Let's Hear it for the WEEKEND

This weekend was so hot and humid that I thought this would be the weekend the weather was successful in killing me. But I survived and had the best weekend of the summer. Well, the second best. No, it tied with our Nashville weekend as the best for this summer. Why? Because all four of the lovelies were home! There is nothing in the world better than having all your kids together. Nothing.

Deanie and DrummerBoy headed down from Nashville Friday afternoon and we had some big fun! They had not seen the Divine Baby M yet so we simply had to have a family and friends gathering at least once. Which ended up being twice. 

Saturday was a dinner gathering with my bestie and her hubby and one of the lovelies' teachers, SM, from elementary school who was in town from California for a few days and took the time to come visit us and meet the Divine Baby M. SM is the one who actually coined that name for Baby M. 

 

The Divine Baby M did not seem to mind being passed around. In the pictures below: Baby M and her parents; Baby M and Deanie; Baby M and Bestie; Baby M and Bestie again; Baby M and SM; Baby M, her sweet mommy and the lovely Auntie Breezy. Can you see a theme here? LOL

 

 She didn't even seem to mind the camera in her face all night.

The weekend filled me to the brim and then overflowing joy. One thing that becoming a grandma does is make you more cheesy than you were before you were so blessed but you also don't care because all those cheesy feelings are real.

Most of you know how excited I get when the lovelies are going to all be home at the same time. I can hardly contain myself. And why should I? These are the best times of our lives, right? And, Baby M's take on Saturday evening's festivities? I think she had a good time. 

When everyone is home for the weekend, the fun doesn't stop after one gathering. Nope. You must have at least two. And so we did. Sunday was brunch day with a few extra relatives who came by. When you throw a sweet little baby and the lovely who lives far away and her DrummerBoy into the mix, you get a wonderful weekend. And very emotional- in a good way. 

There truly is nothing in the world better than having all the lovelies together in one place. Top that off with the amazing boys, the sweetest baby in the world, some friends and extended family- it's almost too much to handle on the emotional aspect. I even enjoyed cooking for an army again! On Sunday, if my lovely sister-in-law hadn't been here, I'm not sure I would have gotten it all done, though. I was still tired from Saturday! I don't know about y'all, but I have a sister-in-law who steps in and helps. She knows her way around a kitchen better than I do and without her, Sunday just wouldn't have been nearly as wonderful as it was. Thank-you, Francy, for putting up with my crazy brother because if you didn't, I wouldn't have the honor of calling you, sister.

Ok, enough with the sap. Here's a slideshow of Sunday:  

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I hope y'all had a marvelous weekend, too!

Have a great week, y'all!

The Party and a Cute Baby

It's all about the Divine Baby M around here lately. Not surprising when you see her 'cause she's just so stinkin' cute! And sweet! And everything wonderful! But not spoiled. Yet.

We had our first family birthday gathering since Baby M's arrival (see? Everything is centered around her. LOL) My baby turned 25. Twenty. Five. A quarter of a century. Please don't even ask what that means in regards to my age. Ouch.

We had a great time even though we kept the gathering small. Having a new baby in the family means we take it a bit slow on our usual 500-people-in-a-1300-square-foot-house-gatherings. We'll hold off until New Year's Eve when we open up full throttle for an oyster roast. :)

Anyway, yesterday was about DoodleBug's 25th birthday. And Baby M. She was in the birthday (cup)cake/blowing out the candles pictures.

One thing I do not like about family gatherings now is sharing Baby M. Her aunties are so selfish. And so is everyone else. I mean, I AM the grandma. Sheesh. The new parents don't seem to mind sharing their new treasure. I think they might be a bit tired. Remember those days?

The food was pretty darn good if I do say so myself. Everyone picks their favorite meal for their birthday and I cook. And clean. Ha! When DoodleBug's birthday rolls around you can be sure her menu will include shrimp. And usually, it's my signature bourbon shrimp and grits. Don't turn your nose up at the grits part until you've tasted mine. They are smooth and creamy! I'll make shrimp and grits for y'all when you come visit! And the shrimp? ALWAYS fresh off the boat, y'all! 

The cupcakes I found on Pinterest. The lovelies LOVE Harry Potter and these are Harry Potter butterbeer cupcakes. They turned out very tasty. One thing I love is a buttery, butterscotch flavor and these rose to the occasion. The icing is uncooperative when you try to decorate the cupcakes but it was tasty too. And they are not super sweet which was also nice. Next time, though, buttercream icing. Because super sweet is good sometimes. Haha! That's the Publix organic salted caramel ice cream. So GOOD!

And then there was this little delight who makes all troubles disappear. I do think of my grandparents who would have adored this little angel. I know they are all smiling down on her sweet face. The Divine Baby M is covered in the guardian angel department. :)

I'm telling y'all, time with that little squeegee is the most precious time of all. I'm trying to take it slow and easy but, to be perfectly honest, I can't wait for her mommy to go back to work so that I have this little fairy princess every day! Ah, life. It's so good. So very, very good.

Hope your Monday is going great! Stay cool, y'all!