Pictures of Things I have already Mentioned

So I talked of the wedding we went to in Wimberly. I have finally put the photos here for you to see. Since this site is titled "Perfectly Mia" it is appropriate that these photos include her. This is Jennifer with her friend Rex, and Mia.






I do not have a picture of the great cake, or the beautiful wedding. What I do have is this blurry picture of Jennifer, Rex and Joyce..... So, this photo will have to do.



And now for a picture from graduation. I want to know who is the short,old, fat lady in my cap and gown?


Last but not least, a photo from the trip to Brown University that Catherine and I took. I did appreciate the history and the buildings that are older than Methuselah, and this photo does nothing for what it truly looks like, but inside this building, is the most spectacular pipe organ (I think Catherine said it's a one of a kind in the US), and block wood paneling and oil paintings of people in the history of Brown. The inside actually reminded me of the great dining hall seen in the Harry Potter movies.

Cheerio's to Catching Up and Sliding Down

Today is my 48th birthday. I believe I like the idea of turning 50.

I did not realize how long it had been since I made an entry on this blog. Life has been very busy as it is with everyone. I seem to find time several times a day to read Jenny Hunts blog and keep an almost "stalking" watch for new pictures of her new tiny babies.

I will start with the most recent news and go backwards perhaps.

I found out on Thursday, May 3rd, my Aunt Kay passed away. I can not begin to tell you how sad I was. I have not seen my Aunt for many years, she has been living in California and I have had my life here in Texas. I always thought I would go there and see her again, and like many other plans I make, time just got away from me. My Aunt Kay is the grandmother of Corey,(daughter of Katy) whom I have previously talked about in my postings. For me, the passing of Aunt Kay is like the passing of my childhood. I loved Aunt Kay and Uncle George and all the warm family memories I have of growing up with them in my life. Uncle George was my mothers brother. Always a unique individual, and to a child, he was as tall as a giant redwood. As an adult, I realized that he was not that tall, he just wore his pants up to his armpits! This was the mildest of his "uniqueness". Aunt Kay had a laugh that always made me smile, and she called my daddy "Jimmy", and she and my Uncle George teased each other and made me laugh in doing so. I love you Aunt Kay and you will always be a part of my memories and my life.

Enough of the sad........

This weekend, May 5th, Jennifer and Mia and I went to Wimberly to see a friend get married. It was a beautiful wedding and the best wedding cake I have EVER had! Way to go Robin! I did not get a chance to talk to the bride, but if I had, I sure would have complemented her not only on her taste of cake, but husbands as well. I had a chance to see my dear friend Joyce. I love Joyce. She introduced me to someone as "her sweet friend, Jami". I laughed, because I know Joyce introduces everyone has "her sweet friend". Those of you who know me, I do not believe that "sweet" is a word you would use to describe me. I think Joyce uses that word, because she is sweet..............I admitted to being the "best" of her friends, meaning, not her"best friend, like BFF", but simply "the best"! This of course contradicted her introduction of me as being "sweet". But, thanks for trying Joyce!

This coming Saturday, May 12th, Jennifer and I will walk across the stage at Prairie View A & M University and accept our bachelor degrees in our chosen fields. Hers, psychology, mine, Management Information Systems (MIS). We will get to sit by each other, and walk one after the other............this I believe to be really really cool. I am excited. Not about sitting through the long and drawn out ceremony, but about sharing this day with my daughter. Jennifer has been accepted into the University of Houston's clinical psychology doctoral program, so her education is not over. I on the other hand, plan to take a break. Our plan as of today, is for me to stay home and watch Mia, while she attends school. This plan could change tomorrow, but as of today, this is it.

Jessica has changed jobs and is now in the IT department at the University of Texas. She is writing computer code and has a 6 month training period. I think she likes it just fine. She has a very nice boyfriend, and seems to be really happy. What more could a parent ask for?! Jessica has known Tommy, her boyfriend, since they were in pre-school, and so the irony of them dating now is funny. Isn't life just funny period.

Catherine and I went to Rhode Island April 17-19 to visit Brown University. It was an interesting trip. I think she will really love it there. The history of the college and the surrounding area offers days upon days of exploration. We have been more than blessed with the financing of her Ivy League education. As of today's date, she has been awarded the Gates Millennium Scholarship, which will pay for her tuition up through and including her Masters and Doctorate if she so desires. She has also been awarded a scholarship from Brown that includes all living expenses. She found out this weekend that she received a Wal-Mart scholarship for $1000.00 and the George and Mary Josephine Hammon Scholarship, for the amount of $12,000.00 over 4 years. There are still a few pending, but these scholarships will mean that Catherine will not have to take out student loans to complete her education. For those of you who have student loans like I do, you know what a huge deal this is. Catherine's hard work in school and time spent completing the applications and essay's have paid off.

Catherine, Mighty Drum Major

Catherine is but a few months away from graduating ~ football season has come and gone. Her days of Drum Major are just memories. I am glad there are photos like this to help her remember the special moments, especially when she gets to be my age!

Feeding Time

I wonder why it is that we have to learn to eat with etiquette. I watch Mia learn to eat with a spoon and she has such a joyful experience being unexperienced! As adults, when we spill food on our shirts, we tend to feel like a baffoon. As you might can tell from these photos, Mia does not care that she has Banana Pie yogurt on her belly, nose, hands, or face. She does not care that the yogurt is dripping off the spoon, or that she forgot to pull the spoon from her mouth. In the most primal way,for her, eating is a joyful messy experience. Maybe when we feel stressed, we should all try putting a little yogurt on our bellys. I bet it would make you laugh!

How can I even show my face in public?

Confessions of an almost college graduate. My degree will be a business degree, my major is MIS, or Management Information Systems. I am suppose to be an IT person. I know nothing! I can not even figure out how to make this blogsite layout what I want..........so I am asking those of you who know to please share your knowledge with me. If you will scroll to the bottom of my blog, you will see a slide show. This is the only location I can get it where you can actually see the book. I have gone to the settings and template and all areas that seem to make sense. I have clicked and dragged until I do not want to drag anymore...........will some one please just FIX it!!!

Oh and here is a picture of Mia....

Friends and Family

Sometimes, if you are lucky enough, you met people in your life who you call friend. If you are really blessed, they become family. I think that those family members are the most special people in the world, because you were not born into it, you are not stuck with it, but instead you get to choose, and they also get to choose. So, this blog is dedicated to those people I have been blessed to met, who became friends, and many moons ago, crossed that river and became my family.

I have written about Jenny Hunt before. She is the other true girl friend besides Jackie I have known Jennifer to have for a long time. (see previous blog). Jennifer and Jenny became friends first, and then as God would have it, I was blessed with meeting and falling in love with her family. So I took them for my own. And there are no take backs here. This is a picture of when we went to Wimberly for JohnMike's wedding reception. JohnMike is Jenny's little brother. Jenny is 13 weeks pregnant here, but you can not tell. She found out a few weeks after this picture was taken that she is having twins!

Another thing I love about this picture, is if you look closely in the back ground you can see Jenny's mom's Christmas tree. That is right folks! It is a silver, metal tree ( the really old kind) and she even has the multicolored light wheel that shines on it. I love Joyce (Jenny's mom). I suppose the tree is just a reflection of Joyce. I wish there was a pink flamingo as the tree topper! If you ever need a sweet heart to embrace you, just go see Joyce. Her warmth is sent from God above I believe. I love you Joyce.

The other picture is of more of my chosen family. Mia is in the tub with her friend Ali. Ali is about 7 weeks older than Mia. Her mom is Quenby, and Quenby's mom and I went to college together. Becky (the mom) and I have been friends now for almost 30 years! Quenby is Jessica's age. Quenby lived with Catherine and myself for about a year. She is a sweet girl, who would carry a bug outside and set it free before she would squash it!

Becky is a warden at Gatesville Prison (for women). She gets to retire in about 6 months, about the time I have to go to work. Well, Becky deserves it. She has worked hard keeping the prisoners BEHIND bars! I love the idea that Becky and I are chosen family, and Quenby and Jessica are friends, and now, there is Mia and Ali. Three generations of chosen family is pretty special to me. Becky knew me when I was thin, and she thinks I was a snob when we first met, and I was just shy. I thought she a snoot, and come to find out she was just Becky…. Oh, and never ever ask Becky about what a "steady" job is........I love you Becky.

Mud, Mud, and more Mud

Outside is once again the theme here. Forgive me for not keeping this to one picture, but striving for being the model grandmother, I could not pick my favorite!

Flower Power

Mia is most happy when she is outside.

Sweet Big Eyes

This is one of the few pictures that we have of Mia so far that she is being still! Oh my goodness that is one BUSY baby! Her eyes look huge here. I think she reminds me in this picture of an Ewok from Star Wars. Like a big cute cuddley teddy bear!

Thanksgiving in a Trash Can

This is a little out of sequence, but I felt worth posting. What you see is a picture of the turkey that we cooked for Thanksgiving. It was cooked in a trash can (if interested, email me and I will be happy to explain more on that issue). Anyway, Catherine took this picture of the turkey before it was cooked. I thought the sun glasses was a nice touch! And the turkey was delicious!

Mia and "the UT Hat"

Mia has almost always seen her Great Grandparents with hats on. My mom(Memaw) and dad(Grand dad) work outside a lot, and they always wear some sort of head covering. They have a hat tree right by their entry door. Mia now thinks that Memaw and Grand dad should never be without their hat, even inside the house! The first thing she does when entering the house is reach for the hat tree, and grab a hat, and give Memaw hers and Grand dad his. This whole action/reaction is what prompted mom and dad to give her this University of Texas hat for her first birthday!

What exactly is bragging? and is it ever OK?

In case I have not shouted loud enough, or the roof tops been high enough, I would like to proclaim once and for all that my daughter Catherine Denee' Waldrop has been accepted to and will be attending Brown University in Rhode Island in August 2007! She will be the first person I have personally known (not to mention love) to attend and Ivy League college. Catherine applied under the early decision application, and she found out on Thursday, December 14, 2006 that she was accepted.

This is a link to the email letter she received. I do not know if you can open it or not, or even if anyone would care to....its way cool, no matter what!

http://mail.google.com/mail/?realattid=f_evps9wvc&attid=0.1&disp=attd&view=att&th=10f833943f383165

Catherine is a remarkable daughter. She will graduate (unless something awful happens) as Salutatorian of her class. Catherine is an officer for the National Honor Society. She has been the assistant drum major and head drum major, she plays the oboe, and taught herself to play the saxophone, so she could be in jazz band. She has traveled to China with an orchestra for two weeks, and walked on the Great Wall(for her sake, I will not mention what else happened on the Great Wall, but ask me in private and I will tell you). Catherine also won a national essay contest, and won an $8000.00 grant to fix up the Waller City Park. We had over 200 students and town folk show up and help create a park that kids now love to play on and in. There were several entries that won the grant money, but Catherine's project was judged best over all, and with that came a free concert for the community with Diana DeGarmo from American Idol fame. Catherine is also a member of a Venture Scout Crew, and has traveled with them to Arkansas for rock climbing and spelunking.

Now that is sounds like I have written an application letter, I would once again ask, what exactly is bragging, and is it ever ok?

I admit to being a proud mother. So shoot me!

Mother and Daughter

I do not think of myself as one who keeps a whole lot of "stuff." I think mostly because I do not have the room for it. But, one of the few things I have kept, is a little Martha Minature dress that I bought to have Jennifer's one year photo taken in. I kept it around and had Jessica's one year photo taken, and then Catherine's. Well, the dress still exists, and Jennifer was kind enough to let Mia have her one year photo taken in the little dress also. The flowers are not quite as bright, and there are some bows missing, but the gap in the 27 years between Mom and daughter is woven tighter with these bits of fabric.

Happy Birthday

Mia turned one year old on December 6. Jennifer had a little party for her down at mom and dad's. We grilled hot dogs and fresh squash. There was cheetos and chocolate cake. Mia loves being outside, so the idea was to let her have a day outside. We ate on the porch (which was a good idea when it came to clean up!). This is a picture of Mia wearing the remains of cheetos and chocolate cake!

Jennifer and Jackie

Jennifer has had two special friends near and dear to her heart. It is funny, because those friends are, in my opinion, as different as day and night. Jenny is a delightful spirit. Happy with cats, books, non-english speaking adults, and her husband Joel, and it seems to me, the possibility of living in poverty in remote areas in Honduras. And I don't think Jenny ever owned a Kaboodle! I wish I had a recent picture of Jenny and Jennifer together. Maybe the next visit I will remember.

Jackie on the other hand likes to run with a "have a good time" crowd. She dresses to the 9's, works out 1 and 1/ 2 hours per day at the gym, and gets text messages from "Snoop Dog". Like Jennifer, Jackie probably has the equalivent of 10 Kaboodles!

I am not in anyway shape or form saying one is better than the other.....just completely different in their lives. Yet, I know Jennifer loves them both dearly for who they are.

Jackie has flown in from Colorado for the weekend. I think to help Jennifer celebrate her 27th birthday. They have a hotel reservation downtown, and are going to see the sights that Houston has to offer to the young. Jennifer and Jackie are like two peas in a pod. It is almost overwhelming to have the two of them in the same room. They left the house, with a total of 10 pair of shoes and I do not know how many outfits, and a large enough selection of music to listen to for weeks. I inquired as to why so many shoes and outfits and music, for one night out on the town. Apparently, half of the fun to them is trying on clothes, and deciding what to wear, while listening to music.......this must take hours. I guess its like playing dress-up. What girlie girls.

My Three Daughters

Family trees can be confusing to me. It is not so much as who sits on the branch next to you, as to the proper name to call them. My cousin, Katy, has a daughter named Corey. Now since Katy is my first cousin, I think that Corey is my "first cousin, once removed".....some people tell me she is my second cousin. Maybe second cousin is the same thing, just a shorter version....I am not sure, so if anyone knows, please tell me. Now, after that, Corey, be she my first cousin, once removed, or my second cousin, has not seen Jennifer since they were little girls, like 7 or 8 years old, at the most. And she has never met Jessica and Catherine. Corey requested some pics of the girls. I am posting this one, although it is not the most recent, I love this picture. So here are my daughters, from left to right, Jessica, Jennifer, and Catherine( this picture was taken BM.....before Mia)

THE COW AND THE BUNNY

Jennifer's friend from school, Crystal, stays with us during the week. She and her precious baby sleep on my couch. ( I wish I had an extra bedroom!). India is 3 months old. She is very sweet. She went with us trick-or-treating. She was dressed as a bunny. Her suit was too big, but it just added humor to the whole look! I said like with all chocolate bunny's, I just wanted to bite her ears off first! Mia loves India. They spend part of the days just making baby noises at each other. It is very cute! Mia wants to pull on India's little hands and feet. India does not think that is a good idea.

First Candy

HOLY COW!

Mia as a baby cow.........

Trick or Treat!

Mia's first Halloween. I know some folks believe that "celebrating" this "holiday" is a bad thing. I do not want evil in my life or my family's and do not wish to "celebrate" anything that brings a positive spin on a bad thing................BUT..................I do not see Halloween as a celebration of the devil. Honestly, I see it as a time for kids to go and get free candy! Now that I been politically incorrect, let me continue. I was thinking as I was leaving school yesterday, about how excited I was to be taking Mia trick-or treating. Actually, Catherine called "dubs" on taking Mia the minute I think Jennifer told us she was expecting! Anyway, I then continue thinking that really Mia is too little to want candy, or want to get dressed up, or know what is going on at all....and then I realize, that like many other human traits I am not too proud of, there are only two reasons to take an 11 month baby trick-or treating. One is to get free candy without looking gready. They give it to her and then we eat it. The other reason it to show others how cute I think she is! Either way, the motive is not one to boast about! The end result was that both of those goals were met............we got to show her off, and we got to eat her candy. We actually only took her to about 4 houses of people we knew....and she didnt have a lot in her pumpkin........so we made a block in a neighborhood where her great grandmother lives. As Catherine put it, we increased our candy"exponentially" ! Aren't we great role models!