It's Fun Turning One!!

Rosemary Scout turns one! 

I can't believe it's been a year since this sweet little girl entered our lives (fist first her Dad says)

It has been a wonderful year watching her grow and discover this world we live in.

She loves to play, talk, dance and walk!!

She is Grandma's Girl!

This is her Mimi (Kara, Sara's stepmom) who made the delicious strawberry cupcakes for the party.

She tried to eat the paper fringe while she waited for her first birthday cake (first time eating sweets)

What's this?

Frosting is good!!

Cake is good!

Oh the JOY~

She received lots of clothes and some play food and items for her kitchen.  I got her some books and

Miss Ballerina Mouse

and a water table!  

Which she loves!

With so much family in town, Sara and Blake decided to have the children baptized at church on Sunday. 

It was a lovely ceremony.

The church had a pot luck dinner after the service that day and we had a wonderful time of fellowship.

This little one is walking everywhere now!!

(that is Sara's Dad in the background)

Blake's Dad and Grandmother were able to join us also.

There were so many cameras it was hard to get everyone looking in the same direction at the same time.  

We also got a 4 generations photo with my Mom that I will treasure!

It was a wonderful weekend for our family! 

Wishing you JOY,

Linda

Turning Five!

April is a busy month around here! 

Three, count them 3 birthdays.

We start on April 3rd with my SIL Blake

This year he was able to go to a race at Martinsville Speedway and check that off his bucket list!

Next up is Tiger whose birthday is April 7th!

It starts with his birthday celebration at his school!

At a Montessori school they celebrate by singing a song about going around the sun for 12 months then you are (one, two, three etc).  At each year mark the child speaks about things from that year.  They bring photos and parents can add memories.

It's a very interesting way to celebrate! He walked around 5 times of course!

This is Tiger's last year here as he will be going to public Kindergarten next year.

For his birthday dinner, Tiger choose Cali-N-Tito's

The most child friendly restaurant I've been in! 

Lots of games, bikes that the kids can ride around the tables and open spaces for them to just play play play! 

You refill your water glasses at these stations! 

Tiger's chicken quesadilla almost fell apart!

Then it was present time!

Lots of fun toys and books.

A new bike helmet that he says is his race car helmet and we had trouble getting him to take off! 

What a fun day!

But Wait, there is more! 

Since Tiger and Blake have a birthday just a few days apart they usually do a birthday adventure,

this year it was to Stone Mountain Park

It was a chilly day for a hike but sunny!

Tiger could not understand why anyone would want to carve up that mountain (he told his Dad that...makes me smile)

At the top of Stone Mountain

The Birthday boys!

BUT WAIT...There is more!

Saturday afternoon Tiger had his friends over for a Birthday party!  They played and had a great time!

Pizza and fruit picnic! 

More presents! 

This amazing eagle outfit from IKEA was a hit with Tiger and all the kids! 

And that is how you celebrate turning FIVE!

Next up is Rosemary Scout who will turn one on April 16th!  I'll be sure to share her celebration with you soon! 

Wishing you JOY,

Linda

Grandma! Don't Talk!!

Last Sunday when I saw Tiger he could tell I was losing my voice.  It was gone all week long.  Sore throat, coughing.  I knew it was viral but went to my Dr just to make sure.  So it just takes time, rest, lots of fluids and more rest to get better...

oh and no talking! 

I dropped by Friday for a couple of hugs and dinner!  I was talking in a pretty hoarse voice when Tiger said,

 'Grandma stop talking!!!'

I said a few more things and he said

'Grandma!!  Don't Talk!!'  

He wants me to get all well so I can celebrate his birthday on April 7th.  My big boy will be 5! 

Scout has turned into a Dare Devil!!

Climbing on everything!

This is her favorite chair in the living room.

She sits in it like a big girl!!

Since I was home all week 'resting' I did some more downsizing.  So here are some items I'm getting rid of.  Anyone interested in them? 

Low low prices plus postage!  

Let me know in comments if you are.

Four little piggies!  Orphan shakers, all vintage pigs.  Someone?  Anyone?  $2 + postage?

3 small egg coddlers!  $3 + postage

2 Large Egg Coddlers (they match) 

$4 + postage

2 Large Egg Coddlers  Birds/Flowers

$4 + postage

Green Boopie Swirl glasses 4 sherbets, 2 water glasses  $10+ postage

And a gift for me!

I received this Paris cover for my cell phone from my sweet Ashleigh this week.  I love the surprises she sends me.  I won't get to see her until the end of May and I miss her very much! 

So that has been my week.  I hope yours was a good one. 

Wishing you JOY,

Linda

Spring Time!

My allergies went bonkers this past week with all the pollen, but I kept soldering on.

  I went to the dentist for a cleaning but found out I need two crowns as soon as I can manage it. $$$ 

Back before Christmas my Mom got me an electric pressure cooker.  I haven't used it until now.  She told me how to cook a corned beef so I did! 

Oh so yummy!  Tender corned beef, veggies pressure cooked to perfection!   I will be using this appliance again for sure.  Looking for recipes now!

Rosemary Scout turned 11 months on the 16th.  It won't be long until her 1st birthday.  She is such a sweet and happy little girl.  She can say 'Grandma' but often just calls me GIGI!  I love it.  Sara says she only says that to me, so we know it is her name for me right now.  She is taking a few steps but doesn't want to let go yet.  She is also starting to climb!  

Tiger is busy being a very active boy.

This weekend he learned how to make his own arrowheads.  Daddy supervised of course. 

I babysat both kiddos here and to 'baby proof' I had to line up bins in front of the TV

Move breakables to where Scout couldn't reach them and

 clear this small table of plants and put a 'barrier' (vintage high chair) in front of this corner shelf with plants on it.  It worked!  She could stand up but not reach anything.  We had great fun!

I forgot to take photos of their Easter baskets but they loved the books, small toys and a few chocolate eggs for Tiger. 

(photo by Jack Jones)

Easter Sunday we bring flowers to decorate this cross in the sanctuary and then it goes out in front of the church.  

It is so pretty. 

My Adorable but goofy family! 

It was a good week, but after talking all day yesterday I knew I was loosing my voice (oh allergies go away).  So no talking today and I'm treating my throat with hot tea and honey.  I should be feeling much better soon.

I hope you are having a great Spring time!

Wishing you JOY,

Linda

Junkin Finds!

The downsizing continues, but of course I do find little things I just need to bring home.  Once a junker, always a junker!

I needed a small cooler for car trips and outings with the Grands and this blue one fit the bill for $2.  The mixing bowl is a great size and the red bag is a wreath holder for .99!!

 I'm always looking for jars for storage!

An old Nancy Drew book for .25 for my friend Donna, a cute vintage tea bag holder, decorative scissors and random wine corks.

 Love this fun mug for .55 at Goodwill.  I found some online for $10+...which is crazy to me!

This Xtra Large blue bag was .99 and will hold my new white Christmas tree that will not fit back into it's box.

Books for .25 each are always a great buy.

While thrift shopping with Donna awhile ago, she told me that no donkey is ever left behind.  This one is so little and cute so he did come home with me for .49

The pollen is really giving me headaches but I'm glad that Spring is here.  I'm starting to work on downsizing some more of my collections.  I'll be sharing some of that soon.  I've been spending lots of time with these two and loving every moment of it! 

Wishing you JOY,

Linda

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