Monday, January 29, 2007

Weekend Update & a Photo Overload!



(Aren't they cute? Those are my parents at our Saturday lunch to celebrate their anniversary.)

But first . . .

I guess you noticed that my blog has a new look!! Hurray!!

Thank you SO MUCH to my sweet Gary, for helping me put it together. With some great links from both Telah and Jessi, I (well, me pretending like I knew what I was doing... but really Gary figuring it all out), was able to manipulate a photo and then transform it into my banner.

The photo is also courtesy of Gary, and I just LOVE the look of it. It just makes me really happy when I look at it .. . know what I mean? (It's sunrise at Tybee Island, from our vacation this past summer. Gary said that there's no way I could have taken that picture--not because I can't take pretty good pictures, but because I could never get up that early to take a sunrise picture. LOL)

And now... a little bit of a weekend update:

On Friday night, I went to a really cool fundraising event for Delaney's travel softball team. It was a Girls Bunko Night--everyone donated $30 and then there were prizes for like 4 different winners. Of course, I won DIDDLY SQUAT, but it was fun!

This picture cracked me up because... well... I guess we should have called it Beer n' Bunko. (I had a glass of white wine, and then Coke the rest of the evening, but some of the gals REALLY enjoyed it a bit much!)



On Saturday, we went down to Tuscaloosa to meet Mom and Dad for an anniversary lunch get-together. Major disappointment, though, when we found out that The Cypress Inn (one of my favorite restaurants EVER, that I told you all about on my post Friday) was closed for lunch on Saturday (now tell me, does that make sense??). We altered our plans and went much more casual, meeeting at Chili's instead. My brother, Christopher, and his two boys also met us and we had a BLAST!

A few pics of the girls as we got ready to head out (they were stylin!) . . .





The girls with their Grandma and Grandad. They love them SO much . . .



Mom looking at the gift I made for them (go to the bottom of my post to see more details about this; it was SO fun to make!) . . .



Christopher and Sydney . . .



My girls always enjoy their food! It always ends up all over their face or on their clothes, and they really get INTO the process (well, they learned from the best--ME, the biggest food fan of them all!) . . .





After eating, we did some shopping at Books-a-Million and JcPenney's. It's like this really funny family tradition for Mom and Dad to go shopping at Penney's when they have their 75% off end-of-season-sales. It's like we have to see HOW much money we can save! LOL Well, we really racked up this time! I think the total bill was about $80, with us saving over $300. VERY fun finding all of those super deals!

When we got home that night, the girls put on another "Hannah Montana" performance for us. Too cute! But the best part of it all was that it involved all three girls honestly enjoying each other's company. (So nice when they get along.) Here's Delaney performing the song and dance that McKenna choreographed . . .



Saturday night was a lot of piddling around the house, washing clothes, and doing some grocery shopping (exciting! LOl) And then Sunday was church, softball practice for Delaney, more church, and some basketball watching. Oh and--FREEZING!!! It was SO cold this weekend and no relief in sight!

Now . . . here are a few peeks at the gift I made for Mom and Dad. It was SO fun to make, particularly because I had this germ of an idea and it actually developed into something so cute.

I started with a note card holder I found at the Dollar Tree (yep, for one dollar!) . . .



The little "purse" clasps open and shut at the top and the inside was just large enough to hold some photos. So, I made little "mini scrapbook pages" and tied them up a bow. The theme was "40 Years Later . . ." and showcased some recent photos of the family (especially the grandkids) . . .



Some of the inside pages . . .





I really like how these turned out and I'm thinking of making some blank ones (maybe make the theme, "The Loves of My Life . . .") and sell them at the Scrapbook Event we're having at our church on Feb. 10 as a fundraiser. I may try it!

Well, it's now almost 1 a.m. and I'm starting to drift off a bit. (If I go back and read what I just wrote, I bet there's a ton of typos and spelling errors since my eyes are slowly closing!) I will look forward to surfing around some and reading all of YOUR weekend updates!

Have a good one!!

27 comments:

Nancywithajones said...

looks like you all had a great time anyway. Love the new look of your blog... I need to change my header but I cant decide which pic to put.
Your looks great!! I love the little mini album you made your parents and the girls look TOTALLY adorable all gussied up to go to lunch. Im all about finding some deals. Soon as Im well enough I will be hittin up some pennys myself. Got to lose some of this BOO TEEEH so I can fit in some cool clothes. Glad yall had a great time. and chilis aint so bad I LOVE their onion blossom thingy!

Anonymous said...

wow wow wow!!! Cheryl, so loving your purse book you made your mum - so beautiful!!! And that photo of Sydney styling up is priceless!!!
I so love it when you visit - thanks so much for making me smile :)
Much love,
Lusi x

Bare said...

Wow! So much to comment on! FIRST, I LOVE the new look! It looks great! As always, love the pics-- Your parents look so sweet, and the girls, too cute as always! I hate you didn't win anything at the fundraiser. We've got one coming up at church, soon! The pocketbook you made was gorgeous! You've got such talent!! :0)

CyndiAKADisneyqueen said...

That album is too cute.

Susie said...

Hi Cheryl,
What a beautiful family! Congratulations to your Mom & Dad on their 40th Anniversary! You did a wonderful job with the little memory book, I'm sure they'll treasure it!
:)

aimee said...

I love the album!

Adrienne said...

Everything looks wonderful!!!! love the new look of your blog!!

Unknown said...

I could have told you how to do the banner pic thing. All you had to do was ask. I mean why get Gary involved in it. He'll probably have to go and lie down for a week now to recover from exerting his brain because of it (eh Gary? you can thank me later dude for giving you a few days rest, ha!)

I win diddly squat all the time too. That's those little boxes that when you open them there is a fresh supply of air in them, right? I love winning those, it chokes me up every time. In fact I may have to step out of the office for one second, I'm being overwhelmed with emotion right now .....

Cheryl Wray said...

Nancy--Thanks!! I was so excited to get a new banner and pic up! Oh yeah, the food was good!
Lusi--So great to see you pop by again!! The purse book really did turn out cute!!
Miss--You are so sweet!
Disney--Thanks!
Susie--Thanks! My family is very special!
Aimee--Thanks!
Adrienne--It was time for a sprucing-up! It feels much better in here now!
Gareth--Oh boy, I'm sorry I didn't come ask help from you first!! Then, Gary wouldn't have been so put out with me for asking him over and over and over again for help (when he really just wanted to watch tv)! LOL Yep, I always win Diddly Squat!

Unknown said...

No no it's fine. At least I now know where I stand in our relationship. I wont expect anything from you ever again. It's ok really. Gary can have you and I hope you'll be very happy together after your kids have all left home and you are shuffling around in your house together in Gary's pink elephant slippers. I'll just be a distant memory at that stage.
I'm thankful that I found out before it was too late.
Now I must be left alone for a while to begin the grieving process and to thrash some thorny roses across my back ....

Unknown said...

YAY!!!!! Love your banner!!! and I am glad that I was able to help!!! That photo is beautiful!!! An I so know that feeling of "woohoo, look at what I did!!" when you get it figured out!! Looks like ya'll had a ton of fun with your folks!!! and gotts say again...your girls are just too cute!!! Lovin' that project you made...so cool!!! have a fabulous day...ciao for now!!

Unknown said...

Hey C - Now do me a favor!! I need you to write a post for me today. Otherwise I'm going under the assumption that since I did 2 on friday that I can skip Monday!!

Cinderella said...

Great pictures as always Cheryl!! I love D's throw blanket, the Care Bears rock! haha

The new banner and the new profile picture are really cute! Your mom and dad looked soooo happy!! You guys are adorable in every way!

Anonymous said...

always love to hear the banter back and forth between husband and wife--so fun--write the post for him--my husband is my tech help too, so thankful for that b/c i don't have a clue as to what i'm doing. the new blog looks great...

love seeing pics of your girls too. with all four of mine being girls i always imagine what it will be like down the road as they reach the next stage so taking a peek at yours gives me some idea of all that i have to look forward to...congratulations to your parents...nice to have such wonderful models.

elizabeth

Missy Glave said...

Wow ... sound like you had a wonderful family filled weekend! I love the new look of your blog!

Linda said...

Blogger just dumped my comment!!! I'm wondering if I have to sign in every time. Oh well...I'll try again.
Congratulations to your parents on their 40th anniversary. We just celebrated ours a couple of weeks ago. The little album is a great gift. There's nothing we grandparents like better than pictures of the famiy. My DIL made me a calendar with family pictures for each month. I just love it.
Sounds like you had a very full weekend. Your girls are adorable.
Thanks so much for visiting again Cheryl.

the not so "new" mom on the blog said...

Hi Cheryl, I don't know who I am trying to kid by not blogging anymore because I know I wont be able to stay away!!!!!! I have however decided to scale down (almost to what I have been doing these last couple of weeks) to at least once a week - I will allocate a BLOGGING NIGHT in my schedule!!! The pictures of your parents are great aswell as the ones of the kids - That little Scout is such a cutie!!!! Once again seems like the Wray's had one heck of a busy weekend!!!!

Take Care and send my love to the family!

the not so "new" mom on the blog said...

Oh, BTW.................. I just love what you have done to the place - Very smart indeed!!!!

Lara Neves said...

Your blog looks great! I was wondering if I was at the right blog! I love it.

Next you need to update to the new (beta) blogger. It makes doing links and stuff on your sidebar super easy. And, you won't lose any of your posts...I was nervous about that, but it was a pretty easy process.

ANd that purse book is too cool. Absolutely love it!

Michelle said...

Love the new look!

Sounds like your parents' anniversary was such fun - even though you didn't get the first restaurant of choice!

I also play Bunco once a month - and this coming Fri is our night!

Cheryl Wray said...

Gareth--LOL!! Please don't hurt yourself!! And I doubt if you'd want me when I'm Old and Wrinkly and Cranky someday!!
Jessi--Thank you!! You really inspired me to do it!! And it is kinda funny, but you do feel proud when it just looks so pur-ty!
G--Ha!! That excuse will NOT work!!
Cinder--You're so sweet! Come by anytime; you always make me feel good!
Groovy--I tell you: every stage is so different with the girls but I have found joy in ALL of them so far!!
Missy--We DID have a good weekend! thanks!
Linda--Darn blogger! LOL Yep, my Mom said that all she wanted was something with some new photos in it! That's her fave thing to get!
New Mom--You are SO funny!! There is NO way you can escape from blogging. You'll miss it WAY too much!!
Lara--I know! I really need to go to Beta. I guess I was a tad bit afraid, but everyone says it's an easy transition. I guess that's next . . .
Michelle--Bunko is one thing that keeps me sane! Fun with the girlfriends!!

Mz.Elle said...

Hello you!
Your weekend sounds so wonderful.
I adore your gift to your parents,what a clever loving idea!

Susie Q said...

Your blog looks just so pretty. I love it!

What a fun weekend! Chili's is always fun isn't it?

The gift for your mom and dad is something they will treasure! Really lovely and so creative. Just like YOU! They are a gorgeoys lookin' couple! Happy 40th!!!

LOVE the pictures of the kids...happy and sweet...made me smile!!

Stay well and have a great week!

Love,
Sue

Anonymous said...

I just loved your whole post! So fun to read it all!
And your new look is great. Really good job!

Cheryl Wray said...

Ms L--Hello You too!!! Yes, it was a very nice weekend!
Susie--Thanks so much about everything! It was a happy weekend!!
Gin--Glad you enjoyed it!

I'm SLEEPY and heading off to bed!

See ya!

AngelConradie said...

that '40 years later' is truly an excellent gift cheryl!
so are you going to give us some classes and ideas online on how to do things like that?

Aimeslee Winans said...

Cheryl, the purse is so cute! It's really original. I know how proud you are, it's a bit like my frame album I made my mom. Too cool!