Little Bitty Bathroom reveal.....

This past year we had a pipe burst at the lakehouse which caused damage to flooring and some walls.
So began the re-model.  Well......nothing really changed.  We just had to tear up every floor in the house and have new installed.  And don'tcha know??  Once you start one project....another rears its head....and mama starts finding fun new things to "add" to the new floors!
Our lake house is very small.  Two bedrooms with one bath but it's perfect for us!  Being in the 'empty nest' stage of our lives, most of the time it's just the two of us here and it's all we need.  When the crew is in town, it gets a lil crazy but it's all fun!
So the tiny lil bathroom got a tiny new makeover .... and I love it.  I began just changing the floor to painted ceramic tiling but the more I looked at it, the more I liked it.....so up on the walls of the shower it went!!!  New tub and new vanity with a nice marble top.  We kept the mirror over the vanity we had because Cap'n loves the light it puts out - I just painted it to match the vanity.  Re-painted the whole room a glossy white, ceiling and all.  I just love a shiny finish in a small room.
And to put the cherry on top???  I scored BIG TIME with the coolest piece of art to hang over the potty....my buddy from high school and college paints THE most awesome paintings.  I sent her colors and where it would hang, told her I'd like something 'lakey' and you won't believe what she did for me!!!!  You must visit her site...cathykgallery to check out her work.  She can do any and all!!!!

So...............here we go for the little bitty tour!!!

this is a canvas I picked up in Sedona AZ on a gal pal trip.....we are all part mermaid, ya know!!!

It hangs beside the closet door..

I just love her use of color and the textures in her work.

This little room just makes me happy every time I pass by it!!!

I'm a Bad Bad Blogger...

Maybe it's because it's summer.  Maybe it's because I've been pretty doggone lazy lately. Maybe it's just because.  I dunno.  But I need to get back on my game.  Since this blog is a family diary of our family's lives,  it's necessary to stay on my game.  I'd hate for my grandchildren to one day say....Where was YaYa in the summer of 2018???

One thing I seem to have missed was my middle boy's birthday.....and I NEVER miss birthdays...insert roll eyes.

        HAPPY HAPPY BELATED JULY 20                      BIRTHDAY MATTHEW LEE!!!

(love it when he smiles at me like this!!!)

when we raise our children, our main hope for them is that they grow into being happy, successful and people of character.  And he has.  But he's also a great husband and father, so you can only imagine the pride I feel for him on a daily basis!

The grandchildren have been busy, busy this summer but we have had little bits of fun ... I had the little girls for a bit and we swam, learned how to drive the golf cart and even made tie-dyed tshirts!

these two brothers could pass for the Blues Brothers except that they are never 'blue'....happiest lil boys you ever did see!

and we now have a new family member into the clan.....may I introduce Ms. Lucy Lou!!

she belongs to my oldest son's family and their 16 yr old Emmy Lou ain't all that overjoyed about it!!

We all loaded up and rolled into Dallas to see the broadway production of 

and one day this week, I asked if I could have Lilli for a day...my first grandchild!  Now with 6 grandchildren, it's sometimes hard to get any one on one time with them.  She spent the night with me and we swam until dark and ate pizza on the floor in front of the tv!  The next morning we were outa here bright and early for what???  Why, shopping, of course!  And then a fun lunch, just the two of us before going to an afternoon showing of MAMA MIA!!!!

I cried during the show and she worried about me blowing my nose!!!  Then we sang ALL THE WAY HOME!!!!  (and I've already ordered the first movie for us to watch together!)

She's such a little lady now and it's like I've got a new best friend.  It was a glorious memory and one I'm sure I'll take to the old folk's home with me!!!

So...............wait..............maybe I haven't been so lazy after all!!!

Ahhhhhh....Sweet Summer!

Summer means lots of things to people depending on what you like to do.  Me?  This means summer on a lazy Sunday afternoon....

and being on a beach with family is the epitome of summer to me!!

YES....summertime is Good Times!!

(this photoshoot was scheduled for sunset the day before this but got cancelled because of storms...therefore; this took place at 6 am .... in case you're wondering why we all look like we just got up!!!!!)

Yankee Doodle Dandy....

...was born on the 4th of July!!!

For some crazy reason, when I started this post Yankee Doodle Dandy came to my mind and I just spent time watching a utube video of James Cagney being the Doodle!!!! Funny.

So we had such a quiet 4th yesterday.  All the children were busy celebrating the day doing their own things this yr and weren't able to come out to the lake.  I think that's the first time in the history of our lakehouse (22 yrs) that we didn't have a BIG party on the 4th.  But guess what??  It was such a laid back, mellow, quiet day .... we really enjoyed it! 

We started out the day with a rainy morning and we savored each raindrop for it's been forever since we've had any.  We sat out in it until the sun came back out and the heat returned. 

 I know I didn't eat my weight in hot dogs or hot links like I usually do..and ribs and potato salad and beer!!  Cap'n barbequed a couple pork chops and some sausage and we called it a day. A short lil boat ride to see all the celebrations on the lake and a whole lotta reading and being totally lazy!

the real poodle in background....sophiejane!

So, now we head into July...crazy how time is just flying by!

And guess what I had for breakfast today?  and most days last week. and any other time of the day when I can get away with it.  I love them THAT much.  

MATER SAMMICHES!!!  

Yep, I love to smear the Hellmann's all over it!

(thanks Elaine....our garden got eaten up by the deer and squirrels this yr)

So, as we continue with summer in triple digit temps, I'm continuing to be lazy and enjoy each day of it!!

Ain't that the truth??!!!!!

The Lion King reigns.....!

How happy we were to travel to Dallas to see the broadway production of the Lion King last weekend!!

Hailey and Case and Lane, Rachel and Austin and Josey and me....Amy was going with her cousins the next weekend...had the most enjoyable time watching their first real production on stage.  I was brought to tears just watching their faces as the cast entered the auditorium!!  For 5, 3 and 2 yr olds, they were amazingly centered on the action.

I'm so lucky that I get to be a part of these parts of their lives!

Another summertime adventure!!!

Happy Birthday Case Nelson!!!

When you come upon this when turning onto Case's street.....

you know that fun is in store!!

And why wouldn't there be????.......It's Case's 5th birthday today and what fun his party was yesterday!!

basketfull of chalk and bubbles...

Dad coming down the driveway with boxes and boxes of pizza!!

few practice runs before all of his family and friends arrived!

Mom even had a smaller water feature for the smaller kids to play on....here Papa is helping baby brother Lane up and down the slide!

Look at that sweet face, the birthday boy, waiting to hear his song and blow out his candles surrounded by friends and family!!

(while brother Lane is over there blowing his own stuff out!!)

I loved this pic...Case's dad (my babyboy), his cousin Chase with his wife and cousin Ragan who is Chase's sister!  Seems like yesterday that this group were small ones playing together all the time. Now they're all grown up with children of their own!!

CASE NELSON!!!!

my sweet, sweet grandson!!!