Good Luck Braydon!

Braydon took the Accelerated Learning Lab test today!

It was a full four hours!

His cousin Leigh, who teaches here in Georgia, advised him to take one section at the time!

GOOD ADVICE FOR ANY TASK OR TEST!!

The location was a nearby school, not the one he attends, but one in Saratoga Springs.

Here he is looking all handsome and scholarly!

And here he is looking all SWEET!!!

GOOD LUCK ON THE TEST!!

(PS-Congrats on that spelling Bee)

Chester's Retirement Party

Papa John with his buddy Chester!

Chester is trying to get his glasses, Papa John is preparing to grab them!!

Chester is a Red Lord Amazon, adopted by Charles and Thelma back in the mid 90's.

Chester traveled the nation with them enjoying every minute!!

Chester retired today, was adopted by Daddy's sister Terry who lives in Jacksonville, Florida.

Of course, Thelma is sad to see him go but happy that he will have a great retirement with other birds and younger bird friends.

Mother and Moriah have slowed down but Chester is still flying (literally)

SO... we had a retirement party for Chester! The Jacksonville relatives were coming so we had a as many Blow's as possible over to help us celebrate!!

We used to be *just cousins*, now we are GRANDMAS!!

Cindy, daughter of Terry and Earl (Terry is Daddy's sister)

Brenda (note the flowery halo over the head)

Nancy AKA Cissy, daughter of George (Daddy's brother) and Mary!

Dottie and Bobby Blow (Daddy's baby brother)

Dottie (Bobby) , Mary (George), Terry (Earle), and Thelma (Charles)

My favorite picture, except John took it and somehow managed to leave out MAMA!!

Cindy, Nancy aka Cissy, Brenda aka Honeygail, Terry and Mary!

We had a wonderful celebration, went to Seminole Wind for lunch with NO thought of diet...

returned to Mama's for a LOT of chat, laughter, hugging, loving and sheer joy to be together!!

Mother had some tears for Chester as he was driven away to his retirement home, and surely it will be hard for her until she makes the adjustment of just she and Moriah, but we hope all will be better soon, they will have a quieter, more laid back daily life and Chester's memories will remain smiles! I know we surely appreciate him bringing the Blow family together for a day!!

Daddy would have LOVED the gathering (we told a lot of his funny stories)

THANKS CHESTER!!!!!

ENJOY YOUR NEW HOME!

Meet Jake

Last Sunday we were in our typical pew~ the associate Pastor came to face us in the pew in front of us. He lingered after the morning greeting, finally asked us if we were willing to help him find a home for a miniature schnauzer that he and his wife were no longer able to care for. Of course we agreed, especially in light of the fact that neither he nor his wife are in a good state of health! The next day they came to our house, dropped Jake off with his papers and leash... shed a few tears, and John assured them that we would find Jake a GOOD home!!! (I was at work)

SO...we did find Jake a great home! Ours!!

The Senior Schnauzer Committee held a window seat meeting with Jake, explained to him the house rules, mainly that the new kid on the block was required to entertain the last new kid on the block! (that would be Bonnie, age 1)

Jake is 5 months old, a spry little fellow, checked out great by our vet and is of course the newest member of our family!!

One would wonder if we are slowly becoming a Schnauzer Rescue Center!!

Smiling Frog

We have a frog story that includes my Daddy! Actually we have many frog stories and some rabbit stories, but the FROG in particular has become a beloved representation of the life of Charles Blow. Recently, my first cousin gifted Mother with one of her award winning pictures of a frog. It looks a little like this one, but this one (Thank You Ranes) is SMILING!!

I LIKE!!

Tyson's Valentine!

Tyson's Valentine Creation for the School Wall.

Grandma and Grandpa LOVE it!

I love February because I get valentine cards with candy.

I give valentine cards with candy.

I get to visit my grandmas and grandpas.

My valentine is to my girl friend.

I love valentines day because I get candy.

I love candy because candy is good to eat I think.

I love my family because I get to watch TV

and play with friends, too.

I get to go visit my grandma and grandpa

if it snows on my grandma's and grampa's pool.

~Happy Anniversary Ranes and Heather~

~The Fabulous Five~

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY

RANES AND HEATHER

~ WE LOVE YOU FOR ALWAYS~

Nephew Jonathan and The Winter Olympics!

If you are watching the Olympics these next 2 weeks, look for and cheer on Trevor Marsicano from Ballston Spa, NY. He is our Nephew's (Jonathan Meacham) friend, mentor and "big Brother" from the Saratoga Speedskating club who at age 19 qualified for 4 long tract speedskating events. He is one of the youngest US speedskaters to qualify for the Olympics. I believe the 4 events are men's 1,500 meters, 3,000 meters, and 5,000 meters and the team persuit (relay race). The 5,000 meters race is today, Saturday.

Enjoy!

The pix is from Jan 2009 Lake Placid for the Jack Shea sprints when Trevor was in town training.

GOOD LUCK TREVOR!

South Georgia SNOW

Yeah, I am even laughing at myself for posting our pitiful little snow pics~

You should have been in our house... Blace called (I mean CALLED, not texted~~ a true emergency reason to CALL, not text) ... to tell me it was snowing in Pine Park, about 6 miles east of us. We settled back to watch *Emily of New Moon* ~ happy that she was so overjoyed~ and it began to snow here! I was trying to get a sweater on, grab the camera, call my Mother all at the same time!! Excellent multitasking and a good thing as it stopped not long after it was too dark to do anything but press our noses to the window and watch it slowly change from snow to rain again.

It was so beautiful, feels like a Blessing!

...more Utah snow~

It may have a downside, but from here it looks like poetry in motion!

Thanks Ranes!!

~HAPPY BIRTHDAY JEN~

~HAPPY BIRTHDAY To One Of Our FAVORITE People~

A couple of Jen's favorite people at play!

(red and green tops)

WHAT FUN!