Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Piglet and Pooh.

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This girl loves fashion.
She loves make up.

She thinks about these things a lot.

Sometimes it worries me and I lecture her....
I go on and on and on and on and on.

And then I turn and look at her square in the face and say,

"What I'm trying to say...in a nutshell...
is...you gotta love Jesus more than yourself.  Do you love Jesus more?"

And she says Yes.

And I say.

Good.

And then we laugh.

Because I'm so nutty this way.

And then I say....

"Go read some scriptures...."

and then we laugh some more.


For heavens sake.

Your pal,
Donna





Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Cups times four. Josh Riebock



Stephie sent this to me this morning.  She thought it was super happy!
It's too darling not to share!


More happy things.



eatherjanice

Janice and mom.


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Smiley


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These Two.


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never gets old


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I watched this excellent talk by Josh Riebock yesterday afternoon.  His very first story will have you in tears.  He is the author of a book called Heros and Monsters.
He is great speaker and a good thinker.




HT aka Hat Tip
Brian Kammerzelt
Twitter is good for something after all.


Encourage one another,
Donna











Monday, July 29, 2013

Baby it's cold outside


We usually don't see temp in the 50's in the summer here in Southern Wisconsin.
I don't really mind it.  

It's the idea that summer is 2/3 over and then we will have nine months of cold and that thought is just freaking me out.

And so I obsess.
I wonder how close we are the the cold record for summer.
I wonder if this is what life is like in Alaska.
And I really wonder how they keep their spirits up.


I am thankful that I did not buy a pool pass because the price of a swim would be about $250.
Good thing I went with the pay as you go method.


This graph should explain things perfectly.


MSN-TS-JJA-T


So I will shake my head and slap my face and start thinking on the bright side...
cause heaven knows I can not do a thing about it....
but change my thinking.


The door is open, the birds are chirping and the sun is shinning.
It's really quite beautiful out today!

photothis



Love ya,
Donna




Saturday, July 27, 2013

In which I forget to blog.

I did however remember to watch tv and go to Target and get my chai....and then come home and watch Slumdog Millionaire.

And I took a few fun pictures of Katie cause she did her hair and looked fab in her new sunglasses.
Ginny the good dog ate Katie's pink pair and so she HAD to buy some more.  She likes how these glasses have sprinkles on them.

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It is so cold out today that Patrick and Katie are both wearing coats and I have a sweater on.
Freaky.  Feels like October.


You may wonder why Katie is not playing beach volleyball in Milwaukee today.
Well.  Katie was #3 on her team.  The tournament said no teams of threes.  So she is OUT of luck.

Can you believe it?
AND the home tournament has been cancelled.

Bummer huh?

Katie is handling it better than I am.
And so we are lazing around the house instead of participating...well...I'm lazing...Katie just mowed the lawn :o)

Greek Fest is this weekend so we may drive over to the Greek picnic for some Chicken and a yummy salad.

We shall see.

After we found out that we were not going to Milwaukee we accepted an invite to a baby shower for this morning...but guess what?

The baby came this morning.


Aye yi yi

Happy Saturday!!!
XOXO

Donna Boo






Friday, July 26, 2013

Who ya gonna call Gingin?

Ginny making plans.

Funny little house in Madison.

Funny hobbit house in Madison.


We <3 MOM


I am the luckiest.

(Emma wrote me a love note in the sand.  Can you read it?)

On the square


“The first week of August hangs at the very top of summer, the top of the live-long year, like the highest seat of a Ferris wheel when it pauses in its turning. The weeks that come before are only a climb from balmy spring, and those that follow a drop to the chill of autumn, but the first week of August is motionless, and hot. It is curiously silent, too, with blank white dawns and glaring noons, and sunsets smeared with too much color.” 
Natalie Babbitt, Tuck Everlasting


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Encourage one another,
Donna


P.S.  All images are property of Donna Boucher
The pictures of Katie in the Queen Anne's Lace have been stolen and written on and gone viral and I knew nothing about it.  For some reason the kids on Tumblr and FB think any thing on the internet is fair game.  
I disagree and when I share a picture on my blog I am not saying take this, it's yours.  I am sharing it with my friends...for this moment.      
Yes I could put logos on them...but that ruins the picture imho.
I really should not have to worry about someone coming into my 'house' and taking something of mine.
So when I post this picture, which I think is so pretty, this is what comes to mind....
I think .... the stealers gonna steal.
And it makes me so sad.








Thursday, July 25, 2013

On this side of the pond....

After last nights softball game, in which Katie's team won, Patrick and I got in his truck and and Katie jumped on her bike.  We live very close to the field and we watched for Katie on her bike..as we crossed Cross Country Rd. there she was up ahead of us.  She looked back and spotted us and started peddling like mad!!!  I made Patrick beep the horn wildly to let her know we were on her tail and we were gonna beat her.  But we did not!

She beat us home and that is the Huge for a 13 year old.

She beat us home on her bike. Proud moment.



Here are some pretty pictures I took of Katie a few days ago.


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Aperture 1.4,  Lens 50,  Exposure 1/2000, Iso 400
Time of shoot. 7:15 ish


*****

Melinda posted this video of happy Malachi last night.
It is the cutest video EVAH!





Encourage one another,
Donna

P.s.  Oh yes.  Baby Prince is named George in case you are depending on me to deliver the news :oP
I guarantee it sounds much sweeter with an British accent.





Wednesday, July 24, 2013

Welcome

Welcome little Prince

Out they came with the little Prince in baby blue and polka dots.

William and Catherine were lovely in every way.
William said the baby had Catherine's looks...thankfully and he said the baby had more hair than he did.
Catherine said it was emotional and that all families know what this is like.

Her little baby lump was quite apparent, which surprised me that she had any tummy at all.
So good for her.  I like her even more for sporting her baby lump.

And the polka dots.
A nod to Diana no doubt.

Love. Love. Love.


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Now...go home and put your jammies on.


****

Guess who had a baby yesterday?
Jimmy Fallon and his wife.
It's a GIRL for Jimmy and Nancy.

I did not know she was even expecting....it seems to have been a secret.

Welcome and Cheers!

As I always say, "The happiest days are when babies are born."
It's a quote from Gone with the Wind in case you ever wondered.


Encourage one another,
Donna


Tuesday, July 23, 2013

As we wait for the little prince's name....





Prince William as a baby


charlesdianawilliam


I went back and looked at the comments from the naming post I did a few weeks back.
No one guessed the correct date.  Phew.  I was going to give away a million dollars.

The boys names go like this:

Phillip: 4
James: 6
George: 4
Edward: 1
Albert: 1

I am liking Albert this morning because Bertie is too cute....

Someone mentioned naming the little fellow Spencer after Diana's last night.
I never thought of this....duh...
However, even tho it is a very nice name and would be so nice....
I don't think the Queen would like the future King going to the throne with the Spencer name....
My guess is that it will not even be in the middle names.

What do you think?

So exciting waiting to hear the name.
How wonderful that Catherine did so well delivering that big baby.

Does anyone else think it is too quick to leave the hospital only 24 hours after the birth?
I did this with Katie but she was my fourth and then I had to take her back for jaundice.
That was stressful...
The entire first four months of having a baby is extremely stressful and exhausting and scary and difficult.  That whole not sleeping thru the night nearly did me in...so new momma's.....I understand and empathize with you.
I did not drive my car for three weeks following the birth of my first.
On  my first outing I heard the announcement of Prince William's birth.
Isn't that funny I remember that?  Yes.  Prince William was born 21 days after my Patrick.

But, yeah, I was slow to recover from my first birth.
My mind was blown.
I went from wanting six children to NEVER WANTING TO DO THAT AGAIN.

But here we are with four.

I wish for young momma Catherine good drugs, helping hands....and a speedy recovery.


XOXO
Donna











Monday, July 22, 2013

The Duchess of Cambridge is in labor.


UPDATE

4:24 pm London time.
The Duchess of Cambridge safely delivers a BOY!!!

8 lbs 6 oz.

Well done, you.



******



squeeeeee....

I am so excited.  

Now.

Keep Calm and Carry on.

74347308


***

Katie played beach volleyball in Milwaukee yesterday.  The girls scrimmaged and practiced on the beach for three hours.  

Three glorious hours.

Badger Beach Volleyball!!


I can say that because I found the perfect spot in the shade...up high where I could see everything. (I sat in the building pictured above.)
It was sunny but not too hot.  The girls worked so hard and looked like they were learning and being challenged.  


Yup

The beach was clean and the parking abundant.


She's gonna be exhausted


We drove by the Milwaukee Art Museum.
It is always a huge thrill to see this gorgeous building.
The man in the truck next to me was watching me take this picture.  He was talking to me.
We are stopped at a red light.

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Guess where we are!?


We stopped at Kopps in Brookfield.  Kopps is famous for their custard.
We had chicken sandwiches and custard.


I highly recommend a visit to Milwaukee!  Every time I go there I think it is such a treasure.
The Brewers, the beaches, the museum....

Highly recommended!!!

*****

Update.

The Duchess' labor is progressing normally.



Encourage one another and Go Kate Go!
Donna












Saturday, July 20, 2013


Landfillharmonic Orchestra













Emma shared this with me yesterday,
I thought you would love it too.


Encourage one another,
Donna

p.s.  yes.  I can not see the videos on my ipad either.  Is this new?
I can however see them on my iphone and my regular computer.
Can you click thru to watch them on youtube or vevo?
Do we need to update our ipads?











Friday, July 19, 2013

Ringtones ...and dance




This is my new ringtone.

Just this morning I am watching this official video....
Who knew it was a little history of dance! ?


Do you remember this?



I would guess this was the first 'viral' video on youtube.  It is from 2007.

Which makes me think of this--



Oh Will.
Oh Carlton.




And then this adorable dance from Sytycd.
This is Lauren and Billy.





But back to ringtones...

What is your ringtone?











Thursday, July 18, 2013

The Competiton


My Grandpa Glyman came to the United States from Greece.  Naxos to be exact.  I don't know much about his life but after a life time of not knowing I have learned the proper spelling of his original name; Glymakopoulos.  When I was little I asked my dad why grandpa changed his name.  My dad always said, "because it was too hard to spell."  I thought he was joking.  He was a real tease.  But maybe that is the reason after all.

    As far as I know Grandpa Glyman bought properties and rented them.  He had buildings and businesses in Chicago and bought land in the country.  You know, Naperville and Barrington.  He had a good head for business and was quite good at what he did.  But to me, Grandpa was a bakery owner. He was not a baker.  He worked in a dark and smokey office that was very cold.  All of his children worked at the bakery.  It was a big factory bakery.  Trains delivered the flour.  The bags of flour were then stacked as high as the ceiling.  Too high for me to climb on.  A mountain of flour.
 
The bakery was called Golden Hearth/National Baking Co.  Golden Hearth was a commercial bakery.  Restaurants all around Chicago-land carried 'our' products.  When we went out to eat in Elmhurst, we had buns baked at grandpa's bakery.  Delicious crisp crusted kaiser rolls.  The sweets department was not like what we see nowadays, it was pretty limited.  They made eclairs and brownies and napoleons, fancy cookies with paper images on them and the most wonderful birthday cakes.

Two things I knew growing up

1. My dad wished he had gotten the McDonald's account.  This was before they were big.  This was in the 60's.  He had a hunch.

2.  Mary Ann's was the competitor.


I didn't know how much my dad made or if he got along with his father.
But for some reason, I knew Mary Ann's was the competition.

The competition

I bought these from Target on Monday.  They were the only package sitting in the empty spot on the shelf.  If you have eaten a hot dog in Chicago, you have eaten it on one of these buns.  No doubt.

I didn't hesitate. I bought them.
What a neat thing to find at Target.

A Starbucks Chai and nostalgia in one quick trip.

Good. Times.




Encourage one another,
Donna











Wednesday, July 17, 2013


Good Morning!
How's it going?

First off, I'd like to share something important;

My son's girlfriend Shelby asked that I post this link for her.  Tim Booton is her beloved dance teacher's husband.  He was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2012.  The Booton family means a whole lot to Shelby...it's not like her reach out like this....but this family in need is close to her heart.

Help for Tim

Won't you check it out?
Thanks so much!

Bless you Tim and Sue!


*****


A few months ago Cheryl was reading the Mindy book and she told me how funny it was.

Reading


I looked it over at Target the other day.....


Too cute. Little mindy.


and THIS picture of Mindy on the back of the book....made me buy it.

Oh my gosh.

SOLD.

Just tells you something about the author, don't you think?


FYI, Mindy is a comedy writer, actor on The Office and now has her own show called The Mindy Project.

And yes, the book is very readable and very funny.


****

#over #app @megangilger

I wonder what I will do when my life doesn't revolve around a child.
I'm so thankful that God gave us Katie.

Driving Miss Katie is a good thing.




Encourage one another,
Donna







Tuesday, July 16, 2013

Dog days.

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Katie loves when Ginny cuddles with her.
Ginny is growing up and learning self control.  She will still run away if she has the chance...run, run, run.  She follows Patrick around the house which drives him nuts.  When we get up, she gets up.  She likes a car ride and a walk and a visit to the dog park.  She thinks it's very fun to run upstairs to find the cat.  We do keep a gate in from of the steps but she wiggles by sometimes.  Katie begs to sleep with Ginny. We let them try it once and it actually was fine.  But I feel better with Ginny in her crate in the family room.  She is pretty smart and when she is not too distracted she does her tricks very nicely.
She sleeps a lot and eats a little.


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I think we love her.



*****



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Puck and a fairy in A Midsummer Nights Dream

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Happy.


*****


Such an endearing pup


Life is good.



Encourage one another,
Donna and Katie and Ginny


Monday, July 15, 2013

Monday.

Art fair beauty. Danny Chu.

Isn't this beautiful?

The artist is named Danny Chu.
His use of paint reminded me of Van Gogh.

If he had a website I would link it...but he does not.
Makes me think.


****

Honey Boo Boo (the television show) is returning to the airwaves soon and they have a new gimmick.
It is perhaps the dumbest promotion ever.

There is a scratch and sniff card you can pick up in the Us magazine.
At designated times you scratch the card and sniff the corresponding smell from the show.

The example from the commercial.

Honey Boo Boo toots. (I hate to say fart.  I got in trouble for saying fart once.)

Who in the world thinks this is something they would like to do??

Good heavens.



Does anyone know when The Learning Channel went from being educational to totally CRAZY?




******

What is the saying....from the sublime to the ridiculous.

Guess who said that???
Don't look it up.

I'll write it in the comments.
I was surprised.  I would have guessed Shakespeare.



Lots of love.
Encourage one another,
Donna












Saturday, July 13, 2013

Carrie and Katie and the theater.

Upon seeing these pictures from last night, my friend Nancy wondered, how long have Katie and Carrie been doing plays together?

Puck and a fairy

I wondered if it was possible that it could be ten years....

The first thing the girls did was a class at a church on Maple Grove.  The final day they dressed up like bumble bees.

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I know Carrie was at this 'camp'.  I am sure Amy arranged it :o)

apump

This may be their first Halloween together.

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A little later...

amermaid

This was Peter Pan.  Katie was a mermaid.

carrieandkatie


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There is a special closeness that comes with being childhood friends.  It's a little like siblings.
(Studies have been done. I'm not just making this up.)   So... has it been ten years, I think more like eight or nine.  But whatever the number....it's so neat to think they have been doing this together for most of their little lives.



Childhood friends are the best!!!
And for these two....so is theater!


Encourage one another,
Donna