Memorial Day

End of a long weekend..

now everyone travels back home,

after spending time together

Uncle Nathan must drive back to Ohio

Allie's Graduation...

Cousin Allie's
HS Graduation

is this
afternoon at 3pm

so YeYe
& Great Great

took us to
breakfast ....

Great Aunt
Patti joined
us too

Congratulations Alexandra Rahne Wilson! Class of 2011

So Proud of You!

note:

Allie's daddy, my brother Eddie graduated HS

the same year my daughter,H, graduated preschool...

now his daughter, Allie graduates HS

the same year H's daughter graduates Preschool

How Cool !!!

Relaxing...

taking it easy at home

Sedalia Missouri Tornado

There is nothing we can say except...

we were Blessed and Watched Over !

No sirens heard, Sky was solid dark rain,

or so we thought....

this is what we saw seconds as we drove

north on Hwy 65 through Sedalia

on our way home...

delayed 1 1/2 hrs til a road opened to west

Best Buddies...

YeYe is keeping busy

with Lil Orchid

Going to see the Overlook at

Truman Dam, Ozarks

Honoring YeYe at the

WWII tribute,Warsaw MO

Everythings Sweet at Great Grandma's

the girls are rockin'
that's Mei Mei (new baby doll)



Cooking up trouble?

Making Mickey Mouse pancakes with Great Great.

Sawdust and Sanding...

Lil Orchid
was on the balcony of the Barn
while I was downstairs
inside cutting & recycling wood.

my daughter did some sanding...

We DO our own cutting

I call him the Monster...

we DO recycle, cut, sand
for OUR wooden products...
blocks, toys, wood cards, etc.
REMEMBER...
lilorchidstoychest.etsy.com

Over the River to Grandma's House...

Heading home but stopping by

my Mom's place. Lil Orchid

can't wait to see Great Great & YeYe.

Did a little sight seeing along the way,

the 1st recorded Shootout Site was

with Wild Bill Hickoc

except when we got their it was

under construction-Springfield MO

Battle of Wilson Creek

150th Anniversary

Republic MO

Civil War time

Sausage maker (wooden)

Lil Orchid earned her 1st Junior Ranger badge,

this was also the Park Rangers

first Jr. Ranger. Cool!

She worked her booklet and

remembered her history.

Plumb Nellie Days in Branson Missouri

Slow start, raining off & on,

More people packed up & left,

Hoping for a good day....

Got to spread out some

and try to dry out a little.

Sold a Pillowcase dress and hairbow

to this adoreable little 3 yr old

who was getting to hot (hit the 90's)

Watched Barbara Fairchild

Teddy Bear Song....

Giving away my age but..

my H.S. heartaches were

soothed by the lyrics.

We also got to meet & hear sing

American Idol contestant

Jason Yeager.

Plumb Nellie Festival, Branson MO

Nothing to say....
Terrible Storms,
Several lost their tents,
others packed up and left,
WE SURVIVED the DAY!
One or two customers...
What a Waste!
What will tomorrow bring?

Long Drive...we arrived

Arrived after a l-o-n-g drive in the wicked rain storm.

We checked into the hotel, we weren't allowed to check in

even though no one was there. We got their a half hour early!!??

Weather cleared up for set up time, but the agenda

of unloading everything first then trying to set up

your tent and racks while stepping over all your boxes

was STUPID!!

Lil Orchid and the rest of us enjoyed cooling off in the pool.

Space Shuttle Endeavour

Watched the launch from our bed,

Lil Orchid was so excited...

couldn't get her out of her jumpsuit

Uncle N got her from TX.

Her MomMom wanted to be an astronaut,

so I guess the love of space is in her blood!

It's Raining, It's Pouring

Two giggling girls,
an umbrella to share and lots of rain and puddles...
that's all thats needed for an afternoon picnic with friends.
It was a welcome break from sewing & bows.

Beautiful Blooms...

Beautiful Blooms... yes, there is nothing so beautiful as the spring flowers blooming. It doesn't matter if they are hybrid or just wild. Been passing these yellow flowers in the fields everyday and just had to have some pictures of my Lil Orchid shining amongst them.

Today was the day, except it began raining on us. Hope to make it back soon.

Mother's Day

On this Special Day, set aside to honor Mom's everywhere, Grandmother's, Daughters, Sisters, Aunts, Best Friends, Neighbors and People who you have passed in the park playing with their children. Birth Moms, Adopted Moms, Foster Moms and the Non-Traditional Moms. Those who have done their Best with what they have, those who know it is not how much money you give your children but the time spent that means the most and has the most value. I salute You!

But this is to my children...I've made some mistakes, sometimes more than I like to admit, but I have and will always be there for you...to be your biggest fan, to listen to you, to laugh or cry with you. To protect you with my life and sometimes to tell you things you don't want to hear. No matter how close or far away you are, I will love you for eternity with all my heart and soul. NO ONE WILL EVER LOVE YOU MORE THAN I DO. Because I'm your Mom! And the day you were born was the Greatest Days in My Life !!!! Your accomplishments are my greatest source of Pride and the people who you have grown to become... Loving, giving, incredible individuals are why my eyes tear up in amazement. You make my heart beat a little faster when I hear your voice say "Happy Mother's Day, I Love You!"

So Thank You, Heather & Nathan ....and my sweet granddaughter, My Lil Orchid, for helping me realize why I wake up, why I breathe and the greatest JOY in MY LIFE !!

Happy Mother's Day Mom, I Love You!

2nd day Valley of the Flowers Festival

Up early with the morning rain, and drove to Missouri to open for the 2nd and last day of the Festival. Lil Orchid is wearing a new dress I made for this occasion and for Mothers Day.

Ater set up Lil Orchid and I left Mom to man the booth so we could do some of the childrens crafts and watch the kids on wheels parade.

Talked to some new friends, and Lil Orchid picked out a special matching necklace set for Mothers Day. She had the lady wrap it in tissue paper & a Bow! Then we snuck back to the van and hid it under the front seat. We watched a puppet show and saw our friend Christy. We gave up on defending ourselves every time a customer said it was not fair having Lil Orchid with us and dressed so CUTE! (the kid has to wear clothes, right?)

After a long day and an even longer break down we headed home.

The mail man left a package on the porch, my daughter ask who it was for and I said don't be disappointed it's not a Mothers Day gift for you or for me ;( Lil Orchid excitedly saw her name on top. So she chimed in again ...you know I think Godmother Steph remembered that I am Kitty Kitty's Mom and that's why she sent it to me for Mothers Day ;)

1st Day Valley of the Flowers Festival

Up so early, got to Missouri and set up for the start of the festival at 9am.

Except we still did not have electricity, and when we arrived we had to move to a different location. Not the best start.

But wow, first two hours was incredible, then it went d-e-a-d.

It was advertised as a Arts & Craft, but what was most apparent was the Tupperware, pampered chef, homemade gourmet, Avon, and the jewelry, purse franchise companies, not exactly what I call homemade craft.