Iva Lorraine Holtmeyer:

Iva Lorraine Holtmeyer 8 lbs. 7 oz.

This is the picture I received when Iva was born.  I responded with, "Oh my gosh are you kidding me? I'm crying".

I was so happy April had a little girl.  April and I have such a good relationship, I wanted April to enjoy having a daughter.
Iva is my Mom's middle name.  April had just found out she was pregnant the week Momma was dying and was keeping it a secret.  I had just found out that day as April came over to visit.  April whispered to Mom she was pregnant and if it was a girl, her name would be Iva.  Later in the day, Mom said there is a baby named Iva.  My sister Judy said, no Mom we don't have any babies named Iva.  I like to think Momma knew it would be a girl.
Lorraine is Mike's grandma's name.  She also passed away in 2015.  She was very special to all  her grandkids and April really liked her.
So, Iva Lorraine is name after her great grandmothers.  What a special way to remember them.

I am so grateful we were blessed with this special little girl.

Iva's Bench:

April had a teddy bear bench that I got at the Extravaganza years ago.  I stained it a pretty shade of pink.  Over the years, it has lost several of the wooden "buttons".  I checked at Hobby Lobby and thought sure they would have them.  No luck, but did find them at Lowe's.  I couldn't keep it stained pink as my great nephew had marked all over the seat with a magic marker.
I had been reading online about Annie Sloan chalk paint and all the magical results.  It's quite expensive.  I ordered a quart along with a paste wax to seal the piece.

The color of the bench before I started.

With the primer.  The paint says you don't have to prime but I wanted to cover up the magic marker.

The finished piece.  I used Annie Sloan Antoinette Color.  It's a pretty shade of light pink.  April had suggested I do it in white and have the pink show through where I distressed it.  I thought that was a good idea but their white had a yellow tint to it.

Since I'm not big on distressing, I just lightly distressed the bench.  I think it turned out pretty good.  For the amount of money I spent on the paint, I think I could have just used any type of paint and distress it.  I don't know what the big deal is about the chalk paint.  It wasn't suppose to leave brush marks but it did.

  Iva will be one tomorrow and this is her present.  So hard to believe a year has passed already.

I am so grateful to be a Grandmother.

Pig Roast Weekend:

Friday:
I went to Wal-Mart's to get stocked up on food to take over the weekend.
Saturday:
I worked on Iva's bench.  I think it looks okay.  Not used to distressing a piece of furniture.
Made ham 'n beans and a chocolate cake to take over for the fish fry.  After I got loaded up, it started pouring down rain. I went by to check on Dad and he was feeling a little better. It hadn't let up by the time I got there.  I called Dwayne and told him I was there and would come down to the cabin after the rain let up.  Not soon after, Zach showed up with an umbrella to escort me down to the cabin.  It is raining very heavily, we waded threw water and was thoroughly drenched when we go there.  I would have gladly waited it out but it was so sweet of Zach to come and get me.  We waited around while the rain finally stopped.  We then went to the big canopy for the fish fry.  It started to rain again but we didn't let that stop us.  The sky turned an ugly mixture of colors but we were all fools and stayed out in it.  I left to go home and it rained so hard, I could barely see the road.  Then it started hailing but not very big.

Sunday:

I'm Secretary/Treasurer for the Davis Cemetery.  I had paperwork for the President and Vice-President to sign so I headed over there.  I was surprised at the amount of people already there.

Headed back home as I had food in the oven.  Fortunately, it wasn't raining but was very cloudy and overcast.  By the time I got there, the sun had come out and we had a very nice day.  We have a good group of friends that come.  We were missing a few and I think all the rain scared them awaay.

The cutting up of the hog.

We were all stuffed by the time we got done eating.  The hog was delicious and we had some very good side dishes.  The kids always have fun.  They have the old fashioned kind of swings and a couple ropes with knots in them.  They love jumping off the wagon with these ropes.

Xander and my little Cashy.

   Another activity they love is for Dwayne to let them get in the bucket of the tractor and take them for a ride.

Of course Cash thinks he'd driving.  He had a great time.

Now that's a bucket load of kids.

Biggest bubble blowing contest.

Everyone had a good time visiting and watching the kids have such a good time.

Monday:

I cleaned up the dishes from the pig roast and cleaned out my car.  Went to visit Dad and then not much the rest of the day.  Dwayne and the kids (grownup but I still call them kids) went over to clean up after the Pig Roast.  Dwayne was asleep by 7:30.

Tuesday:

Work day and then we met some of my extended family at Penelope's in Rolla for Brayden's 14th birthday.  He is my cousin, Teresa's grandson.  There was quite a crowd there.  We stopped on the way home to check on Dad and take him some Sprite.  Tim and his friend, Steffanie came down to the house for pick up some pork as there is no way Dwayne and I can eat the leftovers.

Wednesday:

I worked at Something Special Florist in Rolla.  I go in on my day off each week and to their bookkeeping.  I love that job.  I wish they had more work.  Stopped at Dairy Queen and got me and Dad a strawberry milkshake.  Stopped off at Dad's and was happy to see he was feeling better.  Went home and mowed the grass.  We have such a huge yard, it takes forever.

Been a busy week but a fun one.

I am grateful for the amount of friends and family we have and the times to get together.

Weekend Update:

Friday:
We stayed home as Dwayne was getting stuff (limb trimmer, weed eater, lawn mower, tractor, brush hog, etc) ready to go for Saturday.
Saturday:
We have a big pig roast every Memorial Weekend.  This tradition started forty years ago with my Father-In-Law and a bunch of his kids.  You never get out of going-you have to.  But who's arguing; it's fun, you get to visit friends and family you haven't seen in awhile, good food and games.
The location we had the pig roast was canceled after 2006.  Andy (my Father-In-Law) asked Dwayne about having it at his lake the next year.  Unfortunately, Andy passed away January 9th, 2007.  We inherited the land and lake and David got the house.  Dwayne said we should go ahead and take up the tradition of the pig roast, so here's to year number ten at the lake.
The weekend before is clean up.  The guys go in to clean and it looks like a park when they're finished.
I stayed at home to work on a small teddy bear bench April had when she was small.  I'm refinishing it for Iva's first birthday.  This is the first time I've distressed a piece of furniture.  Not sure if I like it.

Jasa and Dwayne.  Jasa is the daughter of our friends, Phil and Carol.  We received some sad news over the weekend that our dear friend, Phil has throat and lung cancer.  We're praying for a good outcome.

Sunday:
I went to church.  To be honest, I don't get much out of it anymore.  Our pastor is not very good.  I have tried and tried to have an open mind and accept her, but it's just not happening.  I don't want to switch churches as I feel it's not good to church hop.  I just keep praying for the situation.
After church, I went by Dad's and was going to take him out to eat at The Vichy Wye.  Dad was very sick.  He'd been up most of the night.  I stayed for awhile and then went to Vichy where they were cleaning up.  I wish I would have taken some pictures of the guys working so hard.  There was three lawn mowers going at once.  I then went to Todd and Michelle's and visited awhile, then back to check on Dad.  He's still sick and has been all week.  Judy took him to the doctor and they didn't even listen to his heart.  It was apparent he was dehydrated but the doctor told him he just had a virus and left the room.  Does he think that because my Dad is ninety-two, he doesn't require care?  Judy was very aggravated.
We went to the cemeteries and put out flowers.  I know our loved ones aren't there, but there is still a connection and a sense of reverence when we go.  Sure do miss our parents and friends.

Overall, it was a busy weekend.  I am grateful for friends and family that help and share their friendship.

Little Helper:

Cash helping Susie make brownies.

Feeding Iva while April cooks.

Cash loves to help.  When he's at the house, he always wants to help me cook.  He helps April out quite a bit.  He's always picking up toys, "helping" to fold laundry, throwing trash away, unloading the dishwasher (he does mine, also) and now wanting to feed Iva.  And of course, we all know how much he likes to help Papa with the cows or anything outside.

I am so grateful for this little boy that calls me Nana.

Weekend Update:

Friday:
I saw on Facebook advertisements for a new restaurant, Sydney's in Rolla.  I had been wanting to try it.  I didn't much care for it.  Dwayne ordered the Prime Rib and his was good.  I do have to say the french fries were very good.
Saturday:
Dwayne had a very unsuccessful day of working on tractors.  I cleaned around the house and cleaned my cabinets.  They certainly need it.
Dad came down to visit.  Quiet evening.
Sunday, Mother's Day:
Instead of cooking, I ordered pizzas from Penelope's in Rolla.  Dwayne went to pick them up.  The kids and Dad came down.  We had a good time visiting on the front porch.

April, Chad and Todd (and ME!!)

April and Iva.  Love this picture

April, Iva, Dad & Me.

Iva & Me.

Iva, Me and Cash. 

Cash loves to line up his trucks.

 After the kids left, we went and visited Aunt Jessie and Uncle Warren Licklider.  Got caught up on all the family news and had a good visit.
On the way home, we stopped by Todd and Michelle's camper.  Carl and Melba (Michelle's parents) were there also.  Always good visiting with them.

 Todd and Michelle are selling their place and going to live on their new land in the camper while they build.  They put their house on the market seven days ago and already have a contract on it.
They've been doing some work on the camper and it's looking real nice.
Monday:
On my way home from work, my nephew, Wayne called and invited us to a fish fry. We had fish, potatoes and fish tacos.  They were really good and it was nice not to cook.  We had a good time visiting.

I am most grateful for my kids on Mother's Day.  They made me feel very special.  Family is so important.

Terrific Tuesday: