Audrielle posing for school picture

Schools make so much money by suckering parents into buying pictures

throughout the year.

Parents who cannot afford it feel like they are made to feel like bad parents if they

don't purchase the photo

package. Well one of my girls succumbed to the preasure a few weeks ago. But

then wouldn't you if your daughter

looked like this? And to top it off Audrielle who is now 4½ years old had cut her

bangs very short. Did not matter

with the cute hat. She looks so much like her mom did, that it is quite scary.

Sleepless in LOL

After ten years of being menopausal one would think I would quit having these awful symptoms.

The worst symptoms are not being able to sleep at night and the intense hot flashes I get.

I become so exhausted during the day and by afternoon I end up falling asleep for an hour or

more.

Although I go to bed by midnight, I usually lie there for hours tossing and turning. Then the

vicious cycle repeats itself. I go from one bed in the house to another trying to get

comfortable or cool enough to sleep. My feet can be as cold as ice, but my inner temperature

will be boiling hot. Sometimes I take a sleeping pill. It took me years to get a doctor to give me

some Ambien. The sleep doctors said I have a bad case of apnea, but the sleep machine made

me feel so claustrophobic and I knew I would not use the machine. For many months I had

restless leg syndrome. I took Mirapex for several months and that helped. Side effects could be

excessive libido or uncontrollable urges to shop or gamble. I thought the increased libido would

be interesting, but I got no side effects.

So tonight I will watch television until I feel like I cannot keep my eyes open and then I will toss

and turn for an hour or so. After I fall asleep I will suddenly awaken and feel very hungry.

I will make my way to the pantry and get a teaspoon of peanut butter. Who am I trying to fool?

I will get up and have a TABLESPOON of peanut butter and drink a bottle of water or a glass of

tomato juice and take a sleeping pill. BY four o'clock I will pass out. At six o'clock John will kiss

me goodbye and I will probably call him later and ask if I was dreaming, or did he really tell me

goodbye.

Sleepover at Yaya's

Saturday night the 22nd of January Leah and Sierra came over for a sleepover.

They loved playing with the dollhouse that I got at a garage sale for $8.00.

I did spend $17.00 for dollhouse furniture, but it was so worth it to see them

enjoying themselves. They watched a Barbie movie and had popcorn and then ended up

sleeping with me. Sierra sleeps very lightly and was still awake at midnight.

Leah slept in the twin bed most of the night, but eventually she awakened and got

in bed with Sisi and me. Of course John had to get a camera and take a picture.

Leah is five and Audrielle is four

On Sunday January 16th we celebrated the

birthdays of Audrielle who was four on January 9th

and Leah who was five on the 19th of January.

Everyone came except Scotty, Dawn, and Tracy.

We had pizza and other snacks and then cake.

My family brings me lots of happiness.

Incidentals not always known about me.

1. what is your favorite restaurant/s?

I love Cracker Barrel for the homey feel and comfort foods.

2. Which inspires you more: a good conversation, a song, a book or movie?

It would be hard for me to choose.

3. What is your favorite board game?

I hate board games today in most cases. I love scrabble. but monoply is the most boring game ever.

4. As you grow older, are you more or less patient with small children?

I think I am much more patient. I expect children to be children. When I was younger I sometimes expected adult behaviors from little ones.

5. Name one item you never let yourself run out of.

Toilet Paper.

6. Do you agree with Tennyson's assertion, "'Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all?"

oh yes. The memories of such love can feel the emptiness of being alone.

7. Name one national treasure or monument that you have visited.

Most of the monuments in D.C.

8. What brings me the most joy in life?

watching my grandchildren grow up and enjoying all the loving, talking to my friends and my parents.

9. What makes your kitchen uniquely yours?

the vases on the cabinets. most of them are antiques by Roseville and Hull.

10. Are you a crafty person?

Not at all

11. What is your favorite traditional picnic or bbq (cookout) food?

hotdogs, hamburgers and potato salad

12. My most favorite times are? when I am on vacation.

I love trying new foods, seeing new sights and enjoying the wonder of it all.

13. At one point in my life I made most of my own clothes.

14. I love being by myself. I would not be afraid to travel alone to a new city.

So I made it into the newspaper

On August 7th, 2010 I participated in a chivaree-also know as a "belling."

we performed a "Belling". This is a Rockingham County folk tradition dted to the 1700's. The tradition was inherited from German settlers who migrated into the Shenandoah Valley from Pennsylvania. It is a form of the old "chivaree" where a community would honor a citizen who had attained a new status, such as marriage. The frolicsome crowd would go to the newlywed's home at night and get them out of bed. They would parade down the street clanging cowbells, smashing pans together, and shouting cheers. The groom would push the bride down the street in a wheelbarrow.
My cousin Roger who is deceased had a daughter get married in June, so we "belled" Britney and Brandon. I was born in Rockingham County, VA and the Daily Record came and took pictures of the Belling.

Will spring ever get here?

On Sunday the 14th of March we had a princess tea party for Sierra's third birthday.

The kids had so much fun.
I love the cooler weather, but I am so tired of gray clouds and rain.

My azaleas are starting to bloom and the grass needed mowed, but

that is the only sign of spring.

I had such a nice break when I took my mom on the cruise last week to

San Juan, St. Maartin, Tortola, and Nassau. My life is GOOD.

A fun Saturday

I woke up this morning to my little Audrielle kissing my face and saying "I love you, Yaya." She is such a precious three years old granddaughter. Shrtly after that my sixteen years old granddaughter Ashley texted me. We made arrangements for lunch and after checking out Cracker Barrel we decided to go to Panera Bread. Her dad showed up there, so she went home with him.

Tonight, I am taking John out to Charley's Steakhouse for his 67th birthday celebration. I am already salivating thinking about sashimi and filet mignon. Hopefully my headache will be gone completely.

Celebrity Collage by MyHeritage

MyHeritage: Celebrity Collage - Free genealogy - Geneology

Atlanta Blues

We arrived in Atlanta last night around 6:00 pm. As soon as we checked into the hotel, we decided to find a place to have dinner. I had seen a Cheesecake Factory on the way in, so that was my suggestion.

The Embassy has very comfortable beds and we slept in late this morning. After a delicious "free" breakfast we went to Target and then came back to the hotel. I had my hair fixed by Becky's hairdresser.

As we left for Target we witnessed a bad fight in the Embassy parking garage. I called 911 and it took three agencies before Dekalb county decided it was their responsibility. By the time they got to the hotel the people (20 kids) were gone. I know one guy got hurt pretty bad and a girl started the fight.

It is raining and cold. I love Atlanta but not when it rains.

The picture of Liam was taken on the 7th of January. Liam was one month old that day and I got a picture of him smiling at me.
Liam is five weeks old today and tomorrow I am taking Liam to Fort Myers to visit my parents and to celebrate my mom's 80th birthday. Liam spent the first two weeks of his life in my parents home in Sc, so they feel very bonded with him and his sister Sierra.

Audrielle is three

Saturday was Audrielle's third birthday. Her grandma Terri gave her a Chuck E. Cheese party with ten of her little friends and cousins. It was a bit much for a three year old. She wanted to play and she got very tired of opening gifts. Audrielle is very blessed to have a grandma who has stepped in for her dad who isn't part of her life.

Cathy's graduation

Happy Birthday to David John

I was looking forward to watching David play soccer today, but the weather forced the game to be cancelled. Lots to do before I go to Greenville tomorrow with my oldest daughter and her husband and daughter. They are anticipating the birth of a new son on Monday. He has the same birth mother as Sierra, so she will have a real half-brother.

Christmas is quickly approaching and most of the gifts are purchased, but not all are wrapped.

I truly wish I enjoyed this holiday more. I enjoy the Christ-centered part, but the other stresses me out. I want to please my kids and grandkids, but I always feel like it is "never enough". They don't say this, but I feel it.

David John was five on the third of December. They surprised him with a birthday at Disney World.

Random things about Me

1. What was the last thing you put in your mouth? Japanese food from Yamoto
2. Where was your facebook profile picture taken? on a cruise ship
3. Can you play Guitar Hero? Ummm...I have never tried
4. Name someone who made you laugh today? David-he says some of the biggest words for a five year old. He says his mom was "distracting him."
5. How late did you stay up last night and why? It was probably 12:30AM
6. If you could move somewhere else, where would it be ? San Diego
7. Ever been kissed under fireworks? I don't think so.
8. Which of your friends lives closest to you? Bonnie
9. Do you believe ex’s can be friends? yes, I do believe it is possible to stay friends. Too bad people are so jeolous.
10. do you like Dr. Pepper? only diet
11. When was the last time you cried really hard? I do not remember
12. Who took your profile picture? cruise photograher
13. Who was the last person you took a picture of? Sierra at Yamato's
14. Was today better than yesterday? everyday is good.
15. Can you live a day without TV? Probably....I could, but I'd tivo stuff, so I could watch it tomorrow
16. Are you upset about anything? Not tonight
17. Do you think relationships are ever really worth it? Yes...
18. Are you a bad influence? some people think I have been, but I know I am a good person with good motives usually, thanks be to God's grace.
19. Night out or night in? usually in
20. What items could you not go without during the day? facebook and cellphone
21. Who was the last person you visited in the hospital? my dad
22. What does the last text message in your inbox say? "what time are we supposed to be at Yamato?
23. How do you feel about your life right now. disorganized and ADD
24. Do you hate anyone? Nope - not hate.
25. If we were to look in your inbox, what would we find? 16000 emails
26. Say you were given a drug test right now, would you pass? haha - yes.
27. Has anyone ever called you perfect before? yes
28. What song is stuck in your head? none right now,
29 . Someone knocks on your window at 2:00 a.m., who do you want it to be? my sister
30. Wanna have grandkids by the time your 50? I was 40
31. Name something you are doing tomorrow? shopping for Christmas
32. Do you think too much or too little? both -- sometimes I don't think enough...and other times I over think situations. :)
33. Do you smile a lot? I do - I would consider myself a very smily person!

Easter weekend 2009

I woke up Saturday morning to a knock on the door. Kayla and were at the front door. We went to the Cracker Barrel and met up with katrina and Sierra and Jeff, Kara and David. I spent the afternoon alone and then we went to church at Lifepoint at 5:30. Kara, Jeff and Ashley were baptized by Pastor Brad White's father. After church we went to Bonefish Grill for dinner.
On sunday we went to kara's for lunch. She had a delicious roast and john got mema pretty cake that said 47 plus 12. The girls got me an 8 gig ipod touch. John got me a gift card to CB. Jerry also sent me a $25.00 gift card to CB.

My dad is now 80

On January 18th my Dad was 80. He still enjoys playing his guitar and has recently started to sing again. He also likes to play his harmonica. He is a good preacher as well at a community center in a moble home park. I only hope that I look as young as he when I am 80.

Elle is two today

Today Audrielle is two years old. I cannot believe the time has passed so fast.
she has become very strong-willed in the last couple months. Her favorite word is, "no,non,no, no,no,no."

Audrielle

Audrielle was born on January 9, 200. She is a happy baby.
She like to be wherever Yaya is, so that means being in her bumbo set while she teethes and Yaya
washes bottles.

I have two more new grand-angels. Sierra was born on March 5, 2007
She is Katrina and Tracy's baby.