Sitting at the Top of the World

Tan Hill Inn, actually. Highest Inn in England. Drove up here today - spectacular views. Check it out at www.tanhillinn.com. Watching the dogs and cats mingle with the customers.

Happy Birthday Barry!!!!!!

I don't know how old Barry is, but in dog years he probably would be dead. So some one please advise us of the aging pilots age. Bye the way after flying all these years I am sure his arms are getting tired. So if any of you women out there want to lend him your broom, I am sure he would appreciate it. Tee Hee
Jimbo

Introducing Captain Jack Phelps

This happens everytime we send off a son...we get a dog.  Philip goes to KU, we get Tybee.  Hugh goes to NC, we get a dog. Actually, Steve has felt the need for a male companion for quite some time.  Over the last couple of months he's been looking at pups.  At first we thought we'd end up with a large dog, but over time he decided that he really wanted a lap dog, much like I have Tybee.  So, much to my surprise, after church today, he's looking through the paper at, yes, Jack Russells. I can't argue...Tybee has been an excellent pet.  Her biggest fault is believeing she's human.  Steve wants another man in the house.  In his mind there are enough bit... females.  He finds an ad for 2 males and a female.  By the time we connect with the folks, there is one male and one female.  The female was very outgoing and, as Jacks can be, hyper.  But this little guy just came up to Steve and wanted to love on him.  What is kind of fun is that Tybee is white with brown markings.  A very pretty dog.  Captain is brown with white markings.  Very unusual for a Jack, and a very pretty, or should I say a handsome dog.  He's sooooo cute.  Tybee is being so gracious.  She even let Captain take her bone away!  I feel like a new mom. It's kind of silly, but kind of fun.  The most fun is watching Steve dote over this dog.  Sometimes just the little things in life, like loving a dog, are the best things in life.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY OLDER BROTHER

Jim Laverty of Eastern Shore fame is a year older today than he was yesterday. In his own words,

"How do he do it? How doooo he do it?

Happy birthday Bro!!!!!!

Happy Birthday Little Brother!

For just a little while, you're only 1 year younger than me.  How did Mom do it? Hope you've had a wonderful day.  Love you!

A Sad and Happy Day...

I took my youngest son, Hugh (Huber-doober-do to me) to the airport this morning and sent him off to seek his fortune.  He's headed to Fayetteville, NC to spend some time with his little sister, wise beyond her years, Hannah.  Hannah's boyfriend Shane is going to show him around Fort Bragg and introduce him to Army life.  Hugh's considering the military or maybe just a new start in a new part of the country.  Shane will be able to show him around and give him a taste of military life before he makes a commitment.  Quite an advantage that most enlistees don't have the benefit of.  Whether he chooses the Army or chooses to find a data job in NC the result this morning was the same...tears!  It was pretty tough to put that kid, my baby, on that plane.  You'd have thought he was 8 years old and flying unattended!  Bethany's still here to keep me company, and you'd think with all those grandbabies I wouldn't even notice one less around.  I still have Kristen, Ryan and Eric. But somehow the empty nest is just feeling a bit emptier.  I guess I can always go down to his room to cure that...Hugh never leaves without leaving part of himself...mostly trash, old bills, you know, the things that really say "Hugh".  Oh, the joys of motherhood.

The Tooth Fairy

I Know you guys are probably sick of me going on about the kids..but I can't help it! LOL

My baby lost his first tooth a couple days ago, and today it was followed by the second.

Now by my 'baby' I mean Shaun...(he'll always be my baby!)
and
by "lost" I mean they were wobbly and I helped them along by pulling them out using string just the way Mommom taught me to over 30 years ago!

I think she was smiling down from heaven saying to my Mom..."I taught Sandy to do that you know"...and Mom would say "yes, I know..she pulled all the kids teeth out when they were little"..lol

Anyway.....Shaun was nervous at first..but then looking happy (and surprised) he said "hey! that didn't hurt a bit!"

Of course not..I told him I wouldn't...but I suppose I wasn't very convincing when I was coming at him with a long pink string intended for being tied around his tooth and then yanked out...sounds bad eh!?

Hugs to everyone..and big toothless grins! xoxo ;-D

Shaun's School Website

Hi Guys!

I sent an email a few days ago with the link to Shaun's school website. His teacher, Mrs. Watts is truly wonderful. She puts SO much time and energy into the kids (and a lot of her own money too I think!)
Anyway..the kids are on school holidays at the moment, but if you'd like to go see what they were up to over the year click on the Title above or follow this link : http://waverleypark.school.nz/index.html

When you get there go to OUR PEOPLE then CLASSROOMS then ROOM 5

on the bottom of each page you can click NEXT to go back further to see earlier stuff. Shaun's the redhead (often wearing a hat) and if you look...not even very hard, you'll see me and Zoe there a few times too! Mrs. Watts knew Zoe's name, but i'm always called "Shaun's Mum".

Mrs. Watts thought maybe she was wasting her time updating the website so often because nobody ever actually looked at the website, but I told her "NO! I've got family all over the world who check it out! "

Anyway the class starts back to school on the 2nd of Feb. Shaun's moving to room 8 then----and HOORAY ...Mrs. Watts is moving too! As well as most of his class from this year! I'm really pleased he'll be stayin with her.

When Zoe starts school at the end of May, she'll now be in Room 5----so remember ROOM 5 and ROOM 8 to see what's up with the kiddies! (and chances are you'll catch a glimpse of me now and then too!)

Hugs and lots of love,
Sandy!

Pictures from Germany

Some pictures from Germany. (Click the title)