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.

Happy Birthday, Callan!

My youngest grandchild, grandson Callan, is 4 today. Few things are sweeter than this blue-eyed blond cutie! This boy has personality!

It's so sweet how he compliments his Mommy daily by telling her she is pretty and soft. Sometimes we like soft, unless flabby legs or arms are involved. Fortunately, his Mommy is young enough to appreciate soft. He makes her feel like a million bucks.

This little fellow does a good job keeping up with his older siblings, yet is very anxious to get older. I remember wanting to grow up, too, but it comes too soon and the years pass quickly. Already I'm wondering how Callan got to be four years old this soon. He's so sweet and so smart.
Happy birthday, Callan, and please hang on to that precious baby face for awhile longer. Big hugs for your birthday and always all my love.

Happy Birthday, Juliet!

My beautiful granddaughter, Juliet, is 6 today! If there was ever anyone who was so content in their own feminine skin, it's Juliet. She is all girl and all about anything having to do with a girl. If it's pink, frilly, soft, glittery, and girlie, bring it on. Chasity/Chaz, there will be no gender change in this girl's future!

It's obvious that Juliet gets all her femininity from her beautiful mom. But then, all the ladies in the family know how to work it. I have enough daughters, granddaughters, a sister and a mother to be able to speak with a decent amount of wisdom on the subject.

She still looks adorable even with a goofy smile on a wooden stick.

This girl is stylin'. And she loves anything having to do with a princess. She has the gowns and tiaras and turns herself into a pretty impressive girl of royalty.

The three cousins had a fun day of shopping and lunch with Memaw who likes the girl stuff too.

My four youngest girls sporting matching outfits, compliments of Aunt Dee.

Have a wonderful birthday, Juliet. I'm proud of you for your sweet nature and artistic talent. You're my special girl and I love you so much.

Happy Birthday, Camryn!

My beautiful granddaughter, Camryn, is turning 18 today! We celebrated by going to one of her favorite Mexican food restaurants and splurging on brisket enchiladas and tacos. I usually make ice cream for the grandchildren, but they know they can change it up if the taste buds are ready for something different. Camryn chose chocolate chip cookies this time. I was more than happy to oblige.

I'm proud of Camryn for many reasons. She's always had a big heart and it shows through so perfectly with little Riley, whom she adores. And watching her graduate from high school just made my heart swell. That's a big accomplishment after 12 sometimes hard and boring years of study. Pomp and Circumstance tugs at the heartstrings anyway, but especially when your own granddaughter is walking down the aisle.

Camryn is also a special sister to Candice and Thomas. She and Candice have always been best friends and Camryn dotes on her younger brother. She's so much fun to be with and has such a great sense of humor. She's a hard worker, a loving mom, and one of my prides and joys.

Enjoy your birthday, Camryn. I hope the year ahead is just as special as you are to me. I love you, Girlfriend!

Happy Birthday, Ashton!

My fifth grandchild, Ashton is celebrating his 8th birthday today. His mom has many happy things planned for his special day. And Ashton has been counting the days.

I love this handsome boy for many reasons. He enjoys playing games with me when we're together. I suggest card or dice games, and Ashton says "let's play algebra or fractions." I'm fascinated that he loves to learn, but sometimes he picks the wrong person to play math games with! He's always ready to explore and experience new things. He's lovable and sweet and I adore those open arms when he sees me. He makes me feel like royalty.

Ashton has interests in sports and music, and he can give you a weather report from anywhere in the world. We may have a future meteorologist in our midst.

Did I mention that he's handsome? Happy birthday, my sweet Ashton. You have made my life richer and I love you so much.

Grandchildren Rich

Our weekend was grandchildren rich! Robin's twins spent the weekend with us and Allison brought her three over to play with them. Having five of the grandchildren here is indeed rich. Jordan and Sophia were artistic with the sidewalk chalk. That's always a hit and it decorates my walkways until the sprinklers come on or it rains.

Jordan, Baylee, and Sophia became quick friends and we're anxious to have them all together again soon.

Papa with our kids. Actually, he's one of them, only bigger.

Beautiful and handsome group! I was proud of Jude for not thinking his 9 years were just too old to play with 5-year-old CJ. He walked in and immediately started a game with him on the ipad.

After decorating Easter cupcakes, the girls enjoyed a tea party. Here's Princess Jordan.

CJ didn't mind decorating his own cupcakes, but wanted no part of the tea party. I totally understand.

Princess Sophia enjoying her tea and cupcake.

Princess Baylee is adding some finishing touches to her yummy cupcake. It always amazes me how much these girls enjoy pouring from the tiny teapot. They love tea parties and it's fun and easy entertainment. Just pull out the tea set, hats, and tiaras, and enjoy. What a rich weekend!

Happy 20th Birthday, Candice!

Yes, I have a grandchild who is 20 and I'm proud of it! Our beautiful Candice is celebrating her birthday today, definitely a milestone one. Leaving her teens behind, she is well on her way to establishing a life for herself. She's close to finishing junior college and has been accepted into a local university. And due to her high academic standing, they are offering scholarships. Go, Candice!

This busy young lady is not only working to put herself through school and keeping those marks high, she is also a brand new aunt. Candice is quite the doting aunt and loves her little niece so much, as do the rest of us. She's busily carving a permanent place in little Riley's heart. She'll do well since she had three excellent examples with her own aunts.

Have a splendid birthday, Candy Girl, and always know how proud I am of you and your achievements. You have what it takes to be whatever you want to be. I love you, Birthday Girl!

Happy Birthday, Jude!

My handsome grandson, Jude, is 9 years old today! He's getting so big, but he's just as enjoyable today as that sweet toddler with the cute bowl-cut blond hair. He captured my heart from day one.

Jude knows how to make me feel special and always has. When he was younger and saw me walking into church, he would squeal with delight. Those moments of supreme importance made me feel better than royalty. And today, he has that same knack for putting those he loves on a lofty pedestal. He gets so excited as he anticipates his birthday outing with Robin and me. He knows he will get a gift from us anyway, but the fact that his excitement includes the time being spent with us just makes me love him more. Such a special young man.

We always start with lunch at a location of his choice. He indulged in a chocolate milkshake afterwards because, hey, it's his birthday.

Papa Robin helped Jude assemble a cardboard car while waiting for lunch.

Jude picked out three sets of Legos, a hard decision considering the shelves loaded with all kinds of Lego fun. He's a master at Legos and had them completed before bedtime. He kept telling us it was the best day of his life. He knows just the right words to say that make others feel loved in his presence. Just one of the many things I love about our Jude. Have a happy birthday and know that Memaw will love you forever.

Bandera with Angela

All my trips to Bandera have been unforgettable. I've always been there to share lazy days with friends and this is the first time I went without them. But it was still wonderful since I got to spend a few days with baby girl, Angela, and three of my sweet grandchildren. No pajama days on this trip. We were on the go!

We spent one morning on the condo's playground and played a little soccer. I was rusty, but managed to get a few good kicks in. Ashton and Juliet were awesome!

Little man, Callan, is my youngest grandchild and just as handsome as the rest of them.

We had fun playing games inside the condo too. Ashton took over the score pad when he saw that I added something incorrectly. He was faster than I was too.

After the playground, we headed to Natural Bridge Caverns. Ashton had studied about cave formations and was excited to see them. We ventured down 180 feet on steep inclines, then back up 180 feet. I thought I'd be sore the next day, but I wasn't. When I told Robin about our day he asked if I remembered that I'd had a heart attack. I told him I was supposed to exercise and he said, "not all in one day." Point taken.

These next two pictures show how natural our Juliet is at posing. She wants to be an artist who designs clothes, and I think she could add model to her future.

I see the same love and knack for art in Juliet that I saw in Angela. She draws beautifully. I asked if she would be taking lessons from an art teacher like her mom did, and Juliet reminded me that her mom is capable of teaching her art. Why didn't I think of that?

Isn't he handsome? He favors his grandpa whom I loved with all my heart.

Memaw is in good company!

We visited a toy store in Austin and I had to get a picture of Juliet being funny.

Our tour of the state capitol in Austin was interesting and educational for all of us.

A view of the dome from inside the capitol building. We climbed a lot of stairs!

Since Angela lives in another state it had been awhile since we had had some quality time together. These few days with her and the children were definitely highlights in my life. They are all very precious to me and I can't wait to see them again soon.