Big Boy

Emery turned 6 years old this summer. Ever notice how birthdays are much more exciting when you're in your sixth year rather than your sixth decade? He's been talking about this event ever since he ate the last piece of birthday cake when he turned 5! He's told me many different ideas over the past year about what kind of party he was going to have when he turned 6. But when the big day came, the only "party" he had was one with family. He didn't seem to mind a bit, though.

We all went bowling and had a great time. I really don't remember the last time I was bowling and it felt pretty awkward. The next morning some of my "bowling muscles" were saying, "What the heck???" It's fun to go bowling with kids now because they have those little guards that pop up and block the gutter and it gives them a little bit of a chance. I don't know what the age requirement is for those, but they ought to be put up for geezers, too.

Savannah and Emery have been bowling before, so they were like old pros. Telling us where to get our shoes, what kind of ball we needed, and how to do almost everything. Emery cracked me up...but then, he always does. His form was "enthusiastic" if not "perfect" and he can really deliver the ball. It was their family as well as Jerry, Jessica, me and Papa Jim.

After bowling we all went out to eat. Emery's choice...Mexican. He's all about the chips and cheese. (Me, too.) Then we went to Chick-fil-A and he opened his gifts and the kids played on the indoor playground for a little while. A good family fun evening to usher in this special date.

Happy Birthday, my little man. I hope I can help you celebrate many more!

What Do You Consider Excessive?

In football, you can get a penalty for "excessive celebration". I'm glad real life isn't that way...and I'm sure Emery would agree.

He turned 5 years old on Friday, July 2nd, and celebrated for a whole week! On that Friday, he spent the day celebrating with his immediate family. That started with breakfast at McDonald's which included 5 candles in his pancake. :) Then they went to Fernbank Museum, the IMAX show, the Georgia Aquarium and Piedmont Park. A fun day for sure.

But on Sunday, the 4th of July, he celebrated again with the York and Simons sides of the family. He shared his party with his uncle Johnathan who has his birthday on the 4th. They each had a cake, so there was lots of singing...and homemade ice cream to go with the cakes.

His birthday cake had Spider Man on it and he loved it. But, basically, this year he is all about Toy Story 3. A few weeks ago, he found a sale flyer in the Sunday paper that was advertising all the Toy Story toys that K-Mart had on sale. He was circling them and telling us who could buy him what for his upcoming birthday. So when Jodi told him on Sunday morning that we'd be coming over for his party later, he was asking her if we got him what was on the list. She said she didn't know and he'd have to wait to see. He kept emphasizing that he gave us a list and he hoped that we remembered! That party, of course, was followed up with lighting sparklers and watching the fire works display from a local church.

Then the final celebration was held a week later...on Friday, July 9th. He got to take a few friends (and be joined by family) to see a Gwinnett Braves' ballgame at Coolray Field in Lawrenceville. That party consisted of hot dogs, chips, Cracker Jacks, cookies, Cokes, and cupcakes together before the game. Then...bellies full of all this "ballgame food"...the kids got to play in the big jumpy things until the game started. Between the 2nd and 3rd innings, Emery -- along with two other children who were also celebrating birthdays -- got to be on the big screen and have the crowd sing Happy Birthday to them.

So I believe the partying is over...for now, at least. But Emery is certainly worth celebrating. Even to excess. He is a sweet, loving, funny little cutie pie and we can't imagine our lives without him.

Happy Birthday, Jodi!

Today is Jodi's 37th birthday. Seems like another lifetime that she lay to rest (in a wheel barrow) under the Christmas tree. She has sometimes not been happy to have a birthday on Christmas Eve. She has often felt overlooked. She never liked having to wait a whole year to get a present. But since she chose to make me wait 3 weeks past my due date, I've not had a whole lot of sympathy for her. I did, however, get a kick out of walking into my mom's house that Christmas Eve..."great with child"... suitcase in hand and contractions becoming regular and announcing that I was going to the hospital because, "there was no room at the inn." But for those of you who get to celebrate a day just for yourselves at another time of year, let me point out a few things. Only if you have a Christmas Eve birthday do you:

...need to remind people to wrap your gifts in birthday paper (instead of the Christmas wrapping paper just because it's handy).

...need to have a birthday party with your friends that's not on your actual birthday, because they won't come otherwise.

...hear people say, "Thanks but I really don't want any birthday cake. I'm full of cookies and fudge."

But now that she's all grown up and realizes all the gifts she has in her life every single day, and has so many people to share the joys and celebrations with, I think she's taking it all in stride.

An Oldie But a Goodie

Happy Birthday, Grandpa! Or "Grampy" as the little ones have decided they want to call him. Today is Jerry's 65th birthday. We had his party last night, though, because I have a quilt guild meeting tonight. It just wouldn't be right for me not to show up...since I'm "the program". But after 65 years rattling around on this planet one has to learn to be flexible.

So everybody got together yesterday. Savannah helped me make the cake -- that way she was first in line when it came time to lick the beaters, etc. She also came in handy when it was time to set the table, make place cards and tell everybody where to sit. I don't know how we managed to celebrate before she came along! Maybe she'll grow up to be a "community organizer". Hmmm. Emery was very helpful when it came time to open the presents. And it was so nice of him to show up wearing a John Deere tractor shirt...Grampy's favorite.

During the gift opening and cake eating festivities, Savannah made sure Grampy had a crown to wear. She didn't want anyone to forget who the star of the show was. When she was taking orders as to who wanted cake and Jessica politely declined, she told her it was "chocolate...and has 3 eggs in it". Still couldn't talk her into it, but that's okay. Just left more for the rest of us.

We love you, Grampy!!

Still Celebrating

Even though my birthday was last week, I had a birthday party last night. My quilting friends, the Batty Babes, meet every two weeks on a Tuesday night and we didn't get together last week...so my party with them was last night. It was great -- as always. Amelia had announced in February that she would give everyone their birthday gift at the same time this year. She wanted to take us all to the Olive Garden for dinner and then over to the mall to the Build-A-Bear store to "build a Babe" doll. Great fun. The only problem was, the night they did it I was not available. So she took me yesterday and we did the same thing. Have you ever had a margarita with Amaretto on the side? They have those at Olive Garden and if you haven't tried it...DO! At the mall I built a Babe I named "Bea" (like in Quilting Bea). I dressed her in a pink robe and fuzzy slippers because sometimes I get out of bed, don my pink robe, and go down to my sewing room and just start working. While we were still in the mall I found a really cute pair of navy tennis shoes that I liked very much. They were $128 and Amelia told me to forget it...my birthday was over!
Pam hosted my birthday party. For dinner she had one of my favorites...chicken with Swiss cheese and stuffing...and a mixed greens salad with strawberries, almonds, feta cheese and a vinaigrette dressing. Yummy. A yellow cake with made-from-scratch chocolate frosting and sliced strawberries for garnish finished off the dinner. As you can see, I got lots of wonderful gifts. I got nice things for the house: a pretty floral arrangement that will go perfectly in the guest bathroom, good smelling stuff like a reed diffuser and some sachets; some papers, stickers, album, etc. to get me started on my next scrapbooking adventure; great containers like a tote, a hat box and a basket. And, of course, quilty stuff: two new books (both great!), two kits, fabrics and a gift certificate for more fabrics, thread, scissors, needles and two exquisitely hand-made items by my talented friends.

Thanks, Babes....you're the best!

Happy Birthday to Me!

The evolution of Nanny:

1947: This is me at 6 months old. If your ears are big like this, it helps you balance when you're learning to sit up on your own.

1957: I am a fairly "normal" 10-year-old. ("Judge not lest ye be judged.")

1967: I was 20 years old. It was a time of cultural revolution and as Bob Dylan said, "The Times They Are a Changin'". That's me on the left and my Aunt Delores on the right.

1977: I'm now the mother of two little girls: Jodi, age 5-1/2 and Jessica, age 3. Ignore my hat for a minute and look at Jerry's Easter "outfit". Yes, that's a salmon-pink 3-piece corduroy suit and a silk shirt with a HUGE collar! And I'm pretty sure he was wearing his puca bead necklace...he always wore it with that suit.

1987: At age 40, I was performing on stage as one of the Raisinettes -- remember "I Heard it Through the Grape Vine"? That's me on the left, "Aunt Jean" in the middle, and my BFF Shirley on the right.

1997: When I hit the big Five-O it was no secret...thanks to my fellow employees at Honey Creek Elementary School.

And now I'm "Nanny".

And next to "Mommy", that's the best thing I've ever been called! :)

Happy Birthday, Jess!

Today is Jessica's birthday...or, as she's now called, "Aunt Jess".

Here is a picture of her playing with 5-month-old Savannah in the doorway swing.

And one of her with 10-month-old Emery. What can I say?....these little ones are real "swingers"!

And here they are about a month ago...just clowning around like they do so much of the time now.

And here is one taken yesterday, when we had her birthday party. You can't see the "Awesome Aunt" badge she's wearing, but if you click on the picture to enlarge it you can see some of the stickers Savannah put on her and the beads she shared with her. The bit of whitish fluff in the foreground is Meo...Savannah's beloved lamb and constant companion since her first days. Aunt Jess got it for her when she was born.

These two cute, crazy kids really love their Aunt Jess...and so do the rest of us! Happy Birthday, Jess!

A Special Occasion

Happy Birthday,

Jackie...

you sexy thaang!