The Project

Well, actually, it's Granddaddy's Project . . .

First, a little background ~

When we were putting up the downstairs Christmas tree last year, half the lights would not work and Mimi had to add extra strings of lights to our pre-lite tree.  Yuck!!  Then, this Christmas half of those lights wouldn't work and the strings of lights had all fallen to the bottom of the tree.  What a M.E.S.S.!!  Mimi vowed that the tree was going to the garbage dump when the decorations came down.

Here it is in all its glory!

After all the decorations were on it, you really couldn't see the holes where I couldn't get the lights to go back in place.  But getting it to this point was such a pain for the past 2 years.  Mimi said, "Enough is enough."  And had full intentions of sending it packing.  But Mr. Fix-It Granddaddy said "No.  I'll fix it this year."

It is now February and look what still adorns the downstairs . . .

a ladder, a tree

some lights

and more lights!

Pretty sight, isn't it?  Good news is that Granddaddy does have the very top section working now; that's why it is missing in the above picture.  But Mimi's thinking the project is taking way too long to finish (kind of like some of Mimi's is exactly what your Mommy's and Daddy's are thinking, I'm sure!!)  Mimi plans on giving him until I start putting up the Easter decorations, then the tree must go.  Sounds fair enough, don't you agree?

And, yes, Mimi is also clearing out her unfinished projects and either finishing them or sending them packing.  Hopefully, more will be finished than thrown away since the majority of them are for you girls!!

But Mimi isn't making any promises on what gets finished and what doesn't!



From Pinterest to the Playroom

We found it . . .

We built it . . .

and now it's upstairs in The Nest holding all the dress up clothes which just happen to be Mande's old dance costumes along with a few of her dresses that Mimi made her when she was little.  As she outgrew the dresses and moved on from dance to college, Mimi dreamed of one day having at least one little granddaughter to play with them.

WOW!

Didn't God bless Mimi by giving her 5 precious granddaughters who love to play dress up!!

Looks better than that big ole green plastic box, doesn't it girls?

Be sure and give Granddaddy a hug for helping Mimi with this project, okay?

I have a few more "pinterest projects" along with some from my "files" for your nest ~ hopefully, I'll get them completed before you outgrow them.  My goal . . . by Easter!  We'll see but no more pictures until after you see them in person so you'll be surprised the next time you're here.

Hope you're having a good week!

The Middle Little

turns 6 today!

How, oh how, can that be?

A little birdie told me, so I know it must be true;

but Mimi just can't believe that it's happening to you!

For the last 2 years, AC, you've designed a special Christmas dress to be made by Santa's elves and delivered on Christmas Eve.  That dress was the centerpoint for your birthday party.  This year you let the elves rest and decided on a "bird" birthday theme at the skating rink.  How fun!!!  You and Mommy always have the cutest decorations even at the 'roller go.'

with the cutest favors!

You and some of your friends get ready to party while waiting on the others to finish skating.

What a fun birthday party!

Mimi and Granddaddy really enjoyed watching all of ya'll skating like pros!

Happy 6th Birthday, Sunshine!!!!

We love you all the muches!

ps:  Look at the pillow Mimi found to celebrate your 6th birthday.  Every time I look at it, I'll think of you and wonder how you could already be six years old.

Saturday Night = Date Night

and Date Night these days equals

Lace, Heirloom Dresses, Pearls, and Big Hairbows

(Please, Lord, let it be a long time before things change!)

Daddy's special dates for the country club's Daddy Date Night

Sweet Sisters and Best Friends

Yes, sweet Baby A, you most definitely are a Princess!!

You came running through the house holding out your dress just like a Disney Princess asking, "Daddy, do I look like a princess?"

Could life get any sweeter for a Daddy of Three Princesses?

Mimi just knows ya'll had a wonderful time "dancing with your three friends" as Adelynn said.

While We Were Away

Remember, Mimi mentioned we were away right after Christmas?  Well, we did a little visiting.

First, we left right after Christmas to finish up a Christmas gift to the A girls . . .

The Swing Set

For Christmas, Mimi and Granddaddy gave ya'll swings and a trapeze bar to go on the swing set your daddy wanted to build (your little red bags contained money for all the wood and etc needed).  He needed Granddaddy to help with the building and Mimi just tagged along to play.

Hard at Work

Yes, Daddy did most of the work and Granddaddy did most of the watching.

AG getting Riley to perform her tricks while G-Dawg and Daddy worked

Is this the right place, Mom?

After Mr. Robby helped them drill the holes for the posts, Daddy poured the concrete.  Unfortunately for ya'll, it had to dry for 7 days before you could start enjoying it.

Just "a swingin" while Riley keeps watch.  Be careful on those monkey bars across the top, please!!

The Winter Fair

After the swing set was up, Mimi and Granddaddy came home, repacked our clothes and headed north for some winter fun.  We were going to stay with the C girls during the day and watch a Christmas Basketball Tournament at night.  CJ decided that Christmas Day Camp would be more fun than staying with us, so Little Cybie took us to the Christmas Fair.

This was probably your most fun ride!

Mimi's neck hurt just taking pictures.

G-Dawg was a great sport to ride and let Mimi take pictures.

Sissy sure did miss some fun . . .

We even saw two of Santa's reindeer who had come back to visit.

Of course, ya'll had to put on that "other" color and cheer for the UT Round-Ball Boys.

Cute cheerleaders but would have been cuter in your red and black!  You know Mimi just likes to kid with ya'll about my Dawgs and your Hounds.

Now, we're back home where Granddaddy is working on his "special project" (another post later for sure) and Mimi is working on goodies for the next holiday.  Valentines will be here soon.  Can you believe that January is already more than half over?

And, oh yes, Mimi has started to an exercise class so I can get in shape to keep up with all the running I'll be doing this summer just trying to keep up with all of ya'll.  Don't tell your Daddy and Mommy but it really does seem to be helping my back and knees.  Guess my 2 doctors do know something!

Have a great weekend!  Hopefully, it isn't raining where ya'll are.

And "GO FLIGHT!"

It's Their Time . . .

to shine!

Mimi's "littliest" Littles started following in their big sissy's footsteps in January.

Is it really possible that they are old enough to do that????

At 3, after signing herself up months ago, Baby A started her first ballet class.

With hair in a bun, new ballet bag, & a new soft cover up,

she was all smiles and so very excited . . .

for "Miss Mary to tell the little ones what to do."

(you had been telling us this for weeks, maybe to reassure yourself that you'd know what to do)

Mimi can't wait until May for the recital!!

At 4, Little Cybie begged to play Upwards basketball on her best friend's team.  After a little debate, Mommy and Daddy decided she could . . .

This week Big Sis was an assistant coach, too.

Making her shot during practice helped her score some goals during the game.  Mimi was too excited watching to get pictures of that, though!

Someone made the comparison that Upwards at this age is a little like "herding cats" and after watching this weekend, I just might have to agree.

But it sure is fun for this Mimi to watch her littles growing, learning, and following the actions of their big sisters.  Seems like only yesterday, the "biggest" Littles were starting out in their respective choice of hobbies.

My, oh my, where does the time go?

Surprise

Mimi was downstairs when I heard strange noises like thousands of rats running through the house.  No rats, thank goodness!!  Just this . . .

Snow?

No, HAIL!

It was 55 degrees outside when I ran to the grocery store this morning.  By 1:00 p.m. the cold front had started to move in and caused a hail storm.  Nothing like I remember ever seeing.

Granddaddy yelled for me to get the camera and hurry to the breakfast room door.

2 smaller piles of hail soon became . . .

One larger pile that piled over the window ledge.

When the thunder and lightening stopped he decided he better shovel it off before it started to melt and run in the window.

Doesn't the deck look pretty?

  

Luckily, the hail was small ~ about the size of a dime!

Hopefully, there was no damage to cars or roofs!

Before long our ditch was almost to overflowing from the rain and hail mixture.

Last night's weather forecast predicted some snow for tonight so Mimi hurried upstairs and took down the snowflakes hanging in your Nest.  Maybe I got them down in time so that no snow will fall on the Acre.

Hope today brings sunshine where you are!!