My Mama Told Me, You Better Shop Around....

Jennifer's good old Explorer bit the dust, and it was time to go shopping for a new car! It will be Jennifer's first car in her own name purchased with her own money.


We solicited the expert help of Uncle Michael, and after narrowing down their choices via internet, we set out to do some test driving. First stop, Shelbyville.



Here, Michael is checking out the engine. I guess that's an important thing to do? Looks good to me!


Jennifer was pretty annoyed with me for taking pictures the whole time, but it was fun, and helped to keep all those cars straight.


Only the best will do, only the best for you, Acra Automotive Group...... Checking out some cars at the Greensburg location.


This one has an awesome sun roof. More like a sun convertible on an SUV. I think she likes this one......


On to Columbus to drive three more. Michael's choice is the Subaru. Ergonomically perfect.



Tell me how you really feel about me taking your picture? We're just flippin' over these cars.



After lunch at Fazoli's, a decision is made, and we head back to Greensburg to get the Jeep Liberty. When we pulled in the lot, she found it waiting for her all decked out in her Purdue license plate. Definitely sealed the deal.



Stop at the bank, credit check, and CONGRATULATIONS! you are the proud new owner of a new (used) car. And a car loan! :) Gotta build that credit. A successful shopping day and a sweet set of wheels for our girl. Happy trails, Jennifer!

Baby, baby, baby!

My nephew Josh, and his wife Erica are the parents of triplets, born in January. In "trip talk" they are BGG (boy, girl, girl, of course). Needless to say, they keep things busy around their house, and as I told Josh, the fun is just beginning!

Friday evening we had dinner at my sister and brother-in-law's, who were getting some Grammy and Gramps time with the babies. Supper time is an event, and the babies were wearing - I mean enjoying - their scrumptious baby food.

Here is Harper, the big boy.














This is pretty little Emerson.
















And Arden, who is lovin' her some baby food!




















After supper they had some play time on the floor, and Arden likes to fold her hands. Doesn't she look like she is saying her prayers?

They sure are cute, are growing like weeds, and are a blessing to their very proud (and weary) parents. That won't stop for at least 18 years!

Happy 50th Jim!!

We celebrated Jim's 50th birthday on Sunday with dinner for the family. Wow! It doesn't seem like we should be 50.... that's old! Of course, I'm not quite 50, so I don't fit into that category just yet. :) It sure proves the old saying that life is a series of long days and short years.

We enjoyed our favorite birthday cake.... chocolate chip upside down cake.



We had a candle for each decade. Here, Matthew is counting by tens 10, 20, 30, 40, 50!



Singing "Happy birthday, dear Grandpa..."



And great help from Matthew blowing out the candles.



Of course Uncle Steve and Matthew had to get some giggle time with the starter button and tugging on the nose...



We had Grandma and Grandpa Stewart here, Nana and Boomie, Steve and Janet, Jenny and Michael, and all our kids for a full house. So blessed to have our family close enough to share special occasions together, and to make ordinary days special occasions just by being together. Like the sign says, "We may not have it all together, but together we have it all."

Think Pink!!

Here is a picture of our grandbaby, due in January. Isn't it amazing that we can actually see pictures of these little ones before they make their appearance into this big bright world?? As my Twitter friend Brad Paisley would say, "Welcome to the future!" or as he says it W2tF (not WTF, which is another thing altogether.)

We just learned on Friday that the baby is a GIRL!! Woo Hoo! Here is her pretty little head.



And this is her pretty little foot. Isn't it just the cutest foot? Is that pink nail polish I see? :)


When I was a little girl, there was a framed print in my room called "What is a Little Girl?" I think it was a baby gift to my parents when I was born. It hung in my room until I went to college, and I could almost recite it by heart. I thought I would share it for this special little girl we are so anxious to meet.

What is a Little Girl?

Little girls are the nicest things that happen to people. They are born with a little bit of angel shine about them, and though it wears thin sometimes, there is always enough left to lasso your heart.

A little girl can be sweeter, and badder, oftener than anyone else in the world. A girl is innocence playing in the mud, beauty standing on its head, and Motherhood dragging a doll by the foot.

Girls are available in five colors -- black, white, red, yellow or brown... yet Mother Nature always manages to select your favorite color when you place your order.

God borrows from many creatures to make a little girl. He uses the song of a bird, the stubbornness of a mule, the slyness of a fox, the softness of a kitten and, to top it all off, He adds the mysterious mind of a woman.

A little girl likes new shoes, party dresses, small animals, dolls, make-believe, dancing lessons, ice cream, and tea parties. She is loudest when you are thinking, the prettiest when she provokes you, the quietest when you want to show her off, and the most flirtatious when she absolutely must not get the best of you again.

Who else can cause you more grief, joy, irritation, satisfaction, embarrassment and genuine delight than this combination of Eve, Salome, and Florence Nightingale?

Just when you patience is ready to crack, when your dreams tumble down and the whole world is a mess, she can make you a king when she climbs on your knee and whispers, "I love you best of all."

Goodbye Sweet Tiller

I had to say goodbye to sweet Tiller today. It was harder than I thought. Her kidneys were failing and she couldn't/wouldn't eat or drink. She weighed only 3.6 pounds when I took her in. She was a sweet, silly dog. Sure she had a few quirks, but don't we all??

I will miss how she always turned right.

How she peed on the concrete.

How she licked my feet.

How she liked to lie flat with her feet out to the side.

How she spun twice before she hopped out of her crate.

How she sometimes took a little walk back to the creek for a drink.

How she napped in our office while we worked.

How she looked and smelled after getting a fresh haircut.

How she snuggled with me on the couch.

I didn't want her to suffer. I didn't want her to struggle to keep her meds down. I didn't want her to starve. I didn't want her to die. I will miss her.
Good night sweet Tiller. I loved you.

Boiler Football Begins!!

So excited that football season is here! Our Boilers took on Toledo in the very first game under Head Coach Danny Hope. Noon start means an early morning for the Boiler faithful. Jim, Matthew, Chris Denton and I set out in the van behind Jon and Jennifer who were taking Emma to Zionsville. Here is Matthew bright eyed and bushy-tailed in the van at 7 a.m.

Picked up Jon and Jennifer, then on to Lafayette to pick up David, Shy, and Adam for a full van load to the R tailgate lot at Ross-Ade. Tailgating with the big boys now. Early game meant breakfast food, and in David's words, "She didn't mess around!" Enough food for all.

There was sausage.....

and bacon.......






Jon says, "Are you trying to give me a heart attack??"













Pancakes on the griddle, donuts, grapes, fresh peaches, cinnamon rolls and mimosas!

We had some corn hole going on, and even a shout out from athletic director Morgan Burke who was cruising the tailgate lot.

It is a great way to spend a Saturday in the fall, and so special to have all the kids there to share the day. AND, we even got a Boiler victory. Don't know how the season will go from here, but we'll celebrate the wins and mourn the losses together! Boiler Up!