My Day With Melly

I had such a great day with my niece on Monday. I took her to the "dollar store" - you know those stores where everything is a buck? Man, I love those places! She thought she was in heaven when I told her she could pick a couple of things out. You would have thought I'd just given her the world. I usually go there to get flowers and things for my craft projects and also flowers to place on my grandmothers' graves. I usually visit them about once every two months or so and always during the holidays.

Anyway, Melly picked out a "Lady Sheriff" kit - which I thought was hilarous. She also got a package of bubbles - which is always fun.....and a bottle for her stuffed animal. I saw her grab that and it took me back to when I was little. Only the ladies will probably remember these, but you know those bottles that had either milk or OJ in them, and you turn them upside down and it looks like your doll is drinking it? Man....they were great!

Right when we left the second cemetery, it started to thunder and lightening and I heard the tornado sirens going off. As soon as we hit the expressway, it started to hail. BIG TIME. Now....ever since my accident (back in '95), I don't like driving in really hard rain. I just get really anxious. I started getting that panicky feeling and looked over at my niece - she was just sitting there with her coloring book - going to town. I thought...."Wow....the innocence of babes."

Here's some pics from our day together. She took a couple too! I could just eat her up.

I'm one of those people who can't stand to see arrangements lying on the ground after the wind has blown them over. I usually pick them up and put them in the closest vase. I'm weird like that. As soon as we get out of the car, Melly ran over to some flowers that had blown out and did the exact same thing. It floored me! She's so cute it makes me want to cry.

The cool thing about this picture is that my great-grandfather took one of me in the same chair when I was about her age. Same pose and everything. My whole family (mother's side) is buried in this cemetery and we have spent alot of time there over the years. I just think it's neat that I shared the same experience with her, as my great-grandpa did with me.

Is she a diva-in-training or what? She is the biggest ham I've ever seen - when she's in the mood for pictures! She just hopped right up in that chair and went straight into this pose and it took all of my willpower to keep from laughing.

Here's another pose from the princess!

And another.....

This is her first photo attempt. I actually kinda like it!

Here's her second attempt - which actually blew me away! It may be one of my favorites ever taken! There's just something about it!

Blowing Bubbles

She loves looking at my blog. I'm sure it's because there's so many pictures of her in it! LOL! She wanted to send a picture to all of my e-buddies to show you some love. ;o) She's only five and already knows how important it is to network. Watch Out World!

Three hours of running and playing took it's toll and the eyes slowly started to close.

I had to take her back home and it was really sad for me. I didn't want them to leave. I sure miss the days when they lived right around the corner. I'm actually thinking of taking a trip up to New York to see them before my bro-in-law is deployed. I would really like that.

P.S. Right before they left, my sis and bro-in-law went to the OB/GYN here in town. IT'S A GIRL!!!!! My poor dad. He's been surrounded by women from the beginning and it doesn't look like that's going to change any time soon! ;o)