All Good things must come to an End!!! As does Summer Vacation!

These pictures are from Jackson and Rob's visit when Leslie was gone to NYC. We had so much fun. I basically tried keeping JAckson out of Rodney and Rob's way while they were building the wane's coating in our entry and dining room. Jackson seemed to really get into measuring....

Summer is gone as far as "vacation" and no school, but Jackson comes to see Grammie and we love those times. He eats, chases the dogs, flops on the bed, goes in and out of the house, plays ball, and just does toddler things! Did I forget to mention that he likes to EAT!!! Jackson is no stranger to the "food to mouth" thing....and he can chow with the best of them! He may give uncle Alan a run for his money some day!!!

More 4th of July Pictures...

OOPS! Forgot the 4th of July!

We had a "Default 4th of July" celebration for all those who a. Did not have plans that day, b. Had plans, but they fell through,
or c. Anyone who wanted some food and celebration time before the Fireworks! We ended up with quite a crowd and it was a mix of family and friends and FUN!!! To have been a last minute party, it turned out really well...! Uncle Sam ROCKS!

Canal Street "Boodie" What's in that bag????

NYC Pictures in Backward Order

NYC Pictures

The "Big Apple" trip! FANTABULOUS!!

Rodney, Karla and I went to New York City to visit Ben and Ashley on July 6. WOW! Calves are screaming, body is pooped to pop, but we loved every minute of it! We saw so much in those 3 days that it made our heads spin! That, plus watching the Crazy Loco Taxi drivers go 90 to nothing on the streets! Now, that is some fast-paced lifestyly!

Brief run-down of our highlights:
1. Friday night went to eat at Carnegie Deli......sandwiches were a foot tall!!! (see pic of Ben and Rod on blog) then walked down Broadway(Hershey's store, etc)
2. Saturday-Metropolitan Museum of Art----WOW! A day is not enough time to soak it all up. Saw Ancient Egypt mummies, tombs, heiroglyphics, and on to the Americas. Saw Washington Crossing the Delaware pic--gives you chills......literally.
We skipped a lot because of time, but soaked up a lot of culture(Renoir, Van Gogh, etc), sculptures, works of architectural art, and much more.
Then Ben, Ash and I went on to Soho, West Village, and just shopped.
That night, we went to the Gershwin Theater to see "Wicked" It was soooooooo good. If anyone has a chance, they should see it(I would see it again in a heartbeat!)
After Wicked, we went to eat downtown at an Italian place...can not remember the name right now. Outstanding!
We crammed a lot of fun into one day!

3. Sunday--We slept a little later because we were "whipped!" Got up and went again! Ben and Karla did the Museum of Modern Art--(Saw Starry Night and they were excited), while Rodney, Ashley and I went on to Chelsea Market where they film the Food Network. Then strolled to West village again and went to the Magnolia Bakery, a little hole in the wall bakery on the corner of a street and people form a line out front because only 8-10 are let in at a time. IT has great Banana Pudding and the cupcakes looked great, but we were hot and full of pudding!

Then on to Canal Street, where Ashley and I had a lot of fun as we were taken to a side street inside a locked building to see the Coach Purses!!! (Rodney was with us .....)Yep, some people may have a surprise for Christmas!!! Santa Rodney carried them out in a big ole trash bag and we got in our Taxi and zoomed back up to East 51st Street....feeling kinda like criminals. I think I will get Ashley a "Property of the New York City Jail" t-shirt!!!

That night, Ben, Ashley, Karla and I went to see "Rent." It was a much different style of production than "Wicked" but had very talented performers as well.. One was a girl, Tamrya somebody who had been on American Idol, but got booted at some point. She was great though...My favorite show by far was "Wicked" though.
We ate at a little late-night Diner close to Ben and Ashley's and went to Serendipity after that. Only got a mug there because we were too full to eat and each person was required to spend at least 8.00 to eat there!!! No way, after what we had just eaten. But what a quaint little place and it was fun to say we had visited it.

4. Monday--Ashley did a crash course for Rodney and Karla on the Subway!!! Went on down to Canal Street(China Town) and saw some MORE craziness there! "Lady, you want a purse....come with me one block(yeah, right!!)"....and they can be very bold down there.....(See Sunday for detail on this little topic!)Back to the hotel on the Subway and grabbed a bite to eat and went to airport to come home! Karla had a different flight back to Austin and we were a little delayed, but got 300.00 vouchers to be delayed....so we weren't fussing.

WHAT A GREAT TRIP! ANYONE WISHING TO BOOK A HIGHLIGHT TRIP TO NYC, SEE ASHLEY RODGERS---PLUS, SHE IS CUTE!
YEAH.....AND A GREAT SHOPPER! WE DID SUCCUMB TO A FEW GOOD DEALS!!! SORRY BEN! What special memories.

More Pictures of Lubbock Visit with Friends and Family

Summer Fun in Lubbock with Family and Friends!

This week, I made a trip back to Lubbock with Billie Roark. I got to see my two sweet granddaughters and on Thursday, Leslie, Rob and Jackson joined the Lubbock Fun. Wow! 3 Grandbabies in about 2 years! We are going to have some great Christmas times!!! HA

I visited with a lot of the teachers I taught with at Waters(and even my old principal). I shopped with Missy Pirkle, ate lunch with Missy, Pam Allison, Dianne Ashby(Dash), and Billie, and shopped some more with Missy!! I also saw Sonja Nash and we had one of our long conversations about "everything under the sun!"

I marvel when I see how fast the babies are learning about life-like putting on sandals, putting off going to sleep at night("lay down Grammie" when I try to sneak out quietly from putting Emmerson to bed after laying down with her for 30 minutes or more), showing Jackson who is "BOSS" of her toys, and on and on.....I remember teaching Kindergarten for a short time when I first went back to teaching and basically teaching them basic life skills that Emmerson already knows. Of course, going to Day Care does help her learn some of those things, but of course, I think she is especially smart....

We are going to New York this week to see Ben and Ashley. Karla is going with us and we are all very excited to see how Rodney reacts to the craziness of NYC!

Summertime and the Living is Easy!!!!...and Busy!

Wow! Just finished Frisco Show Choir Camp for a week. Did a great little 30-minute show called "Destination: Rock n' Roll". Love those kids who love to sing and perform. We zoomed to Houston for a fun Messersmith wedding and danced the night away at the reception! Watching Ben, Ashley, Leslie and Rob dance was worth the trip! They can put on quite a show. John Travolta has nothing on them!!!!

I am looking forward to doing absolutely nothing and only selfish stuff!!! hahaha That would be shopping probably for fabric for something in the house, grandkids, and just getting my flowers going in the yard. We love our new house and it is fun giving it some WOW factor--inside and out! Rodney's next big project is blowing more insulation in the attic---sounds ugh to me, but I will appreciate it come time to pay those lower electric bills!!

Ben is off to work this summer for JPMorgan and as I write this, he is spending his first night there. I imagine they will keep him so busy that he will not have much time for enjoying the "sights!" I hope I am wrong because we are going to see them on July 6 for a few days.
More later about all the kids. I have to go work in the yard before the sun goes down!

Karla's after graduation party!

After Karla graduated we all went to the lake house on Lake Travis....but ended up at the country club pool after the boat broke down. Here are all those crazy kids of mine!

Karla made it!

Empty Nesters and Life is Good!

WOW! School is out !!! I just finished my 5th year of teaching in Frisco and I can't believe it. I never thought I would leave Lubbock and my comfort zone, but life throws us curves and from those curves come positive changes! Grandkids are starting to fill our lives all around us from West Texas to Dallas and that is great. Great does not even describe that part of your life as a grandparent. I will ponder on this from time to time to find a better word.

Karla, my 4th child to graduate from college, is in Austin floating around on some cloud!!! Not sure what she will do, she is just loving not having to think about finished school. My mom, who I call Granny Hill, would be quite proud of this fact because she was raised in the Great Depression and overcame a miserable childhood to get 2 degrees the hard way. Her Masters degree took her 15 summers to complete and so, as I think about Karla taking a few more years in school, I revert back to how proud Granny would have been of her even if it took her 15 years!!!! So, my cup runneth over with pride in all of them for their accomplishments and the young ladies and gents that they have become. What a gift from above!!!