No Baby Yet Update

To all of our readers out there, just a note to say Jennifer went to the Dr. last Wednesday and he said she is making good progress. She is beginning to get very uncomfortable, in fact she only made it half way through Spanish class last night before leaving for the comforts of her bed. Today was her last day of teaching and the fourth grade students surprised her with a baby shower from them. She had no idea they had planned this but tricked her into going to the cafeteria where they were waiting with a huge cake and gifts. The students also invited Toby via e-mail. Dr. Dunn thinks she will have the baby within the next week! Stayed tuned for details and pictures.

Why Jeepers Creepers?

Some of you may wonder, "Why the name Jeepers Creepers?" It all started about 3 years ago when our friends Jerry and Terry moved here part time from California. As we got acquainted with each other, we discovered that one of their past times is off-roading or "jeeping" as we like to call it. The funny thing about it was that for months before this, Beverly and I had talked about putting some adventure in our lives and one of things we had talked about was getting a jeep. We had no idea they had a jeep until in a casual conversation they mentioned their jeep and a trip they had planned in September. Hummm....

So, 3 years ago, we went with them to the Durango, Ouray and Telluride, Colorado area for a week of jeeping over the mountain passes in the San Juan Mountains. We rented a jeep and had the time of our lives!! We went places that a lot of people only dream about and saw some of the most beautiful and rugged mountains that you can imagine. We picked the peak time for fall color and enjoyed an assortment of weather including sunshine, rain and snow on the last day.

We have followed up with a trip to Moab, Utah and last year we went back to Ouray, Colorado. It is our favorite place! But, now it is even more fun since we can make a little detour and visit Jeremy and Annie in Denver. We expect them to show us some more beautiful sights in the future. But, no snow caving!!!

Here are a few of our favorite pictures.

Our Baby Is Having A Baby

Beverly and I have been "on call" with Jennifer ever since Toby has been making the rounds with the Ft. Worth and San Antonio Stock Shows. We are now "off duty" since Toby has arrived home tonight. Hopefully, he will be around on a full time basis until the baby gets here which is now only two weeks away from her due date of March 4th. We have been through this once with her but as the time gets closer, we both are feeling a little nervous, but excited. We keep the car gassed up and ready to go. Not long ago, Jordan and Ashley called us at 2:30 in the morning, which brought both of us flying out of the bed expecting it to be Jennifer. But, it was just a skunk problem. Another story, another time!!

Beverly has been going to the doctor with her in Waco every week for the past month or so. Time before last, the doctor told her she was starting to make some changes. But, last time they said nothing more had changed. So, in the mean time, the nursery is ready and so are we. And, Jennifer is definitely ready. Keep all of us in your prayers.

Yo hablo Espanol and other Conversational Spanish Phrases

Well, we are continuing to think about our "bucket list" and hope to have a few of those posted soon. But, in the meantime, one of the things on my list is to learn a foreign language. So, beginning last night Jennifer and old Dad started a Central Texas College course in Conversational Spanish. It is being taught by Sr. Flowers who was at one time Jordan's Spanish teacher in high school. I was a little surprised, until I thought about it for a while, that there were so many wanting to take the class that they ran out of room and now have a waiting list of those that want to take it later. Spanish is an important part of Texas culture. You will find Spanish written on labels, in the grocery stores and everywhere else these days. I took Spanish in high school (a long, long time ago) and have always liked it. I have no aspirations of becoming fluent in it, but just want to be able to carry on a conversation, a slow one at that, if needed. Also, as the total makeup of the population, especially Texas, moves toward a Hispanic majority, it may become more important to at least be able to speak Spanish. It gives you an advantage in the workplace as well to be bi-lingual. Jordan works with a number of Hispanic employees and I am sure he is learning some "colorful" words in Spanish, too! In the meantime, Beverly is having to endure all my conversational practice around the house. Who knows, she may learn a few phrases, too. But for now, Hasta pronto! El placer is mio.

"Everyone Needs A Bucket List"

Taylor practicing his I love you this much "squeeze" method on PawPaw!


Taylor in the back seat of the suburban getting ready to ride shotgun with PawPaw and BeBe. Isn't he precious?

We have to apologize for not posting something lately. But, being retired is a lot of work and sometimes we just can't seem to find the time!! Since the last post, Beverly has been to the doctor three times and is slowly getting over all of the yucky sinus trouble she had at Christmas. This past weekend we were ready to get out of the house so we went over to Waco. Since it was a cold, dreary day, we went to the movies and saw "The Bucket List" with Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman. It is a movie about two guys and their "want to do" list before they "kick the bucket", so to speak. It makes you think about what you would really like to experience before it is your time to go. The movie was entertaining, funny one minute then sad the next, but it really made you realize more fully that when you get a little older, there are a lot of things you would like to have time to do and just how short life really is.

We are both in the process of making our own bucket lists so stay tuned . It might be fun for you to make your own list, no matter what your age. We are at the age when we look forward to marking off some of the things on our own bucket lists, but right now we are content to enjoy our families, our grandson Taylor and are looking forward to what we are told is a new grandaughter in about six weeks. Taylor stayed with us one day this week after pre-school and continues to crack us up with some of his conversation! Today after church, he was in the car with us and as we drove by the high school Taylor says, "There is my daddy's office." We said, "Yeap, sure is." Then he says, "There 's my daddy's trailers." "Yeap, sure is. Your daddy is a trailer pulling dude, isn't he?", said BeBe. "Yes, he sure is", Taylor says. Then after about ten seconds of thought and silence Taylor says, "Actually, BeBe, he is an Ag teacher!" Actually, he is right! He uses bigger words than we did in high school.

It's a running joke with Taylor and PawPaw & BeBe to tell each other that we love the other one more than they love us. Taylor sometimes uses numbers like two hundred thousand twelve to express how much he loves us or lately he uses the "squeeze" method. He squeezes you as tight as he can, and when he is wrapped around your neck, a four year old can be pretty strong. He is the light of our lives and we just "hate" it when he wants to squeeze our necks (yeah, right!).

Happy Birthday Elvis!

Danny and I have been wanting to start a blog for a long time. We have to keep up with our kids! I finally decided today would be the day to start one. It is a special day!
To those of you who know me very well, you know that Elvis was the man in my life before I met Danny. Today is Elvis' birthday, January 8. It is hard to believe he would be 73. Happy Birthday to the King of Rock and Roll!