"I Got You Babe"?

Jackie-O ?

"Do, you love me?"

Anniversary Party

65 years of marriage.

Hard to fathom....especially when it is your own parents!

What a great reason to get everyone together and share the love and joy...

We don't do things 'simply' in my family and this celebration wasn't going to be any different.

First of all there was the theme: "Classic Couples". Pale blue t-shirts were made for everyone in attendance, including babies and the dog. The shirt had a picture of mom and dad on their wedding day 65 years ago...as can be seen in this photo of my mom, dad, and their four girls. My sister's and I have a tradition of always posing from oldest to youngest and that was no exception at the Saturday night celebration. I'll let you figure out which side starts with the oldest.... : 0

Going along with the couples theme....we asked everyone to come up with a skit, song, poem, toast....whatever, to imagine mom and dad as a famous couple, either fictional or non-fictional, dead or alive.

Dave and I did Fred and Wilma Flintstone.

I am sure that you can imagine his delight at being told that I was making him a costume that included an animal print bowtie....

Interested in hearing how this came out? Lunch with the "Girlies", unpacking, laundry, reading through mail are calling me for now....so,

I will have to continue with more of this.....

.....tomorrow.

: )

One tired Grammie.....

I am filled with joy.

I am also exhausted...so, for tonight, I will just post a couple of pictures from my trip to upstate New York and a wonderful family weekend.

After a good night's sleep...I will get back into my posting routine....

'nite...

The signs pointed the way....

...the long and winding road...

Breathtaking.

This is the tree-lined road that lead 28 family members to my sister and brother-in-law's home in Skaneateles, New York...

Soon, their warm and inviting home came into view...with the serene lake in the background just a short walk away....

...I'll be home tomorrow.....

I am having blog withdrawal.

...but, I have had an incredible time with the family and little Owen!!!!

I will be heading back to Birmingham tomorrow afternoon with a full suitcase, a lot of extra calories, lots of memories...and a bit of a heavy heart having to leave...

I will be downloading all of my 200,000 photos when I return- so get ready!

I hope that all is well with my blogging reader buddies...I have a lot of catching up to do upon my return...

xoxo

Grammie

P.S. Happy 11 month birthday Owen!!!!!

I'm off...

...to Skaneateles today!

My cat, Gizmo, has already given me that "I've-seen-the-big-red-suitcases-and-I-know-you-are-leaving-me" look.

It breaks my heart to leave her now that she is hundreds of years old (exaggeration)...but, I have arranged to have someone stay at the house with her part of the time that I am gone....and my wonderful neighbor will look in on her the other days.

I will try to get to a computer when there is a "quiet moment" (ha!) on the trip and do a little posting if I can...

'til then...

xoxo

"Beam me up, Scotty", port-a-lets... and other rants

I go through this every time I leave town.

What to take, what not to take?

Packing can take a lot of the joy of traveling out of a person.

Oh, to just be able to be beamed up to New York already!

This is going to be quite a family get-together. I am already practicing my deep breathing techniques just in case the need arises. My favorite is "nostril breathing". Here is how it is done: Cover up one side of the nose. Breathe in deeply through the other. Switch and cover up the other side. Exhale slowly. Reverse and repeat. : )

There are going to be eighteen people sleeping in a five bedroom house...and another 11 staying in nearby accomodations. Blow up beds are being inflated...tents are being set up outside...all in preparation for this family onslaught!

Truth be told, it isn't the sleeping part that is of concern for me....it is the bathroom situation. There is one powder room downstairs and only two bathrooms upstairs...one of them being part of the master bedroom.

Now, that makes for some interesting dynamics.

I hear that my sister is posting some "bathroom rules and regulations" and time limits. I can only imagine....

Someone jokingly suggested getting some port-a-lets and setting them up outside.

I actually thought that was a good idea.

Sneak preview of what's to come....

When my family gets together, creative craziness abounds! Without going into details (since family members may read this), part of the festivities involve everyone doing a skit, poem, song, whatever, about my mom and dad.

Dave and I are doing a take off on the Flintstones--so this picture is one of the props from our skit. Little caveboy, Owen.

Did I mention that I can't wait to see him again?????????

As we all get ready to celebrate my parent's 65th up in New York...I must make note that today, July 25th, is the actual date of their anniversary.

So, love and hugs, Mom and Dad....Happy Anniversary!

See you tomorrow!

Can't wait!!

XOXO

What's a Skaneateles?

That is actually where I am heading on Thursday for a week! : )

Skaneateles, New York. (click on the word to read more about it)

My youngest sister and her hubby purchased a second home in this quaint little upstate New York town and the entire family will be converging there to celebrate mom and dad's 65th wedding anniversary. (!!!)

Both of my boys and their wives (and OWEN!!!!) will be there as will my sisters, some aunts and a variety of cousins.

It will be a crazy, fun time and I can't wait.

Of course right now I am in that excruciating process of deciding what to pack. This is always an issue with me as I end up taking waaaaay more than I need to. (Just ask Dave) : 0

So, with that in mind, I am going to end for today and get that process started.

Later. : )

It's packing time again.....

Well, Dave read my post yesterday about his peanut butter, jelly, mayonaise and onion sandwich and took issue with some of what I said.

He said that he does not use "copious" amounts of mayo and that it is not his "favorite" kind of sandwich as I had previously stated. It is just an interesting combination of flavors that he enjoys.

He also noted that the onions were sweet Vidalia's...not your typical strong onions.

So, I am issuing this retraction.

But, I still think that it is a pretty peculiar combination, Sweetie. : 0