I have to add in pictures of the bridal shower that my MahJongg friends and sis-in-law Kathleen gave for Amanda. It was a lot of fun and great for seeing people that we haven't seen for awhile. We had a nice luncheon, many good laughs and Amanda got to open presents! It was very wonderful how all the small groups of Amanda's friends and family ended up laughing together and telling stories.

It is making me nervous because the wedding is getting closer and it seems there is still so much left to do. I have had dreams about rain and mosquitos, you know. Either it is raining on the outdoor ceremony or the guests are being bitten all over by the 'skeeters!!

  Bianca didn't mind any noise and behaved herself very well too. Great aunt Kathleen had her turn cuddling with Bianca too. Several people also brought small gifts for her, so it was a surprise double shower. We did wait until the non-family guests had left.

I suppose if we had planned it, we would have them separately so each shower would be special to that girl. But it was all spontaneous that people brought the gifts for the baby.

Kathleen was so wonderful because she brought six beautiful baskets of prize gifts for the bingo game we played! The baskets had different lotions and skin products that were really fantastic. :)

Great Grandpa came over on Amanda's birthday (yes, it was a birthday weekend too!) 

Happy Birthday Amanda!!

Amanda and Ryan

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Well, so much for writing here at least once a week! It was a good goal and I'll try to do better. This time between entries has been busy with many good days, and a few of the frustrating ones too. But the highlights are really good ones!

Like I said in my previous entry, for quite a while I have wanted to fix the master bath and get it updated, so I am halfway through that. White walls are much better than the tired, dirty wallpaper. Remodling started fine but got bogged down while waiting for deliveries and getting organized. I needed a break in the 'house' work anyway because the kids all came to visit! But now things have been delivered a few days ago and the installer has said he's coming, so it will be installed tomorrow and hopefully walls painted too. I am optimistic that it will all happen perfectly!

The sewing room is in much better shape than before with good lighting so I can see what is happening - always a good thing - but you can see that the walls still need to be painted. Only, that is a huge, daunting project - not the painting but the moving all the THINGS to get to the walls...







But on to the FUN happenings!! All the kids came in to visit!! Partly for the Fourth of July, partly for the Bridal Shower for Amanda, partly for a baseball game all together, partly so we could all get to know baby Bianca, and partly just to be together!! It was busy and yes, tiring too.

Here is Bianca's daddy and Aunt Kim

 There was pretty much something going on all day and night, especially with the baby having night and day mixed up! Her poor mommy and daddy did not get much sleep. They left her with me two times! First time for leaving her with anyone so I guess I did okay. Thank goodness for instant messaging though because I did get a text asking how she was doing, and I just snapped a picture of her sleeping and sent it. Ha! Never had that when my kids were small! Of course it was hard for me to cuddle sometimes because Grandpa-pa would take her! Love!!Great Grandpa could not get enough of her and came over three times just to sit and hold her. He has always been a push-over for babies! He would be in heaven if the kids all lived close. 

We went out to eat more than we thought with the baby but she was really good - no crying at all. Of course someone did hold her  most of the time. That baby girl really enjoys a good cuddle!! Her mommy was so very good at sharing her baby!