Out and About - Swim Meet and Fun

Our grandson, Josh, is swimming in Keller today.  That's fairly close to us, so off we go.  Fun to visit with Louis and watch Josh.  Black cap, white goggles.

One Week Into 2024 - Back in Montana - Week 2

 Winter in Montana is always beautiful, but sometimes cold.  VERY cold.  This is my morning hello.  Now, in all fairness, it is much better than it has been --- check out the previous post - Brrrrr.

Thanksgiving Time w/Family

 It's the day before Thanksgiving.  The house is clean and I've met Jen in Grapevine to take a glass together.  Here is the LINK to the Vetro Glass post I did sharing all of our fun.  We have a great time and even wander Main Street in Grapevine for a bit.

Hyrum and Zyra Come to Visit 2023 - Day 1 - I Fly and More

 Woot woot!!  Even though we just returned from a five-week, family trip and saw ALL the grands that don't live in Texas, we have two coming to spend a week with us.  I am just so excited and looking forward to the fun.  Their flight is sooooo close, and yet so far away.  For some reason, the gate is not ready for them.  I'm trying to be patient and remembering that their last visit, I was a running fool to meet their plane and this time, I'm all ready to go.  Ahhhh ---- here they come, at last.

Jared's High School Graduation, Bekah Birthday, Jacob ScholarshipTreats

 It is high school graduation number four for us today.  We've made it to Abilene for Jared's special day and are greeted with his montage.

Jon's College Graduation

 With 19 grandchildren, I knew the day would come when the college graduations would start.  It's here and I'm leaving retreat for a drive to San Angelo to witness Jon's graduation.  I have about a 3 1/2 hour drive this morning and the ceremony is at 10.  I manage to arrive with about 20 minutes to spare and it was a lovely drive this morning.  I didn't stop to take any pics but will try on the way back this afternoon - yes, I'm driving back as well today.

Thurber, TX History and Time With Family

 With an upcoming trip to Ohio looming, Mister and I are meeting Jen and family in Thurber, TX to borrow her car rack.  It worked so well in Missouri last year and I'm hopeful for the same result this go round.  We left Dallas around 10:15 and zoomed right to Thurber.  We had a great lunch at the New York Restaurant on the Hill and visited for awhile before deciding to check out the museum here.    While at the restaurant, there was a LOT of information on the menu.  I snapped pictures so y'all could read it if you so desired.  Ya probably need to really enlarge it though.  The history of this area is amazing and so fascinating to me.  It's pretty mind boggling that there is VERY little remnant of the city that once occupied this area.  Crazy, right?

Just below the restaurant is the W.K. Gordon Center for Industrial History of Texas.  Now, the camera can come out.

Lubbock - Family Time and Weekend Fun - Saturday

 Round two of the swim meet starts today, but first, we have a bit of time to explore.  Our first stop is at the Buddy Holly Plaza.  Charles Hardin "Buddy" Holley was born in Lubbock on September 7, 1936 to Ella Pauline (Drake) and Lawrence Odell "L.O." Holley.  The youngest of four children, Buddy grew up in a musical household, with his mother and siblings singing and playing instruments.  Buddy showed  musical aptitude, taking violin, piano and steel guitar lessons.  He took up the acoustic guitar after his brother, Travis, bought a $15 Harmony model.  Buddy, with other young Lubbock "pickers", formed several country groups.  In 1955, he saw Elvis Presley in concert and was impressed by Presley's rhythm and performance style.  Buddy and his friends were opening for big country acts at The Fair Park Coliseum when Eddie Crandall, an agent and manager, saw a performance and helped Buddy broker a Decca recording contract.  Buddy's last name was misspelled on the contract:  "Holley" became "Holly".  Buddy's relationship with Decca was short-lived as his early recording sessions failed to produce a hit.  In 1957, Buddy and his new band, The Crickets, began working with producer Norman Petty in Clovis, New Mexico.  On February 25, 1957, they recorded "That'll Be The Day", the first of several hits on the Brunswick label.  Their success led to the band to tour widely in the U.S. and Canada.  In 1958, Buddy Holly and The Crickets toured England.  The group had a profound influence on rock and roll in England - from their sound to Buddy's distinct look.  On February 3, 1959, during a three-week tour of the Midwestern U.S., Buddy's chartered plane crashed after takeoff due to bad weather.  There were no survivors.  Buddy Holly was 22 years old.

Lubbock - American Windmill Museum

 Deserves its own post - I LOVED this place.

Lubbock - Family Time and Weekend Fun - Friday

 A last-minute opportunity came up Tuesday and we quickly arranged schedules to take advantage of it.  Leaving town on Thursday after Mister finished work, the crazy drive to Abilene took place.  It was CRAZY for the first hour as we simply worked our way out of the Metroplex.  Icemageddon was working it's way out and the roads were thawing, but slushy.  We were in solid rain until we hit Weatherford and it magically stopped when the weather guy said it would.  I know, right?  When are they EVER that accurate.  At any rate, things picked up after that and the roads were dry the rest of the way.  Hallelujah!!

Early the next morning, everyone is up and moving.  We still have the drive to Lubbock, but my sweetie has a bit of work to do first.  Once Jen and Louis leave, I'm ready and just waiting on my love.  Grace comes to visit while I wait.  Times like this do make me want a cat again, but the hair everyone just does me in.  Someday I'll be ready to tackle that again, just not yet.

We get on the road just a little after 8 and point the vehicle north to Lubbock.  This is a first time visiting the city for both of us.  The view?  Lots and lots of generator windmills.

Jen's Family Visiting

 We have a super full house.  There are big boys laying all over the place and I love the fact that they are all here.  Jen's family arrived last night and we stayed up rather late chatting so this morning they are a bit slow moving.  I'm in the kitchen making scones and frying bacon, but they are all still in dreamland so I move about with my camera.

Happy Thanksgiving - Abliene with Jen and Josh Bday

 Once Mister finished work for the day, we hit the road to Abilene.  A little over three hours later, we have arrived and dinner is served.  We are starving and homemade chili hits the spot perfectly.

Josh's Visit - Days 3 and 4 - Dallas Zoo included

 Today we aim to check off some more on Josh's list.  We're heading out while it is semi-cool and the zoo is our destination because we just didn't get enough animals yesterday.  Hahaha.  I LOVE the zoo so you know I'm joking.  As we arrive, the penguin pool is full.

Josh's Visit - Days 1 and 2 (Dallas World Aquarium)

 I am on the road.  Joshua would like to come and spend a few days with Gammy and Grandpa and I'm happy to have him.  I'm driving halfway to Abilene to meet up with Jen.  Music is playing and I'm cruising along when I notice these HUGE planes crossing my path.  I'm not sure just which planes they are or which base they're from, but it's cool.  I get Josh retrieved and home we go.  He goes into the guest room and we never see him again today.  

26th -  Peeking through the door, it's 9:30 and we still haven't seen him.  He has moved occasionally, so I KNOW he's alive.  Fourteen hours after he disappeared --- he has risen.  Too funny.  Some explanation that he is on vacation and I'm not going to wake him for anything helps and he discovers that this time here will be whatever he wishes it to be.  I think we're on the same page now.

At this point, Grandpa is on a conference call and the  noise coming from the street is crazy loud.  A peek shows that it will continue for awhile.  He's REALLY happy.

H & Z Are Here!! Days 4 and 5 (Includes zoo)

 It's Day 4 with the kids and our last morning in Abilene.  When we arrive with donuts and breakfast for all, they are already packed and Hyrum even has his suitcase downstairs.  Impressive.  Also, they are starving, lol.  Their Montana schedule has not been easy on them down here.  People don't even start moving until around 9 and by then, these two are narrowing in on lunch back home.

H & Z Are Here!! Days 1, 2, and 3

 It's been a minute since grands have been here for "summer camp" and I have missed it so very  much.  Fortunately, this year, some are back.  Let the stories begin.  Hyrum and Zyra are arriving this morning and I'm cruising along getting ready to leave the house when I get notification that their flight is 20 minutes early.  WTW??  Now, I'm racing and using every toll road I can to speed things up.  As I pull into the parking lot, I make the decision to just take my ID and phone in.  Faster through security, right?  Well, things go super smooth with the ticket counter AND security and I get there just a few minutes after the plane (briefly run into my son-in-laws mom as she was on the same flight, but that's another story) and discover the kids are not at the gate.  Neither is a gate agent.  Since there wasn't a gate agent, the attendants kept them on the plane until they were ready to leave and I was waiting.  Woohoo!!!  I have them safely in tow and a pic for Mom and Dad proves it.

A stop at Subway and I add my credit card to my back pocket along with my ID and soon have sandwiches for all to take home and share with Grandpa.  Only one problem - no phone.  What???  I had it at Subway for sure so back I go.  Yep -- keep in mind that I've only had this phone for less than a week.  Back to the house I go.  Goodness, I'm a hot mess.

Once Mister is off work, he has a suggestion for an activity and we soon find ourselves at the mall.  There is a new VR experience which is total immersion and you walk around during the scene.  I'm always game for something new.  We get right in and have just a few minutes to wait.  The kids are excited and I have to admit, I'm a little bit too.  Please let this be fun - cos it's pricey, for sure.

Peek-a-boo Grandpa - 

We are soon getting strapped in with monitors on our wrists and ankles along with backpacks and headsets.  At this point, I can't use my phone or camera anymore, so you're just going to have to believe me when I say IT WAS A BLAST.  I would do it again tomorrow.  So, so much fun.  Your mind really messes with you and makes it just that much more real.

A quick walk around the mall after to get some steps in --- I liked it, not sure the kids did but there are a few things to check out along the way.  Infinity towers --- they're cool.

We are at North Park Mall and the plants are crazy pretty right now --- look at this bloom.

That's pretty much the end of the first day.  It was a travel day and the kids are beat plus we are leaving super early in the morning for Abilene.  Their uncle, Louis (also my son-in-law), is retiring from the Air Force and all the fun begins tomorrow.  Gotta be there.

7/14   A 5 a.m. wake-up and we are on the road as quick as possible.  There is a schedule for today and we certainly don't want to be the ones to hold anything up.  If you wish to follow along with ALL that takes place, here is the Abilene Day 1 LINK.  This post will center on Hyrum, Zyra, Grandpa, and Gammy (that's me, lol.).

We are off to the base and, REMEMBER, the story above about my ID?  Well it comes into play here BIG TIME.  So, much fun.  At any rate, once on base, our first event is an in-person visit to the B1 Bombers.  We even get to go up into the cockpits.  There is protocol on what pictures we can share, but some of them are good so take a minute to enjoy.

A ton of information about the plane was shared with all.  Very cool.

Gammy and the grands - peek-a-boo Hyrum.

Just the grands - is Bekah cold?  It's about 105 degrees right now.

Ahh-- my charges for the week.

The non-human star of the show today - 

Waiting patiently for whatever comes next .

Lunch - that's what is next.  While at the BX Food Court, Zyra enters into a push-up competition.

Against Jared and she holds her own VERY well.

Hyrum and Josh give it a go as well.

THIS exchange just makes me happy.  I love the genuine happiness in both.

From lunch, we go to the AFE (Aircrew Flight Equipment) building for the chance to learn more about the job Louis did.  The kids have the chance to "harness" up and once it is on correctly, they CANNOT stand up straight.  

Into the chair for a feel of what it's like - no comfy at all.

We saw sooo  much more and the link above will let you see all of it.  Part of what we did was fly simulators and Zyra kept proclaiming, "I did a barrel roll."  They had a great time.

Next up - bowling.  A nice way to end the day and then H&Z decide to stay with the cousins for more fun throughout the night.  Grandpa and I are DONE and head for our little AirBNB.

7/15 - We arrive to find kids in the pool.  Seems like the perfect way to start the day.  Grandpa got some FABULOUS pictures - so I'll just let you enjoy.

Jen and I have run errands and now it's time for all to get ready for the ceremony this afternoon.  Aunt Jenny gets the chance to play with hair and make Zyra happy all at the same time.

Lunch for all - 

Ceremony time.  (Again, the link above has a ton here)

Cousin after-party.  Drinking the hard stuff.

Outside parking lot games after dinner while waiting to take group pictures.

All family here (except Grandpa and I) - we're taking the pics.

Late night swimming ensues once back at the house.  Even Grandpa gets in on the fun - and, that's about it for today.  Grands are opting to stay with cousins again tonight so we're out of here and will pick them up in the morning.