And Along Came Pretty Little April!

The wonderful sunny day reminds me of another one, the day our lovely middle daughter, April was born.

Taken circa, 1975 at Hume Park! This girl always new how to accesorize!

It's April's birthday today and on birthday's you give presents, but it is April who gave us the gifts. The gift of laughter. The gift of love. The gift of wisdom. The gift of integrity. The gift of ingenuity. The gift of listening. The gift of fun.


Oh yes, we had our moments, and I'd be a big, fat Pinnochio if I said otherwise, but they were of the everyday variety. We had drama, we had tears, but most of all we had April Sunshine, or April "Star" as she wanted to be called when she was a little girl. She has a ton of friends, a wonderful husband who loves her even more than we do, and an enchanting little girl. She gives life her all. I thank God every day for our darling April.

April and her lovely Abby, taken just before the wedding

Wishing you my darling daughter a Very Happy Birthday. Have a wonderful new year, may it be filled with many blessings.

This picture was taken just a few weeks ago

February Out -- March In

I know February's the shortest month of the year, or maybe it's just that I'm just getting old, but this month went by much quicker and mercifully much better than February's of olde. I feel like we dodged a big bullet and lived to tell about it.

We survived two "bumps" of earthquake centred right here in Walnut Grove-who knew, and snowflurries that turned into an unexpected snowstorm.

But best of all, so many family visits with our kids equals rich times for us. Our newlyweds have been very busy working on their house and finally moved into a part of it. Amy's dad helped Tyler while Amy and I packed up their household ready for the big move. We even managed lunch out between hefting wheelbarrels of dirt on the men's side and packing boxes loaded with items on the womenfolk's side.

While Abby's momma was living it up Vegas style, we had a wonderful visit with Abby and her daddy at our house. I had promised April that I would take lots of pictures and kept telling Abby, "look at the camera Abby, this one's for mommy!" She grew rather bored of that notion pretty quickly, but I did get off a few sweet shots. And while Nick played soccer and Pappa went out to support them (Uncle Lucas scored a goal-yay, Uncle Lucas) I had Abby all to myself and it was wonderful.

Abby's food of choice-Corn on the Cob!

Playing with her Mommy's Monsheshee's. Vintage all the way!

Looking for clues

Doing her best to ignore me, can't say that I blame her!

Yup Momma, I'm still up and it's after 10:00 PM! Can we do this again?

And February wouldn't be February without a few visits with the 6-Cs and their parental units. We cheered Cathy and her fellow runners on a couple of weeks back. I think they were doing 26Ks that day, but looking at them past the mid-way run you'd never have guessed it. I picked this photo because she was looking right at her daddy as she ran past us. Love the look on her face.

Go Cathy, Go Cathy!

Our happy, little Birthday Girl getting ready to go out with her Mommy and Daddy

Our Jr. Colt-in-waiting-reminds me of her momma!

Our Lounger~dreaming of a visit to toysrus for Pokeyman playing cards!

Carly's whole face is a smile-she can't help herself-I love that!

That's trust isn't it!

"Take My Picture Nanny!"

Pappa and four of his eight pets out walking

Come on baby light my fire -- ooops wrong concert!

Make a Wish Darling Girl!

May your every wish come true Clairey.

And from yesterday~we took the kids to church along with our dear friend Silvana, the children's other wonderful grandparent, Nonna, and came back to our place for lunch and silliness.

In between visits, my beloved and I managed to get in a few long, beautiful walks. And as any walker knows, finding things along the way is commonplace. I have found CD's (would you believe, even one cut especially for Abby's Aunty Jolene and Uncle Dave's wedding), a blackberry (returned to rightful and grateful owner) and keys, keys, and more keys. Just days before Valentine's Day I found yet another set and I placed an ad in the local newpaper asking the owner to please identify. He did, and on his way over to our house to claim them, he stopped off and brought me these two little rose bushes. I was touched by his kindness.

I know Spring is on the way. The walking jackets have been removed, more than three times, and the sleeves pushed up when we walk. A beautiful bunch of forsythia adorned the Altar at church yesterday, the crocuses and snowdrops are blossoming, the huge piles of snow are melting and leaving behind little piles of sand in their place, and a frog was croaking away looking for a mate. And even though February left us pretty well unscathed, I am glad March has come, even if it roared in like a lion rather than a lamb!

Claire, Beautiful Claire

Today we celebrate Claire!

It is her 8th Birthday today, and when I look at this first picture of her taken when she was a mere week or two old, I am in awe all over again with this little girl. She was so tiny, had arrived very early 20 or so days early I believe. Arriving full of gusto, our little Diva. Her Aunty April who had previously held the crown, Princess passed it onto Claire and she wears it well.

The stars say it all. Claire is playful. She is loving. She has the best laugh. She loves to help cook, slice and dice. She says she wants to be a baker like her G.P. (my dad was a baker all his life). I personally would love it if she were. We need artisans to bake our bread--the staff of life.

You can see the playfulness in this darling little face. Claire won't be bothered or scared off by superstitions. As you can see she will go out of her way to negate them. Our free spirit!

I love this photo of Claire. I had just taken her to the optimologist and he gave her the sticker, which she wanted on her cheeky little cheek. Look into those wonderful eyes, they just draw you in.

The next three shots were taken of course at her Aunty Amy and Uncle Tyler's wedding which also happens to be exactly 1 month ago today! Happy first month anniversary!

I see the young woman she is growing into. A glimpse into her future. A confident young lady is our Miss Claire.

While all around her others chat, Claire feels the joy, the love, the exuberance of life and lives it. I believe the song, "I Hope You Dance" was written with her in mind. This picture captures her to a T!

Yes Claire is our star, the centre of our universe, especially today. When I captured this photo, even the overhead light found her and put her in its spotlight!

Up, up and away darling girl. We don't know what wonderful journey lays ahead for you, but we know with you in it, it will be exciting and wonderful! Have a wonderful journey through your 8s Claire Allyson. Pappa and I love you to bits!

Wordless Wednesday--Memories!

Winter's Wordless Wednesday

Tuesday's Treat

This pretty little bouquet of Carnations was recycled from Amy's Wedding Bouquet, which I took home from Oma's hospital room, and her sister Cathy's bouquet which in all the hubbub of checking out after the wedding brunch she forgot to retrieve from the table.

I just love carnations, they last forever, they look so delicate and pretty and if you're lucky they have this wonderful scent.

Happy Tuesday everyone.

January is Finished

It seems so hard to believe that the first month of 2009 has already slipped by. And yet, with so much on the go, read: Wedding and all that it entails, it's not really all that surprising.


The snow piles that greeted 2009 are still here. The Christmas lights on the trees outdoor are still hanging there because the lawn is still under a frozen blanket which means the extension cords are buried too. There is a minute patch of green here and there around the bases of trees. It's still so wintery in The Grove that even the Sasquatch paid us a visit. Take a look at him running in my front yard!

All of these pictures were taken on Monday, Jan. 26/09

I think he was hiding in this snow cave in our front yard!

As I reported in previous blogs we had a celebration at the Giggledam on Friday, Jan. 16, organized by April and Cathy which was so much fun.

The following Thursday, the rehearsal. Amy wore my veil and her sister April provided this beautiful tulip bouquet.

Look at these two happy men--relieved that it is Tyler's turn--right guys?

Love their smiles.

On Friday morning my beloved and I drove out to Champagne and Lace to have the beautiful dress steamed and ready to drive into Richmond later on in the day. The girls, their daddy and I met up for a quick bite of dinner before they rushed off for mani/pedis. The photo below was taken knowing "no photos to be taken in Casino", so I'm glad Amy shot this one off before we were told not to take any more!

Saturday's pictures tell it all!

Thanks for these two pictures April~

This picture below was taken by Amy and Tyler's Photographer (sorry I don't know her name)

She captured it all in this photo I believe!

On Sunday morning following the Wedding Breakfast Brunch, we all went our separate ways. So happy for Mr. & Mrs. Moore. It was a beautiful wedding and they did an awesome job in getting it all together right down to the smallest little detail. They are now off on their Honeymoon. Soaking in the warm sun. Taking a well deserved break from all their planning.

Sadly on Tuesday, my dear little Mother-In-Law took a horrible fall on a sidewalk on her way home from shopping. She was admitted to hospital and since then she has had to have the left shoulder joint replaced and had to have 3 or 4 pins put in her broken left wrist. It was and is, so sad to see this fiercely independent lady now laid up in a hospital bed.

Mom, we sure hope you are up and about and doing the things you like to do. Heal up and get better soon!

My New Family Tree!

January certainly has been memorable for many reasons. I wonder what Mr. February will bring? Stay tuned.