DID YOU KNOW that the dictionary lists two pronunciations for the word lava, one with a short "a" sound, and one with a dieresis .. over the a, as in lauva. In an informal poll conducted the week of July 9th, 10 out of 14 pronounced it lava with a short a sound, as in cat. And after calling 5 Lava motels, the Chamber of Commerce, and the Olympic swimming Pool directly, I found that they all pronounced it lava (as in cat) also. Just in case you were wondering.........

Rand, Suzanne & Cayden came last Thursday and left on Monday and it has taken a few days for me to get over being sad. I took Rand to the airport Wed. night and hopefully will see Suz and Cayden again before they leave on Sunday. We had such a good time - Cayden has 2 speeds - fast-forward, and stop. He is either moving like crazy or asleep. But we enjoyed them at the cabin and just hanging around was fun too. Now I'm looking forward to Jeff, Kim and family and Jules coming in about 3 weeks! We will have such a good time at LAUVA!

Yesterday was Father's Day and I enjoyed talking to all my kids this weekend. I especially loved being online all at the same time, but I had to concentrate really hard to keep up. Kim & Jeff, thanks for updating everyone on the expanding size of your family... I kept a very good secret since Mother's Day! We are sure excited for Rand, Suzanne and the C-Monster to arrive on Thursday. I think by then I will really feel like summer has arrived. I'm so grateful to have Carl as my best friend, and appreciate him more now that I see him less. (Does that make sense?) And I'm proud of the fine fathers my sons have become. So..., I just have to say that right now
LIFE IS GOOD!! (And yes, I did hike to the place in the above photo - in Sedona, Arizona.

It's Sunday, May 20, and I'm just reflecting on what a wonderful Mother's Day I had last week, thanks to all who spoiled me with lavish gifts and phone calls. The highlight for me was talking to all of my kids and grandkids. I made it through church without crying; last year I spent Mother's Day in Kansas and that was a real treat. I had a great time with Julie in April in Arizona. I went to my first Ikea (can you say...overwhelming?) and loved the shopping at the amazing malls there. We had fun in Scottsdale and Julie killed (or maimed) a cockroach in the kitchen of our hotel suite! Dad and I are enjoying our new buttermint green bathroom and the new tile is fun too. It may boring to all of you (if, in fact, anyone ever reads this), but it has been fun having your Dad home for more than a week. (He leaves in the morning). We are looking forward to Rand, Suzanne and Cayden's visit in just 4 weeks and 4 days, and Jeff and Kim's family and Julie visiting in July for a whole week. It will be fun to go to the Blair reunion together in Lava (that's LAUVA) Hot Springs. I LOVE watching the Cayden-Cam (hint, hint Jeff) and keeping up with your blogs. I'm now working on Thanksgiving in Kansas..... so we'll see if I can pull it off! That's POW for NOW! Love, MOM

It's Monday night and I am leaving Memphis (and a little bit of my heart...) early tomorrow morning after spending a week with Rand, Suzanne and the C-Monster! I taught him how to eat new flavors of baby food, and he showed me how he can spit it back at me! He's perfected the talent of blowing raspberries (figuratively, of course) whenever he gets a little put out with us.
But he suffered through many photo shoots and a trip to Nashville, and he is a great little traveler. Carl and Rand enjoyed mountain biking and Suz and I shopped at the Opry Mall. We had a fun Easter and look forward to Suzanne and Cayden's visit next week. That's Pow for Now!

Having the stomach flu is good for one thing - it helps you appreciate how much better you feel when it's over. I lost a day and a half this week and found I never want to hear about Rosie, Donald Trump and Barbara again in my lifetime. I found out another thing - I miss my kids and grandkids... a lot. I can't wait until Sunday to visit the webcam!!!

Well, it's Dec.10 and I'm not getting much sleep any more. Someone is a little excited about Christmas! I must have been a good girl because all of my kids are going to be here for Christmas! I've been making little piles of surprises in the Christmas room (Jeff's former bedroom) and could use some ideas in case anyone from my family stumbles onto this blog. Their initials are S.B., K.B. J.B. and L.B. Bye for now!

Not to be outdone by my children, I have created my own blogspot and expect lots of visits from those I love. I actually just wanted to have my name on Rand and Suzanne's comments instead of anonymous so here we are. Sorry there is (and probably will never be) a cute video.