Here's a priceless

picture taken Sunday evening.

We had a family party celebrating the birthday of my granddaughter, Lucienne (who turned 3), and my brother, Gary (who turned 74).  They share the same August 29th birthday, with 71 years in between.   This picture is a very poignant reminder to me of the cycles of life.

Here are pictures from the party and from the last week with Tiffany and the kids.

 

 

 

 

 

No Words Needed . . .

It's hard to believe

we have a 36 year old daughter. 

It seems like yesterday that we were that age. 

Tiffany put together this cute folding scrapbook of pictures 

of her and Misty together from 1977 to 1983.

 

In honor of Misty's birthday, I took pictures of all the pictures.  (You may notice that Natalie is not in them, but don't feel like she was neglected, she just wasn't born yet)

 We love you, Misty!!!

PS -- here's a full view of what Tiffany is wearing when she's holding the photo album.  I picked it up at the swap.  It is an authentic "Swirl" brand that's got to be from the late sixties, early 70's.  It looks like one of my old outfits. 



I'm trying to capture a few

of our activities, but we are so busy doing our activities, that I don't have time to take pictures or blog about them.    Here are a few, though:

 Resurrecting the "slip and slide"

 (Giant slug found under the "slip and slide")

 S'mores in the fire pit.

 School Shopping

 Eating

 Baking giant donut cake.

 Waiting to devour it.

I heard some very interesting things today

on my lunch date with Lucienne.


 

 "Me does not like that girl"

"Me does like this girl."  (Smurf)

 "But me does not like that girl."

The truth of her feelings became even more apparent to me

when she didn't even play on the toys because "she" was sitting there. 

I also learned something else when we went to JoAnnes Craft store.  Lucienne told me, not very quietly or confidentially, that they have this, and this, and this, and this, and basically everything in the store at home.   This is quite startling news to me.  I always thought Tiffany was quite frugal.  After listening to Luci, I'm a little concerned that she may have become a compulsive shopper.  

We have been doing

lots of fun things, like going to Trafalga and Seven Peaks. 

But one of my favorite activities is this one:

 

Making paper dolls, with my cricut machine, for these excited little girls.
  

Sometimes they dictate to me exactly what they want. 

Other times they want me to surprise them

and we play a guessing game about what it might be.

I wish I could "bottle" that kind of excitement.

 

I can (and have) spent hours sitting back in my little cubby hole, enjoying every minute of it. Not only because it makes them so excited and happy, but also because I agree with the saying that goes something like "Grandma's are little girls at heart."   Who wouldn't like creating and dressing paper dolls?   Especially when you have such enthusiastic playmates.

Last Tuesday

I was just getting ready to post this "waiting" pictures,

when the Idiart family came running in from their long ride from Oregon.

Here are just a few pictures taken since then.