Mothers and Daughters

Mother's Day 2013

Thinking of my sweet Mother on Mother's Day weekend!
She never really wanted a fuss for

Mother's Day or thanks for the five million and one things she

did for all of us kids and my Dad.  She did everything so well and made
cooking and baking look like a breeze!
We were all special in her eyes and somehow she made each of us feel like
her favorite!
Of course, I really was! :)

She was absolutely the best hugger ever!

I try to carry on that tradition as best I can and am training Maddy in the
art of giving good hugs!  She's doing a great job!

Maddy, Mom and Me - 2009

A few throwback photos I found of me and Maddy together on past
Mother's Days.

She's such a sweet daughter!  Bonus -- my hair actually looked

halfway decent in these pictures.  If you know me, you know how 

much my hair torments and taunts me, frizzes up at the 

mere mention of humidity and basically drives me crazy about 

90% of the time.

Mother's Day 2008

Hope you all have a wonderful Mother's Day!
Give somebody special a hug!

Happy Happy Birthday!

Today is Miss M's 15th birthday!

On my word -- I can hardly believe she is 15 already!

I have so many things to say about Maddy --

that she is a blessing beyond belief; 

that she is sweet and sensitive

and thoughtful and caring; 

that she has the biggest and most tender heart; 

that she is a loyal friend;

that she is silly and funny;

that she sets goals and is determined to meet

each and every one; 

that she is a diligent and hard working student; 

that she is a taskmaster when it comes to 

doggie training and photography and sewing!;

that she has a big faith;
that she is brave and strong;

that she loves snow on her birthday 

and  a white Christmas; Disney World, bbq chips and french fries;

that we are the luckiest people in

the world to have her in our family.

Happy Happy Birthday Sweet Maddy!

Wishing We Were There Again!

Maddy's cheer coaches and their competition teams

are at Disney now for a competition!

We keep seeing photos from

the happiest place on earth, 

and . . . 

are just a teensy bit jealous that

we're not there too --

especially after a bit of snow last night

and below freezing temps!

Mother Nature -- please bring spring back!

We were there a few years ago

with my sister and her most adorable daughter!

What a fun time!

Happy Easter!

When It Rains . . .

Have you ever had one of those weeks 

that you just want to erase from the calendar or at least your memory bank?
Kind of like "Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day?"

Last week was one of those!

The week started with Mr. Tennis not feeling well and 

ending up in the hospital for a couple days for tests.

Miss Maddy had a ton of homework!

Seriously -- what's with the math these days??

I thought all numbers were rational numbers -

I felt irrational and cranky after trying to decipher that homework.

Stress and anxiety made me wake up around 3 am every day

so I could worry in peace and quiet resulting

in a huge killer headache and neck ache.

Advil and some old muscle relaxers to the rescue!

On a better day for Muffy -- ignoring those pesky cats!

Even our pup Miss Muffy got ill and had to see the vet!

Still not sure what is the matter with her right front paw 

causing her to limp and cry. 

 Have you ever tried to soak a dog's paw???

No more pity party here.

This week is looking much better,

 the sun is shining, the temps are not freezing

and we all seem to be feeling pretty good!

A highlight from the week  --

while waiting in the hospital, the piped-in music changed from 

the usual Muzak to a Brahms lullaby!

So sweet - they play that whenever a new baby is born!

A little reminder - life is precious -- 

treasure every moment.

Cousin Fun and More to Come!

These two are the youngest cousins! 

Maddy was only 18 months old  in the photo above and Grace was 4.

  Aren't they so cute! 

Ok,  I admit it, I forced them to dress alike for this photo. 

Poor Maddy was terrified of the photographer!!

We went on a Disney cruise together to celebrate our Aunt's birthday when

Maddy was 5 and Grace was 7 

We had a blast and the girls loved pirate night!

Fun in Chicago 2 years ago

[Maddy 8 and Grace 11]

Last summer -- Hilton Head!

More cousin fun to come soon!!! :)

Ready, Set, Slide!



Ready . . .



Muffy, our most adorable little Scottie,  has a BDFF (best doggie friend forever) who lives right across the street from us.  She's a little Corgi named Dixie.  Those two dogs rule the street . . . or think they do! 



Set . . .



On some of these nice evenings lately, we (the Moms, the kids and dogs) have been visiting a small nearby park.  The kids swing, go on the slides, teeter-totter and so do the pups!  Really!!!  Dixie knows how to go down the small slide and the twisty tornado slide!  She's taught Muffy (with Maddy's help) how to go down the small slide!  Luckily, when we've been there, not too many other kids were there, so Dixie and Muffy had plenty of turns on the slide!



Done!  That was fuN!



On Being an Auntie - Sunday Snapshot

Maddy had the opportunity to be a hands-on Auntie yesterday when Miss Janie stopped by to spend a few hours with us!

They read books, shared toys, munched on snacks and Janie listened intently when Maddy showed her how to do something. Of course, we couldn't help ourselves and stuck a big bow in her hair!

One of Janie's favorites, besides checking out numerous stuffed animals, was Maddy's Glo-doodle. What a talented toddler -- she already knows how to draw on the Glo-doodle!!

At one point, Janie saw a photo magnet of Maddy on the refrigerator, pointed to it, said "Maddy" and then gave it a big kiss! So much sweetness!

A stroller ride and visit to the park for some swinging was next on our schedule. Janie enjoyed it when I pushed her on the swing, but when Maddy gave her a push, she laughed out loud! Being a Auntie is so special! Once Baby Walt is older, it will definitely be double the fun!

Come again soon Janie!

The Many Faces of M!

Oh, that little girl of mine!

She has many faces --

some funny,

some sweet,

some thoughtful!

I know them and love them all!

All About the Birthday Girl!

Kind of hard to believe that my little sweetie-pie is turning 8. I have been asking myself, why is it that 8 seems so much older than 7? I figured it out. Of course, 8 is so close to 10 and 10 is close to 15 and 15 is close to 20 – darn – she’s grown-up! Though I’ve tried to stop the clock before, I was not successful – as both boys are now over 21 – guess I should stop calling them "boys" eh! Anyway, in honor of Miss M’s 8th b-day on the 20th, I thought I would list 8 special things about her.

1. Maddy is very sweet! Truly, she is the sweetest little girl I’ve ever known and I’m not just saying that because she’s my daughter! Well, I suppose it could be that I haven’t known that many other little girls, but she is sweet and thoughtful and delightful – a real treasure!

2. She is a good student. She works so hard at school and at home. Even though math has given her a few problems this year, she has worked at it and is conquering her fear of numbers! She loves her tutor and I believe that has certainly helped change her thinking about her own abilities. I haven’t heard her say the dreaded "I’m just no good at math" in a while now. Yay Maddy!!

3. Maddy has a great imagination! One of the most fun things for me is to listen to Maddy play with her stuffed animals. They have very expressive and extended conversations about the weather, their dreams, what to do and just about anything and everything under the sun. It is a real treat to listen in as she "talks" for the various animals.

4. She is a talented little artist. She loves to draw and makes very detailed and meticulous drawings ... usually of animals. Lately, she has been making little books on scraps of paper of animals or movie characters. She staples her little book together and presents it for your reading enjoyment.

5. Maddy loves chips! If there is one thing that girl will eat, it is chips – BBQ, sour cream and onion, plain, cheddar, sun chips . . . just about any chips. She sometimes decides to take hot or cold lunch based on whether or not the cafeteria has chips! If chips are on the menu, it’s a hot lunch day.

6. Maddy is very determined. When she puts her mind to something, she sticks with it and follows-through. Last summer she was determined to master her bicycle without training wheels! And she did it! Lately, she’s made up her mind to get a puppy and has somehow negotiated away a year. I agreed to a dog in June, 2011 – somehow, she and Mr. Tennis have now agreed to June, 2010!! I don’t know how that happened and I don’t think Mr. Tennis knows either!

7. She is very tender-hearted. You (and by you, I mean me, of course) have to be careful to discipline and/or direct her in a gentle way. Cross words break her little heart.

8. Maddy is very loving. She gives her heart to her family, her friends and her faith and draws strength from all three.

Happy Birthday Sweetheart! We love you so much and I am so honored and blessed to be your Mother.

Spring and fluffing and stuff!

Finally -- spring is officially here!! And get this, the hub allowed me to take down a Christmas wreath that was still hanging on a door to the backyard/garden! Oy -- I'm sure the neighbors were thinking of sneaking over and removing it!

We are definitely ready for warm weather, though I did hear a forecast that said there may be snow on Tuesday. :( So, guess we're not quite out of the winter woods just yet!

And Maddy is finally starting to feel better. She had sinusitis over a week ago and after a few days of antibiotics, she started to sound and feel even worse instead of better! Took her back to the doc and evidently she had caught another virus! Poor baby! She still has such a gunky nose and coughs quite a bit a night, but is feeling more like herself. So much so that she modeled a bit for me yesterday! Don't you love all the pieces of hair in her face!!

The Rickster and I raked up about a ton of leaves from the back by the garage and there are still a million left to go. I'm calling in help to get all those since I just don't have enough time to get all the yard work done. Heck, I barely get the housework done, yard work has to wait and wait and wait! But look, some little daffodils are thinking of blooming!!!

Inspired by a few decorating blogs that I visit, I did a little bit of spring fluffing in my foyer! It's not much, but it is my first try at putting something besides a pot of fake flowers there. Now, if I could just get moving on the rest of the house!

Look -- a flying bunny!!!!