Christmas 2010 in Pictures

I know that I have been a slacker in posting here. What can I say? Facebook and e-mail are all I can keep up with. Anyway, here are some of my pictures from Christmas.

Opa in his new "big apple" cap.

Katy took this picture of Opa and me! Not bad!

Luke was in a festive mood. How can you resist kissing those cheeks?

Katy in her favorite Christmas dress . . . ready for Christmas Eve church.

Granny, Melanie, and me on Sunday.

Emily and Abby in the kitchen after our Sunday brunch.

David, who is big on transportation and things with wheels; cars, trains, trucks and buses.

Great-Grandpa (Dad), who can still eat us ALL under the table. :-)

Brian getting David ready for Christmas Eve!

Aunt Mel!

New Couch!!! WOW!

I have been looking for a couch for the family room off and on for about 2 years. Two years ago was when I decided to get the faded, blue sectional we had re-upholstered and about choked when they quoted $2,200 to rework it and put medium-grade fabric on it. OUCH! Guess it would be cheaper to just replace it.

A couple of weeks ago, Macy's had a furniture sale, and Greg and I stopped there after a trip to Half Price Books near the Ross Park Mall. I found a lovely green sofa that blends perfectly with the love seat we had in the basement. So I went back the following Tuesday and ordered it.





Today was delivery day. Let me share the excitement of the "new" room. We moved the leather recliner from the living room into the family room also. (Don't worry, Melanie. The rocking chair that has been around since 1974 found a home in front of the TV in the basement. It actually has become one of Greg's favorite reading chairs.)

I like the new look. It's light and cheerful.

There are lots of comfy places to site and relax.

Anybody know someone looking for a serviceable but sun-faded L-shaped sectional couch? I know where you might pick one up really cheap. :-) Craig's List . . . .

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MELANIE!

Love,

Mom

WHEW! Forget the new editor! I had a terrible time getting this posted!

Greg's New Lawn Mowing Hat from Thailand!

Granny with Baby Luke

Grandpa Playing Doctor with David!

Granny coloring pictures with Katy!

Granny, David, Luke, Grandpa, and Katy

When I got back to Pittsburgh, our good friends, Bill and Susie, came for dinner. They are back for a visit from their first year living in Chang Rai, Thailand! It was good to spend time with them.

Baby  Luke!

Here are a few snapshots from Baby Luke's first few days.   He is quite the cutie and is lucky to have such an adoring big sister and big brother.  He is starting to sleep some 4-hour stretches, but people are holding him much of the day since there are many loving arms around.

Baby Luke and Aunt Mel (sort of)

David and Katy

Katy and  Luke

Aunt Mel and David

Oma from Katy's Perspective (yeesh)

[Bob the Tomato t-shirt]

Father's Day, 2010!

In honor of dad, I'm posting two important things.  One is a picture of Dad with his World War II buddy, Freddie, during his Honor Flight about 18 months ago.  This great picture was taken at the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C.  It is a favorite of mine because it reminds me of the great respect and honor we owe our dad's and all the veterans who have fought to preserve our freedom.

Artsy Finish for an Old Chest of Drawers

My dad made this chest of drawers for me in about 1963 when we moved into the house in New Carlisle.  One of the drawers has a bottom in it that is made from a scrap of panelling from the lake cottage in Indiana.  So this has been around a while.

I used it in my room during high school . . . and painted it yellow.  I lined the drawers with some 60's kind of contact paper in turquoise and pink with big flowers.  It was psychedelic!!  Later, I painted it pale green to go with baby stuff and used the chest for my kids things.  When Emily got her own bedroom furniture, it moved to another room; and I used it to store sewing projects.  Eventually, Melanie borrowed it for her clothes in an apartment at college.  It kind of has a legacy with the family, don't you think?

Melanie brought the chest of drawers home a few months ago.  She didn't need it anymore.  It sat in the garage with it's pathetic, flat latex finish in pale green and it's ugly contact paper in the drawers.  With so much of my life in it, I wanted to keep it.  

I went to Home Depot and found a technique they call "Crackle" which looked kind of neat.  I stripped off several layers of paint and took the contact paper out.  Next came the crackling technique.  

Here's the result.  The chest is in the foyer awaiting hats and gloves and the card games we play when the family is around.  I kind of like it.  Greg is not so sure.  He can't believe I did this on purpose!

What do YOU think?

Greg's New Mower

For over 10 years, Greg has mowed our grass with an old-fashioned push mower because he hates the noise and maintenance of a power mower.  A couple of weeks ago, our neighbor, Mary, had to have surgery on her foot.  She asked Greg to cut her grass for a couple of weeks until her foot heals so she can do it herself.  Mary offered Greg her self-propelled mower since he was going to be cutting 2 lawns each time during the rainy month of May.

Well, the power mower was a lot easier to use than the push mower; and to top it off, our yard looked wonderful!  Our mower doesn't have the height adjustments that Mary's does, and the push mower was cutting the grass too short.  The higher cut (combined with the treatment service which I hesitate to mention) made the lawn look AWESOME!  Last night as we ate dinner on the deck, Greg said he had to admit that Mary's mower did a nice job and that the lawn looked nice.  He guessed he was going to have to get a power mower. 

So Greg checked the Sunday paper and found a mower at a good price at Home Depot today.  The rest is history.  I never thought I would see the day, but we own a Toro Recycler.

For those of you who don't know, Greg ALWAYS wears his "Cat in the Hat" topper when he cuts the grass.  Here he models the hat AND the mower with grass catcher.

It starts pretty easy, and it looks like I can operate it, too.  Hmmmm.  There may be a problem here.  :-)

Emily's Dress!!

Here's the dress I made for Emily to wear for Melanie's wedding.  It turned out even better than I expected.  We wanted Emily to still be in green but to have  some  "shimmer" in ivory chiffon.   So  we layered the green and the ivory for her.

Here's the view of the dress from the side/front.

This is the detail of the front.

Emily really likes it.  I can hardly wait to have her try it on.  Hope it fits.

Happy Valentine's Day to the Presidents?

We went to Columbus for the weekend.  The official mission was to help Melanie and Aaron with bridal registry and some wedding planning.  However, I forgot to take my camera on some of those outings.  And besides, you can look up the registries on Bed, Bath & Beyond or Target websites.  It won't show the tough decision-making process, but you will see the RESULTS!

Here are the few pictures I did take of the kids.  I found a hat that was Melanie's, and I washed it and took it to David.  He looks just as good in it as Melanie did!  (Not surprising, now is it?)

Katy & David in PJ's on Saturday morning.

Close up of the hat!  (Isn't he a cutie?)

Watching Dora on Monday morning . . . ahhhh, cartoons and blankets!

Heading home this morning ahead of the snow!  They were off to the mall to play with some friends!  Bye, kids!

The Great Snow of 2010

I know, I know.  I have been doing a lot more Facebook than blogging lately.  Besides, I haven't taken as many pictures since the holidays.  But this one deserves documentation.

Friday night and Saturday, we got 21 inches of snow.  It was a mess and caused the road to be treacherous, but it was beautiful.  And Saturday was actually sunny and nice for shovelling out.

Friday night . . . big flakes.

Digging out the driveway---Greg.

Digging out the driveway---Kathy.

That's our mailbox up there.  Yup!

Tuesday night it started snowing again.  We got about 2 inches between 3-10 p.m.  Then we got another 4 inches overnight.  Greg and I both worked from home today, and we got another 3 inches or so during the day.  I think it stopped now.  Maybe.

30 inches.  It's not pretty any more.  YIZES!!!

I'm really looking forward to a just plain normal winter day.  Is anybody with me here?  HUH?

OBTW, it is my brother, Neil's birthday today!  Happy Birthday, Bro!!!