a little of this...a little of that

I like this....

2012-02-06T14:07:00.000-08:00

On my bedside table...

2012-01-23T11:28:00.000-08:00

Jim and I are fans of "Downton Abbey" (a show on PBS Masterpiece Theater), about a wealthy English family living in a beautiful manor and the servants that live downstairs in the home. The upstairs-downstairs relationships that develop always make for a fascinating story. "The House at Tyneford" is the story of wealthy, young Jewish girl from Vienna and how her life evolves when she must leave the life she has known and become a parlour maid in England.

I will let you know how it is. I would love to hear recommendations for books that you have read and loved!

Father/Son Outing....

2012-01-17T21:23:00.000-08:00

This little guy LOVES to play with toy trucks, so when his Daddy took him to a "Monster Truck Show" last week you can only imagine his excitement!!! I think these pictures tell the story! :0)

Design team...

2012-01-02T10:18:00.000-08:00

I did some scrapbooking yesterday for Paper Pals Design Team. This paper was a challenge for me, but I'm happy with the finished product! (Having a cute picture helped me a lot!!) :0)

Santa Party, 2011...

2011-12-24T09:25:00.000-08:00

A special evening with special people....family and treasured friends!

Christmas in our family....

2011-12-14T14:36:00.000-08:00

The "Elf on the Shelf" has been up to many, many tricks at Anders and Kate's house!!

This little guys will be winging his way to our house this weekend!! We can't wait!!

Birthday cupcakes for K's December birthday!

Our tree! (Sorry for the TV in the picture...I was watching the finale of "The Biggest Loser"...a great show to watch during the holidays when everywhere I turn there is a treat just calling my name!) :0)

Today I am ...

2011-12-09T10:46:00.000-08:00

...wrapping! I don't know why I do this to myself every year! Instead of wrapping gifts as I buy them, I just "plop" them in the guest room and then I have a monumental task of wrapping waiting for me! So, today I tackle that mountain!!! Good thing is I recorded this week's episode of "Biggest Loser" so I have a great show to watch while I wrap! :0)

(BTW...I love the "Biggest Loser"...such inspiration! And, I need it this time of year when every time you turn around there are "goodies" just begging to be eaten!! :0/ )

December...

2011-12-01T13:38:00.000-08:00

...already? It really did sneak up on me! I've been Christmas shopping, the decorations are all up..but, it's been "November" and I've had plenty of time for all the things that I still have on my "to do" list. It's true, "time flies when you're having fun!!"

(One very special part of it being December is that the Michigan "branch" of our family arrives home for the holidays in just 17 days!) Oh, how I miss these two little guys...and their Mommy and Daddy.

We will have all three of our children, and their families, HOME with us for Christmas this year. It doesn't happen nearly as often as we would like, but we will savor every single second! And, it starts 17 days from today. This Mom/Nana cannot wait!

The halls are "decked"...

2011-11-27T19:40:00.000-08:00

I had my "elf" busy this weekend helping me decorate our house for Christmas! We finished, and the house looks so festive...I really do love this time of year. (Jim, aka my "elf", has hauled the plastic tubs of Christmas decorations up and down our stairs so many times throughout the years...I told him we would be rich if he was paid a dollar for every time he's had to do that!!) :0)

This is going to be a very special Christmas for us...all our children and grandchildren will be here with us. That is all I want for Christmas...to be TOGETHER!!

Happy Thanksgiving to you...

2011-11-22T21:50:00.000-08:00

A "Happy Birthday" day...

2011-11-21T13:36:00.000-08:00

A special "Birthday Breakfast" for our very favorite NEW 6 year old! Later today, through the magic of technology, we get to Skype with him and watch him open his birthday presents. It's not as good as being there, but it certainly helps us feel not quite so far away!

Tradition...

2011-11-16T19:58:00.000-08:00

Well, this really isn't a "tradition" yet, but if we do it three years in a row that qualifies as a tradition...right? And, we definitely plan to make it a tradition!! Last year Jamie and got away for a mother/daughter Christmas shopping weekend. We went to Seattle and had a fantastic time!! This year out weekend is going to be in Spokane at the Davenport Hotel. I'm excited...we will shop, eat, visit the spa, and make lots and lots of special memories!!

San Francisco...

2011-11-10T19:41:00.000-08:00

Jim and I spent last week in San Francisco with all the partners in his firm and their wives. The guys were there to attend the 2011 Charles Schwab Conference, and the wives went along to have FUN! And, we did have lots of fun!!

We walked and walked and walked...all over downtown San Francisco. We were even blessed with incredible weather--for San Francisco! We had two days in the high 70's, it was perfect.

We took a city tour on the top of an open-air double-decker bus, it was terrific. We were able to see one of the only buildings to survive the 1906 earthquake.

We went across the Golden Gate Bridge

We saw the "Painted Ladies"

Did some "tea tasting" in Chinatown...the owner of the shop was lots of fun, he even let us taste the $800 per pound tea!

We had lots of great food, and of course great shopping! It was a very fun get-away. We've taken so many fun trips this fall, but the travels are through for a while and we are going to stay home. That sounds GREAT to me! :0)

Happy Day Project...

2011-11-06T18:50:00.000-08:00

Inspired by "Joy's Hope"

brought to you by Julie and Jeannett

"This whole use your blog for good thing is fun!
So we brainstormed and came up with a little plan.
For one week we will spread sunshine unexpectedly.
Many of the tasks are easy, lots of them can involve little ones.
All of them will be a little ray of light in some one's day.

But we also wanted to make it cute. We like cute. So we enlisted super talented friends who donated their time and skill to make printables that go with the day's task.

Then we wanted to make an even bigger impact. Jeannett has a heart to fund raise. I am consistently amazed at how she takes her passions and puts them to work. We have picked a charity to feature each day, to compliment the daily task. A charity that is near and dear to our hearts.

Here is a list of what is in store:

What's next?
We start Monday. Both Jeannett and I will be a day ahead so we are able to post about the daily task bright and early in the morning. Each assignment will have many options so you can tailor it to your family, your community, or your schedule. We will each be blogging the day’s task on our respective blogs

To make it even happier, we’ve collaborated with bloggers from around the web who have provided a free printable to help you carry out the Happy Day task! So you get to spread happy in the cutest way possible!!!
You should see these printables you guys. I died. Every time one popped up in my inbox. Squealing could be heard. No lie.
Does this sound fun, but you’re worried you might not be able to squeeze in a task every day? Maybe you have an especially crazy jam packed day on Tuesday and there’s no way you can pull it off, but you still really want to participate? Say you live in the country and the nearest neighbor is 27 miles away?
No worries! Each task has been paired with a virtual way to fulfill it.

At the end of the week we will celebrate the days that were made just a little bit happier with a big linky party and some super fun surprises.

What can you do?
Join in!
Commit to spending the next couple of days thinking and planning what you are going to do. Even better than that, help us spread the word. Blog, tweet, facebook, pin, sky write, about The Happy Day Project. Lets flood the world with sunshine this week!!"

Sunny and hot....

2011-10-24T20:09:00.000-07:00

Jim and I were able to "prolong" our summer just a little last week! He was attending the national AICPA conference in Phoenix. We had a wonderful time...only strange thing was that my sister, Jean, (who lives in Phoenix) is gone from Phoenix for a year and a half. (I missed her!)

We stayed at the Biltmore...beautiful grounds. (I'm not talking about the "interior" of the hotel because it really isn't worth mentioning---it's old and in serious need of a re-do!!)

The "get away" was great...we loved the sunshine, warm weather, great food and good friends. Now the flip-flops, crop pants and swim suit are tucked away til next spring. (The low here tonight is supposed to be 27....brrrrrrr!)

Homecoming, 2011....

2011-10-08T21:39:00.000-07:00

Today was the perfect October day for Homecoming....bright blue sky, crisp fall morning, and lots of sunshine and loyal Vandal fans!! We are entertaining 4 of our 6 grandchildren for the weekend and the parade was definitely the highlight of the day!

There were marching bands, mascots, floats, politicians ( :0/ ), and lots of candy---the kids favorite part!!
The game followed the parade, but we won't talk about that, we don't want to spoil the "parade high!"

DC, The Vandals, Battlefields and more...

2011-10-04T19:58:00.000-07:00

We just returned from Washington, DC last night, and I'm trying really hard to stay awake! :0) Re-adjusting to pacific time from east coast time is tough. We had such a fun time, saw lots of great things and cheered on the Vandals when they played the University of Virginia. I didn't take my camera, but with my iPhone and the Camera+ app I was able to take some pretty great pictures to share.

The first evening in DC we went to Georgetown for dinner. We have never been to Georgetown...it's a hustling, bustling place with so many fabulous restaurants and shops. As we were eating dinner (seated right beside a huge, open window) a rainstorm with thunder and lightening started. A thunder clap and lightening bolt struck a foot from our table!! (Well, it actually wasn't probably that close, but it sure seemed like it. We all jumped a foot!) :0)

The next day we met my sister, Jean, at Union Station for lunch. We had never been there before...what an amazing place! It's full of shops and restaurants, and the best part...trains and the metro actually come and go from there!

After lunch we walked over to the Capital building and took a tour. We didn't run into the President...darn, but we had a great time. I haven't seen Jean since last January, so it was wonderful to get to spend the afternoon together.

Looking "up" while standing under the rotunda in the capital...

Statuary Hall...

Friday we left DC and headed for Charlottesville, Virginia. Our drive through the Virginia countryside was beautiful! On Saturday we cheered on the Vandals when they played the University of Virginia. The campus is amazing---it was started by Thomas Jefferson and there was beautiful building after beautiful building! We had a Vandal pre-game celebration and it was so fun to get to meet Vandals from the Virginia/Washington DC area that came to the game.

Edgar Allen Poe was a student there and they have preserved his room...

It was a beautiful afternoon/evening for a football game...

We lost in overtime 20-21, but it was a very fun game.

The last two days were spent at Monticello (Jefferson's home) and Montpelier (James Madison's home) and Manassas (Civil War Battlefields). SO much history, it was wonderful!!

The view looking out from the front porch of James Madison's home...Blue Ridge Mountains in the distance.

The battlefield at Manassas..."The Battle of Bull Run:, the first major battle of the Civil War. It was a crazy, busy 6 days!

It's great to be home!!

A little escape...

2011-09-25T11:40:00.000-07:00

We had a great time last week in Las Vegas. Jim was attending a Governmental Accounting seminar, and I went along for some R&R! The conference was at the Palazzo---a beautiful hotel with a sky bridge right over to Fashion Show Mall. The mall is 4 levels--it was like Disneyland for this "retail deprived" girl!!

Two recommendations for your next trip to Las Vegas...The Palazzo Hotel. The hotel is beautiful, the restaurants are amazing, and you can walk right through the hotel over to the Venetian and stroll along the canal and listen to the gondoliers singing. (A little tip---we reserved the room through the Southwest Airlines website and were able to get the room for almost $20 less than the conference rate.)

And, the show we went to on Tuesday night was incredible!! "Human Nature"...

"Human Nature" is four guys from Australia that sing "Motown." They are managed/produced by Smokey Robinson, and their show was amazing! They danced and sang for two hours accompanied by a fabulous band! And, funny thing...I could sing-along to almost every song. Motown music is timeless, we loved every song!!

Not much grass is going to grow under our feet...we leave on Wednesday to go to Virginia to cheer on the Vandals against the University of Virginia next Saturday! (And, they are going to need a LOT of cheering!)

More on our trip to Virginia next time!!

Patriot's Day remembered...

2011-09-11T12:21:00.000-07:00

"There is certain enthusiasm in liberty that makes human nature rise above itself in acts of bravery and heroism."

~Alexander Hamilton

Craft Day with Nana...

2011-08-29T16:23:00.000-07:00

A couple weeks ago I was reading one of my very favorite blogs, Whatever, and the minute I saw this craft I knew that, for a couple reasons, I had to do it...I love crafts and I love rainbows. So, today K, R and I created these "masterpieces!" I used the hot glue gun to adhere the crayons to the canvas, and the girls used the blow dryer to create the magic. It was fun, easy and cheap! The best kind of craft!!

Three days in Seattle...

2011-08-27T19:19:00.000-07:00

Our three day "get-away" to Seattle this past week was wonderful. It was an anniversary celebration and a chance for us to get a Seattle "fix!" We love Seattle, always have, and getting to spend a few days there always recharges our batteries!! Our favorite place in downtown Seattle is Pike Place Market. We spent a good part of every day there, and loved it!

The fresh flowers are beyone description...they have huge, beautiful boquets for $10! If I lived there I would fill our house with them! It's always fun to watch the guys at the fresh fish counter throw the fish around! And, every corner in the market area has "live entertainment" going from sun up to sun down! The four guys singing outside the original Starbucks were amazing! We also saw a guy with a trained parrot, a musician playing the guitar AND harmonica while hula-hooping, and SO much more! It's great!!

I didn't take my camera (I didn't want to have to carry it around), but my iPhone with the Camera+ app did a great job of capturing some of our special memories!!

New discovery...

2011-08-15T12:04:00.000-07:00

I just discovered a new iPhone app called "Camera+" and it is so much fun!! It let's you do SO many fun things with photos...all kinds of "effects", frames, and even let's you put captions on them. I just took this picture and then played with all the different effects. Can't wait to try more!! I am easily entertained for 99 cents!! :0)

It was FABULOUS....

2011-07-29T09:17:00.000-07:00

Just returned from our trip east. It was SOOOO much fun, and, as always, went by too quickly!! But, we packed every minute with lots and lots of fun and made lots of very special memories!! Just of few of our highlights....

Putt-Putt golf

Go-Karts

A stop at our favorite ice cream shop

An evening at the Lugnut's game

And, most importantly, THE BIRTHDAY BOY

Today...

2011-07-06T08:58:00.000-07:00

From "Pinterest."

I LOVE this, and I'm going to try to remember it every day!! :0)

"Camp Nana & Papa"....

2011-06-24T15:23:00.000-07:00

We begged and pleaded with our kids (not really, we didn't have to beg) to let us have their children (our grandchildren) for this weekend. They agreed, and the fun started today....

We went to see Mr. Popper's Penguins...FUN movie, we all loved it!! The penguins are adorable...makes you want to adopt one as a pet; and, as usual, Jim Carrey was great!

Next stop was at the "Bear Research Center " at WSU...the bears were outside of the building and having fun playing in their cages, we got a fabulous "close up" view. The kids were amazed at the bears, they were impressed with their LONG claws and big noses!! We were all thankful that there was a fence between us and the bears! One of the bears stood up on his hind legs and it was incredible to see how tall he was.

"WSU scientists and students work with both free-ranging and captive bears. Because it is necessary to weigh the bears regularly, draw blood samples, and provide special diets, not all of the research can be done in the wild. Research with captive bears permits a more in-depth understanding of bear biology."

The rest of the afternoon they are doing some "cousin bonding time" ....lots of Legos with the older ones, and a lot of playing "house" for the younger ones!!!

The only additions that would make this weekend PERFECT would be if our two little grandsons in Michigan could be here with us! Some day!! :0)

My Dad...

2011-06-19T11:19:00.000-07:00

“My father didn't tell me how to live;

he lived, and let me watch him do it.”

~Clarence B. Kelland

I was blessed with a Dad that loved being a father. He was always there for us, nothing was more important that being with his girls...all three of us... Mom, Jean and me. I miss him!!

Summer Bucket List, 2011

2011-06-16T08:32:00.000-07:00

Last night K and R helped me make their "Summer Bucket List" for 2011. It was fun helping them come up with this list! Just a few of the many, many things they plan (hope) to do....

Sleep-overs with the cousins...Tea Party with their American Girl dolls...play 18 holes of golf (that's an ambitious one!!)...Kid's Triathlon...make S'mores...wash their parent's cars (on a hot day)...read...make a "Wipe Out" course in the back yard...go to "Mr. Popper's Penguins" movie...cook dinner for the family...write letters and really mail them (with stamps)...help Mom and Dad in the garden...go to the library...AND SO MUCH MORE!

Looks like they will have a very busy, and FUN, summer, 2011!

Doing some scrapbooking...

2011-06-05T08:40:00.000-07:00

I've been "out of the mood" to scrapbook lately...maybe I just haven't been home long enough, but these adorable little boys and some great papers helped me to be inspired!!

Almost complete...whew!!

2011-05-18T08:43:00.000-07:00

In August, 2010, I began a project in first and third grade with my granddaughter's classes to have each child document their school year by making "personal yearbooks". (This idea came from Becky Higgins.)

I took the children's pictures in September, January and May--oh my, how they have changed through the year! And, each month the children drew a picture and journaled about something special that they wanted to remember from that month at school.

After my years of teaching, I always love getting back into the classroom! There is something so exciting about interacting with a classroom full of bright and shiny little faces!! And, by going in every month I really got to know the children and they got to know me.

It's been a big job, but "K" and "R" helped me with some of the "behind the scenes" work of sorting and matching the pages for each child. I think they had as much fun as I did! We are almost finished...only the "May" pages to complete and then binding the books together.

This has been such a fun project, I'm hoping to do it with their classes again next year!

It' SPRING...maybe?

2011-05-15T12:16:00.000-07:00

We planted our first "green things" at our new house yesterday!!

Your Mother is always with you...

2011-05-08T11:50:00.000-07:00

Your mother is always with you...

She's the whisper of the leaves as you walk down the street

. She's the smell of bleach in your freshly laundered socks.

She's the cool hand on your brow when you're not well.

Your mother lives inside your laughter.

She's crystallized in every tear drop...

She's the place you came from, your first home..

She's the map you follow with every step that you take.

She's your first love and your first heartbreak....

and nothing on earth can separate you.

Not time, Not space...

Not even death....

will ever separate you

from your Mother....

You carry her inside of you....

-~ Sherry Martin

I love you, Mom!

Had some more Michigan fun...

2011-05-04T12:41:00.000-07:00

With tax season over, my favorite CPA and I headed to Michigan for some fun with our two youngest grandsons...and, their Mom and Dad. Jim hadn't been back to see Baby "G" since he was a newborn...BIG changes in that little guy!! We had a fantastic time, just a few pictures to share (it was hard to pare down the 200+ to only these!) :0)

Soccer game on Saturday morning. It was chilly, but the cool temps didn't faze the little soccer players, they had a terrific time. I held Baby "G" on my lap (wrapped in a fleece blanket), so I had my own "personal space heater" and stayed very warm! :0)

We arrived the day before Easter and had fun helping "L" color eggs that evening. We even had our own little Easter bunny...

Next to Nana and Papa arriving for a visit, my iPad was "L's" second favorite thing that came to see him! He is an "Angry Bird's" fan--could he have gotten that from me? He also talked me into downloading a couple putt-putt games for him to play!

"G's" eyes are as big and blue as "L's" are brown!

The "Boys!"

"L" is into that phase of making funny faces when I try to take his picture! :0/ We had a wonderful week and look forward to our trip back this summer to celebrate Baby "G's" first birthday!!

More great scrapbooking pictures...I need to head over to Paper Pals and check out some new papers!!

Happy "6th" Birthday...

2011-04-20T20:42:00.000-07:00

Just returned today from a special birthday celebration for Miss "K"...she turned 6! I swear, "in the blink of an eye" she went from being a tiny baby girl to a (still pretty tiny) 6 year old. (On a side note...Papa Jim thinks it was SO thoughtful of her to be born AFTER April 15th!) :0)

This morning I was helping her get ready for Kindergarten and she said "Nana, today is my second day in Kindergarten being 6 years old!"

Slow down, Miss "K"....you are growing up TOO fast!

Super FUN movie....

2011-04-01T21:28:00.000-07:00

"K", "R" and I went to see "HOP" today...we loved it!! :0)

Personal Yearbook...

2011-03-30T12:42:00.000-07:00

I've been working in the "K" and "R's" classes this year to create a "Personal Yearbook" with each child. The idea came from Becky Higgens, she offers a free download on her blog for the yearbook that she has done with her children's classes. I've changed it a little and added some pages, but the end result is the same--a month by month journal of their special memories for the school year.

I go into their classrooms every month and help them complete a page about something special they have done in school that month that they want to document in their yearbook. I took a picture of each student at the beginning of the year, again in January, and I will take one more picture at the end of the school year to put in their books. It's been so much fun, getting to know the children has been the big bonus for me. And, when I compare the pages they are doing this spring to the ones that they did in the fall, it is amazing to see the growth they are making!

In the end, my hope is that the yearbook will be a special keepsake for both the children and their parents (this isn't the type of project that will end up in the garbage!) As Becky says, " I believe in teaching children that recording their personal history is important and fun and valuable. Highlighting their own handwriting and art and pictures in a format like this can really boost a child's self-esteem!"

Making memories....

2011-03-18T09:56:00.000-07:00

Getting to spend time with our children and grandchildren is one of my very favorite things to do! So, spending the first two weeks of March in Michigan, doing just that, was great! I left the "Tax Man" home buried in tax returns, and flew off to spend time with the two youngest boys in the family...and their Daddy and Mommy. I returned two days ago with a heart full of memories and a camera full of new pictures!

When so many miles separate us, the times spent together become even more special. We had such a good time. We read books, played Wii, took walks, went out to lunch at Panera ("L's" favorite place), played with Matchbox cars, watched "Wipeout" (over and over..."L" loves that show!), and so much more. Baby "G" was just 3 months old the last time we were together, so it was fun to see the big changes that have happened in the last 5 months...he's cruising around in a walker, rolling around on the floor, smiling, laughing...all those fun things that goes along with being 8 months old!

I have lots of great, new pictures (adorable scrapbooking subjects!) A few of my favorites....

Feeling grateful...

2011-03-13T10:52:00.000-07:00

"Our true wealth is the good we do in the world. None of us has faith unless we desire for our neighbors what we desire for ourselves."

7 Months...

2011-02-26T15:36:00.000-08:00

Baby "G" is 7 months!! Just a few more days and I will be able to kiss those sweet "baby cheeks!!"

Fun times...

2011-02-25T15:48:00.000-08:00

I'm leaving on Monday to head east for some "fun times" with these two!! Baby "G" is out of the hospital (for the second time), and I'm so excited to be able to spend some time with Baby "G", his big brother, and his Mommy and Daddy! I'm leaving Jim home---it's "Tax Season" you know, but we will be going back after April 15th!

Isn't it "almost" March???

2011-02-23T14:30:00.000-08:00

This is what I am watching today as I sit inside our nice, warm house and scrapbook! It's no big surprise that I'm not a huge fan of snow. But, I love the snow in December...it's perfect to get me in the "holiday spirit!" I even kind of like it in January...it's still winter and a beautiful snowy day is nice! However, it will be March in a few days, and this is NOT acceptable!

After all, we planted primroses two weeks ago...it was 55 degrees, sunny, and we knew that winter was over for 2011. Oh boy, was I wrong...these past two weeks it has snowed "almost" every single day! I guess Mother Nature is the "boss" of when winter will end...I just hope it's soon!

O Happy Day....

2011-02-17T12:41:00.000-08:00

Baby "G" is finally out the the hospital! H1N1 is a nasty virus, especially in a 6 month old! But, with lots of TLC from the nurses, doctors and his Mommy he is out of the hospital and doing great! I hadn't heard anything about H1N1 for over a year, I thought the scare was over, but in the past 2 weeks Baby "G" and his daddy, and a little girl here in our hometown were all diagnosed with the virus! It's time for spring and lots of fresh air!!

My Valentine....

2011-02-14T14:57:00.000-08:00

If there were no words, no way to speak

I would still hear you.

If there were no tears, no way to feel inside

I'd still feel for you.

And even if the sun refused to shine

Even if romance ran out of rhyme

You would still have my heart until the end of time

You're all I need, my love, My Valentine.

All of my life

I have been waiting for

All you give to me

You've opened my eyes

And showed me how to love unselfishly

I've dreamed of this a thousand times before

But in my dreams I couldn't love you more

I will give you my heart

Until the end of time

You're all I need, my love,

My Valentine.

And even if the sun refused to shine

Even if romance ran out of rhyme

You would still have my heart until the end of time

You're all I need, my love, My Valentine.

(The lyrics above are from a Jim Brickman album, sung by Martina McBride.) I love the song and the lyrics. Our daughter, Jamie, had this song as part of her wedding...a beautiful song.

Jim, my very own Valentine, for 40+years...wow, how time does fly when you're having fun! He brought me a little bit of spring today with this beautiful bouquet of tulips! (He always knows how to make me smile.)

I do so LOVE My Valentine!

Happy Valentine's Day...

2011-02-13T20:16:00.000-08:00

Miss "K" was busy today helping her Mommy making Valentine treats for her class party tomorrow!

The "Birthday Girl"...

2011-01-23T12:51:00.000-08:00

"We loved teaching you things when you were a little girl,

but did you know how much we were learning

from you at the same time?

Seeing your reactions to the world,

listening to your fresh new outlooks,

and sharing in things that were important to you

taught us a lot about the

responsibilities -and joys- of being a parent.

And watching you turn out to be the

wonderful young woman you are has reinforced

something we've known all along-

YOU are a very special daughter!"

Happy, Happy Birthday, Jamie!!

Sweet Cheeks....

2011-01-15T16:36:00.000-08:00

The newest member of our family turns 6 months old TODAY! Wow, where have those 6 months gone? Here he is with his big brother sporting their "Big Brother", "Lil' Brother" shirts! Sure wish I could pick him up and give him a birthday kiss on those "sweet cheeks!"

We wern't able to be with him today, but we won't miss his 1 year birthday celebration this summer!!

R & R...

2011-01-07T15:57:00.000-08:00

We are heading off tomorrow for a little R&R...well, I guess Jim will be working, but it will be relaxation for me! The temperatures will be a little warmer (YEA), although there were snow flakes swirling around there this week! :0( It's always fun to escape the January "blahs" and have a little fun for a few days!

2010...

2010-12-31T12:50:00.000-08:00

...is going "out" like a LION...lots of snow and 9 degrees is our predicted "high" today!! However, the beautiful, bright blue sky makes for a winter wonderland outside. It's beautiful! I'm thinking we have had our fair share of the white stuff this winter, we need to be generous and share with the rest of the US! (Our son in Michigan is enjoying 50 degree weather on this New Year's Eve day! No fair!!) :0)

Our neighborhood

These snow piles, in all the parking lots all around town, will be with us until Easter, I'm sure! :0)

Good-by Christmas...

2010-12-28T15:22:00.000-08:00

Time for cleaning up, putting away, and getting ready for 2011. I just wanted to share three more Christmas pictures. "K" and "A" on Christmas day!

"K" loved all her new clothes...as she opened each package she put on the newest thing...I'm thinking she looked a little warm in all those layers, but she didn't seem to notice! :0)

Star Wars...always a good choice!!

Matching jammies for "K" and her new American Girl doll that Santa brought.

Santa's Helpers...

2010-12-21T14:13:00.000-08:00

These two adorable Santas aren't at the North Pole, but they are still much too far away!!!!

Tis the season...

2010-12-20T11:56:00.000-08:00

Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love.

-Hamilton Wright Mabie

Santa Baby...

2010-12-08T20:46:00.000-08:00

It always makes me happy to get a new picture via text message on my phone! This arrived today. I love this picture of Baby "G"...I just want to reach down, pick him up and kiss those sweet baby cheeks!!! Oh, I miss this baby boy, and his big brother and his Mommy and Daddy!!

Happy Birthday...

2010-11-29T19:28:00.000-08:00

Happy, happy birthday to our 3rd child, and youngest son, Jon! In my eyes he only has one thing I wish we could change...he lives waaayyyy to far away from us in Michigan. I do love Michigan, and it's a really fun place to visit, it's just not close enough to Idaho!!

It's hard to believe that this chubby little toddler is all grown up!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JON!!

It's beginning to look....

2010-11-27T17:56:00.000-08:00

...a LOT like Christmas!! Our Christmas tree is up, decorations are out.....

and, we have SNOW (OH MY GOODNESS, do we ever have snow) !!! Jamie sent these pics of "K" having a great time outside in the snow this afternoon!

I even have our advent calendar up and ready BEFORE December 1st this year! Ready for the season to begin!!

Seattle, Shopping, Special Times....

2010-11-21T16:28:00.000-08:00

Jamie and I returned this morning from our weekend in Seattle (we were at SeaTac at 6:20 AM...very EARLY wake-up call)! Our Christmas shopping excursion was FANTASTIC...we are thinking we need to make it a yearly tradition! Our hotel, The Westin, was in the heart of downtown Seattle...a short walk to Pacific Place, and Westlake Center. Every time our arms were full and the load became too heavy to carry we could bring packages back to the hotel, drop them off, and head out again! And, there was even a Starbucks that we had to walk right past on our way...how convenient! :0)

We had a beautiful room on the 42nd floor with a unobstructed view of the Space Needle!

Also, from our window we saw these guys doing the scariest job in the world...can you even imagine lowering yourself over a 50+ story building to wash the windows! YIKES!! (Sounds like a challenge from "The Amazing Race!!")

P.S. The "2 bags free" policy on Southwest Airlines came in very handy...we were able to carry all our "goodies" home for free!

And...."5" years ago today this special little guy joined the family!!

Happy, Happy Birthday to "L"!!

Holly Jolly...

2010-11-18T12:15:00.000-08:00

We had a little "skiff" of snow this morning...it's gone now (yipee!!), but it does help me get in the Christmas "mood!" :0) I had fun scrapbooking some Christmas 2009 pictures yesterday!!

And, tomorrow morning Jamie and I are headed to Seattle to do a little Christmas shopping and have a fun mother/daughter getaway!! (Luckily I had a free airline ticket that was about to expire, so we decided this would be the perfect way to use it!!) And, the bonus is that Southwest lets you take "2" bags for FREE, so we can carry home all our treasures !! :0) Leaving soon to head to Spokane....

Hello November...

2010-11-08T10:19:00.000-08:00

SO happy to have November here...not because winter is just around the corner, but because our house completion date was end of October!! :0) It's finished, we're in (YIPEE), and slowly getting unpacked and settled!! So far, we have moved in everything that we had with us for the past 9 months in our temporary housing...our basement is FULL of boxes of things we packed away and had in storage. Our quandary now is "Do we really need all those boxes and boxes of things that we have managed to get along just fine without for the past several months??" (Probably not!) :0/

And the den (my scrapbook room), still in need of some TLC!!

Our "littlest" goblins....

2010-10-29T11:48:00.000-07:00

I should be unpacking (OH MY GOODNESS), I have SO much to do. (Or, if not unpacking, I should be over at our former house CLEANING to be ready to be out of there by October 31st....but, posting this new picture of "L" and "G" is so much more fun!! :0) Baby "G" looks so worried about wearing that skeleton costume!! :0)

I will have more "scary" pictures to share after the weekend!!

Back home...

2010-10-21T12:54:00.000-07:00

I am HOME....really kind of bittersweet! I had a fantastic time in Michigan and it was hard to leave there and go SO far away, but it's always good to be home. After Michigan I went directly to New Orleans to meet Jim for 4 days (he had a meeting there). I have lots of great pictures to share here on my blog (incredible fall leaves in Michigan and two very cute little boys), but will do that later because for now I am busy getting ready to move. The moving truck comes on Monday and I am so unprepared to pack up and move, so for now I will just post these pictures (taken with my phone :0/) of "L's" early 5th birthday party that we celebrated with him. (Gotta love those party hats...especially on "Baby G!")

"K" and "A" were there, too! It was quite a party!!

Tomorrow...

2010-10-07T10:31:00.000-07:00

I get to kiss these sweet, little "rosebud" lips tomorrow!!!

Octoberfest...

2010-10-05T16:57:00.000-07:00

SO much to look forward to in OCTOBER...

~Decorating our house with these cute "little" pumpkins!

~A trip to Michigan to see our newest grandson (he is almost 3 months old...

yikes, how did that happen??) and his big brother

~MOVING into the new house :0)

~Our first ever trip to New Orleans

~Beautiful 70+ degree days and cool nights

~Amazingly colorful leaves on the trees

~Lots of fun Vandal football games, and tailgating parties

~A fun trip with my daughter and her children

~Lots of doodling practice (to improve the skill that I learned in my doodling class)

~Packing, cleaning and organizing

(ONLY looking forward to this because it means we are

M.O.V.I.N.G.)

~Celebrating Halloween with the grandchildren!

I LOVE their enthusiasm for Halloween!!

Three more weeks...

2010-10-02T09:23:00.000-07:00

Getting very close to D.O.N.E....YEA!!!

Brothers...

2010-09-27T14:56:00.000-07:00

I woke up yesterday when I heard the "ding" on my cell phone...a text message!! I was SO excited when I opened the message and saw this adorable picture!!

I think these two are going to have lots of FUN together!!!

Hello FALL...

2010-09-24T15:47:00.000-07:00

Fall in the northwest is beautiful!! Our town is transformed...colorful trees everywhere! I really love fall...football games, tailgating, pumpkin spice candles, cool evenings, colorful trees, sweaters...but, I could enjoy this season SOOOO much more if it was followed by spring!! :0/

I'm not sure what happened to that tiny, precious new baby boy that I was rocking and snuggling just 6 weeks ago....this little guy is 2 months and 1 week....growing up wayyyyyyy to fast for my likes!!

I'm going back in two weeks for a visit...I can't let any more time go by without holding this precious little guy and playing with his big brother!

And, this weekend we are off for a few days to Green Valley Ranch Resort in Henderson, Nevada. Jim will be learning some new Governmental Accounting and Auditing techniques, and I'm going to be enjoying the 100 degree weather and this beautiful place!

After we return home we will be PACKING and MOVING! Yipee!!

Getting closer...

2010-09-20T12:49:00.000-07:00

October, our completion date (fingers AND toes crossed), is getting closer, and things are really beginning to take shape at the house!!

Summer 2010...

2010-09-17T15:23:00.000-07:00

Lots of fun memories!!

Our newest baby boy...

2010-09-15T20:43:00.000-07:00

I have LOTS of scrapbooking to do...remember, a scrapbooker is never caught up! :0) I had so much fun working on these new baby layouts, it's been a while (4 1/2 years) since I've had such an adorable "newborn subject!"

Your life...something to think about!

2010-09-10T08:47:00.000-07:00

...from this great blog! I love finding "organizing ideas!" Maybe that is why I love browsing around The Container Store, Office Depot and anyplace that sells great things to help you organize your life!! I don't always follow through with all the inspiring things I learn, but maybe someday I will! In the meantime I will enjoy reading about it! :0)

One "LAST"...

2010-09-07T17:25:00.000-07:00

..."first day of school" for the year. This little guy, we used to call him "Baby L" is all grown up and going to Developmental Kindergarten this year! I talked to him this afternoon when he got home and it sounds like his first day was great. Good thing he has a new baby brother to fill the "baby of the family" shoes...I guess we can let "Baby L" grow up! :0)

SO grown up....

2010-08-31T19:54:00.000-07:00

How did this happen??? I still remember the day at the lake when Jamie told us we were going to be grandparents...she took a pregnancy test and (even though she had planned to keep it a secret for a while), came right out to the deck and told us! What an exciting day for us all, a baby on the way! And now, today, that baby, "A" started 3rd grade! Holy Cow!!

And, the news of his sister, Miss "K", was equally exciting. We even got to be with them the day that the ultrasound tech told us all that she was a "SHE!" And now, today, that little "SHE" started Kindergarten!
These two (along with our other four grandchildren) are just growing up way too fast!

Time spent with grandchildren is ALWAYS a good time. My Mom always told me that being a grandparent was the "BEST," and now I know exactly what she was talking about. I think that is why it is so hard to see them growing up so quickly...I just hope that the day never comes when it isn't "cool" to spend time with Nana and Papa! :0)

"Good-by August"...

2010-08-30T15:49:00.000-07:00

...Sad to see you go, but it's been GREAT! Baby "G" is growing (TOO quickly!) Here he is (6 weeks old last week), with his big brother. ("L's" big brown eyes just melt my heart!!) :0)

Been doing some more "Doodling" practice...

When "K" and "R" were here last week they decided they wanted to give it a try...

Can you "DOODLE?"...

2010-08-24T08:33:00.000-07:00

As I said in my last post, I have always LOVED the amazing "doodling" talent of Stephanie Ackerman!! Her "doodled quotes" just make me smile!! (Just a couple examples of her amazing work)...

So, as I practice, practice, practice for the "Doodling 101" on-line class I am taking from her, my admiration has turned to total "worship" and "envy!" This girl is Talented, with a capital "T!" I have discovered that doodling is not for sissies!! :0) It's hard!!! (At least for me!!) But, I'm determined to "try" to master this new talent, so I will keep practicing. Here is a little sample of my first attempts from my practice session yesterday.

Doodling...

2010-08-22T09:51:00.000-07:00

I signed up for "Doodles 101 Twenty Ten" and I am SO exciged!! It is an online class offered by Stephanie Ackerman, my very favorite "doodler!"I have always admired her doodles and wished that I was talented enough to do it. Well...I doubt I will achieve her level of "doodling" but she says we can all do it, so I'm going to give it a try!! Check back for updates...if I accomplish something that is "blog worthy" I will share it with you here!! :0)

42 Years Today...What A Ride!

2010-08-16T13:13:00.000-07:00

Love doesn't make the world go around...

LOVE is what makes the ride worthwhile!

Progress...

2010-08-16T10:09:00.000-07:00

The house is really starting to take shape...we really might just make the October move-in date!!

SO hard...

2010-08-08T09:25:00.000-07:00

...to say good-by to these little guys, knowing how quickly they change! Our hearts are full of love and so many special memories from the past two weeks. Thank goodness for Skype...it's not the same, but will have to do until next time! We love you L and G!!

Grandparents bestow upon their grandchildren

The strength and wisdom that time

And experience have given them.

Grandchildren bless their Grandparents

With a youthful vitality and innocence

That help them stay young at heart forever.

Together they create a chain of love

Linking the past with the future.

The chain may lengthen,

But it will never part...

~Author Unknown~

My Little Brother...

2010-08-05T14:29:00.000-07:00

Follow me, little brother and I'll show you the way,

I'll hold your hand in mine and stand beside you every day.

There are many things for you to learn

and I'd like to be your guide,

Don't be afraid, little brother for I am always at your side.

I can teach you how to ride a bike

and how to catch and throw,

So if you listen carefully I'll show you what I know.

I know some things seem scary

and you may be afraid to try,

But don't worry, little brother on me you can rely.

I'll always be there to protect you

and catch you when you fall,

For when we stick together

we can make it through it all.

As the years go by and we are both becoming men,

I know we'll remain not only brothers

but also best of friends.

The "Michigan Boys"...

2010-07-30T13:48:00.000-07:00

We are having such a great time in Michigan! The weather is beautiful (NO humidity, yea!!), and the boys are adorable. We are getting lots of "baby time"...cuddling, rocking, kissing; and "little boy time"...golf (putt-putt and not putt-putt), swimming, baseball, bike riding, UNO card games...never a dull moment!" The time is flying by way too quickly but we are treasuring every moment.

House...flowers...baby...

2010-07-24T16:21:00.000-07:00

We're making progress on the house...

On our patio right now...SOOOO pretty

The cutest baby boy in the world.....OK, I'm prejudiced!! :0)

One week new today....

2010-07-22T17:07:00.000-07:00

What a difference a week makes!

Baby Graehm is one week old today!

Baby Brother....

2010-07-19T08:59:00.000-07:00

Three days new!

Our heart's desire....

2010-07-15T16:49:00.000-07:00

Today this precious baby boy, Graehm Ellis, joined our family. It's amazing how someone, only hours old, can take up so much space in your heart! We love you, baby Graehm!

A new baby is like the beginning of all things-

wonder, hope, a dream of possibilities.

~ Eda J. Le Shan

Today...

2010-07-13T22:07:00.000-07:00

FOR TODAY July 13, 2010...

Outside my window... the sun is setting. Today was chilly (68 degrees) a big change after temperatures in the 90's for the past few days!

I am thinking... HOW VERY EXCITED I am for Thursday....the day our 6th grandchild will be born!!! (The beauty of a c-section, we know what day this very blessed event will actually happen!) I find myself thinking, and thinking and thinking some more about this precious baby boy coming into our lives, I wonder how much he will weigh, will he look like his big brother, will he have curly hair like his Mommy or straight (and think) hair like his Daddy?? So many things to wonder, but one thing I know for sure...he will be loved and cherished forever.

I am thankful for... "K" and "A" coming to spend the week with us! We are having a wonderful time and have so many more fun times planned for the week!

From the kitchen... tacos tonight, and the best part---I didn't even have to cook, we were all invited to spend the evening with Bridget and Jeff!

I am wearing... crop pants and a sweatshirt, remember, I mentioned the temperature, 69 degrees! Brrrr!!

I am creating... a "Brother's" scrapbook, almost finished, as soon as I find out the new baby's name!

I am going...to the movie tomorrow, to the lake this weekend, and then next week to MICHIGAN to visit the new baby, his brother, and his Mommy and Daddy!! Can't wait!!

I am reading... "The Castaways," a very good book! Just finished "Falling Leaves, Memoirs of an Unwanted Chinese Daughter," another good book!

I am hoping... that summer returns very soon! I missed it today! :0)

I am hearing... "quiet" from upstairs. "A" and "K" are sound asleep..I better join them soon, morning will come much too early!

One of my favorite things... watching our new house going up this summer! Each day brings progress and changes, it's very exciting!!

A few plans for the rest of the week...
"Toy Story 3"
putt-putt golf
plumbing walk-through at the house
some "real" golf
meeting with Joanne, our interior designer
celebrating the arrival of our precious new grandson
playing with "K", "A", "K" and "R".

A photo for today...

Jim enjoying a day at the lake!

Moving right along...

2010-07-08T08:38:00.000-07:00

Summer, and sunshine, are really helping out with the construction of our house! In fact, the roofers were "roofing" yesterday and it was 90+ here! Poor guys, last week they needed jackets and umbrellas and this week is HOT. But, we'll take it! So nice to see progress, we might just make our October move-in date!

My Dad....

2010-06-20T18:04:00.000-07:00

I was one of those "LUCKY" children blessed with a terrirfic Dad! The quote "My father didn't tell me how to live; he lived, and let me watch him do it." ~Clarence Budington Kelland, comes to mind when I remember my Dad. So many special, happy memories on this day that we celebrate Dads!!

Sunshine, finally...

2010-06-14T09:00:00.000-07:00

Sunny skies are predicted this week (finally!!)...the roof trusses are coming on Wednesday...we're making progress...YEA!!

The back

Looking out some of the great room windows

The hallway

A marathon, great food, a doggy and FUN...

2010-06-03T19:13:00.000-07:00

We had a great "Memorial Day" weekend at the lake! The weather didn't cooperate (lots of rain), not fun, but, we still managed to enjoy every minute! The rain did slow down for the morning of the marathon (actually stopped for a few hours) and that made the runners happy!

A very sweet dog, wandering around the cabins, was adopted by A and K! People who live in the area had seen her around the area for over a week, and once we arrived on Friday afternoon, she seemed to feel "right at home" with us. We did get some dog food on Saturday, but to get by on Friday night she enjoyed grated cheese and grilled flank steak (I know, poor little doggy!!) :0)

They have sent a picture of her to the humane society and contacted vets in the area, but so far there has been no missing dogs reported. So....looks like A and K might get their wish for a puppy! Her name is "Casey!"

We have walls...

2010-05-28T09:06:00.000-07:00

Jim looking out our front door---windows on the sides of the door still need to be cut out.

The eating nook off our kitchen---looking out toward the mountain and our view

The windows out of our great room

The rain slowed things down yesterday, but the walls are going up!! Plan for today to to frame the garage and then begin on the interior room walls. Roof trusses come in a week!! (I'm into "instant gratification" and after weeks and weeks of dirt, rocks and concrete I was just so anxious to see wood---now that we have some walls, I'm wanting a roof!! :0) Guess that is the fun of the building process---we love it!!)

Springtime...

2010-05-24T13:36:00.000-07:00

I'm thinking SPRING...even though it has temporarily disappeared!! (It got down to 31 degrees here last night, brrrr!) But, we did have a few days in the 70's and 80's last week and I was able to take these springtime pictures of Miss "K". She turned "5" in April and her Mommy and Daddy got her this adorable bike---I love the "girly" colors!

And, I'm guessing these lilacs got "nipped" last night, but they were just beautiful in Jamie's yard when we were visiting last week.

Spring and soccer...

2010-05-17T19:37:00.000-07:00

Our weather has finally improved, YEA!! We've been enjoying temperatures in the 70's and even low 80's! We spent the weekend in Spokane and had lots of fun watching "A" and "K" play soccer on Saturday...

The nice weather really helped speed along the building process...our hole is the ground is beginning to take shape and look like a house!! They have almost finished framing in the basement and are ready to put the deck on the floor for the main level! Jim walked out on the trusses to see what the view will be like from the main floor! :0)

Counting my blessings...

2010-05-06T15:18:00.000-07:00

When it comes to Moms...I "hit the jackpot!" Just yesterday I was watching Dr. Phil and the show was about healing the relationship of a daughter and her mother...they hadn't spoken in over 3 years. "What a waste of three years," kept running through my mind; and how terribly sad for both of them. A mother's love is like no other in this world, and I cannot imagine a hurt so deep that it separates a mother from her child for even a day, yet I know it happens all the time. I wonder if someday they will realize all the precious time that they wasted...what I wouldn't give to have just one more day with my Mom!

My Mom was always "in my corner," always my #1 fan, someone that I knew I could count on to share my joys and help to heal my sorrow. Her unconditional love was a "given", something I knew that I could count on. Wow, I was lucky....I wish the mother and daughter that I saw on Dr. Phil yesterday could know the joy and peace that this kind of relationship brings to your life.

"A mother is she who can take the place of all others but whose place no one else can take."

Cardinal Mermillod

I think about my Mom a lot, especially on Mother's Day. I miss her! But, I know that I was so very blessed to have her for as many years as I did. My sister, Jean, and I talk about Mom a lot...what a great seamstress she was, how she made the "best" homemade applesauce, how she and Dad loved to play bridge with their friends...I could go on and on, but the most important thing she did was teach us what it meant to be a Mom...she was a role model for us!

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY...love your Mothers, and Mother's, love your children, don't take even a moment for granted!

Putt-Putt...

2010-05-01T15:48:00.000-07:00

"L" having a fun today doing his very favorite thing---playing putt putt golf!! (I love camera phones!!) While he is enjoying a beautiful day in the sun with his Mommy and Daddy, we are watching the rain, then the sun, then the rain, then the wind, then the sun, then more rain...typical spring day for us!!

F....U....N....

2010-04-24T14:06:00.000-07:00

Our "post tax-season" R&R was great! We love to go to Las Vegas, and this trip didn't disappoint! We saw some great shows, enjoyed relaxing afternoons by the pool reading and people-watching (always fun), and walked our legs off!!

We saw "Jersey Boys", The story of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons---such a great show, with music we love..."Big Girls Don't Cry", "Walk Like A Man", "My Boyfriends Back." "Can't Take My Eyes Off of You," just to name a few! We just wanted to stand up and dance!!

We stayed at Vdara, a new hotel at "City Center" (right beside Bellegio). It was a non-smoking, non-gaming hotel---we loved it!!! We are always on "sensory overload" when we are in Vegas, so it was wonderful go go back to our beautiful, quiet, "fresh-smelling" hotel! (This was my view of the hotel from my lounge chair by the pool.)

We have gone to "Phantom of the Opera" before, but we love it, so seeing it again was wonderful! The stage production is amazing and the music is beautiful.

This was our first time to the dueling piano bar at Times Square in NY, NY---what a fun and LIVELY evening!! Every half hour two new piano players would take over, the music was great and the audience participation made for a very fun evening!!

I snapped this picture of Jim relaxing by the pool...luckily I have a camera phone and he doesn't! :0) I think his total relaxation after many months of long hours and hundreds of tax returns was a success!

Happy Tax Day...

2010-04-15T12:16:00.000-07:00

While most people dread "tax day," those of us married to CPAs love it!! I get to see my husband again...no more LONG days and nights at the office, WOO HOO!! And, to celebrate, we are sneaking off for a little R&R in Las Vegas!! We will have some fun dinners, an evening at the NY, NY dueling piano bar, and go to the productions of The Phantom and Jersey Boys. But, most of all we can relax and be together, the best place to be.

We will be celebrating a special birthday with Miss "K" tomorrow...she turns 5 on Sunday! One of her favorite things in all the world is "Hello Kitty"...we have a fun surprise for her!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, silly girl!! :0)

Making progress...

2010-04-14T08:48:00.000-07:00

...now we have an even BIGGER hole! The concrete starts this week, finally! :0)

More digging...more excitement...

2010-04-07T08:59:00.000-07:00

After a "record setting" DRY winter, when our contractor was finally poised to begin our new house---BAM, the rains started!! Sitting in our "LITTLE" temporary condo, I have been looking outside watching the rain clouds gather. Just isn't fair---but, it's been dry for a few days and the digging continued yesterday. I never thought I would be so happy to see a digger filling up dump trucks---that feeling is usually reserved for our 4 year old grandson! (And, would you believe a huge dump truck holds only 6 scoops of dirt from the digger?) Yesterday they took about 50 trucks full out, and they have at least that many more.

The Easter Bunny....

2010-04-04T13:13:00.000-07:00

..is kinda scary!!!

("L" from 2008)

Something to think about...

2010-03-27T18:28:00.000-07:00

A Reality,finally....

2010-03-25T11:40:00.000-07:00

After planning, designing, re-designing and re-designing AGAIN, it's finally a reality!! They broke ground on our new house yesterday! We are SOOOO excited to see, what we have imagined on paper, become the "real" thing!

I LOVE daffodils...

2010-03-21T19:57:00.000-07:00

...and tulips!! These bright and cheerful flowers remind me of SPRING, and I love spring!! Those of you that know me, know that I'm not a "fan" of winter, so when these beautiful flowers begin to bloom I know that we have nowhere to go but UP!! It's true, we will still have cool, rainy, windy days...but, summer can't be too far behind! I saw these at the store today and knew they belonged on our table. "Happy Spring!

Simple pleasures....

2010-03-01T20:36:00.000-08:00

It's the LITTLE THINGS that make me happy on this first day of March:

*sunshine

*going to the movie

*Starbucks non-fat, decaf, iced latte

*a "good hair" day

*"quality" time with Jim during tax-season

*playing with my grandchildren

*sister-time (movies, shopping, lunch, chatting, etc.)

*good friends

*finishing my work-out at the gym

*a new season of "The Amazing Race"

*a clean car

*girlfriends

*a good book to read at bedtime

*tulips and daffodils

*the EXCITING news that my grandbaby-to-be is a precious baby boy!!!!