Tranquility

 Well, I have to say, it has been extremely quiet since the girls went home. 😒I'm kind of sad 😥.  I'm use to having children under my feet, on my leg or in my lap. Or settling some kind of tiff between them or calming an agitated one. Screaming sort of say. Hmmmm....🤔maybe I just need to enjoy the tranquility of this. 😅😅😅

However,  dear hubby is so enjoying me being with him. We have waited for this for years. 23 yrs of raising boys. Now, we can focus a little on us. Well, alot. He has patiently waited on me all these years and never once complained. 

Yesterday I had to go and pick up a few groceries after making a menu plan. You see, we're not in the comforts of our own home. We can't shop our stocked pantries or freezers like at home. I have to meal plan and shop light. 😩 Y'all, after cooking for so many people for so many years, this is new to me. Downsizing. I'm struggling. I don't know how to just cook for two people. 😕 But I will learn. 

I am cleaning the rent house as we speak. Not saying that the owner didn't have it clean when dear hubby got here but I'm just maintaining it since we are staying here. She has all the things we need to clean and such, but I just felt more comfortable going and purchasing my own things in case I broke something. It would be my money gone, not hers.  

I went to Dollar Tree and found alot of my cleaners. I also got what I needed to make my homemade cleaner and a spray bottle.  However,  I have came across this cleaner and I cannot tell yall how amazing it is and it is concentrated so you don't use near as much.  And it's only $1. You can't beat that. 

I also found these. It is the handle and different attachments. $5 y'all for a cleaning set. 

Dust mop, dust pad, regular mop head, the stick and the pad attachment. ♥ It worked so good. 

I d0 the same thing here that I do at home and that is wash the dishes as I go. I have to. She doesn't have a dishwasher. Helps me stay in my habit. 

I cleaned so much yesterday, I aggravated my back and knee and they have been hurting and burning. Cooked supper and ate because dear hubby didn't get off until 7pm and he told me to go ahead and eat. Cleaned the kitchen and parked my carcuss for the rest of the night. I was exhausted but he was so appreciative for supper.  He said he was getting use to this.  

I get up every morning with him way before I'm use to, and have coffee with him. He loves our time together even if it's quiet and no words spoken. He's not a big talker and I'm chatty. 

He left for work and boy did I want to crawl back into bed, but I didn't want to mess up my routine. So, I stripped the beds and got laundry going.  

 I then waited until the sun came up and made me some breakfast.  Grabbed my book and went out on the back porch, ate, read, and enjoyed listening to nature.  

Then it was time to do more cleaning. I'm hitting every room and cleaning like I clean. 

In the middle of that, I get this text from Dallas.  

Just  when you think they don't miss you or even love you sometimes,  you get this. ❤ . 

Took a shower, got ready, ate lunch and then took a much needed nap. 

Got up, cleaned a little more. 

Started cooking supper for my sweetheart.  

Beef fajitas with spinach tortillas, stuffed queso bites (never had them), and southwest whole kernel corn. 

Then we are just gonna park our carcasses and relax with some TV. 

Hope everyone had a blessed day in an undivided world. But God has got this.  🙌

Grandparents Day 2021

 Today is Grandparent Day 2021. It is always the first Sunday after Labor Day. 

Grandparents  Day 2021

These people right here will never know how much they molded and shaped my life. My summers were awesome and I never wanted to go home. I miss them more every day because now I know what "grandparent" means. I would give anything if I could sit and talk to them again.  In memory of Bennie and Dorothy Oliver and Ma and Pa Flanagin.

Grandparents Day 2021. Our boys are very blessed to have these grandparents  in their lives. They have helped mold and  shape them just  as we have minus the butt whoopings. When  we had kids, I made a promise  that our kids would have just as good of a relationship with their grandparents as I did with mine and I made sure of it and still do. It's  called taking them to visit. Don't  rob your parents of a relationship  with your kids. It's  not fair to them. In honor of Thomas and Janice Flanagin, Carol Dixon aka, Grandmother, and Virginia Dixon, aka Nanny.

Happy Grandparents Day to this wonderful Poppie.

I'm so glad these two little girls have this man as their poppie. One day they will say the same thing. He loves them to the moon and back and they will never want for anything. They are poppies princesses. Thank you David Dixon for being the best.

Grandparents Day 2021

I use to get on to my momma when she would let our boys get away with things that she would have burnt my butt up for. Then she would say those words, "Well, it's  different!" Well, now I know what she means. You love your kids, but there is just something about those grandkids. I'm glad we are getting to see our kids have kids. Well, one right now. Dallas Dixon your day will come, just don't  get into a hurry. It is a blessing to see your kid be a good parent. That means all those years of fussing and fighting with them paid off. I hope  God blesses us with as many grandchildren as he sees fit. They will truly be loved.

Girls Next Road Trip

 Me and Poppie went home for the weekend. This was his last weekend that he will be able to go home due to they will be increasing their hours at work.  So we made the best of it. 

We came home to a clean house. Dallas worked so hard. The kitchen was clean and the house was vacuumed. He did a good job.  I think he is enjoying his bachelor pad while we are gone. The weather got bad one night but our great neighbors were keeping an eye on him too.  We have awesome neighbors in our neighborhood and we take care of each other and look out for each other. Dallas is learning alot. This is good for him learning to do things on his own even if it's not the way we would do it. We are proud of him.

Dear hubby needed to get some discing done on our deer club and our property for deer plots this winter. Another member of the club will plant next week. He also bushhogged over at his mommas house so Dakota can work somemore on our new project.  

Dakota did not have to go to LA for relief efforts but he has been on call and have not got to see the girls alot. 

I cooked supper for us. Harvested our lettuce from our Aerogarden and made their own salads.

It's time for them to go on another road trip with us so they came to spend the night with us so we could leave the next day. Dear hubby took Dallas to town so he could buy himself some groceries and Dallas wanted to go to the gravesites. I got the girls and myself ready and their luggage together. Dallas is still dealing with their passing in his own. Visiting the gravesite seems to help. They cleaned up all around Nanny, Grandmothers, his brother and sisters sites. 

They got back home and it was time for us to leave. We got Dallas settled all in again and he helped us pack the truck. 

She yells,  "I'm not sleepy!!!" 5 minutes later. Good girl. 

Movies,  snacks,  drinks check. 

Handsome driver. 3rd road trip with Poppie and Gmaw.

We got back to our destination and just grabbed something to eat. 

It was time for bed and then Poppie had to go into work. Caroline was sad that he had to go to work. Poppie said that he had to work so he could buy her somecandy, so then she was fine. 😅😅

Thank goodness for activity back packs

Today we need to go get some groceries for here and I'm going to let them spend some of their bday money we brought with us.  

When you just need reassurance that you can potty safely.  😅 Yall just  don't know how many times she has tried to open the stall door on me in public 😒

They never get tired of being held or cuddled.

The next day. I took them to their favorite place again. 

You know this is their favorite place when they know the way to the donut 🍩 shop.  I have spoiled them.

Then to play

Back home to take a much needed nap. 😌

This little one, I swear. One minute she is aggravating the far out of you just like her daddy 👨, arguing with you like your a fence post,  throwing a play snake on you til you almost wet your pants. Then there's times like this. She grabs your hand and kisses it and falls asleep. Then she calls you back into the room after you tuck them in and she says, "You're my best friend!" And then she still wants to do chores while on vacation. 

Then there's Atleigh that is loving ❤,  nurturing and compassionate and just wants her own space so she can take a good nap. 🥰🥰 Bless both of them. They are Gmaws little buddies and Poppies Princesses 👸

Supper time 

Spoiling my sweetheart 💕.  I think he's enjoying this. 😉

Poppie got home, had his supper and of course was joined by his Princesses 👸.  

It was time for bed because he has to get up so early in the mornings. 

Next day, I took them to spend the rest of their bday money. 

Well, they have more bday money to spend and too many toys. So you do what Marines do. You, improvise,  adapt and overcome. You sit in the kids two seater buggy while they shop. 😅😅😅😅 Not ashamed.

The best lunch dates

Came home for a much needed nap. 

Got up and cooked supper for all of us and Poppie got home. They got to play with Poppie for a bit before it was bedtime. We just snuggled and watched TV too. 

Tucking in the girls last night went like this:

After we said our prayers:

Atleigh: When I was little, there was monsters under my bed and daddy came in and looked and said there was no monsters under my bed. ❤

Caroline: when I was little, there was a monster in my room and I punched him. 👊

I swear, Atleigh loves her daddy and Poppie keeping her safe. Caroline can take care of herself. 

Dear hubby was off the next day, so we got up and had coffee together before the chaos. 😅😅😅

We were just a little laid back today. We just relaxed and played games and watched TV

Everything was fine until I had to go potty and I get this 5 minutes later. When you lock them out of the bathroom because you want to do business alone. One is crying and the other is giving me a sun hat. 🌞 😢

After nap, we got up and got ready and took them to see the new Paw Patrol movie and eat

 

Today is the day they have to go back home. Kind of sad but kind of relieved. Don't get me wrong, if you have been following me long you know I love my grandbabies, but this Gmaw gets wore out. I think they have had a good week though. 

We got morning snuggles. 

Well, for Poppie, the snuggles didn't last long. She wanted to fight. Lol 😆

We got ready and had to leave. We are meeting Dakota half way so we don't have to drive all the way home. He has missed them so much. He has been on call and then we had them for a week so it has been a long two weeks for him. 

It's gonna be a long road trip. One is bored and already sucking on her toe and the other is not amused and thinks it's gross.

It has been a good week and Poppie and Gmaw are gonna miss the chaos and snuggles next week. But they have new things to do and see and Gmaw and Poppie is very proud of them. 

Missing In Action

 I'm sorry I've been missing in action the past week.  I've just been giving my sweetheart all my attention and he is loving it.  

Over the past weekend, dear hubby had to go home for one day to take care of some business for his birth mother who passed away recently. I didn't go with him because he left and then spent one night and came right back.  My poor ankle and knee would not let me make the trip. The sneaky thing got to ear supper with our little buddies and love on them. They were so excited to see Poppie and of course wanted to know where I was. So he let them video call me. 🥰 . He got home and got to have some one on one time with Dallas and watched a movie with him. The next morning he took care of business and then headed right back here. 

These girls love their Poppie

Dakota was on standby for his crew to leave to go to LA  for relief efforts for Hurricane Ida. So many power companies from many different surrounding counties,  cities, even other states responded and had already left and was waiting on the storm so they could already be there. Dakotas crew did not have to leave. Reports say there were two linemen from  a company in AL that lost their lives due to electrical shock.  Even our linemen needs prayer anytime they are called out. 

I have been in another book by Elizabeth George.  I love her writings. I have let some young ladies, that are friends with our oldest son, borrow some of my books after I read them or they want to know the title and they just go buy themselves one. They love the books too. I'm so glad I can share what I have learned and then a younger generation glean from it. Just like it says in the Bible.  They older shall teach the younger women. 

Oh, and Guys, women aren't the only ones who can benefit from a good book. Especially if it improves your way of life. ❤❤

One night I  made a new dish that we really enjoyed and he had left overs to take to work and he bragged to his coworkers. 

It is called One Pot Enchiladas. Or Lazy Enchiladas. Just the ingredients you see. Brown the ground beef, drain, then throw everything in and let simmer. Cut the tortillas into small squares. Wholah. 

Last night we were going to go to dinner and then a movie but dear hubby was having an off day with his sugar so we just made it to our most favorite place to eat. 

We switched movie night to tonight. We had left overs from our dinner out last night so I added salads to it and some fresh garlic knots. 

Then we headed to the movies. 

Dear hubby is enjoying all this attention and getting up together having coffee in the mornings. He said his day goes much better. ❤ 

I'm not really knowing what to do with my free time. 😁. 

I went to town yesterday and they have started stocking for Christmas with their toys.  So next time the girls come out,  I will take them to let them spend their bday money. 

No Words Needed

 I don't even have to write a post to say how distraught I am feeling at the moment as to what is even happening. 

My heart is breaking for 13 families right now. And for Christian martyrs.  

God Bless and Help Us. 

Just Me and Dear Hubby

 Well, we decided not to go home this weekend after all. We do miss our little buddies but at this time we chose to have quality time alone. You see, for 23 years we have poured our entire being into our own two sons and sometimes put ourselves on the back burner. My husband patiently waited all the time for my attention. Bless his heart. He never once complained. He knew I wanted to be the best mother I could be and he also was comforted knowing that I took such good care of his children. However, sometimes at the end of a long, tiring day, he only got what was left of me if there was anything left. He should have been first and foremost. Fast forward 23 yrs and now both kids are out of school. One out of the house and his own family and one still waiting on his entrance to his future. 

Ad you can tell, we are also heavily involved in the care of our grandchildren.  I wouldn't have it any other way. We want a good relationship with our grandchildren and we have that. So much as sometimes they never want to go home. They want us all the time. They are part of our flesh and blood. We have a bond with them that can't be broken. 

However,  this season in our lives we need time now together for us. We have been preparing our son and their mother that after Dallas graduated high school that I was going to start going on small trips here and there to where dear hubby is working. I can't travel long distances but I can only travel so far due to my RA. 

This season he is working close enough that I can go back and forth and make frequent trips. 

We chose to stay home this weekend for us. Our time together. Dear hubby knew this was hard for me because I have been the active grandmother in our grandchildrens lives for the last 4 years. 

What makes it easier is I can go back and forth and we can rotate with sometimes I come alone and sometimes I can bring them put here to see Poppie. We will do this for the rest of the fall while he is here. This works out perfect. We get some us time and we get some grandchildren time ❤

The past few weeks, other grandmothers have stepped up to the plate and helped so this was possible. I am forever grateful.  

I have one more year with Atleigh before she goes to Kindergarten and two years with Caroline before she goes unless they want to put her in preschool.  Next year I will have Caroline one on one. 

After both are in school, I can go on other trips further away while he's working but want have the option to go back and forth. Once we hit the road, we will be there until the job is through. It will be hard but we also have to think of our time now. 

We've waited years for this.  

Until then, we are just going to enjoy this time and small trips here and there. I'm Thankful for this weekend with my sweetheart. It was about time. 

Don't know what we will do or where we will go but as long as we are together I don't care.  

My sweetheart has also enjoyed seeing me relax and worry free. He worries that I am always stressed because I'm always thinking about others and serving others. I am always worried or stressed over our children's lives and such. I've always just wanted to be there. However it plays an emotional toll on me and I get overwhelmed and distraught.  That's just part of being a mother. But as our children get older I have realized I can't live my children's lives for them. I have to learn to LET GO and LET GOD.  Loosening those apron strings have been hard for me. I took my position as mom very seriously. Well, now it's time to embrace WIFE position and so far dear hubby says I'm doing a good job. He has enjoyed seeing me relax and have a good time. In order to do that I just hated to remove myself from the equation for a spell. It has freshened my mind and relaxed me at the same time.  So this is what vacation feels like. 😁😁😁