This Girl

You go through life with high hopes and goals.
High School, college, marriage, babies, making your house a home and raising your kids.
It happens so quickly and it's over before you know it.
Then what?!!

That's where I found myself. 
Then came my first grandchild!

Life just keeps getting better.
Then came #2, #3...

All perfect, wonderful, precious kids.

Then came Abi!

wendy's world

What a beautiful baby.


There is no one like this girl.
She was the easiest baby.
She would lay happily on our 
bean-bag watching her siblings run around.

I scrolled through my photo library and chose at least 50 and finally narrowed it down to some of my faves. 

wendy's world


 Fast forward a few years later.
Yes! Abi is still happy and sweet
but she is much more.
She is the life of the party. 

wendy's world



You know it when she enters a room.

You know it if she is absent.
She is so fun and knows no strangers.

You know that awkward feeling when you run into someone and can't remember who they are or how you know them?
No worries when Abi is along.
She will get to the bottom of it 
before you embarrass yourself.
Oh how I love this girl.

One quick Abi story.
She and I tagged along with Mark this year while he was working in Miami. We stayed in a quaint little hotel that had a small pool.
A baldish man happened to be staying in the same hotel.
He came in the pool and she went right to him.
It wasn't weird, it was a really small pool.
Jumping to his arms and on his head.
She kept announcing, "I'm Abi!"
Finally, he announced, "I know, You are Abi."
Maybe he was a little annoyed?
Surely not!
Finally, the ladies around me told me he was Billy Joel.

I played her his video of singing Piano Man.
Made us a fun memory.

Fast forward to this present day.
Abi is celebrating her 6th birthday!

Abi loves riding her pony.
She plays soccer and is taking dance.
She loves playing with babydolls and 
spends many hours playing 
with her Barbie Dreamhouse.
She is smart, perspective, brutally honest,
opinionated, loves music and dancing.
She is sharp as a tack.
Blunt
and funny
and to narrow it all down...
she is just wonderful!

Here is her K-5 photo that we just received.
Happy Birthday Abigail!








Kacey Turns 9


Happy Birthday to our sweet Kacey!

How is it possible? 


As I was scrolling through my thousands of photos of just Kacey,
I cried to see how grown up she is.
I kept choosing pictures for this story 
and realized I can't use them all. 

I wish you could see them all.
Kacey is the best smiler ever.
Is that a word?
Well she is always good for a photo.
Beautiful smile.

Look at this sweet child.
I miss that sweet little baby girl.



This pic was Adoption Day.
More tears.

Brotherly/sisterly love.
(Most of the time)




 Had to include this one 
because I'm pretty sure that's my kisses 
on her cheek.
I have to steel them from her now.















Miami

Sisters


I love my sweet girl!
She loves to bake and cook.
She is creative and loves crafts.
Any crafts!
She loves to ride horses.
She is athletic and competitive.
She loves makeup and jewelry.
She is a hard worker. 
If you need a cleanup,
she is amazing.

Now that I think about it,
we have a lot in common.
(Minus the horse riding)

Happy Birthday Sweet Kacey!
I am so thankful for you!









Happy Birthday Daniel



This is a exciting month in our family.

Our firstborn son was born this month.

This boy changed my world.
Sweet disposition, always cared for the 
underdogs.
Never gave his father or me any trouble.
Always, a good kid.


Photo taken in the mid 1980's.
Also around the last time he allowed me to take photos of him.





I grabbed this 90's photo before  
just before he could turn away.
I must confess, as annoying as it is,
he gets it honest.
I don't do cameras either.


Daniel grew into a wonderful man who loves God and his family.
How could I ask for more?


 Happy Birthday Daniel!
Now, smile and say cheeeze!






Chicken Life

People frequently ask how my chickens do during the hurricanes.
Surprisingly, they always seem to do fine.

The water has come up in their coop 
about a foot but goes down when the tide goes back out.



I see Eleanor.
She runs the show with my girls.
Bossy lil thing.

I do enjoy my chickens.
The eggs are nice but just watching their 
mannerisms and behavior is entertaining.
I would like 1 or 2 more but did you know,
Tractor Supply requires 
a minimum of 4 when you purchase them?

Right now, 
I have 3 and to add 4 would be too many for me.
I shall wait until another door opens.




Ready For Fall

Hey everyone!
Long time, no hear.
The hurricane came and let us know all about it.
We didn't get as much damage as several 
of our neighbors 
but Irma still took a toll on us.
The water came into our den which is ground level, along with the back porch and garage.
Hopefully, we'll raise the floor level one of these days.
Three steps forward, two steps back.
That seems to sum it up.

Enough with my saga.
How are you?

Ready for Fall?
I am so ready!
I can't wait for the weather to cool off. 
Long sleeve shirts make me happy.

Isn't this porch cute?!

sandandsisal


I've been searching the web for front porch ideas.

My porch is small and I've tried a chair with plants 
but I'm never thrilled with the outcome.
I like the simplicity of this one
I found on Pinterest.


How about this idea?

I like it a lot.
Simple and pretty.

We get a lot of wind since we are on the water.
I have to consider that when decorating.

I hope you all have a great week.
I'm shopping with mom today. 

What will we find?
So many treasures to find.
She LOVES Belk, so I'm sure it will be one of our stops.
Kirklands, Hobby Lobby
 and a trip to the Bible book store 
are most likely going to happen.

I will let you know if I find anything exciting 
and how my porch ends up.

Have a happy!










Coastal Wreath

How excited was I when my sweet friend Kim snuck by my house and dropped this off.

I have been wanting a beachy wreath for my front door.




How great is the whale?
I love him!


See the sand dollars scattered around?

Kim is so talented.

Here's the problem...
I was perfectly happy with my reddish door and now,
not so much.

When I tried it on my white kitchen door,
I love it more.



See my dilemma?
Just not sure if I want the door white.
Any suggestions?


It shows up well on the red.
Maybe black.
Decisions, decisions.

Thank you Kim!
You are amazing!






Kona

Kona Skate Park is 
It is the oldest surviving skatepark in the US.
(Good to know)

AND... it's right here in Jacksonville, Florida!
If you are looking for a new adventure for your kid and live in this neck of the woods, you should check it out.

Elijah loves to skate. 
He is so smart and a good listener.
Danielle hooked him up with a 1 hour beginner lesson.
When we left that day,
he was a pro skating down this ramp.


I was proud.

The next day,
when Pops took him he was skating down "the snake."
Its a long, downhill winding trail.


Impressive?
I know!!

By the end of our week,
he was skating everywhere.
Truth! This kid can do anything.


There is more information on their website.

We went several days because it isn't far from our house.
We skated an hour one day and it began to rain.
I silently thanked the Lord because I was ready.
Elijah could stay all day.
They gave us a rain check to come back.
Classy!

They are very helpful and clean and offer a nice concession.
I can recommend their slushies.

Hope you are having an amazing day!
Love to all!

Camp Stewart (part two)

My grandkids came and spent the week before they headed 
back to school.
I had a calendar filled with activities.


One of the highlights was going to a Kidz Bop concert.
They loved it.
Well, most of them did.
Abi and I weren't all that thrilled with the volume.

The venue is Daily's Place.
It's just outside of where the Jacksonville Jaguars play.
They offered lots of fun games and photo ops.
A spin the wheel game where 
everyone is a winner was a huge hit.
Happy kids make a happy MiMi.









Elijah designed his shirt for the night.


Another night was designated as Movie Night.
I had baskets with movie goodies for each kid.
It was a big hit.


I roped my SIL into planning one of our nights.
She is a rock star!!
We titled the event
"Mystery Night with Aunt Delores."

We went to a trampoline park in Jacksonville.
They ran and jumped and played.
It was so fun.
Thank you, thank you Auntie D!

I didn't take pics because we locked 
our cameras in the provided locker.

Outside the trampolines,
was the arcade.


I'm pretty sure Aunt Delores 
had as much fun as the kids.



Abi was really good at the dinosaur game.



Go Kacey!







During the week,
we fished, swam, did crafts, scavenger hunts,
painted nails, curled hair, & went to a skate park.
I will post about the skate park later.
It was Elijah's favorite.
You can read part 1 of our week by clicking on this link.
We also rode on a ferry, went to church, 
baked cookies and so much more.
The kids drew straws to see who's "day" it was.
If it was your "day," you got to sit up front in the vehicle and you were the one to choose dessert of the day.
It works to keep the peace.
The week flew by.
My heart was sad when it came to an end.
I am so thankful for the precious memories 
we made.  My heart is full.