Thursday, May 30, 2013

Time With Kennedy

We had the kids over for supper Sunday night. When they got ready to go home Kennedy didn't want to go and insists on staying the night with us. Of course Granddad and I say yes! Monday is the day my housekeeper comes.

My plan was to go feed Clyde then take Kennedy for breakfast at McDonald's. As we're feeding Clyde, Kennedy says "Can we ride Clyde?" Well of course we can!

Kennedy spraying detangler on Clyde's tail so she can comb it out.
She's doing a great job! (Although she got tired of doing it before she finished his tail!)
Her interest in riding is getting longer. I think she rode for about 30 or 40 minutes! She might have gone longer but she said "Savtah, my tummy is making noises". I laughed. I said "I'm sure it is. It's saying 'feed me'!"

We get Clyde untacked and put back in the pasture and head for McDonald's. Unfortunately when we get there they have quite serving breakfast.
She had chicken nuggets instead which is what she wanted in the first place!
 After eating I let her play. We had a good time! When we left Kennedy asked "Are we going to your house?" I said "No, I'm taking you to Mommy". She said "I want to go to your house." I held firm only because my dear friend's younger brother passed away the day before and I really needed to connect with her to let her know I cared and see if I could be of any help to her.

On the way to my friends I see these beautiful flowers and took a minute to enjoy their beauty.
Here's a close up.
My friend's brother died from a massive heart attack. He was only 54. He was a very prominent figure in the community. The whole family is reeling. His service was Wednesday morning. It was standing room only. I thought the service was very well done and a real tribute to his life.

On a happier note. I got to watch a beautiful sunset Tuesday night.
This picture just do it justice. The sky was full of color!

Have a good one!



Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Pomp and Circumstance

It's that time of year again. Graduation...of all kinds. I received five graduation announcements this year. One of them was for college. I took time yesterday to make some cards.

Pretty simple. The hat paper is from Reminisce Graduation Celebration line. It is a double sided paper with stripes on the back. Cat's Creations has a wonderful selection of graduation papers and embellishments.

I matted the hat paper with black card stock. The sentiment is from Stampin' Up's "Curly Cute" set. I stamped it on white card stock and matted the white with black cardstock. The ribbon is from my stash.

For the next card I used a sketch that I saw on a friend's blog ~Jo's Scrap Shack~. Here's the sketch.
I took just a little liberty with this sketch. Here's my card.
I only moved the bling to the opposites sides of the card from what the sketch showed to accommodate my sentiment. I like how it turned out. The striped paper is the backside of the hats. I am entering this card in Jo's Fun-day Friday Challenge. You can enter too. The challenge ends at 6pm (CST) May 31st.

My next card I made school specific. That's is something else Cat's Creations has a good selection of.
This graduated is from Perrin. My niece graduated last year and I still had some paper left from making her card. The dotted paper I also bought at Cat's Creations and was designed to coordinate with the school specific paper. These are from Scrapbook Customs.

Even if Cat's doesn't carry your school, she probably has your school colors. This next card I made fit that category.
This graduate attends our local private school Community Christian School aka CCS.  Even though the store doesn't have papers with Community Christian on them, there were still school colors to choose from! I used alpha stamps to create "CCS" then matted on purple cardstock. I put foam tape behind the letters to give some dimension and added some ribbon.


 Last but not least I made this card with a paper from Reminisce "Follow Your Dreams" collection. This paper is also double sided. The back is gold with a print on it. The cool thing about Reminisce papers is the strip that has the bar code and name of the company is decorative on the other side so you can use it too! That's is where the strip of hats came from. I matted the strip with black cardstock and put foam tap behind to give dimension then added the ribbon.

There you have it. Five graduation cards for five graduates! Now to put something inside and send to the recipients.

Have a good one!




Tuesday, May 28, 2013

First Dance Recital

Vanessa has had Kennedy in dance lessons since last fall. Saturday was her very first recital. Friday night was rehearsal. I was told if I wanted to take pictures I had to do it at rehearsal as I wouldn't be able to do that during the live performance.
We are waiting for rehearsal to start. The little girl is Kennedy's cousin who belongs to Keannon's sister. She is a year older than Kennedy.
She is so cute! We had to laugh as the teacher had told her to stand on a certain spot that I think was marked on the stage because she kept looking down to see where she was and getting back on her spot!
They did two different dances.
She actually did better at recital.
After rehearsal I get a picture of the girls together. I love Kennedy's costume.
For recital she had to have her hair done and full makeup! She's still a little doll! I took this right before it started as I had to bring the lipstick! She kept saying "Look Savtah, I have eyelashes on!" What she meant was she had eyeshadow on. Too cute!
Pictures were allowed after the performance but I didn't take my big camera in so I had to settle for my phone camera. Proud Mom & Dad.
Proud Nana and Uncle Jake.


There's been potential of stormy weather for several days. After the hail we got a week ago we have been spared any more severe weather but the potential was there.
This storm stayed west and north of us.
This is a different day. These were some interesting clouds!
This is a view from the same day looking to the west. We did get a really good rain on Friday. A little over an inch! It came while we were at dance rehearsal.
Kashton is almost 3 months. He's rolling from his tummy to his back.

Just for a little fun, can you tell who these babies are?
The baby on the left is Kennedy at 3 months. The other is Kashton at 2 months. Kind of freaky isn't it?!

Have a good one!

Monday, May 27, 2013

Born to Wear Boots

That is the title I gave the two page layout I created using the new Carta Bella "Giddy Up" Collection. They have boy and girl colors and Cat's Creations has them both. I am linking this to WOW Wednesday at Cat's Creations.
You can click on the picture to see it larger. This is my granddaughter Kennedy who is 3 and my horse Clyde.
Close up of the left side. I used sketch #146 from Sketch Inspiration sketch book volume 1.
Close up of the right side. I used sketch #235 from Sketch Inspiration sketch book volume 2.

For a better look and to get all you need to make this layout go to Cat's Creations!

Have a good one!




Friday, May 24, 2013

The Rest of the Story

I am so sorry to keep you in suspense! I really thought I would get to this sooner but it has been pretty busy around here. "One" can make plans but "One" should always be flexible as the plans can and usually do change! Especially when it's grandchildren involved!

I left you last blog on the eve of our court hearing in Murphreesboro, Arkansas. We get up a little after 6am. We planned to be on the road by 7am.  We didn't miss it by much. The hearing was at 9. Everyone was a bit tense on the way as even though we felt that we had a good case you just never know.

It was a beautiful ride driving through rural Arkansas. Lots of farm land. I love driving through areas like that. I did have to keep my eyes on the road so as not to get car sick as the roads were anything but straight! There were also a lot of trees but managed to find a clearing to get this.
When I see rays coming through the clouds like this I relate it to God's glory. So pretty to me. I took it as personal encouragement that He was with us and was going before us.

Now Murphreesboro isn't a big community but there are two places to have court. One is the old courthouse where we were told to go and at the county jail. Kind of convenient to have court in the same building as the jail don't you think? When we arrived to the old courthouse Keannon went inside only to have the clerk tell him she wasn't aware of any cases being heard there that day. He comes back to the car and calls his attorney's office who confirmed we were in the right place. Keannon's attorney then shows up and we learn we have to go to the other location. It's not far only a couple of miles. We had time.

I was Kashton's caregiver during this process. I sat in the court room for a bit but as long as he was awake he wanted to be moving or he made noise! So we went walking around until he fell asleep.
 At one point I took him to the car to change his diaper. I figured out how to make him smile!
As long as Kennedy is around it's hard to get much time with Kashton. She pretty much dominates right now! She stayed with some friends for this trip. There would have been no place for her. Nothing to do not to mention the ride in the car.

I was not in the courtroom much so didn't get to hear much first hand. Only the attorney for the other side showed up. Keannon has a really good attorney this time. She's a real spitfire! Practiced law in California 15 yrs which is extremely helpful. Remi's mother had filed to have court moved to California after she was served with papers. The Judge denied that request. He did say it should be moved at some point but until this case is closed it will be finished there in Arkansas. Remi's mother is unable to travel because she is pregnant and due the later part of June. She produced a written excuse from the doctor saying no travel or court until August 17th. The Judge didn't take that in to consideration either as he set court for August 12th. He also gave Keannon  6 weeks of visitation with Remi until we go to court on the 12th. He wanted Keannon to have it all at once but Keannon's attorney was wise and suggested two 3 week intervals. It will still be hard on Remi but easier than all at once. The first 3 weeks will begin June 3rd thru June 22nd. Keannon will have to pay for air fare to get her, accompany her and take her home but the second 3 weeks (July 13th thru Aug 3rd) will be her mom's responsibility. I don't like being a skeptic but as much as she's refused to work with us before I'm not holding my breathe. The 3rd is not very far away! A week from Monday!

When we go to court on August 12th that is when the contempt charges will be dealt with and visitation reviewed. Your prayers would be appreciated. We really do want the best for Remi but no arrangement is going to be easy for either party. She is the one who suffers. Just makes me sad. Everything is different here. Keannon and Vanessa aren't in the same house. She has a new brother she's never met. I know she has grown and changed too.

We got through close to noon. While Vanessa was feeding Kashton and Keannon was changing his clothes into something more comfortable than a suit I took time to snap a few pictures. There was hay field next to where the jail and courtroom were. A farmer was mowing and several birds were having a feast on bugs!
A scissor-tail resting on the fence.
Probably not the same one. Love the color on his wings. He was coming in for a landing!
Another scissor-tail sitting pretty for me.
Look at this Cattle Egret strutting his stuff! I had to be really sneaky!
I got a little too close for comfort...and that was with a zoom lens!
Pretty little yellow flowers
and a shy butterfly. We load up and head toward home. We stop in Texarkanna to eat lunch then hit the road again. Just on the east side of Dallas Kashton decides its his turn to eat. We stop at a McDonald's that has an open field next to it so what do I do? Yep, I hop out and take my camera with me!
I just love this flowers. They are so pretty when there are a lot of them!
Can you see all the little bugs that are feasting on these flowers? I saw a huge black butterfly that I chased around trying to get a picture of before he fly beyond where I could go.
Found this guy who refused to open his wings. In his defense it was windy. Well, it was time to get back on the road. Doyle text me to see where we were. Come to find out he was grilling fajitas for us when we got home! Yummy! When we arrived I learned he not only had cooked for us but for our new neighbors a young couple and our other neighbor. We had a patio party! Nana had Kennedy and she brought her by after gymnastics. Kennedy was glad to see us...especially me :)
Look how long he is!

Here's one more pic that Vanessa took of the guys chillin' at the hotel. Forgot to share this in the last blog.
Until next time...Have a good one!

Monday, May 20, 2013

Beauty in an Unexpected Place

I've mentioned in previous blogs that we haven't seen Remi since 2 weeks before Christmas. The kids have made several attempts to make flight arrangements but Remi's mother would not agree to any of them. Keannon finally felt he was forced to file for "contempt of court" charges against her.

A hearing was set for a week ago this past Monday. Vanessa asked me if I would come along to help with Kashton. Since the court house was in Arkansas which is where the original case was set we left before church was over to get on the road. Where court was held didn't have much to choose from for lodging so we stayed in Texarkana which was about an 1 to 1 1/2 away. Not exactly how I intended to spend Mother's Day but it wasn't all that bad. Just didn't get to spend it with my Mom. Keannon and Vanessa did take me out for Breakfast that morning which was a real treat!

Kashton had slept most of the way but about 30 minutes from our destination he woke up and was hungry. He protested LOUDLY! Keannon pulled off at the next available exit. While we were stopped I took the opportunity to stretch my legs and grabbed my camera for a short adventure.  There were wildflowers galore!

































































































Then it was time to get back in the car. At least we didn't have far to go.


We get to the hotel and check in. We relax and unwind after being in the car all afternoon.















Getting some bonding time with Kashton





Even Mommy and Daddy were feeling fiesty!





















 Bath time!



Mommy has Kashton wrapped up like a burrito!
















Kashton chillin' with Dad













We had to be at the courthouse by 9am so it was nighty night for us! I'll tell the rest of the story tomorrow. Have a good one!