Catching up

Things have been so busy around here the last few weeks.

The week after we got back from all my doctor's appointments was spent keeping Little Miss, working in the back yard getting her "beach" fixed, and cleaning house for company.

This was the patio right after it was poured.

Dan had not even started working on the beach yet.

First he built a retaining wall around the perimeter out of landscaping timbers.  Then we had some "yellow" sand put in - which we leveled and put some landscaping cloth on top.  We anchored this down before we added the

beach sand.

Dan worked really hard to get everything done, but we were still putting the white sand in on the Friday night before her birthday on Saturday.

My daughter that lives in Nashville flew in to Orlando early Friday morning.

Her dad drove down from Cuthbert, GA Thursday, spent the night in Orlando, and picked Crystal up at the airport.

They made it to Lake Placid just before lunch.  We all met up at Lorelai's mom and dad's house and spent a couple of hours together before Dan and I came home to give Crystal and Lorelai's Grumpa some time alone.

Friday night we had everyone over for dinner.  It is the first time since we moved into the new house that we had everyone at the house.

Dan and I had gone over to the storage unit and gotten the extra chairs and the two leaves for the table.  We were able to get away with only using one leaf and still have eight chairs around the table.

I ended up making three different meals - spaghetti for most of us, Chicken Alfredo for Melissa, and the girls dad is on a special diet and couldn't have noodles - so I had some ribs that I had fixed in the Crock Pot that I fixed for him.  I think things went well.

Saturday was Lorelai's first birthday party.

 Our little birthday girl

Birthday cake

Yum, Yum!

(actually, she really didn't like either one of her birthday cakes -

I had made her a banana cake and this one was 

chocolate - maybe she isn't going to be a sweet eater)

The beautiful family

Melissa, Lorelai, and Justin

Lorelai and her Aunt Crystal

The party was suppose to be an outside "beach" bash - 

the parents had put together all these neat water games

and had different size pools set up for little kids and medium sized kids.

However, the weather had different plans - it STORMED!!!!

Rained cats and dogs and lightening everywhere!

So, everyone stayed inside and the kids had 50+ people in their house.

It was a little snug, but everyone had a great time!

Sunday we spent the day together before Crystal had to fly back home to Nashville and the kids dad left for his home in GA.

The weather had cleared so Little Miss was able to play in her backyard in her pool and on her slide (a birthday present from her other grandparents).

Lorelai in her pool at home.

Such a sweet girl!

Aunt Crystal 

Mom and Aunt Crystal helping me play on my slide

Back in the pool!

Monday we were back keeping Little Miss.  Dan still had a little work to do on the beach area - so we didn't go "swimming" the first couple of days.

(I don't have any pictures yet of the beach area finished, but I'll take some this next week and post them for you - I think the beach turned out really nice and Lorelai has enjoyed playing in her little pool and the "big" pool too!)

Thursday a friend of the family invited Lorelai and over for "play date" with her two boys (the youngest is just 20 days younger than our sweet girl)

Lorelai had such a great time playing with some little ones close to her own age.  When we got home she was trying to walk so much more!  I'm not sure if that is a good thing or not (just kidding!)

A week ago Friday, Dan decided that it was time for him to buy a new truck.  He had been looking at this truck for a couple of weeks but just couldn't bring himself to buy it - but last Friday he couldn't resist the urge and we now have a nice red F150 4X4 sitting in the driveway.

Well, I couldn't let this go without some response.

We had been talking about getting a car for me -

 I thought that I had found the "perfect" car for me -

a Ford Explorer that was an EXACT match to Dan's truck.

We called the dealership and made arrangements to see the car last Monday afternoon.

Well, I guess that was not to be - 

another salesman sold my Explorer Monday morning!

I didn't give up.

I kept looking for the car we thought would be the right fit for me.

This past Friday we picked up my car.

Now, I will admit, this is not the vehicle that I thought I would buy -

but we think that it is the right car for us now.

Here is my Ford Fusion.

I haven't owned a "car" in about 15 years - I've had SUV's all along (and haven't any type of vehicle since I retired the last time) - but we were looking for comfort and good gas mileage.

 We think this one fits the bill.

Yesterday Dan and I took a little drive over to Arcadia and this baby got 29.5 MPG - not too bad.  We also ate at Chili's then walked around Walmart to get rid of some of those calories.

Today I went to the family friends little boys birthday party. (and in case you are wondering - it RAINED!)  So everyone was inside again.

Tonight I fixed dinner for Dan and I and he has gone to bed to read.  I promised to get my post done and then it is off to bed for me too - I have a baby to keep tomorrow.

However, before I sign off for tonight, I have to share one more thing.

Lorelai had a little surprise for everyone at the party -

The front of her shirt says:

"I'm not monkeying around......"

and the back says:

"I'm going to be a ....

BIG SISTER!"

Yep, I'm going to be a grandmother again!

Melissa and Justin are expecting another baby!

We will be awaiting the arrival of this new bundle of joy 

in December.

We are excited and can't wait to see him or her.

I'll keep you posted!

This has been a long post to make up for such a long time not posting - 

but as you can see, a lot has been happening around here.

I'll try and stay more up to date with the posting in the future.

Have a great week!

Hugs -

Carol