Measuring Up

Even though the fabric for Stephanie's bridesmaid dresses has been in my sewing room for the last 2 weeks... I HAVEN'T! So tonight she had a measurement party at her house to get everyone's measurements. We texted about this last night but tonight I started getting nervous so she kindly invited me over to *just do the dang measuring myself* (my words, not hers!)

I didn't take long for me to realize I really didn't have to be there, but I'm sure glad I went. I got to hear more of the *Stuart and Stephanie* story than I've ever heard before. We are so pleased that Stephanie is going to be part of our family.

One of the measurees was Camille. Fiona tagged along so she could visit with her favorite Auntie NieNie. We decided that SHE should model the reject wedding veils. (Cuz you know that the real veil won't be seen here until after the big day!)

Fiona is at such a cute age. She loves to flirt and smile.

Baby Hand

I drove home from CA lasterday so I would be home in time to stay with Fiona today. A Grammie's got to have priorities!

Usually I only have her for a couple of hours in the afternoon, but this day I had her a little longer. I picked her up from her sick Daddy (let him get some rest) about an hour before Mama's lunch time. We went and got gas at Costco, fooled around for a little and then went to have lunch with Mama.

Like most schools it is a policy that all visitors sign in. What do you think?

When I wheeled her out to the hallway to head down the hall I saw this! She's fallen asleep between the parking lot and the front office! Silly baby. She had her hand poked out of one of the small side hole and was holding her carseat canopy.

After lunch we drove on down to Grammie's house... more sleeping. Hungry again and a bottle. I came and sat down in my Happy Room. Little Fiona was so happy she went to sleep again after lots of nice snuggles. Poor little Fiona has been sick too. I'm so grateful that I'm able to be with her and comfort her. (Fiona and her pink snuggle)

And all of the carseating reminded me that I needed to get photos of her carseat canopy. The *spotty-dottie-polka-dottie* fleece is on the inside.

And this fun print is on the outside. I was so pleased to find these happy fabrics last fall when I knew little Fi would need protection from the cold Utah winter

So, do you see Simon-the-cat photo-bombing this?

I'm glad to be back home after my 2-week visit with my CA grandchildren. (I was going to write grandbabies but my Flynn-boys are all *growed up*)

My *Little* Boys

It seems like just lasterday these wonderful boys were all tiny boys! Now look at them! All so much taller than their little Grammie!

Oh, I do love these boys! I am so blessed to have them in my life! The fact that they are killer handsome is just a bonus! 

I love you Caden, Tadhg and Brock!

52 card pickup!

Super Mercado Vallarta

At least fifteen years ago, maybe more, Stuart was on an exceptional soccer team. They were the little team that just kept winning. This team ended up going to Tri-sectional play-offs and took 4th place. To put that in perspective... 4th placeout of over 1000 AYSO teams from So CA, Nevada and Arizona. Yup, it was a fun year.

After that last game we needed to have a wonderful *end of season party*. Most other years this meant we went to one of the local pizzerias. But this year, since the team was predominately Hispanic, it meant a wonderful Mexican fiesta COMPLETE WITH CARNE ASADA! I don't think any of us had ever had real Mexican food and we were hooked (except I can't like the roast jalapeños) Our friend, Josephina Aquinaga (I love how that name rolls off my tongue!) kindly showed me how to make my own carne asada. Bless her! (But I can't turn it with my bare fingers... I use tongs!)

It became a tradition to have carne asada for 4th of July and other fun bbq holidays, or just when we needed a yummy treat. I always shopped at Super Mercado Vallarta. At the time there was only one market in the Antelope Valley on Palmdale Blvd. A quick internet search revealed that it is SMV #4. Now there are several in Palmdale and Lancaster. One thing that I've really missed since moving to Utah is a good carnicería so when I go back to the Antelope Valley I always stock up on carne asada seasoning from Super Mercado Vallarta.

Thursday evening I got a text from Rebekah-

"Hey. I've got a crazy request...
Could you bring me carne seasoning from Vallarta market?
Caden is addicted and we need more. Pretty please?"

Grammie did Caden one better! I got the whole carne asada dinner makings: seasoned carne asada meat, avocados, tortilla chips, fresh, hot tortillas (yum), and the ingredients for *pico de gallo de gringa* (extremely mild pico for babies like me).

Walking around Super Mercado Vallarta is akin to a trip to Disneyland for me. And look what I found!

I think it is some kind of sausage, but I wasn't brave enough to get any!

We had a wonderful feast. Caden was the cook. Rebekah commented that he kept putting meat on the plate for her to cut up but each time she went back the pile of cut meat was the same as before. Hey, someone has to eat the *BAD* pieces... it might make everyone else sick!

YLP Sunset

What a lovely bank of clouds spied on our evening walk to the hardware store. It been so nice to be here with Bekah and her men.

First Grammie Bath

Perhaps it is because I grew up with only a bathtub (as opposed to a shower) but I love a bath... a nice hot bath!  I know how a tepid bath feels.

A-W-F-U-L

My theory is why would a little baby, who's been warm for the last 9 months want to be in a cold bath? I've always given my children and grandchildren very warm baths with wonderful results.

Miss Baby-Belle agrees with her Grammie. Whereas she was hollering before she got her naked little body in the water, once there she was perfectly content to soak in the warmth.

How precious is this?

This little girl has a look- she just gazes into my eyes and it goes right to my heart. I have the feeling she'd like to tell me so many things if only she could.

And the hair...

THE HAIR

I LOVE THE FUZZY HAIR!

And here we are- Grammie and Annabelle. I hope this is the first of many happy baths to come.

Little Sister

As I was looking through photos I noticed that I'd missed a bunch of Riley meeting his little sister last weekend. I guess that's what happens when you take photos by the gross!

Riley's waited a long time for this little sibling. He was pretty excited to meet her.

Something tells me that his first impression could have been better timed! I love his expression!

A friend from church got Riley a cute little book about him and his sister. Deborah helped him fill in the vital information. He was so cute wanting to get it all right.

Riley and Daddy had a good ol' Billy Bacon ride (see Riley coaxing Billy with a trisket?) These two have long enjoyed this tradition.

Grammie and Riley went shopping then took a little walk-a-bout on Saturday. When I squatted down to take a selfie I pulled him over by me and we both toppled over. "Why did you do THAT, Grammie?"

Just before it was time for him to go back to his Mom's house he wanted to hold little sister one more time. He needed to inspect her tiny legs and feet.Can you believe you used to be that small?

Riley is such a precious boy. He won't even believe how much his little *Baby-Belle* has grown up in just one week.

Carseat Canopy

My sister, Grannie Annie (how cute is that?), reminded me that I hadn't posted any pixs of the finished project that alluded to 10 days ago.


I made Fiona a darling little polkie-dottie carseat cover (and do I have a photo of it? No! Not me!!) It has been so useful that I knew I needed to make one for Annabelle too.

I mentioned that Deb's favorite baby-girl color is this coraly-pink. Since Annabelle's Under the Sea quilt is in mostly ocean-blues I wanted this to make the statement, "This is a darling little girl here, chum!" When I ferreted in my pink fabric tote these fabrics just called out to me!

I didn't have very much of any one fabric (except the pink floral stripe, shown here, fourth block in the top row, and on the back) since this collection had already made two projects. I started by sewing all of the little scraps together. I'd saved anything that was over an inch wide just for such an occasion.  I've marked some of the *piece-a-dee-peacertons* with arrows; some of the pieces weren't cut straight but I didn't let that get in my way. I squared up the blocks to 7 1/2".  It just adds to the character of the quilt! I just kept creating blocks until I was down to the last nine- they are the aforementioned block in the top row.

The finished top was 42" square. I quilted that square, then cut out the canopy shape and bound all the edges. Holy cow did that ever eat up a bunch of binding! (Which came from the trimmed off backing fabric from the Moda King quilt. Use it up!) The pattern is from fleecefun.com and is found HERE.

Since the finished quilt always shrinks and crinkles when washed, just what I like, I would make it larger next time. (Fiona's fleece canopy fits perfectly)

And while I was writing this post look what I caught!! But just barely since I had to yoink the SD card out of my computer to put back in my camera! Such a big 6-day old girl!

Baby Annabelle

Today I got to do one of my favoritest things! Have a photo-shoot with one of my grand babies.

Somehow all of the love gets focused and captured in a concentrated form. The love is so tangible! It frequently moves me to tears; just as this photo did today. (I love the twin noses here!)

Annabelle was a willing little subject. She is just so mellow.

Annabelle's Auntie Bekah (as opposed to Auntie Becca) sent a couple of wonderful little outfits one of which just begged to be worn for photos.

"Ho-hum... I'm used to this by now, even though I am only 5-days old!"

I always love to do the *baby parts* photos. Tiny baby toes...

A precious little head...

With a wonderful amount of hair...

Yes, just as this serendipitous photo shows- Annabelle is a gift straight from heaven!

Cat Curiosity

Spencer and Deborah have two kitties: Checkers and Amadala. They are tabbicos. I love the way the tabby stripes run through their colored spots.

Earlier today I was holding little Annabelle and when I got up I laid her down in my warm spot (yup, it's an old Grammie trick). When I got back after one minute this is what I found...

Amadala was going to check out this new little person in her domain.

She finally sneaked up close enough to get a sniff...

but she gave Annabelle a kitty-tickle-whisker-kiss.

And that frightened Miss Amadala away.