Monday, February 27, 2012

Sweet Party for a Sweet Girl!

Our Zoe had a very sweet Birthday Party on Sunday. Sweetness goes hand in hand with this little girl!

Zoe Rose

Sweet!
Guess what all those sweets were for....


Soft Ice Cream!
Yum, yum, yum!!

We had 'good for you food' too......
sandwiches, veggies and fresh fruit =)
Amber, Christy and Laura say it's all good!

Scott and Corey fill up their plates too.
Who is that at the candy table??
Ellen!!


Zoe welcomes Brinley

Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday to Zoe!

Here's another  Ice Cream lover!

That's what you call a
Real. Big. Ice Cream. Cone, Gavin!


Balloon Volleyball, anyone?
Aidan and Paityn say yes!
Ellen did for a while too.
As did several of the Scott cousins!

It's time for gifts....
the first one was from Aunt Ellen.

Amber knows I like babies
and what is in this pink paper?


This is from Nana and Pop Pop

A Dora beach chair!

More gifts!
If I remember correctly,
Riley helped her Grandmom
wrap this gift for Zoe.


Brendan reads the instructions
and puts the wheels on the doll buggy
all by himself!

Riley checks out the buggy,
 Paityn tries out the chair,
Zoe plays with the stroller.


Before we left the party
Zoe wanted to show us something.....

Look what I can do!!!

And one more photo......


Sweet Brinley with her Aunt Kimmy.
Oh what a dolly!

The kids came here after the party. I hadn't gone food shopping since the beginning of the week so I didn't promise food! But I did have some left overs I could warm up plus some snacks.....not that anyone was all that hungry! We laughed till our sides hurt as Kim told us about a shopping trip with her hubby. He was telling the sales person all kinds of crazy stuff in answer to the questions the guy was asking. Oh my word....what a hilarious time! We also watched some of the Oscar's.

Today Aidan baked chocolate chip cookies with Greta. They are so good! I made a pot of black bean chili that I'll eat for lunch this week (yum!) and Spanish rice for dinner. Our house has all kinds of fragrances today!

Ellen and I also met with her case worker, Kelly, this afternoon. She is such a nice girl. We asked for funding for camp again. It won't cover all of it this year.

Now Aidan and Zoe are gone, Greta just left with Lynn for Young Adults at church, Hubs is getting a haircut and I'm kicking back on the sofa with my feet propped up!  I'm tired! There are dishes to wash again (already washed a bunch this afternoon)...maybe they will wait till the morning. One thing for sure, they aren't going anywhere!

Have a great evening, my friends!





Saturday, February 25, 2012

Happy Birthday, Zoe!

Two years ago I was at my desk when I got a call from Corey that a baby would be born sometime that day. I went across the hall to tell my friends....I was so excited! It wasn't long till little Zoe Rose was here. I couldn't wait to get my hands on this sweet little girl.

Hello, Zoe Rose.....
I'm your Nana.

Zoe grows and grows!

1 year old!

Zoe has her pacifier
and her Pop Pop....
sweet dreams, sweet baby!

Dramatic Zoe!

Loving Zoe =)


Tomorrow is her party....an Ice Cream party! We are sooo excited!


Have a wonderful week-end!

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Happy Days


My twins.....
Greta and Gina
Those days were very busy
and
very happy days too!

Gina and Greta
with the neighbor kids
at Manheim Park.
These girls had the best times together!
L - R:
Michelle, Greta, Amanda, Erika, Kara, Gina 


I find myself with a rare day off today. I plan to fill it with some cleaning, sorting, a trip to a thrift store (getting rid of the 'get this stuff outa here' boxes!) and some shopping at Target. Ummm, Target has a Starbucks and there is another Starbucks across the parking lot. Or I could travel a bit further down the road to Panara which sells my favorite chai or a great flavored iced tea. Maybe a treat will be part of my day too =)

Enjoy your Wednesday!

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Something New

Our printer has been having issues for a long time. Since it just couldn't seem to get past them, even with the help of our son who knows all things related to computers, we decided to replace the printer. I saw one that seemed to be a good deal in a circular in the Sunday News. I showed it to Corey and he agreed. Corey offered to stop and get us the new printer on his way home from work yesterday. Nice! He not only brought it to us, he also installed it. Such a nice son we have =)

He showed me how to scan a photo.

Guess who those cuties are.......
Kim, Corey and Marcy!
Not sure of the year but I do know it was a
first day of school!

I'm rather excited to use the new printer. Our women's group at church will now have newsletters that aren't splotched with ink. I will be able to print nicer newsletters with some color. (our old printer did have color but the pictures were full of lines which couldn't be fixed)  I'm sooooo excited!

Have a great Tuesday! 

Saturday, February 18, 2012

Home....

Home renovations......
We are working on our kitchen. Let me rephrase that. Hubby is working on our kitchen! Working for weeks and weeks. We do the work ourselves because we (Hubs) can. And we are too darn cheap to hire someone! That said, patience is necessary because it takes a long time for completion. After the painting is complete, the cabinet pulls in place, the sealing of the inside of the cabinets......we (Hubs) will be ready to install a new floor. 

Home for sale........
Our sons' home is for sale. After 2 weeks of not having an Open House, it's time. Tomorrow is the day. Therefore I have Aidan and Zoe here so Corey can work on the house to get it show ready. Christy is working today. We also have their dog. She cannot be at the house during the Open House! While I'm crazy about the children being part of my day, I can't say the same for the dog.  (I apologize to all the dog lovers out there. so sorry.... i'm just not crazy about big dogs, hairy, shedding dogs, older dogs. Roddy, you are ok....really, you are....) BUT, I am willing to help where ever I can so the home can be shown, a buyer brought forth and a sale complete!

Besides the Open House on Sunday afternoon, there is a scheduled showing for Monday afternoon. Exciting!

Our home will be for sale sometime. That day seems far away. Why?  Mainly because time to work at going through all our stuff is so sporadic.  I plug on as I can! We always said that if Corey and Christy's home sold before we had a home to go to, they would put their furniture in storage and come live with us. If that were to happen anytime soon, I AM IN BIG TROUBLE!! One day at a time =)

Home Bought......
No home bought yet. We had two that we really liked but they were sold before we could make an offer. (just in case a reader doesn't know....Our son and his family has invited us to move with them, Ellen included. We like this and am looking forward to being a modern day Walton Family!) Anyone who has ever been in the market for a new home knows whereof I speak! So we watch, wait, hope and trust that all will be well, all will work out for our good according to God's plan for us. Easier said than done sometimes!

We look forward to the new home that will meet all/most of our needs. On our list is a gathering space large enough for our big and growing family to all be together without feeling squished. We love being together, usually each Sunday after church. It is our desire to have easy access for Marcy and a bathroom that she can comfortably use. I never want her to feel like coming to see Mom and Dad is a pain. We would like a home with the 5th bedroom already in place. That is something we can compromise on if there is space to make a 5th. Ellen will need a space large (not huge)  enough to do all her activities comfortably without the distraction of the little people in the home (Aidan and Zoe). Dale and I desire a bedroom large enough for some recliners so we can relax away from the family if we wish to. Having what is called in-law quarters would be nice but not something we feel is essential. One home we liked had that, one didn't.

***************************************************************************

Sometimes I have no idea what I'm going to write. This was one of those times! Wasn't sure where it would go when I started. Not even sure if anyone will be interested in what I wrote. But here it is, for whatever purpose. Maybe it will be for no other than to have my thoughts on this process recorded for my remembering!

Home...what a comforting word =)

Thursday, February 16, 2012

Dreary Day/Wonderful Day

It's been cloudy, drizzly, and rainy all day.
At least that's how it is on the outside.

Come on inside..... it's a different story all together!

It's been a great day to do laundry.
(don't you just love the smell of clean clothes,
still warm from the dryer?)
And a great day to do some research on my computer.
(I can sit with my feet propped up for that task!!)

It's a wonderful day to have Zoe and Aidan with me!
(that's the best part of all!)

I made a meatloaf which is now in the oven.
How's that for comfort food on a day like this?
Baked potatoes and a lettuce salad will taste good too.
After dinner we'll have some coffee
and call it a day.

Hope your day is wonderful too,
even if it's dreary on the outside.

=)  =)  =)  =)  =)  =)  =)  =)  =)  =)  =)  =)  =)  =)  =)  =)  =)  =)  =)

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day from our house to yours!

We started the celebrations yesterday.
Take a look.....

We are working hard on this cake!

Aidan puts on more sprinkles.

Zoe does too.

What do you think, Aidan?
Does it have enough?

Oh no!
My finger got into the icing!!!

I think it  needs a few more.

It has enough sprinkles...
it's time for tasting!

We had a great time decorating that cake!
And we all thought it was yummy too.

Enjoy your day!

Monday, February 13, 2012

Snow, Family, Friends, and Monday

This is what we woke up to Saturday morning...


Beautiful!

By noon, it was all gone.

Corey and Christy both had to work again on Saturday so I had the kids. Marcy called soon after they got here to see if Aidan would like to go with Scott and Paityn to see the Muppet movie. Yes he did! So I loaded up the kids to go meet Scott at the mall, halfway between our homes. Aidan told me he loved the movie....Kermit the Frog was his favorite =)

Later in the afternoon Gina and Joe arrived. They came to Lancaster County to see his Grandma. It was so good to see Joe again. He hasn't been here since our beach vacation in August. We all (everyone but Corey and Christy) went to dinner at Country Table....our favorite place when they come. Before heading to the restaurant, we had a snow squall that was fierce! It looked like a blizzard but didn't last long....thank God. It did snow more though and was oh so cold!

And where was my camera??? At home =/

Sunday morning was spent at church. Lunch is usually with the kids but we did something different this Sunday. We went for pizza with 3 couples from church. That was fun! After that it was home for a NAP! Now, that is different too! We stayed put all the rest of the day. The kids were at Corey and Christy's house but we stayed home. I just felt too lazy to do anything!

So now it's Monday. This is what Aidan and I were up to a little while ago.....


We baked a chocolate cake...
a surprise for his Mommy.
While I was snapping away, I told him to turn up the mixer.
He said, Nana, it's slopping everywhere!
Oops!
Can you see where all it went?

He loves to bake!

And Zoe was busy too....

What you up to, Zoe?

Zoe says,
Just watch me
and you will know!

Oh, I see!
You are taking your Bear for a ride!

Now Zoe is sleeping, Aidan is washing the chalk board, I have the chicken in the oven. Must finish the icing for the cake and decorate it with hearts and cook a veggie. Off I go.....

Have a great Monday evening!



Friday, February 10, 2012

Love These Kids!

What a blessing to have a well Aidan and Zoe with me this week! On Thursday there was a knock on the door. I was expecting Aidan and Zoe. Sure enough, there was this Little Man at my door....

I said, Who are you?
He said, I'm Aidan!
It was Aidan with a new spiky haircut!

His Mommy gave him a haircut book to look at
at the Hair Salon.
She told him he could have any cut he wanted.
He wanted this short spiky cut.
Nana loves it =)

To get that nice photo of him, I had to take many shots.....



I LOVE this boy, er, Little Man!

Sweet Zoe needed a nap. I kept asking her if she was ready. She kept saying NO! Finally, she could not hide the fact that she was very sleepy. I picked her up and she laid her head on my shoulder. I asked her if she wanted to go to her bed (the Pack n Play in my living room). Again she said no. Then she said "You!" She wanted me to hold her to go to sleep! I haven't done that in forever. Since it was late in the afternoon, I laid her on the sofa beside me in the Family Room. She went right to sleep!


I LOVE this sweet girl!

Thursday, February 9, 2012

Beautiful!

We have snow! Not enough to cause trouble.... just enough to make our world more beautiful.

Take a look -





Did you notice the beautiful blue skies? Don't let the sunny day fool you....it's COLD out there! Brrrrr cold!

Thank God I have loads to keep me busy indoors today. Dishes soaking in some hot soapy water await.....

Have a great Thursday!