We did it....

Sarah, Jim and I planned a big surprise for Jon's birthday---Jim and I flew to Michigan last night--3 days earlier than he expected. As soon as we landed and picked up our luggage we drove downtown (Sarah left a car for us at the airport)...we walked into his party at about 11:45 PM and he was SURPRISED (shocked is more like it)!! Sarah and all their friends knew that we were coming and they all managed to keep the secret, it was great!! We haven't been with him to celebrate his birthday for many years so this was a special treat for all of us!!

We had a fun day today, shopping and decorating..."L" loved hanging the ornaments on the Christmas tree...

Papa helped him do the high ones...

You probably don't remember....

...this ELF, unless you've had LOTS of Christmases (is that a word??), like me! I saw this picture on the web today and was immediately taken back to Christmas at my house many, many years ago when I was a little girl. We had 2 or three of these little elves. They were made of felt with hard plastic faces---and big, pointy ears. I remember loving to tuck their legs up under their arms! We also had lights on the Christmas tree that bubbled...and silver tinsel! Oh, wow, I think I'm really "dating" myself!! :0)

Feeling thankful....

....that we got our Christmas tree up and all decorated!! It's a bit early for us, but we leave for Michigan at the end of the week and when we get home Christmas preparations will be in "full swing" so I decided this was one thing that could be done early!

We had "K" and "R" for the night on Friday so we thought it was the perfect time to put up the tree and they were very happy to help! All the decorations ended up about 3-4 feet from the ground, (it was so much fun watching them decide where to hang what) but with a little rearranging it looks perfect! They both tried to convince me that they could stand on a chair to put some higher up on the tree because "they do it all the time at home!" Sure they do!! :0)

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY"...

"Life is too important

to be taken seriously!"

Today marks a special day in our family....Baby "L" turns three, and I guess that means we are going to have to stop calling him "BABY L!" He is a big boy now, even though it seems like only yesterday that Jon was calling to tell us about his arrival!!

We are going to be a few days late, but we are heading to Michigan next week to celebrate with him and his Daddy--who turns 33 next week! He had an early birthday dinner last night and, as you can see, the waiter thought he should wear the traditional "birthday hat!"

5 Wishes come true...

These 5 make my heart smile every single day....they truly are my "5 Wishes come true!" (It's true what the say...being a Nana is the BEST!) Sarah took these great pictures when they were here in October.

Oh NO...

Day #2 at "WegoWand"....

...didn't turn out quite as fun as Day #1 for Miss "K"!! While having lots of fun jumping around in one of the fun things to play on she slipped on some water and landed in some rocks!! Her face hit the rocks--no fun, (big, swollen "fat" lip resulted!!) and she put her arms out to break her fall. Well, it broke her fall alright, but it also broke her arm! Thank goodness she was with her Mommy and Daddy that day, I would have never gotten over the guilt (I'm still feeling terrible about the gash and stitches "R" had while on "our watch!")

This little girl is a "trooper" though...she continued on the vacation...a full day at the San Diego Zoo with a broken arm! OUCH!!! She kept insisting that she didn't want to go to the doctor, but every time she put any pressure on that arm the pain was evident!! She loves "Dr. Tony" at home, so they made a visit as soon as their plane landed and came home with a bright pink cast!!

I know kids have accidents every day, but I am sooooo thankful that it didn't happen when Papa and I took them on Day #1!! :0)

Whew, what a week....

"I don't see Wegowand and I don't see Wegos!"

These were "K's" words as we landed in San Diego at the airport!! She had been primed for weeks that we were on our way to "LEGOLAND, so she was expecting to see proof of this as soon as the plane landed!! :0)

We are home from such a fun week...LEGOLAND, LAS VEGAS AND LOTS of fun!!! It was sunny and warm (always a plus for us this time of year) and the days just flew by! "A" and "K" just loved LegoLand, and Jim and I agreed with them, it is a terrific place! Here are a few highlights from our trip...

Papa and the kids are ready for a day of "FUN!!"

Lots of other kids wanted to go to LegoLand, too!!"A" and Papa loved the "Bionicle Blaster"...."K" was too short.... :0(

But, she had her fun on this "awesome" airplane ride (can you tell she loved it?)

But, hands down, the "highlight" of LegoLand for "K" was the Princess face painting! She sat so still while Kim, the make-up artist, performed her magic!!

Here she is...

There were sooooo many great Lego statues....

On Wednesday we said good-by to A, K and their Mommy and Daddy and headed to Las Vegas so Jim could attend a continuing education class and I could relax, play and enjoy the beautiful Bellagio! This was the view from our room...it was so much fun to get to watch the water show!
It's a good thing I don't have an addictive personality...those slot machines are soooo much fun!! :0) I ended up "almost" even, so that's a good thing!!!

Heading for sunshine...

We are off this weekend for some "fun in the sun!" Our first destination is LegoLand in San Diego with A, K and their Mommy and Daddy! Then, mid-week we are headed to the Bellagio in Las Vegas. Jim will be attending a "continuing education/conference" class, and I will be playing!! :0) It's a rainy, dreary day here, so the promise of sunshine makes me happy!

Well, I guess this means it's "officially" over....

At our house, there are two things that signify the "official" end of summer/fall! The first one is putting the covers on our deck furniture, and the second (much more distressing) is storing Jim's "summer car" in our neighbor's big storage garage! No more fun rides in the convertible--with the wind in our hair--until spring! :0(

Both events happened this week...but, never fear, it's just 145 days until April 1st! (But, who's counting???)

Hope, Change…I Believe!!!

"I'm always proud to be an American, particularly on an Election Day. This is the day we show the world what kind of country we are and prove that Democracy is alive and well. A record number of voters turned out and I am particularly excited by all of the young people who cast ballots. I haven't felt this sort of energy since the 1960s.

The entire world is going to notice what we did on November 4, 2008. Not one of the other leading countries, including those who like to consider themselves more progressive and liberal than us, is any where close to the day they will elect a member of a minority to the highest office in the land. We are a New America.

I hope we can put racial issues aside once and for all and focus our energy on making this the land of opportunity for all of our citizens.

It was a hard fought campaign and I am glad that more people rejected negative ads this time. I hope politicians get the message that we want the issues and the truth."

~Denise Tiller, Midwest Voices 2008 Panelist

I couldn't have said it better...it is a wonderful day to be an American!!