Guess Who's Having a Birthday?

It's me......ELISE!

Grandma J got me a Payless Shoe Source gift card.  Can you guess what I got with it?

Yes, glittery Princess shoes for Kindergarten!  I know they will look perfect with my uniform.

And this box of stuff like perfumes, scrunchies,  jewelry and a bunch of quarters in a Hello Kitty coin purse.   I slept with this box under my pillow.

I love being 5!

A-Ron Turns 13 Today

And he will pitch for Texas Tribe. Then the team and some other friends are having a pizza party at A-Ron's!

Update on the rumble...both boys had their suspension reduced to one game...which took place yesterday.

Grandma J attended A-Ron's fourth birthday in Germany. He had a Scooby Doo Cake, and got a talking stuffed Scooby Doo.

We spent a week a Davey Crockett's Ranch at Disney Paris. The Disney resort that sells real fur hats and toy guns that don't glow in the dark. A-Ron ended up getting the buckskin vest too. The Heineken is not A-Ron's.

He still loves to cuddle with his sister........she's not too keen about it lately.

I love this picture of A-Ron with his mom. And she knows this picture is one of my favorites....and I've got even better ones!

He makes his dad, Sgt. John proud of him with his academics as well as his sports. A-Ron is the man of the family when his dad is deployed.

A-Ron is still a cuddler. JJ is one of his favorites, and so is Grandma J.


You knew this was coming, didn't you? Phillip Johnny Bob went over to cuddle with A-Ron when he had three teeth pulled to make room for his braces.

Happy Birthday, A-Ron. I love you!!

Happy Birthday Turtle!



Her Dad gave her that nickname, and now Grandma J will call her oldest Granddaughter Turtle on her blog.



Don't ask me how this happened, but Turtle turns 17 today. She was born in California, but transplanted to Florida. Even though for most of those years she was on opposite coast from her grandma, we always saw each other often.

This is Turtle's kindergarten picture. One of my favorite pictures of her.

These cousins have shared many Christmases together...

Here's Turtle with Grandma J and her (blind in one eye) dog, Charlie, that same Christmas, (1994)

Connecting for another memorable Christmas and remain good friends .

They have traveled to California from Texas and Florida for summer fun on Catalina Island with their favorite grandma.

Turtle and her dad are best of friends. Her dad even got a small tattoo of a turtle, which makes Grandma J thankful that he didn't nickname his daughter "Princess". I love they way they still hold hands at Disney.

Grandma J's granddaughter loves to surf on both coasts.

Here she is with her dad and younger brother. She's becoming such a beautiful young lady.

The same two goofballs on the North Shore of Lake Tahoe on New Years Day.

I love you Turtle, and I miss you too. So, since I can't be with you in California for your birthday, I want to send you lots of love and a recipe for Turtle Candy. The same ones your Dad buys you every year....but this year maybe he will make you some! Ummm, yeah, let me know if that happens.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BETTY CROCKER EASY TURTLE CANDY

Recipe By :
Serving Size : 2 Preparation Time :0:00
Categories : Chocolate

Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method
-------- ------------ --------------------------------
4 oz Pecan halves (about 72)
24 Caramel candies
1 t Shortening
6 oz Semi-sweet chocolate chips

Heat oven to 300ø. Cover cookies sheet with aluminum
foil, shiny side up; lightly grease. For each candy,
place 3 pecan halves in a “Y” shape on foil. Place 1
caramel candy in center of each “Y”. Bake just until
caramel is melted, about 9 - 10 minutes. Heat
shortening and chocolate chips over low heat just
until chocolate is melted. Spread over candies and
refrigerate 30 minutes.

Then And Now

Tyler was born ten years ago today !

Then...Tyler was a deep dimpled joy to his Mommy and Daddy

Now, he's still a handsome dude with cute dimples.

Then.....he was a football guy

Now......he is a football star!

Happy double digit Birthday, Ty! I hope you have a great day!

I love you, Grandma DeLuxe

Can anyone figure out why Grandma J will never be rich with worldly goods, but more than rich with God's blessing? The equation translates into more than three birthdays a month...and more.

The Faster I Go....

...the behinder I get!

I could tell you that I'm on a whirlwind vacation...drinking pina coladas, dancing to Salsa musica into the early hours but for me, it's not about getting you all jealous and stuff.

I do have some access to the Internet, but I only have one laptop...and several people who have dibs! That's right, DIBS! Did you ever call DIBS on something? Like, "I have DIBS on the front seat." or maybe, "I have DIBS on the shower first." or, "I have DIBS on the last Dunkn' Donut(my personal favorite)". So this has been my blogging schedule of sorts.

Part II of American Girl Birthday

SO...you know, Beauty didn't know Grandma J was going to be there...and it was wonderful. I saw them coming down the sidewalk, and I could tell the surprise was "fresh" but not real fresh. Evidently they picked up on it when they put two and two together with all the cell phone calls. But...it was still a recent discovery.

This place is a wonderful place for little girls who already have a break-the-bank an American Girl Doll.

We ate in the cafe...which is by reservation only and packed!

Beauty got Mia's hair done in the salon before we ate because Mia's hair was a bit messy from hibernating under the bed for several months.

The food wasn't bad, but neither was the price...but who's talking money on such a wonderful occasion?

Beauty blew out the candle on her individual piece of cake. And just so you don't think Beauty got initiated into the Yearning for Zion cult, that's a boo boo on her forehead.

Then Grandma J bought Beauty a new bathing suit with an over-skirt for her birthday. That's what she wanted after hours of roaming this multi-level store!

We ended the trip with wonderful memories of a beautiful six year old's birthday. HAPPY BIRTHDAY BEAUTY!

Nothing as exciting as the party for Jason!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ZACHY!

Seven Isn't Just seven.....

When your name is Zachy

Today is my grandson Zachy's birthday! Zachy lives in Colorado. He is seven today....and being seven means you were born in the year 2002.

Which is the year of the Horse in Chinese checkers

I remember Zachy's second birthday....it was at a jump bounce house. He was so adorable, and we had a blast.

I don't get to see Zachy as much as I'd like....but when I was in Colorado last year, we spent the day at an arcade. We played and we played until.....

.....we had enough coupons for swords! Sword pictures are valuable...even when your grandma has a bad camera and can't take decent pictures.

Lordy, lordy, can you believe Zachy was the sword pirate even when he was four?

He and his brother Ty were prepared to take on the villains at The Pirates Dinner Theatre.

I love you Zach! I can't wait for Spring Break so we can go to Buckskin Joe, and Boondocks.

And...do you want to know what I like the most about Zachy? He calls me Grandma DeLuxe!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LITTLE GIRL

I'll never forget the day you were born. You were perfect. Not just healthy perfect, but so beautiful that my internist stopped by and would hold you and rock you ....in awe of your beauty....and that's the truth. You continue to be beautiful inside and out. I am proud of the woman, wife, mother and daughter you are today. I love you.

That's right, it's my little girl's birthday. Well, my middle daughter. Since she works long hours and yes, her husband just left three days ago for Iraq, the kids wanted to fix dinner for her. Actually, my granddaughter made the dinner with my help, and her brother decided on the menu. Stuffed baked potatoes with the works.


JJ bought his Mommy gifts and flowers.


He also bought her a tiara...

The kids were happy to smother their Mommy with love.

And when my grandson got carried away, You-know-who got jealous.

My granddaughter made a chocolate cake with ice cream filling in the center.

And yes Grandma J dove right in.....my bad!