Jeep Brothers

Scott sold his blue "girl car" (Just because it had 256,000 miles?  Really???)  and needed a replacement.   Maybe that was just an excuse to buy a long-wanted Jeep?  Maybe?

This picture is worth the price of the Jeep.

Happy Jeeping, boys!!!

Let the Little Girl Dance

Happy! Happy! Joy! Joy!

Brynn has been eagerly waiting for the day that she could go to dance class for the first time and today is the day!

Her other grandparents dropped her off at dance camp this morning and managed to get this picture before they left...

Brynn is the blonde to the left of the teacher - in the pale pink tutu, black top and happy smile.

Once they mastered sitting in a circle (Notice the dots.  How cute is that???), the level of difficulty increased...

Obviously this child is extremely talented with the perfect personality to become an amazing dancer!

I am SO blessed to have this child in my life.  Her presence brightens every corner of my life.



A Born Natural!

Richard, Julie and the kids went to the beach this past weekend for a "long weekend" vacation.  While the little ones napped in the afternoon, Richard and Kate had adventures!  Playing miniature golf was one of Kate's favorite things to do.

Richard caught this on his phone....

Kate's hole in one!

(She had four that day!)

 

 

Kate told her dad the she was focused.  We love Kate's intensity.  (You don't suppose she inherited that trait from her father, do you?)

 

Let me 'splain about another time I wondered that same thing this past spring/summer....

 

Kate played softball this spring and loved it!  One afternoon, Richard was on his way "out" and before he left, Kate asked him if she could practice "hitting" while he was gone.  Of course, Dad said "sure".

 

So, as the story was told to me... Kate was still hitting balls off of a tee into a net when Richard returned home.  At first I thought... "Wow!   Kate is pretty competive to do that on her own without prompting from her dad/coach."

 

THEN I thought.... "How interesting that she had a bucket of balls... a batting tee... and a net.  Do you suppose someone pretty competitive supplied those things???"

 

"Nuff said!

 

(Is she about the cutest thing ever???)

Happy Birthday, Brynn!

Brynn is 3 years old today!

 

Our tutu-wearing, girly girl is three!  Brynn is one of those special people who make the whole world a little brighter. 

 

I didn't see a splash of color or fireworks in the sky to announce the arrival of a special light the day she was born , but there should have been. 

 

Buying presents for Brynn's birthday was easy breezy!  I bought her a set of diaphonous wings - a new tutu - girly girl ruffly shorts with an Ariel top.

 

 

Lunch Break with Bryce

Today was one of "those" days when you think you're doing something for someone else and then find out that YOU are the beneficiary.  Well... I beneficated today - for sure!  (new word)

Today was one of the best days - ever... and here's why...

Scott had a car show today - all day - hot day - and Bryce wanted to go with his dad BUT he wasn't sure if he'd love it or be bored SO... he called his Grammie (whoever that might be) in advance and asked me if I would be available to pick him up at the car show and take him to lunch if he got bored.

ARE YOU KIDDING??????  If I could have done a cartwheel, I would have. Cartwheels are a little out of my scope at the moment, but I still do them in my head.   (Too much, information - I know.  Sorry) I assured him that it really would be my pleasure to rescue him if he got bored. (and then I prayed for boredom)

At about 11:30 AM on car show day I got "the call".  I barely let the child finish his "hot and bored" plea before I was in the car and on my way to the car show to meet Scott and Bryce.  It was SO hot and there was nowhere for Bryce to sit so he was ready for a break.

He chose Grotto's for lunch so that we could have lunch and maybe watch a little of the Phillies' game.  I also took a deck of cards and after lunch we played cards for a couple of hours - at Grotto's.

Several hours later, after a great lunch and lots of laughter (and rooting for our Phillies), we decided that we should return Bryce to his dad at the car show.

On the way out, there was one of those cranes where you spend $20 to win a $3 stuffed animal.  You know that ones. Bryce tried that machine before with no luck, but this was definitely a lucky day,  so I supplied the quarters (only $2.50) and Bryce supplied the skill and he ended up with a pink pig.  Bryce said the he wasn't exactly thrilled with anything pink, but he was excited to have won something.  I, of course, never doubted his skill!  :-)

Thanks, Bryce, for an amazing day! 

Falling Forward

I'm not... falling forward, that is, but these guys are.  That's their band name... at least for today.  Tomorrow?  Who knows!

Sorry this is so dark!  It's almost like it's a... well... bar.  

We went to see Andy and crew at the Reef on Friday night!  Great show - as always!

What coud be better than...

... a Friday night at the Keswick?   And is there anyone we'd enjoy seeing more than Mary Chapin Carpenter and Shawn Colvin?

The talked a little... played a little... and made us feel as though we were just hanging out with a couple of friends.

They told us that they had known each other nearly 30 years - good friends who love to spend time in each others living rooms singing and playing guitars.  

Mary said that if we were in HER living room, we'd all be wearing pajamas - by 4:00 at the latest!  Shawn said that if we were in HER living room, there would definitely be popcorn and chocolate.  Now that's my kind of living room.

I would love to be just sit in the corner in either living room - or the front porch - and listen. 

My favorite spot in the house

When I put in a dogwood tree a couple of years ago  (Okay.. Ryan put it in. I just pointed in the general direction of where I wanted it) I had no idea I would be able to enjoy it from the inside as well as the outside.  It's so pretty.   Don't you agree?

My Three Sons

Then...

And now...

Happy Mother's Day to me!

Life is GOOD!

Happy Saturday, Alex!

Today is Alex's 12th birthday!!!

Since Amy has been so sick (but recuperating nicely), Alex's family birthday celebration is going to be postponed for a week or two until Amy is ready to party.  :-)

SO!  I decided to seize the opportunity to have a special day with Alex and whoever he chose to include.  We decided last night that we'd go to Buffalo Wild Wings today for lunch. Our first thought was to take only Alex.. for HIS day... HIS birthday.

But, if you know Alex, you know that his generous spirit would not be able to pull off that whole "it's all about me" thing.   It's simply not his nature.  Alex knows that life is much better when shared.

This morning Alex texted me to ask if it would be okay if he brought his brothers.  Well... heck... I planned on that from the beginning, so.. sure!

Richard added a bonus surprise by meeting us for lunch and to celebrate Alex.  

We laughed about Gregory and Alex ordering wings that were almost too hot to eat.  We laughed while Gregory wiped the perspiration from his forehead and Alex wiped the tears from his eyes.  We laughed while Carnel, the Captain of our area,  danced and sang to Alex and reminded us to always be funky and fresh (like we're not already????)  We laughed while our server, Ezell whispered behind a menu about serving the cake we brought - as if Alex had no idea what we were talking about.

We laughed.... and we celebrated Alex.

Happy birthday, dear Alex.  Happy birthday to you!

Welcome to your 13th year!

Happy Birthday, Bryce!

He's 7!
He's 7!
He's 7 years old today!

Every time we  celebrate another birthday I wonder where the time has gone.  This one is no exception. 

I remember when Bryce was born.  I remember the day when Bryce was a little more than a year old when Scott called and asked... "Why didn't you tell me I would love him so much!!!!"

Who could ever explain to their child the love that they'll feel when their child is a year old?

And who could wish more for their grandson on his birthday than the kind of love that Bryce experiences from his mom and dad.

Happy Birthday,  Bryce!

Welcome to your 8th year!

Happy Birthday, Matthew!

Matthew is 8 today!   EIGHT YEARS OLD!

And when you talk to him you think you're talking to a semi-adult.  His vocabulary is far beyond his eight years!

Greg and Amy had a great party (and I forgot my camera)... and Matthew had a happy happy birthday!

Happy birthday, Matthew!!!!

And then there were 8

Several years ago, my kids got together and  bought me this bracelet.  At the time it had 5 discs on it for my 5 grandchildren.  Since then, the family has grown and so has my bracelet.  I now have 8 discs with the names of my 8 grandchildren on them.  The kids say the are done (!) but we've heard that before.  We'll see!  :-)

The names on my bracelet are as follows (with their ages as of today):

Gregory - 14 years old
Alex - 11 years old
Matthew - 7 years old
Bryce - 6 years old
Kate - 5 years old
Brynn - 2 years old
Chase - 5 months old
Mason -6 weeks old

This bracelet is absolutely one of the best presents I've ever gotten in my life. What in incredibly thoughtful gift!  I rarely leave the house without it.

And what makes it even better (if that's possible) - it reminds me of my grandmother (my mother's mother).  Gram had a silver grandmother's bracelet, too - with the names of her grandchildren on discs - very much like mine (but not quite as fancy). 

Gram used to move her hands back and forth (with her palms facing forward and her fingers pointed up) and shake her bracelet when she talked - like she enjoyed the sound of tinkling charms.  There are days that I wish I could shake my bracelet and channel some of her kindness and grace. 

ANYWAY... my thanks again to my kids (which includes daughters-in-law, of course) for this gift of love that I carry with me daily.

Vince Gill

Okay... when I saw that Vince Gill was going to be at the Keswick I thought... (as I often do)... "What the heck! Why not!".   It's Vince Gill and he's going be close.  So.... sure.  I'm in.

I was sure it would be okay... or even good, but I wasn't expecting it to be as great as it was!  Color me surprised!

When we got there, the sign on the door said "No Intermission."  Hmmmm... I thought (I know you like to know what I'm thinking)... must not be an opening act".  Unless, of course, they were thinking of doing some kind of tag-team switch between acts, which I seriously doubted.  (Nothing gets by me.)

Vince (Yes.. first names.  We're close.) said at the beginning of the show that he had spent a lot of years as an opening act - got to play for 25 minutes.  Sometimes he was the 2nd act and he was able to play for 45 minutes.  He told us that playing is what he loves to do and that he decided that when he did it again, he would just play a lonnnnnnnng time!

 

And play he did!  The show started at 8:00 and it was almost 11:00 before we were on the way to the car. He played lots of old ones... some new ones... had great stories.  It was a great night!

Vince said that one morning, shortly after his 55th birthday, he went to breakfast and noticed the menu for folks "55 and older" and it made him laugh that he was now in that group.  (I hit that age quite a while ago, and it never made me laugh.)

There were 8 in the band - plus Vince.  A great group of musicians!  I teasingly told Michael that this was the "no spring chickens" tour because the musicians were old enough to have "played for a few years"  (she said, tactfully).   We were definitely in the hands of people who knew what they were doing - and who had a good time doing it.

The man can play PLUS... the older he gets, the better he looks. (It doesn't seem to work that way for women)  By the way... those Martin guitars looked (and sounded) pretty good too. 

 A great night of music!  Would I go again?  You bet your boots, I would!

Thanks, Vince!  See you next time!

Any musical surprises in your life lately?

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It's a hit!

Kate is playing softball this year for the first time.  T-Ball softball.  She's #10

Monday we had a record setting day - 89 degrees and Kate had a game so I loaded up the ol' scooter and off I went.  That was one of the best decisions I've made in a while.  I couldn't stop smiling.

  Getting ready...

Kate "roped" one at this at-bat!

Thanks, of course, to the patience and direction of her coach/father.  (Who said they can't mix??)

 Yea! Coach!

T-Ball softball consists of a lonnnnnnng time at bat (and a whole lot of bench time) and a lonnnnnnng time in the field.  Everyone hits.  Everyone fields.  2 innings.  So funny!  Score?  Who knows! (Who cares?)

She's too cute - even on the bench. Do you love the "hats"?  Just right for ponytails!

T-Ball softball is pretty slow, so I was easily distracted by Brynn who never stopped moving the whole time we were there.

Brynn ran this way (with a soft pretzel)...

And then Brynn ran that way (the shirt is great!)...

She sat on the bench...

And made a new friend...

And when she caught me taking pictures, she even stopped a second to pose.

The problem with softball games is that I spent the afternoon looking at Kate's back - on the bench - on the plate.  BUT... I did manage a couple of pictures from the front.

I thought this one was too good to pass up...

Kate makes those papers tidy!

And this one of Brynn the blur...

She ran by me so fast, all I got was her blonde curls.

The game was all about Kate, but in the end.... 

Sisters!

A star is born...

Gregory's Junior High School did a musical production of Beauty and the Beast, and Gregory was an amazing Gaston.

This came from a phone so the quality isn't the best (Next time we'll hire a film crew!)  BUT it's wonderful to see and hear Greg "doing his thing". 

Good on ye, G!

(Oh!  Greg is the handsome chap in the maroon vest and khaki pants.)

Free Ritas!!!

Every year on the first day of Spring, Rita's Water Ice offers a free regular water ice to their customers.  BUT... there is a downside...

Is it worth it?????  (Chelsea says "YES!" from Indiana - the land of No-Ritas)

P.S.  Today is also the debut of the first national commercial for Ritas.

Did you get your freebie today?

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Cowboy Junkies

We are hooked on the Junkies!  Michael is more hooked than I am, though.  They are... as Randy Jackson says... "a little sleepy for me, Dawg". 

But... no matter what... you have to love Margo - her voice - her "Margo-essence" (new word).

It starts with the flowers and the table with the black cover.  If Margo's coming... there will be flowers. 

And then... Michael and Margo Timmons (not sure I could work with my brother for so many years) come on stage.  The rest of the band follows and after a huge greeting from the audience... quiet settles over the house like a fog and the concert begins.

Michael says Margo never changes.  My friend Joe and a friend of his met us at the Keswick.  He's another Margo fan (Personally, I think they're both obsessed - not that I'm envious in the least.  Nossir!).  "She's ageless", Michael says.  Joe just stares.

C'mon! Not be catty or anything, but the reason we don't have very many pictures is that the doggone stage is almost black - very little lighting.  I mean really.  In the dark, I'm ageless too!

 Okay... so she's gorgeous!  Doesn't matter if it's in the dark OR the light!  She just is. And sing?  Amazing!

With a wave and a bow... they said farewell until next time....

It was another great night at the Keswick and another great night with the Cowboy Junkies.

Oh!  I forgot to mention that the opening act was Joe Purdy (who performed WITH the lights on.)

* * * * * * * * * * *

Loss

Yesterday Amy's father passed away.  He died quickly - at home.  I think Amy said that her dad was 85.

It doesn't matter how old the ones are that have passed away.   We're never ready to lose the ones we love. 

Below is a poem that I found a long time ago.  Although the origins are a little uncertain, best evidence is that the poem was written by Mary Frye, a housewife from Baltimore, in 1932.  She wrote it for a friend who's mother had just died.

I love it and find it comforting.  I hope it comforts those who visit here also.

Do not stand at my grave and weep,
I am not there, I do not sleep.
 
I am in a thousand winds that blow,
I am the softly falling snow.
 
I am the gentle showers of rain,
I am the fields of ripening grain.
 
I am in the morning hush,
I am in the graceful rush
 
Of beautiful birds in circling flight,  
I am the starshine of the night.
 
I am in the flowers that bloom,
I am in a quiet room.
 
I am in the birds that sing,
I am in each lovely thing.
 
Do not stand at my grave and cry,
I am not there. I do not die.

~ Mary Frye ~

Rest in peace, Paul

* * * * * * * * * * *

What happens on March 1st???/

Rita's opens!

Hooray!!!!

I did a drive-by this afternoon and what to my wondering eyes should appear

but unshuttered windows at Rita's!

It must be Spring!

(Punxatawny Phil needs some glasses!)

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