*Gifts* & pics!

I received *gifts* in the mail yesterday..from my *Secret Sister*! Thank you..thank you for everything! The candles smell wonderful..I am burning one now. I hope you are having a wonderful Sunday..wherever you are!
P.S. I can't wait to use the "Happy 1st Birthday" embellishments..on a Mattie layout next month!

Izabelle & Mattie..gosh..Mattie looks as big as Izabelle in this picture. Izabelle is so petite..we were in Wal-Mart last night..grocery shopping..the check out lady asked Izabelle how old she was..Izabelle said 10..they check out lady looked at her like she was lying..and said..10?? You are 10?? I had to step in..you could tell that Izabelle felt uncomfortable..bless her little heart.

We went to a near-by playground the other day..the girls had too much fun!!!!!

Pics of Trae practicing..he didn't realize that I was taking pictures of him. I snuck out there one day when it was still daylight. Trae's motivator is to the right of him (Ty)..he is a senior and he really looks out for Trae..he brought Trae home yesterday when practice was cancelled because of the prank.

Trae..updated

Trae just called me from band practice..it is 8:45a. He asked me to come and pick him up..he is supposed to be there until 4:00p this afternoon. I asked him "What's going on?" He said "A student put a stink bomb in one of the school's saxaphone cases last night after practice and the band director is EXTREMELY ANGRY!" The band director gave the student(s) that did this..time to confess..but when no one came forward it made the band director even more angry. How dis-respectful to the school, Mr. C and the students that have worked so hard in the HEAT to get this routine practiced. Mr. C said also that if no one comes forward by 4:oop Monday..there will be no practice on Monday either (normally scheduled 4p-9p). I tell ya..I would like to ring the kid(s) neck that did this..I have spent a lot of time just running Trae back and forth from work (if he isn't at work, he is at band practice) and back and forth from band..until late at night!! Rrrrrrrr......

Trae

got his 1st paycheck today! His first day of work was Thursday, July 19. He is employed by Moss'. I worked there for a few years several years ago. It is a great place to work. They have great hours..they close at 5pm. Trae is making $6.50 an hour!! Geesh..I remember my first job at Hardee's in MJ..I made $3.85 an hour..wow..times have changed. Anyhoo..he got his first paycheck today..he worked a total of 16 hours and brought home $104.00!! He was thrilled. He has had band camp so he didn't get a lot of hours..yet. He has had long days at the high school..7:30a-8:00p..but..man they are lookin' good..they are preparing routines for upcoming football games. They are really awesome!


!!!!!!GO BEARS!!!!!

Part 2 of 3

Rrrr..I didn't know what to expect today when I went in for my crown over the root canal. I was thinking that they just pop a crown on my tooth..right? NO..happy gas, shots, drilling..then a temporary crown..I have to go back in about 2 weeks..they took an impression and matched my tooth color..I had no idea! The temporary crown feels rough and my tongue keeps wondering to it..I feel the urge to brush..it feels yucky.


After dinner tonight..we hit the local DQ..that always seems to make things better..well that was the excuse I used anyway. Man..the owners were in line right in front of us and they were really backing up the drive-thru line..ha ha! I was going to honk..but I didn't want to scare the kids.
My new favorite is a hot fudge sundae with hot fudge & caramel...yummo!!!!!!


I can't wait for the Scrap It! crop...whooo hooooo..my MIL (she is now a Nashvillian) is coming also and she is soooooo excited! See ya'll then.

OLW {Simplicity}..tweaked

I realized that Mountain Time was *behind* us..so..I worked some more on this l/o..here it is..now completed.

OLW {Simplicity}

Rrrr..I was rushing to get this finished by the 20th. I have always wanted to participate, but never took the time..it is late (11:54pm)..and the lighting is bad in our house..but here it is: SIMPLICITY
I love, love, love church steeples..they are "simply" beautiful!

New Sport?

First you get a frying pan out of the kitchen and then you get a green mini slinky from the coin machine at the theatre..and you play.."Frying pan slinky"!!!!
I caught Izabelle & Trae playing this game in the kitchen today..I know what Santa Claus is bringing this year..forget the expensive electronic toys! Ha!

Mattie @ 11 months/3 days. I got so busy..I didn't take a photo Monday..so I had nothing to post. So today..we were driving down MJ Road and I spotted this sweet little seat outside of a local bridal chapel/tea room. Mattie was asleep..but she usually wakes up just fine..so I woke her up just for this photo(you can see what side she was laying on..her little cheek is red). She gave me her little smile and then we were off!

Thank you!

I received mail today from my *Secret Sister*!! Thank you sooo much for the scrapbooking stickers and the sweet card. I can definitely use them! I hope you are having a wonderful day..wherever you are.

Home *Sweet* Home

We spent the night in Louisville, Ky last night at the same hotel we stayed at 4 years ago..when Rich & I were honey-mooning. Great memories!! We ate at Shogun's last night while we were in town..then had lunch today at Old Chicago before coming home today. We got home around 4pm..then went to see a movie..and then to the grocery store. It feels nice to be home!

Where did I leave off....?

South Bend, In..we left there & drove to Holland, Mi..and hung out for awhile..then continued on to Traverse City, Mi..I LOVE TRAVERSE CITY!!! Would love to buy a lake house there! We attended the 81st Annual Cherry Festival..that was cool..I visited a local scrapbook store there called "Forget-Me-Not"..we visited Mackinac Island on Wednesday..it was chilly that morning so we all bought Mackinac Island hoodies..including one little tiny one for Mattie..soooo cute! We left Traverse City, Mi on Thursday morning and headed to West Branch, Mi..a town where I spend the first several years of my life...until I was 8 or 9 I think..I took a pic of the house where we used to live..and guess what?? the DQ where I used to ride my bike for ice cream is still there! with a walk-up window..that is sooo cool..I love it! They have added a drive-up window..fancy-smancy! Ha! We ate lunch before we left the city of West Branch..then headed to New Boston, Mi to visit my family..Aunt Susie & Uncle Bill..Aunt Lillian & Uncle Arthur (Uncle Arthur is my God-Father)..and some cousins..Aunt Susie made dinner for us...yummo!! After visiting my family we headed to San dusky, Oh..and it was LATE when we got there...like 1:30a..we slept until 9:30a..hit the free continental breakfast and then headed to Cedar Point! Today was a high of 75 degrees..so it was perfect weather! I have taken soooo many pics..but I will leave you with only a few from Traverse City, Mi..the {Cherry Capital}..these are for you Aunt Cherry! *smooch*

Oh..one more thing before I go to bed..{it is 1:46a}..when Mattie first picked a cherry..she immediately stuck it in her mouth..too funny!..then after we didn't let her put it in her mouth..'cause of the pit inside..she would just squeeze it!

Oh..just one more thing..Mattie took 8 steps on Wednesday night!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Very exciting..she will be walking very, very soon!!!!!!!!!!! She also waves and says "Hi"..and LOVES Cheerios!

P.S. My friend Chelle is looking for someone to do an {in-home} or {on-line} children's book show..if you can..please help her out..*THANKS*..click on her name for more information

Good Morning {South Bend, IN}

Our trip so far..we spent the night Wednesday night in Indianapolis, IN @ The Marriott. Then traveled to Chicago, Ill..just for pizza and *yummo*..it was well worth it! First we made a stop at a Gummy Bear Factory in Hobart, IN..that was a lot of fun! They have the freshest gummy bears..*yummo*! Oh..inside the factory there was this chocolate fountain (see below)..it went all the way to the ceiling..it was making a bubbling sound..like it was hot..I felt like I was at *Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory*!

Everyone needs one of these in their kitchen!

We ended up in Chicago around 2pm..it took us an hour to find {Gino's East} because Chicago is crazy busy..we decided on this pizza restaurant by popular vote from the people of Chicago..Rich asked several people at traffic lights "So where do you go for good pizza?" Gino's was everyone's choice..it is now our choice..I tell ya..the crap they serve you at Papa John's, Domino's & Pizza Hut is a joke! Gino's rocks!! There pizza's are so thick..it takes 45 minutes to cook one.

After pizza..we drove to South Bend, IN just to see *{Notre Dame University}* Rich was floating in the clouds..he wants to watch a game here before he dies..he says. It is a beautiful campus! What a privilege to be able to attend school here.

Wooo hooo! Them college boys are cute..huh? Check this one out.. *wink*

Rich, Mattie & Izabelle..standing in front of the gates to the field..that was all we could see of the field..but it was enough to make {him} smile.

We have to check out of the Hampton Inn today by noon..then we are on our way to Holland, MI then on to Traverse City, MI..oh that reminds me..I saw Lake Michigan yesterday while in Chicago..and talk about taking your breath away..I forgot how beautiful the water was..gosh..and all the sailboats..absolutely beautiful!

One more thing before I post this..only a couple of people will understand what I am about to describe:

I got up this morning and looked out the window of the hotel..(so my view is from high up, right)..and what do I see? I yelled it just like when I was a kid spending the night with my Aunt Cherry..MCDONALD'S!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Just brought back a fun memory for me. *smile*

Happy {4th} Of July!

from my little {firecrackers}!!