It's the Little Things

that make me smile.

Dry mail.

2 weekends ago Steven put up a new mailbox. It was about time. The old one had seen better days years and years ago.

Today it rained and my mail was dry.

That made me smile.

Thank you Steven...

Family, Fellowship and Food

Friday, Kevin turned 50.

Saturday, Diane had a surprise party for him and boy was he surprised! She did a great job planning it. She took him out to dinner on Friday night with 16 friends and family so he thought that was it.

Saturday, she drug him to Wal-Mart so we could all get there and be waiting when they got back. She did good. :)

There were tons of people there. We ate burgers and dogs with all the trimmings and cake. Jeremiah did grill duty and Diane's sister was in charge of the rest. I made hamburger patties (tough job, I know) with Tara, Jeremiah's wife. Didn't know till yesterday that they were married and they'll celebrate their 2nd anniversary this year. I think we should keep in better touch...

Diane got him some cool lights for his Harley and lots of people contributed to that gift. We needed to cause that little bitty package of lights was *very* expensive. When we left, Jeremiah and another guy were installing them.

It was really good to see everyone and spend a relaxing day on the deck enjoying everyone's company.

Relay For Life

RFL is tonight.

I'm walking from 7-8.

I've recruited Steven, Jennifer, Emily and Rachael to walk with me. I invited all 56 of my kids to come walk with me too but since they have to be there with an adult, I don't look for any of them to show up unless they're there with someone that's on another team.

I'm really tired and my feet hurt (need some good tennis shoes - the ones I love are worn out and make my feet hurt and my new ones hurt my feet too) but I'll be there walking for that hour.

This year I'm walking in memory of Rodney Ward and in honor of King Cole. I'm sure I'm forgetting someone else that has cancer but my brain is tired...

What Have I Done!

I ran into a friend from school last night. I hadn't seen her in several years.

She's on Facebook.

Now I am too.

I don't need anything else to waste my time.

I have already wasted too much tonight.

But...

I chatted with a friend from Allen.

Interacted with Rach. :)

"Talked" to another friend from Allen.

Chatted with one of Rachael's friends.

Messaged a girl that I was an aide for one year.

Found my aunt and asked her to be my friend.

I now have 7 friends and have requested several more.

Now it's time to go to bed...

Today's Quilting News

Quilting time was reduced today since I decided to go to Huntsville with Steven to get parts for the toilet.

While we were gone, the quilt shop called to let me know that Jenny's wallhanging was ready. We got back in time to get it picked up. I actually picked up the quilt without buying a single thing. Isn't that amazing? I've still got to trim it, square it up, bind it and put the hanger on. Still lots of work to do there.

I put Rachael's backing together so it's headed to the quilter Tuesday. Finally! She's notoriously slow so it will still be awhile before I get it finished up.

I had planned to get the borders on my quilt but that's not happening today. It's OK, I'd have rather gone to Huntsville with Steven, Jenny, Bailey and Emily anyway. :)

We also picked up a new mailbox (about time!) and a ceiling fan for my quilting room. The mailbox is up - we'll see about the fan...

Another One Bites the Dust!

I just finished the top of the table runner that's my donation piece for the Mushroom Festival.

I did wildflowers (lots of bluebonnets) and it is beautiful, if I do say so myself!

I'm going to attempt to quilt this myself, wish me luck since I've never done that before.

My plans for this rainy weekend are to get the backing pieced for Rachael's quilt and borders put on my quilt. I know, I know, I've said that before but hopefully, I'll actually get it done this weekend.

Baby Birds

I had no idea tiny little bird eggs hatched so quickly!

Yesterday Jenny looked and there were babies instead of eggs. I could only see 2 but hopefully, all 5 hatched.

They grow so fast, today they have feathers. They were sleeping when I got home this afternoon but they were wide awake yesterday.

Bailey was so funny yesterday. He kept saying that he wanted to touch them and we kept telling him that he couldn't or the mom wouldn't feed them any more. I think he was pretty disgusted because we wouldn't let him touch them.

Hopefully, they'll be learning to fly soon, I need to water the plant before it dies.

Uncle Sam

I knew there was a reason I put off doing my taxes. Having to pay Uncle Sam is not my idea of fun.

We've had people in college for so many years that we never had to pay and always got some back.

Our income has increased and we haven't changed our deductions and there's no one in college.

Recipe for disaster.

We had previously decided to open a Roth IRA instead of a traditional one but now I'm not so sure. Steven's going to talk to the financial adviser this week to see what we need to do. Right now I'm thinking we need to max out our traditional IRA contribution to reduce our adjusted gross income but that may just be because I just sent a payment to the IRS.

Our increase in income had more than 1/3 of it confiscated for taxes. That's unbelievable.

Guess I should be thankful that I have the means to pay.

Homecoming 2009

Steven grew up at the Methodist Children's Home in Waco and has been active in the Alumni Association pretty much since we've been back in Texas. The last 2 years he served as Vice President of the Board of Directors. This year he was elected President. I guess that makes me the First Lady. :) He was asked 2 years ago to be President but declined since I was still in college and he wanted to be available to help me and didn't think he could do justice to both.

I haven't been to Homecoming in several years. When I was in college, I was exhausted from working full time and going to college so I used that weekend as some down time and to catch up on assignments. Last year was my first year of teaching and I couldn't deal with anything I didn't have to deal with. I used to jokingly tell Steven to just let everyone know that he did still have a wife and she did still love him. :)

There were several of Steven's friends that hadn't been there in several years and one that had never been to Homecoming. That was nice.

Stephanie, Greg and Rowdy came down Saturday for the egg hunt and softball game. Rowdy didn't know what to do at the egg hunt but after he figured it out, he was off to the races! He was so funny because he only wanted to pick up the plastic eggs insted of the candy. He also (actually Grandpa) found the golden egg and got the cutest bunny as a prize.

Steven was in hog heaven showing Stephanie and Greg where he grew up. For some reason, Stephanie had never been to the Home so this was her first visit.

It was really different at Sunday dinner this year. As the new president, we got to sit at a reserved table with the Director of the Home, the previous director and the p0revious assistant director as well as their wives. We were served our lunch insted of having to go through the line. I think I could get used to that. :)

We'll be heading back in May for the Senior luncheon and I'm sure there are lots more things we'll have to attend as President and "First Lady" - not a position I'm very comfortable with but will have to deal with and get used to.

I'm going to be a mommy!

A birdie mommy!

A little bird has built a nest in one of my hanging baskets. She flies out so quickly that I can't tell what she is (not that I'd know to begin with :). She's laid 5 tiny cream colored eggs with red speckles all over them.

I can't wait till they hatch! I love watching little birdies grow up and learn to fly. :)