thanksgiving part 2

Thanksgiving pictures

And while I'm here, misc pics, Churchill Memorial, Fall scene at Herman and my Christmas village

Here are some pics of the Dept 56 village I have set up.

and some more pics

more baptism pics

Baptism Day

Here is a selection of pics, pre-baptism, during baptism and after baptism party. ENJOY

November 11th a wonderful day

November 11th has many meanings. To most it is a day to celebrate our veterans, to remember the ones we have lost and to thank the ones who served our country to protect our freedom. That in itself makes Nov. 11th a great day. But to me November 11th will best be remembered for the birth of my beautiful daughter Leslie Ellen on November 11, 1982. Leslie you are a wonderful daughter, a beauty, a delight, a treasure to love. You are kind, loving, caring, generous, funny and amazing. Thank you for being my daughter. May you celebrate many many more decades of birthdays. The newest celebration for November 11 is the baptism of my first and my beautiful grandson Kai Robert Bratton. You are a delight to everyone. Jason and Susan thank you for giving us this wonderful baby. I love all of you...Jason and Leslie, Susan and Kevin and now little Kai.

Latest pic

WHAT A GOOD LANDLORD, UP ON THE ROOF FIXIN THE ANTENNA !!!!!

more pics

And now for more 1. Bruce with an attitude after we called him stupid for leaving Chicago tickets at home after we were 90 min. into the trip !! 2. 3 happy and full tummies after dinner in Chicago at Brazilian Steak house. At this point all still smiling because we have the tickets for the golf the next day and the Murano is still running. 3. It is called Labor Day because it must be a full day of labor that requires napping at days end. Or was this also caused by Jungle Juice comsumption????

Picture titles

WOW it actually worked, I got pictures on here again. So since it worked here are the titles for pics in previous blog 1. Proud Papa and Kai 2. The complete happy family. 3. The MEN 4. Smiling grandma with Kai 5. Jason trying to be incognito from jungle juice.

Newest news

Leslie says I need to update so here goes. As of today I own a new car its a 2006 Kia Amanti, pearlized white color with gray leather interior. We still have the Lincoln, but we got an awesome deal to get out of the Murano so we jumped. The Murano had 101,000 miles on it and our traveling wasn't slowing down. We did pay to get the new drive axle fixed after the mishap in Chicago and thought all was well, but a week ago while going out to lunch with Bruce he heard another new sound, we all listened and heard it and basically could feel it too. Thus again to shop and its the rear differential going out, we put new differtial oil in to see if that would fix it but alas it didnt. So instead of another $1300 repair we fell into this great deal with the Kia and took it. We really love the look of the car and the drive is very smooth and quiet. We will pick it up Tuesday morning before we head out for Mississippi again. The other good news is that Monday night I get to go back to St. Louis with Bruce he has tickets for the Eric Clapton concert. I can't wait I'm so excited. So sorry you didn't want to go Zack, so now I can go :) :) :) We have 6th row center seats, should be awesome. John Mayer and Sheryl Crow were good but Eric Clapton, nothing can beat that. Leslie I know you agree, the concert we went to was fantastic. I told you I was jealous of you going in Toronto, now I get to go too. Will try and post more often. Love to everyone

CHICAGO - OH WHAT FUN

Where of where do I begin. We got started before 9 a.m. We picked up Dad and Bruce, loaded up the Murano and off we went. Of course stopped after an hour for a quick breakfast at McDonalds. You know this group, don't want to go far without food. then we are just at the Lake St. Louis exit and Bruce says, "I don't have the tickets" One look at him and I could tell, this was the truth, not Bruce just being funny, ha ha got ya kinda thing. It was true he had left the folder with all the passes to the golf tourney and to the Field Museum at the house. so at the next exit, we get off and back to I-70 back to Columbia. All in all it added 3 hours to the trip, but we all got to laugh at Bruce and thought it was real funny. We got to Chicago with 10 minutes to spare before our 6:30 dinner reservations. We ate a Brazilian Steak house which was awesome, we all left full and then went to the hotel and crashed for the night. Sun. we got up leisurely and had breakfast, then took a drive thru Western Chicago (or was it Eastern) just looking around and then drove to the parking area for Medina and went to the tourney. Weather was great. We watched a couple of twosomes tee-off on #1, watched some on the practice greens. We had 2 grounds tickets and 2 clubhouse tickets, Bruce and Dad went into clubhouse first to look around and get a drink and then Arthur and i went in. Then we walked down to #1 green and watched a couple of groups putt, then went and sat across water From #13 green (the signiture hole and watched several groups there, behind us was #12 green and watched some there too. Then we positioned ourselves at #2 tee and waited thru 3 final pairings so we could see Tiger. That was that. As soon as he teed off that was it, we walked back to the buses and our car and came back to hotel and watched the end on TV. Next we went to Famous Daves' BBQ for dinner and once again stuffed ourselves. Mon. we had to get up early and drive into Chicago with traffic (which ended up not being bad at all" We had to be at Field Museum at 9:30 for our entrance into the King Tut exhibit. All is well, all are happy and then at a stop light on Michigan Ave. we hear a loud noise on the Murano. Bruce is driving us thru traffic and he has commented that something doesn't seem right. We are a few blocks from our turn by Soldier Field to where we will park and we make the turn, and then there is basically no power, we are going slightly downhill so w/ remaining power and some luck we get turned into the street for the parking garage and make it to the side and that is it. IN Summary: The Transmission to the Murano is gone. Arthur tells us to go the the museum and leave him for the wrecker to come. We have already called our dealership here in columbia and gotten phone # for Nissan dealer in Chicago and called them and they are sending flatbed to tow the car to their dealership. We got go Museum. King Tut is good, but not near what we had hoped for. Finally after walking thru Grant Park and back to Michigan Ave and the Chicago Hilton looking for a rental car place (we then find out it hasn't been in that location for 2 years) we call a cab and go 18 blocks more and get to Hertz, rent a car and go 8 miles to where Arthur is waiting at service dept. of Nissan dealer. The Transmission has totally locked and also broken the left front axle. Needless to say at this point 2:00 p.m. we decided to skip other museums and just get back in one piece to Columbia. Long story short, Perry Nissan here in Columbia is going to retriev Murano and bring back here. Cost to repair in Chicago was way to high. Perry is talking to Nissan Corp to see what they can do. Our service guy at Nissan advises not to change transmission fluid unless warning lights indicate it is needed. Chicago Nissans first word, was it should have been changed every 30,000 miles and ofcourse transmission is going to break at 100,000 miles w/out the changes. This is why Perry Nissan is talking to our area factory rep to get assistance in this. In closing, it started out fun, although longer drive than expected, thank you Bruce. Great to see Tiger and a PGA championship, had great food and great visits, but the Murano didn't like the trip.

Nothing New

I keep checking everyone to see if anything new has been posted. Thank you Susan and Jason for a new post. Thank you Cadence for your new post. Now Bruce and Leslie, I have hinted several times about you all posting some Toronto pictures. Know you all had fun but since I couldn't be there would at lesst like to see some pics of what I missed. My news is nothing, just work on the road and work at home. We (Bruce, Dad, Arthur and I) are going to Chicago for 3 days next weekend (the 19th) for a pro golf tourney. It was Bruces idea and we are all looking forward to it. Go to the Natural History Museum Sat, and a Brazilian Steak House for dinner Sat. and the final day of the golf tourney on Sunday. So MAYBE when we get home I'll post some pics of that trip. Till then, I'll keeping checking for updates from anyone.

I AM GRANDMA

Basically that is all I can say, I would post pictures, but they are still on the camera. Being a Grandma is exciting, but I'm tired and all I did was hold Kai. So Jason and Susan my thoughts are with you. Hang in there all will be well, for the hours of sleep you will miss will bring you many many years of joy into your lives. I'm so proud of you both. Kai is beautiful, loveable, huggable and wonderful. I didn't want to let him go.

Cimarron House

Here are a few pictures of the Cimarron house all painted and moved into. We are really excited to be here and loving it.

testing with picture

Well I think it worked. So here is cheers to all the Aussie bunch, Bruce and Zack included since they are now on their way. Now that I think I understand this I'll post more pics later in the weekend. Last year was a great trip to OZ. Thank you!!!!

The move is complete

We are now at home at 2405 Cimarron Dr. WOW !!! My back hurts, my feet and ankles are killing me and I'm exhausted but basically in 36 hrs from the moment the movers showed up at old address till the last picture was hung and box emptied, everything is complete. Honestly it was exactly 36 hours from beginning to end. We are sore but happy to have it all done, we have had Ibuprofen for breakfast and evening appetizer to get thru it all but we are basically still standing. We actually used the hot tub last night and didn't drown, but it was fantastic. Happy Fathers Day to everyone, that included you Jason because you are almost there. Bruce and Dad are coming over this afternoon and we are going to cook out. Have two big pork tenderloins to grill. Have a new grill but so far have had no luck in getting it to ignite so I guess that is a "maybe" we are going to cook out. When I take the time to download pictures and learn to post here I'll add some house pics. Love you all.

Moving continues

Since it is 6:00 in the morning and I can't get back to sleep and I'm already on my second load of washing clothes I thought I would come into the computer and bore everyone else :) We are still in the move process. After being gone 3 days to Mississippi we are now home for a long week. So hopefully we will accomplish a lot. I just don't understand how 2 people can have so much "stuff" I have already packed boxes and boxes of my Dept 56 collection and last night I packed 4 boxes of Arthurs medical books and there is more to pack. The Cimarron house now looks like a war zone, there are wires hanging out of all the walls for all the surround sound and for internet connections and phone lines everywhere, this, that and the other wall has some new paint, there are patches of new crack patches on the wall. There are holes in the walls, closets and floors where the wiring guys have been working, Half the living room carpet is cut away. In other words it is a mess. They installed new washer and dryer yesterday and found out water connection had a major leak so that is being finished today. Plumber for water softner decided more lines had to be run than planned. Plus he showed up an hour late so I sat in a lawn chair in the garage from 11:00 to 3:30 waiting for him to show up. (That is the only chair and place to sit in the whole house at this time) Today I'm taking a break and going to lunch with Bruce and Dad to Kohls to shop, doesn't sound like much to the common folk, but to me its a vacation :) Ok, I've bored myself enough................have a great day everyone. And you should all get a life instead of taking the time to read this rambling. :)

MOVING

Not everyone knows but it is official we are moving. Nope not out of town, but to Bruces' Cimarron house. As of a week ago the process has started. Painters are there now, new carpet goes in June 1st and then after a LAST work trip to NC and then a couple of days of working in MS. We will have movers move us on June 16th, that is a Friday and then we have a long weekend to settle in, we will work the following week in Missouri with no overnights, so it will be the perfect time. We wanted to get in about 10 days earlier but w/ work schedule just couldn't make it work. The movers will be moving furniture and a few boxes. We are moving things to storage and the garage as a staging area now. Plus the kitchen is practically all moved into a present. (It's been a busy week) Since the kitchen walls are wallpaper and don't need paint, I have already set up all the cabinets and got stuff into there. Well I have now posted the last 2 post of all the family so everyone, please please POST something new.

Mothers Day

I see I havent' posted in ages so here goes. Just returned from KC. We went there yesterday early morning (Sat.) got to Jason's and Susans in time to take a quick look at the nursery furniture all set up and the on to the baby shower. We went over an hour early to set up things. Arthur stayed at their house and worked on the laptop getting things ready for us for work the next 2 weeks. The shower was great. Susan made beautiful orchid arragements for the food area and then tulip arrangements for the tables for all the guests. The food was great and was so attractive display along with a delicious cake, both white and chocolate. We played the usual shower games and watched as they opened gifts. Jason got misty eyed (as did some guests) when they opened a gift I had wrapped from Mom (Meme) of the first hand knit afagan she had knit when I was pregnant with Jason. The shower was great and I would post pictures, but I got to the shower and realized I didn't have my camera. The last thing before leaving I did was put in a new charged battery and then I sat down the camera on the counter and never picked it up again. Needless to say I wasn't happy. Jason does have pictures and hopefully he will post soon. We stayed last night at Crown Center Hyatt and walked over to Crown Center for dinner and then just had an early relaxing evening. This morning we met Jason and Susan for an early lunch at Cheesecake Factory. Luckily we decided to get there early, actually arrived 15 min. before they opened) got right in and when we left about 11:00 there must have been at least 60 people waiting for tables. We are home now, unpacked and ready to do nothing but catch up on TIVO and relax. If I learn how to post pics, my next post will include pictures of something. :)

As I recall

As I recall after waking and thinking about it the name was.... Mason Dell But when awake that sounded better than what the name was when I was dreaming, so that might not be exactly it.

9 days in Missouri

Believe it or not we have about 9 days straight in Missouri. Whatever will we do......so far the same...... We have done tons of computer work in prep for next trip and finishing up odds and ends from last trip. We have started to do some spring cleaning, which at this point means, cleaning the corners of all the rooms, rearranging some odds and ends, washing all knick knacks so they shine and then the ordinary stuff a little heavier, dusting, vaccuuming and all that fun stuff. Oh yeah and we also recovered all cat toys that were under couches and furniture, (made the cats happy) which is always a good thing. They look so happy when we come off the road and spend some time with them. Haven't gotten into planting flowers, because we hope to be out of this house in the summer, so don't want to do a lot here. But........we have relaxed some, we went to a great Easter Brunch at Boone's Tavern with Dad and Bruce and then back to Bruces to just sit outside and relax. Arthur even got to lay in the hammock and nap, which was well deserved. We have had 2 nites at home to catch up on TIVO and will do more so tonight, we commented last night, we are almost living like regular people, we watched TV 2 nites in a row, cooked dinner at home last night with plans to do the same tonight ( I don't remember when we have had 2 homecooked meals in a row) But tomorrow don't worry, we aren't getting that mundane we plan to eat out at the Lake. Today we work here in Columbia and tomorrow at Lebanon and that is it for the week for Tri-State disability. Arthur is working Mon, Thur, and Fri. here in town with Dr. Travis and yesterday I went to RaceWerX and did some accounting stuff, will do the same on Thursday. Call me weird, but I really miss that type of work. Ok, speaking of boring, I'm sure if you have stayed this long you are bored too. To Jason and Susan, I dreamed last night I got a letter from Susan telling me they had picked the name for the baby. Let's just say this I hope it was just a bad dream. To Leslie, hang in there, work hard, you will be home soon.

Big day in Ahoskie, NC

Just when I thought Ahoskie could not get anymore boring..................... I was just entering the very last bit of data for the patient that was there and I hear her gasp, I look over, she is clutching her chest, gasping, trying to breath, she grabbed my arm and I thought she might break it. Meanwhile I call out for Arthur, he looks in the room and shouts call 911. But then she starts to relax, pain subsides, she describes pain as crushing on her chest, down through her left arm to her fingers, she is still holding her chest and saying it hurts but not as much. The other woman working in the office we use, is on the phone talking to 911 operator, ( the hospital is literally across the street ) the chiropractor who has the office, goes out front to get the girls mother. She comes back and is quite calm, saying, "baby is this a bad one, does it hurt worse than it usually does. Meanwhile my hand is numb from her clutching it. So we hear the siren and we go to back door to open it and then once again she has an attack, so there I am in there basically alone with her. Her Mom has stepped out into hall so paramedics will have room to get into exam room. So they talk to her, ask questions, her blood pressure was sky high, I had taken it 5 min. before and it was 198/119. They ask about that and take her away, they stay outside for a long time and then go away from hospital to end of block to turn around and then I hear siren again a minute later and they are now rushing to hospital. So I don't know what happened to her. It was quite the experience.

here, there, everywhere

It is 1:00 a.m. here and I think I'm home in Columbia. I know we got home from Europe, although only really home long enough to do a lot of laundry, get reaquanted with the cats, who by the way, were just a little pissy that we had been gone so long, then repack again. Tuesday, after getting home Sunday evening, we got up and drove to Mississippi for work on both Wed. and today Thursday. Lovely way to spend my b'day, in the car and driving. Oh well, such is life. We left Oxford, MS at 3:30 this afternoon and we were home about 11:15 p.m. Just getting caught up on stuff here we have to do for work after every clinic. I just thought I would write a note here and say hello to all. This is probably far from a logic post, but you can't expect more from an old tired woman. I will add, that although Oxford, MS is a really really nice town, I liked being in Oxford, England much better. Miss you Leslie, hurry home xoxoxoxoxo to all.

Is it merry ole London or rainy ole London???

barb's blab Maybe it's both, I am having a merry time, but we haven't gone 2 hours without at least a sprinkle of rain. At the present we are in our bed and breakfast here in Oxford until dinner time and it is now bright and sunny outside, but still extremely windy. Today's adventure started with breakfast at 7:30 then on to pick up Leslie and travel approx. 70 miles by car, in a car that at most should hold 5 people, better at 4 people, but we had our happy party of 6 in it. Adventure to Stonehenge begins. Truely it was fun, pictures do not do it justice. Yesterday was the walking tour of Oxford.....now if you like old stone architecture, then this is the place to be. I have taken so many great pictures, you don't know which way to turn and see the next site. A fantastic place. London was fast and furious and also fabulous, we saw Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square, a 20 min. brief National Art Gallery walk thru, Picadilly Square, Coventry Gardens, Big Ben, Westminster, River Thames, Millenum Wheel, Harrods, and I'm sure more. Did I mention we probably stopped and got off at every subway stop and walked back and forth to all these locales? We walked until we couldn't walk anymore and then walked some more. But it was worth every step. No telling when if ever I will be back so glad to see it all. On to Amsterdam tomorrow, via train leaving at 7:55 from London, which we are a 90 min. bus ride away from, and we are dragging all our luggage. Our hopeful plan is to find a place to rent storage for luggage at the train station and travel very lightly on to Amsterdam for the last 3 days and then pick up the extras Sat. when we come back. Wish us luck, it will save a lot of unpleasantry if we can leave the majority of our load behind for a few days.

Chicago Chicago what a wonderful town

barb's blab If you have read Bruces update you will see why we are in Chicago. If all had gone as originally planned we would be landing in merry old London in 25 minutes.....but instead here we sit in the O'Hare Hilton, bored out of our minds, having read all our packed reading material and everyone napped for 2 or more hours. We will now depart at 10:00 p.m. tonight. 5 1/2 hours after we should have landed in London. Oh but on the positive note we have for the 5 of us a $50 food voucher to use at the airport. That means we can each buy 2 candy bars........ :) Stay tuned for more developments.

Question for the KC connection

I won't go into details but per my early phone call from Jason....................... Will I be a Mother-In-Law first or a Grandmother ??? That is all I will say, I'll let you two post and make the annoucement you have :) I'm sure what I just wrote, won't give anyone any clues of anything. Love you both.

Note to Lippy

Dearest Lippy, I was going to write something at midnight last night when we got home from Mississippi, but couldn't get anything to work right. But it would have been something like this................ My most dearest Leslie, Here is a new post. It is MIDNIGHT, I got up at 6:00 had breakfast at 6:30, was at work at 7:30, at 4:00 we left Oxford, MS, without a break all day, had lunch at 4:10 and then drove 7 1/2 hours to Columbia. Oh yeah, dinner was a McDonalds milkshake some where in Arkansas. Enough of this frivolity, now I have a good 1 1/2 of work to do here, to finish our day and then I'm going to bed. No I am not bitchy, no I am not tired, I'm just trying to make my little girl happy. Love, MOM "Our commanding sense of humor must run in the family" :)

barb's blab

ANOTHER WEEK PASSES...... Home again after another 10 days of road life. Back from North Carolina, the "last trip" is suppose to be in mid-April. Ha ha ha, I'll believe it when I see it. My last post last week about the day from hell may repeat itself next Wed. when one of the "hellish" clients returns. This is one we couldn't see because he was 2 hrs late to appt, and he and I got into a small heated argument, but I won, we didn't see him and I called his examiner at DDS and rated out on him for being beligerent and a bold faced liar. Oh well, will see how his attitude is next week and if he shows up on time. N.C. was beautiful this week, sunny skies, warm weather, but then it was that here in mid - MO too, soon, every day will be like that. At least the days are getting longer, don't have to get up in the dark and get out of work in the dark. Bruce is victim of the leach attack and had a bloody sock picture to send me, I guess I should have taken a pix of my thumb that I slashed on a razor blade when I put my hand in my toiletries bag. I bled too. :( As you can read, life is exciting, glad I got to share with all of you.

A Day from Hell

barb's blab This has been the work day from hell where all the idiots come out of the woodwork. I can't even start to describe it here, but then at the same time seeing idiot claimants at work, I also called on the phone and talked to a person about one of the idiots, and that was like talking to another moron. Ok, you get the picture, these people we see can sometimes not be real. And the people working for the state, trying to help and advise them, well they are worse. Ok enough is enough. I'm going to bed, so I can be well rested for whatever walks into work tomorrow. Peace and love, Barbara

4 days home !!!!

barb's blab Home now for a long 4 days of no work until we leave again Tuesday for MS. Just going to relax, watch Olympics, catch up on TIVO programs, do some cross stich on a baby quilt (now I'm acting like an old grandma) and hopefully start work on our train set, Arthur has decided not to go elaborate with the train track set up but instead simple layout for train and then make it a village with all the dept. 56 we have been purchasing on e-bay. So in other words 4 days off, but still busy. Well i have 4 days, Arthur still works here in Columbia on Fridays and Mondays. Ok, you must be really bored if you have read all of this so far. HAVE A GREAT DAY !!!!!

Happy V day to all

barb's blab Well I got flowers for Valentines too. but my roses are yellow, because as we all know, that is my favorite color! It is beautiful in mid-mo today, a high of 65, but unfortuneately I was inside working allday. Now I'm inside writing a blog, while Arthur is outside washing cars. Whats wrong with me, I need fresh air. Some day I will post pictures too, as soon as I have Bruce show me how, it took me awhile to learn how to post a blog. But I try Everyone have a great day and I'm thinking of "everyone" on this Valentines Day. You all know who you are.

barb's blab

barb's blab It's winter in Mid MO, nice little flurries outside, I'll take that instead of the foot of snow in the Northeast. Although on a weekend with nothing to do, staying inside and watching the snow is good. the Olympics are on, maybe I would be inspired to "luge" down the street, or speed skate on my butt as I walked down to the mailbox. Yes, on my butt as I know on an icy downhill driveway I would not have the grace to stay upright. Leslie, glad you had a fun trip, join us on the blog with a good report.

Announcement

barb's blab Get your info here. Carl Edwards to appear on "24" He has finished filming a scene for "24" that will be shown on April 3rd. Such a nice early gift for my b'day.

home again

barb's blab It's 12:30 a.m. Thurs nite and/or Friday morning. We have just completed a 1000 mile round trip to Mississippi that started on Tues. I am only awake because I drove the first hour and half and the last hour, in between those times, I made my little bed w/ my pillow and blankey in the back seat and slept a solid 3 hours. Oh how I love to sleep in a moving car. Seriously I do. Life on the road is over now for about 10 days. Next week just close by clinics and home every night. Hip hip hooray

barb's blab

barb's blab Hi all, Today in Franklin, NC, it's 5:30 a.m. here (4:30) back home and I'm up showered and getting ready to pack up the suitcases one more time. Tonight after work we will drive to Murfreesboro, TN which the first half of the drive is beautiful, windy road along side a rushing mountain river/stream/creek etc. Part of it was used for the rapid racing during the Olympics in 19___ (the year they were in Atlanta) The bad part is we drive this after dark now and can't see it well, in the next 2 months as the day gets longer, we'll stop so i can take some pics and share them here. It is beautiful area.

Welcome!

It's Friday 1-27 and we are in Granite City, IL ready to work. Our last trip here and I'm happy, because I really hate this location. Yesterday we were in Oxford,Mississippi, home of Ole Miss, a really neat town, just wish we had time to explore it more. But the big time came at night when driving to Granite City after work, its only a little over 5 hour drive, but we drive in Mississippi, Tennessee, Arkansas, Missouri and Illinois. Fascinating isn't it.