close your eyes Nona and smell

my son and daughter-in-law have their house up for sale and the real estate agent was bringing someone by.  I was entertaining the boys while she cleaned and straightened the house.  She walked thru the play room and sprayed air freshener.  My oldest grandson sat for a minute, looked over at me and said close your eyes Nona and smell - it smells good.  And then he closed his eyes and breathed deep and smiled. 
I love those little moments.

New Year's Eve and the good list

Wow, the holidays are over and I'm exhausted.  Thanksgiving was spent with family and friends.  Christmas was a lot of shopping, baking, cooking, opening presents, and loving on those grandboys.  The entire day was spent at my son's house with visitors popping in and out all day long. 
New Years Eve found me playing "lets hold hands, spin in a circle, and fall down" for way too long and then we sat in the swing and watched the blimp fly by.  "You know Nona, there are are a lot of blimps at the blimp shop- about 10.  That blimp is really big - but not as big as our house; look at it, we have a really big house".  "Nona, you see that chimney up there?  that's where Santa brought our John Deere Gator.  See that flat spot in front of it?  That's were he landed his sleigh.  The reindeer just slid to a stop, Santa jumped out and went down the chimney.  Then he came back out and flew away to the next house, landed, took toys to good boys and girls, and went to the next house, landed, took toys to the good boys and girls and went to the next house.  You know he has a naughty list for kids who have been bad and a good list for kids like me and bitty."
We agreed we would eat our dinner, take a bath with bubbles and stuff that turns the water colors, then watch a movie and eat popcorn just like at the movies.  After dinner we watched "Bob the Builder", "Fireman Sam to the Rescue", and "Barney" which the youngest hated everytime it came on - and it played about 4 times that night.  After watching those roll over and over and over again, we agreed on "Diego" three or four times.  After our bath and popping popcorn it was "The Jungle Book" again.  Nona can probably recite it word for word - love those bear necessities.  My kids came home at 10pm; one of the boys was asleep and the other was wound up tight.  I was home by 11:00 and in my bed by midnight - heard all the neighbors fireworks and even watched some before I went to bed.
2010 is off to a good start!

From the mouths of babes.

My grandsons came over on the Sunday following Thanksgiving to decorate the tree.  I had other family members over for turkey gumbo and it was really fun.  I enjoyed watching the boys and my great niece place (or throw)  the ornaments on the tree.  I had to reposition several as they were just sitting on the branches. 
After all the other family members left, my son and daughter-in-law along with the two boys were sitting around talking.  My oldest grandson (3yrs old) was patting my old dog Henry and was getting a little rough; so I told him to be careful with Henry (14yrs old) because he was getting old.  My grandson looked up at me and asked "Nona, how come Henry got old like you?"  I looked up at my daughter-in-law, who wouldn't meet my eyes; my son was looking down and fighting a grin.  I walked into my daugher-in-laws arms - who gave me a big hug and patted me on my back as we both laughed until we cried.  I then had to explain that when you have been around a lot of years like Henry and I have that you just get old.  My grandson said he was a lot of years older since going to "The Little Gym" - (where he takes gymnastics in Daphne, AL.).

You never really know what they are thinking until they start talking and then who knows what little ones will say.

From the mouths of babes!

Christmas Traditions

The grandboys are old enough to really enjoy Christmas this year.  We went to visit Bellingrath Gardens and Home "Magic Christmas in Lights".  It is a tradition to visit every year the Saturday after Thanksgiving.  The decorations were amazing.  After walking the gardens and enjoying the sights, we saw Santa in the gift shop and my son took the oldest grandboy over to watch the kids talking to him.  My son asked him if he'd like to tell Santa what he wanted for Christmas and my grandson replied "I'll tell him later".  While they are really excited about Christmas this year, Santa can be a little scary in person.
Sunday night I had family over for turkey gumbo and decorated the tree.  My youngest picked up the ornaments and threw them onto the tree.  My oldest thought it was funny that the dog knocked them off with his wagging tail. 

There was laughter, giggling, and lots of fun.  Bellingrath is an old tradition and decorating Nona's tree is a new one.

Adopt a US Soldier

I had 2 brothers in Viet Nam in the 70's and I wrote to them both every day. I know they didn't get every single letter but they got most of them.  They talked about receiving my letters and enjoying hearing the news and what was happening back home. 
I found a website where you can adopt a US soldier in Iraq.  I received a name and address the day after I registered and I started writing last week and plan on sending a package this week. 
I'm hoping to brighten the day of at least one soldier and hopefully he will enjoy receiving my letters as much as my brothers did.

Want to help?  http://www.adoptaussoldier.org/

Key West - Fantasy Fest 2009

Wow!  What can I say.  I visited my brother in Key West and Fantasy Fest was in full swing.  If you've ever gone to Mardi Gras in New Orleans you have a general idea of Fantasy Fest - constant partying!  Crowds all day and night - a constant parade of costumes, body paint, and the occassional very brave soul.  There were very elaborate costumes, some very colorful costumes and then some without costumes.  Dancing in the street, participants and spectators. Street vendors with food and drink.
The floats didn't compare to Mobile or New Orleans Mardi Gras but were still impressive.
Going back next year?  Probably not. I will visit Key West again but been there, done that - I'll stick to Mobile Mardi Gras.

Greater Gulf States Fair

The fair is taking place in Mobile, AL this week and we all went on Sunday.  The boys had a wonderful time riding the rides, feeding the animals, and sampling the "fair food"- corndogs and cotton candy. 
While other kids are turning the steering wheel back and forth on the cars and trucks, my oldest is turning into the curve - just as if he is driving (remember he has a "big green tractor").
Nona gets motion sick so she didn't ride rides but had just as much fun watching the excitement in their faces.