Before.....























During......
















After!
 

Once upon a time, Princess Sandra gave birth to a goddess. This beautiful ruler of all was christened with the name Lillian.
This was thought caused by a spell cast by a magic spell maker by the name of Statistics. Statistics ruled that only one out of three princess shall have a surprise bundle of never ending joy.
The other two princesses thought they would not have the surprise bundles of never ending joy.
But the Most High Savior saw their hearts. He alone could break the spell.

Princess Ashley was the first to break the spell by the power of He Most High. A year had passed.
Her surprise bundle of never ending joy was a woodland fairy in charge of bringing beauty to the kingdom. She christened Annalise.




Now for a commercial break.....Lilly here is saying "My lap" and trying to move Arri to her lap.
Now back to our story.......




The last princess moved out of the kingdom. Saddened that she had not received the bundle of the never ending joy. One year later, Princess Vicky, returned to the kingdom to the delight of the entire royal family. She had been delivered the bundle of never ending joy while on her journey. Christened Arriahna, this bundle was a precious keeper of great light.




These three bundles if never ending joy were destined to be as close as sisters and eventually rule the entire
universe. And of course, be most blessed by Queen Gramma.
And they lived happily ever after.

What a beautiful family they make! 

I was just reading my bog and realized I forgot to make an important announcement!
(Meeting a new grandbaby can do that to you!)

Sandra has kicked Ryan to the curb!
(Good to knw - his mom won't take him in.)
Sandra isn't sad or mad or worried about her decision!
Sandra is just glad to be done with him.

Her goal is:

• get her drivers license
• a car
• find a job
• find cheap housing in Des Moines
• go back to nursing school
• make a very good life for her and Lilly.
• And to do all of this as quickly as possible.

Unfortunately, she has to get her drivers license, a car, a job, and cheap housing in one swoop.
The cheap housing will be the hardest part.
If anyone has contacts or knows of anything - please email me!
It feels like Christmas morning around here.
Sandra is healthy and happy and choosing to act wisely. I have my little girl back!

I was watching the news this evening and a lot of attention it's focused on this cold spell gripping the nation.
I find it rather humorous.
The cold is dangerous. The windchills make it even more so.
There are people without funds for heat, some without homes.
I find it humerous because everyone is freaking out over single digit highs and below 0 lows.

I think I am officially an "old-timer".
I remember late winter, 1982.
We were moving. The actual daytime high temperature was -20. The windchill was a -80. I had more belongings damaged that move then any other. Anything that was plastic, or even had plastic parts, froze and broke as soon as you walked outside with it.
There was also the winter of 1983.
It was around the holidays and the temperatures stayed well below zero for several weeks.
Day and night.
Those are just couple of winters off the top of my head.
(Just to keep the run going 1981 was extremely mild. Practically balmy according to Iowa standards.)

I am using a cane again. The cold affects me very adversely. Arthritis has gripped my entire left side. I have had my left foot/knee/hip act up to this degree. It is a first for the hand to be this bad.

Cold Weather Facts

60 above zero:
Arizonians turn on the heat.
People in Iowa plant gardens.

50 above zero:
Californians shiver uncontrollably.
People in Iowa sunbathe.

40 above zero:
Italian & English cars won't start.
People in Iowa drive with the windows down.

32 above zero:
Distilled water freezes.
The water in Des Moines gets thicker.

20 above zero:
Floridians don coats, thermal underwear, gloves, wool hats.
People in Iowa throw on a flannel shirt.

15 above zero:
New York landlords finally turn up the heat.
People in Iowa have the last cookout before it gets cold.

0
People in Miami all die.
Iowans close the windows.

10 below zero:
Californians fly away to Mexico
People in Iowa get out their winter coats.

25 below zero:
Hollywood disintegrates.
The Girl Scouts in Iowa are selling cookies door to door. (True!)

40 below zero:
Washington DC runs out of hot air.
People in Iowa let the dogs sleep indoors.

100 below zero:
Santa Claus abandons the North Pole.
Iowa get upset because they can't start the Mini-Van.

460 below zero:
ALL atomic motion stops (absolute zero on the Kelvin scale.)
People in Iowa start saying..."Cold 'nuff fer ya?"

500 below zero:
Hell freezes over.
Iowa public schools will open 2 hours late.

This is just a cute shot of Anna
 

Some shots I took of Arriahna and her mommy.


They were over the other night. I got to change a diaper (what a itty bitty butt she has!)
I also trimmed Arriahna nails and got to give her a bottle. She has such a sweet tempermant. You can make her mad, but just as easily soothe her as well.

 

Arriahna meeting 'Gramma'



 

Presenting - Miss Arriahna Taveda, formally of St. Paul.
She is now an Iowan again.
Miss Annalise welcomed her their first day home.

As close as we have to a "Full Monty" shot.

Arriahna looks just like her mommy here.

I might be a bit prejudice, but this is one pretty baby!

MAXINE'S LIVING WILL

I, MAXINE , being of sound mind and body, do not wish to be kept alive indefinitely by artificial means. Under no circumstances should my fate be put in the hands of pinhead politicians who couldn't pass ninth-grade biology if their lives depended on it, or lawyers/doctors interested in simply running up the bills. If a reasonable amount of time passes and I fail to ask for at least one of the following:

glass of wine
chocolate
margarita
chocolate
martini
cold beer
chocolate
chicken fried steak
cream gravy
chocolate
Mexican food
chocolate
french fries
chocolate
pizza
chocolate
ice cream
cup of coffee
chocolate
Chocolate

It should be presumed that I won't ever get better. When such a determination is reached, I hereby instruct my appointed person and attending physicians to pull the plug, reel in the tubes and call it a day.


Ditto.