Easter and a New Car

I had a wonderful Easter.  Went to church in the morning and came home and began to get ready for our Sunday Easter Supper.  Everyone was here, so we had a big crowd.  We still ended up with way too much food.  My dad's sisters always had plenty of food at get-togethers so as not to run out.  I'm the same way.  I have a fear of running out.  So then you're left with a ton of leftovers.  

Just look at this sweet little thing asleep in his car seat.  This was his first Easter and he had three days worth of cute Easter outfits.  This was Saturday's.

I don't know why I did this, but I just had this strange idea to make a coconut cake.  When I had been thumbing through my recipe book the other day, I came across the Rich's Bakeshop Coconut Cake.  It's made completely from scratch and boy, is it a doozy to make.  But nonetheless, I made it.  It wasn't the prettiest cake I've ever seen, but it was homemade.  I thought it looked pretty with my flowers on my kitchen table.  

When Cam and Alicia bought their house, the person that lived there before them left a few boxes.  In one of the boxes were several Little Golden Books that were very, very old.  I love old books, so I was happy to take them. And then low and behold, two of them were Easter-type books.  I liked them displayed on my table.  They were perfect.

On Saturday morning, when I was doing my grocery shopping to prepare the food for Sunday night, I decided that I wanted lots of fresh flowers displayed here and there.  I bought several different bouquets.  I LOVE FRESH FLOWERS!  

 Sunday morning, Jeff and I went to church.  He usually takes his mom to lunch on Sunday afternoons.  It's kind of his thing that he does for every week.  They usually go to Picadilly.  This week, though, P-Nut and Sherry brought food to Jean.  So Jeff was able to go to church with me.  I do love it when he wears a suit.  I was proud to have such a handsome hubby beside me at church.

Crystal and her family also came to church.  We had the whole pew filled!

 These two handsome boys that my sister raised!  I'm so dang proud of them and her, too.

Me and my sister.  

Of course, Suz's family went to church in Buford, so I didn't actually get to see them in person.  But she sent me this pictures of them.  Aren't they beautiful?

Suz made this cute cookie cake for dessert.  We had so many desserts to choose from, so she had a lot of it left.  I hope it didn't go to waste.

Nighttime egg hunt was a success as always.  We braved the mud and the wet to hide soo many eggs.  It started to sprinkle just as the last eggs were picked up.  So thankful it didn't rain us out.

Cam, Joseph and Reid won the prize eggs!

Grant in his Easter outfit.  

We got Grant an Easter basket from poppa and me.  He didn't seem too interested in the goodies inside, but one day he will be.

My mom made us this cute little cup of goodies.  I love the Charlie Brown cup.  I have almost a full collection of them now.

So then Monday night, we bought a new car.  It's a brand-new 2016 Ford Explorer and I love it.  Even though we might not NEED a car quite that big, I feel much safer driving it.  And as much driving as I have to do for my job, I want to feel safe.  And I also like having the extra room.  I felt rather cramped at times in the Escape.

Yesterday, Alicia had an eye doctor appointment so I got to sit with Grant while she was gone.  It was one of the most perfect visits I've had with him yet.  I got to play with him for a long time.  He was so happy and smiley and just cooing like crazy.  Then he got cranky and wanted his bottle.  I fed him his bottle, got him burped and then this happened.

He fell in the deepest sleep.  And I snuggled with him and fell asleep, too.  It was heavenly.

He's trying hard to get that hand in his mouth, just can't quite make it yet.  Soon.

That's about all that's going on around here.  The pollen is killing me.  I've had a headache for days.  We're expecting big storms and rain tonight, so hopefully, the rain will wash it all away.  Fingers crossed.

Till next time...

One Busy Week

This week has been crazy.  We are so busy at work.  I have worked almost every day and on Wednesday we were on the record for over eight hours in one of the most boring cases I've ever had.

I'm crazy about sunrise/sunset pictures.  I also love a pretty full moon picture.  This full moon picture below was over my parents' house Tuesday night.

This picture below is the same full moon just about to go down early on Wednesday morning.  I'm so thankful that I was awake to see it.  It was one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen.  It was so peaceful.  I just sat outside and spent some good, quality time with the Lord.  I really enjoyed being up so early in the morning.  Notice you can also see the same star in both pictures.  So amazing to me.

I'm confident that I made it through the long, hard workday on Wednesday because of the time I spent with the Lord earlier that morning.  

I'm getting ready for Easter Sunday.  I've got all my Easter baskets made.  One for each of my boys.  One for each of my girls.  And, of course, one for Grant.  I've got my Honeybaked ham and turkey picked up.  Just got a few groceries to shop for in the morning and I'll be set.  I even have an Easter dress already!  I stepped my game up this year.

Yesterday I started filling some of these eggs for our annual nighttime egg hunt Sunday night.  We'll have supper first and then after it gets nice and dark, we will hide hundreds of eggs and the kids (who aren't really kids anymore) will hunt for them.  I'm glad that my nephews and my niece are patient with me and don't mind entertaining me with egg hunts and gingerbread houses.  Lol.  Besides, I fill some of he eggs with cash.  Who doesn't need that?

 Speaking of Grant (aren't I always), he started trying to find his hands this week.  Alicia said he was trying to get that thumb in his mouth and would get frustrated with himself when he couldn't.  I hope he's not a thumb sucker.  Although it's the cutest thing, it's a super hard habit to break.  I mean, you can't exactly take away their thumb.  I don't think he will be though.  He's not too crazy over his pacifier.  I guess we will see.

I got this picture of him today.  I nearly died when I saw him in those little blue jeans.  I ordered his Onesie off of Etsy.  They have some of the neatest things on there.  If you've never shopped there, I recommend it.  Unique stuff.  Not stuff you see everywhere.

So since it's been such a long week, I'm looking extra forward to our weekly Pedro's chips and salsa.  Headed that way now.  I look forward to sharing my Easter memories on Monday.  Love to anyone who might be taking the time to read this.  I hope you all have a wonderful and blessed Easter weekend.  And always remember, that because He lives, we can face tomorrow.  No matter how daunting that seems at times.  We can face it because He lives.

Till next time...

Recap of a Good Weekend

Every Friday night, Crystal, James, Jeff and I go to the local Mexican restaurant.  They have good chips and salsa and it's a fun place to relax after the long workweek.  This week Cam joined us.  He didn't bring Grant, which was probably pretty relaxing for him.  We ran into some old friends there that we used to go to the beach with every year.  They remember Cam from when he was like four years old.  They would have been so amazed at what a pretty baby he has!  But, boy, I bet it would've made them feel OLD.  Had to stop by Grant's house on the way to eat just to get some good sugar!  None better.

Reid and Ross spent Saturday together.  I guess you could say they were working.  From the look on Ross's face, not too sure about that.  But anyway, it makes me happier than words can say how close our boys are.  The cousins are really more like brothers than cousins.  

Saturday, we were able to go and visit Johnny in Savannah.  He's in Memorial Medical Center recovering from major, major colon surgery.  They were able to remove the tumor, but unfortunately, in doing so, it caused them to have to remove most of his colon, too.  He was doing very good.  He looked so much better than he did the last time we saw him.  He seems to be coming to terms with his situation.  We're so thankful that he's alive.  He's had such a long, hard road.  He's got an incredible memory.  He can remember things -- little, tiny details -- about people and events  It really is fun talking with him.  Can't wait till he can really laugh and enjoy talking about the old memories again.

Before we went to the hospital, we decided to have lunch at Paula Deen's The Lady and Sons in Savannah.  It was St. Patrick's Day weekend, so the streets were still crowded, even though St. Patrick's Day was Thursday.  Crazy.  Que pedestrians everywhere.  I even almost had one as a hood ornament.

Crystal had to work that morning and Ethan also had two baseball games that afternoon, so she didn't make the trip.  But maybe next time.  And after tasting Paula's mashed potatoes, y'all, there will be a next time.

Pretty sweet tea!  Not too sweet; just right!

By the time we had eaten, we were all too full for dessert.  But you can't go to the Lady and Sons and not have dessert.  We had just a taste of each.  The peach cobbler was the hands-down favorite.

This isn't a good picture of us, because it was a glare and we were using the Selfie Stick, but I want it for my memory.  

I'm a huge fan of sunrises and sunsets.  This was the beautiful sunset from the 4th floor of the hospital.  Gorgeous!

Suz spent Saturday night down here because it was so late when we got back home.  We stayed in Savannah until around 7 o'clock.  

She didn't have any of her things, so we didn't make it to church.  But we had lunch with Crystal and James and then we baked and baked and baked cookies.

We were running low on frosting, so she frosted hers since she had to go home.  I've got to frost mine tonight.  Look how pretty hers are!  Crystal rolled and cut the shapes out.  Suz and I manned the oven, made the frosting and just kept things cleaned as we went along.  Sisters make a great team.

 And just because I could never leave this sweet picture out of my memory blog, here's our sweet Grant today.

The cold snap has let him be able to wear a few of his cold weather things that he didn't get to wear too much.  This little sweater suit was one of my very favorites!

Gotta get to frosting!  Till next time...

Sometimes You Gotta Pig Out

For some strange reason, I've been craving Golden Coral.  I know, crazy, huh?  Who craves that?  I guess when It's been a while since I've had any "home cooked" food, I start craving it.  But it's not really like Golden Coral is home cooked food, but you know what I mean.  

So yesterday, all by myself, I went to Golden Coral.  And I must say, it was wonderful.  Where else can you go and eat fried chicken, meatloaf, fried shrimp, rice and gravy, sweet potatoes, coconut pie and bread pudding?  The only problem was that after all that food, I wanted to come home and take a nap.  So that's what I did.

 I don't know if it's the pollen or the time change, but something's got my motivation in the toilet.  I have no energy and no desire to do anything productive.  All I want to do is be with Grant or be in Buford having fun with Suz.  I have soo much work to do and absolutely no desire to do any of it.  Do ya ever feel like that?  But then I tell myself the old saying, time enjoyed wasting is not wasted time.

And besides, when this little guy lives 10 minutes from me, how am I supposed to think of anything else???

 Last night we went over and sat with him for a couple of hours while the kids went to eat.  I tell ya, there's nothing in this world like this boy to me.  I mean NOTHING!  And when I see Jeff with him, it reminds me how sweet and good he was with our boys and it takes my heart and turns it into a big ol' pile of mush!

 Just look at that!

Jeff's mom and her sisters and brother went out for lunch yesterday to celebrate Sonny's 71st birthday.  They have incredible genes and are so blessed to still be together.  The oldest sister is 91.
Bless them.  I remember when I first met Jeff, and for years later, Jean and her sisters could run circles around me.  There was nothing that one or the other of them couldn't do.  Need a seamstress?  Got one.  Need a cake?  Got one.  They cooked for their families every single Sunday and their families were HUGE.  And shop?  Honey, they could out shop even me!  And that's saying a lot.  They don't do any of that now, but they still get together to celebrate each other's birthday.

Well, I know this is thrilling reading material, but it's my life right now.  Been running my wheels off working and listening to people's complaints of injuries from car wrecks.  Looking forward to a little down time in a couple of weeks.

Till next time...

The Little Garden That Was

Jeff has always planted a garden.  He has worked very, very hard in his garden and it was always beautiful.  He planted more than a dozen tomato plants, a few cucumbers and peppers.  It was a happy, beautiful garden in the early summer days.

But then the hot sunshine would come.  And then the weeds would follow.  And the horn worms would come.  And the cucumbers would grow into the fencing, that was necessary because of the deer that would come.  And then the crops would come.  And come.  And come.  And come.  We would get tomatoes -- way more tomatoes than we could eat -- (especially since Jeff doesn't eat tomatoes).  Sure, we could give them away, which we did.  It seems, though, everyone nowadays has a garden of their own and really don't need tomatoes from someone else's garden. 

So ever since last summer, through the fall and the winter, Jeff has been removing his garden.  Deleting it.  It looks like it never existed.

He's worked so hard removing the blocks, the fencing and trying to level the ground back out.  Bless him.  He's planning to plant a few in just buckets or something, so this summer I may be the one looking for a few good, homegrown tomatoes!  But at least Jeff won't be working his fingers to the bone in the garden.  At least a vegetable one.  I'm hankering for a flower garden.  But he's got so many projects going on right now, I have a feeling my flower garden may have to wait.  

Overnight the stinky Bradford pear trees started blooming.  We've had these trees before.  I personally don't care for them.  They don't smell good and they grow ginormous and then split right down the middle.  No bueno.

But our tea olive tree, on the other hand, is welcome to bloom anytime it chooses.  The blooms smell heavenly and will forever and always remind me of PaPa Kimball.  The reason is that the very first time I smelled their sweet blooms, he was in hospice in Savannah.  The next year we planted two.  They've grown so much and we need to learn how to properly prune and shape them.  

The record warm temperatures are bringing everything into bloom early.  The pool is already filling up with the little whirlygigs off the trees that blow in the wind.

 Ahh, welcome springtime and all the sneezes and itchy eyes and yardwork.  It's not my favorite season, but it's darned near close.  Means sweet summertime is right around the corner.

Till next time...

When Things Don't Go As Planned

Last night was the season finale of the Bachelor.  It was definitely my favorite season of the show.  I really liked Bachelor Ben and was so happy with the choice he made.  I hope they stay together.  

So Suz and Nayna have these season finale Bachelor parties.  Well, I say party.  It's really just the two of them, but, hey, they make a party.  Suz makes all this fun party food and punch and they eat and watch the Bachelor.  Last night I had planned to make the trip to join the party.  Ran into a few snags with work, which would've thrown me into driving up there in rushhour traffic.  Just couldn't do it.  Turns out it was a blessing that I didn't go because the show lasted THREE hours!  I would've been soo late driving home.  But I was sad the whole night that I was going to miss the party.  Suz sent me a couple of pictures so that I wouldn't feel too left out.

Snicker dip with apples.  

How good does this pizza bread look?

But instead of eating the yummy food and watching the Bachelor with my two of my faves, this is how I watched it.  But at least I didn't have to drive home at midnight.  :-(

Since I didn't get to go to Buford, I did make a trip to Kelleytown to visit this little lump o' sugar!  I stayed a couple of hours.  Alicia is so sweet to put up with her mother in law stopping by and staying for hours!  I'm so thankful for that.  

I took him outside and showed him his backyard.  Put his little feet in the grass and showed him a squirrel (he was unimpressed), but enjoyed being outside.  Then I went inside and we watched his mommy clean his closet out.  That little thing has grown like crazy.  I wouldn't have believed it if I had not seen with my own eyes how many of his clothes don't fit anymore!  

 He mostly favors Alicia to me, but lately, he's looking a little more like baby Cameron.  What do you think?  He sleeps a lot of times with the most serious look on his face.  Cam made the same expression when he was a sleeping baby.  I think that babies are one of God's greatest gifts!  

So by the time I got home from my visit with Grant, Cam and Alicia, this was the beautiful sunset and sky.  Breathtaking.  Another one of God's gifts.

 And so at the end of the day, even though it didn't go exactly as I had planned, I felt very, very lucky and BLESSED.

Till next time...