Celebration Parties...

Yesterday was a day of celebrations in our neck of the woods....the first a baby shower with all the trimmings and the second a retirement celebration!  Both parties were for good friends and we were glad to be a part of them both!

The baby shower was for Megan, a long time friend that in fact I was teasing  about being the first face she ever saw, -as I was the nurse in the operating room when she was born!

Here is the cute cake for the shower...yum!

 Good food and great company!

The cute mom to be, her (also pregnant sister) Jen and niece Emily.

The glowing mother-to-be!!!

-who got many wonderful gifts to start this little one's life with! It's so much fun to go to a baby shower...I took my little 96 (!) year old friend who reveled in every minute of it!!

Debby (foreground)  the cutest grandma around and mother of these pregnant moms, -was our next door neighbor at the time that we were newlyweds and has been a dear friend since...40 years ago!

Emily excited about the new baby...

and a tender moment with her mother.

Then this celebration a few hours later and some distance away!  Judi (L) was a pediatric nurse for a well known children's hospital for many years. She was also my room mate in nursing school 40 years ago!  She is one of those rare (I've never met anyone like her!) people that makes you laugh! We have had experiences that are ones you tell many years from now and tears roll down your cheeks remembering.  Everyone loves her and  feels this way about her, so there were many people there to fete her. This was one of several parties for her.   She does not like to be the center of attention at all.  She does not drink either.  Hence the glass of wine in her hand to get ready for it. lol

 Judi is one of ten children.  Here are a few of her siblings (from left...sister Lois, Beth, Judi, Laurie, brother John, and sister-in-law Diane -their daughter and grandson in front).  Laurie came from the keys in Florida to be with her.  She has a brother who is an executive chef  in Washington DC (who serves the President and many other political figures frequently).  Another brother is in Florida too so Judi has some fun places to visit relatives now that she has time.

The dinner was an Italian food buffet that was delicious and these little goodies were as good as they look!!

Me, Judi and Cindy...friends in high school, then nursing school...and still today.

 The evening began with a "royal robe" fit for a queen...of retirement??

-and entertainment...an Irish dance group that was phenomenal!!

-and then a big night of dancing...this is "YMCA"!  Judi is in the middle of it all...I know that glass of wine helped!! I've never seen her dance before!  There were some moves that I shook my head at.......you OK, Judi??? (Yes, we'll be telling this one years from now and laughing too!)

We decided to leave for the long trip home about the time the party was supposed to end.  More people were coming in the door at that time so I think the night was really just beginning for this group! Not sure what time Judi got home but I am sure it was later than she's been out in years!
Here she is reading a candy bar poster to nieces and nephews that I made for her.

Nobody deserves it more! Happy, happy retirement and much fun, friend!!!!

January...Friday the 13th!

This morning, I awoke to howling winds and yes, January did come!  School was cancelled, roads slippery and I noted that even the wreath on our barn had blown off.  The good news is that the weather has been great for this time of the year until now...so that we will have this weather for only about another 3 months!  We need groceries so I only have to go out once today, then can be cozy in my kitchen doing "things".  Ahhhh, Friday the 13th and Mother Nature!!!

Stories....

Today was one of those rare winter days that give you a break and make you long for spring!  It was 50* outside and felt like 60.  We had plans to go to meet Tim, and Cooper in Columbus and as you can see, the Christmas decorations were still up.

We met at one of our favorite spots...the Cheesecake Factory!  While we were waiting for our food to come,  Cooper and his grandfather started talking about "stories". Tim had told Coop how as a child whenever Larry drove the kids anywhere, (including the whole way to my parent's home in Chicago...) he would make up super hero stories to tell them complete with sound effects.

Cooper wanted Larry to tell him one too....so of course he obliged.

C

Cooper doesn't stay still for long so for him to have this rapt attention on the tale was fun to watch....

T

After lunch, we shopped a bit while Pa and Coop stayed in the common area of the mall.  We came back to see them still full into the stories. It took me right back to when our children were small.

Cooper enthralled in the details....

and then HE had one to tell!!! lol!

One last pic before going home.  It was great way to spend a January day!!

Good Luck on New Year's Day!!!

 MMMMM!  This delicious loaf of New Year's bread was left on my doorstep by friend and relative Kathy alias: Yaya at Whispering Pines.  It is a yearly tradition of hers to make this and bring us a loaf....I love that!!

She is Greek and this is a Greek tradition.  She wraps a quarter in foil and includes it in the batter for one lucky person to find.  That person is sure to have good luck in the new year.  Larry is here cutting the first slice of bread....no luck.

Then it was my turn and I felt the quarter as soon as I cut into it...aha!

Boy...do I hope it works!!! Many things about last year weren't that fun...so I'm keeping my Greek fingers and toes crossed.  (OK, I'm mostly Norwegian...but I'll be Greek if that works!...ha!)

Larry says that the best part of the bread is the taste anyway.....THANKS KATHY!!

Christmas with the Fab Four....

The house was all cleaned, the food was prepared, baking had been done and the cast of characters was returning for Christmas! Our children Tim, Mike and Chelsea with all their clan is coming....I can hear them on the rooftop.  Or maybe it's coming down the driveway....car 1, then 2 and 3!!


 

Chelsea and Bryden

Mike, Lori, Bailey and Emma

Bryden was still excited from his birthday and knew what opening gifts was all about. 

Sweet little Emma, patient and enjoying it all.

And then Santa Grandpa came in....

Paw-Paw and Cooper...

and hugely funny ones!  Getting 4 children to pose before church is a challenge! 

These 4 year olds responded well to  bribery....

and we finally got this shot!

After church, we had a bite to eat, put jammies on and commenced gift opening.

Bailey with treasures...

and me with mine!!

Bryden with a new toy...a recording microphone!  See videos below.  He "sang" that loud in church too!!! lol 

Bailey's expression just makes me laugh too!

Again, we tried to get them all in a cute pose.....

while going through this!!

These two year olds (one soon to be....) looking very innocent!

and again finally got this shot that I like.

Duex!!

 Ah, yes.  It happens to the best of us.  Turning another year older....Bryden turned two this week.
 I remember my mother got the biggest joy from celebrating all our birthdays in the best way she knew how and all those memories from special celebrations come flooding back now as the grandchildren celebrate theirs. This one started with a small family party at our house...

 with gifts that he really enjoyed opening with his mother Chelsea.  He is understanding what it's all about which is fun to watch.

 This was one of his favorite gifts...a guitar!  He sings which is SO funny to watch!!

 Friend Emily came over to serenade him too!!

 Today began with a breakfast with Santa.  This was the new word of the week and I laughed each time he said it!

 All the little ones in our family were at Chelsea's house then to celebrate again with a bigger par-tay.

 Miss Emma in her winter outfit...

 Cousins....I love the look on Bryden's face as he shares his chair.  A minute later he pushed her out and wanted it to himself...but I captured this sweet moment first...lol!

 A tender moment between Uncle Tim and Bailey.

 Mmmmm!  The birthday cupcake!!

And Cooper getting ready to go home in his great hat saying good-bye!!

The best part for me was knowing they all will be back in just two weeks for Christmas!!