SA Bike Show 2009

Bill and I enjoyed a beautiful sunny day at the San Antonio Bike Show held at the Freeman Coliseum yesterday. I haven't been able to ride much due to back/leg pain, but the trip across town allows us a little riding time without having to deal with the consequences of "long trip pain." There were some really good dare devil riders and I tried to get a couple of pictures, but they didn't turn out very well, so no pictures to post. The bike show is a yearly event, and one that we attended last year too. I expect it will be a yearly event for us too.

It was noticeable to both of us that the vendors were fewer this year than last, more proof that the poor economy is affecting all of us. I did get a pair of riding gloves that are sooo cute! That's a requirement for riding gloves right?! I've looked for over a year for gloves that would fit me correctly and had given up finding cute and a good fit, but was finally able to find both.

Also got a great deal on a cool Stainless Mug that has a cowboy embem and Wild Bill printed on it that was refillable all day with Wild Bill Soda...rootbeer, grape, orange, sarsparilla, birch beer, vanilla cream and Diet rootbeer which were all delicious.

Also found a vendor who makes her own jewelry and is very unique...lots of intense colors and most using wood and string.

Afterwards, we met a group of friends at Martha's, a mexican restaurant where we all gather every Saturday night to talk about the week just past and what's coming up. Lot's of fun and laughter! Last night Abbie showed us her first prom dress...so beautiful. Can't wait to see her in it in person!

William's hair cut

Aunt Crystal got to cut William's hair today and she sent me some pictures. Isn't he a handsome boy?! G'pa and I can't believe how much older he looks these days.

He chose the style he wanted!

And Aunt Crystal fulfilled his request!

We can't wait to see you in person!!
We love you!!
I just need to kiss those cheeks :)

Joe's Crab Shack

One of my all-time favorite places to eat is Joe's Crab Shack. On New Year's Day, we did a little shopping at the mall, ate at Joe's and then went to see Quantum of Solace at the big IMAX theater. I don't quite get the IMAX thing, and this wasn't technically an IMAX movie (?), but it sure was BIG and LOUD!!
We realize that now that the kids aren't with us all the time, they may have fogotten how goofy and silly we are and might think we are getting old and senile and maybe they should start making plans (behind our backs of course), to put us in a home or something...so we tried real hard to be on our best behavior and act just old enough AND young enough at the same time.

But hey...when at Joes....you gotta wear the bib!

And then you gotta take pictures to show what a great time you had!

The only down side to having the kids visit, (if you can call it that), is how much we miss them when they go back home...the tousled look when they get up in the morning, hearing "mom" throughout the day, the laughter in the other room when they see something funny on tv, hearing the conversations with their Dad when I'm in the kitchen...then there's the hugs, looking in their eyes and remembering the 4 year old who's eyes sparkled just like that. But in order to not go through the pain and sadness of missing them after a visit, we would have to not have any visits at all, and that will never be an option! It is worth the pain to remember how much we love each other...and remember all of the years, hills and valleys, we've been through together to make us who we are today.

We love you Andy, and can hardly wait for you to visit again!

Andy's vacation

We were so privileged this month that our son Andy chose to spend his vacation with us in San Antonio! He rode back to SA with us after our visit in Arkansas and we had such a good time with him.

Laura and Andy in front of the USS Lexington Aircraft Carrier on Corpus Christie Beach

Andy in the cockpit of a plane parked on the aircraft carrier.

Getting the "enemy" in his sight.

DON'T SHOOT....aaagghhhh

Just hanging out, having fun, and glad to be together.

Had to show the shark who's boss...

It was great walking in the sand and surf...picking up seashells and enjoying a beautiful 80 degree day in JANUARY!!

Love to all!!

Master's Degree

One of the highlights, and the first stop on our trip to Arkansas, was attending our son Levi's graduation from Harding Graduate School. He completed a Masters in Business Administration with concentration on Health Care Management. He was one of only 8 students out of the 400+ graduates to maintain a 4.0. He was asked to join Alpha Chi for being in the top 10% of his graduating class. He was also in the Honor Society, Delta Mu Delta. Such an accomplishment! We are so proud of him!

Levi and daughter Carrigan

Gavin and Zeke anxious to see Levi get his diploma.

God has blessed Levi and Laura with unwavering love, support and devotion to one another and their growing family. Laura has shared Levi's vision of getting through school. Even though she absorbed a lot of the childcare responsibilities on her own when he was studying and working...I have never heard one word of complaint or negativism from her. She always lifts him up and speaks highly of him. I am proud she is my daughter-in-law, wife to my son and mother of my grandchildren.

The Carson-King Family
Levi, Laura, Gavin and Carrigan

Motorcycle Tricks

You won't believe the wheelies William can do with this mini-bike his Uncle Dustin gave him! And he's only 6 years old! He may just be a pro some day!! Such concentration. How can a Grandma not just love that sweet face!!

Just please be careful darlin'!!

Locks of Love

For years I have wanted to grow my hair long enough to donate it to Locks of Love the organization that makes wigs and hair pieces for those who are fighting cancer or other illnesses with treatments that cause hair loss. Many of you know that a year ago, my sister, Debra, was diagnosed with breast cancer.....my resolve became even stronger to do this one small thing. I already had grown my hair longer than I'd had it in many years, so I was sure this time I could hold out cutting it until it was the required length.

My daughter-in-law Crystal is a hair stylist, and graciously offers to do her magic whenever we are together to make my tresses look great. This time, she measured, and I had enough length to fulfill the donation requirements!

She cut just above the bands...10 inches!!
Thank you Crystal!!
These go in your name my beautiful survivor Sister!!

Grandchildren...they're the greatest!

We had a fabulous time visiting with our families over the Christmas week, and as much as we love our children, the grandchildren steal our hearts every time they look at us adoringly, reach out to be held, lay their little head on our shoulders, hold our hands or just want to sit next to us. Bill and I loved every minute of it and took every advantage of the time we had with them because we know it has to hold us over until the end of February. Here are a few pictures from our Bentonville Christmas:

Grandpa, Camden and William

Grandma, William and Camden

William ready to open some presents
His Nerf Blaster from Uncle Andy (yes, he likes the peace sign!)
Some army guys, weapons, tanks and trucks
Camden playing

Due to having a really crummy camera, we didn't get any more good pictures, although several people were taking photos and hopefully they will send us some ;^)
Fortunately, Santa found a new camera at the day after Christmas sale, so we'll be ready for our next photo opp.

Here are a few more of William and Camden playing that I took with my phone camera:

Heading North for Christmas

The car is packed, Bill is taking a nap, and I can hardly contain myself until we get on the road to Arkansas!

Our first stop will be in Searcy where Bill and I will be proudly witnessing our son Levi receive his Master's Degree from Harding Graduate School. He has worked so incredibly hard and continued to be an involved husband, daddy and businessman while maintaining a 4.0 GPA. Way to go Levi!! Zeke, Cliff and William are already in Searcy helping them move and attending graduation.

Then Monday we will head a little further north to Bentonville to see the rest of our family. I'm counting on lots of hugs, laughing, stories and probably some tears.

Many of you have been praying for my niece Danielle who was in a very serious accident earlier this week and broke her neck in 3 places. She was released from the hospital today and got to go home!! Praise to God and thank you for your prayers.

Here's my sweet gorgeous niece in the brace she will be wearing for about 3 months:

I'm not posting pictures of the truck she was in...they make everyone cry. We are so thankful she is alive. Again, praise to God!

I'm so excited about being with my children, grandchildren, brothers, sisters, nephews and nieces and their families AND my Dad and Judy! They will be celebrating their wedding anniversary before I get back home.

Mr. & Mrs. Carl Lamp
Merry Christmas to all, and to all lots of love, good health and safe travels!!

Thanksgiving memories 2008

Driving home from Searcy, AR after a fabulous visit Bill and I talked about our visit and I wrote several posts in my head that I couldn't hardly wait to actually put on our blog. The closer we got to home, the more I convinced myself that I wasn't really all that tired...I would get on the computer right away and before the weekend was officially over, our account of the holiday with our family and and brand new granddaughter would be out here for everyone to read!!!

Then my tummy started feeling sort of grumbly...and I thought maybe I was hungry...lunch had been several hours earlier after all. So we ran through Wendy's and grabbed a bite that we could eat on the road as the trip was getting longer and longer. My tummy didn't really like that chicken sandwich too much and instead of grumbling, started making funny noises and sort of jabbing me kind of hard. By the time we drove up in front of the house a couple of hours later, it was twisting like an iron pretzel and I was beginning to perspire. Let's just say I'm probably never going to eat a Wendy's chicken sandwich anytime in the near future...or beef noodle soup from Cracker Barrel (lunch) or a Chili's big mouth burger bites (dinner the night before)....because none of them are good the second time around!

I haven't mentioned yet that Bill was sick pretty much the entire time we were in Searcy, and I finally got him to a doctor on Saturday who loaded him up with medication for upper respiratory and sinus infection. The same day I was able to keep down sips of water, my head and chest started filling up with the same gunky stuff that Bill had...he's such a generous man! Both of us are doing well now though and just have some remnants of the same stuff everyone has with this crazy weather pattern we're having...83 degrees in the afternoon and 4 hours later 39 degrees and sleeting!

On to the good stuff though....here are pictures from Thanksgiving 2008 at Vi Carson's house (Laura's mom). She has graciously opened her home to us for the past couple of years and you couldn't ask for a better hostess or one who makes you feel more like family!

Vi Carson, Levi, Laura, Bill, Laura, Alicia (Laura's sister), Madi (Alicia's daughter)
sorry you can't see Andy
========
Our beautiful, beautiful granddaughter Carrigan!
With her Grandpa
Her Uncle Andy
Grandma with both of her grandbabies


There was lots of football in the backyard with Gavin, Grandpa, Uncle Andy and Daddy

Grandma had a great time getting to know her grandson Gavin a little better!

I loved it
when he
warmed up
to me enough
to take my
hand for
a little walk!!