Happy April Fool's Birthday Cory

Hope you have an awesome birthday!!!!!!!
Love, Cindy

Today is Cousin Dave's 25th birthday!

And that is my little birthday present to you!! Hope you're having a great day!

Cory

Booked!

We're booked! Cory, Lisa, and Dylan are coming to Arkansas from the 3rd to the 7th. We are very excited to meet the rest of this huge family.

Count me in!

Well, I have made my reservations at the Holiday Inn, in Jonesboro. For Friday, Saturday, Sunday & Monday. I am way ready for a road trip!

Orrin


John Smith started the day early having set his alarm clock (MADE IN JAPAN ) for 6am. While his coffeepot (MADE IN CHINA ) was perking, he shaved with his electric razor (MADE IN HONG KONG ). He put on a dress shirt (MADE IN SRI LANKA ), designer jeans MADE IN SINGAPORE ) ...and watch (MADE IN TAIWAN ) to the radio (MADE IN INDIA ). He got in his car (MADE IN GERMANY ) filled it with GAS from Saudi Arabia ) and continued his search for a good paying AMERICAN JOB. At the end of yet another discouraging and fruitless day checking his Computer(Made In Malaysia), Joe decided to relax for a while. He put on his sandals (MADE IN BRAZIL ) poured himself a glass of wine (MADE IN FRANCE ) and turned on his TV (MADE IN INDONESIA ), and then wondered why he can't find a good paying job in AMERICA - Hmmmmm go figure

Hoppy Easter!

I hope everyone has a great Easter....go to church! Our bunch will be eating at Mom's (aka Aunt Earnie). God love her....she cooks for ALL of us EVERY holdiay and it's sooooooo good! I don't know how she does it. She never wants help, has it all ready, all we have to do is come in and fill up our plates with some of the best food you will ever put in your mouth. I'm sorry guys, but I have to tell you MY Mom is the best! She works all week feeding all the kids and teachers at school, sends in (via computer mind you) all sorts of government reports for food programs AND some how manages to even make a school lunch taste good! She can work circles around me, and if that's not enough, she NEVER says no when you need her for anything! In fact tomorrow she will be busy preparing the dinner for the alumni banquet for Bay, and not even getting paid for it! Then she will get up the next day and cook for us! What a women. I couldn't even be a smidgen of the women she is. She's a hard act to follow. Mom, if you are reading this, remember I'm your favorite kid (right??) LOL! But honestly, just know how much we love you for being there for us, loving us, and teaching us the way life should be. We love you. And I sure am looking forward to dinner! For you that can't be there.....well, I'll try to send pics!
Love, Sandi

holiday inn-jonesboro

FYI- We just booked our room in Jonesboro at the Holiday in. We got a King Suite for $89.00 a night, that seems like a good deal to me.

Happy Birthday Sarah

Happy Birthday to you again Sarah.

I sent a card, hope you received it on time.

I called yesterday and left a voicemail...

I hope that you enjoyed your day!!!

Love,
Orrin

thanks for the new addition to the photo bucket!

Well, I for one didn't take notes when Dylan put out his E-mail address.... so here I am with my hat in my hand, a file with some photos and no place to send them to.

So,

Dylan, give it up again eh? What is your email address?


Orrin

Gabby's name & More

I asked my mom if she knew how Gabby got his name and she said said it was because he and his dad used to play cowboys and he always wanted to be Gabby Hayes. I guess the name just stuck.

Also, I always knew our Aunt Janie as Aunt Ludy! And my dad told this story over and over again so I know some of you guys have heard it. When Janie was a little girl they had a big pig named Ludy and that pig used to go thru the barnyard eating all the little baby chicks, so Aunt Janie was afraid of that pig. So anytime she didn't want to do something the others wanted her to do, they would tell her that old Ludy was going to get her. So somehow they ended up calling her Ludy.

oh, and if the reunion date isn't set in stone.....I vote for Sept. cause I can't come in July. But if the majority can make it then, I'll understand. Just want lots of pictures and stories. I would love to meet my cousins I've never met...Orrin, your stories are great. I would love to meet you and your sister Gail. I have met Sarah once and got lots of family history. I met Cory once, I'm sure he doesn't remember. I think he was about 4 year old. When I lived in Indiana and my parents come out to visit, we drove over to Chicago to see them. I have never met Diane or her sister (can't remember her name, man I am getting old...and no comments please). Anyway, would love to see everyone at the reunion.

I will share some stories about my dad soon....just still hard to talk about him without crying. Am crying now. So will chat later.

Slideshow Update

For the slideshow that I was asked to create for Saturday, what should I do?

Would you guys like me to place the pictures from the PhotoBucket website, or do you want me to take a specific group of unseen pictures that are e-mailed to me?

What are your ideas?

Planning Update....

I've talked with a few of you and here is a tentative look at the reunion weekend. NOTHING is firm, so if anyone has other ideas please speak now or forever hold your pee.

First, I think the best place for everyone not planning to stay with relatives is at the Jonesboro Holiday Inn. It isn't fancy, but it's nice and they have an indoor pool, a restaurant and a bar...and as most of you know you're coming to a dry county so the hotel bar might be a plus. If we can book at least 10 rooms, we can get a group rate of about $85 per room--and possibly even a discount on banquet room rental. Suites are available for $109 to $140, and there is a $20 pet fee. Please contact me as soon as you can if you'd like to book a room here so that we can try and get the group rate--and remember this is a holiday weekend so they will probably start to fill up.

You can have a look at it at http://www.holidayinn.com/ and just type in Jonesboro, AR where it asks for city and state.

As far as activities we are thinking....

Friday:
-7 p.m. "Who Dunnit Dinner" at Mom and Dad's old restaurant in Bay

Saturday:
-Morning Golf for the guys--Sage Meadows, the golf course where Aunt Aud lives charges $45 and that includes cart rental, shopping for the gals
-Afternoon, meet back at the restaurant in Bay for music, slide shows and swapping stories
-Evening, rent a banquet room at the Holiday Inn and kick back and visit there.

Sunday:
-Trip to the hills to see historical family sites
-Possible trip to Memphis for anyone who's not interested in going on the family history trip (or we can all just sit around and talk about the people who aren't there to defend themselves).

Let me know what ya think and let's get this thing rolling!

Love,
Jodi

I have a couple of Gabby stories

I've been trying to catch up on the 2 months of this blog that I missed out on so hope it's okay if I tell a few stories. Now these are just hand me down stories so I don't know who else has heard them (I wasn't born yet when they happened). When my mom and dad first got married Gabby was only about 2 or 3 years old. My mom said he never liked wearing clothes so one day when she came over to the house (Grandma Cora) told Gabby that he better get his clothes on cause Tressie was going to see him naked...so he ran and hid his face in the corner and said, she can't see me now. He was quite a character.

When he was just a little older and my mom and dad lived in Michigan City, Indiana, he was probably about 4, he and Grandma came to visit and they took him to the store, the merchant asked him if he would like a piece of candy and he replied, nope, but I'll take one of those cigars. Then the man asked him what his name was and he said, I don't know but my mama calls me Bill. So does anyone know where he got the nickname "Gabby".

Ladd Reunion: Anyone is Welcome!

Ladd Reunion: Anyone is Welcome!

Anyone is Welcome!

don't forget....I have 3 empty bedrooms that are available if anyone doesn't want to stay in a motel. I'd be glad to have anyone that can survive my household! Besides the bedrooms, I have 3 comfortable couches, and plenty of blankets for pallets in the floor. Nothing fancy, so don't get excited! If for any reason Lori and the girls move back in by then, we still have room, cuz I'm pretty sure it's "Dad's" weekend. The worst that can happen is that you will be sleeping in rooms with Barbie Dolls and Hannah Montanna posters! (just be careful before opening any closet doors......I don't tread there!) But I'm sincere about the offer.

Need more Juicy Fruit Gum!

For the sake of conversation….just wanted yaw to know I saw my first real “mole”. Yuk! (Especially when they are dead). Those varmints have taken over our yard. Little tunnels ALL over! You walk in the yard, and sink in little tunnels. The really creepy part is that those critters don’t have any eyes! At least I didn’t see any. I guess a cat caught him (or her-I didn’t check genitals), but he was just outside my door and I almost stepped on it. Course he would have never seen me coming…dead or alive! LOL! Someone told me to buy Juicy Fruit gum, leave each stick in the foil, and stick ‘em in the tunnels every 5-6’. Supposedly, that kills them. Every time I buy the gum, the kids find it before I stick it in the yard, so I never really got to try it. I think they killed my hostas plants, and for that I would certainly juicy fruit them!! Those things are ALMOST as creepy as the slugs that somehow can slide right under the door!
Now, WHO wants to stay with me for the reunion? LOL!

I am still here

Hey everyone, I am still around, I just haven't been communitcating with ya's and for that sorry. I have been engrossed in my computer game and having a hard time doing much of anything else besides that. Does anyone else in the family play WOW???!!! Let me know if you do. I am waiting for spring to hit, then I can finally go outside barefoot. Spring is just right around the corner too. I really look forward to seeing all of you in just a few short months. I will check in with you all again in a bit, Take care Gail Shailee

COME TOGETHA RIGGGHHHTT NOWW...

The post title is from a Beatle's song...least you all think I've lost me marbles (I haven't...they are just misplaced).

Okay, here's a quick update on the reunion plans. Most hotels here average from about $55 to $85--maybe even a little less because Debbey and Dylan are bargain finders and know how to get us some discounts. If anyone would like to stay with family here in Arkansas please drop me a line at j.hutchison@suddenlink.net.

Right now, conservatively speaking, the number of relatives you'll get to hang out with is about 50 with kids, grandkids, etc. and I'm sooooo hoping for more!

We have Mom and Dad's old restaurant reserved so that we can use it any time during the reunion. Tentatively, there's going to be a mini concert showcasing the many musical talents of the Ladd family. This area is famous for barbecue and there's a place called Demo's that makes the best chicken, pork and ribs and we could have that catered if everyone's up for it. Anybody up for catfish? I know we could have a big fish fry/burger cookout one night if folks were interested--for that I'm volunteering Jim, Cloud, Orrin and my husband Brent--Earnestine will be your boss :-D.

I'll get back on how much it would cost to rent a nice banquet room one night if everyone is up for it too--Saturday night would probably be a good night for that.

So what do you think? I wanna hear from you guys, and feel free to add lyrics from your favorite Beatles song in your reply because...

Alll we need is love...ba ba baddahhh dahhh...

??????????????????

Wow, this is sad, even Orrin has quit commumicating. Cory I haven't seen you here in awhile either. All the girls have just disappeared!It has been so long since we have seen each other I can't believe there aren't more stories to share. Come on guys I know you are all busy but you can spend 15 minutes at least once a week for family. Time slips away so quickly we can at least make this year the year of the Ladd Family.

THE JUKE BOX

THE JUKE BOX. Nothing more cool than to get all the records at home after they were changed out of the juke box! BUT...what was even more fun was all the customers that wanted to "flip" for the juke box. That meant you and the customer would both get out a quarter. (Juke box would play 3 songs for a quarter). You'd both flip your coin in the air and slap it down on the counter. Then you would say "I'll match you...or...you match me". I wasnt' too good at this game....UNTIL my sweet little Mom took me aside one day and taught me how to cheat! Secret? You had to learn how the quarters sounded when they hit the counter. You let the customer slam his quarter first, and you LISTENED...then you would slam yours...same sound? You would say.."I'll match you" and then you would take HIS quarter and play some tunes!! If the sound wasn't the same...you'd say "You match me"..then you would take HIS quarter and play the tunes! I think my Mom was probably the Queen of flippin' quarters! Thanks Mom for teaching me how to "flip"!!

Here's One On Aunt Earnie

Aunt Earnie-my mother always loves to laugh and cook but she has this protective instinct similar to those of wild animals. One day when I was in my early teens I was working at the restaurant with her. She told me to mop the floor. The mop was huge and that mop bucket must have held 10 gallons of steaming water, soap and bleach (mom bleaches e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g). There was a guy who was older than me -you know the type greased hair, black leather jacket, cuban heels- sitting at the counter and I wasn't paying much attention to him but evidently mom was. He made some remarks and called me Cinderella. The next thing I saw was mom jerking him off the stool and roughing him up! I think she threw him out-it's kind of a blur it happened so fast and was pretty unexpected. Earnie doesn't take any crap so you might want to remember that. I can only imagine what she and A. Aud were like when they went out together! I bet they have some good stories!

Stories About Jim by Aunt Earnie

Okay, here is a story for you about your Uncle Jim.

When we were first married, Jim and I moved to Chicago and lived there until we moved back to Arkansas in 1971--all of our kids were born there. We had two restaurants, Snappy Service No. 7 at Chicago Ave. and Central and Snappy Service No. 8 at Archer and Nordica. They were 24 hour restaurants, and Debbey, Sandi and Little Jim all worked there with us when they got old enough.

...Continued in comments.

WHERE HAVE ALL MY KIN FOLK GONE?

Sheez! What's up YAW??? Everyone say all they intend too? What about you peeker peckers? Step up to the mic. The core group needs a rest (evidently)! Orrin wants more stories ya know!

ATTENTION: EARNESTINE LADD!!

OKAY, I KNOW YOU GOT A BUNCH OF STORIES...IT'S TIME FOR YOU TO WRITE! WE NEED YOU! TELL US SOMETHINGS ABOUT AINT AUD, AUNT SHIRLEY, .....ALL OF 'EM. I KNOW YOU GOT SOME GOOD ONES ON DAD. PASS 'EM ON MOMMY DEAREST!!!
LOVE YOU! SANDI

Uncle Jim

I remember when Uncle Jim was in the army stationed at Pittsburg, California and one day he came to visit us in San Pablo. He brought a friend with him. The only name of his friend was Camel. That's what they called him. I don't know why. Anyway my dad, Uncle Jim and Camel were in the fromt yard talking and uncle Jim tried to step over our cheap fence and it fell to the ground. I don't know why this has stuck in my mind all these years but to me it is a good memory.