A peaceful Celia....

"Blessed be childhood, which brings down something of heaven into the midst of our rough earthliness." Henri Amiel

Wanna laugh?

Bits and Pieces

Talking about the economy to Mom yesterday, she mentioned that the one good thing about not having any money is that you don't have as much to lose. Good point, Mom.

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My friend Sharon left me a dreamy-sounding phone message yesterday. She has been going for therapeutic massages for some chronic pain and after her massage yesterday she said:"Hi. I just finished a one and a half hour massage today and I am in 'la la land'....just wish that I could stay there".

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Word has it that Southwest Airlines (my favorite) will be running flights into Minnesota again in March. They are not scheduled to be nonstop....with a layover in Chicago...but I am still quite excited. We will have to wait and see what the schedules are before I get too carried away.

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Well, the celebrating just seems to go on and on for this 60th birthday. Last night I was treated to a wonderful dinner and then the musical, Dream Girls! Four of my girlfriends who weren't able to make my original birthday dinner planned the evening. The musical was being shown at one of our local theaters...and, I have to tell you, the caliber of talent was incredible. The woman playing Effie (Jennifer Hudson's role in the movie) gave me chills when she belted out her songs! The girls even had the emcee announce my birthday--however, he got my name and age wrong so I didn't even realize that it was for me. I was actually quite relieved...even though I did like the part about it being my "30th" birthday.

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I know that most everyone is affected or has a family member affected by breast cancer. My youngest sister, Karen, was diagnosed 9 years ago this coming January. In celebration of her nine year survival anniversary she is putting together a team for the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. She is being honored as a "Warrior in Pink" for this event so she has decided to name her team "Karen's Warriors" with a personal goal to raise a large sum of money. I have joined her team...and want to encourage all of you out there to help find a cure for this disease by making a donation to one of your local chapters or the national organization. Every little bit helps.... thanks. (If you would like to join "Karen's Warriors" email me and I will send you her site.)

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I can't really comment too much on last night's debate in that I had to tape it and watch some of it this morning. Even though I thought that Governor Palin was able to present herself with a confident attitude, I did think that Senator Biden spoke much more factually about the actual issues...and, that is what is important to me. All in all, still quite a bit of rhetoric...

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Between the yellow jackets and the ants, I have had some issues lately with my hummingbird feeders. I know that the season is just about over...but, come on guys...can't we all just get along? *sigh*

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Go out and enjoy your day!

xoxo

Foot Fetish

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As we sat and talked one afternoon while I was in Maryland, Janet was using her foot to gently rock Celia in her bouncy seat.

Suddenly, I saw Celia's tiny foot go up in the air and knew that I had to grab my camera and take a photo...it was so cute comparing the two of them.

Looking at it now, I realize that for a nine day old baby, her foot was actually quite large....and, look at those toes!

Laughing, I realized that she had inherited one of my family traits---long feet and equally long toes!

Sorry, Celia.....

What can I say? "Welcome to the family"!!!

: )

My Creative Family....

With all that has been going on lately (all good!!), I haven't really had the chance to tell more about my Atlanta birthday celebration with the sisters and Mom.

Everyone was in charge of a different meal during the long weekend together....including me, the birthday girl! Some had lunches...and some had dinners.

Well, my family is not one to just do things without a lot of fanfare and creativity...so, everyone put their own personal touches on their meal. Thus, every mealtime became quite an "event".

Marsha did a casino night that was deliciously catered. We all received lottery scratch-off cards and visors adorned with playing cards, chips and fake money. Her condo was decorated with all kinds of casino items and the table was set with dice necklaces, and other "gambling items" scattered around...! After dinner we had several rounds of Bingo including prizes for the winners. She also attempted to do a "chocolate fountain"...but, it didn't quite work out right...so, instead we had chocolate "fudge" to "spread" on the chunks of cake, strawberries, etc.....! Such laughter and fun.

Sherri did lunch with an oriental theme the next day. We each received a bright red Chinese take-out carton filled with goodies. The table was beautifully set with bright red and black and had Oriental fans, chopsticks, and fortune cookes strewn about. The meal consisted of yummy sushi! She also gave out cute pj's with t-shirts imprinted with my picture and the words: "It took me 60 years to get this beautiful"! On the back, she had put a picture of the Chicken Soup for the Soul book that I will be a part of this week. Great advertisement! : )

For my dinner, I decided to go with a casual, bar-b-que theme. My sweet Dave had precooked and frozen some of his incredible ribs for us and I made corn pudding, baked beans and brocolli slaw as side dishes. It was all served on a red and white checkered table cloth with brown paper bags holding hand wipes to get rid of all of the delicious, but sticky, homemade bar-b-que sauce that Dave had whipped up for the occasion. Mmmmm. At this point of the weekend I believe that my sisters handed out tie dyed t-shirts to everyone that were imprinted with: "Grammie's Magical Mystery Tour"! We made quite a group all wearing these brightly colored shirts as we enjoyed Dave's ribs down to the bone!

My sister, Karen, did an unbelievable wine tasting another night. The wine was shipped in from a winery in upstate New York and we enjoyed every bit of it. During the wine lesson there were some games played and gifts were given out to the winners. She made and served "small bites" including mini crab cakes, red and black caviar served with chopped eggs, spinach and artichoke spread, cheeses, etc. etc. Fabulous!!!

I have saved the lunch by my mom for last. It was so much fun and so clever...I still laugh about it at times. You see, Mom wasn't known for making the best meals when the four girls were growing up. She was quite busy working and taking care of us...while my dad was running his laundry and dry cleaning place. So, for her lunch she served items that we grew up with. The condo was decorated with dry cleaning hanging all over and the table had hangers all over it. The meal consisted of: fish sticks (a staple in our household back then!), burnt grilled cheese sandwiches, a wedge of iceberg lettuce with homemade Russian dressing (ketchup and mayo) on it, and her "famous" fried spaghetti with ketchup. She handed out menus that also showed "dried out tasteless chicken"...but noted that the item had sold out! Dessert was, of course, cherry jello and chocolate pudding with a can of whipped topping nearby. It was a great walk down memory lane for all of us.

Throughout the weekend, my Dad's presence was sorely missed...after being around the group of us at other occasions he would have been used to all of the "stuff" that we do....OH, he would have loved it all...especially the dry cleaning decorations and the burnt grilled cheese sandwiches!

Rosh Hashonah

Psalm 81 © 2000 Graphic by Irv Davis

Tonight at sundown marks the first night of the Jewish holiday, Rosh Hashonah.

It is a time of personal reflection and new beginnings. The holiday starts tonight and culminates in 10 days on Yom Kippur and "...is a solemn day, a time of self-examination, when we reflect on our past mistakes and deeply regret our offenses against God and the hurts that we have caused others."

To any of my Jewish readers, I wish you a healthy and sweet New Year.

Peace and love,

Grammie

Celia, at 3 weeks

My Song for Celia

I made this silly song up in a moment of craziness while in Maryland. Feel free to make up your own tune to go with it! And, if you have any new lines for it...please send them to me! : )

Celia...

If you were a potato, I'd peel ya...

If you were a fish, I would reel ya...

If I were a doctor, I'd heal ya...

If you were Jello, I'd congeal ya...

If you were a law suit, I'd appeal ya.....

If you were a push cart, I'd wheel ya...

If you were a letter, I'd seal ya...

If you were missing, I'd reveal ya...

If you were a cotton ball, I'd feel ya...

If you were a bag of money, I'd steal ya...

If you were a lid, I'd seal ya...

If you were a law, I'd repeal ya...

If you were a card player, I'd deal ya...

If you were knees, I'd kneel (with) ya...

If you were a pig, I'd squeal ya....

If you were hiding, I'd conceal ya....

Celia.

Bits and Pieces

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I had to laugh yesterday as Mom told me that they had Italian Night at "the home" and the servers were wearing French berets and Greek salad was on the menu. Sounds more like a night at the UN...

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The "TV Ears" are still working great on night number two. These will be especially helpful as we are now heading into football season! Dave cannot get enough of all of the games that are beginning to take up the airwaves these days... rah rah.

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The weather is so perfect this time of year....while the afternoons are still quite toasty, the mornings are just delightful. Perfect morning walking weather! I love it.

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Jeffrey and Janet put together the most incredible book for my birthday. It is filled with pictures and words from family and friends. The friendships cover people from my past as well as now. When I first went through it up in Maryland, it brought tears to my eyes as I reminisced. It is the sort of thing that I will treasure forever.

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Every once in a while I stop whatever I am doing and just smile as I realize that in such a short period of time I have become a Grammie to three beautiful children! How did I get so lucky?

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My pool is no longer "green" as I have poured "shock chemicals" into it since returning home. I think that Dave and I will put the cover on it soon and close it up until next Spring. It has certainly been an expensive challenge for me this Summer. Anyone want to buy a large in-the-ground swimming pool? Maybe I should put it on eBay?!?! ha.

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My friend Sharon has been reading a book on making good nutritional choices. She told me today that she is now eating Mounds bars after reading that dark chocolate is good for you...and she now picks Almond Joy bars because she found out that almonds are full of good nutrition! (She is trying to forget about the other ingredients in these two snacks....like coconut, sugar, fat, high fructose syrup, etc. etc.) Sounds like a good diet to me! : )

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After anticipating the "Great Presidential Debate" last night, I have to admit that I was let down...and, after a while, even found myself doing some other things as I was watching it. I get so tired of the political "babble" and seemingly empty promises that are made. I wanted to be uplifted...but, this did not occur. Disappointing.

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The financial situation happening right now is frightening. I know that everyone is being affected on one level or another. I feel like I am hanging on for dear life at times as things around me continue to rise in price. Nothing is unaffected...and that trickling down is what is so disconcerting. I guess that I am hoping for a miracle as I tighten my belt a little.

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Well, things in Minnesota are getting back to some sort of "normalcy" as Jenny has returned to work, Adam is finished with his paternity leave, Owen is still in his daycare....and, little Audrey has just started her daycare experience at General Mills. With all of this, Jenny continues to pursue her post-grad degree as she gets back into taking classes this Fall. Hats off to all of them for making these changes without much fuss.

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While Dave is out playing golf today, I am planning to go to a movie with a couple of the girlies. We are going to see the chick flick, "The Women". I will write a "review" later. In the meantime, I am going to head out for my walk...and then scour the house for some candy to take to the movies with me! Maybe Sharon will bring some of those "nutritional" candy bars with her. Mmmmm.

: )

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Have a good day!

xoxo

See how happy these people look?

Well, it is all because of one thing....

TV EARS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

For those of you who follow my blog.....you might recall this past post about the little conflict that Dave and I have about going to sleep with the television on.

While in Costco yesterday, I accidentally came upon this little gadget....and, it has changed things unbelievably!

(Do I sound like a commercial?!!!?)

Dave hooked it all up last night...and, this little wireless device allows him to watch tv to his heart's content...as loudly as he would like it....on any channel that he would like....and, I CAN'T HEAR A THING!

It's nothing short of a miracle....

ZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

: )

Daddy and ME

mY dAddY HaD PAterNiTy LeAvE LAst WeEk...anD WE gOt To dO aLL kiNds oF FUn ThiNgS..........JuST ThE tWo of uS!!!!!

This week.....

...I aM iN DaYCaRE....iT's oK....BuT, i liked LAsT Week bEtteR! : )

xOXo,

aUdReY

While in Atlanta, Adam got Owen to show various emotions as he snapped photos of him. He really responded to this....and here is what the end results were:

The Many Faces of My OWEN!

Cute, eh? : )

Missing you already.....

I'm home.

More to come after I finish unpacking....etc. etc. I feel as though I have been away forever.

...missing sweet Celia and her mommy and daddy already.... : (

Looking forward to doing a lot of catching up now that I am back. : )

xoxo

Grammie

Saying "good-bye"...

Dear Celia. I am trying to take in as much of you as I can today.

I will hold you a little more closely as I breathe in that wonderful "new baby smell" that you wear so well.

I will look into your eyes a little more intently with the hope that you will somehow remember me until we are together again.

I will prolong the times that I am able to give you a bottle so that I can remember how warm and cuddly you feel in my arms.

I will enjoy watching you attempt to hold that little head up with the strength of a child much older than your 13 days on this earth.

I will continue to soothe you with my songs sung gently into your tiny ears when we are alone.

I will listen closely to the wonderful little sounds that you make so that I can replay them in my head when I am back home.

I will watch with joy as you kick those tiny little legs and swing your long arms...as I try to memorize all of your "moves" to play back in my mind when I need a smile.

All of this is important today because tomorrow I will be heading back home to Birmingham.

This is always the hard, but necessary, part for a Grammie who lives far away.

I have to leave you until the next time...but, lucky for me, I will be carrying so much of you with me as I go.

You are a precious baby who lucked into having incredibly loving parents staying behind to care for you.

But, with all that being said, I will miss you terribly...it has been a great week...thank you for filling me with such joy and letting me fall deeply in love with you.

Be a good girl.

Love and kisses,

Your Grammie