Happy Birthday Caleb

Caleb turns 3 today. He's growing up so fast. I wish I could be there to give you a big kiss, Caleb. I know how much you like birthday parties, cakes, blowing the candles, etc...

Nana is sending you this Happy Birthday song Video. Hope you enjoy it.

Your big surprise birthday gift will arrive on September....No, it's not a bed but I'm sure you and Taite will enjoy it.

Check out my Slide Show!

The Face Behind the Blog

My daughter has tagged me and she wants me to participate by posting my picture. I had fun creating my first slide presentation using http://slide.com/
I was not able to include the slide presentation as part of this post. Kept coming with some error message when I tried to publish....so the slide is on a post by itself. I don't know much html and get lost in understanding how it works.
So now I'm supposed to tag someone else whose blog I read so the only person I stay in touch with other than my daughter is Connie. It's your turn Connie if you're up to this.


Here are the rules:

1st step Post a short blog article that includes a photograph (or a series of photos) showing the face behind your blog. If you already show a photo somewhere on your site (such as in your about page), then make your post more interesting and choose a photo that’s not currently online.

2nd step Include links to other people that have displayed a photo, or include their photos in your post, adding a reference.

3rd step Tag as many others as you like to spread the meme.

I'm tagging: Connie


4th step If you link back to to me and post a comment; I'll be sure to include links back to you. Each person tagged should create their own post and repeat the process. You tag as few or as many people as you want. Sorry Connie I'm not sure of this step (Maybe you can explain to me)

Working Out at the Ladies Express

I've been going to the Ladies Express Workout since June. With my schedule I end up going three times a week. Exercising really does make a difference; the challenge is setting time aside to do it. I have met some very nice ladies including Wendy who took my pictures. Wendy and other ladies are encouraging me to take the zumba class which takes place 2 times a week. I keep saying "Maybe." The ladies who take this class say it's a lot of fun and you can burn lots of calories. So we'll see......

Wendy using the elliptical

Aura using the 3 lb weights

The Ladies Express Workout Circuit

Semi Healthy Banana Bread

My supply of frozen bananas has been growing. Tonight I made this recipe which I am calling semi-healthy because I added Kretschmer Wheat Germ. I usually add wheat germ to my oatmeal. The label states it is an excellent source of Vitamin E and Folic Acid; two tablespoons contains 50 calories. I like the nutty and crunchy texture it adds to my cereal.

Ingredients:
2-3/4 Cups All Purpose Flour
1/4 Cup Kretschmer Wheat Germ
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp salt
1 Cup brown sugar
1/2 Cup white sugar
3 large eggs
1 Cup vegetable oil
3 Mashed bananas

Preheat oven to 350. Combine flour, cinnamon, baking soda and salt. Set aside. In mixer beat on medium speed the sugars and the oil well; add one egg at a time beating well after each addition. Lower speed in mixer and add flour mixture in small amounts. Beat slightly only as needed to blend. Lastly add mashed bananas. Pour batter into 2 loaf pans. Bake for around 45 minutes.

20 Some Years Ago

People say: "Time flies". It is so truth and the older I get the faster it seems to go. I'm so thankful for the memories of days gone by that have been preserved through pictures taken. I wish now I had taken more. My daughter Andrea takes pictures of her kids every day, I'm serious. She will have some many pictures to look at when her kids are grown. It'll be wonderful.

I came across some pictures some twenty plus years ago. I remember especially like it was yesterday the one of Kevin leaning against the fence. We took a walk in our old neighborhood, Holly Hills. This picture was taken on a beautiful summer day. Both my kids loved going on walks.

Spoke to Kevin tonight via the computer and he is doing well. The rash which he had a few days ago was nothing serious. I had visions of him experiencing hives. He said it was something caused by bug bites. Thank you Lord for answered prayers. Tomorrows Tech training will be tough and very physically demanding. Some trainees even pass out during the exercise. I think he called the exercise Itt.

Papa Cliff Working on the Dormer Window

Papa said the upstairs bathroon window was in bad shape. Here he is doing some of the repair.

He already took the window out and has sealed the hole with plywood. I told him he should just have waited to put the new window when it arrived. But no, he could not wait. It scares me a little to see him up there. He says he is careful. He came down when it started to get too hot.

Speaking of hot the house has been hot. As we speak the temperature is around 85. The air broke down yesterday and the repair people said that it would be Tuesday before they could come and fix the AC. We have been fortunate to have the AC window unit which we used to run upstairs in Kevin's room. It is keeping our room cool., but it is noisy. I kept waking up all during the night. I'm so glad this did not happen a few days ago when the temp reached 100 and also while you were still living with us.

Hole in the Window

The Cicadas - Pronounced "SeeKadas"

Hi Caleb here is a picture of the Cicadas - those noisy bugs which look like aliens. Papa took the time to film one while it was coming out of its shell.

He told me that one landed on his back this week when he was coming back from getting the paper. He reached back touched the back of his head and thought "My hair feels funny." He was really touching the Cicadas wing. Sure glad it was not me.

With this heat the wasps have been clinging to our back kitchen door. On the days when we reached a 100 several ( 20 or so) could be seen. I guess this high heat is hard on all., even bugs.

Hi Caleb

Hi Caleb just writing to say Hi!!

Nana and Papa miss you. Nana has been busy rearranging and cleaning the house (the empty nest). It is strange to have such a quiet house for the first time. I do like the extra room we have and I am looking forward to setting up a craft/sewing room.

Remember the loud Cicadas we heard when I was reading you a story on the front porch? Well some have been emerging from their shell. Really look like Aliens - don't you think? For some reason they like the area outside the garage. Every day there have been lots of shells to sweep.

Found your alligator and favorite duck (he is really a goose). I am taking good care of them and they are keeping each other company. They like the taggy blanky. Taite won't mind if they use it for a while. It's really soft. I should think of making some of these.

Papa has been working on the upstairs bathroom window. He is replacing the window. He said it was time to replace it.

It's hot in the house. The only cool room is my bedroom. The air conditioning broke. We are fortunate to have one cool room in the house.

Be good and remember to listen to mommy and daddy. Love you...Always....Nana