Happy Birthday to Frannie!

 Little Frannie Doodle had a birthday this month!  She turned 1 on August 8!   

Now that she's 1, I'm sure all those naughty puppy behaviors will be a thing of the past, right!??? 

 Let's hope so.  Fingers crossed!

Her birthday look!

Like most pups, she has her good days and her extremely naughty days.  Perhaps turning 1 has freaked her out a little and she is determined to remind us that she need and WANTS more attention!

Recently, she tore into a couch cushion from the sofa that is "hers."  Guess since she is allowed on it, she figured she could tear into it.  I did not appreciate all that stuffing on the floor.  Why, oh why, did she think she could eat the stuffing!  One thing I've gotten past is my disgust at having to dig things out of her mouth! 

Just the other day, she decided Rickster wasn't paying enough attention to her.  He is her favorite, by the way!  Frannie has already chewed up a number of pairs of reading glasses.  She crossed the line the other day when she found and starting chewing his new prescription glasses!  She popped out a lens and chewed the frame.  He immediately forgave her and said it was his fault!  What?  Who is he?  Do I even know him??   He took the glasses back to Lenscrafters hoping they could help him.  It was 12 days beyond the one-month timeline - but yay for Lenscrafters, they said they'd take care of it and sent the glasses in for repair!

Maddie and I recently enrolled her in another training class.  First class she was the number 1 student!  Guess we gave her too many treats though as she barfed those up for all to see.  Ewww!  I'm not sure how she'll ever learn to not jump on people.  Go figure - we've learned - Doodles jump and bark!

Her very best attribute is her ability to put herself to bed in the evening.  Every night between 8 and 8:30 pm, she runs into her kennel for bedtime!  

She's gets a few Bacon Bits and sleeps through the night til 7:30.  Good dog! 

We do love her to pieces and take her on lots of walks.  She loves the walk, but hates her leash on-- not sure how we can fix that as we have to chase her around the house to grab her and buckle on the leash.  Any suggestions?

Photo from last fall when she was agreeable to wearing sweaters!

Even though she's getting big, we are still planning on having her wear her turtlenecks for winter -- though we will definitely have to buy a bigger size.

Happy Birthday to Frannie Doodle!

Graduation . . . Finally!

Well, Finally!

It was time for Maddie's graduation from high school!

Only a little more than two months later than originally scheduled.

We were happy that a graduation could and did happen!

It was held at the Pinnacle Bank Arena so that there was plenty

of space for social distancing.  

Of course, we all wore masks.

Maddie and her brothers, Philip and Connor after graduation!

It was really a special celebration of the 2020 Senior Class of

Pius X High School.  

What a crazy, hectic, stressful final semester it was for these amazing students!

Maddie and her friend Hannah.

                        

Oh look -- I got in a photo!  

Hmmm - need higher heels as I am the shortest there!

Catherine and the Littles stayed home because tickets were restricted and

 seating was limited and it was naptime!

We celebrated with them later in the day!

In other news, in a couple weeks, Maddie is starting college at

our community college.  

Exciting things ahead for my girl! 

Another Twin Blast from the Past!

My twin found this news clipping a few months ago and posted it on FB

so I thought you all might enjoy it too!

I know I loved seeing us so young and in the school stairway.

How many times did we go up and down those stairs from 

kindergarten through 8th grade? A lot!

Look at how many sets of twins there were that

year at St. Cecilia's.

Can you find me and Judy?

I remember how much I loved that dress -

it was pink and white!

I just noticed my name was listed first - probably alphabetical!

Otherwise, since Judy was born first, 

we were always referred to as Judy and Janet.

Every single year, the birthday cake said . . . 

HB Judy and Janet!  :)

Did You Know???

Hello Friends!

We are not doing a whole lot or going many places

due to the pandemic and for that reason, I haven't had a whole lot to post about.

Guess it's been a pandemic-influenced blogger's block.

Since I hate a post without photos, I'm putting in a random one.

So, how about some little tidbits of info about me?

Judy and I having a laugh at Tom's expense!

Did you know that I helped my brother deliver Sunday

newspapers when I was a little girl?
Yes - I did!  We got up at 4 AM and my Dad drove us 

to the newspaper joint where Tom put together the Sunday papers.

Then, my Dad drove us along Tom's route and we'd run the

papers to the doors. 

Tom amassed a small fortune from his paper-route!

He paid me Fifty Cents (yes $0.50) to help him.

If it was really cold out, he increased my pay to $0.75 or even $1.00!

He made the decision if it was cold enough for an increase

in wages.

. . . 

It was never cold enough! 

I may have already mentioned this one -- I won a bicycle-safety-riding

contest when I was 8.  I came in second the first year I competed

and then won first prize (an awesome trophy) the next year.

We headed to get ice cream to celebrate.  

Tom climbed over the front seat to the back, 

kicking my trophy and breaking the bicycle right off the top.

Many tears ensued.

It was a huge trophy and my claim to fame!

One day, Tom and my twin sister were in a battle over
something important, I'm sure!

My twin hid under the bed.

Tom figured that's where she was and he jumped on the bed.

It broke -  falling on top of her

and breaking her nose!
My parents were not home.  They were not pleased.

Tom allowed us to go with him to an outside ice-skating rink one time.

We walked (yes, we did) and it was about a mile from home.

I couldn't get my shoes back on after skating, so walked 

home in my socks.  Ouch - I swear a couple toes froze!

And that is why I'm not a huge fan of outdoor winter sports.

One year, I got a Jack-in-the-Box for Christmas.

Tom took it! 

 The photos from that Christmas are

hilarious! 

He's gleefully playing with my Jack-in-the-Box and I'm

sitting there looking very, very sad.

Why, oh why, didn't I punch him and get it back??

 When Maddie was just a little girl, I'd tell her

stories at bedtime of my growing-up years.

She always wanted to hear more about Naughty Tom!

Stay tuned for more installments!

Happy July, Happy Weekend, Happy Independence Day!

Are you all ready for some fireworks??

Bee Balm or Bee Bomb? 
Whatever -- it always blooms around the 4th of July
and reminds me of firecrackers!

The 4th of July weekend has scared me for 

a very long time!

When my sons were young, they were always blowing up

something! 

Every single year, I worried it would be some body part!
Lucked out and all fingers and toes remained intact.

They did start a smallish fire with some

fireworks exploding and torching a table umbrella and

leaving a burn mark on the table one year!

Recycled photo from July 2011!

We've been having super hot and humid weather

in Nebraska and that is a little unusual for so early.

I'm just happy that it's not snowing!

However, you know how I am about my hair!

The humidity is doing a number on it

and I have a frizzy crown of hair when

I get home from my morning walks! 

OY!  Thank God for flatirons!

From 2017!

We're not sure how our puppy Frannie will do with the 

4th of July noise.  So far, it hasn't bothered her.

No worries, I have doggie tranquilizers on hand just in case.

Hmmm - I wonder how those work on humans!!!

Kidding . . . maybe?!?!

From 2013 - maybe?

Hope you all have a safe and Happy 4th
and some yummy S'mores Dip!
These are definitely on my list!

The Grad Walk!

Since the 2020 Graduates 

all had their graduations postponed 

(most likely to late July or August),

our City had a Grad Walk on the 

weekend that the public schools would

have had graduations.

Pius X Colors - Green and Gold

All graduates were invited to wear their caps and gowns and

parade around their neighborhood at  8:20 PM (military time 2020)

so neighbors could hoot and howl and celebrate them

in a totally unexpected way.

Maddie and Mia

Does that sound a little corny?

I believe our Mayor came up with the idea because her

daughter was graduating from high school.

The Mayor got all choked up and teary when she announced

the 2020 Grad Walk!

It was SO. MUCH. FUN!

I got balloons and noise-makers.  Maddie's friend, Mia,

came over to join our block.  There were about 4 other graduates

on Stratford Avenue and it was a blast to see them 

being cheered by all the neighbors!

Maddie and our neighbor, Harrison

Thanks Mayor - that was much

appreciated!

She definitely gets my vote when she runs again! :)

This and That and Whatever

Hello Friends!

Oh my word -- how did it get to be the end of May already?

Sorry to be sooooo slow to update.

Happy to report Mr. Tennis is recovering well from his ailments 

and hospital stay.

Online learning during this covid time

of life and final semester of senior year has been challenging
to put it mildly.
Imagine your final high school semester and all the fun stuff
cancelled all of a sudden!
Meanwhile, teachers loaded on the homework assignments!
Not fun!
But, Maddie focused and finished strong even
with the challenges of at-home learning.
One of the hardest parts (besides the excessive classwork)
was not being able to see classmates and friends.



She really enjoyed the TCA learning which involved half-days at her
home high school (Pius X) and half days at the
community college. She would highly recommend that to any
students who have the opportunity.  Great chance to get out of your
home high school and expand horizons and learning!
Graduation is currently scheduled for early August.
We wish they would have it sooner - like in the football field?
That would allow for ample social distancing!

Our city had a fun neighborhood grad walk last weekend
and I will tell you about that next!

Oh . .. and our pup Frannie has been growing fast!
More about her later too!