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Eggplant Parmigiana Alla Scalini's
From restaurant owners Bobby and John Bogino
Nearly 300 baby pictures decorate Scalini's old-fashioned Italian restaurant in Cobb County, Ga.
All of the babies pictured on the Italian restaurant wall were born after their mothers ate the Scalini's eggplant parmigiana. The $9.95 plate of breaded eggplant smothered in cheese and thick marinara sauce is "guaranteed" to induce labor, the restaurant claims.
The eggplant legend began not long after the restaurant opened 23 years ago.
"Two or three years after we began, a few people had just mentioned to us they came in when they were pregnant, and ate this eggplant and had a baby a short time after that," said John Bogino, who runs the restaurant with his son, Bobby Bogino. "One person told another, and it just grew by itself by leaps and bounds."
To date, more than 300 of the pregnant women customers who ordered the eggplant have given birth within 48 hours, and the restaurant dubs them the "eggplant babies." If it doesn't work in two days, the moms-to-be get a gift certificate for another meal.
I'm keeping Kemp today so that Natalie can finish her Christmas shopping! I finished mine a couple of days ago and I'm so glad it's done! Natalie HAS to finish hers, no doubt! Kemp is sick, has an ear infection and cold. My throat woke me up this morning "scratchy" too and I can tell a cold is on the way! Bummer! I was planning on taking Mimi to see Daisy's nursery today but I don't want to get around her. I'm taking some of that stuff that boosts your immune system, sometimes it works! Or makes the cold not as severe. Since Kemp is already sick, guess it won't matter if we're together. Patrick is also really sick, too. But, God love him, had to go back to work, still feeling bad. I hope he feels better today.Yep, you can tell it's getting colder, sniffles are in the air! I just hope Kemp is all well when his baby sister comes home from the hospital! He felt so bad yesterday he told Natalie, "I NEED TO GO TO THE DOCTOR~!" Bless his heart!...Nat and I went by White Flowers and I saw my stuff out! wow, weird feeling to see people pick them up and BUY them! It was sooooooo crowded in there on Tuesday! It looks beautiful decorated for Christmas. I love that place!!! She has some gorgeous things there! That's a close up of another box I made and some of my tags. Yes, the prices at White Flowers for my stuff makes me want to make some for myself! HA HA!
Monday's are LILY DAY. I pick her up from PlaySchool and we head back to GranJan's. Sometimes on the way home she'll say, "GranJan, where are we going today?" HAHA! Almost without fail, we do the same thing (unless AuntCutie or Aunt Natalie want to "walk around the mall"), which is: come home; have a snack ; turn on NOGGIN and rest! She is tired after a day of playschool, so she actually WANTS to get on our big comfortable couch and snuggle under her "pink blanket". She promptly pulls off her shoes (her PINK and SPARKLY ones yesterday), and gets the Carz pillow (or Ariel, whichever she is in the mood for!) and gets in her ZONE. She NEVER EVER goes to sleep tho! Now when Kemp comes, I barely get the T.V. on till he's zonked out! NOT LILY! She manages to KEEP HER EYES OPEN the whole time. I can usually get lots done while she's vegging! Like check clean up; work on scrapbook stuff; check e-mails; make dinner! She knows that AFTER "Dora the Explorer" she can get up. She doesn't mind one bit chilling until then. She is so funny with the interactive shows! If they ask on the T.V. to do "this or that" >>>Lily does! (remember on Peter Pan when Peter looks at the camera and says: "Clap for Tink! Clap!" I always did, guess she gets that from her GranJan! HAHA). ANyway, I made some pix of her JUMPING up and down while "GO DIEGO" was on! HAHA (yes , this was AFTER her FLAT TIME!)....Also put on lots of pix with MAGGIE. Maggie LOVES Kemp and Lily! She goes crazy when they come over. She rubs her head on their head; snuggles up to them; lies RIGHT WITH THEM wherever they go!! It's soooooooo sweet! I love the ones of Maggie rubbing Lily's head!!! Maggie is almost 18 years old! We got Maggie when Katie wasn't even 5! She is a wonderful pet that God blessed us with! (yes, so are Jezzie and Buddy, too! HAHA)
Does it work? Well, so far it hasn't, but that doesn't keep Natalie from having a cup a couple of times a day! HAHA! yes, the ole RASPBERRY TEA trick---to see if drinking it might bring on labor! I did the search engine on GOOGLE and good grief, about a million things came up on it! HAHA! Oh well, just like any old wives tale, probably one or two (or more!) had success with it! keep drinking it, Nat! You never know! hahahahaha! (just, ,please wait till at least Dec.1 b/c Daisy has to wear the "MISS DECEMBER" rhinestone onesie! I would LOVE for Natalie to have the baby on Dec.5th! Wow, what a great day for me, my daddy's birthday!!! (Powell, if you HAVE to come early, you can come then, too!!!). So far, Powell is still staying PUT! HURRAH! I'm just so happy our babies wil come in December! I loved having a DECEMBER baby! (guess which Fry that was?)..........check out what I copied and pasted from one of the sites on RASPBERRY LEAF TEA! (oh well, at least it is safe and who knows , maybe it will work! HAHAHA)
Last night we took Nat/Brad and Kemp to THE TAVERN to eat dinner. NO ONE was in there (b/c we went around 6:30 and THE GAME started @ 7!). We ate dinner (service was terrible despite the fact no one was even there! The waiter must have been watching the game in the back! HAHA) and then we went back "to see Kemp's and Daisy's Christmas trees"! Kemp looked ADORABLE in his "Little Stinker" sweater Aunt Cutie gave him for his b'day! Their tree looked gorgeous as did Kemp's and Daisy's too!!!!!!! We watched the first half of The IRON BOWL with them until Terry got frustrated with it and wanted to go home! Katie texted me "I think I'm going to be an Auburn Fan" so that shows how bad the game went!!! Well, it wasn't a complete run away, but it sure was disappointing. NO, for you people who live in a deep dark hole a million miles underground, WE , as in ALABAMA,
lost. Roll Tide anyway!
We are always so thankful for so many things, this year being no exception. Last December Pat had his bad wreck and even though it's been almost a year, I was so thankful to have Patrick here with us this year. He could easily have been killed or hurt for life. Not only that, he's moved back from Destin , (back to Natalie and Brad's downstairs apt!!!!) ,and his back has healed and he's working now on HWY 280 at Academy Sports( in their Manager training program). He's also working on his knife business. On a sad note, Pat and Stefanie broke up and it was hard for him, but he realized that all things work together for GOOD! He WILL find someone out there that God has chosen for him! I loved being with him on Thanksgiving b/c I see him the least of all the kids b/c of his working schedule! I can't wait to hang with him some when we stay there when Daisy comes. He'll probably be a big help to us when the baby comes, helping with Kemp when he's off work. Plus, Pat's a great babysitter! He knows how to handle the little ones and even knows how to fool with babies, too! You wouldn't think so, he is one of the youngest and wasn't around babies much. Since he was only 20 months older than Katie he wasn't around little ones, yet he just is a natural at being with kids. Pat is so sweet. OUR baby boy. He is always the same---sweet and has the best LAUGH in the world. When Pat laughs, the world laughs with him! He adores his KEMP and his KEMP adores his Uncle Pat Pat! kemp loves to RUB PAT'S BALD HEAD! It's hilarious!!!!! Pat will be the BEST DAD one day, that's for sure!!!....Of course, I hated we missed being with Charles/Rachel/Michael/Kadie/Lily /Jon/Katie on Thanksgiving, but this year was different in the fact that Natalie is so close to giving birth as well as Rachel! One thing I wanted to do was help Nat wash baby clothes and help put Kemp's tree up, etc. so we did WORK on our Thanksgiving Day. NOT THE GUYS, tho! They did what guys do best on Thanksgiving. SLUG OUT on the couches and WATCH FOOTBALL! HAHAHAHAH! We did end up having dessert with M/K/L on Thanksgiving afternoon and I got to read the "ELF ON THE SHELF" book to the little ones! Lily was FASCINATED with the ELF story and kept dragging the book around and WANTED to sneak it home (sounds like her DADDY!) but GranJan grabbed the book while she wasn't looking and HID it! HAHA! She asked, "GranJan, where 's MY book?!" I told her I was keeping it at GranJan's house to READ WHEN THEY CAME HERE! Aunt Cutie bought the book , (it is ADORABLE!) and it comes, complete with the ELF! THe Elf looks like one from MY day ('50's!) and the story is sooooooooo cute! You have to NAME the elf, we named him OLIVER! HAHA!....We ended up looking through the ads for Thanksgiving Day and Michael was looking (and found!, yestereday!) a laptop! Katie and I got up (see precious entry!) at THREE O'CLOCK and then headed to the mall!We got some great bargains and she got Laura's grandkids comforters for Christmas (She and Jon still love to give Laura's grandkids Christmas gifts!) ........TODAY IS ALABAMA/AUBURN day! Katie is in AU with Jon so I guess she'll either be calling LAUGHING 
or calling FURIOUS
! (at least she doesn't CRY when Alabama loses anymore like she did when she was young! HAHA). Poor Katie. To think my daughter will have to LIVE in AUBURN one day! hahahahaha........ROLL TIDE ROLL!!!!!!!!!!!!!
At 3:15 A.M I heard a soft voice saying, "MOM???? MOM???? Wake up!" Then I felt a nudge from Terry! It was here already ! Our AFTER THANKSGIVING DAY FIASCO ! yes, we left the house 20 minutes later heading towards Riverchase Galleria!!! OH MY GOSH! The parking lot was almost filled up!!!!!!!!!!!!! THAT EARLY!!!!!!!!!!! My first purchase was an early gift to Terry and me! AN ELECTRIC BLANKET!!!! WITH DUAL CONTROLS! I wonder how many I've had over the years??? LOTS but haven't had one in a few years and I get COLD at night!!! So, that was my FIRST purchase! I got one for half price! HURRAH! Then, we were off and running! We did some major damage (mostly at the Disney Store where BTW, there were GREAT sales!!!) and we were FINISHED at the Galleria at SIX o'CLOCK in the morning! We headed out of the Galleria (and almost a fight over cars trying to get our spot!) and off we went to McDonald's for some HOT coffee and biscuits! IT WAS FREEZING TODAY!!!! We went to Michael's (not my son's house but Michael's CRAFT STORE) where I had a 25% off coupon and I got some stuff I needed for my boxes and cards. THEN off again. To Big Lots and Hobby Lobby and finally the grocery store! We were HOME by 9:30~! We were so excited to find Laura's grandkids bedspreads (that's what their mother wanted for them rather than toys) . We found 3 beautiful ones (1 left to go!) and Katie is completely finished with her shopping! I have a few more to buy for, but I'll finish next week. Hopefully , before Miss Daisy arrives!!!!! ......We had a great time yesterday. pix to follow tomorrow. I'm soooooooooooo sleepy (Katie already has crashed and is sound asleep on the sofa!) that I'm about to fall into the keyboard! 
YAWN!!! FUN DAY AS USUAL!
Happy Thanksgiving! I put a quick collage of some of my favorite pix today. some that reflect our past year. each one means so much, just as each one of my children means so much to me! I've got our turkey in the oven and I'm just sitting here reflecting on this THANKSGIVING and thanking GOD for all the blessings He has bestowed on our family! For the newest "turkeys in the ovens" to health for our family members and the excitement of Katie and Jon's wedding next year! So many things to be thankful for! And, I was just thinking, next Thanksgiving, God willing, we will have 2 new babies and a new son-in-law, too, so our family will have grown by 3! I'm just so thankful for my family! My own family ; my extended family and friends who are like family to me, too. I'm thankful all my kids live close and that I can see them whenever I want to. I'm thankful I have a mother who is 93 who still is in her right mind and to whom I call everyday---I'm so thankful I can talk to her every day! She is doing great! I was just thinking, she has had 93 THANKSGIVINGS under her belt! That's a lot of turkey! HAHA! I remember growing up and both sets of my grandparents coming to eat lunch with us. I think I even wrote last year about how they came DRESSED UP in heels and suits. Gosh, now we all wear jeans or warm ups! HAHA! My mother would fix everything, they never brought anything, they just came to eat! HAHA! I so remember it, I can even remember being sooooo excited about them coming that I would sing that song"Over the river and through the hills to grandmother's house we go!" as I jumped on the bed to wake up Daddy (Mimi would have already been in the kitchen fixing the turkey!). Daddy would laugh and get up and we'd get dressed and I think, go and pick them up and bring them to our house. I would be as excited over Thanksgiving as I would be Christmas! And, no, it wasn't b/c I was a big eater either ! Believe it or not, I used to be SKINNY! HAHAHA! I hated to eat! Wonder what happened?! HAHAHA I just loved being with my grandparents. I hope my grandkids feel the same way about me one day and that when they are my age they will also remember , not the FOOD or whether the turkey was perfect that year or not, but the joy and happiness and love they felt when they were surrounded by those they love...........HAPPY THANKSGIVING to my family! And those I love who are like family, too! We're all in the family of God!..........
Yesterday was BabyDOCTORDay. I'm so glad Nat always wants me to go, it's our special time together and we enjoy hanging out , just us, for a few hours. I don't know what we'll do when Daisy comes ! guess we'll just have to bring her along to go shopping. We'll make her a SHOPPER from day one, I'm sure!!! I can see it now, Aunt Cutie, Natalie and GranJan heading to Atlanta to buy Daisy some zebra print baby shoes! HAHAHA! Oh wait! She has them already! HAHAHAHAHA This is going to be one high fashion little girl!.........Today's pix s were from yesterday and how where Kemp goes to school (Riverchase UMC) and Meg getting him out to take him in. Then, we were off! After Nat's doctor's visit, (NO CHANGE!), we walked thro the building to see Rachel. She was doing fine! She is so excited to get her new camera!!! Charles bought them a CANON REBEL XTi just like mine! I had bought a DVD on using it so I gave that to him. It's very informative and the guy walks you through all the many different features you get with the camera that most people never even use. It helped me so much. I know both of them will be good photographers. Ever since Rachel's dad passed away in April, photos have meant so much more to her. She has tons of slides she's is organizing from her hospital bed right now of her mom and dad. So, she knows how important pictures are! To remember and to catch those moments that are truly priceless. I'm sure we'll have lots of those of Powell and Daisy, just like the ones I have of Kemp and Lily that mean so much to me!!!!
GranJan her new car!!! It's a white PATHFINDER. It has all the latest feature in it which is wonderful. Of course, I wish I had the rear view camera in my car, too. That is awesome. It's really neat and he's soooooooooo excited over it!!!! They came by Friday after buying it, he and Kadie and Miss Lily brought it by to show us and we ended up eating steaks together. (Michael and Terry ran to Brunos and got us some juicy steaks to throw on the grill)! The car is beautiful and now Lily will have her on DVD player, too (he has to have it installed). In fact, they will put in TWO DVD players , on the back of the front seats. Does that mean that Lily might, ONE DAY, get a bro or sister? Or , is the other one for GranJan when we take trips?! hahahaha......Today is DOCTOR DAY. Time is winding down for Natalie but she still has over 3 weeks. I've mentioned Rachel not sleeping the past few nights, well, Natalie told me the past few nights she hasn't slept either! For different reasons! Daisy is getting so big and that makes Natalie uncomfortable and that means she can't sleep. She's going to ask Dr. Sharp today how much he thinks Daisy weighs and if she is "head down", etc! My guess is a good Six Pounds PLUS already. I hope Daisy arrives smaller than Kemp did ,(he weighed 9 pounds)! I'm praying Powell will put ON weight and praying Daisy won't be too BIG!!! 
We will stop by, as usual, to see Rachel after Nat's visit and then we have a lot more to do before we get Kemp @ 1:00. I still need to be making a few Blessing Boxes and even start getting my act together for Thanksgiving. This year, we're not doing the BIG Thanksgiving like last year. With Daisy due so soon, Natalie had asked us to come and do Thanksgiving there and then help her put up her Christmas tree and finish setting up her bassinet and swing and stuff like that. We're having the traditional dishes, just not so many of them b/c Kadie/Michael are having her mom and dad; Katie is going to Clanton with Jon and , of course, Rachel will be spending Turkey Day in the hospital. PatPat will be there, tho, so I better make PLENTY of deviled eggs! That boy LOVES deviled eggs!!! He LOVES Thanksgiving, so of course, he will be there (and we'll put him to work, too). Because this year is slightly "different" b/c of babies arriving etc., we are compensating by having DESSERTS later on in the afternoon for anyone who wants to come by.COME ON OVER!
Powell is growing! See?! Terry and I went for a visit yesterday afternoon. We had a nice visit and when we got there Rachel was sitting in a chair! All of the sudden, the door flew open and a nurse says, "You're OFF the monitor! Let's move back and get hooked up again!" I didn't know St. Vincent's was also a PRISON! HAHAHAHA ! I told the nurse, "well I know you're doing your job!" HAHA! So, she was put immediately hooked right Back onto the monitor ! (the nurse told us, "See, we're watching!"). Of course, Charles was nervous that she was even sitting in the chair ! He really didn't even want her to do that. Poor Rachel, I know it gets awfully monotonous just sitting/lying in bed>>>>>>> for almost 4 weeks! It was just Terry, Rachel, Charles and I and we had a nice visit. (the pix are actually from Friday's visit with katie). Charles was getting ready to go to The Firm Baby shower. she was going to be hooked up by computer again! SKY CAM! HAHA! (She wrote me last night that they got lots of baby clothes and a lot off of their registry).Hurrah! ...(The pictures of the baby clothes & burp cloths are from Kadie that she made! They are gorgeous! Like Daisy's only for a baby boy! I'm so proud of Kadie, she has them in a shop in Homewood to sell, too!Aren't they beautiful!?)...
Cathy came in as we were leaving and the 5 of us held hands and Terry said the sweetest prayer for Powell and Rachel before we left. It was so special. I know the prayers of so many are working b/c Powell has stayed put for almost 4 weeks longer than we first thought! NOW>>>>only 3 more to go!
We had fun with Mimi last week! Natalie wanted to go see her grandmother this week so we decided to go while Kemp was in PlaySchool and before baby Daisy arrives. Natalie had a little gift she bought from Christmas Village for her MIMI. She was going to give it to her on Christmas but Mimi gets so much stuff and forgets 'who gives her WHAT "she decided, what-the-heck , make her day special with a little gift. SHE LOVED IT! Mimi loves things with her name on it ,(guess that's where Natalie gets it from! haha) ,so she loved her sign from Christmas Village that says: MIMI'S PLACE! I also took her a little "gift"--- a new journal ! She had filled hers up and had called me several days in a row to say, "did you say you had another journal for me??" WELL, I did, but I really wanted to do her an "altered book" , which I did, but wanted to do it more. Oh well, she needed it so I did one quickly. She writes EVERYTHING down ,(how cool is that?) ,that she does each day. Then, when she "forgets" she can go back and "remember" ! I need to do that! HAHAHA She was writing on loose paper for the past few days so she really needed another journal. (actually, I think she has one in a cabinet she just couldn't find it). No worries, I took her one.Natalie said if I had brought her the HOPE DIAMOND she probably wouldn't have liked the diamond better than that little "home made" journal! haha! Mimi loves to see Natalie, she says she "makes me laugh" and so she did. Natalie loves showing her round belly and Mimi loves rubbing it! "It's a GIRL, right?" she asks! WE HOPE SO!!! haha....On Tuesdays, we also have a "fun day". I go with Natalie each week now to her doctor's app't---in the bldg right next to the hospital. (St. Vincent's_). She goes weekly now. YIKES! Baby is almost here! We don't expect Miss Daisy until 2nd week of December (I think, I keep forgetting her actual PROJECTED due date!). She can't come until December anyway, b/c Natalie bought a onesie with RHINESTONES that says "MISS DECEMBER" on it! HAHAHA! ....We meet on Tuesday morning at 9 in the parking lot of RUMC where we drop off Mr. Kemp. Then we have till 1:00 to do what all we can do in 4 ((QUICK!) hours. Since she is going to the doctor every week now so for at least a month we'll do this every Tuesday (only this week not sure if Kemp is in school or not? I might be keeping him instead going this week b/c of Thanksgiving???). Anyway, it's fun to see all the preggies there. EVERY GIRL is pregnant is seems. I feel in the minority! HA! She gets in and out quickly, then we walk through the office building right into the hospital. We go to floor 3 and visit with Rachel. We stay for awhile and get to rub Rachel's tummy and then, we're off again!.....I hope we can go to White Flowers this week, (or next if Kemp is out of school this week!) , b/c I want to get Daisy's Christening Dress from there. Diana has GORGEOUS ones there. Kemp wore one that Natalie's good friend Amy (Turner) Williams made him but Daisy needs one of her own. Natalie and Michael didn't have their "own" dresses. Michael wore what Charles wore home from the hospital (which is FRAMED! HAHA); Charles Christening outfit is somewhere (? in a box in the garage--I've GOT to get that box down off the top shelf!); I MADE Patricks (yes, the only garmet I ever made! I hand sewed (with a LOT of help from Susan Akin!) Patrick's dress and then, Laura Speaker made Katie's. beautiful gown. I love Katie's but it has her initials smocked in the bishop collar so no one else can wear that one. (Laura said it is unique in the fact she didn't use a pattern at all. Just made it up!) It also has a little bonnet. (Daisy won't wear a bonnet, tho, Natalie hates them- probably b/c I made her wear them! HAHAHA!). SO, I told Natalie that I would get Daisy one to share with any more baby girls we might have (or boys if they want a frilly one! HAHA). We don't have a "heirloom" dress and I want one! Hey, I might have another baby girl myself! hahahaha! Lily wore Patrick's (I was so proud!), it's beautiful too, but not long. And since Daisy will be baptized probably in the winter, she needs a long dress. Anyway, hopefully, we can find one there. What a special day is the BAPTISMAL DAY! Now, for you Baptists out there, don't freak out (how many times have I had to defend our church's decision to baptize babies>!?)! Hear this:They will also go through Confirmation Day when they are about 12 years old (the same age Jesus was when he went to the Temple) when they will choose to make the decision to accept Jesus, too! BUT, they are already "kick started" by being baptized in the faith. Methodists believe in PREVIENIENT GRACE, that is that GRACE where God has been calling us to be with him our whole lives, that "whispering" we feel when we KNOW He is calling us to Him, EVEN FROM THE START OF OUR LIVES. It is that Previenient Grace that is always surrounding us, even as infants. GOD is always calling us to Him. Even from the moment of our conception. Baptism of our babies is our responsibility towards that call as parents and the committment to that responsibility . We believe that this is an important sacrament in our faith that makes the parents accountable, (as well as the congregation) ,to raise the child in the church . Jesus is the one who wanted the children close to Him always and for all we know , John or Paul might have Baptized babies, too!!! (Or, I should say, SPRINKLED!). HA!.......I'm getting excited just thinking about our babies coming and looking forward to that special BAPTISMAL DAY for both of them! 
NEWSFLASH! HERE IS ONE OF MY NEW CREATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 
Yep, I am going to tell where they will be THE DAY AFTER THANKSGIVING! If you have been keeping up with my journal, you know I have had a secret craft going on! (even in the middle of 2 new babies coming and babysitting!). YOU get to see them before they hit the SPECIAL STORE!....
. SO, as soon as I could, I began experimenting with them. I had the idea (from GOD!) to create a CHRISTMAS Blessing Box. I have made Blessing Boxes before, but I wanted to create something for Christmas that would inspire the person who opened it to remember the REAL reason for Christmas during the "hustle and bustle" of the season when we get so caught up in the buying. It just made sense to me and soon I was looking online for quotes from people about Advent, etc. and soon I had the idea fully formed in my head. I made a "prototype" box for Diana. She loved it and immediately wanted 4 of them. Each one takes a couple of days to create! I have to stamp/decoupage/add ribbon/lace/glitter and fill it up with the Advent sayings. Quite a feat . And I am one who likes instant gratification (which is why I've always hated smocking dresses, took me too long to get to the finish project! HAHA). Well, for once, I had to BE PATIENT and work steadily on each box. I am still A.D.D. and have trouble sticking to task (I will stop and check e-mail; watch the tube; EAT ) in between each step but they are worth it in the end. Just take a while to do!!!!! They are soooooooooo pretty! I want one myself but it takes too long and I probably can't afford to buy one! hAHAHAHAHAHA!....I also made small little boxes, too. She wanted about 15 of those. They are so cute, my little SUGARPLUM BOXES. Just right for a special gift inside!!!! And, of course, the tags I make. If you've been to WHITE FLOWERS you know, of course, that Everything in White Flowers is WHITE so I don't have any color on anything, if I do, it's very slight. Anyway, the biggest order was for Christmas tags, cards. I can do those fairly well now that I have it down to a science! HAHA! You should see my CRAFT ROOM! It's disasterous but I know where everything is!! Every now and then I even clean it up!!! I have a certain way now I do it so if she calls and needs more, I can quickly start working. Needless to say, I've had a run on white papers/white Christmas flowers and lots of white ribbons. And YES, I make lots of mistakes and when I do and have to throw one away I scream my head off like a banshee! I can't tell you how many times I've ruined a beautiful card/tag b/c of INK on my hands that got on them! YIKES! That's my PET PEEVE!!! HAHA!!! Each one is totally unique so no one will have one like anyone else (they're made by HAND so, yes, some will have imperfections! HAHA). I have had soooooooooo much fun doing them and it's truly a kind of soothing and calming thing to create something and then do some more!I've given most of my cards as gifts (and some to auctions!!!), but it's time to cash in on some of the hard work. And hey! Now I can say I am an true
Lily is changing every time I see her! Getting taller and acts so old now! She is soooo funny, too! She makes me laugh all the time! Kind of like her Daddy does! HAHA! I was doing something in the kitchen , when I looked over at the "kid's corner" (where they have their little chair and books) and she had popped those mouse ears on and was reading books to her doll! It was priceless! Of course, I ran and grabbed my camera! She is a ham when someone has a camera (of course, why wouldn't she be? I was making pictures as she was entering the world! Literally!) so sometimes she does those CHEESY grins! But, they are so cute and so Lily that I have to include them all! She is so precious and I could squeeze her to pieces whenever she's around!
ello everyone! It's Tuesday night and I should be working on my "Secret craft stuff" but instead I'm looking online and wasting time. I need to get "in the zone" to do some work! As you can see from the picture above, I like to have fun! Fun to me can be as simple as eating a bowl of ice cream while playing Majong tiles! (it's a computer game for you who are NOT computer game peeps!)....I went along for the ride today with Natalie for her doctor's visit. She is now 35 weeks along! UNREAL!! Man, it's flying by! While she was seeing the doctor, I was reading and yawning and feeling quite intimidated by being the only one in the room with a big belly. well, let me re-word that. The only one in the room that didn't have a baby in their big belly (except for one lone husband who looked as if he would rather be anywhere but sitting in that room! HAHA). After she saw Dr. Sharp, we walked through the building straight to St. Vincent's. I'm very proud of myself, I found my way WITHOUT having to ask Natalie which way to turn. Anyway, on to floor 3 and room 309 to visit with Rachel. She was doing great, looking so good and I think glad for some company. I don't think she is going home like we thought she might this week.But, you never know! Powell is staying put and that is the good news!.....Here are a few pix of me and the girls that Brad made on Sunday. And I USED to think Brad was a good photographer! ummmmmmmm, not so sure! ....Also, a few pix of Kemp opening his b'day present from Aunt Mary margaret and tryng to keep Uncle Pat Pat from getting his toys ! He loved his new THOMAS BIRTHDAY Train Set! Thank you Great Aunt M & M!..........More pix tomorrow of his actual b'day. I forgot to load them today! I've been busy and I WAS going to work tonight on some craft stuff but TOO TOO Sleepy right now! tomorrow I am not answering the phone or leaving this house until I finish these special items I am taking to that SECRET place that is going to sell my special stuff!. No, I'm not spilling the beans just yet. I know it sounds like I'm talking in riddles. Most of the time I do, anyway, right? Anyway, I'm not telling. Not just yet. Otherwise, you wouldn't keep coming back to check,now would you?! HA!
Rachel came to her baby shower after all! No, she didn't even have to leave her bed.!OR the hospital! She came VIA COMPUTER! How cool was THAT?! Also, in a different twist of the usual, CHARLES opened the baby shower gifts! Poor Charles, he did a great job, but I know he felt awkward trying to figure out want was what! HAHAHA! No, really , he was so cute and it was really cool to watch the DADDY open baby gifts for a change!! Rachel wasn't left out either, she watched him open them and then , some sweet Hostess, ran some gifts to St. Vincent's so Rachel could open some , too!!! And, we watched "via computer" her open gifts , too! It was so sweet!!!! Charles especially liked opening his old GROVER (from Sesame Street!) haha! AND, I wrapped up his baby book and an outfit Mimi had given me at MY baby shower---a duck quilt with matching gown and sheets. Yes, it was A baby shower to remember, that's for sure!!!!!!!!!!!! She got some beautiful things and it was such a nice party! I got a gift, too! Matching bibs with the names "Daisy" and "Powell" for me to keep at GranJan's house ! sooooooo cute
Kemp's 3rd birthday party was a huge hit ! It was at RECREATION STATION , a virtual "kids's heaven" where the kids can romp in huge air filled slides or bounce in huge air filled cushions or play video games or just run around wild! It sure beats having them do those things at someone's house!!!!!!!!!! Plus you have your own "party person" who takes care of the "BIG" details---bringing the drinks and cake and, of course the main attraction>>.tokens!! with the "party package" each kid gets tokens and (what they love) their hands stamped so they can go in the big "bouncy room" with all that stuff. Fun stuff. Kemp loved every minute and so did the kids! When he saw everyone come in he said, "OH, MOM! Here come my FRIENDS!" it was soooooooooo cute!!! the best part of the day was that Natalie, at 8 months pregnant, didn't have to clean her house and RE-clean her house after the kids left; bake a cake or provide entertainment! Plus, it was a fun/safe time for the kids!.........HAPPY BIRTHDAY sweet and PRECIOUS little KEMP! I can't believe you are 3 ! I love you soooooooooo much, my little angel!
Yesterday was a busy day!!! Wow, I started going before 8 A.M..and got home, finally, around 10:30 P.M.!!!! I made a few pix at Kemp's b'day party at school with his friend GRACIE who has the same b'day! (see cookie!) that was fun! Then, Katie and I were off doing errands and we just "happened" to stop off at St. Vincent's. Visited with Rachel for awhile and then off to meet Nat and Kemp at the Galleria. Katie also wanted to give Natalie ONE (of the 10 million gifts she's bought her!) of her gifts b/c she couldn't go last night to the shower. Natalie freaked out over the DIAPER BAG! It's beautiful! Also,Natalie needed new shoes so we walked around for awhile before I had to run do a few more things (like getting Nat's cake from Edgar's for last night's baby shower for Rachel!). Then back home , to LET BUDDY OUT and change clothes. Off again, to drop Katie off at the Galleria to meet Jon and his dad/step mom and sister and then I headed back down the dreaded 280 Corridor and faced Friday afternoon traffic to go meet Nat again ! This time we were off and running to the baby shower. Brad/Kemp/Michael//Lily went to the car show at the Civic Center. we got to La Paz and met up with the girls. What fun! Several weren't able to make it at the last minute b/c of different things but we still had a great group. Sooooooooo many beautiful things! Oh my gosh!!!!! I must brag on Kadie---she made a box FULL of beautiful baby things for the baby! (she is now selling them for a little store in Homewood! GO KADIE!). Everything she got was adorable, from the adorable dress from Rachel to the beautiful gowns and dresses and even NAIL POLISH from the girls! HAHA! Yes, Daisy will have her little toe nails painted that's for sure! It was a fun night and the fun continues today at Kemp's Birthday party at Recreation Station @ 2! THEN, off to the auction tonight ! YEAH! Exhausting week-end but I'll catch up one day! When I'm my mother's age! HAHAHAHA
but at least Charles can be there for updates on Rachel and to OPEN 
Here's Nat and her Doctor, Dr. Sharp. She loves him and he is so nice and has a great sense of humor! He goes to Advent Episcopal Downton where Charles and Rachel go and he LOVES his church! He is always teasing Natalie about being a Methodist and saying she's really an "Episcopal wanna-be"! Brad, of course, knows him too b/c of working there and so it's really neat. Like most people, Dr. Sharp loves that Brad is an Aussie , too (like who DOESN"T love Brad?!)Since his office is right next to the hospital, of course we went to have a visit with Rachel afer her app't. Of course, I felt right at home with big bellies around me! HAHAHA! Nat is doing great and will now go every week to the doctor. That makes it seem so close! YIKES! Are we ready?????? OF COURSE Natalie is! Everyone who knows Natalie knows she's THE most organized person in the world, all she needs is Daisy. I'm glad Natalie doesn't mind me making pictures, bless her heart, I am always shooting pix of her! Even lying on the table getting measured! Dr. Sharp thought it was so funny ! Poor Daisy, I forgot to ask how she was doing! HAHA....Rachel was doing well! Her mom was there and after awhile her friend, SaraGrace, came by so we had a nice visit together..She said she took a nice LONG shower and suddenly she heard her mom pound on the door and say, "That's long enough of a shower, Rachel!" HAHAHAHA! I can't blame her, having a shower is the next best thing to, well, TAKING A BATH when you need some alone time!........We had a big day---starting with CRACKER BARREL; doctor app't; visiting Rachel; going to see Kim's new baby at her "sip n see" (more pix of cute baby Cole later).....gotta make some cards for Terry for the auction on Saturday night so I'm in a hurry! MORE LATER!
Today Natalie's friends and co-workers at LITTLE LAMB'S PlAY SCHOOL @ Riverchse UMC gave her a lovely baby shower! it was soooooooo much fun! And she got soooooooo many pretty things!!! SO MUCH PINK and several monogramed things, too. We enjoyed it so much and we are so excited to think that maybe by this time next month our DAISY might be here! Friday night she is having another baby shower and on Sunday , is Powell's baby shower!!! Since Rachel most likely will be in the hospital , it looks like Charles will be the one opening those gifts of BLUE!!! Rachel continues to "hang in there", praise God! We're so thankful our little angel is staying PUT!......RIGHT now we are just ECSTATIC that we are having Baby showers in Pink and Blue!>>> how cool is that?!
Yesterday was so much fun!!!!!!!! my cousins Jimmy and Johnny came to visit their Aunt Louise (my MIMI! haha) and then, since Jimmy is going to be our WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER, he and Johnny drove to Hoover where we had lunch at Jim and Nick's Bar-B-Q (Jimmy was wanting some good ole Southern Q) and after eating, we headed to Aldridge Gardens. God sent the picture perfect day!!! it was 70 degrees and sunny and just perfect for making photos!!!!!!! We had soooooooo much fun!!! Katie and Jon said they felt FAMOUS with all the flashbulbs going off!!!! I only made a few pix of the bride/groom, I made the pix of the people who NEVER get in photographs! The PHOTOGRAPHERS!!!!..........also, Terry and I stopped by to see Rachel last night. She is doing fine, Powell's heartbeat is strong as can be!! Her doctor is coming by this morning so more on them as I hear..........
Yes, that IS Rachel lying in a hospital bed!
Looks like Rachel is going to get some big time rest for the next few weeks! Little Powell needs some extra COOKIN' TIME so that he can be born fat and healthy ! We don't want him coming quite yet! It was a trying day yesterday but things look better now. Rachel has had the steroid shots for Powell's lungs JUST IN CASE he decides to come early. Pray he doesn't! Powell is due to arrive January 22, 2008 (Powell's Aunt Natalie's birthday!). So, we are hoping and (mostly!) PRAYING that he will stay right where he is, which is why Rachel is RIGHT WHERE SHE IS! In the hospital where she can be monitored every minute. Charles is doing good, but everyone who knows Charles knows he worries about everything, so pray for him, too!!! He's just your typical anxious daddy! Rachel was very calm and looked so pretty lying there! Kadie sent her some knitting and knitting needles and an instruction book so maybe by the time I go back, Powell will have a little sweater! HAHA! .....Since she is trying to rest, they don't need visitors but they need prayers and cards and e-mails! So, send them all 3 ! They will be so appreciated!!! I will, of course, keep updating as often as possible. We know she will not move AT ALL for 2 weeks (not getting up for any reason). After 2 weeks Dr. Sharp said he would consider maybe letting her spend the remaining time at home in bed b/c they live right by St. Vincent's (in Forest Park). On top of everything else, they sold their house! Yikes, when it rains it pours! Thankfully, Rachel's sweet mom has recently moved her from Dothan , right near them, so she is here and I know Rachel is glad! I remember when I broke my ankles (when 7 months pregnant with Katie) and how, even then, I WANTED MY MOMMY! So, I'm soooo thankful Cathy is here now. Of course, I am here, too and will do anything I can to help...Rachel does have a great VIEW from her hospital bed! You have to check out the pix! (*once again, having problems with AOL pictures, hope to load the pictures later on today!!!)That view of Birmingham skyline is her view out her HUGE window!! AND, praise GOD for laptops! She has a beautiful white new APPLE (MAC) and so she can check e-mails (HEY, RACHEL!!!!) and keep up with her work. As you know, DR. RACHEL is a Psychologist and so she , of course, has patients. At least she can stay in touch with them via phone and e-mail.....Rachel loves to run; excercise and be active. This is going to be rough! Again, I REMEMBER sooooooooo vividly looking out the window , being 7 months pregnant and having , not one but TWO broken ankles (and 4 kids at home!), WILL I EVER WALK OR GO OUTSIDE AGAIN?? Well, of coure, the answer is yes. But at the time, it was hard. Harder than hard. You feel so helpless when you are other people's mercy to do EVERY little thing for you. NO privacy; no alone time; just lots of time to worry about everything.My family; my church ; my friends came to my rescue! I was prayed for and over! For 4 months! I delivered our NOW beautiful BRIDE TO BE , perfect in every way, and I healed so well that I almost forget (ALMOST) some days that I had to have major surgery on one of my ankles that included 2 pins; a metal plate and 8 screws (all at 7 months pregnant)! To complicate things, Katie was breech so I had a C-section. But, God was there (as He is here now) and sustained me and the family and not only that, provided friends who brought meals for 3 months straight!!! GOD IS GOOD. Sometimes it takes STRESS days like these, just to realize just how very much God loves and sends help to those who are faithful . Sometimes we forget just how miraculous and complicated the whole pregnancy thing is. Just think, that little angel is growing right this very minute, and the longer he can stay "put" the better! So, that is our prayer!
The day after we hung up our masks, we dressed Kemp in a CHRISTMAS shirt and headed to CHRISTMAS VILLAGE!!! Wendy Melvin is so sweet and has been sending me complimentary tickets for years and we always "early bird" tickets so we can get in early which is nice, too. We ate "brunch" 'at Cracker Barrel for breakfast and then headed down to Christmas Village. We drove around for at least 30 minutes looking for a parking place, the traffic was HORRIBLE but we finally we pulled the 8 month pregnancy card and they finally let us in the parking lot!hahaha....Kemp was truly a PERFECT ANGEL yesterday! From start to finish ,(we didn't get home till after 4:30), and he was just so sweet and sat in the stroller and never made a sound. It was so much fun. He got to sit on Santa's lap and we got his picture! We figured Natalie might be too pregnant by the time Santa arrived at the mall so at least we got Kemp's picture made already JUST IN CASE Miss Daisy decides to come a little earlier than we think!..... I didn't pull out my camera b/c we were so busy so no pix from yesterday
Keep checking back! I'm not spoiling the surprise just yet!