Connor's 2nd Birthday Party

Right after we got back from our trip to Mexico it was our only grandchild Connor's 2nd birthday. We helped our son and daughter in law throw a large party at the park for him. We held it under a canopy and was able to hang decorations and streamers from the ceiling along with decorating the tables. He had a Sponge Bob themed party as Sponge Bob is one of his favorite characters right now. There was BBQ hot dogs and hamburgers, chips and dips, a couple of different kinds of salads, fresh fruit, soda, water and of course cake, cupcakes and ice cream.



I think there was about 60 or more people that made it that day to the party. In addition to the playground to play on there was of course several other games for the kids to play. They had a pinata with lots of candy in it and then there was treat bags for the kids also.




They kids really enjoyed playing in the little pools full of bubbles. There was wands and other things to use for the bubbles but a few of the littler kids, including Connor, had more fun playing in the pool of bubbles then out of the pool using the bubbles.



Of course there was presents galore! I think little Connor got a whole new wardrobe and many many new toys for him to play with. He got a little tricycle that came with a little storage compartment on the back from his Grammy and Gramps. He couldn't quite pedal it at first but he climbed right up on it and wanted to stay there for a long while. He also got a child's size lawnmower and a shopping cart filled with fruits, vegetables and other products. He also got a big wheel vehicle which when his daddy was a little boy it was one of his favorite things to play with.



The best part of the party was seeing him interact with his little and big cousins and all of the other kids. In addition to David and I, his other grandparents were there too along with 1 great grandpa and 2 great grandmas. Many of his aunts and uncles and other family members were able to attend that day too. There was quite a few of friends of the family in attendance also.



The weather was very nice that day and his party was just perfect. I can't hardly believe he's 2 already!

Where Has The Summer Gone?

I can't believe that summer is over! Where did it go? It seems like this year in particular summer just flew by us. As a child I thought summer didn't last nearly long enough and now as I get older I seem to be having the same feeling about it not lasting long enough.

I thought I'd make a few posts and include a few pictures of what I did over this summer to refresh my memory. That way I can see just exactly what I was able to do over these past few months of summer.

I went to Mazatlan Mexico with my husband for the first week of June. We try to go there every year as we just love vacationing there. The resort that we usually stay at is so nice and relaxing. The people that work there are very accommodating to your every need.

They have some of the most beautiful sunsets that I've ever seen. Each night we would watch it dip into the ocean either from our balcony or from the waterfront restaurant that was just a few steps away.

We spent a lot of time just relaxing by the pool and working on our tans and taking siestas in their hammocks. Nothing taste as good as some delicious nachos and a cold margarita when your just laying around the pool working on that tan!

We did manage to do a little sightseeing though. We went to the downtown historic part of the town on a trolley tour. We saw the cliff divers, the old cathedral and the market place. We toured a jewelry store that does their work on-site. They specialize in diamonds and Mexican fire opals. We also did a little shopping downtown and then went to the newer area of town where most of the clubs and restaurants are. I managed to do a little shopping there also.

You can take me out of the country or anywhere for that matter and I will still be able to find someplace to do one of my favorite activities which is shopping! My friends tell me I'm one of the best shoppers they know. I'm like the Energizer bunny when it comes to shopping. I can go and go and go the distance and last a really long time when shopping is involved!

The Little Things That Light You Up

My daughter just did a post with this title and I thought WOW!! she's really on to something! I thought it was such a great topic I'd follow her lead and do my own version of it and include some of the things she also hit on.

It is so true how the older you get the more the simple things bring joy to your life. Going out to fancy restaurants and expensive places seem to lose their appeal after awhile. You kind of can get tired of having to dress up and make sure your makeup and hair is perfect and all of that kind of stuff. I kind of enjoy a pizza and a movie at home now more than I do going out to the fancy restaurants.

Why do people think that you have to keep up with the Jones every time they replace their new luxury car? A car is just an object that makes getting from point A to point B a little easier and faster. We can't forget all of the little must-have gadgets and appliances. I know I'm guilty of that one as I always think "I need that" every time I'm at the quilt store and I see some new quilting tool or toy.

Let's not forget the guys out there that have to have the newest most up-to-date software programs, flat screen televisions that are even skinnier and bigger than the last one they got, faster computers every time there is an update out and of course all of those tools that they think they have to have to complete even the simplest projects.

All of these things seem to fade from memory quickly with little lasting benefit when you really stop and think about it.

Whether it’s enjoying a cold drink on your patio watching the sunset, a backyard barbeque with family and friends, watching a movie with your honey, enjoying a bowl of ice cream with your grandchildren, catching up with your girlfriend over some coffee, driving through the country looking at the sights or feeding bread to the ducks at the pond. We all just need to think back on the moments that make us smile and realize that we really don’t need all that other stuff. It's just stuff and not the type of thing that memories are made of.

My daughter pointed out that you have 24 hours in a day. Even if you spend 8 of them sleeping and 8 of them working, you’ve still got another 8 left to spare. Find the little things that bring a smile to your face and get out there and do at least one of them daily. If you can’t find the time to do them then it’s time to reorganize your priorities and get your life back on a healthy track. Figure out what’s important to you and cut out all that other stuff.

If we all can’t do the things that make us happy in the life we live, then it’s time to figure out what we need to do in order to make sure we can do these things.

Nothing is worth letting life’s best moments pass you by!

Some Beautiful Flowers

Don't you just love these beautiful Peonies? They are so beautiful. I just love them! It doesn't matter if they are still kind of closed up or when they are all the way open. They are just so gorgeous. I think these are one of my favorite flowers and of course I love the color. They have quite a few shades of pink in them if you look closely.

Flirty Apron Swap

I recently participated in another Flirty Apron Swap. The theme this time was Cupcakes and/or Mary Engelbreit. I know I said I wasn't going to do another apron swap because I already own a zillion but I couldn't help myself! I love aprons and I loved that the theme was cupcakes so I went ahead and signed up again.

Being the procrastinator that I am I waited until the day before the apron had to be made to start it. I work well under pressure! I had already purchased the cupcake fabric that I was going to use but I of course changed my mind as to what type of an apron I was going to make and at the last minute had to run to JoAnn's before they closed to get enough fabric to finish the project and make a ruffle. I always like my aprons to have a ruffle and extra long ties so that if you want you can wrap the ties and tie it into a nice bow in the front. I had already picked up the little extras that I was to include as a gift in addition to the apron so that wasn't a problem.



I decided at the last minute to add the little pink pom-pom trim to the top of the apron and again on the top of the pocket. I thought it just added a little extra to the look of the apron.



Here is all of the goodies I included with my package. I of course had to send one of my all time favorite apron patterns as part of the gift. I included a roll of Mary Englebrite ribbon, some colorful candy or muffin liners, a magnetic note holder that I made and a few other little things.



Here is me modeling the apron. I fell in love with the cute cupcake apron and didn't want to give it up. I always do that. I should just know by now and buy enough fabric to make 2 of them because this has happened the last couple of apron swaps.

I Won! I Won!!

I hardly ever win anything and boy was I surprised when I got an email from Suzanne AT Home With The Farmer's Wife that I won a Valentine's Day contest at her blog. There was a choice of three different Heart Shaped Keychains to choose from. I really don't care which one I get as they are all nice. I was just surprised that I won.

It was just a nice little pick me up to help get me out of my current "funk". I absolutely hate recovering from surgery! It absolutely drives me crazy that I can't go where I want to, and do what I want to, when I want to. I know part of that is just me wanting to be fully in charge of my life in all aspects. It's hard to sit back and wait and recover. I guess Patience is something I am still working on and haven't quite mastered.

I'm sure in a month or too I will look back and say wow I wish I could just get away with sitting on the couch in my p.j.'s and not having to do much of anything again and that I need a break. It's funny that we always want something that we don't have.

To Blog Or Not to Blog...That is the Question

I really do love that I have this silly little blog of mine that maybe 1 other person reads on a regular basis though (Thanks Debbie). I do get a little thrill though when someone decides to take the time to read my blog and leave me a comment. Especially when it is someone new and somehow they have stumbled upon my blog. With that comes some pressure and responsibility though.

I feel like I need to blog about interesting things. Things that I can write about and that people will enjoy. But, lately. Lately. Lately life has been a real snooze fest. Too cold to go out. Too wet to go out. Too sick to go out. And when I do get out..I go to the grocery store or to the Dollar store or to the fabric store. Sometimes I might even actually make it to all 3 stores in one day. Whoo. Hooo. I'm living on the edge. Very little excitement in my life as of late.

My posts lately have been boring. Boring. Boring. Boring. zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. I'm sorry. I'm here and I'm awake. I'll try harder to not be so boring I promise you.