Making her debut into the world and on to Grandma's blog

YAY!

Mademoiselle Andrea Jeanne joined our family on Monday morning.

The doctor was wayyy off on her weight.

She only weighed 9lbs 6 ounces.

She is a lanky 20 inches.

Jeff called from Hawaii once he received the call that all was good.

Dorothy and Andrea are fantastic and this Grandma is over the moon (again).

Thank you God!

Don't you just love those chunky cheeks?

Jayde has always been a little mother and

is very excited.

The jury is still out on Annika-hehe.

Hailey adores her.

This is the first birth I have missed but I

intend to visit ASAP.

This will be Jeff and Dorothy's last child and

I'm so sorry he missed the birth.

But the onesie says it best.

If you LOVE your freedom, thank my dad.

I am so proud of all of you.

I feel a giveaway coming on (hubby is rolling his eyes-hehe).

Once I come back to earth, I think I need to celebrate

the arrival of newbaby 2010. ver.4.0 with a little something special.

Thank you for sharing this special time with us.

HUGE HUGS.

Inspiration from AARP Magazine? Oh yeah!

As a young teen, I looked forward to the arrival

of Ingenue (remember this one?)

and Seventeen magazine.

As I grew older, it was Vogue and Bazaar.

Now I look forward to the arrival of the AARP magazine.

I was sharing this with a friend the other day

and she went into mild hysteria. She is quite a bit

older than me. When I told her about this issue, she

wanted to borrow it!

It all started with a little dream.

After having the opportunity to be

an exchange student in the Netherlands,

I knew I was destined to live somewhere in Europe.

But where?

I ended up in Switzerland and loved every second.

This is not where I lived but isn't this FABULOUS?

So serene. I would chop wood to live here-hehe.

While in Switzerland, I became engaged to

a dutch lad.
It looked like I would be going back to Holland.

I wasn't planning on living in a windmill.

I just really like this photo.

Well, while the relationship was not meant to be,

the whole "someday, I want to move back to Europe" thing

never truly left my heart.

That is why I was so inspired from an article in the AARP Magazine (love it).

After hubby read it , he was inspired as well.

I know the kids will be living in Hawaii, hubby is not planning

on retiring anytime soon BUT now 2 people share that dream.

It would actually be 3 because J.W. would need to

come along.

We could spend hours (O.K, maybe not hours)

sitting in our favorite kind of chairs.

Meeting new people, making wonderful memories.


I have seen first hand how dreams can come true.

Maybe someday

I'll be visiting from a sweet little cottage.

Talk about French Elements.

I plan to hang on tight to this little dream

and hubby is holding on too!

Yay!


I am crossing my fingers that post options is working.
Blogger has not been too kind to me recently-hehe.

Big hugs from a French dreamer.

Multiplicity- The Life

Remember this movie?
A very funny movie and one I have been thinking about this week.

I know we all have moments we wish we could be
in 2 or 3 or more places at a time.
This was one of those weeks.
I am glad it is winding down.

You know how hubby doesn't like me to blab
"things" and I usually don't listen?
Well, I'm doing a small blab.
He was in the hospital but is home now and a bit better.
That is all she wrote- hehe.

Dorothy is scheduled for a C-section on August 30th.
Right now, "little" Andrea Jeanne is about 9.5 lbs.
Not so little.
The Doctor would like her to stay put a while longer.
He thinks she will be about 11 lbs at birth.
This is Dorothy's first c-section but all of the ladies
have been quite big at birth.
11 lbs, Holy moly!
I am so glad that items purchased have been for
a big girl.
It doesn't look like Jeff will be able to fly back to Ca. for her birth.
Big sigh.....

I also wanted to thank you for wishing mademoiselle Annika
a happy birthday.
This was the first one we couldn't spend with her.
Another big sigh.....

While I am not for cloning, I wouldn't mind being in
several places at one time.
I could get more work done, visit all the blog friends I am missing,
and maybe even post on a regular basis.

Well, it is what it is.

I miss visiting but will catch up eventually. Maybe.

Have a wonderful weekend.

Big hugs!

Quatre. Yay!

I just realized that this post could be taken 2 ways.

Either newbaby2010 ver.4.0 has arrived or Annika
Is 4 years old today.

Well, my little Princess is a very big FOUR!
This post is dedicated to you my sweet one (blog visitors, thank you for indulging me)

I have to tell you that when I look at the picture of you above,
(1 day old)
I just smile and smile.
What a precious little angel.

Four is a very special age.
Very soon you will become a big sister and with it
comes BIG responsibilities.

You will need to share what you have learned
with your baby sister.

Let her know that it is important to keep
singing her song.
Especially as she gets older.

You are full of joy and joy is contagious.

Let her know that it is important to run her race.
Competition will come at her and the only one you need to compete
with is yourself.
It makes for a much happier life as you get older.

Let her know that it is important to stay true to yourself.
Be who God created you to be.
Let her know that she is an original just as you are.

Let her know the little things are important.

Balloons

Of course, chocolate cake

and castles.
You are a girl after my heart with your love of castles and
of course Princesses.
When you said yesterday that you looked "just like a Princess",
it warmed my heart.

You are perfect in every way.
You have a generous heart, a marvelous sense of humor,
and you are filled with LOVE.

As you grow older, keep those traits and share them with others.
That is what counts.

Happy Birthday sweet Annika.
We love you so much and can't wait to see you again.

Much love from Grandma, Grandpa Ray, and Uncle J.W.

YOU ROCK!

Too darn HOT!

I feel like a cat on a hot tin roof.

O.k, the roof is stone and doesn't look hot but you get the idea.
Love this photo!

It looks like everyone is having a heat wave.
I am looking forward to November when it starts to cool down.

Right now, I am in Christmas mode.
It has a way of making you feel much cooler.

I have been working like an elf on making goodies for my shop.
I thought about putting on some Christmas music
just to get it going
BUT
hubby is off today and would probably
have me locked up! Hehe.

Have a Blessed weekend.

HO HO HO!

What do these photo's have in common?

Paris

and Amsterdam

They are the subjects of 2 of my FAVORITE books.

It doesn't matter if you are planning a visit or not,
these books will transport you to 2 of the
most beautiful places on earth. I think.

I picked up PARIS: MADE BY HAND last year
and fell in love.

The author, Pia Jane Bijkerk is a stylist and photographer.
She lives on a houseboat in Amsterdam.
How COOL is that?
I'd love to spend a day with her. Big sigh!
Oh, the places you could visit (sounding like Dr. Seuss).
Hubby even looked through the book.
Now, that is a first!

When I saw she had a new book out, I knew it was calling my name.
I love Amsterdam, love the Dutch (was "almost" Dutch years ago)
and adore the book.

AMSTERDAM: MADE BY HAND is a treasure trove
full of unique little shops.
Her descriptions, and photo's make you want to take the first flight out.
Hubby gave this one a "thumbs up" also.
We are not planning a European adventure in the near future
but when we do, I will be taking these along.

On a different note- Tommy is holding his own. Yay!
My precious DIL Dorothy, went into premature labor last week
but all is well for the time being.
I think newbaby2010. ver 4.0 will
be born in August and not September.

Saying prayers that all goes well.

Have a wonderful week.