Birthday party

Scarlett had her birthday party today. It was a lot of fun to see the family again. Cari and Juan did a nice job decorating the house. And of course, it wouldn't be a party without her cousins Chloe and Will.
The decorations.
Bampa and Uncle Butch, and Chloe, she doesn't sit for long.
Auntie Jan, Auntie Ellen. Uncle Max
Scarlett giving loves to Wil. Her "loves" can also be a little like a "take down."
Juan's mom Pam (Noni), her fiancee, Bob, and Scarlett
My mom, great-gramma Ruth, Little Will (or Parker depending on who is look at this :) and bestfriend and cousin Chloe.
Juan, Cari and Scarlett
Eating her cake. A brand new adventure.
Opening up presents. Linda and Will watching on.
Chloe and Scarlett heading out!

Happy 1st Birthday Precious Baby Girl!

Scarlett turned the big "1" today. This year with our grandgirlies has been so much fun. Don and I think having gg's are the best, at least Don did until his first grandson was born, Luke, and now he is having to rethink that. But we have a lot of fun with them. This is Scarlett when she was about 3 weeks old.
The birthday girl with her Nana and Grandpa. Scarlett looks a lot like her dad, but she jabbers continually like her mom....and...uh.....nana.
Juan is the "Activities Director", Cari is the "Safety Monitor" and Scarlett is "Chairman of the Board" for the Valdes family.

I babysat for Cari this week and on Wednesday Scarlett and I took my mom to the eye Dr. She was quite the little ham. She was a hit in the office.
Scarlett is showing how well she can sit and read in a Dr.'s office (for about 2 seconds).
Don and I babysat for Jim and Alyssa Friday night so they could get out of the house and go to dinner. It was just so much fun. Those babies are sooooooooooo precious.
3 generation Strassburg males.
Luke and Mia, 1 month and 1 week old.

Luke and Mia

Mia has the dark hair and Luke has the blonde. Cuuuuute!!!! They both weigh almost 4-1/2 lbs and feeding on their own now. The Dr.'s said for Jim and Alyssa to get ready for them as they could be going home any day. I was watching Alyssa rock Mia the other day and looked at her and Luke (I was holding) and said, "Alyssa, how could you have carried these two to term." haha She could have but she wouldn't have been moving. Alyssa is so tiny that she makes the babies look big. (I mean she had twins, shouldn't she be showing a little after effects. Where's the justice?) They truly love to be head to head. It seems to calm them. I'm hoping to get a picture of Jim and Alyssa and their babies next.

A hoax!

I've been told by quite a few friends and family that this picture of Obama was a hoax. Honestly! There was even an article in the paper about fraudulent e-mails going around about him. I quit! I'm not voting. Just kidding......

AAAHHHH Election Year

Who to vote for. I know that one vote is not going make any changes but I feel very responsible to vote my conscience. I am a registered Democrat but have not voted that way for quite a few years now. My vote will never go to Hillary (I'm very disheartened that we could'nt come up with a better "1st Female President" candidate than her. Don't get me started!!! :) I will vote for Obama in the primary BECAUSE it will be a vote against H.C. I actually was leaning towards him and McCain but I just received a picture of Obama and a few others standing for the Pledge of Allegiance and he refused to not only put his hand over his heart but he refused to even say the pledge. And this man is looking to be our President and Commander in Chief of the US Military. I just wish that once we could vote for someone that we thought had intelligence and integrity instead of for the person who had the least disreputable ways about them.


We haven't seen the sun for a while now. It's rainy, gloomy and ugly. I've been forced to buy a Vit. D lamp for my health. It was that or drugs and alcohol. I think I chose wisely. :)

My happy places..

Chloe is almost two and soooo much fun. To be able to communicate with her is just so great.

Scarlett is 2 weeks from being one and sooo cute. She is walking now and just jabbers all the time. Her best friend is Chloe.

Luke and Mia are 3 weeks and getting bigger all the time. Mia is almost 4 lbs and Luke is only 2 ounces behind her. Luke has a small round head like Jimmy, with blonde hair, and Mia has a bigger head with dark hair. Mia loves to sleep with her arms outstretched to touch Luke. What a happy place!!!!! Their due date is March 7 and they probably will be able to come home before that.