Kristy and Kemp playing!

Part ONE of Kristy and Ashley's last full day with Kemp! They left yesterday @ 12. Such a sad, sad day! But, here is the HAPPY day on Monday morning! I stopped by for a visit. More to come of this fun filled happy day/night before Ash and Kristy flew back Down Under! Kristy, Katie and I all made TONS of pix while they were here so for the next few days I'll be posting pix of the last couple of days b/c I had so many and each were so so special!!! Here are some pix of AUNT KRISTY playing outdoors on Monday morning. It was like a SPRING day, it was so warm and beautiful. God just wanted Aunt Kristy and Kemp to have this day so He sent it just for them! WE MISS YOU AUNTIE KRISTY and MOZZA!

Steak Dinner!

Last night we finally had our STEAK DINNER that Ashley had requested! We had postponed it a little b/c Terry has had that bronchitis . It was unreal! Even Kristy said, "that might be the best steak I've ever had!" Talk about delish! I also fixed some twice baked taters to go with it and a salad. Nothing fancy, just steak/salad and potatoes!  .....We told Ash/Kristy about our visit with Becky on Saturday. It was one of the hardest visits we've ever had. She isn't doing well at all and it broke our hearts to see her that way. Terry went back yesterday and she never even woke up. Praying for our sweet Becky all the time!........We are ALSO sad that our time with Ashley and Kristy is running out!!!!!!!!!!! THey are leaving tomorrow. WHERE HAS THE PAST 18 DAYS GONE?! .......Here's a few shots from last night. We had so much fun! We are soooooooooooo going to miss them!

3 hours at Walmart?

THREE HOURS AT WALMART??????????????Yes, that's what they tell me! HOWEVER< I must admit, I've probably spent 3 hours in there at a time, too! HAHA! Yes, Kristy and Ashley are finishing up shopping before they (and I hate to even mention these WORDS), leave next week! Since Kemp is NOT a shopper, I kept him and let the girls go without me! They went to WalMart and out to lunch and visited with Katie at Lara and a few more errands. Laura was here when they arrived and she got to tell them good-bye, too. Kemp was an angel and he was so so adorable! I was singing and he said, "Stop singing, GranJan!" Now THAT wasn't so adorable, haha!

We shopped till we dropped!

WOW! What a FUN DAY! I picked up Kristy EARLY this morning, and after "a coffee" as Ashley calls it and a quick kiss and fast exit from Kemp---off we went! (Yes, Ashley got to BABYSIT!). We headed FIRST to  Michael's Craft Store! There we breezed thro and looked at crafty things while saying, "WE CAN DO THAT!" Kristy got some cute gifts for her friends there, too! I got some SCRAPBOOK STUFF (can you imagine that?!) and then we quickly ran to COSTCO for our first stop off. There we had a bite of the free muffins/coffee (I know where to go for freebies!) and got PETE to make a CD of Ashley's pictures. Off we went again, in a FLASH! We went to LARA and visited with Katie and Susan and, since no one was in the store, we made lots of pix and acted quite silly (US?!). Then, off around the corner and around the "round about" to ROSS. There, Kristy got some neat picture frames! She was going to swap out her top but the size she needed wasn't there! "NEVER FEAR", I told her, "WE WILL FIND YOU ANOTHER SHIRT TODAY!" Of course, I made good on my promise! But, before we did THAT, off to Circuit City for a super surprise for Nat/Brad (no, I'm NOT telling, in case they haven't given it to them yet). THEN, we met Katie at ROLY POLY for a quickie lunch ---OUTSIDE---(WOW, it was sooooooo nice and warm today!) and waved "toodle loo" to Katie and OFF to see PETE and pick up the pix and OFF again, in the old BLUE BUG around the corner to the RIVERCHASE GALLERIA! We put wings on our feet as we hit the door to J.C. Penney's and from then on it was a foot race to get as much done as possible before Nat got off work! We hit all the TOP SPOTS---American Eagle; Hollisters; Penneys; Forever 21 and finally, when Nat arrived---Victoria's Secret ! NO V.S. in Australia! So, Kristy loaded up on her favorite perfumes!!!! We hugged goodbye after a long and FRUITFUL day of shopping! WHAT GREAT FUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We STILL have some shopping left to do, however and we've got to do it before TUESDAY!

Mardi Gras GranJan style!

We celebrated MARDI GRAS tonight by having Ashley, Kristy, Brad, Nat and Kemp over for dinner! I started fixing RED BEANS AND RICE early this morning and let them cook all day long. I also fixed a fruit bowl and some cheese bread and ham slices. Topped off the MARDI GRAS meal with an ECLAIR CAKE! Yum! I sent the KINGS CAKE home with them for breakfast!!! Terry wasn't feeling too chipper---he has acute bronchitis and had to go to the doctor today! I think just watching Kemp entertain us after dinner made him feel a little better! kemp is GOOD MEDICINE for whatever ails you!

Belated Birthday pix!

(Since Ashley and Kristy have been here I almost forgot to post Terry's b'day photos! Yes, we celebrated it! With his b/day; then our anniversary Feb.13th; Valentines Day and of course Ashley and Kristy's visit---I almost forgot these pix until I found them while printing out from Katie's camera! Yes, these are Katie's photos!)

On Feb.7th, we celebrated Terry's 57th birthday ! Rachel was having a book club party at their house so they couldn't come. Instead,Charles met Terry first for a drink before our dinner. Since I wasn't there, no pix of that! haha!  We had fun eating our favorite food---MEXICAN, of course! Kemp and Lily would not sit down for long b/c they only wanted BIG T to take them to "see the fish" in the huge aquarium!  Terry said, "I had a GREAT birthday!" One reason is b/c he got about 5 bottles of wine! HAHA! Fun night.......

Discovery week-end is over

Another incredible DISCOVERY week-end has come to a close! All the planning work has been worth it! Since I was the "official photographer" here's a few shots from SonDay Live worship service this morning  (yes, I did the altar today!) and then the group pictures following.......

Little Koala!

On Friday, Natalie dropped Ashley, Kristy and Kemp off here (before she had to get to the church) to visit Laura! Laura LOVES Ashley and Kristy! They brought her some adorable little Aussie gifts and she was thrilled. After visiting, all of us (including Katie) went to eat at LOGANS ROADHOUSE! It's a fun place to eat and it doesn't matter if Kemp drops his food on the floor because that's what everyone does! YEP! There is a huge bucket of peanuts and you shell them and then throw the shells on the floor! Of course, Kemp was fascinated by that! HAHA!  Kristy got a chicken sandwich; Katie split chicken fingers/fries with Kemp and Ashley and I both got the loaded potatoes! Of course, THE BIG HOT FAT YEAST ROLLS were incredibly delicious as well!! THANK YOU KRISTY for a wonderful lunch! (she generously bought lunch!). They brought rolls, TWICE! Notice the "peanut shells on the floor pix! HAHA). Thankfully, Katie had her little camera in her purse b/c Kristy's CARD WAS FULL! We had to get her another one! Kemp was a perfect little angel ALL DAY! He was great!.....It was SOOOOOOO cold on Friday That Kemp didn't even mind keeping his KOALA ears on the whole time! We left there and that entry is a surprise. More later!

Discovery Week-end

This week-end at Riverchase United Methodist Church is all about the MIDDLE SCHOOL KIDS! Natalie, Katie and Jon have been there all week-end. In fact, Natalie is still there (KT and Jon have finished for the night). It's a great week-end reality GOD check for the kids. I made over a hundred pictures last night of the participants! I won't put their pictures b/c they might not want to have their faces on GranJan's journal, but I did put a few pictures of some that won't care if I put them on! Here's a slight sample of what's going on!

More OZ fun at Michael/Kadie's house

Here's some more shots from Michael and Kadie's house. What a great STEAK dinner complete with green beans, cheesy DELICIOUS  au gratin potaotes, and salad and a special dessert: chocolate chip peanut better cookies made into ice cream sandwiches with vanilla ice cream in the middle! YUM YUM! .......we had so much fun ! Check out Michael and Kadie's beautiful home as well as Miss Lily's adorable bedroom! What a fun night!!!!......I have some more great ones  of yesterday to post later! So, stay tuned

Pied Piper Kristy!

Here is PART ONE from last night's visit to Michael and Kadie's house. I made so many pix, these were just a few last ones on this card so I just loaded them first! ( I have some incredible ones to post , hopefully, later on tonight, if I'm not at the church too long tonight!). MY CAMERA IS AWESOME!!!!! The only "problem" with it is that, since it has more pixels, the cards run out faster! I need to get about a 20 Giga bite! HAHA!..... We had so much fun at Michael and Kadie's. DINNER was incredible! Both M/K can cook! More on that later!But, here's what Lily and Kemp think about KRISTY! She's like the PIED PIPER! A KID MAGNET!!!!!!!!!!!.......Kristy, Katie, Ashley, Kemp and I are going on a special surprise mission this morning! Natalie has to get lots ready for this week-end at Riverchase UMC---DISCOVERY WEEK-END. Katie and I are working it, too! I am the "official" Photographer---over ONE HUNDRED kids signed up, so I'll be busy tonight making photos and printing them out! Katie and Jon are Disciple Group Leaders for the high schoolers and Natalie is one of the ones "in charge"! Thankfully, Brad has his mum/Kristy to help babysit all week-end! HAHA! At least Natalie doesn't have to stay the night like some of them do!!!........Gotta get ready for this mornings visitors who will be arriving in a couple of hours! They want to see LAURA before we head out for our morning adventure!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! FAIR DINKUM!

MIMI gets hug from DOWN UNDER!

Mimi had a wonderful morning! She got a visit all the way from DOWN UNDER!!!! HAHA! Ashley and I went to see Mimi this morning at East Glen for a short visit! She was doing very good and was sitting in the wheel chair the whole time!!! She kept telling Ashley, "you look younger every time I see you!" In fact, she just called me  this afternoon and told me that again! Ashley will love that!!!! Kristy kept Mr. Kemp for us and after we left there we ran through the drive thro at McDonald's and took Kemp a kids meal ! When we got back Kristy and Kemp were outside and his little cheeks were all rosy and Kristy had a hand full of daffodils!  You could tell they had fun playing, see the green paint on his face in the pictures? So cute! And, What a fun day! After Kemp ate lunch, he got his passies and off he went to bed without saying a word! He was happy, full and tired from his wonderful morning with Auntie Kristy! In a little while we're heading over to Michael and Kadie's for dinner! Terry has to miss b/c of that job in Pensacola but Katie and I will be heading that way as soon as she gets home from work! Pat has THE FLU but is feeling better today! (Yes, it is REALLY the flu---he went to the doctor! When PAT goes to the doctor, you know he is SICK!). The flu meds are making him feel better. He dropped by (I stayed about 8 feet away! HAHA) and got some home made soup and washed some clothes. Glad he is feeling better!..Another wonderful day with Ashley and Kristy!!!!! ( and I have a surprise for them tonight---I already have gotten the pictures developed from today and put on CD and got Kristy another CD card so she can make even MORE pictures of her little man!)

BTW, I am using my NEW camera, can you tell?! I love it! the colors are SOOO vivid!

OUR ANNIVERSARY!

Feb.13th, 1971 Terry Charles Fry married Janice Louise Powell!!!! 36 years, 5 kids and 2 grandkids later----here we are! Looking better than ever!! HAHA!.......GUESS WHAT TERRY GAVE ME FOR MY ANNIVERSARY GIFT????????????? Yep, the best pressie I could EVER ask for ! A new Canon Rebel XTi camera!!! I went nuts last night when he gave it to me! Katie had HER camera ready and shot a few pix before we went to dinner (after the TORNADO warnings expired!). Dinner was at FLEMMINGS and was just fantastic! When we walked in they said, "HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!" Guess a "little bird" told them!............Been playing with my new camera all morning---since it's a lot like my old one , just more updated , it's easy for me to figure out!! THANKFULLY! I can't wait to post pix from it! I will take it when I go see Ashley and Kristy after while!............HAPPY VALENTINES DAY EVERYONE!!!! Mine has already been WONDERFUL!

Lily spending the night

Lily spent Saturday night with us. We picked her up from Katie's grandmother's house Sat.afternoon. The service was just beautiful! It was PACKED with so many people coming to give their respects to Clair, Leigh and Lyle. And, the most touching moment was the BAGPIPES! They had a man come play the bagpipes! It was beautiful! They had lots of food! I looked up to see Lily walking through people's legs balancing a glass plate with SHRIMP on it! HAHA! When we left she turned to everyone and said, "BYE!" She was ready to get in BIG T's car and "go to GranJan's house". (It's only MY house!) hahahaha. She wanted to wear Kemp's DINOSAUR pj's that night---not her girly ones! That's unusual b/c she LOVES wearing PINK and girly things! She was so sweet!.............We will see Kristy, Ashley and Brad in a little while! Since Brad's birthday is in JUNE and Ashley can't see him then, we thought we'd go in together and get him a FEB. BIRTHDAY PRESENT! His digital camera is horrible (I know, I gave it to him 3 years ago and it just has never worked right!) and he needs one to make pix of his mum/sissy while they are here! SO, we dont' want to waste any time in getting him a new one so he can start MAKING PICTURES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! SO, they SHOULD be even MORE pictures to share soon!

BRUNCH @ GranJan's with the AUSSIES!

 CHEERS! They're HERE!!! Ashley and Kristy are in the good ole United States of America! Hurrah!!! They came over this morning for brunch! We had so much fun exchanging gifts !  I gave Kristy a USA scrapbook with USA stickers and I got a beautiful koala plate and Australian tea towel and a gorgeous crystal teadrop to hang in the window among other cool things---Aussie note cards,candies, etc. Ashley loved her USA tee shirt, too. It's going to be a wonderful couple of weeks coming up and we just so enjoy each others company and laugh all the time!!!! ........Kemp is already in love with his Auntie K and he follows her around like a little puppy! Lily fell in love with Aunt Kristy, too! Here she is reading Lily's favorite book (and reading it with the RIGHT ACCENT!)---AUSTRALIAN 123! Here's a few shots from this morning's brunch!

P.S. the underwear is a private joke from our last year's visit to Australia! Only David knows for sure! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Ashley and Kristy are coming tonight!

HURRAH HURRAH! FINALLY the day has arrived! Ashley and Kristy are coming---TONIGHT! Actually, they are already in the USA---in California, soon to be HERE! We're all soooooooo excited! I made a few pix of the table that I have decorated for their "welcome brunch" for in the morning! I can't WAIT to see them!.......Terry and I are fixing to leave to go get Lily in Montevallo after visiting with the family. They are having a memorial service for Neel today. We wanted to do something for them so the best thing we could think of is to get Lily and keep her today so that Kadie can be with her family and not have to worry about taking care of Miss Lily. She will probably spend the night so I won't go to the airport with Nat and Brad and KEMP, but Terry is. When we get back from Montevallo I'm going to begin making the breakfast foods for tomorrow. I hope they won't be too tired ! I just can't WAIT to see them and can't WAIT to make a gazillion pix of Kemp and his MOZZA and Auntie Kristy! More to come!!!!!!!!!!

MIMI WORKING OUT!!!!!!!!!!!

Just LOOK at this old crazy lady MOVE! Has she got it going on or what?! Katie and I went yesterday for a visit but spent almost the whole time watching her WORK IT OUT! She was in rare form---making faces like it was hard work and laughing in between! She's a hoot!!! We had fun watching her work at getting better! Who would have thought it 2 weeks ago! KEEP IT UP, MIMI!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dr. Fry on T.V.!

Here is Dr. Fry on t.v. this morning! I wish I had known (I'm going to kill Charles for not telling me sooner or I would've Tivoed it!). I made these off of Mimi's tiny little t.v. set at the Nursing home today! She did AWESOME!!!!!! I was so proud and Mimi got to see her, too!

In Memory of "NANNY", Kadie's grand-daddy

 Neil Smith or NANNY, (as Kadie named her grandfather when she was a little toddler), passed away yesterday afternoon. I have had the privilege to know him for the past 10 years and have so enjoyed being with him during family times with Michael, Kadie and Lily. To Kadie, he was MORE than a grand-daddy. He was like her daddy and she has always had such a special love for him. Oh how he will be missed. He was the LIFE OF THE PARTY when we were all together!!! In fact, he said that when he died, he wanted everyone to have a PARTY and tell jokes and talk about how great he was! He was a MESS! Kept everyone laughing! He especially loved showing Lily his BELLY BUTTON and she would giggle and giggle!!! He loved his family so much and was thrilled when Lily was born. I'll never forget when he saw her in the hospital for the first time! He cried and cried!.....  We will miss NANNY so very very much. I know Lily is too young to remember much about her great-grandfather, but we will always tell her how much fun he was; how he adored her and I just bet Miss Lily will inherit many of her great-grandfather's wonderful traits......Go in Peace, Nanny. We miss you already!

Little doll

We had our LITTLE DOLL spend the night last night. I picked up Kemp at Playschool yesterday and he was soooooo excited that he kept saying, "Go with GranJan in her BLUE car!"  He was so adorable and talks so cute!  One thing he LOVES to do, is to throw every single toy out of Mimi's old toy basket and climb in it himself! He got stuck in there and I made him wait until I got his picture made, of course! HAHA! He was so funny! Of course, he loves watching his videos and DVD's  as he always has! Terry bought him 2 new THOMAS THE TRAIN DVD movies and he loves watching them on the big screen T.V. (Lily loves MISS SPIDER!). Then, he'll get tired of it and want to watch the little T.V. VCR in the kitchen , where I have lots of videos. THEN, after he tires of that, he'll color or play with his JAY JAY's and , now, THOMAS trains! He's a BUSY BUSY BOY! And soooooooo sweet!!! I have missed being with our LITTLE DOLL and it was fun to get my "Kemp fix"!......When he's sitting in the high chair in those pix, Katie is giving him kisses. Now he WIPES THEM OFF! hahahaha