It is What it Is Because Photos Don't Lie...

Two things -

#1 - new template, with fun spring colors. Have I ever mentioned I am easily bored? If you cannot see words, etc. please don't tell me because I'm in love with it - for now. A bit like I tell Manly about whatever haircut I'm currently sporting - if you don't like this one, just wait, maybe you'll like the next one!

#2 - Re American Idol, if America had voted through that crazy girl, Tatianna or whatever the heck her name was, I would have set my hair on fire before I would have continued to watch the show. She made me foam at the mouth just a little. And even though I don't vote, thank you America for voting for Danny and the oil rigger guy from Jasper, Texas - it tickled me to pieces. And that's maybe all the review of American Idol you'll ever get from me, but I just had to get that off my chest...

So - The last family photos from our visit with Dan and Janae. I don't usually even make it into the photos, since I'm generally the one stuck holding the camera. But when Janae is in the house, look out - that girl loves to take pictures!


Leslie actually took this one. Every member of our family has a nickname and Janae's is "Pinch-Pinch". Very fitting. Sometimes Landon runs when he sees her coming. She loves fat baby cheeks. Now that I think about it, I'll have to ask her if that's top or bottom variety, or both?


Landon has fallen head over heels in love with Dublin, which works well since Dublin is pretty crazy about him too. Lately, Dublin has been standing in for the pony he did not get for his second birthday. Lately, Landon has been kissing Dublin on the mouth before we can stop him. We know - gross, but seriously, how do you stop a kid from doing that?

Sarah, where are you? We call ourselves 'the original five', but love that we divided and multiplied. Janae took this one of us in pajamas, ready for a TV night. Some of us look adorable, some of us look dorky.

Last year for Christmas I sewed all the girls in our family sheep pjs. Sarah and Miss Addie have some too, but we've yet to get all five of us in one photo. Again, some of us look adorable, one of us looks dorky. When you're over fifty and you don't sleep enough, you tend to look dorky.

Don surprised me with flowers for Valentine's Day, and Janae snapped a photo in spite of the fact that my hair resembles one of the Three Stooges. I still have not managed to figure out how to have grown kids come to visit, and take regular showers and fix my hair and apply makeup. What can I say? It is what it is.

Dan and Don being sweethearts. I think other than Dan's skinny nose, they resemble each other quite a bit. These two are my main men, with a few others who hold my heart too.

Here's one of the 'few others'... Landon opening his Valentine from Papa and Grammy. He thought the card was interesting and the chocolate was fantastic. That boy already has quite the sweet tooth.

Toward the end of our visit, we got a skiff of snow, which delighted Dan and Janae, who ran right out onto the deck. Those of us who have to put up with this much of the time tend to stand at the window and mutter under our breath. I could not see a thing when I snapped the picture, and missed the fact that Janae's entire face is covered by one snowflake. I don't know if I've ever met anyone who loves snow more than Janae and Caiden. That may be because they don't put up with it very often.

Late at night, colder than all get out, but posing for a few last minute snowy photos in front of the house. This was likely Dan's last visit home where the house was intact. Hopefully next trip, he'll walk in to mountains of packed boxes that he's going to help us get to Texas.

Janae thought we should snap one of me, in pajamas and a down vest. I love standing next to Dan, he's one of the few males who makes me feel small.

So they're back in Texas (which BTW was 75 degrees today but I'm not bitter), and tomorrow I begin in earnest the cleaning and decluttering and staging of this house for the realtor. My sister has absolutely inspired me, along with everyone else, to grab the cleaning bottles and get busy. I'll try to remember and share some before and after photos, which is better than dorky hair.