2007 April 17-22 Trip to Whigham, with Lora

Day 1: Tuesday, April 17, 2007

We left the home around 8:30 A.M. 

For lunch, we stopped at Burger King. I ordered a whopper, fries, and a Coke. 

I gave Madison half of my sandwich. 

The kids played on the playground equipment at Burger King.

Meadow got excited and bumped her head on the table. 
Arriving around 3:50 P.M. at my son's home in Whigham, Georgia.
We ate peanut butter sandwiches for supper. 

Charity took Dakota, Nevada, and Sierra to ball practice at Boat Basin Park. 

Madison and Marcus went with them. 

Andy had visitation and he will not be home until 8:30 P.M. 

Everyone is watching American Idol. 

Andy is recording it for Charity, she will watch it when she returns from the ball field. 

Montana slept with me in Sierra’s bedroom. 

Lora, Meadow, and Marcus slept in Dakota’s room. 

Madison, Sierra, and Nevada slept in the boy’s room and Dakota slept on the sofa.

Sierra and Madison

Montana would not shut up talking.

I called Ron and asked him when he was coming to Whigham, and he said the second week in May. 

Montana said he did not want to talk to Ron unless he brought his camper, so he could go camping. 

Day 2: Wednesday, April 18, 2007

I heard Meadow and I put her in the bed with me. 
I was talking to Meadow when Andy came into the room.

Meadow can say Andy, and she can say I love granny. 

Later that morning, Lora cooked brownies and a cake. 

Charity made peanut butter icing for the cake.

I pushed Meadow in her stroller and while we were walking behind the church I found a bracelet. 

I went with Andy, He was taking the garbage to the dumpster up the road. We stopped to check on the boys, they were fishing at the lake.  

The boys fishing 

Marcus and Dakota had gotten their clothes wet, including their shoes. 

Before we went to the park we stopped at Wendy’s. Lora and I ordered chili, crackers, and a Coke.

Sierra ordered a cheeseburger with catsups only, and Montana and Nevada ordered chicken nuggets. Charity and Andy went to Burger King they ordered the other kids sandwiches.

Then we went to Bainbridge Park to eat our food. 

It started to rain and the kids thought it was fun playing in the rain. 

I took pictures of the ducks and ducklings that were swimming in the pond.

Checking out the engine

Montana under the umbrella

Resting after the long walk

Feeding the animals

In the park, we stop to see one of the three oldest steam engines left in the world. The kids climbed onboard the engine and the connecting caboose. 
In the park were Civil War canons and war memorabilia. 

There were a few animals in the park, one mule, several emules, and many goats. 

They were fenced in alongside the Flint River. Inside the fenced area was a walkway. 

The walkway went down to the Flint River, the walk was ½ walk there and ½ back. Charity watched Meadow and the rest of us walk down to the Flint River. 

The kids fed the animals. The mule got mad at the other animals and tried to get all the food. 

That night we all went to the children’s church for supper.  The congregation had prepared a spaghetti supper, that included bread, cookies, carrots, & tea. 

After the meal Montana, Meadow, and Lora joined in singing children's songs.

Lora struck up a conversation with a woman at church. The woman told Lora she was a nurse.

Sanjaya Malakar was voted off of American Idol.

Day 3: Thursday, April 19, 2007 

We went to the Governor’s Square Mall in Tallahassee, Florida. 

We arrived at 12:30 P.M. 

Lora was going to meet Gina and her son Wes at the mall.

Wes has the same condition as Meadow and he is going to have his surgery this summer in Chicago, Illinois.

I took pictures of the Old Capitol building when we were stopped at the red light. 

They were something going on there because there were people everywhere with umbrellas. 

They were having a protest against President George Bush. 

I saw a sign that said, “Bush lies and people die.” 

Lora and I ate lunch at the Mediterranean restaurant we both ordered grilled chicken with spices, parsley salad with tomatoes, potato wedges with spices, and a fruit salad of apples, oranges, and pineapple. 

Andy, Charity, and the kids all ordered pizza. 🍕🍕🍕

When we finished eating, we went upstairs to the candy shop and bought some candy. 

Charity went into the children’s store and bought the kids some clothes. 

Lora, Gina, Wes, and Meadow walked around the mall and talked. 

Andy, Charity the kids and I walked around the mall and shopped. 

Charity bought her a handbag in bath and body works and I bought a small bottle of lotion and a nailbrush. 

We browsed in several stores. 

Lora bought Marcus and Madison some New Balance tennis shoes.

She bought Marcus some pants and a new shirt. 

Andy’s kids had ball practice at Boat Basin Park so rode back to Whigham, Georgia. 

For supper Andy grilled pork chops, and chicken. 

Lora made potato wedges and charity made creamed potatoes and peas. After supper, we watched the movie “Aragon.”

We went to bed at 12:00 P.M. 

Montana slept with me and as usual, he talked for a long time. 

Dakota and I rode bicycles earlier today.

Day 4: Friday, April 20, 2007, 

It was cool outside when I took Meadow for a walk so I wrapped her up in a blanket.

We did not stay outside long. 

I put Meadow in the tub with me to give her a bath. 

At 11:00 A.M. we were still trying to decide if we wanted to go somewhere. 

Montana was still asleep at 1:45 P.M. 

I ate strawberries, cake, Cool Whip, and a cheese sandwich with chips. 

One of Lora’s friends called and she was on the telephone for about an hour. 

The kids were playing outside and Meadow and I were sitting in the truck. 

Lora put Meadow in the truck while she was talking on the telephone. 

I wrote in my journal. 

Swinging in Chewhaw Park 

Playing a musical instrument

Going for a ride

We went to Chewhaw Parks in Albany, Georgia

Andy and Charity bought a year pass for the zoo, which covers the whole family for a year, and they can take four guests. 

They can go to several other zoos in the USA at no to little cost. 

At the Wild animal park, we saw cheetahs (4), Colobus Monkeys, Zebras (2), Ranging Lemurs, Black Bears (2), Brown bears, Bison (2), Elks, Bald Eagles (2), Black Rhinos (1), several alligators, several different kinds of snakes in the reptile building, and barnyard animals, pigs, goats, ponies and other barnyard animals. 

We left the zoo and took the kids to the playground area at Chewhaw Park. 

105 Chewhaw Park Roads, Albany, Georgia 31701. 

We ate lunch at Cracker Barrel, in Albany, Georgia. 

I ordered pinto beans, turnip greens, cornbread, and iced tea. 

Andy and Charity went to the LifeWay bookstore. 

That night we watched Spider-Man II and Veggie Tales the story of Ester. 

Day 5: Saturday, April 21, 2007 

I was awakened by Meadow playing at 7:00 A.M. and Montana came to play with her.

I bathed and fed Meadow. 

I ate cereal and a cheese sandwich for breakfast.

At 2:20PM we all rode to Mexico Beach to spend the day.

We looked for over twenty minutes for Sierra and Madison they were riding bicycles.

They were several miles away from home and Andy gave Sierra a paddling. 

Making a sand castle

Playing in the sand

Running from the birds

Look!

We passed through Wewahitchka in the Gulf County of Florida on our way to Mexico Beach. 

We arrived around 5:30 and stayed until 8:30 P.M. We stopped at McDonalds at 10:30 P.M. and we were home by 11:00 P.M. 

I ordered an ice cream and Lora ordered nothing for she had ordered a sandwich at Toucan Restaurant on the beach. 

We stopped at Wal-Mart and I spent $30.00 on snacks and drinks.

I ate two bagels with cream cheese and drank water. 

Day 6: Sunday, April 22, 2007 

I awoke at 7:30 A.M. took a shower, washed some towels, and folded some clothes. 

Meadow was up so I fed her some Cheerios and a banana. She drank three cups of watered-down juice. 

Madison and Marcus went to Sunday school with Andy’s kids. 

I dressed Meadow for church. 

I took Meadow to the nursery.

Lora packed while we were at church, I had packed earlier that morning.

We loaded the truck and went to Pizza Hut for lunch.

I ordered a salad, one breadstick, a cinnamon stick, and iced tea. 

We spent $59.00 for lunch at Pizza Hut.

I gave Andy ten dollars and Lora gave Andy thirty dollars.

We started home at  2:10 P.M. stopping to get gas in Dothan, Alabama. 

Meadow had a stomach ache which made her cry.

 Lora pulled off the road to give Meadow some gas drops for her tummy. 

That did not help so she gave her an enema.

She filled her diaper full of poop and afterward, Lora cleaned Meadow up.

When Meadows's tummy finally settled, we got back on the road and headed home.

We had to stop again at Shoney's for Madison and Marcus to Poop. 

Too much pizza!!!

Peach Park 

We stopped at Peach Park in Jamison, Alabama for some fresh homemade peach ice cream. 

Marcus ordered Blueberry Ice Cream and Madison ordered Vanilla. 

We finished eating our ice cream and walked outside to take pictures and let the kids play.

There were two statue horses that the kids sat on and I made their pictures then we walked up the hill to the park.

Meadow enjoyed the swings.

In the middle of the fountain was a small lighthouse.

There was an RV park for campers.

We were about  ½ to 3 hours away from home.

We arrived at Lora’s at 9:00 P.M. 

Hubby picked me and I was in bed around 10:00 P.M.

✈️✈️✈️2007 May 1, Tuesday, Trip to Shriners Hospital in Lexington KY

Tuesday, May 1, Lexington, KY

Shrine’s Hospital Lexington, Kentucky

We left the Muscle Shoals Airport at 7:45 A.M.  in Bobby's airplane for the second time going to the Shriners Hospital in Lexington, Kentucky.
We are taking Meadow to Shriners via Angle Flights for medical reasons. Meadow had multi-problems.

We arrive at the Kentucky Airport at 9:30 A.M. 

This time I took my camera and took several pictures.
We took pictures of each other wearing the gigantic headphones with a microphone to speak into. 

We had to wear headphones to communicate.
I took pictures of Meadow laughing she was in a jolly mood.
Meadow sat in a seat facing us. Maybe she was laughing because we looked funny wearing the headphones.

I took several pictures of the ground below and the clouds above.

Kentucky

Robert Trent Jones Golf Course

I took pictures of the raging blue/green Tennessee River as it flowed through the Wilson Dam.
I took pictures of the sand pits and the lush greenery at Fighting Joe's Robert Trent Jones Golf Course in Muscle Shoals. We had an awesome view of the golf course from our plane.
I took pictures of one of the tallest buildings in Florence, The Renaissance Tower which is home to 360 Grille.
360 is fine dining with a fabulous view of the Tennessee River.
When we flew over Lexington Kentucky I took pictures of the horse track and stables that were fit for a king.

Meadow strapped in her car seat, laughing
Meadow was dressed in pink from head to toe

Meadow in the examination room I was dressed in yellow just a hint darker than the examination room 

When we arrived at the airport Bobby went inside to get a van to take us to the hospital for Meadow’s appointment.

Meadow was weighed, her head and length were measured and then we were taken to the Penguin examination room.
The examining room was painted a pale yellow with pictures hanging on the wall. A mural window was painted on the wall inside the window was a walrus wearing ear muffs, three penguins wearing caps, a red balloon, and an Owl wearing a red scarf.

Meadow saw Doctor Bennett and he examined Meadow’s bones. Lora talked to Mrs.  Preston about Botox and she said that Botox was a protein made from bacteria.

Lora talked to the doctor about  Meadow getting Botox injections and taking Meadow to Baltimore, Maryland for therapy.
When all the doctor visits were complete we went to the Cafeteria to eat lunch.

We ate pinto beans, cornbread, broccoli, salmon patties, watermelon, and brownies. 

Wearing headphones with a smile

Getting ready to leave

After our meal,  Lora called our pilot Bobby and we were in the air by 1:50 P.M.

It was very hot and humid which caused a bumpy ride home.

Our pilot explained that when the hot air rises it will cause the plane to bounce.
It had been a beautiful day for traveling. 

My daughter is not too keen on flying but she said that she enjoyed this flight. 

I love to fly it is safer than driving.

May 1, 2007 Lexington, KY, Angel Flights

Leave Muscle Shoals Airport (MSL) at 7:45 A.M. 

Arrive at 9:30 A.M. Lexington Kentucky Airport (LEX)

Return Flight

Leave 1:30 P.M. Lexington Kentucky Airport (LEX)

Arrived at Muscle Shoals Airport (MSL)

2007, May 6-10, A trip to Whigham, Georgia with Ron

Saturday, May 5, 2007 

Two of my granddaughters, Hannah and Madison came to our house.I cooked hamburgers, then we all swam in the pool. Both my granddaughters spent the nigh and we watched Pretty Woman on TV.

Day 1: Sunday, May 6, 2007

My husband took the girls home.

Ron came by and picked me up, we went back to his house because he had not printed out the directions to Andy’s.

We left Ron’s house about 9:00AM

We filled up with gas at 43 express.

We were about 15 miles north of Dothan when we stop for gas, drinks, peanuts, and beef jerky.

We stop at Fred’s in South Georgia to get Ron a toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, Doctor peppers, popcorn, nuts, raisins, and mountain dews.

We arrive at Andy’s house at 5:00PM eastern time. Andy's wife had made chili for supper.

Ron and I went to Winn Dixie in Bainbridge for some groceries.

We almost had a wreck when a car pulled out in front of us.  

We ate supper about 6:30PM 

Andy's family was at church.

Later that night when we were watching “Night at the Museum” Nevada sat next to me

I slept with Sierra, Ron slept in Dakota’s room, and Dakota slept on the sofa.

Sierra was reading a book about the “Little Princess.”

Day 2: Monday, May 7, 2007

Andy, Charity, and Ronald went to play golf. I stayed with the grandkids.

The boys wanted to play golf so they got out some old clubs and we went behind the church to play. 

Boys playing golf

Later that day, Montana and Nevada rode four wheelers and Sierra, Dakota, and I rode bicycles.

It was hot and the grandkids were tired so we went inside and they built things with their legos.   

Everyone went to Boat Basin Park for ball games. 

Sierra had a soft ball game, they lost.

Dakota had a baseball game, and his team won

Nevada had a T-ball game, everyone wins in T-ball.

The boys T-ball team was called Syrup Makers and the girls T-ball team was called Syrup Maids.

A boy named Cody joined Sierra, Nevada and Montana in a pretend game of softball. 

We stopped at KFC to get chicken for supper for everyone.

It had been a long day and everyone was ready for bed early.  

Earlier today, I ate bagels, with cream cheese, cheese dip with chili, popcorn, and cookies.

Day 3: Tuesday, May 8, 2007

Sierra, Nevada and I rode bicycles.

On our way to the park, we stopped at the bread store to get day old bread. 

Then we all went to Bainbridge Park, where we could feed the animals. Everyone walked along the one mile wooden bridge to Flint River.

On an empty baseball field we all joined in playing a baseball game against each other.  

Leaving Bainbridge Park

Andy will be grilling tonight so he and Ron are going to Jane’s meat market to buy steaks, pork chops, hamburger patties, hotdogs and then are going to Wal-Mart to buy vegetables. 

Home Run!

Catcher

Tonight is Dakota’s last baseball game.

Day 4: Wednesday, May 9, 2007

Ron, Andy, and Dakota went to play golf at 10:00 A.M. 

Early that morning I rode the bicycle.

While the men were off golfing, everyone else rode to Tallahassee, Florida. Where, we all played miniature golf.

I was trying to take pictures and play miniature golf but the kids played too fast and could not keep up. 

Playing Putt-Putt Golf 

Next we rode to the theater in Tallahassee to see the movie “Ghost Rider” with Nicholas Cage.

Montana sat next to me at the movies but when Nicholas changed into  a man of fire, Montana went and sat in his moms lap.

Montana got up and went to sit with his mom.

At the movies everyone ate a hotdogs and drank a coke.

That night Ron and I watched the movie “Flushed away,” while Andy’s family went to church.

When everyone returned from church, we watched American idol

I went into Sierra’s room and wrote in my journal.

Day 5: Thursday, May 10, 2007

I cooked bacon, biscuits, and gravy for breakfast. 

Andy, Ron, and I ate the breakfast, I cooked. 

Dakota made a batch of cookies and that is what the kids ate. 

Andy, Montana, Sierra, Nevada, and I went to visit Miss Jane.

Miss Jane had two parrots, one of the parrots would bow, and the other would bite.

Jane gave Andy a bag of fresh green-beans and the kids some candy. 

While Andy, Charity, and Ron were at Wal-Mart, the kids and I rode bikes. 

Montana would get way ahead of me and Nevada and I would have to call him back. 

Dakota & Sierra stayed home, Dakota on the computer and Sierra  watching TV.

Later that evening Sierra and Nevada had ball games.

Ron, Dakota,Montana and I did not go to the ball games. 

Dakota went fishing,Ron cooked an onion blossom, and I watch a movie “Night with the King.”

Day 6: Friday, May 11, 2006

Early the next morning Ron and I started for home. 

I was driving, we took an alternate route; it took us to downtown Dothan.

We were home by 2:30 P.M. 

Couple of  grandkids came over to swim, Hannah and Madison. Hannah's friend Katie also came.

Put on my swimsuit and joined the grandkids for a swim. 

2003 Summer Gulf Shores State Park

The summer of, 2003 I rode to Gulf Shores Alabama with my son and his family. 

My son pulled his pop-up camper with his truck to Gulf Shores State Park

20115 State Hwy 135 Gulf Shore, Al 36542 251-948-7275

We parked the truck and camper on the lake on Gator Road. It cost $27.00 per day for four people and $2 for each person over age 6.

Every day we would go down to the state park, public beach and swim and sometimes we would swim in the state park public swimming pool.

At night, we all slept in the camper, my son, and his wife slept on the left side of the camper. My granddaughter and I slept on the right side of the camper and my grandson slept on the table that made into a bed. 

We had a canopy where we put our bicycles, coolers, food that did not have to be refrigerator. We had a cloths line to hang up all the wet cloths and a laundry room to wash and dry cloth. 

There were bathrooms with showers and toilets. 

Our camper did not have these facilities. 

We would use these facilities after swimming and in the morning to get ready.

We would ride our bikes up to the Beach pavilion, which is a facility on the beach that has a unique roof design. 

The pavilion is equipped with picnic tables, bathhouse, and a snack bar. It has two large fireplaces and a boardwalk to get to the beach.

Church actives were going on the week that we were there and the kids took part in the actives everyday.

We visited the Gulf State Park's Nature Center where we saw several exhibits and live animals(snakes, turtles, bats,possums) representing some of the wildlife that can be seen in the park. 
http://www.alapark.com/Gulf-State-Park-Nature-Center

The kids and I rode our bikes, sometimes my son and his wife came along.

Once, while I was riding my bike I put the brakes on too quick and my back wheel went straight up in the air. Another time,when I was riding my bicycle it slid off the edge of the sidewalk. We rode many miles taking various paths and we saw many different types of animals. 

We went to the Navel Museum in Pensacola, FL 
http://www.navalaviationmuseum.org

We went to the Tanger Outlet Shops in Foley, Alabama, where there are over 120 stores.
http://www.tangeroutlet.com/foley 

Address: 2601 S. McKenzle Street Foley, Al 36535 251-943-9303.

We had a week of fun.

1969~ Summer 1969 Killeen, Texas

A new adventure for the family was a trip to Killeen Texas. 

A total of thirteen people traveling in a pickup truck with a camper shell attached to the top of the bed of the truck.

These, included the mother, father their eight children, two grandchildren and a son-in-law. 

The family was taking their daughter and their granddaughter to be with her husband who was station in the army at Fort Hood

The truck was full of everything the family needed to make the trip, food, & clothing.

The daughter had brought several boxes with her.

A full size mattress was placed on the bed of the truck. The father and son-in-law took turns driving only stopping to eat and to use the restrooms.  

The women took care of the children and food. 

Killeen is a city in Bell County Texas, southwest of Waco. Killeen is a ranching, village and is a cotton region, which houses Fort Hood Military Base. 

It is 759 miles, which will take about twelve hours. The family left late in the afternoon which meant driving all night. 

The family had been riding for hours and when it became too dark to see, they all fell asleep on the mattress. 

The father was doing the driving but he felt himself drift off to sleep.

The father was awakened by the honking of a loud horn by someone letting him know he was swaying on the interstate. He was so frighten that he stayed awake the rest of the night. 

There was no video games during this time and the kids had to make up things to do. 

The kids would look at the tags of the cars and trucks to see what state they were from.

Another fun thing was reading billboards. 

Texas is a big state and when the father said we are in Texas the family rejoiced but needless to say they still had to ride several more hours.

The family did not care much for the flat state of Texas with it’s Oil Wells everywhere.

After several long hours on the road the family finally arrived at the home of the son-in-law. 

He lived in a three bedroom trailer outside of the army base. 

The kids could not wait to get out of the truck and stretch their legs.

The food and clothing had to be unloaded and taken inside.

The kids played outside until dark when the mosquitos started to bite. 

That night the smaller kids slept on the floor. The mother and father had one bedroom to sleep in. The two couples with their six months old babies also had a bedroom to sleep in.

They were not kidding when they said the mosquitos swarm like flies and they are big as elephants in the state of Texas.

The next day the family spent a relaxing day swimming in the lake near Belton.

That afternoon the women went shopping checking out all the small shops nearby.

The next day the family loaded into the truck with everyone except one daughter and one granddaughter which they left behind.

They started their twelve hour journey home. No one fell asleep.

The family had a great trip, even though they rode hundreds of miles in the back of a pickup truck and they were bitten by mosquitoes.

Their, father almost wrecked the truck on the interstate. Taking a trip to the big state of Texas. 

All this did not matter to the family because it was a family vacation. So much like the Vacation movies that Chevy Chase made. 

2016 ~ February 15 Monday, Taking Classes at the Apple Store

2016 ~ February 15, Spent day at Apple Store taking Classes

Taking five classes at the Apple Store

8-9 AM dentist Appointment 

We went through the drive through at McDonald's for breakfast. 

I ordered egg, sausage, cheese burritos

My husband ordered egg, bacon, bagel.

We arrived a little after 10AM to begin my classes

I had five one hour classes

My husband dropped me off and he went to see the Ophthalmology

10-11 AM Workshop Appointment: Stay Connected 

11-12 PM Workshop Appointment: Sketch, Draw, and Paint with iPad

I ate lunch at Barnes & Noble of Taco Soup, oyster crackers and cookie.

12:45-1:45PM Workshop Appointment: Create Great-Looking Documents with Pages for iPhone and iPad

2:45-3:45 PM Workshop Appointment: Explore Apple TV

3:45-4:45 PM Workshop Appointment: Perfect Your Photos on Mac

We stopped at Cracker Barrel in Athens for Dinner.

I ordered Pinto beans, turnip greens, onion, chow-chow, cornbread & ice tea.

My husband ordered a big breakfast. 

We came home dressed for bed and was watching the X-Files on TV when my husband got a call-out at work around 8:30PM.

   

At work two of the pumps were not doing the job. Three plumbers were called in to fix the problem. 

I did my CBS, while I waited for my husband to finish the job

We stopped for gas on the way home.
We arrived home around 12:00 by that time the rain had moved out.