A healthy and blessed new year to all.

A Blessed Thanksgiving

Count your blessings today. You'll find out there are many of them.
A blessed Thanksgiving to all.

Happy Halloween

We had a fun Halloween week.
Two of my sisters work at a nursing home and on Thursday they had Trick or Treating in the hallways. So my girls loaded up on candy.
On Sunday our church had Trunk or Treat. So my girls loaded up on candy.
Tonight we had Trick or Treating in the city.
I took the girls around our block, then they said they were done. What? These can't be my kids. When I was a kid we went out for hours. Back then, Halloween was probably the only time we got candy.
But they said they got plenty of candy and they had more fun handing out treats to the little beggars.
They honored the military this year. Phoebe was a NAVY girl and Abby was an ARMY girl.

Abby also decorated up her Loving Family dollhouse for Halloween. I thought she did a great job.

Hope everyone had a safe and fun Halloween.

Happy Independence Day

Wishing everyone in the USA a safe and happy Independence Day.
We have been celebrating since Saturday when we had about 50 people here for a picnic, with swimming, playing, eating, and ending with a fireworks show.
Sunday we went to a friends farm for more swimming and sitting around doing nothing, and ending the night at the city fireworks show. A few more sparklers and fireworks in our driveway after that.
Today we are spending the day outside in the pool. Well, I'm done in the pool, I'm out sitting and napping, and eating. So far it's been a perfect weekend. Time to head outside for more sitting.

Enjoy your day!

Memorial Day

Enjoy the weekend. Have fun. Don't forget why we have this day. Thanks to all who have served.

Mothers Day?

My Mothers Day was just like any other day. I cleaned, I cooked, I shopped for food. I served my family instead of them serving me. I'm OK with that. My girls gave me some cute little homemade gifts. I'm happy no money was spent on me. I feel loved and appreciated even though nothing "special" happened just because a date on the calendar says I have to be celebrated. Being a mother is a special gift in itself. We've had several miscarriages before we were blessed with our two daughters. Sometimes I wonder why God chose me to be the mother of these two. Sometimes I get frustrated as to why God chose me to be the mother of these two. Most times I'm happy that God chose me to be the mother of these two. I don't need a special day to tell me to have a happy Mothers day. I have one every day if I stop to count the blessings that my daughters have given me that day. Have a happy Mothers day today and every day.

Happy New Year

Happy 1-1-11 @ 11:11. Love the numbers game.

New Years Eve found us going out for Chinese food as we do every year, then coming home and watching the Twilight Zone marathon until I fell asleep.

New Years Day had us out Geocaching in below zero weather, breaking through ice in a swamp, and tramping through snowy woods and rock hard mud filled farm fields. Crazy but fun.
Came home and continued watching the Twilight Zone marathon.

May 2011 be your best year yet. Mine too.

This is all I have

I was all ready to post about our fun time picking out pumpkins last weekend, but then this happened to Abby...
so I didn't get any pictures of the pumpkin pick-out fun.

All I got was this picture on our way to picking out pumpkins...
Thrilling huh?

Maybe this will stir your thrill buds...
I clicked on Weatherbug and come to see that it's quite hot out. I believe we should be dead with this heatwave. And to think we didn't even turn our air conditioner on. And a low of 32! Wow. Wisconsin weather is so unpredictable. ;o)

Pumpkin Guts

Unfortunately that is what Abby's stomach is feeling like.

Today we set out to get our pumpkins but the drive was a bit much for Abby.
She gets carsick sometimes and today was one of those sometimes.
Perry's driving is like being on a carnival spinny ride anyway, so I'm sure that didn't help.
We were about 20 miles away from home when she turned white as a ghost.
We stopped and let her out for some air and a place to heave, just in case.
She didn't barf but she said she felt better getting some air.
A few more miles down the road it happened.
I caught most of it in a bag, but she got some on her clothes and car seat. So we came home and I stayed with her and got her in the tub and washed the clothes and other stuff, while Perry and Phoebe and my sister and her husband went out again, in search for the great pumpkin.
Abby is feeling better which makes me think that it was carsickness and not the flu coming on. She just had to get out of that rollercoaster of a car.
A phone call from them tells me that they picked up 3 big pumpkins and some gourds for a total of $8.00. Not bad. Must be day before Halloween discounts.
Perry sent me a picture of Phoebe picking out some gourds. The hand on the right is my sister holding a gourd. I cropped her out because I know she would not want her picture on here. I don't think she would mind her hand.
Phoebe is starting to do better with her walking. I had to bribe her $1.00 today if she actually would put some weight on her leg. She walked with weight on it from upstairs, down the steps, and through the kitchen, and I'm out a dollar. Two more weeks and the crutches should be gone.

Abby just informed me she wants a sandwich, so thankfully the pumpkin guts feeling is gone.

Our 4th of July

Our Independence Day celebration started off with our going to church. We sang America the Beautiful. I cried. I love the country we live in.
We then hosted our annual 4th of July party.
50 people showed up.
40 chicken kabobs were grilled.
36 brats.
32 hamburgers.
24 hot dogs.
10 different salads.
8 different desserts.
3 watermelon.
3 coolers of beverages.
2 other side dishes.
2 gallons of lemonade.
1 ton of fun had by all.



There was swimming, game playing, picture taking, (not by me as you can see) 2 brief downpours which seemed to add to the fun, not hinder it. Kids parading around the yard to patriotic music, and lots of friendly fellowship between family and friends.
Of course there were fireworks to end the evening. Sparklers, smoke bombs, fountains, and a few that could have brought the authorities, but thankfully didn't.
We celebrated our independence with flare. Our little family decided that this was our best party yet.

God Bless America!

Our Weekend

and what a busy, fun filled weekend it was.

Saturday we went geocaching from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Perry bought a new hat when we found a cache at a surplus store.

Abby needing a drink after a hot trek in the woods. Their grandma made them mini versions of the bag that Perry carries on his geocaching adventures. Got to carry the essentials...water, kleenex, snacks, trade items, socks, toilet paper... Hers seems to be blending in to the environment. :o)

On Sunday, Perry and I went to my friends daughters wedding. Do we clean up well? HA!

The bride and her dad. (30 years ago this Nov. he was marrying my best friend)

The attendants dresses were adorable! The bride....gorgeous!
We had a ball at the wedding.

The girls spent the night at grandma's. Abby enjoyed her curlers.

We spent a lot of the week and weekend in the pool.
We took it down tonight. What a job that was! Our yard got a good flooding.

The girl's and me celebrating my birthday.

After school on Friday, I took the girls for their first pedicure. I haven't had one myself in a while, so it was a treat for me too. (I have no pictures) They (I) loved it! It was so relaxing, and they loved the cute colors and jewels and polka dots and flowers that they got.

On Memorial Day, we picked the girls up, Phoebe had a friend over to swim, and I took off geocaching by myself. I had fun until the GPS batteries died. :o(

Came home and had one of my sisters and her husband over for a cookout, and plain ol' fun.

Back to school for Phoebe tomorrow. She's finally done on Thursday.
Abby has kindergarten screening tomorrow.
Perry works at home.
I probably need to catch up on laundry. (Does anyone really catch up?)

My cat, Pearl just batted a HUGE centipede off the wall and it ran off somewhere near me!!!
It better have found a hiding place! I'm all creepy crawly now. Shudder!

It was a very fun weekend, and the beautiful, hot weather was a plus.

Memorial Day

Remembering those who have died for the freedom I have today.

Many thanks to those who have served and to those who still serve today. God bless you.

Thank You Girls, Thank You God

Dear Phoebe and Abigail,
God gave me you two, to nurture, and love, and take care of. He entrusted to me, the job of bringing you up to love and serve the Lord.
I'm doing my best to be the kind of mom that God wants me to be.
I fail, I know that. I sometimes yell too much. I am selfish at times and want to be left alone. I get mad when things don't go my way.
I'm learning girls. I ask God to show me what he wants me to do to raise you. Sometime I don't do as He says.
I need to keep that in mind when you two don't do what I say.
So how cool, girls... we are all daughters to God. That makes us sisters in Christ! Not only do we have the bond of family, but also the bond of being one with Christ.

Phoebe: Your beauty takes my breath away at times. I look at you and sometimes can't believe that I gave birth to you. You really are a very pretty girl. The brains that God gave you amazes me. I thank God that you got that gift not only from God, but also from your dad. I pray that you use them to your best ability, and also for God's purpose for your life. Please hold out on wanting to be grown up. I know you think it's cool, but trust me, it's not cool to your mom. I am loving your age, and seeing that indeed you are growing up. One year at a time OK? I love you. Alot, even though you may not think that at times.

Abigail: Girl, you crack me up! You don't even try to be funny, you just are. You bring joy to me every day. You are always quick with a hug and kiss. I love how you want to stay little. That my dear, is fine with me. God has given you a great gift and talent of drawing. I pray that you do with it what God has intended for your life. I think your beauty is stunning! I never tire of looking at you. You make it easy to be a mom. Please carry that in to your teen years. I love you much.

God: Thank you for entrusting these two precious, beautiful girls to me. I'm trying, I'm trying, you know I'm trying to do my best. Continue to guide me in the raising of my daughters. Thank you for giving me my mother as a great example of how to raise girls. I find myself doing much of what she did. I hated a lot of it growing up, but I see it now as the perfect and right thing to do with my girls. I wish she was here today so I could tell her. You can tell her for me. Tell her hi, I miss her, and I love her too.

To my 3 children in heaven, I would have loved taking care of you here on earth. What fun a family of 5 kids would be. I smile thinking about it. God had other plans, and I know His plans are greater than mine could ever be. I know I will see all of you someday in heaven. What a joyful time that will be. Until then, know that you are loved and that you were all a huge part of making me the mother I am today.

Phoebe and Abigail, Thank you for making my job as a mom pretty easy. It's not always fun, but for the most part, you're real good kids and it is a blessing to be called your mom.
I am proud to be given the title of Mom, and to be a part of why we celebrate this day we call Mother's Day.

Love, Mom

He is Risen!

Jesus conquered the grave. Death could not hold Him. He lives today! I pray all of you receive His gift of salvation.
Happy Resurrection Day.
Happy Easter.

He died for you!

Take some time today to reflect on what Jesus did for you.
He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. 2Peter 3:9

A New Decade begins

Wishing all of you abundant blessings, and a closer walk with Christ our Lord!

A Happy Thanksgiving

May all of you have a blessed, and happy Thanksgiving.
I am so thankful for all of you. I think of you often and pray for you when God leads me to.
We all have something to be thankful for no matter what we are going through at this moment.
God is always with us. Let us be thankful for that.

Have a day filled with thankfulness. I'm heading back to the kitchen.

A Walk Down Memory Lane

Join in for A Walk Down Memory Lane over at Erica's

This photo of Phoebe brings us back to September 2003. She was 16 months old and had no interest in walking at all. Which made her an easy baby to deal with. She did not get in to anything because she couldn't get anywhere unless I put her in front of it.

Perry 1979
And while we're walking, I want to take the time this Veteran's Day to thank my Navy boy, and all other men and women in the service for their time and sacrifice for our country. God bless you.

A Walk Down Memory Lane

Come for a walk with me to the past. Today's past brings us to November 2004. Phoebe was 2 and a half and Abby was 2 months. For some reason they didn't want to celebrate Thanksgiving as a Native American and a pilgrim. What a mean mom I was, for taking their picture when they obviously did not want it taken.


Check out more walks down memory lane over at Erica's

Weekend Update

What a fabulous 4th we had. Party at our house.

# of people - 36

# of brats grilled - 36

# of hamburgers grilled - 24

# of hot dogs grilled - 14

# of salads (different varieties) - 6

# of desserts (different varieties) - 6

# of food left over - not much

# of fireworks shot off in the driveway - didn't count, but it was a lot.

# of oohs and ahhs - many

# of injuries - none praise God

# of neighbors shooting off their own fireworks - many all around us

# of fun times - tons

# of pictures I took to showcase this event - ZERO
Can you believe it? I was so busy that I had no time to take 1 photo or video.

It was such a great time and the weather was wonderful.

Sunday night we watched a neighboring city's fireworks, then 3 of my family members came over after and we tore in to the leftovers from the party.

I love celebrating this holiday. But we are all so beat! The girls have been getting to bed so late, but they sleep in so it's not too bad. Phoebe told me she's ready to get back on her schedule. :o)

Today I catch up on laundry and try to get back to normal. Hope all of you had a great weekend too.