Road Trip 2012 Part 3

 Let's see if I can still remember some of this trip....(as if I could ever forget it...LOL)...but I have slept a few times since, been so busy trying to catch up, doing a little designing, watching the Olympics...and oh yes, watching more of the Olympics (can you say addict?)!
Since this was the first time that Kathy met Amy, Margaret and Hayden, I made a couple of special remembrance pages using a kit by Lesley at Scrapiness Down Under from 7-24-12 and used Miss Linda's words at Random Thoughts. I failed to take a lot of photos here as we were all too busy talking and eating and having fun. I did not get any photos of Jim, Jeff or Tiffany...darn it! But here is one of Kathy with Hayden and then one of Amy, part of Margaret, Hayden and Penny along with her reflection...LOL! (She is gonna kill me for this one!)

Next installment will be the trip into St. Louis, MO, the arch and meeting with Christina, Jade, Ruby and Jayson! Stay tuned...this is all for now as I have a busy day scheduled for today. Gotta beat this heat! We are under severe heat advisory until tomorrow night (bet they extend it)! To be another 105 F day like yesterday! Did not cool under 85 over night either! Summer in Texas!! Anyhow, y'all have a great week ahead and I'll check back with ya soon. Keep making those memories to share! Luv, Mat

R.I.P. in God's arms Aunt Jo

Our last surviving maternal aunt passed on to be held in God's arms and a reunion with the rest of her brothers, sisters, parents and husband last evening. Her long suffering battle is finally over and she will be desperately missed by her children, Nancy (Al) & Michael (Deborah), her grandchildren (Nathan (Jennifer) & Daniel), great grandchildren (Haydn & Sharlotte) and a multitude of nieces and nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews. May she be at peace and enjoy her reunion! We love you much, Maryanne, Kathy and Penny!

Road Trip 2012-Part 2

After visiting with family and friends, we did a little sight seeing! Amy had requested to see the Bristol Motor Speedway where NASCAR races....so we rode around it, took some photos, did State Street where you can be in 2 states at once (Bristol, TN and Bristol, VA).  We headed out next morning for Illinois with a stop in Johnson City, TN (for a visit to the cemetery where my dad is) on through Nashville, into Kentucky and arrived in Mascoutah, IL at our hotel. Hayden loved the big bridges and was excited every time we went over one. After unloading and resting a few minutes, we headed over to sister's house (Kathy & Jim) where we visited and ate lots of terrific Chinese food. We got to see their son Jeff and his wife Tiff. This was first time for Amy, Margaret and Hayden to meet Kathy and her family. (Jason, Christina, Jade, Ruby and Jayson could not be there because of Jason's work schedule and Christina having a surgical procedure the next morning). We sat outside enjoying the conversation and lightning bugs until Hayden was tired (and so were we from so much riding) and Jeff & Tiff were tired from working all day so called it a night. Here are a couple of photos that either I or Margaret took during the trip. More to follow later...Luv, Mat

Bristol Motor Speedway

State Street, VA flag left, TN flag right

Entering Kentucky

Illinois State Line

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Road Trip 2012-Part One!

I've just returned from my vacation this year....what a blast! Flew into Tallahassee, FL; went to my sister's house in S. GA. Penny, her daughter Amy, daughter-in-law Margaret, granddaughter Hayden, and I left the next morning for a visit with our Aunt Jo and cousin Nancy in Elizabethton, TN. We went through SC, NC, (rode the Blue Ridge Pkwy a bit). Penny and the girls went to Nancy's to visit with her husband Al and brother, Michael, his son Danny and granddaughter Charlotte the following day, while I stayed at the motel to meet and visit with my friend Scarlett (aka Judy Hill) who happens to live in Elizabethton. What a fabulous visit...we talked and talked and talked as if we had known each other all our lives. We did not take any photos, but I snitched one off her facebook to make this page. I have been busy trying to catch up with work and will try posting some more of the vacation photos soon. Just wanted to say hi and let everyone know I am back home safe and sound. Will chat more with you soon. Luv, Mat

Happy Birthday America!!

Happy Independence Day America. I said the Pledge of Allegiance every day of school for 12 years. I still say it often, even having graduated more than 40 years ago! I want to THANK all the people that have fought and died to defend our flag and our freedom. I hope all of you enjoy your holiday with family and friends and have a very safe one. Make lots of memories to share, but please remember what this day means to all of us. I used the new Stars & Stripes kit by Raspberry Road Designs and wordart by Ginger. Gotta run for now, chat more next time! Luv, Mat

Another Hot Week Here~

We only had 7 days in a row of heat over 100 F this past week. Today is a little cloudy and a change is taking effect, only supposed to hit the mid to upper 90's now. LOL!
Yard work is all done and looking good, got my "dead" plants up and gone and cleaned up the ones that are still struggling....LOL! Some are doing better than others....and I need to put out some hardier ones to replace those I've lost...LOL! Just too hot to go out and mess with them right now...besides my lazieness!
Got my housework all done, litter boxes all cleaned and renewed, floors mopped and rugs vacuumed, "girls" fed and snoozing, work all caught up....so thought I'd chat for a bit~

I've made a few pages for my "sister" Nina of her 3 granddaughters, her great granddaughter and even one of her daughter, that I thought I would share with you.

This is Lilly, Brittany, and Elizabeth in a cute page and cluster from Raspberry Road Design.

Here is Brittany, who is here from Georgia visiting her Granny, in a paper I created, a frame from Lesley at Scappiness Downunder, some flowers and accents from Kyra at With a Russian Dutch Heart and wordart by Sunshine Creationz.

Little Miss Lilly (also visiting from GA) is in a page created by Arlene using Kyra's kit and wordart is from Sunshine Creationz.

Nina's first great grand daughter, Emorie, in a QP by Linda at Random Thoughts (I recolored a little to match the photo) using one of Kyra's kit and Linda's own wordart.

  

This one I just could not resist since it looks like Tammy's Bear when he was small and believe me, she loves this dog as much as he loves her. The paper/embellishments are from Kyra's Best Friend of All and the cluster is from Arlene using the same kit. I created the wordart this time...LOL

Well, enough for this time, here's wishing all of you a very happy 4th of July, hope it is safe and fun and that you create many, many memories to share. BTW, for my Canadian Friends...Happy Canada Day too! Will chat more with you next time, for now....Luv y'all! Mat