Silver Bella 2009: Welcome & Smiles!

 

I promised you I'd post on Friday but I swear I didn't mean to make you wait until Friday night! (eyes rolling here) I hope these photos will make you smile and forget that you're mad at me ;)

The Welcome Dinner was wonderful ~ and Italian Buffet with delicious desserts. No photos available...I had my fork in hand, not my camera, sorry! ;)

But I do have photos of smiles!

Sharon & I...oh I was so looking forward to meeting her in person! 

Robin Sanchez & I... (Robin SO needs a blog! hint hint ;)

Lynn & I... (note the angelic halo glowing on top of my head ;)

The 3 stooges...me, Pam & Sandy (no halo for Pam, it's just the light of the wall sconce! ;)  Doesn't Pam look like Meryl Streep?

Susan & Rita (Texas redheads) with their beautiful Texas Mums...

And do you know what we were all smiling about??? Well, besides meeting each other for the first time and some of seeing each other since last year, we were drunk from the hotel bar. JUST KIDDING! I just wanted to make sure you were reading this and paying attention!   ;0

Seriously, we were smiling because Teresa spoiled us again this year with lots of Welcome Goodies provided by the most generous sponsors!!!

 

 

And speaking of generous, I love all of my gifts brought to me by my sweet friends. Let me remind you that these are gifts and not swaps! Bellas are soooo generous!!!!

Warning:

If you are going to be jealous...stop here.

If you will still love me in the morning...you may continue.

Here is what sweet Sharon gave me. Some beautiful rhinestones, Louisiana charms and a silk rose that she made herself! I think I wore it for 48 hours straight!

Pam gifted me with a beautiful embellished envelope filled with post cards and cabinet FUNERAL cards! Yes people, funeral cards.

They are cabinet cards with the deceased person's information and I was lucky enough to get one with a photo! yay!

Just in case you are wondering...I'm not morbid! I just love these and they are very hard to find!!!! And she found me four!   :)))

And then there was the gift from my Little Bella Sister, Lynn.

After opening the cigar box, I could have just went back to my room, gathered all my things and flew back home...I was soooo full of goodies and the weekend hadn't even started yet!

I'm begging you, pa-leeze don't be jealous...

 

 

Tucked deeper inside was an awesome stash of cabinet cards!!!

Check out this one how funny...

It reads:

"Probably Henry Peterson's son, a cousin of Ruth Nelson"

Now...is he or isn't he?

And this one below looks simple enough...

Until you pull the little photo away and read this...

Hmmm.

Just in case you are wondering...there is more gifts! :))

BUT I haven't unpacked everything yet, see?

And trust me, you can count on TSA for doing their job as they searched BOTH of my suitcases!

I felt sorry for the agent who had to dig through these goodies ;)

*****

Well that's about all for today on this late late LATE Friday night.

There is so much more I need to post regarding Silver Bella but I must say that my Dad is not doing well at all. Coming home from my wonderful trip was bitter sweet and I do not know what the next few days will bring. But I hope to be here...back in my "happy place" with you soon ;)

Wishing you have a wonderful weekend!