wordless wednesday

 

♥

Renée

Mother's Day 2012

What a Mother's Day weekend!  Exactly one year ago, we were all in Chicago to see baby Luke who was just a few days old.  This year we were all there again to celebrate his first birthday.  Here is the story of our Mother's Day...Luke's birthday pictures will come next.  

The week before we headed to Chicago, it was time to make mommy her Mother's Day gifts.  Maci wanted to make a birdhouse.  Maddie made a stepping stone.  Grampa was in charge of building the birdhouse and I helped Maddie.  Believe me, I think grampa had the easy project!  

 

And here they are giving their gifts to mommy.  There is nothing better than getting a hand-made gift from your kiddos!

 

And here are my girlies...Mother's Day 2012

 

Now I have to tell my Luke story.  When we were in Chicago two weeks ago, I had the great idea of making a hand print stepping stone for Shelby from Luke.  That was the SOLE purpose of our trip to Target (remember this story?)  Well, we went to Target, had lunch, came home and as we were sitting there after putting Luke to bed, I remembered that we FORGOT to get the kit!  I was SO bummed.  Grampa offered to drive back to get the kit but the timing just wasn't good.  So, Shelb... my intentions were good and I'm SO sorry I forgot - another gramma senior moment.  

So now back to Mother's Day.  We all headed to Chicago on Friday night.  We stayed in Downer's Grove... a great little suburb west of Chicago.  We stayed at Embassy Suites.  The girls swam Friday night and let me tell you... SOMETHING was going on this weekend because there were HUNDREDS of kids in the hotel!  And half that many in the pool!  

 

Saturday was Luke's party...more on that later... and Sunday was Mother's Day!  We had breakfast and then went to Amber's room to exchange gifts.

This is Amber's' gift to Shelby.  She made it!  So, so cool!  

 

and I got one, too!

 

I got Kelly Rae from Shelb... a paper lantern and a clock.  Love, love, love Kelly Rae!

And these two little gifts just ooze love!

 

But probably the best gift was for Shelby.  When Luke stayed with us in March, we planned a trip to our favorite photographer, Andrea.  She actually made my dream come true...to have ALL THREE of my grandkiddos in the same picture!  It was our first day with Luke so we had no idea how our little trip would turn out.  We gave Shelby a framed print of Luke with Maddie and Maci.  Her reaction was priceless.  She was so surprised and SO loved it!  And we were so proud of M&m for keeping our suprise a surprise!

 

Lovin' on birthday boy, baby Luke (who isn't really a baby anymore!)

Mama and Luke - Mother's Day 2012

 

I really can't think of anything I'd rather have than to have my whole family together.  We all have our own lives and sometimes it seems there are so many miles between us that we don't feel close anymore.  But it's always a good feeling to get together to reconnect and pick up where we last left off.  

I'm so, so proud of my girls.  They're two of the best mothers I've ever seen.  They  make it all look easy and I sure don't remember anything being easy!

"Other things may change us, but we start and end with family."  

- Anthony Brandt

♥

love, mom

Happy Birthday, dear Luke, Happy Birthday to you!

We just got home from Luke's birthday/Mother's Day weekend celebration. This gramma is sooo pooped, I decided to post a little video.



And then later, after a LOT of sugar, we thought for sure he'd smash his cake but he didn't.



What a great weekend we had! Lots of pictures to come!


♥

Renée

it's a party

We're headed east again this weekend. It's Luke's FIRST birthday party. We are all meeting in Downer's Grove...less expensive hotels and FREE PARKING! We can't wait to see everyone and I know some girlies who can't wait to see Luke.

 

♥

gramma

Our Windy City gig - Days 3 & 4

More rainy weather in the forecast for today so we decided to drive to Target and then have lunch.  Shelby had recently told me a {horror} story of taking Luke to Target where  he escaped the cart, ran up and down the aisles, and came home with only one shoe.  Oh, and I forgot his "swipe" of a shelf where a gazillion Crystal Light packets were swiped onto the floor.   I was SO glad grampa was coming along on our Target trip.

Here's our little man all ready to go.  He's had breakfast and a nap.  Doesn't he look like an angel?

We had a successful trip to Target.  No running up and down the aisles, no shelf swiping and he came home with both shoes!  We did have one incident... I thought it was hilarious after the fact the more I thought about it.  We were standing in the check out line.  Grampa was talking to Luke and grampa referred to me as "your mommy."   I felt like the entire store heard him call me "mommy."  I immediately said, "you mean gramma?"  You probably had to be there but I was mortified.  

We had lunch at The Boundaries - yummo food and Luke ate like a champ and later charmed the waitress.  While Dave was paying, she came and talked to me, said she heard it was Luke's birthday the next day.  She told me that their favorite customer was Luke's age and his name was Chandler.  Just about then, grampa walked up.  I said, "Oh, what a coincidence, Luke's middle name is Chandler!"  As we walked away, grampa said, "WTH did you say his middle name was?!"  "Chandler."  Oh my gosh.  Luke's middle name is FINLEY.  His daddy's middle name is Chandler.  

Okay, now I know gramma and grampa are getting tired  :)

This was my view from Luke's rocker... he eventually snuggled into me.  He would turn on his tummy with his head on my shoulder.  Those were my favorite moments.  I could have sat  in that rocker all day long holding him.

and here is grampa doing bath time...

and do you know how many times I went UP these stairs...

and DOWN these stairs???

We survived Day #3 and mommy got home at 10 p.m. that night.  The next morning, Luke had to show her his new clubs.  

and then Auntie Amber called to wish Luke a Happy Birthday.  And he talked to Maddie and Maci, too.

We gave Luke his birthday present since it was his birthday.  Daddy got home later that day.  Mommy took Luke for a walk in his new wagon and, of course, he had to take his clubs along!

 

What a fun week we had!

♥

Renée

Our Windy City gig - Day 2

It's now Tuesday and day #2 of our babysitting gig. Luke slept from 7p.m. til 7 a.m. Good boy! Grampa gave him his morning snuggle/bottle and then we played for a bit and then had breakfast. The weather was supposed to be pretty decent until afternoon so we decided to put Luke in his stroller and head to Roots for lunch. It was about a 1 1/2 mile round trip walk.

Luke was a hoot! He immediated started groovin' to the tunes. He is SO his mama's boy. He cannot sit still when there is music! He had a mini broccoli/cheese calzone. Seriously. And he ate the whole thing, in addition to a container of peaches and a squeeze bag of applesauce.

We walked home and it was soon nap time. Grampa had a couple conference calls that day so he worked in Mike's office and gramma vegged on the couch.

It rained all afternoon so we didn't do much after nap time.  Luke was still checking me out.  We took him a golf set which he LOVED.  He is SO his daddy's boy when it comes to golf!  He wouldn't put the balls down!

  Luke had his supper, bath, bottle, a few dozen books and in bed by 7 p.m.

We survived day #2!

♥

Renée

Our Windy City gig - Day 1

Well, it was exactly one week ago today that we started our babysitting gig in Chicago. We arrived on Sunday afternoon. Shelby had left early that morning for LA and Mike would leave early morning on Monday. It was good to have some time with Luke while daddy was still there so he could get used to us.

Well, it didn't take Luke long to become VERY attached to grampa. This gramma was definitely chopped liver compared to grampa. Luke wouldn't come to me, he screamed when I gave him a bath, he wouldn't bring his books to me... and I was feeling pretty dejected (or is it rejected?)! You can see pictures here of Luke and his love for grampa. And these were all taken on our first night there!

Monday morning came, daddy left and when Luke woke up, it was gramma who went up to get him. He took one look at me and backed into a corner of his crib. Oh, man... I thought this is going to be a looooong week!

Luckily, grampa is very experienced when it comes to caring for babies... he was a great daddy and now he's an ever greater grampa.  So, when it was time for Luke's morning bottle, it was grampa who gave it.

Luke is giving me the eye...trying to figure out if he even likes me!

but this gramma loves him soooo much!
He is soon going to realize that this gramma isn't so bad afterall!

We stayed home on Monday.  The weather wasn't too good and we thought it would be good to just hang out and get Luke used to us.  He eventually, let me give him his bottle and from there on out, I gave him his bottles before his naps and at bedtime.  

Reading was another story (no pun intended).  Luke LOVES being read to and he took book after book to grampa.  Once, he brought a book to me.  I was thrilled!  I started reading and halfway through, Luke took his little hands and closed the book, gave me an "I'm sorry" look and got down off my lap and took it to grampa.  SUCH A STINKER!

Our first day was a success, however.  Luke never fusses, never cried.  But he has a way of jabbering and pointing to tell you what he wants.  We survived our first day and at the end of that day, we found that grampa would do better at giving him a bath, too....poor gramma... so grampa gave Luke his baths from then on and he would bring him to me and I would lotion him up, put his jammies on and give him his bottle.  At least Luke let me do that much!  

Tomorrow, day #2.

♥

Renée

by Maddie

It's recital time!

 

This gramma cannot wait to see her girlies on stage.

Break a leg, girls!

♥

love, Gramma

our sweet pea is ONE!

Grampa and I have spent the last four days with our sweet pea and lucky us...we just happened to be with Luke on his first birthday! Mama came home from LA last night and daddy gets home today. Grampa and I will head home this morning.



Next weekend we will head back to Chicago with our girlies to celebrate Luke's birthday. But for today, I want to wish Luke a happy first birthday. Here are a few facts we've learned about our one year old boy...

he LOVES his grampa!

 

He can be a bit of a ham...

He can be messy...

 

he loves his stuffed animals...

 

he loves to chill in his favorite chair...

he loves to eat out and shop...

 

and he is adorable!

Luke is all boy.  He grunts, yells, roars and tears around the house at full speed!  He can walk backwards across the room like nobody's business.  He eats like a man (until he's teething).  He loves, loves, loves being read to.  He minds very well.  He knows what "no" means.  He loves being rocked before bed.  He will snuggle and put his head on your shoulder and loves having his neck kissed.  He will share his food with you.  He is ticklish.  He moves to music just like his mama.  He goes to the stairs when he is tired just like his mama did when she was his age.  He's a perfect little man!  

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO OUR SWEET PEA!
See you next week!

♥

love, Gramma

a Holly day

Several days a week, the girlies will come to visit Holly. On this day, Maci stopped for a quick hello. Maci has no fear of the horses.  Time will tell, but I think Maci will be our true horse lover.

I think Holly likes Maci, too!

 

♥

Renée

gramma & grampa's mini vaca

Well, grampa and I are headed to the Windy City in a couple of days to stay with Luke while mommy and daddy are away on business. Daddy is headed to Indiana and mommy is headed to LA. We have been planning this trip for a loooong time and I can't believe it's finally here!

Grampa and I are so excited and have lots of ideas to keep little Luke busy. We will be there for most of the week and then will come home just in time for our girlies' dance recital. Then the following week we will all head back to Chicago for Luke's 1st birthday party.

Here's the latest picture of Luke...he is definitely a toddler!  Mommy says he is all boy.  He even makes noises when he plays with his cars!  It's been too long since we've seen him in person and we are SO looking forward to spending some time with him again.

 

♥

Renée

thought for thursday

 

♥

Renée

wordless wednesday

annual check-up

  

♥Renée

another team

On any given Saturday, this is what I see from inside my house.

 

Dave's friend, Bob, keeps him busy. I always get slightly nervous when people bring horses here to be broken. I wish they came already broken! I've seen plenty of mishaps...runaways...horses rearing...horses running with Dave on the other end of the rope... but this team seems to be doing well.

 

I can breathe a sigh of relief!

 

 

 

Renee

so much fun!

A while back, my friend, Vic, told me she bought a nail kit for gel nails. For about a year, I've done these nails at the salon. It's kinda pricey by the time you drive there, have lunch at your favorite restaurant, get your nails done, tip the person doing your nails, stop for an Orange Leaf, make miscellaneous stops for things you don't even need and then drive home!

So, this past weekend, Amber and I were in Ames...and we just happened to stop at Sally Beauty Supply. I've only been in there maybe one other time. We just thought we'd check it out.

Well, let me tell you... it was worth our time! We ended up sharing the cost of a kit and light and each bought our own nail color. Then we rushed home to try it out.

First we watched the instructional DVD...

Then we tried out the light.... it came battery powered but no way.  The batteries didn't even make it light up.  I was slightly upset to think we had all this stuff and no way to do the job without the light!   I went up to my office and pulled out my humongous baggie full of unused, un-needed, obsolete cords and there it was... the one we needed for the light!  It was even white.  It was a sign.   

Everything we needed was in one little box!

It was fun to do and everything worked just like the salon!  For a fraction of the cost.  Plus it gave us a little girl bonding time.  We think we'll take our stuff to Chicago in two weeks and bond with Shelby, too!

TA-DA!!

 

♥