A Blast From The Past Or "It's Time To Clean Out The Attic!"

Do you think most people reach a point in their lives when they finally have to admit that it's time to get rid of some stuff?  You know, when you have every nook and cranny full and then you look in the attic and discover that it's full, too.  Oh, and that doesn't include a rented storage building! This spring we knew it was time to clean out the attic and storage building completely.  So, we decided to have a super size, fantastic, "everything has to go" sale and the city-wide garage experience provided just the excuse to get it done!

We discovered things we had forgotten about and quite a few things that we wondered why we had them in the first place.  There were old (meaning vintage) children's toys that included Cabbage Patch dolls, Masters of the Universe He-Men and castles, ET (a little worse for wear), Breyer horses and other items we had saved from the past. We found clothes, old school papers, books,  baseball card collections and lots of other treasures.  In addition, there were lots of old crocks, stuffed bears, country decor (we've moved on from that era), and lots of things inherited from parents!  It took more than a full week to get it all out and go through it.

After looking through it all and deciding what to trash, what to keep and what to sell (often a painful experience I might add), we committed to having the sale.  Our local storage building owner allowed us to hold the sale at the storage building, kind of like Storage Wars.  Jennifer had a baby dresser she wanted to sell and a lot of good children's clothes.  One other friend put some clothes and other items in the sale so the building was full, from top to bottom.  We even sold our baby bed that all three of our children were raised in.  Talk about letting go!!  This was our first Hamilton garage sale but it was a big success and we were able to sell a lot of the overflow items from our life.

By the way, we still have too much stuff!

Jennifer's Miss Piggy sweater.

Remember these?  They still smell!

One of Jeremy's early Leggo sets.

Fisher Price cow and Beverly's Lamb Chop,

Charley Horse and Hush Puppie puppets from her childhood!

Strawberry Shortcake dolls.

E T had some radiation problems.

Jennifer is still creeped out by this guy!

Jordan's horse collection.

Obviously her circulation was cut off during her time in the attic!

Gangrene had already set in!

Just your size!

No more storage rental!

A Bad Day Fishing Is Better Than A Good Day At Work

Fishing is something I don't get to do very often.  It's not that I don't enjoy it.  I really like to go fishing, but first you need a good place to go, and although I'm retired, there's always something else to do.  But when you promise your grandson that you'll take him, well, you gotta' go!  But, little sister decided that she wanted to go, too.  I'm not sure he wanted her to go but he didn't complain.  So right then and there I knew fishing for me would consist of baiting hooks and untangling lines!

But, you know, they were both troopers and did a really good job and caught some good fish.  It was a fun day and every time I asked them if they were ready to go they both would say, "Just a little bit longer, Pawpaw!"  Now when it came to cleaning the fish they seemed to disappear but later wanted to know when the fish fry was going to be.  Ha!  I guess we'll have to find a day to do that soon.  It was a fun day of making memories.  Thank you Roland Poe for letting them fish!

Miss Pres with her first fish!

Taylor took the prize for the biggest fish.

Pres even caught a big old ugly catfish!

Presley Turns Seven

Time just keeps moving on.  How can our oldest grand daughter be turning seven years old?  It was only yesterday that we were sitting in the waiting room at the hospital getting ready for her arrival.  In a few more days she will be moving on to the second grade.

Presley didn't get to celebrate on her actual birthday because of the Houston Livestock Show.  We sent her some balloons at school but Jennifer and Toby had planned a family get together and party at their house when they got back.  She wanted a book party this year.  She loves books and reading and she wants to be a librarian some day!  Another milestone reached, another birthday celebrated!

 Bebe and her big girl!

She has finally started losing her baby teeth!

Looking too grown up!

She's coming out of her shell!

Really!

I mean really!

Green eggs and ham!

 Her homemade favors-  book worms!!

So Doctor, My Appendix Has No Function?

Apparently so, as Jordan found out on February 1, 2015.  A routine Saturday night ended up being a far from usual Sunday morning for Jordan and Ashley when Jordan had to go to the emergency room at 4:00 a.m. only to discover that he had appendicitis!  Therefore, it changed our usual Sunday morning into a quick trip to Abilene and the Regional Hospital.  Thankfully, they were able to do the removal laparoscopically and he was able to go home that afternoon.  They just don't do things like they use to in hospitals anymore.

We spent the night with them and helped with the kids so they could get a little rest.  The next day Jordan was pretty sore but by the middle of the week he was able to go back to work on a limited basis.  He wasn't supposed to lift anything over 20 pounds and in the landscape business that meant someone had to help him with that sort of thing.  But, he is recovering well and we are thankful for that.

Both Remington and Leighton were sick shortly after all of this with the usual winter time colds and ear infections.  Being a parent can be trying at times but it's all part of the parenting process.  Even Ashley got sick and had a little drama while coming home from the clinic.  She felt like she was about to pass out and had to pull over until she felt better.  It looks like they are beginning to see light at the end of the tunnel.  Hopefully, it's not another train coming!

Jordan also made a trip to Dallas to see his good friend Hunter.  Hunter had a bone marrow transplant about two years ago and has been through so much since then.  After doing so well, things started to go south and there were times when he looked like he might not make it.  But, people don't know Hunter and his resolve and they don't know how many people were praying for him.  But, we know God and his love and this has sustained him through many battles.  Hunter was taken to Zale Lipshy Hospital in Dallas last September where at one point the only thing he could move was his eyes.  We are thrilled to see him make so much progress to where they hope to have him home very soon.  It was good for Hunter and Jordan to spend the afternoon together again.

In addition, later in the month Leighton and Jordan went to a "sock hop" date at their church.  Leighton got all dressed up in her poodle skirt and was so cute.  Jordan felt well enough to hunt in a predator hunt near the end of the month so it looks like things are slowly getting back to normal.  They, like a lot of other people, are ready for warmer weather and sunshine.

 Waiting for the diagnosis in the emergency room.

 What would we do without smart phones to pass away the hours?

Me?  I use them to learn things.  I love knowledge.  In fact, I yearn for it!

 Back in the surgery prep area.  You're gonna shave what?

Nice hat, Jordan!  Just glad he didn't want to keep his appendix.

He once wanted to go back and get his wisdom teeth after getting them pulled!
 He was a little loopy back then!

Remington's not sure about his Pawpaw.

 Hunter and Jordan together for the first time since before September, 2014!

 Ready for the sock hop!

 Her date for the evening.  It won't always be like this Jordan!

 What a little angel!

 And another cutie pie.  Love that cap.

Bebe likes guys in blue denim shirts, Remington!

A New Year Begins....Welcome 2015

It seems like only yesterday we were trying to get use to saying the year 2000 and here it is 15 years later!  For our family January has traditionally been the beginning of the stock show season.  We have the Hamilton County Youth Fair followed by the Ft. Worth show and it goes on and on from there.  It's usually the time for garden preparations and planting onions, too.  It's the time to make some new year resolutions and by the end of the month, most of them have been ignored or broken.  Throw in some cold weather and you pretty much have the month covered.

 Channel 5 NBC was filming during his class.  A boy and his steer!

The coveted F brand, meaning you've made the premium sale!

Taylor's 5th place middle weight Polled Hereford at Ft. Worth!

This was his third Hereford so his name was Herf 3.0.  It was a good version.

 Ready for onion planting.  Oh, and we are extending the fence.

 I like this philosophy!

 Another round of ice and sleet.

 Beverly's new coat from Jeremy and Annie.  It has come in handy this winter.

Oh yeah?  

Birthdays, Birthdays, Birthdays!

The end of the year is always a busy time but when you consider we have nine family birthdays within a two month span, it can be daunting.  No one can choose when they are born but, in retrospect, we could use a few summer babies.  As we close out updating the blog for 2014, we want to wish all of these family members a happy birthday!

Toby's birthday starts off the adults on November 24.

Jennifer celebrates on December 4th.

Annie has a birthday December 3rd and Jeremy is on December 19th!

And finally, the old guy starts out the new year on January 1!