your man? 58

5. Who eats more? His family said I ate like a bird the first time I met them. I fooled them!
6. Who said "I love you" first? Me

7. Who is taller? We are both shrinking, Ron was 6 ft, I say I am 5’6”

8. Who sings better? Ron sings in the choir, I sing in the shower and to children too young to tell me how off tune I am, my children love to tell me how offtune I am
9. Who is smarter? Ron is very work smart, can fix almost anything, do almost anything, he is actually brilliant in many ways, I was better in school
10. Whose temper is worse? Mine usually.
11. Who does the laundry? I wash, he folds

12. Who takes out the garbage? I sack it, he takes it out

13. Who sleeps on the right side of the bed. Ron always sleeps on the right, even in hotels
14. Who pays the bills? I do now, he did for the first 15 years, now I have it. It was a problem, now everything is automatic draw
15. Who is better with the computer? Ron makes our living on the computer, but that is because he knows his product, he doesn’t do software or hardware, barely can turn it on, I can turn it on and type fast, but thank goodness for Adam, who fixes our computers!
16. Who mows the lawn? Ron loves mowing the lawn, will not let me touch his mowers, but I dig the holes for my lovely plants
17. Who cooks dinner? I cook about 3-4 times a week, other than that, we pick up something, or we eat cereal or a peanut butter sandwich
18. Who drives when you are together? Whoever can stay awake.
19. Who pays when you go out? Again, whoever is still awake
20. Who is most stubborn? Ron, he never admits to a mistake, etc.
21. Who is the first to admit when they are wrong? Ron says he is never wrong. I am always saying I am wrong
22. Whose parents do you see the most? Sadly, both of our parents are deceased.
23. Who kissed who first? He kissed me.
24. Who asked who out? He asked me out, then he stood me up on the first date!
25. Who proposed? We dated for 5 ½ years, I finally said, either lets get married or quit dating. I don’t know if that counts as a proposal
26. Who is more sensitive? Me!!!
27. Who has more friends? Neither of us, we are both homebodies, actually we have friends, we just never do anything with anyone except family
28. Who has more siblings? Ron, his Mom gave birth to 11 children, 9 are living. My Mom gave birth to 5 children, 1 boy, 4 girls, our brother died at the age of 4.
29. Who wears the pants in the family?
Well Ron of course! Except I tell him which ones to wear.

Andrea did hers while here at the shop, so Amanda also. Ann, Kay and Angie, please update!! Anyone else, feel free to do it too!!

Dorey's Catfish

We went to Dorey's in Leola when Steve's parents were in town last week. It is a little like going on a vacation, especially since you drive for an hour to get there.
After feasting on the buffett, you take the kids out to the petting area, or feeding area, with goats, ponys, llamas, rabbits and even a small herd of deer.
The kids enjoy seeing the animals play, and the adults enjoy seeing the kids play.

My Garden

Every year I decide I will not plant a garden in the ground, container gardening is so easy, ground gardening is so hard, so many weeds, so much bending. I went ahead and asked Ron to till up a small garden for me, he tilled up the big spot again. So I planted and planted, I was angry that he had tilled up so much ground, but I worked late into the night sticking seeds in the ground.
Well, now I have beautiful sunflowers, lovely zinnias(with butterflies), the corn is making tassles, the zuchinni is blooming, the okra is so beautful and I have a cucumber bed.
God is so amazing, we can plant a little seed, and with a little sunshine and some rain, we are given flowers and food!

Baby Update

Evie is here!! We took this quick picture when Evie was a few days old. We haven't managed to get a group picture when Veronika was with us. But I hope to get a family and a grandchildren picture soon.

Beautiful Spring

This has been the best garden season ever! For the last few years I have added compost to my flowers, trees, scrubs, bulbs, everywhere. That along with the beautiful weather, has made my blooms so beautiful. And my garden is maturing, so I guess it blooms even better.

Steve went around my garden a few weeks ago taking pictures of the blooms. Thanks Steve!

Lord's Army

Jackson and Tucker love the stage! Their dance class had a recital Saturday night. Jackson and Tucker preformed with Courtney and Zoe, they are good friends from church and the neighborhood. At soon as they were finished, Jackson wanted to do it again.

Violet

Violet came to visit at lunch last week. I was able to get her to sleep. She is so sweet!

Andrea and Violet are doing great. She is growing and starting to smile. What a little bundle of joy.

Spring 2008

The neighbors little guinea is sitting on eggs in my garden. And a mother wren built her nest in our garage. The babies left the nest last night. One was afraid to leave this window area. The orange and yellow snapdragons came back from last year.

This has been the most beautiful spring! The flowers are blooming, perennials have grown bigger than ever. I haven't been able to work in my garden as much as I would normally enjoy. What a joy it is to see plants grow and bloom without my assistance!

It reminds me of the scripture, consider the lilies, they neither toll nor spin, but even Soloman in all his glory was not arrayed like them, anyway, we are not supposed to worry, God will take care of us.

AWANA Closing

This is the video that Steve took with his camera.

Special Moments!

Andrea, Steve, Veronika presented Violet at church and we prayed that Violet would be raised to know the Lord!
Veronika and Violet are so sweet together.

Veronika & Violet

I am working backwards on the events of the last month. I uploaded Andrea and Steve's pictures to my computer so that I could blog some of their pictures.

This is their first week or so at home with Violet. Veronika is such a sweet big sister!

I love this picture of them out in front of their house.

Aunt Paula rushed out to get door hanging, sign and ballons to welcome Violet home.

Another Surprise Party

Andrea's birthday is May 8. Steve wanted her to have a surprise party. I told him we had never surprised Andrea.
And we still can't, she was not surprised, but I think she did have a good time. We actually celebrated Paula's, Andrea's and Amanda's birthday, or at least I did. I gave them all their presents. I do not like to have to wait for giving presents.
I like any excuse for getting together with my kids and grandkids. The guys grilled, Paula made the cake, I cook the side dishes.
We had rain and storms, but thankfully, no tornados, so it was a good night.

Awana Closing

Sunday night we had our AWANA closing. This year was great. Amanda, Andrea, Paula, and our friend Julie Mayberry helped out in our Wednesday night class. We had 9 kids this year. And many nights we had extra pregnant Moms hanging out with us. And we had three of those Moms have their babies and bring them also. What a room full.

It was a pretty crazy room full. But I think the kids learned about the Bible, said some memory verses, learned new songs and pretty much had a good time.

I really love teaching this class. I have been working with the "pre-cubbies" for 5 years. I have gotten to know so many people, parents and their children. And the other teachers.

I consider it a blessing to me to be able to do this ministry.

Amanda was in charge of music. I love this song they do, kneel and pray, they kids love it!

Violet Anne

I have found over the past few years that being a GRANDMOTHER/DODI is a really great experience. And it keeps getting better.
Violet Anne Tripp was born April 14, 2008, after a 30 hour labor. Andrea worked so hard to bring Violet into the world. Steve was a very good husband coach. And the generous parents allowed me to wittness this miracle. Along with Amanda and Paula, we all helped Andrea as she labored and brought little Violet into the world.
Violet is a lovely little girl. I think she has her Dad's smile(Steve and I both saw the smile) and her Mother's eyes.
Her big sister, Veronika, is such a good big sister. I am so happy they will have each other.
I am so happy for Andrea and Steve for being blessed to have this new baby girl to raise along with Veronika.

Construction Expo

On our trip to Las Vegas to the contrustion expo, we saw some monster machines!