Chris and Alyona have been looking for a house, and because Austin is such a hot market right now (Alyona said she read or was told 300 people a day are moving to Austin), that every time they saw a house they liked, it was snatched up and gone. Usually after only being on the market a few days. They went to the open house on Sat, they called us and said they really liked the house so Rick and I rushed over and caught the last of the open house. For the money, it is a good house. Great location, especially for Alyona - 20 min from downtown, 20 min from us, and The Domain, Gateway Mall, and Arboretum 5-10 min away. And her fav market, Trader Joe's 5 min away also. Schools are good. They talked about it, talked with their real estate agent, and on Sunday put in an offer. Three offers were put in, and on Tues found out their offer had been accepted. Great excitement.
I have really enjoyed having them here, so I'm already getting sad. Chris said we won't be moving until Oct or Nov (painting, new flooring, kitchen remodel, etc) anyway.
On a happy note, Alyona's parents will be coming for a visit in Oct, so she is quite excited about that, plus maybe time left for her mom to help with some stuff, which her mom likes to do.
But, sob...sob...sob....
Chris said we'll still probably see you a few times a week after the move. So there is that.
Thursday, July 30, 2015
Saturday, July 25, 2015
Gone...sob...sob...
We got up this morning and went for one last swim. Paige and family needed to leave for the airport at 1pm to catch their 3pm flight. Paige and Kincade were doing last minute work on their Disneyworld trip in Sept (Jason, Alyona, and Chris are joining them, but probably not Scott) making restaurant reservations. And packing, of course. (Rick and I are babysitting in Utah for the Disney trip, yippee!!)
Last night Macy started crying and said she was sad to leave. Then on the way to the airport Stella just started sobbing and sobbing, which got Macy crying again. Which got me crying. While they were standing in the skycap line all 3 of us were sniffling and crying. Papaw was feeling a little funny in the back of his throat.
Another year with the ggrrls in Texas finished. This summer has been quite busy, first Easter in Utah, then driving with Chris from Utah to Cedar Park, then Ginger's death and all the sadness associated with that (I remember Barbara saying she didn't want to go to the viewing, she had had enough of seeing her daughter dying and dead, still so heartbreaking) then Paige and her family.
Life is good, and when I'm not crying, I'm happy.
Last night Macy started crying and said she was sad to leave. Then on the way to the airport Stella just started sobbing and sobbing, which got Macy crying again. Which got me crying. While they were standing in the skycap line all 3 of us were sniffling and crying. Papaw was feeling a little funny in the back of his throat.
Another year with the ggrrls in Texas finished. This summer has been quite busy, first Easter in Utah, then driving with Chris from Utah to Cedar Park, then Ginger's death and all the sadness associated with that (I remember Barbara saying she didn't want to go to the viewing, she had had enough of seeing her daughter dying and dead, still so heartbreaking) then Paige and her family.
Life is good, and when I'm not crying, I'm happy.
Friday, July 24, 2015
S'mores
Paige and Kincade bought all the s'mores fixin's; they were delish.
Zoya got all the leftovers, not sure chocolate, marshmallows, and graham crackers are good for a Puggle, but she gobbled them up.
Dog walking
Chris or Alyona take Zoya for a walk every night. I sometimes join and while the ggrrls have been here they love to go also; a few times Paige has walked with us. That first evening the ggrrls wanted to hold the lease and do the walking. We always just pushed Hattie in the stroller, but last night Chris let her hold the leash (which he held also because Zoya is strong for being so little) and she was SO excited. She kept laughing, her eyes sparkled and she thought it great fun. Mostly, she wants to be a big girl and do what she sees the other two doing.
Hattie is also their little naturalist; she loves being outside and doing - walking in the grass, pulling at it and other plants, picking up rocks, feeling dirt, picking up bugs. Or maybe she will be a park ranger. But she does seem to really love nature.
Hattie is also their little naturalist; she loves being outside and doing - walking in the grass, pulling at it and other plants, picking up rocks, feeling dirt, picking up bugs. Or maybe she will be a park ranger. But she does seem to really love nature.
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| Macy |
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| Stella |
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| Hattie |
Lake Travis
Rick and I planned on renting a pontoon boat and taking everyone out on the lake. First, Chris complained because it would be too boring without being able to pull at least a tube and talked and talked trying to get me to change my mind and rent a ski boat. Then Paige and Kincade were only about medium about going. So we cancelled the whole outing. Finally I managed to talk them all into going - but Chris still complained about the lack of a fast moving thing. A jet ski was the answer, which we rented. Everyone had a great time; we were only out on the water 3 1/2 hours, but that is enough sun and water.
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| Kincade Paige |
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| Chris and Alyona |
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| Hattie Macy Stella |
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| Kincade Hattie |
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| Mermaid Hattie |
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| Tied up to the anchored pontoon boat while we all swam |
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| Paige Macy Stella Kincade Hattie |
Tuesday, July 21, 2015
Chris mowing the lawn
I can tell Rick is not feeling too peppy the last few weeks. Tired from the hours at work and stress over shut-down and start-up, or depression over his sister, mom, and dad? I know he would deny the last, but I wonder.
This morning I asked Chris to mow the lawn so Rick wouldn't. This weekend will be when he would have mowed it and I wanted it all done. Chris asked him if he should take over lawn when he first got here 2 months ago, and Rick said no. I'm happy Chris is just doing it.
This morning I asked Chris to mow the lawn so Rick wouldn't. This weekend will be when he would have mowed it and I wanted it all done. Chris asked him if he should take over lawn when he first got here 2 months ago, and Rick said no. I'm happy Chris is just doing it.
Saturday, July 18, 2015
Mall trampoline
My videos and pics of Macy didn't record, so I'll have to get pics from Paige of Macy.
Pool time
Hattie is enjoying her fudge ice cream bar - then easy clean up - just dunk in the pool.
Austin commuter train
On Wed Paige, girls and I rode the commuter train to Rick's (Papaw's) work. It took about 15 min, the train was super clean, and at that time of day, 11:14 am, almost empty. It is the two week shut-down time at Hospira, so we had lunch from a roach coach that comes around because the cafeteria is closed also, fed bread to the moss covered turtles, then rode the train back home. Quite enjoyable.
I told Paige I had never done it so she would have to help me figure out stuff (I had already decided on the times from the schedule), and after I got on Lakeline Blvd instead of Lakeline Mall Dr (which was closed due to construction and was the wrong Lakeline to take anyway) I got to the correct street, but it was all super easy to understand, yet nice to have someone else there when I did it for the first time. And my daughter is so smart and nothing fazes her anyway.
(I think all the Owens kids are smart, all credit to their Dad!!) (Remember I'm the mom and can say things like that.)
Macy and Stella
Hattie and Paige
I told Paige I had never done it so she would have to help me figure out stuff (I had already decided on the times from the schedule), and after I got on Lakeline Blvd instead of Lakeline Mall Dr (which was closed due to construction and was the wrong Lakeline to take anyway) I got to the correct street, but it was all super easy to understand, yet nice to have someone else there when I did it for the first time. And my daughter is so smart and nothing fazes her anyway.
(I think all the Owens kids are smart, all credit to their Dad!!) (Remember I'm the mom and can say things like that.)
Saturday, July 11, 2015
Diaper changin' duty
Friday, July 10, 2015
Little fish
Stella and Macy are turning into little fish, Stella especially since she is the oldest.
She swims along the edge of the pool, and cannon balls into the deep end with her water wings.
Hattie ate a fudge bar sitting on the edge of the pool. She was covered with choc, which we promptly washed off in the pool.
Pics to follow.
She swims along the edge of the pool, and cannon balls into the deep end with her water wings.
Hattie ate a fudge bar sitting on the edge of the pool. She was covered with choc, which we promptly washed off in the pool.
Pics to follow.
Sunday, July 5, 2015
Zoya
It has been quite enjoyable having Christopher and Alyona living here with us.
Yesterday we were in the pool, Zoya also but on the floaty device (she doesn't like to get completely wet, or to swim), Christopher threw a ball out on the grass, Zoya leaped for it, hit the edge of the pool and then climbed out. It looked like she was hurt but then was fine.
Soon they noticed that she was having an allergic reaction and nose, eyes, mouth were swelling. They monitored her, but all ended up being ok.
They will be such good parents.
Yesterday we were in the pool, Zoya also but on the floaty device (she doesn't like to get completely wet, or to swim), Christopher threw a ball out on the grass, Zoya leaped for it, hit the edge of the pool and then climbed out. It looked like she was hurt but then was fine.
Soon they noticed that she was having an allergic reaction and nose, eyes, mouth were swelling. They monitored her, but all ended up being ok.
They will be such good parents.
Friday, July 3, 2015
Memories of Ginger
Rick and I returned last night from the services for Ginger. She passed on June 25. I'm not sure how her husband Brian, and 3 sweet little girls will recover from losing their wife and mother. Ginger is definitely a special person, dedicated to the Lord and to her family. I can't use the past tense because I don't believe in it. She is still alive, just in another place, a place that is all love and in the presence of God.
Ginger has been battling the autoimmune disease that attacked her liver for over 20 years. She received a new liver 15 years ago, had good and bad days and years (mostly good since she was such a positive person, reminds me of my brother Charles), and was able to marry her perfect soulmate, have 3 beautiful, sweet daughters, and loved life.
I remember after one of my mom's surgeries when she was having problems with her medications, I called Ginger and she talked with me about them for a long time, helping me to understand what had happened and what we could do.
The battle Ginger had against the lymphoma 2-3 years ago just really took a toll on her body. As more organs began to fail, she needed more transplants than just a new liver. In and out of the hospital these last few months, finally getting a staph (?) infection from the hospital that went septic throout her body, it was just too much. She was sedated (a medical coma) to allow her body to relax and fight the diseases. Despite prayers and pleadings to the Lord asking for a miracle, it was not to be.
The Visitation was Mon from 4-8. People were lined up at 4pm, and the line was steady and didn't end until 8:45. So, so many people wanted to come and express love and sorrow. So many people came that I said if this many come to the funeral tomorrow there will not be room to hold them. It was delightful but expected to see the impact she has had on so many people. Their church community was amazing. They had been bringing in meals 2-3 times a week for several years. Brian said he hasn't mowed his lawn for 2 years. This is truly the way that church and community is supposed to work. The eulogy given at the funeral service on Tues by one of her pastor's was a wonderful tribute to her love and dedication to the Lord, and to a life well lived. She lives on in her 3 amazing daughters: Mallory 13, Katelyn 7, Christyn 5. Mallory wants to be a pastor (at least for now), a very worthy career goal and reminds me of Ginger. Katelyn has Barbara's beautiful strawberry blonde hair, and Christyn looks like a mini Ginger, right down to the curly curly light brown hair.
At another funeral I heard one of the speakers say that we live to die and die to live (Christie Proctor, speaker was Russ Lefler). I really like that. Yes, as C.S. Lewis so beautifully put it, this is not our final resting station. Our final station is with God. As Jolene said about Charles in an Easter Sunday talk, the Lord created our bodies to die, not live forever in this fallen world. We don't want to be "stuck" here - we want to return to God.
But all this is small consolation to those of us who remain. We want our loved ones with us. We want to be able to call them, see them, talk with them, laugh and love with them. And I guess I will have to talk with Him to really understand His plan that says young children don't need their mothers. Isn't there a better way? I'm not trying to be rude or saying I know better than God. I need to understand this, an understanding that I don't think will come in this life.
Ginger has been battling the autoimmune disease that attacked her liver for over 20 years. She received a new liver 15 years ago, had good and bad days and years (mostly good since she was such a positive person, reminds me of my brother Charles), and was able to marry her perfect soulmate, have 3 beautiful, sweet daughters, and loved life.
I remember after one of my mom's surgeries when she was having problems with her medications, I called Ginger and she talked with me about them for a long time, helping me to understand what had happened and what we could do.
The battle Ginger had against the lymphoma 2-3 years ago just really took a toll on her body. As more organs began to fail, she needed more transplants than just a new liver. In and out of the hospital these last few months, finally getting a staph (?) infection from the hospital that went septic throout her body, it was just too much. She was sedated (a medical coma) to allow her body to relax and fight the diseases. Despite prayers and pleadings to the Lord asking for a miracle, it was not to be.
The Visitation was Mon from 4-8. People were lined up at 4pm, and the line was steady and didn't end until 8:45. So, so many people wanted to come and express love and sorrow. So many people came that I said if this many come to the funeral tomorrow there will not be room to hold them. It was delightful but expected to see the impact she has had on so many people. Their church community was amazing. They had been bringing in meals 2-3 times a week for several years. Brian said he hasn't mowed his lawn for 2 years. This is truly the way that church and community is supposed to work. The eulogy given at the funeral service on Tues by one of her pastor's was a wonderful tribute to her love and dedication to the Lord, and to a life well lived. She lives on in her 3 amazing daughters: Mallory 13, Katelyn 7, Christyn 5. Mallory wants to be a pastor (at least for now), a very worthy career goal and reminds me of Ginger. Katelyn has Barbara's beautiful strawberry blonde hair, and Christyn looks like a mini Ginger, right down to the curly curly light brown hair.
At another funeral I heard one of the speakers say that we live to die and die to live (Christie Proctor, speaker was Russ Lefler). I really like that. Yes, as C.S. Lewis so beautifully put it, this is not our final resting station. Our final station is with God. As Jolene said about Charles in an Easter Sunday talk, the Lord created our bodies to die, not live forever in this fallen world. We don't want to be "stuck" here - we want to return to God.
But all this is small consolation to those of us who remain. We want our loved ones with us. We want to be able to call them, see them, talk with them, laugh and love with them. And I guess I will have to talk with Him to really understand His plan that says young children don't need their mothers. Isn't there a better way? I'm not trying to be rude or saying I know better than God. I need to understand this, an understanding that I don't think will come in this life.
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