I Had to Take to My BED!

My FAVORITE Cowboys and Cowgirls

Pops, Mimi and our Little Birthday Cowboy

Harley hunting Easter Eggs

Charlie's hand painted Easter Pail

Another view of Charlie's Easter Pail

What a weekend we had.....I had to take a long nap Sunday afternoon!!  Cowboy Charlie's birthday was AMAZING!!!!  What a great, fun time we had for two days.  Incredible daughter, Jessica, and da-da, Mark, gave Charlie a great Cowboy birthday party.  We had so much fun!!!!  Dressing up like cowboys was entertaining.  Pops really went all out!!  Charlie's cake was fabulous.  He loved eating his smash cake.  We didn't have those for the incredible daughters back in the day.

Pops and I got Charlie a Cozy Coupe.  Watching him traveling around his backyard brought back lots of memories.  When his Mother was 16 months old that was the only item she wanted for Christmas.  He looks so much like Jess riding in the coupe.  Charlie's is the 30th anniversary edition.  

Saturday night was the Easter Vigil at our church.  The Easter Vigil is the highest mass the Catholic Church does all year.  My " bestest"  friend, Susan, joined the church at the Vigil.  I have been her sponsor and we have attended a class every Tuesday night starting back in the fall.  What a very emotional experience for the two of us.  Congratulations Susan!!!!   We all celebrated at Village Inn with "breakfast" at midnight.   Sunday morning, Pops and I were back in church for the 9:00 service with the family.  We couldn't miss Charlie's first Easter service.  What a rainy Easter Sunday!!  I know the devil had a hand in the weather.  I love our church.  The Easter decorations and the homily by our Priest was so uplifting.  I was so thankful to look down our pew and see my incredible daughters, their husbands, Jessica's in-laws and one year old precious Charlie.  I am soooooo blessed!!!!!:)

Easter lunch was great.  Charlie had an indoor egg hunt with the help of Harley.  I had bought a galvanized bucket and had it hand painted at a store here in town.  The girls each had a personalized bucket when they were young, so naturally, Charlie had to have one.   I was very pleased with how fabulous it turned out.  Charlie would drop his eggs in his pail, then have to pull it back out and look at it.    

Today when I would ask Charlie if he is a big boy and if he is one year old, he will raise up one finger and chuckle.  He is sooooo cute!!!

After all this excitement, I will give you a hint about the upcoming week for Pops and me.

Cancun....... take me away!

Peace be with you,

Mimi

Big Cedar and Birthday Week

First present for Birthday Week...Buzz Lightyear

To Infinity and Beyond!!!

Champagne Brunch at Big Cedar

Mimi, Susan, Tony and Pops

Dinner at the cabin

Boyfriend, Susan, Tony, Terry and Sheri

What a big week we have this week!!!  Charlie Man's birthday week and Holy Week.  Jess doesn't know how Man's birthday just happened to fall on Good Friday this year.  What a special treat!  I love Easter.  I think it is probably my favorite Holiday.

This past weekend, Pops and I were treated like royalty by our good friends, Susan and Tony.  We spent the weekend at their cabin at Big Cedar.  What a treat!!  Susan fixed a fabulous dinner Sat. night for us and our friends, Sheri and Terry, who were at Big Cedar for a conference.  Sunday we had brunch at the Wormen House.  The food was lovely, as were the Mimosas.  We attended Palm Sunday services at Our Lady of the Lake (isn't that a great name for a Catholic Church) in Branson.  Beautiful new church, with a good gift shop that Susan and I had to investigate and support after mass.  We had a fabulous weekend!  Thanks Susan and Tony!  Pops and I also took time to do a little shopping at Branson Landing.  Fun place.  We had an afternoon "snack" at Cantina Laredo overlooking the river.  I also found a Disney Store that had "buy one get one free" on the stuffed Disney characters.  Pops couldn't believe how many Charlie "needed" for birthday week.  I couldn't make up my mind which ones were the best, so lets just say we have several for each day this week.  

Sunday night was family pizza night to begin Birthday Week.  I chose Buzz for the first gift for Birthday Week.  I think Charlie loved Buzz!  Charlie is really walking everywhere and his "talking" is really sounding like "words".  He points to everything and says "dat"?  I must name thousands of items in a days time.  

I am super jealous that incredible daughter, Sarah, got to see the ducks at the Peabody.  On my list of items to do someday.  

The weather has to improve from THIS!!  Everyone enjoy this week and remember all the blessings you have in your life.

Peace be with you,

Mimi

A BIG congratulations to Stephanie and Jimbo on their engagement!!!!!!  We can't wait for your special day.....much love to you both.

Peace sign and random things

Peace sign on my SUV, (the Mimi Mobile)

Pretty church in Viney Grove (near Prairie Grove)

For some reason, I love a peace sign.  I think it goes back to the early 70's and all that entails.   I have several  necklaces, socks (thanks to my friend Susan) earrings and even a fabulous copper  peace sign door "wreath" that my friend, Sheri, got me for my birthday.  Actually, the one on my SUV, Sheri had to find for me in Colorado.  You would think Fayetteville being the "funky" town that it is, you would be able to find a peace sign sticker.  A summer or two ago when I was on the hunt for one, I went to all the interesting shops you would think would have had one.  Nope!  Did you know last year was the 50th birthday of the peace sign?  Who knew!  I read it somewhere, then peace sign items started popping up everywhere!  Over the past Christmas holiday, the Boyfriend and I were in Dallas shopping and the windows of Barney's at North Park were ALL peace sign memorabilia celebrating the birthday.    Their store bag was fabulous, but I couldn't find anything affordable to buy to put in one.  It felt like the 70's standing in front of their window.   I found my old silver MIA bracelet for a prisoner of war, during the Vietnam war, that I wore for several years.  I wonder if he was ever found?  I need to Google his name sometime.  

Boyfriend and I went to Table Mesa in Bentonville late this afternoon.  VERY good!  Lots of vegetarian options for me!  I have been a vegetarian for several years.  More and more restaurants seem to be offering more items.  It snowed sooooo hard on us on the drive up.  We sorta, kinda, got lost in Bentonville, ( I do every time, for some reason), but drove thru the old home area and the blooming red bud trees looked like they were sugar coated with the snow.   Worth the time of getting "lost".  Wish I'd had my camera!  I took the hottest shower my skin could handle to try and forget the weather tonight!  I hate it when it does this.  Maybe this is the last of the cold weather.

The fabulous white church is one we rode our bikes by a couple of weeks back.  It has some beautiful windows.  

Counting down the days till the Charlie Man's FIRST birthday!!! :)

Hope everyone is having a great weekend.  Pray for sun and warm weather.  

Peace be with you,

Mimi

Savor, a new Fave!

Boyfriend, Mimi, Lonnia, Doug, Brian, Lora

Fabulous appetizers

Lora, Brian, Doug, Lonnia and my Boyfriend

Charlie in his new swing.  Pops is  so proud!!

Saturday night Boyfriend and I tried out a new restaurant with our good friends,  Lora and Brian, and Lonnia and Doug.  Savor is for sure on our list of favorite new eating out places.  The bar area is fabulous, as well as the dining area.  The food was pretty and delicious!  We had such a good time with our friends.  We had a great conversation about how each couple met and the "good old days."  Aren't our friends the cutest couples!!  Pops and I have volunteered to keep the Charlie Man this weekend, so his "ma-ma" and "da-da" can try out this great place. 

Pops spent all day Saturday and Sunday building Charlie's first birthday present with Mark.  Pops has named the structure/swing set, " Charlie's bachelor pad."  We couldn't wait to see how much Charlie would enjoy his new swing.  As you can tell from the photo he was thrilled and Pops was sore and tired, but so excited for the little man.  We can't believe Charlie's first birthday is fast approaching!

Can you believe David Letterman got married???  I think he finally gave up on Julia Roberts.  Her new movie, Duplicity,  is good.  Their interview last week together was interesting.  I think Dave really loves the woman.  She is too cute!

Hope everyone has a great rest of the week.  Snow for the weekend, this can't be!!!!!

Peace be with you,

Mimi

Spring and One Year Anniversary

My fabulous present one year ago today! :)

Jack enjoying the spring sunshine

Pops tilling the soil

Pops planting his seeds

Charlie, my little flower blossom.

Happy Spring everyone!  The temperature today didn't feel much like spring, but the leaves popping out and the bushes and flowers that are blooming look lovely.  

     One year ago today the Easter Bunny brought me a fabulous "race car."  Boyfriend and I call it our date car.  There is nothing more fun than taking the top out of the 'vette on a warm, sunny day and driving very fast out Hwy. 45 listening to Classic Vinyl on XM.  This is our third Corvette and the BEST one yet!  Let me know when you want to go for a ride!

I also am going to be keeping everyone up to date on our organic garden that Pops is growing for the family, especially Charlie.  Pops has started several kinds of vegetables from seeds in some grow trays.  They are coming along nicely.  We are also planting several herbs.  Our friends, Terry and Sheri, have had several gardens in the past, and have gotten us interested this year.  We had a garden once when the incredible daughters were younger, but they thought it was a lot of work, so the weeds took over.  I have hopes that Charlie Man will show more interest.  We are going to try to grow all organic.  Also, we are going to try our luck at Heirloom tomatoes.  Paula Deen seems very fond of these on her show!  Pops did a fantastic job preparing the site for our garden.  

I want to thank all of you for your kind comments to my blog.  It is so much fun to keep up with everyone.   

Hope everyone has a great rest of the weekend.

Peace be with you,

Mimi

Amazing Photo

Look closely for the American Flag

I was driving home the other day and was completely AMAZED that I could see this large American flag off in the distance!  All the years of driving this road, I have never seen the flag before.  This is just more evidence of the sheer destruction of that wicked ice storm we had at the end of January.  Do you  think the trees can recover???  This flag is the one that flies across the street from Fay. Athletic Club.  From this spot on the road it is about two miles, straight as the crow flies.  I am anxiously awaiting the new leaves this spring to see how much they will cover the damage on the trees.  

I hope everyone had a great St. Patrick's Day.  I saw some lady driving in her open Jeep tonight completely dressed as a green leprechaun.  It was my happy moment for the day!! :)

Charlie Man and I took a stroll today in the record breaking temperature.  Wasn't it just fabulous??  Charlie had plucked a piece of clover and waved it from his stroller.  I told him he does have a touch of Irish in his blood from his Great- Great Grandfather on my Daddy's side.  I guess I should have celebrated more!!  Charlie being so thrilled with his green clover was enough for me! :)

Hope everyone has a great rest of the week.  Only three more days till one of my favorite days of the year!!!!!!  Yes, the FIRST DAY OF SPRING!

Peace be with you,

Mimi

I Love my bike!!

Ready to ride! :)

My fabulous Specialized Dolce

My boyfriend (Pops) on his Specialized bike

Pops and I went for a short bike ride today....the weather was cool and damp, so we didn't last long.  Last weekend we went a total of 40 miles in three days.  I was a little sore and lived on Motrin the first part of the week.  We went to a local bike/accessory store today and found some great deals on biking attire.  I guess we looked the part, because some nice lady started asking MY opinion on biking clothes.  I helped her as much as I could.  Pops had to get a new backpack to carry essentials in while we are riding.  

We watched Sarah have a practice game in tennis today.  I think she is playing very well.  

Tonight, we went to Stuff-Mart to get some stuff and a man approached us, in the almost dark parking lot, to see if we had any money to give him for gas.  Pops had seen him coming and had made me get in the truck quickly, so after he asked for money, I felt bad and we gave him a few dollars.  I think we are going to be seeing more and more unfortunate people in the next few months.  The Lord says we have to help the poor.  

On my blog, I am going to try and look for super baby/children's items, mostly books, to pass along.   For those of you who don't know, I was a kindergarten teacher for 20 years.  I LOVE children's literature.  I miss the little people on a daily basis.  Charlie is feeling that void very nicely!!  One of the best books lately, is the 40th anniversary pop-up edition of Eric Carle's The Very Hungry Caterpillar.  Jess picked it up for Charlie Man for his upcoming birthday.  The butterfly is fabulous at the end!  A very good book for spring time reading!

Charlie and I will be at Baby BookWorms at the public library tomorrow.  We had a great time last week...one of our buddies from Kindermusik was there.  

Hope everyone has a happy week.  The weather is looking lovely!

                                             Peace be with you,

                                                            Mimi