Happy Birthday to Me, By the Tree, After the DMV

Yep, it is true, another year has gone and passed. I really can't believe it. I've made a lot of new memories and have learned a lot, with more learning to come.

The morning started with an amazing breakfast, just Scott & I, on the patio at the Rainbow. Beautiful setting, yummy food and then... off to the DMV. If my like-aged friend Vicky hadn't told me she had to renew hers, I would have spaced renewing mine. I was stuck in purgatory, I mean the DMV, at the worst time of day. If it wasn't for Scott needing his too, I may have lost my mind. We saw some interesting birds in there, so many thoughts going on in my head about the people we live in this world with. An hour and a half later we were done and off to take my July tree picture (late).

The flowers (aka weeds) were so pretty!!!

I had to put one in my hair!!

And then I had to put my birthday crown and glasses on! I even got a honk.

My adoring fans were awaiting our arrival to wish me a happy "forty-oneth" 

when the garage door went up, so sweet!

Ten took a turn with the shades, too cute!

It was a great day! As my Dad keeps telling me,

"41 feels better than 40!"

I'm already starting to believe him!!

Like A Bat Outta...

Well, let it be known, I'm not a fan of bunnies (in my yard), morning doves (who wake me up), mice (who potentially live in my yard), and fo' sho'... BATS!!

Thursday morning I was drinking coffee, eating breakfast, and reading a book at my patio table. As I sat down I noticed some little poop on my table. It wasn't bird poop, the kind from a fly by that has decorated my back patio. Nope, this was definitely looking like a mouse.

 I left the poop on the table and forgot about it. That night I went out to clean off the table for company. I thought, Sweet mother, what if there is a mouse in the umbrella when I open it? I'll die, just die. I decided to figure out who left that poop before going further. I pulled at the umbrella, shook it a bit, no mouse. I thought, What if that little rascal is hangin' out and drops on me when I open it all the way? I decided to take the umbrella by the horns so to speak. I took a hold of it, pulled it up at the furthest arm distance I could and slowly pulled it up. Who to my little eyes should appear but a mouse going for a ride up the bar on the umbrella. I FLIPPED with a capital F!!

I took off into the house, yelling I KNEW IT! I KNEW IT! I had my hands clinched so tight my nails were digging into my hands. The kids of course came scurrying... like mice, eewww! So we stood there inside the house pondering how to get rid of the thing. Nope, it wasn't going to be us who got rid of it. Scott got home (big game hunter) and he wanted no part of a mouse murdering... who would? He then has the nerve to suggest, "It could be a bat." Are you KIDDIN' me? Shoot me now!

Fast forward to our guests arriving. I asked if they were up for a mouse catching, killing, whatever. After dinner Adam (our crazy investigative guest) decides he just has to see what it is. Because you know, it could be a bat! Ugh. "It isn't a mouse", he says. "It's a bat." Again, I ran inside for fear the bat would decide to see sunlight that moment, in my direction.

Adam showed the kids the bat. Marketa, what a pansy, look how scared she is!

Ha, she was puttin' on an act to make me feel better.

Adam was quite the protector!

The kids were in shock and awe... ya, right, just good actors.

Ok, here is the best picture we got of that nasty little thing.

Doesn't look like a bat from this, but it was!!

That night we left the umbrella up after we knew the bat flew like a bat outta the umbrella!! to be with his bat family. We left it up a couple days discouraging another overnighter. I'm telling you right now, if that guy shows up again I'll lose my mind and then I may never get to use my new patio table again... Now who's the pansy?!

I Knew Jack

Last week I wrote a blog, Who Is In A Name? The first photograph included our friends Jack and Winnie. That day, Jack passed away. His wife Winnie had suffered a stroke a few months ago, he was by her side as much as he could be. During that time he became ill, was also in a rehabilitation facility and passed away peacefully.

Today we attended his funeral. His oldest son, John, spoke of how Jack's only daughter was the twinkle in his eye. He was a tough, stubborn, and generous man. He said Jack's own father passed away when he was in junior high, so he wanted to be influential in his kids lives... never missing a sporting event and always there to play catch. John misses his dad offering advice (even when he didn't want it), his Saturday morning football phone calls discussing his USC team, and the chance to call and ask him for advice. He ended tearfully saying, Thank you Dad, for everything.

Scott and I were in the car talking about another man at church who gave some words of wisdom to our kids. I said, "You know, these are the perks of your job. I may never get my gas range, but I knew Jack."

I was told once that everyone should have a friend in every decade. Befriending a child or two (not your own), a 20-something, 30-something, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90-something. What we can learn from all of those ages is endless. I knew a 91 year old who had the smile to light up a room and the love story of a lifetime with the love of his life.

In the words of the officiating pastor, Good-bye Jack, we'll see ya a little later.

His obituary can be seen at: http://www.coloradoan.com/viewart/20120717/OBITUARIES/207170303/John-Jack-Leslie-Shedd-Jr-

Chickened Out

What kind of 40-year old wing nut decides to dress up like a cow with her daughters, son, nieces and parents? Me!! For a free Chick-Fil-A spicy chicken sandwich, fries, and lemonade I would have mooed too!! Here is how it went down!

The crew was getting it together at Nana & Grandpa's house.

The gang with one of the Chick-Fil-A cows.

It was quite the production that day, tons of people.

Our fave costume was a prego woman with part of her belly showing and udders attached.

We each got a coupon for a free meal since we were

"dressed head to hoof".

I added this lovely hat at the store. Kind of creepy!

The cashier said, "You're total? Zero dollars."

Love that!!

I received this lovely letter in my email the next day....

"My pleasure!"

(ha ha)

7-Eleven

On July 11th, or 7-11, 7-Eleven celebrates it's birthday with free 7.11 ounce Slurpee's. Are you dizzy yet? Last year Scott took the kids to 5 stores. This year the cousins were in town for the big day, so we loaded up the car and decided it would be 7 or 11 stops... let me show you how we did.

How many cups did I see that day?

#1... We are well on our way!!

Still smiling.

#2

How many flavors can they try?

#3

#4

 It was hot, bright and a great day for a Slurpee... or 11.

#5

I was the driver and couldn't think where to find 7-Elevens

(they aren't quite on every corner like Starbucks, but close).

 This one was a "stumble upon" that helped us reach our final number.

By this point I was so far North I was on...

Yes, for those who know The Fort, that is about as far away from home as I could be.

#6

Slurpee Casualty!

Ten accidentally got a long ol' straw up the nose & caused a bleed.

#7

That's it... put a fork in it, we're done. That would be SEVEN Baby!!

The cousins told us these tummies are called Food Babies... very scary!

They promise that is real.

That too...

My nieces... I hope their mom will forgive me.

This is what happens when they're on the loose with Aunt Krissy!!

The cousins couldn't let the day go by with Grandpa Skip not getting in on the action! On the way to Ten's baseball game they took a little detour...

 He got one and they got their 8th. Let's see..

* 39 total Slurpees consumed in our crew

*$15 give or take spent on gas for free Slurpees :)

*Memories to last a lifetime



That one Slurpee really wiped out Grandpa Skip.

He needed a little nap at Tennison's baseball

game to recover from all the hoopla!!

Who Is In A Name?

I have been uploading pictures and realized I have a few file names that make me chuckle. Some just have someone's name and they make me smile. I'll show you some of my faves along with their names.

"Jack & Winnie"

Jack is 91 and Winnie is 87... or close.

They are amazing!

"Tooth Fairy"

"Ya-Ya" - softball nickname.

"Wounded Warrior"

"Reagan Baby Leaf" - sounds like her Indian name!

"Poof Doggy Dog" - my homage to Snoop Dog I suppose.

"Mohawk Boy"

"Pneumonia Boy"

Dude got hit hard and fast with pneumonia and handled it great!

"Casa Bonita Wild Bunch"

"Krispy Kissel"

My personal favorite!
My alias got a little goofed. This one made all of us laugh so hard!

I think the sender had to have had a good laugh too.

Sometimes a goofy name for a file brings back a memory and causes a smile. Sometimes a name brings a sigh. Have fun naming your photos and get a little creative while you're at it, it makes the whole thing a lot more fun.

Sincerely,

Krispy

Mom's In My Throat

There we are at a stoplight, in the car as a family. From behind me I hear Tennison say, "Mom's in my throat." Say what? "Why don't cars go when it's green?" He was getting fired up that the cars weren't going. He is so right, I was in his throat... at least my words were. I get easily annoyed with such things. I better be careful of what else I say, I mind end up in his throat in a not-so-nice way some day.

South of Ghetto

One of my family's favorite places growing up was Casa Bonita. Scott and I happened to go on our first date there. Must have been worth a quirky first date, we've been married 19 years on July 3rd.

Scott heard rumors Casa Bonita might have gone under. My friend Amy Beth runs an inner city ministry in Denver and lives there. She was our go to girl for the dirt. This is what she had to say, "As for Casa Bonita - they filed for bankruptcy a couple years ago so I think that's when all the rumors started flying about it closing. At this point I can find no verified proof of them closing just that they filed. But - that place has gone even south of Ghetto. And that's saying something coming from me. Still - I like to go there." I laughed so hard when I read that. We still went!!

The Syler family is together this week, so the older cousins helped Tennison

brave Black Barts Cave for the first time. He was a trooper!

Really, this is the reason to go to Casa Bonita.

You raise that little red flag & the yummiest sopapillas arrive.

It is like a warm pillow of heaven oozing with sugar & honey.

I have learned to appreciate even more the things my parents did for us as kids, they are some of my favorite memories. It is really fun to see the joy of these places and experiences through your kid's eyes. Make some memories today, the time is just flying by. Isn't it?