Happy Birthday, Baylee!

Our Baylee girl is a big 7-year-old today! Somehow, when we weren't looking, she transformed from the cute baby above to a lovely girl of seven. And what a joy she has been!

Papa and I surprised Baylee at school today to take her birthday shopping and to dinner. She squealed with delight when she saw us, which always makes our heads grow a little bigger. Before we left we snapped a picture of our elite little group, The Middle Child. We understand each other.
Baylee's smile shows off the missing tooth she lost this week at school during lunch. She's now sporting two windows in that cute smile of hers. And her sweet personality and great sense of humor kept Papa and I entertained all afternoon. We had so much fun with her.

Baylee has a tremendous love for animals - live or stuffed. She chose a variety of animals when we shopped and was anxious to get home and show them to Jude and Sophia. I teased her that we should go to the pet store next door and pick out a puppy and surprise her parents. Of course, I knew better. They will let me slip some sugar to the kids once in awhile, but a puppy would get me in trouble for sure. Baylee has a black rabbit that is so docile and sweet, and she's a very loving and attentive "mama" to him. Taco Meat is lucky to belong to her.

Enjoy your birthday, sweet girl. We always have so much fun with you and are so proud of the smart, beautiful, and sweet girl you have always been. Happy birthday with all our love.

Baylee's Thanksgiving Program

We all enjoyed Baylee's first official school program as a kindergarten student. She's a natural-born performer and there's nothing shy about this girl! This group of Pilgrims and Indians entertained us with the Turkey Tango and other delightful songs.

Baylee was a very pretty Pilgrim!

Jude and Sophia enjoyed the program too. Sweet Jude told me he was so excited to see Baylee perform. Such a sweet brother.

My talented daughter, Allison, made these cute turkey cookies for Baylee's class. A lot of time was involved and I don't even want to guess the calorie content.

Beautiful Allison with husband Brian and little Sophia.

I got to spend a little private time with Sophia. She is such a little doll with the sweetest smile. It was a great morning and I know it meant a lot to Baylee that we were there for her big moment. Good job, Baylee Girl!

It's Still About Baylee

This birthday cake thrilled Baylee since she has a black rabbit that she loves very much. Taco Meat was a hit with the kids, each wanting a turn holding him. Don't ask me where that sweet rabbit got a name like Taco Meat. He looks more like a black fur ball than tortilla fixins'.

Another huge hit was the water slide that was rented for the back yard. The kids had a ball! No messing with party games when you have an entertainment center set up for the kids.

The birthday girl posed for a fun shot. She looks happy, doesn't she? Six must agree with her.

Sophia got her money's worth out of the slide. According to her Mom, she must have gone down it 100 times even after I left the party. What is funny is that she didn't think she'd want to participate because it looked scary. It didn't take but one splash and she was hooked.

A wet Baylee getting ready to blow out her candles. The cake was both chocolate and vanilla. We feasted on pizza, salad, and dips for lunch, then dug into the cake and ice cream.

Baylee made a haul on the gifts. I sat in the floor with her after everyone left and helped open all those hard packages that Daddys usually struggle with. I was armed with scissors and Memaw muscle, which Baylee and Sophia thought was funny.

Kids love to crowd around and watch the gifts being opened. I couldn't resist this shot of Sophia's cute behind. I could just eat her up.

A final shot of Sophia in her yummy watermelon bikini. I've never been a fan of melons, but this one is tempting.

A second party was held in the afternoon after Jude and some of the neighbor kids got out of school. Baylee was then presented with a pink bicycle from her parents, brother and sister. Poor Jude had to leave the party early as he came down with the virus bug that had plagued his Mom and sisters earlier in the week. I hope he feels better soon.

We wrapped up a perfect birthday for a perfect little Baylee!

Happy Birthday, Baylee!

Our pretty Baylee Girl is 6 years old today! Robin and I surprised her at school today and swept her away for lunch and some good birthday shopping at the toy store. You can see from the picture where we ended up for lunch. To her credit, Baylee usually has better taste than this, but choices were few near the store. We made up for it later with ice cream!

This birthday is extra special because Baylee started kindergarten last week. She loves school and getting into the learning mode. When I arrived with my umbrella today she said, "We studied the letter "u" today, like in umbrella." She catches on quickly.

Baylee has always had a big heart for animals so her favorite place to browse is on the stuffed animal aisle. She already has a ton of them at home, but what's a few more when your heart is in it this much? She is "mama" to a real rabbit that adores her. He will sit in her lap while she watches TV and eat fruit from her hands. This sensitive girl has never met an animal she didn't like. I bet she'll be a vegetarian when she grows up. Oh yeah, she's a brunette.

I have her homemade strawberry ice cream made and I was told that her cake will be one she will love. Pictures will be forthcoming. Can't ruin all the birthday surprises.

Have a very happy birthday, Baylee. You made us feel so special today by the excitement on your sweet face when you saw us at your school. You were so much fun and always a joy to be with. I love you, sweet girl!

Wicked!

Allison took Baylee to see the musical Wicked and they both thoroughly enjoyed themselves. Since the musical is about the witches from Wizard of Oz, Baylee dressed as Dorothy - complete with Toto in a basket - and was the center of attention. She makes a very cute Dorothy.

Isn't she the sweetest Dorothy you have ever seen?

Sophia spent the day with Memaw and Papa and she was indulged! As it should be. I got in the pool with her and we had a grand time. Her cheeks were getting rosy and I was concerned that she was getting too much sun, but every time I asked if she was ready to go inside she said she wasn't. Then, after two hours of splashing and having the time of our lives, she told me she was ready to call it a day.

Here are my pretty girls as they were dropping off Sophia before the musical. I was happy to learn that Sophia smiled and clapped her hands when learning she would stay with us instead of attending the musical. That's my girl! She's so sweet and we really enjoyed her. We also enjoyed the special cupcakes Allison brought back. Mine was red velvet. Yum.

Baylee's Graduation

Nothing like a gentle tug on the heartstrings when watching a precious granddaughter graduate from preschool. It's such an innocent age and they feel so big, so proud, when crossing that stage for the award that spells out their great achievement. And the family sits there with tears in their eyes, wondering where the time went, how did she get this age without our noticing it.But Baylee managed to wipe our tears by being her usual animated self. She didn't just sing the songs with her class or receive her diploma with shyness. She performed. She smiled and waved, and moved on the stage as if she had to awe her audience. Yes, her audience.

After graduation we stopped by Sophia's classroom to peek in on her. She was excited to see us, to say the least. I love this picture of her with her teachers. This expression shows the warm affection she has for these women. So sweet.

Three reasons why being a grandma is so wonderful. Jude's arm around his baby sister shows what a loving, doting big brother he is.

Baylee with her BFFs. What a blessing friends are. Just picture these girls posing just like this in another ten years. Years only make a sweet friendship even sweeter.

Because Sophia was still in class, she missed being a part of this family picture. This was taken during the reception that followed. Jude was proud and anxious to put those flowers into Baylee's arms.

Three generations of ladies. I wish my mother could have attended to show off the one who started all of this.

I gave Baylee a card with money inside for her graduation. You'd think I'd given her $100, she was so grateful and happy. She kept asking her mother if they could go shopping with it.

Her diploma in hand, Baylee is smiling for her audience. Such a ham. I think her mother passed a healthy dose of "outgoing" to Baylee during the gestation period.

When asked what she wanted to be when she grew up, Baylee answered zoologist. For some reason, this came as no surprise to her family. The girl adores every animal she's in contact with and her heart is so big that it includes every kind, every species.

And finally, the picture that shows our true Baylee - the comic, the entertainer, the one who literally takes our breath away. Gotta love that girl.

Honoring Moms & Grandmas

There are those delightful moments in life when you just feel like royalty. Whether perched on a lofty pedestal or lounging in an ivory castle, your perception of self-worth is soaring through orbit. You are all-important. You are on a higher plane. You are God's special gift. And all you had to do was walk through a door and enter the presence of a grandchild.That look of surprise, then the wide smile, two little arms opening as they rush into your own, and the excited squeal of "Memaw" fills the air, and your moment of being supreme has just taken place. I got to experience that today as I visited Sophia's pre-school classroom as they honored moms and grandmas this morning. She shyly acknowledged my presence in a roomful of other supreme beings, then smiled and rushed into my arms. How thrilled she was to have me in her element, and unexpectedly.
Allison and I listened to their sweet tributes and songs, and stole a quick visit to Baylee's room where I was exalted once more. I'm telling you, today I don't stink.
After spending time with the girls, we went to Jude's school to share lunch with him. He, too, didn't know I was coming. He stood in line to enter the cafeteria and spotted his mom. He was so happy to see her. Then, he noticed that I stood slightly behind her and the pedestal I was on elevated to the heavens. That's just how good they make you feel. And look at this cute boy with his missing front tooth! He's proud that he pulled it out himself.
Jude told me that when parents or grandparents visit for lunch that they sit at a special table, separate from the class. So his mom and I had him all to ourselves.
Proud Mama and Memaw were told by Jude's teacher that he was so polite and well mannered, and tells her jokes. She said she wished she had ten more like him in her class. I don't doubt it. Jude has a special knack of knowing how to make others feel special. He's a friend to everyone.

I thoroughly enjoyed my time with the kids today. I may be a little hard to live with for a few days, until I come down from the clouds where I've been. But I had my moments of glory and they will keep me until one of us walks in the door again.

Fun with Pancakes

There's a standard answer when I ask the younger grandchildren what they want for breakfast: Funny Face Pancakes. The two older ones have matured beyond the funny face stuff and opt for eggs and hash browns.Sophia told me she wanted a mad face. My limited skill produced a face that was more sad than mad. She was still pleased, but Baylee asked where the angry eyebrows were. Why didn't I think of that?

Baylee's pancake has the upturned smile. By the time I got to mine, I just poured batter and didn't care if there was a face or not.

We took a long walk, watched some TV, and enjoyed corn dogs for lunch. The highlight of the day was the return of the two ducks to our pool. The girls were thrilled to see that sight.

We had a great time and they managed to melt my heart again.

Tea Party Sleepover

Baylee and Sophia had a sleepover with us tonight since Jude has to be at his Speech Meet so early in the morning and it will last most of the day. They wanted to know if we were going to have a tea party. Well, of course, when the girls are here we are supposed to do girlie things. After a dinner of lasagna the three of us got in the kitchen and whipped up some blueberry muffins. I pulled out the tea set, hats and tiaras, and polished all our nails while the muffins baked. Pink sparkly nails are a must at tea parties.
We are enjoying our tea as the muffins cool.

The girls think it is so funny to include Papa in our tea parties and he's always a good sport. He can handle that little teacup as well as we do. The girls enjoy pouring and serving us.

What's a party without a clown? Baylee, as usual, had the quote of the day: "Papa, you're going to squeeze your brain."

There was a little drama at bedtime when Sophia exclaimed that her pajama top and bottoms didn't match. It took a little convincing for her to agree to be seen in them. Girls will be girls. More fun tomorrow.

Break a leg, Jude, at the Speech Meet!

Halloween Cuties, Never Scary

I got to see three of my grandchildren all decked out for Halloween since I went to Allison's and passed out candy while she took the kids out. Needless to say, the pictures are self-explanatory. Cute!

While Jude and Baylee were all caught up in the occasion, Sophia sat herself down and proceeded to eat from her pumpkin sack. She savored every bite. Once a year being this indulgent won't hurt.