Five Year Olds Crack Me Up

Just look at this concentration. Writing a story using words with three or fewer letters is tough work. Reading what you wrote is tougher.

What is Wrong With this Picture????

Take a good look at this picture. What is wrong with this picture??? There is Gina looking all calm and holding Jackson tenderly so that he won’t get nervous and feisty when the Physician’s Assistant starts the procedure. He needs the 6 stitches removed from his forehead. (He calls it his threehead – of course, because he is 3) After jumping on the bed and breaking his head, we had him stitched up at the local hospital ER. Obviously returning to the ER was overkill so we pulled into the local Urgent Care Facility while running errands one evening.
Gina was in charge of helping Jackson get through the event uneventfully. I was in charge of documenting the event and did a great job of getting pictures like this one.

And I was in charge of baby Avery. So, we were just a little bit distracted and didn’t think we had to be in charge of making sure the PA followed correct medical procedures.
What is wrong with picture???? Did you notice? No gloves!!!! The PA is not wearing gloves!!!! I didn’t notice because I was distracted by his very shaky hands holding very sharp scissors near my precious grandson’s head. He was finished with the procedure before Gina and I realized that we never saw him wash his hands, he applied the antibiotic cream with his bare finger and he touched the bandage pad with his thumb.
After we calmed down, we assured ourselves that Jackson is going to be OK.
But we were mad at ourselves for not being more vigilant and aware of what was going on. We have every right to be watchful, to ask questions, to walk out or to talk to a superior. I sent a letter to the Dr./Owner of the facility documenting the vagrant oversights of the PA. Do you think I will hear back from him? Should I call him? Should I make a complaint to the Texas Board of Medical Examiners? Should I ask to get the payment returned? What do you think?
Now, if you live in my town and you are headed to an Urgent Care give me a call and I will let you know which one to avoid.

Collaging the Collages

How fun is this?? In photoscape.com you make four collages then use them to make another collage.

Keeping Jackson Busy

When someone asks "Can you...? OR Can I...?" I like to say yes whenever possible. So when Jackson asked if he could help me decorate the wedding cake I was working on I told him he could decorate his own. Gina filled a piping bag with pudding and I cut a piece from a cake I had in the freezer. Jackson not only got to decorate a cake but eat it too.
The crayon shaped popsicles were small enough that when Jackson asked for one more I could say "yes".
Feed the ducks? - "of course"
Keeping him busy is so much fun.

Cute Avery

I had so much fun taking pictures of Avery. While she was here she learned to suck her thumb. I love thumbsucking babies.

We love the Houston Zoo

Gina posted a few zoo pictures on her blog. I just needed to show off my collage making skills.

Jackson really liked the white alligator, komodo dragon, pushing Avery in the stroller, chasing pigeons and wearing Gina's sunglasses.

Yard Work - the after photos

Here is what we used in the landscaping
Boxwood against the house
Chinese Fringe – the dark purple bushes
Light green monkey grass in addition to
Dark green monkey grass
Knock Out Roses in front of the Crepe Myrtle
Tall Grass(I don't know the name of it) behind the Crepe Myrtle
Annuals – begonias and marigolds.

What is under the Patio?

Whenever family comes to visit we always go to dinner at our favorite Mexican Restaurant. We are addicted to the place. Because it was a beautiful evening we chose to sit at an outside table overlooking the pond nearby. We have sat on the patio a bunch of times - observing the ducks - observing the kids feeding the ducks -but until we followed Jackson to the sidewalk at the edge of the water we never would have seen the porcupine(Gina's guess) but wait there are no quills on his back. I thought it was a muskrat. No, no, ... its a NUTRIA. And he lives with his older brother under the patio decking. And what are those under there? Duck eggs? Here is what I learned - follow a little boy around and you will see a lot more and learn a little.

Three Down - One to Go

I’ve been pretty slow to announce that Ruby Gayle was born March 27.
For cute pictures see Rhonda and Greg’s blog. When Rhonda comes to visit in a few weeks, I plan to take a zillion pictures which will get posted here. Total # of grandchildren – 8.

Yard Work

The azaleas in front of our house look pretty for about 10 days every year.

Then they just look straggly and unkept for the rest of the year.
So, I am not at all sad about having Rocindo, our yard man, dig them out and put them on the curb for the garbage man. Gee, I didn't realize until just now how many men we have in our lives. The garage door man - not my favorite fellow - he fixed the garage door but-whew-he sure charged a lot to replace a little cylindar thing that drives the doohicky. And the electric man - I like him better - he fixed a few problems caused by the painter/self-proclaimed electrian and put in several new outlets. And the appliance repairman - I like him best - he fixed the ice maker. Without ice in the summer, I get pretty cranky.

What were we talking about? Oh, ya, azaleas. I feel a little naughty for tearing out them out especially when they are so highly honored in many areas of the South and Southeast. In the spring, when the azaleas are blooming, the garden club in the River Oaks neighborhood of Houston sponsors an annual Azalea Trail when you can tour the homes and gardens of the rich and famous. In an effort to help the tourists see the azaleas during the peak of their short blooming time, concerned gardeners and weathermen give daily updates on the azalea blooming status.

Columbus, Mississippi is famous (not only because our family lived there twice - a total of 12 years) but for its Pilgrimage. Again it is all about touring homes and gardens and azaleas. But in Columbus the homes are Antebellum Homes - built before the Civil War. Isn't this a pretty place. It is called Amzi Love and it is a Bed and Breakfast. What a nice place to spend a few relaxing days.

This one built in 1838, Twelve Gables, is famous for being the meeting place of local ladies who met in 1866 to plan a special day to decorate the graves of Confederate War dead in Friendship Cemetery. This ceremony lead to our country's Memorial Day. It is owned by the Dr. and Mrs Ray Gildea, Jr. Trudy Gildea was Gina's first violin teacher.