Casey County Apple Festival

Saturday I traveled with my Mom and Aunt Cindy to Liberty, Kentucky to pick up my Mama Rosie and go to the Casey County Apple Festival.  I had never been to this one before, I do love festivals, and it did not disappoint!  It was small, but had a lot of different vendors, tons of food, and the main attraction - the biggest apple pie I have ever seen in my entire life!  

Pie Ingredient Amount, excluding the pie crust:

• 50 Bushels Granny Smith Apples
• 175 lb Sugar
• 50 lb Corn Starch
• 30 lb Butter
• 2 lb Salt
• 3 lb Cinnamon

I couldn't get through the crowd for a photo before it was served out to the crowd, but this gives a good picture of the shear size of it. I didn't eat any because I'm on a strict diet and sugar is no part of it, but it smelled delicious!

We walked around, purchased some vendor goodies, and ate lunch.

Main Festival Strip

Mom

Me & Mama Rosie

My New Shirt - Couldn't pass it up!

Once we got back to the house we set Mama Rosie up with her early Christmas gift - a keyboard so she can play like she used to on her organ.  We also broke out the selfie stick for a group shot.  ;)  (I need to get a mirror attached to the stick so I can use the good rear camera instead of the blurry, front facing camera with no flash).

Mama Rosie trying out her new keyboard

Group Shot!
Aunt Cindy, Mama Rosie, Mom, Me

Cake is GOOD!

Laila Bug turned one! We had a small celebration at the park where Laila opened presents and had cake/cupcakes. Luckily the rain held out and we were able to celebrate her first year.  My time flies...

Laila Bug

Laila is growing up so fast! She just turned eight months old and is starting to try to crawl and has a couple of teeth coming in. She's very interested in everything, very talkative and trying very hard to be mobile! It won't be long before she's being chased around everywhere!

Chillin'

My boys!  L.B. was playing with Jason and kept gently biting Jason's nose.  I was trying to capture it, but didn't quite manage.  Cute little stinker.

Laila Bug

Laila is already six months old - where does the time go?!  But just look at those beautiful blue eyes!  She's growing so fast.  We got a chance to see her on Sunday while visiting with Jason's family for an afternoon lunch.  She's a happy, giggly little girl and will be crawling around and getting into trouble before we know it.  <3

Christmas with Mama Rosie

Tuesday Mom, Portia, Laila, Aunt Cindy and I all headed to Liberty to have a girls Christmas with Mama Rosie.  Usually the whole family goes, but Mama's brother has needed her help while he heals from a bad fall so she just didn't have it in her for a full family get together this year.  But, even so, we had a great time!  Mama, Melvin and Cindy all got to meet Laila for the first time, also.  Taylor couldn't go this time because she had school and it was the only day the rest of us could go.

We enjoyed a lunch of carry out pizza and then opened gifts and chit-chatted for a few hours before heading back home.  Laila was the center of attention, of course, and I'm so glad Mama and Cindy got to finally meet her.  We were also able to get a photo of FIVE generations together!  All photos from the festivities can be seen here.

Tomorrow is the big family Christmas gathering where the other side of the family will get to meet her.  More pictures to come from that one!

Poofy Laila Cheeks!

Laila just turned three months old last week and we got to have a little visit over the weekend.  How adorable are those poofy cheeks, pudgy legs and big blue eyes - not to mention her cutie hat!?  She's starting to coo and smile a lot and beginning to notice the things around her and be aware of her hands and other things.  It's amazing how fast they grow at this age.  I wasn't around Portia until she was close to three years old so all of this is new to me!  I got a lesson in strapping an infant into a car seat while she was here as well - I think it's the only time I've heard her really get upset!  Christmas should be really fun this year - I can't wait for the rest of my extended family to meet her!  <3

Laila and Papa J - 34/365

Laila, Portia and Chris came to visit us this morning while they were out this way.  Laila turned 2 weeks old yesterday and is doing awesome.  She is the most content, sweetest baby!  :)

I'm a Grandma! - 19/365

Laila Naome made me a grandma (CeeCee) on August 10 at 12:36 a.m..  She was 7lb 7oz and 20" long and has a beautiful head of black hair!  Momma and baby are both doing fantastic!  She's a prompt little lady, arriving 36 minutes into her due date!  ;)

Chris & Portia - New Parents To Be - 18/365

Chris and Portia stopped by today after their doctor appointment. Portia is due with my first Grandbaby...TOMORROW! Baby is a girl named Laila and I don't actually think she will arrive on time, but I expect to meet her in the next week or two!  To Laila we will be CeeCee and Papa J, to help eliminate confusion from all the various grandparents, great grandparents and great, great grandparents she will be meeting. We just hope she a health, happy baby!

If we are friends on Facebook  you can see the Baby Shower photos here.

UPDATE: Turns out Laila decided to arrive on her due date and just a few hours after Portia and Chris left from their visit to our house.

The Boyz

This is a common afternoon scene now that we have a couch in the office.

Old office = New Gaming Room for The Boy

We moved the office out of a small bedroom in the basement and into the downstairs living room so we'd have more space and airflow.  That left this room open for Jason to play his online games with his buddies and have his own dark Man Cave.

Baby Bump - I'm Gonna Be a Grandma - Yikes!

In January I found out that I'm going to be a Grandma!  Yikes!  I'm too young, you say?  Yes I agree!  37 is too young to be a grandma. Bu alas, I do have a 20 year old daughter and come August she will be welcoming a baby girl into the world.  Assuming it really is a girl her name will be Laila Naome.  Jason and I will be Papa J and CeeCee.  More updates as the months go by!

Two of My Boys

Two of my three boys.  <3

Working with Dad

Lois Lane is such a Daddy's girl.  She's wearing the Kong Cloud cone because she just had surgery to remove another spot of cancer on her side. She's been moping around eating up the extra attention she's getting. (These collars are so much better than the cone of shame and more comfortable for the dog, also).

Lap Dog

Buddy really thinks that he fits perfectly in someone's lap.  He's a little delusional.

I Heart Faces: Smirk

Jason & Larry being goofy on a day at the horse track.  They had been mocking me when I asked them to "look normal" and this was the best I could get from either of them.  Go figure.  But, it works great as an entry for I Heart Faces: Smirks!  Go here for other great entries!

Friends & TiVo Repairs

Project 365: 86/365

Saturday was such a nice day we decided to have an impromptu cookout with a few friends.  Charlie & Christina came over with their dogs Molly and Scrappy.  And John & Jenn also came out for some good food.  After everyone ate we headed back up to the house to watch the Cats play (and lose).  It was a fun evening!

Project 365: 87/365

Our TiVo hard drive has been clacking for a while so we knew it was going bad.  We didn't realize how bad until we were watching the game, which feeds through the TiVo via live television, and the signal kept breaking up.  So Jason decided to swap out the hard drive in it today.  He's not had much luck and isn't sure what's wrong.  So for the time being we've moved a spare TiVo downstairs with a smaller hard drive until he can get the larger one straightened out.

My Rock (Project 365: 56/365)

I don't do a lot of portrait photography - it just isn't my thing.  But every once in a while it's nice to have some people photos. Particularly family people photos.  Even more particularly, family people photos who you don't have many photos of.  No, he does not like his photo taken.  I told him I wanted him to be my project photo tonight.  In his typical fashion he said "You have one shot", while standing in the kitchen with the refrigerator door partially open.  Anyone that knows him can hear that tone in his voice, along with the raised eyebrows that say "I'm serious".  This is my one shot.

Not only is this my one shot - this is my everything.  I live for this man.  He is my best friend, my confidant, my animal rescue partner...my everything.  I never dreamed I would meet someone I could connect with on every level...but yet here he is, married to me...me!  For almost 16 years now we've been together.  We've been through a lot and we've had a lot of good times.  And it's only the beginning.  I love you, babe!

Happy Birthday, Portia (Project 365: 9/365)

Portia was home for the weekend for her birthday and we took her and three of her friends bowling at King Pin.  Once again, I won the first game and tied Jason for the second.  Muahahah!  Though Portia's boyfriend (playing on a different team) was the overall winner - he kicked bootie!  We played a couple of games, had some pizza and then headed back home to hang out for the evening.

Charlie and Christina brought Scrappy over and him and Lois Lane are like two peas in a pod!  They are so cute together!  Now we just have to work with Buddy and Molly for some doggie harmony.