Grateful for...

....sleeping babies.

Grateful for...

...feet.

Grateful for...

....things unseen like hope and faith.

Grateful for...

....someone to be silly with.

Grateful for...

...color.

Grateful for...

being a mother.

I Could've Done A Lot of Things this Hour...

...but I did this instead! LOL!

My sister sent me this advertisement last year in the mail. I LOVE it.
I've been meaning to try to duplicate it with Tucker.
I haven't taken the time until tonight.
Here's what pictures I got:

Not quite what I was imagining,

but I'm pretty amazed that Tucker would even stay in the sink.
The sink IS a bit small for him!Tucker will never have the stamina for professional modeling.

Link Love

So, as you know, I'm a horrible slacker when it comes to my blog settings and layout. I'm just happy that I'm posting; but I have really wanted to put up some links of my family and friends' blogs. I appreciate hearing about your lives (especially those of you I don't get to see very often!) I think I have everyone, but I would hate to forget any friend or family member so email me if I'm a dunce. So I have taken PeaPod's naptime and added the links! I'm so proud of myself. Now if only the socks were sorted...

God Bless Our Veterans! We Salute You!

On this Veterans' Day I send out my love and gratitude to all veterans. I don't think it is a coincidence that it is so close to Thanksgiving Day. I am grateful there are men and women willing to work hard,all hours of the day anywhere in the world, and put their very life at stake for my well being. I cannot imagine what they have faced but I am glad to know that there are those who have faith in what is good in this country. Both of my grandfathers are veterans. I have included pictures from their service. They look and are so young and full of life. They are good looking too!
God bless our veterans! God bless the USA!
May we not forget.

This first picture below is of my great uncle Ameth who died fighting in World War II. By all accounts, he was very heroic and there was a number of places named after him after the war here and in Germany.


The following is photos of my grandpa on my mother's side. He served in the Navy.



The following are pictures of my grandpa on my father's side. He served as a medic in the Army. I especially love the fourth photo because he looks so much like my dad in it!

Exhale or Pass Out? Snow or No!

Autumn seemed to be holding her breath the last week in October. It was beautiful with crisp mornings and sunny afternoons. My pear trees turned from brilliant shades of yellow into red. Halloween came and then either autumn passed out or she exhaled because winter seems to have replaced her. Here is a pic from the big snow storm during the first week of November. Pea was so excited about the change.
Princess Pea ran to each of the windows yelling "NO! NO! NO!" Which is her saying "snow" but I really did want to yell, "NO! NO! NO!" I think snow is pretty. I love a white holiday season. I love it as long as I don't have to drive in it! Pea first touched the snow. Then she pointed her toe in it. Then she really got into it and trudged all around the yard. She would fall and need me to get her up since we don't have mittens for her yet. It was fun to see snow as something so new and exciting.

Just One More Time...

Okay, I just love PeaPod in this costume, so bear with me as I post it yet again! Mothers have a right to brag and they should - it is in the Parental Bill of Rights! And I don't want to be a bad parent so....

My Mom, Our Nana

I have wanted to do this post for some time, but have procrastinated it because I just don't have the words. I don't know if there are words that can describe how wonderful it is to have a mother like I do. She is a beautiful person inside and out. She is always trying to improve herself and she is her hardest critic. At my age, she had 4 daughters and was taking care of her mother who was in the last stages of terminal cancer. I can't imagine that. I am blessed every day she is with me. She sewed little girl dresses and unusual Halloween costumes, played "squirrels" in the pantry and "alligator" with the vaccuum, tolerated many a "tent" made out of blankets and furniture and "potions" made out of cosmetics in the sink, she got tired teenage-me out of bed with the dryer buzzer, always encouraged me to reach out to others no matter what their popularity or station of life, and she knows how to make a great chicken noodle soup.
Our life and trials are so different, yet I feel so close to her.
She is generous of spirit and love.

I am so glad to have someone who lifts me up and is a great friend. She is inspiring, fun-loving and talented.

Her heart is soft and her spirit strong.

With a project in front of her, she is unwavering and no one works harder.

If I become half the mother she is, I will be a success.

I still don't have the words and probably never will. I guess that is why the word "mother" is so special.

I love you, Mom!