~~ Happy Birthday Summer ~~

The minute I laid eyes upon her, she stole my heart.

She loves dolls, stuffed animals, pets, fidget spinners, karate, and sparkly things.  She is always careful about other's feelings and would never say a cross word to anyone.  Now that she's ten, I'm noticing an eye-roll now and again.  But hey, she's  entering her pre-teen years so I just give an eye-roll right back.  

I'll always miss her years of innocence.  

But I love the young lady she is becoming.  Happy 10th Birthday to my Christmas angel.  

Dear Diary,

Mom and Dad are getting old and it's becoming harder and harder to take care of them.  Take yesterday for instance.  They just had to go for a walk.  And it was cold outside!  But I bit the bullet (even tho I really felt more like biting them) and accompanied them to the tracks so they could get some much needed exercise.  I say much needed because.  Well. Dad gets out of breath pretty easily and Mom - well - she's packed on a few pounds if ya know what I mean.  Can't be too healthy.  So I humor them.  They say these outings are for me.  BOL!  Yea, right.  

Mom has become very needy and she's always dropping to the floor to massage my back end and whisper sweet stuff in my ear. She's lonely. It makes her feel better, so I pretend to be comforted by the madness.

Then there's the ramp.  The bed.  The insane way she now has our bedroom arranged!  There are bed side rails and suitcases and pillows and tall furniture up against our bed to keep me from inadvertently jumping off where it is not safe to jump off.  I know it's because they're afraid of falling out of bed in their old age. But hey.  I go along with their delusions.  I seriously think they don't even know they're old.  

But really, it's tiring.  Oh, there's more.  There's so much more.  But I'm exhausted now and need to rest.  If I know Mom, it'll be another all-nighter where she can't sleep and lays the blame on me.  Later.  Gracie.

Not Impressed

While grocery shopping with her mama, Summer saw these pretty, colorful flowers and said "I have to get these for Grammy!"  

And so, she did.

I love that she thinks of me when she sees beautiful flowers.

The calendar may say fall is here.  But for me,  Summer is all year round.   Love this girl.

Gracie:  The Puppy Years

"So is this bath stuff something you
people do often?  Not impressed."

The Princess and The Left Out

Today I got a visit from the princess.

She's been battling a nasty cold lately but is feeling better today.

I tell her, say I love Grammy...  and she does.  Gary says I'm brainwashing her.  This may be true.  But I think she genuinely loves me.

Or maybe it's my iPhone she loves....

And how was your day Gracie?

How was my day?  Let me see...  thanks to the intercom I pretty much know what goes on over in that office of yours during the day when you leave me home alone.   I have a sneaking suspicion that the cookie carrier had treats for me that were never delivered.  That's how my day was.  #AllYourFaultMom 

Give Me Cupcakes. Fast!

A few weeks ago I stumbled across 

this at Bed Bath and Beyond.

It makes mini cupcakes in about 6 minutes.  

Of course I had to get it... especially since my nickname for Rissi has always been Cupcake.

Saturday night, we used it for the first time.

 

Voila!  

And cleaning the non-stick cupcake holders was a snap!

@ $30 this was well worth it!

But next time I think I'll divide my cake mix into thirds. 

 This was way too much cake for someone who is trying to stay away from cake (my favorite)!

Improvise

Planned:  A fun filled birthday party for Rissie at the park pavilion where the kids can enjoy the playground and run off some steam.  

Weather:  Cold and windy.  

Improvise. Inside party.

Dear Diary,

I'm feeling a little better...  but shhh, I can't let mom know.  She's my slave woman 

 when I'm sick and I've gotten kinda used to it.  

I think I feel the need for a treat now...  But first.  The sad look.  The pity.  The hug around the neck. The belly rub.  The 'poor gracie'.  

I hear the fridge door close...  and I think I smell chickie bird...  catch ya later.  Gracie.

Circus Day

Sunday was Circus Day.  

Rissie got her very first face painting...

And I endured...  even though I'm not a big circus fan anymore.

There were very few animal acts this time.  Most were people acts, which is fine with me.  People choose to be a part of the circus.  Animals don't.  

There was something on television one time about animals being treated cruelly to make them cooperate in circus acts.  Are they, always?  Or was that an isolated case?  Regardless... to me they seem unhappy to be here.

So, while I enjoyed the special time with the daughter and the granddaughter...

In my heart I was freeing the elephants...