The Malloys

Allow me to be transparent for a minute...

I don't usually do this, but I have to get it out..I need to be transparent with you...Here goes...

We all celebrate birthday's.  As we get older, we get wiser, we get wrinkly and we get more experience. Now, my birthday happens to be May 25th, and every 7 years or so, I get to celebrate my birthday on Memorial Day. (that's the way it lands on the calendar)  So, 14 years ago, May 25th, it's Memorial Day and I am at my friends house, out for the evening and I find out that my Uncle Tom had been killed in a car accident.  Being only a junior in high school at the time, and not experiencing much in the death category, I was crushed.....I had just visited with both my Uncle Tom and my Aunt Mary a few weeks prior.   It seemed surreal. 

Now fast forward those same 14 years.....and while it wasn't the same day...but close enough, my Aunt Mary went to be with her maker on May 24th this year...  She had fought a long battle with Alzheimer's.  Here burial is in Burlington, IA.

Let me tell you a few things about my Aunt and Uncle:

1. Never did they have a negative thing to say about anybody

2. Never did I see or hear of them arguing about anything

3. They always had a smile on their face (even when I ran through their screen door and broke it)

4. They always took the time to get to know what we (my sister and I) were into.

5. And most importantly....They didn't pass judgement on anyone.  Not matter what mess my sister and     I got into, they were there to teach, smile and help, in ALL circumstances.

6. I knew they loved each other and God....they were the type of people that you want to be like...

Here is what I know:

I write this knowing that the visitation is tomorrow....

I write this knowing the funeral is Monday

I write this knowing my sister, mom and dad will be in attendance, while I am unable to go.

I write this knowing that when my Aunt was passing away, she told her daughter that she, "couldn't wait to dance with Tom again."

I write this knowing that when my dad was told she had passed away, he said that he thought she already had.  (he has Alzheimer's too)

I write this wondering if there is some significance as to the timing of both their deaths?  

I write this knowing that each year my birthday comes up I will be sweetly reminded of my Aunt and Uncle, the love they have and the understanding that I should be more like they were.

I write this knowing that I have great memories of them both and will one day see them again....

I write this not looking for pitty because they both died on or near my birthday

I write this because they both had a significant effect on my life

~M

We all live with SNAKES!

Something about a snake can make your skin crawl....maybe because it brings you to the days of reading about the serpent in the Garden of Eden.  Or maybe you have had your own run in with a snake while hiking.  Better yet.....maybe you know a few of them you work with.  :)  They have the ability of surprise, and can be hard to detect until you're right up on them.  

Then again, sometimes they may just be sitting on your door step hoping to come in and eat one of your small dogs.  

These pictures were taken from our neighbors facebook page.  This little critter was on his door step.....of course it ended up in our front yard.  He took some pretty cool shots of this little guy.....I wonder where the momma was??

    

Pics taken by Iain Maclean, professional photo guru.

Slither more later!

When you want to say it...Say with a Hallmark Card....

I had to chuckle when I got this card in the mail the other day....

It's TIME!!!

The time of year has come upon us when Hot Air Balloons fill the sky and if there is no wind...they land in our yard, street, neighborhood etc.  We didn't set up a booth this year at the event....instead we plan to enjoy the festivities from our own perspective.....as a spectator!  

Hot Air Balloons fascinate me!!

He is growing up FAST!!

        Kindergarten Graduation Picture

Sigh........ 

It must be a full moon.....

You know how you get into a routine and things just kind of hum right along?  This past week we had our routine shaken up a bit....some things we can control, others we couldn't.  This post is dedicated to the ones we couldn't control.

Not that what is going to be posted is anything too significant, but in our world the little things matter.

Some of you may have noticed that I was in Charlotte for a few days this week.  While I was gone, Tracy and Owen were busy doing their thing.  

"Their thing" includes:

1. Getting locked out of the downstairs bathroom. "The wind blew it shut" or so I'm told

2. Then my boy, Owen does his thing in the upstairs bathroom and over uses the toilet paper and proceeds to clog the toilet

3. Tracy then realizes, that the plunger is in the locked bathroom downstairs...BUMMER DUDE!!  Now down to one bathroom....Lord help them!  

This all happens in a span of about 1 hour for them....

I come home, on Friday night, and in a matter of 20 seconds, open the bathroom door and unclog the toilet....It feels good to be needed!!  :) 

Skip to Saturday morning....

1. A frantic text message comes across the phone..."There's a turtle in our pond!!"  How did it get there? It scared the crap out of me!! I screamed!"  Tracy says.....

2. Owen upon hearing his mom scream, came to the rescue....smashing right through the screen door to the back yard....

3. Another frantic text message comes through..."Owen broke the screen door"

4. I am now on my way home.....

I guess it's good to add some spice to our days, at least nobody got hurt....

So here is a picture of our back yard invader...anybody know what kind of turtle it is?  Graham? Gordon?  

Super Dudes Ride Again!!

Yesterday, Owen and I had one of our Super Dudes Days....in this case we took advantage of the fact that thru his Awana program, they gave him some $ on a Frankies Fun Park card....This place is AWESOME!! They have every kind of video game you can imagine!  Along with Go Karts, 3 Mini Putt Putt courses, Batting Cages, and bowling lanes!  Needless to say, we spent more money than was intended!!  But for the sake of Super Dudes and the fact that we had a blast, it was well worth it!!  Time well spent!  

Before we knew it the time was 2pm and we had been there since 11am!!  

Here are few treo shots of the event......

 

The above picture was by far, I think the coolest machine there...it's a MEGA CLAW!!!  So Awesome!

Tracy spent her downtime reading, shopping and getting a pedicure.....she has pretty pink toes now...

In the afternoon, we went to the farmers market and picked up some more plants.....I could tell Tracy was in her element and really wanted to ditch us guys so she could spend hours and hours looking, touching, planning out her garden areas.....but she couldn't....we did our best to stay out of the way...riding the wagon up and down the pathway and screwing around a bit.....In the end....7 more plants to put into the ground!  

Later~

We Bought Rocks.....

Wow....what a week!  Been dealing with issues that only seem to happen on a hollywood movie set.  "Swine" or H1N1 virus has people up in arms here in SC.  Gotta say though that the prep and plans for a bigger event (let's hope it does not go that far) have been put into place and we can execute as needed.  

Some of you may remember this post We All Have Rocks  in it I talked about Tracy buying rocks for decoration, Owen picking them up cause they are neat, and me trying to be a leader to my staff.  

Well in this next segment...we went and bought more rocks....in this case, it was to finish off the pond. As I sit here and type, the only fitting thing I can say is, this time we bought really big rocks. Much bigger than the previous post.  It seems all of the nation has been juggling a few BIG ROCKS this past week....Too which I say....sit back, relax, and enjoy the soothing sound of a pond fountain.  In the end, our maker juggles the biggest rock of all, which no one can pick-up....so why not let him carry yours for you.....

Another lesson in where your big rocks should be...right in your own home!!!

Enjoy Phase II of the POND Pics

It's still a work in progress...adding more rocks, and moving them around....still need to plant a few hundred plants in and around the pond.....stay tuned...I think we're going plant shopping tomorrow....YEAH!!