Pretty pretty bloggness

Since I gave my blog a face lift, I decided to give Mom's one as well. This blog is best viewed at 1280px screen resolution (which is what most people use). If it doesn't seem to align, your screen resolution is either too small (which is likely) or too big.

Mom and Dad are on a "mini vacation". They're staying a hotel in town so Mom can have a change of scenery (you know, different walls to stare at). She's had several doctor appointments in the passed week. Hopefully she'll feel up to blogging about that later. Here are some excerpts from an email she sent out yesterday:

We are going for one night at the Houston Marriott Westchase. It is a package, and part is late check out at 3pm on Saturday. We get a Steak or Lobster dinner tonight, and a full breakfast tomorrow. It has an indoor whirlpool and pool, which I am supposed to exercise in 3 times a week - but can't do it here, if it's cold outside. A new YMCA is finished (I think) nearby, so we need to look into that. Studies have shown and and my body knows that water is the ONLY way to exercise and not suffer later. So this place may become our monthly outing!! :) Normally, business people use it, so the deals are offered on weekends. So if you ever need to get away......look on line !! As you know, we have realized in order for my body to work correctly and to keep the pain tolerable, we must get away at least once a month or so. It is amazing what it does for me.

Our workers are back to having gospel meetings, so I get Sunday and Wednesday G.M. Oh, I am loving it!! I get it via speaker phone, and feel so refreshed and fed. The Northside has G.M. at 4pm. I told Charles - "you know, I could get two G.M. on Sunday, and I could sure use that right now". We laughed. I doubt they would care, but don't want to be greedy. "THE NEEDY ARE GREEDY" But I just don't think about what's happening at 4pm!! Ha!

-Cathy

The Shopping Habits of Women

Okay, since Mom hasn't gotten around to updating her blog (she's written several posts but has yet to "finish them"), I thought I'd do it for her. (You're welcome, Mom!)

Dad and Mom headed off to San Antonio on Wednesday for a mini-vacation. I absolutely love San Antonio, and they're staying right on the riverwalk! (Lord, forgive me for my jealousy!)

On the way there, they stopped for gas, and the car wouldn't start! Luckily they were right next to a Wal-mart so dad was able to purchase a new battery (that was the issue) and a wrench so they could get on the road again. Good timing!

Dad said, "Didn't take too long, but long enough for Cathy to do some shopping in walmart!" He said he was glad it wasn't a Macys!

Speaking of Dad, he sure gives sound advice. Brandon and I were going shopping for a new skirt and shirt for me last weekend. Dad asked him where we planned on going and Brandon said, "Somewhere cheap, like Wal-mart." Dad told him, "Son, that's now how it works. Whatever you save in money at a cheap store, you'll end up spending to buy new shoes, new earrings, and a new headband to match the outfit."

I think my Dad has definitely learned how women work! Ha!

(And hey, I don't mind buying my clothes at Wal-mart, but I'm glad my husband let me get something from the sale rack at Talbots instead!)

Btw, Granny Turner (Genell) had a birthday last Friday! (Oct 31st!) We had a wonderful meal with her the following day (before Brandon and I went shopping and my parents watched the kids.) I'm so glad we're back in the Houston area so we can see her more often!

Our Family Vacation @ Galveston (May 08)

I mentioned a family vacation and got a rousing round of "yesses"! And when I reminded them it would need to be Galveston - we still got the "yesses".

So in my spare time, in between naps, I found a perfect beach house!! It was like it was built for us - privacy for all, and all the kids stuff, large kitchen, and second row from the beach.
Mandy waited as long as she could before telling the kids, so that she only had to answer questions 365,782,139 times. They were so excited!! The place already had a baby bed and high chair, and Merika slept in a princess bed. It also had bunk crib beds (interesting!!), which Nolyn's parents liked!! (smile)

We got the house a day early and Teresa Bunger and I went down to settle in. Just in case Teresa reads this, I will be truthful and say that, as usual, Teresa treated me like a dog, "SIT, LAY DOWN", while she got things put up in the kitchen, etc..... Then we were exhausted - me being the dog and her the human, so we chatted a bit and went to bed early. The morning hours were wonderful to watch. The sun coming up, and a storm was somewhere out in the gulf, because the waves were like an upset mom!! So we went surfing for a few hours........gotcha, huh? (Ha!) Teresa left and soon, the family fun and noise began.

We brought food and fixin's, and the workers - Loren and Doug - came over for a meal. Then someone Mandy knew came over for a meal. The kids went to The Strand to eat icecream and shop. Later during our stay,we went to The Rainforest Cafe, which was lots of fun!

We were there for about 5 days. And no black eyes!!

Mandy wanted to take some family photos, since it had been a while. Everyone dressed in beachy-clothing, and we went out into the waves for some photos Here are a few of those shots from our stay there! I will post the family photos and a couple pictures of the house in another entry!

We celebrated Merikalyn's 5th birthday. Here she is with one of her gifts, a Hannah Montana blanket.

Here are Merikalyn & Nolyn hugging the bear outside of the icecream shop on The Strand.

Mandy and her three children.

Not Forgotten

Mom is working on a couple posts for her blog. I hope to help her post next week. She doesn't want this place to become just another neglected blog!

The McGees (thats us) are all moved in, so we're looking forward to irritating spending more time with Mom & Dad! :)

Balloon Release

April 6th, 2008 we sent "messages to Grandma" on balloons. It had been a year since her passing, and we all missed her and wished we could have had "one last moment" with her. Here are some photos from our balloon release.

We watched the balloons until we could no longer see them. I wonder where they ended up.

Spoiled!

Mom hasn't felt up to blogging. I haven't really had the chance to show her how to use it, as she hasn't felt up to it when I'm in town. Some day, I hope she'll have the energy to write about the car accident she had years ago, the struggles, and the changes she has gone through due to her body's condition.

For those who are interested, my husband, Brandon, really loves his new job in Houston. It has not been easy being apart (it's been a week now), and I miss him terribly, but he'll be headed back home this evening. I would much rather be in Houston than here, and so begins the waiting game (for which I have little patience).

Brandon stays with Mom and Dad through the week while he works, so he has been very spoiled. Our dog, Kiki, has also been staying with them because I didn't have room for her (and her kennel) in the car when I came home last Friday. I am sure she has been spoiled as well!

One thing is for sure, my parents spoil all of us. We're a bunch of rotten ones! ;)

I'm going to make a new post of photos we wanted to share with you. Stay tuned!

The Houston Turners will all be... in Houston! :)

Mandy here. In all the excitement, I forgot to teach Mom how to use blogger while I was there. Worry not, I will be there again soon, because my husband now has a job in Houston! (YAY!)

Anyway, here is a post from mom, copied and pasted as a reply to my child-like excitement to the news that we will be moving back to Houston (once our home sells, of course)!

Well, does the mother of the bride - I mean couple - get to say something? Good grief, let me get out of bed!! Ha!

While Mandy was ansy and dancy, I had enough spark to be a REAL Nana, so off we (Merika and Nolyn) went to IHOP !!! YEA - we all LOVE IHOP!! Son (in-law) Brandon, all dressed up for his interview, heard through the grapevine, and in he walked!! That young man can find a free meal within 100 miles of his nose!!

Somehow, I knew in my heart, he would get the job. Yes, Charles and Chip - I do not have ESP, but I am a mother, and just maybe God let me in on the secret first - so there! It was around 5pm, no phone call and they were leaving. They were down hearted (can’t hide that either), but so what - it’s wasn’t over.

RIIIIIIIIIINNNNNNNNNGGGGGGGGG. Caller ID say’s the company’s name. Could he be ready to work by next Wed? Afterwards, we are all jumping around (except me - I’m on the couch, sitting with the kids) and we are all talking and and lots of excitement. I finally looked down at our “prim and proper” Merika, and realized, the kids hadn’t a clue WHAT was going on. So I began, in my limited languange, to explain what had just transpired! Oh, they were soooo excited. They left for home, and we were all a happy family. (We don’t know if we will live happily ever after yet.)

Just like them, I’m sure, we have our excitements and our fears. My health, unfortunately, stays on the fore front of Charles’ and my mind when BIG things happen. We wonder how or if this will even affect us or weave itself into our lives. It’s hard to imagine how big (and little) things can change up things so largely in our life - even though it is GOOD. It still takes alot of adusting and “rearranging”, that even WE weren’t anticipating. We are very happy that our children went away for their beginning adventures in life, and now we are thrilled to have them back. But the scene is different - everyone has changed, grown, and been born. New beginnings!
Charles and I have been praying, IF it was God’s will, that certain help would come to us. You can read on the internet about ‘ Pain ‘ and not the source, and realize that it is like a huge weed, that can overtake your life, so easily, if you aren’t careful. You just don’t want it to consume your life - easy to say - hard to make work. This sentence won’t be understood unless you are in the same situation, because there are no words……. With that said, the last few days, Charles and I really have had no doubts about Brandon getting this job, unless it was not God’s will. Yes, I’m partial about my kids, but Brandon is very, very personable and smart!! But in the past while, I have been watching the hand of God working - which is so wonderful and scary - and wondered what was ahead for our family.

We should never ask “why” - so I don’t. I just day dream !! Is this move for this or for that, etc……, but deep inside, a thought would always come up…… "you may get worse and need more help, and now you have your little brood around you." Tearfully, on a recent evening, I told Charles what I feared. He had to admit it had crossed his mind. Somedays, it’s almost too much for him - on my bad days or pain crisis’. I see his tired eyes…..

Loren and Doug (our ministers) won’t let me “turn in my library card” because who would keep Doug fed (true - it does take a village!!) and they keep my spirits up, and laughter is the best medicine, and they give me a little corner of “bread” to feed on, because that’s all I can remember. And it’s always delicious and keeps me until some more "bread" comes along from somewhere. Oh - what a wonderful life !!! So, as the Psalms usually starts out scared, or negative - it goes into the sanctuary and looks up and sees that we never want to forget the Songs of Zion!!

So….GUESS WHAT???????? My children are moving to HOUSTON !!!!! AND, three grandchildren - which you will see are beautiful - outside and inside - just look for them!!
IF YOU’RE HAPPY AND YOU KNOW IT CLAP YOUR HANDS!

Nana and Poppa Turner


Mandy again....

The kids are having a hard time understanding this whole "moving thing". When they woke up this morning, they asked if we were moving today! Yesterday, Merikalyn asked if we were going to get our own elevator too! (Nana and Poppa have an elevator in their condo.)

They keep asking if we're going to bring certain things. I have to explain that we're moving everything (well, most of it), but first we have to "get our house nice" so someone else can live in it, and we'll "put stuff in boxes" so we can take it to Houston.

I think they thought we were going to move into Poppa & Nana's small condo. Now, that would be a sight! (We'd all be insane if that happened!)

We're all excited, and I'm glad I'll be able to help out Mom & Dad as well. Maybe we can find a house with a special padded room for you Mom. :)

Let's Make Mail!

There's fresh excitement in the family! Mandy's husband, Brandon, set up a new mailbox. Immediately, Merikalyn & Nolyn wanted to "make mail" for Nana & Poppa! Now, Nana & Poppa will have to "make mail" too!

Everyone loves getting something other than bills and junk!

Its time you learn to blog.

Everybody's doin' it mom!

Usually, that's not a statement that would persuade my mom to do anything. In fact, as a kid, I clearly remember her reply.

If everyone jumped off a cliff, would you?

Still, I've learned that blogging is the easiest way to keep everyone up-to-date, and is the easiest way to find out what others are up to (without being too nosey).

So, now it's Mom's turn. I named this blog "Chatty Cathy" after the talking dolls made by Mattel when Mom was a little girl (loooong long ago.....).



Carry on!
-Mandy @ http://mandymom.com/