Marleigh and Ladybird having some bonding time :)

Haulin' the bush down the hill.

The cows have been pushing the fence in trying to get to the Rhodadendron (?) bush for snacking purposes so the boys decided to cut it down.  We are so glad that Shawn's four-wheeler comes equipped with a chainsaw LOL.  They had it down in about 10-15 minutes I would say.  I think this might have been in the making anyway :P  In my earlier post I mentioned needing rain for the quick-crete.  Well, a small breeze had started blowing in and when they started cutting on the bush the sky filled up with dark clouds.  Rita made mention that Grandpa was probably having a fit for them cutting down his bush so we were just waiting on a lightning bolt at anytime LOL!!  I told her I bet Grandma was right beside him saying, "Leave them boys alone!!"  When we got back to the Steve's around 430 it began to rain not long after that so I'm sure the quick-crete got the rain it needed.

Sunday after we ate we went over to the cemetary to take the bench over.  They set it in quick-crete and I learned something new.  I didn't know you could pour quick-crete and leave it dry to wait on rain.  I thought that was pretty awesome!!  While they were getting the spot ready for the bench I was wondering where the water and wheelbarrow was to mix it in LOL!!

We had such nice weather that we had the White Elephant outside.  While we were playing, Chandler found a little snake on the hillside and brought it down for everyone to see :P  Tanner said it was a ring snake (?).  It didn't matter to me, I still didn't want to see it lol!!

Hello to all,
  I hope everyone made it home ok.  We got home today around 1230.  It rained the whole time and has rained all evening.  We're under a tornado warning until 4 am.  It's good to hear the rain though :)  My flower bed is looking better already.  This was Saturday evening at Steve's.  We roasted hot dogs and marshmallows.  Marleigh had her 1st s'mores and I do believe she enjoyed it :P

Hello

Hi all we sure missed you all. Hope to see some pictures on here real soon. Think I finally figured out to get here via cellphone
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Family

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Hi Everyone, Thanks again Steve and Tresa for letting us all get together at your place. We made it home a few minutes ago and just found out that one of Alice's long time friends died last night (Kathy Thompson), Sam is her husband so please say a prayer for him.
Great to see everyone again, missed you Vonda and all of those who couldn't make it.
Love and Prayers

We really enjoyed everyones company this weekend.
I hope you all had a good time and a safe trip home.

Almost Heaven

I was testing the children in  my Sunday School class to see if they understood the concept of getting to heaven.  I asked them, 'If I sold my house and my car, had a big garage sale and gave all my money to  the church, would that get me into Heaven?'  'NO!' the children answered.  'If I cleaned the church every day, mowed  the yard, and kept everything neat and tidy, would that get me into Heaven?'  Again, the answer was, 'NO!'  By now I was starting to smile.  Hey, this was fun!   'Well, then, if I was kind to animals, to  all the children, and loved my husband, would that get me into Heaven?' I asked them again.  Again, they all answered, 'NO!'  I was just bursting with pride for them.   'Well,' I continued, 'then how can I get into Heaven?'  A five-year-old boy shouted out, 'You gotta move to West Virginia!'

 ~Rita~

I concur. We would love to have everyone that can to come over and spend the afternoon.  You don't have to bring anything.  Just come and sit on our new porch and take it easy.

Steve Treadway

I  thought it was going to be on Saturday.  Don't know how I got that all wrong, but it sounds like everyone is going to be here saturday too?  Teresa has to work all day on Sunday and had requested most of the day off on Saturday, she thought it was Saturday too.  Why don't we plan on getting together saturday afternoon or evening to do S'mores and roast weiners ( Danny and I will buy them all for Saturday eve) as well as Sunday.  

Our activities this weekend are at 1 p.m. on Sunday, the middle day of the holiday weekend. This will allow for travel to on Saturday and travel back home on Monday.

No, Julie, you do not need to send any more weiners and buns. And I am glad Devon is going to get to come. Wish the rest of you could come. And apple pie will be perfect!

someone refresh my memory, when are we doing our activities this weekend?

The picture of the bench is beautiful, I know mommy and daddy would love it, I t turned out really great.they did a great job.I am going to miss you all , but I sure will be thanking about you , and I will be there in spirit. , Love you All.

The bench looks nice. Bring it with you and we can take it over this weekend. It can't be that heavy.

I'm looking forward to seeing everyone this weekend.

3 pictures for you

The bench has finally arrived. Colin and Kaiden went with me to pick
it up and as you can see, Colin wasn't sad. He said it was pretty.
The picture of the flower is Mommy's plant that bloomed this year at
Ruth's. I don't know that it ever bloomed before.
I hope you all are satisfied with the bench. I thought they did a
really good job and the picture is guaranteed for life (Not sure
whose) , vandalism included, no questions asked.

You have been sent 3 pictures.

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These pictures were sent with Picasa, from Google.
Try it out here: http://picasa.google.com/

Devin will be coming with his Papaw. Shall I send another pkg. hot dogs and buns? Will be happy to if you let me know before Thursday. I will not be making bon-bons as it is still very hot between here and there....so an Apple Pie will have to suffice.
Is there anything else that we could bring? Let me know.
Julie

Great one Rita, I am so anxious to see the picture of the bench.

Here is the list of the food we are having and who is bringing what so far:

Weiners (David - 2 pkg.; Tim 50 weiners.; Bobbie ?)
Buns (David - 2 pkg.; Tim 50 buns; Bobbie ?)
Hot dog chili (Rita)
Cole Slaw (Bobbie)
Nacho Chips and Cheese (Teresa)
Mac and Cheese (Trish)
Macaroni Salad (Ruth)
Onions (Daniel and Alice)
Mustard (David)
Ketchup (Bobbie)
Relish (Bobbie)
Baked Beans (Ruth)
S’mores fixings (Monica)
Potato Chips (Addy and Paul)
Napkins (Daniel and Alice)
Plates (Trish)
Silverware (Trish)
Cups (Daniel and Alice)
Bowls for Nachos and Cheese (Trish)
Strawberry Cakes - Mommy's recipe (Rita is bringing two)
No-Bake Cookies (Trish)
Apple Pie (David)

We want everyone to bring a dessert and his/her drinks of choice.

If I have forgotten anything, please let me know, and I will add it.

We will eat at 1 p.m. Also, whatever you bring you MUST take the leftovers home with you because, unlike Mommy and Daddy who had people in and out all of the time, Steve and Teresa will just have the two of them and it will go to waste.

Here is the list also of who I have heard from that are coming:

Vonda (0)
Ruth (7)
David (2)
Daniel (2)
Bobbie (8)
Tim (6)
Rita (8)
Trish (6)
Steve (4)

Chuckle for the Day

Mornin' All

I just wanted to say Hey and say that I am looking forward to seeing all of you Labor Day at "The HomePlace".  I am going today to pick up the bench and I will take a pic and post it here.  They told me it was too heavy for a few to lift and has to be loaded with a fork lift.  So much for dropping it off at Steve's.  Whose idea WAS this anyway!!!????  Moving on...I have a little chuckle, or I should say "Gut Buster", for you this morning.  Bobbie, Ruth and I nearly laughed til' we puked!  Sorry Amy!  I can already hear Monica, Michelle, Janet, Addy, Adam, Corey, Andy (ok, maybe not Andy) and the rest of the grandkids, laughing hysterically...Well, you get my drift!  This is for those of you who have, so sincerely, shared one of those "Back when I was YOUR age" stories.  Enjoy

My father loved to tell those "I had it so rough growing up" stories.  And I'm not talking about "I had to walk ten miles through the snow" story.  Nooo, that was for amateurs.  My dad was raised in the Great Depression.  He had to carry ice on his back and sell it door to door, IN THE DEAD OF WINTER.   He made 5 cents a YEAR and gladly shared it with the other twenty families living together in a one-bathroom house.  Once a week, they would go out and help people less fortunate than themselves, which in my mind were lepers and dead people.  I couldn't figure out who could be less fortunate than my father's family.

He had a story for everything.  If I complained about my homework, I got this one: (Monica, you'd better get a towel)  "When I was a boy, we couldn't afford books.  I had to go to the library and copy the entire encyclopedia by hand.  But we couldn't afford paper, so I had to scratch it on the back of a sheet of ice and run it home before it melted."  

Can anyone top this?  Now, we'll hear from the grandkids!

 ~Rita~

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Lost her front tooth last night

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The Haircut  One day a florist went to a barber for a hair cut. After the cut, he asked about his bill, and the barber replied, "I cannot accept money from you, I'm doing community service this week." The florist was pleased and left the shop. When the barber went to open his shop the next morning, there was a 'thank you' card and a dozen roses waiting for him at his door.  Later, a cop comes in for a haircut, and when he tries to pay his bill, the barber again replied, "I cannot accept money from you , I'm doing community service this week." The cop was happy and left the shop. The next morning when the barber went to open up, there was a 'thank you' card and a dozen donuts waiting for him at his door.  Then a Congressman came in for a haircut, and when he went to pay his bill, the barber again replied, "I cannot accept money from you. I'm doing community service this week." The Congressman was very happy and left the shop. The next morning, when the barber went to open up, there were a dozen Congressmen lined up waiting for a free haircut.  And that, my friends, illustrates the fundamental difference between the citizens of our country and the politicians who run it.  Mark Twain said that "BOTH POLITICIANS AND DIAPERS NEED TO BE CHANGED OFTEN AND FOR THE SAME REASON!"

 ~Rita~

Daddy's cousin Lois from coal river called me last night. Beulah leslies grandchild was killed in a car wreck and the child's mother and 2 or 3 other kids were all transportednto charleston. She said Beulah was pretty torn up and wantednall of us to remember them in prayer. Its in today's Beckley register herald but they spelled the last name wrong, lasley.

Janet, first let me say I love the "dungeon". He has so much room in his kitchen and that is where he likes to spend his time. When we grocery shopped for his apt it wasn't tv dinners and ramen noodles! It was cornmeal, flour, buttermilk, eggs, oil, chicken, and not the breaded ready to eat in the microwave! So if any of you guys pass through Athens my kids KNOW how to cook. Zac and emily are good cooks too. I guess they learned more from grandma than I realized. Because even now when I am making biscuits they tell me I don't do it like her:)

And the hairless thing he isn't laughing at it's taking the hair from the only place he had it; his chest! Lol

As I was trying to catch up on the Blog today, I have two things to say...

1)  Please do not post pictures of the dungeon, a.k.a Tanner's apartment, because it brings back bad memories!  LOL  and...

2)  To make light of a serious situation, did anyone else get that when Trish wrote that the chemo was leaving Danny hairless?  Because I am pretty sure even he would have laughed at that!!!!

Great master piece by Marliegh, that's a keeper, and the pictures of Brooks are beautiful Amy, I cant believe he is that big already.Poor little Clara is being left in his dust.LOL.

Kids are getting ready for school to start here , they are getting anxious. and I cant wait Ha!Ha!

Trish, how are thing going with Danny,? sure hope they are ok , We are still keeping him and you too in our prayers. And Hello to every one else.

Lol Monica that's what mr clean magic erasers are for. Takes that crayon right off. I speak from experience as I have had many master pieces on my walls:)

Marleigh's masterpiece:

Brooks is growing up!! He looks so handsome :) Where are the pics of Clara??? Marleigh drew her first portrait on one of our living room walls today in orange crayon. It was beautiful!!!!!!!! LOL

Brooks

I sure did!!! I was laying on the couch watching "The Fighting Temptations" :P Mark and Marleigh were over at the apartment office visiting with the manager (Marleigh likes her). I could feel myself start shaking. I was just trying to figure out if I was having a medical issue then the back of the couch started bumping against my back. I have a chime that hangs on our ac return door and I heard it. When I looked at it it was swinging back and forth. At this point, medical issue or not, I jumped up off the couch and stood in the middle of the living room (getting under a table or doorway did not come to mind). I didn't feel anything else and I didn't see anybody running around outside. I thought, by odd chance, that maybe some outdoorsy animal had made it's way into our apartment so I looked behind the couch and shook the ends of the couch and found nothing (which is a good thing :P ) I went over to the office and when I walked in the manager had a strange look on her face. Mark asked me if I came running over to see if they felt it too :) Of course I did, I wanted to know if I was going crazy or not lol!! There wasn't any sirens going off in town so Mark was thinking that it might have been an explosion at the arsenal. Jan's phone started ringing off the hook about the same thing. A few minutes later the news broke in with all the details, or what details they had at the time. For anyone who hasn't heard yet, it was a 5.9 earthquake halfway between Charlottesville and Richmond, VA. Since I have never experienced this before I wasn't sure if that's what it was at first. Now that I know, my knees are aching and won't stop LOL. I can tell you that I didn't like the way it felt. I guess the whole issue that I was completely not in control of anything at that moment :) but I know God was and still is. I had my interview this morning and the Lt. Col. told me that I did good. He said not to be discouraged if I didn't hear anything for several days because that's usually how long it takes and he doesn't know yet how quickly they want to fill the position. With that being said, please continue to pray for me in this situation. I hope everyone is enjoying the beautiful day. I going to go pray that we don't have any aftershocks!!!! Love to all :)

So did everyone feel that earthquake?

Trish, thanks for the info. She's asked for it a few times in the last two days but hasn't done anything in it yet. She doesn't mind to sit on it though :P You'll have to post another pic of Danny for us!! Let him know we are still praying for him :) Continue praying for me. As I was about to leave this morning for my interview, they called and had to reschedule it for in the morning at 9:30. Love to all

Monica I learned from the best when it came to potty training. There is nothing magical to do. Sounds like you have got her doing the hardest part, just sitting on it. Mommy always told me to have it there for them to go and expect accidents that's just part of it. They all learned at different times and they were all different. That goes for nighttime too! All different and Jacob was completely different from tanner. So just treat her like the little individual that she is and it will be a piece of cake. She takes the cutest pictures!

Danny has ten treatments left after today. He is having more and more difficulty swallowing and the radiation has pretty much left him hairless on the chest. School starts for everyone this week!

Hello to all!! I was going to ask for a count for Labor Day as well :P Tanner, it looks like you're getting settled into your apartment. Your kitchen looks pretty spacious. By the way, I saw a video of you dancing in your mom and dad's kitchen. I didn't know you had those moves in you LOL!!! I would like to know what you were making that day, I think I'll try it. Who knew cooking could be so fun hahaha. Steve, I like the deck. I bet breakfast is awesome out there in the mornings :) Marleigh is learning something new everyday!! She has moved up to a big girl toothbrush lol. Today, we started working on potty training. She's been on it 5 times but produced nothing, haha :( She knows when she's going but just doesn't make it in time. I know that with each day it will get better, at least I'm claiming that anyway!!! Anyone got any tips?

Tanner making dumplins...they are goooood.

About how many people are we looking to feed on Labor Day weekend, someone do the math?

Tim: Just bring the weiners and buns - I believe the mustard and ketchup are already taken care of. Don't the weiners come 10 to a package and buns in 8 or 12 packs?

Good Morning again!

We will bring 4 dozen wieners and buns, a large bottle of mustard and a 3 lb. bottle of ketchup!

I have an unspoken prayer request guys and I know you all are the best warriors! Please pray today:). Thanks and love to all,

Hi Everyone, We will be bringing napkins, cups, onions and dessert. We plan on being there on Sat. evening and leaving on Mon. Hope to see everyone there.

Put David down for 2 pkgs. of Hot dogs and 2 pkgs of buns.
He plans on being there on Friday evening and leaving early Monday morning.
Julie

Tim: How many weiners and buns? We need to know so we will be sure to have enough on hand.

Good morning all,
It is so good to hear from all of you on here! It is just not like being there and I hope to see you Labor Day. I will help with the wieners & buns and will bring the ketchup and relish, and will make the slaw and some deserts. Anything else we must have?

Good Morning everyone, from Indian Valley in Floyd Co.Virginia

We sure do miss seeing all you folk...and speaking of such, Ruth, put Cindy and I down for wieners and buns. We haven't finished our "College Turnover" work yet, but it is coming together and we plan on seeing everyone on Labor Day, Lord willing!