A Little Birthday Boy Grows Up!

It hasn't taken long to go from this beautiful baby boy to this . . .

talented, handsome high school graduate to this . . .

wonderful grown-up son, fabulous father and successful business owner.

Happy Birthday, Matthew!

We love you all the muches!!

How Many Candles?

Yes, today is Mimi's birthday . . .

can ya'll guess how many candles I need on my cake?

ahhhhhh, yes . . . 63!!

So today I will celebrate with . . .

My Birthday Flower ~ Red Tulips (because red tulips were the flowers I first received on the day I was born)

My Favorite Cake ~ Yummy Chocolate Fudge (of course, I'll have to add a little ice cream after I blow out the candle)

Thank you, sweet family and friends for all the birthday wishes today!! There's nothing like a giggly "Happy Birthday" sung over the phone by 2 little monkeys before they go off to school or beautiful hand-drawn birthday cards complete with their own made-up version of "Happy Birthday" and a delicious red velvet cupcake from 3 more little monkeys . . . or the many, many sweet birthday wishes from all my precious facebook friends . . . or a phone call from my dearest and bestest friend . . . or a surprise birthday dinner at my favorite Japanese resturant with my sweetheart!

Yes, Mimi's come a long way from the scrawny 2 lb. 8 oz. black-haired baby girl born on March 29, 1948! Mimi has written in a journal for you all the details of my very determined Granny's fight to save me.

Thank you, dear Jesus, for the many wonderful blessings You have so graciously showered on me all these 63 years.

Our "DREAM" Vacation ~ 2011 Style

Finally . . .

Mimi's getting some pictures up of (as the girls described it) our best vacation ever!! I know I'm a little behind but Mimi's been having a hard time adjusting to not being waited on hand and foot! I'm so glad we waited for this cruise until we could play with Mickey and Minnie on their NEW ship. It was all we "dreamed" it would be and more!!

Mickey and Minnie were gracious hosts ~ very eager for hugs and autographs!

Mimi thinks maybe they liked your Mimi-made Minnie Mouse swimsuits!

Boy, Mickey knows how to throw a Party!! His "Pirates of the Caribbean" Party complete with fireworks was so much fun! Ya'll loved all the pirate games. Anna Grace and Campbell loved showing off the Mickey mirrors in the restrooms!

Castaway Cay ~ Disney's Private Island

I think you girls really enjoyed swimming in the beautiful water, biking, building sandcastles, riding on the floats, the water slide and just playing around being "normal."

Mimi and Granddaddy did a little sightseeing in Nassau while ya'll stayed on board and enjoyed the Dream all to yourselves (well, almost anyway).

Granddaddy got to feed the baby parrots while in Nassau.

YEAH!!!! Ya'll won the Mickey Movie Bingo contest!! You got to pick the next movie to be shown on the big screen at the pool area . . . and, yes, it was a "Princess" movie.

The AquaDuck, Mickey's waterslide and two pools ~ ya'll wore your swimsuits all day!!

But you always made time for some Mickey ice cream.

Mimi's wondering where Adelynn was during all the pictures . . . probably swimming by herself or off chasing Pluto!

One of your favorite times was getting all dressed up in your princess attire to meet the real Disney Princesses.

We were all so sad when it was time to leave ~ four days are just not long enough! But Mimi's surprise to ya'll after you were back home made the trip last just a little longer . . . now you can lay your beautiful little heads on your pillowcases that were personally autographed by Mickey and Gang for ya'll and do a little "Disney Dream" ing!

Thanks, girls, for the most wonderful winter vacation!!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Photo courtesy of Martha Stewart.com

May you always have walls for the wind,

A roof for the rain,

Tea beside the fire,

Laughter to cheer you,

Those you love near you,

And all your heart might desire!

~~ an Irish Blessing ~~

The New Toy . . .

(Mimi just found this post I had started before our trip and since I had promised Granddaddy I would post it I thought I better do it now)

is actually Mr. Wendell's but Granddaddy is loving helping him work on it. What is it, you ask? Well, of course, it's a new "old" toy that has a motor ~ a 1949 GMC truck ~ which is a beautiful color of "rust" as Miss Darlene says.

Granddaddy spent most of Saturday helping him work on it. And then I got the call . . . "We're taking her on her maiden voyage around the block!" (You see she had to be brought into the neighborhood on a trailer) Mimi dashed out with the camera to record this historical moment.

Off they go!!

Wonder how long it will be before Granddaddy finds another new toy for his basement? Let's hope a long time or else Mimi will be moving her sewing room a.g.a.i.n!! Maybe for now, he'll just be content to help Mr. Wendell.

Disney Dreaming

Well, Christmas is officially over at Mimi and Granddaddy's!! We have spent a W.O.N.D.E.R.F.U.L. week aboard the Disney Dream enjoying our Christmas present to all of you. Everything about the trip was definitely a DREAM ~ from the easy check in to the final farewell as we gathered our luggage and said goodbye to Mickey and Minnie.

Tinkerbell had scattered some amazing Pixie Dust all over the Dream making it a vacation you will long remember. Mimi's not sure who enjoyed it the most . . . our Fabulous Five or Mimi and Granddaddy . . . because there's nothing . . . Nothing . . . NOTHING that compares to watching 5 sets of little eyes as they gleam with excitement while catching their first glimpse of Mickey or while getting a special hug and kiss from a Princess.

Thank you, Mickey and Company for a FABULOUS vacation!

(more pictures to come)