Weekend with the Grandkids

We had a fun and busy weekend with the Pessara kids.

Saturday night we went bowling and to dinner at Applebee's. We met Kyle, Matlin's boyfriend. He is very nice -Grandpa approves!

I hadn't been bowling for a while - really cool colors to bowl with.

I wanted to try out these pancake molds that I bought from Avon.

They weren't real pretty but they tasted good.

Our poor little Cooper has been sick for a while. He really made a turn for the worse this weekend. The Veterinarian thinks he has a brain tumor. He can't walk at all - he falls over as soon as you stand him up. I think we will be saying good by to Coop this week - so, so hard.

Full house: 2 Grandparents, 3 Grandkids, 3 Grand Dogs and 2 new kittens.

Hand feeding Cooper. He eats and drinks as long as you feed him.

Ian - so cute and he loves to pick on his little sister:

Ian taught us to play Clue - The Simpson's.

Emmy is so much fun - she gave me a tatoo.

Emmy was very interested in helping me sew. We headed for Ben Franklin to get her a project. She picked out a rug hooking kit.

She caught on immediately.

Great Job!

I started this little afghan - "Unsquared Baby Throw" by Lion Brand. The yarn is Lion Brand Cupcake. It has an unusual texture - very soft. Love the colors and the names (Pink Lemonade,Pistachio,Sugarplum,Lemon Drop,Blueberry).

Cross stitch - haven't done this in a very long time. When I saw this stocking pattern with the little boy and girl on the sofa I just had to make it. I use to love to cross stitch, but my eyes can't take the little stitches for long.

One of the kittens - they stay up stairs most of the time but this one ventured out - very cute and sweet.

See his little head peeking out by the lamp. Max just watches them.

Enjoying being at home in the winter.

I love the winter; I love all the seasons but winter is a time to enjoy the inside of your home doing the things you love. Dave hates the winter; he is an out door guy and doesn't like to be cooped up. It is a time when I can catch up on some of my favorite things.

I love this little sign - it reminds me to be appreciative of all the things I have. I am blessed with so many things, to mention just a few = family, friends, a job I love and a warm home and the ability to do things I love:

Cooking! Doesn't seem to be a chore to me; I love being in my kitchen. This year I am going to use my crock pot more. This book has a lot of recipes I want to try.

Crock Pot beef rib stew - delicious! I made Spaghetti Soup last night - it was so good and perfect for a snowy, cold night.

I am really enjoying my Hoosier Cabinet. All of my baking utensils are stored here and I use the counter top a lot.

I love decorating it too.

Target $ bin finds. I love the cupcake theme.

Ready to bake.

I have been making bread every week with my new bread machine.

Crock Pot white chicken chili.

Lemon Meringue Cupcakes - very good.

We keep this photo near by - their being 12 hours away doesn't get any easier. They will be four tomorrow, March 4. I can't believe it. We can't get there tomorrow but we will head west on Thursday.

I love decorating and moving things around. I guess I get it from my mother - she moved furniture around - it was part of her cleaning routine. I don't move furniture so much but I do move other stuff. I can never get my mantle the way I want it. I love the white pitchers - the greenery at the bottom had to go.

Knitting!

I have a lot of projects I am working on - I am trying to get things finished before moving on to something else.Little Rosebud hat for Meighan, another pattern from "Itty Bitty Baby Hats"

Our church makes baby hats for Southside Regional Hospital in Petersburg. The first time we visited the church I noticed a big basket full of crochet baby hats in the church library. I have met several of the ladies that make these hats - one is a elementary school teacher and the other is a nurse and teaches at the nursing school at Southside Regional. It only takes about an hour to make one of these hats.

I have been experimenting with little embellishments to add to the hats. The one on the top right is a little cupcake with a cherry on top. I need to make some boy hats soon.

I made these little snowbuddy hats for Meg and Alex - very appropriate for all the snow they get in St. Louis.

Packed up and ready to go!

What We Have Been Up To

I have been doing some sewing and knitting - this is Meighan's quilt - it's almost finished. She won't have it for her birthday but soon. I haven't found material I like yet for Alex's quilt. I love this little rosebud material.

I did a few embroidery squares: princess patterns to her quilt. Cute little dragon.

Little castle.

The table I bought at Goodwill for $25 has been great for laying out my sewing.

Dave got a new car. A 2008 Grand Prix, used with very low mileage. Dave had a Grand Prix when I met him. Grand Prix are not made any longer, 2008 was the last model. It is very pretty and comfortable.

Looking good, the car and the man.

Happy Valentine's Day

Dave brought these pretty flowers and the heart shaped vase - very pretty! He also gave me a necklace which was a total surprise and I love it.

I found these red polka dot napkins and the chicken napkin ring - I love polka dots!

We had dinner at home then went to one of our favorite local restaurants (The Rose Cafe) for dessert and a drink.
Our meal started out with this homemade bread.

This is the only way I fix steak now. Dave likes it - he would rather have a burger than a steak most of the time. But this is a skirt steak, marinated in teriyaki sauce and grilled. Slice it thin, it is the best!

Had to have some shrimp to go with our steak.

Bad picture,but this is banana pudding - the best I have ever had.

Cheesecake and a Irish Coffee for Dave.

The girls at work requested some sugar cookies. They tasted better than usual, probably because I have been dieting and hadn't had a cookie for a while.

I love the shoes, wine and martini cookie cutters.

Cute heart shaped spatula I found in the $ bin at Target. Cute but not very practical - it was too soft which made it difficult to remove the cookies from the cookie sheet.

Hope everyone had a nice Valentine's Day