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Tuesday, May 28, 2013

52 Weeks of Cookie: Week 23

Ready for take off.

Finally I get to really show my stuff!

52 Weeks of Cookie:  Week 
23

Usually I have to stand outside the fence and watch Little Girl and her friends having fun playing the game where you run and kick the ball, but since no one is around this time, the Big Guy turned me loose on the field.

The race is on!

He tried to race me, but I was so fast, I beat him even when he had a head start!

Love,

Cookie

52 Weeks of Cookie: Week 22

52 Weeks of Cookie:  Week 22

My New Ma is always calling me "the baby of the family."

That's the man I love.

I just don't understand why!

Kisses for the Big Guy.

Doesn't she know what a big girl I am?


Love,


Cookie

Monday, May 27, 2013

10 things that we learned from Grandma Gert.

 Shaler Township's tribal elder.

This weekend, we said goodbye to Grandma Gert. She passed away a week ago, but I've been putting off writing about her here because I feel whatever I write will be inadequate. I just don't think I can do justice in describing a person was so colorful, generous, and lived life on her own terms.

Because of her extensive work with animals (both wild and stray) and as a school crossing guard for fifty years, she was the subject of several newspaper articles, the final one written about her here. To say that she is a legend in our town, would be an understatement. When Lauren goes to junior high school, she'll be able to point to up at the mural in the lobby and say, "That's my great grandma, right next to Abraham Lincoln."

She was the type of person who was unintentionally funny with her unique (and often very negative) outlook on the world and her ability to tell a story with serious, dramatic flair (and a few four letter words). So here's what we learned from this one-of-a-kind woman:

 Great Grandma Gert

1. A traffic cone is always a thoughtful gift.

 Beth's Baby Shower - Great Grandma Ross

2. School buses just don't depart from the parking lot, they leave "like bats outta hell."

Beth's Baby Shower - Great G'mas

3. Beware of restaurants that serve,"salty soup that makes your lips pucker."

 Grandma Gert is 88 years old!

4. Cesar Milan may not know it, but "You bitch!" is a very effective way to get your dog to obey.

Even at 88, she's still a sharp 
thinker.

5. Most people "ain't got a pot to piss in."

Visiting Great Grandma Gert.

6. Always save the ham bone. You can make pea soup from it.

Grandma Gert.

7. Raccoons love to eat Italian take out.

Lauren and Grandma Gert.

8. A very large hole is required to bury a full grown pot belly pig (Okay, Mark learned that. I just watched him dig.).

 Grandma Gert parties hard at 
90.

9. You can never get too much sun nor be too tan.
 Triplets.

10. There's always room for another pet.

As taken by a four year old.

In newspaper article from 1990, Grandma's self-awareness shines through as she concludes, "When I die, I'm going to be missed. They're going to say, 'She was a nut, but she was good.'"

91 years old.

 We couldn't have said it better ourselves.

Saturday, May 11, 2013

52 Weeks of Cookie: Week 21

Pucker up, pup.

 And they called it puppy love
Oh, I guess they'll never know
How a young heart really feels
And why I love her so

52 Weeks of Cookie:  Week 21









Love,

Cookie

Thursday, May 2, 2013

Sweet 16/2.


Today Lauren turns eight years old, inching ever so closely to ten. Seven didn't bother me so much, but eight? That's crazy talk.

This year, instead of having a kids party, we decided to have just our immediate family celebrate with us. I got away with this because I agreed instead to a series of sleepovers with various friends. I decided it would be wiser to spread it out rather than have 7 or 8 screaming second grade girls ransacking our home for one night.

Lauren asked for an "under the sea" party. The special guest star on the table is Julie, Lauren's goldfish.


Fishy birthday banner.

Lauren loved that she got to decorate the dining room with her various stuffed sea creatures. And trust me, she has plenty of them.

Jellyfish.

We made these cute jellyfish out of paper bowls.

Fishy snacks.

And you got to have fishy snacks!

Fishy birthday cake.

Lauren was very specific that she wanted figures on her cake. Grandma Bruno got her a cake with figures on it for her third birthday, and it must have made a big impression. I got this at our local grocery store's bakery, and I have to say that they did a fantastic job.

Looking for more in the bag.

Lauren was so happy when she opened her presents. Lots and lots of smiles to go around!

Reading a birthday card.

Open with care.

Happy birthday girl.

Sweet 2/16. 

And here she is getting ready to make her wish. I'm pretty sure that she wished for a mansion because she told us today that when she is a teenager, she and her best friend are going to live together in a mansion and that we'll need to give her a thousand dollars so they can buy one.  They don't call them wishes for nothing...