How to Entertain a 2-year-old!

Not just any 2-year-old, but one whose world has been rocked by a newborn sister!  After several attempts of trying to distract her from wanting to hold, stroke, carry and nurse the baby; we gave her the camera.  (It's a good thing the camera isn't expensive.) 

Here are a few of her pictures from the photo shoot for your viewing pleasure.

Just need to monitor what she's taking pictures of!

On another note, a big Happy Birthday to Mr. Cy!  He's 5 today!  He loves his baby sister and is a big helper.  Notice Kels still thinks she needs to take over!

  After spending the night, "sleeping" in the baby's room, I'm a bit sleep-deprived but happy to be a grandma!  Have a wonderful day!

60 Years and Counting!

Here are my parents 60 years ago! 

This is my family 50 years ago!

(I'm on the left)

We celebrated their 60 year anniversary with their immediate family of 51!  What an example they are to all of us!

 

Congratulations Mom and Dad!  We love you! 

Welcome Baby Alyson!

Born March 9th at 11:40 p.m. 7 lbs 8 oz.

We're glad she's here!

Waiting...

24 hours of pitocin labor at the hospital and only dilated to a 3.  We wait.  Frustration mounts by each probing exam that reveals nothing new.  The baby isn't ready to enter the world...yet. 

We try to keep busy while Mom wishes SHE was busier.

Hopefully by tonight.
Update: 8:30 pm, 32 hours of labor, dilated to 6.  There's some progress!

RUN FOR RED!

Running is good, running for a good cause is even better, running with family is the best!

Today was the American Red Cross 5K run. 

 

Jeanette ran it in under 30 minutes

Camille pushed an extra 80 pounds while running.

I came in 2nd!  I should mention it's in the age group of age 50 - 99 and perhaps I should also mention that the 3rd place winner is recovering from a stroke!  I'm not sure, but I think there were only 3 in that age group. Oh yeah, I'm good!  Thanks to Jordan for downloading some Metallica, Clutch, Muse, Black-eyed peas, Peter Breinholt and ABBA for me on the ipod!  It kept me going! You want to join me at Red Robin for lunch?  Not sure  I can use all that $7.00 by myself!

Jill didn't run because she volunteered at the race.  I was able to wave to her on the course! 

This is what we found when we got home!   Nothing like a Saturday nap with the cat!
Have a RED letter day, today! 

Don't Hate Me Because I'm Beautiful!

In the 80's there was a Pantene commercial that started out with a woman saying,, "Don't hate me because I'm beautiful!"  Are there times when we look at models, actresses, athletes and friends, and feel a little envious of their looks or style?   I know that I have!

I have to admit, I'm envious of people who:

Are excited to wear the latest eyewear and know they look good,

bring out the best in others,

have a sense of style,

look sexy no matter where, no matter what,

can see past today and know there's a better tomorrow,

and, of course, are wise beyond their years!

We are our own kind of beautiful. (Now, if I could just find a picture of myself that I like...)

Have yourself a beautiful day!

Service with a smile...and a dance!

Our elementary school had a week-long project of raising money to help the people in Haiti who have suffered the effects of the devastating earthquake.  Each class had a 5-quart, plastic, ice-cream bucket where they eagerly placed their coins and dollars. 

Today was the assembly where we met to total the money.  Each class had a student who brought their bucket of hard earned  money, with a total amount written on a piece of paper, to the front of the gym and poured it in a large, see-through bin.  Because of the amount of coins in some containers, children needed help lifting their bucket high enough for pouring.  When all the money was brought forward, there was a drum roll and the amount of money was announced.   $2,675.00!

The students cheered and laughed and high-fived!  The principal announced that the studentbody could stand up and dance to the beat of the drum for 30 seconds to celebrate their accomplishments....and dance, they did!  I wish I had a movie camera to capture the excitement and the dance moves of our students! 

What a joy service brings!  What a great lesson for our elementary students!  What a blessing for the people in Haiti!

There are many ways to serve.  Head on over to Kristina's blog to see how you can serve the elderly!

Learning the Hard Way and Waffle Brownies!!

Imagine my surprise when I opened my blog this morning and realized my last two posts had been tampered with!  I was reading about babies being wrapped in duct tape, having their head shaved, a quivering bladder and rubbing peach cobbler on my face!  I was in shock as I read, then I recognized my son's "sense of humor" in the changes.  Through a text, I asked him how he found out my password and he told me I had left my blog open when he came over for dinner and he couldn't resist!  So, I  have learned, that when I have to leave my computer, close my blog!  I have also learned that Dan can't be trusted, but, if I want to add some "spice" to my blog, I'll need to turn to Dan.  Believe me, that won't be for a looonng time!

..................................................................................

I have been making these waffle cookies for years!!  They're so good and moist and chocolatey!  You don't have to preheat an oven, just a waffle iron.  You can find this recipe on Grandma's Desserts.  Her pictures are prettier than mine but my waffle iron is a lot older!

Waffle Brownies

1 cube butter or margarine

7 tbsp. cocoa

4 slightly beaten eggs

1 tsp. vanilla

1 1/2 cups sugar

2 cups flour

1/2 tsp. salt

Preheat waffle iron...

In a large, microwave safe bowl, melt butter.

Add cocoa, and combine well.

Then add the slightly beaten eggs and vanilla.

Mix well.

Add the flour, sugar and salt.

Batter will be thick.

Spray waffle iron with oil, place batter on hot iron by teaspoons full, if you want small cookies, or tablespoon if you prefer larger cookies. Close lid and cook for 60 to 70 SECONDS!  That's about a minute!  Don't over cook.  Remove from waffle iron with a fork (just lift the cookie up by the edge) and place on a cooling rack.  I lightly spray the iron after each batch.

Frost when cool and enjoy! 

P.S. From now on, if you see any misspellings, typos, or lies in my post, blame Dan!

How Times Have Changed!

When my grandbabies come home from the hospital, they ride in a comfortably padded, safe, state-of-the-art, carseat. In fact, before the parents can remove the baby from the hospital, the car seat is examined and deemed worthy to cradle the precious cargo on the way home. The newer model cars have hardward built in the seat that will allow the infant's car seat to fit tightly, with no chance of movement.

34 years ago, things were a little different. Look at the picture below. Of course you can look at the beautiful babies, but, what I want you to focus on is the "infant seat" on the left side of the picture. THAT, my friends, is what cradled my twins as they made the journey from the hospital to our home. (There were two infant seats, of course)

The nurse carried one of the babies, in the seat, while I held the other baby, in the seat, on my lap while Andy pushed me out to the car in a wheelchair. He put one baby's seat on the passenger floor of our old 1963 Chevy Impala. The nurse placed the other seat next to the first and I sat with my feet straddling our two infants. The nurse wished us luck, shut the door and away we went!

So there you have it, for the next 2 months, we drove around with Candice and Camille on the car floor; in a piece of cheap, molded plastic, with a slightly padded plastic cover, and a narrow piece of metal that supported the whole thing ! It's a good thing I was a good driver!

Am I the only one who had such "good" equipment?

Betty Crocker - You Da Man!

Who knew that Betty Crocker made lotions and hand soaps? They smell, Do they help keep our hands saturated and soft? Who cares! Enough of the questions. I got these lotions at the....Dollar Store! Each lotion and handsoap has a recipe attached.

I made the recipe. So simple!

Put 1 cup Bisquick ( I used my homemade pantry mix)

1 cup milk and 1/2 tsp. nutmeg in an 8x8 baking pan and stir.

Melt 1/2 cup butter. Stir into the batter

Drain a 29 oz. can of peaches (I used my bottled peaches)

Stir 1/2 cup sugar into the peaches.

Spoon on top of batter.

Place in 400 degree oven for 50 to 60 minutes or until golden brown.

Wasn't that simple and doesn't it look good? This peach cobbler and the peach cobbler lotion both smell good. I'd rather EAT the peach cobbler in the bowl but just rubbing the lotion on my hands is lower in calories...what a dilemma!