This & That

Ah…., Monday.  Oops I mean Tuesday!  Reality kicks back in. We had such a fun weekend with family. You know how it is, weddings and funerals are the only time you have the chance to see some family due to time, distance & commitments.  A few of my husbands cousins were in from Ohio and PA.  We had 2 days together, talking, eating and laughing as they relived childhood memories & we created new.

But real life kicks back in…

The boys helped me clear over half of the underbrush in the back where I will place the compost bins…hot and stick it was about 86 with super high humidity…we stopped before we melted and cooled off with popsicles. 

The wild blackberries are ripening.  Mr. Fix-It has been donning long sleeves, jeans & boots every few evenings and picking what he can. He’s gone out 2 evenings and harvested a bit over 2 gallons

This was last nights haul….he said they are just starting to ripen & we’ll both need large buckets when they fully ripen.  I believe this batch will be blackberry jam.

Mike and Jessie brought us a few of their berries as a thank you when they picked up the boys &

 

thrilled Mr. Fix-It with a cobbler.

Since the oven was already on, I used some fresh picked zucchini and made a few loaves of

Chocolate zucchini bread. It weighs a ton but is soooo good! 

Green beans are calling my name to be harvested this morning.  Since it’s already 78 degrees and they are calling for high 90s I’m heading out to get that done.  Jessie is popping in to help me can some this morning/afternoon.  I have a feeling I’m going to regret not being out at first light!

Have you harvested much this year?

Katie

Technorati Tags: Katidids,blackberries,harvesting,canning,garden,gardening

We Got The “Big Man” This Week!

And we’re storing up as many memories as we can. Hayden is in Indiana having Grandma & Grandpa Time!  Last week was spent with Adams parents and this week is ours, then he heads back to SC.

I HATE having him so far away!

This is one evening I won’t forget! We went out for ice cream, perfect for a hot humid evening right?

Um, not so much. 

The ice cream started melting like water dripping from a faucet. It didn’t set up properly.  Then a nice breeze started…..I turned around and found a very chocolate covered boy! This photo was taken after he was partially cleaned up.  Imbiggin the photo and you’ll see his arms and shirt are covered

I laughed so hard….and so did he. Grandpa? Not so much, it was his truck we were riding in.   A few squirts of dish soap and his shirt is good as new.

It’s been a fun week, I’ve decided 16 mo Grand daughter Alixandria is part monkey.  She will climb anything but her all time favorite is a kitchen table.  And she’s not picky…any table will do, her mama’s, mine…yours if you let her in the house.  We can have the chairs all pushed in, come back less than a minute later and there she is….happy as a clam sitting on the table…talk about blood pressure check!

One thing I’ll say about this child is she has her own opinion on fashion

So far this week we’ve built roads,excavated through the rock

learned drink from the water hose…

and in the afternoons when it’s to hot & humid to play outside we watch a

Disney movie….

Because we are not tired and don’t need a nap…

The garden?

I’ve been out a few times

But I have more important things to do this week…like sidewalk chalk, more roads, building fairy houses….

Have a wonderful week, I know we will.

Katie

Technorati Tags: Katidids,family

We Got the KEYS!!!!!

And inherited a mess!  The prior owners were 2 days late moving out (we closed Thursday morning)… sent her daughter to drop the keys off and took off.. We quickly sent Erika a text with a photo of the keys…. she was there before we had the door unlocked  Since she currently lives 1.5 miles away and the little house is less than 200 feet from our back door…that was quick!

When we unlocked the door, we quickly realized why they left so fast…the place was a MESS!

We cleaned cat hair 2 inches thick out of one room & the smell was as bad as you are imagining  GROSS! Curtains we thought were gold-ish beige were actually white…at the top. the rest was covered with cat hair.  We were worried there was urine in the floors  and they would need to be replaced but, cleaned and emptied it was fine

We’d agreed to purchase some furniture which was left but so was e.v.e.r.y.t.h.i.n.g. else they couldn’t take in 6 carloads.  Yes, 6 carloads of personal items is all they took. The prior owner had made arrangements to have help moving with a truck but, upon confirming her help was still good to go…. the folks all backed out.  Seems she neglected to tell them she was moving to Tennessee !!SERIOUSLY..she was upset they backed out!

Goodwill was our friend today.  We didn’t even free-cycle this time. Years of “stuff”.  It all just needed to be gone fast.

6pm Saturday we got the keys & worked till 9-10 pm and all day today with the help of some awesome family Mike and Jessie and Mr. Fix-It’s cousin Mike.  They worked their rear ends off and we really appreciated the help.

.  We need to wash the windows again but it’s clean & Erika can start moving in now.  The bathroom needs a bit of work so that will hold up them actually living here for a few days yet. With the delay in getting the keys it shot having the repairs finished over the weekend.

All things left behind

Standing in the dining room looking into the living room

I seriously doubt the windows have been opened for 10 years or more.  We’ve never seen them open...  The blinds? NEVER!  The first thing I did was open them all over the entire house.  The windows have been washed no less than 3 times and I’m not sure they are clean yet.  They looked as if they had a tinted film (UGH).

It’s a sweet little house with an open floor plan on the entire front of the house & It’s now warm, clean and inviting!

2 huge bedrooms and a bathroom take up the back of the house.  We will be adding an addition of a 3rd bedroom (this summer) on the end of the living-room area.  The door way to it, will be on the end wall (closest to the inside wall) and unfortunately,  she will loose that window. 

Tomorrow we’ll start moving her things in and finding homes for everything.  Since most of her household was ruined when the city sewer backed up it will be a pretty easy move.  Other than a truck for a few bits of furniture, most we can move in her van or my Santa Fe.  On the positive side they can start out pretty  much clutter free!

Oh, and the bushes got trimmed hehehehe, have to show you photos of those tomorrow.  It’s 1 am & I’m crawling off to bed

Hope your weekend was as good as ours!

Katie

Technorati Tags: Katidids,Little House,Property,family,cleaning out

Happy Easter

Late I know!

We had a house full for Easter, nearly bursting at the seams.

Rachel and Hayden were here & is that boy ever growing! The move to S.C. has been great as far as school goes.  The special needs classes are focused on education with skill building not just warehousing & boy howdy does it show!  The classes seem to focus on the needs and enhancing the abilities of each individual child not the typical “lets learn this song” we’d seen before.

Friday night we had taco’s, I know, it should have been fish but Haden asked for Tacos so….what could I do but say yes!

Erika and her 3 Isaiah, Evie & Alix filled the sleeper sofa and a pallet …our BIL Mike took Isaiah’s room. (I’m so thankful for the second bathroom!)

After services we shared a big breakfast and the boys played hard enough they put themselves down for a rest!

It was fun to listen and watch them play, I would see the bits of my children’s personalities that had filtered down to their children

Supper was shared as a pitch-in with with Mr.Fix-Its family. Our contribution was a large crock pot of mashed potato’s. 10 pound potato’s were pealed and boiling quickly with 3 of us working together…..LOOK WHAT we found  inside one potato! 

 

Those subtle reminders of grace ….from a simple man who gave all on the cross

Hope your Easter was as blessed as ours

Katie

Technorati Tags: Katidids,Family,Easter

 

Playing With Color

Our son Aaron has been asking for a quilt for quite awhile.  I’ve had in mind a land scape or rather, a beach scape for him as he LOVES the beach & the climate.  It’s one of the main reasons he’s stayed in San Diego after leaving the Navy. My thoughts are hills in the background, beach in the foreground with a rock formation and then the ocean showing the tide flowing out to sea. His favorite beach to run with his dog. I can see it… and almost smell the salty air.  But I know I need to work my quilting skills back up to where they were…that and, I want to have a flannel board for the piecing.

  When I was explaining all this to him he said “Mom, that sound really great but in the mean time, could I just get a home made quilt?”!. And of course my heart just swelled….my baby boy wants a blankie…a Mama made blankie!  . 

He rarely asks for anything…so after sending a few e mails back and forth with various quilt patterns, he chose a “Friendship Braid”

Friendship Braid Quilt photo taken from Pinterest

There are so many variations and this simple style is what he chose….queen size! In earthy colors…think beach and mountains. After stash diving I realized I was pretty shy of oranges/golds and brown so over the weekend I took advantage of a few fabric sales and picked up a few. 

My “plan” is to sash between the strips in a royal navy with an overall border of the deeper green.  But, since it’s a queen size and will take f.o.r.e v.e.r,  I’m thinking to add a 10-12inch landscape border on the bottom with pine trees & blue sky. 

One benefit of all the colors is using up all those odd thread colors I have.

Once I had his approval of the color choices, I started cutting strips this afternoon and had 1/3 of it cut out when it was time to start supper.

Tonight was spaghetti…sauce canned from our summer tomato’s, meat was half (hubby hunted) venison and half (bought 1/2 a beef this fall for an average $1.20 lb)  Pasta I bought on sale this past summer in bulk for .69 a lb. If I don’t count the jars and lids/power It was a meal for 5, for roughly $1.50 with enough sauce left over for lasagna tomorrow night.

Woot! More sewing time! Which I’m going to need every bit I can get with spring right around the corner. Which, for you means there will be quite a few progress posts in your near future!

Think Spring!

Katie

Technorati Tags: Katidids,quilting,projects,family,handmade,homemade/handmade

 

Last Minute Sewing

 

The photo is a bit off in the colors, those are bright red bandana’s not pink!  Isaiah needed a quilt for his bed but he’s 9 & at that awkward in between age…not the “little boy” anymore but not a teen.  He loves cowboys and trucks so I thought this was a good middle of the road. Especially when you hear….Grandma, will you make me a quilt?

The plan is to add a few bandana throw pillows and a valance also of bandana’s.

I can’t wait to see his face Christmas morning.  I love giving and receiving homemade gifts & this one was so quick and easy.  I picked up the bandana’s at Hobby Lobby when I went to town and used the 40% coupon so the .99 bandana’s were .60 cents each.  I picked up a few blankets at Wally world on sale for about $5.00 and used one of those. It makes a nice mid-weight batting only super tight.  The backing is a nice heavy, red and blue plaid sheet.  With thread I have less than $13.00 invested.

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With recent changes in the DOT towing laws, Larry had to get a CDL to tow larger trailers from the manufacturer to the dealership. My understanding is its needed anytime he’s in a tow rig with a customer now. Anyway, He took classes part time (he’s towed for years) and tested just fine. But, in order to be sure he was understanding the logs he needs to keep…..(sure I believe that) he’s been offered to tandem drive with the trucking company anytime he wants…..in all his spare time LOL! Well, for us this is the quietest time of the year.   SO,  Tuesday afternoon he was off on a road trip in a semi and back Thursday night. Over 4500 miles and he was grinning from ear to ear like a little kid.   They left KC. right ahead of the snow storm and stayed ahead of it all the way to Louisville. As happy as he still was when he got home…..I think I see many more trips in the near future!

*****************************************

Most of the gifts are wrapped, the house is half clean..need to get cracking on that.  Rachel, Adam and Hayden will be driving in tomorrow night from South Carolina.  They seem to have settled in well & Hayden is excelling in school.  I think he has 10 children in his class so it’s a 5-1 teaching ratio!  One thing l really like about South Carolina is they do not have “special needs” children.  They have EXCEPTIONAL children!!!! From what Rachel has said that it the total attitude they have encountered.  He was slotted to be in one class but after meeting and talking with him they moved him to a different school & the perfect class.  He’s happier now than I’ve seen him in a long time.  God Bless who ever invented SKYPE.

We hated to see them move from 2 hours away to 8-9 but, it was the right decision

Evie just LOVES her cousin Hayden and was thrilled with the surprise chat. I don’t think her Mama has told her they will be here so it will be fun to hear her yell MY HAYDEN when she sees him tomorrow night!!!

************************************

We’re still in process of trying to buy the house next door.  The owner wants about 30K more than the property appraises.  Once we come to an agreement it will close quick.  We have the funding in place and she wants out by the 9th of …..JANUARY!  Nothing like pushing it to the last  minute.  We have the RV show the last week of January and would love to have Erika moved by mid month.  Tonight, we gave her our final price so, we will see what happens.  Please keep your fingers & toes crossed for us….a prayer or two sure would be appreciated.

Wishing you all a blessed and wonderful Christmas!

Katie

Technorati Tags: Katidids,Christmas,gifts,quilting,family

Bye Bye November!

What a crazy month it’s been! I’ve quite a bit to catch up on..

The hunters have been hunting

Isaiah had his first hunting trip this year!

He’s been begging to go for the past 2 years and always has a left behind puppy dog look when the guys leave for the weekend.  He’s helped with butchering since he could walk, helped load and unload gear, helped walk and scout the hunting areas…every step but actually hunting.

Think he looks a tad excited to go? 

Mr. Fix-It was preparing to go after Thanksgiving supper…tossed Isaiah a bag and said here, “you might need this”…(the bag contained thermal coveralls) & you could see those mental wheels were turning by the look on his face. He looked at me and asked what are these for? (hoping… hoping).  I had to tease him more and said well, “you know you needed good snow gear, you’ve outgrown everything”.  Then Mr. Fix-It asked him “where’s your boots?”  He was tossed extra hats, given long johns, gloves, etc…All extra “stuff” he/Mr. Fix-It found in his gear bag.

Poor Isaiah, you could tell he didn’t want to ask to go again.  About the time he was ready to pop grandpa had mercy & said since he seemed to have enough gear of his own he should come with them.  We heard…” really?  Really? REALLY?!?!?!  I get to go? 

I GET TO GO HUNTING!!!!”

Of course he had to try everything on.

  I’ve been watching thrift stores for kid gear and have yet to find anything!  I think boys are much harder on winter gear than girls

Evie was so excited for him but had no idea why LOL!

 

  Uncle Mury played along when he got there, made him go through the list of gear to make sure he was ready.  It was to funny and his reaction was priceless!

The return smile was just as big.

He stayed by grandpa’s side harnessed in to a tree stand acting as spotter (when he didn’t fall asleep LOL!)  He said it was cold out but he was plenty warm & wants to go again….so although there was no deer…

we count the trip as a success.

Technorati Tags: Katidids,hunting,Isaiah,Thanksgiving,family

Sending Some Shades of Home

To Aaron.

Talking with my son who lives in San Diego the other day he made comment he missed seeing the season change.

 

I thought I’d send him some fall flavor.

San Diego may have beaches and sun shine but, I know it doesn’t have color like home.

I had a couple of willing helpers collect a basket of fall for him.  It took them about an hour because they wanted special pretty leaves

and were very proud of the assortment selected

So, Unco Awin,

here is your basket full of shades of fall with lots of hugs and kisses mixed in

We miss you

and are waiting for you to come play “destroy the domino’s” again

The Little People

The Big People too…

but if you make a mess with the domino’s  you have to clean it up!

Mom

Technorati Tags: Katidids,Fall,Family

When was the last time

you ran and played like a child

As adults we often are to cautious and wait to see what happens in life

as if joy and happiness are limited and we’re afraid to use it up

I think joy begets joy

So take a few minutes every day

Don’t think about who may be watching or what others may think

Play like the children did yesterday &

Laughed with carefree abandon

Where did you find joy today?

Katie

Technorati Tags: katidids,family,finding joy

 

Behind

In everything it seems

.When ever I get off track in one part of my life it seems to follow to others. I’d like to get back in the routine of blogging & it’s a matter of organizing my time….and organized I’m not!  Routines this year have gone out the window and I desperately need to get back on track. 

This past month has been spent trying to catch up meeting myself coming and going…I think we’re all that way at times.  So I decided to stop trying to catch up and just move on with it.  Where I am other wise I’ll always feel behind.

There have been so many of you that have asked about my son’s recovery and I’m pleased to say he’s doing well.  Very well. We knew his head injury was potentially life changing but I also knew he did not really understand how bad it was…until he visited the VA Dr.  Who, proceeded to explain his injury is classified as in the top 5% worst head trauma.    When AJ walked into the office unassisted the Doc was shocked.  He explained with this type of injury most need assistance dressing, eating walking etc. & told him her was a walking miracle & That Aaron had resumed full time classes after the injury floored him.  Are there side effects from the injury?  Yes.  Staying focused or the ability to focus has been impacted.  His calculus class in which he had a 4.0…lets just say he’s taking over.  his balance is effected somewhat.  No alcohol, a toast of champagne at his sisters wedding had the world spinning.   Yes, he was cleared to fly 3 days before the wedding so he was here. 

What a gift to his sister!

Rachel, New Son in Law Justin, Danielle, Erika & Aaron

He was only able to be here for 2 days but, he was here.  Flew in Friday night and we took him back to the airport Sunday afternoon

Bitter sweet to say the least but it was wonderful to see him.

Well the days to-do list is pretty long so I better get busy.  Have a great Monday

Katie

 

 

Technorati Tags: Katidids,faily,weddings

What a difference a week makes

...And what an emotional roller coaster it’s been….Last Friday night we got a 1am call no parent wants to receive Our son who lives in San Diego was in the UCSD Medical center …ICU Trauma Unit.  They were on his motorcycle (with helmets) merging onto the freeway and hit a mattress left in the road. With traffic, there was no avoiding it and down they went. His girlfriend Bri, we think rolled off the bike, she had a quite a bit of road rash on her lower back where the riding jacket slid up and quite a few bruises.

When we spoke to those in the trauma unit checking on his condition I let them know I would be flying in Saturday the first flight I could get & they said no….you have to wait.    Ummmm what? WAIT?  WHY!!    Because as next of kin I had to be available to authorize any possible emergency surgery needed..and I couldn’t do that if I was in flight.  I flew in Sunday expecting all the nasty “road rash” & broken bones  which come with bike wrecks, I had the attitude if I visualized the worst any thing less would be wonderful.

Boy was I shocked when I saw him.  He had 2 black/purple eyes  Johnny Depp would be proud of, the backs of  his hands were pretty raw but looking at him, that was it.   Best they can figure he flipped over the handle bars and landed on the back of his head and left shoulder breaking his collar bone.  On his back he has a touch of road rash which a week later is nearly healed.  

 What you can’t see is, both temporal bones are broken, the bones above and below his left eye (I believe are the orbital bones), a fracture at the base of his scull and significant hearing loss in his left ear. 

Because of the frontal lobe trauma, Initially we were give a pretty scary recovery….as in long term care rehab facility…we were looking at all the options, he couldn’t fly because of the head trauma so bringing him home was not an option…and his recovery would be best in an area he was last familiar with….living here for a while? I was scared to say the least…

Less than a week later he was discharged from the hospital,(with constant massive headache’s) on his own 2 feet, grumbling talking, reading and resuming modified activities . We have our son back…a more determined and stubborn stronger version.  He knows how blessed he is, and we all are so very thankful for all the prayers, good wishes and positive energy sent his way. Healing will be a long rough & rocky road & he's on his way one step at a time

Believe it or not, he started back in classes today….

17 credit hours.

Thank you is just not enough.

I’m sure he had better plans for his spring break!

Give those you love a big

Katie

Framing Is

Progressing!  As of tonight, We have the 2  main interior walls framed!

Not only that but we found the top of the concrete basement wall so we were able to plan the exact floor level to allow plumbing & heat ducting.  Sounds as if were going about this bas-akward I know.  The prior owner had at one time a basement leak so, he dug out all around and poured a second basement wall, then re-walled the main floor….so from the exterior, you couldn’t tell where the floor we are joining to was located.  We could have just cut the new entry but, we don’t have the exterior door on yet…..we needed to set the darn floor level!  But, we have it now so we can move forward!  He didn’t say it but, I think Larry was worried we would end up needing to punch through to the existing living space.

We’re at that awkward point, the exterior is up & painted, the interior is framed but it also cuts out a lot of natural light.  We have one light fixture in…kind of a redneck porch light inside the addition (so we don’t trip over anything) as the evening wears on we will have to set up the big glaring work lights. 

Chris & Erika came over Sunday and said “can we help?”  A resounding YES! and they were handed paint brushes and put to work applying the first coat to the exterior & working on the tan This supervisor took her job seriously!Until she was caught napping on the job!

I think we all envied her …shade and a breeze.

Erika had the stitches removed.  It’s healing pretty well but, she will need repair to the interior of her lip.  She has large knots of tissue that will need to be minimized or they will cause problems down the road. 90+ degrees meant mandatory pool breaks were in order Compost boy looks heartbroken right?

Such a tough life!

Technorati Tags: constuction,kids

Stepping Back

Once in a while everyone comes to a point when they have to just step back and as my friend Rhonda says, “close the gate”. My “closing the gate” may not be the same but, I’m finding I need to step back for a bit.

We’ve had a few challenges that have set us on our heals and seriously shaken us to the core leaving us both feeling very hurt and emotionally battered. I’m finding its become unstoppable, like a huge wave, flowing into and affecting all other aspects of our lives. We both are having a difficult time focusing or sleeping. I’m having a difficult time maintaining commitments I’ve made. As a moderator on the Down_To_Earth Forum (I haven’t been able to do for a week) and the Ruby e-zine article I’m 2 weeks late with. Both are such wonderful & joyful places to be a part of.

With a lot of prayer, & supporting each other we’re taking baby steps to move forward but, needing to let some things go, at least for a little while.

We have for the past 10 years co-chaired what is called the Advent Project at our parish. To our family this project is our Christmas, interviewing those in need, coordinating sponsors with recipients of a pantry restock & gifts of clothing & toys for children. This year we have scaled back and only have 50 families sponsored. When we found ourselves making comments such as, let’s just get through this year we knew we had to make a few personal changes. Everything else we do is set aside for now as this needs to be done with a good spirit & joy in our hearts. Anything less would not be right and in fact be a disservice.

Tomorrow night is Advent Eve for us, all the groceries & gifts will be brought to church and Saturday morning will be delivery day.

So, we’re stepping back …. and closing the gate on everything for a bit, trying to find our balance.

Yesterdays Fun Finds

Yesterday I had errands that took me from one side of Louisville to the other, with a few added stops in between. Fun stops, its gotten to the point I think my little car’s stopping at thrift stores on its own !

My oldest daughter Danielle loves “Tea Cups” so I’m always on the lookout for cheap good buys on them.This is what I found yesterday……for $1.00!

I have yet to identify the pattern, so please give a holler if you know, however I did find a bit of information on the Colclough Company here. Dani as we call her, works as a residential therapist at a Psychiatric Residential Treatment Center for Adolescents and Children. Long shifts, lots of highs and lows. She has worked nights for quite a few years & finally just switched to days. She’s learning all about sunlight again! The cup is just a fun way to help celebrate her new hours.

One of my other stops was the fabric store. Well, I coupons..for 40 & 50 % off…I couldn’t let them go to waste!

Plus flannel was on SALE!

I picked up a few new boyish prints, could be PJ’s for Isaiah and diapers for another little man

For our Diva Miss Evelyn I found this cute owl print pinwale corduroy…super soft, I’m think it will make a warm little pinafore for for this winter. I almost missed it then the bolt some how jumped into my cart……

No I didn’t think you’d believe it but it was just to cute to pass up. Besides I still had my 50% off coupon to use and I couldn’t let it go to waste! Its my duty to help boost the economy!

Garden Updates

Mr Fix~it has a cousin JM whom we just love to pieces.

Just like a brother, would do anything for you

goes out of his way to help,

picks up tools for Mr Fix~it he finds at bargain prices

because someday....you might need need a "widget" to fix that "thingie"

You set him to plan something out & you will have the most comprehensive,

time, money, labor-saving project there could be...

He's like a dog on point.....extreme focus

Sometimes, that's good

Sometimes, its not.

Sometimes I want to hurt him.....

Like the other day......

Mr Fix~it said "MJ, could you follow me in my truck"

MJ, took this seriously, took the shortest & most efficient route...

which did not apparently include backing up in the driveway 5 ft behind him

Instead, he took the most direct route....

across the field and

through my little garden!

Not up the rows......

diagonal, across all the rows

all

6 wheels....

through

the garden

We cleaned up the rows

replanted..

I left the tracks

maybe I can guilt him into helping me weed!

I'm sure it will be funny

in a few years~

Birthday Suprises!

Wednesday, Mr Fix~it gave me flowers

My favorite kind,

a riot of

Colorful,

Bright,

Cheerful,

FUN!

The occasion?

My Birthday!

I had a wonderful surprise supper with friends and family

Some really great gifts, they know me sooo well!

This butterfly for my garden?

A few weeks ago,

We had stopped in at Cracker Barrel with Larry's parents,

They noticed me drooling over it

and remembered

Oh, all the stepping stones?

When we put this garden in my bonus Granddaughter Raven was "helping" me.....

a few (OK, a lot!) plants were getting trampled.....

so where ever her little legs could hop,

is where I placed a stone.

The chunk of 2x4?

That is courtesy of Buddy....

any loose piece of wood,

stick

2x4

tree branch....

well, you get the idea.

Lets just say....

we never run short of kindling for the fire pit.

My gift from Mr Fix~it & the girls?

They made me cry....

A round trip ticket to visit my family in Calif this fall!

I can't tell you how long its been since I've seen my Mom & sisters,

8-10 yrs?

I'm not telling them I'm coming,

just going to knock on Moms door and ask for a cup of coffee.

Did you get that?

Round trip?

I get to come home!

Pretty awesome birthday!