Granddaddy Said It Would Happen . . .

and it did! AGAIN! Ooops!!!!

I was sewing right along, minding my own business when I heard this NoIsE . . . Is someone opening the garage door? Nooooo . . . Is that a motorcycle in the drive . . . Noooooo . . . it stopped . . . I continued to sew. Later I got up and look what I saw . . .

YES . . . my new red umbrella had fallen off the deck. AGAIN!! and AGAIN this one had broken; but, at least, the stand didn't come with it like when the old one fell! YAY! No broken tiles! Did it come a storm while the sun was shining and Mimi was sewing? I don't think so . . . I know, I'll blame it on the squirrels! Granddaddy doesn't like the squirrels . . . but, then . . . that would be telling a lie, right? Anyway . . .

here's what the upstairs looked like . . .

Sorry, CJ ~ Mimi will have to get out the Gorilla Glue for the rabbit AGAIN. This poor little guy probably wishes he had stayed at your house instead of being a birthday gift for Mimi!

I was really hoping I could fix it before Granddaddy got home from work; but, NO, too many broken thingy-ma-jigs that hold the umbrella up. And, oh yes, the neighbors just called to tell us it had happened . . . well, duh! But, seriously, I'm glad someone is watching out for us.

Guess ya'll know that Mimi's in trouble AGAIN, right?

No surprise there, I'm sure!

Hope everyone else is having a GrEaT Thursday!

Clicking Right Along . . . Someone's TWO!

WOW!! This has certainly been a fast 2 years, Baby A! Since you are the baby, we want things to go R.E.A.L.L.Y. slow, but seems like they're only going faster than the others . . . is it because your sisters keep everything so busy? Anyway, let's slow down for just today and savor your precious birthday . . .

Happy 2nd Birthday!!!!

Look how you've grown!

What a difference a year makes!

Your ice cream birthday party on Saturday was so much fun. As usual, your Mommy had everything just perfect even down to the colors ~ yellow and pink ~ pink because you're so delicate and yellow because you bring us so much "joy and happiness." Experts say warm colors like yellow are supposed to "rev us up and get us going" . . . yes, that's Mimi's Baby A!!

Mommy has more about your party here; but Mimi just can't resist showing a few she might not have . . .

The silly monkeys! Wonder where monkey #4 was?

"Oh, no you don't! There'll be no RAIN ON MY PARADE!!!!"

All afternoon as Mommy & I decorated the cute little park, cloudy skies threatened RAIN . . . then during your party there were even some sprinkles ~ you didn't like that one little bit! The sprinkles didn't stop the fun . . . you could tell the party was all about you and you were definitely "The STAR." Cousins, little friends, and grown-ups, too, loved the playground, the food, but especially, watching you get sooooooo excited opening all your gifts!

Now, can we just have this next year go much slower . . . because 3 is such a big age and Mimi's not ready!

Granddaddy and I love you all the muches!!

UPDATE . . .

I just talked to your Mommy and she said you were definitely showing your age today . . . Terrible Twos . . . little fits over things not going your way . . . well, Mimi's saying today is your birthday so things are supposed to go your way, right, Precious?

No Job More GRAND

than that of being “MIMI” to my Fabulous Five! As we celebrate Grandparents Day, I want to thank my wonderful children for making me the most blessed mother and grandmother ever! Your Pop used to say that florists invented “Grandparents Day” as a way to make more money . . . sounds like Pop, right, even though it was his President (GA's Jimmy Carter) who "made it legal"? But his philosophy was that EVERYDAY was Grandparents Day with all the visits, hugs, kisses, and sweet notes he and Gran received from their 4 grandbabies on a daily basis. Those 4 knew that there was nothing their Gran and Pop wouldn’t do for them without question. Thanks, Mama and Daddy, for showing me how to be that type of grandparent to my sweet girls! There’s just nothing like . . .

Grandparents’ Day lunches . . .

Precious letters . . .

Lunch time treats . . .

After-church snuggles . . .

Long Weeks spent together at the beach . . .

and a thousand other little things from spontaneous “Mimi, I just love you!”s . . . to phone calls to tell me about something special that had happened . . . to a little voice repeating “Mimi” 25 times in a row because she didn’t think she had my attention when, of course, I was hanging on every word; and then there’s the tickle ‘fights’ in the nest . . . the “Will you sing us just one more sweet lullaby, Mimi?” . . . after-Christmas-Eve-dinner remarks of “Mimi, you’re the bestest cooker, ever.” Oh, the sweet memories!! Could life get any better ?

Hummmmmm . . . . . . . nope, I think not; at least, not for this Mimi!! Hope you grandparents got as many big slobbery kisses from ALL your GRANDbabies this weekend as I did!

God's Gift of Angels

She rocks another baby... hums an age old lullabye

She hopes no one is watching

as with thanks, she starts to cry

Remembering the time

when the babies were her own

And her mother told her gently

too soon they would be grown

Lots of bedtime stories, skinned knees, and tears to dry

Teddy bears, toy trucks and dolls

and kites up in the sky

First days of school, first loves, the proms, the wedding days

Sand castles and snowball fights and teaching them to pray

Now, as she holds her grandchild

and gives thanks unto the Lord

She knows to be a Grandma

is motherhood's reward!

------ By Unknown Author

Today is LABOR DAY . . .

and you girls know what that means . . . but in case you need a little refresher like I always did ~ from the original Queen Bee herself . . .

"No WHITE after Labor Day ~ and while you're at it . . . just go ahead and put up those sandals and open-toed shoes, as well," said your Granny, who, of course, learned it from her Southern Mama, my Granny. Can't you just hear her now? She meant business, too!

Photo Courtesy of Chicos.com

Y. E. S. even though it's still hot as blazes here in the South and even though EVERYONE else still was wearing white and sandals!!! It didn't matter . . . that was Granny's rule and you didn't break it. And if you tried, you just had to go back and change before you could leave the house . . . guess how I know that? Only ones allowed to wear white after Labor Day in our house were the men--big and little--because white shirts and ties were the attire for church. Yes, they were; no exceptions! I mean, even you toddlers had to have black shoes for winter!

Poor David, bless his heart, he would have been in big trouble with Granny if she had seen him in his whatever-you-call-them sandals and socks in the dead of winter on his way to church!! And do you think that's why I prefer to wear flipflops until there's snow on the ground--I said, prefer--not that I do it . . . well, at least not out in public!

So, while you're just 'lazing' around on this holiday, go ahead and clean out your closets for you and your girls. Change your 'WHITE' for 'WINTER WHITE' . . . . put away the 1,000 pairs of flipflops you all have and those 3 inch sandals that make you both so much taller than me. . . . . . Oh, I almost forgot, those halter tops will have to be boxed up until after May 1, as well.

Photo Courtesy of AnnTaylorLoft.com

Now you'll be 'Stepping Out In Southern Style' on Tuesday and Granny will be smiling down knowing that THE RULE continues to be passed on regardless of what EVERYONE ELSE is doing!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I hear you laughing, Beth, and, Amanda, I just know what you're thinking with that little grin on your face. . . I really can't make you or your girls go back and change. But I did my part . . . I said it . . . and will say it again because I don't want your Granny mad at me . . . NO WHITE AFTER LABOR DAY!! Now go take those white dresses off the hangers like your Mama said!!!

Between The Hedges

What's that coming down the track? A big machine in RED and BLACK. Nothing finer in the land . . .

and here's a few pictures to prove it!

Somewhere in this sea of trombones is Taylor in his

FIRST-EVER Dawg Walk!

Posing for his Aunt Sissy!

Sounded good, kid!!

Isn't Heather looking terrific in her 1st-Ever trip Between the Hedges!!

Emily looking great in her last year as a Georgette!

The little boys even got in some football of their own during tailgating.

While the girls just prissed around ~ true Southern belles during football time in the South . . . sporting their game-day Red and Black! The little ones weren't very happy about being buckled up when it was time to go to the game ~ Two little Priss Pots for sure!

Yum, yum . . . nothing like those Lettermen Club's hotdogs!

Kaleb, those doughnuts were pretty good, too, huh?

Anna Grace and her favorite Redcoats ~ she braved the crowd and the heat with Mimi after the game to get up close. Notice the paper in her hand . . . a special picture for "Miss Heather."

Now, I might be a little bit proud . . . but these 2 just have to be the cutest kids between the hedges today! Job well done, kiddos, and I'm so proud of you both!

In case you missed it . . . there was something else happening between the hedges today . . . a Football Game . . . AND the DAWGS WON!!!!

Way to go Dawgs!!

Cool Morning Air . . .

just makes me want to get out in the garden again! But, my garden is looking a little neglected and wilted ~ no rain and a sewing room full of fabric just might be the reason. Longing for spring and early summer when the garden was in full bloom . . . let's take a look!

Ahhhhh, can't you just smell that Stargazer!

This spring we planted a Little Gem by the deck ~ wonderful, wonderful smell while I'm having my morning coffee ~ now I know what you're thinking . . . it will NEVER be huge like my old Southern Magnolia at the other acre but . . . the smells the same, just not as much of it. And that's okay because little fairies flitter around this one now!

While my fairies are resting in Granddaddy's perfect grass, I'll just wander out into the weeds and get my hands dirty ~~ so, if you call and Mimi doesn't answer . . . you'll know where to find me because . . .

Miss Gigi has had her breakfast, chased a few birds from the feeders and is now patiently waiting on her Mama to come into the garden to play. But don't worry, I'll be back in the sewing room after lunch because 3 little dawgs need something to wear this weekend!

Cool Morning Air + Hot Afternoons = Mimi's Fall Schedule

The Challenge

Sunday, Pastor Jeremy invited us to join him for a 90-day Challenge ~ reading the New Testament in 90 days. TODAY is Day 1 of that challenge. If anyone is interested in joining with us, please leave a comment with contact information so I can get the daily reading guide to you. My sweet friend, Cheryl, recently gave me a beautiful surprise gift~~a Rainbow Bible~~actually, the newer ones like mine have a different name but inside it does look like a rainbow . . . each type of scripture is color-coded to be easily recognizable (Jesus's words are one color, faith messages another, etc.). I'm so excited to begin the 90-days with this new Bible . . . so . . .

Get Ready, Get Set, READ!!!!!