Celebrating Family! Benjamin's Birthday, Pam's Birthday, and a Fun Family Friday Pool, Ping Pong, Pizza and Movie Night!

 Wednesday was Benjamin's 33rd birthday!

He came over to the house as soon as he got off work that afternoon so we could take him out for an early dinner at The Catch right here in Irving at Beltline and Rochelle.

Amber, Mike and the kids surprised him by showing up just as we were about to walk in!

It was fun like a party!!!

Their catfish is always good and I'm especially fond of their fried okra!

I tried a different kind of margarita......it was good but I will stick to the regular one and I do prefer frozen!

Trystan brings a smile to my face every time I look at her.

Granddad says he loves to talk to her just to hear what she has to say.

All four of the Grand Bells are great conversationalists!

And they do love their Uncle Ben!!

Thursday I baked a cake for Pamela - Reaoma's daughter and now I claim her, too.

Every year I ask her what kind of cake she wants and this year she requested a Pistachio Crack Cake!

It turned out perfectly and she said it melts in her mouth!

She's soon off to Florida on a birthday vacation - and I hope Hurricane Fred doesn't spoil her plans.

Pam has the gift of making the most of any situation so I know she's going to have fun no matter what!

I was organizing some loose recipes into sheet protectors and a notebook and came across the chicken spaghetti recipe from her mom. Every August for many years, I would take Amber and Ben and we drive down to Rainbow's End to spend a week with Reaoma and Doug.

When Pam gets back from her trip, I'm going to make that for dinner for her.

I haven't been cooking much these days.

We've been eating simple meals with little preparations involved....

as in this open face tomato sandwich with cheese and olives.

While I had this, Louis Dean ate a big bowl of cereal.

For some reason we just aren't hungry for big meals lately.

I drove over to Jesse's late Friday afternoon for a Fun Friday Family Night!

Jesse's physical therapist was there when I arrived. He's doing very well in his recovery and I am so impressed with the way he can get himself up and down the stairs.

All of us were in the pool or playing ping pong when he wheeled himself out to join us.

He took this pic of Amber and Mike and Kailey and Trystan.

Logan and Harrison were at the ping pong table.

I LOVE the hot tub!

Jesse had it all heated up and it was wonderful!

Back when he was growing up here at home, I had a big spa and he and I enjoyed it so much.

We both loved to read and we would take our books out and read and soak and puch a floating bowl of grapes back and forth between us. We went in the spa year round and I remember once it was so freezing cold, our hair froze!

This is my Granddog, Angel and she is so weet.

She stayed close to me all evening and when I went in the spa, she came over and put her paw on my arm. I kind of miss having a dog but I truly love all the Grands from Rufus to Jersey to Angel and now Daisy and Max along with Bandit the cat and Ginger! Speaking of cats, our two are still at the Bells.

I'll be bringing them home before September First. They have such a good time over there and the kids are crazy about them, as are Amber and Mike. I'm glad our 'girls' are such good travelers!

Amber says it takes them about an hour to adjust once they arrive and then it's like they are at their other home. Same way at the ranch. When we bring them home here, I put them in the guest room to adjust for an hour or two and then it's all fine and dandy!

We ordered Pizza after pool time was over and I cut up a watermelon I had brought over.

Normally I salt my watermelon but Leigh Ann had a better idea!

She uses this!

And it was REALLY good!!!

I'm going to get me some of this....and there's also a sauce.

I'll try both!

We all sat around the kitchen table eating pizza and talking.

Here's my handsome son.

He is a coffee connoisseur and I love how HE loves coffee!

Leigh Ann is such an excellent hostess and we all had the very best time!

This is her sweet Daisy. Actually, I think it's Sam's dog but she dearly loves Leigh Ann!

Our Friday night movie!

Winner!!

Amber knows how to pick the movies!

Today I decided to cook a little bit......

as in fried eggs......

and bacon. I wanted to make BLTs but I didn't have any bread.

So I used flour tortillas....and shredded cheese and some chopped Jalapeno peppers....

and lettuce and sliced tomatoes.

Cantaloupe and cucumbers in the middle.

Louis Dean loved it.

It was a little messy to eat so he cut his up like a salad.

We each ate only half and later he added salad dressing and finished it off as a snack.

He's been working outside putting in yet another deck - this time along the east side of the house.

Yesterday we bought 5 deck storage boxes and should be getting all organized before winter comes.

There's a soft golden glow flowing from the sewing room into the dining room and drifting down the hall to the main bathroom. I have my decorations out and am having such a good time dressing the rooms up for Fall. This is my very favorite time of the year!

September is coming!

It's just 17 days away and then I will wake up to September FIRST!! 30 days of September Morns!