I heart these faces!!!

Birthdays and reunions....

This is just a picture of a cutie-patootie who came along to celebrate her grandmother's birthday...a BIG birthday!!! Emily and Debbie...

We took Peg, our 93 year old friend out for lunch . She had been hospitalized earlier this year and then did a stint in the nursing home so we were so glad to have her out again. I hope I am like her someday! She has a great attitude about life that is spunky and great.

Then we celebrated with a cake and singing...

- and a visit from Linda who came all the way from Maine to say "hi and Happy Birthday" to both Debby and Libby whose BIG birthday is in a few days too!!

Happy Birthday girls!!!! It's nice to be together again, even if only for a few hours...
(set the camera on 10 second timer and run!! Pretty good for you guys,...as for me could we try it again???)

Blankets and meeting great Grandpa!!

We usually take Larry's father out for dinner once a week and tonight was that night. Chelsea and Brant came along to have Bryden meet his great grandfather. Joe was more than thrilled to meet him! It was one of those moments when you look at four generations and get goosebumps thinking about life...just nice to see them all together.

Chelsea has been lucky to have friends who've made special gifts for Bryden...handmade blankets! This one was made by my sweet sister Lynn...

-and this one made by friend and neighbor Juanita. When I look at all the work and time that goes into them, I am amazed!

-and this sweater, -blanket set was made by friend and fellow glass company owner, Karen in Medina. It is amazingly soft and has sailboat buttons which I did not get a good pic of. He will grow into it and be able to wear it a long time. Thank you all for these amazing gifts!!!

I had t0 add this picture because Bryden was too cute sleeping in Larry's arms...

and one last blanket gift from Joyce...a taggy blanket..so cuddley! With the way this child wets and spits up, he goes through a lot of wash and wear things!! Each one is lovingly used...and appreciated!!!

Baby shower for Hollie...

Chelsea's friend Hollie is nearing her due date and had another baby shower this week. It's so fun and life affirming to go to these events! Chelsea got the pediatric OK this week to start taking the baby out and about so she was thrilled to take him.

Hollie "glows" and looks terrific. She is having a baby girl named Annabella...cute name Hollie!!

Here's the cake....it was so cute!

Better view of the cake...

Good Luck Hollie and easy labor! She may have been a little traumatised watching Chelsea's....

Blog winner!!

These cute items arrived in the mail today! I was excited as the winner of Seventh Smith's http://seventhsmith.blogspot.com/ "Friday Freebies" giveaway! (Thanks Mandy!!) The large tutu I won and the small one I bought (also the bow) to match for Bailey's sister when she is born. I can hardly wait for a picture of the two of them in these!! Seventh Smith (see blog list on right side) has a Friday give-away frequently and has really cute items to win....worth checking out!! Bailey's new bow....FUN! Made by Marcella Hogg at "the Little Ballerina" at http://mxrod4.esty.com/ (Thanks Marcella!!)

Pigtails!

Bailey has got a new hairdo that I think particularly adorable...pigtails!!!

They make me smile too, little girl!!

Little Boy Blue

So quickly they grow.... Chelsea, I hope you'll be gone a while longer...Grannie's having fun!!!

Peek-a-Boo!

Contemplating what?

Helloooo....

Lost the binky....looking for food!

Smilefile...

Make a Smilebox photobook

My snow guage....

The weather outside my window shows.....and the thermometer in my car on the way to church this morning read 7*...sigh...so I am dreaming of this!...

Portrait Day...

These are pictures from Kate Strine, our Cinncinnati photographer friend, who came before Christmas right after Bryden was born to do portraits of the family. We have some black and whites....

as well as colored favorites that we chose.

Friend, Debby's grandaughter, Emily, came over too and Kate took pics of her as well. I think they are wonderful!

She took Chelsea with Bryden who had not really planned to be in the pictures, but they are so beautiful I think, and I am so happy to have these tender moments of them.

Kate posed her in my (our) bedroom....

on our bed...with the new satin pillows and comforter....

and then this happened....

~Well, she captured the moment...

Cooper was not really wanting to sit still for pictures that day...so we have few of him...

but we got one of my chidren with their children and I love it!

and finally....

and this....one (below)!

Actually, my very favorite that I may still get (as though I don't have enough...) has Cooper with his mouth open shouting with glee...his true personality, the baby with his mouth open, hunting for food...his true personality and Miss B just smiling pleasantly...her true personality!!! It is a real picture of all of them and makes me laugh! But maybe I will just wait until next summer when we will have 4 grandchildren...and need MORE pictures to document all the highlights of our lives! Can you have too many pictures???