Monday Memories

The Memory:

**Now, this was taken AFTER I pressure washed the driveway and all the dirt ended up all over the pots...come on!  You didn't think it was THAT bad did you!?!?**

I don't have an explanation for the leaves though.

And what will hopefully not become a memory:

Don't you think that is soooo much better!? 

It was my sister's suggestion to take out some of the pots and use them in other areas of the yard. 

I think she was....errr...not wrong. :)! 

And for goodness sake, don't tell her that.  We would hate for her to think she was "not wrong" too often....it might go to her head!

More before and afters comin' your way in the comin' weeks!

Wishing you FUNTASTIC FLOWERS~

~M and Faith Anne~

Monday Memories

Have I mentioned that I love Christmas time?

Well, in case I haven't lately, you should know that I do love Christmas time. A lot.

I also love baking...

Put the two together....and add Momma and Daddy to the mix.

It is almost more happiness than I can stand.

But that is just what we did in late December. 

We baked lots of cookies and decorated about 50 of them.

And we wore fun Christmas aprons too.  Daddy included.

It is one of my warmest holiday memories from 2009.

Wishing you a warm holiday memory~

(on what will hopefully be the last cold Monday for a long while :))

~M~

Monday Memories

This is was the the view of my backyard from my bedroom window.
(Yes, I am aware that my backyard needs lots of work.  What can I say?  I am a social worker, who works for the state, who is furloughed...yep I would say it is going to take a few years :))

Tune in tomorrow for the reason it's not anymore...

And...here's a hint....

Wishing you a Merry Monday~
~M~

Monday Memories

One day last summer, when Faith Anne and I were at Momma and Daddy's for the weekend, we heard an ice cream truck go by.  And we ran outside and Momma and I jumped up and down and yelled and screamed like little kids until the ice cream truck came back.  (And I think Daddy may have yelled and screamed some too.)  Then we realized that none of us had any cash.  So we did what any good parent would allow their children to do (even if they are grown :)).  We raided Momma and Daddy's "Romantic Getaway" Piggy.  This is a picture of the aftermath.  Poor Piggy. 

As I recall though....we had a great time eating our ice cream and talking to the really nice ice cream lady who patiently waited while we raided the piggy bank.

(Hopefully it didn't cause too much of a delay in the next romantic getaway....)

Wishing you an unexpected treat and parents as cool as mine~

~M~

Monday Memories

I do not have a 10 karat diamond tennis bracelet.

I have something much more valuable than that.

A simple. beautiful.

charm bracelet that

Momma and Daddy gave me years ago.

Honestly, I don't remember what the occasion was...

probably Christmas or a birthday.

But I can tell you this:

You know the question,

"What would you save from a fire assuming all people and pets made it out?"

For me, my charm bracelet would be it.

And what does that have to do with a Monday Memory you ask?

Every charm holds a memory; in most cases, holds many memories.

There is the Pooh Bear Face from the dance competition in Disney World that Momma and went to with Hannah. Instead of going to the parks we went hotel hopping to many of the Disney Hotels and had SO MUCH FUN!

The Silver Flip Flops are representative of our many trips to Seaside and Rosemary Beach Florida. Some of my most fond family memories are from those weeks at a beach house. Doing absolutely nothing.

Just looking at my Statue of Liberty charm brings back memories of all three times that I had the privilege of visiting New York City. The most memorable is the trip that Momma and Daddy surprised up with one Christmas while I was in high school.  We loved experiencing NYC right after Christmas and into a new year.  It was a blast.

The horse and buggy from the Amish Country, The Red Bus from my trip to England with Blair to see JM during the summer of 2008, the musical note for my 10 years of piano lessons and flute playing in high school band, and of course a big sister charm, 'cause that's my most important role in my life to date, the RCL charm that reminds me of my 26th birthday when my sister gave it to me and of all my experiences in my little red cottage since college, etc.

I love my charm bracelet.  I love it even more when friends, family, "my kids," or a complete stranger asks to see my beloved charm bracelet and asks about a certain charm.  Because that means I get to share a wonderful moment, a wonderful memory in my life.

Wishing you flood of memories on this 2nd Monday of 2010~
~M~

Monday Memories

A & L. Two of my favorite kids on the planet.

I love love love them.

These were taken sometime in mid 2007

on one of our many "dates" together.

I also love love love their parents for trusting me with their "precious cargo."

What a gift.

Wishing you a Merry Monday and the

blessing of children~

~M~

**By the way~as this is posting I will be picking A and L up in Huntsville (I cannot wait to hear all about their weekend) on my way home and taking them home where their Mommy and Daddy will be anticipating their arrival...I will be sure to take a few pictures of them and share them with you...they have grown up so much in the past two years!**

Monday Memories

Happy is Back!

I know. You are wondering, "What does that mean?! Did Happy ever leave?"

Well sort of. Happy is a bear that my sweet family gave me when I went to college.

(Remember my post on change....)

It was not just any bear though....

On the afternoon of August 24th, 2002 (God, I am getting old), the summer before I left for college, I came home to find a tiny box tied with a pretty yellow ribbon (yellow is my favorite color). Inside were three recorders, one with a message from my Daddy, one with a message from my Momma and one with a message from my baby sister.

I think I cried. Okay...I know I cried :)! And then, I think I looked a little puzzled.

My Momma explained that the tiny recorders were from Build a Bear and that we were all leaving that very minute to go "build a bear" together.

And that is just what we did. We picked out a bear and then we built it.

Can I tell you how wonderful it was? My sweet family each put a tiny heart in my bear in addition to their tiny recorders. They even made a wish, kissed the heart and as I recall, a little dance was involved. We stuffed the bear and fluffed the bear.

Then it was time to name it. I could think of no better name than "Happy." When I think of Home that is the first word that comes to mind "Happy." So that's what I named it. I even have a birth certificate for my sweet Happy.

Now, I know you are also wondering why "Happy is Back. Where did Happy ever go?"

Well, poor Happy. Happy survived four years of college. By my fourth year, I had pressed the recorders so much that they stopped working, all of them, completely. But I still loved my Happy; Coke stains, tears, trips home, trips back to college, and finally a move here, to the little red cottage, Happy had been through a lot with me. Somehow, Happy wound up on a top shelf in my closet and that's where Happy sat for about three years.

Until recently, I rediscovered my bear that had been through so much with me.

A bath, a few stitches, and a new pretty red ribbon later...and...

Happy is Back!

(If only we could convince sweet Faith Anne not to love Happy so much...:)!!)

Wishing you a Marvelous Monday Memory,

~M~

Monday Memories

"The Nine"

(Stay tuned later this week for the story of "The Nine")

BR: Jane Marie, Me, Margaret, Court, Amber, Blair

FR: Katie, Laura Loo, & Noe

Noe's Senior Recital

Spring 2006

GA

Wishing you wonderful, talented friends~

~M~

Monday Memories

Florence, Italy
Summer 2006

One of my most Favorite places in the world.

With some of my most favorite people in the world....

Daddy, Hannah, Me, and Momma

(And this just happens to be one of my favorite family photos too!)

I think I speak for everyone when I say this was the

BEST FAMILY VACAY EVER!!!

Wishing you a wonderful vacation with a wonderful family-

~M~

Monday Memories

Daddy, Momma, Hannah, and me

Probably Late 1986

I love these pictures...

Look how happy we look!

Plus...please notice my Daddy's glasses...classic....

Wishing you happy childhood memories~
M.

Monday Memories

Aunt Joyce's and Uncle James' House

View From Their Backyard

De Funiak Springs, Florida
July 2009

Wishing you a view as peaceful as this one-
M.

Monday Memories

l to r: Faith Anne, Me, Momma, Dazi Mae, Daddy, Hannah, & Hope Eigh

"Bark in the Park"

Atlanta Braves Stadium

Summer 2008

We are ready for Bark in the Park 2009 coming up September 6th!!

Question is . . . are they ready for us?!?!?

Please notice my mother's shirt says "Ask Me About My Granddogs."**

**Yes, we are completely obsessed about our dogs...and baseball!!**

By the way, we had an amazing experience...click this link, https://secure.mlb.com/atl/ticketing/bark_at_park.jsp to learn more!!

Wishing you the joy of doggies and baseball-

M.

Monday Memories

Bath, England

June 2008

A Cute Little Park

With AMAZING Views

(not to mention the most incredible Honey Ginger ice cream)

Delightful I tell you. Delightful.

We could have sat in these chairs for days.

Wishing you a Merry Monday,

M.

Monday Memories

If you know me, you know that I like to take pictures. Okay, let's face it you don't even have to know me that well to know this.

In fact when you walk into my house there are two walls of pictures. . .

. . .not to mention all the other pictures throughout the house!

So I decided that I am going to copy this friend's "Photo Friday" idea, only twist it a little and make mine "Monday Memories."
(Don't worry, she won't mind. . .she loves me. . .at least enough not to care if I copy one of her ideas!)

Without further ado. . .at "Auntie Amber's" request. . .I present a few pictures of Faith Anne!
(You did not really expect something different for the first Monday Memory did you??)

Faith Anne
First Weekend Home
December 2006

Faith Anne
Home

March 2009

Wishing you many happy "Monday Memories,"
M.