Happy Birthday Gramma!

A day late, but not any less heartfelt . . .

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRAMMA!

(This photo was taken on Mother's Day 2010 -- the day she was honored as Mother of the Year at the church I grew up in.)

What We've Been Up To Post 3,453

I feel like I do this kind of post often -- a hodgepodge of everything going on -- because I don't have time to post every happening individually. So here it goes!

We've been super busy. I've worked one day a week with Rick for a couple weeks now plus worked a church a couple days. Let me just say I don't know how working moms do it! One day a week just about puts me in a tailspin!

I have been able to get a few things accomplished . . . We finally got Makenna's room moved around since Madi moved out in (cough) November. In my defense, Madi's bday in November, Thanksgiving, Christmas & New Year's just all run together and leave little time for projects. Here's what we ended up with. Financially, we were limited to moving things around and picking up a couple odds and ends. We had to get a hammock to hang up all her stuffed animals, so if any of you (grand parents) think she needs another one, here's proof she doesn't! She loves horses. I'd love to redo her room to reflect a grown-up girl theme like the horses, but this vinyl horse on the wall will have to do for now. She has quite a few horse toys that I'll probably move over to the bookshelf to display.

We'd like to get another mattress to replace Madi's, so we can put hers back on the bottom bunk. For now, we'll just laugh hysterically when Patches tries to walk over to the basket where he naps and falls through the rungs under the sheet.

We're waiting for the mirror to be repainted that goes with her dresser. Makenna's new bean bag chair also doubles as Elizabeth's bed (her American Girl Just Like Me doll she received for Christmas).

This girl loves her artwork. I'm thrilled she purged some of her toys and "junk" when we cleaned out her room. Would like to come up with a way to neatly display all her pictures though . . . so proud of her that she's kept her room neat for the most part. I actually took these pictues a couple weeks after the project was completed.

We've been stuck inside due to snow and cold weather. I think it's starting to affect us. What do you think?

Poor Patches is about ready to go stir crazy with no one / nothing to chase. He's pretty much been in the house since the beginning of December. Last year he was in for a month during the coldest temps, but we've only had a couple days that barely topped out at the freezing mark. This week it was -6 one night!

But maybe being stuck inside is a good thing . . . I let the girls ice some cookies and actually served them to company which goes against every bone in my perfectionistic body! They had fun, and I got over it without much therapy! =)

For those of you out-of-towners and non-football fans, the Pittsburgh Steelers have been doing well this year. We've had people at our house for almost every game this season. We survived the playoffs (some older folks not as well as the younger folks), and now we're headed to the SUPERBOWL!

These may or may not be the aforementioned "older folks" watching the post game after we won the AFC Championship.

Here's (most of) the gang discussing the Superbowl Party! Can't wait!

Mary Poppins

Mary Poppins the Broadway Musical is in Pittsburgh. Before Christmas I heard about it, but knew we didn't have the money to go. The Lord opened a couple doors, and I was able to work a couple side jobs this week. That combined with money I had from Christmas (Aunt Mel - THX!) was enough to buy cheap seat tickets for the girls and I.

I love that my girls love the arts! They've seen Esther, Willy Wonka and have gone to a local symphony. Their dad could care less, but I'd really like to expose them to as many fine arts as possible. [Correction: He would like them to be exposed to fine arts. He just doesn't want to have to go himself. =)]

Our friend, Courtney, and the girls in the glass parking garage elevator.

We rode the elevator down from the 9th floor on the way to the musical. The line to get on the elevator was backed up down the street in the freezing cold, so we reluctantly headed up the stairs. In my college days, 9 floors was the norm to my dorm room, but out-of-shape and 14 years later, that's quite a challange! The girls were troopers and not surprisingly made it up before Courtney and I. Although Makenna did say she was sufficating by the time she got to the top!

A quick photo before the show with the Benedum Center in the background.

Mary Poppins: The Hit Broadway Musical!

The lobby of the Benedum. The brightly lit area was the unbelievable priced souveneirs -- $25 kids t-shirts and $40 Mary Poppins dolls.

The ushers kept telling everyone "no photos", but then the announcer came on over the loud speaker and said, "No photos BEFORE the performance." So I took a quick one of Madi with the stage in the background. I know, living on the edge!

Mommy, Makenna & Madi (a.k.a. The Blur) -- That girl doesn't sit still long enough for a good photo.

Makenna called Nana after the show tell her the best part -- "all of it!" I looked over during the last couple acts to see Makenna smiling from ear to ear!

Christmas 2010

Don't really have time to post, but I couldn't skip Christmas altogther on the blog. Here's a collage of the Hosey & Lott Christmas' . . . visit with Pap & Nan (my dad's dad & stepmom), ornament exchange amongst siblings, Christmas drive-thru with displays from local businesses, Makenna's Just-Like-Me American Girl doll (named Elizabeth Ruth Lott who doesn't leave her side until today when she went to school crying -- sigh) and the Lott aunts with the "cousins".