~LET"S NOT HAVE A STROKE HERE~

It has been forever since I have posted anything here. Just a really busy time. Trying to close out this Fiscal year at work, Convention in Hot Springs, To Nashville (Vanderbilt Univ) with Cember on a school trip, Tractor shows, rebuilding a tractor, making bar stools out of old Milk Cans and Tractor Seats,, Watering the neighbors plants and garden while he is in the hospital. Just lots of BUSY things going on...



Spent 4 days in Hot Springs early May at our annual Public Health Assoc, Convention. That is always fun, but alot of work..



Mom, dad, Larry and I went to the Tractor show and races in Nashville AR on the 15th of May. That was a FULL WONDERFUL DAY!!!!! I am so excited that mom and dad enjoy (or seem to) going to those Tractor shows with us. They had over 150 tractors on display, a man from Sheridan, Larry Harrington, won the trophy for the oldest tractor, a 1934 Model A John Deer (Wrong Color Tractor), Crops are Green, Tractors are RED!!!!!!! , then they had a raffle for a restored Ford Tractor, another Sheridan man, Ken West, Won that.. GO SHERIDAN!!!!!! They had a bbq lunch plate that was really good, then they had a Snow cone booth, that had the most WONDERFUL homemade Icecream Snow cone, I have ever had. Did not know they had such a flavor until mom mentioned it.. It was GREAT!!!!!



Then Mother's Day, mom and dad were camping at Pendleton, Larry and I went and pulled their camper home for them on Mother's Day... They took us down to the dam where everyone was fishing... Beautiful camping area..



Then Memorial Day,, We just stayed around the house and worked on our Farmall Super A Tractor, getting it restored.. We are almost finished.. Having to rebuild a seat for it, but I think it is going to be GREAT!!!!! I will post before and after pics when we finish it. Larry said if this seat does not work, he is going to cut some plywood, paint it red and bolt it on so I can drive it... I am not very patient when we are this close to being finished and some little something stalls us out..



Then I got to go to Vanderbilt University, in Nashville, TN for a Aspirnauts Fieldtrip. That was a great 3 days. Loved it. I got to have 3 pre-teens ride back with me. Boy did I learn ALOT!!!!! Really they were real good. I thoroughly enjoyed having them. We got to do alot of hands on experiments, see how alot of Cancer research is performed, Go up on the Helipad and see a medical helicopter, We had a heart seminar and got to see actual human hearts, some that were healthy, or with a little plaque, or alot of plaque and even one with 2 bypasses.. Very interesting... We had a complete tour of the beautiful campus and dorms..

Then last Sunday was Father's Day. Again, my parents are at the Lake... I am so very excited they are going and doing and staying at lakes and campgrounds.. I miss them being just across town, but I am so very proud for them... I did call my dad and I told him I would buy him some Ice Cream on Saturday. As you see, they are going with us again on Saturday to the Purple Hull Pea Festival in Emerson, AR. We went last year and had a great time, they have Tiller races, you should see the kids with those Mantis tillers, they are out for Blood... Then they have tillers with motorcycle engines on them. did not get to see those but once. A LADY let it get loose from her and it was damaged, she luckily was OK, It DRUG her down the course, until she finally let go. They also had tractors there and they had a parade with them. They had a contest and the winner of it had their wedding at the Festival, That was kinda neat, but they had the BEST HOMEMADE ICE CREAM there.. Dad and I about made ourself sick on it. Can't wait to get some more...

Well, guess I have taken up enough time. I will post pics later, right now I cannot get them to upload... Will try later..

LOVE TO ALL!!!!!!

~The OLD MILL~

Ever seen the Movie "Gone With the Wind"?? Well, the Old Mill in North Little Rock was built for that movie. Part of it was filmed here. I LOVE that movie, but I had never been to the Old Mill. I decided to take off work on Wednesday of the girls Spring Break and spend the day with them. I brought them up to the office to show them off and then we got a picnic lunch and went to the Old Mill. The weather was Perfect that day. What an absolute AWESOME place.. It was beautiful, but will be even more so when the Dogwoods and Azaleas are in bloom in a week or so. May have to try to go back then. We had a WONDERFUL DAY>.. After we got back home, we had to sit down and watch that movie to see where this was in there.. We will definitely have to go back there. All the bridges were built out of concrete and made to look like wood.. This is a popular Wedding site in this area and I can definitely see why. It is an awesome place to take spring pics.. I think I took about 150 and then the girls, asked if they could just go play for a bit without me saying wait, Look here, Cheese!!! Imagine me saying that??? Love to take pics...

~Dad's Party~

It turned out really good. Had alot of people there from Church and Family.. Tons of food,,,, Cake, sandwiches, chips, dips, cinnamon rolls, brownies, snacky stuff.. Just LOTS OF FOOD!!! we decorated with all the party favors, table cloths, hats, plates, napkins, etc. that we had left over from all the kids birthday parties over the years. turned out kinda neat.. It is hard to believe my dad is "70", his oldest child is "50" and his oldest Grand child is "30" and his oldest Great Grandchild is "11, almost 12" yeah, I know it did not follow all the way through. Oh well.. We got 3 out of 4.... two of my boys did not get to be there, They were working 7 days a week 12-16 hours a day.. Pam's son was not there, but other than that, the rest of the immediate family got to be there.. Several of mom's brothers and sisters and their spouses were there. It was a GREAT TURNOUT and I think everyone had a good time and Plenty to eat..

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD>>>> WE LOVE YOU....

~Moms' Entertaining Debut~

Here are a few pics from the Show mom got called on Stage for>>> Dad and I were laughing so hard. This was a very FUN Evening. Just a good CLEAN Family Show.. Lots of laughs. Lots of Old Rock songs, Thank you so much for including me in this evening... LOVED IT!!!!!!

This is Mom and Buford Presley...

~I'm BACK~

Sorry for the long delay not posting. Just crazy times.. SO much has happened... We got our water back at work, so we have working toilets, no more PORTAS!!!!!

Had something go wrong with my eyes, alot of pressure behind them. Went to the Eye doc, and they seemed to think it was just extremely dry eyes, I could not open them but just a sliver. I did manage to work everyday. Had to start using Restasis, hot wet compresses and natural tears eye drops, like 10-15 times a day,,, After 4 weeks of that, they finally eased up and I could open them all the way again. I am continuing all I was doing,, to keep them opened, that was miserable, especially when you have to be on a computer all day long...But I survived.

Bruce turned 27 on the 5th of March, Still living at home (I kinda like that). At least I know someone will be there sometime during the nite...

Rocky turned 29 on the 10th and Daddy turned "70" on the 10th... So now Dad is 70, his oldest Child (Me) is "50" and his Oldest Grand Child (Buck) is "30".. Kinda Neat....

Mom, Dad and I went to the Ray Lynn Theater in Hot Springs last Thursday nite (March 11). Their investment group was having a Thanks for being our Client appreciation thing... It was alot of fun. THey had Free POpcorn, cokes, hot dogs, and candy bars. Then they did their little sales pitch and showed somethings they can assist you with in your investing and how to protect your money for retirement. Larry may need to talk to them, he handles all that for us, it is greek to me... THen they turned over the show to the Wilkins Music and Comedy show. It was really good, just good clean joking and singing.. Mom even got called on the stage to be serenaded by Buford Presley,, yeap the one and ONLY, Bare jello belly and all.. Dad and I laughed SO HARD... Mom seemed to be having a good time, Never would have believed she would do that.... I got black mail photos, but promised I would not post them... I even got serenaded, but I got to remain in my seat. I was sitting there watching the show and this guy come crawling in around my chair with a flash light and asked me if I had his seat... then the guy on the stage asked him what he was doing and told him he was not supposed to crawling around ladies legs, and he made the statement: "Well those legs ain't seen a razor in months"... He was part of the show. It was a really FUN Evening.. Thanks Mom and dad for asking me to go... I really ENJOYED It.... Mom, PLEASE let me post some pics....

Then Friday got up with an elephant on my chest.... Went to the doctor. I have become my MOther,, Not a bad thing all in all, but the past 3 years, I have had allergies (never before), and they have turned into Bronchitis,,,, Just like MOm does EVERY YEAR!!!!!! So after I got back home, I went to sleep on the couch and slept for 6 hours, then Larry woke me up and I went to bed and slept for another 12 hours... Saturday afternoon, Mom and I went down to decorate for Dad's Birthday Party on Sunday... That was alot of fun.... We took party favors left over from all the kids parties and put them on the tables. even had some table clothes that were used at a couple of them... Hung balloons,,, fixed food.. decided where to place all the FOOD!!!!!! Boy did we have FOOD,

Sunday morning, I get up wait for mom and dad to leave for church, go by their house, get the cake, cinnamon rolls, and crock pots and head to Wally World to get chips, ice cream and hellium balloons.. Then kill time and wait for them to leave the church... Then I go down there and start putting out all the food, oops I forgot the pinwheels in the freezer, and the pickles on the cabinet, but I don't think anyone missed them... we had so much food. Everyone pitched in and it was a HUGE SUCCESS!!!!!!!! so many people showed up, so much food... Tony brought his big 52" TV and we showd a dvd of dad and then we showed the one from their 50th Anniversary, we also had their scrap books of their Anniversary and the Redwoods on display for everyone to view... I really enjoyed the day... I went home and crashed.... I was worn out, but it was a good WORN out feeling... I will post some pics from yesterday when I slow down long enough to get them off the camera.. Maybe tonite. I am going to help mom finish cleaning up when I get in from work, We left most of the food for a snack after church last night...

I will try to post more often... But for now enjoy this one...

~Water - Water - Where's The WATER????~

Well, There was a major water leak in our building. So guess What..... They shut off the water today at 11:00 and it will be off the remainder of the day>... SO you got it, NO BATHROOMS!!!!! Oh, but the did bring in these lovlies??? Aren't we so special??? NOT!!!!!!!! I do not do Port-a-Potties... That is just a NOT GONNA DO thing with me... There are 3 of them for a 9 story building full of WOMEN!! Of course, most of them are like me and just not gonna do it. However, I did bring baby wipes and hand sanitizer just in case of emergency. I received some LOVELY DEPENDS for my birthday about a month ago and stuck them away for emergencies. Well, I have had 3 people in my office this morning wanting to know where they were, I have them stuck back in case I NEED them... THis has been a big joke in our office since we found out about it early yesterday.. Mom, Dad and Larry have had a large time with this. I have had one of the nurses in the field, e-mail me every hour, then half hour, then quarter hour down to the minute prior to it being shut off, about how much longer till we were Waterless.... You better go one more time, Get that last drink of water, etc... just cause she could. When they did shut off the water, she wrote about her nice warm, running water bathroom she had right across the hall... Oh, well. I am going to take lunch and leave at 1:00. I am going home to my own PRIVATE Bathroom with RUNNING WATER>>>.

~UPDATE and TIME FOR A CHANGE~

Ok, I know I am really far behind... But,, Things have been crazy.. I have not been able to stay on the computer for very long for over a week now. My eyes have been giving me FITS!!!! They hurt, burn, scratchy,,, etc... really bad and the bright light make it even worse. Was supposed to have an eye doc appt. yesterday, but due to ICE, they were closed and we could not get to Little Rock anyway.. So here I sit, at least for a bit, then I have to get off...



As I am sure you have read on mom's blog, her and I went to Batesville to a HUGE fabric store on the 25th of January. What a wonderful day. They had every type, color of fabric, trim, thread, lace, ribbon,, etc.... you could imagine.. You could buy it by the yard, or by the bolt or by the BUNDLE.. What a neat store.. We had a ball in there, or at least I did. Then we had lunch and headed home, stopping North Little Rock at Sams, then to Joann's (another fabric store) and Hobby Lobby ( I needed cake stuff for Lil Bits Bday cake).... We arrived home around 7ish... It was a full day and I LOVED it..



January 28th, Larry came in from a 2 week trip to Iowa, Nebraska and S Dakota, where he had lots of SNOW the entire time he was there (that is why he did not drive home on Friday to turn around and drive back on Sunday, he just stayed there.. When the alarm went off at 5 AM on the 29th, He told me to go back to sleep, he had already looked outside and decided I was not going to work... He had apparently brought it with him from up north.. We lost power about 2 pm on Friday and did not get it back until 6 pm Saturday. Our house was not bad cold, it never got below 55 and it was like below 20 outside.. It just being him and I (Bruce was at duck tails for the weekend), we just got a blanket and sat and looked at each other till it was too dark to do that then we threw an extra quilt on the bed and went to sleep..

Sunday, Jan. 31 was my baby grand daughters "4" Birthday. We had it at Playtime PIzza and it was all Tinkerbell. She had a wonderful time. Here papaw Mike (my Ex) asked for a hug and he was told: "All my hugs are for Nana today" he then turned to me and asked "How did you rank so high today" . We had so much fun.. Hard to believe she is "4" and only weighs "32 lbs" She is just tiny petite. But she can do most anything the bigger girls can do...

Last week was good, I got to work all week,, Then Here we are again, we woke up to Ice yesterday moring (Feb. 8th). State offices were on incement weather (in by 10 and you are not docked), but Larry decided I was not going at all. Then Got an e-mail last night about 9:15, that state offices were closed for today. So here I sit in the office, with the sun shining in the window. It is cold outside, and real windy, but there is no ice or snow.. Feel a little guilty about not being at work, but you cannot get there, maybe tomorrow will be better, then they are calling for more snow on Thursday and Friday... We will see..

Before After

Now for the Change: As you know mom and I have been making alot of quilts, well I did one to be used as a spead on my bed. It finally got finished.. So here is the before and the after: Let me know what you think..

~Hats Delivered~

I have delivered all the hats to Children's Hospital. I talked with the Knittin for Noggins Coordinator. They have given away between 27 & 28 THOUSAND hats since Mid Sept. 09.. That is AMAZING.. of course they not only give them to patients, but also to siblings of patients.. Just thought I would let you know.. They have collected over 30 thousand hats since July 1... So there is alot of KNITTIN/CROCHET going on in AR.... Keep them needles/hooks going...

~HATS HATS & MORE HATS~

Every year AR Children's Hospital has a "Knittin for Noggin's" campaign. I try to donate as many as I can each year, this hospital is so very dear to me. I had a niece that spent alot of time there with Cystic Fibrosis and they did so much good for her, then my niece was taken there just a week after she was born, prematurely for a blood transfusion and they did so much good for her, then my grand daughter was there for surgery at 6 weeks old and she too was taken very good care of, then my daughter in laws brother was in there after a bad car accident, 1 of my cousins was in there for burn treatments after an accident, I had an aunt that was in the burn unit after a can exploded in a burn pile. This hospital does SO MUCH good for so many families. So you see this hospital holds a very dear place in my heart... This year I have 125 that I am taking there this week.. I love to crochet, NO i do not knit... I use yarn that I find on sale through out the year, or some I have left from other projects or some that is given to me. I have made all sizes from Premmie to adult.. All colors.. It is fun to do this.. Last year I had 7 in there that were red/white santa style. I was told later by a nurse that I know that works there, they sent 7 premies home for Christmas wearing those hats.. When you turn these in, you leave no identifying marks with them as to who made them. I had told her I turned those in and she told me they were all used on Christmas Eve. That warms my heart to be able to make a child smile with something as simple as these.. I have already started a bag for next year... So if you know of someone that is looking for something to do with some yarn they have laying around, this is a very worth while thing to do with it. or send it to me and I will do some with it. Larry and I found 3 baskets of yarn at a junk shop and I am still trying to get the lady to give me a DEAL on it to be used for these. She wants a new price for it and some of it has been used, if I am going to do that, I am going to buy it at Walmart and pick out the colors I want.. Well gotta go for now. Tomorrow is a work day,,,

Wait,,, gotta tell you about my day.. The boys decided they were not working on the shop today, because Rocky had a HOG in his trap and needed some assistance in cleaning and cutting it up.. So they went to help him, I am fine with that.. It does me so much GOOD to see them doing things together.. So I called mom and asked her if she wanted to go running around. So we went to Benton/Bryant to Kohl's, Dollar Tree, Walmart, and Penney's. We found several bargains, I got Kelsey 5 pair of jeans for $5 each at Penneys, they were all embroidered differently... I also got me a couple of tops, then we got dad some jeans and shirts... Then we ended the afternoon with dinner. It was a WONDERFUL DAY. Thanks mom for spending it with ME!!!!!! Love you!!!!!!!! Now can't wait to go to Batesville.. Sorry that did not work out for today, but you and Jeanette needed to feel better...

NOw I gotta go and make another hat or two....

Nite everyone...

~50 YEARS in REVIEW~ Super Condensed....

Where do I start... On Monday, Jan 11, 2010, I turned "50". Wow what a milestone. I feel so BLESSED to have lived this long and be in as good a health that I am.. There is not much about my real young years that I remember, but I am going to see what I can do here...

My first Real memories are after we moved to California when I was about 5, I remember living in Red Bluff and walking to School, I remember playing on the "RINGS" on the playground and falling, hitting my head on the step and having to have stitches,, I remember being scared when we had to cross the bridge after a rain and the water was almost to the bridge.
THen we moved to Redding into a little house, Pam got a new bicycle for Christmas in 65 and in Feb or Mar '66 she had it turned upside down turning the peddles, decided to grab the chain to stop the tires and ended up cutting off her finger, lost the first joint and had to have stitches, they could not get her to go to sleep, so she watched them clean and stitch it.. then we moved to the California Motel, we swam alot, we were at the pool when we got the news that my cousin had drown on James's birthday, May 18th 1966, March 1967 my dad and Uncle David were hit by a Train on their way home from work. There were not crossing arms and they did not see the train coming, Dad was in a coma for along time, Uncle David got his arm hurt real bad, both were in the hospital for a while, then after recooperation, they both went to college. Then we bought our first house out there. It was a ranch style accross the road from a golf course.
Dad went to work for Hertz at the airport and had to go to Southern CA for training. We all got to go with him and went to Marine World where we saw a REAL Elephant ski... We had some horses, one was named Cricket and she would pull us in a buggy, but when she got tired, she would lay down and would not get up until the buggy was unhooked then she would get up and walk back to the field. Silly Horse. Mom had a White Apaloosa that would eat peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, but would not step in Water. YOu could not make him. We sold that house and rented a house on Yana, It had a tree house in the back yard, We tried to sleep in it several times, but never succeeded... THen we bought a house trailer and 26 acres just down the hill from the ranch house. This is where we lived when Tony was born. We had 9 acres of english walnuts. PIcked them up every day after school when they would fall. We had horses, cows, and pigs that we raised. One litter of pigs had a runt that we brought in the house and tried to raise it, but did not succeed.. We bought a double wide and put it in across the drive from the trailer house and moved into that. We lived there until Sept. 1972, then we moved back to Arkansas. Tony decided to potty train himself on this move. I rode mostly with mom and Tony in the car and dad drove a Uhaul and pulled his truck. We stopped at night. One night we were in Amarillo TX, the hitch broke off the Uhaul and we had to wait till morning to get it fixed. We stayed in a Campground that night, I went into the Bathroom and dad had to come get me, because there were FROGS EVERYWHERE, I am deathly afraid of them, I know they will not hurt me, but I am terrified of them, real, pictures, glad, wood,, it does not matter.. Made it to AR, Lived with Grandma Brown until mom and dad found a house and bought it. Really nice brick with a fireplace.. Daddy owned a service station.
in '73 I fell MADLY in LOve. Now, I realize I had NO IDEA what LOVE really was. We would break up and get back together, break up and get back together, should have seen a pattern here, DUMB kid... Bought my first Car in Feb. '76 a '72 Chevy Nova, with air shocks on the back.. LOVED it, Mike hated it because it was a sports car and at the time we were broke up.. see the pattern here.. Got engaged Nov. 1977, started building our home, Graduated from High School May 13, 1978 and got married June 15, 1978.. DUMB KID,,,, Moved into our house Jan. 9, 1979. My first Son was born June 17, 1979 On Fathers Day, making a new Father and 2 new Grand Fathers on Fathers Day. Our Second son was born, March 10th, 1981 on my dad's Birthday. Pam married on June 17, 1982 on Buck's 3rd Birthday, He was ring bearer and played Hot wheels on the Alter during the ceremony. Then our third son was born March 5, 1983. Had Mom and Dad a 25th Anniversary Celebration Dec 1983. Grandma McLemore passed in April '85 when the Dogwoods were in Full Bloom. Mom and dad had a wreck in Tucomcary NM on the way out there. Mom and Pam were in the hospital, Pam's father in law had to go get them in his handicap accessible van. Both recovered fully. Mike and I separated on Dec. 3, 1985 and divorced Oct. 1, 1986. James and Anne married Jan. '86. Pam had Chris July 23, 1986. I had to go to work in Sept. '86 to help support the boys, Child support was not getting it, but at least I got to stay home with them until Rocky started school. Bruce went to Daycare where he made a friendship that is still strong today (this minute they are working together)... Made my first MAJOR purchase in MY NAME (with Moms Help) in OCt. '86, A Chevy NOva, not a souped up one like the first one.
Met Larry in "87 when I was working at Fisers (local Grocery store). He came in every Friday and bought Rib eyes to cook for some friends.. I left the Grocery store in March 88 and went to work for the State of AR in April 88. Then Larry and I met up again at the Post Office one morning. We began talking just casual. He had left work with a mutual friend for me to call him. I finally did call and actually talk to him. We had our First DATE, Aug. 3, 1988,had dinner at Steak and Ale. The next day my home was sold on Public Auction. Larry called to check on me and sent me flowers. Mike bought it and that meant I had to MOVE... In Sept. mom, dad, the boys and I went to Disney world on Vacation. WHen we came back, I began packing and moving. We moved in with mom and dad.. I convinced Larry to sell me his double wide, then he was going to buy him something SMALLER,, NOT,, We moved him out and us in on Nov. 8, 1988..
James and Anne divorced in '9. February '91 I bought a POntiac Grand Am. Tony and Pam Drake married May '91, David was killed Sept. '91, Grandma Brown had just gotten out of the hospital and was staying with mom. Tony and Pam divorced Oct.'91. Dad had a wreck on Dec. 14, '91 (Tony's 21st Birthday). James and Amie married Jan 11, 1992 (my Birthday) We have a lot of different events on the same dates... James and Amie had Shawn Oct. 22, 1992, James and Amie had Austin, March 17, 1994. Tony and Vanessa got married Sept. '94. Larry and I married Dec. 27, '95. We moved into his "SMALLER" house, a 3 bedroom, 2 bath brick.. Bought a Chevy Custom Van Feb. 96. We outgrew the Grand Am when we got married. The 9 1/2 years I drove the Van, the 5 of us were only in there 1 time. I had it full alot with all the kids going to ball games, but as far as "the Family" we only used it 1 time. Sold my doublewide in OCt. 96. Tony and Vanessa had Kiefer, Feb. 13, '97. Buck and Mandy had Cember April 3, '98, James and Amie had Justin, Nov. 2, '98. Pam and Dewayne had Briauna, Jan 6, '99, Buck and Mandy got married, May 22, '99. Tony and Vanessa had Maranda, May 24, '99 (7 1/2 weeks premature),and 8 minutes after giving birth, Vanessa died. Grandma Brown went into the HOspital with Sepsis. She passed on July 10, '99. Tony went to Ohio August 18, '99, mom and dad took over raising Kiefer and Maranda. Leonard had a heart transplant Aug. 19, '99. Buck and Mandy had Gabby, Sept. 4, '99. Wow, I think that is ALOT of babies in a short time, 6 in 2 1/2 years... for 18 years all we had were boys and in 17 months we got 4 girls.. Gabby had surgery the day she was 6 weeks old, MOm and dad had gone to a Histology convention. I had Kiefer and Maranda, But we managed. I was at the hospital for her surgery and then I went and picked up Kiefer, Maranda and Cember and kept them all.
Wow, 40 down just 10 more to go. HOw am I doing??? Got to witness the turn of a new Century.. We saw 2000 come in.. Then I turned "40"...
July 3, '00 I caught mom and dad's kitchen on fire cooking chicken nuggets for Kiefer, did about 35,000 dollars in damage. Insurance came in cleaned and packed everything up, remodeled the house. MOm and dad never moved back into it, they bought one close to town. I moved them in and had most everything unpacked when they came back from a trip, the least I could do since I "BURNED their HOUSE"
Uncle Leonard passed away in Sept. 2000. Busy times with all the trips to Ohio, spent lots of time with all the little ones.. LOVED IT....
March 2001, Rocky left for a Peace Keeping mission in Bosnia.. He was there when 9/11, 01 happened.. When that happened, they cut all communication with our troops in Bosnia, I freaked out.. It delayed them coming home by 4 weeks. Their replacements were coming from New York and Virginia, the 2 states hit hardest by 9/11. He finally got home in Nov. '01. February 3, '02 Buck and Mandy's house burned to the ground. Rocky and Deanna married Sept. 28, '02
Pam and Dewayne separated and divorced in 2003. Pam was having ALOT of medical problems (most of them self inflicted). So mom and dad were doing alot of running for her along with taking care of Kiefer and Maranda. April '03 Rocky and Deanna came over to tell me that Rocky was going to be sent to IRAQ soon.. Bosnia was bad enough and that was peace time. How was I EVER going to SURVIVE IRAQ in a WAR!!!!!!! I cried for weeks... then Oct. 31, '03 Rocky left for Ft Hood TX for additional training and deployment. We made lots of weekend turnaround trips down there. all piled in the VAN... Then in Feb, he left the US for IRAQ.... He had SO MANY close calls, one time someone pulled up beside them and opened fire inside their hum v, no one was hit (who had control of that situation, NO ONE BUT OUR GREAT LORD)... He was protected more times than I can count... June 1, 04 Larry and I bought a cabin close to Lake Degray and Buck and Bruce began helping us rebuild some of it. Rocky got to come home on a 2 weeks R&R on (you got it) 9/11. We were all at the airport on pins and needles until his plane was safely on the ground..
I bought my Yukon XL on NOv. 2nd took it to Ohio for a release hearing Nov. 17 '04. TOny was released, but we had to wait for transfer paperwork to be completed before they would release him. the finally released him to the bail bondsman at noon on the 24th. I stayed on the phone for 3 days and on Wednesday, the 24th at 4 PM, we got it all done and were told we could head for AR. it took us 30 min to pack up 2 hotel rooms and head for home. We drove in mom and dad's drive way at 4 AM on THANKSGIVING morning. What a Thanksgiving that was..
We had Christmas with Rocky on the computer, we had a webcam set up and so did he with mics. so we could see and hear him and he could us.. We had sent his Christmas package to him and we all opened presents together. It was GREAT... Christmas by computer 7000 miles apart.
Tony and Rochelle married on Feb. 12,'05. Rocky came home March 20, '05. Rocky and Deanna had Kelsey, Jan 31, 06. August '07 Larry and I decided to have a new home built. Footers were dug on Oct. 1. We watched every day as it went up. I would go out every day, Larry usually just on the weekends, but I would be on the phone telling him what they had done that day. On March 24th we closed on it. On the 26th, Rocky, mom and dad helped me get us moved in, we hired movers, so it was just mainly directing traffic. MOm and dad were at the new house waiting on the new furniture to be delivered and Rocky and I were at the other house. Larry came home on his 55th Birthday to a new house where everything we NEEDED had been unpacked and put away and the boxes destroyed.. He did not have alot of unpacking to do..
August 3, '08 we purchased a Farmall Cub tractor, like his dad used to have.... Sept. we purchased a 1960 Farmall Cub (because it was made the year I was born, so I had to have it). We restored them and loved doing it. Just a couple days after purchasing the 60 model, I got a call that my Cousin Jeffrey had been killed. Another tragedy that did not have to happen, a Hunter being careless cost him his life and his family a tragic loss. In April, '09 I saw a kid riding a "wheelHorse" (baby tractor, smaller than a riding lawn mower) and I decided I had to have one of them as well. In May we went to Michigan and bought 2 of them. THen on Friday, May 22, I went with Larry for a check up... Guess WHAT!! We ended up in Baptist Hospital for a Heart Cath and By-pass surgery the next morning.. Boy did that turn my WORLD UPSIDE DOWN..... But that too we survived.. We even went to CA with mom and dad to visit and to see the Redwoods. We thoroughly enjoyed that trip and plan to make many more trips. Dec. we hired the boys to build us another Pout House to store the restored tractors in now that we currently have 9, 6 fully restored and 3 to restore.. and so here we are Jan 2010 and the BIG "50" and Life goes on!!!!!!!


OK so it is not SO CONDENSED... but I think I got most of the HIGHLIGHTS....

~The Neatest Sign~

Here is what the boys gave Larry and I for Christmas... Most of you know we have gotten into restoring OLD tractors. We currently have 4 completed, 2 that we bought already restored and 3 that we are going to restore.. We absolutely LOVE doing them. We tear them down, clean off the grease and oil, sand, scrape, prime and paint them. It is alot of WORK and even more FUN... All of ours are RED.. after all Crops are Green, Tractors are RED... Mom and dad got Larry a t-shirt that says that. He loves it and I have been threatened with my life if I get caught wearing it, but the key word here is CAUGHT and we all know how much Larry is away from HOME!!! So the possiblities of getting caught are SLIM..... The boys also got us a Die Cast Farmall Model H tractor with the trailer. We love it, but Kelsey wants to take it out of the box and play with it. We got her mind off it and put it away, I think it will go in the Big Pout House with all the other Tractors. Can't wait till it is finished. They are decking the roof today.. Can't wait to get home and check it out..
Let me know what you think of the sign...

LOVE TO ALL and May God Richly Bless You this Year..

~SNOW~

It is snowing like crazy here today. Just a dry powdery snow.. Not sticking to anything, just BEAUTIFUL... I left for work at my normal time and about the time I got to work, MOm called and said we were on Inclement Weather policy. GREAT... I was at work at 6:40 and did not have to be here till 10. I could have slept LONGER.... Oh well, after being off 11 days, I have lots to catch up on... But all I want to do watch the snow falling. It is so pretty... Sheri, I am JEALOUS that you have so much... We hardly ever get SNOW, we mostly get ICE>. that is just not fun... I will try to get a pic of it with my phone. Left the camera at home, dumb me. I always have my camera with me. Larry and I were out "touring" (Running the roads) yesterday and I had the camera, got pics of deer and turkey on the side of the road. Larry had slept the 2 days previous and he got up feeling better and said we are getting out of this house and going somewhere. So we did. Sorry, we were not home Jeanette...

I am SO IN THE DOG HOUSE... I forgot a very important event that took place last week..... Larry and I celebrated our 14th Anniversary... Boy where did that time go. While we were touring yesterday, we were talking about things that had come about in the last 14 years and how we would have done somethings differently and how we had handled somethings totally wrong, and how through it "ALL" we have been so blessed... We do not have a PERFECT marriage, but I think we have a "GOOD" marriage.. We do not always agree, but we agree to disagree and go on. We try to make the best decision possible for us, not always what we want, but what is best and still be affordable.. Sometime we have to totally scrap an idea and go to something else. But through it all we have been BLESSED....

So here's PRAYING for a HAPPY, HEALTHY, PROFITABLE NEW YEAR TO ALL!!!!!!!!

~What a BUSY Time~

Sorry, I am so behind on posting.. Things have been really busy... So where do I start...

After the stocking stuffin party, things got crazy...Actually just prior to the stuffin party, the boys began the framing of the foundation for the Big Pout House.. Yes we have HIRED them to build us another shop to store the tractors. This one will be 30 x 60', yes, that is quite large, but over time, I am sure not LARGE enough, but all we can afford. Just went DEEPER in DEBT. I don't like that, but we need to protect them from the weather.. The 16th they pourded 35 yards of concrete and the concrete finishers were out here off and on all night working the concrete foundation.. I locked up and went to bed at 10 since I had to be up at 5 to get ready for work. Speaking of Work: Things started falling apart at work, of course they always do when I am trying to finish up somethings getting ready for some time off.. I had 6 days of Vacation that I had to take or I would loose it.. So I am going to take it..

Larry ends up in IOWA where it is -20 or so at nite... That is COLD and since his surgery, he has become ALMOST as cold natured as I am... So he was miserable.. Tony turned "39" as did Sheri, 18 minutes before Tony did... Then there was the night of the 17th... We were having our Christmas Goody day at work, which when the sign up list came out, my name was already on it for Cinnamon Rolls... Then Gab had asked me to make some for her party at school, having always been told "you CANNOT bring homemade goodies to school" I thought I was safe there and it would be the "SCHOOLS FAULT" I could not do that for her. I told her I would need a note from her teacher stating she could bring Homemade Cinnamon rolls to school... Well on Tuesday the 15th... Mandy calls me and tells me she has "THE NOTE" So on Thursday I make 2 batches of Cinnamon rollls.. I have rolls rising EVERYWHERE.... But boy did the house SMELL WONDERFUL... I LOVE BAKING>.. I guess I get that from MOM... Mom is going to take tem to Gabby at school for me, since she is going to Maranda's party.. Thanks SO MUCH MOM... LOVE YOU.... Gabby was disappointed because only 8 of her Cinnamon rolls were eatten at school. I told her that was OK, now they have several for Breakfast. She shared them with Bebe and Pappy...
Then on to Christmas at my house on the 21st. I always have all my kids and mom and dad to my house for Dinner and Christmas.. So this year we are having pork roast, potatoes, carrots, rice, rolls and some type of dessert... I started the pork roast on Sunday nite, then came home early from work and put the taters and carrots in with it, then drained off some juice and cooked the Garden Harvest wild rice in that. Mom did the rolls for me and made an apple pie. I did a coconut cream pie and some Christmas goodies, fudge, skillet cookies and cracker candy. It turned out really good, Deanna's mom, sister and Nephew joined us. It was alot of fun... Everyone seemed to have a really good time. I got Cember and Gab 12 pair of Toe socks, then Lil bit wanted some, so I set about finding her some. I did find them and got them ordered and they arrived on the 26th... So now she has some Kelsey size ones.
I finished up work on the 23rd for the year. They let us all go home at 2:30 that day... We had to go to my sister in laws on the 24th to assist them with some things, Then Christmas day was real quiet, just me and Larry at home.. That was kinda nice, but did not seem like Christmas..
On Saturday the 26th, we spent the day in Little Rock just looking,,, Then went to dinner at Red Lobster for our 14th Anniversary on the 27th.. We both ended up sick all nite over that, not sure what did it, maybe the fried foods that we had and are no longer accustomed to... Have not had FRIED since Larry's surgery... Oh well..
THen we had Family Christmas at mom and dad's on the 27th. All but 3 of the Family were there. That was real nice... Mom and I made all the Grand and Great grands a quilt except the 4 oldest... I think that went over really well.. They all seemed to like them... I really enjoyed helping make all the tops. We had a lady do the actual quilting for us with her quilting machine. Boy I would love to know how to do that and have a set up like she has. It is AWESOME... Oh well, maybe someday.. I told her when she gets her new machine (she wants a new one), Let me know and I may be interested in her current one... She wants a computerized one... Not likely to happen.. But I can dream...
Yesterday I had to go into the office to take care of an invoice for an interpreter and get her paid. She had sent in her paperwork written in PENCIL twice and ended up not having money to buy her kids Christmas. I hate that, but there was nothing I could do, My hands were tied. I told the coordinator, I would have the secretary watch for the corrected paperwork to come in and call me and I would make a trip to the office and get it processed and hand carry it to payables for them to process the check. Hopefully that went out this morning. I know it will be late, but maybe they will enjoy their christmas anyway. YOu have to follow STATE rules on invoices or they do not get processed... That is just how it is... Then last nite we picked up one of Larry's sisters and went to Hot Springs to look at the Christmas light display in the park, only to get over there and find out there was a problem and they were not working. What a disappointment, so we went and had dinner at Olive Garden instead. That was good..
So here we are at New Years Eve.. The boys have worked everyday this week and have the walls framed, squared and blandexed. The trusses were delivered yesterday, I am not sure if they will hand set them Friday and Saturday, or get a crane on Monday to assist with that.. I guess we will find out later today about that...

So for now. I am wishing EVERYONE the HAPPIEST of NEW YEARS, and may you be MORE BLESSED in 2010 than you were in 2009.!!!!!! I know Larry and I were really blessed in 2009, I still have him and that is just by the Grace of GOD that I do.. As Larry told the doctors after his surgery, "For some unknown reason, God just did not want is life yet" and for that I am so THANKFUL.... LOVE TO ALL and to ALL a HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!

~Stocking Stuffin~

I finished crocheting all the stockings (small about 4") for the kids school classes.. So, on Tuesday nite, I had 6 of them over to the house for a stocking stuffin party.. Kiefer is not having a Party, but he wanted to come over any way and I was glad to have him. He does not come often, because it is ALL GIRLS!!!!! He is unfortunately the only boy around now.. James's boys are all in Texarkana and so there is just girls.. Kinda strange after all those years of JUST BOYS!!!!! He is almost a teenager and does not want to hang out with girl COUSINS!!!!! I don't think he is quite into liking girls just yet... Not sure on that, but he tells me he does not have nor want a girlfriend.. Bruce told him to stay away from them, they just cost you MONEY!!!!!!!

Any way, we all got in a circle to stuff the stockins.. I think there were 159 of them, we put candy canes and a couple other pieces of Candy in them, place them in a ziploc and put a Merry Christmas From: sticker on each one. I make them with a loop so the child can hang the stocking on their own tree when they get home.. Wonder how many I have made over the years?? I did this for my boys all through their school party years... Now, my grand daughters and nieces and used to for my nephews, all the boys have gotten out of the party thing, except Justin and he is home schooled, so he will not need any this year.. I enjoy doing this with them.. It is crazy trying to get everything together for it and get everyone in their places, but after we get going, it goes fairly smoothly.. So now, they are all stuffed and taken to School for their Party on the 18th.. I even had a few left over, so I have a jump on next years. Wonder how many will be needed then. Normally Middle School does not have parties, but Cember's homeroom voted to have a small one so I did for her. If Gabby, Maranda and Briauna's class does not have one next year, I will just have lil bit to make for and I probably have enough from this year to do hers. What will I do with all that time??? I am sure I will find something to do... I think I have finished up all my little Christmas gifts I make every year and it is still 2 weeks till Christmas. How did I manage to do that. I am usually working up to the last minute on those.

Oh well, I guess since I found out my Lil Bit is getting a new BIG GIRL bed for Christmas, I have time to at least get her a quilt top done for it. Mom and I have made all the Grand and Great Grands a quilt for Christmas from Mamaw & Papaw.. We did Kelsey's for her Toddler bed, now she is getting a full size bed and her room is being changed from Back Yardigans, to Tinker Bell. I am doing new curtains and I guess I will have time to do her quilt, at least the top and then get it quilted and finished after Christmas. Or maybe I will save that for her Birthday in January.. Hard to believe she will be "4"... Decisions, decisions, decisions.... Ain't if fun being a Grown Up??? sometimes "NOT"

~quilts quilts and more quilts~

Here are the last 2 quilt tops for mom and dad's grand kids... All but the 4 oldest will be getting one for Christmas.. These are Maranda and Randi's.. I had a large time helping mom get them all done and to the quilter... Mom will be doing the hemming. She likes to hem them by hand and I take them straight to the machine and zip they are done... I really like the black and white one.. Randi wants to do her room in zebra stripe and this is what we came up with for her.. I am getting a zebra stripe rug and will make curtains for her after Christmas and she decides what she wants. Maranda still has Care Bear curtains, not sure if I can talk her into changing those or not, but if not, this has some of the Care Bear colors in it and will still match them.. Let me know what you think??

~Spider Bite~

Don't ever get one of these. They really hurt and look disgustingly nasty... When I got out of the pool on Monday nite, I dried my leg and it stung kinda bad, then I noticed a red spot kinda like a mosquito bite. No biggy.. Tuesday morning it was about the size of a silver dollar, by noon it was huge and really red and hot. One of the nurses sent me to the doctor. He said it could be a spider bite, but really thought it was just an absess.. Gave me an antibiotic, told me to keep heat on it and if not better come back in a couple days.. Well on Thursday, one of the nurses wanted to see it. I told her the swelling had gone down and the red area was smaller, but she wanted to see under the bandage.. Boy were we shocked as what we saw... Back to the doc I went, right then.. He said this is definitely a spider bite and we are going to have to lance it. Boy did I want to RUN!!!!!!! I knew that was going to hurt... And I was right... IT HURT!!!!!!! He deadened it but that hurt for him to do that.. I told him I was sorry, I was being such a baby about it, He said don't worry I know how bad it hurts...So he lanced it and sent it off for culture.. Then he packed it and wrapped it up. I had to go back on Friday morning for him to re-dress it and I was told to take 2 vicodins before I come up there, so here again,,, I knew it was going to be PAINFUL!!!!!!!! and I did not want to go, but we went.. From then, I have been changing the packing twice a day myself. Boy is that NOT fun.. It hurts and makes me sick to do it, But I do it. I am showing it to the nurses again tomorrow, because I don't think it looks right, but then I have no idea what it should look like now... STOMP SPIDERS!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sue, I know now how you felt last year.... This is NO FUN!!!!!

~Veteran's Day Quilting Bee~

Last Wednesday was Veterans Day, I have personal Veterans. My Dad and My middle Son. They both went to the Intermediate School to participate in the Program there. The girls were so excited.. Dad and Rocky got to have lunch with them (not sure they were all excited about the lunch) but I am sure they were excited to be with the girls.. Gabby still talks about it. Thanks guys for making their day...

Mom, Jeanette and I got together for a day of quilting (Aunt Jeanette did not get to spend the day, but she did come for lunch). Mom and I pieced 4 twin quilt tops (not difficult ones), we used the wildlife blocks and put them together with other prints and solids. Now we only have a couple more to do.. That will happen soon. I almost have one of them completed.. For me, it was an awesome day.. I am going to try to do that again real soon. We had 2 machines set up and both of them going.

For lunch, mom made Chicken and dumplins and a chicken noodle soup made with stir fry veggies. They were both really good. I took the left over chicken and dumplins home for Bruce's supper, he was REALLY Excited. He LOVES his mamaw's dumplins.. Thanks mom for sharing with him.

Thursday morning early they were on their way to be quilted... Can't wait to see them finished..

I will post pics when they are all finished... Gonna be fun doing that...

Well, better get on with some actual work... Love to ALL!!!!!!

~Punkin Patch~

On Sunday, Oct. 18th, the girls and I made a trip to the Punkin Patch in Grady, AR. We began our day with lunch at Mickey D's, Maranda had Subway, cause she was with mamaw and papaw, we had to stop and see if she wanted to go with us. which of course she did, then on to Grady. What a fun day I had, I hope they did. We were there about 3 hours and did whatever they wanted to do, except pan for precious stones, just too expensive... But I did not get too much flack from them. We just went on to other things, milking a "cow", feeding the horses, pigs, goats, going on a hay ride to the punkin patch to pick us a punkin.. As you can see, Gabby and Maranda got really big ones, then wanted me to help carry them, the rule is you pick it you carry it... Sorry girls, that's the rule.. They did manage to get them to the wagon and back to the Yukon.. We got face paintings, Kelsey got a punkin and the other 3 got peace signs,, Then on to take pics in all of the cute cut outs that you stick your face in, or you boodie as they did,, Sorry, will not post those pics here, but I do have them. In fact in that short 3 hours I took over 150 pics of my girls. I love spending time with them. Wish I had more to spend, but with having to work and them in school, time is limited, so I try to make the most of what time we do have together. Then it was a treat at the gift shop as we were leaving the punkin patch, then back to nana's. Fixed a little dinner, got baths, then settled down to watch the newest Barbie Movie, Barbie and the 3 Musketeers.. We have them all.. Then they all spent the nite, then stopped at the Donut shop the next morning for our ritual of donuts for breakfast. Then to School and me to work... Thanks Girls for a WONDERFUL AFTERNOON

~Awesome Vacation~

Larry and I just came back from an AWESOME trip. We were able to chaufer my parents around in California for 9 days. We sent them out there a week in advance of us, since Larry cannot take 2 weeks off at one time. Then we flew out on Oct. 2nd. Spent the nite in Sacramento (a good thing, since our luggage did not make it until 3 AM). Then we met 2 of my cousins and some of their family. That was GREAT.. I had not seen Robert since I was about 16 or so and had not seen Ken since I was 20.. Got to meet Robert's wife and 2 of his sons. Ken did not get to bring his family since he was on his way to work. Sorry I did not get to meet them, now he has a new baby boy, that I understand is doing quite well. Congrats Ken, Kris and Family... We visited there for about 3 hours then it was off to Redding to meet up with my parents, who had been spending the week with My dad's older (not by much) brother who is married to my mom's younger sister. They had a week of rest and relaxation around the pool and hot tub. They got to visit with my dad's sister and had a big day then..

We all went to dinner, and had a wonderful time, then we went to the Sundial Bridge in Redding It is beautiful.. OK a confession here, I am deathly afraid of heights, but I tried to walk accross the bridge. I made it maybe a quarter of the way and turned back. I just could not do that. But at least I tried... Then Larry and I went to the Hotel and the rest went back to Aunt Sue and Uncle Davids. We were kinda tuckered, not getting to sleep until after midnite, trying to find out where our luggage was and when were we going to get it. The girl at the AA counter had told us if it came in on the next flight, she would drop it off at our hotel and believe it or not she did. We made sure when we checked in on our way back, we told them at the counter what she had done and how much we appeciated it.. THat was above and beyond her duties. So we turned in kinda early (CA time not AR time). Then we were on our way to pick up my parents around 10 that next morning and off to the Redwoods. What an AMAZING trip.. The GPS took us up through Medford OR and then down to Crescent City, CA (we found out why on the return trip). We arrived, checked into our hotel, with an ocean view.. it was great, mom could see driftwood for miles in either direction, just had no way to bring any back. We had dinner and saw the most amazing sunset over the ocean from our dining table. Then we turned in for the nite..

Monday morning we were up and off to see big trees, Larry did all the driving,, mom and dad just got to look... Larry had never been there and I had not since I was a little girl. I remember thinking how huge they were, but did not fully grasp just how huge they were until this time. I will never understand how anyone can look at something this amazing and say there is NO GOD!!!!!!! That is just beyond me. What some amazing things we saw... Elk along the roadside, that I almost walked right up to, the vast ocean that just seemed to go forever... We spent the next 3 days just touring different scenic routes through the Redwoods, It was great. Got lots of pics, more than I can post here.. But I am trying to add a SMALL SAMPLING... On Thursday, we headed back to Redding, That was not a GOOD day for ME!!!! As most of you know that road from Eureka to Redding, is steep, up and down, winding round and round the mountains, with cliffs off the side of the road, MAJOR panic attack for me. I spent most of that 5 hours with my head down in tears, but God is good and I survived that trip. We dropped mom and dad off at Aunt Sue and Uncle Davids, and Larry and I took a NAP.. My body was in knots, had sore muscles for several days, But I survived...

Friday, we were up and out fairly early for a picnic(Larry loved the cheese tray, can't remember the name of that white cheese, but LOVED it) in Lassen St. Park, then hopefully on to Shasta Dam and then back home,, here again, I shortened the plans, I got with in 2000 ft of the summit of Lassen and had to get back down where there were not cliffs off the side of the road, just could not do it, but we went back to Manzanita Lake and had our picnic walked all the way around the lake, Aunt Sue and I even walked a log.. I gathered several large pine cones and brought them home with me. We stopped and took pics at the Hot rock, I have pics of us older ones on that rock when we were little. I tried to climb it, but did not succeed, but the 2 heart patients did and here is their pic.. GO Larry and Aunt Sue... It was a wonderful day..

Than Saturday, we headed back to Sacramento for an early flight home on Sunday. What a WONDERFUL TIME I HAD... As we were leaving for Sacramento, we stopped at 3 houses I lived in out there 2 schools I attended and took pics. We were going to stop in Red Bluff and get a pic of the first school I attended there but forgot. Oh well.

I am so proud we were able to take that trip and to be able to do it with my parents, was such an honor for me. We did not get to stay as long as I wished we could have, I did not get to see as much family and friends as I would have liked to, but there is never enough time.. But for me it was a GREAT TRIP>> Mom/Dad, I am so proud that you went with us. That made this trip just that much more SPECIAL to US!! We love you both so very much!!!!! Thanks.. Aunt Sue and Uncle David for taking care of them for me while I was not there. LOVE YOU BOTH SO MUCH!!!! Maybe we can do it again....

~Chugga Lugga Luggin 5 Miles an Hour~

We had the Grant County Fair Parade on Tuesday. Rocky drove our 1936 F-20 International Harvester Farmall Tractor in it and pulled the girls in the wagon.. It was a blast. We had so much fun doing that. We dressed all the girls in overalls, white t-shirts and bandanas.. Between mom, Rocky and I we had enough overalls for all of them. We bought most of them at the Goodwill store so they would be old and worn.. Now they will be stored for future uses.. I am sure we will do this again... They were so cute.. We had a CD player going playing that song by Craig Morgan, "International Harvester" Cember told me, " I HATE OVERALLS.. I will only do this for you and only this time.." Rocky fell in love with that tactor when we brought it home. He cranks (hand crank on the front, no battery, no electric start) it and drives it everytime he is out here. He has researched everything he can find on the internet about that tractor.. He and Buck washed it and got it all shiny for the parade.. They had it looking good..

We bought 8 bags of candy at $8.50 per bag for the girls to throw. We had Cember, Gabby, Kelsey, Maranda, Briauna, Teagan, Kaylee and Gracie (these 3 are friends of Kelseys) in the trailer. When we got back Kelsey, told us that was AWESOME, I LOVED IT... Paige (2 of the girls mother) and I walked beside the trailer the entire 3.5 miles. I was tired, at the end of the parade we hopped in the trailer with the girls and rode back to Rocky's house.. It was so worth it.. I love doing things like that with my Family. Thanks everyone for helping make this happen.. I have now nick named Rocky "Farmer All" (Farmall Tractor)

VACATION in 7 days...