A Very Unbirthday to You!

"Get to your places!' shouted the Queen in a voice of thunder, and people began running about in all directions, tumbling up against each other; however, they got settled down in a minute or two, and the game began.”

Alice in Wonderland was the inspiration. An unbirthday was the occasion. (Avery's real birthday won't be until the end of August) The table was set for a tea party. Croquet and egg races were held in the yard. Snow cones and presents were part of the equation.

Clean cup, clean cup. Move down.

Statistics prove, prove that you've one birthday

One birthday every year
But there are three hundred and sixty four unbirthdays

That is why we're gathered here to cheer
A very merry unbirthday to you, to you
A very merry unbirthday to you, to you
It's great to drink to someone And I guess that you will do A very merry unbirthday to you

-from Walt Disney's Alice in Wonderland


A game of flamingo croquet.

“The chief difficulty Alice found at first was in managing her flamingo: she succeeded in getting its body tucked away, comfortably enough, under her arm, with its legs hanging down, but generally, just as she had got its neck nicely straightened out, and was going to give the hedgehog a blow with its head, it would twist itself round and look up in her face, with such a puzzled expression that she could not help bursting out laughing: and when she had got its head down, and was going to begin again, it was very provoking to find that the hedgehog had unrolled itself, and was in the act of crawling away: besides all this, there was generally a ridge or furrow in the way wherever she wanted to send the hedgehog to, and, as the doubled-up soldiers were always getting up and walking off to other parts of the ground, Alice soon came to the conclusion that it was a very difficult game indeed.” -Lewis Carroll

Egg races.

Snow cones, perfect refreshment on a hot day.

"But I don't want to go among mad people," Alice remarked.

"Oh, you can't help that," said the Cat: "we're all mad here. I'm mad. You're mad."
"How do you know I'm mad?" said Alice.
"You must be," said the Cat, "or you wouldn't have come here."

A great time was had by all!

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A hat was chosen and decorated with flowers by each girl as soon as she arrived. The table decorations were purchased at local thrift stores. The plates and cups were decorated with paint markers ahead of time by the birthday girl and her sister. Paper plates were used on top of the china to protect the paint. The food was labeled Eat Me and the soda had tags tied around them which said Drink Me (I'm quite delicious). The girls took their hats and place settings home as their favor.

I hung around for a few hours after the guests left. We made a collage of all the odds and end decorations, placed it in a shadowbox and my DIL hung it in the birthday girl's bedroom.

The grands.

My talented imaginative daughter-in-law once again hosted an over-the-top, super-duper birthday party. Way to go Robin!

It Smells Like Rain

You know the smell...it always reminds me of fresh dirt. That pleasant earthy smell is caused by the bacteria, Actinomycetes, which is found forest liter or compost. It grows as a filamentous white thread in soil. The bacteria produces spores in dry soil, which rain drops splash upward upon contact. These spores become airborne carrying the scent with them. This bacteria is found in soil all over the world which is why this is a universal phenomenon. The bacteria thrives in moist soil, but the spores are released when the soil dries out, which accounts for the fact that that "rain" smell is strongest after a dry spell.

Scientists have discovered that getting your hands in soil may help lift your mood. The bacterium Mycobaterium vaccae found in dirt may have antidepressant properties which activate serotonin in the brain.

Is a little dirt good for us? Is our general good health and well-being boosted by germs found in everyday dirt? Yes, is the resounding answer from scientists.

In studies of what is called the hygiene hypothesis, researchers are concluding that organisms like the millions of bacteria, viruses and especially worms that enter the body along with “dirt” spur the development of a healthy immune system. Several continuing studies suggest that worms may help to redirect an immune system that has gone awry and resulted in autoimmune disorder, allergies and asthma.

As you might imagine, children who grow up on farms are frequently exposed to worms and other organisms from farm animals. But did you know that these children are much less likely to develop allergies and autoimmune diseases than children raise on a steady diet of hand sanitizers and ultra cleanliness?

Dirt cakes and cupcakes decorated with sprinkles...mmmm.
Remember the fun of dirt cooking?

I think it might be time for me to get outside and get my hands in the dirt. What can it hurt? I might feel better and my flowers will appreciate the care.

More of Our Week

A trip to the Splash Park.

Whoever is the inventor of Splash Parks is a genius! The place was full of mom's and kids. From the smallest to the largest, everyone was having the best time.

A trip to great grandmother's and great granddaddy's house.

My Daddy refurbished this seesaw. The girls loved it. Elijah did too.

A trip to the skate rink.

The girls other grandparents treated us to a night at the local roller rink. Their cousin makes skating look like a piece of cake. Elizabeth was determined to master it and she did by the end of the night. Madeline did a good job too. Sorry for the blurry picture. My camera wasn't made for low light.

Tomorrow, a trip to Texas.

I'll be back soon.

Enjoying Being a Gramma

Texas mommy and daddy and 2 sisters went home last Sunday, but 2 big sisters decided to stay with me a little longer.

Today we met Elijah at the park for some fun.

The fun continued at home with a tumbling ramp made of baby bed mattresses and every pillow in the house.

I will be driving them home this weekend. Can you say "Road Trip?"

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Rachel emailed me this picture of Elijah playing in the sprinkler.

It was so cute I had to share.

Beauty School is in Session

Free makeovers available.

You can have a have a hair do like mine if you drop by.

Busy Week

Lots of crafting, craziness, card games of War, storytelling, cooking, dish-washing, laughing and visiting have been going on in my house this week. It is quiet today. They've gone to visit the Mod Family for the day.

Overheard while making clothes for paperdolls:

The oldest, Elizabeth, was having a hard time making her bathing suit fit the doll properly. She was frustrated because the top of the paperdoll's underwear was showing. I'd told her repeatedly that it couldn't be helped...Then her younger sister piped up and said.

"She's a perfectionist like mother!"

Then Elizabeth said: "Well, if you were a firstborn you would be a perfectionist too."

From the mouths of a seven and a nine year old...who are both going on thirty it seems.

Anyway...it's been real....real fun!

The Day I Knew I Was a Grownup

...was the day I realized that I had a 14 year old son that I had to figure out how to make obey me.

Of course, I had been making him mind me since he was a toddler...but on this particular day he needed discipline that I felt was out of my realm of know how. He was as big as me. He had gotten in trouble on the school bus. I didn't know what to do to ensure he wouldn't do the same thing again.

It was a flashbulb moment of life. I remembered being 14 myself as if it had only been the week before. How could I get a 14 year old to do as I said? So, I did the only thing I could think of doing. I fervently asked God for help and wisdom. And shortly thereafter I had an idea that was totally not me.

After telling the bus driver what I planned on doing, I told my son that if he couldn't ride the bus and police his own behavior his mommy would have to ride the bus with him in order to make him behave. I was completely prepared to do it, but oh how I hoped I wouldn't be forced to follow up. I would have been just as humiliated as my son. But, I wasn't about to let him know that.

Well, we had other clashes through the years, but never one regarding proper behavior on the school bus. A few years ago I mentioned the incident. He said he was going to run away if I'd ever tried riding the bus with him...I retorted that I'd noticed he'd never gotten in trouble on the bus again.

He has children that will be 14 before too many more years pass. I hope he'll remember to pray when he doesn't know what to do with them.

Dinner Time

It seems squirrel's love to use my front porch as their dinner plate.

Speaking of dinner, I'm cooking for the family today in honor of the St. Patrick's birthday boy. At his request, we're having chicken and dumplings and German chocolate cake.

Please take a second today and say a prayer for my friend J. I just got the news that she getting a new heart today. This is her second transplant. Her first heart lasted 26 years. Her second about 29. Please pray her third will be a good match.

Have a happy and blessed day everyone!

Gramma's Brag Book

Last Sunday I traveled north to spend the day with my grandkids, oldest son and DIL. It was a nice mild day outside. We started out for the park, the 2 1/2 year old skating, the 7 year old riding her scooter and the 10 year old running ahead. Gramma found it impossible to take the infinitesimal baby steps needed to match the skater's snail pace without her back beginning to ache. Oldest sister and I finally each had to take one hand each and pull little brother back home at an adult sized gait.

Little brother wasn't too happy at being told which direction to skate.

I took the crocheted hats I've been working on while watching TV this winter. I know it's almost Spring, but better late than never, eh?

Avery is the hat lover. Here she's modeling a headband, which she wore for the rest of the day.

Granny square hat with big flower on the side.

I got his head size a little wrong. Oldest sister said she will wear it until he grows in to it.

I came home with a request for a granny square hat from my DIL in a more subdued color scheme and my oldest granddaughter ordered a hat with ear flaps in purples, greens and blues. I'm happy to oblige. I've got the yarn so I better get started. They'll be ready just in time for next year.

Sweet Home

Making fun of our Southern selves:

If you stick to the seats in your vehicle, it is Spring.
If You need to let the car 'get some air' while standing next to it with the doors open for a minute before you can stick your upper body inside to crank it and get the air going, it is Summer.
If you are sweating even with the windows down, driving 55, it is Fall.
If you finally turn the AC off and roll your windows up, it is Winter.


If you ask for a 'coke,' and they ask you, 'What kind?' This is not a trick question. Tell them you want: Sprite, Dr. Pepper, Root Beer, etc., it's all 'coke' to us.

All tea is sweet. If it's not sweet you have crossed the Mason-Dixon Line. Iced tea is appropriate for all meals and you start drinking it when you are two. Most Southerners like a little tea with their sugar.....I'm the exception to this rule.

We don't push buttons. We mash them.
We don't get ready to go anywhere...we're fixin to go.

Speaking of fixin...I'm fixin to say...

Bye Ya'll!

Taking Time Out From Winter

One of the advantages of living in the South is what happened to us this weekend. The temperature warmed up considerably and we've had 3 days of sun and nice weather.

Inviting

I was off work Friday and Rachel, Elijah and I went out for a few hours. Our first stop was a favorite middle eastern restaurant where we decided to take advantage of the warm sunshine and sit outside.

Relaxing

I don't want to gloat, but man was it nice!!!

Precious

Don't be too jealous. I'm sure it won't last long.

Delicious

I've hit the road today traveling north a couple of hours to visit with my oldest son and his family. Have a great Sunday everyone.

Party Time

Time really flies. It seems like it was just yesterday that my 8th grandchild was born.

And yet this past week, it was already time to celebrated his first birthday.

Mommy went all out to create him a "little prince" birthday cake. There was yummy moist carrot cake on the inside and sweet cream cheese icing outside. The guests also enjoyed hot dips and chicken salad sandwiches.

He wasn't sure why everyone was standing around watching him and taking so many photos.

It took a few minutes for him to dig in.

But he had no trouble understanding what to do with his presents.

He presented his parents with his own birthday surprise last week. He officially started walking. He's a little man now for sure. Happy Birthday Elijah!