Cypress Weekend

This past weekend we headed south to Cypress to visit Mike, Jill, and the boys.

The days were filled with lots of activities and Mel and I had a great time with the family.

Bright and early Saturday found us on the soccer fields to watch Josh and his team. (Notice the soccer player practicing his winking in this picture.)

Here's Josh about to kick the ball. He had a great game and scored two goals for his team.

Saturday afternoon was spent playing Go Fish, Skip Bo, and Farkel. Can you tell who the winners and losers were in this game?

On Sunday we were off to church and Sunday school. Jill and I went shopping while the "boys" watched football. Then while Jacob and Josh were at Awanas Sunday night, we went out to eat Mexican food. The boys were happy when they arrived home to M&M pancakes Jill had made for them.

Monday came around too fast...Mike was off to work, Jacob & Josh to school, Jill to her gym and we packed to head back to Plano. We did, however, stop by Jacob's newly built school to eat lunch with him before we headed out. We're looking forward to next week when they will all be arriving on Tuesday to spend the holidays with Jill's family and ours.

Big and Tall

In front of the country's largest home - Biltmore.

Overlooking the patio. The picture does not do it justice.


Outside the greenhouse. The orginal landscape architect, Frederick Olmsted, also designed New York's Central Park.


A few miles away is a tall spot. Walking to the top, my lungs were hurting and my breathing was labored, but that only lasted a few minutes. Well worth the little bit of discomfort.

Another breathtaking view.

Halloween with Walter

Yesterday we took a day trip to visit Walter and parents. It was a wonderful time that we spent with the whole family.

Walter clutches his little pumpkin candy container but really did not seem that interested in gathering goodies. He would rather nap. I don't blame him.

Tim and I took turns holding our grandson. Walter certainly was patient with his grandparents passing him back and forth.

It was an unusually warm fall day, so we all took a stroll around the block. The strollers of today are so much better than the ones we had years ago.

With dogs Sydney and River in tow, we all enjoyed our afternoon walk.

We can't wait to see everyone again soon.

Life revisited

Years ago we used to subscribe to several magazines, some of them weekly, most of them monthly. The weekly ones seemed to pile up so quickly and before I could sit down to read an issue, the next one was waiting in the mailbox. Stacks and stacks ... they soon became stuck off in a corner. I always hoped I would get around to reading the back issues but of course I never did. Finally, in a cleaning frenzy, I would scoop them up and toss them in the recycle bin. Or, if I was industrious, I would tear off the address label and run them over to the hospital waiting room for others to enjoy.

There's only one monthly magazine that appears in our mailbox now and only because it's a free subscription. It's a local publication about city events and human interest stories. I got in on the free deal when they first started up a couple of years ago. If they start sending me a bill, I'll drop it.

In my web browsing I ran across an article about Life Magazine ... I remember it well. This monthly magazine stopped publishing in 2000. There's a really nice on-line site where past issues through 1972 can be viewed in full.

In honor of my very recent birthday, I looked up the issue that came out the week I was born. I'm pretty certain Mom read this one in the hospital while she was recovering from her labor.

When you bring up this link, notice in the upper left corner a link where you can browse other past issues. If your birth year is prior to 1972, take a look at what was going on the week you were born. And if you look at any of the issues from the 60's, you'll see why I am so hooked on Mad Men.

A toast...

To our sister

Happy birthday, Peggy

(aka Mimi)

We love you

Tom, John, Chris, Jerry

Las Vegas Wedding

Another happy wedding in '08 for the Barr family. Jared and Chelsey, having dated since high school, were united in marriage on Friday, October 2, 2009, in Las Vegas.

There was a great presence on both sides of the family: grandparents, aunts & uncles and of course a lot of the couples friends from as far back as elementary school going through high school and of course college.

We are greatly appreciative of everyone who took time out of their busy life (OK - so the majority of us are retired, but we know how busy that lifestyle can be) to make the trip to Las Vegas and share in this celebration of love and marriage between two great individuals.

Thanks again to all - as usual in Vegas, no one leaves a winner at the gaming tables. Personally, I broke even - won $5 on video black jack and lost $5 on the penny slots. Not sure about the other family members and their winnings and losses - that's something nobody ever seems to want to share.

Hello Walter

Very early this morning, Walter James came into the world. He is a big, healthy boy - over 9 pounds - with lots of pretty brown hair. Oh, I could write pages about my new grandson, but suffice it to say that I am currently experiencing a new kind of wonderful love.

Mom loves her baby son. Is there any question?

While rocking my grandson, I am wearing the pretty green "Grandma Rocks" t-shirt that Chris and Mel gave me in Wilmington. I hope to be a rocking good Grandmother. I will try my best.