and I am celebrating Alex - the First

That is ... Alex the first grandchild.

Happy Birthday to my favorite Alex in the whole wide world ... 

my little Scooty Man ... 

the wonderful kiddo that changed me from an ordinary human being into a Nana. 

Seriously, this guy has magical power. 

I remember the details from the day he was born - so clearly. 

I guess that shows how life changing his birth was for me. 

It's amazing how quickly time flies as he changed from a baby to an adorable pre-schooler going off with a backpack almost as big as he was. 

Isn't he adorable ... Mr. Executive. Of course, at that age, he seemed to be keeping his options open.

Or perhaps he may want to have a big John Deere tractor and own his own farm.

I have a feeling that he'll be handsome and charming, whatever he decides to do.

Alex the hunter ...

Alex the loving great grandson to Pretty, who adores him so ...

Alex the crazy cousin who likes to "monkey around" ...

Alex the adorable teen with the winning smile ...

Alex, the brother who doesn't seem to understand his sister 

(or is she trying to figure him out?)

 or Alex ... the lady's man in Hawaii ...

The real Alex is all of the above. But we'll return to my original statement: he is the kiddo with the magical power that changed me into a Nana. For that fact alone, I'll forever be thankful.

Happy Birthday 

Alexander Wade Scooty Man Punkin McDonald Williams

I love you MORE THAN THE WORLD!

Bunches ......

... and I am NOT the "BOMB"

Seriously ... why do people hear a figure of speech and jump on the band wagon without really thinking about the phrase or realizing that what they hear is NOT what was said?

Case in point ... "You are the bomb" ... "They are the bomb" ... "My friend is the bomb" ...

OK, you get the point.

But, what they really should be saying is "You are the BALM".

Think about the saying and what it means. A person is helpful or kind or came to my aid at just the perfect moment. They are a balm. What is a balm? Well, my handy dandy iPhone WORD app says:

balm / ba:m / noun

1. any of various aromatic resinous substances used for healing and soothing
2. semisolid preparation (usually containing a medicine) applied externally as a remedy or for soothing an irritation.

On the other hand, let's check out bomb:

bomb /  bom / noun

1. an explosive device fused to explode under specific conditions
2. strong sealed vessel for measuring heat of combustion
3. an event that fails badly or is totally ineffectual 

Given my druthers, I would never want to be the BOMB. I do not blow up and destroy things. Of course, if your friend is a failure or is ineffective, please go ahead and tell them to their face, "Friend, you are the BOMB".

All of you fine folks, however, soothe me and therefore, you are the BALM!


Love ya bunches...

... and celebrating Libby Bean

Happy First Birthday to

Liberty Annette McDonald

Right after she was born, she was being loved on by Autumn ...

And prayed over by her PaPaw ...

But then, she gave us quite a scare when she became so ill.

Through much prayer for this little one,
she got strong and was able to come home.

And she was able to come to Nana and PaPaw's house. 

 Snoozing in the big bed!

For Halloween, she was a bouquet of flowers.
Prettiest flowers in the world.

Dressed in camo for hunting season. 

Being loved on by Pretty, her great-grandmother.

First portrait of the eight Princes and Princesses.

 Sharing a moment with Uncle Ryan

 Checking out her Easter egg stash.

      

 Isn't that face simply adorable!

Giving some love to Goldie

Checking out the water at the Saginaw Water Park

Snuggled in Nana's arms ... not sure who was enjoying this more!

LIBERTY ANNETTE

OUR BONUS BLESSING!

You are my favorite Libby

in the whole world!

Bunches ... and bunches more ...

and celebrating Robert, our little baby boy

OK ... so the baby boy isn't never was so little. But he is our youngest and therefore, he was, is and will always be our baby boy. There are reasons he was our last child, not the least of which was his birth weight of 10 pounds. That alone was a good reason to quit. But to us, he was our precious little one, and was a delight to the entire family.

Robert with his PaPaw Ballew ... that man loved this baby boy. 

A jolly little baby ... I couldn't believe how good he was. 

Awww, isn't he adorable! Love the overalls. 

He wasn't too sure about this bearded man and

 didn't know why he had his arm around Mommy's waist.

But by this time, he realized that the bearded man brought cool toys. 

Sitting in the bearded man's lap isn't such a bad thing now.

Yes, the day before school pics, he had a skateboard accident.

He left a large portion of his face on the sidewalk in front of the neighbor's house.

But all grown up, he has forgotten about the skateboards.

He has found his beloved Kelly ... 

This is an "almost" family pic. 

You see, Libby hasn't come along yet.

Such a good daddy, he loves his girls. 

Emily enjoyed "hunting" with him.

 Robert and Autumn in the kitchen,

frying up some fish. Yum yum!

Robert with the final addition to his family,

Miss Liberty - a.k.a. Libby Bean!

I don't want to grow up

I'm a Toys-R-Us Kid

Ummm, too late, my son, too late.

Happy 30th Birthday

Robert Andrew McDonald

You're a big kid now!

Bunches, baby boy, bunches!

... and celebrating Ryan

Oddly enough, my children were born in order. Yes, I know all children are born in order, but all of our children were born in the month of July and after our first born has her birthday, then four days later Ryan (the second in line) has his birthday (and we'll discuss the third born child in six days).

So today, we're celebrating Ryan Wayne. He is my older son and shares his father's middle name.

He was always such a happy little guy ... 

love the dimple in his chin. 

That is something he inherited from his PaPaw Mc.

Quite the lady's man in this pic.

He is too cute!

This is one of my favorite "Santa" pictures. 

He had come a long way from the year when he screamed, 

"NO!!! Beki" as she was going up to sit on Santa's knee.

Don't think he ever really loved the baseball thing -- 

but check out those shoes.  

Those shoes ... yup, he really loved those shoes!

Thanksgiving 1997

 Engagement picture with the beautiful Jessica.

February 11, 2006

How special when your son marries the lady he thought he'd never meet.

The birth of Andrew Wayne - made Ryan a happy happier man!

Ryan's very own "Mini Me"

Aren't they a beautiful family!!!

Ryan, you are a blessed man.

From the precious baby I held and rocked ... to the little boy with the cuts and scrapes from bicycle and skateboard accidents ... through the emergency room visits from trampoline mishaps, fork lift encounters and shop class grinders ... then on to be the handsome young man ... watching you become the loving husband, father and all around good guy, I want you to know that you've given me much joy (and more than a few gray hairs). Through all of your years, I have delighted in you and love you more than words allow me to say.

Happy Birthday Ryan Wayne McDonald

Bunches!!!!!