Happy 31 Day

First of all - HAPPY HALLOWEEN! Chloe was very excited this morning because she is going on a field trip with her first grade class to the pumpkin patch. Costumes are ready to go for tonight. Just have to go get some candy. A is looking happy these days....one of the reasons is pictured above. :)

Yesterday I signed up to do Weight Watchers online. So far so good. Bad headache yesterday because I am CHOCOLATE deprived, but will get through. I'm getting the house ready today for mom's homecoming from a month long stay in the hospital following back surgery. I'm setting up the loft outside her bedroom here with a table and chairs for eating and scrapbooking.

We just redecorated her bedroom and I've added a couple more surprises for her that she hasn't seen yet. I'm so excited to be getting her home! We've missed her hanging around.

Joy

I am reading a book right now that says I should do "joyful" things.
Sunday morning I received a phone call from my oldest friend, I'm talking second grade, asking me if I'd meet her to help her out with her new camera.
Jumped out of bed, grabbed my camera and spent the entire late morning/early afternoon with her. I promised not to post the pics I shot of her - even though she's beautiful (inside and out) but ran across this shot of the raspberry iced tea I had purchased in a little coffee shop we stopped at. This spot is where we ended our day, chatting, laughing, and planning our next meeting - which needs to be sooner than later. This photo will now bring me joy as a reminder of the day I spent with my friend.
She had bought me a shirt at this lovely store we stopped in called "Life is Good". The shirt reads "Yesterday's history, Tomorrow's a mystery, Today is the day"
How appropriate.
N - thanks for putting joy in my Sunday.
love
p

A nice surprise

While sitting on the front porch, reading a self-help book, Chloe looked up to see who was pulling into our driveway.............
Our boy, Tommy, in his new Ford Ranger!
More later......off for a test ride.

8 days old

I had the pleasure today of meeting eight-day old Nicholas Stephen.
He was the BEST baby! No crying, no fussing with this one. He let us
pose him and play around for over an hour. What a trooper - just like
his mamma who carried this nearly 10 pound little guy to work with
her up until 4 days before he was born.
Couldn't wait to proof before showing him off.........
more later.
Congrats to the proud, happy parents - Emily and Steve.

Tools for Fun

My favorite mechanic fixed us up with this big, old tire to add to our wonderland we are building in the back. They have had more fun with this than anything I've purchased so far this year at Target!
A road map, a two hour drive, girlfriends, and the 3 c's ....... chocolate, chicken, and comforters!
Detouring from the original roadmap, the shopping twins scored big.
Give 'em guns, shells, clay pigeons and they are good for a weekend. This is their "Coach, Polo, Old Navy" rush.

I'll leave you with a bit of humor from the Amish gardens I visited this past weekend. A sign posted in the middle of the cockscomb read,
"She's the kind of girl who doesn't care for a man's company - unless he owns it."

Give a girl some glitter..........

Who is the Fairiest seven year old of them all? This little miss celebrated her birthday in style with the help of her fairy godmothers - mom, g.aunt cindy, aunt linz, aunt abby and of course the grandma pam fairy. There were so many sparkles and so much glitter that I was even brushing it out of the dog. Jeff was a real hit with his buddies at the weekly football watch today when he came walking in with leftover glitter all over his legs from what was lingering in his car. :)
Several of her little girlfriends came to the celebration. Under the fairy canopy they made fairy crowns, fairy wands, (if you think you have enough glitter for 12 little girls let me tell you right now to double the amount!), hunted for the hidden birthday fairies in the garden and played fairy limbo. Of course the fairy stuffed a pinata full of goodies and more fairy dust. Peyton was there covering security. He kept a head count of all the little fairies (wink)
Amy made sure that all the little girls had a pretty ribbon on their magic wands
Don't you just wish you could be seven, barefoot, and carefree?

October is a big birthday month in our family. On Monday this handsome nephew of mine, who is genuinely sweet, smart, and an all around great kid, will be turning 18. Hard to believe all these little guys I used to tease and throw New Year's eve parties for are getting ready to go off to college next fall. I'd better enjoy this last little bit of time with them.........

Anyway, Happy 18th Birthday Aaron! xoxo from Auntie Pam

Happy Girls

Libby and Samantha - a couple of cuties!
Chloe and Lexi doing the Happy Dance!

Celebrations

Today was Sara's 25th birthday. That's her sitting in front guarding our sweet baby Grace because she's the momma. Anyway, a lot of our "folk" gathered at this restaurant to surprise Sara with a party. We all had a wonderful time and I think the birthday girl did too.
We were slipping little bitty tastes of icing from the birthday cake to Grace, who was delighted with this new-found taste. While Gram was holding her I told her to give her a taste of the frosting from her cake so Grace would make that cute little face. Gram picked up the entire plate and let Grace scoop a big handful! Joey and Abby were shocked and tried to hide the fact from Grace's mommy and daddy. Gram and Grace thought it was pretty funny and I love this shot I got of them trying to hide their little secret. Abby, looks like you missed a couple of chocolate crumbs on the baby's hand!
Tomorrow is Tommy's 17th birthday. He's everybody's sweetheart. Isn't he a handsome guy? Apparently the girls of OFHS think so too. The boy's phone never stops ringing.
Happy Birthday Tommy!
xoxo
p

Abby came through

Proud Aunt Abby sent these first shots out of little baby Andrew. Katie looks like a natural holding her new little guy. He's adorable! Here are the proud grandparents, checking out their little guy. Looks like they are smitten already.
Thanks for sharing Abby.
Nite!

It's a Boy!

Poor Joey. He's been surrounded by females most of his life. Two sisters, girl cousins......and now another sister-in-law, Katie. That's her sitting on Joey's left the day of the wedding last month, just four weeks prior to her due date. But that's okay. It's taught him how to be a gentleman and he knows when the girl is right (always).
Today, he added another male in his corner. Katie and Jim are the proud parents of baby Andrew, born around 11am this morning. I hear they are resting well and that everything went smoothly. Can't wait to see the little guy. I think Abby might be taking some pics :)

Found this shot, that I love, of baby Andrew's brand-new Grandma. I know how she's feeling right now, becoming a grandmother for the first time. I thought this shot would represent how very happy she is today. BTW that's the GREAT-grandpa sitting there behind us. I'm just betting that he's pretty darn thrilled as is Grandpa Jim, Katie's dad.

SO..............CONGRATULATIONS to you, Katie and Jim, on becoming new parents

Brenda and Jim on becoming new Grandparents

Abby - on becoming an aunt.

AND to all the rest of our "extended folk" in Pittsfield. We are all so very happy for you!

Grandparent's Day

Chloe got this awesome interactive book, "My Granny's Purse" for going above and beyond the reading requirements for the August Red Hot Readers at her school. I thought she deserved a little something extra for her extra efforts. How we laughed as we were going through the "purse" to find all the little things that I have, or like, as well. We rolled with laughter when we came across the M&M's and Hershey bar. Then there was a small peace emblem (like my bracelet I always wear), the fancy sunglasses, the photos, notes, gum, and various other goodies that I tote around with me. We had a blast playing with it.
My big boys, Tommy and Eric, came over to spend the night on Saturday. Peyton and Chloe tormented them the entire time. I had to remind them that they used to do the same thing to Joey when they were little. They are such great kids! Tommy cooked dinner for us and Eric entertained us with his dry sense of humor. I was sad to see them leave on Sunday morning. Jobs and homework are always getting in the way! But Gram was so happy they came over, even if it was just a short visit.
Sunday afternoon we were graced with a nice long visit from Sara and Sweet Baby Grace. After a dinner of bananas, carrots, and white grape juice Grace needed a little freshening up. We haven't had a baby in that sink for a long time - she had the best time splashing and playing for her audience (see next photo).
Joey and Abby - the newlyweds - came by too. I'd say that Gram ended up having a wonderful grandparent's day, and so did I!
Wish you had all been here. It was a lovely day.
pam
p.s. You've got to visit Jessica's blog. She made the most incredible mini album of the wonderful photos she took at Joe & Abby's wedding. She is married to Abby's cousin and they live in California. Check out a glimpse of the album here. I've got to run out and get that binding machine! The transparency album is a delicious treat to have and hold!

Back up part two

Can't decide between the color or b&w. I think Abby will like this one.
Aunt Vic made all the bridesmaids dresses. She did a beautiful job on them. Little Hannah wasn't neglected ----- she had her own version to match. Isn't she a beauty?
"Hey, we can't play JUMP with you wearing this fancy tux, Uncle Glen."
If this isn't one of those shots that says it all. Pretty baby Grace, coming down the aisle in her fancy dress - mommy standing within two feet of her and Peyton watching her back.

More next week.
Hi to all our folks in Pittsfield!
love,
Pam

Always have a back up

Abby and her dad.
Me and daughter #1
Chloe thinks she needs a touch up on the blush too
My little girlfriend #2
When they thought no one was watching..............

Some wedding shots

It was worth it for them to drag out to this little spot that Glen had found. The temperature was close to 100 degrees, but they were troopers. Especially poor Katie, who's expecting next month! From left to right.....Tommy, Amy, Eric, Brianne, Steve, Joe, Abby, Steve, Katie, Jim, Lindsay, and Aaron.

Love this shot. Garry did a wonderful job and even congratulated me on staying away and giving him free reign. It was hard, but I knew Lindsay would be bossy in my place - which she apparently did - LOL!
more coming next post.............

Wedding pics - part two

One of my very favorites. Look how happy they are at the end of the ceremony, surrounded by family and friends.
Wil doesn't know what all this fuss is about. Aren't the girls as cute as can be?
with this ring..............
Wil has to check out what is so fasinating in that big mirror.
Little Lauren had the hang of the bubble thing.

So, there you have it. A first glimpse of the wedding that began with a proposal last Christmas.
May they live happily ever after.

My Sister

Today is my sister's birthday.

She doesn't like computers, but maybe if I tell her

that I've sent her a cyber-card she will look.

Doubtful, but maybe.

I took this shot of her the other day when she was here

reading this story to Chloe.

Happy Birthday Sis!

love you,

p.

The right way to spend a Sunday afternoon

Look at the gorgeous day we had to take in a ball game.
Of course, sitting in a luxury suite with catered food, air conditioning, private bathroom, and people we want to sit with makes it all the nicer. Check out my Chocolate Mousse covered with a dark chocolate panache on the base of a chocolate chip cookie. Mmmmmmm!
Generation X. Ron, Tim, me, Glen, and Karen.
We even had a surprise visit by one of the players! LOL!
Thanks to Ron, Karen, and Landco for a most relaxing, fun day.
love,
pam

Wedding - A funny tale

The old pro......this is his third time in a tux. Isn't this a picture that makes you say "Awww"?
We were both all thumbs. He wore his coat of arms and a lapel pin from each of his grandfathers. They would have been busting their buttons over this boy. A very calm bride, with Amy and Chloe, at the rehersal dinner.

That dinner turned out to be the calm before the storm.

I swear, I was waiting for the candid camera people to pop out after the wedding ceremony.
To begin we were all late due to a traffic accident on the way to the church.
On the other side of the river, the florist was in stand-still traffic while a three-foot pothole was being repaired, basically shutting down the highway for 18 miles. We had to have the State Highway Patrol get her through. Needless to say, it was a horrible experience for her (she has stated that this will be her LAST wedding) and I didn't think we'd ever calm her down once she got there. So the wedding was only delayed by five or ten minutes. No big deal.
That was nothing.
The groom had to be given a glass of milk to avoid a drop in his sugar level, which makes him drop to the floor.
The bride had to wear a borrowed slip so her unmentionables wouldn't show through.
It really didn't matter. She was absolutely stunning! She looked so beautiful that I knew she'd take my son's breath away the moment he saw her.
The grandmas left "fairy dust" all over the church and everyone that they hugged, from the glitter on their fancy dresses. (They were a couple of knock-outs! Wait til you see the pics!)
Peyton was horsing around with the groomsmen before the ceremony and broke his hand. After a brief discussion as to an er visit being delayed until after the ceremony and wiping away the tears he bravely walked down the aisle with an ice bag under the ring pillow.
Amy's bridesmaid skirt was too big after her dieting apparently worked. The only safety pin in the place was the one holding my cleavage together. So the choice was either Amy's underwear top showing or my cleavage. Guess who won that one?
Lindsay had five fractured ribs and was having trouble breathing.

That was all BEFORE the ceremony.

Glen and I finally got down the aisle, sat in our seats, and watched as Tommy began to pull the ailse runner down. S T U C K. It wouldn't unroll. After a look of plea sent to Uncle Glen he got up to help Tommy shake the ailse runner all the way down.

I guess all of this was the answer to my prayers that I wouldn't make a fool of myself by crying throughout the ceremony. Actually, Glen and I couldn't stop giggling over the insanity of it all.
God does work in mysterious ways.

The bride and groom got over their case of nerves once they were able to hold hands at the alter. The ceremony turned out to be very beautiful (fabulous pastor). Abby's aunt played the piano absolutely lovely. As for the flowers? I will never be able to look at a hot pink gerbra daisy again without laughing.

Joey and Abby - if you are reading this now I hope you are having a wonderful honeymoon. We miss you both!
love, mom