Father's day memories

We took "the folk's", my parents out to Red Lobster for Father's Day. It was a nice, quiet, enjoyable meal. I am not a seafood lover, but, I took a chance and ordered the fire grilled tilapia fish with rice pilaf and broccoli. I washed it all down with their famous yummy cheese rolls. My mom insisted that I try a bite of her coconut shrimp and by golly, I did like it. I'm not saying I would ever order it. It really made her happy that I tried it.

My mom was going to town on those crab legs. She dug out every bit of meat.

Hubby enjoyed his seafood platter, but he said next time, he will order half of the platter. It was a lot of food. He was teasing me about my hairstyle saying it's a Kate (Jon & Kate Plus 8) wanna be hairstyle. I don't have the bird feather's going on at the top like Kate does. We ended Father's Day with a trip to the beach, where all the grandkids met us. Steph took most of those pictures.

It was a very nice Father's Day.

3 days

In 3 days I will be in the air, flying to my sister's home town. She will pick me up and then on Sunday we will be on our way like Thelma & Louise to this beautiful destination. Am I excited? You bet your bippy I am. I have been packed since last week. I only have a few last minute things to do, such as, manicure & pedicure. Next pictures you see of this beach, my sister and I will be in the picture. I do have other blog material and things I could talk about but this just seems to be on my mind these days. Vacation, here I come!

Please Pray for Lynda

I am asking for everyone who believes in miracles to Please help us pray for Lynda. She was Steph's Midwife during Ivy's birth. She is suffering with breast cancer that is now spreading to her liver and brain. She has been in a lot of pain and is very weak.
I can't begin to tell you how special this Angel of a Lady is to us. Lynda taught me so much before, during and after Ivy's birth. She and Steph helped me see the beauty and stillness in a home birth. It all made sense to me. Lynda educated me on so many things and I felt like her assistant during the birth. I can remember after Ivy's birth she was sitting at the table downstairs with her tools she had so neatly wrapped in a special cloth and she told me what each tool is used for and a story that went along with her love of delivering babies. She is so loved and so deserving.
I am pulling for you Lynda, don't give up! We love you.

8 days

8 more days til I will be playing with my sissy! Can't wait!

Hot off the Press....Boy or Girl?

A very dear blogger friend, Just made a BIG announcement....Go check it out and Share in her Excitement of just finding out if she needs Blue onesies or Pink onesies.......I am soooo thrilled for her, Jack & Luke.

I'm back

I woke up early Sunday morning with a fever, chills, body aches, stomach upset, headache....Yep, the dreaded flu. I am guessing that's what it was since I didn't know what else to call it. I was in bed all day Sunday except for using the bathroom and ended up not going in to work yesterday. I stayed in and out of bed's, couches and lazy boys all day Monday. It seemed like I could not find a spot to get comfy. The t.v. annoyed me, especially the Food Network or any commercials having to do with food. Did I just type that? Food has never annoyed me before, except when I was having morning sickness. (No, I am not preggy). What has happened to daytime t.v.? I love to watch Bonnie Hunt & Ellen & A Baby Story, but they even annoyed me. So, I lay in silence with a wet cloth over my head and 3 dogs on my body. (We dog sat for grand-dog this week). Then the phone starts ringing off the hook, mostly wrong numbers. I began feeling hungry last night and the only thing that felt right was toast. I did crave lemon ice from Culver's too, which my sweet hubby went to get me. Nate came to pick up his dog and brought Abby with him. She gave me the sweetest get well card she made me. That was the healing I needed.
So, I woke up feeling Alive again and went to work. As I was walking out the door, I noticed that my Lillie's were in full bloom and everything looked so beautiful to me. I lost 2 whole days and that really bothered me. I am not a good sick person. I am the one who does for others. I am not allowed to be sick. It's funny though how being sick puts things in perspective. It makes you really appreciate your health and all the blessings God has given us. Oh, and something good did come out of it, I had a big weight loss on the scales this morning. So, I'm back and feeling Alive. I've missed you all.

16 days

16 days til I will be in the ocean dodging starfish. If I seem anxious to get out of town, you are so right! My new bathing suit arrived in the mail yesterday and I can report that it fits like a glove. In fact, It motivated me enough to do 100 sit-ups on my exercise ball and get really strict about my eating. I am hoping to look and feel better by June 26th. I'm hoping to deflate the rolls by at least an inch. Maybe I won't look like a beached whale after all.

Awwh!

Jack could not be any sweeter. He's so comfy on my cushiony chest. Picture taken by Aunt Steph, last Sunday.

TGIF

Happy Friday! Bubbie asks "Can I have some tarter sauce with this fish"?

23 days

Ok, now I feel better. I am ready to pack now. I ordered this bathing suit for my trip. I was looking for something flattering for a 52 year old Mimi with extra junk in the trunk. I had my eye on this one months ago but put off ordering it and am glad I did, cause today only was 25% off. It was my lucky day! And would you believe it was under $40? If I only had her body!

Happy Monday

In just 25 days, I will meet my great-nephew, Evan (Bubbie). Look at that sweetness! If this won't get your week started with a big smile, I don't know what will. I haven't announced on my blog yet that Bubbie will be a "Big Brother" around his 1st Birthday in January! Yes, my niece Dayna is preggy. Sort of a shock, but a good shock. Her and Rob are great parents!

Now, this is the life! Not a care in the world. I can't wait to pinch those adorable rolls.

Abby & Jack

Abby & Jack came over last night while their mommy & daddy went out. This was the longest that Jack & mommy have been separated. It was only about 3 1/2 hours. Elsa almost backed out of going because she didn't know if she could leave him. Her and Nate needed time away and when they came back, she said she was so glad they went and it was so refreshing for her to have an adult conversation with her hubby. Jack is 4 weeks old today. He does have a lot of hair but it's mostly in the back. Abby has had a rough time dealing with having a new little person in the house. If you ask her if she likes Jack, she will say "No". I think that is almost normal for a 2 year old to share in the attention. She does like him. She wanted to crawl up in my lap while I was feeding him and share me. Thank God I have a big lap. Grampa helped out some by holding Jack so I could have one on one time with Abby and play tea party. While holding Jack and kissing his forehead, a thought crossed my mind that this just might be my last grandchild. It was a fun night.
Look at those chubby cheeks! The finger sticking up with the pretty nail belongs to his great-grandma who stopped by to see him. He finally opened his eyes for a picture.I look a little tired but I am loving this Mimi thing. Haircut next week....hooray!

I want to play

Here's to a Fabulous Friday! I wish I could say that I know this crazy little girl, but I don't. It was sent to me this morning in an email and I just had to share it. I guess this is how I feel today. I don't want to be at work, I would rather be in Chicago at the Zoo, or taking a boat ride on the lake. I think if I were in school today, I would have to ditch. I want to play today. Since I am a one woman office, I have to be at work....I am dedicated like that. But, I do have something exciting to look forward to after work.....I will be babysitting Abby & Baby Jack. I can't believe he will be 4 weeks old tomorrow already. I will take lots of pictures so I can share some new ones. Until then, Let's get this Friday started.

I'm a Queen!

I was awarded this Awe-Summm Queen of ALL things Award from a sweetheart of a person, mommy boo of two. I have to list 7 things that make me Awesome and pass this on to 7 other Awesome bloggers. Here goes! I hope I don't bore you!
1. I have 2 Awesome children
2. I have 6 Awesome grand-children
3. I make an Awesome Lasagna
4. I have Awesome skinny ankles
5. I have an Awesome Boss
6. I can throw together an awesome dinner quickly
7. I am Awesome at multi-tasking, I am a 1 women office where I work

Now, I am awarding 7 other bloggers.
Michelle at zanes milk machine
Spoonful of Sarah
Lorie at Honey I shrank myself
Sheryl at peanut butter and jelly boats
Carrington at Capri by the Lake
Toni at cheapo Mcfrugal pants
Debbie at Olive U

Land's End Give Away at Beth's

For a chance to win a $100 give away from Land's End, hurry on over to Beth's at I should be folding laundry and enter for a chance to win. Check out all of the Fabulous Treasures they have to offer. I am in need of a new swimsuit for my trip to Florida next month, so I really want to win this. Thanks Beth and Land's End for this Terrific Summer give away!

Memorial Day with Abby

We had no plans today. No cookout. No family planned function. We had wanted to go to the beach but the weather didn't permit us to go. I wanted to just go with the flow and take the day as it happened. I did want to finish planting some flowers. Abby came over for a while today while her mommy & Jack ran some errands and daddy slept, since he worked midnights. We made every minute count and ended up not only planting flowers, but we baked cupcakes too. This is the neatest Kid's Cupcake making kit that comes with everything needed. Don't laugh at my avocado green Sears hand mixer that is almost 35 years old. I love my mixer! It was a wedding gift and works great. I love this little hand working so hard and learning how to mix. Abby is modeling the apron that came with the kit. The frosting is yummy!

Decorating is so much fun!

Hey, Look what I did!

Now for the best part, Let's eat our cupcakes! This was so much fun. Making memories!
This is the pot of flowers Abby planted all by herself, with just a little help from Mimi.
I did sit back today and reflect on loved ones who have left this world. I gave Thanks for the men and women who have or are serving our great USA so that we can have freedom. I appreciate the sacrifice they and their families make every day. I know what today stands for and I am so Greatful.

You Capture/Sweet

Our assignment this week was to Capture Sweet. Now, I could have taken pictures of my sweet grand-children, or my sweet daughter, or my sweet dogs, or my sweet hubby, but I chose my sweet wall hanging shelf that my DIL gave me along with this new sweet dessert I made called "Coconut Macaroon Torte". Talk about heavenly sweetness, I will share the recipe if anyone is interested. Go check out all the sweet pictures over at Beth's , I should be folding laundry.

I should have put more thought in color co-ordinating the plate with the shelf. Oh well, it's the dessert that matters.

For all of you dieters out there, I captured a lower in calorie sweet. These are great, but should be a lot bigger. All you get is 2 bites! These are a tease!

37 days til Paradise

I can't begin to tell you the excitement and anticipation I feel, knowing in just 37 days, I will be with my best friend, my sis! I am just one click away from booking my flight. I will be gone 10 glorious days. 5 days at my sister's house and 5 days in Florida at this exact spot. My sister's job holds their yearly conference at the same resort every year and I am invited to tag along. I break up the day by going between the 2 pools and sandy white beach, which are only steps away from our room. Is this the perfect vacation, or what? We love to walk along the beach at night just before sunset and are usually up to watch the sunrise and dolphins hopping out of the water, giving us a show as we sit on our balcony sipping coffee. I can honestly say, I am in need of a vacation. I have not had much time off from work the last year. So, I am in a big hurry to shed about 50 lbs. which I know is not possible at this point...I will be happy with 10lbs. I do have a really cute cover-up......

Elvis and the girls

Remember the Benefit Concert I told you about last month? These are my gal pals and the best Elvis impressionist around (Doug Church)...and believe you me, I have heard a lot of them. Marcia, on the left is a long time buddy who I use to work with when we both were 2nd Grade Assistants. They use to call us Lucy & Ethel and you can only imagine why. We use to roller skate down the halls on Freaky Friday's. Sharon, in the front is a great friend who we named Little Ricky. Marcia has an Elvis museum in her house and I loaned her my framed original Elvis concert ticket and part of his scarf from 1975 to display. Here's to Great Friends and fun times!

Jack 2 weeks old

Jack is already 2 weeks old. We got to babysit for about 45 min. with him last night while his mommy & daddy ran to the store. His mommy was very nervous about leaving him because he is nursing, but he had just eaten 30 min. before. They made me promise that I would call immediately if he started crying. Well, about 20 min. into it, he looked like a little bird, opening up his mouth looking for his food and got mad. I knew that I had better alert the food supply. I called to see if they were at the check out, which they were. I handed him off to Grampa, who put him in a trance by singing "Jackson row the boat ashore Hallelujah". Within 10 min. Elsa belted through the front door and scooped him up to feed him. Abby slept most of the time they were gone. I was able to snap this picture. Isn't he sweet?