This is about my pets.  I love my pets!  I am looking at past posts when we first got "Vinnie" aka "Dusty" aka "Scruffy".  I really didn't think we would keep him!!! I thought the problems we experienced the first day we got him would always be a problem. The cat was in hiding and the dog didn't seem to like cats.  Not good.  Now things are better! He still jumps on people so we keep his nails clipped and don't have people over.  He still doesn't have the best of manners. Doesn't have any boundaries.  But our babies are getting along! They sleep by each other.  I hope one day they will cuddle.

Sweet cat on his play toy scratchy thing. 

Papa playing with him!

The dog.....

Hiding in his blanket

Chewing on his favorite plastic, squeaky bone!

He's holding on to my arm licking my hand. He licks and licks and licks. He will even lick my leg while I am sleeping!!!

Well, that is all I am going to talk about today.  Fill in the rest on Sunday! 

God bless you!

Memorial Day

This is Sunday...again. I need to write more but there isn't much to write about during the week. My life is pretty calm. I don't like to say boring...I like to say calm. I like it that way.

It was kind of a lonely week. Normally we see Andrew and Lauren every day but their mom worked from home and was sick so we stayed away. And their dad has pneumonia. Andrew is stressed and cramming for graduation and end of the year. Please keep him in your prayers.

Lauren had two games but went to the Basketball game instead of the Softball game.  We didn't go...it was a ways away. We only go so far these days.  I didn't make it to Jessie's on Wednesday or Lauren's on Bainbridge. No wonder it was a lonely quiet week. lol! We did make it to Lauren's game on Saturday. She had a double header up in Sequim (which is on our side of the bridge and about 30 miles from us) and we like the drive up there very much.  Here are some pictures of our week.

I can't believe I thought they would never get along.

Lanny's Viking Fest tree. We had one in Poulsbo and he finally bought one and planted it a year or two ago. 

Lauren talking with her coach and dad.

Lauren and her bff on the team.

I found some amazing recipes that look so good. I put them on my recipe site.

I love them because they seem sooooo easy and good!

http://langagerfamilyrecipes.blogspot.com/

Then there is papa.  Papa is such a great cook.  His specialty is breakfasts. Madi and Lauren always thought he should have his own restaurant!  But he loves to cook for me. Impossible to lose weight. Sure, I only eat part and give my dog some...but still. Could you turn this away?

Biscuits and sausage gravy

Hashbrowns, sausage and cheese omelet and toast.

Karla and Joel had an anniversary this week. I made this for her....

 I don't know what they did to celebrate. I don't hear much from Karla. I know, she's my daughter.  But she is private and we have a strange relationship. I can't push a relationship on her either. Now my relationship with Kevon is very different for some reason. Him and Karla are like night and day in looks and personality. I did a paper in college of comparison / contrast on those two. I still have it, I think.  I talk to him a couple times a week and we always end our calls with "I love you". I wish I had that with Karla too. I sure love these kiddos.

And then there is Heather! My step children (bonus kids) have ALWAYS felt like my own children. I love them so much and would do anything for them. Most people don't know they are not blood and say we look alike or whatever.  Love it.

I am mentioning Heather because she often calls and chats and then always says she loves me at the end of our conversation. It means a lot to me. I kind of know how my mom felt when she didn't hear from her kids.  It's not cool. I tried to call mom every day if not every other day. Sometimes we were pretty busy with kids stuff but I tried. I didn't go over there much when she lived in Kingston. It was especially hard after dad died.  I went to her Poulsbo apt. a lot more and took her places and refilled her pill dispenser. Once someone is gone it makes you regret not spending more time with them, for sure. Now I don't have time.  How did I get here???? lol

I am watching Trisha Yearwood's cooking show and it is all about chocolate! Num! What a show! I could see me making myself sick!  Beats the show I was watching.  About wild cats attacking humans. Quite a difference.

I guess I am done for today. We have a roast on and it smells so good.  Can't wait until dinner!  Have a wonderful week!  Don't forget what tomorrow is!

Memorial Day is a US federal holiday wherein the men and women who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces are remembered.^[1] The holiday, which is celebrated every year on the final Monday of May,^[2] was formerly known as Decoration Day and originated after the American Civil War to commemorate the Union and Confederatesoldiers who died in the Civil War. By the 20th century, Memorial Day had been extended to honor all Americans who have died while in the military service. It typically marks the start of the summer vacation season, while Labor Daymarks its end.

Many people visit cemeteries and memorials, particularly to honor those who have died in military service. Many volunteers place an American flag on each grave in national cemeteries.

Lunch, Lutefisk, and living the life!

It's Sunday again!  Time really does go faster the older you get.

Well, most of the week I got to suffer with a sunburn. I didn't cover up at all on our picnic Mother's Day.  Suffer is kind of a strong word.  I was more uncomfortable.

I look pathetic. My bottom lip even started to blister.  Plus my knee still hurting from the week before.

Ok, I am done. Tuesday morning I woke up so much better.  It was such a beautiful morning! It was sunny and Papa was baking bread and had some windows open and the smell was absolutely amazing. The cross between fresh air and bread is sweet.  I loved it!  It was just a great week too.

Lauren and Andrew's cousin came to visit for a week. She is such a sweet girl!  On Thursday I picked her up and we went down and loaded up on some McDonald's and took it to Lauren at school. She was really happy we did it.  I think she enjoyed showing off her older pretty cousin to her friends.

That afternoon we went to Jordy's game which she won!  It was fun  except Papa got sick.  He ate some sunflower seeds and beef jerky (which he shouldn't have) and it caused him to get sick.

watching Jordy's game

 

It was mostly heartburn and we went to Lauren's game next.  At Lauren's game he could sit in the van and watch the game. Good thing because he was vomiting.  I was worried about him but he didn't want to go. He had the hiccups so bad.

After we got home he still wasn't feeling well. He went to bed but he didn't sleep well. I felt so bad for him. Ever since he had his heart attacks in 2007 I worry about him. It was a horrifying experience.

Friday our son, Ryan, came home from working in California. There is just a sigh of relief when he is back home.  I know the kids were excited.  We were hoping to see him Saturday at a double header of Laurens game but it was cancelled. Papa had baked some chicken to pack for the game so we still ate it. But we've yet to see Ry.  We're giving the family time together and hope to see him next week. It has been a quiet weekend without grandkids.

I was feeling kind of lonely when I got a text from Jessica (my niece) and she had two games. She asked if I wanted to come!  I did!  My brother, David, showed up and we sat in the van and watched the game.  Jessie visited us in between games.  I text Alyssa and she had just got done marching in two parades and was tired but when she heard me (and mostly her dad) were at Jessie's game she decided to come out and visit us!  Then I got to meet her boyfriend finally! So it was a good afternoon! (This photo is from the prom...not yesterday! lol)

I didn't take any pictures yesterday.

This weekend was Viking Fest in Poulsbo. It is a huge thing for some people! But not to us. We do everything to avoid it and this year we finally did!  Viking fest has a parade, carnival rides, booths, lutefisk eating contest, etc... Back in the day we lived in Poulsbo right in town so our teenage kids could walk to Viking Fest. We always had family come stay with us on the weekend and people would come and go and eat and visit. It was fun back then. We took the girls a couple years to the carnival but we are done with it. Last year it rained. Our time is done. And we are good with it. :D
Sharing a few pictures of Viking Fest pasts:

1. Kids in parade

Ryan 32 and Kevon 28

Heather before parade

Karla and her baton

Karla grew up and imagine my surprise as she passed by in the beer jeep during the parade (Karla in front)

Tara in drill team is the second one back

madi and the girl scouts

2. Watching the parade!

Andrew watching his first parade with Auntie Tara!

and the carnival....

kevon

dylan and madi

madi and lauren

lauren and ella

karla and uncle david

and last years rain....

bye bye Viking Fest!

bye bye ya'll! Til next week!