Can't get enough of Little Girlies, lately

All sugar and spice and everything nice.

Drama queens!

All complex little creatures, and all pretty at that.

I looked at baby Audri this evening and with her hair coming in, her cute little dress and her little legs losing all their baby fat, I realized she doesn't look like a baby anymore!


Morghan Grace, at 10, looking toward her teen years and wanting to be all grown up.

Gabrielle and Madeline, right behind . . . and double trouble!

. . . Isabella! Hellllloohooooo! Youuuuhooooo!

can't wait to meet you, Baby Bella!

'Nuf Said

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: A peanut gallery is an audience that heckles the performer. The term originated in the days of vaudeville as a nickname for the cheapest (and ostensibly rowdiest) seats in the theater; the cheapest snack served at the theater would often be peanuts, which the patrons would sometimes throw at the performers on stage to show their disapproval. The phrases "no comments from the peanut gallery" or "quiet in the peanut gallery" are extensions of the name.

March Madness

In Iowa, March Madness means State Basketball Championships. Do you all remember the years when, between State championship games, guys in tuxedoes used push brooms to sweep the gym floor at "The Barn", walking in time to music?



This photo was taken this past March. There are push brooms involved. But "oh". Hey, we aren't in the Barn. But it is still cute and it was still fun.

Mother's Day Tree

You've probably heard the expression "Mother's Day Tea", in fact I think the nursing home had one for Granny this year. In the case in this photo, it is Mother's Day Tree -- and we all enjoyed helping with it. Erica, you are going to enjoy this pretty thing for years to come!

Even after you don't live here anymore, you will still enjoy it! You'll know when to drive by each spring to see it in bloom.

I take Granny by "the Green house" in Afton where she and Gramps planted a Magnolia tree and a half a block of lilacs. After 40 years, Granny and I still enjoy "her" trees!

PS: I didn't know Dana looked so much like his uncle Bubba!

Garden Stage

Our little Cottage Garden has something new to look at every day. The Bleeding Hearts opened the show. The old fashioned columbine grew to 4 feet this spring with big ol' pretty blossoms and the Flax are blooming. The Fire Witch Dianthus are in a suppoting role and the fancy blue geranium will debut this Spring. Lilies, roses, Blazing Stars and many others, are waiting in the wings for their chance to star.

Every day, I give a standing ovation! Bravo! Encore!

Collection

Someday I will make a collection of photos of these two hugging. I will make a collection and enter them in the State Fair or some photographic website. I bet I would win.

Gabrielle and Madeline are professional huggers! They should get paid for this! No one can hug better.

These two little huggers are related! They are kin.

PS: Look at Erica and Dana's pretty front flower bed!

"Hi,Jack", Audri's kisses

Jack is a big baby only because he is in (on) the baby swing. And because he is fake crying!

Nana likes kisses from her grandbabies. Even Jack and Joey will give their Nana a kiss once in a while and that is the way it should be. But to kiss a shed? to kiss the garden shed? Don't know and won't ask.

Babies and little children's minds are more complex than I can figure out.

Why does Jack tease his Nana?

Why did Audri kiss the garden shed?

I do not know.

Where did she go?

These children enjoy a good time. They are all active and athletic. They push the limits!

And I can't look away, even for a second -- I "lost" Gabrielle!

Mother's Day

And there is Erica's new Crabapple Tree, behind us all. Isn't it pretty? And are there not there six other pretty things in these pictures?

Top: Jack, Audri and Joey

Bottom: Gabby, Mimi, Audri and Maddie

Hush my darling, the Lion sleeps tonight

Maddie Mae is turning into a little dancer . . . this is rehearsal. How fun!

Rookies

We were rookies when it came to riding the El, the subway. The El is sometimes "elevated" above the city and sometimes runs below street level, in the bowels of the earth. I like it better when it is the "El" and not the subway. Things have changed in the 20 years that Himself and I last rode the El so we had to learn everything again. We finally got it and rode to Wrigleyville where we had a mighty fine sandwich with some mighty loud music while folks strolled by and stuck their heads in the window for just about any reason. One, to ask for a handout. Another, to pose for a picture and ask for a handout. We decided we didn't mind it so much if someone EARNED the handout but didn't care for it AT ALL when they just asked for money.

He earned his tip

Here come the train! Here come the train!

(PS: wish I would learn NOT to turn the camera on the videos!)

I love skyscrapers!

Fun time in Chi town

More later . . . but we had a good time in Chicago. The Wrigley building is behind K & T -- I think that was the Wrigley. A beautiful and ornate building. Wrigley produced the chewing gum.

We got kicked out of the lobby. Three of us, got kicked out (sort of) for taking photos. The 4th wouldn't go in. Better to have tried and failed, then not to have tried at all . . .