Hairbow Madness

So, Jocelyn started keeping the hair bows in her hair...yay!!! I am very excited. It means I can now buy hairbows...wrong, the things are 6 bucks a pop! No worries. I am crafty. Mommy is now making hairbows for less than 20 cents a piece and Joceyln is being such a good sport.
What else is going on this month? Well, Cory got a big time new job that he has to fly to Covington, KY to train for. This means Jocey and I will have some wonderful girl time while Daddy gets a break from the heat.

Also this month, is my birthday, my mother-in-law Sari's birthday and Father's Day. Wow, will we be busy!

The best Mother's Day a girl could want

I am a lucky, lucky woman. This Mother's Day I was blessed with many special moments that I hope to carry with me always. The weekend started with a Mother's Day Tea with my baby girl. She sang me a special song, brought me cookies and turned the teapot lids into cymbols. I was overcome by her cuteness.



On Sunday, we traveled out to Beach Comer and placed Grandma's ashes on the same beach as Grandpa. It was a nice, windy day...perfect for kite flying. Being at that beach certainly brings back a lot of memories. Grandpa catching a sting ray...Grits in the Camper...Cory being afraid to drive at night...flying kites with Grandma. We'll have to be sure to create those memories for Jocey.

After the beach, we (Crosby's & Cheathams) had lunch in St. Augustine. We spent the rest of the day shopping and playing at the fort.

The CLAN

Why Walk When There Is Grandpa?

Jocelyn & Cory in Front of the "Tower"

(Please excuse the mustache in the last one...it's Mustache May you know...)

Happy Mother's Day to all those hard working Mommies!!!

Fun weekend at the Zoo

After working 12 days straight, a day of fun with the world's sweetest little girl was in order. We visited the Jacksonville zoo (which was nearly empty at 9am) and saw birds, monkeys, giraffes, penguins and more. Here are couple of snapshots of our day.

Jocelyn next to the ape.

Jocey wanted to ride each animal including a seahorse, zebra, elephant and alligator. In the end, she went with the king of the jungle.

It is amazing how close these birds would let you get. Here she is waving at her new friend.


Our final adventure, was the train on the zoo with grandpa.

What a great weekend. The rest of the day was spent doing household choirs, including some spring cleaning. We moved Jocelyn's "tower" into her bedroom and filled it with all of her animals. Now she loves to run away from me and hide inside with her friends.

Back to the Beach

This past Friday, we headed to the beach for some family fun. Now, as a two going on five year old, Jocelyn loved asserting her independence as she explored the empty beach. Here are some photos of our day.

Mommy buried in sand...(we buried daddy first, but his "sculpture" was not G-rated, so all you get is me....

and of course, Jocelyn wanted to join in on the fun!

Here she is crying because she's two...and let's face it, that just what two year olds do.

Can you believe how big she's getting...and how cute is that bathing suit....

I hope this summer we can plan for many more of these days ahead!

Harriet Oliger

Grandma passed away Wednesday morning.

I cried, got mad and made Noodle Kugel with Ricotta Cheese. I was/am a mess. I really believed that God would heal her and now struggle with the fact that even though he can, he doesn't. Even with this anger have have towards God (don't worry, I hear He's big enough to handle my angry heart), I am well aware that she was a blessing. That many go through life without the precious moments to pull them through.

Grandma made dinner for me nights Cory had class. I worked so hard, she'd say, taking care of a baby and working.

Grandma made anyone feel welcome. Come to her home with a hungry stomach and not only would she feed you, but send you out the door with arms full of leftovers. In fact, I'd just have to hint at having a Saturday free and she'd be organizing a Saturday breakfast for the entire family.

Grandma taught me to quilt, to make magic out of ordinary things, to appreciate the creativity is small crafty items.

Grandma was special. She loved my baby. She loved my husband. I am going to miss her. Miss playing cards. Big family get togethers at her house. Miss the camper and flying kites at the beach.

I will probably be sad for a long time that she won't see Michael get married or Jocelyn grow up. She'll never hold my future babies...G.G.'s girls (or boys). But it's okay to be sad. Being sad makes you realize what you had and I know exactly what I had and will praise God even today for giving her to me as a gift.

The memorial service for Grandma will be at 2:00pm on Sunday at Hardage Giddens Rivermead, 127 Blanding Blvd, Orange Park, FL followed by a get together at Mom's place 257 Whispering Woods, Orange Park, FL 32003.

Our Orlando Adventure

We met the mouse!

Our first trip to Disney was a huge success. It was cold. It was wet. It was worth it. No lines and lots of unique experiences. Great time with family. Cory & I even got some time alone as Jocelyn slept in her stroller through Epcot - we could not have asked for more.

Trip highlights included: Hollywood & Vine

They have a buffet lunch where little ones can play with favorites from playhouse Disney. Leo and June from the Little Einsteins were there. Jocey was beside herself. We could not get into the restaurant fast enough. She danced and got to give hugs and kisses to her favorite Disney characters. I tell you what, I would gladly pay Disney prices for this experience again. Best part, I have the whole thing on video so I can keep this precious moment forever.

Paradiso 37 - Featuring cuisine from the Americas, this was a great place to eat at downtown Disney. I highly recommend the Margaritas.

Transportation (buses, boats, monorail, we could have saved loads and bought Jocelyn a bus pass).

Dumbo and similar rides.

She likes flying around high in the air. We went on the triceratops ride at Animal Kingdom twice, Dumbo (in the rain) and Aladdin's Magic Carpet ride. She would have stayed on these kind of rides all day long.

There are so many other special memories that I am sure I am forgetting something wonderful. (Like Jocey falling asleep in Paul's lap during the Hall of Presidents or her running excited to Daddy after she met Goofy.) It was all truly magical!

Turkey day will be here before we know it.

Can you believe it is November already? This time of year seems to pass too quickly. I love the holidays, but I am not ready to hear Christmas carols while running my daily errands.

Our Halloween went good. We decorated the entire house with spider webs and Jocelyn spent the month of October calling the spiders "flutterflies". The day before Halloween I took the day off work and went to Jocelyn's school. We did arts and crafts and trick-or-treated at the different classrooms. (Well, I trick-or-treated, Jocelyn used the opportunity to weasel her way into the 'big kids' classroom and play with their 'big kids' toys.) Afterwards, I spent the day taking her around to visit friends and family in her costume.

Halloween night, Jocelyn enjoyed going door-to-door for candy. Every time we passed a kid in a costume she recognized (like the witches) she'd point them out. I think at this age viewing the characters was her favorite part. She also had her first taste of candy...mini chocolate M&Ms. She definately has my sweet tooth.

So, the first real Halloween experience was a huge success and one I will forever remember.