My First Glamma Photo Shoot

Of course I had to have my first "Glamma" Photo Shoot when both my babies were here together.  My favorite find on Black Friday was at J.C. Penny's this T-shirt that reads "Love My Tribe" along with the babies onesies that say "New To The Tribe". Here are some samplings of the pictures taken by my talented daughter Erica;

The Zookeeper's Wife

I read this book quite a few years ago. And when my son, Zach was in school and had to do a World War II book report I told him about it and gave it to him to read. Then when my girls were in High School and it came time for them to do this same assignment, I gave The Zookeeper's Wife to Lexi, and to Erica I gave what was to become one of her all time favorite books; The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom. I don't tend to read a lot of Historical books, but when I do, I like the World War II Era, for both Historical Fiction and Non Fiction. And this is a really good story. It's a true story of Zookeepers who hid over 300 Jewish people in their bombed out Zoo in Warsaw, Poland, even while having it occupied by the military, thus saving their lives.

I was so excited when this Movie Trailer came out and I've wanted to see it since it came out. But not being a big "blockbuster", not all theaters carried it, and the closest theaters to my house were not showing it. We tried to squeeze it in over Easter weekend, but it didn't work out. So we had picked a weekday evening that neither of my girls worked, which doesn't happen often, but I ended up with a migraine. Then this weekend, we decided we were going! So after my girls got off work on Saturday, we drove from Gilbert to a theater in Mesa to see it, only to be told, there were only 8 seats left for the showing, and of course they couldn't guarantee we'd find 4 seats together, or not in the front row, etc. Um, no thank you. We couldn't help but wonder if maybe we're not supposed to see this film! But I really wanted to. So we tried one last time. Sunday evening we drove back to the theater in Mesa, and Finally got admittance into the Zoo! :) The book by Diane Ackerman, is based on the translated journals of Antonia Zabinska, and isn't always easy to follow, or really well written. But it is such a great story, that deserves to be told! The movie is visually stunning. And yes, this is one of the extremely rare instances in which the Movie happens to be even better than the Book! That's right, I said it!! 

Exciting News!

 Come August here in Arizona, this little snowman will be long gone. 

But there will be a new little Forbis joining our Family! 

That's right. I will become a "Glam-ma!" 😊 

We are so excited and couldn't be happier! 

Congratulations Zach & Kendra!! ❤️

We as a Family have been sitting on some very Exciting News! If you've read my Christmas Letter  you would know what I asked Santa for, we'll my wish is being granted. :) On Jan. 2nd, we Skyped with our son, Zach, and daughter in law, Kendra, and they let us know they are expecting! I screamed! My Girls cried! We are all so excited! My Husband and I, now with two married children, have been looking forward to this next step in life of having Grandchildren.

 

They wanted to wait till they were beyond the first trimester to make it public, so as the time neared, we planned a day trip up to Flagstaff, Arizona. Since Zach & Kendra live in Page and the rest of us are in the Phoenix area, this is about half way for us. We got to sled and play in the snow and have dinner together. It was a great day! Our goal was to take some Pictures we could use to announce our happy news. My Niece went up with us and was taking our family picture around a little snow man we built, and jokingly said "This looks like a Baby Announcement!" We all laughed hysterically, then let her in on our secret! I have joked with my kids that when the time came for me to become a grandparent, I could not be called Grandma! That sounded too old! Then one day a saw a license plate that said "Glam-ma" and I knew that would be me! :)

Happy Holidays 2016

"Christmas, my child, is love in action. 

Every time we love, every time we give, it's Christmas."  

(Dale Evens Rogers)

Here's what I see as I look back on this year; John turned the Big Five-Oh! Oh, Believe it. And He was just promoted to Operations Supervisor at the Hospice company he works for. And he freely shares his love of food and drink. Next year will see our 30th Wedding Anniversary! My how times flies when you're having fun! I continue to enjoy my job as a Merchandiser, my Bookclub(s) and volunteering with Dress for Success.

Kyle & Katie celebrated their 2nd Wedding Anniversary, while Zach & Kendra have been Married a year already! Kyle is a Barista and Katie a Nurse at Phoenix Children's Hospital. Zach is now a Park Ranger at Lake Powell, and Kendra Teaches Preschool. All 4 are involved in leading Worship at their Churches. Both couples have taken several trips this year and are enjoying life as Newlyweds! No Grand Children for us yet, but, don't worry, I'm asking Santa!!

Our Girls Graduated from High School, and are now in their last year as Teenagers. (How am I the only one not getting any older?!) Erica is in the Honors Program at Phoenix College, studying to be a Sign Language Interpreter. Lexi is in Cosmetology School and doing really well. Both Girls are working as Receptionists while attending school, and both bought their first car this year. We are beyond Blessed and are so Proud of all our Kids!

2016 has seen much Joy & much Sorrow as well. In February we celebrated John's Moms 84th Birthday, and them we lost her in April. She was a sweet and wonderful woman, and our kids' last remaining grandparent. It's been very difficult. Though we are grateful for the time we had with her and that our children were blessed with the most amazing grandparents.

This was also our girls' first ever presidential election they could vote in. And what a terrible and heart breaking one at that! We still have not yet fully recovered. But all is not lost in the world, for we have been given the Gilmore Girls revival! So you see, there is always Hope! With all going on in the world, this year, more than ever, our wish is for Peace on Earth, Good Will Toward Men.

"Christmas, Children, is not a date. It is a state of mind."

(Mary Ellen Chase) 

Thankful Thursday: Happy Thanksgiving!

 Happy Thanksgiving!

Today I am Thankful for you.

From our Family, to yours . . .

Thankful Thursday: Building A Family!

Today and Everyday, 

I am Most Thankful for this Family we have built . . . 

 We are so Blessed to have our 4 Great Kids!

I look at them with Awe and Amazement!

 Plus our 2 Wonderful Daughter in Laws!

I am my most happy when we are all together!

 And to think It all started with a Blind Date 

that led to a Wedding;

 And we're still going strong! 

I Love Us! I Love Our Family!

Vacation, Had To Get Away . . .

That Go-Go's song goes around in my head while packing for any Vacation! 

We took a little trip to Lake Havasu City, Arizona

Where our Sister & Brother in Law live & have built themselves a Paradise

My Husband's other sister who lives in Colorado, 

flew in & went with us, surprising the family there!

As you can tell, we spent a lot of time in the Pool! 

But you tend to do that in 110 degree weather! 

One of my Happy Places is floating on water, soaking up the Sun! 

I could do that all day, and I practically did! :)  

We were The Vacationers, Reading The Vacationers!!

(Can you tell we're all in the same Book Club?!)

We relaxed, played games, ate some great food

and just had some Family Time!

We did some Thrift Shopping around town

And got Ice Cream, served by our Nieces Daughter! 

My son celebrated his 26th Birthday while we were there! 

I know, it's not possible that I have a child that old!

You can't visit Lake Havasu without seeing The London Bridge! 

It's always nice to get away for a bit! 

Hope you all are enjoying your Summer!

A Daddy Of A Day!

My husband and I we're both extremely Blessed in the Dad department. Two Good Men! Two Great Grandfathers to our kids! Unfortunately, they both celebrated Father's Day in Heaven. We Miss them and Love them so much . . .

 My Dad taught me the importance of Working Hard & Playing Hard! And Loving Hard!! Thanks for being the Man you were to all of us.

 

My husband has often said, regarding his Father "I am who I am because of the influence you were in my life."

And It has been one of my greatest joys in life watching this man of mine become the Father that he is! He is the best Dad our kids could ever have!

Here in Arizona we are having record breaking heat! As you can see in the above photo it was 123' degrees in the car. On Fathers Day, the actual temperature was 118'!

 We had a cookout & swim party at our Daughter-In-Law's parents house! You can't be outside here right now, unless you're in the water! I call the above pic, taken on Father's Day; Enjoying the "Donkey Days" of Summer! ;) I hope you enjoyed your day as well and that all the Dad's out there felt appreciated! Happy Father's Day!

Wicked Themed Graduation Party!!

 

On my girls' 18th Birthday, this past October, we took them to see the Broadway Musical Wicked. The untold story of the witches of Oz. It is so good! If you ever get a chance, go see it! Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth were the first to play the rolls & both won Tony Awards for them!

 Well, my girls fell in love with Wicked! Singing the soundtrack constantly. It was Lexi's Halloween Costume and how she got asked to Prom!! So naturally, when thinking about our up coming Graduation Party, I thought of Wicked! If you know anything about me, you must know that I love Party Planning, and I love a Party Theme!! And with two girls, one who loves Pink & one who's favorite color is Green, this was perfect!

There are a lot of one liners & cute saying's from Wicked, so we started by making posters to hang around the house & back yard. And we incorporated The Wizard of Oz as well, since that is what Wicked is about after all!

Greeting our Guests at the front door was Our Welcome sign! Along with what happens to unwanted guests! ;) Watch out or we might drop a house on you as well! 

I pulled out my Scarecrows I decorate with in the Fall, to sit in the Backyard. Where we turned a Corn Hole Game into "Toss Toss!!" (How Galinda teaches Elphaba to flirt by flipping her hair!) ;) We also strung white lights around the backyard with about 25 Mason Jars with tea lights inside them. And placed candles inside our fire pit (since we live in Arizona & it's too hot to actually use the fire pit!) circled by chairs, which made for a nice outdoor space after the sun went down! 

 

I found this Tin Man cup at Goodwill for $1.99! I've had some little Wizard of Oz figurines since my girls were little, and once had a Wizard of Oz Birthday Party. I put them on a shelf in the entry way with a Playbill from the play! So cute!

Also in the entry way, I sat a vintage suitcase, like is used in the play, along with the Book. Yes, Wicked was a Book before it became a Broadway Musical Sensation! See, you learned something new today! :) Easy, but effective decorating!

Pinterest is a great place to get ideas! We started a Wicked Graduation Party Board awhile ago. You can see ours here.  One idea we got from Pinterest was to make little Witches Brooms out of Pretzel Sticks and mini Peanut Butter Cups. Easy, Cute and Yummy!

For the food, we of course, in Wicked Fashion, had Pink and Green; We had green vegetables, and pink fruit. Made Yellow Brick Roads out of Meat & Cheese trays, Put potato & macaroni salads in pink & green bowls. All served on Pink & Green Plates & Napkins. We ordered Pink & Green Cup Cakes, but no place had Wicked themed cake decorations, so my creative daughter, Erica made some Good Witch Crowns & Bad Witch Black Hats Picks for the cupcakes. They looked so cute!

 

I made a Poster board for the gift table, of pictures of them through the years, from birth through Graduation, that said "Follow Your Own Yellow Brick Road!" Perfect for Twins! 

 

I also found this idea for Party Favors on Pinterest; Changed For Good is one of the great songs of Wicked! So we made a sign saying "If knowing Erica and Lexi has Changed your life For Good, wear a pin." Then we had a Dorothy Basket with pins we'd had made, by my son's friend who has a pin business with one of their senior pictures on them. They turned out really great, and everyone loved them! You can find him here on Instagram.

 

 

Other party decorations included Pictures of the girls, and Their High School, along with sayings from the Play or Movie . . . 

 

We found little magic wands and wanted Ruby Slippers to set around, but couldn't find any. Maybe if it had been around Halloween time, we could have found more Wizard of Oz & Wicked stuff. But what we did find was little plastic Cinderella shoe pencil sharpeners at Party City, we bought like 12 of them and some Red sparkly spray paint & made our own! You can see them throughout some of the pictures. 

 

Our Party was Open House Style, guests could come between 6 & 10 pm. We had Family & Neighbors come. Some Friends we hadn't seen in a very long time, or not nearly often enough. And a bunch of our girls' High School Friends! Our little house got pretty full at times. It was loud & fun!!

 We are so proud of our Girls! They are both Brilliant, and Beautiful! And are each headed to Great Places, with Bright Futures!! Stay Tuned & just watch them Defying Gravity!

 Congratulations Erica! 

Congratulations Alexia! 

We couldn't be Happier! 

Or Prouder!!