Easter 2012

Coloring eggs with Ninny

They turned out great!

(1st dozen)

(2nd dozen)

I have to share this story. Hana scribbled on the eggs with the "magic crayon," which was really just a clear crayon. You write on the eggs before you color them and the spots where the crayon is don't get dyed. It was difficult to see where or what you were doing, but Hana scribbled away on all the eggs.  Mom and I snuck behind her and wrote and drew things on the eggs like names, flowers and faces. Hana's reaction every time was priceless. "That really is a magic crayon! How did I put all that on those eggs?" she said.

Hana's Easter basket:

The Easter Bunny left it right out the back door, after all, bunnies don't come in the house.

He brought Hana a sand and water table! He must have really been paying attention because she has been asking for one for quite some time now.

Hana decorated a bag for daddy and filled it full of his favorite Easter treats.

It didn't take long for Hana to spot the goodies outside that the Easter Bunny left for her.

There were eggs EVERYWHERE!

Daddy got cascaroned. Is that even a word? I might have just made it up!

I had to get a picture of Hana enjoying her very first pixie stick.

The loot:

What a wonderful Easter, even thought we didn't get to see much of our family.

Happy 41st Anniversary Mom & Dad!

You're an inspiration

& you're loved more

than you could ever know!

And no Santa yet...

Ninny Clause made a special delivery, which added to the ever-expanding accumulation of presents under the tree. The sad thing is, these will all be opened on Christmas Eve, leaving the tree barren. I hope Santa is up to the challenge! This afternoon I found a couple presents open and strung about in front of the tree. I asked Hana what happened and she said, "They had my name on them!" I was puzzled because there's only a couple under there for her and they are hidden (Hers are hidden upstairs, I mean, um, Santa will bring hers) so I took a closer look. "These have your name on them because they are from you, Hana!"

(pictures taken at night with my cell phone. sorry for poor quality)

Hana's New Signature

Dr. Hana has been writing mom a lot of prescriptions lately and she even knows how to sign them!

Hana the Puppy's Crate

Reading

Sitting right here at Ninny & Geegaw's counter (where I did lots of homework myself) on October 9, 2011 Hana read her very first word. C-A-P. Cap. We then moved on to tap, map and nap.

Quick Update

Sorry I've been MIA. You probably don't realize I've been MIA for as long as I really have because all the posts from last week were done in advance, meaning I truly haven't blogged in quite some time. I tricked you. ;-) There's been lots going on and I've got lots of precious pictures to share, but for now I'll update you on mom. Her surgery went well and she's in the midst of recovery as we speak. She is staying with us and I'm doing my best to nurse her back to great health. She's getting stronger and things ultimately seem to be going well. She has good days, bad days, good mornings, bad mornings, good nights, bad nights, and so on and so on. But that is to be expected with any recovery I suppose. We're hanging in there and doing the best we can. My days spent caring for mom, Mr. Guthrie, Hana Grace (who has turned into even more of a handful seemingly over night) and of course Joe. I'll blog as much as I can, but I will be back in no time and mom will be well soon! She thanks you all for the well wishes and here's to a speedy recovery!

The Black Eyed Pea Festival

As I mentioned before, Joe and Mom entered the Black Eyed Pea Cook off again this year.

Last year Joe made Black Eyed Pea-to Pie

 and mom, who was the reigning grand champion the two previous years, made Black Eyed Chicken Pea-chiladas.

Those delicious reci-peas won Mom first place (but not grand champion) and Joe second place. So they were back at it again this year with a couple more delicious and completely different reci-peas.

Joe made Black Eyed Pea-quitos and Pea-so.

(Black Eyed Pea-stuffed taquitos and black eyed pea-infused Rotel dip. YUM!)

Mom made Black Eyed Burgers.

(Hamburgers with black eyed peas in the meat. Delish!) 

There were only 7 entries this year, which was shocking, and once I tasted all of them, I knew it was anyone's game! Seriously, every recipe was good! I honestly can't say that about any other year. But this year was a close call. The food was judged and then it was time to serve the people while we waited to hear the results. It took a very long time for those results to come in! In the meantime, Hana passed out toothpicks to everyone.

She wore a special outfit I made just for the festival.

Hana wandered over to taste the competition's food.  ;-)

It was okay, though, it was her Ninny after all!

And Geegaw was there!

Snow cones were enjoyed.

Slides were slid down.

Even Hana's new baby named Zebra got to go down the slide.

(She got a new baby doll at the festival and he wears striped clothes so she named him Zebra.)

Faces were painted. 

Tours were given.

(Geegaw and Hana toured the oldest house in Athens that is there at the Arboretum. He told her all about it and she then gave us the tour and told us all about it - and I quote - "This is where they used to sit a hundred years ago. This oak furniture is very fragile..."

Pumpkins were decorated.

Hana showed us she might be able to help the Cowboys out.

And at the end of the day feet were very, very dirty.

(And shoes were worn the entire time!)

And the winner of the cook off? They did not have a grand champion this year, only 1st, 2nd and 3rd place. Apparently what took so long was the judges got into a heated argument over a couple of the dishes and had to re-taste. 1st place went to a lady who made Tamale dressing with black eyed peas in it, 2nd place went to mom and 3rd place went to Joe. Great job, guys!

Birthday Artwork

A Curly Birthday?

I have a new toy that I absolutely LOVE! It's a curling wand and Hana (finally!) let me use it on her hair. Beautiful curls for a beautiful girl!

Like her blush? Doesn't she look excited? Ha! She was upset that the curls were big. 

I think it looks absolutely beautiful! Not long after I took these pictures, she came around and finally agreed. (I so wish my hair would do that!)

And...HAPPY BIRTHDAY, NINNY! We love you and hope you have a great day!