Happy Sunday

Hope you had a wonderful weekend.

We had a lovely Sunday,

beginning with church.

We go to a church called Eleven22.

We Love it!

If you live in the Jacksonville area,

I would love you to come and sit with me.

The kids came over in the afternoon for some relaxing by the river.

The girls were matching so we had to take a picture.

Oh how I love my family. 

Hope you have a great week.

I just know it's going to be a good one.

4-H Projects

The county fair is in town right now and 

the 4-H club the kids are involved in 

encouraged entering a project.

Each kid got to choose what they wanted to enter.

They handed in their projects this week.

Elijah chose photography.

He has a good eye for pictures.

So impressive!

Kacey loves anything artsy. 

She loves to paint, color, draw, write and anything that is creative.

She chose to do a sewing project for her entry.

She sewed this adorable bag she plans to carry her 

Bible to church in.

She did it all by herself on a sewing machine.

Yeah Kacey!

Dani loves baking.

She decided to bake cookies for her entry.

The whole family benefited from her choice.

Her favorite part is getting to lick the beater.

Can't blame her! 

Had to add this shot of Elijah at the 

Georgia State Fair last week.

Looks like a natural.

We haven't gotten the results from their entries.

It was rewarding for me to witness their excitement in creating something all by themselves.

Grandkids At Wedding

I have been wanting to share about the grandkids at the wedding that seems only weeks ago but guess what?!

It's already been 6 months.

Kristen & Felix's wedding was so wonderful.

All the family together makes for a happy mother.

We all flew out to Texas.

Can you imagine how excited the grandkids were?

They love flying.

They were thrilled to be in Aunt Kristen's wedding!

Add the fact that they were getting a new uncle.

They think Felix is a prince.

They even call him Prince Felix.

Joyful is how I describe the whole occasion.

I have a katrillion pictures.

I thought I'd share a few of my grandkids.

No one looks all too happy in the picture below but I had to document Abigail.

Her dad pointed at his eyes to remind her to look forward.

She cracked us up when she pointed at her eyes and told him to look forward also.

Really funny if you know how weddings 

are not my sons favorite thing. 

Elijah feels like his Pops.

Mark always said he wanted to find the inventor of the tie 

and hang him with it.

I'm not sure how the tie came about but they sure look handsome.

Hope you are having a wonderful week.

We are expected to have cooler here in Florida this weekend.

Halleluiah! 

Love to ALL!

Fun With Grandkids

Elijah has recently begun taking piano lessons.

He is so smart and a quick learner.

He says he is more of a dancer than a music maker.

Cracks me up.

If you saw his dancing, you would know what I mean.

He does have some moves.

He plays basketball with a program at the church and

while he is playing,

the girls are cheerleading on the sidelines.

This stage of the kids lives is so enjoyable.

I am so blessed to keep Abi this year.

She begins VPK next Fall.

(sniffle, sniffle)

Mark's job has been taking us to Miami every other week.

Abi and I have enjoyed playing by the pool this winter.

We've stayed in some nice hotels on Miami Beach.

I had forgotten how beautiful the ocean is in Miami.

On our last visit,

we stayed in a charming hotel

in which Billy Joel was also staying.

He was so nice.

Abi loved playing with him in the pool.

I've been singing Piano Man for a week.

I leave you with a video 

showing how fun hotel rooms can be.

Hope you are having a great week.

Bring on the Spring!

Miami In January

Hello all my beautiful friends!

I hope you are doing well.

The weather looks a bit precarious through most of the U.S.

I must admit,

I miss the beautiful snow.

I will always have warm fuzzies when I remember

 the winters I lived in Kansas & New Mexico.

In the meantime...

Mark has been given a detail which allows 

us to enjoy some glorious beach time

in Miami, Florida.

My current view.

I spend my day walking or lying by the pool.

Isn't the water beautiful?!

On a previous trip,

Dani & Abi accompanied us.

The Fontainebleau had a gorgeous glass Christmas tree.

Abi is my party.

She wanted to reenact Buddy from The Elf

by running around the revolving doors.

Never a dull moment!

Hope you are having a great week.

I plan to get down to the beach and get some rays.

XXOOXXOOXXX

Love to all!

Graduation Day For Dani Mae

As I was plundering through some pictures tonight,

I realize I hadn't documented Dani's end-of-the-year 

school party and program.

Dani went to Pre-K this year.

She went to a Christian school in our small town.

I can't begin to tell you how thrilled we were with this school.

She blossomed from day 1.

One day I picked her up and she had a reward in her backpack.

I asked her what she received it for and she said 

(with her southern twang), "I edified." 

I was like, "what?"  What 4 year old says "edify?"

I asked her what that meant and she went on to tell me that she 

encouraged another kid in her class.

I was impressed with the many truths she learned all year.

She quoted scripture like Beth Moore.

Her prayers blew me away.

The essentials like coloring in the lines and writing 

were impressive.

I can't say enough about the benefit she got from this little school.

I was home at the end of the year and was permitted 

to attend her party.

Here she is with her teacher. 

She just loved her teacher and her teacher loved her.

The school had a huge program that evening.

Dani and her friend represented the fashion world.

I was so proud of her for walking out on the stage in front of 

hundreds of people.

I am so thankful for Sonshine

and a sweet teacher who helped make Dani's first experience 

in school one that she will always remember positively.

The picture below is Dani on her first day of school.

A year later...

Good job Dani.

Bring on kindergarten!

Grandkids at the Beach

My Sweet Girls

Danielle sent me a few pictures.

Kacey is the sweetest snaggle-tooth girl.

She loves to read and write.

I could write a book all about her qualities.

She is a little mother to her siblings.

I adore this girl!

Dani Mae is my princess.

She is the one who knows how to make me feel loved.

She looks into my eyes and I can see it.

She sits on my lap for longer than a minute.

I adore this girl!

Then there's Abigail.

Oh my word,

I love this girl.

She is the baby but don't tell her that.

She does whatever the other kids are doing.

She is independent and can play with others or by herself.

She is happy and brings such joy.

I adore this girl!

As you can see...

I am beyond blessed.

Upwards

My grandkids are involved in Upwards.

Is there anything more fun than watching kids 

learning how to play sports?

I know I'm a MiMi, but this kiddo looks impressive. 

Did his shot did go in the basket?
Yes.

 Look how happy he is.

Go Elijah!

Kacey and Dani get to be cheerleaders.

Sweetness.

Rah, rah!

Keep up the good work kiddos!

I'm so proud of you.

Metro Diner

Jacksonville has a charming little diner 

that is famous for 

waffles and fried chicken.

We were waiting for a table when Dani jumped up 

to imitate the painting on the wall.

If you are every in Jacksonville,

 make sure you stop at The Metro.

If the weather permits, sit out on the patio.

Totally worth it!

Happy Kids

Danielle surprised the kids and took them to the beach 

the other day when she had to miss work.

Don't they look like the happiest kids!

Nothing thrills me more than knowing 

these munchkins are enjoying their days.

MiMi loves you Eli, Kacey, Dani & Abi.

Now get mommy's phone and call me.

XXXOOXXOOXXX

Miss Priss Gets a Haircut

From early on she wanted long hair.

"I'm never cutting it," she would say.

Every morning, crying through the brush-out.

Oh the tangles!

She gave it much thought.

It was her decision.

She climbed up in Beautician Leslie's chair

& announced for all to hear.

"Cut it short!"

I can't get over how grown-up she looks.