I'm Back!

You know how you wake up one morning and realize that a week just went by and you can't remember where those 7 days went? Well, that's kind of what has happened to me lately. Seem like I have been on one of those hamster wheels and I just keep running and running and going no where!! Today I stepped off and refocused. Actually, I have been productive all those days. I finished up eight of these flower pots for the upcoming church tea the beginning of May. I was having so much fun creating them that I just kept adding to them.
I'm using the large lavender bird in the centerpiece. Isn't it pretty.
Then I was going through some new pictures that I had taken of my granddaughters and came across this sweet one of Sofia. I just couldn't resist making a canvas art of her.
This morning I headed back to Art Group after missing about a month. I haven't painted in two months so this was like starting all over. Our group is such fun and everyone is so supportive that I think you could paint blind folded and still get applause for your finished piece! Here is our fearless leader, Erica painting a friends dog on Upo paper. (I'm sure I probably spelled that paper wrong). I just love it. Erica is giving it to her friend as a surprise. How lucky she is.
Sandy is the one who taught us all how to paint on this Upo paper. Her creations are all amazing.
My friend, Teri, is painting her cat. I think her picture is wonderful. She is painting it off of a snapshot of her cat curled up in a blanket.
And then there is mine......Hmmmm..... I did this free hand after two months of no painting, so cut me a little slack when viewing it. My poor little bird had to keep getting fatter and fatter in order for me to try to correct a wing that I had accidentally made into a tail (don't ask me how). Anyway, I decided to get crazy with it and started splattering paint on it to try to add some humor to the picture. I added humor all right.....now it just looks silly. Oh well, I have to remember it was only practice!
This past 5 days we have been hanging out with Jami's family since her father-in-law has been in town. We have had BBQ's, been swimming in the pool, the guys have been golfing, I did some babysitting, helped Jami with some chores around her house and played with the kids. Here's some pictures of Frank and Hanna in the pool.



Jami put Sofia in the pool for the first time and she loved it. Here she is with Hanna.
She spent most of the time with me holding the back of her head and just floating around on her back sucking her fingers.
Tonight we are going to Hanna's music recital. Should be a hoot. Tomorrow get to go with some girl friends for my first experience eating Thai food. We are going to some really good Thai buffet so I can try several different dishes. Then we are going to a big grocery store that carries food from many different countries. Should be interesting. I take my mom to the airport in the morning to head back to Washington state for the summer. She will get to see her 6th great-grandchild born in June.
OK, I feel better now that I have got caught back up on my blog. Time to go do the laundry. Have a great day!

A WILD AND CRAZY WEEKEND

WHOA, WHO IN THE HECK IS THAT???? Oh geez, it's us! Yikes!! This is what happens to you when you live in such a wild and crazy place as Trilogy!!! It just seems to transform you over time! Actually, it's just our annual White Trash Party craziness. Frank and I hosted our 2nd annual party this past Friday and it was a hoot. Everyone came in full costume. We drank cheap booze, ate bologna sandwiches, cheese puffs, jiffy pop, pickle loaf, velveeta cheese and had a spam carving contest, bubble blowing contest and a gift exchange. Lots of laughs were had by all. Below you will see some of the pictures and most of them speak for themselves!!













Now we don't normally have children at this party but my daughter and son-in-law weren't able to find a sitter so they put the kids down at our house.......AFTER the party got started. Hanna thought the whole thing was "so funny". But really I think she just loved being able to put on a ton of my red lipstick!!!
Good thing we only throw this party once a year as it takes us that long to recover! As you have seen we all had a really good time.
This was a very full weekend for us with this party, Jami's birthday on Saturday and Easter on Sunday. Whew!! But we made it and still have a smile on our faces. Tomorrow I'm back on my Nutri System diet since I fell off the diet (badly) this whole weekend. I told you I don't have any discipline....UGH!!! Go od thing I am not the one on TV for their add!
Good Night All!
P.S. I just found out that Lola B's is hosting a fantastic giveaway on her blog if your interested:
www.lolabboutique.blogspot.com

HAPPY EASTER!

The Easter Bunny made his appearance a day early at Trilogy and our granddaughters were lucky enough to catch him and sit on his lap for a picture. Afterward they got to play in the jump house, have their faces painted and play numerous carnival like games for prizes. They had a ball and thought it was a perfect way to celebrate their mommies birthday!

We took these pictures this morning at church. Both girls looked so cute in their fancy matching dresses.
Here they are with my mom.
Hanna loved her pretty dress and how puffy the skirt was.
All the excitement finally took its toll on Sofia and she just konked out!
It was a beautiful warm day to celebrate Easter. We had the family over this afternoon for a BBQ. Hanna entertained all of us with her new baton that we gave her as part of her Easter present. We missed not being able to have Brean, Kyle and the boys with us. But we were happy that they got invited to some friends home for Easter dinner. Only a few more weeks before they will get to fly down and stay with us for 3 weeks! We can hardly wait for their arrival.
We are thankful for all God's blessings in our lives and hope all of you had a joyful holiday.

HERE COMES PETER COTTONTAIL.......

It's that time again.....egg coloring. This has become an annual event for my granddaughter and I. Since she was coming over after her school Easter party today, I spent part of my morning getting everything set up and ready to go. Gosh, now a days you even get plastic cups to use when coloring!!! Such a deal.
The new thing (or at least for me) according the the PAAS box, is if you add 3 Tablespoons of vinegar instead of just one, you will get darker, brighter colors. So I say, go for the gusto and bring on the color!!!
As you can see some things you never tire of......Jami couldn't stand it and just had to jump in a color some too! Hanna was so disappointed when the last egg was colored. She would have colored 3 dozen eggs if I had them there. (Memo to self, boil lots more eggs next year)

The other day when I was at Blissful Living Studio to take a class I did a little shopping. I just could not resist bringing home these darling little birdies. Of course, anything with bling I am a sucker for! These two little peeps will eventually end up in one of my projects.
This a what I will be sewing into an A-Line skirt with the help of Minnie at Blissful Living. I will be taking a class from her. I can hardly wait. Isn't this fun material. It was hard to make up my mind since their selection is outstanding. But hey, I can always sew more up.
I got to babysit little Sofia again today while Jami attended Hanna's school party. She slept most of the time but when she was awake she kept me entertained with all her coo's and smiles. Frank and I get her again tomorrow for a few hours while Jami and Hanna go to Disney On Ice.
So all is good at the Hunter house. I made it through my first Zumba class without having a heart attack! Both Rosie and I thought we were on the verge of one about half way through class. My face was beet red when I got home and stayed that way for a good 45 minutes!!! I'm telling you that class kicked my butt!!! But we are gluttens for punishment and will head back again for class next Tuesday.
Time to wind down for the evening.....by the way, it's about 80 degrees out right now....and put in my Netflix, "The Changeling" for our evening entertainment. Love to all!

Spring Is In The Air

I just love this time of year....IN ARIZONA!!!! It was 86 degrees today and my flowers are all blossoming...even these silk ones! LOL! Actually, since I haven't created anything in the past several days, I decided to get my butt in gear and get moving. Jami and I are hosting a table at our church's Ladies Ministry Spring Tea the beginning of May. We are responsible for decorating our table so I decided to do all the bright pastels.
I lit my scented candle and pretended that all my silk flowers were really the reason the room smelled so good.
I really can't tell you exactly what I am making since it is suppose to be a surprise...

....but I think you can guess a little of what it might look like. I promise to post the pictures when the table is all set.

Last month when my girlfriend, Vicki and I went vintage shopping, I picked up this little silver cream pitcher. I think it is so cute. At first I was going to put one of my little glittery chicks in it for Easter, but now I am not sure what I will do with it. I know it will be "just the right" item in a creation that pops into my head down the road.
This past weekend was spent with our granddaughters, Hanna and Sofia. On Saturday, Papa played with Hanna for several hours while Jami, Sofia and I went shopping for some new clothes for Jami. Hanna worked on her golf stroke and got to drive the golf cart and even the car! Here she is watching Shrek with Papa.
Meanwhile, Sofia went for a stroller ride around the outside mall and got some fresh air and sunshine.

I'm off to Art Group in the morning to watch a watercolor demonstration by my friend, Teri. Then I will drive over to Mesa for a Digital Scrapbooking class at Blissful Living Studio.
Rosi and I signed up to take a Zumba exercise class on Tuesday evenings, so we will find out tomorrow night what Zumba really is......Yikes! Something tells me that there will be a lot of giggeling going on as we try to keep up. Wednesday morning we will be moaning and groaning from soreness!
I'm still plugging along on NutriSystem. It's been a week and I haven't lost any weight yet. That's a little discouraging, but I am remaining optimistic and will continue on. Now I need to run and drink my 8th and last glass of water for the day.

Baby Arms

Sorry, no pictures to post tonight. I spent the whole day and evening with my daughter, Jami and granddaughter, Sofia. We ran to Mesa to pick up the girls matching Easter dresses (so cute) then pick up latte cups and lids for me, to a big sale at Designer Blvd.'s outlet store, shopped at Home Goods, went to Chandler Mall to look for an Easter dress for Jami (no luck) and then home to play with Hanna and eat dinner with Jami's family, Frank, Mom and my niece, Stacy. Whew!! The best part was getting to carry Sofia in my arms all day. I really treasure these early days of her life. They grow so fast and before we know it she will be crawling, walking and then running.
Frank taught his first Flexibility, Strength and Balance class for men tonight here at Trilogy. He has enough men signed up to run another class on Mondays. All went well.
The diet is going fine. Still liking the Nutri System food. I would even like it better if I knew I would end up looking like Valerie Bertanelli!!! Which reminds me, I have to get up at 5:30am for exercise so guess I better get to bed.
Good night all~

And the challenge begins!

On Monday afternoon my huge box of Nutri System food arrived....31 days worth! The first challenge I had was where to put all of it.
They package it by color for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Yesterday's breakfast. Not bad, huh? Actually, it is a ton of food.
So I made it through my first day and was full all day long. So far I like everything I have eaten. Now the big test will be how long it takes me to loose some weight.
My sister's youngest daughter, Stacy, is here this week. She is staying with my mom. Yesterday we laid out by our pool and took in some sun.
This morning Frank and I were treated to a phone call from our grandsons. They had to tell us about going to see a movie in 3-D and all about the camp Cole is attending this week during spring break. Love those calls from the boys.
Today it's off for a haircut for me. Then I really need to get some work done in my studio. Hope everyone has a great day. Later.............