Coloring Easter Eggs

Family Picture

Just Being Silly

Building a Moat

Cousin Terry's Visit!

This email came from Terry after his visit last weekend, and it sums up the fun we had!

"Here’s a quick shout out to you from New York City where I’ve just arrived to begin my week.

Thanks for a wonderful visit: good company, good food (Wayne’s got promise as a chef), and lots of laughs.

As incredible as this may seem, Maya is even more darling than you led me to believe…I know, I know, impossible! But she is.

I am particularly happy to see how much she has invigorated and “charged” your lives…especially the life of that old grouch who keeps pestering her and who she calls “grandpa.”

Anyway...it was great seeing everyone doing so well. My love to all.

Cousin Terry (NOT Cousin Kevin)"




Wayne took advantage of the spring-like weather and cooked out on the grill. We all hung about (uselessly, of course) playing, talking, catching up. Maya warmed up to Terry very quickly and before we knew it, he was tossing her around and the two were old buddys. She was a bit of a stinker, however, and kept calling him Cousin Kevin! Even though he corrected her and pointed out that he was the younger and more handsome of the two!




We went inside to eat and the table was especially pretty thanks to the flowers Terry brought me. You rock, Cousin Terry! He had treats for my mom and Maya as well. Wow!


Lots and lots of laughter......magic tricks......Cat in the Hat.....just general fun.

Thanks for coming to see us, Cousin Terry (NOT Kevin) and we are holding you to your promise to bring Cindy next time. Please remember we have a guest room, you know. We'd love to have you stay with us. Come soon!

FFF Repeat of Wordless Wednesday

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

I feel SO lucky today......blessed with a wonderful family - the best kind of "luck" there is!



Speaking of wonderful family, my Mom and Dad are watching Maya today and giving me an open day :) and with the arrival of some good weather, dear, awesome hubby put up the new lamp post I bought months ago, woo-hooooooo! I'm so happy to have a working, pretty-to-boot, lamp post. Ahhhh, the simple pleasures of things that aren't broken.

Favorite Foto Friday - Two Meanings of Then

Back THEN.....

Favorite Foto Friday: THEN

First, Ed and Elaine...

...THEN Wayne...

...THEN Janet...

...THEN Maya...

...THEN FAMILY !!

If you want to see more bloggers' favorite fotos, grab a cup of coffee, sit and relax, go to www.kissthefrog4me.blogspot.com and follow the links.

Isla Morada (Again)

I just like this place ! We went with Grandma and Grandpa today and then explored the store. Bass Pro Shops are very cool, once you get over being creeped out by all the dead animals.

A Moment (and Feeling) I Want to Remember

I was reading blogs and someone wrote about their playlist with a Miley Cyrus song, The Climb. I went to playlist to check it out. I was having a cereal snack and listening to the song on a headphone. Maya came over and picked up the other headphone, she got a spoon, and was listening and snacking with me. Then I touched her cheek, she touched mine, I kissed her cheek, she kissed mine. A sweet, beautiful little echo. Ahhhhhh, I'm so happy to be a mom.

I Won, I Won, I Won!

Wow! On Friday, I told Wayne, " I need to set a deadline, I'm spending too much time entering contests. I haven't won any blog prizes, and those take the longest to enter. I need to pick a date and if I haven't won by then, give up. " Well, can you guess what happened? Not fifteen minutes later (kinda scary!), I got an email that I'd won a blog prize !! I'm so excited. It could have been a bar of soap - no, I'm glad it was better than a bar of soap - and I would be excited. Actually, I won a CD and some Godiva chocolate. Yummmmm! Music and chocolate - perfect! Then today I got an email that I've won ANOTHER prize. Too cool! Gotta go enter some more contests.....bye!

Happy Birthday, Alex!

Yesterday, we went to a birthday party for Alex. Happy Birthday! We gave Alex a "pool pass" to the Carpenter pool and some swimming stuff. We're looking forward to seeing him often this summer :)

Women's Retreat

I met some incredibly interesting and nice women on my weekend retreat. Here's some pics.

Oops, Kerplump on "Le Butt"

We had a Girl's Vanenture Day! Maya, Mommy, and Grandma took the train to Chicago and went ice skating at Millenium Park. Well, sort of ice skating. As we were putting on our skates, we were chatting with a couple and told them that it was Maya's first time and that I hadn't skated for thirty years. The man said, "you know, it isn't easy". I thought, "it looks easy on tv!". Kind of like McDreamy doing neurosurgery on Grey's, it looks easy on tv. IRL (in real life), NOT.

We still had tons of fun. Lunch was yummmmmy at the Park Grill. I ended up with a new pair of jeans because my "le butt" got very, very wet from contact with the wet ice :)

Another awesome Vanenture Day! No ambulances, success!