Why I Buy Insurance!

I heard my daughter yell from the bathroom...."THAT'S WHY I BUY INSURANCE!"  I answered back, "What do you mean?" 

My daughter and her husband are moving to Montana where they are planning to have him attend school to get his Physical Therapy Degree.  Callie and the girls are staying with us during the summer until Andy can get a place for them and secure a job.  So they packed all their stuff into a U-haul and put a "dollie" on the back of the truck to pull their car.  Don flew back to "help" Andy drive out.

Callie has been working hard for the last five years to pay off their car and they have one payment left. She is very proud of the fact and was telling me so on the way home from the airport.

When I picked Callie and the girls up in Albuquerque yesterday she explained that she ordered insurance to cover the car and truck and contents.  "I did this because I saw a motor home on the side of the road on its side and they were pulling a car that was ON FIRE! It freaked me out and I told the U-haul guy to load me up with insurance because my husband and father will be driving it to Alamosa." 

Change scene to bathroom.  I hear my daughter dial her husband and ask how things were going. Andy: "Well, didn't you get my text message?  There was a little fire, but it is under control." 

Callie after hanging up with Andy: "Don't these men know that they are supposed to put it in neutral and let it engage before driving off!  All they think about is getting in the car and driving like Jehu to the nearest Dunkin' Donuts for coffee and donuts to eat on the way and then drive non-stop to Colorado!! It's like they are thinking, 'Coffee, donuts, drive fast, coffee, donuts, drive fast!' "

Her animation with her tonuge hanging out and eyes buldging demonstrated how they would look. Then she yield, "MOM!!!! THIS IS WHY I GOT INSURANCE!! CAR ON FIRE!"

Funny how my daughter knows her men. 

Visitng Granddaughters - Hurray!

Looking forward to my daughter coming to visit for the summer.  She has a two year old and a three month old.  Don is flying back to NC to help Andy drive their moving truck out.  Andy is looking for a place to settle somewhere in Montana.  That is much closer to us and we can see our granddaughters more often. 

I plan on taking the kids on a train ride next week.  That is Sebby's favorite thing to do and he really wants to do it with Abby.  We are going to take a short ride to Monte Vista and stop at the Burger Shack for lunch at their little park and then ride back.  I hope we have good weather.

The boys have been playing outside everyday.  I love our big deck as it allows the kids to play in a safe place and I can see them from the kitchen.  They are fun to watch and Davy tries to copy everything that Sebby does.  He doesn't want to be left out. 

I need to get a new plastic pool. The mega winds we had blew the other one to Cleveland.  The kids will have a great time "swimming" on Grammy's deck.  I love summer!  We are already having a blast!

Crossing Gates

My grandson is a crack up.  He just loves crossing gates for trains.  He loves the flashing red lights and the ding, ding, ding as the big gate comes down. He loves that all the cars have to stop and let the train go by.  He has discovered that he can watch all the crossing gates he wants on You Tube and he will sit mesmerized for hours, if I let him, watching video after video of crossing gates.  When we drive in town and he hears the train he wants me to immediately drive over to the nearest crossing gate.  Of course, I can't always do that.  So today for a fun outing we went to the train depot to watch the trains. They were parked and not moving so we went over to the crossing gate and I got a picture of him standing beside it.  This one is on State Street right by the Alamosa Train Depot. 

Next week , when my daughter and granddaughters get here I am taking them on a short train ride to Monte Vista.  It costs $10.00 each and they stop by the park where there is a Burger Shack.  We will have lunch and lounge around in the park until the train is ready to head back to Alamosa.  It takes about half a day for the whole outing.  Sebby is so excited and can hardly wait for Abby to get here so we can "Ride the Rails!"

The Denver Zoo

We had the chance to take the boys to the Denver Zoo and we took it.  It doesn't seem that we get out of the valley as much as we would like.  So when the opportunity comes up to go do something fun we grab it.  The Denver Zoo is a neat Zoo.  There are great exhibits and fun stuff for the kids to do.  We have always enjoyed going there through the years.  Now to be able to do it with the Grand Kids, well, it is pretty cool.

I like to try and take pictures of the animals as natural as I can.  It is the only opportunity I will have to take these kind of photos close up.  I don't think I will ever go on a Safari so it is pretty awesome to practice with my Nikon. 

I enjoy watching the boys having a great time.  Josh included.  We rented a "Safari Jeep" to haul the kids around in.  Casey hauled Josh around in it for awhile.  His feet were killing him from working all week in the yard.

MOPS

This morning I was privileged to speak at a MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) meeting.  These women were beautiful mothers and grandmothers that want to raise their kids as best they can in a difficult world.  There were several sweet newborns there.  Children grow up to fast. These Mom's want to do the best they can and meet together to encourage one another, help one another, and find the best resources to help with the big task of raising kids.

I am proud of these ladies getting together.  This is one of those meetings that is totally worth getting into your very busy schedule.  If you get an opportunity to go to MOPS do it.  You won't regret meeting new people, moms and ladies that are in the same situation you are.  It is non-denominational and open to all. 

Gramma Sue's Chicken Salad

Here is my Chicken Salad Recipe.  This is a meal they way I plate it.  I will post a picture the next time I make this which will be very soon.  Let me know how you like it.

Gramma Sue’s Chicken Salad

3 cups cooked chicken chopped fine or shredded (vegetarians use two small cans of Fry Chick)

2 stalks celery small diced

2 Tlbs red onion small diced

2 stalks green onion small diced

1 red bell pepper small diced

¼ c finely chopped fresh basil

1 c. cooked orzo

Place all of the above ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Pour dressing over ingredients and mix well.

Dressing

1 c. mayonnaise (vegetarians can use vegan mayonnaise)

1 fresh lemon squeezed, about 1-1/2 to 2 Tlbs

1 1/2 to 2 tsp. cumin (I like the taste but 2 tsp may be too strong for some)

1 tsp onion powder

1 tsp garlic powder

Salt and pepper to taste

Wisk ingredients together in small bowl until smooth and pour over Chicken Salad mixture.

Plating

For each plate serving place

1 cup iceberg lettuce shredded or cut into bit sized pieces

1 cup baby spinach cut into bite sized pieces

(Mix together)

½ avocado pitted and skinned. (sprinkle with lemon juice to keep from turning brown)

Place avocado half on top of bed of lettuce. Scoop Chicken Salad over top of avocado half…about a cup.

Place favorite bread cut in half or at an angle on each side of the plate. I used flat bread. You can use any bread you like.

My Baby Graduates

I can't believe my baby has graduated from college.  It seems like yesterday we were bringing him home from the hospital....a total surprise as we were told we were going to have another girl.  We love girls and we were super delighted to have our boy.  He has grown into a fine man and we are really proud of him.  He graduated last Sunday with a Bachelor of Sciende degree in Business Administration with emphasis in Marketing. It was really really windy that day but it didn't blow away our spirits. 

I had a party for him the week before graduation and made him a cake.  Made the fondant and decorated it with ivy even though he didn't graduate from an Ivy League school. It turned out great and tasted really good.

Now he is off to camp to be a parent liason for the summer.  He loves camp and kids. Then in the fall he may take one class locally and then off to get his Masters in Business Administration in Southern California. 

Time goes by so quickly.  I really miss him.  He spent several weeks here before graduation and it was nice to have him around again.  He has matured a lot. Kind of surprising as he has always been a a kidder and loves to yuck it up.  I just wanted to let everyone know I am proud of my boy!