Old Photos

Okay, I have been sorting photos for months and am down to one shoebox. The girls wanted me to scan interesting funny photos but I haven't been able to get my scanner to work. UNTIL TODAY. I found this photo of my niece Rebecca. I don't really remember her wearing glasses and I thought it was funny that these glasses went to the bottom of her nose. My oh my how styles have changed. I will post more (hopefully) since my scanner is working.

Good thing Becca knows I adore her :)

More Spring Break

This is my exceptionally smart, exceptionally handsome, exceptionally nice son-in-law at 'school'. He is at Harvard and this is the Harvard School of Design. He just returned from a study in Holland for his Spring Break. He is amazing and I don't really understand what he does at all!

Another day on the beach (Cape Cod) and another sand castle. This time we almost planted the kids as a reminder we were there :)

A lot of work goes into a sand castle.

After a lunch of fresh seafood (and hot dogs for the kids) here is Grampy looking for the kids hiding in the grass :) It was a long fun day.

I thought I turned this picture...... I am not smart enough to blog but isn't Miles the cutest little guy? He looks like he could be a Gerber Baby.

Spring Break 2010 - Boston and Surrounding Areas

Porter and Maya built a sand castle and at the end of our beach visit, decided to 'plant' a tree so everyone would know we were there.
What a cute bunch!

Everytime I tried to take a photo of Miles he stuck his tongue out. Typical of a lot of teenagers these days, the only difference is that I took the picture, he didn't take it of himself.

Oh, how I love these little ones. They both loved the rocks and found so many treasures in there. Too bad I am too old, too dizzy, and too uncoordinated to take them all the way to the end. So cute and so fun!

And this guy became my buddy. He was so much fun. He is at a great age, not as crazy curious as a normal 2 year old but talking and just plain funny. He loves chocky milky and I never passed up an opportunity to give him some (especially when mom said no).

Bathroom done, rest of the house to go.

Finally, the bathroom is done. Trim is painted, walls done, vanity caulked, new rugs, decorations, etc. I love it. The rest of the family doesn't like the 'pink'.

What the heck do I do all day?????

All my life I have thought, "What the heck do I do all day?" Each day starts with housework, running errands, paying bills, whatever the family requires of me. Last week I decided to empty two cabinets in the livingroom with 34+ years worth of photos. What to do? I am not nor never have been organized (unless you count having most of the photos in one place organized) but decided the rest of the house wasn't too bad so I was going to tackle the photo problem, once and for all. I sorted, took photos out of albums, had to buy bigger tubs for the kids photos.
Started sorting and I am proud to say I have about 1 shoebox of photos to go through and I will be done. I plan on giving each kid their own tub of photos and when I die, they will only have to fight over the pictures of me, Larry, some family photos, and extended family. I thought I would get this done yesterday but started on another project (to be shown later in this blog).
Oh, yeah, the mess of it all.
Sunday, Larry got home from church before the rest of us (he was visiting another branch) and when we got home he was already changed out of his stuffy suit and tie and was walking around the yard, enjoying the nice weather. Brad went upstairs and came down looking like this. We all cracked up. Brad looks just like dad!! TWINS!
Okay, yesterday and today was spent washing down woodwork and painting. Here is the little bathroom with the new paint and the newly painted woodwork. I love the colors and can't wait to finish it. Still more to do, tomorrow I move to the hallway, dinningroom, foyer and beyond. Call me Buzz.

A Mothers Heart

(*note: I talked to James and he says Verizon never told him they were upgrading another phone. It was their fault and he HATES Verizon. Hannah is still sad.)
I am thinking about this sweet face. James, my youngest son. The older three kids were closer in age and then I had James when Brad was starting to school. I spent lots of time with James. He was a smart toddler and could sing at the age of 18 months. He was in plays and musicals from the age of 8 (I wanted to post a picture of him being Dapper Dan but I couldn't get the scanner to work). He has always been a kind person, extremely polite and a people pleaser.

I love all of my kids equally. They each hold such a special place in my heart. One cannot take the others place. Kids come with their own challenges and heartaches. I have had a couple with James but this week EVERYONE in the family is upset with James.

~

He came home from his mission in May and our first week we went to the Verizon Store to restore his cell phone privileges. He and Brad decided to get matching phones in a deal where you buy one Samsung phone, you get two free. Of course, it seemed like the perfect time to upgrade my dinosaur, so I picked out a Samsung (I wanted the NV3). The next week, James and Brad go and turn in their phones and pick out something different. Out of frustration, I go back and get the NV3 that I wanted to begin with but was too cheap to pass up the 3 for the price of 1 deal. So, James goes off to college and I realize that I have to pay for every picture text sent to his 'new' phone. He decides to go into Verizon to see what they can do for him. Larry and I get a call one evening from a Verizon Rep asking if James had permission to changes some things on his phone. I said yes, as long as he is willing to pay the difference.

~

Fast forward to Monday. Brad decides to finally opt out of his data plan (upcoming marriage budget decision) so I call Verizon to switch Brad to an old phone. Mission accomplished. In the course of the call I decide to see when I can update Hannah's phone (she got hers two years ago for Christmas) but was told that she can't upgrade until 2011!! I can't believe it and actually argue with the Verizon Rep. When this sweet lady researched, she found out that James had upgraded Hannah's phone but took the phone for HIMSELF!! Well, I didn't know this, it extended my contract another two years and Hannah is stuck with a phone that doesn't hold a charge long.

~
Am I wrong to feel deceived, cheated, misled? See if I grant him permission to do anything on my cell phone account anymore!

~

The end

Don't tell Jessica

This is for Amanda and Sarah! Don't tell her I put it on here :) Doesn't she look beautiful? How cute! I am really thanful for a soon-to-be daughter-in-law that doesn't have to follow 'tradition' but can stay within the bounds of 'normal'. I am so excited!

Oh, yeah, and we taught them a new game and they play with the game pieces. Kids!

Right Back at Ya....

This is for the Elmer grandkids. They aren't the only ones who can make paper chains!! I can't wait to visit CAMBRIDGE!!

P-E-D-I-C-U-R-E

My only sister came to visit last weekend with her family and we decided to take a few moments on Friday evening to get a pedicure. It was GREAT!! Relaxing and just what a pedicure should be. Of course we had to get our nails done and eyebrows (ouch!)!
We didn't want to leave (because we had to pay the bill ;) but it was fun that we both got our toenails painted GREEN! I will remember her until spring when I have to take that hideous color off before I wear flip flops. It was fun.

Rhonda, do you think we can do this again before the wedding so I can get a real color? (oh, and is your little toenail "V" shaped??)