Sunday, November 4, 2012
It's time for family pictures!
Monday, December 12, 2011
My Parents
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| I said, 'dad, look at mom and smile" |
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| well, we had a little trouble keeping a straight face |
Ryan
Taking them shopping for their birthday, just me and them, a little one on one, that's a tradition I have started with my niece and nephew. Ryan just turned 7 this December, we had our night out and it went something like this....we are loaded in the car ready to begin our adventure....(me)"Well Ry, you ready to go shopping?" (ry)"yea but I dont' have much to say", (me)"that's ok"...not 3 seconds ticks by (ry)"Aunt Tonya do you know who Christopher Columbus is and do you know why he came to America?" That was the first question to a series of questions that didn't stop, not for the 3 1/2 hours that we spent together. Ryan read every billboard we passed, he asked about all the gauges in my car and what they did. He expressed his love for Menard's and his supreme dislike for clothes shopping. We ate a Steak n' Shake (because he wanted a shake) and we sat at the bar, much to my dismay, but Ryan quickly showed me how to fold my coat so that it would fit perfectly on the bar stool, yes, we sat on our coats. I think Steak n' Shake was a big hit, he got a paper hat, a paper car, he colored and he ate every bit of his meal, including sucking down the last drop of that M & M milkshake :0 Kids are so funny and I so enjoy this individual time I get to spend with them. Ryan is exhuberant, witty, charming, sweet, ornery, intelligent (beyond his years) and my nephew. I love you Ryan Matthew!Tuesday, November 15, 2011
A Card, A Visit, A Phone Call, A Realization
the card.....
I came home from lunch today only to find a darling card in the mail, to me, from my mom:) You know how it feels when you get those much needed mid-day surprises, well, the card from mom was my mid-day surprise.
the visit.....
Thad stopped by for dinner, he has the most uncanny ability to pull into the driveway just as I am plating supper. I don't mind, in fact, I love it! Dinner time at the table has and will always be an important time of the day for me. I grew up knowing that dinner would be on the table every evening and it was a time we all sat down and re-grouped as a family. When my children were born I kept that very same tradition, we always had dinner as a family, every night. So, now when Thad stops, it is only for dinner but once again it's our time to chat as a family...how was work? how's the apartment? and so on, it's charmingly fun!
the phone calls.....
First, sis called, I knew it was her when the phone rang, I didn't tell her so but, I knew - funny how that works. We chatted, not long but we briefly caught up, I could hear a little bit of her household in the background (that always pleases me), I can hear her being busy (we are multitaskers, its in our blood), I can hear the critters (kids and pets), like I said, it pleases me.
Then Monte called and again, I knew it was him when the phone rang. He was on his way home and I was his sounding board/radio on his drive home. We chatted, not as long as usual but long enough to know that he and Tracy have been busy but are doing fine. I wished him a Happy Thanksgiving, secretly wishing he was close enough to share it with us but knowing he's where he's happy even if that is hundreds of miles and many states away.
a realization.....
I just may feel closer to my mom, son and siblings at this very moment in my life than I have ever felt. Something happens or at least something happened to me once my son finally realized he was no longer a boy but, a man and all the responsibility that comes with that title--we can finally relate as adults and as friends. He finally gets it and as parents, that is all we really want for our children, we want them to grow up happy and healthy, doing what they love and be a contributing citizen to society - I am very proud of Thad! I feel a connection to my mom that has been a long time coming and I feel a supreme sense of happiness just to hear my sister and my brother's voice, wow, I am feeling really lucky about now!
I came home from lunch today only to find a darling card in the mail, to me, from my mom:) You know how it feels when you get those much needed mid-day surprises, well, the card from mom was my mid-day surprise.
the visit.....
Thad stopped by for dinner, he has the most uncanny ability to pull into the driveway just as I am plating supper. I don't mind, in fact, I love it! Dinner time at the table has and will always be an important time of the day for me. I grew up knowing that dinner would be on the table every evening and it was a time we all sat down and re-grouped as a family. When my children were born I kept that very same tradition, we always had dinner as a family, every night. So, now when Thad stops, it is only for dinner but once again it's our time to chat as a family...how was work? how's the apartment? and so on, it's charmingly fun!
the phone calls.....
First, sis called, I knew it was her when the phone rang, I didn't tell her so but, I knew - funny how that works. We chatted, not long but we briefly caught up, I could hear a little bit of her household in the background (that always pleases me), I can hear her being busy (we are multitaskers, its in our blood), I can hear the critters (kids and pets), like I said, it pleases me.
Then Monte called and again, I knew it was him when the phone rang. He was on his way home and I was his sounding board/radio on his drive home. We chatted, not as long as usual but long enough to know that he and Tracy have been busy but are doing fine. I wished him a Happy Thanksgiving, secretly wishing he was close enough to share it with us but knowing he's where he's happy even if that is hundreds of miles and many states away.
a realization.....
I just may feel closer to my mom, son and siblings at this very moment in my life than I have ever felt. Something happens or at least something happened to me once my son finally realized he was no longer a boy but, a man and all the responsibility that comes with that title--we can finally relate as adults and as friends. He finally gets it and as parents, that is all we really want for our children, we want them to grow up happy and healthy, doing what they love and be a contributing citizen to society - I am very proud of Thad! I feel a connection to my mom that has been a long time coming and I feel a supreme sense of happiness just to hear my sister and my brother's voice, wow, I am feeling really lucky about now!
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Girls Nite Out - November 7, 2011
I don't blog a lot, can't say I really even enjoy it, however, it has been a nice place for me to jot down special times and since I got to spend a couple of hours with 3 of my favorite girls last night I thought I'd take the time to write about those two 'special' hours.
When the year started we committed to meeting once per month - didn't seem like much - not a huge committment - but life does have a way of getting in the way and unless you push life aside for a moment and take time for those 'special' moments, well, lets just say life can pass you by in a hurry. After a rough start, a busy summer and iffy fall we are back on track :)
Destination: Chili's in Richmond
This is where the fun begins for the three or four of us. For me the fun begins the minute my mom pulls into my driveway, I get her for about 1/2 hour all to myself on the drive to Richmond - I cherish our alone time, just that small 1/2 hour gives us a chance to catch up and refuel.
Anyhow, for three adults who love to eat, eating becomes the last thing on our minds--we are always so excited to share our crafts and we're even more excited to see what the others have brought - I said last night it's like Christmas every month!
Mom brought a scrumptious Pineapple Angel Food Cake, it was a big hit, an even bigger hit once my hubs got to try it and my co-workers were equally as anxious to try out the recipe! Mom made Rebecca her very own Christmas pillow case and a cap to keep her warm at night, a night cap that matches her American Doll!
Sis brought us hot chocolate 3 different ways (it was really four but don't tell her I said so). She always does the nicest job packaging things up to look so wonderful and appetizing. Seriously, she could convince you that a paper bag would taste good with all her little labels, ribbons, embellishments and stuff. I truly admire her creativity -- I'm so glad I am the lucky recipient!!!!
Rebecca made us each 4 very adorable blank Thank You cards. She took the time to stamp each one individually with different borders and different fonts, she is her mother's daughter. I hope that by spending time with us, knowing and seeing and experiencing how much we enjoy crafting (in any form) she'll carry on that tradition with her own children some day.
I took the girls interchangable frames. My thought process was simple, mom is scaling back on decorating, sis doesn't have the room to overdo decorating so I thought, a simple frame that holds three nails would be perfect to display little bits of each holiday. I provided them with two backgrounds (one burlap and one muslin) along with ornaments for Fall/Thanksgiving and Christmas. And for my favorite niece, a purse notepad with pen - she seemed to enjoy it!
So here's the yearly run down:
February 2011 - Mom (pot holders), Sis (coconut cloud cream), Me (magnetic book marks & matchbook notepads)
March 2011 - Mom (Mini loaves of poppy seed bread), Sis (Glimmermist), Me (fruit salsa & homeade cinnamon chips)
April 2011 - Mom (covered hangers), Sis (repurposed pillow cases into bags), Me (flower vase magnet made with water vials)
October 2011 - Mom (homeade gift tags), Sis (welcome sign), Me (homeade christmas ornaments)
November 2011 - Mom (pineapple angel food cake for bigs, pillow case and cap for little), Sis (hot chocolate 3 ways), Me (interchangeable frames for bigs, notepad purse for little), Rebecca (thank you cards)
When the year started we committed to meeting once per month - didn't seem like much - not a huge committment - but life does have a way of getting in the way and unless you push life aside for a moment and take time for those 'special' moments, well, lets just say life can pass you by in a hurry. After a rough start, a busy summer and iffy fall we are back on track :)
Destination: Chili's in Richmond
This is where the fun begins for the three or four of us. For me the fun begins the minute my mom pulls into my driveway, I get her for about 1/2 hour all to myself on the drive to Richmond - I cherish our alone time, just that small 1/2 hour gives us a chance to catch up and refuel.
Anyhow, for three adults who love to eat, eating becomes the last thing on our minds--we are always so excited to share our crafts and we're even more excited to see what the others have brought - I said last night it's like Christmas every month!
Mom brought a scrumptious Pineapple Angel Food Cake, it was a big hit, an even bigger hit once my hubs got to try it and my co-workers were equally as anxious to try out the recipe! Mom made Rebecca her very own Christmas pillow case and a cap to keep her warm at night, a night cap that matches her American Doll!
Sis brought us hot chocolate 3 different ways (it was really four but don't tell her I said so). She always does the nicest job packaging things up to look so wonderful and appetizing. Seriously, she could convince you that a paper bag would taste good with all her little labels, ribbons, embellishments and stuff. I truly admire her creativity -- I'm so glad I am the lucky recipient!!!!
Rebecca made us each 4 very adorable blank Thank You cards. She took the time to stamp each one individually with different borders and different fonts, she is her mother's daughter. I hope that by spending time with us, knowing and seeing and experiencing how much we enjoy crafting (in any form) she'll carry on that tradition with her own children some day.
I took the girls interchangable frames. My thought process was simple, mom is scaling back on decorating, sis doesn't have the room to overdo decorating so I thought, a simple frame that holds three nails would be perfect to display little bits of each holiday. I provided them with two backgrounds (one burlap and one muslin) along with ornaments for Fall/Thanksgiving and Christmas. And for my favorite niece, a purse notepad with pen - she seemed to enjoy it!
So here's the yearly run down:
February 2011 - Mom (pot holders), Sis (coconut cloud cream), Me (magnetic book marks & matchbook notepads)
March 2011 - Mom (Mini loaves of poppy seed bread), Sis (Glimmermist), Me (fruit salsa & homeade cinnamon chips)
April 2011 - Mom (covered hangers), Sis (repurposed pillow cases into bags), Me (flower vase magnet made with water vials)
October 2011 - Mom (homeade gift tags), Sis (welcome sign), Me (homeade christmas ornaments)
November 2011 - Mom (pineapple angel food cake for bigs, pillow case and cap for little), Sis (hot chocolate 3 ways), Me (interchangeable frames for bigs, notepad purse for little), Rebecca (thank you cards)
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Rebecca
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| Uncle Steve & Rebecca looking at albums |
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| Busy crafting.... |
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| Making mini-strawberry tarts |
What to do with your niece, an 8 year old girl?????? I guess you shop, you shop some more, then you shop until you drop, THEN you eat (Fazolis, yum) got to keep up your strength, you swim, you look thru 8 years of picture albums, you craft by making your new third grade teacher a gift, then you craft some more by making your cousin a birthday gift, then you eat Mexican for dinner, then you get ready for bed (brush teeth, bath), then you sleep, OH SLEEP, what a welcome retreat UNTIL morning, then its breakfast time, then you craft some more by making your momma a recipe holder and yourself a popsicle stick bracelet, then you watch a few cartoons, then you eat at Pizza Hut for lunch and then you swim some more and then you make mini strawberry tarts, then you enjoy those tarts.........then it's time to pack your bags to go home..........then it's quiet again........then you miss all that hustle and bustle.......then you enjoy the pics you took as a reminder of those two days, a total of 36 hours, then you wish for the next time......we had so much fun! Thank you Rebecca for a fun-filled weekend!
Monday, May 2, 2011
All Things Homeade
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| Repurposed Pillow Case |
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| Drawing by Rebecca |
Nothing better than spending time with three of my favorite gals! Love You!!!!
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| Repurposed Hangers |
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