So they're off...like a herd of stampeding turtles.

I always crack up at that image, but with two six year olds and two cats and two cars packed to groaning with gear and clothes for several weeks, my daughter's family is on her way pretty much like that herd of turtles.

Their move to Travis AFB will take days and days, partly because it's a long way, and partly because they'll stop and visit with family in Arizona and then Southern California.  So Friday--Renee's graduation from her tech school--was a bittersweet day for me.  And of course I forgot to wear the waterproof mascara.

We went to her graduation, then to the River Walk here in San Antonio.  Got all their gear from the hotel and the cats.  Then we had lunch at the Rainforest Cafe, and took family pictures at the Alamo.

I will miss having her so close, will miss those boys with their bright smiles and their energy.

The training was tri-service, for Army, Navy, and Air Force.  Look at the row of graduates on the right of the picture:   They sit at attention for the whole ceremony.

I love this picture! 

A nice young man at the Alamo took an Everybody In shot for us.

The boys and Granny Jan.

The boys and Pa.

Back to just Granny and Pa around here now.

How was your weekend?

Ours was pretty good.  I got my house cleaned up--nothing like having people over to motivate me to at least excavate the kitchen table. Daughter and her family came over.

The main objective this visit: the hubs to take daughter and son-in-law to the range.  My mission was to keep the boys at home.  Tough job, but somebody had to do it.  So they all came down (they live 45 mins away at the top of the city) and I made chicken and spaetzle dumplings.  We watched the Olympics, and the boys tumbled on their family room sleeping pallet.

The twins, full of their normal energy like Energizer Bunnies on steroids, gave the dog quite a time, since his job is to keep an eye on them.  They played w/ blocks, did crafts with glue and paper, and helped me fill all the bird feeders.  They worked hard in the garden the next morning: helped me plant a rose bush, watered the perennials (and themselves) and guarded the yard against invading space aliens.

Phil took daughter and son in law to the range (both are Air Force, neither had hand gun training) with 22.mm target pistols and a couple styles of 9mm.  I was really proud of my girl.  Here's her target.  Once she figured out the sights, she did none too shabby.

The boys were full of questions, naturally.  We taught them safety rules about guns, what to do if they find one, or if their friend shows them one, etc.  The NRA offers a gun safety education program that helps teach this, and the daughter has decided to find one for the boys.  I realize this is a hot-button issue for most people.  Rather than get into that, I'll just say I was raised to know where daddy's guns were at all times, to know what to do if I came across one, and to shoot one safely when I got old enough. 

By lunch time, they were all ready to head home--Sunday afternoons for busy families are a time to get ready for the coming week.  The boys were tired from their full weekend of being six year old boys.  Daughter took this picture of them in the back seat on the way home.  Looks like a nap was in order.

Hope your weekend was full of people you love like mine was.

Lessons from a busy year...

Today's "work" involves waiting.  For
contractor bids
insurance quotes,
an appraisal report,
title search,
a survey.

I do all the realty since the Hubs holds down the W-2 job.  Six months ago I didn't even know what was in our joint bank accounts! Learning is what this year has been about for me.  I have learned...

about doll making,
art fairs,
taking care of my health,
real estate and finance,
vegetable gardening (or growing lush weed crops).

Seems like I spent the year trying to drink water from a fire hose. My dreams for the coming year are about learning to

a.  put my Virgo nature to work & handle paperwork on time.
b.  make time to move--aerobically or anaerobically--daily.
c.  announce my job: homemaker, investor, and artist.  No more, "Aw, no.  I don't work."
d. count my blessings every day.

One lovely French Lady I know from ADO commented yesterday that when she sees 2011, she keeps reading it as dO11.  How cool is that?  Maybe this is the year I find my voice with doll making.  If we're going to dream, let's dream big.

What are your dreams for this year?

Good memories

This pic doesn't have anything to do with dolls, unless one counts my son and his wife as living dolls, and I do.  :~)  It was taken in 2003 (I think) and my son had just graduated Basic Training.  We were on a San Antonio  Riverwalk boat, and Josh and Montana were at the bow.  He proposed to her, and she said yes.  They are very sweet and still very much in love, and they are waaaaay too far away from me now, stationed in England.

I love you kids!