Trip To Mozambique

March 6, 2019.....Ed and Porter drove us to the airport today. On our flight to Newark, Lee dropped his phone and couldn't find it. Since we were getting ready to take iff, he couldn't get up. There was a male flight attendant in our area so I told Lee to ask him for help. So he proceeds to say ' Stewardess, I've dropped my phone.' I wanted to crawl under the seat.

Our flight to Newark took off late but we still arrived there in time to make our connecting flight. The flight attendant announced that agents would never the gate to assist us in finding out connecting flight. So we got off the plane to be greeted by no one at all. We knew we needed to get to Terminal B but had no idea how to get there. It we after 10 and the terminal was almost deserted.

Life Changes

Hello, friends.  It's been a long time since I've blogged.  So many life changes have taken place.  I don't think I've written anything since before Elsie was born.  Not sure why.

So, most of the changes that impact my life are a result of Ely's ever changing life.  He was in Huntsville working on his Master's degree and working for the police department.  Then, in August, 2012, he was hired by Regions Bank to work in their IT department.  In November, he bought a foreclosure home and proceeded to have a lot of work done on it.  I believe him finally moved to the house in March, can't really remember when.  In September, he got a call from the State Department telling him there was an opening and he had 24 hours to make up his mind and would have to report to DC in two weeks.

I'll never forget that night.  He came over and discussed with Lee and me and we went over the pros and cons.  He had wanted that job for about three years and I think we had all figured it just would never happen.  After much thought, he went in to work the next morning and resigned.  Two weeks later he was living in an apartment in Falls Church, VA provided by the government.

Three weeks into the class there was a Flag Ceremony at the Foreign Service Institute where Ely found out that he would be spending the next two years in Cairo, Egypt.  This was his first choice, so he was very pleased.  Lee and I flew to DC to attend the event.

We got to do some sightseeing while we were there, too.  We toured a couple of the Smithsonian museums.  I think one was Natural History and one was Aviation.  Visiting museums with Lee is not something I really enjoy.  He reads every little placard and it takes forever.  I'm happy to just stroll and look at things and move on.  I guess my most memorable exhibit was the Hope Diamond.  Wow!

Oh, we also visited Mount Vernon.  I had a sinus infection and lost steam pretty early on, so I sat in a rocking chair looking over the river while Ely and Lee toured the whole property.  Maybe I can go back one day and finish it.

Because of his training schedule, he was not able to come home for Thanksgiving or Christmas.  This was the first time he wasn't with us for a holiday.  So, as a Christmas present to myself, I flew to DC the day after Christmas and spent a week with him.

My flight was uneventful, but I waited about 30 minutes for my luggage to show up on one of the six carousels.  I finally was headed over to the baggage office to inquire and there was my suitcase sitting in front of the office.  No telling how long it had been there.  Then I had to go out and get help to get my Smart Pass for the Metro.  By the time I finally got to Ely's Metro stop, the shuttle for his apartment complex had stopped running, so I had to walk.  Ely claims it's only 3 blocks, but I counted 6 and it's all uphill.  Got to the complex, got the key and made my way to his place.  He was in class, so I decided to watch a little tv and nap on the sofa.  Well, I tried every remote control I could find and nothing I did would turn on the tv.  I finally texted Ely to find out what to do.  He called me back to tell me I had to speak to the Xbox in order to watch tv.  So, I did that and it was nice enough to turn on for me.  I think I watched for about 5 minutes before I fell asleep.  I was so tired, I didn't even hear Ely come in the door. 

On that first night, we took the Metro into DC and  saw the Christmas tree by the White House and then the one at the Capital.  It seems like we walked for miles and it was very, very cold.  I had some new boots on that day, which, unlike Nancy Sinatra's, were definitely not made for walking.  My feet were killing me about half way through the night.  The next day I found a giant blister on the bottom of one foot. 

Father's Day

Amy and her Boyz and Jenni came over yesterday and we grilled hamburgers.  After lunch, we went to the pool.  Lee was invited, but he didn't want to go.  Jenni worked with Eamon a lot, he is such a little fish.  He would jump off the side of the pool and dive down to fetch the torpedo. He starts swimming lessons today and I think he will do very well.  Jenni is a great teacher and did such a good job with him. 

Brady even loosened up after a while and jumped off the side of the pool into Amy's arms.  He'll probably be a little fish too. 

It's so much fun to watch these boys learn and grow.  They are surrounded by poeple who love them so much. 

Friday & Saturday

I picked the Boyz up from day care and met Ely and Lee at Taziki's for dinner.  Amy joined us shortly.  Ely was in town for a job interview at Regions Bank.  Eamon came home with us and spent the night.

Eamon and I enjoyed the play, although Eamon was a little frightened by the troll (he was a little too scary for little kids, I thought).  We had the opportunity to visit with the actors after the play, but Eamon wasn't interested in doing that.  We all went to Taziki's afterwards, as is our custom, and had a nice lunch.  Eamon had his usual grilled cheese sandwich. 

After the play we went back to our house where Eamon split his time between playing with his cars and trucks and playing outside in the dirt.  He can spend hours digging, sweeping and moving dirt from one part of the yard to the other.  I just sit on the porch and watch and enjoy.  He talks to his imaginary crew almost the whole time. 

Ed and his friend, Patrick, picked him up around 2 to go to a birthday party. Right after they left, I took a nap. 

Three Billy Goats Gruff

Eamon and I are going with my friend, Pat and her granddaughter, Sadie to see Three Billy Goats Gruff at the Children's Theater tomorrow morning.  We've done this several times before.  Sadie is one day older than Brady and they like their 'play' dates.  After the play we will go out to lunch, probably Taziki's, that's where we  usually go.

Hiatus

Well, seems like I've taken a hiatus from my blog the last half a year.  Hard to believe it's been that long.  So many things have happened during that time, I guess each one deserves it's own blog.  Ethel died, I got pneumonia and spent a couple of days in the hospital.  Thanksgiving and Christmas happened.  In January, I got shingles, but I had it almost two weeks before it was correctly diagnosed.  Took a while to get over that.  My brother, Newell, had a stroke in January.  He got very sick at the end of February and passed away in March.  I'm sure I'm leaving some things out and will probably go back and fill in later. 

Things That Make Me Smile

Last week, Amy got some of their winter clothes out of the attic.  Eamon put on one of the hats and asked if Brady had one like it.  Amy told him no, so he asked her if she could get him one.  Then he said, no, call Mama Marie, she'll get him one, she buys me lots of stuff.

Sunday, Eamon was with Aunt Jen and he noticed he was getting holes in the knees of his pants. He told her to call Mama Marie and let her know. 

As we were walking into church on Sunday, we were walking alongside of a lady we didn't know.  In the time it took us to walk 10 feet, Eamon had told the woman that his daddy is a fire fighter and he helps people and he plays softball. 

A PIRATE AND HIS PARROT

Eamon wanted to be a pirate for Halloween, so Amy decided Brady should be a parrot.  She tried to get a picture of them sitting or standing side by side, but once again, that attempt was futile.

Oh, those wiggly boys!

Oh, and yes, I made both of their costumes.

A TALE OF TWO FROGS

I bought the Boyz some frog pajamas recently.  They put them on after their baths Halloween night and I asked Amy to get a picture of them together wearing them.  Well, she tried and this is what she got.  Not exactly what I envisioned but by far, much funnier.

 Oops we're missing one.

One up and one down.





One down, one sinking.

Sit up, Eamon.

That's better, but we can't see your face.

Somebody sit Brady up again.

No, Brady, stay on the chair.

This is better, but we can't see Brady's face.

One pretending to be asleep,the other on trying to get away.

Brady still trying to escape.



Hold on to him, Eamon.

Ok, I guess we're done.

A Wedding

Ok, so I haven't posted anything in a long time and I'm trying to catch up, so some of these things will be out of order. 
Last month, Ely was in a wedding.  His friends, Ashley and Jason got married. It was a beautiful Saturday afternoon at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens. 

Ely and his friend, Rachel. 

Walking down the 'aisle'.

During the ceremony.  They little girl is Jason's daughter, Kaylee.

Ely and me

Lee and Ely

Ely looking pretty sharp in his tux.

A fantastic reception followed the ceremony at B&A Warehouse.  It was one of the best I've ever been to.  Food and music were outstanding. 



Brady's Birthday

We celebrated Brady's first birthday last Saturday with a costume party.  Amy had the house decorated for Halloween and had lots of yummy food. I contributed a couple of snake cakes. 

Brady wore the parrot costume I made for him.

Pretty cute,huh?

There was bobbing for apples.

There were balls to jump in.

There were cupcakes.

Another, please.

There was a pumpkin.

A mad scientist.

A poodle and a turtle.

There was a gheko.

A grandma.

A papa

A leapord

The weather was gorgeous and the kids got to spend a lot of time playing outside. 

FUNERAL EXPERIENCE

 

So, I attended a funeral in North Louisiana this week, very sad.  However, I do like to see the humor in situations where ever I go.  In this case, I was struck by the casket flowers that contained deer antlers and turkey feathers.  This is not the exact one, I thought it would be tacky to take pictures at the funeral (yeah, I know when did I start worrying about being tacky.)  Anyway, when I got back home I decided to search the internet to see if this was a one of a kind item of if this is something that goes on in other places.  Voila!  I found one.  Do you find this as strange as I do?

Oh, and there was a picture of a deer on the inside lining of the coffin lid.  I guess this all makes since to someone since the deceased was a hunter and fisherman. 

Note to my family:  Do not put needles, thread, measuring tapes and or fabric in my funeral flowers. 

Memorial Day, 2011

All the kids (except Nick, who had to work) came over for a Memorial Day celebration on Sunday.  Ed went with Lee to Home Depot to get us a new grill, as the old one was falling apart.  When they got back Ed finished cooking a brisket he had brought.  I had fixed a layered salad.  Lee boiled some corn and potatoes with crab boil.  And, we had some baked beans and brownies.  Alan and Kim got back into town from their vacation trip to San Francisco a little while after we ate and joined us with Emily.  She is starting to walk now and Brady is getting ready to crawl.  They are growing up so fast.

Eamon played in the sprinkler.  I bought some cheap thing at the dollar store that fell apart early in the day.  We pulled out a couple of regular lawn sprinklers and one of those did the trick. 

Today we just sort of hung around.  I sewed some.  Ely left around 2 and then Lee and I ran some errands.  Can't believe the weekend is almost over.  Well, at least, it will only be a 4 day work week.

Ely

So, Ely went to Washington DC on Tuesday for the tests/interview for a job with the Foreign Service, his dream job.  Well, he passed and got a conditional job offer.  Next he will have to go through a medical screening and a in depth security check.  The government actually sends agents out to interview Ely and relatives and friends.  People he has come in contact with over the past 10 years.  If all goes well with that, and I can't imagine it wouldn't, he'll be put on a list.  He'll be something like Information Systems Manager, doing IT and communications work in embassies or consulates around the world. 

Initial Foreign Service training would be in DC/Virgina area for 16 weeks.  Then he would have 6 months of additional IT training. Then, he'll be assigned to some country.  His assignments would be anywhere from 1 to 3 years. 

HOLY CRAP!  This is real.  Ely was so shy and timid as a child, it so remarkable to see the man he has become.  Backpacking for 5 months in Australia, backpacking in Europe, sea kayaking in Chile, 500 miles on the Appalachian Trail. 

I'm hoping he gets some nice assignments like Ireland, England, France, Italy.... You know, those places where they don't eat strange food and don't want to kill Americans, so I can go visit him.  He really doesn't care, he's up for anything. 

Church Picnic and other things

Yesterday morning I got up early and did some sewing.  Jenni and Lovie have both asked me to make dresses for them to give as gifts.  Jenni's is for the granddaughter of a co-worker and Lovie's for the bank teller at the bank where she has her account.  I'm making each of them a smocked day gown. 

After sewing for a while, I went to an antique store near the house, that I've never been in before.  Looking for some pictures for my bedroom wall.  They had some fun stuff to look at, but alas, no pictures for me.  Next, I went to Thimbles, my favorite fabric store because they were having a sale on material and some other things.  Got some real cute stuff, including some Cat in the Hat flannel to make jammie pants for Eamon and Brady. 

Next I went to a paint store to find some paint to finish painting my spool holders for my sewing room.  I had started them with a can of paint I've had for years, but ran out before I finished.  They didn't have Dusty Rose or anything except black, red and white.  Then I remembered that I probably bought my paint at Hobby Lobby or Michael's.  I'll try one of those this week.  Probably won't find Dusty Rose again, because it's been quite a while since I bought it, but anything in the pink range will do. 

We watched Brady yesterday evening so that Amy and Eamon could go to a crawfish boil at a friend's house. Ed was at the fire station.  Brady is such a sweet little boy.  Aunt Jen came over and played with him for a while.  Amy said Eamon didn't eat any crawfish, but did eat a piece of 'chicken' (fried alligator!) 

So, today is our church picnic.  Some people probably wouldn't call it a picnic.  We eat our barbecue in the gym and then play bingo in the gym.  My kind of picnic!  No heat, no bugs, no sitting on the ground.  Of course, there are other things going on like the cake walk. And, there are bouncy things for the kids to play in and face painting and some kind of pretend train thing for the kids to ride around on.  Maybe I'll remember to bring my camera and take some pictures.  I know Eamon will be playing hard all afternoon in the bouncy things. 

MORE SEWING

Amy is great at finding things on the internet that she wants me to make. Recently, she saw some t shirts with pictures of dinosaurs on the and kids names like 'Eamonosaurus'. She decided I needed to make some. So here is my version of the 'MamaMarie Osaurus' collection:

Eamonosaurus

Emilyosaurus

Bradyosaurus

DO THEY LOOK ALIKE

People tell me all the time that they think Brady looks just like Eamon. I see it sometimes, but not very much. Amy posted some new pictures of Brady today. So, I went back in her blog and found a picture of Eamon from when he was about the same age, and I'm not seeing that they look so much alike.

So, what do you think?

(Hint, Eamon is the blond.)