Giving Thanks

On November 26, 2014November 26, 2014 By AngeliaIn Beautiful Life23 Comments

I can’t believe it is Thanksgiving already.

Where has the year gone?

I think this one zoomed by faster than the rest.

This is my second Thanksgiving with my little grand girl – Averey Elizabeth.

An itty bitty baby a year ago.

And this year, she has changed so much. She is a mover and shaker. Loves to play, laugh, clap, squeal, and RUN.

This is her and Bridget at the park last weekend. The baby is running, and Bridget is trying to keep up.

The best part of my outing is when Bridget plops down next to me and says out of breath, “I am tired!”

I guess being an eight-year-old and chasing after a busy toddler is too much for her.

What’s funny is I have photos of her “running” all crazy. And you know? It wasn’t that long ago…

I am so thankful I have been in her life since she was a toddler.

I am thankful to share the love of Averey with her.

I’ve had an entire year plus a few months of being a Grandmother. I wish I could explain what joy that brings me, but it isn’t something you can explain. It is just something you feel in your heart.

I am grateful for this experience. It is a treasure and a gift.

And yes, it is going by way too fast. I don’t want her to grow up, and yet, I can’t stop time. I’m not sure I would want to either. I am enjoying the great changes she is making.

So, I will cherish every moment. Every run. Every laugh. Every squeal.

And I am thankful.

So very, very thankful.

I thank you all for being here. I wish you many blessings and memories on this Thanksgiving Day.

If you don’t celebrate, that is okay. You can still be thankful.

Just take a quick lesson from a very cute fifteen-month-old.

For the Love of All Things Cake

On September 4, 2014September 4, 2014 By AngeliaIn Uncategorized22 Comments

It happened. My Grand baby turned ONE. My heart both soars and breaks at the same time.
© 2014 Angelia's Photography
The first year is truly a miracle. The accomplishments, the growth, and the sheer magnitude of it all. She got her first tooth a month earlier. She can stand and cruise pretty good, but not quite walking yet. She is eating regular food. She can say a few words very clearly (and usually loudly). Laughs at her own jokes, and is obsessed with modem/stereo lights.
© 2014 Angelia's Photography

She LOVES Minnie Mouse.

That still amazes me even though the same thing happened with her mother (who loved Pooh Bear). How can someone so small can know exactly what they are crazy about? Do you know what else she is crazy about?

CAKE.

Pure sugar and icing cake.

This girl loves it.

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And of course she would.
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She even dropped her chip for it.

The party turned out fantastic. Lots of friends and family came to celebrate this precious mile stone.

My husband and I started renovating our house mid-July. All the carpet removed from the main rooms and tile installed. We worked regular jobs in the day and spent nights on our house. Every summer show we normally watch is still sitting in the DVR. I’m not sure if that means we watch too much summer TV or if house reno is a lot tougher than it looks on TV. Probably…a little of both. Thank God for Jason’s step-dad and his friend Bob that did the floors for us.

We were able to get the kitchen wall paper removed. Then those walls textured and painted (as well as the living room). All the kitchen cabinets and doors painted. Most of the trim painted and put back on (even added trim to a window). And almost all the tools, compressors, paint cans and left-over trim on the back patio moved into the garage in time for the party.

It was a whirl-wind.

It was crazy.

It was so worth it.