Plata Update

We have been busy & are glad that the election is over. Living in a "battleground" state is no fun during election time - with the commercials, phones calls, and people at your door -it gets real old real fast. We are excited that we get to go to the American Indian Inaugural Ball. John's firm bought a table - so we lucked out. So I get to dress up! There are dozens and dozens of Balls that night so every room in town is booked and people are renting their houses/aprtments out for $1000 - $6000 per week, and up. It's nuts.

Allie and Jacob have been super busy. Jacob just had his last soccer game, and he and Allie are now heading into basketball. He again made straight A's in school. His teacher told us at his conference that he could not find anything for Jacob to work on. He is a model student. I wish I could take some credit for that, but that is all Jacob. He is also on the yearbook staff and is again his class rep for student council. Last week he went to Jamestown for a class field trip. He was most impressed with the bathrooms on the bus! He might be a little Einstein, but he is still a kid.

Allie is keeping busy with everything. She takes dance 4 days a week. She is in the school play 2 days a week and is also going to be in the Nutcracker. She is sooooo excited about it. Tomorrow we have to go to a class just to practice putting on make-up! She also made all A's and one B. Her teachers just love her. Her science teacher told us that she can't help but be happy when she see Allie. Her smile is contagious. I agree! She also got two awards this semester for citizenship and English. We are proud of both of them!!!!

John is always busy at work. He always has great stories that are hard to believe are true. He may have to go to Red Lake Minnesota in December - which he is not looking forward to - since its about as far North as you can get without being in Canada. Last week he taught a lesson in Jacob's class about Native Americans. He said it went good, but that they would not stop asking questions. He then realized they were getting out of doing more work if they keep him there a little longer.

I absolutely love my job. I need to go back to school myself so I can have my own class. It is so fun to be around kids again!

Well, Memaw, I hope this is not too much sharing. I sure feel like it is bragging!!! I tried to attach some pics from our trip to the Shenandoah Nat Forest...

Robin

God's Care & Love for me and Randi

Dear Ones--Where is everyone???Summer has zoomed past us now so please let let us know what's happening this Fall--PLEASE--it's not bragging to tell honors for you and kids!!
Returned to Justin the 28th and weather has not been too hot at all--we are having rain today which is a good thing--Randi got all mowing done Saturday so probably not have that ordeal again until Spring--time does fly doesnt it??
This testimony is about yesterday's events--Randi used my car alot while I was gone because it gets such good gas mileage--she was on Interstate a lot--but knew brakes were sometimes making grinding noise, but not every time, as neither of us drive very fast so didnt have a screaching noise. But I decided after a drive Sunday to NE Mall that something should be looked at--she said--its the brake pads that need changing--I said how do youknow??, She said because my Daddy told me and showed me about those things--OK---So when I went to Church Sunday , asked a friends husband if he knew anyone that could do that for me--He said he would be out Monday Morn--he was & took it home to look and found rotors were ground down to metal against metal so took it to Christian Brothers Automotive in Corinth & told him my story and asked if they could do it today!!Yes, and they did back brakes for free bacause they couldnt believe we hadnt had a wreck with the brakes in that shape--!!Praise God for loving us so much--and for the $284 charge --someone paid that!!! Friend said they didnt-- but it has been taken care of so dont worry about it!! Now that is a Praise God for all to think about--Randi started her new job in Frisco School District as Events Planner, and that entails a lot of planning--she really likes that kind of work and is so good at it too!! Keep us in your prayers and know that God does hear prayers.
I hope John will tell of Thanksgiving plans in Belton--everyone give a word about your family--We love you ALL-- MeMaw

Photos From Memaw

Hello everyone - Here are some photos from Memaw's house when the North Texas kids + Emmy were there this summer.

How many kids can you fit in

Memaw's fold out couch?

Mary Emily carrying the boys from Memaw's to nana's. Won't be able to do that many more years.

Gracen and Ceilia singing for all.

You girl's weren't washing dishes were you?

I didn't think so.

Boy's on the computer.

Glad you all got together.

Post more photos of your summer! Love ya!

Finally...I was blog blocked!!

For some reason I wasn't allowed to login to the Round Robin blog and had to get a new invitation from Billie. Weird.

Anyway, I hope all of you received my separate email with the link to all my pictures from the cruise around Italy. It was the trip of a lifetime and I hope you kids don't have to wait until you're 56 to take a trip like it. If you didn't get the link and haven't seen the pictures please email me at randi.davis@verizon.net and I'll send it to you. I took over 300 and narrowed it down to 230 to post on KodakShare. I set up a slide show in the order I took the photos and most have a caption so you can read where we were that day. We left on June 24th and flew to Rome on a charter flight with all State Farm agents and their families. A bus took us from the Rome airport to Civittavechia, the port where the boat was docked. We sailed that evening and when we woke up in the morning we were at a port in Sicily. John and I spent the day in Taormina exploring and shopping and eating gelato - yum! It was so hot and we had packed our swimsuits in a backpack so we stopped at a local beach for a nice swim before we went back to the ship around 4pm to get ready for dinner. Every night was at least a four course meal, delicious! We sailed again while at the dinner table. We looked up to discover we were moving. The ship was so huge we could hardly tell. The next morning we woke up in Malta. The most unbelievable place I've ever seen. We spent the day in Valletta. John and took an excursion called "The Knights of Malta". We learned about the knights who conquered Malta in the 1200's and toured the Inquisitor's Palace and the prison where they kept prisoners waiting for trial. Very interesting. Again we went back to the ship around 4pm to dress for dinner. The next morning we woke up in Dubrovnik, Croatia. Who would have ever thought Croatia was so beautiful. Not me?! We took an excursion into the countryside where we visited a flour mill and enjoyed snacks of dates, figs, procuitto, cheese and bread, wine and local liquers. Then we had time to explore Old Town Dubrovnik which was enclosed with the 80 foot wall. Over 2,000 people inhabit Old Town today. We walked the wall which was 6,300+ feet around the city. It was hot, hot!! We had dinner at a sidewalk cafe and didn't have to return to the ship until 10pm. Lots of fun!

The next day was a "day at sea" while we sailed all the way around the boot of Italy back to Naples. From Naples, John and I took a jetfoil to the Isle of Capri, about a 45 minute boat ride. Then we took the Funiculare up to the heart of the city. We took a bus to Ana Capri and a single chair lift to the very top of the island. It was absolutely beautiful. We had lunch, explored and then went back to the ship. The next day we woke up at the port of Livorno, Italy. John and I took an excursion deep into Tuscany. Our two stops were Siena and San Gimignano. Both were everything I expected to see in Tuscany but more beautiful.

The last day was supposed to be July 2nd leaving again from Civittavechia. As we ate our breakfast and waited for our group to be called to go to the airport, the Captain came on the loud speaker to tell us that our charter plane was grounded in Atlanta with an inoperable radio. So we would have to stay on the boat and the boat would have to keep to their schedule and sail away! Oh darn! The plane was able to catch up to us 2 days later in Malta. I never thought I would see Malta once, but twice in one week?? So cool. Please enjoy my pictures!

I went to see Lollie this last weekend. I took Caleb and Griffen so they could play with Israel. It was blazing hot but between Chuck E. Cheese, video games and the park in the evening we were able to keep them entertained. Perris sang for us and played the piano. That girl has Memaw's musical talent, that's for sure.

So that's my summer so far. I am desperately seeking a full-time job and would appreciate your prayers. It's been very frustrating and discouraging so far.

Love to you all!!
Randi

Queen of the Parade!

Yes, that is Memaw riding in my VBS float in the 4th of July parade. It is suppose to be a roller coaster car. See the painting on the rest of float.

We had a great week, she did registration for me each morning. The kids had a blast, we had 75 and all went well.

We took her to see some of the wild flowers this weekend, as far as she could go before the road gets too rough. The flowers are really beautiful right now. Some photos below, this was a different day, she did not get this far up. This is the same waterfall covered with snow last time. It is also the twin falls pictures on the Coors label.

We are all enjoying the summer since winter comes hard and long. Hope things are going well with you all.

Oh yea, Mary Emily and her friend Carly gave me a surprise birthday party. It was great!

Write Soon!

Pics from NC--WOW

What a nice surprise to look in and find blog from John & family--Pics are just great, thank you sooo much The beach house sounds like its calling me there!!I will start saving now to make that trip next year!! Anyone coming with me???
What good reports from Allie and Jacob--so proud of Allie's award on citizenship and grades--whatta gal!! Jacob all A's are special--I'm sure he served his term on Student Council well this year.
These two weeks with Emmy here have flown by of course--she's at Britt's now with Gracen and I will pick up in a few minutes for her to get packed--she does a real number on getting packed--She did me yesterday and I was amazed how much she got in the bag--I didnt have acess to digital camera but Lollie told me I could go toWalgreens & have them domagic so can send a few pics from some of this trip to TX--kinda like old times to have 6 kids--4 girls and 2 boys over at Randi's--Jeremy said if they not crying or bleeding they were fine!!--some chaperone??
A friend is taking us to Airport in AM about 8--plane leaves at 10;50--arrives Montrose 11;45--sure beats driving--Randi will be home Wed late afternoon. I'm sure she will have news and maybe pics to of Italy
Later, my dear family--Love ya, Mom aka Memaw

Pics from Plata's Vacation in the Outer Banks of NC.

Hey,

We just got back from North Carolina - nicely tanned. We didn't do anything except relax all week - we're recharged. I wanted to post these pics while I was thinking about it. We lucked into a great rental directly on the beach at the last minute & liked it so much we reserved it for next year -same week. 6/21-6/28. It sleeps 18 so we have plenty of room for a crowd, if there are any takers at that time next year. The view from the back porch is in the picture above with Allie standing at the bottom of the steps. There is one of us on top of the Corolla Lighthouse. The pic with the flags in the background is at a restaurant at sunset looking over the sound. The pics of us with the really orange sunrise over the Atlantic are on the beach right in front of the rental. We really enjoyed it & the waves were great for body boarders and lots of surfers. Each morning and evening dolphins by the dozens swam right in front of the house. It's a great spot to relax. No massive condo units, hotels or spring break type crowds - It's all rental homes with large family groups just chillin' out. It's 20-30 minutes from Kitty Hawk and the Wright Bros. Museum & there are good seafood and N.C. BBQ restaurants around.

Allie & Jacob got their final grades in the mail while we were gone. Allie got one B and all the rest were A's. Jacob got all A's. We are so thankful that the kids are doing well in school here - we were a little worried at first about the intensity and high level of competition.

Allie was upset that she received a homework assignment for next year already - first week of summer! She has to read some books off of the reading list and have a PowerPoint presentation ready when she goes back with an overview of the reading. I guess whatever keeps their brain working this summer. Allie also received the citizenship award for her 6th grade - it was a big deal - since they only give 5 of those in each grade and she is a new student. The principal said she exemplified what it meant to be a student at Mary Ellen Henderson Jr. High - able to excel in school, extracurricular, and community activities (Allie and her friends (with no parents) organized a fundraising team for the Relay for Life - it was a fundraising project that they worked on all school year).

Talk to you soon,

John