Victoria's Turn

Graduation celebration #2---Victoria.
Sandy made her celebration dinner before the Baccalaureate Mass on Monday.

Sandy ordered Chick-fi-la nuggets and made all of Victoria's favorite side dishes: buttered carrots, corn pudding, pasta salad and honey glazed Sister Shubert rolls. She made the little diplomas by attaching white card stock to a roll of Mentos. They made cute party favors.

Sandy did a good job of making both graduations special---and completely different.

When I was shopping for Victoria's graduation gift, a young---20-something girl was helping me. She said that "Alex and Ani" was all the rage with young people. In fact, she was wearing about 6 of them. Even though I consider myself to be "up" on the current trends, I had never heard of this designer. The bracelets are meant to be worn with as many as you want all stacked together. Each one is different and comes with a card explaining it's meaning. I was a little nervous about them, but as soon as she opened the package, she shouted excitedly---"Alex and Ani!" What a relief! During her Baccalaureate Mass, I saw one of her friends that appeared to be wearing some, so I was really glad that Victoria knew what they were. Now that makes gift giving easy---at least for a little while.

 She got a Kate Spade purse from her parents. She's one happy girl.

 Gosh, even Victoria is nearly a head taller than me. I swear, I'm shrinking.

Victoria's last day of school was Field Day. The day before, when she got in the car after school, she started the typical kid complaining---"I don't want to go to school tomorrow. None of my friends are going." Kids always say stuff like that. I was proud of Sandy when she resisted my response (and that of my parents before me) "If your friends jumped off a cliff, would you follow?" Instead, she calmly told Victoria that she was going to school and that was that. All evening, Victoria complained. She was none too happy the following morning, but since we were there, she put on a brave face. When we picked her up after the day, she admitted that 3 of her friends were there after all! Kids still think parents are going to fall for the "ALL my friends are..." line. She even sort of admitted that she had fun---just a little! Victoria can be a hard nut to crack! You can't help but love her spirit!

Sandy told us that the same year Mitchell graduates from college, Victoria will be graduating from high school and Elizabeth will be graduating from 8th grade. That will be a marathon year!

They are growing up way too fast. I want it to stop! I'm not done with them yet!

All Grown up or Not?

We were in Charlotte for nearly a week for Mitchell's high school graduation and Victoria's eighth grade graduation. Today, we'll focus on Mitchell.

This was his eighth grade graduation a mere 4 years ago. In that time, he's become a MAN---and a gentleman at that! Well, maybe not quite. Read on.

When the celebration was over, Mitchell tossed his mortarboard---like all the kids do. Except, he just walked away. Sandy made him go back to find it. I can pretty much guarantee you that all of these abandoned hats belonged to boys!

With a little help from his sisters, he found one that fit.

 Hanging with his buddies. Mitchell left his cigar in the car. Cigars---just because they can.

We met his girlfriend, Alyssa for the first time. What a sweetheart she is! She was very personable and didn't have any trouble holding a conversation with people she had never met before.

 While we were waiting for dinner, the family got a few pictures.

With his mama! This makes me tear up---my baby with her baby! When did they become so grown up?

Sandy ordered the cake from Dessert Designs---the premier bakers here in Nashville. There is no one that can make cakes like these---and the cost reflects that---$100 for this one! You can't tell from the picture, but it's about 12" by 6"---a big cake. The recipes must be closely guarded secrets.

I took this picture after it was nearly gone. The bottom is like a thick chocolate fudge, with a cream cheese pound cake on top---all held together with a "melt in your mouth" caramel frosting. So rich that you can only eat a small piece at a time---and we did---about 8 times! Truly, the most delicious cake you'll ever have! Worth the splurge.

Here's the finished blanket I made for Mitchell. He was so happy that it was big enough for him. Even though I intended it for college, he used it the entire time we were there. Luckily, it will last forever! We have several in the family that mom made that are 40 years old! They wear like iron and wash up really nice. I figured Mitchell would like something to wrap up in when he's partied a little too late!

Elizabeth gave him a pair of Clemson swim trunks. Purple and orange---the orange is not quite obnoxious as UT orange.

Sandy made a delicious, celebratory crab leg dinner accompanied by garlic, parmesan potatoes, green bean casserole, Italian salad and dinner rolls.

Sandy and Elizabeth made the cute party favors. The little grad caps are squares of cardstock and tiny ribbon attached with a mini brad stuck to an upside down peanut butter cup.

And then there's this---just when you think he's all grown up! We were staying in Mitchell's room. I found this in the closet.

The shirt is not even unbuttoned nor is the tie removed. It had to be much harder to take it off like this than to just unbutton it!

Apparently, this is his strategy for all dress shirts and ties. At least it's hung up. I guess deep down, he's still a boy at heart! I'm good with that.

Prior to going to Victoria's graduation, Mitchell told Sandy that he was "graduationed out!" She reminded him that he had only been to two "events" and they were both HIS!! I love that boy!

Guess Where I Am?

A Few Things

This is a picture of just some of the food last weekend for the family party on Saturday. Jeanne bought a 5 ft. sandwich and another 2 ft. sandwich. Everyone brought various side dishes. There were 40 people there and the food was pretty much wiped out!

 The dessert bar. I didn't even take a picture of the beverage bar!! I had to go out later in the day for more gin, tonic and beer. Everyone pitches in, so it's not too much on any one. I contribute money as it's too hard to make food when you are from out-of-town and trying to cook in someone else's kitchen!

 My family went to the Cardinals baseball game---all except me---I wanted to spend as much time with my sisters as I could. Anyway, they came home with this "give-away." Finally! Something a woman can love! A St. Louis Cardinals pashmina! We all loved them---the boys---not so much.

Here's Butch photo bombing Steph's selfie.

 On my way to meet Connie for our monthly pedicure, this bus blocked the intersection. Buses are supposes to know better---aren't they? So frustrating!

 I bought the hugest blackberries this week.

 Some of them were bigger than the strawberries. They were so sweet too!

 Here's one of those cooking "hacks" that really works. Take a straw.

 Poke it up through the bottom of the strawberry and---voila'---the green top pops right off without having to use a knife and waste part of the top.

The lilacs were gorgeous this year. They smelled divine! They were so thick and lush. I just love them.

Butch cleaned out the pond---it looks so good. Most of our fish survived the winter. Now I just hope they can survive the blue herons. You can read more about them here! It's quite a story!

Lastly, my friend, Nancy gave me this precious, ceramic, garden gnome as a thank you for our trip to the beach. She meant for me to use it outside in the garden. I decided to use it in the sunroom. Perfect location---and I can enjoy it more here.

That's about it for now. Memorial weekend pictures to come.

The Wedding

Zack and Allison's wedding was beautiful!

 

 Sharon and my brother, Matt---parents of the groom.

 Allison and Zachary right after the ceremony---Mr. & Mrs!

 Allison is a sweetheart and we're so happy to have her as part of the family!

 Pictures before the reception. Morgan, Jordan, Stephanie and Nicky.

 Steph and her girls.

Barb and Butch.

The reception was held at a winery. The scenery was beautiful. The dancing took place out here under the stars.

My nieces, Madison and Devon. It was so much fun seeing family from out-of-town. Luckily, with our big family, someone is always getting married, so we have plenty of opportunities to see everyone. Counting my siblings and their children, there are 44 of us! We are a big lot! It makes me so happy that everyone makes the effort to be there for family events.

Would the Real Energizer Bunny Please Stand Up?

I always refer to myself as the Energizer Bunny when I'm on high doses of prednisone. But this little girl runs circles around me! Here's the story.

I left my Fitbit at my sister's house on Friday in my rush to get ready for my nephew's wedding. I had just flown in from the beach, so time was tight. The next day, when I got to Jeanne's, my first thought was to get my Fitbit. My brother-in-law, Scott told me he logged thousands of steps for me when he did his run. That was certainly nice, but of course, I would not be able to claim those steps in our family challenge. That led me to finally do what I'd been thinking about for a long time---put my Fitbit on Evie. That little girl NEVER stops! She wears me out just watching her.

Here, she just kept jumping up and down on the edge of the counter. I have no idea why a three year old would think that was fun, but she did.

 More jumping and jumping....

 And jumping...

I got her to stop for a minute so I could get a picture. She took the wearing of my Fitbit so seriously that she kept checking to make sure it was still there.

She really had no idea what it was all about, but I showed her how she could check to see the flower grow. That flower was at the highest level it's ever been---for 2 hours and 20 minutes! That's how active she was. The most I've ever had for active minutes has been 30 or 40 minutes. Evie logged over 8,000 steps! I'm not even sure that's really the truth of it since it's set for me---I'd say it takes 3 of  her little steps to equal one of mine---but I'm not exactly sure how it works. Most astounding is that she had 37 flights of stairs!! OMGosh! She was up and down the slide quite a bit---it's a tall slide---but 37 flights. That's amazing.

What happened to us? Where did our 3 year old energy go? I want it back! Next time you see me, I just might be jumping up and down at the edge of my counter. Just maybe....