Big Girl Unnerwears!

HOORAY! Ella has given up her Pull-Ups and now wears "big girl unnerwears!" And she hasn't had an accident since she decided it was time to wear them.

My sweet, little baby granddaughter is growing up so fast....

Wedding Crashers

Umm, Andy...you are supposed to look people in the face when you are talking to them!




Sandy shares advice on how to get a man to the altar with one of Tina's bridesmaids.

Molly finds a man at the wedding!


Shaughn slow dances with Connie, the pregnant bridesmaid (who doesn't like having her picture taken).

While we were in Chicago this weekend we attended "Tony & Tina's Wedding." This dinner show has been around for a while -- since the late 80s I think. It is showing its age, but it is still a good time if you get into it (for those that don't know, it is an interactive theater experience where you are treated like guests at a wedding).

Despite getting our tickets at the last minute (by the way, thanks, Andy!), we had great seats. Front row in the chapel and right next to the dance floor at the reception. Molly and Shaughn sat nearest the action, so they were drawn into the show quite a bit.

We had a lot of fun, but we are expecting a classier affair in October, when "Andy & Sandy's Wedding" comes to Houston!

All My Children: Mother's Day 2009

I had the best Mother's Day present ever this year -- a weekend with all my family in Chicago. Kenny, Ella, and I drove up on Friday evening. Andy, Sandy, and Shaughn flew up from Houston, Meaghan flew up from Nashville, and Molly joined us after work on Saturday.

Ella and Shaughn play in the water at Navy Pier

Sisters at lounge on 95th floor of John Hancock building





Car bombs

Andy's in love ....








The bean in Millenium Park

Portillo's hot dogs and Italian beef -- a Chicago tradition

River walk

Catching Up

It's been a long, hard winter and a long, hard tax season. I am glad to be working from home again, even if I am still putting in long hours catching up on writing assignments.

But the thing I am most grateful for is that I get to see Ella more often. Of course, I have to play second fiddle to "Papa." He and Ella bonded early and they spend a lot of time together.

At times, Ella views me as an unwelcome intrusion into their little world. She frequently lets me know, that he is HER PAPA. She doesn't look kindly on me when I kiss her papa or hold his hand. At one point, she told Kenny "Wipe those Grandma kisses off of you!"

And she always manages to get in the last kiss.... (Kenny is not sure how to react to all this. But I think he is secretly pleased to be the center of attention.)

S'no Angel

I had the pleasure of staying home with Ella one day last week while she recuperated from a stomach bug. The day was warm (in the 40s) and the snow had started to melt so I couldn't resist playing outside with her for a few minutes. (I know, I know, she doesn't have a hat or gloves on...but honestly, we were only outside a short time and it was warm.) Anyway, in the brief time we were playing, I taught Ella how to make a snow angel, a snowman (sort of), and a snowball. And I cautioned her not to eat the snow!!! All manufactured photo ops, but precious memories none the less.

Sixteen Things

To answer the "Sixteen Things" Challenge:

1. I love being a grandma just as much as I imagined I would. It allows me to relive the time when my children were little -- without all the work. I can slow down and savor each phase of development now.

2. I can't wait to have more grandkids! I wish Ale lived closer so I could watch her little Isadora grow up.

3. I am excited that Andy is finally getting married. And I am excited to welcome Sandy to the family. He did good!

4. I have resumed taking my children's writing course and my instructor thinks I have a story ready to sell already! My goal was to sell a story by the end of the year-long course. Since I am only on lesson 2, it looks like I will have to set a higher goal. So now, I hope to have a children's book published before Ella enters kindergarten.

5. I started tax season this week. :( I used to look forward to returning to tax work every year, but now that I am working full-time year-round, it is a drag. I can't give up writing for three months, so I wind up working two jobs from now through April.

6. I am going to miss out on one of my favorite activities next Saturday due to tax season - scrapbooking with my sister-in-law and nieces. (I hope you guys are still going strong after 5pm so I can drop by and admire your progress.)

7. I finally broke into a market writing about scrapbooking. I have a regular gig writing for Scrapbook Retailer now - a trade magazine for scrapbook store owners. This allows me a press pass to attend CHA trade shows, but unfortunately, the Illinois show has been moved to Florida so it would be too expensive to attend now. (There is also a show in California with 3,500 exhibitors!)

8. I am trying to adopt a healthier lifestyle since my diagnosis of coronary artery disease. Hopefully, the combination of exercise and eating better will have a double benefit and help me lose weight for the wedding.

9. I have been too busy to notice that my nest is empty. But I have noticed that the food doesn't disappear as fast any more....

10. I can't remember the last time I was in TJ Maxx. I wonder if they miss me?

11. Speaking of missing me, Hobby Lobby's profits must be off, too -- although I did treat myself to purchasing a Slice from there last month. (I had a gift card and a coupon, what was I to do?!). I LOVE IT! (If I get to Lisa's before you guys are through scrapping, I will bring it over to demonstrate it.)

12. I realize I have a compulsion about buying scrapbooking tools, and I even wrote an article about it, but I am not ready to give it up!

13. I have been working with the Decatur Chamber of Commerce for the past year as a contract writer and I love it! It is exciting to be "in the loop" about community activities. The staff there is amazing and we have a great time hanging out together both on and off the job. It is energizing to be part of such a dynamic and optimistic group that dreams BIG for Decatur - and then follows through with their visions.

14. I miss working for the legislature in Springfield more than I thought I would. I would love to be there now with all the impeachment drama and power changes that are taking place.

15. I think I would like to be a lobbyist or an advisor that helps shape public policy. It would combine my interests in politics, analysis, and writing and put me right in the heart of the action. Being on the national Taxpayer Advocacy Panel has whet my appetite for this type of work. I have also thought about returning to school to get a Ph.D. in public administration. But first, I will have to write my thesis so I can get my Masters....

16. I wish there were more hours in the day!!!

Lesson Learned...

I saw it coming....

Molly, Ella, and I were making Snickerdoodles. I was standing at the sink doing dishes while Molly and Ella were sifting the dry ingredients together. I turned around as soon as I heard Molly say to Ella "You just shake it like this."

It's a Girl!

My Chilean daughter (of the heart), Ale, is going to have her first baby in April. She just sent me this picture of her taken this week (it is summer in Chile now). Her little preggers belly is just too cute for words!

Ale lived with us for a year as an AFS student in 96-97 and she will be part of our family forever. Our families have visited back and forth several times since she left. All six of us were able to go to Chile for her wedding and Ale, her husband Francisco, and her mom and sister came to visit us after Ella was born.

I can't wait to meet our little Chilean granddaughter next October when Ale and her family come to Houston for Andy's wedding (Ale is a bridesmaid).

Although I have been saying I am going to learn Spanish for over a decade, I have new incentive now. Hopefully, I can learn along with Ella so she will be able to go to Chile with me someday to play with her South American cousin.

The end of an era

Empty nesters, at last.

Although I expected this to be a moment for rejoicing, it was a bittersweet experience to watch my youngest child fly the nest. As I watched Shaughn's truck back out of the driveway loaded down with all his worldly possessions, I couldn't help letting a few tears slip down my cheek. I had a flashback to his first day of kindergarten and felt the same pang in my heart as I let my "baby" go.

I am happy for Shaughn that he is starting a fresh chapter in his life. He has had a rough year. I hope he finds contentment in his studies and his new life in Houston. I am proud of his big brother for taking him under his wing and giving him positive direction. Andy is a good role model.

That makes three of our children living in the South now -- two in Houston, one in Nashville. I suppose it is inevitable that we will migrate south one day, too. Although "Papa" won't go willingly without Ella and Molly, too.

But for now, we will live quietly and contentedly in a house that is way too big for two people. Waiting for the day when they all come back -- to VISIT.

A Picture with Santa

You wouldn't believe all the drama that went into getting this one cute little picture of my granddaughter Ella sitting on Santa's lap.

First, there was the outfit, which I think is absolutely adorable and Molly, Ella's mom and my daughter, thinks is only acceptable for wearing once -- in this picture. And then only because I insisted. I found the lined wool skirt with embroidered snowflakes at a resale shop in Indianapolis on our "Wingard Girls Shopping Weekend." It was from Baby Gap and it was in excellent shape (having probably been worn only once by someone else's granddaughter), and it cost only $4. I HAD to buy it. Then I found the cutest little Peter Pan collar shirt with red piping to match. Great outfit for a picture with Santa!

Then, there was the timing of the visit. With visions of the perfect scrapbook page dancing in my head, I couldn't wait to take Ella to see Santa. I was geared to go right after Thanksgiving, when my oldest daughter, Meaghan, was home visiting. But Molly was working and didn't want us to take Ella without her. Understandable. So I waited. And waited. And waited. Finally, on December 23rd, I realized I was running out of time. Molly was not planning on being in town on Christmas Eve, so it was now or never.

Despite the forecast for freezing rain, we dressed Ella in her "Suzy Snowflake" outfit, made even more adorable with the addition of a sparkly red shrug sweater, then bundled her up to take her to see Santa. However, Santa took the weather forecast seriously, and closed shop early. To say I was disappointed was an understatement. Molly finally agreed to bring her back the next day -- weather permitting.

Hooray! The roads were clear on Christmas Eve and we tried once again to get Ella's picture with Santa. The cute little red sweater had gotten lost somewhere from the night before and Ella had dumped chocolate milk on her snowflake skirt, but "Oh, well." I was finally going to get my picture!

(For the record, Ella recognized Santa this year, squealing "SANNA CWAUSE" every time she saw an image of the jolly, old, fat man. However, she still had no idea what "Sanna" was all about. Still, this recognition bode well for obtaining a picture with her on his lap this year, since last year she could only be lured near him with a candy cane.)

Although clear, the day was biting cold and there was a line to get into Santa's house. Santa seemed oblivious to the half-frozen children and parents lined up outside to see him, as he took his time with each little boy and girl who came to pose on his lap. (It was a good thing he was preoccupied at the time, because he missed seeing how naughty Molly was being while impatiently waiting in line.)

At last, it was our turn to get inside Santa's cozy, warm house. Ella went right up to Santa and sat on his lap. But try as I might, I could never get a good shot of her looking at the camera while on his lap. What you see here is the best of the bunch - a triumphant shot of her hoisting a candy cane. As best Ella could determine, this was the sole reason for our visit, anyway.

New Year's Resolution

OK. I have made a resolution to join the "blog" revolution. Since I am a writer by trade, you would think this blog thing would be easy for me. But, I am afraid it is like a case of the plumber with leaky pipes -- writing is generally the last thing I want to do when I am "off the clock."

However, I feel an obligation to start blogging in order to record the everyday moments of my life - lest my thoughts be stolen someday by Alzheimers or crowded out by newer memories.

So, from this day forward, I will try to write something each week that will remind me of where I have been on this journey called life.