Callie is Two!

 Callie turned 2 on August the Seventh!  My, how the time has flown. So cliche. I know.  We celebrated at Ingleside with a smaller than usual (though not small) gathering.  I served lunch - all of our favs..

I didn't order up a fancy cake - I just threw a little cupcake party and made these myself - I cheated.  Funfetti (because it's our FAV. and Ukrop's icing. Again FAV)

My girl.. who now talks..and goes potty..and has a big girl bed..and is two years old.  Who on August 7, 2009 entered this world and still I think it was yesterday!

Back to the cupcakes. YUM!

She loves her some Uncle Willie... but let's not let him get too close or she runs and screams - repeatedly - it's a game.

Boy fight..or best buds? while Cal wathces glares on.  Li & Saw as Cal has declared them.

Helping hands for the birhday girl from Colt and El.  She says their names each and every day.  At least a few times.

<3.  Would have been nice if Cassie and I could have made it in this pic with the Birthday girl, too.  I like it.

Daddy with his Daddy and Bro.

And Chessie came all this way to see Cal turn two.

Take a soap home with you.  We(Ellyana & I) handmade them with love. XOXO

Finishing off some Short Lane Cake Batter Ice Cream on my birthday night.  Kristen caught this shot of me!

Most of the other shots were captured by Kelly (or Del as Callie would say). So thanks for snapping away while I was too busy cutting cake or whatev!

Happy Birthday Little Love!  Many Many More To Go... And we will celebrate each one in style! xoxo

2 Birthdays and 7 Dads

The Weekend brought 2 Birthdays (and their celebrations), Cocomos with friends, and Father's Day where we honored a slew of Dads. 

Courtney and Liam share June 17 birthdays.. Liam's was big number 1 and Courtney..well she is still in her twenties!

Friday night, we cooked out over at Court and James' without any citronella torches with some rain and a bushel of crabs - YUM! Unfortunately, the Canon T1I isn't allowed out in the rain, so no pics from Friday night. The kids jumped on the trampoline and played in the rain yet again while the adults sat around in camp chairs talking about old times.. nice.  HB Courtney Jayne!

Liam had his FIRST birthday and a POOL party. We love those! Happy 1st Birthday William Norfleet Penick Jr.! xoxo

 

 On Sunday, Gordon and I hosted our Dads and the rest of the gangs for a Father's Day grill out... 

see, seven Dads!

there's mine!

and I redeemed myself. (Yeah, remember when I gave G a lousy anni gift from this post and he gave me a diamond platinum ring.) The gift I gave him was a bathing suit (yeh, lame I know)..hence a new Weber grill for Dad's Day. A grill, you say? no biggie. Well to a Penick guy.. my Penick guy in particular, the Weber is Grill Heaven so he can be King of the Grill! He was happy and that made me happy! He is a great Dad afterall and ever-so-deserving. I think our guests appreciated the kabobs from the grill, too!

Ahh, a refreshing Mexican cola.

peeking at Liam

strawberry short'cup'cakes

shiver me timbers brownies

from the yard

 brothers and their babes..

whipped Colty..and in a good way!

my angel baby

sister session.. and we had just finished skyping with Cass, Chessie, and Shawn

It was the first planned entertaining we had done this summer and we enjoyed having our family over.

It was a weekend full..and next weekend isn't slacking up!  Heya it's Summatime!

How Does Your Garden Grow?

Things are growing around 1303.

Hanging Baskets from Ware Produce ... always just lovely

This hibiscus and I have a history.  You see it is from Our Wedding Day.  That makes it over 4 years old..and that is old in plant years around here.  I winter this thing in the garage or inside.. and we do okay.  Not always grand... but she's a flowering.. daily now!  And I love her... we're making memories - our hibiscus and us. 

Ginormous Fern also came from Ware Produce.. this thing WOWs!  I have never used this planter as a planter before.. it's just too darn big and even for this big ole fern.  But, a friend gave me a great tip.  I filled the empty space around the pot with empty plastic bottles - everything from water bottles to two liters to big apple juice containers.  I'm telling you this pot is big.  This trick also works if you have a big planter and you want to fill the bottom so you don't have to use so much potting soil; you can just pot on top of all the plastic.

I caught the Hydrangeas in the early morn.. now the 96 degrees temps are getting to them in our unshaded yard.  But they are still my favs.

So...how does your garden grow?  Mine grows by the watering of a precious 22 month old baby girl each morn and the sweet sunshine all day ;) 

*Still promises of the garden trellis.. I'm gonna snap a pic of it this weekend.

Little Crocs and Still Dating

I know that little shoes have been lingering around our house for..pause..nearly 2 years now, but when I glanced down at the bench and saw Callie's toddler Crocs perched on the bench the other day something struck a chord.  They weren't the teensy weensy size ones that everyone awws over just moreso 'mini Momma' shoes and somedays I still can't believe they are my precious little girls.  Miss Priss loves her Crocs and the independence that came with them since she can get them on all by herself!

So I have a date with my beautiful daughter's Dadddy tonight (or husband..lol)... A HOT date to buy a HOT dress.. I hope.

There are things happening in the WORLD..

and my blog just doesn't know about it.  I know you all do, but I may need to look back on these times.

Official Photo by Hugo Burnand

A royal wedding took place on April 29.  A real life fairytale.  But hey, I had one of those of my own just about 4 years ago to the dot.. a fairytale wedding that is.  Prince William and Kate Middleton were married, now the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, and the whole world watched!  Katherine was beautiful and classic and ROYAL. Wishing my dear friends (ha!) a lifetime of happiness!



photo courtesy of yahoo.com

On Sunday May 1, Osama Bin Laden was killed by US Navy Seals. His assassination comes 15 years after he declared war on the US and 10 years after the 9/11 attacks. Bin Laden's death has dominated news all week. It is an ongoing political bloodbath. I thank our armed forces for their service and for fulfilling this mission.



AND there have actually been things happening in the GLEBE and 'round about that I haven't posted on either.  The Wiatt's hosted an "EGGxcellent"  Hunt for all the kiddos on the Saturday before Easter.  We really enjoyed a good time had by all.  Callie visited the Easter Bunny at Yankee Candle that day, also.  And of course, the Easter Bunny brought a basket full or ten.  Here's some photos to share: