Babies aren't so Little Anymore

Here is a recent picture of my babies.  They had Winter Formals with their Sororities. Annie, on the left is 20 years old and Emily, on the right will be 22 in a couple of weeks.
Here is how I still see them though.

I know they are growing up... but sometimes I still think they are my Babies.

I remember first little boys that were important to them.

Here is Emily in Kindergarten with her friend Warren.

Here she is now,a Senior in college with her boyfriend Derek.

Here is the Baby Annie, with Chase, she's about 5 years old...

Fifteen years later with Nathan. She is his Baby now.  They had been dating for close to five years.

Where did the time fly? It seems only yesterday... And now, today, it flew so quickly.
Do you ever feel that way? Poof! Just like that.

Sweet! An Award!

All my bitchin' has caused an itchin'. My dear Blogger Friend FireByrd has sent me an Award! It is my first :D I am a happy camper and can now die peacefully knowing I have recognition!

I am very honored and yes I will play!

So, here we go:

The award is the Kreativ Blogger award and the rules are:

1. Thank the person who nominated you for this award.
Thank you FireByrd!!! I am so tickled and I feel validation! You are so kind & I do love reading your Blog.

2. Copy the logo and place it on your blog.
Done

3. Link to the person who nominated you for this award.
Okay, lets see if I do this correct:
http://byrdonfire.blogspot.com/

4. Name 7 things about yourself that people might find interesting.
hmm. not easy.
I blog about myself, so, much of this may be known.

1~I grew up with a Father that was Handicapped
2~I spent my summers from 12 - 17 yrs old, with my Grandparents in Texas
3~ I learned to drive in graveyards, with a stick shift car
4~I went to college @ Vincennes University to become a Special Ed Teacher, but ran out of money & had to drop out.
5~I worked at The Indiana School for the Deaf and know Sign Language
6~I almost married the wrong guy (Thank God that DIDN'T happen!)
7~My Husband STILL makes me giddy & I am more in love today than the day we married.

5. Nominate 7 Kreativ Bloggers.
Several come to mind but I am going to hit Bloggers that haven't received Blogging awards to my knowledge.

1~ Sheri from Riley Writings http://rileywritings.blogspot.com/
Because of her, I started my Blog. She rocks my world! Bestie~Lifer

2~Mark from Pirate's Bay http://markspiratebay.blogspot.com/
I know Mark from High School, and found him again through BlogWorld. He is one of the best writers! And reminds me of Sergio. These guys will truly be friends if we ever get together!

3~Pam from Scott's Place http://www.scottys-place.blogspot.com/
My first BlogWorld friend. I love her Blog! I love her. I feel like she is my long lost friend. She has talent oozing from her fingers. Crafts, culinary, sister animal lover, and can make me laugh till I snort!

4~Brooke from Brookies Cookie Jar http://brookiecookies.blogspot.com/
She makes me feel like family. I LOVE her photo journals of her loving family. She also educates me on tours. It's like a mini vacation or a visit for coffee when I stop by her corner of BlogWorld.

5~Linda from Over The Fence http://my-over-the-fence.blogspot.com/
My awesome, smart, Laura Ingalls twin~ oh are you sure we are not sisters separated at birth Blog Friend. Linda has a wonderful writing gift that takes me back...sometimes listening to her tell of her daughter and her relationships and situations (oh I hear you! I was just there not so long ago!) and sometimes she takes me back to my youth. Pictures and all. Oh my, Linda, I remember that too!

6~Wizz from An English Shepard http://anenglishshepherd.blogspot.com/
a charming true story of a United Kingdom English Shepard puppy's journey into adulthood. Her many adventures. Seeing things through her eyes. And educating us on her breed. I find it enchanting. She is beautiful, her story is so worthy to check out.

7~Nathan, my Young Rocker from Nathan's Blog http://napierson.blogspot.com/
This is where to go to get inside a college man's head. He is bright, funny, can play the guitar, write music, sing, and he happens to bring smiles to my youngest daughter as her boyfriend. He is super-busy, but worth being patient for. Because when he writes, you will smile!

6. Post links to the 7 blogs you nominate.
see above

7. Leave a comment on each of the blogs letting them know they have been nominated.
Whew! this is taking me forever. Okay let me go let my peeps know!

Thank you again FireByrd. You made my day. Sorry to everyone for my whining all the time. I love BlogWorld. It is my venting, am I crazy or what~ thank you for making me feel normal world.

Good Night y'all!

Traveling Abroad

Annie, Nathan & Michelle

My niece Michelle is home from her year of study in Germany. She looks wonderful. She lived a healthy lifestyle while there. This photo was taken at a local bike shop, where we met up with her as she decided on a bicycle purchase. Riding was her main source of transportation, and she is missing her German bike riding!

Michelle loves Germany. She is already missing her friends and family. A particular young man as well. She is planning a year of study here, at DePauw University. Then, she wants to go back to Germany and go to a University there.

My Sister, Julie, and husband, Brent, had a wonderful welcome home party for her a couple of weeks ago. She had a nice mix of family and friends. I loved seeing Michelle. I wasn't able to chat much with her, as she was the Fraulein Michelle was in demand by all. I look forward to upcoming gatherings as I am anxious to her of her adventures.

My Emily, has a few friends that have or will be traveling abroad this year. One of her Roommates will spend a semester in France, I believe, studying Culinary Classes. Emily and Annie also have a few friends that are or will travel due to military.

Frankly, the selfish Worry-Wart Mom that I am, makes me glad the girls haven't gone out of the United States. I hope they will have an opportunity in the future, but, I feel they are safer here. I realize several of my readers won't like that comment, and I apologize for any ill feeling I may cause. Particularly to my friends in the UK, Australia and Canada. I love you all and would love to travel to your beautiful countries one day. But, I am not crazy about my 18 and 20 year old daughters going across the state lines let alone the country borders. Traveling is kindof scary these days.

Heck, everything is scary lately.

Easter Adjustments

Easter changes as the kids grow up. I cherish the memories of the girls looking for Easter eggs and rummaging through the Easter Baskets. The Egg Hunts ended a couple of years ago. The Easter baskets changed too. I have gotten bad about decorating and "enjoying" the season as much as once upon a time.

This year, as promised, I did get the Easter stuff out and decorated the home. The girls were tickled, or at least I think they appreciated my effort. My white Easter tree with precious homemade as well as delicate store bought eggs was brought out and placed out of reach of the cats and dogs. Unfortunately, it was too close in the entry and got scarified by Annie's jacket or purse when she came in the house. Some survived, but some did not.

Several times I asked the girls what they wanted for their baskets, although instead of saying baskets, I kept saying, "stockings" . They teased me about this. They also insisted that I not do baskets this year. After all, I got them the new phones, phone covers, and Emily's kitty spay expenses. I got some little stuff anyway. I can't imagine not. They got a DVD, magazine, and some candy. I could not find the Easter Baskets last night! So, I adjusted. I knew where their stockings were, so I grabbed them! Well, they are orange & pink! The girls laughed when they saw them! A memory has been born!

Dinner was different too. Just the four of us. I think this was the very first year for that. My Sis & hubby stopped by for a visit, as did Nathan (Annie"s boyfriend). But dinner was small with just us four. The smallest ham I could find was 8 pounds, that's two pounds each! Oh and Emily doesn't eat pork so make that 3.33 pounds each!
And candy...
I have always loved candy so Easter is an excuse to buy alot of it. I couldn't get down the candy isle at Meijers yesterday. It was a madhouse. I ended up at the drug store with just a little. After all, it will be on sell tomorrow, right?

Well, I am hungry again. SO, I think I will eat another Peeps!

My Lovely Annie

Isn't she beautiful? This is my Baby Girl at 17. I can guarantee, I did not look like this at 17! Annie shines. She is a happy girl as well as a sweet girl. She is loved by all. She is generous and genuine. She will make others feel wonderful in an instant. I am so very proud of the young woman she has become. I have been Blessed. I love my Annie BaNannie!