Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Disaster Baby

Danger Baby strikes again. Actually, she's more Disaster Baby today.



Public Enemy No. 1

If you ask Lila what time it is, she will likely answer "It's Dodger Time!" This is all thanks their No. 1 fan, Gigi. At Gigi's house, it's Dodger time all day long.




Flagstaff and The Fourth

The Fourth of July in Flagstaff was a great time as usual! We stayed a week but it felt like only a weekend. There never seems to be enough time. Since it was also Grandma Brown's birthday, we had more family visiting than usual. Between three different parties, a parade, the park, the golf course, shopping, eating, even more eating... we kept ourselves pretty busy. Thanks to everyone for making this year even more special!




















Happy Summer!

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Ms. Firecracker Turns 80!

My Grandma, otherwise known as Nana, turned eighty years old on July 5th. We had a birthday party for her in Flagstaff where she is spending the summer. It was a beautiful day made even more special by those who traveled so far to celebrate with us.

Oh how I love my Grandma! I even named my first-born after her. She's the classic, Americana kind of Grandma. My memories of her usually have something to do with homemade hotcakes, spaghetti and real buttermilk dressing. Grandma's fridge was always overflowing and she made everything to order. When my brother and I were little, whenever we were too sick to go to school, we would spend the day at her house. She doted on her little patients, washing our faces, feeding us soup. She should have been a nurse, but instead became a telephone operator. Her voice always pleasing, helpful and recognizable to strangers. Some of my favorite memories were spent at her bathroom vanity, sampling her stockpile of lotions, rouge and lipsticks. It was like a beauty parlor in that bathroom - a little girl's heaven on earth. She seemed glamorous to me and never left the house without her face on. My Grandma's hair and lips were always a deep red. Always the firecracker. Always laughing. Always picture perfect.


Mrs. Mary Brown, age 17

The Life of the Party

Birthday girl with little brother, Jack Bass

Madeline, Stacy and Rita

Barry & Terri Olsen, niece to the birthday girl

Granddaughter, and great-granddaughter, Maya Rae

Maya and her junk food

Ladies Table

Rita (granddaughter), Jim Brown (youngest son) and Carol (daughter-in-law)

Me and Grandma

Rita & Grandma

The only grandson, Paul

Three generations of girls!

Happy Birthday!

Lila Mary and Me

Kisses from her boys!