hula nana

Pink is Sweet

2012-01-31T20:00:00.000-06:00

My first granddaughter,Ruby Elizabeth was born into her new pink world last Friday, January 27th.

Having two older brothers with all things boy, she will be up to her neck in ruffles and lace.

Big brother, Jackson, is four.

He had LOTS of questions about how she got here...

Big brother Ben said she sure was HEavY.

(She weighed 6 lbs 9 oz when she was born....)

We thought it would be a good idea to take some group pictures of all three in the backyard. At first it appeared that the boys would cooperate and it would be a piece of cake to get the perfect photo. That didn't last long.

The next thing we knew, Jackson was making faces and Ben was taking a bite out of a leaf, which he had already offered to Ruby. Ruby just started sucking her thumb. That third baby is always easy going. Now you see why.

Finally, we tried our best to get a family photo. It may not be perfect, but it captured the moment.

So precious...

2011-09-26T08:15:00.001-05:00

Papa John and I made a quick trip to see the boys last Sat. We had been in the Round Top/Warrenton area at the big Antique Week which was only 1 1/2 away.

Jackson showed us where he does his "projects".

Ben pointed out that one of his favorite things to do is to go outside and play in the backyard.

And that is where he headed. He wanted to play T-Ball just like his big brother.

After we went out to eat we stopped by a store and looked at baby bedding. Baby GIRL bedding.

Pink is FUN!

Then back to Dallas to celebrate Morgan's birthday. We made the traditional cookie cake but we didn't have any icing so it had to wait until the next day.

It was yummy!!

Fun Four

2011-07-13T12:34:00.001-05:00

Mr. Jackson turned the big four last weekend, so we decided to make a quick trip to be with him on his birthday. It really is hard to believe that it has been four years since we celebrated his blessed arrival in all of our lives.

Mary Beth made some confetti cupcakes with green (of course!) paper liners and candles.

A little help from Mom with the candle lighting and a few off key notes from the rest of us singing the Happy Birthday song...

Ben obviously enjoyed the cupcakes while Jackson opened his presents.

On to the Mall where we found some Angry Birds to make this four year old HaPpY!

Then over to the video game store where there were a few hard choices to make.

Ben even had an opinion.

Back home though, Ben wanted to play outside with his dad.

And Jackson wanted to play his new games with Uncle Morgan.

Love you Jackson!

We are so thankful you are in our lives.

Blessed with Talent

2011-04-24T13:32:00.001-05:00

Our church had the latest monthly Ladies Night Out at Painting with a Twist.

Even though we had a very small group, we had a ton of fun.

Don't you think we all have such talent?

The group includes:

Eileen, Linn, Me, Kathryn, Joanna and Courtney.

Well, these are actually our paintings. Too bad it is not April 1st.

Everyone paints the same thing in the 2 hour time frame. An instructor is there to help and we all came up with our own unique version of the original.

I was a little nervous at first, but we had good music, some laughs and it ended up being really relaxing. I would recommend painting for anyone. You don't have to be a Van Gogh , Monet or Da Vinci to find a little food for your soul.

Boys will be boys

2011-03-28T14:50:00.004-05:00

Who needs amusement parks where you pay bookoos of money to be entertained when you have Bass Pro Shop? Well, Jackson and Ben didn't seem to notice the difference. They were like two little boys who had just discovered a gold mine.

We had met the Fam at the Katy Mills Mall for dinner after a day of flea marketing at Round Top. Across from the restaurant was the Bass Pro Shop. Papa John and Ben led the way where we found Ben steering a mighty fine boat.

He moved to another boat.

Jackson decided to get involved.

This boat thing is serious stuff.

We finally made our way inside the store and found the perfect photo op spot.

Ben just realized there is a GIANT bear behind him.

Papa John and Ben found the cool fish tank. Papa John and Ben are buds.

I can guarantee that this photo will NOT be our Christmas card!

I think it is pretty safe to say this will not be their Christmas card either...

Jackpot!!! It is a two room tent. Amazing.

A five second nap never hurt anybody.

Row, row, row your boat gently down the aisle...

When do we get to do this again?

Love is in the Air

2011-02-01T20:23:00.002-06:00

Our daughter, Leah, is now engaged!
J.R. proposed to her Christmas Eve while we were in Abilene.

They both live in Hawaii where he proposed again, this time with a beautiful ring.
The wedding will be in August. Of course in Hawaii.
(If you had a choice between Texas or Maui which place would you choose?)

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year...

2010-12-19T19:59:00.001-06:00

We started our Holiday Season when some of the family came home for Thanksgiving. Jackson was digging around in the dress up box and found the old pirate costume I had made his daddy when he was a little boy.
It has a little wear and tear, but the "aargh" effect is still there.

We visited McKinney for A Dickens of A Christmas where we walked around the square and enjoyed the festivities and the weather. Uncle Morgan and Jackson are special buddies.

Jackson was trying to stand just like this soldier at The Antique Company Mall. He was able to stand perfectly still, but he was too quick for my camera.

The soldier pose came in handy when I wanted him to stand still for this pic. I just wish I had noticed the big red bow behind Mary Beth's head.

I think the boys were watching some drummers performing at the corner.

Now, back at the ranch.

Ryan had a birthday and we have a tradition of decorating a "cookie cake" that we started when we lived in Waco and Ryan was about four or five. He decorated it with an Army Tank. He was a good artist early in life.

We sang Happy birthday.

Ben found the car seat and was chillin'. He is a really easy going kid.
Pretty cute curls too...

We have a new tradition of decorating a Gingerbread House. Last year it was actually a train.

I let Jackson eat the tree so he wouldn't be tempted to chow down on the house.

Morgan contributed his artistic talents.

Papa John even helped. You know, these things are harder than they look!

2010-11-15T22:02:00.002-06:00

I have been needing to add some photos of our trip we took to the Concan, Texas area last month and I am feeling really guilty. I have very precious memories from this trip. It is hard to put it all in words and pictures.

My dad with the boys, Ben and Jackson. Dad toured us around the beautiful countryside showing us places where Mother grew up and also where he was a boy. I thought it was neat that during those years they were just about 30 miles apart, but didn't meet until they were in their twenties.

I can't say how many times I have wished I could rewind in my mind to know if I had crossed paths with someone or talked to them in the past.

Hmmm...

Fun with the Boys

2010-10-06T22:01:00.002-05:00

Jackson and Ben came to stay with us for a couple of days and we had fun!

Jackson is such a cool cat in his glasses from our trip to Sonic.

Ben is always so sweet and easy going.

The train ride at McKinney's Oktoberfest was the boys favorite thing to do.

My fondest memory of the day is how Jackson picked out six perfect pumpkins for me at Patina Green while Ben was just chillin' in the background.

Brotherly love

2010-08-23T15:28:00.001-05:00

I always enjoy visiting the grandsons in Houston and when the weather is nice enough for them to play outside it calls for some backyard time. Jackson is definitely busy and this time I found him over in the corner of the yard playing with a plastic snake in the water.

Ben quickly showed up with a football in hand.

(Which is the norm...)

Jackson decided the football was meant to smash the snake.

I guess Ben didn't think that was the best use of a football because he disappeared. Where did he run off to?

He was playing in the Log Cabin. What a smile!

Just thought I would share a little snippet of my play time with the boys.

" I love them to the moon and back!"

Catch 'em when you can

2010-08-17T16:06:00.004-05:00

Taking a photo of a toddler and a preschooler is like trying to hit a moving target. Almost impossible. They never stop moving, except when they are sleeping. I am getting to spend a few days in the Houston area with my perfect grandsons.

Ben is one now and at such a sweet age. He is very easy going, which is a good thing with an older brother who is always accidentally running him over...

Jackson is three and his favorite place to eat in the whole world is at Chick -Fil- A. Maybe his mom should buy a franchise.

Well, I hope I am able to catch a few more pics before I have to head back to Big D. We will see...

Busy Boys

2010-07-10T21:35:00.005-05:00

Jackson is a little camera shy these days. I guess he has to be in the right mood.
He was such a good boy when I took him shopping for an early birthday present.

I was able to catch a cute pose while we were at Papa John's office in Dallas.
We were headed from Frisco down to Sugar Land to take Jackson back after visiting us for a few days.

Papa John was in a meeting and we had to find whatever we could for means of entertainment.

Ben was waiting at home to see Jackson.

The weekend before we were at the Farm where Ben was thrilled there was a football, his favorite!

You gotta love those curls...

2010-03-23T21:45:00.012-05:00

I found the cutest bird book recently. I took one to Jackson for Valentine's and then gave one to my great-nephew, Nate, for his first birthday.

"Blue bird, bluebird what do you see?"

" I see (one) bird sitting on the tree...."

" One two three four five..."

Nate and Dana.
I thought this little book was very fitting since their great- grandmother's name was Birdie.

I found it at Target for 6.95, and I have seen it at bookstores also.

2010-03-01T15:00:00.002-06:00

Our last trip to the Houston area was wet and cold. Jackson and I were waiting in the car while Ryan picked up some hamburgers for our lunch. I felt it was my Nana duty to entertain Jackson and let him make a mess. I reached in my goodie bag and found some Elmo stickers.

It took great concentration to place the "Elmos" just right...

Jackson kept telling me," Look Nana, I didn't tear it!"

He had no idea this was a fine motor skills exercise.

Way to go Jackson!

Back at the house we found Ben chewing on everything.

...because he has two new top teeth!

I can't wait until I see them again!

Do you see it?

2010-01-28T09:26:00.004-06:00

I was driving home from the store a couple of days ago and was in my own little thought world. I was having ladies from church over that night. I needed something new to decorate my front door. My mind was bouncing around to what I might already have at home. I thought about a round red berry wreath leftover from the Christmas decorations. As I turned the corner into our neighborhood I looked up and the only clouds in the sky were hearts. Ah ha. I would maneuver the red round wreath into the shape of a heart!

I know this is all very frivolous. The clouds really brought out a deeper feeling and emotion for me. God is awesome. His love is forever. He has the power to remind us in wispy clouds in the big blue sky.

"He covers the sky with clouds; he supplies the earth with rain and makes grass grow on the hills." Psalm 147:8

You Can't Call us Boring...

2010-01-07T21:03:00.007-06:00

We had our family Christmas closer to New Year's than Christmas this year. I think it was more relaxing that way. One of the presents to Morgan and Ryan were 50 yard line tickets to the Dallas Cowboy Game that week. Morgan and Ryan were quite surprised and excited. John bought them Cowboy Jerseys and Jackson a Texas Longhorn Jersey. (Ben had one too, but he was sleeping during this photo shoot.) They had a great time at the game and will always cherish the memory of going. Yes, and Dallas won too!!

On my birthday, John, Morgan and I went to Blue Mesa to eat after Church. I had received a coupon for a free buffet. They have some of the best food in the Dallas area, so forget the diet for a day and indulge! At least on your birthday. Anyway, the waitperson overheard it was my birthday and for some reason he started telling us about a new game called Quelf. Elf with a Qu.

He said something about how crazy it was to play, and one player had to sit under the table the whole game. Hmm, this needed to be investigated thoroughly. After several attempts to find the game, we finally landed our own one. Now, if I were to read the box in the store it would not end up in my shopping cart. It sounds kinda weird. I am not too sure we understood the rules all that well as we sat down to play, but we laughed the whole time!

Ryan picked a card where he was announcing the in flight instructions a flight attendant does at the beginning of every flight and Mary Beth had to do the hand motions. She apparently pays closer attention than the rest of us, because she had it nailed. Except getting tickled. But then, she might have seen that on one of those wacky Southwest flights out of Houston.

We didn't know such a good sport had married into our family. Mary Beth picked a card that required her to move her game piece with her elbows -the entire game.

See the egg in the middle of the game board? That was what I had to find and place there. It stayed in its place the whole time and any player, except me received a penalty if they touched it.

One of my turns I had to pretend I was a photographer on a shoot. I received extra points if I used a real camera. This is Morgan giving his version of a model look.

He picked a card that required him to say "Hear me for I have spoken" after he said anything. We all tried to get him to talk just so we could make him say it. I don't think he missed a single time he spoke.
We only played once, so I am not sure if there is anything inappropriate on any of the cards. I do know the photographer card had a phrase I was supposed to say, but there was no way that was coming out of my mouth. That is my disclaimer.

The next day while John and I were working in the garage this is what was going on upstairs...

I am not too sure what this says about us, but we do know how to have good clean fun!

( We missed Tia Leah! )

Oh, the joys of being a grandmother...

Precious in His Sight

2009-12-13T22:05:00.003-06:00

Grandchildren. Oh, how precious. I love every single minute I get to be with my grandsons. Jackson is now 2 1/2. He enjoyed our new tradition of making a gingerbread creation . I started the train and then Tia Leah, visiting from Hawaii, helped him finish it. The candy was a little too tempting for him though. But isn't that what grandmothers are for? We have so much fun together. He says the cutest things. He kept calling my leather sofa the chocolate couch. I am not sure why he thought it looked like chocolate...

Jackson found his seat by Tia Leah at church and was ready to listen to some inspiring words.

Ben found his place on my lap. He is a cutie. We had our whole family together at church .

It took everything I had not to tear up during the service.

(I wish I had given my camera to someone to take our picture all together.)

Ryan, Mary Beth, Jackson and Ben at the farm at Thanksgiving.

(Notice how sweet it is that Ben has his hand on Jackson's shoulder.)

Nana can't wait until Christmas!!

Happy Birthday Grandad

2009-11-02T15:51:00.000-06:00

Here is a special message to Grandad from his great-grandson Jackson, age 2.

Fall ~ Hula Style

2009-10-24T17:58:00.000-05:00

I recently came back from visiting my daughter, Leah, in Hawaii. What a great trip. Instead of boring you with all of my pics at the same time, I will post groups of fun things we did while I was there.

( Not necessarily in order though.)

The day before I left we went to the Upcountry on Maui. We were headed to the Lavendar Farm when I saw this pumpkin patch. I was thrilled to see white pumpkins even in Hawaii.

Leah and I sitting on the haybale.

You could be in West Texas, except for that is the big ocean in the background!

This scarecrow had a little Hawaiian influence!

The pumpkins were set out in a maze for the little ones.

Leah and J.R.

There were so many photo ops, I had a hard time pulling myself away...

Next, the Lavendar Farm. Can't you just smell it?

Little Helper

2009-09-28T21:17:00.000-05:00

I recently went to Abilene where my sisiter lives. She had just moved and then had surgery. Her daughter, Stacey, was there to help. She has the cutest 18month old daughter, Madeline. Well, during the move a piece of furniture was scratched up and my sister, Reinette, wanted me to even out the distressed look. While I was working, I looked down and I had a little helper. Maddie had picked up some sand paper and went to town like she knew what she was doing.

She would even stop every few minutes and check her own work.

Cheez!

Stacey, you are a good mama!

Precious Boys

2009-09-01T21:42:00.000-05:00

We just came back from several days in Sugar Land (Houston area) for a business trip and most importantly to visit the grandsons. Benjamin is now 3 1/2 months old. He is starting to develop such a cute personality.

He is a happy baby and is always smiling.

I took a million photos trying to get these two boys together. Not an easy task. Ben looks like his Daddy and Jackson looks like his Mommy.

Target had these cute plates just perfect for this little monkey.

Ryan has such a good helper.

And yes, Jackson is still mowing.

Family Fun

2009-08-16T21:13:00.000-05:00

One of our family Summer trips was to San Antonio.

Since we had our grandsons with us a trip to the Zoo was on the list of things we love to do in S.A. with kids. My maternal grandparents lived in S.A when I was growing up, so the zoo is a fond memory for me.

Jackson love, love, loves his Uncle Morgan.

Many of the animal habitats are still like I remember from my childhood. They are carved into the natural stone. I did notice that more fencing has been added over the years. When I was little, you could lean over the walls to see the animals.

Not a good idea.

Mary Beth, sleeping Ben, Ryan and Jackson. I wish I could say M.B. is holding an umbrella because it was raining, but it was to shield Ben from the harsh Texas sun.

We ended the Zoo trip with a ride on the train. I remember riding the train many times. My parents even filmed us as we rode along. I need to find those and show my kids.
Jackson was sat on the train like such a big boy. I had forgotten there was a tunnel. A dark tunnel. As soon as we entered memories of being scared in this tunnel came flooding back to me. I quickly looked at Jackson to see what his reaction was, he was just sitting there frozen. We made it out, and I felt a sigh of relief he was so brave.

Baby Ben even enjoyed the ride.
So, so sweet.

We went down to the River Walk (or Wiver Walk) that night.

A little advice. Do not go on Friday night. This is the only picture we took because there were a million people crowded on the side walks. If you have been there, you know one side of each walkway is the river. A million people, a river, two babies and 150 degree temps. A recipe for disaster. After waiting over an hour to be seated at one of the restaurants, we left , drove through Wendy's and ate at the hotel.

The next morning we drove over to Gruene, Texas. (Pronounced Green.)

We were meeting my family for lunch before we went over to New Braunfels to my Aunt Wilma's 90th birthday party.

Jackson and my Dad had quite an intense conversation while we waited on our food at the Grist Mill.

We had just enough time to browse some of Gruene's shops where I found this perfect cowboy guitar for Jackson. I loved his expression when I surprised him with it.

Jackson loves to sing " I'm in the Lord's Army."

Nothing more precious...

Cool Dude

2009-07-20T21:35:00.000-05:00

Jackson is such a cool dude! He usually takes more time putting on his bike helmet and sunglasses than he spends riding his bike. I was lucky to catch this photo before he started moving in his nonstop fashion.

Ring, ring...

Terrific Twos

2009-07-15T07:20:00.000-05:00

Jackson is now a terrific two year old. He must have an inner voice whispering to him to live up to everything that this age has to bring, because he never stops moving, talks up a storm and is just a sweetie.

He is a busy, active boy.

His favorite birthday present was this play lawn mower his mother picked out for him.

He mowed the lawn....

He mowed the flower bed...

He mowed the patio....

(wearing the shorts Tia Leah sent him from Maui)

He mowed the carpet....

He mowed and mowed and mowed.

Two month old Ben thought this was all quite entertaining!

Ben and Jackson

2009-07-05T19:50:00.000-05:00

6 week old Baby Ben is so nice and comfortable on Papa John's tummy.

We call this Jackson's model pose.

It is quite a challenge to get both boys together in one picture. I think Jackson has photo burnout from all the flashes he endured right after he was born.

We took these pictures while on a visit to China Spring to see the family for the weekend.
It was hard to send the boys back to Sugar Land as we headed home to the Metroplex.
We will get to see them soon when Jackson turns two.
I can't wait! There is nothing like grandchildren.