Why buy toys?

Ella got a new car seat today as she is nine months old!  Her Momma, Katy, found the perfect one that she could use for the duration and still be able to seat other passengers.  She is a very wise woman.

We took the box that it came in and turned it on it's side for entertainment.  Ella's Daddy, Dustin, use to spend hours playing in boxes.  He would even be talked into a nap in one or two of them.  I would cut "windows" in them and he would have a great time coloring them up.  Ella has a way to go before she can manage the crayons but in the mean time, she likes putting her toys in and pulling the box forward to get them out.  Actually she found this out by mistake as she tried to  pull up on it and the toys came out.  Good thing she didn't pull it back on her or she would be mad at it and maybe not want to play in it anymore.  I do have to say that the dark box was intimidating to her at first.

Camp Scrapin'

I made it back to Springfield for the fall Camp Scrap at Second Baptist Church.  It was so fun to get to see all my friends and craft together.  This time Becky, Susan, Barb and myself did no demos, table hosting or anything!  We were paid guests.  I couldn't pull myself together enough to get a scrapping project together so I re-purposed my Trader Joe coffee bean containers and a metal cigar box.  I covered them with Christmas flavor papers and added some zing.  I plan to use them to host cookies and a few Christmas presents in just a couple of months from now.  Does this mean that I am actually ahead???

Wells Fargo Coach Riding

My friend, Jeanne, works for Wells Fargo Mortgage and today we visited the open house for Wells Fargo Financial.  Had some great Jeff City pork steak (it's everywhere!) and some great visiting for our lunch.  

 Jeanne is all about the Wells Fargo story of the Stage Coaches.  She even knows the doggy names!  Gabbing with the driver between rides she found out that the two doggies were rescue puppies.  Awh!

 Jeanne poses for a picture from my phone for her office back on Stadium Boulevard.

Stephanie and I pose for our original Stage Coach photos.  It was a very smooth ride but what do you expect when you are on asphalt?  I can't imagine days and day in one of these on bumpy roads.  Fun Fact:  They stopped every 8-10 miles to change horses!

Our first Springfield Visitors

Last weekend we had our first visitors from Springfield, actually they live in Nixa.  Mike, Susan (my scrapping ya-ya) and their two boys, Ian and Ethan.  We had a full weekend with Saturday for Susan and I to run the town and then on Sunday, the two grown boys hit the golf course.

 Susan and I became antique/flea marketers for the day.  It was gorgeous outside but the allergies took us into Whaley's Pharmacy for Susan to get some meds.  Old fashioned pharmacy with a soda fountain.

 Ian, Mark, Maitlyn, Ethan and Marissa after lunch near the Capitol.  The big boys took the kids to the Corn Maize, Sonic for lunch, walking around the Capitol and then they somehow wondered into Yo Yums for frozen yogurt!  And here Susan and I felt guilty about grabbing our lunch there!  Funny how we were all in there one time or another during the day.

 The Jefferson City Corn Maize before the kids entered.  They had to wait for 45 minutes for the other group to get done so they goofed around the outside for a while.  All had fun in the maize and they all got lost for a bit.  They got "corn-fused" so they "corn-cut" themselves out the side of the maize.

 The grown ups went out for the evening.  We started at the Summitt Winery for a glass of wine and then for dinner we went to El Jimador for a stuffing full of Mexican food.  At home we played Spades, a new game that Mic and Susan taught us at their lake cabin.  Susan entertained us by her upside down person!

Sunday the boys went to the Eldon Golf Course for a beautiful day of golf.  Mike is cleaning his golf balls in this picture.  What a great smile!  We ate dinner and then our friends headed back to Nixa :(  We are so ready for you to come next with Susan and Mike!!

Making Old Look New

Maitlyn's grandparents gave her a desk for her room that has been in the family for many generations.  Mark had a fabulous little antique desk that we use for an occasional table in the living room that needed some TLC.  So, on a beautiful Sunday afternoon we set out to tackle both desks at once.  Mark and Maitlyn on her desk and me on the other.  It turned out to be a great Daddy/daughter project with lots of laughs.

 Sanding never looked so fun to do.  Staged picture of course but they did a great job.

 And of course, Maitlyn insisted on getting a picture of my project too.

 This little desk started with Mark's great Aunt.  As I sanded I found Maitlyn's little girl attempt at carving her name in the side of the desk when she used it as hers years ago.  We all laughed at what a little stinker she was, claiming it as her own.

 Oh yeah!  Time to shake up the stain/sealer.  Shake it, shake it Maitlyn!

 Adorable picture of Mark and Maitlyn putting on the finish.  Beautiful day outside and gorgeous view!

 Maitlyn showing off her new spray on tan.  Ha ha!  She got quite a bit on herself while she put on the finish.

Have you ever used Min-Wax products?  Love this stain/finish all in one.  Great results!  I love seeing old pieces revived and used again as if it were new.  These are both new to me!  Wish they made furniture like they use to.

Baby Ella goes on her 1st Pregnancy Care Center Walk

Clarissa, Katy, Ella and I walked the Pregnancy Care Center walk on October 1, 2011.  It was a beautiful day to share with three of my favorite gals for a worthy cause.

 Clarissa and Katy...Ella too....at the starting point.

 Sweet baby Ella on the car ride to Beth's Bake Shoppe for lunch.  She just stared at NeeNee for the longest time.  I wonder, what those brown eyes are seeing and what that bright little mind is thinking.  My hopes were that she was memorizing my face as her NeeNee for life.  I prayed that she could somehow see in my eyes the love that I have for her.  I guess you could say we were "Eye talking"!

 Having a little fun walking around in Gifts From The Heart after we had lunch.  Ella had a clothes change (necessary one due to a blow out...sorry Ella) and she was full of fun.

This isn't a great photo but I love the little face and how intent she looks as she looks across the room.  I love the time that I get to spend with my girls!  This marks the beginning of Fall and Ella's 5 month birthday.

Auntie Clarissa loves baby Ella.  Since she lives in Columbia, she doesn't get to see her much but when she does...she always has an outfit or gift for her.  Think Aunt Clarissa could get into some serious spoiling of this little girl.  

Wicked Weekend

Two generations of ladies took off for a couple of days of Drama....literally!  We first (all eight of us) piled into one vehicle from our hotel to THE FABULOUS FOX to see WICKED!  It was truly as amazing as always and we had several of us that had not seen it yet which made it more the awesome. 

We then dived into a nearby restaurant for a bite of dinner right before midnight.  Sleepy-eyed and hungry, we slammed down some foodies before we headed back to the hotel to dream of the not-so-wicked (it turns out) Witch of the West.

The next day brought shopping in greater St Louis!!!  Yeah, as they have sooooo much more shopping opportunity that Springfield.  Hannah, Clarissa, Nikki and Katy were obviously having a ball trying on everything they could get their hands on!  They did actually do a shopping haul here ladies, just in case you were thinking that they were abusing the stores by "just looking & messing".

We are looking forward to the next time around to all get together again for a road trip to St Louis and the FABULOUS FOX!

She is here! The next generation.

On April 27, 2011 Ella Jane Taylor made her way into the world and into my heart.  She arrived at 7:30 p.m. weighing in at 8 lbs. 3 oz. and 21 1/2 inches long.  Never do I believe that I have ever seen such a proud Daddy and a stargazed Momma when I first met Ella in person and hour after her birth.

She was so alert and her eyes wide open for just an hour old.  We giggled at how she worked her tiny tongue like she was searching for something in the air.  When the nurse unwrapped her to check her vitals we all found out that she was searching for her hands.  They passed by her mouth and she fixed in on them.  Yep, in the mouth they went!

I love this shot that Clarissa caught of her over my back/shoulder. She doesn't look brand new, does she?

Oh precious little Ella, I so look forward to the cuddling, reading, walking, singing, tea parties, cooking, crafting and just plain ol' learning from each other in the years to come.  I love you and I just met you!

Love so amazing!

My family is expanding!

May 2nd is the due date for Dustin and Katy's little baby girl, Ella Jane, to enter this world.  My first grandchild!  It so just seems like a few short years ago that I had two little babies of my own.

Being a Grandma is going to be such a treat and another phase of my life that I so look forward to.  A new life to love, influence and nurture as she grows into a woman herself.  I cannot wait to hold her tiny body and see both my son and daughter in law in her.  A perfect blend of two people who so love each other and are like two peas in a pod.

What will she call me?  Will she like me?  Will I get to see her often?  All the questions that go through an expecting Grandma's mind.  I pray for her parents and her daily.  May this little family grow in love for each other year after year.

Ella Jane Taylor

3/13/2011

32 weeks

Cha, Cha, Cha changes!

2011 is a year of change....all for the better!  I would like to introduce the love of my life and my husband as of February 13, 2011.  His name is Mark Nienhueser (pronounced Neenheeser).

We met at my new place of employment, Service Noodle, last June 2010.  Mark is the company recruiter/trainer for the company.  We became friends and well....you know the ending of this story.

This lead to a physical move for me to Jefferson City, MO the weekend after our honeymoon in Riviera Maya, Mexico.  A wonderful week of relaxing, no phones and a lot of time on the beach!

Keep your eyes open and your calendar handy as this mess of a room will soon be hosting a scrapbooking weekend in the Capital City for all of my Scrapping Ya-Ya's!

Mexi-MO....No Bull!

One of the changes in my life for 2010 happened last August when we moved Clarissa to Columbia, MO to live.  She obtained a High School teaching position in the Spanish department.  Lots of changes for us all.

Me?  Just homesick for Clarissa and the time that we were blessed to spend together for over 24 years.

Clarissa?  Just homesick for her family and friends that she too had enjoyed for over 24 years.  She also had the first year teaching stressors on top of taking Master's classes!  If all goes as planned, next fall semester will be her last before we get to attend another graduation on MSU campus!

For Christmas I officially became an honorary member of the Mexi-MO Spanish club!

I love my new T!  In case your wondering what Pah-oo-la means....it's how the children in Mexico have said my name when I went on mission trips there.  It's so dang cute!  Clarissa is officially Senorita T to all her students.  AND.....on the front, No Toro means....NO BULL!  How funny!  Their school mascot is a bull.  The designer of this shirt thought of everything even down to the Mexico flag colors!

I know that pride is not a pretty thing to exhibit but I am so proud of the woman that my daughter has become.  When I visited her classroom is was unnerving to see my baby in charge but with so much admiration and respect from students less that 10 years her junior.  Her kindred spirit and caring heart flows over into her career.

P.S.  You might be wondering why the Mexi-MO?  Clarissa studied in Mexico (the country) for two semesters and we were getting friends, stories and traditions mixed up when we talk these days.  Now we call Mexico, MO Mexi-MO and Mexico the country it's right full name of Mexico!  I always knew that my daughter would end up in Mexico but I NEVER thought that I would be blessed for her to be only three hours away instead of a 12 flight and bus trip.  Another one of the blessings that I had never imagined!