Not a Good Day!

Had such high hopes for my day today!

Was going to change the light bulb in my

office. Was going to dump all the potted plants

outside today - winter is coming. Was going

to clean some of the house! Was going to do

a lot of things - things that really do not much

matter in the whole scheme of things.

Instead I answered the phone call that changed

everything - again.

My step-mom Karen was found this morning in her

car - apparent heart attack that probably

happened yesterday early afternoon.

This was totally unexpected. So hard with

unexpected deaths - so hard to expect death

and watch it happen. Death is just hard for those

of us left behind. But for the one who just

breathed their last - it is not so hard if you know

that you know that you know. And Karen did.

I know that she is in Heaven now - I know

that she has met our Savior - I know that

both Roger and my Dad met her at the gates -

I know that she is in a much better place.

I will be in FL tomorrow with my sister and brother

and we will reminisce about the good times

and the bad and then we will forget the bad

and move on. Just like we had to do when our mom

passed on and when our dad passed on.

Karen is in a good place - and we will all

see her again someday.

We loved you Karen - warts and all -

just as you loved all of us - warts and all!

September babble....

September has started out as busy as August ended!

We enjoyed celebrating Sydney's birthday today - a fun time was had by all at the Bounce House. Sydney had her first day "alone" at preschool on Friday - Megan will have her first day alone tomorrow. Both gals are so excited about going to school! Praying that they both will settle in and do well - both already know their letters and many sounds and can write their names - in all caps and while they write the letters in order - they could be anywhere on the page. It's a start! ;-)

Charlotte is walking a little farther each day - and we know when she decides to go - we will be in big trouble! The more they "can" do the more they "will" do!!

I had hoped to get Karsten into a Library story time - I know he would like to be in school too! His birthday falls at a time that will put him a year behind the girls. Looks like those classes fall on "babysitter" days though. We will think of something else to keep him interested and knowing that he is special too! At 3 1/2 he recognizes all of his numbers - thanks to his obsession with Thomas the Train! And the vocabulary - who in the world says "I am cross"!! You would if you watched Thomas enough!

Kaitlyn will be back in her speech therapy soon. We have seen a marked improvement in her talking - but as Sydney says, Why doesn't she speak English?? She says Om (mom) Dad, Gama, Ah-ee (Sydney), meow, oof (what a dog says), more, thank you, eese (please) and baby.

Megan and Charlotte spent the night on Saturday. Charlotte had some problems - maybe teeth?? - and was up most of the night. It didn't help that they were working on the freeway behind us and there was noise all night. We did make it up for church this morning though! Megan enjoyed going into her class - she colored a picture and brought home a paper about the story they learned today. On the way to the class - somehow she walked into a door jam and got a nice goose egg! We iced it at home and she is good to go now! Charlotte was not sure about enjoying her class - but she did just fine! When I returned to get her she was playing on the mat with some toys! And grandma - after being up most of the night - didn't think about the infant car seat and put her in the toddler one. Charlotte enjoyed sitting up and facing forward! She was so proud of herself!

We wanted to get a video of Charlotte dancing - she used to just move her fanny around - and now she has some shoulder action going! Quite comical! And she will begin dancing as soon as any music begins! The video has been uploading to this blop for 20 minutes now - looks like it is not going to work!! Michelle and Dee add videos - have no idea why I have problems. Next time!

I will leave on Saturday morning to take Karen back to FL. We pray for safe travel! And I look forward to getting to meet our new great-nephew Aiden in FL. Hope he is ready for some Aunt Karla hugs!!

As always - we count our blessings! God has been so good to us and to our family. Yes we have food allergies - but we all have our arms and legs!

Until next time - don't forget to make a difference!!

Summer slipping away!

Don't know where the time is going -

but August is slipping away!

We have enjoyed watching Charlotte,

our youngest grandchild,

turn 1. And then 3

weeks later to see Megan,

our oldest grandchild, turn 4!

Sydney will be next in about 3 weeks and she

too will be 4!

We will begin seeing our little ones begin pre-school

this year too! Megan will attend

St. Mary's in St. Clair and Sydney

will be at Peace in Shelby Twp.

Another step in their lives! How exciting!

We look forward to the news that

our first great-nephew will be born

soon also. This will happen in FL to

Jeff and Nicole sometime in the next

few weeks.

We were surprised to see that Erica, our friend and

babysitter had a healthy baby boy. Surprised

because he will be coming home to a

pink room - he was supposed to

be a she according to all

the ultra-sounds. So little Chloe is now

little Cody!

That shows us again

that HE is in charge!

Our church now has north and south campus'

and a new name to go with that change.

Community Wesleyan Church is now

Stoney Creek Community Church.

We continue to be blessed by a loving

congregation that truly loves the Lord

and works toward the great commission.

I am enjoying Facebook - and seem to

neglect the blogging. I am going

to try to get better at that!

Enjoy life!!

Missing My Dad

What a great day this was -

Father's Day 2006!

Kids gave him this fish - he thought it

was so cool!

Sadly, he passed away just a

couple of weeks after this photo

was taken. We were building a

ramp on the back of our house

so he could get in and out by

himself in the hoverround chair.

He cherished his independence!!

Missing him and remembering

all the good times!

Charlie Lee Teague

1928 - 2007

Happy Birthday Hazel Wooten Teague

Hard to believe but my mother

would have been 80 years old

today, June 30, 2009!

Miss her so much - still think

of things that I would like to tell her.

She would love being a great-grandma

as much as she did being a grandma!

She would say that I was spoiling

the kiddies - but then say isn't

it fun to do!

She always got on my case (nicely of course!)

about putting water on the glass

pans as I took them from the oven -

I'm always in a hurry to get the

pans soaking!

One day I had been praying about

just wanting to feel closer to her that day.

That evening I took a glass pan out

of the oven - and didn't even get a

chance to put it in the sink. Just sat it on

the cold granite countertop and

crack - the pan broke! Immediately

there is the gravy going everywhere!

Instead of being upset and working to

clean everything up - I just said

Thank you God - I do feel close to my mom today!

I just felt like she was letting me know that

she was still there for me!

She was a great inspiration of how to

be a good mom/mother-in-law to adult children.

She always showed her love and

encouragement for everything.

I thank God for giving me such a great mom!

We all love you mom - just in case you are

reading over my shoulder!!

Hazel Marie Wooten Teague

June 30, 1929 - April 12, 1999

Happy Birthday's to Kari & Rich

Happy 29 Birthday to Kari on June 3

and

Happy 31 Birthday to Rich today, June 9.

Time flies - and I am being slow in updating - Sorry!

This picture was taken as they were going to a wedding last summer.

Flowers

I love it when the rhododendron bloom!

They just started this past weekend -

so not in full bloom yet.

All the hanging baskets were from the kids

for Mother's Day.

Can't look at the rhododendrons without thinking about
my dad. He always checked them out -
they are the state flower of West Virginia.

Making Brownies

Yesterday I had the honor of

having Megan and Charlotte with me.

We needed to make brownies for

a gathering we were having today.

Megan was thrilled - and of

course wanted to help!

Megan put in the water and oil

and I got away with doing the eggs

myself - even though Gma Shirley

lets her crack the eggs.

Megan was more than ready

to help with the clean-up!

And she was a great "cleaner-upper"!!

(I know, raw eggs are a no-no -

but just this time - she'll live!)

After dinner she was very quick
to say "BROWNIES NOW!!"

So then I got to make more
brownies for the gathering today.

It was worth it to experience
Megan's love of helping!

Megan & Charlotte - picture day!

Today Kari took Megan & Charlotte

for their pictures.

Megan will be 4 in mid-August

and Charlotte is 9 months now.

Megan and Charlotte

are the oldest and the

youngest of our granchildren.

We are truly blessed with

these 5 little monkey's!!

Enjoying Disney!

Both Michelle & Mark

and

Kim & Dave took

a family vacation to Orlando.

They didn't think they would see

each other while there but

it worked out that they were

both visiting The Magic Kingdom

on the same day!

Michelle, Mark, Sydney & Kaitlyn
Kim, Dave & Karsten

Kaitlyn makes a face as she awaits dinner.
Disney is a great place to go
when you have food allergies -
they take special care with the foods.

Kaitlyn shows off her little Princess dress.

Syndey dressed in her Belle dress.

Sydney with Cinderella.

Sydney with her Fairy Godmother

at Bippity Boppety Boutique.

Sydney with Cinderella.

Sydney told Cinderella that

they had on matching dresses!

Kaitlyn checks out Prince Charming.

Sydney and Karsten at Disney.

Only about 95 degrees - and these

kids look hot too!

Kaitlyn shows off one of her

bathing suits back at

their vacation house pool.

Kaitlyn shows off her new shoes!

Kaitlyn enjoying the pool.

Mark, Kaitlyn & Sydney enjoy the pool.

Seeing all this fun makes me

realize - hey I need a vacation!

;-)

Happy Birthday Steve!

Happy Birthday Steve!

Can't believe that 31 years ago we

had our only son!

All 8 lb. 2 oz. and 20 1/2 inches of you!

At one day old you managed to

hang onto the isolette that you slept

in and dump it all over the hospital

room - and in those days it meant

you had to have a whole new

sterilized bed and accessories!

And then you really showed everyone

who was boss by peeing all the

way up to the ceiling!

Many fun times to remember over these

years - and the funny ones are

always good ones to repeat time after time!

How about the time when you were 3 or 4

and REALLY wanted to eat 6

slices of pizza! Why was I not

a smart mom and just sliced the pizza

slices in smaller slices??

Afterwards you ate you walked right

into your shag carpeted bedroom and

puked up all 6 slices of that pizza!

How about the time you and Jimmy

were playing and you put your arm

though the storm door? That was NOT

a funny time! Freaked this young

mom out!!

It seemed you were so bored in church - and

acted as though you were never listening.

But you fooled us - there were times

as the pastor began the sermon that

you would lean over and tell us the

whole "story" before the pastor even got

into it.

We loved you then - we love you now!

We were proud of you then - we are proud of you now!

Hugs to you today and always!

Easter - April bdays

We are just an hour away from

April 12, 2009.

This is Easter Sunday.

He is Risen! Hallelujah!!

This is Kim's birthday - 36 this year!

Happy Birthday - we love you so much

and are so proud of the woman and

mother you are!

We will also celebrate Steve's 31st

birthday too! Just can't say enough

great things about our only son.

We look forward to celebrating with

our family on this special day -

and hopefully will post a few pictures

in the next few days.

The grandkids will have a special

surprise tomorrow - of course they

will get a little gift from Grandma and

Grandpa - and when they look into

the back yard they will find a

trampoline! Our neighbors had one

that had hardly even been used and the

cage was still in the box. They no longer

had any use for it and thought of the kiddies!

Russ and I worked about 5 hours to

get the cage up on it! Yikes!! Hope

they enjoy this along with their

swing set!

Tomorrow also brings some reflections and

sadness. We lost my mom 10 years ago on

April 12, 1999 - Kim's 26 th birthday. Hated

calling her that morning saying Happy Birthday

honey - and this is not going to be a good one

for you. And then having to call Michelle

when she was away on a business trip. Russ

broke the news to Steve and Kari. Even after

10 years I still see things and think I have to

call Mom and tell her about this. She was a

great Mom - and I won't forget - and I

don't think my kids will ever forget the

sacrifices she made for her family!

God is good!!

Happy Birthday Russ!

Happy Birthday to my dear

hubby, Russ!

60 looks great on you!

We enjoyed a fun evening tonight -

dinner at Nick's 22nd Street

with all the kids and grandkids.

They put us in the back room and

the grandkids were able to move

around some without disturbing

others. We had a great dinner,

had a time of presents and

singing Happy Birthday too.

I am so thankful that God has

blessed our years together.

Russ is a great guy and I

am so blessed to be his wife!

Happy Birthday to Karsten & Mark!

How blessed we are to celebrate

2 more birthdays today!!

Karsten is 3 now!

He loves his collection of

Thomas the Train

and anything with wheels.

He is learning the joys of

wearing big boy underwear too!

Mark is enjoying an evening

of birthday celebration with

Sydney, Kaitlyn & Michelle.

Sydney is sure that balloons are

a requirement for birthdays now!

Recently Michelle celebrated a

birthday too - but we were

in FL on a business trip

and did not have access to a computer

then!

We are blessed to have Mark & Karsten

& Michelle in our family!

Off and Running...

Russ and I are off and running!!

We are headed to Florida!

Have some business to attend to -

but will enjoy seeing lots of

family and home renovations!

And some

SUNSHINE!!

Something we don't see much of

during the winter months

in Michigan!

Everyone take care!!

Vote!!

Please Vote!

Not at your polling place -

but this time on your computer!

Click on the link below and

vote for

St. John Hospital Detroit

for a Fun Center for

the Pediatric area

from Colgate!

You can vote once a day through

the end of February!

This is the hospital where

Kari works.

http://www.colgate.com/app/Colgate/US/Corp/CommunityPrograms/show-the-love.cvsp

Thanks for your votes!

This is just one more way YOU can

make a difference in someone's life!

A recipe to try!

Here is a recipe I thought you may enjoy.....now you KNOW that I didn't make it!! Kari made this recently and brought me a little sample - YUM!

Greek Pastitsio

SERVES 6 (change servings and units)

Ingredients
8 ounces bucatini pasta or ziti pasta
3 tablespoons melted butter
1/3 cup grated parmesan cheese
1/3 cup milk
1 egg, beaten
1 lb ground beef
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon dried mint flakes (optional)
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon pepper
4 tablespoons butter
4 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 cups milk
1 egg, beaten
1/3 cup parmesan cheese


Directions
1 Cook macaroni; drain, and return to pan.
2 Stir in the melted butter, 1/3 cup Parmesan cheese, 1/3 cup milk, and the egg; set aside.
3 In a a skillet or large saucepan, cook ground beef and onion until meat loses its pinkness and onion is soft; drain excess fat.
4 Stir in tomato sauce, the 1 teaspoon salt, mint flakes (if used), cinnamon, nutmeg and pepper; set aside.
5 In a saucepan, melt 4 tablespoons butter, then mix in flour and 1/4 teaspoon salt.
6 Slowly stir in the 2 cups milk, stirring well after each addition so that no lumps form.
7 Cook and stir on medium high until cream sauce starts to thicken; stir for one minute more, then remove from heat.
8 Beat egg in a small bowl, then pour into cream sauce, stirring briskly.
9 Blend in the 1/3 cup Parmesan cheese.
10 Layer half the pasta mixture in a 11" x 7" (or 2 quart) baking dish.
11 Spoon the meat mixture evenly on top, then the remaining pasta.
12 Pour cream sauce over top, to cover completely.
13 Bake, uncovered, at 350F for about 40 minutes, or until hot and lightly browned.
14 Let stand for 10 minutes.