Adeline Throws a Wingding!

 (Excuse while I get my bearings...As I started to write under this little sweetheart's photo, I just had to stop and sigh deeply.  This diminutive little dolly does this to me every time.  Her mama or pretend auntie will shoot me a photo text and each time I say ,'Oh Adeline...'  Truly, she is as adorable as they come...)

 Okay.  I think I'm okay now.  But I am smiling as I write this,  Just so you know.

A summer birthday.  In our immediate family, we had not one.  Lot's of springs.  A smattering of winter.  A couple of autumns.  But nary a summer baby.
Then last year happened.
Sweet Adeline made her appearance on the cusp of August and very tail end of July.  And the world rejoiced.
The past year has been exciting watching this little sprite grow and learn.  All of us just tend to sit and watch her explore and experiment and forget about other forms of entertainment.  She truly is a hoot to observe.  Her on schedule activities sometime look so cute on such a tiny frame.  We know that when she starts walking (is now standing up by herself; can it be that far away?) she will crack us up once more to see the little munchkin take off in a year old hurry.

 So it was with great fanfare and planning on her darlin' mama's part, that this, the first summer birthday party of our family, commenced.

Since most of us in central southern Indiana haven't seen much rain this summer, it was a good bet that an outdoor venue was pretty safe.  Lovely Wife/ Mama selected her theme, Lemonade and Fun, with pink and yellow as the colors for the summer afternoon soiree.

It needs to be said that Sweet Adeline has more than her fair share of fans.  Both mama and daddy are the kind of people that people just like to hang out with.  They are fun and gracious with their home and most certainly, they have friends stopping by on a regular basis. So when invites starting going out, LWM began to be glad for their quarter acre backyard.  It appears that most people don't mind taking a part of their summer Saturday afternoon to help an adorable little girl and her proud parents celebrate.


Invites were designed, mailed out and the quest for the perfect table settings and menu began. LWM knows what she likes and my thought is that she had been planning this party in her grateful mama mind, during the dark months of winter.

 Helpers were gathered in the guise of LWM's mama, sister, sisters in laws,a brother, brothers in laws and two obedient puppies. Neighbors hauled their extra patio furniture and a convenient rental place gave good deals on chairs and tablecloths.

 With everyone utilizing their talents and gifts,' many hands made light work'...

 The smallest guest was taken care of; crayons, stickers and play dough and lots of paper ....

 And for those of you that are so inclined to eat well...Well, that was certainly more than taken care of.....:D

 Tents and canopies were gathered for the 90 degree temps that have been normal these days.  However, we seriously know that Sweet Adeline must have powerful Friends in high places as the day was temperate, breezy and downright enjoyable.

And let it be known that nary a guest came empty handed.  The. little. girl is.set.

 Even the cousins from Cincinnati were able to join us in the festivities!

 Both sides of Sweet Adeline's family, mama and daddy's, were able to be there, at nearly the same time! Rare, indeed!

Mimi added a proper 'Celebrate' banner made of Addie's baby quilt scraps from last year

 Mimi's dolly pattern from Wee Wonderful http://www.weewonderfuls.com/store/put-together-5.html was completed  and a stuffed Boston Terrier was ordered from etsy http://www.etsy.com/shop/supersockmonkeys.

 Her mama's collection birthday crown was personalized and popped onto her pig tailed noggin and the party could begin...

Sweet Adeline, Mimi is more than excited to watch you bring in each of your years with equal or surpassing gaiety and fun!

For you see, you are much to celebrate!

Love you, Addie!

Queenies for a Day

 I'm a big birthday fan.  I believe that it is important to celebrate, in a big way, the creation that is you.  I believe that it is not a vain occupation, oh no.  I believe that it is a God Honoring thing to celebrate that your creation was very important to God in the huge, grand scheme of things.
I believe that if we are drawing breath, there is a purpose, an intentional purpose by our awesome Creator for your place on this sod.  And that, my friend, is something to celebrate.

 

So if I think that each one has merit and value in God's eyes, just imagine how silly I can get over my own dear grandgirls.














The days that they were introduced into this world was a big, big deal. 
 My life was changed beyond all reason and how their lives will affect this world is something so exciting to me that I get goosebumps just thinking of the possibilities.




Birthday Days are wonderful to a crafting Grammy.  There are birthday banners to make, birthday outfits to think about and now, the ever popular birthday crown to prepare for the noggin of the little girlies new year.




The tradition started with Miss Viv sharing her birthday week with her Unca Joco.  Unca Joco was very clear that on each year, he would prepare a Birthday chapeau, singling out the two of them from the lessers, birthday wise.  When the first birthday approached, I could see that Unca Joco might need some assistance to accomplish the goal of proper hattage for The Day


I cannot tell you how much fun I have making these crowns.
I love the feel of pearl cotton.
I love the vibrant colors.
I love the gaiety of them.
I love that they make me smile.






So, I thinks, if I get so much entertainment from such a simply made item, wouldn't everyone?  (Or at least a few more outside my inner circle)






As I traveled recently from hither and yon, my felt and my pearl cotton were nearby.  Nothing makes grandchildren miles go faster than making sweet little flowers and vines circling a tiny ring of felt destined to a small tike's head.






Soon, very soon, the Yet To Be Personalized Crowns shall adorn my Etsy site for your enjoyment as well.  I can embroider your most special Birthday Child's name on the front for you to make it a truly one of a kind gift that could last far into their twenties and beyond.  (Notice I said grandchild, because even though I have no male grandchildren, I hear that they are out there.  I intentionally made some crowns with not flowery like embellishment but kingly jewels and suns...)

If you are of the opinion that each life is to be celebrated big and would like to eschew the papery kind of birthday hats, then this crown's for you...




Celebrate each day as a gift.
But celebrate your little ones special day with crown made just for them......

Rare Footage

Seldom do we get PJCory Family Group Photos.

We may have two major photographers and several minor ones, doesn't seem to matter. We always forget about it until we're headed out the door to our far away homes.
Crazy.
So this time, we remembered. Not at Eldest/Admin's wedding. Not at Eldest Son's either, but this time we got it.

I do believe our new standard shall be:

'If there is more than one Birthday Crown in the group, a Family Photo shall henceforth be mandatory, so saith the Grand PooBah.'

There. That should do it......

Birthday Crown!

A little diversion from Christmasing comes in the form of a very necessary accessory for a brand new one year old...
Ta Da!
A Birthday Crown!
One to sit upon Miss Grace's most precious Brain Holder on her high holy day each year. Extra elastic in the back allows for adjustment up into the time that her own children will tell her to take the silly old thing off her noggin....
I hope unto that day she will remember her ol Nana who views the celebration of one's birthday very seriously and who takes the tradition of month long celebrations as a way to celebrate the unique, distinct way in which we have been created....Worthy of a celebration of The Creator in a daily way......

Thank you Lord for our little Gracie!
Happy First Birthday!