Weekend with the boys

Noah, Carter & Gray spent the night. We did a T-shirt painting activity that they really enjoyed, with the help of Mimi. Noah & Carter's shirts have light sabers from Star Wars on them. I have been trying to find new activities for them to keep them busy and actually they would rather play with their uncle Nate's old toys. They are getting ready for their sister Ivy's arrival, so we made special shirts.

Hurricane Gustav

I am asking for your prayers for my sister Diane and her family for safety and protection from "Hurricane Gustav." They live near the Gulf in Louisiana and when I spoke to her today, they are preparing and packing up valuables and getting ready in case it did hit where she lives. She is going to her daughter's house in another town or possibly driving North. Her son took his family to Dallas, Texas. It is a very scary time for them, so please help me pray for their's and everyone elses safety. Her husband works for the prison, so he has to stay. They didn't lose their house during Hurricane Rita, but did suffer some damage. They evacuated for 2 weeks then, so I pray they won't feel the affects of this one. Thank You for your prayers!

Abby's Tea Party with friends

Abby came over tonight while her mommy and daddy went out for dinner. We had a tea party with some furry friends. She is growing so fast. I look forward to her and her cousin Ivy having their own little tea party together one day.

Throwback Thursday

My first grand-son Noah, who is now in 2nd grade, is sporting a very special Robe. It was worn by my sister's first and only grand-son, Corbin, who started Jr. High this year. A sweet story of how Noah inherited this robe is........while on a trip to my sister's, Corbin put the robe in Noah's suitcase for him to take home. I wish we all lived closer together, but at least we have pictures, video & web cam.

Wacky Wednesday

Happy Wednesday Everyone! These bobbby pins are killing my head!
Check out www.yearbookyourself.com and see how you would look way back when!

Cousins Reunite

My cousins from the St. Louis Missouri area came to visit for the weekend and 2 of them have never been to our beautiful Lake Michigan, Dunes State park. From left to right are, Diann next to her mom, my first cousin, Linda, Me & first cousin Lucy. My parents are sitting.

We really had a fun filled weekend starting on Friday night til Sunday afternoon. Linda & Lucy, sisters....I had such a great time talking about old times with them and looking at old pictures. We don't get together much, but when we do, we make the most of it. Lucy on the right drives for a Chartered Bus company and travels all over the U.S. I loved hearing about all her stories.

Time sure does fly!

It seems like yesterday that my first born grandson, Noah, on the right was born. I can still see and hear his daddy running down the hospital hall yelling "We have a ball player"!!!!
The overwhelming feeling I had inside is unexplainable......
17 months later, #2 grandson Carter, on the left came along.....I felt another overwhelming feeling of excitement.....These 2 little boys are best buds. They are like twins.....They look out for one another......They start school today....Carter in 1st grade, Noah in 2nd grade. They are watching for the school bus. Their mommy took these pictures this morning.
I pray protection over these 2 little angels....

Sleepover

This is Carter sleeping this morning with his mommy's teddy bear when she was a little girl.
Read on below.............What started out to be a boring Sunday afternoon, turned into an amusement park at my house. It reminded me of a wilted flower needing to be watered. When you start to sprinkle on the water, it comes back to life. That is just how I felt. I was actually moping around after doing yard work, just feeling empty inside. It is hard to explain it. Then, I get a phone call and it changed everything. Steph, Jeff & boys came by to drop off something and everyone stayed in the car. Carter started crying, wanting to play at my house. It was ok with his parents if he stayed and I could drive him home at bedtime. Noah didn't want to leave sleeping Gray, so it was just Carter and he was a very Happy Carter. We had intentions of taking him home at bedtime, but plans changed and he decided he wanted to spend the night. I also had Abby for a few hours while her parents went out for a nice dinner date. Carter & Abby played so cute together. I laughed so hard at Abby when she went to get a book for Carter to read to her. She backed up and tried to sit on his lap for him to read the book.....
Even though I didn't get a full nights sleep and was kicked a few times during the night, I wouldn't trade it for the world. I woke Carter up and made him scrambled eggs, then took him home before going to work. His mommy said he cried when I left. Like I talked about before, there is an attachment with Carter Bear and his Mimi.....I love it!
I feel like a blooming flower this morning and I didn't even need miracle grow....

Carter's Prayer

So, Monday night I took Noah & Carter to get an ice cream cone. We sat at the picnic table eating our cones outside. Carter ordered Chocolate & Noah ordered vanilla. As we are sitting and talking about anything and everything, a beautiful shiny white new convertible drives thru the drive thru to order. I said "Mimi would love to have a car like that one, so help me pray for one." I didn't mean to stop and pray at that moment. I look over at Carter who is sitting next to me and he had his eyes closed with his ice cream cone in front of his face saying "Father God".....and continues his prayer. I just melted inside. He was so serious and said "Mimi, when I get older, I will give you my convertible". He then had a sad face and said "But I love your van Mimi". So, I guess I will have to wait until the boys grow up before I get my convertible! Let me add that Gray didn't go because he is allergic to dairy. He was busy playing with the new toys I got at the garage sale. Photos courtesy of CE....

Garage Sale Bargains

The company where I work had a multi-family garage sale in the parking lot on Saturday. We set up our own tables and tried to sell stuff we didn't want anymore and make some money. Well, I ended up shopping at everyone elses tables and found these great bargains. They were like Brand Spankin New! I got this Dora the Explorer kitchen set for a bargain price of $5. It fits perfectly in my dining room for when the grand-kids come over. It talks and explains the recipes. Abby loves it! I listed the other bargains I got.....read on.... This Dora bean bag for only $4

Diego play set with lots of pieces for only $5
This collectable set of Chrisha Playful Plush bunnies for only 50 cents each.

Paddington Bear with a Craftsman tool outfit. Perfect condition. Only 75 cents.
I saved the best for last....I treated ME....to this beautiful Thomas Kinkade limited edition Beauty in flight hummingbird called "Garden of Prayer". You will never believe how much this was. $2.00. Can you believe? It hung perfectly on my bathroom wall. It is just so perfect.
So, if I add up all of the things I bought, including the food that a co-worker was selling hot off the grill (it was an amazing burger), I was still ahead and with my earnings I was able to almost fill up my gas tank......It was a fun day. I ended up donating most of my left overs that didn't sell to Goodwill. At one point towards the end of the sale, I had blue light specials on my 3 tables. I don't want to get ready for another garage sale for a long long time....

Thanks for your Prayers and Well Wishes!

Ok, so, Crazy Mimi has all my bloggy buddies to thank for all the prayers and well wishes during this awful toothache ordeal. GREAT NEWS! The antibiotics kicked in Friday night and I was pain free the first time in 3 days. My tooth is very sore to touch, but I will take that any day over the pain. I am praying that I won't need a root canal and it was only an infection.....I love you ALL.....and I believe in the power of prayer. Have a Wonderful Sunday. Mimi with NO make-up on.....Very Scary!!!

Mimi's got a toothache! Ouch!

I have had an awful toothache for a few days now and the only thing that takes the pain away is when I hold water in my mouth and swish, or when I hold Listerine in my mouth for a while. But when you have a job that requires talking and communicating, you can't sit with liquid in your mouth all day. I actually would swish in between sleeping the last few nights. I think I got 3 straight hours of sleep without having to swish......I went to the dentist after work yesterday and since it is a tooth under my bridgework, he can only assume that it might be a bacteria infection and put me on an antibiotic for 10 days. He said if the pain does not go away after finishing the meds, then it must be a root problem and you know what that means.....ROOT CANAL....I think the only pain worse than a toothache is childbirth.....sorry to scare the first time soon to be moms out there. If anyone has a home remedy for pain, please share with me....I am desperate! Eating sweets makes it worse, so maybe I will lose a few pounds....

Please say a prayer for Mimi....

Celebration in New Buffalo, Michigan

We celebrated my belated birthday Saturday in New Buffalo, Michigan. It was also Our 34th Wedding Anniversary....As you can see, my terrific family gave me a Coach wallet for my birthday. I feel so special. Steph, of course was the shopper and she chose something that would go with both of my Coach purses. I had mentioned a few months ago that I was going to look at wallets and she told me to stay out of the Coach store.
We ate lunch at a very nice italian restaurant close to the beach in New Buffalo called Brewster's. They had the best home-made dishes that we all enjoyed so much. We sat in an area that was very private for our little group and it could not have been more perfect...after lunch we walked around and looked at the interesting shops and even had a private concert with this man who played the guitar and harmonica and sang. I rocked Abby to sleep on my shoulder, it was so soothing to hear. Then it was off to the beach, which was not too far of a walk. It was such a beautiful day, very sunny and pleasant, no humidity. Even though there were riptides in the lake, Jeff & Carter jumped the waves when everyone was allowed to go back in. I loved just standing and letting the water hit my feet and watching the kids playing in the sand, building castles. It could not have been a more perfect day.

Abby & Gray enjoying breadsticks

It is very hard to get all 4 to look and smile at the camera at the same time...Oh well, I would rather have action shots. Abby is usually smily, but I don't think she wanted to share my lap.

My wonderful family,Back row is: Mike, Jeff, Steph, Elsa & Nate
Noah, Carter, Mimi seated, holding Abby & Gray....Oh, Ivy is also in the back row! Sorry if the picture is a little blurry.

Noah is jumping at the waves. He is not much for getting too wet. I love this picture! Carter is our fish. He loves the water! Gray was very content to just sit and play in the sand or chase the seagulls. Abby was having fun dumping the bucket of water in the sand. She is also in love with her flamingo bathing suit that Aunt Diane got her. She carries it around the house like it is her lovey.

Thanks family.....for a perfect celebration! I love you.