While Visions of Bithday Cake Danced in His Head!!

Grandson Bryden's first birthday is tomorrow.  I remember so well a year ago, his birth.  It was cold with a little snow on the ground like there is now and the Christmas decorations had just been put up.  He was such a beautiful addition to the Christmas festivities!

 Chelsea has a farm theme for the birthday and the cake she ordered from a friend is just too fun with farm animals all over it!  I can just imagine how Bryden will love it!  Today while babysitting, he did not want to stop and nap.  So, I changed him and fed him and he finally gave up drifting off to baby carrots. Luckily this high chair has a reclining feature so he napped here while I got some things done in the kitchen.  

 I think tomorrow will be a really fun day for the little guy, seeing cousins and friends for the B-day... are you dreaming of farm animals?? Is there anything as sweet as a sleeping child?.........zzzzz!

Happy Turkey Day 2010

We always get excited when all the kids are here on any given day...between four family's schedules and three cities, it's hard to get everyone together often, so we look forward to holidays and this one was no exception!  Above are three of our grandchildren: Cooper,  his cousin Emma and sister Bailey.

 Bryden, below, was here earlier to help get ready....he is a social little guy and really had fun watching all the activity!

 Chelsea helped me cook the day before...she is a marvelous cook and you can see we had lots to do before we were ready.

 The first to arrive were Mike, Lori, Bailey and Emma...

 -then the rest arrived.  Again, it's rare to get a picture of all my children with theirs...even here Emma is taking a nap.  Mike holding his daughter Bailey, Tim holding Chelsea's son Bryden and Chelsea holding Tim's son Cooper.

 Miss Emma woke up from her nap!!

 One of the most fun things for all ages was the I-pad!

 Bailey takes gymnastics...here balancing on her father's foot!

~and here playing with Scoobie.

 Lori gave Bailey's bow to Emma who is just getting enough hair to keep it there!

 Trying once more to get a pic of all the kids, Bryden had to go home....Bailey NOT happy to have her picture taken, but look at the sweet exchange between Cooper and Emma!!

 BUT those daddies can make anyone laugh!!!  Thanks, guys for coming home....we're thankful for every moment with you!!!

Thankful for....a 3 year old little man

This energetic little guy came to see us this weekend...what a fun pleasure!! He thinks creatively, imaginatively and his take on life is fun to hear.  He had just been to see "his Santa Claus" the night before and was he full of stories about this.

 We were out and about for a while and just listening to him in the car is so funny...he just makes me laugh!!

 Then we were supposed to take a nap.  He whispered so I knew he got the idea, but it was all just too new for sleeping and every other minute he thought of something he wanted to tell me...lol!  See he can't even stay on the bed...

 AND his mother got him a new shirt that he loved....he was so proud of it, -see next pic...

 You can just read his expressions!!!

 More playing....

 Favorite cookies,  G-ma hugs then time to go home all too soon!!!! Thankful for...family!

Thankful for our Little Friend...

Since our beloved Yorkie Sam died a couple of months ago, Scoob is learning to adjust to being an only child.  You can tell he really misses Sam.  I am not ready for another, and don't want a puppy.  Scoob is 10 years old, a dull dog and has old habits that we love.   Here is one of my favorites....I was sitting at the computer and got up to get a drink...walked back to sit down again and there he is...silently sleeping under my chair.  It's so sweet that I had to go grab the camera.   It's nice to just know he's there and follows around .  He doesn't climb stairs well anymore, so if I take him down to the basement, and go back up forgetting him, soon he is at the bottom of the stairs barking to come up. Heck, there are days I don't really feel like doing stairs either! I think we are both getting lazier!! I used to watch Bonanza with my parents many years ago and there was a hound dog that never moved at all.  If he raised an eyebrow they would comment,"Hector hasn't been so excited since he was a pup!"  And so it is with Scoob...

 Uh-Ohhh, I think he moved!

Sisters...

My sisters came from Illinois to visit for a few days this week.  It is harder to get together since Mom & Dad are gone but my sister Lynn (L) is the glue that binds us together.  She always makes an effort to schedule time in every few months so that we connect.  She is a pastor's wife, nurse, mother...very busy lady, yet so thoughtful!  She was driving back home today, dropping Becca (R) off in Danville (home of Jerry & Dick Van Dyke) and driving on to Iowa to see her grandaughter in her first violin recital!  She amazes me!
They drive with a Tom-Tom (GPS) that has a hilarious voice...it whispers to you!  They found all kinds of short-cuts through the countryside that even led them to just a cornfield.

 The weather was our Indian summer,...driving home from an afternoon outting Saturday the car thermometer said  79*!  We didn't really do special things but just being together talking, remembering old family stories was so good for all of us.

We did go to see "Unstoppable" the new Denzel Washington movie which was great!  If you get a chance to go, you'll sit on the edge of your seat and bite your nails like we did!!

And speaking of sisters...here are a few cuter pics of the younger set.

This is my grandaughter, Bailey &....

here is Emma!

The sisterhood bond starts young and just makes you smile sometimes. Since it is November, I am thankfullly remembering to be grateful for sisters...of all ages.

-the best part is always having a buddy to hug!!!

Red Velvet Cookies!

I don't know about you, but Red velvet Cake ranks high on the list of beloved desserts in this house.  My mother made it years ago with an 8 minute-on-the-stove-icing to die for!  We all loved it and requested it for our collective birthdays.  When she passed away, I have made it for various family members and friends....with sometimes curious results!  It usually ends up being really flat!  I have never figured out what I do wrong, but that is the way it is.  I have cut those cakes in half and have made them 4 layer cakes with LOTS of icing in order to make them look normal, but alas, I am a failure in that department. When the RVC mix came out, I was thrilled...I could fake it!
Monday, friends came to visit from Chicago.  Wanting to make dinner a little special I was looking for something different for dessert. I found this favorite cake mix, good looking, easy recipe on another blog, and since I was babysitting too, it fit the bill.  Sorry, if this is from your blog, I'd love to give credit where due, but I don't remember where I read it!

 Recipe....1 red velvet cake mix add two eggs and 1 stick of butter, mix well, dough is stiff.

 Spoon onto buttered baking sheet.  I used an ice cream scoop because it makes a more uniform cookie.  Bake at 350* for about 10 minutes.

 Then onto icing! yum!...Mix 8oz cream cheese with 1 stick of butter and 1 lb powered sugar. (I  used less, prob 3/4c or so...)

 Fresh out of the oven....

 Icing mixed...

 Spread icing on cookies.....

 and VIOLA!

 Red Velvet Cookies!!! .....(and they were dang good!)

Emma's Christening...

Today was the Christening of our grandaughter Emma.  Family gathered bright and early with no one missing the time change.  Here are a few of the highlights:

She was well behaved and serious, what all good girls should be in church! (with her mom and dad)

 With sister Bailey...

 the family...

 the girls in their matching red coats ready to go home...

 me with them....

 Aunt Joni and Cooper who wanted to play with Miss E...

 the cousins....(Bryden was home sick with a cold)

 Uncle Tim, Joni and Cooper...

 Cooper and Bailey always make me smile when they get together....

 and last Emma and her daddy...a long day for this little one!