Cross Deep Fried Twinkie Off Bucket List

We were sitting around Friday talking & JP said he has always wanted to try a Frinkie. So we took them first to the mall to walk around just to stretch our legs & then over to my favorite Hot Wingz place. The deep fried twinkie was everything he'd hope for and more. I had a couple of bites too ~ well worth trying.    Then Amanda said she really wanted to pet some kitties & puppies so instead of going to Corporate America (Petsmart), we visited our local Humane Society & spent 45 minutes there just petting animals. I've never seen Amanda look happier!   While there, one of the ladies there asked Gene to volunteer on Saturday, Dec. 11th to be a Santa Claus at the shelter. They do a fund raiser where people bring in any of their pet animals they'd like to have photos taken of, with Santa, and the proceeds 100% benefit the Benton Franklin County Humane Society. Gene said yes!  It's only a 1-1/2 hour job and I'll go and be his helper. The lady told us  (after Gene said yes) that people bring their chickens, bunnies, rats, and last year they even had a baby wallaby brought in. I saw the photo!

After all that excitement, we came home and JP took a long nap and when Amanda went upstairs to wake him up she slipped & fell down a flight of stairs. Luckily she just has a bruised bum and her toes are a little sore.


We took them to the airport this morning and you are reading the writing of one very sad mama.  I don't think I'll ever be happy saying  goodbye. This last 4 days has gone by way faster than I thought it would but it has been more awesome than I could ever have imagined. I got to know Amanda better and got to have a little alone time with both Justin and Amanda.

So, we're waiting in the lobby at the airport, and this really sweet older lady starts talking to me.  She is dropping her daughter there to fly home to Colorado.  She had the most beautiful smile (she reminded me of my Aunt Elsie in her younger days) and she explained that she and her husband had moved to Tri-Cities 4 years ago when their son died of colon cancer. They wanted to be near the wife he left behind and their two daughters.  When my kids got up to the TSA gate, the tears started flowing like a river. I tried to hold them back but I just couldn't.  That same sweet lady said goodbye to her daughter and she walked right over to me and put her arms around me.  It was the sweetest. most beautiful gesture I've ever experinced from a total stranger and I hugged her back as if I was hanging onto a life-line and told her thank you.  

I can't believe they have been here and are now gone.  We'll be seeing them in about 6 months when they graduate from NAU. I love having something to look forward to.  There's a lot of life between now and May and I intend to savor every minute of it.