Sunday once more

It's Sunday. I hope you're all dressed up for church and heading out the door right now.

It's a beautiful day here in San Antonio. Enjoy church!

Casey Kleeman

This is Darin's brother, Casey, who is holding Neidon. They were visiting family in Mt. Vernon and got to spoil the kids.

Neidon isn't happy

This is Neidon and his Grandpa Kleeman.

He's not upset with his grandpa, he just didn't enjoy his first swinging experience.

Battle of the Flowers

This is Fiesta week in San Antonio. Tomorrow (Friday) is a city wide holiday, most businesses shut down and it feels like everyone has gone downtown to watch the parades - one on the street and one on the river.

This explanation comes off a website about the Battle of Flowers parade ...

"The Battle of Flowers Parade is the event that launched San Antonio's Fiesta. In 1891, a group of ladies decorated horse-drawn carriages to parade in front of the Alamo, and showered each other with flower blossoms. The Parade was organized to honor the heroes from the battles of the Alamo and San Jacinto."

You can also check out the Parade's own web site here.

What a great place to live! Remember the Alamo!

Dad and daughter

Here is Kaireia with her daddy - Darin.

I'll bet you they went out for pizza.

They look pretty content.

A swinger

Neidon is a real swinger.

He didn't like it at first, but he appears to have warmed up to this new concept.

Those toes look like they need kissing!

Wild dresser

Wow - check this outfit out!

That Neidon is one cool guy.

Seems like Reed had a similar outfit when he was that age. (Although he may deny it!)

Two little peas

Rachel was taking Neidon's 7 month photo like she did with Kaireia - in a standard pose in his diaper.

Evidently Kaireia was missing being in on the action and took off her clothes down to her diaper and jumped in the picture.

Two peas in a pod.

Claustrophobic

Taken at Seaworld on Saturday.

Cindy is only smiling because she is not in this sub but standing next to it. If you know her, she is extremely claustrophobic and she would not get into this machine for any amount of money.

Having fun

Neidon seems to be enjoying playing with Kaireia.

They need to be wrestling on a grandpa's lap!

Easter 2006

Here are Kaireia and Neidon last week all dressed up for Easter.

Can't tell if before or after church - they look very relaxed.

Slow down

After reading an interesting book review, I tracked down and borrowed the same book from my library. It was titled, In Praise of Slowness, and written by Carl Honore.

I must admit, I‚’m a fast-a-holic. When driving, I tend to go faster rather than slower, I tend to speed read my books, I flip between stations when my TV show is on the commercial, and I can't seem to do one thing at a time anymore. This book has made me re-evaluate my values and yes, actually slow down a bit (especially when driving).

I've discovered there is a growing Slow Down subculture out there which essentially promotes quality of life over the amount of things we tend to want to accomplish. In other words, slow down and enjoy life rather than speed by it at 90 miles per hour.

So what does the Bible say of being still, being slow and seeking resting?

‚“Be still and know that I am God‚”, ‚“Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry‚”, ‚“For six days, work is to be done, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of rest‚” and ‚“it is a Sabbath of rest for you, and you must deny yourselves.‚”

Good advice! Give it a try this week ‚– listen more, seek silence and slow down.

Find a good book ...

You've been working hard all week. Maybe you have some tasks to get done around the house this weekend too.

But once they're done, I love to get out a good book and just sit back and relax. Reading is a wonderful thing.

Familiar books are like old friends.

Fiesta 2006

It's the start of Fiesta in San Antonio. Starting today and going through the 31st - parties, parades and drunks spilling beer on you - lots of fun!

Actually there are many fun parts of this event.

So get your cascarones out and start throwing!

And the answer is ...

Another Friday - they sure roll around quick!

Okay - did you answer yesterday's question? Those "babes" were my lovely sisters! 3 out of the 14,572 responses were correct. Better luck next time to the rest of you.

Here are my beautiful grand-kids to bless your Friday. Kaireia and Neidon Kleeman.

Hmmm ....

Who are these red headed babes?

This is harder than the DaVinci code mystery?

Don't let the innocent smile and the sun glasses fool you!

New web sites to check out

PHONE NUMBER HELP
Do you ever have trouble finding a human being for a web site or a company? Go to this web site - Gethuman.com and see if the company is listed here. They can't hide any more!

GAS PRICES
Do you know there is a site which lists the lowest gas prices in your area? Just type in your city and then the words "gasprices.com". For example, for me, I'd type in sanantoniogasprices.com.
I don't think this works for many of the smaller towms, but it does appears most major cities are listed.

However, if you go to automotive.com they do list some smaller cities like New Braunfels.

Bush approval rating

My dad just showed me this chart on the Rush Limbaugh web site. It actually links to the "Heavy Lifting" blog. See how gas prices and Bush's ratings correlate. Pretty fascinating, huh!

Wild thing

It's a zoo out there some days.

The weeks can be kind of crazy.

Just slow down, say a short prayer and get back in there.




As they say, "Sometimes you get the bear, sometimes the bear gets you."
(Whatever that means - it sounds profound until you think about it.)

Happy girl

Put on a happy face.

Here's my big grand-daughter Kaireia.

She's growing up so fast - I wish I could be up there in Missouri to spoil here.

Income redistribution day

In case you're in a good mood. This is our government's Income redistribution day.

Here are some sites to get you upset.

How government spends YOUR money.

People who pay NO income tax is growing!

Who pays taxes?
This chart is frightening - It sure DOESN'T makes me want to earn more.
It also says that the bottom half of ALL earners, in other words - 50% of ALL taxpayers, only pay 3.46%.

So again, why do I call this Income redistribution day!
I feel like we are becoming more socialistic with each passing year.

I hope this makes you angry too.

Morning after ...

Happy Monday morning!

I hope your Easter was as great as mine was.

A wonderful church service (we actually went to 3 services) and then on to my folks for lunch with my sister's family as well.

Back to "reality" and work today.

Have a great week!!

I'm stuffed

Wow - a big Easter feast and I feel stuffed!

I need to just lay back and crash.

I hope your Easter day went terrific!!

Wuest home

I went by our old house in Schertz last week. When we owned it, it was originally white on white, and we repainted it to grey with white trim, with only the screen frames black. Quite a change, huh?

This style is Folk Victorian - the color is??

Saturday

Ahh .... Saturday at last.

Lean back and relax a spell. Enjoy life.

See you at church tomorrow. It's Easter!

Clothes horse

Kaireia is our little clothes horse.

You gotta look good all the time.

You never know who might show up.

Paint the town

It's Friday.

The night we paint the town, I mean out toes!

You gotta look good all the time.

Worn out

It's Thursday and I'm worn out!

We've had several weeks where we have something almost every night of the week.

Neidon has the right idea!

Do you remember pretending as kids? You're all older than me so it is probably too far back.

I'm not sure what Kaireia is pretending here, but Neidon doesn't seem to mind being a part of the scheme.

Caught in the act

I love these photos - he's looking around in the first photo and then realized he's being watched in the second. He looks pretty pleased with himself!

Rachel said he disconnected the cable and they haven't figured out what he did yet.

New Spurs player

My team, the San Antonio Spurs, have looked a little weak the past few games. I heard they're looking to trade Tim Duncan for this new All-Star Rookie.

Let's see if the playing improves. At least he has the looks down.

Dressin' up

It's always great to get dressed up and go to church.

Here are a couple of gals all decked out.

Which is the mother and which is the daughter?

Neidon's first tooth

Yep - you're right. That is a tooth you're looking at on the bottom, right in the middle.

(You may have to click on photo to see better)

Rachel says there is a second one about to come in as well.

Grandkids are great

Good morning on this wonderful Friday.
Here's a new photo of my beautiful grandkids to make your day.
I pray your week has gone well.

Thursday reflections

A great day to reflect back on the week as you wrap it up and head into a weekend.

Here's beautiful Kaireia to cheer you on.

Relaxing

This was taken in February (2006) when Reed flew in for the weekend from Mesa.

He's relaxing with my dad up in New Braunfels at my folks home.

What a great time!

Thank You for This Amazing Day

by e. e. cummings

I thank You God for most this amazing day:
for the leaping greenly spirits of trees
and a blue true dream of sky;
and for everything which is natural
which is infinite which is yes.

(I who have died am alive again today,
and this is the sun’s birthday;
this is the birthday of life and love and wings:
and of the gay great happening illimitably earth)

How should tasting, touching, hearing, seeing, breathing any-
lifted from the no of all nothing-human
merely being doubt unimaginably You?

(Now the ears of my ears awake and
now the eyes of my eyes are opened)

Happy again

Just thinking of you cheers me up!

Crying

Okay - so every moment is not a happy moment.

But hey, it's Monday, so we have plenty of time to get a grip!

It's back to work ...

Well, it's Monday and time to get back to work.

Have you ever noticed that projects are easier when a friend helps?

(Do elephants draw?)

Polka dots

Kaireia loves this polka dot dress. Since she picks out her own clothes most days, it gets picked a LOT!

She appears to be having a great time.

Hope you're having a great time as well, wherever you are!

(Have you ever noticed that when I do words in colors, they usually link to a fun and exciting web site?)

Riding through ...

It's the weekend. You got anything fun planned?

Ride on by if you got time.

See you soon.