Yea! A week of birthday celebration~

The pic on the right is her first taste of cake...not so impressed.  Lol

 
I flew in a day before her first birthday and had a few days to help mom get everything ready for her party the following Saturday. I started a month before, making party favors. Since the theme was 'Twinkle Twinkle Little Star', I crochet facial cloths for moms in STAR shapes and even made toddler size bath cloths to match the theme.

 

 

 

Mini cupcake in the shape of ONE....and a time line wall of her clothes the past year.

 

More to come...

My first week in Cool, California

Now remember, I had not held this precious grand daughter since she was 9 days old, so I had a whole year to make up for~

Time to unpack and pull out the handmade goodies....a little crochet poncho and hat. *smile*  At this point Penelope loves to point her finger!

 Here we are at her first 'Story time'. Not sure who was having more fun! I think I was. Penelope is not to sure what's going on. Didn't take long for her start really enjoying the puppets.  OH! This was her 1st birthday too~

 

 A few days later it was time for her first gymnastic play day. Her mom is a retired gymnast  and coach for cheerleading and gymnastic. Hence, starting her out early. 

                                               Working on her handstands....

This amazed me. When her mom tells her to tighten her knees, her hands go up and she balances on her own. WOW! Then she says 'YEA'.

 

Stay time to more post...there was so much to do and see in my 3 week visit.

What a way to start the New Year!

 I spent 3 weeks in Cool, California with my youngest daughter and her lovely family. What an adventure that was. I was there for a few 'milestones' with my grand daughter

 

 Penelope Lee.

 

 

 

Here is part of the American River. So nice to see running water, as you can imagine, with the drought California is going through.

  Because it had be raining a bit, this are green now. Even had a couple of waterfalls popping here and there.

 


This was on the way to Cool. Such a lovely drive. I really enjoyed riding through the canyon. Such beauty. Later I will post pics of the hikes we took. The weather was chilly at times, but when the sun shines its down right hot.


I have so much to share with you. Check back later for more....*smile*

 

 

 

                                Walk faster ladies, the vultures are circling us!

                              Kathy and I rode 10 miles this day. Fall is in the air~

My precious Penelope Lee was the 'flower girl' in her grandpa Saints wedding. First time to fly to New York and also visit Niagara Falls, Canada with mom and dad.

 

                        Mom helping Miss Pea tossing fall color peddles~  *smile*

 

    My solo 20 mile bike ride, such a lovely day and I don't want to miss a'thing!
                      Here newly trees were planted. Its such a lovely sight!

 

                         First time to see this...see what I miss when I am in a 'hurry'!

 

                       Just had to share. Bentonville is the 'home' of Wal-Mart.

 

This is part of  Slaughter Pen Mountain Bike trail. It is being referred to as 'epic'.
People from all over the United States come to ride, young and old alike.

It was a wonderful ride. In fact, any day out with 'Violet' is a great day.  *smile*

 

Family date night...

            
               Here dad is keeping Miss Penelope entertain while mom get ready!

 

 

After a year and a half I have finally remembered I have a front entrance!

Even a little fan to keep me cool in the early mornings.  

 

Father's Day! What a great bunch of grandkids!

 

Always learning...

...and I hope I never stop. Here I am tatting the first yard of a 2 yard tatting project and I notice this! (where the safety pen is) In all the years I've tatted I've just 'un-tatted'. No biggie. But this?! Oh no...way to much work. So, I did what was a 'New To Me' thing and CUT the ring, tied off and completed the correct amount of, made a twisted join' and I did it! But not until I contacted my friend Elaine Gan! Bless her heart, she walked me through it. She confirmed what I needed to do and happy to say, its all good. Now to continue with the 2nd yard! *smile*

I am still enjoy my morning 5-6 mile walks each day. Here is Mr. Fox stopping to take a look us!

                                        Spring has sprung...Colors everywhere!

And with that being said, we have been working on our 'Mini Forest'. Lots of dead wood hauled off and leaves blown and mulched.

                                      This is my next project...one day at a time.

Now I leave you with Miss Penelope. My 7th grandchild. Here she is on her first hike with her mom, her friend and kids. She enjoyed it so well, she slept all the way through it!

This was 'mom' walking the same trail on Christmas Day, 2014. Amazing!

 

 

                         Happy Easter Sunday to those of you that celebrate. 

Almost time to go home...bittersweet.

Jan. 24, 2015. Four days old... She is so in love, well it looks like they both are. Penelope was so worth the wait.

I did this quilt and it needed a home. So it's for Miss Penelope. I love the retro fabric of the ducks...so did the 'baby momma'!

 

                                          Fun in the sun...until next time!  *smile*                 

 

Jan 30, 2015: Saying my good byes...

 

 Knowing that these young parents are sound and doing so well, Ondrea doing fantastic after her giving birth by cesarean section its time for me to return home. What a wonderful 5 and half weeks this has been. We laugh, cried, ate, and played. We spent Christmas, both Andrew's and Ondrea's birthdays, New Years day and the birth of this beautiful child together. I also had the opportunity to meet both of Andrews parents for the first time. I see now where Andrew gets his 'genes' from!

 

 

And....here is what I have waiting for me at home:

 

 

 

 

Sophie

 

 

and Zoe. 

 

It's all good. *smile*

Here we go again....

 

Here I am all dress up in my zebra shirt and skinny jeggings!













 ....and going to the Sacramento Zoo!

AND....I get to meet a new man in my live for the first time!
My grandpa Todd! I think I made him real happy... just wait! *smile*

 A beautiful day...

                   My momma wants to take this car home for me....dad said NO!

Life is good...

Oh, I forgot....

 

...to post this pic while we were in Berkley ! My daughters love for zebra print....how fitting! *smile*

                                  Its hard work...being so darn cute!  Love his pic and check out the zebra print socks! Well, really its socks printed to look like 'Mary Jane's' shoes!

 

                  Here is a quilt I finished for the baby...love the ducks and retro print.

                Stay tune for the rest of my 5 and half weeks in Northern California~