Snow~Baby

I had a wonderful weekend with sweet little Ella. She is getting so smart and cute I just can't stop taking her picture. Also... I am adding all these pictures especially for Peppy (Fred) who is in Cambodia again this week and misses his little Sweet Pea.

Ella has now learned to pose for the camera, so this is her camera smile.

But she eventually got it right

She loves watching Backyardigans in the back seat

and there's nothing quite as sweet as seeing these on your kitchen counter

Chilled out on the couch with baby, Nemo, and Yogurt Juice

Shopping at the Mall

 

Tired of shopping at the Mall

Sleepy Time Again

My weekend was also wonderful because we got Snow!  I don't know when I ever remember snow BEFORE Christmas in Tennessee.  Our first and sometimes only snow usually comes right around my birthday, Jan 23rd. But we were pleasantly surprised to wake up to snow Saturday morning.

When I finally ventured out into the cold Saturday afternoon I saw so many cute Snowmen, I just had to take their pictures and share with you. 

He was wearing his maker's green coat and blue scarf and held a rake. very creative!

 

This one was on Peerless and stayed for almost 24 hours. Marissa says they must have really packed the snow tight to make it stay so long.

 

This one was cuter than it looks in the picture

And finally, a set of twins.  

 Hope that brightens your day and gets you into the Christmas spirit!

BaHumbug!

Yesterday I received two interesting telephone calls. First, I get a call on my cell phone from the Chattanooga Times Tribune... when I answered, she immediately went into this long sales pitch. I stopped her and asked how she got my cell phone number. She said that Verizon sold our numbers.  First of all, I am no longer with Verizon, I am with AT&T, but my number did originate with Verizon... so they have kept me in their database. Secondly, I put my number on the so-called "no call" list. This is ridiculous! How can someone get access to something that costs us money for them to use??? Does this make sense to anyone? How is this different than allowing strangers to come by and use your water hose to wash their car? It is my money they are spending.

My second phone call was in fact a call that I receive quite often and I am really sick of them. Once again.. my cell phone rings. I answer and the lady on the other end asked for "Mr. G......" I say, "This is Mrs. G....., you have called my cell phone. Who's calling?" She said, "Oh, please disregard the call. Please tell Mr. G.... that ***** Bank called concerning his account." I say, "Excuse me, Mr. G...... does not manage our bank accounts, I do, that is why you have my cell phone number." After clearing her throat, she then proceeds to talk to me about our accounts.  I receive these same kind of calls from our Credit Card companies and our mortgage companies often.  I do not understand. My name is on our checking account right alongside my husbands.  Does it make me a non-person because there is a man's name on the account? Evidently! Be warned all single ladies, as soon as you get married, you become an idiot.  Next time I am going to ask if they cannot see my name on the account and why did they not ask for either of us since we are both equally listed on the account. This is 2009, who is training these people to ask only for the man?? You may think I'm super-sensitive but this gets old after 28 years of it.

Now for some other random thoughts:

Why are we only allowed to check our credit at the three national credit bureaus just once a year? It is our credit, our identity, our financial well-being. Who made this decision? And why does it put points against our credit when we ourselves check it? Imagine if the bank said we could only see our account once a year. This is much the same. This whole system is messed up! How can we be so technologically advanced in this society but be so far behind in other ways?

Why is their no data base on our health records? If someone get in a tragic car accident and cannot speak for themselves.. etc.. shouldn't the hospital be able to put in our driver's license number and get all of our important health information before treating us? This could mean life or death. How is it that we don't have this in 2009?  People can go from pharmacy to pharmacy and get the same prescriptions over and over and no one even knows they are doing it.

Okay, enough Ba-humbug. Here's some random other thoughts, (a couple of them I received in an email forward from my friend)

Map Quest really needs to start their directions on #5. I’m pretty sure I know how to get out of my neighborhood.


Obituaries would be a lot more interesting if they told you how the person died.


I'm always slightly terrified when I exit out of Word and it asks me if I want to save any changes to my ten page paper that I swear I did not make any changes to.

I keep some people's phone numbers in my phone just so I know not to answer when they call. 

I hate when I just miss a call by the last ring, but when I immediately call back, it rings nine times and goes to voice-mail. What'd you do after I didn't answer? Drop the phone and run away?

Speaking of voice-mail, I believe I know how to leave one without the 2 minute instructions that are given to make the phone companies more money by wasting my minutes.

and..
Speaking of Ba-Humbug! I was at the Bank this afternoon and evidently Scrooge himself was in there too. When I came out, this car was parked next to mine!

Thanksgiving Weekend - Part III

I'm calling this Part III because Marissa did Part I and Rachel did Part II. We literally partied all weekend long.. going from house to house as Rachel mentioned.  The last night Ella and Harper really bonded and had the time of their life. Here's Harper showing us her sparkly Christmas Tree.

And they both had to enjoy the soft and fuzzy pink rug.

and Ella's two favorite things ~ a bath and a special friend (cousin)

We took several great pictures of different groups of family but those are forth-coming in Christmas Cards so we can only show the ones that are not being used.  This one is of my parents and their Six Great-Grandchildren. Rachel's four: Harper, Fletcher, Winston & Jones. Sarah's 2 week old Gabriel and in the middle is Marissa's Ella Rose.

Don't my Mom and Dad look Great!!! One of the things I am most thankful for at this Thanksgiving Season and all year round is my mom and dad.  I have been blessed with two of the most incredible parents anyone could have. Such wisdom and strength of character, good hearted, honest, loving, caring, and the model that all parents, grand-parents, and great-grand-parents should strive to be.  I can't say enough about how appreciative I am to be blessed with such wonderful role-models. No wonder our family is so close. They paved the way and we have all been blessed to be born into their home!  
I love you Mom and Dad.

Christmas Times A Comin

We have been having so much fun this year with Ella getting ready for Thanksgiving and Christmas! She is really taking in all the sparkly decorations and makes Christmas very magical for all of us! She was at our house when we first put up our Christmas tree and of course we captured some special moments with the camera.  First, she has this really funny hat that I had to show you.  She looks even more like Kevin in this picture!

Then we started to put up the Christmas Tree

And the sweetest thing you've ever seen... when Poppy got up on the ladder, she went over and held on to his ankles. I guess she's seen Marissa do this for Kevin or more likely Kevin doing this for Marissa or something??? It was so sweet!

Then she evidently has seen me water the plants in the house because she got under the kitchen sink and came over to the tree and tried to water the Christmas tree!  Be careful... they learn by watching!

Then, she just stood back and looked at the pretty lights!

By the way, she loves her little house shoes and wants to put them on as soon as she gets to Nana's house... which brings me to another note, we were supposed to be Nana and Poppy but Ella calls us NaaNaa and Peppy. I dont know about NaaNaa but Peppy definately fits Fred!  He loves Christmas and always loves to decorate and is quite good at it too.  When he gets started I just stay out of his way and wha-la my house looks like a Christmas fairyland! It's wonderful! You are all invited to come visit during the Holdays and enjoy the fruits of his labor!

Ella was very tired after all that decorating!

We miss Whitney terribly this year. It will be the very first time we haven't had her home for Thanksgiving or Christmas and I hope it never happens again! We are so thankful that we have Marissa and Kevin and Ella close by. Marissa had a HUGE Thanksgiving Dinner at her house today for Kevin's mom and grandparents and us and my parents. Her house was decorated so beautiful... with three Christmas Trees and beautiful decorations everywhere and Kevin put lights all along the roof line outside that makes their house look like a gingerbread house. You'll have to drive by if you live in Cleveland.~~
They made the most amazing meal, a huge feast and evidently Marissa got her grandmother's knack for cooking! I had no idea she was such a great cook!! In fact Fred remarked at the table today that the Great Cook "Gene" skipped a generation from Granny to Marissa. Hummmm... Anyway, it was delicious! Kevin deep fried the Turkey and it was amazing. I hope this is a tradition that continues because it was one of the all-time best meals I've eaten and the day was beautiful just being able to sit around and talk and enjoy each others company. 
I took some pictures but I used Marissa's camera so she'll have to post them on her blog.  I did get a video of Ella with her first Christmas present that her DaDa bought her tonight though. The first part of the video is at Marissa and Kevin's house and the last part is at mine, I just wanted to show you her winter hat at the end.

Washington DC

On our third day visitng Whitney and Nathan we decided to drive two hours to our Nation's Capitol, Washington DC. It had to be one of the most beautiful days of the year, around 77 degrees, bright sun, and a cool breeze and there weren't very many visitors except us so that made it easy to get around as well.

After much walking, we decided to take the "hop on - hop off" bus tour.

I had to deal with some "renter" issues while on the bus tour so I went to the front end of the bus so I could hear better and Fred snapped this picture. It looks like I'm trying to pose in front of the capitol faking a call. haha

We visited several of the Smithsonian Museums. They were renovating the American History Museum, which is my favorite, but we still were able to see the flag, ruby slippers, and a few of the first ladies dresses. We also went to the Natural History Museum and saw the Hope Diamond and the dinosaurs etc...

 

But the biggest highlight of the day was our "special" meeting with President Obama! We got this autographed photo because we knew you wouldn't believe that we actually got to see him! :)

Pennsylvania - Day One & Two

Saturday, Nov 14th, I got up early and drove to Atlanta to meet Fred who was coming in from Charlotte to fly to Pennsylvania to see Whitney and Nathan's shows. We got in just in time to check in, grab some dinner at a little Amish family restaurant and get to Nathan's 7:30 show.

The town was swarming with people. We couldnt believe it. It was like going into Gatlinburg on Friday night. We finally made it to the theatre just in time. It's a beautiful facility.

There were beautiful Christmas decorations everywhere.

This facility seats several thousand people and it was packed. They say it stays packed out for every show. It's just so hard to believe because it is set in the middle of Amish farms etc.. At the very beginning of the show they previewed the upcoming show, "Joseph." Nathan was the featured soloist to sing one of Joseph's songs. He was amazing!! I can't tell you how proud I was to see him singing in on that huge stage in front of that massive crowd! If Whitney hadn't been sitting next to me.... there would be a picture... but the theatre allows no photography so she wouldn't let me "sneak" any pictures. 

After the show we went back to their apartment and it was so nice. They have done a great job decorating.

The next morning we went to pick them up at their apartment and there were cute little Amish families walking home from church.

They have beautiful scenery all around their house.

and they are still the cutest little newlyweds ever

Then we ate lunch at this old fashioned corner drugstore in downtown Strasburg, just a mile past the theatre. It was so quaint and the food was delicious~

They sold fresh/homemade items in the back of the store.. in these containers are every kind of candy, nut combinations, granolas, coffee blends, hot cocoas, soup mixes, bread mixes, dip mixes, cake mixes, etc... everything fresh and home-grown by the Amish. I wanted to buy it all and bring it home!

We drove into Reading, PA, just a few miles away for the afternoon. Reading is the birthplace and homestead of Daniel Boone. We didnt get to visit there but we enjoyed seeing all the beautiful old architecture and colorful fall foilage. The houses along the streets reminded me of "sesame street.."

We ended the day by going to the IMAX and seeing "A Christmas Carol" in 3D.

Many of you are probably going to plan to see this during the Holidays. It features Jim Carrey in at least half of the roles (7 all-together) but it's really hard to find him. He is incredible in this movie. I must send out a caution though.  It was extremely dark, much more so than any other version of this story that I have seen.  I would definately not recommend any child see this movie. It was somewhat demonic to me.... (but I do not watch violence or horror or any type of disturbing movie so I realize I am more sensitive than the average person.)  However, I can say it was a great movie in the fact that it really reminds us that what we have in this life is not important but those we can help along the way is the true meaning of living... and this version kindof scares that idea into your mind! :)  ~~

So that was the end of day two... more to come...

A few of my favorite & unfavorite things

I have spent all evening (just about) trying to pack for my trip to Pennsylvania to see my wonderful daughter and son-in-law.  I am so excited to get to go and especially excited to see them  in once again another show.  I am excited to see their new home and be with them as husband and wife since their marriage just a few short weeks ago! But I think I hate packing more than anything I can think of. Every time we're about to go on a trip it almost makes me sick to think about packing. I don't know why.. maybe it's because I don't like to make decisions and it seems to get worse the older I get.  I especially don't like to have to make 4-5 days of clothing decisions all at once, knowing that I will probably wish I had brought completely different clothes when I get there.. Anyway, over the past few days I've had a heightened alertness to things that make me happy and things that irritate me. Haha... so I thought I'd name a few....

Things that are irritating to me:

1.  when you order a hot dog and they pour the chili ALL OVER the whole thing and then give you a fork. (sonic) Where did it get lost in translation that a hotdog is a quick -hold in your hand- food.
2.  hotels with feather pillows that go completely flat when you lay on them.. and some even have twigs that stick through the pillow case into your face! (marriott and hyatt)
3.  spam... I am getting around 300 a day now.. yes, they go into my spam folder but I have to check that folder because of work emails... who responds to these things anyway. Evidently someone does or they would quit spamming us!
4.  I hate having to get up early.  If I have to get up before I'm ready, I spend the entire day sick at my stomach. I dont know why I'm this way but I've always been.
5.  I hate to talk on the phone. This is one of the things I hate the most. I dont know why.  I love to talk to people but I just dont like talking over the phone. Email and texting has saved my life!

Things that make me happy:

1. Of course #1 would have to be my family, especially my granddaughter and daughters. I am very family oriented though so the entire family is very very important to me. I have to say that the newest thing that really makes me happy is the hugs and kisses that Ella gives though.
2. If you know me at all, you know that I love crushed ice. I will drive 20 miles to a sonic or zaxby's to get a drink instead of going somewhere nearby that has huge ice.--- Ella loves crushed ice too.
3. One of the highlights of each day is my long hot morning shower.  I just can't start any day without it. If I do, I feel bad all day.
4. I love the song, "I saw God today."  I just heard it this afternoon and it makes me cry every time.
5. I love mexican food. Funny, I hated it until I became pregnant with my first child and then I craved it and have loved it ever since.
6. I love my iphone. It's the greatest invention of the century! Everything I need to do, I can do from my little iphone. If I could only have one "techie" thing, it would be my iphone... and you know how much I love all things techie.

Well, I know I could go on but that's just my thoughts for the day.

I also want to introduce you to my new great-nephew, born Nov 11th, to my niece Sarah and her husband Alex. His name is Gabriel Lorenzo Colonna and he is less than a day old in this picture. Have you ever seen such an alert newborn!! Evidently he is going to be brilliant like his parents.  His mom is an Internal Med Doctor at Wake Forest and his father is a Trauma Surgeon. Sarah is my sisters middle daughter and Alex family lives in Brussels, Belgium.

How sweet! I'm so very happy for Sara and Alex and I can't wait to see little Gabriel in person!!! -- by the way, Gabriel was one of the three names we had picked out if our girls had been boys. We thought Gabe Garmon has a good sound to it.