A few of my favorite things...

I am SO behind on my poor blog...from approximately June of last year I have had such good intentions (and you know which road is paved with THOSE) of posting my favorite pictures and accompanying stories here. I'm happy that Alyssa is a blogging trooper and keeping things going with their little family and Charlie as he gets bigger and cuter every day and that Ashley has now started a blog so we can watch Gracie and Emily grow...But still!

With being "Mimi" to these three sweet babies, I need to get it into gear. Therefore, here are a couple of my favorite things - thanks to Alyssa's posting of this picture. Rob must have taken this one - good job there, Rob!

So, above is our little man, Charlie, age 3-1/2 months with his pretty mommy, Alyssa.

Is he a Keeper or what??!!!

Columns: A "Two-fer"

My friend Linda sent me an e-mail today that made me laugh out loud. She'd just read my column about my torn ligament that appeared in today's paper ('Das Boot') and said, "Like other great writers, you have taken your pain and turned it into literature. But there's gotta be easier ways to get column material..."

Now, everybody needs great friends like Linda (because she said "great writers" in a sentence that involved me, and if I pretend hard enough, who knows - I might just believe it). Not only that...I had just this week mentioned to my physical therapist that I have to stop becoming fodder for my own columns...so her words hit close to home.

Therefore, if you're so inclined, you can check out "The Column" link above for the account of my latest mishap. The scary part? Every word of it is TRUE!

And, since my prior column arrived on driveways shortly before "Tax Day" what else was a girl to do other than - yep! do the annual tax column. Since I am in my 5th year of writing for the South Valley newspapers, you'd think I'd run out of stuff about taxes, right? Well, you'd think. But if you can handle one more thought-provoking (not) missive about everybody's favorite date, simply click on 'The Column' and read for yourself that there is something about those tax deductions.....

Happy First Birthday, Emily Mae!

Emily had a lot of fun collecting Easter eggs on Sunday - 4 days before her first birthday. We enjoyed watching her run - yes RUN - in her backyard - chasing her big sister Gracie and looking for more eggs. And when the eggs had all been found it was time to scatter them all over the lawn and begin yet another new hunt!

I think there were about four Easter egg hunts in all on Sunday...a new game for the Sensational Stromberg Sisters :)

Emily shares a moment with her mommy.

Emily is still mastering going DOWN the steps to her backyard, but she can go up the stairs just fine! Here she gets a hand from Grampy as she navigates going down the steps.

Emily had lots of fun - as she does most every day - playing outside in the warm California sun!

And today she is ONE!!! Happy Birthday, Emily Mae. We love you tons! xoxoxoxo from Mimi...