Happy Birthday Marci!!!

We had a small group tonight for dinner - too many things going on, to include graduation parties, softball, little league, t-ball, wedding invitation shopping . . . the list goes on and on.

It was still a nice dinner - and in honor of Marci (on the right) who will be 50 on Saturday!

Happy Birthday Marci!

Love ya!!!!

Now, when you go gambling tomorrow, make certain you win me (uh, I mean, you) lotsa money.

Also at tonight's dinner was Marci's Mommy (Georgetta), Barb (Marci's and my coworker) and my Mommy. Miss Mia was there for a few minutes, but she was just too, too cranky and she went back home with Daddy :)

burn and shape

I picked this DVD up at a yard sale for $1.

I believe it was worth it. Each time I increase my weights, I feel my arms are falling off for the next day!

I haven't notice any weight loss - but I *think* my arms are looking a little toner. To me, that is victory enough!

The Mercer Memorial Day Parade

Memorial Day weekend is coming to an end.

We decided to head up to Mercer for the Parade. After the Parade, JR and family would simply jump on 80 and head back to Michigan.

It turned out to be an absolutely beautiful day. There was not a cloud in the sky and the temperature hit 81. I had had my hair down for most of the parade, but by the end, it was back. It was just too danged warm for all that hair!

When we first arrived, Miss Mia was in the midst of her nap. She didn't care that there were zillions of people around. She just snuggled into Gramma Surrena's shoulders and finished up her nap.


When Miss Mia finally woke up, Grampa Surrena held her and tried teaching her the branches of the military as well as the fact that Harleys and Big Rigs are cool.



The one Church was handing out free Lemonade. What a nice and surprising treat on such a warm day. Miss Mia enjoyed her first taste of the sweetly tart drink.

A picture of the three cousins before Austin and Taylor had to head home to Michigan.

Miss Mia - all smiles.

Miss Mia getting to pose with her Uncle JR, Aunt Michelle and cousins, Austin and Taylor before they jumped in their van to head home.

You can barely see them in the picture, but Mercer lines their streets with American flags; one about every 5 or so feet. It's beautiful to see.

I hope to make the parade a tradition in the years to come. It was wonderful to see and honor the men and women who have served our country - willing to give their lives for my freedom!!!!

They Grow Up In a Minute!

Scanning through my pictures tonight, I got a little teary-eyed. I remember the excitement the day Austin was born . . . how can he be old enough to ride a bike without training wheels?

Miss Tay came into our family when she was little more than an adorable toddler. One of my favorite pictures of her came about just before Austin was born - we were at JR's graduation from Cornerstone and she slipped off her shoes to walk through the grass. She was such a beautiful, adorable little girl. Look at her now, almost a grown up.

They've both grown up so fast in so little time. I just want to grab the two of them and hold them to me! Seeing how quickly they're both moving to adult-hood just reminds me again and again to enjoy each and every moment I have with Miss Mia!

Memorial Day Weekend - Saturday Style

I am so excited. My brother, JR, and his family are visiting from Michigan this weekend. I so love my niece and nephew. They are just too danged cute - and also so well-behaved. Miss Mia has enjoyed visiting with them as well!

Miss Mia and her cousin, Taylor, sharing a smile.

Miss Mia supervising her Daddy and Uncle as they put together her wagon (yes, an early birthday gift!). Taylor and my Dad help in the supervision (too many chiefs???)


Steve and my brother, JR, putting together the wagon my Sister-in-law, Michelle, found at a great price! Love ya Michelle (and NOT just because you got such a great deal on the wagon!)

By the way, matching outfits were not a requirement for assembling the wagon.

Not even here a full hour and poor Austin was already hard at work in the fields! Child labor is free labor, right?

Chores with Grampa

Grampa had to wash his truck tonight. He had a willing helper in Miss Mia. I think most of the soap bubbles ended up on her!

May's Book

Once a month, Miss Mia will receive a book in the mail - All thanks to the Dolly Parton Imagination Library. She'll receive these books until she turns 5.

This Month - we received The Little Engine That Could. It's a nice, hard bound book. We read it at night, but like all books that have paper pages, she's only permitted to read it when Mommy or Daddy is holding it. This will just be until she learns her strength and how to turn pages without ripping them out of the book.

My Favorite Toy

Also at one of the Mercer Yard sales on Saturday, I found a Whoozit. Miss Mia has one of the Baby Whoozits that we all just love. When I saw this character sitting there, I had to have him -I mean, he was only $1! I know, we don't need any more stuffed animals - but this guy is too cool. He squeaks, he crinkles, and he's also a teething ring.

Miss Mia loves him (after he was washed and sanitized, of course). The best part is, whenever adults are around - they all go straight for him as well. Saturday evening, Mr. Whoozit was in Mom's hands and Marilyn's hands. Poor Miss Mia never did get a chance to bond with him!

Ask Before Saying Yes . . .

My Dad often delivers vehicles and trailers for various clients. This past weekend, a former Pennsylvania State Trooper needed him to haul a trailer to a campground where he was going to set it on a permanent site.

A lot of times, we will ride along.

I am so, so glad Mom and I decided to stay home this time.

Steve and Dad got to the campground where someone greeted them. He opened the fence and as he did gave warning "Just to let you know, this is a clothing optional campground."

Steve and Dad, being men, were thinking of beautiful playboy bunnies. Not what they got. Poor Steve is traumatized - he sez he has a horrible image of a fat old man . . . nude. He said it was beyond gross. I would have been mortified - and would have wanted to keep Miss Mia from seeing any of that kinda stuff!

Ugh. I guess it takes all kinds! Next time, I think we'll be asking just what the destination is all about before saying yes to towing something there . . . and for Miss Mia and me to tag along ;)

Yard Sales Rock!

I love a yard sale bargain. Today, I found some great ones! I know Miss Mia isn't old enough yet for the kitchen, but I couldn't pass it up! It came with all the food and cooking utensils! So, I'll clean it and store it til Christmas. I think this will make a nice gift - and she should be getting interested in this type of thing by then :)
A little kids picnic table. You can never, ever have too many picnic tables. Need to get out the bleach and scrub this one - the little boy liked to run his bike into it - plus it's a little muddy from the rain (which, we're getting a ANOTHER huge downpour as I write this!)

How cute is this Work Bench???? Each year in Mercer, we hit this one yard sale. They have great stuff and great prices. Daddy thinks he's giving Miss Mia this one for her birthday. If so, we'll have all her gifts done - no more shopping needed! WOOHOO!

I also found some small items for me - a woman was selling all of her Pampered Chef Utensils at 10 cents each. I bought 'em all. HA!

Planting Time ~ A Mother's Day Gift

Steve and Miss Mia bought me a Granny Smith Apple tree for Mother's Day - to replace the willows that Horrid-cane Ike took out last year. I can't wait to see this tree in a few years - full of beautiful blossoms in the spring and with beautiful fruit come fall . . .

Walking!

Well, Miss Mia did it! She's walking!

Yesterday, she would take these tiny little one, or two . . . or maybe even three steps. Mainly when she was playing and not really paying all that much attention to what her feet were doing.

Today, there was nothing to it. She just picked up those chubby little feet and let 'er rip. She did short distances at first . . . the living room to the kitchen island about 3 feet away. The doggie. Me . . . Then, Gramma and Grampa came up. She just had to show off and walked from her bedroom to the downstairs door. Then, Grampa went into the formal room and crouched down and she was walking to him in there as well.

She was determined tonight to walk, and by golly, she succeeded!

Crafty Me

The burp clothes and rag-y tag-y wrapped up and ready to be gifted.

The start of my next project - nothing has been trimmed or ironed.

***

Miss Mia went right to sleep tonight. So, I had free time. Instead of cleaning my waaaaay trashed house, I played around a little. I wrapped a pretty ribbon around the baby gift set. I'll be taking it to work tomorrow. I'm not giving it to my TL 'til Friday, but I know how easily I forget stuff . . . .

And . . . . I love the new quilt I'm working on. All I'm doing is using up the scraps from Tortie's wedding quilt. I'm not worrying about how many strips are in a square. I just know each square will be an 8.5 block. I've still quite a few of the full squares from her quilt. I keep thinking I might toss in one or two randomly, to keep it interesting.

Miss Mia's Quilt

I finished Miss Mia's quilt today.

Miss Mia's Daddy insisted on camo for the back . . .

In her room, over the back of her crib this evening before she went to bed :)

Rag-y Tag-y Sewing Fun

The above is a walker tote I made for Steve's Mom for Mother's Day. I love the material - Steve actually picked it out. It's pretty cute.

My experiment with a Rag-y Tag-y that was given to Miss Mia. She loves chewing on the fabric stuffed tags.


A Rag-y Tag-y and two burp cloths for my TL.

Just the Rag-y Tag-y.

The Rag-y Tag-y and burp cloths again.

First off - thought we'd be celebrating a blessing in 9 months, but it was a false alarm. My friend just decided to wait an entire week after she should have been here to arrive. Crazy annoying PCOS symptoms will getcha every time ;)

Next, for some reason, I've been crazy-mad for sewing. I had this huge brain-storm for ideas as my TL at work (well, his wifey) is due on the 11th. I came up with a Rag-y Tag-y and Rag-y burp cloths. If I were close to the TL, I would have thought about throwing together a baby throw as well.

I washed and dried those new baby gifts today. They are cute, if I must say so myself!

***

I made a walker tote for Steve's Mom as well today. The instructions were horrid and I ended up just kinda doing what I thought was right. I used two yards of material for a tiny little tote. I will NOT be using the instructions again!