Make-Up Tradtion a Must!

One of the best traditions a girl could ask for was started over 30 years ago when Grammy took her girls to the store for their own pick of make-up.  With a set budget, we would set off for the best deals, so excited that we got to pick our own stuff!
The tradition continues into the next generation.  My mom still takes her girls to Ulta, gives us a budget, and we scour the store for the best deals on our favorite brands.  Sometimes, we end up with one very expensive brush, and other times we splurge on different styles.  I am not one for much make-up, but this is one of my favorite traditions and I couldn't wait to start this with my own girls.  We now have a few more that join in, but it is always a fun hour at the make-up store!  We met up at Ulta, a budget was given, and the fun began.  Even Jade and Lilly wanted their own bags with lip gloss!  Girls just know what they need!

 

 

Shun-the-Sun Race

One of my "new" hobbies is jogging.  I'm not sure it is really jogging, maybe very fast walking and picking up my feet, but nonetheless, moving quicker than normal.  After working at this new hobby from the approach of "from couch to 5K", I was somehow convinced that I could actually run a 5K race.  Jacque and I entered the Shun-the-Sun Cancer Run.  Jacque entered the 1/2 Marathon and I entered my first official 5K.  It was scheduled for the afternoon, which was very, very warm.  We were given long-sleeve shirts to wear (shun the sun) and I was very nervous about the heat.  However, I had the best cheering squad a Grammy/Mom could ask for!

 

 

I will admit whole-heartedly that it was harder than I thought.  The heat, the shirt, the course...I don't know....but I really thought I was going to have a heart attack!  I had two goals:  One - don't stop!  Two - don't come in last!
ACCOMPLISHED!!

Jacque's race started first, and then my race began....

We waited a little while for Jacque to come in.  She did her best time ever for a 1/2 Marathon!

I cannot believe that this dream became a reality.  Who would have ever thought that AFTER I turned 50, I would start to do things like this??

Memorial Day

I wanted to do something different for Memorial Day this year.  Sunday evening, around 10:00 p.m., I texted Jacque at work and asked her if she wanted to drive down to Tucson with me.  I haven't been to Tucson in years.  For some reason, I needed to remember some special people in my life, my Grammy - Faye Payne, my Grampy - Cleone Payne, and my sister, Sheri Sue.  Jacque agreed to go with me and we had a wonderful day.  We met Grammy and Grampy down in Tucson for some wonderful memories and a little clean-up project.

It was touching to watch my Dad clean the grave of his sweet daughter, Sheri Sue.  She was 4 months when she died of SIDS.  How grateful we are for the gospel and the knowledge, hope, and faith that we will see our sister, a daughter once again.  What a wonderful reunion that will be!

 

I think some of my favorite memories of my childhood centered around my Grammy and Grampy.  Things I remember and make me smile:
  *  Sunday dinners at my Grammy and Grampys, and especially doing dishes with the Fuller cousins - who were notoriously wicked towel flippers!
  *  Spending the night at their home on a weekend.  It was such a treat!  Any walking to the convenience store down the street for a hand-picked treat.
  *  Watching fireworks on the top of their home - with fresh watermelon!
  *  Grampy's little refrigerator at the lot where he sold pop-up tents.  It was always filled with goodies, especially GOX cookies!
  *  Christmas Eve spent at their homes with all the cousins, stacked in beds and staying up all night waiting for the appointed hour to see what Santa brought.
  *  Watching the interaction between my Grammy and Grampy - they loved each other - unconditionally!

 

Afterwards, Grampy treated us to a wonderful lunch at Olive Garden and then we took another trip down memory lane.

Favorite memories:

finally getting my own room (the pink extended part - which was the garage)

jumping over palm prawns and INTO the stickers

Crashing through the window playing flip over the couch with LaNae

lots of walks home from the park

selling lemonade

Santa making "home" visits

We visited our home on 13th Street, the old elementary school, the "bumps", and of course, our Grammy and Grampy Payne's old home. As we drove by this house, I couldn't help but think of a line in a favorite country song:
"Won't take nothing but a memory from the house that built me."
This old house only has good memories for me inside, outside, and all around.  I truly feel blessed to have such wonderful childhood memories!

Jacque and I headed on to the mall for some retail therapy and enjoyed spending a few moments with Jon and Darleen Frost before they headed to Oklahoma City for dental school.

It was a wonderful way to remember our loved ones.  One couldn't go through the day without also thinking of all those who have sacrificed lives and family so we can enjoy the freedoms that we do.  We truly live in the land of the free and the home of the brave!

Happy Birthday Jacque!

This beautiful daughter is turning 24!  Usually, on birthday Sunday, Jacque shares her day with either Chelsey or Lincoln as they have birthdays within days of each other.  This year we missed Chelsey, but Lincoln and Jacque had a blast celebrating cousin-style!

We also celebrated as a family with a fun dinner and great entertainment - Jade and Lilly.

Jacque and Preston

 

Jenny was so creative!  See the 24??

J - Just about everyone that knows Jacque feels her warmth, loyalty, and love
A - Adores her nieces....her cousins...her friends...and her family!
C - Caring and dedicated nurse
Q - Quick to help those she loves in any capacity
U - Unique recipes are indeed "culinary masterpieces"
E - Embraces her beliefs with unwavering faith
L - Loves to capture beautiful memories with a camera
Y - Young at heart and is the cousin that makes games "fun"
N - Needs retail therapy - just like her Mom!!

Happy Birthday Jacque!  We love you!!

New House Warming Party

Jacque worked hard to change her new home to reflect her style.  It's a work in progress she has found out!  Paint colors were the first item on the agenda.  She went from this mustard color:

To this:

Warm tans and greys.  The actual color is closer to the farthest left corner, not the green (camera issues) near the right.
Jacque decided to throw a little house warming party and did it with style, flavor, and lots of fun!

(Savannah's amazing desserts!)