Happy 15th Birthday!

 Lily Grace turned 15 yesterday.  We spent the weekend celebrating with friends and had so much fun!

On Saturday, we hosted a house full of teenage girls for a party.  The girls visited the Escape Room and yes, they made it out before the hour was up.  Afterwards, we headed home for a cookout along with hours of laughter, games, music and squeals.  Those girls were all over the house.  

On Sunday, Gracie woke to presents from mom and dad as well as family and friends.  We went to mass, made her favorite dinner and enjoyed the day.  According to Gracie, it was the best birthday so far.  

Thank you so much to everyone who called, text and sent cards and packages!  You made her day extra special!

Happy Birthday Lily Grace!  You are such a blessing!  You have the biggest heart and the best big smile to go along with it!  We love you sooooo much!

They escaped with only 7 seconds to spare.  

Thank you to all of her friends for thinking of her.

Her friends insisted on singing Happy Birthday to her.  It was so cute and funny.  I guess at 15 Gracie thought she might escape that. 

In the seven hours these girls were together, there was never a dull (or quiet) moment. 

They took lots of pics in front of the backdrop Gracie requested.

Such a wonderful group of girls!  

Happy Little Trees

 This week we've been enjoying Spring Break.  Lily and I had hoped to make a trip down south to visit family, but with my grandmother still not allowed to leave her home, we decided it was best to wait until she could join us all.  

Instead, we enjoyed doing things around town and took a little mini trip to Muncie, IN.  Gracie has been wanting to visit the Bob Ross experience there. We made the trip yesterday and had so much fun!

Muncie is a small little town and home to Ball State and Ball Family.   Yep, the mason jar family.  It's was also home to Joy of Painting for several years of the show.  

Lily Grace loves art and apparently, Bob Still holds a lot of weight among high school art students.  We learned a great deal about him and his art.  We even got to see several of his original paintings and many of the works he created on the show. 

The grounds and entrance to the Minnetrista Museum was beautiful.

The gardens behind the Ball family estate were absolutely beautiful. 

Somebody was soooo excited to see the original Bob Ross paintings housed inside the Ball estate.

The studio where Joy of  Painting was filmed still stands as it did when the show ended.

HaPpY Valentine's D💘y!

I love Valentine's Day!  It was LG's first holiday home the week after we returned from China and I just love it!!  

While it's been cold and quite snowy outside, (midwest in February.....uggghh) we had a great Valentine weekend!

I caught my little Valentine doing one of her favorite things, sketching.

He's been my Valentine for 30 years.  Thank you Matt for surprising and spoiling us girls this weekend!

Our furry Valentine doing what she loves most.

Gracie got surprised with her very own refrigerator for her studio.

Melt my heart...Lily Grace gifted me with 6 new Japanese fishing floats.  I learned about these several years ago and how they are used in Japan and get trapped in circular currents of the Pacific Ocean and wash up on the coasts of Alaska, Oregon, Washington and California. Collectors then comb the shores to find them.   Matt gifted me this antique handmade dough bowl about 8 years ago for Valentine's Day, along with my first few fishing floats.  Throughout the years, I've received more floats for various holidays and birthdays from family.  It's quite special.  Every time I look at this bowl, I'm reminded just how much I am loved because it's filled by people who love me.  It sits beautifully in the center of our dining room table.  Thank you Gracie!  It's been a while since it's been added to and you went out of your way to so something so special for me.  I love you so much!  

Lily loves giving Matt a hard time.  She gifted him his favorite golfballs, but not without getting in a laugh. 

Family Day: 14 Years

 

"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father..."

                                                 James 1:17

Cooking up a sweet Saturday

 Lily and I have been missing our trips to Indy to attend cooking classes at Sur La Table.  Luckily, we no longer have to.  They've started online classes and we joined in this morning to make cream filled French Profiteroles. 

We weren't really sure how they would turn out since we had to use gluten free flour.  We were quite proud of ourselves.  They turned out quite good.  The home cook along class was not only convenient, but so much fun.  We can't wait to try another one.  

Looking forward to 2021!

 Happy New Year!  Wishing us all a year filled without face masks, big hugs, in person school M-F, travel, family visits, happiness, get togethers and lots of fun memories! 

We made it!  Pirates of the Caribbean carried us through to midnight.  I actually laughed when I saw this picture and noticed it was blurry.  Oh well, that's how 2020 has been and I guess it held on until the very end. ha! ha! You'll notice that Molly is absent from the picture.  She was sooooo ready for us all to go to bed and nearly worried the life out of us to do so.  Hilarious!  Here's to a wonderful 2021!!!! 🎉🎉🎉

Christmas

 We had a wonderful Christmas.  We spent a lot of time laughing, playing games and watching movies.  We saw a bit of snow and of course, it was cold!  

We are certainly blessed! 

Lily Grace and I killing some time before mass.  Mr. Serious makes us get there waaaay early for a good seat.  

After Christmas Eve mass we enjoyed a warm homemade lasagna and tiramisu followed by a cozy fire where watched Elf.  That's one Christmas movie that remains funny no matter how many years you watch it. 

This year, Lily asked for all art supplies, furniture and accessories for her new art studio.         

                       

Always first so we can have some peace while we try to open gifts. 

This was the year of "likeminded" for Gracie and I.  We stuff each other's stockings. Lily and I got the biggest laugh when we realized we had gotten each other three of the same things, right down to the exact color of nail polish. 

Gracie gave Matt a personalized Yetti cup with a message that brought about laughter.  

Matt pulled a surprise off!  That's a big deal for him.  He surprised me with a diamond solitaire necklace I've had my eye own.  He even made Lily think she knew what was in the box so she was just a surprised as me.  

We surprised Matt with a new Ping driver and some new golf shoes.  

Lily is a huge Marvels fan and especially Black Widow.  She was super excited to get this tee.  Now she just needs the movie to release. 

More art supplies

In the basement trying out his new driver

Enjoying her new art studio with her new chair, shelves and wall unit all in place.

If you live where it snows often, you get tired of it and the mess it makes but Christmas break is the one time you just love it!

Lily Grace got me this really cool indoor herb garden kit for Christmas.  She and I set it up.