(0) Blowing Bubbles with Grandma! (0)

Grandma Lucy took Zoie outside and they did some fun bubble blowing!!

Wow! Look at all the bubbles Grandma blew...she must really be full of air! Hee Hee


I think I've almost got this one...it's not going to get away!


DOH! It popped! Why can't I catch these!?!


I know I saw a bubble around here somewhere!


Oh, yes! I got it!!

Grandma Lucy's Birthday / Shrine Parade in Havelock

Saturday, July 28th was my Mom's birthday...and the Shriner's were having their annual parade in Havelock, so Zoie, Lindsay, Mom & I headed down to Havelock Ave to find a shady spot to watch the parade. Zoie wasn't sure what was going on at first, but once the Shriner's marching band started coming down the street, she was into it! She loved hearing the band music! I don't know if she was too sure about the rest of it, especially the clowns, but it was definitely an experience for her and the rest of us enjoyed the parade and watching Zoie experience her first parade! Here are a few pics (of course!):

Can't start a parade without Old Glory!!


Who IS this and why is their face so strange?!


Can't forget the FOOTBALL game!! (Thanks for marking the date!)


Lindsay, Zoie & the Birthday Lady!!


Zoie sums up her first Parade with a round of applause...

Zoie's Day at the Office

Zoie got to join Mommy at her office one morning...and she took right to it!!

Start out with an energizing breakfast of chocolate pudding!!


Now I better get started on my presentation I have to give...




Now a quick coffee break before my meeting...


Meeting Time!! "As you'll all notice on this chart," Zoie says, "our sales were UP this quarter!"


Just have to send out a few emails...the work is never done!!

Zoie's 1st Zoo Visit!!

Our friend, Lindsay, is a student at Southeast Community College and the college was sponsoring an SCC nite at the Lincoln's Children Zoo (July 26, 2006)...she invited our other friend, Michelle, and Zoie & I. We didn't get to stay as long as we would have liked to, but the time we were there was a lot of fun...great animals and fun train rides!! Enjoy the pics from our Zoo visit....

Here are the funny Meerkats:






~Goats, Llamas & Alpacas~






Some more animal friends...




Just some fun pics of Zoie and the rest of us....






Last, but not least,...the Choo-Choo Train!! Thanks, Lindsay...we can't wait to go back to the zoo!

A Surprise Visit

Some friend's of Mom's were opening a new Candy and Gift Shop called "Sweeties" and had invited us to their Grand Opening on Monday, July 23...and we had a couple of special visitors with us - Uncle Gus and his friend, Cathy. They were in this area because Uncle Gus' work brought them up near Lincoln. We checked out the new little store - very cute! - bought some candy, of course, and then went to a restaurant called Michel's Ville Grille (also owned by the same friends) for dinner. It was a short visit but was really nice!!


In the pic (L to R) are Pop-pop Jim, Lucy, Zoie & Gus, Cathy, & Heather

While we were at dinner, Zoie showed us her 'button'...which is what she calls her belly button!!

"Old" Friends Are The Best...

Ok, so I use the term 'old' very lightly in this case, because we're not getting older, just better, right? Ha! And speaking of getting older, this is just a quick post about a really fun evening with my friends - Lana, Rita & Sue - as we gathered for dinner for Lana's 30-something birthday! As always we laughed a lot and had some interesting Thai cuisine! We are some hot mamas, are we not? And the Thai food had some spice to it as well!

*!*!*!*!* Happy 4th of July *!*!*!*!*

We hope everyone had a safe and relaxing 4th of July holiday like we did today! Zoie and Grandma hung the big flag outside this morning and then Zoie got a flag more her size, and she loved them both!




It was very hot even early in the day so I took Zoie to the pool at our health club before lunch to cool both of us off and ensure that she'd take a good nap...it worked on all counts! Very refreshing! We came home and Zoie had a PB&J sandwich for lunch and then most certainly took a good nap while Grandma took a break from preparing food and I laid outside in the sun - but not for very long cuz it really was hot!

Here's me & Auntie Lindsay...



And Mommy & Gramma being silly...



And Zoie and Mommy being silly, too!!


Later , Pop-Pop Jim fired up his grill and cooked up cheeseburgers and hot dogs while Grandma put out her awesome home-made, never-duplicated pasta salad, deviled eggs, chips, pickles, fresh brewed ice tea and lemonade! Yum Yum!! My great friend and a special 'aunt' of Zoie's, Lindsay, joined us for our 4th of July meal and it was great! We all got stuffed...but later had room for Grandma's homemade brownies, Lindsay's yummy red-white-blue rice krispie treats AND...our very special cool, refreshing, revitalizing patriotic Jell-o masterpieces!

We didn't do any fireworks yet this year but watched a little on TV...maybe we'll get a few things next year, but not yet. And, if you're wondering what Indie was doing all this time...he was in hiding!! He HATES the BOOM of the fireworks and we have quite a few "neighbors" who chose to let off an abundance of very loud noisemakers!! I think Indie is much happier that this day is done!

Here are some pics we took today...don't ya love the flag as our background?!





We thank God for our freedom and that He has blessed us with so much love in the way of family & friends. We missed those who couldn't be with us today - whether it was due to distance & other commitments or because they're no longer with us on this Earth. We also looked back fondly on 4th's of the past sharing fun memories and stories. We also pray for and think of those who can't be with their families today because of their circumstances - whether they're in Iraq or wherever fighting in a catch 22 war or for whatever other reason. We thank the service personnel for all of their sacrifices to ensure that we can continue to celebrate the 4th of July as a day of Independence and Freedom. God Bless America!!