Thursday, June 30, 2011

Sea Cottage Give Away

Kerrie
over at
has opened a new
Etsy shop
and she is offering
a give-away!

How can you go wrong?
You can meet a wonderful
person AND sign up
for the giveaway.

If you don't know
Kerrie
please stop by and
visit her.

She is a peaceful,
gentle soul
and I find that I am
always soothed the
moment I open her blog.
She was
Shabby Chic
before the trend hit..
a forerunner to
Chippy White Living.

Her blog opens
 with the sound
of the Sea..
echoing around
 and enveloping you..
and then you read her
words
and see her
pictures that ooze
serenity.

Her shop is wonderful..
soft and sweetly rendered
pictures and cards by Kerrie.

You can find those
here at

Please drop by
for a visit.
You will be blessed!
your photo name

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

A Major Accomplishment! Seriously!

A while back when I
first stated figuring out
what blogging was
all about
I commented on some
sweet little treasures
that
Elyse Major
 had crafted.
I could not believe it
when she actually sent me
some of her
tinkered treasures.
I felt like I had won
the lottery.
You can read about that
here...

Well, 
I'm sure she is feeling
like SHE won
the lottery
right about now.

Yesteday I was browing
through magazines..
which I have no business
doing because I am
a magazine hog and
have too many to count..
 I found this!

OMGoodness!
What is this all about?
SHE is featured!

Look at that little piece!

Look at those beautiful
bag and totes.
Do I spot a
Cabbages and Roses
pattern in the mix?

Please pop over and vist her
and tell her
Congratulations!
One of our own
hit the
Big Time!
You did good, Elyse...
very, very good!
If you haven't met her
you are missing something
in your life...
Here's the link
to
You'll find
Tinkered Treasures For Your Home
Well...what are you waiting for?
Go Now!
You'll be glad you did!
your photo name

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Bread And Whine Weekend-Part 2

Sunday morning after a
quick bowl of
cereal
Lulu grabbed this...

And we headed out
to our home church.

Lulu signed herself
and both sisters in
by computer.  It is a
big church with lots
of kids' programs

SweetCheeks was a bit
scared to stay by
herself but when
we went to collect her
she did not want to leave.

After picking up
SweetCheeks we went to the
big girls' room to see
what they were up to...

SweetCheeks really wanted to
stay and play..but..
Ria convinced her that we were
going somewhere special.

After church
we hit the local
hog trough eating place
that some refer to as a
buffet.
Maria is a healthy eater..
she loves salads and
fruits.
The kids like going there
because they can pick
their own food and
make their own
ice cream with sprinkles
after their meal.
SweetCheeks is trying to
avoid having Papa
"taste" her food.
She is not a good sharer..
if it is something sweet.
We came home,
and were getting ready
to change our clothes..
when what to our wondering
eyes should appear
but a funny Uncle
with a boat under his rear!
Can you take us for a ride?
We have our swim suits on
and our life jackets...
Can you?  Can you?  Can you?

That looks like a yes to me.

All too soon the
day was over and it was
time to take a bath and
head home.
And guess what?
Today there was
NO WHINING!

Bye Bye sweet girls.

I'm tired but I'm still smiling.
'Deed I am!
your photo name

Monday, June 27, 2011

Bread And Whine Weekend-Part I

As you know
we had the
pure joy
of hosting
3 little grandgirls
for the weekend.

They are easy to
handle,
full of life,
and adventure,
and up for anything.

Friday night
they stayed up late
to watch a remake
of an old Shirley Temple
movie.
SweetCheeks fell asleep
about 1/2 way through
and got carried to bed..
but woke up just
long enough to
remember that I had
promised to read
Goldilocks And The Three Bears
before she went to bed.
Seriously?
At this hour?
Eyes filled with tears
are always convincers...
even late at night.
Yes..yes...I read it..
of course I read it!

Saturday morning
I woke up to find
2 strange visitors in
my bed.  I thought the
furnace had snapped on
during the night
but found it was
only a little
SWEATBOX
plastered up to me.

Off to Starbucks
and then on to
GreatHarvest
 for some
  Oregon Herb bread.
THE best bread in the world.
It's extra good because..
Oh My!!!
They give out free
slices of bread or
cookie samples.
The girls were full
of Nana's good, hot,
3 Bears Cereal
(see my recipe here)
TOO FULL
to  even sample anything?
Even SweetCheeks
said
No.Thhank yohu!

There was a surprise
visitor there though...
But SweetCheeks said
he was NOT
THE RHEAL POOHH BEAR!
Hims was just preethend!
Ready to go, girls?
(Notice that SweetCheeks has her
Princess costume on?  MyHero
thought she should change and
put on
REGULAR CLOTHES
Whereupon she informed him
that a Princess costume
ISS RHEGYOULARH CLOTHES!;>)
Amen Sister!
Can't wait to see what your
rhegyoularh outfits look
like when you are 15!
After a long hard day
of playing in the
kiddy pool and
running through the
sprinklers...a bath felt good.
And then~
 down they flew to the
deck to sit a spell
with Papa and watch
the sun kiss the lake
Good Night.
They went to bed without
a whimper because
Sunday was coming
and it was going to be a
BIG DAY
with some little
surprises.
And I will share those
tomorrow!
Happy Monday Friends!
your photo name

Saturday, June 25, 2011

The Triplets....

Okay...
You caught me...
I lied!
They are not
REALLY
triplets...
but
wherever one of them
goes..the other
two follow.

Do you girls want
to have your picture
taken?
You do?
Snap
That looks like a
YES
to me!

Mom has
instructed
The Trio to stand
by the brick wall
to have their picture
taken.

Hmmmm..
Seems to be a bit
of a problem here.
So...what's the problem?

Ria does NOT
want to stand
by SweetCheeks~
Snap...

Huh?
SweetCheeks asks..
Whut do yohu meahn?
Why dohn't yohu wanna
stahnd by me?
Okay..
Go down and
stand by Lulu..
Ready?
Great..
Snap..

Lulu-
You leaned forward
too far..
You are showing up
as a giant head.
Lean back..
Okay.
Ready?
Snap
Okay...
Well, we liked your
smile better in the last
photo...could you just...
oh...never mind..

Wait..
What's that?
Oh!
Ria wanted to have
her picture taken
all by herself.
Ready?
Look at the camera-
Snap!
Perfect-
Absolutely perfect!
your photo name

Friday, June 24, 2011

SweetCheeks New Dress Video

Well, Ladies..
I am a bit short
on time
this week..

What exactly does that
mean, I wonder?
I mean...we
NEVER say
we are
LONG
on time,
do we?

Anyway...
because I
AM
short on time..
I figure you
might be too.

So here is short
clip taken at
...
Anyone?
Yes!
Starbucks!

You will see that
THIS family
only shops at
THE BEST
places!
Now..if I could only
find some
cheap
bras..
ones that would actually
WORK!
your photo name

Thursday, June 23, 2011

The Proper Way To Hold Your Racquet

SweetCheeks loves her
tennis lessons.
They are available
for a small fee
through the
Parks and Rec
Department in our town.
You can read about'
her first lesson here.
As soon as the
car is parked
she gets out and
runs down the
hill to the court.
Today
she is showing us
The Proper Way
to hold a
tennis racquet
Yohu hold it lihke
thihs!
You do?
Noh...jus' foolin'
yohu hold
it lihke thihs!
Hmmm..I'll
bet she doesn't really
know how to hold it
at all, Mom.

Yesss! Ih! Do!
An' how cohme itss so
bright out herhe?
I can harhdly see!
Lookit-Ria cahn't see
eifther!
No whining allowed!
You can bet when she is
16 and some cute young
guy asks her to go play
tennis..
she won't complain that
it is
"too bright".
No. She. Won't!
I hope I'm around to
remind her about
days like today!
your photo name

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

The Long Walk Home

The park is about
6 blocks from my
daughter's house.
The girls went with
their friends and
then wondered if they
could walk home.

My daughter said,
Sure!
Pick a walking
partner and hold hands.
She drove ahead
two blocks,
parked where she
could see them,
 and let
them catch up
to her.
Ria dropped back
to take a swig
of water.
Wisconsin kids drink
water a bit differently
as you can see!
The three arrived..
Ria arrived..
Where was
SweetCheeks?
Why was she lagging
behind?
What's the matter,
SweetCheeks?

Sumbuddy fohrghot to
tahke my hand..
and I dinnt haff
enybuddy to
walk wiff.
Awwww..
Poor baby!

Look!
Big sissy, Lulu,
is right over here
waiting to take your
hand.
Aren't big sisters
wonderful?
SweetCheeks used one
of her favorite
phrases..
accompanied by a scowl.
I HAATE THIS WURLD!

She doesn't really!
She really loves this world..
and God...
and her sisters..
and her Mom and Dad..
and, most importantly,
she loves her
Nana!
'Deed she does!
your photo name

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Baby E Bites The Dust

Literally!
Baby E literally
Bites The Dust!
All the cousins met
at
on Father's Day.

The girls are always
so excited to see
Baby E.

C'mon SweetCheeks~
Want to go down the slide
with Baby E?

Yes she does!
Here comes BabyE..

Uh-oh..
SweetCheeks is behind him.

Somebody got a face
full of dirt.

Somebody doesn't
know quite what to think
about that!

Ahhh..
All better...
Wiped clean!
Maybe the swings will
be safer..
Or..
maybe not!
Here's our boy
riding home
after his long, hard
day at
with his cousins.
God Bless
these innocent
days of childhood.
They don't last
nearly long enough!
Amen~
your photo name