a few more florida pictures..

I must admit that most of my family likes to drink alcoholic beverages... including my little grammie! They usually drink beer and wine.. but because we were on "vacation" it called for something a little more special! So we started right out with margaritas! they were so yummy! twos my limit though..

Arent they all cute? I must have used that word (cute) about 200 times while at my grandmothers.. I thought every one and everything was cute.. especially my grandmother..

look at here in this picture! she went to comb her hair and when she put her crown back on, this is how she did it! next to my grandmother is one of my favorite aunts, my aunt bonnie.

And this is another of my favorite aunts, my aunt susan. This is the aunt I flew to florida with and back.. she was also my beach buddy while we were there. I have to tell you I adore my aunts! I also have another favorite aunt, aunt debbie, but I didnt get a good picture of her! but she is in the pink shirt in the margarita picture above. She is probably my funniest aunt!

and here is a picture of my mother with her sisters.. she is the oldest of the girls.. there were 4 older brothers. but sadly, two of them are gone now. Arent they all cute here?! One time I told my grandmother she was cute and she didnt think she liked being called that. so we looked it up in the dictionary and told her exactly what it meant.. then she was ok with it.. because she really is cute!!

Websters says " cute: attractive or pretty especially in a childish youthful or delicate way"

And speaking of Cute! Look at my cute daddy and little brother! I love this picture. I hadnt seen my dad in 13 years.. wow! other then being a little grayer and a little short of breath at times, he hasnt changed a bit. Arent they funny!?

This is my sweet step mother. We didnt always get a long when I was growing up.. in fact we gave her a run for her money, but she stuck it out and she loves us regardless! and I love her too. She was so happy to see us all together that she cried.

This is my little sister Tula. she is sooo pretty! I havent seen her in about 15 years.... and she hasnt changed or aged a bit. I was so glad to see her again and to meet her husband. what a nice guy she ended up with. Tula lives near my dad and step mom in jacksonville, so she sees them all the time! I'm glad shes there with them! (though I really wish they would ALL move back to WNY

ARe you sick of my family pics yet? This is my mommy and little sister Valerie. Ive seen Val a few times over the years, but had never met her husband either. I can tell that he is perfect for her and that he loves her! What more could you want!

This is my mom in the palm! haha! (sorry I couldnt help it!)

Here are the 3 V's.. Valerie, Vanessa and Vivian hmmmm.. but my brothers name is Jerry!

me and my little sissy Valerie!

There are sooo many more pictures,but I dont think I will post many more.. maybe just these two..

Grandmas birdie.. Buffy! so stinking cute.. when you walk by him he says in a soft little voice.. "hello" and in the morning he says good morning! I have to get a parrot!

and lastly for now... Meet my little sister dog.. Annie.. shes a little sweetie pie!

thats all for now folks.. hope I didnt bore anyone too much! Little Tonys here with his new girlfriend.. (my first time to meet her!) JEns here too.. and I assume Robert and bethany will show up.. so.. steaks on the grill, cheesy potatos.. asparagus, onion rings, mushrooms and peach pie! and.. its almost time to eat!

grandma in her crown

I'm a bit presses for time as my job just keeps getting in the way of my fun life... so I'll have to hurry through this post.

I first need to say that I am sooo glad I went to florida to see my family. It turned out to be a perfect trip , I had a great time seeing everyone, enjoying the weather and of course the ocean. My grandmother is a total doll. I ADORE her ! shes so smart and remembers everything from so long ago, and nothing from one minute a go! we had a great birthday party for her, and I have to say that she wore her birthday crown pretty much for two full days!

I knew I would see my sister Valerie (on the right) and her husband, who Ive never met, and I tried to talk my sister Vanessa into coming down, but she said it wasnt going to work out. However.. Wednesday night when my mother and Val and her husband arrived, they had a little surprise for me... My sister Vanessa! she had been planning on being there all along! I have not seen her in 15 years! In fact, my family had not been totally all together since 1978 when I was only 18!

I also saw my dad, step mother and step sister while there. I had not seen my father and step mother in 13 years!!! I think it was about that long since I had seen my sweet step sister tula too!

I just loved being with my family. I also had other relatives there, my aunties who I also adore.. and two of my uncles, a nephew and a great nephew!

another sweet part of my trip was meeting two fellow blogger and bear making pals!!! On friday Nancy from Dogpatchcritters and I met for a wonderful lunch and visit. We had a great time talking and getting better acquainted. she is a doll! We did a little swap with each other, which I will post pictures of over the weekend! But she made me the most adorable siamese kitty, with a little tag that says Jasper! I love it! And I hope to be able to hang out with Nancy again sometime!

On Saturday I was able to get together with Lori Ventiglia! Lori and I have been blogging friends for quite a while now. she was going to come and meet with nancy and I on friday but didnt feel good.. but she called me on sat morning and said she couldnt miss out on this opportunity, so we made a plan to meet that day! She is also a bear maker and she is adorable! She and I had planned a little swap too, and she made me a sweet little pink bunny for easter! I love it! Again, I will post pictures of it over the weekend! I was so glad to meet up with both Lori and nancy.. really a highlight of my trip!

(ummm.. please disregard all these HORRIBLE pictures of the fat lady with the white hair! I dont know who she is or how she got into all of my pictures!! All I know is she needs to go on a DIET!!!)

And, of course, then theres the ocean! only a 2 minute walk from my grandmothers. basically around the corner and across the street! YOu know how I feel about the ocean.. or even the lake.. I just cant get enough! I took this picture of myself! (reminds me of mister ed the talking horse! haha!)

I want this in my back yard! I wish it wasnt so far away and that I wouldnt have to fly to get there!! Flying by the way was ok.. I still dont like it, but I have to say that all 4 of the plane rides were about as perfect and uneventful as possible! Thanks for the prayers!!

I took about 240 pictures or so.. yeah, I wont be posting them all! but there are a few more that I probably will post later. For now.. I really have to get my hiney ready for work! Thank god its friday! next time i go away.. I need to have a couple days off when I get back! Have a sweet weekend all!

I'm back !!

HI all! got home earlier tonight.. I had an absolutely awesomely wonderful time.. I'm so glad I went. It was the first time my sisters and brother and parents were all together in 30 years! unbelievable. I do have stories to tell. I took about 240 pictures... eiy yie yie!
I got to meet two awesome blogging friends! a Great trip I tell ya.. and the weather was PERFECT! sunny and high 70's and low 80's~
I will update with in the next day or so with pictures and stories!

I am so far behind now with keeping up with blogs! its going to take me forever to catch up! I came home to 9 packages for the egg hunt! but still am expecting 8 more. You all have done amazing jobs! I will try to email all of you tomorrow to touch base.. IF you havent mailed out yet.. please do so right away.. I need to start getting things ready on my end now.
well.. its 12:23 am.. and I have to get up for work tomorrow.. so its off to bed I go!
nightie night all!
edit.. how odd.. my posting time says 9:15.. I must have something set wrong on my computer!

have I mentioned I hate to fly??

"Over the river and through the woods to grandmothers house I go... the plane knows the way and I hope it will stay... way up in the sky!! "

So off I go.. leaving here shortly to spend the night with my aunt.. and we'll be up at 4:00 am to catch a 6:00 am flight from roch to atlanta.. arriving in atlanta for a one and a half hour layover and then off to daytona.. should be arriving by noon. eiy yie yie!

now.. for all my praying blog buddies.. please do pray for extremely safe and totally uneventful flights.. (um... there are 4 flights to pray for.. 2 down and 2 back.. dont want to miss any !)

I do so LOVE my life.. I would just hate to lose it on a dumb airplane! though going to heaven would be cool.. but someone has to take care of all these boxes of easter eggs!!

And there are more on the way.. 16 more boxes i think! I will never be able to catch back up with all your blogs when I get back... so if anything important happens you'll have to let me know! well, my dumb husband fell asleep on the couch and I need to wake his hiney up and get him in gear.. I was hoping to get some dinner somewhere on the way to my aunts! toodles sweet little artsy fartsy bloggy girlies! I'll be back soon!

been so busy!

Hello!! I'm still alive.. it seems like I havent posted here in forever!! its been almost a week! I think thats the longest I've gone with out posting. Just been busy finishing up some projects and starting new ones.. and trying to get things done here so I can leave for Florida wednesday morning.. 6:00 am the plane takes off. I have to work monday and tuesday.. and am going to spend the night at my aunts on tuesday night because we'll have to be at the airport pretty early on wednesday morning.

Part of the reason I'm going to florida is for my grandmothers birthday! She will be 93 years old this week. She is precious! unfortunetly her memory is not what it used to be. my mother tells me she is on a 7 second cycle and asks the same questions over and over. Anyways, there will be a birthday party for her on thursday night and I made this crown for her. She cant see to well.. so I'm not sure how much she'll appreciate it, but we all will love to take her picture in it!

While I'm in florida I will be able to see my mom and my brother, and one of my sisters is coming from MO. All of my aunts and uncles will be there.. they are always fun! ONe day my brother, sister and I will drive up to jacksonville to visit my dad, step mom and step sister. And On friday I will be meeting up with two blogger flickr teddybear making pals! Nancy Dontigney and Lori Ventimiglia. I think I'm most excieted about meeting them! I am doing a swap with both of them, and made them the sweetest things! cant show you now.. in case they look here!

My grandmother lives right near the beach, and if youve been following my blog for long.. you will remember how much I love beaches!! she is just two blocks from the ocean! I dont think its going to be the warmest weather while I'm there.. but it wont be snowing and blowing like it has been here. And.. when I get back it'll be that much closer to being spring!!! Also, its Daytona bike week.. so I will take lots of pictures of harleys for my old biker husband!

Made Lasagna for dinner tonight and cookies this morning.. trying to make sure there is some left overs and goodies here for my husband and son to eat while I'm gone. Tomorrow night I'm making soup, so they'll have that too.

EGGHUNT UPDATE:

I've recieved eggs from 15 girls so far! they look great! by the time i get back from florida, my husband will have the other 22 boxes stacked up and waiting for me! so make sure they are going in the mail with in the next couple days girls! I need them to be here when I get home.

OK.. so off I go for now. I will probably post once more before I leave, so be sure to stop back in a couple days!

night !