Day in The Park...

Riding one of those things.. She loves all of the bark at the park. Swing Low Sweet Chariot

Keelan and Gates.

This morning, I woke up thinking about a very special friend of mine. My Godmother, Virginia aka NuNus aka Virg. She passed away almost 7 years ago, but my memories of her are fresh and vivid! She had about 50 years on me, but you would not know it. Well, you would know it if you were looking at us, but not if you just were listening to us. She was terrified of storms. One time in college over spring break, my friend and I went and spent the night with her. Sometimes, I wonder if my mom asked her to keep an eye on me when she was out of town. Anyways, Kari and I head over to her house to keep her company during the scary storms. The three of us end up completely toasted, sitting around smoking cigs and gossiping! See mom, how good of a watch dear Virg kept!! ;)

Another time, when I was around 21, I stopped by (she lived on my parent's street) to see how she was doing. She had her car taken away by this time and needed me to run to the store and get her some beer and cigs. OK, no problem! I go pick up a 6 pack and some smokes for my special friend. Later, I was telling mom that I did that, and she informs me that Virginia is not supposed to be drinking, and that her daughters had cleared out all of the booze from her house. OOOOPS! I wonder if Mallie (her daughter was also named Mallie) ever found out about her secret shopper!

She had alzheimers. Heartbreaking. I hate that her last years on this earth were spent like that.

Forever, everytime I would see her she would ask me about my boyfriend. More specifically, did I have one??? No. The answer was always, "no, Virg, I do not have one yet". This always got her riled up. And when the disease started really sinking in, the question came about 10 times per visit. If you know someone that has suffered from Alzheimer's, then you know what I am talking about here.... Anyways, she never got to meet Brandon. When she died, I had been dating him about 3 months. He went with me to the funeral home, to see her before the closed her coffin. That was his only vision of the actual Virg. She would have gotten the BIGGEST kick out of Brandon. She would have loved him, just like the rest of my family loves him. She would have thought he was so handsome (always a big concern for my nonexisitant boyfriend) and she would have LOVED his sense of humor! She totally would have loved that he would buy her beer, and take her for burgers, and protect her in storms.

I get so amazed at the new memebers of my life. I so wish they could know the important members of my life, that have already passed. I get tickled when I imagine the interactions between this best friend and my daughter. She would squeeze her to high heavens!!! I get sad when I think of Gates and Brandon not ever knowing this spirited lady that had such an impact on my life!

Rest in Peace Sweet Virginia!

Could it possibly be inherited??

First, let me introduce you to "Bun-Bun". If you have been around Gates lately, you, no doubt have already met Bun. This smile is on her face each and every time you bring this bunny into view. She wants to take it to the park, from room to room, babysitter, even into the bath, which makes for an interesting bathtime...)
When I show concern about this strong bond between Gates and BunBun, my close friends and family just look at me.....

... and this might be the reason.




This my friends, is "Tubby". My one-eyed, no stuffing left, floppy, falling apart, bunny. I have been unusally attached to this thing for almost 30 years. As weird as it is, I still sleep with it each night, except when I am out of town, because it got sent to the hotel laundry with dirty sheets once. My mom had to call the hotel, and save his life. I was 23 years old....

We have a sick kiddo over here at the Oakley House. Gates woke up this morning with a temperature and a runny nose. I took her in to the doctor, and she has a virus. Most likely it will run its course (via the nose), and she will feel better soon.

The timing of this illness was not very good. Last night, and I hesitate to even write this, Gates ate the grossest thing a kid can eat. That is right, dog do-do. :(
Scrabble has a problem with the rain, and she dropped a little pellet on the floor before she could make it out. Unfortunately, I did not see the pellet until it was coming out of Gates's mouth.
I confessed to the doctor, and luckily she laughed instead of sending me to CPS. She said it is not related.

My grandmother made this sweater for me when I was a baby. I put it on Gates this morning, and it looks like she loves it! ;)

Bathtime is Lots of Fun!

Gates loves her bath. Here she is with her favorite new bath toy. No, not the green frog, the little squirt bottle in her hands.... Go figure. Rinse, Rinse, Rinse my hair!!!

Clayton and Gates

Needless to say, it is rather difficult to capture a photo of these two kiddos together. They are both on the move, and interested in everything! Clayton will be 3 in June, and is already showing Gates the ropes around MawMaw's house. They both enjoyed watching each other tootle around...