Linking up again with Lauren

1.     This is a 2 day work week for me..I could get use to this.  

2.    – 5.  The rest of my H 5 4Friday is all about last weekend. My side of the family (which is 3 brothers and families) since the death of my mom 7 years ago, have been getting together as a sort of “family re-union or better known as ALL BALLS”(long story)
We do it the weekend after father’s day.  We started out at my house, and each year have designated a different place to meet. We have family time, eat, play games, eat, sleep, visit, hang out by the pool, eat, shop, play golf, eat.
This year we were down in Sequin, Texas. It was extra special for me because I had all my little chicks in my BOO BASKET.......





Men, Men, Men, Manly man, man



The "girls" poolside

Jaycee and Annabelle in their new "skirts" - what beauties!!

Jaxson, Pops and Annabelle



Tio Chad and Miss Belle



Uh, excuse me, sir........

 

Jaxson and Cody - budding pool cousins



Cayla and Cody - June birthdays !



Tio/Dad Corey entertain a boat full !



OH, Pool boy........

The "weiner" award - Bill awards it to Gary - this is not an easy award to achieve (as I am sure you can tell by the title).....this is my husband's second time...Hmmmmm !

The "All Balls" award. The golf game started out as BOYS only, (hence the name ALL BALLS came about) But Cayla has "manned" up to the challenge and is the only girl to play( 2 years in a row now!). This year she captured the award. Way to go girl!

I was awarded the girls version - The WINER award !Thanks Robyn for selecting me !!

And last but not least award, THE FAMILY PLATE. We made this several years ago and it is passed from family to family. It has all our thumbprints on it from that year (2010). It is very special. Rene' passed it to Robyn for the Corey Wheat house to honor for a year.

Of course, it wouldn't be complete if we didn't squeeze in our annual

- TEXAS PRIDE -

family portrait!

Love me some family!

And the weekend draws to a close

The whole gang

Have a great FRIDAY ya’ll

Following one of my favorite bloggers with "It's OK Thursday"
http://pjgraves51.blogspot.com/

It's OK that I only have to work 2 days this week.

It's OK that I have been off my not on a diet, diet since last Friday.

It's OK that I ate peach cobbler for dinner.

It's OK that I painted my nails - PINK AND GRAY !!

It's OK that I have an inside job...it's gonna be a 102 today.

It's OK that I brought my IPAD to work to read "Fifty Shades Darker"

It's OK that I have been staring out my office window - day dreaming.......

It's OK that I am sitting here, at work, doing my blog.

Ya'll have a TERRIFIC THURSDAY !!!

 Linking up with Lauren from http://www.frommygreydeskblog.com/ for another

1.     This has been a quiet, very uneventful week. Hubby was out of town most of the week – so it has just been me and my puppy girls.  

Cappy

Samantha

Solo

2.    Love this (outside my office window)….it is so relaxing watching the birds!

3.    Caught up on all my shows that I had recorded… ......

 

JUNK GYPSY   

and of course, watched MY TEXAS RANGERS!

4.    Found this little item at my local CVS!! Can’t wait to give it a taste

SKINNY GIRL WINE........

5.     Four day work week (again) – looking forward to a long weekend with family down in south Texas. All my grand angels will be with me…..good times to come…..

Have a great FRIDAY ya’ll

Wordless Wednesday

Outside my office window.....

Today I am linking up with Jessica over at http://www.lovelylittlethingsblog.com/. She is so cute and I love her blog. Come join us, don't forget to stop and SMELL THE ROSES. This week, Jessica is asking "What has blogging done for you?"
here goes nuttin, honey...

I have only been blogging about 18mos. I am still fascinated by new blogs that I find everyday. My inspiration for becoming "one of those bloggers" was my youngest son. He has been blogging FOREVERRRRR and I read his blog everyday. He now lives in another state, so his blogs are very important to me. Sometimes it is how I find what they are up to (hint, hint....call your mother MORE) He has the "gift of gab" as my mother always said. The boy can write the words and I LOVE IT. Go read his blog and you will see why. http://crayonsandkeyboards.blogspot.com/

Now, I am not EVEN close to having all the buttons, the sponsors, the
giveaways and so on and so on. I still don't even understand how to do all that. I do most of my bloggin' at work (shhhh) so I am limited as to what my computer will do before I get one of those messages "NOT ALLOWED". Basically my blog is for my thoughts. It's what I have done, what I am gonna do, what I would like to do. It include things about my husband (I just love him) my two boys/their families (a mommas pride and joy) and of course, who could not include her 4 fabulous GRAND ANGELS...(grand kids).

I think blogging is a great way to gain knowledge and know how. I have learned about so many things, explored new places, found how alot of "how-to's", gotten some great party/gift ideas. I have meet some very interesting people along the way, people I may never meet face to face, but feel like they are my BFF's.

I guess you could say blogging is therapeutic for me. Sometimes when I start to blog about something, I realize I may be inserting my foot to my mouth and I stop.

I love when people stop by and leave me a message, I love when I get a new fellow blogger to "follow" me. Makes me feel special.

Blogging is a good thing.....

So, join with us and tell us "What has blogging done for you?"

Happy Monday !!

Happy Dad's Day

I have three of the most amazing men in my life. My husband - a top notch dad. He still amazes me in his ways. He was the best dad to my two (the other men in my life) boys. He taught them "stuff", he showed them "things", he listened, he disciplined, he got mad, he got happy, he was proud, he was disappointed, he worried (still does), he laughed, he cried,......he was the BESTEST dad in the whole world. Thank you honey, for a job well done!

My boys....the words can not express how so very proud of them I am. They have become such wonderful men, husbands and DADS. They have beautiful wives and those grand angels that have blessed me with- OH MY GOSH - I could eat them with a spoon.

Borrowed from http://bktribe.blogspot.com/

Happy Dad's Day to my three AMAZING, LOVING, men....

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE you all!!

Linking up again this week with Lauren.......

1.     Kitchen update – island put together, baseboards back in place.  Annnnnnnnnd even tho I am thinking I might want new light fixtures, I think hubby is moving on to other “honey-dos” for the time being – So here are the pics and WE ARE DONE !

2.    My youngest grand angel – Annabelle (she is 3) – has been taking dance/tap lessons. She had her first dance recital this week. They live in Maryland so I wasn’t able to be there.  Her dad sent these pictures….isn’t she a doll?  Boo and Pops love you to the moon and back, Miss AB…..

3.    Went to lunch earlier this week to Olive Garden, with a couple of my police buddies. The people sitting at the table next to us paid for our entire meal! The gentlemen stated he was a retired constable and knew the job the officers were doing was a dangerous one. They were so appreciative of the officers and wanted to thank them. Lucky me – I was with them!

4.    Gave blood – did you know 1 donation saves 3 lives? I am regular blood donor and even head up the blood drive for work twice a year. I think it is a wonderful and easy thing to do. Someday you or a loved one might be the one in need.

5.     Four day work week – enough said

Have a great FRIDAY ya’ll

 Linking up with Cole today - this is my first 3 on Thursday..let's see how I do.
This week's topic: Things you like best/worst about being your age.

She actually wants 4 - 2 you like best and 2 you like worst

BEST:

KNOW MY LIMITS: I like being a grandmother at my age. I still feel I am young enough to keep up with my 4 grand angels (most days) yet old enough to know my limits.

SPEAK MY MIND: Even tho - for the most part - I think before I speak I don't have a problem telling people what I think. I don't like to be treated as if I am a nobody and don't have a mind of my own.
Not to say that has always been the case. I have had times where I spoke and then I turn into Homer Simpson - DOH.....

WORST: 

SPEAK MY MIND: See above. I regret that I have probably hurt someone's feelings or made them feel bad because I do tend to speak my mind. I'm working on it.

PHYSICAL STRENGTH: Seems the older you get, the more things "don't work like they use to".  I am in awe when I see people in the 80's and 90's that have such amazing physical (and mental) strength. I know it is up to me and I am trying to get there....but it is hard.

Ok...your turn.....it's harder than you think !

 Linking up with Cole from http://allthesmallstuff-cole.blogspot.com/

SODA CAKE

I found this recipe on a Weight Watchers site and have done it many times. It's so simple you think it can't possibly work. It does and it is good.

One cake mix - any flavor - your choice
One 12oz can of diet soda (or if you prefer, the real thing)

Mix together well. Batter will be a little lumpy. Pour into a well greased (I use a spray oil to coat the pan and then a little flour) pan. Cook on 325 until cake is done (20-25mins). The cake won't rise to a "normal" height, but is done when a clean toothpick is revealed. Remove from oven, let cool before removing from pan.

I have done this with Big Red and a Strawberry cake mix. I have used Diet Coke with a chocolate cake mix. The combinations are endless and they are really good. Even hubby gives it a thumbs up.

Linking up again with Kate and Kati

for the GOOD, the BAD and the UGLY....

 

For the most part, I must say - my weekends are always good. They seem to fly by and before I know it - it's that dreaded day of the week - MONDAY.

 

MY good, bad and ugly all have to do with just one thing this past weekend - PLUMS....

 

 

Last week hubby picked plums from our plum tree. 10+lbs of plums. I brought quiet a few to my co-workers, we ate some - but still I had @8lbs left over. So I decided I would make jelly. Now I have made jelly in the past with my grandmother, my mom and even my mother-in-law. But never have I attempted such a task on my own....OMGosh......3 1/2 hours later - I have 12 jars (and some left over in a bowl) of homemade plum jelly.....I AM EXHAUSTED! I told my husband, never do I want to live like the pioneer women of the past...give my WAL-MART anyday of the week!

I managed a few pics.......

before:

 

I got so caught up in the cooking that I forgot to take pics during

after

Had to "bath" the jars when finished (this seals the tops - who knew??)

 

I had plum juice all over the counter, the stove, me, the sink, floor, the dogs (they were under my feet all day), dishtowels............

EVERY WHERE !!!

 

Finished product

 

I am proud that I completed the task and hubby gave a big thumbs up to the finished product! (that makes it all worthwhile)

 

Once again I am linking up with Lauren - http://www.frommygreydeskblog.com/

1.     First week with no students – it has been vewry, vewry quiet at the office, a scary quiet…but I am not complaining – I can do this for a few months.

2.    Kitchen update – new stove installed.

     Understand, in my house, nothing is EVER simple. We picked it up first thing Saturday morning, but because of all our other commitments, hubby didn’t get around to installing it until late Sunday evening. Old one out – new one in;  BUTTTTTTTT – when he goes to attach the  PLUG, guess what - they sent the wrong wiring ! What – are you kidding me??  Luckily and because my hubby is super smart – he took the one off the old one and was able to use it on the new one!!  It was midnight before he finished, but he did and I can’t wait to cook  “sumptin”  Thank you honey !!  Updated pics next week…

3.    Four of my co-workers retired this year. 

Henry, Vic, Harold and Chris

On Monday we had a retirement celebration (happy hour if you will – but we can’t actually put that in our email invites at work) So happy for all of them and jealous too. They all came to this department after me and are leaving before me – what’s wrong with that picture?

Good luck guys and gals - I'm gonna miss ya!

4.    Solo –

     our newest dog baby seems to be settling in very well. She still isn’t sure about the cat. She turns her head side to side and then paws at her. She was a little taken back by the horse too. I think she thinks that the cat is one TINY dog and that the horse is one really BIG dog.

The other two are accepting her and we are becoming one big happy family !!

5.    And last, but not least, I made my first visit to . I know for those of you that have been there you are thinking, “What rock did you just crawl out from under?” Understand the closet one to me is an hour and half away. You have to go on a tollway,through the most frustrating roadway detours and construction. So I just haven’t done it. But with my new kitchen underway – I wanted an island.  Searching high and low – is where I found a couple that sparked my interest.

                                    

Sooooooooooooo – yesterday I talked (pleaded actually) with my husband into taking a road trip with me. OMGosh…..I am in love. It is a good thing it is so far away. I found my island, plus a few other items.

I could have had so much more, but we were in the car – not the truck ! I did manage

to make a decision...

 

and believe me - it was gonna fit in the car.....one way or the other....

But next time……oh yea!!!

Have a great FRIDAY ya’ll