Austin and the fence.

This is Austin. He is Paula and Johnnye's "other" kid.

I say that because Austin is there just about as often as their own children are.

And because we are at their house, like, every weekend, he is kinda like our "other" nephew!

ANd, well, Austin has a very unique trick! And Johnnye, the proud father, likes to have him go outside and show him off to his friends.

Austin has what you call an unbelievable vertical jump! I mean, unbelievable!

That there fence... it's umm.... about 5' tall or so!

And Austin can clear it by about a foot!
ANd although it appears that this was all taken in a sequence, it was really two attempts. This second try was from about 4' away from the fence, and Austin took two steps to jump flat footed right over this fence, clearing it by that foot!

Way to go, Austin. We are glad you are such a good buddy of John. And glad we got to know you so well. And congratulations on winning that vertical jump thingy at school this past week. 43" straight up vertical leap.

Your Proud "aunt" Mo

Fabric fun for Etsy

Hey, did I ever post about these? I really don't remember. ANd I am too lazy to look back! If so, just stop reading now. If not, enjoy!
I learned how to make these little spiral flowers using scrap fabric and a hot glue gun... and my life may never be the same! I can't even get rid of ANY of the girls torn up, ratty, no good clothes!

Because every time I think I can throw something away, I remember that there is a rosette waiting to be made into a headband! And now that child #1 is SOOOO into headbands, well.... I must craft!

Sometimes (as above) I wrap them in torn fabric. Sometimes (as below), I wrap them in grosgrain ribbon.

But ALWAYS, I add fun little rosette flowers on the top. I am serious. I am obsessed.

And then.... It got WORSE!

I figured out how to make them into cuffs.

Cuffs of every size, shape, and variety!

Colorful cuffs, muted cuffs, neutral cuffs (ok, so I am lying... I don't do neutral anything!)

Cuffs for big people...

and cuffs for little people!

But NO cuffs for my hornery little Ellie Sue who refused to try on one of for my demonstration! Turd.

Did I just call my offspring a turd? Did I just call her my offspring?

Hope you like my fun little crafts. Be watching Etsy... I will be loading some up soon! Mo

A typical morning

Hey facebook friends. You have seen a couple of these!

But, they are so cute, you need to see em again!



This is just a regular morning at the Groves house! Ellie gets up, throws her hair in a side ponytail, applies a little lip gloss, and comes to the kitchen cabinet to start her morning routine.

Yes, we do have barstools, but who really uses those things anyway? When you have a counter top!? Oh, did I mention throw a hair band on your ankle as an anklet? Yep. That too!


I know Earl must think, "Why me, Lord?"

Ol' Earl is getting old, and I can tell it by how much more often he just lies around. I don't like to see it, but as he ages, we just hug and love on him all the more telling him, "You're a good dog, Earl. Yes you are. A gooooood dog!"

Gabbi just comes in hollering for "num".

Ok, then, my sweet angel. Num it is!

Like, 5 pieces. She loves her some num. She can chew num like a big girl... at least an hour's worth!

Speaking of num... I think that old wive's tale about it sticking your insides together must be false. Because now that Ellie is potty training....welllllll, let's just say, I can tell you what color she was chewing earlier that day!

So, chew on, Crazy-headed Gabbi Girl! Chew on!

Mo

A few new things in the house

Hey guess what. We have a few new things in our house! Like this... a bartop!

Yet to be stained, mind you!

and these... handrails!

And looky here.... we have actual running water!

And Todd put some of my shelves in the art room cabinets to get a feel for the real thing.

And it is time to pick out drawer pulls and knobs! Woo hoo.

And there are cute kids sitting in the dining room!

In their bathing suits.

Drinking 32 oz cokes from Sonic!

And now our travertine floors are grouted!

And I am still having to make hardware decisions... pretty....

OR.... funky?

Our bathroom floor is complete!

And Todd's shower is almost there too! (red paint is some kind of water proofing stuff)

We even have smoe pretty glass tile trim!

And they started my fireplace...

which is proving to be a VERY labor intensive project!

There are no regular, straight edges! So, these little puppies have to be individually moved around to make a square edge.

And my plants from my LH are thriving!

even BLOOMING!

Oh. And we have a front walk way now!

And AIR CONDITIONING!!!

And Todd moved over this "fancy" table and chair so he could sit and rock on the incomplete back porch while sipping a beverage!

But not "incomplete" for long! We used some of the travertine for our outdoor countertops... just need grout!

ANd these cabinets are now wrapped in the old cypress wood.

and have really cool rustic doors on the bottom (just not in this picture!).

And the time has come to choose the backsplash for the kitchen. I like the matchstick style above.

But Todd won with that transparent-y green that was supposed to be the accent tile in our bathroom. Now , it is in our kitchen, above the stove!

yep. Speaking of stove... I think we are "cooking with grease" now! Only a few more weeks! Mo

And that's all folks. iPhone is complete!

ANd this concludes our Todd's iPhone show. It all began with THIS! Our little Asian baby who we thought was the most beautiful thing we had ever seen! This was the very moment we laid eyes on her! And I remember Todd immediately sending this photo to his mom and dad. I think they saw Ellie before my parents about 50 feet away! Technology! Glad for it! That connects us all!!
We are coming, Ellie. We are! In jusssst a few hours! You get that temperature up!

Donthcha love these hold em up in the nursery window pics?!

Awww, Ellie and Daddy!

Too sweet. Miss little soft blankets and that velvety skin and that sweet baby smell!

My little precious bonding with mom at the hospital.

Don, the night we Ellie was born, at a local restaurant, trying on a MUCH too small helmet.

Weird!

Whew.

Wow.

Whoa.

DeeDee meeting Ellie for the first time.

Ok, you gotta admit. Todd having that on his phone is super sweet!

Happy little camper!

Todd captured this lady on a scooter going through the drive through at Burger King. Apparently, he was intrigued!

Will she ever forgive me?!
Ellie, I mean!

Ellie's Orthopedist LOVED the Aggies... we toga'd it to an appointment just for her!

Cowboy Mouth. Heard of them?

Me and this crew will be at the beach this weekend celebrating two of our AUgust birthdays!

ROCK ON!

Mo