Wednesday, July 30, 2014

Fun Day!

For the first half of the day, I finished cleaning my house. I always wonder why I don't clean it a little bit at a time instead of having to kill myself when company comes? It is just so different with Jeff and I just here. He doesn't mind the dust bunnies rolling across the floor in front of us and so since I was so sick for 6 months, I am afraid that I sorta adopted his attitude. You know what they say..."If you can't beat them, join them!"
The worse part is I am so all over the place, I would be cleaning some part of the kitchen and then go and put some away somewhere else... then I would see something there and start cleaning that. ( I know what you are probably thinking...she must be A. D. D. ) well I probably am...just never diagnosed. Oh well, at the age of 55 guess I am not going to change too much now!
Anyway, I got it all done and then showered and jumped in the car and made it just in time to pick my family up.
My brother and 3 of his kids came to stay for the week. I am so excited they came, I have always been close to these kids...they sorta feel like my Grandchildren. We don't get to see each other very often and this is the first time they have ever been to Washington. The good news is... that they came this week and the weather is just beautiful and it is suppose to be this way all week! 
When Jeff came home we decided to take them out to dinner...so we introduced them to one of our favorite places....called M.O.D. Pizza, they loved it! MOD stands for Made On Demand, so you choose your pizza and toppings right there and they make it for you. It is great pizza and a fun place to eat.
After that we had frozen yogurt and then headed to Juanita Beach to walk along the boardwalk. They just couldn't get over how beautiful it was here.
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Then came home Jeff then gave those who wanted a ride on his motorcycle around the block. Then talked on the deck while the sun was setting.
What a fun day, I have missed my family and love them very much. So glad that they couldn't wait to get to Aunt Lynn's house. It is going to be a great week.
Good night dear friends!
Family Wall Lettering Love Never Ends by eAppliques on Etsy. The best part about life is with family-

Monday, July 28, 2014

Just watched the movie ....heaven is real

What a great movie! I had heard great things about it and I thought they did a great job. I think it is so true, if we pay more attention to our children...we would realize life is pretty simple and beautiful. Watch it for yourself

here:

Heaven-Is-for-Real-2014-Movie

http://patch.com/georgia/gwinnett/11-years-after-heaven-what-life-is-like-for-the-burpo-family-gwinnett#.U9NBhvldUf0

Here is the story of the real family that it happen to..,watch it here:

Sunday, July 27, 2014

Lemonade....anyone?

I don't remember if I ever did a lemonade stand as a child, but we probably did. We moved to the country when I was 10, so it had to be while I lived in the city if I did. But I surely remember my kids doing them and that was a happy memory.


 Today Poppa and I stopped what we were doing and helped the girls do a lemonade stand for a couple of hours. We started off in the sun, but after 5 mins we realized our chocolate chip cookies were melting and so were we. So we moved over underneath our tree in the front and set  up shop there. Not a ton of people in the neighborhood today but the ones who came were very nice and sweet to the girls. I made this lemonade stand a year ago for my work. It was fun to finally use it. Still they have used it for other things at home, puppet theater, movie  and popcorn sells... lots of fun ideas if you have an imagination!
 Even in the heat...they were having fun, and learning lots about business in the sales world!

Fun day, we will do it a few more times before Summer is over hopefully! 
Speaking of the happiest things, listen to this song  that you can find HERE:
It should bring a smile to your face for sure!
Good night dear friends!

"One of the luckiest things that can happen to you in life is, I think , to have a happy childhood. "   ~ Agatha Christie


"Children can see magic...because they look for it! "   ~ Christopher Moore

Friday, July 25, 2014

What a DAY!!!!

I came home so tired from the Baby Shower last night that I simply just had to go to bed. It was a full day, Jenny and I's last day together from her 2 day Sleep Over, and then the baby shower for a dear friend. It was fun... but I probably over did it a bit.
Tonight is Date Night...yeah and so I won't write tonight for sure. So I thought I would post today instead!
Good night dear friends! ( later that is! )

 "If I could give you one thing in life, I would give you the ability to see yourself through my eyes only then would you realize how special you are to me.."

Love my Jenny girl! Never a dull moment, sorta feels like a redheaded mini Lauren! :)
Lunch at Panera Bread! 
Never go anywhere without a stuffed animal with you to share in all the fun!
 My dear friend, has 4 little girls and now she is finally getting a little boy. Thanks so much for Jenny and Amy for making the shower look adorable! And for all the ladies that came and helped out too. It was a great success and I think she felt loved! That was our goal!

Jenny's cute homemade cookies, Amy's calligraphy toppers were too cute!


 Jenny also sews and made this sweet table runner to match the banner than Amy sewed!

 Food, food and more food. If you couldn't guess, it was an Ice Cream Party!
 Thank you notes to match of course!
 These sweet little beanie babies have been so popular, thought I would give some to the 4 sisters and to the Hostess's little girls too. Yes, those are sleeping bags that I made. Don't all your little stuffed animals have sleeping bags? :)

Thank Heaven for little boy!
Collect the wishes of different loved ones for our baby and frame the list

Thursday, July 24, 2014

Gratitude!

Today Jenny and I were able to cram a few things into our Sleep Over day! She eats, she cooks, she plays, she creates, she snuggles and she watches movies. She makes me laugh all the time. She is too cute. I love all the funny things that she says, she always keeps us smiling. It is interesting to see the girls when they come to a Sleep Over on their own, they seem to absorb everything that we do together. They love the one on one time and personally ... so do I!
"I just can't help but smile every time I think about my grandchildren!"

My precious grandbabies!

Wednesday, July 23, 2014

The Gift that keeps on giving!

For Father's Day, I got my son Bradley some Children's book by Dahlov Ipcar, an illustrator whose work he loves. He really didn't even know if she was alive or not ...she was born 1917. He was thrilled when he realized that this sweet 96 year old, illustrator that he has admired her work for so long, still does paintings and interviews every month. This truly is the gift that keeps on giving because, he was able to do interview with her through her son
.I am so grateful that my gift was just what he wanted!
This interview reminded me how much life and happiness people get... when they keep creating each day. It is a good way to grow old!
It was fun to read, hope you will take a minute to look at it, on my son's blog  Here:
Good Night dear friends!
P.S. Scroll down and read the 9 rules of a creator's life!


Our Interview with Dahlov Ipcar



<3 RULES OF A CREATOR'S LIFE: 1)Do more than what you're told to do. 2)Try new things. 3)Teach others about what you know. 4)Make work into play. 5)Take breaks. 6)Work when others are resting. 7)Always be creating. 8)Make your own inspiration. 9)Love what you do, or leave.


Monday, July 21, 2014

Look what your kids can learn to do this summer!

As a young Mom, it was important to me that my kids learned how to play and entertain themselves with just things around the house or outside. I really wanted them to be creative, and didn't feel a need to buy them a ton of toys to keep them occupied. I was always thrilled when they could play for hours with a cardboard box, or sticks and rocks.
So after seeing this video...I think I should have gotten them some bottles to play with! :) This was simply amazing!
So if the kids are bored, have them watch this video and get them some bottles and see what they come up with!

 Watch it Here:

Life isn’t about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself. -George Bernard Shaw via @PureWow

P.S. Got an empty shoe box, empty paper towel roll, or old popsicle sticks and some scrapbooking paper.
shoebox diorama ideas for kids - Google Search

Just do it anyway!

I loved this by Mother Theresa!
Good advice for us all!
Good Night dear friends!
Do It Anyway Inspirational prints quote by by 7WondersDesign

Saturday, July 19, 2014

This time, I got to do the Sleep Over!

Yesterday after my 2nd day of Christmas at the shop ( which by the way was a great day an full of great friends ), I decided to go to Amy's house and have a Sleep Over because Jeff is out of town. The girls are sick and they wanted Nana to come and hang out with them. I tried to take a lot of vitamins and stay out of their sweet faces...I hope it worked!
Amy and I stayed up late doing some creating together, we had a wonderful time. She is an amazing young woman, I feel blessed to be her Mom!
Then today I got to spend the rest of the day with a new sweet friend.
 I am tired but grateful to be able to do some things that really mattered today!
Good night dear friends!

see the things that matter most...

Thursday, July 17, 2014

When Life gives you Lemons!

My cute niece and her husband, tagged me on this sweet you tube video about WHEN LIFE GIVES YOU LEMONS...

Watch this uplifting video HERE:
oh my. so cute. lemonade stand.

As we get ready for Lauren's wedding, I think to myself... what is some of the greatest advice I could give to her and Nik? It would be to do just this...when life gives you lemons ( and it will ) make lemonade ( find the purpose of the struggle and become better and stronger because of it ). Such a much better way to live and go through life instead of feeling cheated and bitter. 
Yes, this mindset really works...I know because I have had a few lemons given to me throughout my life! :)
Good night dear friends!

Beautiful Ombre Summer Style Wedding Cake. Done by Wendy Woo of WENDY WOO CAKES in ORLANDO, FL

Life

How grateful I am ...to know this Quote is true!


Good night dear friends!

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

Gratitude!

I am thankful for the chance to be here on earth, at this time...to have these sweet kids in my life!

Truth be told, there's nothing better than being a grandparent. All our elders know this and it is evidenced by that twinkle in their eyes. Of course, they know more than they let on—life's secrets have come to them through time, experience, and patience. ~author unknown


Our grandchildren accept us for ourselves, without rebuke or effort to change us, as no one in our entire lives has ever done, not our parents, siblings, spouses, friends - and hardly ever our own grown children. ~Ruth Goode



"The most precious jewels you'll ever have around your neck are the arms of your children."

"Life is too short to be too busy for the people you love."
" I love you to the moon and back"
Photo: Getting some shut eye on the camping cots at Cabelas with his new backpack.

.

Lessons from my Granddaughter!

Today Angie and I headed off to WW this morning, she was too funny when she kept asking me why they were giving me star stickers. I had to smile as I tried to explain to her that part of the WW thing is, when you do something right or say something that benefits the class then everyone claps and you get a sticker.
Next we did some errands and then came home and played in the back yard for awhile, tried out some new juice bars and then watched a couple of episodes of Kratts Kids. I think it's called, and learned a ton about the animals that they spotlighted.
Jeff came home, we had a few snacks and then went to the pool. Jeff and Angie had fun, I just watched this time, because my swim prosthetic doesn't fit real well in the suit I had on. I told Angie that I didn't want it to fall out or something. Her cute reply was " But Nana if that happened and people started laughing, I would just tell them not to laugh at my Nana and that they are being rude" Then all we can do she said... was to ignore them if they are being like that. Cute girl!  How lucky I am that she is here to teach her ole Nana soooo many life's lessons.
After swimming, showering and dinner...she finally said she was sleepy. Swimming does that to you! :)
As we were saying good night, she asked me if I came up with the quote that is on the photo below.

Free Printables for Valentine's Day {I Love You a Bushel and a Peck} ~ 8x10 Print and Notecards | FiveHeartHome.com #yearofcelebrations

I told her that ever since I was a little girl, my Aunt Ina and Grandma Johnny always said it to me when I went to bed at night. Then I remembered seeing this saying on Pinterest, and told her that we must not be the only ones who had this saying.
Still when I hear her say to me "I love you a bushel and a peck and a hug around the neck Nana!"  I can't help but think that my Grandmother Johnny and Aunt Ina would have really loved this cute little red head.
Each Sleep Over we have, reminds me over and over again... how important my role as Nana is in my grandchildren's lives and also how fast time goes by and to stop and enjoy the things that really matter the most!
Good night dear friends!



Monday, July 14, 2014

Moments...slow down and enjoy them!

Moments, a perfect reminder of what is most important in life!
Angie is doing a sleep over tonight so...I gotta go!
If you have a moment try to watch this short message!
I sure needed to watch this today, you can watch it HERE:

Explore insightful quotes from creative spirits such as Leonard Cohen, Pink Floyd, Eric Clapton, Van Morrison, John Steinbeck, T.S. Eliot, Pat Conroy, and others at http://www.examiner.com/article/travel-a-road-of-literate-quotes-about-the-journey

Saturday, July 12, 2014

I'm not a hoarder!

First of all, I wanted to say thanks so much for all the wonderful birthday cards, letters, calls, messages, flowers and gifts. I truly am blessed with so many wonderful family and friends! Thank you for making me feel so LOVED!

Today Jeff and I spent the whole day cleaning out our garage, after a comment he jokingly said about me being a hoarder. I have watched those shows about hoarders...common, I am not a hoarder. I just a collector of many things! :) Hoarders don't say that do they?

 It was important for us to get the garage more organized for a couple of reasons. One we have my family coming in to visit in a couple of weeks and I need to have my stuff more organized. Two, we have a wedding in 2 months and Jeff is going to make a few things for the Wedding Reception so he needed some more room to work.
So even though I feel absolutely beat, it is nice to at least be getting closer to having things ready for all the great things our family has coming up soon.

Anyway, I am just glad that  I know more than ever ...where all my stuff is! ( That didn't sound like a hoarder ...did it? ) 
Good Night dear friends!
Life is about . . .
And I will use all the crayons ...now that I know where they all are! :)
Should have taken photos of the garage before we cleaned it! You would have been so proud!

55 and counting!

It was a wonderful Birthday...thank for all the wonderful wishes! It is hard to believe that I am 55 today!
Here Audrey and I are at the restaurant.


John's birthday was yesterday, so we all celebrated together tonight!


I got flowers, calls and cards. It was a wonderful day! I feel very loved! Thanks1

 Amy's cute card! Handmade of course!
Audrey and Poppa!

Thursday, July 10, 2014

Christmas in July!

Yesterday was the First Day of Christmas with my job. I can hardly wait each year for a chance to teach Christmas in July. It is so fun to see the ladies, and to share some fun and hopefully creative ideas with them.


“I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year.” ~ Charles Dickens

It was a great day but it took a bit of energy out of me. Then later that evening I was able to have dinner with a new young friend I just made. It was a chance to get to know her better. What a beautiful young lady she is both inside and out. Every time I get to know someone better, I realize that everyone has a STORY and with that story comes challenges, and experiences that make us who we are. I also realize that we all have a purpose here on earth, a mission (so to speak). And how grateful I have crossed paths with so many incredible women. Having a chance to meet them and be a part of their life is truly a blessing to me.

 After dinner though, I knew I had to go to bed early... I was really feeling bad and just knew that I had hit the wall hours ago and needed to go to bed right then, and believe it or not... ( I did !)
 I really felt grateful that I was able to feel a bit better this morning, because one of my dearest friends ( of many years ) wanted to take me out to lunch and to go window shopping today.  Before we went to lunch, I had an appointment to see the periodontist and she wanted to see how I was healing. She was very pleased and then she told me that she would like to wait another 2 weeks before she took out the stitches. Then she had me try my Flipper on for her, I told her that it didn't look very natural and that it didn't seem to fit very well. After looking at it , she agreed and so I will go in Saturday and try to get that fixed...yeah!
Chris and I had a wonderful time at an outdoor mall. We tried on clothes and just really had a great time. I never had a sister, but I can imagine what that feels like when I am out with my daughters, daughter in law and dear friends, this was one of those times that I felt like I was spending the day with my sister! What a wonderful Birthday gift!
" Friendship isn't a big thing...it is a million little things!"


Once again I came home wiped out, I am still better... but everything wipes me out. So I just laid low tonight and I think that was a good idea. I did have some other dear friends come by to visit tonight, so I was grateful to be home when they came. It has been a wonderful couple of days!
Good night dear friends!

Success...This is one of my absolute favorite quotes about success being a journey. That's why I decided to pin it!