FIFTY ONE WEEKS TO GO,

AND IF EACH ONE IS AS GOOD AS THE LAST ONE,

WE'RE IN FOR A GREAT YEAR.

CAROL AND DENNIS 

GAVE US THIS FRAME,

AND IT SAYS IT ALL!

I KNOW YOU'RE WONDERING,

WHAT IN THE WORLD!

WELL, THIS WAS THE BEGINNING

OF THAT FIRST WONDERFUL WEEK. 

JUST GIVE PAPA A REASON,
SOME TOOLS,
AND A JUNK YARD,
AND HE'S A HAPPY CAMPER. 

GABE GAVE HIM THE REASON,
(A BROKEN FRONT LIGHT)
SO THEY GRABBED SOME TOOLS,
AND HEADED OFF TO THE NEAREST
PICK - N - PULL.

 THAT ACCOMPLISHED,
IT WAS TIME TO PUT  ON THE SPOILER
THAT WAS FROM A PREVIOUS TRIP
TO THE JUNK YARD.

GABE'S ALL SMILES NOW,
WITH THE SPOILER ON,
BUT I DID SEE HIM CRINGE
WHEN PAPA STARTED DRILLING THE HOLES
FOR IT, IN THE BACK OF HIS CAR.

NOT SURE WHY I'M ADMITTING THIS,
SINCE THERE AREN'T
ANY PICTURES TO PROVE IT,
BUT WHILE GABE AND PAPA
WERE BUSY WORKING ON THE CAR,
SAM AND I DID A MARATHON DAY
ON THE COUCH.
WE STARTED WITH WATCHING
THE ROSE BOWL PARADE,
AND WATCHED EVERY
BOWL GAME IN BETWEEN,
FINALLY FINISHING UP
WITH THE ROSE BOWL.SOPHIA'S TURN,
AND PAPA WOKE HER UP THE NEXT DAY
WITH SOME DONUT HOLES.BREAKFAST OF CHAMPIONS! 

WE HEADED FOR THE CRAFT STORE.
ME FOR SOME YARN,
HER FOR SOME GLUE.
SHE'S THE SLIME MAKER
QUEEN!
SO FAR SHE'S SHOWN ME
THREE DIFFERENT WAYS TO MAKE IT.

NOT QUITE DONE,
A LITTLE TOO STICKY.

THIS FEELS BETTER.

PERFECT!  

THE NEXT TWO VISITORS WERE

RAY
AND
NORA 

AND THEIR PARENTS,
OF COURSE.
THEY CAME TO TAKE ME
OUT FOR A BIRTHDAY LUNCH.
I JUST KEEP CELEBRATING
DON'T I?

JUST GET ME OUT OF MY CAR SEAT,
AND I'M ALL SMILES,
HUH RAE.

MMM, THAT TOMATO TASTES PRETTY GOOD, DOESN'T IT.

COUSIN NORA IS TOO YOUNG
TO DO ANY TASTING,
SO SHE SLEPT ALL SNUGGLED,
IN A PACK ON HER MAMA,
WHILE WE ALL ENJOYED OUR LUNCH. 

WHEN WE GOT HOME,
SOPHIA AND JEN CAME FOR A VISIT.
TRUTH BE KNOWN,
THEY COULD HARDLY WAIT
TO SEE THE BABIES.
LOOKS LIKE NORA
IS HAVING A GOOD LITTLE CHAT
WITH SOPHIA, OR IS THAT CRYING?

CHAT OVER 

SOPHIA RETREATS TO HER
HAPPY PLACE.

THE EVENING FOUND ME WITH
 ANOTHER GRANDAUGHTER, EMILY.
SHE WAS WEDDING DRESS SHOPPING,
AND INVITED ME ALONG.
DON'T THINK SHE'S FOUND
THAT PERFECT WEDDING GOWN YET,
BUT SHE TRIED ON QUITE A FEW.
NO PICTURES,
YOU HAVE TO WAIT
FOR THE WEDDING DAY
TO SEE THE
THE BEAUTIFUL BRIDE!

 AND - HERE I AM IN MY HAPPY PLACE!
THE END OF A PERFECT DAY,
AND A PERFECT WEEK,
IN A PAIR OF MY NEW PAJAMAS,
AND THE LUXURIOUS ROBE
THAT BRITTNEY AND ABBEY
HAD BROUGHT ME FOR MY BIRTHDAY.

LIFE IS GOOD!