Beautiful Wedding - Congrats Lauren and Chris

Our best friends from high school, Badger and Amy, married off their oldest daughter Saturday night. Lauren had always dreamed about her "Cinderella" wedding, and she go it. It was a beautiful outdoor wedding just off the golf course with beautiful flowers and hundreds of rose petals down the aisle. Here is a picture of Pops and Janelle after we got home.

Although Lauren looked beautiful, her little niece Elle tried to steal the show. She was born on Valentine's day. She is so cute and was so good. She was passed around all night and didn't make a sound. Justin loves babies and he had to get his share.
The flowers were so pretty. The cake was so good that I could have eaten a few pieces, but I restrained myself and just had one. Not only was it beautiful, it tasted great. Very moist and gooey. My favorite kind.


Congratulations Lauren and Chris. We wish you many happy years together.

Fireside Pies - Mmmmmmm!!!

I have written about Fireside Pies in the past, but I tried a couple of new things last night. The crab claws were some of the best I have ever had. Yes, crab claws at a pizza restaurant.

They were very meaty and in a garlic butter sauce that tasted like it also had some Parmesan cheese. They were served with Reggiano bruchetta. They were so good, that I have already decided they will probably become my standard meal at Fireside. I will have to have them with the cheese salad. The cheese salad is loaded with several different cheeses and served with a roasted red pepper dressing that is similar to a ranch dressing. The combination is great.

Since we had 3 of the kids with us last night, we got 2 different pizzas. We actually ordered off the menu. We usually create our own. We had the meatball and added sausage and had the "Triple Roni". It is pepperoni with truffle oil and fresh basil. Very good and very rich. We always order our pizzas "easy on the sauce". We like to really taste the different cheese blend and the toppings.

We can not go to Fireside without getting the cheesecake. The absolute best cheesecake I have ever had anywhere. We had the "Market Fruit Pie", which changes. Last night it was strawberry with blueberries with (I think this is right) a raspberry sauce. It has a crunchy topping that tasted almost like sugar cookie dough and was served very hot (actually burnt my tongue) and ice cream. It was a great meal.

Happy Father's Day

I have 3 fathers to be so thankful for on this Father's Day. I am so thankful for my Heavenly Father that I came to know in a special way when I was 13. He has been the perfect example of everything a father should be.

I am so blessed to have my own father. He is 80 years old and probably the Godliest man I know. He is one of the kindest people I know. He never says a bad word about anyone. He is the most disciplined person that I know. About 35 years ago, he quit eating meat and felt so good that he never ate it again. I have never seen him eat a dessert. He still rides his bike several miles a day and runs several miles a day, no matter what the weather is.

At 80, he is still working hard every day at his own business. He is an engineer that designs foundations. I don't think he will ever quit because he is not the type to sit around.

He has been a great example in the way he loves my Mother unconditionally, serves in his church and absolutely loves his 11 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren. In knowing my father for 50 years, I can't ever remember a Sunday that he did not attend church. Not because he "had" to, but because he wanted to. I have always been so proud that he is my Father.



When I was looking for a husband and who I wanted to be the father of my children, the bar was set high. The man would have big shoes to fill. At 15 he might not have looked like he was the ideal candidate, but I knew he was the man for me.

He has more than filled the shoes. His number one quality is that he adores me and loves our children. They are all so proud of their Dad. There is no doubt whatsoever that he is the greatest father they could ever ask for. Even now that they are are grown, they each love to have their one on one time with him. They all consider themselves "his favorite" and his friend.

He has modeled for them what it is to be a great person, husband, father, friend and grandfather. I am so blessed to have him in my life.

I often wonder why God has chosen to bless me the way He has. I could have been born to a poor family in Africa or to a family of non-Christians living in China or India, or I could have been an orphan. Why am I so blessed? I don't have the answers, I just know that I am so very thankful for the people in my life and the life He has given me.

I HATE Geckos

I HATE geckos so much!!! I don't care if they are 1/4 inch long or 14 inches long, I am scared to death of them.

Pops took some people out to dinner tonight and didn't get home until about 10:00 p.m. I was just finishing up the paper and taking it outside to the recycling bin when he came in the garage. He said, "Look what is one your car." It was a BIG FAT gecko. I was about to have a heart attack. He told me to get my camera so we could capture the moment.

After I took the picture, Pops was trying to push it off with the newspaper. It looked like it was trying to get into the cracks of the trunk. I was screaming for him to get it off before it got in the trunk. I hope my neighbors were not asleep because if they were, they aren't now. If it had gone into my trunk, I would never have driven this car again.

This reminds me of how much my sister hates geckos. Whenever she sees them in her house, she sucks them up in the vacuum cleaner. Last summer after sucking one up, she decided to go to the vacuum cleaner store and trade her vacuum in. She wasn't about to keep it. That thing would not die. The store owners made the gecko their pet.

Spike - Update

I have not been able to locate the branola bread I am looking for, but the Spike seasoning came in today. Unfortunately, one of the 12 bottles busted during shipping and there is seasoning everywhere. It was all over the taped box and the packing. A big smelly mess.

I called Amazon and they are replacing the entire order. So instead of 12 bottles of Spike, by Monday, I will be the proud owner of 23 bottles of Spike. If you come to my house I will give you a free bottle.

For those of you wondering what is in it, the bottle says there are "39 flavorful herbs, exotic spices and vegetables with just the right amount of salt." Here is a website for recipes. www.modernfearn.com The only thing I have ever tried it on is the Boo Boo's chicken salad. I guess I better get creative since I have a lifetime supply.

I'm On A Mission

I am pretty crazy. When I decide that I am doing something, I don't stop until it is done, no matter what it is.

There is a sandwich shop in Arlington, Uncle Boo Boo's that makes a great chicken salad sandwich. I have not been in a long time, but I went twice last week. With gas being so expensive and driving an hour round trip to get a sandwich, I decided I would try and recreate it. I am pretty good at doing that. This one has been a challenge.

The sandwich is made on Branola bread (a really sweet smooth wheat bread) with chicken salad, spinach leaves, and mashed up avocado. They have a seasoning on the table called "Spike" that I load on. It is so good.

I can recreate the chicken salad, but I can't find the bread. I have "googled" it and the only thing I can find is that it is served at Jason's Deli. I did not realize that they were the same, but I always order my sandwiches at Jason's on Branola.


I have been to Market Street, 2 Wal-Marts and Kroger looking for the seasoning. No luck. I finally gave up this morning and ordered it on the internet. I don't have a problem doing that, but I had to order 12 bottles. That's right, 12 bottles and I spent $25 on this seasoning.

I better find the bread soon.

Fun Weekend

We are having a fun weekend. Janelle came in Friday night to go to a friends wedding. Pops was teaching the "Nearly Wed" class at church Friday night, so Janelle and I went together.

Saturday, I had to take Janelle to Celebrity for lunch. She always has to make at least one trip when she is in town. Last night, we went with the entire family to Pappasito's. We always love it when everyone is together.

Landrie had a great time playing with her tortillas. At one point, she bit 3 holes in one and put it on her face as a mask. I tried to get a picture, but she was done by the time I dug my camera out of my purse.

I couldn't resist posting this picture of Landrie with Janelle. She has such an adorable smile! So does Janelle :)

Justin helped Pops around the yard yesterday, so we are taking him to Bob's Steakhouse tonight. We went back in August and we didn't like it, but he is dying to try it out. We will see. I will let you know if my opinion has changed. I hope it has.

Schools Out For Summer

I wish I knew how to add songs to my blog, because I would have the song from The Hit Crew, "Schools Out for Summer" playing. For me, that means I am retired from babysitting for a while. Will I see the girls? Yes, probably everyday, but they will just not be my full time responsibility. I get to be "just Lolly" and I love every minute of it.

We went to eat dinner with them Sunday night and I just held and rocked Landrie and loved every minute of it. I can change from disciplinarian mode to Lolly mode really quick. I love Lolly mode.

I'm so excited for a change in pace that I don't know what to do with myself. I have been swimming, shopping, going to lunch and book club. I am going to start volunteering in the office at church next week and we have trips planned to Scotland and Disneyland.

I have also promised Janelle I would make a trip out west to Abilene. It is so hard for me to sit still and drive that long boring drive. She got very creative for my birthday and gave me a gift card to my favorite store in Abilene, Jordan Taylor. She knew that would guarantee I would make the trip.

I am so proud of her. She is officially a senior. She is taking English this summer and will have a light load in the fall and spring. She has a great job and has a job offer with the same employer after she graduates. Since I don't have a single college hour, it is very hard for me to believe that as of next May, all four of my children will be college graduates. I guess that means I am really old!!!