OUR EASTER

Tracy went to Arkansas last weekend to go house hunting. Yes, she is also moving to Arkansas. In fact, she is the one that first decided to move to Arkansas. We are just following her. We will have two daughters in Arkansas and as we get older we need to be close to some of our kids.

 Last week was Abby's Spring Break.   So, Tracy brought her back to Oklahoma to spend the week.  Tracy kept her busy.   They went to the Zoo, Science Museum,and Brickopolis. We took her back this weekend and spent Easter in Arkansas.  Abby is excited about us moving back, but she also is sad because she says she will miss Oklahoma.

Abby at her Easter egg hunt at Pinnacle Mountain.

After church, we all went out to eat before we left to go back to Oklahoma.  Abby was sad, but we told her we would see her in less than two weeks.  We will be going back to close on our house.

Looks like they had an Easter egg hunt at the restaurant and someone forgot to find one of the eggs.  Kim spotted it on top of the picture.

Abby and her cousin on her dad's side at their Easter dinner.  I think Abby kind of likes holding her little cousin.

 Our grand-kids in Kansas.  Their Easter started off to waking up with snow on the ground, but it melted soon.

RETIREMENT/MOVING

Yes, we are moving.  Hubby is retiring at the end of April and we have already bought a house in Arkansas.  Now we just have to get busy and get our house in Oklahoma ready to list.  Not a whole lot to do to get it ready but the main thing is throwing away and donating to Goodwill.  We are downsizing so we have lots of things to get rid of.

This is our new house in Arkansas.  It will have around 500 sq. ft. less than our present house.  But, it has everything we wanted.  One level, three car garage,  hardwood floors, wooded area behind for privacy and on a golf course.  I am sure one of our first purchases when we get moved in will be to purchase a golf cart and hubby will be playing golf every day.  Hubby does have some part time jobs lined up to keep him busy.

I don't dislike Oklahoma,  Altogether we have lived in Oklahoma for 28 years.  Our girls grew up here and graduated from school in Oklahoma.  But, I will admit that I will not miss tornado season and earthquakes.  We have some days as many as 4 to 5 earthquakes and that begins to wear on you.

ABBY TURNS SEVEN

Hubby, Tracy and I traveled to Arkansas about a month ago to help Abby celebrate her 7th birthday. Yep, it has been a month, I just haven't been in the mood for some reason to blog. We met Michelle and family there. Hubby and I and Michelle and family ended up staying in a hotel close by Kim and family's house. Abby's party this year was a bowling party. All of my grand kids are pretty good at bowling.

A cute picture of Abby and Karlie at the party.

Abby's cake. It was cute and taste really good also.

 Abby had lots of little friends at the party.

Abby opening gifts.  Karlie is smiling because that is her gift to Abby. Not sure what the look is on Abby's face but she did like the gift.

Abby and Karlie in our hotel room.  They enjoyed being together, but those two are a handful when they are together.  We thought we might get thrown out of the hotel.  So, Kim and I decided to take the kids down to the lobby to play board games while hubby and Tracy went to pick up dinner nearby for everyone.  Later on that night the kids got to go swimming in the indoor heated pool.  Abby also talked the lady at the desk into cooking more cookies, since Karlie ate the last chocolate chip one.LOL 

The next morning we checked out of the hotel and said our goodbyes.  Tracy stayed at Kim's house so she didn't get to see Michelle and family before they left.  I think Karlie was sad that she didn't get to see Tracy before she left. We enjoyed the trip and all the family getting to be together.

SUGAR BOWL/NEW ORLEANS

We left to go to New Orleans on New Years Eve for the Sugar Bowl.   We spent the 1st night in Ar. and picked up Kim and Abby.  Hubby and Tracy were going to the game. Oklahoma State vs Ole Miss.  Kim and Abby just went along to enjoy the trip and keep me company while Hubby and Tracy were at the game.

Now the game alone has some significance for hubby and me.  Hubby graduated from Mississippi State and Ole Miss was a big rival.  I grew up less than 45 miles from Ole Miss.  Most of the people I graduated with attended Ole Miss after graduation from high school.   Of course, Tracy graduated from Oklahoma State and  hubby is a huge fan of OSU.  The outcome was not in favor of OSU though.

On our drive to New Orleans.  Abby was getting comfortable.  As you can see out the window, there was lots of flooding on the way down.  Not sure if this is in Arkansas or Mississippi. 

















We arrived in Kenner, La, a suburb of New Orleans, where we had booked a hotel, around 5:30 and everyone was hungry.  Kim requested seafood..  I had read reviews that Harbor Lobster and Seafood was the best seafood restaurant in Kenner.  I have to say that it did not disappoint

This is a picture of Kim's plate.  I had grilled catfish and it was really good.

I only managed to stay up until 10 but I was awakened at midnight by fireworks.  I could hear them go on forever but never got up to even look  out the window.  I think I even fell back asleep before they ended.  That is how tired I was but from just listening to them, I was amazed.


This picture was taken by my nephew's wife who was down on the French Quarter at Midnight.

Pictures  in the French Quarter.

Abby standing in front of the St Louis Cathedral on the Jackson Square, in the French Quarter.

Hubby, Kim and Abby took a carriage ride in the French Quarter.  Tracy and I just drove around while they were on the carriage ride.  It was kind of a mad house on the French quarter on New Years day, with so many OSU and Ole Miss fans in town.

 The lady driving the carriage told Abby she could pet the horse. that he loved being petted.  His name was Mack.  Now Abby wants a horse.

Pap-pa and Abby walking in the French Quarter.

 Abby poising at Cafe' du Monde.  We had to have a beignet while we were there.  They tasted like fry bread with powdered sugar on top.  Ok but nothing special.  Just my opinion.

Abby in front of  the restaurant that we ate at on New Year's Day.  We were surprised that a lot of things were closed in Kenner on New Years day.

Our hotel was next to Lake Pontchartrain.


































Hubby and Tracy at the game.

This picture was taken of hubby in front of the hotel before we left.

I had been to New Orleans once before.  That was before Katrina.  I had fun on the trip.  I hope everyone else did.  Abby said she did.

OUR CHRISTMAS

Our crew from Kansas City made it in on Christmas Day just in time for the Christmas Dinner.

Carter  and Karlie with Aunt Tracy.  Carter and Karlie weren't that interested in eating.  They were ready to open their gifts.

Michelle looking for names on the gifts.  Looks like she is getting on to Lulu and Lulu is telling her to back off.

Karlie with her American Girl doll. A gift from Momo and Pap-pa. I think she was pretty happy with it.























Carter with his Fat Head. The Kansas City Royals winning the World Series. It was also a gift from Momo and Pap-pa and will go on his bedroom wall.

The crew left this morning to go back to Kansas City trying to beat the bad weather.  It was already sleeting, so hope they make it back OK.  The house is really quite now.

ABBY'S CHRISTMAS

We went to Arkansas two weeks ago to attend Abby's Christmas program at church and to celebrate Christmas with Kim and family.  The Christmas program turned out to be really cute.  All the kids did a good job.


  Pictures at church after the program.

 Red Lobster with Mom and Aunt Tracy after the Christmas program.

Momo and Pap-pa's Christmas present to Abby. She was very excited over it.

This was Christmas Eve and Abby fell asleep waiting for Santa.  But, heard she was awake at 4 the next morning to see what he had brought her.

The nutcracker was a gift from her other grandmother.

CHRISTMAS DECO/2015

My front door is decorated for Christmas. It would really seem like Christmas if we would get some snow.