Just to please Chris...

What to do when a Husband has asked you to update this. The last thing I want to do is write a blog in the middle of the night, but especially writing one from a phone. Nothing new to report since 2014… Well maybe there is, but it is such a long story where do I start?  Tressa is now a senior at Purdue University one semester to go.  It was just yesterday we dropped her off!  You hear it all the time where does the time go, so true. Kennedy is a junior in high school, looking forward to her senior year and getting out of that place. We are enjoying time together with her and the small visits we get from Tressa. Of course the long visits from Tressa turn our world inside out along with five extra pounds on our waistline due to all the baking. Just wrapped up a FaceTime call with T,  called Kennedy at the same time, the pic shows they were both in bed same position.

 SISTERS  

A Purple Banner for K!

I am terrible about keeping up on this blog, I apologize to Kennedy that I did not note your achievement in 4H this year.  She won Reserve Grand Champion Barrow, she was so excited and that is what I will remember.  The crowd always love when children are excited and enthusiastic when they win.  I will remember her jumping up and down and hugging Olivia.  This was our first year only having 1 child in 4H.  What a change, but so proud of K!  I think K is prouder of winning 5th in dog showmanship, with Hershey.  She loves her dog!

50 Foods

Today Tressa sent me a text asking me what my favorite foods are to eat.  That got me  thinking about my upcoming birthday and what I should be doing to thank those who have made a difference.  Several things come to mind and I hope I can do at least 10% of them.  Getting back to FOOD...I have titled this blog 50 Foods, the following are foods I have enjoyed over the last 50 years and who made them.  

No particular order, just as they come to mind.

1.  My sister Lisa's Beef and Noodles!  This would be very close to the top of the list.  SImply the best!  She makes this at least once a year for me, but I think Ashton gets it more then I do.  Not fair, but he is her son.  

2.  My Grandma Lilly's pickled eggs and beets.  I still can see the glass tray she served them on usually for special occasions such as Easter.  Me in my Easter dress, knee high socks and black patton leather shoes.  

3. Grandma Messmore's white rice.  Now this may seem simple, but she had a way of putting milk and sugar in the bowl that made it fabulous.  I never could  perfect this like she did.  Another one of my favorites is her greasy eggs, bacon and toast.  I always had to eat in the kitchen, she would pull out her butcher block drawer, I would pull up a foot stool strategically placed where I could see the TV in the living room, so I could watch Saturday morning cartoons.  If it was during the week the milkman would stop by or Vern to get his daily report of what needed to be done.  

4.  Mody's sugar cookies.  My family knows what I mean, they also look forward to them.  Countless hours were spent at the Kennedys kitchen table with at least 5 bowls of icing for me to decorate the cookies.  No wonder I was overweight in Jr. High.  These cookies are the best, again I could never master this even when she gave me the recipe.  

6.  My friend Sherri makes an awesome birthday cake, that I get once a year at least.  Chocolate with cream icing in the middle of the the layers.  She also makes a great stroganoff and taco salad.  I loved the MOPS breakfasts!

7. Now this may seem odd, but I did like my Moms chipped beef and gravey.  Don't know why, but that is one meal that sticks out.  I will give my Mom credit, she did have a meal on the table every night until my brother moved out.  Then it was just easier to go to Akron to get an upside down banana split or hot fudge sundae.  I remember that we usually had supper on the table no later then 5:00, it seemed like.  We would watch Andy Griffith and my brother would just laugh.  Life was simple then, sometimes you want to go back, just to relive one day.  

8.  Last but not least, my mother-in-law's brownies.  Simply the best!  It is a cake brownie with awesome icing.  Not long ago we found out that only Grandma can make these.  Julie tried to make some and found out from Kennedy that they didn't taste like Grandma's.  Oh well, we can't all be perfect like Grandma! 

Bon Appetite!

Start of Summer 2016

Here's a flashblack of Chris in the start of summer in the early 90's.  He's showing off his abs in his fabulous swimwear.  For the summer of 2016, we are enjoying Tressa being home, Kennedy taking classes for her driving permit and our future trip to NYC. 

Don't Mess with Texas!

Kennedy lived up to her end of the bargain and earned enough points to take a trip to Texas.  Her request was to have Dad take her and leave Mom at home.  Well, unfortunately there was another twist in order to get to Texas, drop off her sister in OK.  So the three of them headed out and Mom stayed at home to take care of animals.  

They had a great time, Kennedy was able to come back with many stories and a new wardrobe including boots and a hat.  Tressa was able to spend time with her best friend from high school in Stillwater, OK (Go Pokes!) and then fly home.  

I have included pictures of Kennedy in Texas and New Mexico in her new outfit. 

Her new goal is to move to Texas, but that is far off.  We need to graduate from High School first.  

Kennedy also had her first job over the weekend pet sitting.  She loved watching Dogger, the Boxer.  He is a rescue dog and was very well behaved.  

Longhorns!

Year of the purple banner...

Tressa finished off her 10 years in 4H with  style.  Winning the Grand Champion Barrow at the County Fair and Senior Swine Showman and Reserve Champion Dairy Showman.  Kennedy received her purple banner by winning  Grand Champion Grade Dairy.  It has been fun to watch T-Bird grow as a showman over the past 4 years.  The night of the swine show I will always remember when she was picked as the winner what a special memory.  We are very proud of both girls, what a great year!

Graduation Day

Congrats to Tressa!

Celebrations

Yesterday, we spent the day with family and friends. I have attached a picture of Nanny and Cadley.  We were celebrating Ansens 1st Birthday.  Ansen is so cute and sweet, but for some reason I did not get a picture of the Birthday boy.  I think I spent too much time in the quieter room.

One of our favorite trips!

Chris and I were blessed this month to travel to Argentina.  The first part of our trip started in the wine country of Mendoza (picture below).  Andes Mountains in the background, wonderful wines, sunny weather.  The people were very friendly, Chris now believes he is an expert in Spanish!  They celebrate New Years Eve like the U. S. celebrates the 4th of July, we had a great view to watch the activities, along with some great wine!

The second part of our trip took us to Buenos Aires, loved the history of the city!  Beautiful churches, historical buildings and cemeteries.  Their driving skills need some work, but we survived!  Chris stayed on for another week, while I traveled the red eye to see my girls, who had come down with a bad cold.  We are glad to be home, but wish we could of brought back the warm weather!

Christmas Letter

For those who check our blog this is our Christmas letter.  I have just finished sealing the last envelope of our Christmas cards. The Christmas tree lights are shining bright, the house is quite and Marley sleeps beside me.  I am pleased to say again this year that God has outrageously blessed us with health, family and a wonderful ability to be able to travel and see Gods splendor.  The highlights of the year are Tressa's wonderful ability to be scatterbrained it keeps her dad and I on our toes, too many stories to tell.  We really do worry about her when she goes off to college without our daily guidance.  The good news is that Tressa has learned a lot from her graphic design class that she took this semester, she even has gained a job part time from this experience. Kennedy continues to volunteer at PAWS and would also like to volunteer at Humane Society. We wish you a very Merry Christmas and a healthy New Year. We look forward to the time of making memories with our family this holiday season and to an exciting 2015 with many changes...bubbles fromT-bird , eat a snack from K!  Spaaazzz from Mar...

Christmas movie night...

Just a reminder that every Thursday in the month of December TCM is showing classic Christmas movies.  As I write this my all-time favorite Remember the Night is on.  I am texting my brother and sister as I watch, all of us in different towns, but one still in our hometown.  It's always nice to go back to our hometown and watching this movie makes me feel just a little closer to home.  #TCMparty

Christmas 2014

This ornament on our tree caught my eye this evening so I thought I would share.  Always a busy time of the year, but we hope you take the time to remember the reason for the season our Lord Jesus Christ the one who has given us all the gifts that we have. God Bless!

October schedule

October consisted of Senior Pictures and a quick trip to Gatlinburg.  We found our favorite spot in the Smokey Mountains where we like to skip rocks, swim and watch the water swiftly move by as we enjoy the sweet sound of the kids playing in the background.  The family picture was difficult for me to take because I knew it could be the last family vacation before Tressa leaves for college next year.  Of course I cried through every photo while everyone laughed.  It is hard being a Mom...

Chris and Kennedy just returned from the Trails of Terror, can we just say Boo Boo didn't last long.  When you are being chased by a guy with a chain saw it is time to go home.

I love this season, wish I could make it up north to see my favorite small town in its splendor this time of year, some of my best memories are from the Fall.

Thank you God for this wonderful season, harvest and family.  God Bless.

Just a letter...

As we start the school year T is a Senior and K is now in 7th grade.  As all parents will say where has the time gone?    For me as the Mom of two wonderful girls, I would say that about Tressa, but as the Mother of Kennedy, the time for her to graduate cannot come soon enough.  It is hard to admit and only within the last year have I been able to admit that Kennedy is Autistic.   It is a daily struggle, not only as a parent, but also as a sister.  I do appreciate her as she is a loving, caring spirit - that is what we gain from Autism - a girl who is blunt and honest, gives hugs, loves pets, knows that God is the answer.  The negatives are many and some days its hard not to think of them, but I am reminded that she is not bothered by it, she does not know different, she is so happy, why should I question God?  I am PROUD of her we are BLESSED to have a girl that loves her parents so much, she does what we ask (we only have to ask once), looks up to her sister and has a great attitude as a 13 year old.

I asked her tonight what advice she would give someone if they asked "what would you do different or is there anything you would do different in your life?" Her answer is "do what you love, volunteer to help others."  She recently started a "job" helping at PAWS every other week for 4 hours on Saturday, she is so excited.  I am happy for her, it should help with social skills.  That is my advice as well to both of my children, do what you love.  Once you find a job you love, stay with it, no matter what others may suggest, you know what is best for yourself not others.  Girls, so many things will come up and you have to make a decision, your soul will tell you what to do, I hope that you will listen.

Advice from a TREE...

• stand tall and proud
• Sink your roots deeply into the Earth
• Think long term
• Go out on a limb
• Remember your place among all living beings
• Embrace with joy the changing seasons
• For each yields its own abundance

Fletcher Avenue, Indianapolis

We did some sight seeing on Sunday to scout out locations for Senior pictures.  We enjoyed the frozen yogurt ice cream where would could swing and enjoy our ice cream.  We ended the day at the Indpls Museum of Art.

New adventures coming this Fall, updates later...

Its about time...

Yes it is about time in so many ways.  It is about time for another Triple Crown Winner, its about time to catch up on the blog, its about the need for more time to get things done so I can catch up on the blog!

Well since March 5th (Mom that is terrible, its been that long?) Tressa has gone to Costa Rica, Kennedy has acquired goats, we now have 8 pigs, we have almost completed our resort patio, Tressa went to the prom, Kennedy now has braces, Chris has stayed up for 25 hours to haul pigs for his daughter, Chris has brought me Leinenkugal, Tressa has texted Olivia 500 million times, Tressa has not listened to a thing I have said, but Kennedy has listened to me and LAST but not least we are a healthy, happy family who in the long run enjoy each other and love our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

A long time ago I started this blog, the 2nd or 3rd blog was about us watching the Kentucky Derby, today we are watching the Belmont and hoping that California Chrome wins the Triple Crown. 

It is pig show season and we have attended some open shows, Tressa did get Reserve Showman at the Hancock Open Show.  We are also working with the Dairy cows and Kennedy has improved so much!  Love watching both of them work together. 

School has ended and I cant believe what I am about to say...Tressa is a Senior!  What?  How can that happen?  Kennedy is ready to move on to 7th grade as we are too, that was a rough year.  We have already toured our alma maters with Purdue now in the lead for the college of choice.  I cry everyday that she is leaving and I still have over a year before she leaves.  When we were at Purdue I broke down in the parking lot, pathetic (according to Chris and Tressa).  Tressa is trying her best to make me grateful that she is leaving by not listening, putting things away and yelling at us, so far it is not working. 

I wish we had more time to get things done, but it looks like that will happen in  13 years when I hopefully retire.  Below are some pictures that we thought you might enjoy.

Pig Season begins...

That time of year again, it comes too quickly.  I wish the weather would warm up before we put the pigs in a barn with no heat.  Chris has been traveling the last 3 weeks and we are ready for him to be home!  This is how much Tressa misses him...




Tressa:  When is Dad coming home?
Mom:  Thursday, why do you miss him?
Tressa:  No, I just need someone to start my car in the morning and drive it around to the garage.


Chris texted back:  Tell Tressa her Butler will be home soon, we will catch up then.  


At least he knows he is missed!


Well, I was going to post a picture of Kennedy with a baby pig, but the blogspot will not download the picture.  This website is getting more difficult to use.  I think it is time to change to a new blog site.  My next post may be the new address to our family blog.  Thanks for your patience.

Another day off...

Well, the snow has caused a power outage where I work which means I will not be going back to work after having 6 weeks off.  This has caused me to have another nap, play cards with Kennedy, yell at Tressa, listen to Kennedy scream because Tressa won't hand over the Kindle.    You ask, "what you were off for 6 weeks, what happened?"  Finally Chris paid for me to have plastic surgery, thank goodness!  My next blog will give you the before and after, I'm sure you can't wait. 

It is so cold outside and I want to report that I am so tired of WTHR preempting the evening shows because they want to cover the "snow emergency" for 24 hours, enough already!  How many times do we have to see the empty bread isle or the reporter in the snow bank, really?

The dogs love running in the snow until the snow gets in their paws and wont come out until they are back in the barn under the heat lamp. Lots of bones and marshmallows for those two tonight.

Well, I am off to get under the covers and watch some TCM...

Snow Day 2014

Just the beginning of 2014 and we are we are supposed to receive 10 inches or more of snow.  The girls made a snowman or I should say Tressa did, Kennedy was busy with the dogs.

We also made cupcakes, took a nap and went to the Wilkinson Mall, twice.  What an exciting day!  Girls go back to school Tuesday, maybe....

Christmas Day filled with good memories for the girls.  Clothes, jewelry and headsets were the highlight of the day.