Texas Visit Re-cap #3

At this point each time I see my Grandma it's just an added bonus blessing in my life.  We know God could take her to be home with Him at any time now.

She's lived a full life and has been able to raise four kids of her own, has watched all her grand-children grow up and  marry, and now experiences her last days even with great-grandchildren.

Thanks to my dad who made the trip to Louisiana happen and let Haley, Sam and I tag along so we could see Grandma Sweet!

Sam and his sweet cousins

Easter is always a fun time with the Whetsone side.  Aunt Sarah has been putting on "egg hunt productions" for years.  We nieces and nephews have grown up, but her grand-kids and great-nieces and nephews expect the tradition to carry on!  She's threatened to say it's the last year she's doing it.....but I told her Haley loves Easter time and she was thrilled to hear we were going to be back in the States during Easter! 

Grandpa struttin' around in his chair, doing spins in the yard, etc watching his grand and great-grand kids hunt for eggs!

Sam with his cousin, Caleb, his Aunt Sarah and his Sweetma~

Haley enjoying the sidewalk and her scooter

So Jeremy makes it to Texas, too! 

The big project for his week home was putting up  a new privacy fence in the back yard.  The whole fence didn't need re-building just a third of it.  My dad, Jeremy and our friend Micah went "to town" on it.  I'ld say they were one tough team and made one great fence.

I can't forget about Sam----he was hard at work too!

Re-cap of Texas visit ---part 2

Days in Texas were always full.  I got to tackle a few projects,
which seems to be my thing. Mom had not been able to completely
unpack after moving last year. Her teaching schedule had not
allowed it.  So that's where I come in.  I told mom I would tackled
the boxes. Having been a teacher for 30 plus years and 
an avid reader, Mom had a beautiful library of books. However, her library space decreased significantly in her
new place -----so I began the sifting process. 

I unpacked, sorted, got-rid-of, and organized---Here are before pictures...I can't find the after pics...I think I forgot to take after-pictures~

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Haley volunteering to read some of the books after dish-duty!

Sam would always go find Papa.  He was Papa's right-hand little man

Sisters

Just missing older Bub

We had the opportunity to observe the metamorphosis process of a worm turn into a beautiful butterfly.  Sam watched his little pet worm grow fatter and fatter everyday until he spun his cocoon.

\Sam and his Uncle Abe

Abe had told us about a park on Ft. Sam Houston's base that have animals wandering around.

Had I also always wanted to go to the commissary; so Anna took us to base for an outing!

Happy Boy! 

Re-cap of our Texas Visit.....here it goes--Part 1

First morning with Papa

My Dad has always kept the yard looking so nice.  Here he is after he's layed some grass, created a gravel walkway and planted fresh flowers

Haley is re-united with Caitlyn and cousin Taylor

Luke and his amazing skill with the boys!

Joanna and I loving on our sweet nephew, Jude boy~

Dinner with the boys

me and sister-inlaw, Anna

The kids loved getting back into their back yard!

Mom and her 2 grandboys

Mom and Dad with all 3 grandkids

Lori's Wedding

The beautiful Bride!

Mike, Lori, me, Esther and Mom

In March the kids and I went back to the States for one main reason.....for Lori and Mike's wedding!

I anticipated our trip for quite some time.  Originally, when we moved to Dominica last summer, we did not think we would make a trip back home until we moved back for good.

I figured Lori would get married to her amazing guy while I was in Dominica. Why wouldn't she?  He seemed to be the man for her!....and I would miss it.

Lori's like my little sister.  I love her like my sister...have always, will always and always looked forward to being there at her wedding.

The more I thought about it the more it made sense to fly home for the occasion!  I knew I would forever have regrets if I didn't!

So the end of March came and the kids and I loaded Liat airlines to begin our trip home.  Jeremy was still in the middle of his semester but would join us for his break the end of April.

Packing up

In Dominica's airport---Haley's sitting on her pillow~

Notice Haley does not have her pillow anymore....

...and so her pillow was left at the airport~  ....at least we didn't leave our Sam.  We kept him on his monkey leash so he stayed within a 2 1/2 feet radius of us.  I love our little Monkey friend.  Sam named him Jack.

Back in America!....Houston airport to be exact. oh, I thought dinner was sooooo yummy.  I couldn't stop talking about it.  Finally, Haley felt like I was going over-board.   But it was very good.

Finally made it to San Antonio near midnight. Sam was sound asleep coming off the plane.

I was so thankful it worked out.  I love being there for the big day; I loved seeing all my sweet my friends....
Brooks and Jill and the boys even showed up in San Antonio!.....and I loved being with my family.

Chels

Chels doing her thing!.....and you're amazing at it...

Sisters

Mama and daughter----we had fun going shopping for her dress!

Love my girl~

Haley snapping pictures~

My dear sister, Joanna, and my sweet Noelle

I had no idea Haley was over there taking pictures of cake cutting....I fear she was right smack in the middle of the pictures that the professional was trying to take. Dancing the night away...

Sam didn't stop either till it struck midnight.

We have millipedes. For some reason, Jeremy wanted to show the 3 of us what we needed to be willing to do if we are ever out of food and need to survive.  He literally showed us by eating a millipede.  It was disgusting.

Here is is crunching.

Here he tastes the sour part and then proceeds to wash it down.

 My reaction...

Enjoying the water!

Friends~

Haley loves drawing....and this sweet friend does too.  Here after school one day they're going to town with art.

Sam loves having his friends come over and he loves visiting their place too~  here's one of his buddies~

Making PlayDoh.  This is one of Sam's favorite activities---making it and  playing in it!