Tuesday, April 7, 2009

New Toy








We are not sure where the time seems to go, but it definitely has not slowed down with retirement. Finally winter has passed, and we are looking forward to spring activities, at least temporarily? Spring break without skiing this year seemed strange, but the girls came for a short time which is always fast and furious. Dean's new toy, a side by side ATV, better known by the girls as the "fun mobile" provides fun for all. A trip to the shack for picnicking, fishing, and running all around releases lots of energy.



One of our favorite remarks recently from Peri regards the deer head in the shack. After pointing to the head and identifying the deer, she announced "he needs to go outside"! No prompting from Leslie.

Cate, the chef, loves to cook, and she has become pretty proficient. She measures accurately, and breakfast would not be complete without her making "panny cakes"from scratch. Then of course there were valentine cookies, baked, and decorated for grandparents, aunts, and uncles with a few left over for eating.

We have moved my medical care to OKC to save Leslie some running, and it doesn't hurt that we get to see them a little more often! As I go into a new treatment plan, we appreciate the notes, visits, warm thoughts and prayers. We are blessed that I continue to feel good, and have supportive family, friends, and faith. We plan to be around all summer so stop in Okemah, and you may be fortunate enough to have a trip to the "shack" complete with a ride in the fun mobile.

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Christmas Present and Past



The month of December was a whirlwind, and now back to winter in Oklahoma. After the relaxing time with kids in Mexico, we returned to Christmas activities with friends and family. Leslie, Sean, and girls arrived in time to take over. Chef Sean planned a delicious Christmas Eve dinner (as usual), and I left the kitchen. He even cooked the turkey, dressing, and herbed mashed potatoes for Christmas dinner. Love these young men! We are blessed to have Mom and Dad next door, and my brothers and family all arrived to celebrate. Mom was thrilled to have five (under age of 5)of her great grandchildren present. It was lively. Santa arrived at our house right on time, and the girls were a joy to watch. We have aspiring performers for sure.


Then Leslie and Sean surprised me with a girls trip to New York the day after Christmas...just Leslie, Cate, and me. What a trip. We attended "Little Mermaid", shopped Dylan's Candy Store, and American Girl among other shops. Cate skated at Rockefeller Center, and we met up with an old friend of Leslie's from Camp Egan days. The guys and Peri held down the fort in Okemah, and I think they enjoyed watching ballgames uninterrupted. They reported Peri was perfect? Of course if eveything goes your way, it may be easy to be perfect. They did a great job on the house. I think I may plan another get-a-way. We hope everyone had a joyous Holiday Season and wish you a Wonderful New Year.

Monday, December 8, 2008

Long Time, No Post

I know it has been a while since we posted. We’ve given it some thought from time to time, but time seems to be flying by! There has been a lot of action around our place since Spring Break. We managed a trip to east Texas to catch the bluebonnets although it wasn’t a great year for the flowers. We saw some wonderful new scenery just east of I-35 and Austin. We have passed that way many times without making the trek. It is well worth another stop for the lakes, wineries, and quaint small western towns. The summer brought family and lots of time with the girls. They are so refreshing, entertaining, and of course perfect according to Ma and Pa. We celebrated our 44th anniversary at Beavers Bend and reminisce of Beaver Lake Arkansas.

Then fall arrived and we made a trip to Colorado to catch the aspen turning, another thing you can’t do while teaching! We finally made the side trip through the Black Mesa. We have thought about it the past 25 years on our way to Colorado. The aspen were colorful and we treated ourselves to a stay at The Springs in Pagosa with relaxing hot springs, a ride on the steam train from Antinio Colorado to Chama New Mexico, and visited one our favorite spots, Woods Lake, outside of Telluride.

Halloween arrived and we enjoyed trick and treating with the Annie and the Witch(Cate and Peri). It seemed like a scene out of a Norman Rockwell picture except the cars were a little modern. Peri turned two, and we had a perfect day at the farm and shack. Several of Leslie’s and Sean’s friends plus children arrived for a cookout,a hayride, and fishing in the pond (imagine about 12 small fishing lines in the pond at the same time). The adults enjoyed the shack and were busy planning an adult outing? Dean may have started something.
During this period I continued a hormonal treatment plan, however, unfortunately my fall check up showed the disease has progressed. Now it is on to a new treatment plan for 9 weeks followed by another trip to MD.

I feel blessed since I continue to feel good, and can do about anything I choose! The doctor cleared our planned trip to Mexico with the kids…since I’m healthy…I think that is an oxymoron? The weather is a balmy 85 degrees, the water turquoise, but the best is time with family. We have had pool time, sand castle building, outstanding food, shopping, and down time. Many warm memories to take into the winter months.

Thursday, May 29, 2008

Living in Texas?

Over the past two weeks, we have all be spending quite a bit of time in Texas. Some of you may know, but for those of you who don’t, I am seeking new treatment for the return of my cancer.

We arrived in Houston this week for an official consultation at M.D. Anderson. We are excited that I finally was granted a consultation with a great doctor. I am undergoing two days worth of testing and then hopefully, we will get some treatment options from the staff. We are hopeful. Our new doctor is not only brilliant, but also upbeat and funny. A breath of fresh air…

I will keep you all posted over the next few weeks. We will be making several trips down here and finalizing my next treatment step.

Don’t feel too sorry for me. I spent last week in Padre with the girls and we had a great time. It’s always nice to be at the beach with fresh air. The girls both really loved the beach this year and we spent many hours digging in the sand and running into the water.
Have a great start to your summer! More to come…

Wednesday, March 19, 2008

Heading Home

It’s been an interesting week. We’ve battled record amounts of skiers and illness, but still managed to have some fun.

Our friend Allen spent two nights in a local hospital thanks to some nasty kidney stones. Luckily, he is doing well and will be traveling home tomorrow, also. Texas was on spring break with Oklahoma this year and needless to say, the slopes were packed!!! We didn’t get to ski as much as we wanted, but still had fun.

It will be nice to be home. We understand that there was some major rain while we were gone, so we’re wondering what our yard looks like! Hopefully, not a swamp!

Sunday, March 16, 2008

Not So Quiet

Wow, retirement sure isn’t as quiet as I thought it might be! Since I last wrote (which was too long ago…sorry!), I have kept the girls, finished radiation, visited south texas and now I’m in Colorado! I know, the life of a retiree!

I finished my radiation treatments and start another round of testing next week. I am hopeful for good news towards the end of April. My blood work looks good and I am feeling very good. My left arm has been very swollen due to lyphodema, which we thought would happen because the mastectomy and radiation. I am wearing a sleeve throughout the day and doing special physical therapy, but I am learning to deal.

I am staying busy with volunteer work, church activities and doing Grandma duties.
Sean and Leslie took a quick trip to Las Vegas and we kept the girls over the MLK weekend. We had a blast. Cate has become very helpful in the kitchen. She loves to make salad, cookies or fruit salad and “decorate the table.” In Cate-speak, this means setting the table for dinner! Peri is quite the pistol and totally lives up to the her nickname, “Pepper.” She is very vocal and much more aggressive than her older sister. We often say Cate looks like Sean and acts like Leslie, while Peri looks like Leslie and acts like Sean. They are opposites in every way.

Dean has been working on improving the ponds out at the farm and piddling around the shack. He has taken some time to teach some clinics and judge some contests, which has been a nice treat for him. I think he has really enjoyed getting out, but not having to deal with school everyday is nice!

We did travel to south Texas in January after we learned Dean’s Uncle Bob had died. We were so glad to be able to attend the memorial service and see family we hadn’t seen in years. While we wish the circumstances could have been happier, being with family is always a blessing.

That’s it for now. I am hoping to post some pictures of our ski trip when we get home. I hope all is well with all of you!!!

Friday, January 11, 2008

Busy, Busy, Busy

No, I haven’t disappeared; I’ve just been really busy! We’ve been going non-stop and I haven’t been too good about updating my blog!!

Christmas was great. The kids came and stayed for several days and it was so quiet when they left! Cate has discovered the Wizard of Oz and watches it constantly. I took some time and made her a Dorothy dress and Santa brought her some “ruby slippers.” I just love this picture…our little Dorothy. She calls Peri, her little sister, Toto. Guess that sums up their relationship!

Dean and I have been running here and there. I have been in radiation therapy for the past six weeks and I go every weekday. Driving to Shawnee every morning has been a little tiring, but luckily, I only have two treatments left! I have tolerated the treatment pretty well, -just a nasty burn on part of my skin. I will be glad to coast for a while and hope my next round of testing is positive. I feel good.

On the brighter side, Dean and I just bought a new car and we’re so excited. We got a Lincoln MKX. Fancy, I know, but I figured I deserved a treat and a new car fit the bill!! We actually haven’t been driving it too much and park far away from people when we do. We’re so protective of that car. It’s like our new baby.

Dean has been busy at the shack and went to OKC to help Leslie and Sean clean up their yard after the ice storm. His next project is getting the pond ready for fishing with granddaughters!

I hope all is well with you and I’ll try to do a better job of updating my blog. Happy 2008!