Happy Birthday Teresa!

As we get older the thought of celebrating another birthday becomes a day where you'd wish everyone would forget.

Even though I'm not excited about celebrating another birthday, I can't help but making everyone else's birthday a little special. I took Teresa to breakfast at Harrah's and afterwards we played the slot machines. Our luck was terrible but we had a good time. You'll have to forgive the fuzzy picture. My attempt at a selfie wasn't any better than Brad's trembling hands. Happy Birthday Teresa!

Coloring Easter Eggs

Violet and Lincoln had a play date with Trish - one of Melissa's friends who doesn't have any children of her own but several kids who she would love to claim.

The difference between Violet coloring Easter eggs and Lincoln is hysterical. Violet is very precise and needs to make everything perfect, just like her Aunt Michele.

Lincoln on the other hand was more interested in the amount of color he could get on his hands and in his mouth. Maybe that engineering gene will kick in as he gets older.

Wrong Place, Wrong Time

Poor Violet happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time when one of her classmates decided to throw a book.

The injury wasn't nearly as bad as Violet's emotional breakdown. Seems as though no place is safe anymore.

Car Accident

You would think running a quick errand in my quiet neighborhood would be uneventful. I was stopped at a stop sign waiting to make a right turn. I saw a car coming driving in the middle of the road. So I waited for the driver to pass. I then noticed that the car was making a left turn. Have you ever been sitting at a stop sign when a semi-truck was making a left turn in front of you? I always think they're making the turn rather sharp and hope they won't hit my car.

That's the same feeling I had when I saw this car making a left turn in front of me. But in this case, she hit me. Not only did she scrape the front of my car, but then she put the car in reverse, backed up and made the dent even worse. Funny thing was, she lived right on that corner. She jumped out of her car and began explaining how she wasn't paying attention because she was looking at her garage door opener to open the garage door.

Luckily she had insurance and now my car is fixed and back on the road. But the inconvenience is infuriating. Plus the loaner car they gave me was a tuna can called a Ford Fiesta. I'll now think twice about running errands in my neighborhood after dark!

"Mimi"

I've crocheted hundreds of afghans in the past 30 years and no one has ever appreciated a blanket as much as Violet. She calls hers "Mimi".

Mimi goes everywhere Violet goes. She's been to the Lake of the Ozarks, Dauphin Island and even Disney World. Mimi started out a very pretty white, pink and grey and no matter how many times she's been washed, she still looks a little dingy. I've tried to make her a new one but nothing can replace the original Mimi. Maybe there are some things that don't need to be replaced.

A New Driver

Violet has a jeep and loves cruising through the backyard, usually with Lincoln white knuckling in the passenger seat.

But now Violet is teaching Lincoln to drive. Melissa sent me a video of this and you could hear Violet say "Lincoln's driving and I'm working the pedals"! I'm sure both Violet and Lincoln will know how to drive a real car at the age of 10. Let's just hope their little legs won't reach the pedals!

Happy Birthday Violet!

Where has the time gone? I can't believe that Violet is 4 years old.

Violet was very much involved in planning her princess birthday party, working on her invitations, picking out her cupcakes and deciding on which princess she would be.

Melissa decorated her house as a princess castle.

From the beginning, Violet was going to be Cinderella. But after watching Elena of Avalor (Disney's newest princess), that's who she wanted to be. It didn't help that Melissa let her open her new Princess Elena dress before the party.

Even I got into the theme of the party and wore my own princess dress. What a grandmother won't do for a little attention!

After all the little princesses arrived, they were surprised with a visit from Cinderella. She did a wonderful job of keeping all the kids entertained. Not one child took their eyes off of her while she was there.

The party was a huge success for all the work Melissa and Jamie put into it.

But let's not forget the traditional "age" shirt. I forgot all about it. But Melissa is usually on top of these things. I've marked my calendar for next year so I don't forget. Happy Birthday Violet!