All Grandchildren Back in School

All the grandkids are now back in school.  Can't believe our oldest grandchild is in his second year of college and our youngest is in second grade.  Dustin is in his second year at TCC, Lauren is a Senior at GHS, Lindsay is an 8th grader at Cross Timbers Middle School and Steffanie is in 8th at Shawnee Middle School in Oklahoma.  Carlos is in 7th grade at Harwood Junior High, Isabell is a 5th grader at Wilshire Elementary and Samantha is a 2nd grader there. Hoping and praying they all have a great year! Wow! We must be getting old!!

Grapevine High School.  Cindy, Christy, and Dustin are all alumni. This is Lauren's last year there.
(Yes, Chad is a high school graduate.  We lived in Southlake when he graduated so he is a graduate of Southlake Carroll High School.)

 

Car in Christy's Restaurant

If you are a member of our family, you know to expect the unexpected!  It happened again yesterday to Christy as this car drove right in to her restaurant as they were feeding the lunch crowd.  She told me she called 911 and professionally told them the location, her name and title, that there was a car in her dining room, etc.  When the dispatcher asked if there were any injuries she said she didn't think so but wasn't sure and that she was about to have a heart attack.  The dispatcher asked, "Really?"  Christy said she laughed and said probably not but I sure feel like I could!  There were no injuries, than God!

Lindsay and Lauren with their Spanish Friend

 

Lindsay, Antoni Gaudi, Lauren

(Grandma doesn't mind her girls hanging out with guys like this!)



Samantha's Art

Samantha went to a watercolor class today at the Grapevine Library.  Here is her painting.  For her first attempt, I think she did a pretty good job.  When I picked her up the instructor encouraged me to start her in art lessons.  Sorry, I just stuck my nose into her family's business and had them start guitar lessons this week.  Don't think they will want to talk about art lessons, too!

I Love The Colors of Fall

Having been born in and lived many years in Southern Indiana, I love the colors of Fall.  I know it is still too early yet this year but I couldn't help but share this beautiful picture.

Lauren & Her Friend Abby

Lauren and her friend Abby enjoying a Rangers Game Wednesday night.  Looks like they were having a good time!

My Beautiful Daughter and Granddaughters

 

Lindsay, Lauren, and Cindy

Spain August 2012

A Couple of Lauren's Pictures Taken in Barcelona

This is one of Lauren's pictures of Barcelona.  Thought I would share for those of you, like me, who will never go there (I have no desire for international travel).

The following picture is one she took of a large flower market in Barcelona.  Now this one I really like, it is beautiful.

Cindy is out of surgery.

Thankful Cindy is out of surgery and doing well.  She had surgery on her finger this morning.

West Nile Virus

To our family and friends outside the state and this area, no doubt many of you have heard on the news about the outbreak of West Nile Virus in the Dallas area.  So far we have not been bothered by mosquitos around our place.  However, we did receive a robo call from the city of Grapevine yesterday informing us they had been notified by the Tarrant County Health Department that the virus has been found in Grapevine.  One lady in Euless where Chad and his family live has died of the virus.  So far, so good in our mid cities area.  Say a prayer that the mosquitos continue to avoid us.  With my auto-immune diseases and Steve's health problems, West Nile Virus would not be a good thing.

Glad to Have The Harts Home

Glad to have Cindy, Rodney, Lauren, and Lindsay back home in Grapevine.  They had a great vacation in Spain and Dustin enjoyed dogsitting with Tucker but Grandma is glad to have her girls home!

Tucker Trying To Wake Dustin!

Come on Dustin, it's my last day.  Get up, I want to play!

Oh well, I give up!

Samantha is Going to Take Lessons

It appears, at this stage of the game, that Samantha is serious about wanting to play the guitar.  So Chad and Mary have decided to give her lessons.  She will have her first lesson next week.  We shall see how serious she really is soon!

(Thank you to Lauren and Lindsay who gave her the guitar that has sparked her interest!)

Dustin and Tucker in Their Favorite Spot

Dustin and Tucker enjoying their remaining time together before the Harts get home and reclaim Tucker!  They were playing a computer game!

A Week Off!

Dustin (along with Grandma and Grandpa) is so excited to have a week off from college.  Yesterday was his final for the business class he took this summer.  Fall classes don't start until August 27!

Dustin showing Samanth and Steffinee the clock tower on campus.

Granddaughters in Front of the Home of the Spanish Royal Family

Lauren and Lindsay at the Official Residence of the Spanish Royal Family!

High Speed Train

The high speed train Cindy and Family took from Barcelona to Madrid reaching speeds up to 200 mph!

Sagrada Familia Nativity Facade

For those of you who enjoy such things but may never go to Spain, here is a picture from Cindy and family.  Personnally, I am not into all this kind of stuff but I do find this very fascinating.  I thought some of you might, too.

The Hart's Apartment in Spain

As most of you know, Cindy and her family are vactioning in Spain.  This is a picture of their apartment.  They have the top apartment on the left.

An American Treat in Spain!

Lindsay was so concerned about what she would eat on this trip that she packed a whole bunch of packages of peanut butter and crackers.  And now she found one of her favorites!

That is her to the left of the drink!  I'm sure she was happy!

Lauren and Lindsay in Barcelona, Spain

Lauren and Lindsay enjoying their time in Barcelona.  So proud of these two beautiful girls!

CHERRY PIE FROM A CHILDREN'S BOOK

As I have written several times over the last week or so, Samantha loves going to the library at Dustin's college campus.  She quickly made friends with the staff and has the run of the place.  This week she read a book with the character's favorite cherry pie recipe in the book.  The librarian made her a copy of the recipe and that set her in motion.  We went to the store, bought what she needed and she made the pie (changed the recipe some to suit us) and she set to work.  The only help I gave her was to put the pie in the oven and take it out.  I also always monitor her measurements to be sure she has them correct.  Bottom line, her pie was delicious and turned out very pretty.  She was so proud of it, especially when Dustin asked for a second piece!

     

                                                   GOOD JOB SAMANTHA!

Lovin' College Life!

Samantha is loving getting to spend time at the college library while Dustin is in class.  She said today that college is fun but she doesn't think she's ready yet.  She went with Dustin to the counseling office and walked thru the testing center.  After seeing all the hopeful students taking placement tests she told me, "I've just passed first grade testing, Grandma.  I don't think I'm ready for college yet!"  I agreed with her!!  (She is so funny when she is being serious.  She cracks me up!)

Ready to Deliver the Cupcakes

Ready to head off the the TCC library to deliver the cupcakes she made for her friends there.

Making Cupcakes for the Staff at TCC Library

Samantha quickly made friends with some of the staff at the college library last week.  Last night she baked cupcakes to take them today!

Can't Believe Lauren is Starting Her Senior Year!

These are from Lauren's Senior Picture proofs.  Can't wait to see the final products.  So very proud of her and all her academic achievements.  She has grown up way too fast!

Happy 53rd Birthday Grandma!

Oh my goodness, look what I just came across.  Here I am celebrating my 53rd birthday with Lauren, Steffinee, and Dustin (Lindsay was present but opted not to be in the picture) back in 2000.  This was the only birthday Steffinee has ever been here for my birthday.  Since my birthday is always close to and sometimes on Mother's Day, she is with her mother.  This must have been the year her mother was serving in Iraq.

Love This Clock Tower in Our Hometown!

I love this clock tower on Grapevine's Convention and Visitor's Bureau Building.

What Makes College Better Than Elementary School?

Why, snack machines of course!  Samantha's eye really lit up when she saw the snack machines.  She looked at me and said, "They have snack machines here?"  I tend to forget they are out of most schools now days and as a second grader this Fall, that was a novelty to her.

She was also fascinated to see a vending machine full of school supplies.

Samantha Ready For Her 1st Day at College

Samantha is so excited to be going to the college today.  She was there once with Dustin and Steffinee but it was on a Friday when there were no classes.  Today she will get to be there in all the school activity, visit the library, etc.  You would think she was going off to class based on her excitement!  Hope she still feels that way in about 11 or 12 years!