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Meet Nathan

Nathan is my adorable, big blue eyed, melt-your-heart-with-his cuteness, nephew.  Yes my sister Ashley and her lovely husband Drew make a pretty cute kid.

He was not available for questioning at the time of this post so I as the Aunt took the liberty to make comments on each of these photos based on what I think Nathan was thinking at the moment each photo was taken.

Top picture.........Hi everyone, I just woke up and am a little woozy.  I'm guessing from this bib around my neck that it's time to eat.  I hope it's pudding.  I like pudding.

2nd picture.......Oh goodie....she's not getting out the veggies!

3rd picture........What do you mean I'm not supposed to eat the eclair first.  I dare you to try to stop me!

4th picture........Boxes are fun.  Tell the family to save their money and start saving boxes.  Dear Santa, I want boxes.  The bigger and more house like the better.

So thanks for meeting Nathan.  Proud Aunties love to show and tell!

 

Brenna Gives Bob a Faux-Hawk

Because Bob is the sweetest, silliest, kid-at-heart Uncle in the universe.  

Fourth of July weekend was spent with our family up north at my Brother's beautiful log cabin on Post Lake.  

We had just finished up lunch when Brenna our niece (who could probably get anyone to do almost anything ....she's just so cute) came up to Bob with a bottle of blue hair gel and said..."Uncle Bob, can I give you a faux hawk?"  I already knew what the answer would be.  

I was sitting right next to them as the styling took place.  I only heard Bob semi-moan once as a big glop of blue slimey gel slithered off of his head and into his ear.  Eeeww it's wet he said.  Brenna and I just giggled as the process continued.  Bob has stick straight hair so she really wrangled it hardcore.  She must have used a half a bottle on it.  Finally she said it was as good as it was going to get.  

Uncle Bob proudly sported his faux hawk until it undid itself after a round of water skiing.  

Good times.

17 Bad

Ok, so I just went downstairs into my kitchen to say goodbye to my niece Brooke who was over for the last three hours baking cookies with dear husband Bob.  They like to get together for baking sessions as often as possible.  It's their bonding time.  Sounds like some wholesome family fun right?  

That's what I thought too....until I saw this note on the counter.  

"What's this?" I asked pointing to the note sitting in front of them and the plates full of the cookies. (Cookies were made to take on the big family get together in Wisconsin this weekend)

Both Bob and Brooke start giggling and looking all pleased with themselves.  Brooke said that Bob made her count and separate the good from the bad cookies onto different plates.  Then he had her take the amount of good cookies and divide it by the number of people coming to the cabin.  And as you can see.....they "each can have 4 cookies."  As if counting and dividing cookies wasn't wacky enough it quickly dawned on me that the 17 bad cookies sitting on a plate off to the side from the other plates was the one batch that I was in charge of while they went to pick up pizza for dinner.  Yes, my cookies were the 17 bad cookies.  And guess what?  They don't even get to come to the holiday weekend.  I was told they were for me to eat.  I was told that as Bob set them into the freezer.  I guess I get to eat them frozen.  

So now I'm still standing in the kitchen with Bob and Brooke and I completely have no hard feelings towards Brooke because I fully know who is behind this.  My husband is so competitive and such a people pleaser (try pleasing me you turkey) that he just could not risk having to take credit for my slightly more done but nevertheless delicious cookies.  He's like that.  And what is so appropriate is that he wrote 76 God cookies instead of good cookies.  I'm sure he thinks his cookies are God cookies.  

But according to my math,   17 delicious crispy cookies for me.....and 4 cookies for everyone else.   Looks like I win!

Proud Auntie

That's me. The super proud aunt.    Hope you don't mind if I share a couple of photos with you of my niece Brooke and nephew Danny.  Last weekend they both went to prom for the first time. 

Danny is a great big brother.  He never picks on little sis Brooke.  I think they both look fabulous.  My sister Courtney and her sweet husband Brandon make cute kids.  Can you still call them cute when they are teenagers?  

Here is Danny with his girlfriend Amanda and Brooke with her date Andre.  My, what a good looking group you all make.  Amanda looks so elegant and Andre looks happy to be taking Brooke to the prom and he should!

My sister Courtney sent me these photos so I could share them with you all and she also sent me a project that Danny's girlfriend Amanda did for school.  She had to create an ad and to our surprise she chose to base hers on our store moxie.  

 

I must say that I was really floored by this ad.  She drew all of these fun items that can be found in moxie by hand and I think she  picked  graphic items which really represent our store well. My favorite part is the line....come to moxie for all of your sensational needs.  My needs are always sensational.  I love a strong adjective!

 Rumor has it she received a perfect score for this project.   She definitely deserved it!  

Thanks so much Amanda!  I love it.

I love being an Aunt.  I try hard to be the cool Aunt.  It kind of helps that I have two stores filled with fun stuff that I can give them when Courtney's back is turned.  Spoil my nephews and nieces??? Who me? Never.

Sweet Manipulations by Bob

Recently I found a cute little flower pot and it reminded me of this story about Bob.

Here's the flower pot.

Here's the story....

One night Bob and I were watching tv together and he asked me for a back rub.  I declined gently with a proclamation of "Not tonite honey.  I'm too tired."  I figured he could go a night or two without a back rub considering he gets one from me an average of six nights a week. He is an attention seeking missile and I know and accept that completely.  But sometimes a girl just needs to kick back and relax.  

About five minutes later he struck again.  Only this time he had re-formulated his plan of attack.  This is what he said.  "As a sign of friendship will you give me a back rub?"  Wow, I thought to myself.  This guy is good.  He is playing on my weakness which is the solidarity, loyalty, friendship card.  Those that know me well know that I am huge on being loyal to those in my inner circle....be that friends or family.  If you make it in you're in for life.  If there is something that you need I will try to help you get it.  And of course dear Bob husband for almost twenty years is at the tippy top of my friends list so he pulled out the friendship card.

If I refused to give him the back rub I would in a very overly dramatic way be saying I wasn't his friend.  If I give him the rub I get to prove what a "good friend" I am and make this love starved husband of mine happy.  

So as I was looking at him I could see in his eyes the little twinkle of recognition that he had me.  I'm crusty on the outside but a big bowl of sap on the inside.  He knows this.  He plays me like a fiddle and I guess I let him.   I can't resist Bob and his manipulative and desperate pleas for affection.   I just cant.  Call me a sucker because I am.  But don't think this little game doesn't go both ways because it does.  Coincidence that every time I ask Bob to take a drive with me in my van it's (whoops) completely on empty??? That's right, I hate pumping gas and guess what, I haven't done it in years.

That little token of friendship planter is what triggered the memory of Bob and his sign of friendship plea.  He'll act like he's mad that I told it...but hey it's just another form of attention and we know he loves that.  The end.

  

Look at what Sandra Made.

Awhile back our dear friend and former co-worker Sandra purchased this fun 70's owl needlepoint front from us.  She had herself a big ol' sewing day recently and this is one of her

results.  I like the soft green trim she embellished the pillow with.  The color matches perfectly.  

Maybe I'm tellling secrets here but rumor has it she just purchased the most adorable vintage pig embroidery from us and I'm wondering if she'll share the photo with us when she whips that into a wonderful new "pillow friend" for Mr. Owl.  Why are all my friends so much more crafty than me.  Darn it anyway.  

I shouldn't complain because I have been on the receiving end of my friends craftiness and generosity on numerous occasions.  A couple of years back we had the fun opportunity to have a guest bedroom of ours photographed for a decorating magazine and the bed needed dressing up before the shoot.  I think I mentioned frantically that I was going to run to TJ Maxx to buy some fancy pillows when Sandra immediately suggested that we get together and make some with my stash of vintage fabrics.  

I must admit that Sandra made me feel like I really helped out even though we both know that all I did was iron the fabric and most likely distract her from the task at hand.  I might have handed her things as well.  That's it.  

In one power session "we" (I mean Sandra) were able to make all of these pillows.

Whenever I look at them I am reminded of Sandra's generosity and talent.  I wish I could sew and when I was a newlywed in the early 90's I took a sewing class that met once a week in Elgin.  After about 6 weeks they kindly asked me if I wanted my money back or in other words let me know not to come back.  This is a true story.  In their defense, at the beginning of every class I was the only one who still couldn't remember how to thread the stinkin bobbin.  I do have memory problems and I think I just required too much assistance.  Twenty years later I have learned how to put my lack of focus to good use.  It works wonders at estate sales where you have to run around like a chicken with your head cut off and make instant and potentially expensive decisions in a snap.  I can process tons of info quickly....but ask me a week later what I bought and I probably couldn't tell you.  

The bed itself came from another friend of mine Trish.  She purchased it in California from the estate of the artist who created the "Marlboro Man".  She drove it all the way back and then offered it to me first as she knew I might love it for our big old house.  She was right!  Gosh it's nice to have such wonderful friends!

Happy Birthday to Bob

You make the word a better place with your kindness, sense of humor and generosity.  I am so lucky to have met my perfect match.  Only you could find my quirks as lovable as you do.  Every time I hear this song I am reminded of my good fortune and of you.

Time Flies When You're Married To Bob

Pat & Sophie Pay a Visit

Ding Dong....my door bell rings and who's outside my door???

It's Pat my neighbor/co-worker extraordinaire with her gorgeous young dog Sophie.

 Lucky for us, Pat's dad had given her dozens of homegrown tomatoes which she used to create a huge batch of her special red sauce and that act of generosity spiraled off into another as she generously shared a batch of her delicious sauce with us.  (can I just say here that sharing is fun!)

I had my camera handy so I was able to get a quick snap of Pat and Sophie.  Sophie is a Labradoodle...although more doodle than labra.  Isn't she gorgeous?  She's even prettier in person.  Sophies not bad either. :)

Pat + Sophie + homemade red sauce = unexpected goodness.  Thanks so much!

Well Would You Look At This....

 

Well, can you believe it....my attention seeking sister Courtney was so desperate for you all to know today is her birthday she hacked into my blog and posted this picture.  I mean really, what some people won't do for attention.  Sheesh!

She's probably hoping that you all will leave her warm birthday greetings or even stop in today at MMHG to wish her Happy Birthday in person.  She's all into that. 

Oh and umm Courtney....this counts as a real birthday card doesn't it????? love, mm