Nana Jan's Place

Sweet!

2012-01-23T20:17:00.000-08:00

I love finding little notes from one of my sweet little girls!

Oh, The Things I Can Do...

2012-01-19T22:50:00.000-08:00

...with a little paint, a sewing machine, and a shower curtain!

These were my inspiration pieces.

A shower curtain that I am in love with the colors,

and a few throw rugs that coordinate well with it.

From one shower curtain I made,

a chair cushion...

Two valances...

With the original top I used a ribbon

and wove it through the shower hook holes.

Then I tied it to little metal flower fobs.

This valance on this window is just hung with a tension rod.

It's under a cornice box & because it's not really seen at the top it's just kinda plain Jane.

This piece was cut from the bottom of the shower curtain.

Lastly I made a new ironing board cover to match.

I still have a few small pieces if fabric left that I'm sure I can put to use before this room is done.

I'm about half way finished painting.

More pictures will follow when everything is complete.

Oh...and while I was sewing these things together tonight I also made a dust ruffle for "baby girl no name" that is due next month.

Now I just need to get it out to her mom so she can finish up decorating baby girls nursery!

Wordless Wednesday

2012-01-18T00:30:00.000-08:00

Oh Yeah!

2012-01-11T21:58:00.000-08:00

Thank you Laci for loaning me your old blender!

SUCCESS!

Eating Healthy

2012-01-09T21:11:00.000-08:00

So, my girls are trying to eat healthy and are loosely trying a new program they recently learned about. The program is called the Green Smoothie Diet. I thought I would give it a try too...ahem...loosely. I bought the ingredients to make one for breakfast this morning. Well this morning I ran out of time. Tonight I thought, instead of the ice cream we love, I would make a fruit smoothie, leaving the veggies out for tomorrows "green smoothie".
I only have a regular blender, not the super duper terrific kind that makes soups as well as malts and smoothies. I gathered all my ingredients on the counter....canned pears... frozen banana, blueberries, peaches, strawberries, then a little pomegranate lemonade for additional liquid. The canned pears were puree'd in the blender first. This brought the hubs into the kitchen to see what all the noise was about. Then I added some frozen ingredients and started the blender again.....

This wonderful multi speed KitchenAid in the most beautiful shade of red, that was gifted to me by Dana's mother in law, Kathy.....

BLEW ITS GEARS!

EPIC FAIL!

So....

I got out my trusty little hand mixer.

Mixed everything really well,

however I think smoothies are supposed to be,

well.....

smooth, and not frozen chunky.

So...

I did what any resourceful girl would do and did it ...

MANUALLY!!!

Yep, I got my salsa maker down, started spinning that puppy fast and

guess what?

SUCCESS!

It was not totally smooth, but the chunks were mini.

They were Delicious!

As for the Green Smoothies for breakfast....

I think they will be put on hold until I have something to turn all that green into a puree.

I'll be saving for one of these beauties!

2012....One Down and 51 to Go....

2012-01-08T07:18:00.000-08:00

Just a little randomness on this first day of a new

week.

In the quiet of this morn, the coffee is made

I'm catching up on current events

My girl has been fed

What to do today?

Spend the day outdoors....

...or play inside with these inspiration pieces?

I Borrowed This from Dana's Private Blog

2012-01-06T07:06:00.000-08:00

My Very Own Kitchen Banquette

My parents came by on Braeden's birthday to drop off one of his birthday gifts.

We sat in the kitchen chatting about home improvements

I have on my resolution list.

I rattled off various projects that I hoped I would be able to complete

(of course with the help of Dad and Mom) before my birthday in June.

My first "want" was an improved seating arrangement for my kitchen.

I have really wanted banquette seating built into my dining area in the kitchen.

I talked about how I want it to be black with bead board facing

and a nice tall trim along the bottom of the bench.

I shared that I want padded cushions on top of the bench

and cute black chairs that coordinate with the bench.

My mom told me of her love for "kitchen booths" and her want for one as well.

It was at this point my Mom had a brilliant idea.

She knew that they could re-vamp the kids old toy box into my banquette.

And that is just what they did.

They took the toy box home and two days later, it was returned,

delivered, and ready to be painted.

Monday afternoon Kevin and I painted the beauty and placed

it in the kitchen.

It fits perfectly and can I just say that I LOVE IT!!!

It is darling and so well-made.

I like that we used an old,

sentimental piece of furniture that my dad made

and transformed it into something

that my family will use every single day.

Kathy has her wheels turning on designing and creating the

cushions for the bench.

We painted my chairs black and they look awesome too!

I am in love with my eating area and have my wonderful parents to thank.

They are constantly surprising me with the many super handy things

they do for me.

I love them so much! I am a very lucky {and grateful} girl!

When this old home we live in was just built they featured
darling little corner "booths" in the kitchen.

Sadly it is long gone, but my love for them is still alive.

When Dana started talking about what she wanted

I knew exactly what she was talking about.

The old toy box that Jerry built for all our day care kids toys
was the perfect starting point.

I love how hers turned out and an anxious to see what
Kathy whips up for cushions.

I have no doubt they will be a darling addition!

We are talking about just how we will build mine.

We will start from scratch for our's.

I have some old hutches I'm hoping to incorporate.

I am ready for a new look in my little dining room!

What are you working on?

The Color of 2012

2012-01-02T17:29:00.000-08:00

Monday

January 2, 2012

5-ish PM

Monday!

2012-01-02T15:49:00.000-08:00

Lots of stuff going on today. For starters, the Rose parade and then Rose Bowl are today since January 1 fell on a Sunday this year. I always go out in my back yard to try to catch a glimpse of the Stealth Bomber that always does a fly over at the beginning of the parade. I thought Fighter jets flew as well, however today I didn't see them. I think the flight path was altered just a tad this year for the Stealth. I have never had pictures even worth showing. Today was an exception.

Ha, a bird and the Stealth in the same picture!

I went back inside to put my camera away then went back outside and saw this.....

OK, for the life of me I can't get Blogger to let me turn this picture!

Anyway, you get the idea.

Looks Like .....

2012-01-01T19:06:00.000-08:00

Someone is going to be painting in the near future...

...and it's NOT us!!

Can you guess what this is going to be?

More info as this project progresses!

Happy New Year!

2012-01-01T13:02:00.000-08:00

January 1, 2012

What a beautiful day this first day of this new year is!

It's noon,

it's 80 degrees outside,

the sky is the most beautiful clear blue.

There is an ever so slight breeze.

What can I say, we live in sunny So Cal!

Mother Nature always shows off on January 1st!

The hubs

and I have been to the hardware store.

We are working on a project...

re-purposing an old project,

giving it new life.

Should be fabulous!

We just had lunch.....

Yes, this is the perfect way to start out what is going to be a fabulous

NEW YEAR!

Grandma's Birthday

2011-12-29T19:34:00.000-08:00

Today would have been my Grandma's 95th birthday. So up to Forest Lawn I went for a visit. I also needed to pick up the Christmas trees that decorated her's and my mom's resting place. Today was an unseasonably warm day, with blue skies and a slight breeze.

The Chapel is beautiful!

As we drove past on our way to see mom and grandma we notices a horse trailer just around the corner from the chapel. We were wondering what a horse trailer would be doing at a cemetery. We went about our business and as we were driving past the chapel on our way out I could not believe what I was seeing. I have NEVER seen this except maybe in movies in and around New Orleans. There on the side of the chapel, waiting, was a horse drawn carriage with two drivers up top. There was also a nine person Mariachi band just behind the carriage.

I can honestly say the sight of this gave me goose bumps. I was hesitant to even take a picture. We kept a respectable distance away, and I used the zoom to get as close a picture as I could. This last picture I cropped to make it larger so you can see just how beautiful this was.

All the family members and friends walked just behind the Mariachi band to the final resting place of this very loved person!

Dawn's Early Light

2011-12-19T07:45:00.000-08:00

This morning, as the sun is just beginning to rise,

I sit here in the quiet of my little home. I am thankful for it's shelter, warmth, and coziness. As I sit here sipping coffee I am somewhat saddened that Christmas is next weekend. Don't get me wrong, I'm all ready for it, I just want to enjoy more quiet mornings like today.

The sun is just waking

The clouds are heavy with the threat of showers

I am warm

I have so much to be thankful for...

Today

I am thankful for my tree

It is so calming to just sit

and slowly take it all in...

And anticipate all our kids faces when gifts are opened

To look at all the ornaments hanging on the tree
remembering who and where they came from

...and to remember the fun
one little girl had making this newest ornament with her Boppa.

Anticipation?

I get pulled in, anxious for our newest little girls arrival.

Yes, I have much to be thankful for in this morning.

This Weekend

2011-12-19T07:19:00.000-08:00

This weekend we had plans.

Plans to keep Duncan so his family could get away overnight.

Duncan

Plans to keep the Rogina three so their parents could do a little last minute shopping

and attend an adult Christmas party

Quinn

Jace

Mackenzi

Saturday both of the girls brought their families over for breakfast.

We had Juice, bacon, sausage, fresh fruit, and pancakes made by Boppa.

I have the best kids

EVER!

Weekend Surprise

2011-12-04T07:59:00.000-08:00

This idea started back in October. Jerry and I set out on a Sunday drive, This is where we went.

Tickets bought, we were excited for December 3rd to arrive.

Flash forward...

The day had finally arrived.

The secret had been kept from the kids.

The preparations had been accomplished.

I invited the kids families over for lunch.

On the menu,

Nana Noodles

turkey bacon avacado sandwiches

veggie tray

chips and dip

After we finished lunch I gathered the kids to tell them we had a surprise planned.

To find out what was happening I was going to give them 3 clues, and they had to wait until all 3 were shown to tell what and where they thought was going to happen.

Clue # 1

Matching Christmas pajama's for all

(these are the girls, we had a boy version too)

After they were given their Pj's, and pictures were taken,

we came back to the couch for more clues.

Clue # 2

Cookies with a compass on the wrapper

Clue # 3

A magic bell

We started with the youngest, asking each child until we were at the oldest, what they thought the clues meant we were doing.

Quinn said we were going to go see some fun

Jace said we going to a party

Mackenzi thought we were going to the Polar Express

Kelsea said we were going to see Santa

Braeden said Santa as well

It was time to drive to our destination!

The Families

We were given our seat assignments

Finally the train pulled out of the station for our quick trip to the North
Pole. We all had our tickets ready when the Conductor came around to punch them. Our helper Elf handed out cookies and chocolate milk,

she also read

T'was The Night Before Christmas to everyone in our box car.

Then we sang Christmas carols on the trip back home.
We finished the night with pizza and salad at
Nick-N-Willy's
FYI
we did not see Old St. Nick eating pizza!

A great big

Thank You

to our kids for spending your Saturday with us!

We had a fabulous time,and made some great memories!

Elf on the Shelf... aka, Braekel

2011-11-29T16:11:00.000-08:00

A few years back I went on a search for a few Elves.

Do you remember?

No, well look here.

So, Dana remembered to tell their Elf, (his name is Braekel), that they would be gone on Thanksgiving night. She also left direction as to just where his family would be.
Lo and behold, Friday morning who was spotted sitting on the shelf above the fridge?

Yep...Braekel!

I think he loved the fresh mountain air

and warm sun....

...and hanging out with his Gnome buddies.

He was very busy!

Secretly flying here and there without anyone seeing him.

After dark he was spotted checking out the temperature.

It was still warmer than the North Pole!

I don't think he knows this train never leaves the station...

however, it is

"On a Shelf"

On Friday night the kids got their blankets and pillows out and made themselves cozy.

Elf on the Shelf was going to be on TV!

Kelsea let out the cutest squeal/giggle when she spotted Braekel watching all his friends on TV.

We all had a great time visiting my parents beautiful home. This is what the back side of the house looks like.

Saturday morning it was time for everyone to load up the cars for the drive home.

Perhaps Braekel was tired from all his activities.

He decided to ride home with his family,

he NEVER fly's long distance in the daylight!

My Camera Was Hijacked!

2011-11-28T19:35:00.000-08:00

I think Laci took most of the above pictures of the boys.

I tried to get them both to smile at the same time.

Nope, ain't gonna happen today!

What?

Lookie me

That's better...

Bribery works every time!

Kelsea calls this her angry face. I caught her at the big mirror holding her breath until she was very red. When I asked her what she was doing she said she was making her angry face.
Silly girl!

Dana and Jerry

Camden

Mackenzi

Mackenzi hiding from the paparazzi,
Kelsea doesn't care if her picture is taken.

Look at those eyes, at least she isn't angry any more!

Black Friday Boutiquing

2011-11-28T19:24:00.000-08:00

Friday we decided to leave the kids with their dad's and have a girls day of shopping. Camden came with us because the guys were taking the bigger kids out to lunch and then to a movie. My dad and Jerry had a little peace and quiet for a few hours while we were all out.

Our first stop...Chocolate Soup

I love this quaint little boutique.

The grounds and out buildings are almost as fun as inside the store.

I love all the shades of fall!

Inside the store is delightful too.

This cat was keeping warm by the fire

Dana and Camden on the landing in the stairwell. I love this window looking out to the parking lot.

Just beautiful!

We went inside almost all the stores, and inside one of them I spotted these beauties.

They were screaming my mother's name.

She

would have made these if she was still with us!

She is so sassy!

I just love these little old towns. So much to see and enjoy!

Our Thanksgiving Weekend

2011-11-28T18:53:00.000-08:00

This year we, along with both of our daughters families, traveled to my parents house for the long weekend. We totaled eight adults, six kids, and 4 dogs. The kids and the dogs had a great time exploring on the their 5 acres of land. When we pulled into the driveway there were 3 deer grazing in the grass. All the kids got to see them!

Pictures of the feast!

Our last Thanksgiving in the mountains I made a tablecloth, table runner and napkins. These are some of the napkins. I used iron on art work my nieces made at school.

Thanks Dad and Kackie for letting us barge in for the weekend!

Today I Met Bruno

2011-11-26T20:28:00.000-08:00

He was holding a bag with his "to go" food. In his other hand was an ice cream cone, chocolate dipped. He asked about the music that was playing. He wanted to know just where it was coming from. I explained that there are speakers in the ceiling. I pointed them out, showing him the circular shape and placement of each in the dining room.

Pointing, he asked "those"
me--no those are air conditioning ducts.
There?
me--no, that is the security camera.

Then he told me some facts (according to him)

women are much smarter than men
he was in WWII
Jesus was born in a manger
he was born with the help of a midwife
he lived in the home he was born in for 65 years
his name is Bruno
his father's name is Bruno
his grandfather's name is Bruno
he was watching television and saw that a gorilla was recently born at the zoo and was named Bruno
he never had any children
he just might send the zoo some money for Bruno
he now lives in Covina, he has only lived in 2 homes all his life
he can't pass the driving test so he is on a temporary license
he was at Pearl Harbor
he has seen much in his lifetime
he has been blessed
he used to let homeless men live with him for $1 a day
Charlie messed up the plumbing something fierce
he is a good Christian, so he forgave Charlie, Charlie died 3 years later
he told me I should make sure to lock my doors while driving
he said he once had two men try to get into his car...his doors were locked and when he saw they had guns...he "put the pedal to the metal" and got out of there
make sure you always lock your doors!
he loaned his sister $5,000.00 so she could buy a home in Big Bear, that was 15 years ago
I heard many stories about friends and loved ones that have gone to Heaven
he talked about a terrible accident where twin sisters were badly hurt (one later passed on), it was a woman driver that hit them

Bruno talked and talked about current happenings as well as things that happened early on in his (80 years young) life, including that he attributes his longevity to a stress free and blessed life

As the conversation flowed I asked him about the bag he was holding and if his dinner was inside. Yes, his dinner was in the bag. So then I asked if enjoyed eating his dessert before he ate his meal? With the rather devious smile he said that ice cream tended to bring out the kid in him....now that's my kind of guy! The sun was setting and I encouraged my new 80 year old friend Bruno, to gather his food and head on home. Reluctantly we said our goodbyes and I headed out to my car. When I turned around to see if he was following, he was standing near the salsa bar.

Today I met Bruno.

I don't know if he was just lonely or maybe a little confused, but I feel good that I slowed down enough to listen to a man that had things that he felt needed to be said.

When I finally arrived home with our dinner my salad was a little wilted and Jerry's food was cooler that usual but it was so worth it!

Today I met Bruno

Tonight I will include Bruno in my prayers!

Oh Yes I Did!

2011-11-20T10:01:00.000-08:00

What have I been up to this weekend?
Well for starters I decided I wanted to get a jump start on the holiday...

Thanksgiving?

Um, no.

We are not hosting Thanksgiving this year so I wanted to get a jump start on..

CHRISTMAS!

I tackled to big job of unloading all my treasures that are ~~thrown~~ lovingly placed inside of our rather large shed.

Box after box unloaded.

Let the festive decorating begin!

So I started with our furchild,
Daisy

Isn't she sweet?

She was NOT happy about dressing the part for her Christmas photo!

She had a few bites of that red hat...

OK, maybe more than a few...

Moving right along..
Little touches in the kitchen.

Next the living room

He is one of my favorite decorations!

I have seen some awesome framed pictures of Santa.

I would love to hang one above this chair for Christmas!

Thank you Laci for cutting the Merry and Bright vinyl for me!

Oh yes I did... start my Christmas decorating the weekend before Thanksgiving!

Wordless Wednesday

2011-11-09T00:01:00.000-08:00

LA Skyline

2011-11-08T18:34:00.000-08:00

Oh what perfect weather we had today. The recent rain, combined with a whisper of a breeze, made for a spectacular sunset. This was taken looking west from the top of the downtown Covina Metro parking structure.

Looking east the moon is 97% full.

What a beautiful night!

Last Weekend

2011-11-07T19:25:00.000-08:00

We had Laci and her kids come for a visit. She wanted to go to Babies R Us to look at things for the new baby that will be arriving early next year.

Who can resist pink?
Pink things are a must for fresh, sweet smelling infants of the she variety.

Soft cuddly pink....

....that I have plans for.

Finished projects will be shared at a later date.

Laci was craving Bob's.

After Babies R Us shopping we headed over to Bob's Big Boy for dinner.
Jace found some penny love!

While we were waiting for our meals to come, we were all getting pretty silly.

Some more than others!

Everything was yummy.

I love spur of the moment visits!

I Spy Sunday

2011-10-31T15:50:00.000-07:00

The house is clean, yards done, laundry too....what to do?

Drive to where the pumpkins grow.

I spy many shapes and colors of pumpkins.

gourds a plenty

I spy fruit crates!

I spy apples, several types.

I guess I have never seen Key Limes.

I was surprised to see they were about the size of a 50 cent piece.

I love the fall colors at this Farmers Market.

I spy

an orchard in someone's front yard

with a clean white ranch fence

and on old tractor

....ahhhh

country life

on the outskirts of a big city.

We had a nice day just enjoying the sights of roads we seldom travel,

right here,

close to home.

You never know what's just around the bend....

until

you

play

game

SPY!

What a day

We need to do this more often!

The Donut Factory

2011-10-29T11:59:00.000-07:00

The morning after a sleep over what on the menu for breakfast?

A trip to the donut factory, aka Krispy Kreme Donuts. We got to watch how the donuts rise. Next they drop into the fryer, flip half way through, then get a shower of yummy glaze.

Watching the whole process.

Loving the balloons!

It's kind of hard to see here, I had the wrong lens for close up pictures, and getting 6 kids to look the same way at the same time...impossible when donuts are being made.
This was strange.
There were only six kids in the store.
Two girls and four boys.
The girls were big sisters of ...
TWIN BROTHERS!

Jace picked the pumpkin shaped donut.

Mackenzi wanted a regular twist.

Quinn went for the sprinkles.

Can you guess what happened here?

Here is a hint...

What one does,
the other is sure to follow within minutes!

Hard lesson learned....

Flashback Friday

2011-10-28T07:46:00.000-07:00

Then if you need to see more, you can go here....and here!

I Wish....

2011-10-27T17:50:00.000-07:00

Today I have renewed hope for our teens.

I had just finished shopping at a local shopping center.

While I was waiting for a break in traffic so I could exit the parking lot, onto a very busy street,

I saw something that......

JUST.

WARMED.

MY.

HEART.

I saw a teen boy riding his bike on the opposite side of the street.

I saw,

that he saw,

someone in need.

SHE

Was an elderly lady

standing in the grassy median

of the very busy street

she was bent with age

holding tight to her walker

unsteady on her feet

wavering

Slowed his bicycle

then quickly dropped it on the sidewalk

on the curb

he was waving his hands to stop traffic

then crossed to the center

a perfect gentleman

so gentle

I could not hear his words

but his actions were clear

saw that I was also needed

to help with this crossing

so,

waving my hands to slow traffic

on my side of the street

I used my car to completely block all lanes

allowing

HIM

to quietly assure her that he would be right back

he quickly ran her walker to the sidewalk

only to return to her side

to carefully offer her his strong arm

and guide her slowly

to the safety of the sidewalk

POWERFUL?

yes....

EMOTIONAL?

yes ....

I WISH.....

I knew more young people this thoughtful

I WISH.....

I could tell his mother what a fine young man her son is going to be

(....I'm sure she knows, but it's nice to hear it from an outsider)

I WISH.....

Finally Feeling Like Fall

2011-10-25T07:22:00.000-07:00

Good morning!

It is finally feeling a little like fall. It's actually quite chilly here in my living room.

As I look outside I'm pleased to see rain has quietly visited us overnight.

I have been working on putting together a fall wreath.

There are so many beautiful ones out there that crafty people have made.

Here is a look at mine.

I love burlap!

This is not what I saw in my mind while making it, but it will have to do for this year.

I hope the rain sticks around.

Beef stew and biscuits are on tonight's menu!

Best Wishes to the New Mr and Mrs Brian Brubaker

2011-10-09T13:41:00.000-07:00

My cousin Brian is getting married.

This is Brian and his new wife Andrea.

They tied the knot yesterday so Jerry and I did a Las Vegas turnaround.

Left home at 8am, arrived back home at 1:30 am. What a fun day!

The wedding was beautiful and Brian and Andrea make a great couple.

This D J was awesome! He was the official flower dude, sprinkling rose petals down the aisle just before it started, played great music, got everyone involved, he even danced for everyone to Michael Jackson's music! He was fabulous!

A few thoughts on Vegas weddings.

I have two uncles.

Uncle Bill, my dad's brother,

Uncle Bill, my mom's sister's husband.

Both of these Bill's have sons names Brian.

Both Brian's were married in Las Vegas.

I went to both weddings.

Both times I drove turnarounds.

small details

Wordless Wednesday

2011-10-05T07:19:00.000-07:00

Wordless Wednesday

2011-08-24T07:49:00.000-07:00

Girls Saturday out!

2011-08-13T20:48:00.000-07:00

This morning we left behind our husbands and kids and met up for a girls day out.

Laci, Dana, me, and Kathy.

We started with going to see a movie. Dana and Kathy had read the book beforehand.

We saw THE HELP....

and we loved it!

Lunch followed at Corner Bakery Cafe.

Good food and great conversation!

A little shopping, and it was time to call it a day.

I was talking with the girls and said I wished I had invited Margaret.

They agreed I should have....

Next day out.....

MARGARET, you need to join us!

This is your official invitiation!

Thanks girls, it was a super fun day!

Who Knew?

2011-08-11T21:58:00.000-07:00

Have you ever been out running errands and came across an item that you had never seen before?

Well that is exactly what happened to us tonight!The hubs and I went to Lowes for a few items for a project he is working on. It was really warm inside. When we came out I said we also needed to make a stop at Rite Aid for a ~~an ice cream cone~~ few items.

We needed band-aids for work.

Jerry stabbed himself with a letter opener today and we were fresh out of first aid items.

We loaded our hand held basket with needed items and were ready to leave when we spotted

THAT item......

HOW DID I NOT KNOW OF THIS PRODUCT?

How long has it been around.

With something this needed

WHY

has it not been one of those

AS SEEN ON T V items?

Is this something that just hangs out on the shelf at Rite Aid?

Who Knew?

Man that monkey looks happy!

My friends...run,

don't walk,

on over to your nearest Rite Aid

and get your self a bottle before the craze catches on!

I laughed my ~~ass~~ butt off reading this.

My day is complete!

Who's Sitting on the Fence?

2011-07-31T23:13:00.000-07:00

So, we put flyer's and a cheesy For Sale By Owner sign in the front yard. I updated pictures on Zillow under a Make Me Move listing. It is also on Craig's List. We have had quite a few calls....ALL from Realtor's! They all want to list our home. One woman in particular had a very persuasive approach as to why we needed someone to represent us in selling our home. She sold us, we were going to list with her. Saturday Jerry and I went out for a drive to see if there were any open houses that appealed to us. We are looking for a single story in an area that has mostly two story homes. We came home a little disappointed in what is available. There are so many foreclosures and short sales flooding the market. We are a little worried that if we sell our home, will we be able to find our next home in a timely manor? What will we have to do to make it feel like home? Will it be trashed by the previous owner? So many questions...so uncertain! So, I called the Realtor and cancelled our meeting for tomorrow night. We are not quite ready to pay the commissions required for representing our sale, it's a big chunk of money! Yes...I am on the fence.....but it's my fence, and I feel so relieved to be staying put. I'm not sure how long we will stay, but today I'm totally fine with it!

Moving Right Along

2011-07-25T15:55:00.000-07:00

Or at least we are going to take some baby steps to see if we can move. For years, usually in the winter when my yards look less than beautiful, I get the bug to move. Lately with both girls being out in the Inland Empire the urge is much stronger. I was mulling over a move last August, even went so far as to start the paper work to be pre-approved for a loan. That's when our friend Tom came to live with us. With his passing on July 1, I have everything tided up and made a huge step.....

Yes, I know it's only a sign, but I have such mixed feelings now that we can actually move. The cons are that with short sales and foreclosures being so prominent, standard sales might be hard to sell. Because it might be hard to get full price, we are going to give selling on our own a try. We bought this one from the last owners without an agent so we know the escrow company it the one that really does all the work. Another thing is this house has everything just the way I like it. I wonder with a new house how long it will take to make everything feel like "home".....and do I have that much energy?

The pros are that we will be closer to the kids and all the little's! IF...and I say that with hope, we can get the price we want, we can get so much more for our money out in the IE.

So, we figure we'll just put the sign out, hold a few open houses, list it on Craig's List and Zillow and see what happens!

If it's meant to be...it will be.

It has been the perfect home for the last 24 years, but I would love to move on......

See what I mean,

I DO LOVE THIS HOME

!WARNING!

PICTURE OVERLOAD!

She looks pretty darn good for being 60 years old.

We shall see if anyone agrees enough to make her their new home!

Sleepover With Nana

2011-07-11T22:04:00.000-07:00

Finally settled down

Mackenzi sleeping with a baby with creepy eyes!

Kelsea sleeping too! These girls had too much fun. It was very hard for them to unwind and fall asleep. Such sweet little girls I have!

Happy 4th of July to All

2011-07-04T12:33:00.000-07:00

This is one of my all time favorite patriotic songs!

Thank you Lee Greenwood!

Helping Out a Friend

2011-07-01T19:32:00.000-07:00

As some of you know, last September my mom's long time boyfriend (and our friend) moved in with us. His cancer was back and this time there was no cure to be had. The cancer was in the end stages. He did a few rounds of chemo, however in December he decided to end that treatment. Being so sick wasn't worth it. Things went smoothly for a while. He got to the point that he was feeling pretty good. Slowly he was getting weaker and weaker. More symptoms were appearing, and his pain was increasing. We had some awesome help from Citrus Valley Health Partners. The visiting nurses were great. In the first week of June if was obvious that it was time for Hospice. We moved from Citrus Home Health to Citrus Valley Hospice. The nurses and bath nurses were fantastic! All of the staff members were just awesome people. Sadly Tom was declining rapidly. We signed on to Hospice on June 6th. On June 14, one day after Tom's 80th birthday, he ate his last meal. Then, when his pain was not manageable, the decision was made to move him in house at Citrus Valley Hospice. Wednesday, June 29th he was moved. He was put on a Morphine drip and given shots as needed of Ativan for anxiety. In the early hours of July 1, forty some hours after arriving, Tom passed on. He will me missed by all of us. We have great memories that we will keep with us always. I have been very busy these last few months making sure Tom was as comfortable as possible. Needless to say, I'm a little tired! But life goes on, and I have a plan for the future! My next post will be about what this households future holds!

Dreaming.....

2011-06-28T10:43:00.000-07:00

...would be fabulous in a place like this!

The Last Day of Spring

2011-06-20T11:24:00.000-07:00

I can't believe this year is almost half over.
The next season is hours away.
Enjoy the day!
Summer will be here tomorrow....

Visiting

2011-06-18T11:18:00.000-07:00

My cousins have been vacationing on San Diego this week. Lori and Paul, their two daughters, one son in law, and 7 grand kids came up for dinner at Northwoods Inn. We all love salad and cheese bread for dinner...well most of us do. For such a large party and so many kids, it was perfect. The kids were fun and very well behaved!

Best of all.....Lori brought me a gift!

Look how pretty this quilt is!

I just love the colors!!
Thank you so much for making this quilt for me!

Totally Spoiled

2011-06-16T19:41:00.000-07:00

By my good friend Margaret.
Thank you for all the years of friendship, and bringing me flowers.
YOU, made my day!

A Dream Shared

2011-06-16T12:27:00.000-07:00

Tom is talking about my mom today.

He shared his dream with me.

He smiled and said....

we are just looking at each other,

smiling.

She is beautiful,

as always.

We are on a beach,

in Hawaii......

...and I said,

maybe that is what Heaven looks like

as a tear slowly rolled down his cheek,

and he drifted back into his own little world.

Wordless Wednesday

2011-06-15T12:36:00.000-07:00

Spring Hatch-lings 2011

2011-05-25T18:15:00.000-07:00

I love House Finches,

they are fun to watch and they make really pretty music.

This was my first nest this spring

If you look closely you will see all four babies.

This little girl was the last to leave the nest.

She spent a whole day longer than her nest mates
testing her wings.

While Mama and Daddy perched close by watching.

Before I had time to clean up the old nest, on the right,
the next family was moving in right next door, on the left.

What a nice and neat nest she made....

Until the wind blew it down....several times.

So this landlord got busy. A little double face tape....

Nest secure!
No more problems with the wind blowing it down.

Two days ago there were 2 eggs.

Today there were 4.

It was dark and I couldn't see the eggs on the screen when I was filming

That third little nest that was in the making...
and kept blowing down,

I picked it up,

and taped it down as well!
I wonder how many eggs this nest will hold?

It's a Sad Day

2011-05-25T06:43:00.000-07:00

The day has finally come.
My pumpkin from this past fall has been introduced to the green bin.
Clearly, you can see why.
This year we made it 8 months....sigh.
I wonder if a watermelon would last as long,
I'm thinkin not....

Kelsea's Kindergarten Celebration

2011-05-23T23:03:00.000-07:00

Where does the time go?

I find it so hard to believe these kids grow up so fast!

Kelsea holding Camden just before we left for her celebration.

Last Friday was Kelsea's Kindergarten Celebration.

The kids put on a little show with songs for the parents and friends that came.

Really cute.

This is how you keep twins quiet during the performance.

This is how Alison kept herself busy,
taking care of her baby.

Ready to sing?

She is such a cutie pie!

Kelsea and Alison smiling so pretty.

Silly girls!

Kelsea's last day in kinder is tomorrow!
Let the summer fun begin!

Tiny Dancers

2011-05-23T22:38:00.000-07:00

Yes, it's that time of year again.

DANCE RECITAL TIME!

This year, again, Miss Tricia out did herself.

Kelsea and Mackenzi with their flowers

Kelsea being silly

The girls in their first number

This is Mackenzi's second year in dance,
and Kelsea's third year.

Alison did a great job dancing.
This is her first year.
(Alison is Kelsea's cousin, she is on the right)

This dancing is serious business!

But lots of fun too.
Way to go Ali Lu!

The costumes were fantastic!

All the kids did a fabulous job!

I wish I had taken pictures of the twins dancing in the aisles to

Jail House Rock

THEY.WERE. AWESOME!

Mother's Day 2011

2011-05-08T21:50:00.000-07:00

Today is Mother's Day.

Another Mother's Day

spent without my mom.

This makes 5 of them.

I took flowers to her grave,

SHE

remembered only

by me.

Grandma got flowers too. I even laid a couple of stems in between Mom and Grandma, for Auntie Rita.

I know just how hard that year of "firsts" has been for my cousins,

my heart breaks for them.

My friend Margaret,

that misses her Mama so terribly too,

my heart breaks.

My friend Kathy

a "first"

for her too.

So I took her Mom flowers today as well.

I have a little story to tell.

We have a long time friend living with us, these being his final days.

Tom and I were on our way to City of Hope for a procedure last Wednesday. I think he was apprehensive, he was feeling nauseous on the drive up. I thought I would try to distract him by telling him about a what happened on my way to pick up his prescription the previous day.

I was sitting at the corner signal waiting for the left arrow to turn green. As I was waiting I watched a lady get off of the bus. She turned and started walking away. Suddenly I saw her stop in her tracks, quickly look in her bag, turn and start yelling at the bus to stop. She even went so far as to try to get the bus drivers attention by pounding her hand on the side of the bus. She. was. panicked. The bus continued on it's way without stopping. She turned and started running towards the market. She was about my age. As I watched this all I kept saying ~~to myself~~ is oh no...oh no. Clearly she was worried about what she left on the bus. My light changed and I went to the nearest turn lane to try to catch her. Success! I pulled up to her in the parking lot and explained that I had seen what happened and how the bus didn't stop for her. I asked her if I could drive her to catch the bus to get her left behind belongings. She didn't even skip a beat as she climbed into the car. I drove past the bus and we waited at the next stop so she could get back on for her bag. We caught that bus about 6 stops down the road, past her stop.

She was very thankful for the ride to the bus. I told her I would take her back to her bus stop, or I could just drive her closer to her home.We exchanged names and Jodie thanked me. She said "I'm happy to see there are still good people in this world". She also told me she shouldn't have been running. She had recently broken her shoulder....running!

I dropped Jodie off at the market and went on my way. I had a prescription to pick up!

I find it so heart warming to be able to recognize when a fellow human being is in need, and by simply taking a small detour to help, how good you can feel.

When I finished telling Tom this story we were almost at his Dr's appointment. I had distracted him by telling the story. He patted my shoulder and said "You can't save the world, but...you are just like your mom, you are going to try".

So, on this Mother's Day, I am going to take that as a compliment. I will also hope that my children will learn by what they have seen THEIR mom do....

and that one day,

when they are missing me,

someone will tell them.....

you are JUST like your mom!

Happy Birthday!

2011-05-04T16:27:00.000-07:00

Yep, we have a birthday today...in fact two.
Happy birthday to my handsome stepson Ryan!
It's also my furchilds birthday!

Daisy is 10 years old today.

She is checking out her surprise.

I think she likes it!

What a chow HOUND...ha!

A whipped cream cake just for her....

Getting the last bit off of the phony cuppycake.

Lip smackin good!

Happy birthday to my little, big girl!

Why I Love Today...

2011-04-27T16:30:00.000-07:00

I AM HAPPY!

The weather is just perfect!

I am at home playing hookey from work.

That doesn't mean that I am taking the day off...

in fact,

I have been enjoying things that...

make me happy!

Some of those things are...

A red front door

as well as red geraniums

fresh eggs in this years bird nest

a bird bath with fresh water for the mama and daddy birds to drink from

heady smelling roses in my yard

daisies mixed in with sweet smelling star jasmine

these unruly daisies

tamed and standing tall

FLOWERS!
any type

tools to make my yard look well manicured
and the knowledge of how to properly use them

allowing me to make this....

look like this in a short amount of time,
and when all is said and done,
I can go over to our newly re-installed pedestal sink

and have a cool drink of water from the drinking fountain
then scrub the dirt from my nails

so I can sit and relax,
listening to the birds singing sweet sounds to the wind chimes rhythm,
admiring my handy work, and thinking how lucky,
and happy I am.
What makes YOU happy?

Hey There Family!

2011-04-26T14:06:00.000-07:00

If any of you are interested, I have started a blog for the Anderson side of the family. It's a place to post updates on your family, hear news about other family members, and most importantly updates about the 2012 reunion. It's a perfect way to ~~hear~~ read about the lives of people we are related to.
http://andersonfamilytreenews.blogspot.com/
Please visit the site, everyone can comment, and if you are a family member and would like to contribute (write a post) please let me know and I will send you an invitation. I just need your email address.

What a Difference a Few Weeks Makes

2011-04-15T07:41:00.000-07:00

Remember this, a few weeks ago?

Spring is in the air today!

The flowers are showing signs of the Miracle Grow's powers.

It's Friday

It's a beautiful day

Make some time to go out and enjoy spring!

Three Kids and a Dog!

2011-04-14T18:20:00.000-07:00

Getting them all to look at the camera, and smile at the same time.....

is just tough!

Taking Risks!

2011-03-27T22:18:00.000-07:00

I have a pantry in my kitchen that I love.
I love it so much that when we remodeled the kitchen,
with moved walls and all new cabinets, this piece stayed!
It was custom made just for me some 20 years ago by Tom,
our friend and house guest.

Floor to ceiling, it holds a tremendous amount of stuff.

This end of the kitchen is kind of blah, not much going on.

So, we had scraps of this..

Then I took a chance and used this magnetic primer,
then the black chalkboard paint!

I think I really like the finished project!

It's such a fun way to jazz up the end of my pantry.
The magnetic primer enabled a plain wood/formica cabinet to accept magnets.
The chalkboard paint, just fun.

Best of all?

Finding little notes like this!

What a Day!

2011-03-05T14:17:00.000-08:00

Today is just a teaser....of things to come!

I do love fall and all the autumn colors,

like this leftover pumpkin!

I can usually keep them from spoiling until mid May.

Today we are enjoying temperatures in the low 80's.

Spring is 15 days away...but today

the air is heavy with the scent of spring!

This pink Jasmine smells heavenly!

These fruit trees have sweet smelling blossoms,

and even a few that have turned to the very beginnings of tasty fruit.

Some of the trees are already heavy with summer fruit.

I am very excited for this blossom.

I have had this wisteria vine for well over 20 years.

It has always had greenery that is trailing beauty.... but

NEVER

so much as one cascade of blooming sweetness.

I even gave up on it and dug it up several years ago.

It.will.not.give.up!

It has been trying every year since to please me.

Every year I cut it back down to the ground.

This year I ignored it and let it grow.

....and pleased I am!

I know it's only one bloom....but it's a start!

Here are a few plants

that are showing their spicy colors.......

...while these take a little longer.

Shortly this corner of my yard will be sweet smelling with pink Plumeria and giant orange Cosmos.

The front yard still looks like winter is in full swing.

However, the grass has been fed,

and the newly planted flats of Petunias and Pansies

have had a long drink of Miracle Grow.

So today,

I am going to enjoy the sweet smell in the air,

and the spring like weather,

because the weather is expected to look like this for a few days next week...

and that's OK!

Before you know it I will be doing another post,

about another season,

and how I really love fall and pumpkins!

Two Are 3, and Jumping...... Weeee

2011-02-22T16:03:00.000-08:00

Change of Plans... details here!

With chilly temperatures and rain in the forecast,

the twins' party was moved from the park

to Jumping Jacks.

Just killing time.

Waiting for their friends

Mustaches from the quarter machine,
I think Quinn's hurts!

Jace

Quinn playing with toys.....
why not the slides and jumpers Quinn?

That's better, more fun too!

The cake room

Time to celebrate!

Laci did a great job on the decorations
and pictures of the little firemen.

Cupcakes and goodies

They're ready for the fun stuff

Cupcakes

Candles

Make a wish and blow out the candles!

...and just because she is adorable,
this is Macy eating her cupcake!

Boppa and Jace....buddies!
Happy Birthday boys, we love you little guys to pieces!

Duncan the Twirling Dog!

2011-02-14T20:17:00.000-08:00

Happy Valentine's Day

2011-02-14T20:06:00.000-08:00

Today I took donuts to all my funny Valentine's.

Lets start with the Rogina kids.

This made these cuties very happy!

Mackenzi with her Valentine from Mom and Dad.

This silly girl asked me to take a picture of her feet....OK?

Jace liked his heart too!

Quinn didn't want his picture taken.

Sorry it's blurry, too cute to leave out!

Next...The Gus kids.

More donuts

...and if he isn't the sweetest little guy,
dressed in his tie onesie his Auntie Laci made for him.
It matches the one's she made for Jace and Quinn.

Kelsea-bee

Dana sewed the embellished heart on her T-shirt.

She is a cutie too.

After school Braeden was tasting a Pixie stick.

I bet he didn't think it would be so tart.
I hope you all had a fun filled day full of love !

Lake Havasu's First Annual Hot Air Balloon Festival

2011-02-12T09:07:00.000-08:00

Last month, we met up with my parents in Lake Havasu for the balloon festival. There was so much going on. The actual festivities were at the Nautical Inn, on the island. The golf course was the place to be. There was balloons, food, craft vendors, entertainment, and a small carnival.

The problem was...it's an island.

One way in,

one way out.

This made for lots of traffic. There were supposed to be 42 balloons participating. I think I counted a total of maybe 13 that actually flew. There was a slight wind all three days. I guess anything over 5 mph and the balloons stay grounded. Aside from the balloons there were ultra lights as well as bi-planes.

The ultra lights

The view of the ferris wheel from across the channel.

It was fun to watch this crew trying to bring this "Serve Jesus" balloon in. One of the boats had a tow line, gently pulling it towards shore....then some unlucky ~~fool~~ guy had to go in waist deep to grab the line to bring the balloon in the rest of the way.

Its, a car, it's a boat...it's definatly cute!

This Jack-in-the-box was huge!
He got off the ground, but didn't travel very far before coming down again.

There are several light houses dotting the shore of the island.

Perfect ending of a perfect day?

A beautiful sunset.

Lake Havasu and the Parker Strip are right there at the

top of my list of my all time favorite spots to getaway!

Water, desert heat, and carefree days,

yup my favorite...

rates right up there with these two guys!

Next year? Count me in!

Kelsea aka The New Big Sister!

2011-02-05T14:44:00.000-08:00

Patiently waiting

for her freshly born brother

To wake up,
just...

so she can hold him! ....

While singing one of her favorite lullabies softly and sweetly to him!

This song is from an awesome CD of children's songs.

If you don't have this CD,

and have children,

you should go grab one of your own!

Just like this Nana!!

It's a Big World

By: Renee & Jeremy

Happy BIRTH Day 2-4-11

2011-02-04T10:57:00.000-08:00

Checking In 11:00 PM

Wheel her on down

Trying to rest up

Daddy too!

3.68 translates to 8.1 pounds

Apger score =10!

Those are some long little piggies!

Two very excited kids, big brother and big sister

Holding his little brother for the 1st time

Kelsea is so excited her little brother is finally here!
Dana and Camden are doing just fine.
I am so proud Dana, she was a pro. She made natural childbirth look so easy!
Camden William Gustafson
8 lb 1 oz
20.5"
6:32 AM
PERFECTION!

"Dancing" with her Fur Sister

2011-01-31T08:00:00.000-08:00

Hurley is such a sweet dog. She loves it when visitors stop by,

she gets so excited! Mackenzi is "dancing" with her.

I sure love these two girls!

Valentines Day Craft

2011-01-16T22:41:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was our girls craft day. We made these little cuties. Our inspiration came from HERE.

Dana, Laci, and I made one set. Diana made two. One for her and one for Sally. When I took this picture, because she was making two sets, she was still working on hers.

The craft table.

One of the projects mid way.

Our three sets.

Mine

Laci's

Dana's

I love how we were all making the same thing, but they all turned out a little differently.

"B" is For...

2011-01-07T20:27:00.000-08:00

Baby Showers re-named to a

Sprinkle

for diapers and wipes!

Darling B's

to decorate for the baby shower

for a special little boy.

Snacks to help keep the baby blues away!

Beautiful Mom

Big Sisters

Big Bellies

A lot of them...

I think there were 8 pregnant women at the shower.

Bellies of all different sizes.

I asked Dana how many were girls and how many were boys? She thinks the score is 3 to5

Baby Boys, 3..... Baby girls, 5

Baby diaper cakes

one red...the other green

I didn't get a picture of the green one, but it had a onesie

and the sweetest little tie on it.

The bucket was full of home made caramels....YUM!

Dana is very lucky to have such nice friends.

I had such a nice time chatting with you all.

Kim's house and decorations were beautiful.

Dana said Kim had been sick all week .

Thanks Kim for pulling off such a nice shower and fun evening,

all while feeling under the weather.

Every Time it Rains, it Rains....

2011-01-02T20:37:00.000-08:00

Pennies from Heaven.

Don't you know each cloud contains...

Pennies from Heaven

It's raining!

and....

I was thinking about the date tomorrow, and it being my Sweet Auntie Rita's birth date.

This song just popped into my head.

I am feeling empathy for all my cousins.

There are so many firsts that are hard to bare.

Getting through the holidays,

birthdays,

both hers and theirs.

Functions with her missing.

So many things...

....and it's hard!

Hard for people that haven't experienced it to understand.

But somehow, we all get through it,

realizing that we are stronger than we give ourselves credit.

Thankful for our children to help soften the hurt,

knowing they need us,

just as we needed our mother

....and life goes on!

So...

with that being said....

I'm sure these two are happy to be together

with their mother,

having a grand time celebrating each new day.....

and throwing random pennies our way,

to remind us they are nearby.

Happy day Auntie Rita!

Keep those pennies coming!

New Years Eve Day...and a Birthday Boy!

2011-01-01T21:02:00.000-08:00

New Years Eve is Braeden's birthday. This year he is seven. What a fun day he had. Braeden had his birthday breakfast at Kick Back Jack's.

All three sets of grand parents, Aunt P, Laci , Matt and the kids all joined the his family there.

We had a yummy breakfast.

He opened his presents,

and the waitresses brought him ice cream and sang to him.

Happy Birthday Braeden, We love you!

At Last

2010-12-28T22:27:00.000-08:00

The gifts are gone...

...and my girl is a happy camper

resting in the shade of our Christmas tree,

comfy on the quilted tree skirt.

Shhhhh...

I hate to break the news to her, but that tree is coming down!

Very soon!

Christmas Eve at 1727

2010-12-28T20:22:00.000-08:00

We had Christmas Eve at our house this year. We had 23 people here. Our home is 1100 square feet. The dining room is 8x8. What's a girl to do when the tree and gifts fill the dining room up?

Just smile like jolly old St Nick.

Be very thankful that the rain filled clouds moved on and brought beautiful blue skies.

Set all the snack-e-snacks outside.

Have some cute table settings,

with candles to set the mood.

Then have everyone find a seat....

...in the garage!

The detached garage!

Just roll a table with the food on it right up to the door.

Cover everything in foil and hope the food stays semi-warm.

Then pass around the serving dishes, family style!

We also put a few space heaters inside to help warm the room.

Tom was real sneaky, I found him nice and cozy,

in front of the TV in the house.

Smart man!

These little guys were on the table with all the sweet treats.

More random pictures!

My dog Daisy

Our patio

Our kids

My nieces and

daughter

The kids craft table

Let the gift giving

paper ripping

happy dancing

squeals of delight

begin!

This was a really nice Christmas Eve.

Thank you all for coming!

One thing for sure....

this old houses walls were filled to the brim with love!

On a Sunday Afternoon

2010-12-28T20:11:00.000-08:00

This was a very quick mini project we recently did on a Sunday afternoon.

We haven't had a head board in ages.

I wanted an accent wall in our bedroom.

Who needs a head board?

Not me,

I love this room now!