Last Visit to Opa's & the Fruits of our labors...

This was our last visit to Beverly Hills, Florida. My Dad had a seizure on Thanksgiving.We are still waiting on the test results to see if it was a stroke. He is doing better, and will get out of the hospital on Monday. Regardless, Judy and my Dad are still leaving for Kentucky two days later. We went up to see him on Saturday, but he was asleep. We then went to their house to see what we could do to help. Judy wanted the oranges picked off from their tree to take with them on Wednesday. It was a gorgeous day, so we fetched the ladder, gathered them, and had fun! They smelled awesome! Vanessa and Todd had a little TOO much fun with the fruit! KIDS! Brett really does not get it yet... that you don't just bite into an orange...Adrien the "muscle" behind the scenes!

Thanksgiving...the self-induced food coma

Wow! We had a great Thanksgiving! Our pals, the "Chamness"es invited us over for a great meal, conversation, video/board games, Black Friday shopping ads, and to generally make fun of folks (our favorite pastime)...Terresa had all of her boys together so we were able to get some pictures for her. The food was bountiful and delicious!We have spent all of our Thanksgivings with the Chamnesses--except for the time we went on a cruise, and the first one in 2002(Shane and Kayleen came down from Tennessee). Good Times, good times!

Glock-en-spiele German for "Busta Cap"

We had a great day today! Friends from church took Todd, Adrien and I to a shooting range! Our family really enjoys guns. After all it is our 2nd amendment right :) We tried out several guns to see which was our favorite gun. Adrien and Todd prefer "Hazel" aka .38 Special. I thought the gun a bit too wimpy for me! I prefer the Versa Thunder..it packs a punch! Todd and I are planning on getting a concealed weapons permit eventually. Adrien has an AK-47 in his hands in the bottom picture:) The target at the top is sadly--my shots--I tend to hit the ceiling to the amusement of the boys! Adrien is a fine marksman and was complimented profusely on his natural talent! Theo aka "Shakes" was a good shot as well! Vanessa and Adrien already learned how to shoot from their two grandpa's, who are big proponents of the right to bear arms. I know many people are wailing and gnashing teeth over this one. Mommies throwing hands over children's faces... Hummm...Do I care? Nope! One day the time will come (Oh, No! another THEOBALD CONSPIRACY THEORY (#13 for those liberals counting...)when we will need to defend our food storage, God, and ourselves. I want to be prepared. Our family likes terms like "packing heat" "bustin caps", "hands in the air, thug" as well as "reach for the sky, varmit". Remember when you come trespassing into our home...Guns do not kill people....we do!

Beverly Hills--That's where I want to be ........

Well, My Dad is getting old (75). It is difficult to see a once vibrant, military tough man reduced to a bed. The man that used to jump out of airplanes, run through jungles in Panama, Korea and Vietnam and referee Army basketball and baseball games can't walk. He is also losing some of his memory. He thinks that my mother is still alive and calls for her on occasion. He does remember us, but forgets the amount of time we have visited. What is really sad is that his wife, Judy, thinks it will be better if they moved back to Kentucky. I will not be able to visit as often or just go on a whim to visit. Todd was able to give my Dad a blessing for the very first time on Saturday night before we left. The Spirit was strong and moved Judy, Todd, and I to tears and the kids to silence. Adrien confirmed what I felt as well...that he does not have long. Todd remains silent on this. Todd really loves my Dad. He so enjoys going up there and laughing...we can be just so crazy with Dad and Judy. I remember when Todd and Dad hopped into McDonald's and acted like Easter bunnies or when they took a whiz on someone's garbage in the middle of the night when we were "trash pickin" and hundreds of other crazy stories...here is the drive home--Brett and Adrien asleep and Ness is up --"Night Owl Ness" and here is Dad...

#81 is my son! Goooo Adrien!

Adrien refused to let me take any pictures of him for my blog because I supposedly misquoted him in the earlier "baggy drawers" installment--DENIED. Anywho...He is #81. He is beautiful!Look at the concentration. The inertia! Todd and Brett were intensely observing the championship game. They did lose :( Adrien took it like a trooper!

Vanessa is DRIVING AN ACTUAL CAR--WARNING!

Vanessa prefers to go driving with Todd because she says I "freak out too much, and stomp on the floorboard." Humm. This is my first child and only daughter so far....carried her for 9 months...11 hours of labor...me freak out??Puhleease. OK maybe a little like when she saw a car driving toward her and she covered her eyes? or she backed out of Opa and Grandma Judy's driveway and threw out my back (I was outside the car by the way)..so Todd decided to help her...Here are some photos of her backing out of the driveway..you will notice our neighbor, Jack! Jack walked over and said to me as he gestured to Vanessa sitting in our car, "You could have warned me!" She did "well", said Todd. I wonder why he immediately went in and got a shot of insulin...he also had to "lay down"...hummm. I will say when she drove off a little piece of my heart went with her. One day she will be driving these mean streets ---alone. She looks so grown-up...

Bretty Schools Daddy

We were scrambling to go to Adrien's Championship Football game--Kissimmee Kowboys Vs. Osceola Panthers when Brett came downstairs after a shower dressed in his "Superman" Pj's. Todd and I said "Bretty you can't wear that to the game--please go change" so he went back upstairs and came down in the cutest outfit! Todd noticed that he had on two shirts a bit later.."Brett you need to only wear the white shirt because you will be hot at the game, and Mommy told you not to wear your Pj's"...Brett looked at Todd, and said "Well, a man's gotta do what a man's gotta do!"
Brett 1 Todd 0 game over