Happy Thanksgiving

And this little face with her outfit says it better than I could begin to.

I have spent the most wonderful three days with Julia. Kel and Len you cannot begin to realize what these three days have meant to me...thank you for entrusting me with your wonderful little girl, it has been a pleasure.

As I sat in the rocking chair feeding Julia, I watched her little nose move at every suck of the bottle, her hands wrap around the bottle and her smile as she caught me looking at her, I totally understood what another new grandma said to me. 'You cannot believe how much you can love your grand babies'. It is so true, the feeling was just so overwhelming and unexplainable. It is something to think that a person that I had a hand in bringing into this world has just helped to bring someone else into the world..someone who is quite perfect if I do say so myself! There is nothing more satisfying than having that little one recognize your voice and your face followed by the charming smile..it is awesome. In just the few days that we have been here she has changed. She has discovered her hands. They are often in her mouth or batting at a toy. She 'talks' and even laughs out loud (we have already begun grandma's secrets), she holds her head up and will soon be rolling over. She has begun to entertain herself just looking at her surroundings, playing with her hands or babbling to herself. I will bore you with words no more but I do have some pictures to share, are you surprised. And Bugs...I didn't do anymore pinching and we got along just fine!ha ha.

We ended our stay at the Leonard hotel with a yummy Thanksgiving meal thanks to Kel. She cooked up turkey with veggies, mashed potatoes, buns and the always loved raspberry cheesecake and pumpkin pie.

There goes the fist right in the mouth looking for that thumb

Wrapping her little hands around her bottle
Julia and mom relaxing-well one of them was relaxing...
The apple doesn't fall far from the tree...another computer person in the family?
Len demonstrating the Wii Fit...what do you think about his yoga stance Jen?
Tomorrow we start our journey to Texas in our little bedroom on wheels.

First Day 'On The granny Job'

My 'shift' began at noon yesterday and I walked into a smiling happy baby. In a few hours time I managed to have a very unhappy crying baby! Oh the Grandma touch huh?! Julia does not like a wet or dirty diaper, gas, the hick ups or to be hungry....none of which seemed to be the trouble yesterday so she cried...and I mean CRIED for about an hour. It makes a person (especially a grandma) feel so helpless. It is one thing if she would have been just crabby but no this was the wail of 'something is not right in my world. She finally settled down and a few hours later I cleaned a very messy diaper. So I say that was the problem...not that she wanted mommy or daddy and not gramma...I refuse to believe that. However it could be true.

So this morning my shift began at 8am and this is the baby I have so far-
And a frosty sunrise over looking the field behind Len and Kel's house.

It has been a lot of years since I have woken up in the morning in this house.

The 'Suite' On Wheels

Here she is our home away from home and where we will be spending a large share of our time the month of December.


The kitchen.....
The closet....
Toilet.....oh and shower.....
Loi's bed.....Peeko and our bedroom....
What more does one need huh? Wait, this isn't for just one...we are going to fit three and a dog in this suite on wheels....interesting but fun!

We are taking a leisurely drive to Texas to visit Ry, Jen and the new grand-baby,(beware guys here we come!) followed by a leisurely drive back home again. We plan on making a few stops along the way....in Branson to spend two days with our friends Mikey and Jan. They have all kinds of plans for us including a few shows. Did I mention that David's mom will be traveling with us and Peeko as well? Tack will be staying at my friend Mary and Yoni's house. Thank you dear friends.

I will certainly blog along the way.

Before the trip I get the pleasure of spending three days with Julia while her mom and dad work this week. I can't wait...is she old enough to spoil yet???? Pictures of those three days to come as well...stay tuned.

Opening Weekend

Last weekend was the first weekend of deer hunting with a gun. The weather was a bit cool and we had a dusting of snow on the ground as well as signs that we have buck in our woods. David, who got that nice doe with a bow a few weeks back got lucky and brought this 11 point (with a 16 1/8 inch spread) buck down as well.
This big boy weighed in at 198 pounds and was 10 pounds from being first place in the 'Big Buck Contest' in a near by town.

A huge foot

On a nice big buck. Does he look happy and proud?Lenny and Kelly were here as well...Lenny didn't do so well BUT I sure had a wonderful time just being grandma. In fact I found myself feeling like my mom as I spent time in the kitchen cooking, baking and doing dishes which is what she spent her time doing during the hunting season for us...it was quite nice.

I didn't spend all of my time in the kitchen however. I had three days of holding, feeding, changing and all around adoring Julia. She is a pumpkin. It is amazing how you can just fall in love with those little bundles. The day that they left I missed her terribly!
Sharing pictures of my little bundles-
In grandma's arms sleeping peacefully


In her swing...a life saver her mom and dad say.The most adorable little smile. Something that she does a lot of

Looking at her momma. She certainly knows her momma and daddy. When they are in the room she is always looking for them. But hey, she loves grandma as well...and may even like grandpa some too....haha

All They Needed

Was a great cheerleader....

And here she is...Julia Bernice the Vikes cheerleader and it worked, they won.

Her momma was a cheerleader, like mother like daughter?

And our little pumpkins and their firsts

Julia and Abigail's first Halloween

Julia
Abigail and her spooky daddy....just kidding Ry

Dezbah and her first trick or treating experience

The kids are great about sending us photos keeping us up to date on the grand kids since we live a good way away from them all...thanks guys.

You Were Right Jan

Received this from my friend Jan who knew that I couldn't resist putting it on my blog.

This picture says it all...and very smartly I might add..what a great message and a cute little face. With three granddaughters you can bet I would LOVE to get my hands on three shirts like this...beware parents I am on the hunt!

She Makes Me Smile

Julia and Daddy 'passed out' after a long day of work....Julia kept her mom busy all day and Lenny is resting from a long day at work.

In her car seat ready to go to her doctor appointment.

More to come....

Three Years Ago Today

I became a survivor. It has been three years since Dr Deaconson removed my cancer. Every year on this day I send him an email to thank him and blog so that I can thank all of you who have supported me during my journey.

Looking back just for fun...

On another note...last night David decided to sit in the deer stand in the wind and snow to see if he could see anything. After about an hour he came back having gotten a nice doe with his bow. She was about 20 yards away and it was a clean good shot.

Here he is with his deer and the arrow that brought her down...does he look proud?

A few nights ago we looked out to see a heard of deer IN MY GARDEN! They munched away on the radishes, cabbage, broccoli and ate the flowers. Mary, I have no Ukrainian hollyhocks left and they did a number on my black eyed susans! Of course we didn't scare them away, just watched them chomping away!

The next morning we had these two little guys in our back yard. One is a spike buck the other is a very little button buck.

The little button buck meandered over to the flower bed for more munching...not much left to munch little fella.

Peeko watched them very closely as well.

I read this on a breast cancer site somewhere and liked it so am sharing...

Plant your own garden and decorate your own soul.

Your Thoughts And Prayers

http://www.caringbridge.org/cb/viewJournal.do?method=executeInit

Above is a link to a CaringBridge sight authored by Becky Hewitt. She is a young mother from my home town who is battling breast cancer. She finished her chemo about the time that I began mine......and has recently had a recurrence. She has fought this battle with courage and a very deep faith....a faith that frankly I cannot even begin to understand and do envy. Becky needs your thoughts and prayers...so please take a look at her latest entry and send hope her way.

My heart is heavy as I fear that someone who has fought this battle with such courage is being tested once again. Frankly it scares me a bit if I am to be honest. People like Becky give others hope and strength..please please pray for her and her family.

Little Of This Little Of That

I have finally talked David into exploring some of the trails up here with the dogs and I. The fact remains that I am way to chicken to explore them on my own with the bear population and all. David comes with his gun and I with my camera. Thus far we have not run across a bear but have found lots of smelly (that would be the bear poop) proof that they are near.

The last couple of days we have been hiking the North Country Trail...that would be the one that Jessica and Melissa got the dogs and I lost on last year...LOL.

As the color has blown away I have found lots of varying textures and shapes on the hikes-

Cool textures on leaves

Mushrooms are a great species for texture, shape and color

Gnarled and twisted trees and trunks looking a little Haloweenie

Evergreen looking moss growing on the sides of small hills

Birch amongst evergreens amongst hardwoods surrounded by prairie grasses

A barn barely seen through the woods

Today, at the end of the trail, there lay David. I heard a loud thump and there he was. I couldn't help laughing...and laughing...and laughing. Mary and Bugs...any guesses what followed my laughing spree? I am glad to report that he wasn't hurt.

Hiking in the woods keeps our old girl young and happy. She looks like a young pup when she is exploring the woods.

Her and Peeko are happy campers doing their favorite activity.

We have also taken a few hikes looking for the perfect deer hunting spots. One brought us to this overlook.

And at home who has been sleeping in my bed?

Tackla in Peeko's bed and Peeko in Tack's.

Last week brought us more visitors. My Aunt and Uncle Sandy and Eddie ventured up to stay with former 'Nicolletites' Dick and Barb who moved here a few years back. We joined the four at the casino for a morning of fun (didn't win any money but it was fun) and the next day they came to our house for a game of shoot (cards).

Hunting season brings even more folks north. The Draeger's will be here (or in our area) and Kel, Lenny and Julia Bernice will be here for a long weekend. I cannot wait to hold that little grand baby.....