LIFE IS AN ADVENTURE

Happy Anniversary

2012-02-03T16:00:00.000-06:00

Thirty four years ago our adventure began.

Things I would change if we had to start over again.

NOTHING!!

Our adventure has been a wonderful ride.

I only can hope that the next thirty four year are just as adventures.

One of our first dates.

1978

Weekend away

2012-01-26T22:03:00.001-06:00

January 2012 Time to go somewhere. Our cabin on wheels is getting restless and has been sitting in one spot for too long. Although it is just for a weekend at one of our favorites campgrounds, I feel like I am going to the moon. We are exited to get on the road again. Hoping this will be a great travel year.

2012 January !9th

2012-01-19T21:31:00.000-06:00

Only in Texas

This is why I Love Texas. It is January 19th and it is 70 degrees outside. As it has been said, if you don't like the weather in Texas stay around a few minutes and it will change. I believe that is why people are so friendly in Texas. I remember last winter where we had a very cold and cloudy winter. When the sun does not shine for a few days the people in Texas are not happy. We had a very hot summer with every day being a record heat. . We like it when the weather changes occasionally. One thing we never do in Texas is complain about rain.

I feel sorry for Steve tonight because he had to go to another meeting and I am sitting outside by the fire enjoying the wonderful evening.

2012 going home

2012-01-12T20:41:00.001-06:00

Time to go home. So bitter sweet.

2012 New

2012-01-12T20:40:00.003-06:00

A New Year, a new life! Everyone is doing great. We just have a few days left here with the new baby before we have to go back to Texas. Every one wants to hold Leo.

Grandpa!!

Alex!!

Luka!

Niki! (what is this?)

Grandma!

Time to let Mama and Papa rest and get ready to go home from the hospital. So we go on a hike.

At the beginning of the trail the sign said to stay on the trail. Ha! That did not work. You have to climb every tree you can and turn over every rock you see. This 1 1/2 mile trail felt like a 10 mile trail but we had fun. I was just thinking how to teach these boys that you can not turn over all the rocks in Texas. There might be more than just a small bug under our rocks!!

Beautiful area.

Ending the Year 2011

2012-01-12T20:34:00.001-06:00

Wow how time flies when you are having fun! On December 14th we left Graham Texas and flew to Portland Oegon. We were awaiting our fourth grandchild. As usual, Jennifer (our daugther) was late having the baby. I think she did not want to miss Christmas morning. LOL!! We had an amazing Christmas with the whole family. Some family went with us and others joined us via the internet cameras. LIVE!! This was Amazing. I don't know what we would do with out modern technology. While our daughter was busy being 9 month pregnant, our task was to take care of the other three boys.

Where is my stocking?

Granny and Mom working on it!

Granny watching the boy's on the swing.

Grandpa and Stacy with Niki.

One day we went to the Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum

First things first. We had to go and see Santa!

Then off to the Museum

Boys will

be Boys !!

Spruce Goose

Still waiting on having Baby #4

Niki said I am not tired!! Grandpa said I am!! Grandpa won!!!

Christmas and still no baby. Time to open gifts.

Granny has help from Luka and Niki.

Niki is in charge handing out packages. He just needs help reading the labels. Roma is holding a laptop so Roma's parents can be with us for Christmas.

Trish and Billie in Texas watching. What a gerat Christmas

After playing with our new toys it was off to
Iceskating for some of us.

                                                            No broken bones after Iceskating.

                                                         Still waiting on new Baby.

       This time of the year there are suppose to be whales off the coast of Oregon.We drove to the coast to see the whales. No whales! The wind was blowing 70 miles an hour! I am not taking my camera out  in this wet wind. After a short hike we drove to an aquarium and saw some amazing sea creatures. We also had to feed the Sealions.

            Still waiting; no baby.
             It was off the Zoo one day and then to the Childrens Museum another. Ok I am getting tired!!

At the Zoo.

Childrens Museum.

Last Day of the Year! Today is the day for Baby!!!

Another Boy!! Welcome to the world December-31-2011 9.1 lb 22inches. Name Lev (Leo). Everyone is doing fine.

Our Lady of Guadalupe

2011-12-11T19:44:00.001-06:00

On our way home from the grocery store today we ran in to the procession of Our Lady of Guadalupe. I am Catholic but I did not know much about this part of our church. I had to look it up and was amazed about the history of this part.

Our Lady of Guadalupe
Mesoamerica, the New World, 1521: The capital city of the Aztec empire falls under the Spanish forces. Less than 20 years later, 9 million of the inhabitants of the land, who professed for centuries a polytheistic and human sacrificing religion, are converted to Christianity. What happened in those times that produced such an incredible and historically unprecedented conversion?

In 1531 a "Lady from Heaven" appeared to a humble Native American at Tepeyac, a hill northwest of what is now Mexico City.

She identified herself as the ever virgin Holy Mary, Mother of the True God for whom we live, of the Creator of all things, Lord of heaven and the earth.

She made a request for a church to be built on the site, and submitted her wish to the local Bishop. When the Bishop hesitated, and requested her for a sign, the Mother of God obeyed without delay or question to the Church's local Bishop, and sent her native messenger to the top of the hill in mid-December to gather an assortment of roses for the Bishop.

After complying to the Bishop's request for a sign, She also left for us an image of herself imprinted miraculously on the native's tilma, a poor quality cactus-cloth, which should have deteriorated in 20 years but shows no sign of decay 479 years later and still defies all scientific explanations of its origin.

It apparently even reflects in Her eyes what was in front of her in 1531.

Her message of love and compassion, and her universal promise of help and protection to all mankind, as well as the story of the apparitions, are described in the "Nican Mopohua", a 16th century document written in the native Nahuatl language.

There is reason to believe that at Tepeyac Mary came in her glorified body, and her actual physical hands rearranged the roses in Juan Diego’s tilma, which makes this apparition very special.

An incredible list of miracles, cures and interventions are attributed to Her. Yearly, between 18 - 20 million pilgrims visit the Basilica, making it Christianity's most visited sanctuary.

Altogether 25 popes have officially honored Our Lady of Guadalupe. His Holiness John Paul II visited her Sanctuary four times: on his first apostolic trip outside Rome as Pope in 1979, and again in 1990, 1999 and 2002.

The Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe is celebrated on December 12th. In 1999, Pope John Paul II, in his homily from the Solemn Mass at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, during his third visit to the sanctuary, declared the date of December the 12th as a Liturgical Holy Day for the whole continent.

During the same visit Pope John Paul II entrusted the cause of life to her loving protection, and placed under her motherly care the innocent lives of children, especially those who are in danger of not being born.

2011 Snow

2011-12-05T07:16:00.001-06:00

Graham Texas December 5th 2011

2011 Sunday at home

2011-12-04T14:57:00.001-06:00

I love cold rainy Sundays in December. Christmas music is playing and some of us watching football. Then preparing an Italian dinner together. Garlic and basil in the air and fireplace going. What a relaxing day after a long and hard week.

Chopping done!

2011 Wild Game Dinner

2011-12-04T11:58:00.001-06:00

What a wonderful turn out. Thanks to every one.

2011 Wild Game Dinner

2011-12-03T16:15:00.001-06:00

Busy week in Graham Texas. We had the Christmas Parade and Stroll this past Thursday and tonight is the 9th annual Rotary Club of Graham's Wild Game Dinner. There is going to be a live auction, silent auction, raffle, games and live entertainment. Do not to forget a all the food!!!

2011 Parade

2011-12-02T09:16:00.001-06:00

2011 Graham Christmas Parade

Just when you wonder why you live in a small town something happens and you know why. This Thursday was the Christmas Parade and it was just wonderful. I do believe that all of Graham and surrounding towns came to watch the parade and most of the stores were open and had snacks and wassell for the customers. Life is great in Graham Texas!!

Click here for GHS Band

2011 Thanksgiving

2011-11-26T14:05:00.001-06:00

Hope every one had a great Thanksgiving.

Famous Turkey made it again this year.

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Love being with family.

Bathroom Redesign

2011-11-23T17:14:00.001-06:00

Before!!

Design on the walls

Painting

DONE!!!

Yea!!

2011 Thanksgiving

2011-11-23T04:23:00.001-06:00

Thanksgiving is almost here. Time to pull out the apron and start cooking. We are going to be a small group this year. My thought was to cut down on the cooking a bit. Whose favorite do you leave out? So here we go again; We are making it all!!! Leftovers until Christmas.

The day before we make the desserts.

Fruit salad - done

German Cheesecake - done

Snacks before dinner tonight. Then the Shish-kabobs.

LIFE IS AN ADVENTURE: Week before Thankgiving

2011-11-21T21:55:00.000-06:00

LIFE IS AN ADVENTURE: Week before Thankgiving: Last week should have been an easy week for fun and relaxing. Well that did not work out as I thought. Just when you think every thin...

Week before Thankgiving

2011-11-21T20:37:00.001-06:00

Last week should have been an easy week for fun and relaxing. Well that did not work out as I thought. Just when you think every thing is going to be easy....

Steve went goose hunting near Haskel Texas. Digging a hole to hide in and setting up decoy geese all around. Then in the early morning in cold weather waiting for the Geese to arrive and shoot them down. Sounds like a lot of work to me. Looking at the pictures I think every one had a good time.

My idea was to redo the bathroom while I have the time.Simple task I thought. Plan A did not workout. So I had yo go to plan B and that took twice as long. After two long days I was finally done.

So much for relaxing days.

Bathroom pictures coming soon.

Sausage Fest

2011-11-13T15:51:00.001-06:00

What a day. Everything was great.

To go tent.

Bulk sale tent

Inside group picture

Outside group picture

Time to start cooking

Looking good!!

Almost there

2011-11-12T17:34:00.001-06:00

Time to decorate. Everything looks beautiful.

New Hall

2011-11-12T13:20:00.001-06:00

Setting up table and chairs that arrived just in time.

Meanwhile others chopping wood for the grills.

Peach Cobblers

2011-11-12T13:11:00.001-06:00

Every one is chipping in today to make peach cobblers for the desserts.

Prepping for sauerkraut

Poppy Seed

2011-11-12T12:41:00.001-06:00

Baking Poppy Seed Cake for the bake sale at St. Mary's Sausage Fest on Sunday November 13th.

Sausage Fest

2011-11-11T17:13:00.001-06:00

St. Mary's Graham Texas

2011 Sausage Fest

Come join us on Sunday November 13th for our 33rd annual Sausage Fest. This year is going to be extra special because it will be the grand opening of our new hall and a fabulous new kitchen. If you have never been to sausage fest this is the year to go.

Our new hall.

New hall from the inside

After working over 8 hours they are still smiling.

Grinding the Sausage.

A lot of hard work every year. Every one gets involved; both young and old.

Here are some pictures from previous years.

Stuffing the sausage into the grinder.

learning

cutting the pork to fit in to the grinder

Bulk sales group

making sausage

getting more sausage

The "to go" tent

Parking crew

making mustard

making more mustard

Then there is the peach cobbler group that always does a fantastic job. We also have sauerkraut and mash potatos. So come on to Graham Texas St Mary's Catholic Church and enjoy.

One Week in Portland

2011-11-06T18:56:00.001-06:00

On October 25th we left for Portland OR to visit our three grandsons.We had a wonderful time.

This is our invitation to Grandparents day. This was one of the reasons we had to be there.

Coloring pumpkins

Halloween parade at school

We also were there in time to see

Luka's last soccer game for the year

and Alyosha's last soccer game.

Niki charmed grandpa in to (swing me please)!!

Who can resist this.

One afternoon we went to a Halloween party.

Luka is an excellent rock climber.

Niki had this all figured out.

Alyosha and his friend had a great time.

The next day off to the farm to see Farmer Don!

Farmer Don showing the children how to wash carrots.

We had to say hello to ???

Then a hay ride to the pumpkin patch

Hang on!!

Luka found a good one

Niki found one and is off for another one.

Dinner at home

Luka and Niki are good helpers. We are making turkey and vegtable mixed patties.

Time for carving pumpkins

The tongue is working harder then the knife

The end result was a pumpkin face, a ghost, a headless horseman and spooky hand.

Oh yes there is more.

On Halloween we drove to a freinds house for a halloween dinner and then off to trick or treat.

The gang is ready to Trick or Treat!!!

Niki had a lot of help!! Grandpa

Mama!!

Alyosha is almost to fast for us to keep up!!

Home checking out all the goodies.

WOW!!!!!

Here grandpa you can have one.

Disney on Ice

One evening we took all three boys to Toy Story 3 on ice

Yes Mickey Mouse was there also.

Then it is time to go home.

We had a wonderful time with every one. We did so much in just a few days.

Not much help to Jennifer who is almost 9 month pregnant! She kept up with us all of us. We hope that when we come back for the new baby (Boy or Girl) we can give her at some rest and peace.

Sun set from the plane going home.

2011 Portland October

2011-10-28T22:30:00.003-05:00

2011 Portland

Flying to Portland $$$$

Going to Disney on ice $$$

Seeing our grandson on Grandparents day: priceless!!!

Grandpa and Alosha ( Indiana Jones) working together.

Halloween parade