Ending April

I guess I'm sharing photos again!  I wanted to do one last post for April and, as usual, I am too tired to think of words. (Ha, talking nonstop is my super power)

Tomorrow I am going to our four day State Genealogy Conference which is being held conveniently in the city next to us. I am driving back and forth each day and I am pretty excited to be out and about. I did not register for the lunches with speakers ($40). Instead I am going to take my own self, all by myself, to a nearby Olive Garden and sit by myself and treat myself to the soup and salad lunch. 

Meanwhile

We bought grandparent/grandchildren season passes to a Hands On Childrens "Imagination Station".  I bought special outfits for our first trip. 

The plan worked. This was our ride home. 

When Mimi gets you ready for soccer. 

Yes, the egg that made them awestruck was a double yolker. 

I put this photo on my Facebook page. I have lived here over 40 years. I have planted hundreds of bulbs. This year I have zero tulips and one daffodil.  And boy, is this daffodil hardy. It flowered at least 2 weeks ago and we have had a few frosts. It looks exactly the same.  And I touched it today to make sure it was real. 

Does anyone read the Joanne Fluke books about the baker that solves mysteries? This recipe came from one of those books. It is called "Cheese Pops" and the description in the book got me.  I skimmed the recipe poorly and dashed off a quick grocery list.  It took me 3 days to make them.  There is a lot of "chill for 3 hours" which stretches into the next day because I have moved to a different project. They were okay.  I have already formulated a variation which will streamline the process and change it up a little.  I won't have time to try it for a while, but I think the premise is good. 

Her books have been made into a series on Hallmark or Lifetime. When we didn't have cable, I was so jealous that others got to watch these cozy mystery series.  Then we got cable. I am one of "those". The actresses do not resemble the characters in the books, not physically and not by their actions. I  have not found one mystery series that I enjoy. So I am back to re-reading my books and trying to talk my husband into cancelling cable! 

Growing Up So Fast

Sometimes I don't post because of the complicated manner I use to transfer photos to my laptop.  Sometimes I don't post because I don't have anything nice to say. And most times I just don't have time.  But, today, I just wanted to share. 

Yesterday was my youngest granddaughter's birthday and she turned 7. I don't know how that is possible. She is my youngest daughter's daughter and I have cared for her nine months of every year while mama teaches fourth graders. Now she goes to school with mama and plays before and after school in rotating classrooms of teacher moms and dads who have to be there early and stay late. 

But for her actual birthday, she wanted to come to Mimi's house. She likes to plan ahead and I was receiving orders for a few days. Yesterday she went to school and I hit the stores. I stopped at Dollar Tree for balloons, gift bags and paper plates, I stopped at Aldi for chocolate milk, bread and butter, then IGA for chocolate ice cream, orange sherbet, pink premade icing, and fresh vegetables for  a tray.  

I dashed home, took a shower, made lunch for hubby and two preschoolers, dressed, packed my to-do bag and went to sit in our church office for 4 hours. 

I had already baked 4 - 4 inch cakes for her to decorate when she got here after school.  I had pre-browned ground beef so she could make her specialty - Hamburger Helper Cheeseburger Macaroni. 

She loves to pour the hot water, milk and seasoning packet and gently stir the mixture. She put the clean, cut vegetables on a plate and we put softened butter in little pink cups. 

It was the birthday party she wanted with two of her favorite cousins, an aunt, her baby brother and mom and grampa and mimi.  I just love her sweetness and innocence and wish I could hold on to these moments forever! 

Too Much Talking

My last two posts were words. And a little sad.  

So I think I would change things up with a few random photos and be a little more upbeat. 

Things are still crazy. I told someone I feel like I am running on a hamster wheel! We are finishing our fourth school break this week. 

Let's start with breakfast! I have not only friended a local source for fresh eggs, my eggs are delivered to my porch on their daughter's ballet lesson day. 

I wanted to try a new breakfast restaurant that I had heard SO much about before our tourist season begins.  We ordered coffee that came in mugs, we got a carafe of coffee for the table and she brought us filled carry out cups of coffee when we left. 

I was privileged to attend "Hello Dolly" at one school, "The Descendants" at another school and was specially invited to this second grade concert. 

My Beswick Beatrix Potter figures stood guard on my Easter Petit Fours.

We are back to Muffin Tin Mondays for lunch for my preschoolers.

Our normal temperatures in April are in the forties and fifties.  Sometimes we get a light snow.  Today our temperatures were in the eighties and grampa did his best to create shade for our outdoor play. Our trees don't have leaves yet!!!

Just a quick update.

Just a quick note to let you know - the Bluebird's sister who just turned four the night she was taken ill has gotten her test results back today on what would have been Bluebird's first birthday. 

Although she is a carrier, just like her mom and her dad, she DOES NOT have the disease. She will most probably have to decide not to have biological children but she will live a long and happy and healthy life with no complications. And would have never known she was a carrier of this awful disease if she had not been tested after her sister's death. 

Bluebird's teen half sister is still waiting for her test results. 

I am so happy for the family and we are continuing to pray for the older sister.