Uh, WHAT is THAT?

So we have these tomatoes . . . they're some weird thing that Christine and I thought would be interesting. We were checking out their progress tonight as Gram's tomatoes are starting to really take off . . . Steve looked at these, looked at me, looked back at these guys . . . "uh WHAT is THAT???? Did our tomatoes and zucchini have sex?????"

They are kinda weird looking!

MORE June Flowers

And because it gives Christine Flower ENVY! . . . .

All flower pictures taken yesterday, 27 June 2009 .. .. ..

The next three photos are of my Grandmother Surrena's 7 Sisters Rose Bush. I'm going to split it again and plant more around the house. How bright and cheerful! AND I love knowing these originally came from my Grandma and not just a cheesy store!

Pumpkins, Zukes, Watermelons and Gourds . . .

I'm eagerly awaiting late summer to know exactly what all we have in this mess of leaves!

(Yes, Christine, I KNOW there are pumpkins in the mix, you silly!)

This little cutie is a flower Christine picked up for me to set in the tomato section.

The leaf covering part of the flower - one of the tomatoes Christine also picked up for me. There are little green globes on the plant. I don't know why I haven't snapped pics of those yet! I'm ahead of Gram in the race for the first tomato of the season!

Another photo of my Gram's 7 Sisters Rose Bush.

A photo of my all-time favorite rose. Yah, no name, but I stole it from my Mom's yard. The smell . . . oh my gosh! It is pure rose! The entire yard smells of this rose in the evening. If only I could wave a bottle around and keep that for in the winter when I'm craving a hint of spring and summer!

There Christine . . . how ya feeling now????

June's Imagination Library Book

Miss Mia received it in the mail on her birthday! How fun! I so love getting a new, free book in the mail each month.

I know a few people have signed up after I mentioned it to them - here's hoping a few more do so as well!

What I especially like is - when I donate to the United Way, I am able to chose where my money goes. I, of course, specified this worthy cause.

Click on today's blog title to link to the Imagination Library Website!

Our First Birthday Celebration

I made a Strawberry Smash Cake for Miss Mia and then used up the rest of the batter in cupcake form. Then, knowing some people didn't like Strawberry, I made up a batch of chocolate cupcakes as well.
Here they are, all decorated. Strawberry icing and plain vanilla icing. I think they turned out pretty cute!


Amelia's Smash Cake - with the "1" candle on top!

One of the new balls she received as a gift.

Miss Mia and Aunt Tortie.

Mommy and Miss Mia.

MMMMMM. CAKE!

My favorite picture from the entire day!

HOW CUTE IS SHE?!?

Although Aunt Tortie tried, Miss Mia just wouldn't pick up the plate and make a huge mess!

Checking out another of her gifts . . .

This is a super cute set of Tupperware that Miss Mia absolutely loves. I think she's going to have my pitcher/tumbler obsession. She hasn't gotten in the cupboard for my 3 pitchers or any of the tumblers since she has hers to carry around.

My Sister-in-law, Michelle, gave them to Miss Mia. If you'd like a set, jump over to her website at: http://my2.tupperware.com/tup-html/G/gapmlm-welcome.html and order one!

(By the way, tumblers both the kiddie set and the grown up set are great prices right now!!!)

(Another by the way . . . MY birthday is coming up . . . I really would like that adult set of tumblers . . . if you're really my friend, you'd buy them for me . . .)

Yep, another ball as a gift!

Mommy and Daddy bought Miss Mia a cute Clacker. It's made in Poland, all wood and kid friendly "paint". I like it so much better than those Popcorn Poppers that are made out of plastic and seem to cost the Earth. This Clacker around $6! I wish I would've picked up more cute wooden toys, alas the store is now out of business (as most good stores have gone in the past year . . .).

Miss Mia showing Uncle Dave the Clacker. She went up to him on her own - a big change from a few days ago when she was too shy to do so!

AND - the best gift of all! Miss Mia herself!

(Dress and bag from Aunt Tortie and Uncle Dave!)


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I think it was a nice, simple first birthday. No pony rides, no clowns. We just had simple cookout food of hamburgers and hot dogs with macaroni salad and baked beans. I, at first, felt guilty for not making it more spectacular, then I realized, Miss Mia isn't going to remember this birthday . .. other than that she likes to eat cake. We'll wait 'til she's older and WANTS the special birthday decorations to waste our money then! This time, it was all about friends, family and celebrating all of the firsts Miss Mia has accomplished in one short year!



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Thank you Jen (www.fatfrogs.com) for grabbing up my camera and taking pictures on your night off! Check out her website if you need a wedding videographer!

Celebrating 1 Year!

One year ago today, I went to the OBGYN thinking I had a kidney infection . . . just a few short hours later, I was holding Miss Mia in my arms!

Miss Mia, you have made my life so exciting and wonderful! Keeping track of all of your accomplishments and firsts has been so exciting.

In addition to the usual firsts, you've had:

Your first road trip (to Michigan, please see the next accomplishment)

Your first wedding (Uncle JR and Aunt Michelle)

Your first grown up party (Uncle JR and Aunt Michelle's Wedding Reception)

Your first Steeler's Superbowl Victory

Your first funeral (nothing we should celebrate, but we need to remember Great-Grampa Russ)

Your first Penguins Stanley Cup Victory

And to think - you're well on your way to running every where!

Your first words: Mama, Dada, Nala, Done! Hi! Night Night.

I can't wait to see what the next year has in store for us!

I love you Miss Mia!

Happy Birthday!

Love, Mommy

My Daddy

Dad took a break from playing catch with Miss Mia . . . .

I whipped out the camera and played with portrait mode to take this picture. I know, he wasn't looking at the camera - he's kinda like Miss Mia. I take what I can get! HA!

Totally Random Shots

June Flowers With My New Camera!

I gave in and bought a new camera. Was getting frustrated with how many ruined pictures I had to get just one or two good ones . . .

Aunt Tortie's

Miss Mia stealing Aunt Tortie's pillow.

Miss Mia just being so danged cute!

Miss Mia helping Tortie on her pretty yellow Dell laptop.

Miss Mia and Uncle Dave playing ball.

Bad photographer: This is actually Miss Mia hugging Uncle Dave good-bye. Being the horrid camera person I am, I got the show as he placed her back on the floor.

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Tonight, one of my best friends and her hubby (Tortie and Dave) made us a delicious meal of tortillas and tacos. Tortie's sister made black bean cakes and Tortie's Mom made a spanish corn. Goodness was dinner delicious!

I love going to Tortie's. I know that I can just be me when I'm there . . . if it's a night when I don't want to talk, so be it. If I want to be a total goof, so be it. I love knowing that I have a friend like that.

Plus, the fact that Tortie and Dave can make me laugh so hard I almost pee my pants . . . always a bonus!

And did I mention the yummy food?

I love to "forget" that Tortie is only my friend. I love thinking that she and her family are actually my family. This is easy to do. They don't allow you to keep them at arm's length!

Bitter and Angry

Okay, remember how I said about how blessed we both were with our employers?

Well, Steve got a new manager at work about 2 weeks ago.

The new manager fired Steve Monday. Steve had no warning. Four other persons were fired in the same time. The manager told Steve that Steve didn't follow directions. How was that possible when Steve was training him????

Steve and I are looking at this as a blessing. We're trying to find the positives - such as we get more time together.

I'm trying so hard to not be bitter and angry. Steve loved his job. I hate politics and the fact that Steve's new manager did not like having someone on his team who know more than he did. Well, now the manager should be happy. The manager is the only person on his team that should have 8 people.

Steve was the senior employee at his location! He had only had a .25 write up of the 3 needed to be terminated.

Sorry, the trying to not be bitter and angry thing doesn't always work so well . . .

My Class Starts Tomorrow!

I've decided to take a cooking class. The instructor specializes in low-fat, diabetic recipes that are kid-friendly. This seems perfect for me as I need low-fat diabetic recipes that I can share with Miss Mia!

So, class starts tomorrow evening.

I hope I learn something!

Oh, please, please, please let me learn something from this class - something that will benefit me - as well as my family!

SATURDAY!

Yep, those would be more chocolate covered strawberries!

Mom and I took Tia and Maxine into Strawberry Days before dropping them off at their friend's birthday party. Mom and I had some yummy chocolate covered strawberries. We also visited with Carla who was working our Church's booth. (They gave out free chocolate chip cookies. YUM!)

Miss Mia all cute in her little sundress that had gold sparklies.

Here, acting all shy, but still cute.

Just loving those smiles she gives!

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After Strawberry Days, we dropped the two Tweens off at the birthday party. Mom and I then stopped at a huge yard sale. They were tired and ready to call it a day. They let us take whatever we wanted . . . for FREE! We ended up with a huge tote of girl's clothing (size 24m - 6 years all Gymboree and Old Navy). The clothes are so cute. I can't believe Miss Mia will soon be wearing some of them! They also gave us a 19" color tv with remote. I grabbed a few pieces of women's clothing as well. All I can say is JACKPOT!
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Strawberry Milkshakes! My late lunch (and Steve's, I'm not THAT much of a piggie!)

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We then changed into our grubbie clothing and headed up to where my Aunt Sue and my Goob are camped.
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Sue reading one of Amelia's board books. This one is all about Trucks. Sue was excited that I didn't get her just all princess'y type "toys".

Dad sitting at the fire with his usual cup of coffee.

Mom by the fire, chatting away with Sue.

Steve and Miss Mia checking out the water.

My Goob. It was a chilly night up there, and she was covered in a blankie as well as wearing her wool jacket!

Steve and Miss Mia strolling along the bank. It was quite the slope and we were afraid she'd tumble right into the water.

Steve actually snapped a pretty good picture of me with Miss Mia.

Fire, water and sunset. What better way to wind down such a nice Saturday?

Oh yeah, and John cooked us hamburgers, hot dogs, french fries and baked beans on the grill. YUMMMY FOOD!

Campfire at night . . .

Miss Mia decided to show
Aunt Sue her walking and ball playing skills before we left . . .

Playing ball in the dark . . .