Happy Father's Day!

This is a college photo of Dick's dad; quite the handsome guy! He was a geology grad of the University of Chicago, working as a photographer to pay for his education. He and Dick's mom moved from Chicago to FL to take care of his ill father Will (hmmm, where have we heard that name recently?). This was during the Depression, and he was one of over 100 applicants as a caretaker of a chicken farm, a job that came with a chicken coop to live in.....and no electricity. He was never too proud to do whatever it took to feed and house his family. He was hard working, very intelligent...and never learned the word 'no.' He could do most anything, and certainly always thought 'outside the box.'
Here is the last photo we have of him, and it was at our wedding. He died 10 months later from cancer, and it was a tremendous loss to our whole family. He is still missed, but he and Dick's mom left behind five kids and lots of grands and now great grands to carry on their legacy. They would be proud of all of them! I'm grateful this man became a daddy, because I married his baby boy, who is very much like him.
Dick, happy Father's Day to you, honey. We are mighty blessed! Life is good, and I am one lucky lady.

Happy Father's Day to everyone, especially Jason and Logan. Haley is cooking for everyone today, but I'm bringing CAKE!

Happy birthday to you...

Happy birthday, Ansley! You are growing up too fast, my sweet girl. Slow down just a little bit, OK? May all your fondest dreams come true, as you reach for the stars. We love you very much...Grammie & Grumps.........and Parker & Missy

Baby shower invitations

Some of you asked to see the invitations we made yesterday, so here is the front...minus the sheer blue ribbon on the top of the blue strip on this prototype card. We decided to eliminate that step for the mass production process...Miss Amy is an 'ele' lover.........
...and this is the inside, although the white was actually centered on the card...cute, huh?
Haley is a consultant for 'Close to My Heart,' which is a fab company for scrapbooking and rubberstamping stuff. She is a good teacher...I am totally unbiased, of course. Just saying.

Not me still lives here...

Parker and Missy love to sleep on the couch...or chair...or (our) bed........
Ah ha...someone has been playing with the fringe on the rug and making the rug curl under...Brian tripped on it...wonder who did that???
Not me, Brian. It must have been Parker who did it. I'm toooo sweet!!! See how innocent I look???
I worked on cleaning off my desk all afternoon yesterday, with only occasional kitty inspection going on. The Paperwork Fairy has been dropping off far too much *stuff* and not sticking around to help at all, dang it. She doesn't file either.

But today is gonna be fun. Haley, Amy and I will be stamping baby shower invitations at Amy's house today, while big cuzns help entertain Alex and Will. No, we are not giving the shower; friend Jen is doing that...we are just making the invitations, since that is fun for us rubberstampers and will give Amy a diversion from being mommie. I offered my home for the shower, since Jen no longer lives here. We have lots of room, good parking, and a baby bed in case either little fella needs it. That'll be more convenient than having it at church or a community room. It'll be a fun party, with no dumb games! That'll be on the 29th. Stop on by...or stay tuned for a few pictures.

Beautiful dancers...

Sunday afternoon was recital time for the girls. Haley decided she wanted to get more exercise, so she took tap classes (after hanging up her tap shoes 22 years ago!), along with our two granddaughters...obviously not in the same class! All three of them did a great job performing...and had loads of fun. We weren't allowed to use a flash during the performance, so here is a pre-recital photo of our cutie pies...

Do you see what I see?

Now here is an idea that finally makes sense! I am heading to town to SEE the eye doc for my annual check up. Talk amongst yourselves while I'm gone...what 'adult' drink is your fave? Mine is red wine.

A time for every purpose under heaven...

To everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; --Ecclesiastes 3:1-2

Life is a constant–birth and death. We celebrated the birth of grandson Will this past week, and just learned last night that BSP sister and friend Pat lost her hubby in an accident yesterday. He was only 64 (remember when we thought that was OLD?). When I woke up this morning, one of my first thoughts was that Pat is waking up today in a lonely bed, without John, and John will never be there again. This will be one of many ‘firsts’ that she will experience in this particular sorority that none of us wives wanna join. Spooning with Dick this morning was even more special than normal, even when he began gently snoring. That was OK...it was sweet music to my ears, because it meant he is alive and next to me.

I hope John enjoyed those bubbles I sent up to him this morning. He was a dear soul. The rose is for Pat, with love and sorrow from the collective hearts of sistas Joy, Jennie, and me.