Craft Project

I made a craft project last night. Rare for me. I used to be a typograher. I bought a book called "Designing with Words" a long time ago. I got it out recently and was inspired to make something to finally display my wedding announcement which I love. I typeset it myself. (My friend, Karin, got me when she received it. She called to say it was very pretty except for the TYPO. I almost had a heart attack.) Anyway, I used the napkins from my bridal shower for a background and added some cutouts from my favorite cards from Roger, a photograph and a postcard from the Rusty Pelican where we got married. The card on the bottom says "I Love You" but it was washed out by the flash. Very typographical! I hope to take a better picture when it is finished. Of course I still have to glue it all down. I am worried about trying to glue the napkins. I think I might wrap it all with a bit of netting. I am feeling so creative! ?Any suggestions? In the book they often add little charms and other things. I do have a little bow on the corner that was wrapped around some stationary. (P.S. If you double click on the photograph it will enlarge it so you can see all the details.)

Jill's Family Visit to Missouri

Jill and greatgrandmother, Goldia Collier

Cory and his grandmother

Jill and her grandpa, Leanis Collier

Jill had a busy summer. A trip to NJ on the bus with her mother, a trip to Disney with Stephanie and Cory, a trip to Arkansas and to visit her aunt, Angie Oakley and her family, and then on to Missouri to meet her dad's whole family including her grandpa and her greatgrandmother. Then just last week she went with me and Jaime to Treasure Island and Madiera Beach, FL with Jonah, Mia and my friend, Carol Moore. Jonah went to Tennessee to see his dad's family and then to the beach. We all went to the zoo several times. It's a relief to be back in the school routine!

Beach! Thunderbird at Treasure Island

Critter from the front of Carol's swimsuit. He stuck that "arm" out and flipped himself over!

Critter

Beach, Jaime and Mia from under the cover of the beach canopy

Jonah, snake and scary pirate

Jill and Pirate

Pool and Tiki Bar

Carol

Jaime making a "Mia castle"

My friend Carol came to visit from Pine Bluff, Arkansas. I think we figured out this is her 6th visit since I moved back here in 1976. And I visited her once. (What can I say? It is easier to get people to come to Florida than to Arkansas.) She treated to one night at the beach. We chose the Thunderbird since it was Labor Day weekend. Thunderbird is cheap, easy to rent and easy to find. I found it much the same as always: simple rooms with 2 queen beds, pool, tiki bar and wide beach with shallow waves. The beach is crushed shell rather than deep, soft sand, but actually easier to walk on for me. The water was clear and cool, the sun hot, all the people friendly, the beach bar Pina Colladas were expensive but delicious, the pool full of fun-loving kids and their parents with live beach music adding Jimmy Buffet atmosphere. We went to John's Pass for a seafood dinner and a little shopping. A perfect visit with an old friend and the "good old Thunderbird" as Jill called it (even tho this was her first time). I will definately go back again. Carol went back with a good story to tell since she found a beautiful shell and stuck it down the front of her bathing suit for safe keeping. She was unprepared for something to crawl half out of it and start moving around! I would have loved to be there for that, but telling the story is a lot of fun. Picture the creature from the black lagoon ... well, not quite that big.

Roger's son's visit

Roger and Martin

Roger's son came to Tampa to visit and to surprise his mother for her birthday. She also lives in this area. We had a great visit and took this picture just before he left to go back home to Houston, TX. Next is a visit from my friend, Carol, from Pine Bluff, AR.

First Day Back at School

Courtney, Jill, Jonah, Cory and Stephanie. Jaime was home dealing with a plumbing problem.

Jill at her new desk

Jill and Ms. Mathews - 1st grade teacher

Jonah's class - 3rd grade with Delaney and Chase and Nelson in his class as well. Jonah's teacher is Ms. Wilson.

Courtney met us at Jaime's house where the hot water heater had sprung a leak and was spraying hot water from below the stairs. Wet carpet was Jaime's first clue. Steph and Cory brought Jill over and we all walked them to their classes. I am SO glad to have them both in the same school this year. After the school they go to Roy Haines park together. It is great. Jill has had no adjustment problems and is now riding the bus by herself since the second day. The bus comes right into her complex and picks her up. Yay!

Jill meets a real Mermaid!

Found this picture on Cory's Facebook page. Highlight of Jill's trip to Disney - meeting a REAL mermaid.

Jonah's Home! Trip to the Zoo

Eagle

Pelican on her nest

Fruit bat skeleton

Bright blue poison dart frog

Cousins

Zoo entrance

Jonah and Jill

Mia

This is "Lake Sharon" at the zoo. Really.

Jaime, Mia, Jill and Jonah

Mia pushing buttons to make the frogs croak.

Jonah is home and we made a celebratory trip to the zoo. Jonah and Jill were both SO good. Jonah helped his mom a lot. It could be that he has grown up some since he was gone. It may wear off in three days, but it was wonderful! They had a great time, then we went to the park to play on the playground while Jonah explored the creek and the river a little bit. Then we got ice cream. A very hot but fun day.