New Van and Happy Thanksgiving!!!!

I am off a few days to posting this.  I try to do it on the weekend.  But I am still doing better than I was before. So there's that.

Been quite a week.  So let me rehash...

I got a van!!!!  I am so happy!  It is beautiful!  It is a 2015 Kia Sedona White with grey and black interior.

God is so good to us. I looked all over the internet for a van.  I wanted room.  And I checked CarMax and Craigslist and many car dealerships for the right van, white, with under 50,000 miles, no wrecks, maintained, one owner, a good price and voila!  God provided.  Not only did He provide but He held it for us until we could get down to Larson Toyota in Tacoma!  We test drove it and bickered with them and got the price down and some extra's and a full tank of gas and I drove it home!!!  I was scared spitless because 1. it was Tacoma, 2. the van was new to me, 3. the traffic was busy, 4. we weren't really sure of directions, 5. it was Tacoma (bared repeating).  But we made it home!  I went and showed Karla and Madi first. Then I went and picked up Lauren from school because Papa was hurting and gave her a ride to Central Market and then to her house.  That was on Thursday the 15th!  What a great day. But my foot sure was swollen from all the driving.

Saturday was our family Thanksgiving.  We stopped having holidays at our house last year when it got to be too hard on Papa and me to get the house ready and cooking and baking and hosting. We would really rather just sit back and enjoy.  So Amanda volunteered.  She is an amazing hostess and cook too!  We went to Amanda's on Saturday and Aaron, Andrew, Joel, Karla, Dylan, Madi, and Kevon were all there and we had a fabulous dinner.  Lauren was a an overnight Debate contest. Tara and the group were having a birthday party for Riley. Heather and Jared came over for her party but we didn't see them because we were at dinner.  Later me, Andrew, Manda, Karla, Dylan and Madi played a game.  Kevon slept on the love seat,  Joel went home, Papa and Aaron were watching tv and us. NO one likes me to take pictures. People only like to take selfies but I did it anyway.  Karla and Dylan let me. lol

andrew

karla and son dylan (home from UW)

Madi hiding from my camera

taking a selfie sense no one else taking pics

dylan

amanda, karla, dylan (aaron in kitchen)

manda gave me pumpkin pie with a little whipped cream 

 We went home and our animals were very happy we were home!!!!

We didn't do much of anything else the rest of the week. Yesterday I was having low back spasms.  That always scares me because of my history with them.  I never want to go there again. My mammogram came back normal.  Paid off my Dell card I have had for about 15 years. That felt SO good!!!

We have Mac for a house guest for about a week.  He likes our big fenced yard so much!

Papa worked on putting up some outside lights yesterday and paid for it in pain today.  His knees have trouble with ladders.  He even had Rich, our neighbor guy, come over for the high spots.  We need to downsize this Christmas.  We are downsizing in the house.  I ordered a 4 foot tree to put on our table in the corner.  It was funny the other morning when I didn't wake until 8 a.m. and when I did Papa was pumped up. He is talking about all he is going to do by putting hooks way up all over the house to hang lights and all these plans he had!  After I woke up more I told him I didn't want him to do it.  I don't want lights up there. It would be beautiful but the ladder would kill papa.  It is strange how our body gets older but not our mind.  I always think of things I want to do and then find out I can't anymore.   I didn't know my back would end up so bad.  I didn't know Papa's knees, legs and hips would hurt like they do.  I am only 62 and papa is 69.  Sucks.  The saying is true that aging isn't for sissies.

Well, I will share my blessing from last week with you all!
On Monday and Tuesday I was thankful for our Veterans! And the ones in our family!

Tuesday the 13th I was thankful to God for Kevon, my blue eyed baby boy!  Unfortunatly when I posted on facebook I confused everyone and they thought it was his birthday and started posting happy birthday and contacting him. Manda called me and told me I should probably change what I wrote. Lol!

On Wednesday, the 14th my pick was my eldest grandson Andrew!!!!  I love this boy.  We have such a close relationship.  We know so much about each other, share our faith, problems, happiness, etc... Great young man!

NOVEMBER 15th thankful for Joel! Great son, husband, dad, and worker!

Nov 16th we are so blessed with our baby boy, Scruffy!

We've had him 5 years ago on Friday!

The 17th I chose for our grandson Parker to be our blessing! He is so sweet!!!

The 18th was picked for Riley because it is her birthday!!! She turned 16 today and I am so thankful for her and adore her!

Not only am I thankful on the 18th for Riley it was also her 16th birthday!!!

The 19th is for Heather, our daughter!

The 20th is for my brothers and sisters!!!

today~~~~ David, libby, lois, douglas and rick!!!

Well, I guess that is all I have to write about!  Papa takes the van to tacoma tomorrow to get a coating on the van inside and out and to check why the "pulse" I am suppose to have on mine isn't working.  What it does is the brake lights flash 5 times if I am stopping to alert cars behind me. I want that!!!! I am so paranoid since I was rear ended thus the bad back.

Hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!!!! Ours will be quiet with just papa and I unless Kevon shows up.  But we are still making the works!

Memorial Day weekend and this past week! Catchup time! Or Ketchup?

That is exactly what I am doing.  Relaxing.  Last night Madi spent the night.  She slept with me in my bed.  We didn't sleep all that great.  I didn't anyway.  She had the light on all night.   I wanted her to be comfortable and sleep as well as she could.  She used to stay with us a lot but now she is such a homebody.  She likes to stay home...sure can't blame her there! I am the same way.  I think she may have gotten bored over here. Riley had a game and Lauren didn't want to come over.  She did bring Divergent over.  I never saw the movie and it was really, really good.  It helped Madi was so patient with me explaining things.  She has seen it a couple times and is now almost done with the book. So she is quite knowledgeable.   I don't get to see her as often as I used to so I am amazed at what an amazing young woman she is becoming.  She is smart, polite, caring, and adorable.  I am so proud of her! And I am so proud of the job her parents are doing with her and Dylan.  And Scruffy remembered her and was all over her!  He hasn't seen her in a long time.  Now he is so tired.  Her and I also played a fun game, munched out and talked as we fell asleep.  I loved my time with her.

Then the sad thing was a realization regarding another grand daughter, Lauren. She is going through much with her parents divorce.  The happy family they knew is gone.  Ryan and Amanda both have other people in their lives already.  It is rough on her.  Andrew wants me to be that "someone" she could talk to...but she said she has a lot of people to talk to...Leah, Breanna, Annie, Andrew, etc.... She doesn't need a counselor or me.  So I need to back up.  I guess since Andrew knows I was always there for him... I could do the same for Lauren.  But I can't push my way into it. She just pushes me further away.  Please pray for her.  I know not many people read this....but if you do I would appreciate prayer for Lauren and Andrew.  Thank you!  Yesterday she went and got her hair cut and highlighted which makes her a happy girl.  Haven't seen it in person but she sent a picture! She is such a beautiful girl.  It is going to be hard for me to step back from her.  I need prayer too.

After papa and I took Madi home her and Dylan were going to go to a new BBQ rib place in the mall.  I guess it is so good but expensive.  Papa and I went to Walmart for a few things. I wasn't feeling too well in there.

This past week was kind of uneventful.  Going backwards with it....Got paid and paid all the bills.
Wednesday we went to Lauren's last basketball game.  We lost.  Our team didn't play like themselves at all.
Went and got my eyes tested on Tuesday. My eyes are doing great.... no signs of glaucoma or cataracts coming. I need glasses but don't need them 24/7.  I picked out glasses at Walmart.  I just need to pick them up now.  My grandson Jared got his eyes tested and he is getting glasses too!

There was no school on Monday for Memorial Day.
We went to Ryan's on Sunday for dinner.  Christina made a very good Mexican meal with rice, corn and enchiladas.  Really good! Brad, Tara and girls were there, Andrew & Lauren, Don and the boys. We had so much fun!  Lauren and Riley played Karaoke and Tara, Andrew, Jordy and Patrick played SkipBo. Lots of laughs and lots of fun!

Andrew and Dylan hacked Jordans phone and did this:

Goof balls!!!!!

It was also fun that Don, Parker, Patrick, and Joshua came over and stayed the weekend.  Heather stayed home with Jared who was sick.

Ryan is trying out this new vapor thing to help him quit chewing.

They went to the Brinnon Shrimp Fest and were so disappointed.  It was nothing.  Expensive but not much food or nothing. Some pictures they took.

Saturday night I took the boys to Dylans to play badminton.  They beat Dylan. He was having an off night. lol!  He shouldn't have bragged himself up so good.

Well, I imagine that is about all I got.  I've been enjoying my hummingbirds. They have been going crazy with our water feeders!  We have 6 or more out there.   Enjoying them very much.

I am starting to feel good. Finally!  I hope you have a great week!!!!