Nana/Papa Day with the Grands May 30

 Leighton has an upper respiratory infection but you could not tell it.  She is such a happy baby.  The meds are making her a bit hyper though and her naps are way shorter than they should be but she only has a couple more days on them, thank goodness.

She and her Papa have a special relationship.  He calls her "Bella" for beautiful.  Kristen worries about her lack of hair but I have reminded her that she had so little when she was a year old that I taped a bow in her three strands for her first birthday.  Leighton is lucky that the headbands for 'baldy babes' are so popular now.  No scotch tape for our little gal.

 The boys are rapidly approaching two with all the accompanied characteristics.  By nature, fortunately, they are kind and loving little guys and they play together better as time passes.  Their vocabulary is increasing daily and we find them (and they us) very entertaining. 

Next Wed. is our last Nana/Papa Play Day at their house but they will be coming to see us at least once a week during the summer.  We have so many plans:  swimming, searching for the gnomes in Nana's garden (those pesky little things move around between visits, don't ya know), stalking lizards and watching for butterflies , going to the park to play on the play ground , shopping with Nana and Mama, and cooking up wonderful things on their play stove supervised by Chef Papa.  Come join us! 

Our Early Memorial Day

 We had the Owens' Gang over yesterday for a bbq and swimming and what a fun day.  The boys colored with the paper only Crayola kits Linda Adams got for them,

 Landon, who use to hate wearing hats, now has a love affair with them...especially the Bob the Builder one that came with the boys' mega blocks.

 and here is our baby girl who I am sure is saying, "Get me outta here"!

 It was so muggy out, that we brought the boys kitchen set inside.  They pretend cook and are constantly rrearranging the post and pans. 

The pool was refreshing and the kids are making great progress with their kicking and we are working on the dog paddle slowly but surely.  Swim lessons in their future for this summer!

Hope your Memorial Weekend has been a good one!

That was the week that was...

 We have had the craziest, zaniest weeks we've had for the longest time.  Some things I can share now and some I will be able to share soon.  We had our usual Nana/Papa Day with the Grands last Wed. and then a bonus day with Papa's "Bella" yesterday.  Poor little Leighton has an upper respiratory and Chris could not take off work.  He took her to the doctor and then brought her over here for the day and then the whole Owens Gang joined us for dinner.

So here are the high lights from our last Nana/Papa day.
The boys and their Papa have a new treat time ritual...they share an apple.  Papa gets mostly skin and the boys alternate bites with Papa getting one every now and then.

 Leighton is up and on her way to moving and groving:

 but her favorite activity is playing rolley polley with her toes.

 and look at our Rock Star!

 I found this Leap Frop bike at the kids' resale shop for $15.00 and it is in primo condition.  They boys like it because it 'talks' to them . Neither one can quite grasp the concept of pushing on the pedals but they still love it...won't be long!

 Colvin is trying to tell me how old he is going to be...ummmmmmmmmmmmmm?

 And here is me in a rare Nana and Owens Gang photo...

 Colvin and Landon invented a new game...climb up on Papa and use his tummy like a slide.  And there is less of Papa to slide down than there use to be...I've lost 32 on WW and E has lost 24lb.  And we walk daily...better to keep up with those Owens kids!

I started the week with 5 people signed up for my Foils and Leafing Tech class to 8 with a waiting list (we are doing a second class on June 2 in the afternoon at Posh Scraps)and the afternoon class has gone from 2 to 5...so I've been loading kits like a mad woman. 

Hope you are having a wonderful Memorial Day Weekend...please take time to remember why we have this 3 day weekend!  God Bless our servicemen and women.

Beautiful day in Dunedin, Fl.

 Jacque, Cynthia and I met at Cafe Alfredo's in Dunedin today for lunch and much talk and fun.  I think we can count the number of stores we did not visit on one hand.  I found the cutest tin tray and two cups at The Feathered Nest...a beautiful shop with lots of lovely things and the price was unbelievable.  I may have to go back as there was a wire tray with 3 glass bottles that would also be perfect for my work room.

And, at another shop, I fell in love with this display.  Wonder if the owner would mind coming over to my house and rearranging our wine things that are on the recess around the kitchen?

 My reorganization of the work room continues albeit slowly.  This was my 'sparkly' drawer with all my pretties.  As you can see, I was heavy into zip lock bags to control the mess.

 Now, not only are the used up, dried up tubes etc. gone but it is much easier to find things now.

Look out adhesive drawer, you are next. 

Tomorrow is Nana/Papa play day with the Grands and Thurs I am loading my kits for the Foils and Leafing Tech class at Posh Scraps.  I am hard at work on an Intro to Scrapbooking 3 part class for June and, at the request of a few gals in my classes, another take on the shadow box we did a couple of months ago.  This time, instead of a beachy theme, we'll be working with fabric flowers, canvas and oh so many fun things.   Hope you can join us. 

I am taking July off from teaching to recharge my batteries but will be back in full force in Aug with more fun!  Watch my altered blog for samples and surprises.

As always, thank you so much for reading my blog!

June is just around the corner

and we have one hugely busy month ahead of us filled with some wonderful events.  E and I are celebrating our 17th anniversary, I am teaching a private class on the 2nd. , the little guys' birthday party is the 3rd., the kids' anniversary is the 6th, and that is our last official Nana/Papa Day for the summer, Book Club is the 7th. , school is out for K on the 8th , and on the 9th...my 65th. b'day we head to Mims and Titusville celebrate Kim and Mitch's wedding. On the 10th., our little twins officially turn TWO and I have classes and crops galore through out the rest of the month and will be starting an Intro to Scrapbooking series of classes at Posh.  Wheee! and I didn't even mention some fun things in the works!  But for now...mum's the word! 

Hope your summer is off to a great start too!  Pictures of said above mentioned events to follow so watch this spot!

Doing some house cleaning on my blog

My first clean up has been on my blog list.  If you notice yours missing, it is because you may not have blogged since Jan 2012.  There were some who had not blogged since 2010! lol.  I'd love to add active blogs to mine so if you have one and we chat or know each other, please email me so I can add you ASAP.  (eeickmeier@hotmail.com).

I'll be cleaning up others places on my blog to make it more attractive as time goes on.  If you have any ideas for me or thoughts about what would make this a better blog, please share them. 

To those who read here, every thankful!

It was Nana/Papa Play Day on Friday

And, after we gave the little guys watermelon for the snack after their naps, we wiped their hands and faces with warm wash cloths...they took those and went to town.  There was little left on the lanai that was not spiffy clean when they got done.  But, my favorite was the "Working at the Car Wash" photos I captured when they went to work on their Cozy Car!

Both boys love to be read to and follow along quite well.  We try to ask them questions as we read to them and point out colors, numbers etc.  Here is Papa and his Littel Buddy, Colvin discussing the finer points of what is alike and what is different.

And then, right when Kristen got home there was the episode of the 'Nake.  Long ago and far away, our favorite and only son in law had some wisdom teeth removed.  He recuperated at our house until Kristen could pick him up.  Knee deep into his misery aided by bags of frozen peas, he yelled to me..."Juli (keep in mind his mouth is numb and filled with cotton packing)! Nake Nake...!
We had a snake on the deck.  Fast forward to yesterday....

I was sitting on the kids' lanai with the boys and little Miss L in my arms.  Kristen walks out to us and I hand her the baby.  She says to me, "Mom, get in the house NOW".  Without even looking around I knew what was lurking in the shadows of the lanai and you can bet it was not the Shadow.  It was a black snake.  I believe I set land speed records for scooping up Landon (Colvin had already moved into the house) and getting off the lanai.  The MIGHTY SNAKE HUNTER (aka Papa) to the rescue.  He dispatched said 'Nake with his size 14 shoes and all the strength of a Papa Super Hero and saved us!  Other than that, it was a grand day with the Grands.

Off to see the Grands tomorrow

Because of an Instructors' Class at Posh Scraps yesterday, we switched our Nana / Papa play day to Friday with the Grands.  Yesterday, I hung out with my gal pals Cynthia (who just got a 4.0 in her Master's Program) and Jacque, who has completed a move and is finally back home with us scrapping at Posh Scraps in Palm Harbor, Fl. 

Please check my altered blog to see what I learned...last two posts are a show and tell!

Hope your week is going well.

Twinkling H20s , Webester's Pages, Helmar and Colvin

I was updating my calendar book today and noticed we are only a hop, skip and a jump away from our two weeks at the beach.  I've owned our time share since 1986 and we have not missed a summer yet.  Last summer was the boys' first time at the beach and they had a blast.  They will be down for at least half a week this coming year and it will be Leighton's first time.  I've been gathering beachy papers for quite some time now in anticipation.  Today, in the midst of cleaning and organizing in my work room, I cam across this pic of Colvin and just had to scrap it. 

 In my "To Dye For" class a couple of weeks ago, we dyed cheese cloth among other things. When I got home, I dyed more but in Twinkling H20s. I love how this piece turned  out so I used it as the waves.  Helmar's Fabric Stiffener and Draping Liquid to stiffen and shape the dyed cheese cloth. 

The paper is Webster's Pages Palm Beach line.  I used two sheets of the same paper and cut out the umbrellas.  The top ones are coated with Glossy Accents to make them easier to shape and then adhered with Helmar's Liquid Glue dots...my favorite product.  I get most of my supplies from Posh Scraps in Palm Harbor, Fl. as most of you know. 

And, I even got some cleaning and laundry done today.  Can't wait til tomorrow...not only am I getting to scrap with the Wed. Gals at Posh but I am also getting to meet Cheryl Mezzetti, the lead designer for Creative Imaginations who will be teaching an evening class at Posh!  Hope to see you there!

Happy Mother's Day

The Owens family on Leighton's dedication day at Harbor Side Christian Community Church.

Uncle Rob and his little buddy, Colvin.  These two have an affinity for each other even though it is Landon who reminds me so much of Rob when he was this age.  Colvin always runs to his Uncle Rob and Landon, straight to his Papa!

Kristen found the perfect dress for our little lady:  it was a ballerina style tulle over cotton and she looked like a little doll.

A photographer who attends the church does family and dedication day photos for free.  I took these before she had all of us join in .  I can't wait to see the total family pic.

After the service, Rob, E and I headed back home and the kids swung by their home briefly.  We had doors shut, cabinets locked and the gate to the pool secured by the time they arrived.  We fed the boys and got them down for their nap and our little dolly took hers at the same time.  We had  a late lunch of chicken, seasoned baked potatoes and corn on the cob with a toast to the two Mama's before  nap time was over.

Rob got lots of updates etc. done on my laptop, the printer made truly wireless, but still can't get my mic to work with Google Chrome ...another day perhaps.

I got a lovely charm fro my Pandora and am edging close to needed a second bracelet thanks to friends and family.  And the guys, in addition to doing all the cooking, did all the clean up too so Kristen and I could relax after our late lunch. 

All have gone home now and it is way too quiet at Nana and Papas!  Hope your Mother's Day was a beautiful and memorable one !

Wed. Play Day with the Grands

 The boys turned 23 months today and time has been flying by it seems. Leighton turned six months on the second of May.  Wed. is Nana/Papa play day and here are some of the shots I took.  Happy 23rd. boys...you are growing up far too fast for this ol' Nana.

 Landon in his Rays shorts and shirt

 and Colvin in his Cardinals outfit...we are a bi baseball team family!

 Kristen has been teaching the boys to hug and help each other.  This hug was a bit overly enthusiastic but genuine none the less.

 Leighton is teething and without a bib, I fear she would mildew as she drools all the time.  She is such a good natured and sweet girly girl who smiles at almost everything and finds her big brothers quite entertaining.

.Here are the boys sitting on the table their Mama tells them to stay off of...oh well! lol  We do work hard to be consistent for the kids' sake but every now and then we go astray...like the chocolate chip cookie Papa split with the boys for an afternoon treat!

Hope your week is going well.