Lions and Tigers and Darth Pandas?

Our trip to Austin was tons of fun. We did a lot, and visited with family. The kids had a blast. One little trip we made was to one of the malls in Ceder Park. We went to the Build-a-Bear store and the kids got to pick and make their own stuffed animals. :) FUN!!! Brandon even got in on the fun. Laney picked a Hello Kitty doll, and of course dressed her up like a princess. She picked out a cute little purple

and pink dress with matching princess shoes and a cute little Hello Kitty purse. She named her new doll...Kitty of course. She's just too cute. Next she picked a sound to put in her Kitty. You guessed it, a meow sound. And we also put in a heart button that when pressed makes a heartbeat sound. Hayden picked his out next. He looked at each and every choice twice....thought about it very hard and settled on a pink teddy bear. Yes I know some people might have a knee jerk reaction to their little boy picking out a pink...anything....but I honestly wasn't surprised or freaked by it. He likes pink....so what? So the morons that gave me dirty looks for letting my son have a pink teddy bear can just shove it! The bear is adorable. He picked out a UT (University of Texas) basketball uniform, complete w/basketball socks, shoes, and a basket ball. It's just adorable, and Hayden loves his bear. He named his bear

Pinkie. I added the last name McDribble. Pinkie McDribble is the cutest little thing. That bear is SOFT too, and fluffy! The shoes look a bit alien on him...they are huge! Hayden picked out the "I love you" sound and he got a heart inside his bear too. Hayden smiled from ear to ear for hours! Brandon decided to get in on the fun as well and he picked out a panda bear. Brandon of course had to 'cool him out' by picking the Star Wars sound for his panda, and (giggles) dressing him up as Darth Vadar! This is the funniest damn thing I've seen in a

in a long time! It comes complete with Darth Vadar's outfit, cape, and boots...and even a bear sized lightsabar! I mean how adorable is that? The funny thing...that you can't see in the picture is that because it's a panda bear, his ears poking out of the helmet are black, but his tail is white. It's just SO funny pokin' out through the tail hole. ~~In a galaxy far, far away....a Panda rose in the ranks to become the new master of the evil empire. His name was Anakin Skypanda, but he is now known as Darth Panda!~~ [cue Star Wars theme here]. Yes we had TONS of fun. :) I really enjoy hanging out with my family, with my kids, with my hubs. We always have a blast. I hope to go back to Austin again this summer. Next time I want a Build-a-Bear of my own! Maybe a puppy....or a tie-dye bunny with huge floppy ears, or one of their fancy ones like the 'real' looking wolf, or bear, or owl. Who knows! I think a puppy, dressed as a rocker, or a biker! LOL I love that store, and I'll be getting little outfits for the kiddos to change their dolls into and play and make up all kinds of fun stories and adventures! Hope everyone has a great rest-of-spring-break!

Jaesus.

GiGi

I'm really worried about my Grandmother. She's having some dental surgery this week...which I guess to some might seem minor, but my Grandmother is 80 years old, and has Type I diabetes.



My wonderful Grandmother- Betty

My Grandmother is a spit fire! She's opinionated and sweet and loving. I adore her! She's been a huge part of my life from day one. I spent every summer of my life between her home and my other grandparents. I have tons of great memories and it kills me to see her failing health. She has five grandkids and twelve great-grandkids. :) Brandon and Kyle started calling her GiGi when they were little because "Great-Grandmother" was just a mouthful...and GiGi stuck! The great-grandkids love her so much. Two years ago we had to sell her house and move her closer to my Aunt Carol, Uncle Kendall and my Mom and Dad. She's been living comfortably in a gated retirement community with her goofy dog Precious (a chihuahua/boston terrier mix *if you can picture that mix!*). I guess I'm just nervous about all this because we have all known that these are her twilight years (and I don't mean sparkly vampires) it's been rough on everyone watching this unfold. 

Best GiGi in the world Tshirt

I guess it's bothering me so much because I am realizing that the generational responsibilities going on right now are shifting once again. When I was a kid...about Brandon's age 13 or so...I watched my grandmother deal with my Great-Grandmother's decline in health. My Grandmother took my Great-Grandmother into her home to live with her towards the end of her life. My Great-Grandmother had Alzheimer's Disease. It was heart breaking to watch unfold. My mother was there too of course, and seemed so....'grown up' and 'adult' to me (of course she would seem that way) but I sit here knowing that my mother wasn't much older than I am now when all that happened. I have no idea how she did all she did for my Grandmother and Great-Grandmother. How strong my mother truly is, is really laying on my shoulders now. I am realizing that I too will have to share the load of caring for and helping out with my Grandmother if and when my mom cannot...or my Aunt cannot. And then...for my own parents. Boy that puts things into persepective real quick. 

GiGi with a few of her G-Grandkids
Leif (my nephew), Brendalyn, Cale, Nautie, Irie, and Kyrah (my 2nd cousins)

I hate admitting this...but I'm scared. I'm so very scared. I don't want to lose my Grandmother any time soon, but I can see the writing on the walls. I just hope that the youngest of the twelve great-grandkids get to remember some part of her, in some way. The youngest is not yet one years old. I'm afraid that she will have no memory of her precious and beloved GiGi. I know we will all fill her with stories, and laughter and pictures and film of her. And let her know, if she's a spunky kid like her sibling and cousins are....it's because of her GiGi. I love my Grandmother so much. I love my family. I feel so lucky to have such a great loving group of people to call my own.

Jaesus.

No really...what's your real name?

Sorry I've not blogged in a while, and I do promise to do those Q&A videos. I have all the questions you've sent me on my formspring. I've been sick. Real sick...and honestly it's not pretty. lol I doubt you'd want to see me sniffling through questions. Answering them in my feverish daze. I'm feeling a bit better today...but not up to a video.

However my dear hubby and I came across a website that listed funny last names. He read them to me and had me almost peeing myself.
Here is a list of my favs:
(note: these are REAL names straight from the phone book)
Bolivar Shagnasty
Michael Hofacker
Rev. William R Dickgraber
Freddie and Jo Skunkcap
Harry Beavers

Harry W. Wacker

Haywood Jablowme

Miracle Fingers

and Phat Ho

:) love weird things on the internet. So I do promise I'll be back shortly once I kick this cold's ass.

Jaesus.

Vlog!! What's going on!

Here are the pics from Kyle's 15th bday! :) I cannot believe he's 15! that's nuts.
Jaesus.