Happy Birthday, Madeline Grace

Dear Maddie,
I hope your day has been lots of fun and your little sisters have let you do whatever you want. Happy Birthday.
Love,
Candy

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BUSTER CUSENBARY

HO-HO- HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! I DON'T KNOW IF YOU ARE IN THE CYBER-WORLD BUT IF YOU ARE --- I LOVE YOU AND HOPE YOU ARE ENJOYING YOUR RETIREMENT. JODY

First Day of Kindergarten

Since patience is a virtue that runs in our family, I've been patiently waiting for Amanda to send me the picture of Caden's first day of school, which was on Monday, August 24. It's so hard to grasp the idea that she has started to kindergarten already, but then I've always been a little slow to grasp things - lol! In Amanda's defense, she has been having a rough week as Lance's dear granny passed away over the weekend, so his family has also had to deal with their loss. My heart goes out to all of them. And no, I am not the one who bought Caden the cute outfit with the horses on it.

ATTENTION: DOWDLE REPORT!!!!!

Just talked with Diane and Uncle John is doing just great. They had to be there by 5 AM and, of course, they didn't get to him until 10 AM. He has been alert all day but with spells of dozing. They plan to have him up by 5AM (!!) to start WALKING. ( I remember when Moma had her colon surgery, they had her walk from the recovery room to her room!!!) I know he would love cards and phone calls. Love, Jody

Happy Birthday tomorrow to Brad

We've sure sent up a lot of prayers for you this year. Have a happy day tomorrow and let us hear from you.
Love,
Candy

JOHN DOWDLE'S SURGERY

HEY, EVERYONE!!!!!! JOHN IS HAVING HIP REPLACEMENT THIS MORNING. PLEASE SAY A PRAYER THAT ALL GOES WELL AND HE CAN THROW AWAY THAT CANE. DIANE WILL KEEP US ALL INFORMED I'M SURE

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO LILLY AND HEIDI CUSENBARY

HAPPYBIRTHDAY TO LILLY AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO HEIDI - Your cousins love you sweet girls. Love, Jody

Greetings from Williston,North Dakota!!!!

Hello all!
We are loving it here in Williston. Floyd was given "an offer her couldn't refuse' and we are going to be moving here soon. Mom is going to get custody of our baby, Buzz, since apartment life wouldn't really suit him right now. Mom will move up when housing becomes available.
It's nice here. The town is larger than Graham, but not much. It's got parks for kids everywhere, bike trails, a skateboarding/bike park, ice rink, two movie theaters and more. VERY nice people everywhere and great weather. Yes, it's going to be cold as all get out in the winter,but we'll learn to adjust. I'm scared,nervous, excited and happy about this.
Eden (for now at least) will remain in Irving at DeVry. She is FINALLY employed and is moving to another apartment where she doesn't have to worry about her roomates stealing her food or smoking pot. (yeah, that's not good, is it?) She has made some good friends and is moving in with them and we are please. Eden has also found a church home in Irving and says her Nana would be thrilled.
So, in a couple of weeks, if you know anyone who loves yard sales, send them to 1908 Medora in Graham because we are going to have a massive moving sale where everything MUST go!
I'll send photos of the town when I can.
Love you all.
Keri

Definition of a Good Weekend

The new faucets on the sink.

back spash around the stove

quartz up close and personal

view from the breakfast room. Ta-da!

Steve and I have thought long and hard about updating the kitchen. The first time we looked into it, we really couldn't afford what we wanted, so the project went to the back burner. This summer, we decided it was now or never. We got estimates and asked the right questions this time and found that we could do it! Yahoo! You are all invited to randomly trickle to my house to see my new kitchen. You will not recognize it. The counter tops and sink are amazing, but the best part is Rachel and her decorating gene...not gotten from me. The little touches are the best. Come see.
Another good part about the weekend was the visit from Rachel, Matt and Owen. They arrived Friday night and it was play time all weekend. One particularly satisfying incident was at Atlanta Bread Company for lunch on Saturday. Owen and Rachel had gone to the restroom for dry diaper. I went to the ice machine to start our drinks. When they got to the table, Owen asked, "Mimi?" Rachel pointed me out across the room. He RAN to me yelling, "MIMI! MIMI!" It was wonderful. It made me so happy.
Then today, when I was talking to them on the phone, I told Owen to say Hi to his Mimi and he said, "Mimi." He's never verbally responded on the phone before, so I am just about to bust.
I'll tell you all about the potty later. It's great too...and he's only 19 months old!
Love,
Candy aka proud Mimi

THE ROAD TO NORTH DAKOTA

Hi there all. If you don't already know, Keri and Floyd are on their way to North Dakota, Williston, to be exact. He has been working up there for his company here in Graham and they really like him up there and he really likes them and there is LOTS of work opportunities in North Dakota,, so they asked him to bring Keri up for two weeks to decide if we want to move (yes, where they go, so does the Jody). She called this morning and they were near Valentine, Nebraska. She said it was beautiful with flowers and green, green grass. They will spend the night in South Dakota tonight and then on to Williston. I'll keep you all informed or Keri will, she took her laptop, of course. Oh, got my hand fixed and all has gone so well. No pain and only a little discomfort. I get my stitches out on the 20th. Love to all, Jody

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, EMMA

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, EMMA. HOPE YOU HAD A WONDERFUL DAY. SORRY THIS IS SO LATE. LOVE, JODY

Look how precious this baby is. Steve and I got to spend last weekend with Rachel, Matt and Owen. He is just a delight. I wish I could post a video of the "nekkid" dance. He comes out of the bathroom, newly washed, and runs to the ottoman in the living room. He holds his little fists tight to his chest and stomps his feet really fast. stomp, stomp, stomp, stomp, stomp. It's so funny. The first night at their house, Matt put him to bed about 7:30 and came back into the living room to visit with us. After a little bit, we could hear talking in the bedroom so Matt went to check. When he returned he said that Owen was standing at the end of the bed, facing the door, cheek in fist, looking totally bored as if to say, "I know you guys are having fun without me." Matt rocked him to sleep (poor Matt) and then came back in. Wish I'd heard him first.

He is such a good eater. He'll try anything and likes most things, but the cutest thing I've ever seen is Owen with a bowl of queso at a restaurant. He had his own so he dipped his chip very carefully and ate a small bite...then dipped a little deeper and ate more cheese than chip...then gave up on the chip and dipped his fingers into the bowl and ate the queso straight! Rachel put some fajita chicken meat into the little bowl and he ate it with his spoon.

A new favorite game is traveling in the car with Ba-Bop (Steve) in the back seat. Owen points to the reading light and Steve turns one on. Point to the second one and Steve turns IT on. Says, "Momma, light" and Rachel turns on the two in the front seat. Score! Little fists into the air and held tight in victory. Then reverse the procedure for as long as the car is in motion.

One more story...quit rolling your eyes...We went swimming in the hotel pool on Saturday. Owen was not happy with the t-shirt that he had on and cried until he got to wear the one he wanted. He then took the discards and put them into the drawer and closed it. Ha! I wish Steve would do that!

OH! And Grammie has morphed into Mimi. That makes me very happy. Mimi is what Rachel and Nathan called my mom. It's what you are called, too, isn't it Jody? I don't know if I'll stay Mimi, but it works for now.
Love to all,
Candy

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JIMMIE STEWART!!!!!!!

Hi there, sweetie. I hope you have a super day. If Suzy and Boyd should show up tell her I miss her on the blog and hey, YOU could get on and talk to us. Have a big piece of cake for me. Love, JoAnn

LALA(Aug.2) & GRANNY (Aug.4)

Today I hope I can get all the cousins to share rememberances of these two very, very special Ladies. I talked with Bula yesterday & she said she would love to read these. With Lala - what can you say - she could be so very funny when she wanted to and there was nothing she loved more (except her family!) than a good book. She loved murder mysteries, especially Helen Jackson Braun's THE CAT WHO.... books and the MISS JULIA books. She and I would talk about these characters like they were real people. And she loved the A&E series of NERO WOLFE. Now about Fay Cusenbary -- if you knew her as Granny, Moma Cush, Cushen or Aunt Fay - let us here from you. My favorite story of Granny was one I don't remember but I've heard it so often that I thought I was there and then yesterday Bula told me I was!!! I was just a baby and was at her house early one morning (I was probably crying & Moma rushed down the street to get Granny to shut me up!!) Granny was fixing to go to work and just as she was quieting me the girls (I bet Blanche Repass & Ima Lee Hawkins) honked the car horn coming to take her to work. Bula said she laid me on the dining room table, got her coat, gave me to someone and left. Bula said a little later she heard voices in the living room and the girls were laughing and telling Lala that when they got to work Granny took her coat off and they all just hooted. SHE HAD NO SKIRT ON!!!! She wouldn't come home to get it, just put her coat back on and went to her desk. The girls came and got her skirt. Sooo, what it comes down to is that it was my fault Fay went to work skirtless --- Mr. Crawford and Grandaddy never let her forget it. Another special memory to me is the day Moma, Keri and I went to the rest home to let Granny meet Eden. She was thrilled to see us and we had a lovely visit and she held Eden. When we left, I hugged her and told her I loved her. As we were walking out she said "I love you the mostest!" I didn't know it at the time but those were the last words my Granny would say to me and I treasure that memory so much. So----now, please, on this the "between day" of their birthdays, write a memory or two. Love to all of you! Jody

my hand

Hi to everyone!! I know Keri wrote about my attack from my carpal tunnel but I wanted all to know that I'm to have surgery (everyone go "OHHH!!) on Aug. 12. Dr Dave from Mineral Wells is going to do it (He did my knee and Floyd's carpal tunnel) I was able to see him Thursday in Mineral Wells. He will do it in Graham at the hospital and I'm not getting "up under", just a local. I don't mind being knocked out but it is so hard to get a vein for the IV and I end up soooooo bruised. I hope to be able to watch - I watched Dr. Cawley cut a little cancer (not malignant) off my left arm and was fascinated. We'll see how brave I am this time. So good to hear from all of you who answered Keri blog. Loved it. So anxious to hear about Diane's house. Susan, so glad you're home. Celeste, loved hearing from you and Amanda. I'm glad Candy can paint - I can drip!!! Love to all, Jody