Meet Our New Grand-dog

Meet Thunder, I mean Flash, I mean...

Well, he'll have a name soon!

Duke meeting the newest member of the family 

Now it's Rascal's turn

This cute little (and I mean LITTLE) guy is joining Katie, Gabe, Sunny, Thunder, and Buster as the newest member of their family. Isn't he adorable? He's eight weeks old and only weights two pounds. 

Buster: "But I didn't ASK for a little brother..."

The kids are so excited to have a new puppy!

Student of the Month, Cousins, Birthday, Siblings - Goodbye August!

August ended on a high note! Sunny was picked as Student of the Month for her Kindergarten class. Yippee! I was able to go to the assembly to watch her get her award. Well, I went to the assembly, that's true; but I did not see her get her award. She was afraid of the school mascots and was off in a corner! I got a picture of her when they dropped me off at home! Way to go Sunny, we're so proud of you!

On Sunday, Jessica, Adam, and Storm and Zach and Skye came over to celebrate Dan's 59th birthday. In addition to a delicious lunch, we got in some swimming time. Skye is a little fish and loves to swim. Storm was very calm for his first time in the pool. I got some great photos of the cousins. Dan is absolutely thrilled with his gift which is a ride in a race car with a professional driver. He has two years to use the coupon and you can bet I'll go along to get photos when he goes for his ride!

The birthday guy with his cookie "cake"

Storm practicing his sitting

Skye enjoying her cousin

Storm wasn't sure when Jess first dipped him in the pool.

Skye is standing by to help!

Handing off to Gramps - relaxed baby

Storm's first swim with Gramps

Isn't this a sweet Daddy/Daughter photo?

Tio Zach ferrying Storm across the water

More cousins cuddles

Skye helped to blow out the candles

Every photo had Skye's tongue sticking out - oh well!

Playing with Duke

Grandkids - the joy of my life!

Jessica, Dan, Zachary 

My oldest and my youngest

Skye wanted to play ring around the rosie, which we all did as soon as the picture taking was over!

Family

Sunny and Thunder spent the weekend with us over the 4th of July. We watched a fireworks show on Friday night, had donuts for breakfast on Saturday morning, and had some special guests on Saturday afternoon. We had invited my folks over for dinner and swimming on Saturday, and Zach and Skye were able to come also. It is so much fun for me to watch the cousins together! I was having so much fun that I only took two photos...

Thunder, Sunny, Skye 

Huggin' Cousins

Duke was so exhausted on Sunday, he grabbed a nap in the guest room

Yesterday when the kids were over, I was rocking Sunny in the rocking chair and she told me that when she's 10, she'll be too big for me to hold. I told her that Grammy's can always hold their grandchildren - no matter how big they get. She was very skeptical, but accepted that. Then I told her that Mommy's can always hold their kids no matter how big they get. She did not believe that at all. But I told her it's true and that I can still hold each one of my kids (including her mommy) on my lap.

When Katie arrived to pick them up, Sunny told her what I said and then added that she wanted to see Mommy sit on my lap. Off we headed to the family room where Katie plopped down in my lap. For extra measure, Sunny and Thunder piled on too, so I had Dan take a picture. Now Sunny believes... however I do think that the next time Tio JD and Tio Zach come over, she's gonna want them to sit on my lap too! 

Thunder on Sunny

Sunny on Katie

Katie on me!

Granddaughter, Pinterest, Pets

We went down to Mesa to see Zach, Ashley and Skye this weekend. Of course I have pictures. Skye is going to be two years old in March. She is talking quite a bit. She is a champion climber. She's a sweetie.

Jessica had a day off yesterday for Veteran's Day. We decided to hang out. We began with a movie in the morning while cross-stitching. Next up, Paradise Cafe for lunch - yummy! We came home and made a craft we had both pinned. As you can see, it's the same craft with very different results. Hers is to be the wreath on her door. Mine is to be the backdrop for other decor. We had a blast!

Duke and Summer were laying together in the sun. Until I got the camera!

Distinguished

I glanced down at Duke this morning and did a double-take when I saw he had grown a white mustache over night!

Happy Birthday... to Me!

Today is my 56th birthday! I love birthdays. I enjoy celebrating the fact that I've made it through another year (relatively unscathed!). Usually my birthday celebrations consist of dinners out with the kids or my folks or Dan. But this year I wanted to celebrate in a different way. So I'm throwing myself a birthday party.

Tomorrow I will be joining 11 of my closest friends and family for a girls only birthday luncheon. We're going to The Spicery in downtown Glendale. It is located in an 1895 house, and is filled with lace, flowers, antiques, and vintage decor. I'm so excited! I will be sure to post photos tomorrow.

In the meantime, I'm looking forward to a birthday breakfast this morning. A birthday lunch with Jessica and Adam. A birthday dinner tonight. And a day filled with x-stitching! For me, it's the perfect way to ease into my 57th year...

The birthday girl with Duke

I'm Still Around...

Gee whiz. Just noticed I haven't posted for two weeks. I've been so busy with grandkids, appraisal work, cross-stitching, Pinterest crafts, and planning my birthday party that I just haven't taken the time to blog.

I created a new board on my Pinterest account. It's called "Look What I Did" and I'm going to post the projects that I try on there. I don't want to just pin things... I want to do things! This past weekend I worked on a Pinterest project and as soon as I can get a photo I'll share it.

On Saturday, Katie and I took Sunny to a dance studio for a trial session. Although she was too shy to participate much, she does want to dance. So this fall she'll be starting a weekly dance class. I can't wait for the recital in the spring!

Thunder chatters away in a language all his own. He has a great throwing arm and is even starting to catch the ball occasionally. He crawls in hyper-speed, but still won't let go and walk.

Rascal has had a "hot spot" on his front right leg for over three years. It used to come and go, only showing up every few months. I did take him to a vet to have it checked out a couple of years ago and they pretty much said they didn't know what it was (really?!). We took him to our family vet a year ago and he recommended a home remedy. It has steadily gotten worse so now we have to have surgery. He will be immobilized for over a month after the surgery. I'm apprehensive about him getting around. He's too heavy for me to lift and carry very much. I'm sure he'll figure out how to adjust. I sure hope so!

Here's a few random photos from the past two weeks.

Sunny and her best buddy Rascal

Thunder and his best buddy Gramps

Rascal after a day with the kids

Summer after a day with the kids

Duke after a day with the kids... do you see a pattern here?!

It Was Fun, But I'm Worn Out!

Sunny and Thunder spent the weekend with us. They came early Friday morning and left late this afternoon. I love having them over. But, I am worn out when they leave. It seems like we go, go, go while they're here. Playing in the living room. Playing in the office. Playing in the playroom. Playing in the dining room. Even in the kitchen!

Fortunately, yesterday Zach, Ashley, and Skye came over. So did Jessica and Adam. Then last night my folks came for dinner. Late this afternoon Jessica came over again for the last hour or so. That really helps. It gives the kids an opportunity to play with someone other than just Grammy and Gramps. It also winds them up even more. But hey, everything has a pay-off!

Here's some more pictures from our fun weekend...

Grammy, Sunny, Duke

Tryin' on Gramps' hat

Helping Papa build the train track

Playing puzzles with Gigi

Gramps and Thunder

Waiting for Papi to pick her up!

Beautiful boy!