Friday, May 29, 2015

Ellen's Graduation

This morning our baby, Ellen, graduated from School-to-Work. Her schooling has come to an end.  Ellen started at 2 years old and is now almost 21. That's a long time! 

We are so proud of her hard work! Enjoy some pictures of the special ceremony held at her school this morning....

We took Ellen to school this morning. Here she's posing with the sign along the walkway leading to the building. She's all ready for her big day!

Carson came to celebrate his Aunt Ellen :) he did really good through it all. 


Ellen walks to her seat. 


Waiting with the other students. 


Her teacher, Ms Harnick, introduces Ellen. Ellen was given an opportunity to comment about things she learned this year. She got a STW certificate and was presented her High School diploma from our school district. She did it!!


Way to go, Ellen! So proud of her!


Every student had a story board. So neat!

Ellen with some of her sisters. 


Ellen with Ms Harnick. She is an awesome teacher! She said Ellen lit up the room when she walked in. (Isn't that such a sweet thing to say?) She is gong to miss her. 

After the ceremony, we went to Wendy's for a quick lunch. 

Aunt Nancy knows what Ellen enjoys and brought it with her :)


PB cups!


I have more pictures in my camera which I will share another time. Tonight our whole family will go out to eat and celebrate Ellen's accomplishments. 
More pictures to come, of course :)



Tuesday, May 26, 2015

Work Saturday and Family Sunday and a Work Monday

Saturday morning I went to an Amish farm near us to purchase flowers to plant. I buy them, tell hubby where to plant them, and he takes it from there. He has the green thumb in this family :) We have lots of shade here so buying annuals is a whole different task from where we lived previously. 

The blue pots contain a coleus, a begonia, a tiny white frilly flower (haven't a clue what it is but it did good last year!) and a green plant that I hope grows over the side of the pot. As you can tell, I am not a gardener!

I bought a bunch of impatiens. The beds need some mulch. Hoping to see lots of color this summer! I love lots of color. 

I also went to Lowe's to buy hanging baskets for the porch and a  perennial  for a bed at the back of the house. 


It was a busy day. 

Well, someone HAD to do this ;-) I offered and enjoyed every moment!

Sunday was a special day too. I was asked to sing at Pleasant View Rerirement Community for their worship service. That's where I used to work. It's been a few years since I've sung there. My friend Elsie knows the new pastor and she told her to contact me. It was so good to be there! 

I visited with several residents after the service. One lady is 97 and almost blind now. We didn't chat long until she asked me if I remember what she asked me to do for her. I do remember! Years ago she asked me to sing at her funeral. And I said I would. All these years later and she remembers that.

 I also visited with a lady who had been our neighbor from the time I was a little girl. We had the best time visiting! I told her I remember when she moved to PV. I told her that she said her room was missing only one thing. I was surprised and asked her what that would be. She said, it's missing my Harry. Her dear hubby had passed away and she misses him to this day. 

I didn't get to visit everyone I would have liked to. Ellen had a baseball game and I needed to get home. 

Ellen is up to bat!

She swings.....

She runs.....


She gets a High Five from Lance. 
So thrilled for her to have this activity!

Later, the kids gathered at our house. 

Brinley wanted to do our hair :) she is all set up to get to work. Love it!


She works on Aunt Kimmy :) 

The kids eat and watch a movie. Or watch Carson. 

My family blesses me!

Monday was another work at home day....

Really, someone must do this! And I will NEVER tire of it! 

Blessing to you, my friends!



Friday, May 22, 2015

A Chair and a Bird Cage

When my parents bought the house we moved from last year (yes, I lived in that house as a child, too), the attic contained a few treasures. Most if it was furniture, like old beds, which we sold at an auction company before we moved. (Yes, some of the stuff was still in our attic.) I remember a neat metal top table and some chairs. I have one chair. The table went to my sister, Janet, who refinished it. I'm not sure where the table is today. Here's the chair we kept. 

Hubby used the best of the two chairs to create one good chair. It is a neat old chair!

One of the treasures was an old birdcage. We never had a bird so it sat in the attic since 1963!  And, it made the move to this house. 

Today I cleaned it up. I had help :)

I hope to display something in it. Zoe wishes we were getting a bird! 

Another piece of furniture made the move. It's a neat piece that needs to be refinished. We hope to bring out the beauty and put it to use.....sometime! For now, it's in the storage area of our basement....too surrounded by things to get a good picture. 

Old shutters also made the move. Hubby wants to make a headboard out of those. But first, I would like to get a new King size mattress. Before that purchase can be made, a new vehicle must be purchased. My car needs too many repairs. We will sell it and look for a minivan......because I need room for car seats and Grands! 


Wednesday, May 20, 2015

Rhododendrons

Never had them before living at this house. So thrilled they were here.....what a beautiful sight!


This is what I see from the inside....

This is what is outside those windows....


And look, there's more :)

This neighborhood is very pretty, especially during April and May. 

Of course I must post more baby pics ....

Big Sister loves her baby brother!

Noah looks so much like his big brother!

Yup, having the time of my life :)

God Bless your day!

Saturday, May 16, 2015

Sister Time

I have lots of sisters....
Janet lives in Heaven
Mary Ellen lives locally
Jeanie lives about 2 1/2 hours north
Barb lives in Idaho
Betty lives in New Hampshire
Rose lives in Georgia 

I have one brother who has given us another wonderful sister. They live locally. 

All that to say that two of my sisters and I had breakfast together this morning. That is always a good time! 

Jeanie, me, Mary Ellen. 

Our breakfast took at least 2 hours...it wasn't because of bad service. Not at all! We just couldn't stop talking! It's been last Fall since we have seen Jeanie. Even with FB to keep up with each other, we find SO many things to talk about :) 

Jeanie also took time to teach us a few things about our iPhones :) 
Mary Ellen recently purchased her first.  Smartphone learning curve!

We are planning a sister weekend this summer with all our sisters....not with Janet, of course, but she will surely be with us in our thoughts and conversation. We still miss her so much!

Look who made a local newspaper this week. It's Ellen! A friend sent me this pic. 

Love it!


I can't get over the beauty of our neighborhood. 
Love it!


Our baby boy has found his thumb :)
Love him!

God Bless your day!

Thursday, May 14, 2015

Pictures

Pictures of my family...who else? I'm kinda crazy about them :)

Sunday, May 10 -

Baby Carson is on the move! He's such a happy, delightful baby. 


He loves his mama!


Aidan and Paityn enjoy dinner on the porch. They are best friends!


Miss Brinley loves costumes! She is so precious....and a busy girl! Zoe is always singing. She's singing a bumblebee song she learned in preschool. Precious!


While some of the guys watched the kids play in the front yard, the girls gather around the kitchen table to talk. We always have the best time....it blesses me tremendously. 

Flowers and more for Mother's Day -

My son gave me these flowers. I love them!


A collection of plants, some from church and one from Paityn and family.  Gotta buy some dirt and get them in a pot. 


Paityn picked out this beautiful necklace for me. I love it!!

And one more picture -

Baby Noah. He is 1 week old. Love him to pieces!!

God Bless your day! 

Sunday, May 10, 2015

Happy Day!

Happy Mother's Day to my friends and family! Whether you have ever given birth to a child or not, I'm certain you have, at some time in your life, been a mentor, an encourager, or a caregiver to a child. This day celebrates you, too! May God Bless you all! Happy Day!

Here's how I'm celebrating this year....


Oh, I'm SO in love with this child!