A visit to the Jencks side of town

Carol came up with the idea.  She said she wanted to take mom to see her brother Harold, who she hadn't seen in many, many years.  I of course said "I want to go too."  Then we made Lisa go (against her will since we had to actually take a plane to get to California).

It was a fabulous trip... old people crying, pushing old people around in wheelchairs, eating at 4:00 (old people time), taking old people to visit even older people, and lots of talking about the good old days.

Now all kidding aside, it was a dream to see these people again, it had probably been 30 years ago that I last saw any of them.  My Aunt Kathe and Uncle Harold are like idols to me.  When I was with them it was like I was 7 years old again.  I was in awe of them growing up.  For me, going to their house was like going to a castle.  They lavished expensive presents on me and generally pampered me to no end.  I remember when I was young thinking that my Jencks cousins were the coolest people on the planet, and if truth be told, they still are.

I hope it is not another 30 years until I get to visit them again (because then I will be OLD).

              Brother and Sister

Aunt Kathe leaving to play bridge with friends.  Isn't she the cutest thing you've ever seen on three wheels?

Cousins

Lisa, Jane, Laurie, Lance, Melinda, Carol

Kathe, Harold, Unity

One last post on this subject

"It's the most insanely romantic film since 'The Notebook'," said Harry Medved, a spokesman for Fandango.com, who described Pattinson's Edward Cullen as "the ideal boyfriend...He's incredibly strong, superfast, impossibly handsome, plays the piano, and all he cares about is what's on her mind."

Now, this is all I will post on this subject.  I just wanted it noted again that Edward is PERFECT.   I will now resume posting about the holidays, my family, and other such not as interesting or gorgeous subjects (sorry family, you're cute, just not Edward gorgeous).

LOVED IT !!!

It's been many years (if ever) that I have been in a theater full of screaming girls and let me tell you, last night was quite the experience.  As soon as the previews ended and there was a lull before the movie started they screamed.  The first time Edward appeared on screen they screamed.  When he had his sunglasses on and he and Bella walked into school together they screamed.  And of course, when he and Bella finally kissed they screamed.  There was no screaming on my part.  Just yearning..... for Edward.  It doesn't get much better than this!

 

Thoughts from a grandma

It was quite the day yesterday, the day my first grandchild was born.  Thank heaven for text messages and cell phones that take pictures.  I was at school teaching, but Jordan kept us updated throughout the day and into the evening.  Aubrey did wonderful and all went well.  He is beautiful and perfect.  My heart is full of love for this little guy.  I can only imagine our adventures to come with him, our Kaden.

Did you ?

Man, I miss these guys

I had no costumes to make.  No one had a hard time eating dinner because they were too excited to go out trick-or-treating.  I didn't cut out hundreds of bats to stick all over the house. There are no fake cobwebs anywhere.  We didn't carve a pumpkin.  There will be no piles of candy on the floor tonight with intense trading going on.  No one is going to say, "here Mom, you can have this Mr. Goodbar 'cause you love them."

I love the wonderful people that they have become, but man, I really miss the kids they were.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

It was Heaven on Earth

War college was over.  Jay would soon be beginning a new job, a new DEMANDING job, and Julie was leaving soon for college.  It was the perfect time to get away before all the madness began.  I had always wanted to go on a cruise, but Jay swore that he'd never take me on one since the time he took me on a dinner cruise around Seattle and I spent the whole time in the bathroom violently ill.

My motion sickness is legendary.  Every family travel story from my childhood includes some mention of me throwing up somewhere on someone.  So I pretty much ruled out the possibility of ever taking a cruise.  Then Jessica went on a cruise for her honeymoon.  She inherited my motion sickness gene, but... she didn't get sick!  "The ship is big Mom, you never feel like you're moving."

I armed myself with this knowledge and started my plan of attack with Jay.  But, you know, he loves me (and he loves a good vacation), so all I had to do was mention (over and over for about a month) that it would be a great trip and he was on board!  I also promised that I wouldn't get sick.  And I didn't!  Our trip was perfect in every way, perfect weather, perfect food, perfect ship, sooooo romantic, and tons of fun!

Our first view of the ship in the Port of Miami

Set Sail party on deck

Our first day was spent at sea so Jay tried to master the FlowRider and learn to surf

Our first port was Labadee, Haiti.  Beautiful!

The water called to us

The daredevils wanted to go off on their own, and fast!

After dinner there's always a new friend waiting for us