I think we are going to need an Ark pretty soon!

It is hard to believe that it has been over two weeks since I last posted - the days just seem to fly by.  Let me see if I can do a quick review.

Last weekend we went up to our "old stomping grounds" and visited with some of our friends in Dowling Park.  We didn't take the camper (it is still on the consignment lot) or the pups with us (they stayed with Melissa, Justin, Lorelai, and Brady) so we actually stayed at our friends house.  Can't remember the last time we have done that - seems like we always have our camper with our "stuff".  We even had to pack a suitcase!  Anyway, we left fairly early on Friday afternoon - taking Little Miss to her mom around 1PM and were in DP by 5:30.  I drove my car and we got really good gas mileage - it only took a little over 1/2 a tank of gas to get there - so it is a fairly inexpensive drive.  We are thinking, that IF the camper doesn't sell (which I can't imagine it will this late in the summer), we might take it up to the campground and leave it for the fall/winter.  It would give us a place to get away for the weekend and it wouldn't cost us that much either.  We would have to pull it up there with the truck but then we could drive my car back and forth until it was time to bring it back home.  Anyway, it is just something we are thinking about doing.

We are still waiting for the roof over/screen room to be done.  We are "on the books" for next week - so we are hopeful that it is actually installed and completed on time.  We are hoping that it will make a marked difference in the temperature in the family room - right now this is the warmest room in the house - but it is the one room that does not have the double paned windows and there is no shade on this side of the house.  We think that once the roof over is done it will help shade the windows and help with the heat - of course, it doesn't help that the temperatures have been in the low 100's here.  Last week it was even too hot to let Little Miss play outside in her pool/beach area.

While it has been super hot we are still having daily rains - sometimes extremely heavy rains with thunder, lightening, and strong winds.  Then, when the rains stop, it is HUMID, HUMID, HUMID!!!  I can tell you that we have been pretty much confined to the house due to the heat and rain.  We are still trying to go on our golf cart rides in the morning - Little Miss sure enjoys them - but there have been a couple of mornings that they have been SUPER short due to the heat and humidity.  Oh the joys of living in Florida.

Speaking of Little Miss - she is growing so fast.  She now has six teeth - three on the top and three on the bottom of which I can attest to the fact that they work very well - since she bit me by accident yesterday.  She was biting my shirt sleeve while fighting going to sleep at nap time and accidentally got some of my arm along with the shirt.  It upset her so much that she had "hurt" her Nana and that she starting crying.  It was okay - but I do have a small bruise on the arm today.  She is climbing up into chairs now and LOVES to dance.  Since there is nothing on TV during the day we will put on the Malt Shop Oldies (channel 802 on our DirectV) and she will just dance and dance!  If Dan and I don't dance with her we get the "finger" as she will point to us as if saying you aren't dancing Nana or Grampe.  She brings us both a lot of joy!

I'm not saying she doesn't get into mischief - but how could anyone stay mad at anyone when they look at you with that sweet little face!

She still enjoys "reading" her books - but now she likes to do it sitting in a chair instead of on the floor.  (Although, she still "reads" sitting on the floor too!

Well, I think you all know that "we" are expecting a new grand baby in December - but we didn't know if we were having a girl or a boy.  Last week Melissa told us that we had Wednesday off - as she had a meeting in Bartow and a doctor's appointment in Lakeland.  Justin's mom, sister, and brother-in-law volunteered to keep Little Miss for the day.  Now, while Melissa did, in fact, have a doctor's appointment and a meeting she also had a little plan to let us all in on the baby's gender.  If you would like to know if we are having a little boy or girl - just click on the link below for a little video that will let you know.

http://vimeo.com/m/71507509

Nothing out of the ordinary has happened this week - so I think I will leave you for this post.

Hope you have a fantastic week and I'll talk to you soon!

Hugs -

Carol

How can someone so little create this?

Good Monday morning ya'll!

It's good to be back at the computer - I am starting to feel much better.  Still have the "fog horn" cough and the masculine voice, but it is getting better everyday.  Pretty soon Dan will stop asking me "What did you say?"  Well, at least not every time I say something.

I hope you all had a fabulous weekend - but to tell you the truth I'm getting a little depressed.  Why?  Well, yesterday was the Pro Bowl, which means - there is only ONE more football game this season.  That is such a bummer for me!  I don't know what I'll do on Saturday's and Sunday's - much less Monday night and Thursday night.

Seriously, our whole TV schedule is skewed around football.  This is (or was) our TV watching schedule:

Monday - Monday Night Football

Tuesday - NCIS (only show we watch every week)

Wednesday - anything that I've TiVo'ed (Castle usually)

Thursday - Thursday Night Football

Friday - nothing (this is usually when we watch a rented movie)

Saturday - College ball

Sunday - Pro ball starting with pre-game stuff until the late game

Pretty lame, huh?  

Really - this is our TV viewing schedule.

So, as you can see, we have a problem Houston.

There is nothing to watch anymore - 

we are not Basketball fans, racing fans, or hockey fans.

Now, I will watch golf (yep, golf) IF Tiger is playing.

Now, before anyone jumps on my case - I don't agree with what Tiger did in his personal life - but that was in the past and he has paid dearly for his major screw up.  I still like to see him play golf - and when he is on - NO ONE can come close to him.

Anyway, I have ordered some books for my Kindle so it looks like  Dan and I will spend a lot more time with the TV off and the Kindle's on.

Not, necessarily a bad thing.

Boy, am I completely off topic.

So, let's get back to the program.

I'm sure that many of you (if there are people out there that do actually read this) have this problem  - but we aren't use to this anymore.  I'm a little OCD - okay, a lot OCD - so, this is something that I'm getting used to again. 

What am I talking about?

Take a look

!

You see, when my oldest daughter was a baby, her dad and I rented a nice little house in Thomasville, GA.  In the family room was a wall of wonderful bookcases - with cabinets on the bottom.  Wonderful storage!  In the middle was an open area for the TV and underneath was a big cabinet with no shelves.  So, I put a big round laundry basket, and at the end of the day all the toys went in the basket - close the door and all was clean again.

This is really pretty tame - 

but you know what -

I don't care.

Let her make a mess - it takes about two minutes to pick it up and put it in her toy basket.  She is only going to be a baby for such a short period of time.  Such a small price to pay for being able to take care of her every day.

She certainly pays for any mess she makes with her smiles, and her hugs, and her little kisses.  

So, where was she when I took this picture this morning?

Nap time!

Sweet baby!

Hugs -

Carol

The little body that keeps me hopping!

You know that there is just nothing more special than a baby. 

A very special gift from God.

Our gift

 may keep us hopping around here,

but I wouldn't have it any other way.

And

 there is nothing better than hearing a baby laugh!

(excuse the blurriness - it's really hard to hold a camera, tickle a baby, and take the picture)

But, 

I will admit, 

that it is really nice when -----

she is taking a nap!

Love her!

Have a great week!

Hugs -

Carol/Nana

Baby Shower #1

Today I thought I would share with you the baby shower that my daughter had about a month ago.  This shower was hosted by all of her sisters (sister, step-sister, sisters-in-law)

Here are the sisters with the guest of honor - Crystal (my oldest), Ashley (Justin's sister), Melissa (the guest of honor), Emily (her dad's daughter), and Noelle (Justin's baby sister).

The shower was held at Ashley's house in Lakeland.

Food table

The mantle was decorated with baby pictures of Justin and Melissa.

This was the "Parenting Tree".  Everyone wrote a piece of advice or parenting tip for the parents-to-be on a paper cut out bird.  Then it was hung on the "tree".

At the end of the day Melissa was able to take home all these pearls of wisdom to read over and keep.

The beautiful mom.

The gift table.

Getting ready to open gifts for Lorelai.

One sister in charge of handing out gifts.

A quilt made by my mom (Lorelia's great-grandmother).

Some of the cute outfits Lorelia will be wearing.

 Can't forget little toys - along with plenty of clothes

(Thanks Auntie Crystal and Auntie Kim).

 Melissa with her two sisters -

Emily and Crystal.

Here is the whole "family".

Ashley (sil), Crystal (sister), yours truly, Melissa, Chrystie (mil), Noelle (sil), Emily (sister), Kim (sister), and Gracie (niece).

I think this is a unique picture - this is the entire wedding party from Melissa and Justin's wedding - How many people have their entire wedding party at a baby shower five years later??

They are - the three maids of honor

Jodi (best friend since middle school), Crystal (sister), Ashley (sil, and friend in high school), Melissa, then the  bridesmaids - Emily (sister), Noelle (sil), and Aundrea (friend - and Jodi's sister).

In the front is the flower girl Gracie (Ashley's daughter).

We thought it was pretty neat that all her attendants at the wedding were sisters (not planned).

Melissa and I.

(Before the hair cut.)

So, just a few pictures of her "Sister" shower.

In thirteen days I am co-hosting a shower here in Lake Placid.  I've been working hard on all the decorations.  I'm looking forward to sharing that with you.

I hope you have a wonderful Easter.

See you Monday with Monday Menu.

Hugs -

Carol