Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Merry Christmas!!


I love Christmastime. The lights on the tree; the twinkling decorations that are oh so tempting to little baby hands...the smells of cinnamon baking in the pumpkin roll as well as the scents which only can be sniffed at this time of year. (It's also cowbook time; and those of you who know me know that during Christmas break, I TYPE AND TYPE AND TYPE).

I'm so excited for my kids to be home this year...I've made quicke lorraine and shrimp quiches, crepe skins and chicken crepe mix; chocolate no-bake cookies (hey, Beverly, you left out ONE ingredient - no wonder they don't taste quite right), oatmeal choco-chip cookies, Grandma Conyers' fudge, Marie Kumbina's pumpkin rolls, and will make regular chocolate chip cookies today and tomorrow will be the stuffed shells with homemade spaghetti sauce and meatballs. And last, but not least, EGGNOG! Nothing on earth tastes like homemade eggnog, with a pinch of nutmeg and cinnamon (and a bunch of rum or brandy!)

Everyone has their Christmas traditions. The Kokott's open their presents on Christmas morning. As the kids have gotten older, the "Santa came, Santa Came!" phrase doesn't sound until around 10 a.m. Wish John were here to celebrate Christmas with us. He was the Big Santa with the big ho-ho-ho! laugh. I'm sure he'll be with us in spirit.

As I look at all my children, as well as my onliest Arleigh Angel (sweet baby-girl), I see the continuation of John and Susan Kokott reflected in the eyes and smiles, the laughter and joy of my beautiful family. If I had to say what the point of my life is, it's the family we created...the family we continue to create with those we love and with whom we share our lives. Some family is blood, other family is made by shared times of joy, sorrow, confidences and conversation. Above all, family is love and laughter. I don't remember so much the times I've cried, as the times I've laughed UNTIL I cried.

From my family to yours - Love, peace, and happiness this Christmas season.




Susan K
West Des Moines, IA
12/21/2010

Will post photos when my family is home again starting on the 23rd.

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Silver Bells ringing in the Snow!


I hate to admit that it's been so long since I've posted anything. Life has been exciting and full of busy-ness. My granddaughter Arleigh has been spending quite a bit of time at my now "child-proofed" house. She's almost 9 months old and is into everything she can reach...and believe me, she has a boarding house reach! (Like a Conyers.)


All my CT scans have been "NED" (no evidence of cancer) as well as my latest at the end of September. The cough was out of control (radiation pneumonitis) and the prednisone didn't help or heal...just made me gain about 18 pounds!!! Ouch (and yuck).

(As you can tell from the pic, I have eyebrows and eyelashes again...also still have a smear of blackness from my black eye under my right eye. The doctor said I'll have to go to a plastic surgeon to get rid of that dog-pulling accident! I'm not sure if it's worth it.)


Went to a pulmonary specialist at the end of October and got on Advair as well as an albuterol inhaler and "ta-da" no more cough. Also, no more excuses not to go back to work. Now that I know work is just around the corner, I'm finding so many things to do!


I'm healthier and wiser than I was last year at this time. Joyful and thankful for my wonderful friends and family. The kids are all coming home this year for Christmas since we now all live in Iowa, Wisconsin, and Illinois (no more Arizona kids). I think I'd rather go to Arizona for Christmas. First snow of the year, first shoveling of the year, and already I'm ready for summer...and more summer vacation at the beach!!!


Visited my big sister in Vancouver, WA. What a relaxing, great, motivating time. Thanks, Anne Marie.


Just wanted to wish one and all a very Merry Christmas and joyous Holiday Season.


West Des Moines

December 14, 2010

3:01 p.m.

Saturday, August 21, 2010

Home again, home again, rig-a-jig-jig

A photo of Lexy, my daughter Kate's dog. We're watching her while she and her husband go to Costa Rica...yes, ANOTHER VACATION! Some people have the life. Lexy had surgery to remove a cancerous nodule from her head. The vet thinks she got it all and we're hoping Lexy is going to be okay.


My backyard certainly is not the ocean. Before I lose the magic and awesome feeling of that vacation, we booked a house for next year and most of my sisters and adult children have committed to another two weeks next year.


The house is a 4 bedroom, 3 bath house, almost 3000 sq.ft. and on the same beach; about 20 houses south. I wish I could've stayed for an additional week. When I'm older, I plan on moving to Florida. Oh, how absolutely wonderful. I'd sit on the beach with my book and forget to read for watching and listening to the waves. Calming, relaxing, recharging. Good for talking with God and actually hearing His voice.
I do look like a Puffer Fish, (not a frog yet) what with the prednisone. I'm down to 10 mg. a day and next week I'll only take half that - if the cough doesn't come back. I have a bit of a cough on the 10 mg., I just want to get back to normal.
August 21, 2010
1:11 p.m.
West Des Moines, IA








Saturday, August 7, 2010

Packing up....wahhhhhh


Our last sunrise was overcast - which makes it that much easier to say good-bye.
Scout LOVED the beach once he realized the towel was his and he didn't have to lay his face in the sand. He did end up swimming in the tide pools. He met a female dalmation and fell in love this vacation. Ah, puppy love.

My black eyes are almost gone - the prednisone is still bloating me and it is discouraging - but I keep telling myself "it's only temporary".


We went to San Sebastian Winery for the wine tour and tasting last night. How neat. Ended up buying six bottles of wine between us.


Getting ready to pack up the car. Next year....
S. Ponte Vedra, Fl
August 7, 2010 7:32 a.m.








Thursday, August 5, 2010

The Party is Breaking Up....



This is the last sunrise the six sisters will spend together this year. We've decided we had so much fun, we're going to do it again next year, same time - same place!
And here is baby sister Stephanie all bummed out because the limo is picking her up at 9:30 and she can't even go down to the beach. "Just a couple more days! I'm not ready to go home."


Katie paddle boarding...early in the morning as the waves aren't too tremendous yet. (They did get pretty powerful as the day wore on.)

Jon out surfing...Emily got out really far on the paddle board this morning. Yesterday she got cut up trying to get it out past the breaking waves. (That was in the afternoon.) The kids all got up around 6:30 this a.m. to try it before the waves really started roaring.




Jon and Emily enjoying a drink (water, water everywhere but never a drop to drink) as they read their books.






Kate and Lauren trying to figure out if we're going to the wine tasting tonight since Emily and Jon went to a gator farm and into St. Augustine already.





Ponte Vedra Beach, FL
Thursday, August 5, 2010 5:14 p.m.
Boo-hoo! It's almost time to come home. No! No! Give me another week or two. This is truly Paradise.












Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Monday, August 2, 2010

The Gang's all Here




Jon and Emily arrived yesterday at JAX around noon and after liquor shopping arrived at Turtle's Nest at 2:30. What a beautiful time we're having.

Am just going to post some photos this morning - they tell it all.







Monday, August 2, 2010
6:02 a.m. Ponte Vedra Beach, FL

Saturday, July 31, 2010

Just another day in Paradise...








July 31, 2010 - Saturday
4:36 p.m. Ponte Vedra Beach, FLA
The sisters are here!

Girls Gone Wild (on the beach)


My sisters all got in safely. The flights were ALL delayed due to bad weather out of Des Moines and Dallas. Stephanie missed her connector flight with Anne Marie so Steph was the Lone Ranger, coming in at about midnight all by her lonesome. Anne Marie, Deb, Kaydee, and Beverly all got here around 7:30 pm. After chicken quesadillas and several drinks, we went to the beach and watched Kate, Lauren, and Ling with the teenage boys next door as they did "Dance Contest". What a wonderful night. Anne Marie gave each of us a gift of a beautiful necklace.

We changed sleeping arrangements - Kate is now in my spot with Scout. Don't think she and Scout are comfortable with each other yet.


...and what can I say? Another perfect day at the beach. It did rain for about 20 minutes and cooled things down for a few minutes. It generally rains up the beach, or down the beach, rarely in our "backyard".


Will take photos of the sisters today and post later. Signing off now from

my little piece of Heaven
6:53 a.m. July 31, 2010
Ponte Vedra Beach, FL

Friday, July 30, 2010

Another day in Paradise


On his own, Scout doesn't stray too far from us. He gets up, goes in the water up to tummy; a big wave comes and he runs back under the umbrella. He actually went swimming yesterday in a pool of water where no waves were breaking. We saw about a dozen shark fins yesterday - from the kitchen window; we were making a meal. Needless to say, we were very careful in the water after that. There were about 10 fishing boats in the same area. Fish must've been schooling. Kate thought they may have been dolphins so looked them up on the i-net and yes, they were sharks!



Hope you don't think we're lazy. Aisling really wants to go into St. Augustine and see the sites and do the tourist thing. Me? Hand me a drink, a beach chair and an umbrella - give me the crash of the waves, sand and water, and I'll sit for hours with nothing but a goofy look on my face - relishing the water energy as I am RENEWED! This is all I wanted/planned to do - sit on the beach and be a bum. Soaking up as much of the sun and wave sounds as I can in this two weeks. Gee, I want to live here.

Some people in my life are missing from this vacation. Marie, Beth, and I should have invited my almost daughter Alice B. She was the cutest little thing - so quiet and shy, but boy, don't push her buttons - she could roar when she had to (and believe me, at our house she had occasion to roar much more than she did). Alice, I wish you were here. I have so many wonderful memories of you - love you, l'il girl.



The views from the deck are breathtaking. The sisters get in tonight. Yes, Mike, we've taken your advice and alerted the local law enforcement and EMS that the Standley girls are in town and have fire and ambulance service on alert.

4:53 a.m. Friday, July 30, 2010
Ponte Vedra Beach a/k/a Paradise, FL

Thursday, July 29, 2010

Wednesdays with the Kokotts



Of course, my arachnaphobiac daughter Kate would see this "little" guy hanging over our heads every time we walk up or down the stairs. As if HE isn't bad enough, his 3 sisters live over to the left by the deck railing! They are harmless - we had to look them up "agriope" or something like that. Big, big, big. Wish I'd had something to make a size comparison with. Really, quite a beautiful spider. It's web is almost as thick as fishing line - it would have to be as the spider is large.

Another (please keep them coming)beautiful day at the beach. No rain, no clouds whatsoever. On our drive down, the forecast called for 10 days of rain and cloudy weather. Must be up the beach...or down the beach, because in our little spot of Paradise, there has been no rain - nothing but SUNNY DAYS.


Woe is me! I look like my grandma Standley. My hair is either curly or sticking straight up in spots. Looks like I've bobby-pinned it every night (remember those days, Anne Marie?) and have little pincurls all over my head. Not that I think my grandma was unattractive...just never thought I'd look like her. Ahhhhh. Thinking about my "battle with the dog wounds", it could have been worse. I could have needed stitches, poked my eye out, broken teeth...and instead I just look like Pam-pam Panda. AND, to add insult to injury, the prednisone has nicely "rounded" out my face, abdomen, and neck. Really and truly, I've gained less than 2# while on it (122.7) but I read an article (because I feel fat) about how being on prednisone not only increases your appetite, slows down metabolism, but redistributes the fat. One of these days I'll be me again. Right now it's kind of fun exploring possibilities. So no photos of me right now. Okay, so I'm lacking a bit of confidence in the looks department. I'm okay, then I look in the mirror and have a little freak out attack and promise myself not to look in the mirror again. I have been wearing Lauren's movie-star-style sunglasses.

Last night it was a DANCE PARTY at the beach house. Played "Last Word" and "Catch Phrase" pre-dance. Can hardly wait for "the sisters" to get here. We'll serve them jellyfish sandwiches. No, we're reserving that delicacy for Jonny Kokott.

Thursday 4:39 a.m., July 29, 2010
Ponte Vedra, FLA

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

St. Augustine



After another beautiful day on the beach, Kate, Lauren, and I drove into St. Augustine. What a beautiful old city. Along the lines of Lake Geneva, WI - only more so. The history dates back to the 1500s and there is a lot of history there. The sisters will want to see this city as well as the wine tasting and jazz bar one night during vaca. So bring your walking shoes and a wet towel to wrap around your neck. The ocean breeze at the house is delightful, and when you're not near the ocean, man! it's hot!!



Got a note from sister Deb and she has poison ivy or oak or something; Beverly is in a walking cast, Sue is beat up looking (I have bruises around both wrists - big red and blue ones - so it really does look like someone held me down and beat me up). Here is a note I received from brother Mike: "It sounds like you are all accidents ready to happen. I have contacted the local authorities and they will have extra EMS personnel on hand while you visit. You may want to check out The Villages, I have heard it’s a nice retirement village. I’ll visit and drive the golf cart for you. I also advise buying stock in Depends as the Standley’s will probably double the stock value within 10 years. Maybe 5 if you start shoving water down Anne Marie.

I hope you all have a great time and don’t scare the locals. Love, Mike






South Ponte Vedra Beach, FL
July 28, 2010 5:06 a.m.

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Walking on the Beach



Kate mentioned earlier she had read that anticipation of vacation oftentimes is more fun than the vacation itself. I don't believe the person who spoke those words went to the beach with loved ones. There is nothing more invigorating than walking on the beach, looking for land sharks, while a 30# dog tries to take you waterskiing.

Aisling and I walked a ways south down the beach around 9 last night. The moon was gorgeous and orange. Scout must have marked his "territory" well as he knew, even in the dark, which house is ours. See? He's not ALL naughty dog; he honestly does have his uses.

I'm not sure what's gotten into him but he's taken to following me around again like a two-year-old toddler, crying if I go in or out without him.



The prednisone is still keeping me wakeful. Here I thought I'd sleep like a baby. Even lack of sleep can't spoil my enjoyment...more awake time to remember the sights, sounds, colors, and love of my kids (and sisters here soon!)





Good morning from the beach!
Tuesday, July 27, 2010 2:25 a.m.

Monday, July 26, 2010

Scout takes down 2 - 2 to go!


Kate, Lauren, Scout, and I were walking along the beach last night around 9, drinks in hand. Because of my earlier run in with a deck post, Lauren was holding Scout's leash - not that he'd go anywhere without us (smile). Lauren was sporting a Corona and Kate a white wine...Scout just sniffing sea grass (ahem).

When...all of a sudden...Scout turns in the direction from which we had just come, and takes off like a banshee - throwing Lauren's one-sip Corona off to the side, and her to ground, in a knee-bashing blood bath. Kate and Lauren took off after the bad boy, yelling at him to stop. He did. About 20 houses down the beach and just sat there waiting for them to pick up his leash again. He was scared - shaking. Who knows what he thought he saw. I have never seen him run so fast.

For a dog that weighs under 40 lbs., he sure has been throwing us big kids around. Dogs (and people for that matter) act strange under a full moon, which at 1:36 a.m. today we have.

Early Monday morning 5:11 a.m. (thank you prednisone!)
July 26, 2010 - Ponte Vedra Beach, FL

Sunday, July 25, 2010

Scout tried to kill me!




HE was just too too excited to see Kate and Lauren on the beach, so he "flew" me down the beach stairs - vertical - until my cheek/eye/forehead crashed into a vertical deck post. Blood everywhere - black eye - nothing worse than that except for the goose egg on my forehead and a swollen left above the ankle. I CRIED! Ouch, it really hurt - Wiley Coyote, move over! After icing it for 2 hours, the swelling went down and I can see out of my eye. Hopefully, the black eye will be gone by Friday or Saturday.

Can't believe my luck being so bad lately with falls - kind of think it may be the chemo still. I'm going to drink it out of me!

Sunday, July 25th, 2010
Ponte Vedra Beach, FL

Sand Pipers




This is what I awoke to at 5:45 this morning. The windows are all steamed up from the a/c inside and the humidity outside. There is a breeze that blows across the deck all day and night from the continual movement of the water. Very few flying bugs.

Took Scout for his "constitutional" this morning and man, oh man, the spiders in their webs are all over the place...had to duck to get down the stairs. Lots of big green (1") bugs were caught in the webs. Have to remember to look up for webs.

The sun is shining, Kate got in around 1:30 to the house - her flight was delayed out of O'Hare because of weather along the route. Ling, Lauren, Scout, and Kate are still sleeping as I sit here typing this and drinking coffee. Vacation is a wonderful thing! We plan on spending the entire day at the beach - reading, drinking, eating. I'm not planning on starting a diet anytime in the next two weeks. Wish I'd been able to rent a house big enough for all my friends to join us. I can't tell you all just how happy I am to be here.

Sunday, July 25, 2010
6:11 a.m.
Ponte Vedra Beach, FL