"Wacky Wednesday"

This is Glen, the Garbologist. He is the Recycling & Waste Reduction District Mascot
for Portage, the town I live in. He's a red wiggler worm and understands the importance of recycling.
I decided to make a change to help our environment. I have been doing little things here and there, but want to step it up. I confess, I have not been recycling like I should, so starting today, I am contacting my local Waste Management company to drop off the recycling bins at my house. I am going to try to buy less plastic and am ordering the bags to take to the store's to use instead of plastic bags. I am excited to make this change and I encourage all others who read this to join me.......Glen thanks you too!

West Virginia Trip

I drove my parents to West Virginia over the Memorial Day Weekend. This picture is a place where about 50, or more relatives gathered for a picnic on Sunday. I saw cousins that I grew up with and it was great to sit and talk about old times. You can see the mountains and little pond in the back-ground. It was a beautiful place.

I drove my parents, aunt and cousin around to 5 cemeteries on Saturday to decorate graves. One of the cemeteries was in someone's front yard. It was a great trip and I am so glad I was able to take my parents. They appreciated going back to their home-town.

Pinks & Blues Contest!

The Pinks & Blues blog is having a contest!

I'm gonna win a Dooney & Bourke handbag & some perfume - you can enter over at Pinks & Blues, but I'm tellin' you that I'm going to win!

Cheeky Jewelry Contest!

I hope I win some new earrings or a $25 gift certificate from Cheeky Jewelry in Steph's new contest at Adventures In Babywearing!

You can enter here!

"Wacky Wednesday"

Yes my friends, today is Wacky Wednesday. Meet my friend "Cat Man". Is this not the wackiest creature you've ever seen? He is very clean, uses the liter box. He shares an office with Amy, my co-worker. He does not take up much room, he is pinned on her wall. When we are feeling down or stressed out, we just look at Cat Man and he cheers us up.....

Abby's Nursery

This is a portion of the Mural my son Nathan is designing on Abby's nursery room wall. It is Amazing! He drew free hand & painted from looking at the Angelina Ballerina book, which is her nursery theme. If you zoom in close, you can see that there is an Abigail's Cafe and Sophie's Corner. Sophie is their dog, of course. Nate has always loved to draw as a child and anytime we went in a restaurant, he would flip the paper placemat over and ask me for a pen or pencil and start sketching. I have saved some of his placemat artwork. He also designed a mural for his nephew's nursery.

While babysitting Abby on Saturday afternoon, I layed her in her crib so she could look at the mural and she just gets a serious look on her face, like she is studying it. I can already tell that Abby is a daddy's girl. It brings me joy to see my son, so in love with his daughter.

Epilepsy Walk / Lincoln Park Zoo

What a beautiful day God made for us at the Buddy Bear's Epilepsy Walk in Chicago. The walk is next to the Zoo, so we took in all the exhibits and enjoyed the day. Gray wanted me to carry him most of the day, when he wasn't chasing the birds on the ground, so you see in the background, the faithful stroller? Well, it pushed My Coach purse...LOL. By the way, Gray chose a new name for me yesterday "Gah"...I will stick with Mimi though, he will come around. I was so proud of Noah and Carter, for walking and being the sweetest little guys you could ever want. The ending to our perfect zoo trip was the Lemonade slushie...Heavenly and so refreshing! Thanks to ALL who supported us in our Walk.

Mason & Matisse Giveaway!

Check out my daughter Steph's blog at Adventures In Babywearing for your chance to win some fabulous Skip Hop prizes from Mason & Matisse! If I win I can use the prizes for my new granddaughter Abigail. And I would love to have these neat cubino chairs & loveseats at my house for my grandsons when they come over...

Be sure to check out the contest!

"Wacky Wednesday"

Wednesday's are considered "Wacky Wednesday"...share something wacky.....it can be a wacky picture or poem or story....I consider myself a Wacky person...Ask anyone who knows me...

"My Buddy Bears"

It is hard to believe that my 3 little grandson's are growing up so fast. Noah is 6, Carter will be 5 in July and Gray will be 2 in October. Each one has their own little personality and that's what makes it so much fun when we are all together. I can honestly say, I was excited when finding out each were a boy. Someone asked me "don't you want a grand-daughter?" I said, I will in time get a grand-daughter, but I am just as happy with boys. Gray wants all my attention and when I hold the new baby "Abby", he lets me know, he does not want to share Mimi. Being Mimi to these special little boys have been such a blessing and I look forward to always being around to watch them grow up. By the way, Noah told me that when he grows up, I can live with him, he will take care of me.

My Happy Mother's Day

I had a Great Mother's Day so far. We celebrated Saturday because my son, Nathan had to work afternoons on Mother's Day. We met for Breakfast and had a very enjoyable time. I was so surprised at my gift from my family. I got a Hot Pink iPod shuffle, which matches my cell phone. I also got a little Vera Bradley change purse that I can carry my iPod and cell phone in when I go walking. Oh, and from Sophie, the grand-dog, I got a pink floral key chain that matches her leash and collar. I feel so Blessed to have such Great Children. Thank you Steph & Nate for a Wonderful Mother's Day....the day before...

Abigail "cutie"

Tonight I had a surprise visit from my grand-daughter. She was out with her mommy delivering Lia Sophia Jewelry. Elsa is a consultant for Lia Sophia. I got to feed her and visit with her a while. She will be 2 months old Sunday, the 13th...Grampa calls her "little Nate". She is such a joy...her shirt says it all!

"A Favorite Gift"

I am like any other ordinary women, I love purses...I never dreamed that I would own a "Coach". My co-worker and I would look at the Coach purse web site at work on our lunch hour and admire all the colors and styles and just Wish...Well, my daughter knew that I really had my heart set on a coach purse, so she kept in touch with Amy, my co-worker, to see which one I had admired. Christmas 2006 arrived and the opening of gifts..I was totally surprised when I opened my gift from Steph, Jeff, Noah, Carter & Gray. The box said "COACH", I thought, Oh my gosh, could it be? Yes, it was a Coach purse. I couldn't believe my eyes! I have carried it every day since and it still looks brand new. I even spilled a bottle of water in it the other day at my desk at work. My daughter worked hard to get me a Gift I really wanted, but really never asked for because I knew I would probably never own one. She is a one in a million daughter and I love her. It wasn't so much the gift that meant so much to me, but the heart in the giving that meant more.

"You Can Do It"

I joined Weight Watcher's 1 year ago and have lost 54 lbs. I take one day at a time, or should I say, 1 meal at a time. My daughter, Stephanie, gave me this Wish Sister Doll for my 50th Birthday last year. It sits by my bed to remind me every morning that I wake and every evening before I close my eyes that "I Can Do This". This is a lifestyle change I chose to make and I am so glad I did. I am still on the journey and I do hit bumps along the way, but I look at my Wish Sister and it helps me to get back on track. "Don't worry! You'll make it! 'Cause you're tough enough! she says...

My sister, My best friend

I was blessed to grow up with a sister, who was really like my twin. We did everything together, shared a beautiful bedroom with white furniture, canopy bed, frilly bedspread. When she hurt, I hurt. We use to play the game of jacks so much that we played in our sleep. The day she married and moved 1,159 miles away was like a part of me left with her. We have never lost contact and still remain as close or even closer, and it has been over 33 years. I cherish my friendship with my sister, she has always been there to listen to my problems, even if we have to use a Web Cam and IM to talk to (Thank God for technology). I am so excited to be able to go on a vacation with my sister this summer to Florida. Just her and I will sit on the white sandy beach and reminise and people watch and talk about the skinny people. I am looking forward to our time together. I feel so blessed. I love you sis!

Penny Girl

Penny is my angel dog, a long haired dachshund that we adopted from a breeder. She was 6 years old and retired from having puppies. I call her my angel dog because she brought a peace back in our lives after we tragically lost our little Lily, a mini dapple dachshund. God works in mysterious ways and I do believe that Penny was meant to be ours. She has brought so much joy to our home. This picture was taken today, after getting groomed.

New Beginnings

Check out Mimi's toes....this is also a book title that my grand-son's love to have read to them. My dear mother treated me tonight to an evening of beauty at the salon she goes to. I have never had a pedicure before....When I arrived, I was escorted to a massage chair by Samone, the beauty expert. I sat while the hands inside the chair kneeded my back like pizza dough (you can tell where my mind was) food, of course. My feet soaked in a hot soothing bath. She then sanded my feet like they were blocks of wood. They were smoother than a baby's bottom. I chose a nail color the name of an Elvis Presley song "I'm All Shook Up". To finish the look, I chose a toe ring from a jewelry box of all sorts of designs. I felt like a teenager getting ready for the Prom. I then found myself getting a chin, lip and eyebrow wax to finish it off. "Mimi's toes" don't look too shabby for being 50 years old.....I think my mom and I decided to make this a monthly treat and I would like for My daughter to join us next time......three generations of Beauty...

My Grand-children are the light of my world

Welcome to Mimi's world....Gray, Carter, Noah and Abby. There is Nothing that makes me more happy than babysitting for these wonderful creations. It is like getting a second chance in life. The dusting and laundry can wait...I have learned that it is so rewarding to hold your grand-child and read a book....