We didn't make it to the chili cookoff this evening, maybe tomorrow evening? Chris and Brian couldn't make it because Chloe wasn't feeling well. Poor baby. I hate it when my grandbabies are sick. It's like it is when your own kids are sick, you wish you could take it from them. And the colds and stomach bugs are the easy part, it's when they get old enough that they can fall prey to peer pressure or have their heart broken, that's when it really about does you in. You REALLY want to be able to take their hurt away from them then. At least with a skinned up knee, a cold, or a virus, a doctor can help them, but a bandaid and antibiotics can't heal a broken heart.  This is when I do not understand how anyone can not believe in God...because only God can heal a broken heart!
Chris said they'd be over Sunday, so hopefully little Miss Chole belle will be all better by then.

Since we didn't go out, I spent some time cleaning out my closet..not all of it, but the shoes and pocketbooks. I have handbags that have pictures of my grandkids on them. I got my first one, (pictured front and back, above) from a website called Gina Alexander. I got so many compliments on it and liked it so much that I went on to buy 4 or 5 more. The ones from Gina Alexander are expensive, so after buying three from her,  I searched for another place that makes them and I found a website called snaptotes. Although the quality isn't quite as good, they're still nice bags and I get just as many compliments on them as I did on my gina alexander ones. I wanted to post the picture of my latest one here...below this, but I still do not know how to get the pictures that I post on here to go where I want them to go...they all are going at the top of this post...grrrr! Oh well, at least i'm getting them on here even if they aren't where I want them to be! On the front of the first bag is Ally and Patrick, on the other side of it is Patrick on his daddys arm. He looks so tiny! I can't believe that he's 7 yrs old already! The second bag has Chloe on the one side, and Patrick, Harrison, Diva, Cole, and our little angel Anderson on it. You can order these bags in any size and in color, black and white, or sepia tone. They're so easy to order, you just upload your picture onto their site and they do the rest!
While cleaning I found a clutch that my dad got for me when I was a child. He had gone on a buisness trip, and came home with a gift for all of us. My sister and I got these little black and gold clutches with a string of pearls inside them. I can't remember how old I was, but I think I was about 11 or 12 yrs old. This was the first and last time that my dad bought something for us kids on his own! Unfortunately over the years, I lost my pearls, but still have my clutch. Which is funny because my sister lost her clutch but still has her pearls. Needless to say, this little black and gold clutch means the world to me! I miss my dad so much! Now I'm going to try to post a picture of my clutch below this...but who knows, it may end up posting above under the pictures of my bags with my grandbabies pictures on them?

Yay! It went where I wanted it to go! I put the jewelry I wore today in the picture with it to make a point. I'm ashamed to say it, but I can be a bit of a "label whore"! I love my coco chanel jewelry!  Pat bought me these chanel earrings at Saks and I bought the chanel bracelet on ebay. I'm sure they cost a lot more then the little clutch and pearl necklace my dad bought me, yet I'd trade the chanel earrings and bracelet in, in a heartbeat, to get back my dads pearl necklace!

My next picture is of a pocketbook my friend Liv surprised me with. It's a beautiful pink silk bag that has a seashell closure on it.  Liv and I met many moons ago when our husbands were in the Air Force. We were stationed at Ellsworth AFB in South Dakota. We were neighbors and friends in Rapid City before we even moved on base.  Military friends are like family, yet we lost touch after we moved to our next base. It wasn't until we found each other on facebook within the past few years, that we got back in touch again. Let me tell you, this dear sweet woman is a gift from God! She is a heaven sent friend! I told you I've never ever heard my brother judge anyone in his entire life, well, Liv not only does not judge others, but she also loves everyone else! She sees past the flesh and into the hearts of everyone she meets and knows...I've never known anyone quite like her. I wish we had more "livs" in the world! Without even knowing it, she got this pocketbook for me in my favorite color (pink) and with the seashell closure on it...I am all about the beach and shells! The bag was made for me! In the picture i have another beautiful surprise she sent me. A gorgeous bracelet made of pink opal, rose quartz, and mookaite jasper, along with little glass stars. I was shocked and elated when I opened up this surprise! It had a little card from the woman who made it, in with it. This woman uses some of her great grandmas beads for her work. She also names each piece. My bracelet is called Princess bracelet! Once again Liv surprised me with the perfect gift! I could not have found anything myself that I liked any better then this beautiful hand made bracelet. I mean, come on...it's shades of pink with glass stars on it!! It is gorgeous!  After I got it, Liv told me that she bought it at the farmers market and that the woman who made it makes the jewelry right there. I know it had to have taken this woman a long time to make this bracelet, the crafstmanship is amazing!! Liv is amazing and I love her dearly! Thank you dear sweet Liv! Okay, the picture is above this..not under like i thought it would be! so Lord only knows where this picture of Miss Liv is going to go...above this or under it, but here it is...okay..it's ABOVE this! One of these days I'll figure this all out!
and now before signing off another dose of cute...i can't leave my little Coleslaw out! Here's the one and only Coleslaw!

I'll be back tomorrow after our breakfast at the lake! Good night everyone!