Photos are Great Memories

My daughter, Monica, her husband, Trent, and my three grandsons, Davis (14), C J (12), and Eli (10) had a photo shoot today.  The photographer is Stephanie with Stephanie's Photography.  She lives in Bakersfield California and is getting started with some great ideas.

Their last name is Ford.  I found the "Ford" truck tailgate at the "Remnants of the Past" show in San Luis Obispo, CA last Spring.  It looks so great with the brick wall background they used from the old downtown building in Bakersfield, CA 

Photos like these would make memorable home decor.  

I hope this Mom/Grammy gets a gift from this collection.

Chelsie's Bridal Shower May 2012

I had such a fun time hosting a bridal shower for my great-niece, Chelsie, recently so I thought I would show you some inspiration if you are hosting a party.  Thank you for letting me include some personal photos too.

The wedding theme was peacock feathers and colors so the main colors were royal blue, teal, and green.  It was such a great combination of colors to work with for the bridal shower and wedding.

The weather started to warm up so I had to use three canopies for shade but it worked out fine.

For the gift table I used one of their engagement photos and had a canvas print made at Costco.

A shower has to have an umbrella especially on a warm day.

Chelsie loves to read so I went to the thrift store and my stash to get books in the three wedding colors for the tablescapes.  Can you see the peacock feathers peeking out of the glittered ribbons? There is a nest and bird, too.  The silver ice buckets give the table decor some bling.

The wedding reception had a garden theme so I couldn't resist using this vintage window and drawer with vintage garden tools and a garden hat inside on a side table.

We made white with glitter branches which we used at the wedding.  

I love to use my ruffled bedskirt as a tablecloth.

 Chelsie's sister, Mystie, helped with the gifts even the wrapping paper were peacock feathers.

Chelsie's sister, Estie, helped with the opening of gifts
 along with some young girls dreaming of being the bride some day. 

Personalized gifts with her new last name is always fun to receive.

Bride-to-be, Chelsie, with her two sisters and Mom, Kristie.

Chelsie and her soon to be sisters in law and mother in law and nephew.

Beverage bar with dress form  and vintage hat standing close by.

  Chelsie has always loved hats, she use to dress up with them when she came to my house.

Chelsie with her Grandma Jeanette who is the reverend that will be officiating at the wedding.  

That is so special.

This is Chelsie's Nana (Great Grandma), Lucille.

This is Chelsie with me, her Great Auntie Gail.  

I have to say with her high heels on she is over six feet tall and is gorgeous.

Groom, David, showed up just in time to help pack it all up.

Congratulations and Best Wishes as you begin your
 Wonderful Life Together!

David & Chelsie

 

Happy 12th Birthday CJ

Has it really been 12 years since CJ (we called him Cole then) was a baby? 

Grammy is just as proud of him now as she was then.

Cj is the middle brother in the birth order.   

Three Things Grammy Loves about CJ 

(I could list many more)

You amaze me by your ability to:

1)  Build,  whether it is constructing objects or a plan of action you can build it
2)  Say one liners because one word can remind you of something that is funny and you totally make me laugh and I’m amazed where that thought came from
3)  Leader with a plan of action, while playing sports or playing your trumpet  or if you need or want something you know what you need to do  and you work hard to make it happen

 

Birthday Bear always has to come out to sing Happy Birthday song.

Don't you just love the sports newspaper page wrapping paper.

Trust me, he could care less about the paper.  

I'm sure he is having trouble opening the card because he is so excited to see what are in the boxes.

He starts making a birthday list for me as soon as his Christmas list is fulfilled.

 Every year we keep saying "He will not want more Legos this year" but not so.

How special that your Nana (who is almost 91 yrs old) is there to celebrate with you.

Remember I said he comes up with one-liners....well,

before we ate, Papa said "Let's pray over CJ"  

Since Papa is short in statue, 

CJ said "It will be hard for you to pray OVER ME, Papa" so,

Papa proceeded to stand on the bar stool as he prayed for CJ's birthday dinner.

(Does anyone wonder where CJ gets it) 

CJ's Favorite Dinner

Crock Pot Chicken and Rice

Chicken Tenders that have been browned in a skillet and seasoned to taste

2 cans of Cream of Mushroom Soup

2 cans of Cream of Chicken Soup

8 oz Sour Cream (added towards the end of cooking time)

Always a crock pot liner for easy clean up.

Cover and cook on low for 6 hours

Rice made with chicken broth instead of water.

 

What he calls "oven salt toast" which is sourdough bread 

with butter and garlic salt that is cooked in the oven.

I didn't take a picture but he likes corn 

sprinkled with ....what else?...garlic salt

We did have green beans and salad.

Original Nestles Tollhouse Cookies.  For recipe click here.

Birthday guy always get to eat off his favorite plate.

Blue M & M plate for CJ

C J:  Live out your life to the fullest and be the man God created you to be.
You bring so much joy to our life and we love you so much!

HAPPY  12th  BIRTHDAY   C J !!!

Merry Christmas 2011

Merry Christmas from Our House to Yours 

2011

David (my Husband), Gail (Me), Lucille (my Mom)

Monica on Wheel of Fortune

Just wanted to let you know, my daughter, Monica, will be on the "Wheel of Fortune" TV show this Wednesday, December 14, 2011   It was so fun for our family to get to go to watch her tape this show in Hollywood.  Many years ago, she won the grand prize on "Price is Right" and was in the mob on "One versus the Mob"  She loves to play games and being on TV just makes it that much more exciting for her.

I'm always a proud Mom!  You go girl....live your dreams

2011 Road Trip - Missouri "Meet me in St Louie, Louie...Meet me at City Museum"

Since I have been back from our U.S. trip, many people have asked me what was the most fun place we went.  We had so many fun adventures, I can't even pin point it to any one place but I do know the most unique place we visited so I thought I would share.


Let me start out by saying that I can't even describe it.  My son, Nate, just told us "When you get to St. Louis....  take the boys to City Museum.... everyone will have fun"  We sure did!


This is an old shoe factory that artists have used their creativity and made a museum.  I believe it was opened as an attraction in 1997.

 

That is a full size school bus hanging over the corner of the building.  There is a Ferris Wheel on top too.  Look closely you can see the people climbing through the re-bar cage to make it to the airplane that is soaring above the play area.

 

You never know where someone will appear.

This huge floor is a colorful mosaic.

When Papa was following Eli through this maze, at one part you are upside down and all his money started dropping out of his pockets.  Luckily I  was standing on the stairs below where he was climbing and recovered most of it.

This metal masterpiece dumps water every few minutes.

This staircase is built from factory assembly rollers and artfully painted.

Following are just a few of the collections you can view.

Most of the adventure is built around salvaged architectural pieces from demolished buildings.

How often can you go see shoelaces being made.

After we went to a Cardinals baseball game, they went back to museum for hide-n-seek in the dark. 

They liked the 10 story spiral slide that was originally used to move shoes.

Eli

C J

Davis

This is the largest pencil I have seen.  I couldn't even get a picture of the whole thing.

New adventures have been popping up all summer for our family.

The City Museum in St Louis Missouri is a very unique experience and highly recommended from our family.

I know we will never forget this trip.

Hope you are having a fun summer too!