Sunday Funday!

Good morning ladies, and a happy Sunday morning to one and all! 

Ron and I are in northern NY today, in the Fbnger Lakes region, for my nephew's high school graduation party.  I can't believe this little boy is now 18, off to college, and oh by the way 6'2" and he size of a linebacker! We are staying at my in laws summer place, a lovely little spot on a small lake just 5 miles or so from the party. Very peaceful.  I slept about 10 hours - I guess I needed the rest!  My in laws are wonderful people and although they are in their 80's, they take care of me and everyone of us when we are here. I confess it is nice to be pampered a bit. :-) when they visit us, I return that favor! 

anyway, it's less than 2 weeks to arriving at our own little place, our cottage that we are buying up on Cape Cod.  It is a busy time and quite hectic, with getting financing finalized and scheduling all the little details that come with buying a new home. (Vickie knows all about this, she's quite expert!) Even so I am extremely excited.  I've always dreamed about it.  We arrive on the 8th but close on the 10th, and then we won't be able to actually use it until the 21st as we have other plans that we cannot change.  But then we plan to use it every weekend, and as often as we can, until we close it in October. it's thrilling and I can't wait! 

Vickie, you are so talented, I wish you lived closer so you could help advise me on decor and such for our new little place.  You're very good at it.  I am not at all crafty and admire it! I would probably also be buying some furniture items from you too. Good luck with the sales! All my love and hugs and prayers to you and your family.  

Connie, happy grandchildrens day! My stepchildren are 22 and 17 so it will (hopefully) be a few years until we see grands, but I know I will spoil them rotten :-)

mary, im typing now on an iPad and it is frustrating for sure.  I do what Vickie mentions by selecting all the text and copying it before I press submit.  Never fails that, when I forget this step, the post goes into the ether!  Anyway, hang in there. 

Trish, I saw those pictures of your darter on FB and they are adorable.  How did you imagine to look so lovely right after birth? It looks like a celebrity shot ;-) 

i know I've missed several of you and I do apologize.  I have to run and get a walk in before I shower for the party.  Love and hugs to all, and prayers to those in need.  

Christine

Good Morning Christine & my OFF Family!

We had a busy day yesterday starting w/yard sales & ending w/outside work around the house. My body is aching from walking, bending, reaching, etc. Geez how I hate this!

We are going into another heat wave so I plan to spend some longer time in the pool. I can't believe it is the last week of July! As much as I dislike extreme heat & humidity I prefer it over the cold, dark & dismal days of winter.

However, if my surgery goes well w/no setbacks I hope to be working PT by sometime in October. Need to get out of the house & definitely need the money. So it shouldn't be as bad as last year. I will keep the faith!

Christine, good to see you SO happy & excited! I have been blessed w/great in-laws from both marriages so I know what you mean. Never had a bad mother-in-law story to tell...lol! Enjoy them & your visit. I miss my mother-in-law from my 1st marriage & father-in-law from my 2nd marriage...both were saints!

It seems kids just grow up so fast. Congrats to your nephew! Nice the family comes together like that.

I would be on top of the world about your cottage, too! We would like to get a summer 'home' in southern Colorado down the road...probably just a trailer, but something nice enough to spend a few months in during the cold months. However, we have a few years to go til Jazz graduates & gets settled in college. SO ENJOY!

Trish, the pics of you & your daughter were precious! I hope you enjoyed the birthday celebration. Your daughter, son-in-law & grandkids all sound like the perfect kids!

Vickie, you are so talented in so many areas. My youngest daughter has a 2nd bedroom she painted a light purple. At first I thought it'd be too dark for a 12 x 12 room, but it actually looks stunning! She has white trim, a white bedspread w/purple, blue & green flowers & a few pictures where the purple & lavenders just pop due to the wall color. I also hear you about the baby blanket motif. I was so into the pinks & girly stuff having had 3 girls, but my daughter in law was big into the brown & pink like what you had pictured for her daughter. Different generation! But there are so many more choices these days.

Mary, I really miss hearing from you so I hope your new computer comes soon. I hate using my phone or kindle for any typing...I always run into some kind of problem. Hope everything is going well w/you!

Eileen, hope you & your brother are able to find something you both like. We had to rent an apartment for 2 months after our house sold, and had a half bath. It was the size of a closet! the rest of the apartment was huge so I figured we could deal w/it for the sake of 2 months. But truthfully it became very annoying very fast!

Connie, hope you are enjoying your family visit & it perks you up!

Judy, know you are no doubt whooping it up...one way or the other...and probably won't read this for awhile, but hope all is going smoothly.

I am going to hop off for now. Everyone have a great day!

Hello Kathy...I am sorry for your pain. It is hard to stop doing things once we get going. Then we pay for it afterwards!!

I wish I lived near...I would be with you in that pool every day!!

Your daughters bedroom sounds just wonderful...I would do those colors. Everything is white around here. We aren't allowed to paint.

I am so enjoying having the kids here...we have played games and were just being silly. I really needed this!!!

I haven't heard from Judy so all must be going well. I am sending prayers that her other son and his wife behaved themselves at the wedding! He was her greatest concern!!

Have a good evening!!!

Love and many HUGS to you...connie d 

Connie....thanks for the sympathy! I would have thought taking some weight off would not make me so sore. But you're right...when we have that burst of energy we try to use it & end up paying for it later.

I am better today!

It would be nice if you could come jump in the pool w/me...we'd have a blast. Too bad we can't all get together once a year for an in person reunion! We could have the 1st one at Christine's new cottage! (Right, Christine?   )

glad you enjoyed the family visit so much

Hey Christine, I'll housesit for you.....Cape is only 45 minutes away.....I live near Worcester!!!  Just leave the keys under the planter!!!  LOL.

HaHa Mary!

This is why I miss you when you're gone! That sense of humor!

You know darn well she'd have me up, though, before you!

I am her favorite...lol!

Hello Christine...I always get so excited when I see you have posted. I am so happy that you are getting that sweet little home on Cape Cod!! I just love it!! 

I am also glad you slept 10 hours...you really needed it after the weeks you have been having!!

I agree...that nephew is no little BOY anymore! They just grow up so fast! It is great that your in-laws treat you so well and you them. It makes life so much more special!! My in laws were very nice too...even after the divorce's. I am friends with my ex-husbands and that has always helped our children. I think grandchildren are the absolute greatest gift there is!! I am in no hurry for great grandchildren yet!! They are all in college or school yet.

Have a wonderful evening...love and hugs always...connie d

Greetings Christine and OFF,

Christine, I am so jealous of you getting that cottage on the Cape.  I lived in Massachusetts for three years, and loved the Cape.  Of all the beach type places I've been to, that is my absolute favorite.  

Kathy, I wish I had a pool right now.  It is so stinking hot here, and it's supposed to be hotter tomorrow.  

I hope Connie is having a good visit with Gracie, and the kids.  I know how good they are for her.  

I think Vickie, Christie and the boys went swimming at the park.  I saw a picture on Facebook earlier.

OMG, yesterday was a blast.  First, I was at Colleen's, baking a second batch of cupcakes, and decorating cupcakes with Izzy.  I'll post a picture of them.  After Colleen got home, I ran home, made a cucumber salad, changed my shirt, and went to the luau.  Not only were Colleen's in-laws there.  Friends of Izzy's from school, with their families, friends from church, friends of friends.  It was huge.  There were so many kids, I couldn't count them all.  Plus, many adults.  The food choices were abundant.  Plus, they have a built in pool, and we played games.  There were kids relays.  A water balloon toss, which was kids and adults, hula gear, they did the hokey pokey, and chicken dance.  Plus, they played the limbo.  We took a picture of the entire group too.  Then, Trent's Aunt Barb did face painting.  She's an artist to begin with.  She painted every kid that wanted it.  Then, she turned the paints over to Izzy, who did some.  I got there at 2:30, and didn't get home till 9:30.  They only live 20 minutes away.

Today, my church had a pastoral candidate preach, and also do a Q&A session.  Our congregation will vote on if we want him to be our pastor in two weeks.  We have been without one for two years.  I'm hoping we vote to have him come.  He's finishing a Th.M. degree at Dallas Theological Seminary.  

This afternoon, Colleen asked me to watch Frankie while she went grocery shopping.  Izzy was at her other grandma's swimming with cousins, and Lincoln was at a minor league ball game with his Dad and T-ball team.  Tonight, I'm going over again, for a bonfire, and for her to open her birthday present.

Must scoot.

Love, and Hugs,

Trish

Hello Trish.....your day yesterday sounds like it was one fun thing after the other. Good for you. I know how you treasure time with your family and friends. 

I hope you and your church members do get that new pastor. You have been without for way too long! I am praying for you all!!

My last 24 hours have been amazing. I am so enjoying all this time with my family!!

Have fun at the bonfire tonight. I hope Colleen enjoys her gift!!!

I need to go  for now....love and hugs...connie d 

Trish, I just had to comment on all the fun you had yesterday!

We used to go to annual family picnics at a county park every year when we were kids. My dad was one of 9 kids so there were 101 1st cousins. The adults organized games like ankle races, potato sack races, volleyball & other assorted games. Since we are Irish Catholic there was loads of booze...& the uncles would play cards & drink til they started passing out. Us kids would sneak around the ones 'sleeping' on the picnic benches to watch them snore & try to wedge potato chips under them so they would crunch when they moved! Silly....& certainly a different era, but we had so much fun! I miss all my aunts & uncles...only one aunt is still alive. They set such a good example about what family was about just as it appears is happening w/your grandkids.

Oh, and how I miss having bonfires in our backyard when we lived in the country! Summer, Winter, Fall & Spring! always a good time!