I'M BACK

My Ta-Ta week was amazingly:

fun (fun)

noun

1. 1. lively, joyous play or playfulness; amusement, sport, recreation, etc.
   2. enjoyment or pleasure
2. a source or cause of amusement or merriment, as an amusing person or thing

Celebrating our 8th year together and it only gets better. Here is a picture of all of us around our host's front entry to her magnificent home.


This is an opportunity for all of us to fly in from around the U.S. and spend several days relaxing around MaryLu's pool, eat delicious food, tell funny stories, exchange gifts, get served drinks in the pool by our wonderful "pool boy", Luis, sleep outside under the stars (minus a few of us who need the air conditioned house), drink Hawaiian punch & rum and just relish in the chance to spend time with childhood friends.

This is Benita and our host, MaryLu.


Ta-Ta sisters, Pam and Leilani.
Some more Ta-Ta's.

Gift exchange. MaryLu's theme this night was in celebration of last year's Ta-Ta get together in Delaware at Rehobooth Beach. Each Ta-Ta received a darling frame with a picture of all the girls on the beach. Notice the table's center piece.

Isn't it wonderful?

Our host had just taken a 65 day cruise to several countries and picked up all kinds of great keepsakes. Two of which were authentic Geisha outfits. We were surprised by a Geisha dance by MaryLu and Pam. Absolutely hysterical!!!

We could live like this forever! Check out the view over LaQuinta, CA.

This is an accumulation of seven years of Ta-Ta get togethers. So many fun times.
I came home exhausted but with many great memories. It's continues to be the highlight of my year. These are very intelligent, amazing women. And we know how to cram a year's worth of fun into just a few days. I'm so thankful to be a part of this special group of women.
I'm taking today to hang out with my husband and will hit the studio tomorrow to get back in the groove of creating.
Have a good Monday.....XOXO Nancy

I LOVE MY DAD

Father's Day brings bittersweet memories for me these past several years. I lost my Dad 14 years ago and life has never been the same. He had a bigger than life personality. Even though he was a very successful concrete plant owner, he was an overgrown kid who loved to play.....golf, fish, camp, cards and spend lots of time with his wife, kids and granddaughters. Dad was a very generous man and wanted to make sure that everyone around him was having as much fun as he was. I really did have the perfect "Leave It To Beaver" upbringing. I always felt safe, secure and loved. A legacy that Frank and I are trying to continue through our children and grandchildren. So in honor of Father's Day here are a few pictures of some fun times that my Dad enjoyed.
A salmon fishing trip off of our hometown Whidbey Island, WA in Dad's boat with Frank, my cousin, Mark and his brother-in-law, Kevin.


He and Mom getting ready to throw a party at their home.
One of many camping trips.
Dad clowning around at Burger King.

Several summers we packed up our trailers and went over the North Cascade Pass to Perrigan Lake for a week of camping, fishing and swimming. This was always a highlight of our year and one that we included friends in. We have the best memories from these trips. My dad took all of us to town everyday for an ice cream cone. We had boat parades on the lake, stories by campfire at night and ate like kings.

But my favorite picture is this one. We were visiting my sister and her family off of Camano Island, WA one afternoon when our daughter, Jami was just little. It was hot that day, so we stripped her down and let her play in the water and sand. Here is Dad with her on the beach.
I could go on and on with stories of the tons and tons of wonderful times we have spent with my Dad and Mom. We were lucky to have lived in the same town and have them be such an intricate part of raising our girls. He would have got the biggest kick out of all these great grandchildren now. He loved kids and was a terrible tease. But we never tired of it and always came back for more.
Thanks Dad for being the best.
Happy Father's Day to all you wonderful Dad's out there!

XOXO Nancy

A Little Sprucing Up

This past week consisted of dusting, scrubbing, re-arranging, new accessories, carpets and upholstery cleaned........you know, the heavy duty Spring clean thing that I put off until now! It seemed kind of overwhelming at the beginning, but we got on a roll and now everything looks great. It does give you a feeling of satisfaction when it is all said and done. It's been over a month since I have had anything on top of our dining room table besides a red tablecloth. So it was fun to put together this summer centerpiece.
My little yellow birdie "tweets" and move's her head whenever someone walks by! And I don't ever have to clean her cage!!
Last night Frank and I took our grandkids to In and Out Burger for dinner and then to Tumbleweed Park. It's a big play park for kids that is filled with tons of different play equipment. They had a ball and we stayed for an hour or more. Our weather has been so perfect. It will be hard to take the triple digits that are just around the corner.
When we took the kids back to my daughter's house, little Sofia was waiting for us. She was all smiles when she saw us.

I never tire of feeling her baby soft skin. I think her tiny feet are darling and Jami keeps her little toes painted pink! Too cute.
I am now gearing up for my annual Ta-Ta weekend. For the past 7 years eleven of us girls who went to school together from 1st thru 12th grade gather in Palm Springs for 4 days of laughter and play. One of the Ta-Ta's hosts it at her incredibly beautiful home in the Quarry at LaQuinta. We bring our sleeping bags and have an outdoor slumber party on her lawn next to her negative edge pool. She spoils us with Dom Perignon, incredible fresh floral displays on our dinner table, a pool boy who serves us in the pool, massages, facials, chef, maid, gift bags, etc. We live like the rich and famous and LOVE IT!!! This year we will be at her home from Tuesday through Sunday of next week. I can hardly wait. I promise to post pictures when I return. Meanwhile, not sure if I will be posting between now and then.
It will be time to get back to work in my studio when I return. I've enjoyed the break for the past couple months but I need to get a couple orders filled and start building my inventory.
Enjoy your weekend. XOXO Nancy

Shedding A Tear

We said good bye to our daughter, Bre and grandson, Cade this afternoon as they flew back to Washington. It was hard to see them go. Made both Bre and I teary as she and Caden walked through security to their gate. After a month we had all gotten into a comfortable routine. The house is sure going to feel empty and quiet. Luckily, we get to enjoy Coleman for another week before he heads home.

Now to our house.
I am starting to replace some items in the house that I felt needed updating after 5 years. So here is the first replacement.....pendant lights.
I've always wanted a chandelier but I don't have a good place for one. So after looking for almost a year, I came across these modern chandelier pendants. The shade is actually made up of hundreds of thin black threads. Not trusting Frank or my electrical knowledge, we hired a friend to come in and hang them for us. I just love them!
The picture isn't real good as they are black with clear crystals.

On Friday we all attended the grandkids Vacation Bible School carnival. The weather was perfect and The Groves put on an incredible carnival for all the children and their families to enjoy. Our kids had a blast.


All the Bible School kids put on a performance for their families before the carnival.
So tonight I am sitting with my feet up, drinking a Mike's Hard Lemonade and reminiscing about the past month. I am tired, but it's a good tired. We have Cole spending the night tonight and he will transfer to his Auntie Jami's house tomorrow for the rest of the week. Frank and I will roll up our sleeves and get the house cleaned tomorrow and then the carpet and upholstery cleaners come on Wed. We should be back on track by Thursday.
Hope you all have a wonderful week. XOXO Nancy

RANDOM SHOTS OF FUN

Now that we are nearing the end of a month long stay of our daughter Bre and our grandson's Coleman and Caden I can 't help thinking about all the fun we have had. We tried to capture as many memories on film as we could so that they could be shared with Kyle and our family. We feel so lucky to have had this time with all of them.

While the kids were here:

• the boys went through a growth spurt practically eating us out of house and home
• Cole learned to swim and started the beginnings of diving
• Cade loved the pool and started the beginnings of swimming
• both boys played a lot of golf with Papa
• swam at a water park
  
• we played at Bounce Jungle
• fed ducks in the lake
• played on the playground toys
  
• ate ice cream cones and popsicles
  
• got wet in the splash pad
• ate pancakes and sausage every morning
• drove the golf cart
• Cole worked on math and learned to read
• went to Arizona Science Center
• watched lots of cartoons
• went to a rodeo
  
• grandkids peed in the rocks by the pool
• helped Papa make smoothies
• played with Hanna at her house
• went out to eat...lots
• spent a week in Vacation Bible School
• got home haircuts
• crawled in bed with Papa and Gigi every morning
• laughed and made funny faces at the dinner table
• tickled, wrestled, chased
• ate popcorn

and so much more...........................................




























For Frank and I it doesn't get much better then this. How lucky to have kids and grandkids who love us and want to spend so much time with us. A real blessing. I only hope that our grandchildren will remember this special month for years to come.
XOXO Nancy