HAPPY BIRTHDAY STEPHEN!

Today is Thanksgiving, but it is also a more special day. Today is my youngest son Stephen's birthday! Below is a picture of Stephen and his family!

And a picture of him and his three sons!

And the picture below is of Stephen in his classroom where he teaches with his 50's look - with the curl in his hair and his letter jacket from high school! The students always have him doing something silly - and they love him!

He is a wonderful, funny guy! He is tall with long arms and gives the best hugs. It's like his arms just wrap you up! He is so many things, and I could tell you all of them, but after all he is my son so I am a bit biased :-) He has grown into such a wonderful man, and a wonderful father to his three sons. They are so blessed to have him as their dad. I am proud of you son, and love you very much! Happy birthday and so many more.

November 26, 2009

This morning I felt so lonely, I didn't think I could get thru this day! My children and grandchildren were not with me, but we were going to my dear, dear friends and so put a smile on and away we went!

Well, it was a WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL day! We decided that just because it was the four of us that we would not just have a couple of things. So we had a big turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, green bean casserole, Marilyn's pink stuff, cranberry salad, a wonderful fruit mixture inside a small pumpkin, veggies and dip, wine, coffee, pumpkin pie and cherry pie and rolls! Ok what did I miss? We laughed and shared and laughed some more. We played a card game called "Golf" and laughed some more.

Now we have been friends with Marilyn and Howard for 30+ years. We exchange birthday gifts and Christmas gifts. Well this year we kinda got behind in the birthdays, but decided we would do them today. I opened mine before Marilyn. I read the card (had to control my face) - I opened the gift (had to control my face). I'm thinking Marilyn probably thinks I don't like it. Then Marilyn opened her gift. She opened the card and burst out laughing so hard, she almost fell off the couch ---- she then opened her gift and the laughter continued until tears flowed! You guessed it, we got each other the SAME card and the SAME gift!!!!! PRICELESS!!!!!

I hope you all had as wonderful and relaxing Thanksgiving as I did. God bless you all. I am so very thankful for so many things this evening, but the blessings of friendship is truly a blessing.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY OWEN!

Today is Owen's 7th birthday! Owen is No. 3 of my Grandchildren - No. 2 of my Grandsons - and my No. 1 - 7 year old!!!! Below is the lastest picture that his mama took! He looks so grown up!

The rest of the pictures are just some of my favorite ones!

He has the most beautiful brown eyes, and they are eyes that see right through you. They are eyes that you can see through to his soul. His eyes tell you all his emotions without him ever saying a word.

He is silly -and also very sensitive ~~~~

He is giggles - he is laughter ~~~~

He is Owen! Happy 7th birthday my sweet little man! Gramma loves you - to the moon and back again!

HOW DID THIS HAPPEN???

I know that as I get older that I often wonder - how in the world did "this person or this person" get this old!!!! But often times in my own, I just think that this is the order and this is the way that life progresses. So - as I said - often times - I just dismiss it!

This was a time I just could not dismiss! HOW IN THE WORLD DID THIS HAPPEN???? Wait a minute!!!!!! This child was just born!!! I know he was!!! I bought baby clothes, shoes, toys!!! Yes, I did... But THEN!!! There was puzzles, legos, trains & THEN!!! video games, movies, bicycles, THEN!!!! X-box games! THEN! Cell phones, Rock Band, etc.......... In a blink, I truly wonder where did the years go!!! I can only imagine how my son & dil feel - because I have lived this "where did it go" 3 times......They are just beginning.....I feel for them & and at the same time - they will be experiencing such a wonderful time in their life..... So just roll with it & enjoy!

So to my Grandson!!! I love you so much! You are too blooming cute! Oh wait, he is 15 and cute is not a word in his vocabulary! But you gotta admit ----he is!!!!! Can we say HANDSOME!!!!! No I still like "CUTE" HANDSOME comes with a tux :-)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SEAN

This is No. 2 son Sean Michael! As you can see October 5th in their family all started with Sean.
36 Years ago Sean Michael entered this world. Sammi had to be a C-section, and when they were deciding the day, they tried to work out another day, but for several reasons, the 5th was the day! So 4 years ago today Sammi entered this world.

Sean will really kill me when he sees the picture I put on the blog of him, but hey I love the smile. AND today he is in Vegas for a trade show for his business. So I call him this morning to tell him Happy Birthday & Vegas is 3 hours behind us......SO his phone rang around 4 AM this morning.....No wonder he didn't answer it!!!!!!! See what happens when you don't tell Mom EXACTLY what time and what day you will be there!!!! Expect the phone to ring at 4 AM!
Have a wonderful day son....I love you!!!!!!

AND, if that is not enough on October 5th ------- Yup, there is more!!!!!!!
Sean and Jen got married 7 years ago today on October 5th!!!!!!! So Happy Anniversary!!!!!!

AND Jen's birthday is Wednesday - October 7th......................So for one week, it is just one big party at their house!!!!!! Well basically I believe that Sean & Jen's birthday and their anniversary has now just all turned into a Happy Birthday party for Sammi :-) AND I believe she would tell you that too :-)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SAMMI ~~~~~~~

This is Sammi ~~~~~ Sammi turns a whopping 4 years old today! Even tho she turns 4 her birthday falls short of her being able to play soccer. So she goes to her sister's practice, and this is her sad "I wanna play too" face!


Sometimes, if they are a girl short, the coach will let her practice, and this is her "Put me in coach, I'm ready to play" look!!!!

This is her - "Look out world here I come" face -- because with Sammi you really never know and that is what just makes her Sammi ~~~~ A pistol that is for sure!!!!!!

She told us she would save one of her birthday balloons for us - and in the next breath - she said, "but I'll have to go buy you one, because these are mine"......OH! Sam, Sam ----I love you so!!!

You make my heart smile!!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KYLE -- LATE :-(

Yes I am late! I was not at my computer when it was Kyle's birthday and then I had trouble with blogger.......OK, I know enough excuses.. So I am eating some crow today because I am late for Kyle's birthday! This is Kyle...You have met him before. He turned 15 on September 22nd. It is so hard to believe that he is 15. Wasn't I just waiting for him to be born? The picture is from his Jr. High graduation. He is now a Freshman and going to his first homecoming dance this week! This boy is so funny! He has the most delightful sense of humor, the cutest crooked smile (I guess Gramma can say cutest) and a devilish look in his eyes! He does have a serious side, but I like his crazy side better :-) All in all he is packaged in a box that is marked SPECIAL! Next year the Sweet 16 party!!!!!!! I love you Gson!!!!!!!

A FEW THINGS I KNOW FOR SURE AND A FEW I DON'T

This is the name of my blog. As days happen, I always think of a million different things that I do know for sure, and then a billion more that I don't!

One thing I know FOR SURE is that family IS!!!! We are forever - whether we like it or not, we are tied together. No matter what! If you get along or if you don't.....If you agree or if you don't....If you love or if you don't......What it really comes down to is ......Family. We laugh, we fight, we cry, we yell, we scream, we alienate, we hate, we profess undying threats against one another...... we agree that one is wrong, while we believe we are right. Ultimately what do we want....we do want family..... At least that is what I want to believe.

Family IS: It just is: Nothing more nothing less! AND over my years, this I know for sure, family doesn't have to mean "blood". I have difficulty that family denotes name or blood, because I have not found that to be true. I have "SISTERS" that I have known for 10 years thru internet, but have never met, but they truly are my sisters. How we met is for another day! We love each other, nurture each other, help and care and devote our time to each other...we have been together thru death, marriage, birth, divorce, separation, and know more about each other that in some cases, we know about each other's families & THIS I KNOW FOR SURE..... we are not blood.................but WE ARE FAMILY....WE ARE SISTERS....

And what I know for sure on this day and any other if you were to ask me....Is that FAMILY IS!!!!!!!!

The Photographer

This is a picture of my #3 son Stephen and his family. His wife Tammi - is a fantastic photographer. You can look at her work at www.tamminowackphotography.com and see what I mean. Needless to say this pic is not one of her works, so just keep on looking!
She has started doing underwater photography and I think it is fantastic! This next picture is of my son Stephen and grandsons O & A! I do believe that she won a contest with this picture!
I want her to do a picture of my granddaughter Sloan with the long hair underwater cause I think the long blonde hair underwater would be beautiful. What do you think Tammi???

This is a picture of grandson AJ -- Isn't this cool! And I love that you can see his face & also his feet and legs!!!!! She really is "all that" when it comes to photography and definitely has her own style! I think she is fantastic, and I really don't tell her that enough. Like I said before, just check out her blog......

www.tamminowackphotography.com :-) Have a wonderful week-end everyone! God Bless.......

GRAMMA'S CHARLOTTE'S WEB

This post is for my Grandbabies: All 7 of them - from 14 years to 2 years: Check what Gramma had in her backyard!!!

Gramma always checks out the hummingbirds each morning when she opens the blinds.....well this morning the sunshine was shining just the right way and look what I found! Not one.......in the bushes, but.....................



but a second web right next to the hummingbird feeder! I hurried up and grabbed my camera, and never thought they would turn out enough to share with you, but I think you can see that Gramma's Charlotte did a pretty good job. Now it doesn't spell anything about Wilbur, but I'm just sure Gramma's Charlotte was a busy spider all night long & wonder if Gramma's Charlotte did both webs????????

Whichever it was, you have to admit that those spiders were busy, busy, busy! I thought the hummingbird would get tangled in the web, but fortunately that didn't happen! Gramma would have to have rescured her. Or him! :-)

So to all my Grandbabies, and you Charlotte fans ----Enjoy Gramma's Charlotte's Webs!!!!

SWANS!

The Swans are marching! I know it will be hard to see, but our house sits in between two lakes....When there are no baby swans - which will be called - swanlings from now on -- the swans fly over the house & on one occasion so far has crashed into the back of our house making their "swan dive" into the lake. No kidding....It's like watching a Boeing 747 take off, and as I just said their landings can be kinda iffy! These swans need a LOT of runway. SO, where there are babies (swanlings) they need to walk from lake to lake. I have seen them do this before, but never could get to my camera & today was not so good, but you can get my drift - I think. They come strolling thru our back yard.......

I'm assuming Mama Swan at the back of the bunch, cause she will "really" be taking care of the fam........ and they stroll.......................

And they have to cross a small walking path & then this pic is in the neighbors back yard and they are on the way to the lake. Hopefully you can see that!

Now you can see why I call them "Swanlings". Their Mama & Papa are beautiful. One of the babies as you can see looks like Mama & Papa, but the other three are "Ugly Swanlings"..... I'm assuming they will be beautifully white someday. But they make me smile every time I see them and their fam out for a stroll!!!!!

IT'S MY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!!!!!!! Today is my birthday! So I decided to bake my own cake. Now what you have to realize, is that I really don't really like cake! I would much rather have a Coconut Cream Pie...cause that is my fav...but I decided to bake this cake.. Don't ask me why...I guess I just thought because today was my birthday that I had to have a cake.... So this is my Chocolate Cake/with Hershey Candy Bars...AND as I said.....I really don't don't know why I decided to make this....It just sounded like the idea at the time.. So will tell you what is is like when I try it.....after I get over my sugar shock!!!!!! I just thought at the time it was the thing to do........Call me crazy! And at the age of 65.....I'll be thinking that is what you want to call me!!!!!!!

PEACHES

I love Peaches! Peach cobbler, peach perserves,

peach muffins and Peach PIE!!!! This pie WAS very good! When I was little, my mother used to get a TON of peaches every summer (at least to me it seemed that many)! And along with her, and my grandmother we would peel peaches so that mother could can them! Now any of you who have peeled that many peaches know what I'm about to say, but for those of you who never have this is the scoop :-)

When you peel that many peaches the fuzz from the peaches gets all over your arms - so the longer you peel - the more you itch!!!! So each year when peach season comes around -it gives me the precious memory of those times with my mother and grandmother - which at the time I thought to be cruel and unusual punishment I was receiving and NEVER would have thought it would turn out to be such a memory :-)

A Broken Leg and a Broken Spirit

My 14 year old Kyle was playing in a baseball game at the end of the baseball season and as you can tell now has a broken leg - in two places - and a crushed ankle. He now has two pins and 2 plates, and very large bandaged foot/leg and a very sad face :-(

He was at 2nd base for a double play, runner came from 1st base and slid into his leg. He will be non-weight bearing for 6-8 weeks and who knows from there.

He definately will not be playing basketball this year and we are hopeful that come spring he can play baseball. He starts High School in four weeks. Now you understand why he is one sad little puppy. It breaks my heart to see him to sad. AND the fact that he just doesn't feel good. He still hurts and has trouble sleeping.


This happened on a Tuesday nite and on Saturday he was there for his team for their last tournament. He was wheeled out to toss the coin.

So I'm praying hard that Kyle has a speedy recovery and his youth and God's hands will heal him sooner than expected.

SAMANTHA

This is Samantha: AKA: Sammi - Sam ------ They broke the mold when she was born! She is such a character. More about Sam later, but as I was thinking, she is the only one of my grandchildren that are not on the blog. So I wanted you to meet Sammi!!!!!!!!

This is Sammi and older sister Sloan on their way to school. They are "The Girls" as I call them. Typical sisters - love each other one minute - screeming at each other the next! God bless my son and DIL in the years to come. My son had better have a BIG baseball bat to beat the boys off :-) No never mind - Sammi will probably do that!!!!

Gramma loves you girls & misses you even more!

AN EARLY HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO TYLER!

Since I was belated in posting Sloan's birthday post, I figured I would be ahead of myself with Tyler. I will not be at my computer on Tyler's birthday, and in fact, my computer has to go in for some serious work - they are thinking virus - so I wanted to make sure I got this done. I will be visiting my sister in Illinois on T's birthday.

Mr. T will be 2 years old on July 10th! He is the youngest of my 7 grandbabies! He was the smallest baby. Actually he was not small as he weighed 7# 11 oz, but he was all skinny arms & legs! He still looks a bit like that today even though he eats like a horse!

Here are a few of my favorite pics of this wonderful kid!



He is the youngest of three boys in his family. AND because of that he is as tough as nails. Can get knocked down, and just like that is up and moving about! He - like his brothers - likes cars and trains!!!!! AND loves to wreck the train tracks his brothers make, and that is why he gets locked out of their rooms quite a bit :-)

I absolutely love these babylegs they now make for babies who are crawling! What a neat thing! It protects their knees. But he looks adorable in them!!!!!

Love the seriousness of his eyes in this picture. That stillness doesn't last long!

Loved this picture with the striped hoodie! I could just gobble that face up - and have many times, and can't wait to do it again!!!!

This is a picture of Tyler and his brothers Owen (6) and AJ (5). They love him to pieces - most of the time & he loves them to pieces - most of the time! They had better get their shoving and pushing in while they can, because this tough nut is going to make them pay someday!

I LOVE YOU Mr. T & I will miss not being able to be with you on your birthday! When Gramma gets there, we will go to the mall and buy one of those BIG suckers that you love so well!!!!! HUGS AND KISSES COMING YOUR WAY!

AN APOLOGY TO SLOAN!

This is my precious big, blue eyed Sloan! Gramma owes her a HUGH apology because I did not have her on my blog on her birthday. I have excuses, but none valid enough to not post on Sloan's birthday. I feel so bad :-( Sloan was a big 5 years old on May 30! These are just a few of my favorite pics of Sloan starting with the first when she was 15 months old! Love her potails!


I love the sweetness of this pic and even in black and white you can still the beautifulness of her eyes!

This girl is Smart - Sensitive - Stylish (even at the age of 5) - Silly - Shy - Singer - and as you can see in these next two pictures: SASSY - but in a good way :-)

Have always loved these pictures because her blue outfit brings out her big, blue eyes!

Her favorite color is PINK, PINK, and then PINK! But I love her in blue!

So with her curled hair, she is a big 5 years old! She is now ready to start first grade in the fall, and is SO ready to ride the bus like the big girl she is!!!! I LOVE YOU Silly girl. You make my heart Sing and my Spirit Soar!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

KYLE

Kyle - the baseball player - the - "I'll take a picture, but it's not cool to smile" Kyle. I love this picture of Kyle in his catcher's gear - and he stood there (not willingly) so his mother could take his picture, and then I made a comment about how cute he is & this was his reaction: It may not be too clear, but there is a smile there :-) Now put your helmet on and Go Play Ball!!!!!!!

EMILY WILL KILL ME!

I have got to figure out how to do spellcheck on these blogs! When I started this I noticed that I had "stuttered" and spelled Emily with two 'M's & thinking I would go back and change it, but alas I got so busy downloading pics I forgot!!!! So here is a big sorry to Em - although she would not really care. But her name is EMILY!!!! And she is MY DIVINE MISS M............

Emmily's Recital

My Granddaughter Emily's recital was on June 5th and these are a few photos. The theme this year was Dancing Decades. She said I would especially like the finale because there was an Elvis song. That girl know her Gramma! She was in 5 dances. Each year she gains another. God bless her Mom & Dad for the expense of those costumes! She has been dancing for 8 years now and says she will go through High School!

These are not in order - I'll learn how to do this someday! The blue T-shirt is her finale number - Jazz & Tap - Love the Hip Hop outfit & 'really' love the "Goldie Hawn" look-a-like outfit with the white boots! It was a LONG night, but we had fun!

How long was it you asked?????The first act had 40 numbers - then a 15 minute intermission - and Act Two had 29 numbers, and then the Finale. Each number was about 3 minutes long -- I'll let you do the math!!!! But we are done UNTIL next year when she will probably have 7 or 8 dances!

The Beautiness of Spring

I know Beautiness is really not a word, but this I know for sure, Spring is a time for Beauty. Also my favorite time of year because of the re newness of life for plants, animal kingdoms, flowers, and should be for all mankind. Also a time for reflection for the long winter we have just endured (can you tell I am in Ohio) and for the wonderfulness of what is ahead. These are a discovery for me, in that having moved here after the Spring, did not experience the explosion of color in God's kaleidoscope, and the other thing, is that I do not know what many of these plants, trees are........Wanda this is where you will come in handy!

I think these are such a beautiful color, but noone knew what they were.

This I call Herman! It was given to me by a man named Herman, and I placed him where he could watch over the patio and the other flowers!

Some beautiful daffodils

They told me this was a purple cherry something or another .... really know am I really showing what little I know........All I REALLY know and for sure of, it was Beau-ti-ful




Loved these little purple flowers, they were just so delicate

This they tell me is a wild rose. AND they do tell me that the probability of it blooming is NILE.... It has grown since this picture, and they are probably right. Why would anyone plant a rose beside a tree. Who knows how it got there, but don't think it will do anything, and that makes me sad :-(

So even tho we are a bit past spring, it seems as tho it has just begun here and I'm loving it.....Before we know it, I'll be posting something about summer, and be complaining about the hot weather that we have waited so long for.

HAPPY SPRING!!!!!