BIG NEWS

I am going to be a grandmother again!! Congratulations to Vaughan and Sarah and big sister Illana!

Being a grandparent is reward for not killing your children.

I took Illana with me out and about one day this last week, as I drove out of the driveway I was afraid I might leave her in the car

or when I walked into the store could I walk and hold a baby.

What about in the grocery cart- what if I walk away and forget she's there?

Crazy huh?

I don't ever remember thinking any of those things with my own children.

I just love that little girl.

I am truly blessed.

Lately

Just thought I'd drop a quick note with some pictures as to what's been going on lately.

I've been reminded that my family and my home are my priorities and my ministry, having teenagers in the house seems to require a different kind of focus on the home front than any other stage in life.

Some days it has taken all I have in me to love and be kind, I feel as though the enemy is touching up the paint that he has painted on my back and my rooftop; knowing that the battle is already won by the blood of Christ I press on doing my best to be joyful and kind and loving.

Now on with the pictures...

the Tuesday women's group I belong to has come to an end for the summer, here is a glimpse at what my living room has looked like on Tuesdays, this photo is missing Theresa :(

Justin had is final piano recital at school, we went out after to celebrate with ice cream! His girlfriend Inez was with us, so I think this is her official introduction on my blog, welcome Inez.
Vaughan passed the College placement test, actually has a different name now but the long and short of it is that he will start taking classes at the local college as well as the high school next year- so proud of you Vaughan.
Illana is growing, she is amazing. The combination of baby and teenager in the house is nice- her laughter, her screeches as she realizes she has a voice and her smile can turn any mood around and really just slow down my day when I take time to sit with her.
I mean how sweet is this?
So that is the news around this place lately.

We have several trips this summer, 6 out of state trips as a family combined!

One of which includes my trip to Alaska to visit my cousin!!!

I'll try to post more and if you're still reading then thanks :)

Misc Scrapbook

Scrapbook time again!
So many times I think we lead a boring life. After moving here to our vacation spot we don't go very many places and we don't have all that much excitement; although as I type that I think about 2010 and nothing about that year says dull. Perspective and reality can be different can't they.

My brother-in-law celebrated his 30-something birthday recently and so a night out was in order. We went to the Garlic, a local restaurant owned by an ole Vermonter who has a restaurant of the same name in Woodstock, VT.
It was a long wait but worth it because we had a great atmosphere to visit in; fireplace, lights strung on trees, live music.
Steve and the birthday boy.
Me. Felt like taking a picture of myself while in the bathroom- vain? maybe but I thought I looked good.

January-February and March are what is called Bridal Christmas in the wedding industry, or at least at our store :)

It's pretty crazy.

Any Saturday or Sunday it can look like a flash crowd has taken over and dresses, smiles, tears and "excuse me's" are all over the place!

Here's a brief visual.

Illana had her first real deal Family Night at Chick-fil-A. We actually go for the last 30 minutes of Family Night but it happens to be the time her daddy is on break.

Here she is first walking in:

Ordering or better said getting oohed and awed over, not the greatest pic of Molly- sorry.

Hanging with her Uncle Justin.

Auntie Jojo was sticking her tongue out at baby girl and guess what- baby girl stuck her little tongue out as well. So cute!

Miss Illana Belle has started to smile. We just love it!

So stinkin' cute!

Friday night was a concert at church and all the boys were out of the house. Katie came over and what was suppose to be a chick flick night ended up being a reality tv night.

Toddlers & Tiaras, 18 Kids and Counting :)

And of course Auntie Katie couldn't get enough of the baby!! She is spoiled in case you were wondering.

So there it is my boring, not exciting life recently.

Haha!

Peace out friends.

Diaper Bag

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One of the things I don't get to do as much as I'd like to do, is sew.
Sewing seems to one of those things that comes and goes in seasons for me; I do best when I can leave my machine and materials out and have the freedom to sit and sew as my day allows. Each time I have had the privilege of having a sewing space something happens and I am forced to forfeit that space.

The last time I had the opportunity to sew was the day before Illana was born.

I made her diaper bag!

Sarah picked out the material and so that Saturday morning I sat down to get the baby girl her diaper bag.

I used Simplicity Pattern 2924 and was so proud of myself for not only buying all the listed items but also following all the directions.
Like any good project a seam ripper was in order.

For some of you following all the directions may seem to be a no brainer but the way my brain works any project i do usually involves tweaking patterns to fit my own thought process or just making the pattern myself. On this project I figured direction following was in order. And I wonder why I don't sew clothes...

The outside has a back pocket and two side bottle holders, while the inside has 4 pockets and of course my vintagesheet label ;)

I enjoyed sewing the front ribbon on with a simple flat bow. Sarah chose nice blue and brown colors to last through other babies who might perhaps be boys?

If I happen to make another one of these I may consider shortening the strap, I've noticed Sarah has her strap tied in a knot to make it shorter.

So there it is my first crack at a diaper bag and my last sewing project over a month ago. I have a crazy idea to commit to sewing one project a month this year. Perhaps Shasta or Missy would host some sort of monthly sewing challenge that I could join- or maybe point me to one already out there in blog world. hint, hint

Currently I have my mother's sewing machine but she has asked for it back for a few weeks while my aunt visits.

The sewing machine issue has always been an issue. My machine's pedal is missing and has been for years, a friend gave me another machine that I have yet to figure out. The main issue is that my mom's Elna really rocks! It is the machine I learned to sew on and the machine I love the best; it's quality is above any other machine I've sewed with, whether that is a fact or just in my mind is not up for discussion; I simply prefer to sew with an my mom's Elna.

So my thought is that my mom will forget to pick up her machine and that I would decide on and complete a project sometime before January comes to an end.

Project suggestions now being taken...

Anyone else have a project they wanna share?

Grandkids are Better

So you always hear having grandkids is better than having kids.
I've been thinking about why that is true. I like having kids, I liked having little kids; don't get me wrong late nights, little sleep, attitudes, hormones, all of those things tear a parents sanity to shreds but I like being a parent.
So why are grandkids better?
Here are some reasons I'm discovering:
I am not her primary caregiver,
I'm not up in the middle of the night,
I only change diapers when I want to
and I have the joy of holding and loving a baby but not the responsibility attached to it.
I'll keep you posted on the why of this, until then.... pictures!
That's the other grandparent responsibility- pictures!

With her Uncle Scott, not my brother but Vaughan's best friend since elementary school.
And with her Papou.
What an amazing man I married, I mean don't get me wrong he drives me nuts many days but I can not think of anyone else I'd rather do this thing called life with.
He is a wonderful, husband, father and now grandfather.
Love my Hottie.

So now that I'm back to blogging I am also back to catching up on everyone's blogs. Slowly working on getting all the links up and if you blog and I don't know it- please let me know, one of the best things about blogging is watching my friends, near and far, past and present, live their lives in this bloggity good world!

Love in the new year,

Baby Update!

So what’s it like being a Yiayia?
How does it feel to be a grandmother?

Two questions I hear a lot.
They are kind of the like the question you get on your BIG birthdays- how’s it feel to be older?
The answer to me is always the same- I feel no different today than I did yesterday.

It is fun being a grandmother and truly a blessing to have my grandbaby under the same roof as me. I get the privilege of seeing her every morning, each night before we lay our heads down for bed.
I can kiss and smooch on her,
I can help care for her while mom showers,
rock her while she sleeps;
yet when I lay my head down at night it doesn’t lift up again until my alarm goes off. Oh and did mention I get to take a picture of her every. Single. day!

So no, I don’t feel any different being a grandmother and yes I love it!

But babies change things.
Not sure you can really put into words exactly how they change things but they do. Anyone who’s lived in a household with a baby knows what it’s like. When she’s awake you just can’t help but sneak a peek, voices are quieter, things slow down. A household has reason to sit together on the sofa or the floor of the nursery, just to watch the baby. Visitors stop by for brief “I wanna hold the baby” moments.

So while life has gone on as normal- life will never be the same.
As Christmas approaches I wonder what Jesus was like as a baby? How little was he? No crying? But cooing. Sweet baby sounds, soft sleeping breaths. Innocence swaddled up in a mother’s arms coming to save the world. Coming to save me, to bring me, us, out of darkness, out of our pits, to proclaim liberty for me, a captive of myself, my own ideas and self-destructive ways; He came as a baby so “lovey” and sweet. I wonder if His mother, His aunts, had silly nicknames for Him, the Savior of the world.
My granddaughter is no where near Jesus but she too has already saved a precious life, even before she was born; her story is being written and I am so blessed I am here to watch these first chapter take place. I am so happy to be able to make up silly nicknames for her.

So now enjoy what you’ve all been asking for::::pictures!!
(All taken from the iphone)

Hanging with daddy.

She's learning the ins and outs of the Xbox.

I can't hold her enough.

More time with dad, although he looks angry but he's not.

Uncle Justin sings to me and makes up songs about me.

So precious.

At her first doctors visit, a little unsure.

Learning what it's like to hang with Uncle Scotty.

Learning to be spoiled with her BFF at church.

Will Yiayia ever stop taking my picture?

More hanging with dad.

We just thought she looked a little gangsta here.

So there it is, a small sampling of the hundreds of pictures of Illana.

Feels good to be part-time back at blogging.

Oh How I Miss This Place

So I have been enjoying my time away from the computer.

I actually find myself contemplating stepping away from it forever----then I realize life without twitter and blogs would be sad; very sad.

I couldn't keep up with Shasta in China,
Allison down the street,
Joanna in Alaska,
Brandi in Cali,
plus the blogs I stalk- I'd sure miss them.

And I won't hide the fact I secretly like that people are interested in my life.
I guess it makes me feel important, so go ahead and comment :-)

Life has been interesting during this down time.
Good.
Bad.
Funny.


During this little break...
-I had the privileged of visiting all my friends in Detroit for about 5 days- boy I love that place! and when I say love, I mean LOVE/wannamove/can someone get steve on the same page.
-I had the chance to have a totally rockin, FAT commission paycheck from work.
-I ate an average amount of food on Thanksgiving,
-celebrated my Superman's 17the birthday
-attended Justin's first public music, piano, recital
and of course,
-I officially became a Yiayia last week.

As life went on this last month I found myself blogging in my head.
Writing blog posts, wording them just so, sometimes writing them down other times not.

I found myself thinking thoughts and then thinking, "oh that'd be a great tweet".


I've also found time to listen to a lot of 90's music. The music I listened to when I "came of age".
I've sewed a little, cooked a little, slept a lot and as of this last week I've missed my friends in the blogging world.

So I plan to be back this week with some pictures and maybe a post on life and my thoughts,
cause you know I have many.

Miss you all and thanks for the sweet comments- they are greatly appreciated.
Warmest goodbyes-