Cute as a Button!

A bit blurry, but I agree....

She is as cute as a button.

Strong as can be.

Future blankey lover..

Possible green eyes in her future?

Bronners in the news

When I heard the news that Bronners Christmas Store in Frankemuth had been vandalized on Christmas Day, I was irate.  How could anyone do such a thing?  Why oh why?  I wanted to behead the numbskulls like they had beheaded the reindeer.  They'd destroyed a nativity....how low can you go?  I've never really understood what would make someone want to spit on another person, but that's what I would do if I had a chance to meet these low-lifes.  The estimate is $40,000 in damage.

This morning I was pleased to read this article, Arrests made!  They aught to burn the words Bronners Vandelizer on their foreheads.  Apparently, I'm still outraged.  I wonder how other people have taken the news?  Our recent visit is still fresh in my mind as is each and everyone over the last 25 years.

Seriously Always Happy

Rowyn has been at our house for a week now and

I can honestly say, she's been a very happy girl

almost the whole time.

Kicking is one of her favorite activites right now,

so these zebra rattle socks kept her amused

for quiet a while.

They don't get any cuter or sweeter  than this.

Even when Gramie puts silly headbands on her

and flashes the camera at her 20 times, she

is all SMILES!

Belly Shots

Rowyn doesn't particularly like laying on her tummy.

But Gramie wanted some tummy pics.

This is what she did....urped a big puddle and laid her face in it.

No more tummy shots for this girl.

She takes after her Daddy in this department, he and his

brothers were all big spitter-uppers.

Through a new lens

My husband and I both received a new lens recently.

His was put in his eye after the removal of a cataract and

mine was for my Canon Rebel.

Just like he is seeing a little out of focus while it heals and everything

adjusts to the new lens; I'm trying to figure out

my new lens as well.

Christmas morning I took this picture of the girls.

I haven't had much time to play around with it yet, but

hopefully soon things will calm down and I can really concentrate

on my new technology.

Elora Danan is even more adorable through my new lens.

Audra & Rowyn right before going to open presents with

Rick's Mom & her

husband, Jim and the uncles, Matt & Eric.

Hi! Daddy, this ones for you!

Merry Christmas Rick!

Audra was thrilled that you were able to call,

it made her day.

Merry Christmas Everyone!

I hope you girls on the east coast stay safe in the blizzard and bad roads.

Christmas Morning!

Rowyn in the Bumbo Seat.

Gramie practicing her close-up shots.

The bow is held on by glue dots - my scrap booking supplies

still come in handy even if I'm not making many cards these days.

I was teaching her how to stick out her tongue.

She learned that trick real quick.

This girl is awake for hours at a stretch and very social.

The headband is way to big, but she is way to cute anyway,

so it's very fitting.  What a great play on words Dorsey!

It's past midnight and I'm getting slap-happy.

I'll post more pictures tomorrow.

Sneek Peak

Yesterdays Photo Shoot

All dressed up and ready to go to meet her Great-Grandma Roberts,

Uncle Matt & Uncle Eric and assorted other relatives from

Rick's Dad's side of the family.

t 

Couldn't you just eat her up?

She has the softest most kissable cheeks ever.

I don't know how I did it, but managed to pry myself away

to go to work for a couple hours.

I couldn't wait to get back home.

She's a talker!!  She'll even burst out laughing at you.

I'm waiting for her to wake up, but when I finish this post...

well I may just go in and snatch her

from a sound sleep, just to snuggle.

Seriously, ain't she sweet.

Hanging out with Rowyn

Today I had the day off and was able to just hang out with

my dear sweet grand-daughter Rowyn.

We tried out the play mat and mobile.

I tried to get a big smile out of her, but she was only willing

when the camera wasn't around.

This one is pretty darn close to a smile.

She's very sweet and good natured.

Her one and only Christmas present from us arrived

by UPS today.  She really doesn't need clothes, so I bought

a toy, but traveling home by air there's not much room to be

packing all the extra Christmas gifts, so she received a check, which

Mommy plans to put in the bank for her.

Rowyn is our only grandchild we will have with us over Christmas

and her mom Audra is our only child home this year.

I won't pout....

I'm very fortunate to have Ashley & Daniela living with us now

and Amanda was just home with her three kids.

If you have all your kids & grands with you consider yourself

extremely fortunate.  Take advantage and enjoy it to your fullest.

I still can hardly believe these seven little blessings are mine.

Thank you God, for each and everyone.

They Are Here

The girls arrived around 9:30 last night.  Gramie had been up since 1:00 a.m. just couldn't sleep.  I even gave the dog a bath at 5:00 in the morning.  So wide awake and so much energy... strange, but I did manage to get a whole lot of have to do's off my list.  Anyway, by the time they arrived I was pretty tired, but have no fear this cutie pie re-engergized me.

Here's Rowyn in all her purpleness.

Wide awake and happy.  Her Grandpa Paul came on Sunday and picked-up the car seat and I told him to bring it back with a baby in it and he did.  He even went out and bought new tires and brakes, so he would be driven safe with her as a passenger.  I thought that was pretty sweet.

No stranger anxiety at this age.  Just a whole lot of cooing and smiling going on.

I had the honor of getting her ready for bed. 

Recognize this blankey?  It was Audra & Ashley's.

Awe.....

Splurged!

What do you buy when you get a $10 gift card to Home Depot?

My intentions were to get a free plant or two.

That is until I saw this one.

I'm not sure what it is exactly as it's plant care tag just

calls it tropical foliage, but it's very green and red

and I just had to have it.

So instead of a free plant, this one was half off.

Beautiful!  Christmasey! And a deal.

I'm glad I splurged.

What do you think?



The morning she left

These pictures were taken the morning Daniela & Ashley

left for Mexico.

I know the background is atrocious, but I was just

snapping away trying to get a couple

good ones while letting her do her thing.

Ashley said she did very well on the first stretch of the trip,

that's MI to TX.

She actually slept and read book and played plah doh.

She didn't say about the second half, but if I know

Daniela, she's usually good.

We brought the Bumbo seat out for Rowyn to try during

her visit.  So of course, Daniela had to try it out.

They made is safely to Mexico and the girls are enjoying the

summery weather during the day. 

The first couple days Ashley said she wouldn't

let anyone else hold her, but I'm sure she's

warmed up to her extended family by now.

Ashley said they plan to have a big birthday celebration

for Daniela.  They've been eating out and she said they

went to the Jardin (park-public garden) and Danny

was chasing pigeons.  Sooo funny!

I'm missing them, but enjoying the time alone to catch up on

so many things that have been set aside.

I hope to hear more from them soon!!!

(Hint, Hint!)

Christmas Tree is UP!

And the presents are under it.

This is what my husband said.

This is what he meant.



What a funny-guy.  NOT!

Recognize these guys?

Do you recognize either of these two men?

One is part of our family and the other is famous.

The one is uniform is Rick, my daughter, Audra's husband.

The other guy is ......

Do you need a hint?

Good Morning, Vietnam!

or in this case

Good Morning, Afghanistan!

Yes, you've got it... it's Robin Williams.

How cool is that?

Visiting the guys that are serving our country,

bless you Robin Williams for caring.

Thank you Rick for serving.

We are wishing you could be here with us

for Christmas.

Spring can't come soon enough for all of us that

love and miss you!

Just for Amanda

My orchids looked like this the day after my daughter left. 

I had hoped they'd bloom while she was here.

I do believe she loves flowers as much as I do.

Of course, soon after she departed they all commenced opening their petals

to reveal the beautiful colors inside.

This is the second and third branches to bloom since it

died back and I managed to follow the directions to get it

to re-bloom.  There are two branches with seven flowers

(or buds) on each.  That's a whole bunch of beautiful.

You can see the sister plant has started budding too.

Out of peer lack of time today, I'm not going to

go through the effort of uploading to Kodak

to turn these last two photos.

Daniela has not learned how to smell yet, but we keep trying

to teach her.  She basically tries to kiss them instead.

These beauties came from Home Depot; when they had their

Gardening Club coupon I bought one and got one free.

What a deal!

And I thought orchids were beyond my gardening capabilities.

Don't be afraid to try.