She's a Big Girl Now!

She's F.I.V.E.

Ailee Claire, when did you get so big? Mimi just can't believe that today you are FIVE! How dull our family would be without your dancing black eyes, your contagious laughter, your creative dances, and all your funny antics!

Happy 5th Birthday to our Little Queen of Hearts!

G-Daddy and I had so much fun at your party and, as always, Mommy had it decorated just perfect! Your beautiful red dress from Santa made you the perfect Queen of Hearts. We love you all the muches!!

A Sofa and A Pillow

During the night, we had a mini thunderstorm with a little lightening and lots of rain. One of the lightening bolts highlighted the sofa in front of the windows of our bedroom and in that flash I realized you girls really had no "knowledge" about that pretty little sofa other than just to play tea party on it. So first thing this morning, I took a picture for you and will tell you all about it . . .

The sofa was your Great Grandmother Aileen's (Granny). How it came to be hers is quite typical of her life ~ if she wanted something, she didn't stop until she achieved it ~ an attribute I hope you girls have inherited! Here's the scoop ~~

The Sofa

Gran wanted to make a few changes in her living room and every day on the way to work and back she passed a house that had just the perfect "new" sofa on their front porch. She knew it was an antique and wondered why on earth they had it on their porch. She wanted it badly but couldn't decide what to do about it. The more she drove by, the more she wanted it. Every night at supper, we heard about the couch. Finally, Pop said she should just stop and ask them about it. Another week of longing passed, then she decided to stop. Lo and behold, they didn't want it and even had a chair that matched in the house! They weren't going to charge her for it, they just wanted it "hauled off" but she paid them, of course. Gran floated all the way home to get Pop and his truck (yes, that was way before cell phones!). Instead of coming home, they went straight to Mr. Plemons to get it upholstered in fabric Gran had already picked out during her months of longing. That little sofa and chair graced our living room and held presents from Santa for many years. As we sat in the hospital room the day before she went to Heaven, she asked me to please make sure all of her "furniture" stayed in the family. I knew just the pieces she was talking about and promised her they would even though I felt she would be enjoying them for a few more years herself. That wasn't to be but the sofa stayed in its place until Pop joined Gran in Heaven. Then it and the chair were gently moved to Mimi's bedroom. Remember this Christmas card picture?

The Pillow

You all do know about Gran's NEST . . . the name she gave her bedroom ~ the perfect place for all the little birdies to cuddle during her "spend the night" parties. Because of Gran's NEST, that word now represents "home" to me . . . a place where I was safe and cared for . . . a place to cuddle and be loved . . . a place, a feeling that is Gran and Pop. That's how your room upstairs got its name.

Well, Mimi saw a picture of this pillow in Pottery Barn last year and wanted it almost as badly as Gran wanted her sofa but I just couldn't bring myself to pay the $50 for it. I bought burlap to try to make one but never got around to it.

Then after Christmas, Mande and I made a trip to the Pottery Barn outlet and guess what I found for half price plus everything that day was an additional 25% off ~ YES, Mimi floated out of that store with my precious pillow held tightly in my arms. I couldn't wait to get home and put it in its proper place . . . on Gran's sofa.

Don't they look just perfect together?

Well, now you know the rest of the story. And, one day Mimi hopes that sofa will grace the home of one of you.

Hugs and Kisses, Mimi

Well, girls . . .

tomorrow the Disney Dream makes it debut voyage and then, in only a short month, we'll be sailing with Mickey and Minnie ~~ who's more excited . . . Mimi and Granddaddy or the Fabulous Five? It's a close race, for sure!

The countdown is on and Mimi's sewing machine is flying!

Good Luck and Bon Voyage, Disney Dream!!

Home Alone

was Granddaddy's fate this past week. Poor Granddaddy . . . 10 inches of snow and no one to play with except Miss Gigi and she really didn't like the snow. He was invited to the neighbors for soup and grilled cheese sandwiches on Monday, though. Tuesday brought helping to get snow off the parking lots at all the banks and a little work. By Wednesday, everything was back to normal for him. Mimi was snowed in up north with the C girls ~ sledding, having snowball fights, eating hot soup, drinking hot chocolate and SEWING. I had promised to spend the week making bed skirts and window treatments for the C girls' new rooms before the snow was predicted. I left home early Sunday to get ahead of the snow, never really thinking we would get as much as predicted. (You know the weather man rarely ever gets it right!) Matt and Granddaddy were sure it was coming, therefore the early leaving.

The new house all dressed in white!

Sure enough on Monday morning, the world was WHITE! Beautiful snow had fallen during the night to put a hold on life even if just for a while. While Big and Little C watched the snow continue to fall with Mimi, Mommy and Daddy had to venture into work. But they were home again by lunch and we hit the hills with the neighbor children.

Tuesday brought a repeat of Monday with the kids sledding and making snowmen and snow angels. Very little sewing got done those 2 days.

While the C girls and Mimi were playing up north, the A girls and their mommy and daddy were playing with all their friends down south where they had the "big" snow. What fun if we could have all been together!!

Mimi finally did get a little sewing done in between some hide & seek, operation games and a trip to Books A Million. We changed "gears" on Cybil's treatments so Mimi has to wait on another trip to the fabric store before I can finish hers.

Campbell's window treatments

The bed skirt under her Pottery Barn Peace Sign comforter

There was also time to make a skirt for the laundry room sink and adjust a table skirt for the living room that I had made a little too long before.

Saturday was the BIG game (determined league 1st place standing) for Big C so Mimi had to stay and watch. Here she's watching all the action and waiting for her turn to go in. Since she's the "little" one on the team she didn't get much playing time, but when she was in, she did steal the ball and dribble it all the way down the court. Her team lost by 3 points but Mimi was still very proud of them and the way they hustled.

While Mimi was enjoying the game, Granddaddy was watching Beauty and the Beast with the A girls and their Mommy. We had surprised Big and Middle A with tickets for their birthdays. Granddaddy was very impressed with his first trip to the Fox Theater and the girls really loved the performance! Mimi and Mommy had seen Beauty and the Beast when we were at National FBLA competition when Mande was a senior in high school. It was wonderful then.

Middle A was "Beauty" in her red winter Christmas dress from Santa complete with a white fur shawl. Big A was the "Beast" in her new furry vest and boots. They said Granddaddy was the prince in his matching red vest. Sounds like they had a plan and lots of fun.

Although we couldn't all be together during this beautiful winter snow break, Granddaddy and I had so much fun with our Fabulous Five and wouldn't trade this time for anything in the world!

Thanks, girls, for all the wonderful memories we made over the beautiful snow-covered week God gave us.

XOXOXOXOXOXO ~ Mimi

On The Twelfth Day of Christmas . . .

the "A" girls got to perform their Awana Christmas program, finally! And the "C" girls got more SNOW.

last year photos

Ya'll do remember Mimi and Granddaddy's trip to watch the "Cubbie Christmas" that didn't happen, don't you? Yes, we spent 8 hours that night stuck in the same spot on the interstate about 5 minutes from the A girls house. What a night! We did make the trip again tonight in the rain; but Mimi told Granddaddy if anyone even said the word "Ice" I was spending the night! The children all sang beautifully; of course, the two A girls were the best performers. How they could remember everything after 3 or 4 weeks is beyond me . . . you know, Mimi can't even remember her name sometimes! The trip home was uneventful, YEAH!!

web photo ~ not really Granddaddy's car but it did look like this that night!

When we called to check in with the "C" girls and give CJ a "good-back-to-school-wish" we found out that they had 2 inches of snow in 2 hours tonight so she would probably miss school again tomorrow! Mimi thinks you probably should just spend the winter with Granddaddy and I so you wouldn't have to go to school all summer. What do you think about that?

web photo

Also on this 12th day of Christmas, Granddaddy and I finally got all the trees and decorations back in the attic for another year. Mimi is always a little sad (well, a whole lot sad) when the decorations come down. The house just seems so bare, so empty . . . no twinkling lights, no red bows, no fresh greenery, and most importantly, no little giggles . . . no color and no sound . . . no wonder Mimi gets a little depressed.

Before I close tonight, I want you to ponder on something a little special . . . the first day of this NEW YEAR . . . 1/1/11 . . . did you think about the date while enjoying the day? While the C girls gathered at Mammaw's, the A girls gathered on the Acre . . . all enjoying the traditional New Year's Day menu of black-eyed peas, turnip greens, and corn bread. Mimi also threw in a Veg-All casserole, creamed potatoes, a pork loin, and gooey cake.

Do you remember how you spent New Year's Eve . . . the A girls spent the night with us and we celebrated with . . .

glad we did this before midnight since it was raining then

(don't you like Mimi's ingenious sparkler holders?)

Cj and her daddy celebrated earlier in the day with a trip to watch the Vols basketball game with a friend and her daddy. Great seats on the floor I understand! And, yes, Campbell, Mimi only watched that game to try to see you and your daddy! I think I did, too! Later, both families did a little celebrating together.

so sorry the Vols didn't win

Little Cybie got to spend some great one-on-one time with her Mommy while daddy and sissy were at the game.

Was Mimi the only one to see 1/1/11 make its official entrance? You know Mimi has to stay up to open the front door so the old year can go out and the new year can come in! (Your very Southern Great-Granny taught me this tradition) While I was waiting I did a little reflecting on all the blessings of 2010 and eagerly anticipated the new adventures of 2011.

Now back to the 12th day of Christmas . . .

We always sing the song The Twelve Days of Christmas during the Christmas season but do you really know the history behind the song? When Mimi was doing a little "searching" I found this account of "Religious symbolism of The Twelve Days of Christmas (The 12 Days of Christmas)."

photo from potterybarn.com

1 True Love refers to God

2 Turtle Doves refers to the Old and New Testaments

3 French Hens refers to Faith, Hope and Charity, the Theological Virtues

4 Calling Birds refers to the Four Gospels and/or the Four Evangelists

5 Golden Rings refers to the first Five Books of the Old Testament, the "Pentateuch", which gives the history of man's fall from grace.

6 Geese A-laying refers to the six days of creation

7 Swans A-swimming refers to the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, the sacraments

8 Maids A-milking refers to the eight beatitudes

9 Ladies Dancing refers to the nine Fruits of the Holy Spirit

10 Lords A-leaping refers to the ten commandments

11 Pipers Piping refers to the eleven faithful apostles

12 Drummers Drumming refers to the points of doctrine in the Apostle's Creed

Next year when we sing The Twelve Days of Christmas, Mimi will be sure to remind you what each of the gifts represent.

Of course, there's a "debate" as to whether the song relates to Christian beliefs or is just a "cute" song. Mimi likes what the author of the article had to say . . .

"Perhaps, when all is said and done, historical accuracy is not really the point. Perhaps more important is that Christians can celebrate their rich heritage, and God's grace, through one more avenue this Christmas. Now, when they hear what they once thought was only a secular "nonsense song," they will be reminded in one more way of the grace of God working in transforming ways in their lives and in our world. After all, is that not the meaning of Christmas anyway?"

As we move quickly along in this brand new year, let's never forget to give "thank yous" to God for His grace and His blessings on each of us . . . for our health, our jobs, our homes, our families, and especially for His unconditional love for us.

On this 12th Day of Christmas, Mimi wishes all of you a

Happy New Year!