8-20-12

Monday afternoon I got to hold my brand-new handsome nephew.

 

 

Little Luke, Aunt Mana is so excited you're here!!!!  XOXOXOXO

it's a day late, but...

Happy Birthday, Sarah!!!!!

Fifteen years.  It seems hardly possible...

I remember it like it was yesterday.



You're the best little sister/best friend I could have asked for. 

Love you bunches!

having fun :)

Today is my brother-in-law's birthday.  Actually, he seems more like my brother than an in-law because he's been hanging around since I was about 3 years old.  He just kinda latched on and never went away!

Anyway, we all got together and had a big party yesterday to celebrate his thirty-something-th birthday. ;)  We all had a great time!

 I just thought this was too cute!

 When I got home and started going through the pictures we took, I was horrified to find that this was the only one we managed to get of the birthday boy (right).  Oops!  Sorry, Jacob!

 Soup's on!  Literally...on the table.  Mmm...it was good!

 This makes me smile. :)

 Awww!!!!

 I thought I'd throw in a picture of me just to prove that I was there!

 Papa, getting a kiss from Princess Mollie.

Ok, so I may not have gotten any pictures of Jacob yesterday, here's a recent one.

Happy Birthday, Jacob!  We're so glad you're a part of the family!

Apron Fashion Week {7} + a birthday!

It's the last day of apron fashion week.  I've enjoyed it, but I'm glad it's over.  Trying to remember and take the time to post every day hasn't been easy! 

So, here we go.  The final apron!

This is another one of my vintage-ish aprons that I have no idea where it came from.  It's always been one of my favorites though.  It's a favorite for two reasons:
  (1) it's purple.
  (2) it has ric-rac!  I LOVE ric-rac!!!!!!

Sorry I don't have a more imaginative picture, but it's late and it's the best I could do.

I love it!

Well, there you have it folks: my apron collection.  Hope you've all enjoyed seeing them!

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And of course, I can't close this post without mentioning that we have another birthday in the family today!



My niece, Alexis Paige (a.k.a. Miss Personality) turned 7 today!

Happy Birthday, Lexi!!!!!



12-22-01

Exactly one decade ago, on the eve of the eve of Christmas Eve,  my very first niece, Haley Ann, was introduced to the world.

Happy Birthday, Miss Haley!!!!  I love you bunches and bunches!

'tis the season for...popcorn!

Have you ever watched an old Christmas movie?  I mean old, old, like, black and white old.  For instance, there's It's a Wonderful Life (who seriously has NEVER seen that movie?), the original Miracle on 34th Street with Maureen O'Hara, and Holiday Inn with Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire, just to name a few.  Have you ever noticed the Christmas trees in these movies?  Ever noticed anything on them that today's trees don't have?  Besides the real candles, I mean? 

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

Ok, don't hurt yourself.  A Christmas tradition that very few people I know have ever even heard of is stringing popcorn.  Next time you watch one of those old movies, notice all of the popcorn draped on the tree.  You can barely see the tree for the popcorn!  Yards and yards and more yards of popcorn hanging from every possible branch.  Most people don't do this anymore.  Then of course, we aren't most people. :)

Every year, just before Thanksgiving, we pop a ton of popcorn, put in a movie, and string away!  We usually put up the tree the weekend after Thanksgiving so we've got our work cut out for us.  Now that Sarah and I are older, we actually get it done really quick.  When we were younger, it took three or four evenings to get enough.  Of course, we don't go overboard like in the movies!  Moderation is a good thing!  We just make enough to wrap around the tree just like most people would wrap a store-bought garland.

"Please????????"

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Just a little side note here to wish my Uncle Gene another Happy Birthday!

Mama, Sarah and I took him out to dinner today and had a blast!  Of course, we always have fun with him.  There is never a dull moment when he's around! 

Love you, Uncle Gene!

thirty-something years ago today...

Thirty-something years ago today,

my favorite (and my only) big sister was born.

The world didn't know it then,

but God sent us a very special person that day.

She was almost a teenager when I came along,

 but unlike most people that age,

 she still loved to play with me

and treated me like the little angel I certainly was not.

To me, she was "Sissy".

That is, until I became "too old" for such sissy-ness.

Today, it's just "Kim"

and I look up to her as much now.

as I did when I was little.

A wife and homeschool mom of two,

and one of the busiest persons you'll ever meet!

She has great taste in everything,

she makes beautiful (and tasty!) cakes,

an expert wedding planner and decorator,

and has a closet full of clothes

 that make me wish I wasn't the tallest!

There's more I could say, but

I just can't seem to find the words.

I love you Kim!

Have a blessed birthday!

The actual age of the birthday girl was not given to protect the author!