Just a {few}..

..photos from Mattie's birthday party on August 10th.
Sherri did a GREAT job..didn't she?
I love each and every photo that she took at Mattie's party...
Enjoy!

Saturday Stuff

Not a lot going on here today..Mattie finally fell asleep around 5:15p for her afternoon nap. She normally goes down at 4pm but she fought it hard today..I rocked her 3 different times before she finally gave it up. I am sitting here in the livingroom watching {Willie Wonka & The Chocolate Factory} on ABC. {The Sound of Music} comes on next..not exactly my favorite.

I signed up another Avon representative this afternoon. She is going to strictly do internet sales. She is also my helper and she wants our "deal" to remain the same. It won't be long though and she will be ready to go out on her own.

So..the real reason I am blogging. I am just very sad today. I woke up this morning to "the reminder" that confirms that once again..I am not pregnant. I haven't even told Rich yet. I am just so tired of crying. I really thought I was pregnant this time..I think I just convince myself to the point that I have pregnancy symptoms. Crazy huh? Our plans for summer vacation 2009 are set in stone..and if I don't get pregnant by next month {September/June}..we will need to wait until December/September or January/October. I just don't want to be so pregant during July that I can't travel. But if I have a newborn..Rich, Trae and Izzy can go boating and do their hearts desire..and I can stay at our/rented lake house with Mattie and the baby..when we can't participate..I honestly wouldn't mind a bit:) I am not getting any younger. I will be 37 in 9 months. What a horrible, helpless feeling to know that you could soon be too old to have a baby. I am very, very thankful for our 3 healthy children..but..I/we would love to have another child..only if it is God's will. I know I need to quit stressing about it and just let it happen if it happens. I have watched {Under the Tuscan Sun} about 4 times this week. Katherine said, {When she was a little girl she used to look for ladybugs for hours and could never find a single one..until she fell asleep in the field..and when she woke up they were crawling all over her}.

Thank you for the use of your shoulder and ear today..I don't make it a habit to post sad things..I am good about sugar coating it when it comes to my blog.

Have a safe and fun filled Labor Day weekend!

"Code Red"

Photo: istockphoto.com

Earlier today..

I had Izabelle watch Mattie in the nursery for about 10 minutes while I took a quick shower. When I got out of the shower I heard this through the nursery monitor:

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Izabelle(in a deep man's voice): Code Red Mamma. Mattie went sh-poo. Can you come in here and change it? I repeat..Code Red. Do you copy? Over.

Blueberries Blueberries Blueberries

I found some recipes tonight on iLunchBox.com tonight and I thought I would share them with you!

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Blueberry Salsa

iLunchBox.com

2 c. fresh blueberries, washed & rough chopped

1/2 c pineapple chunks, drained & rough chopped

1/4 c. red onion, finely chopped

1/4 c. cilantro, finely chopped

Juice of 1 lime

In a bowl, combine all ingredients. Chill until serving.

If your family likes heat add:

1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper

1 jalapeno pepper, seeded & minced

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Blueberry Chicken Salad

iLunchBox.com

Dressing:

1/4 c. mayonnaise

1/4 c. plain yogurt

1 tablespoon of dried mustard powder

Dash cayenne pepper

3 teaspoon of fresh chopped tarragon or 1 teaspoon of dried

Combine all ingredients in a medium sized bowl and mix well.

Salad:

2 c. cooked, boneless, skinless chicken, cubed

1/2 c. celery, chopped

3/4 c. red onion, finely chopped

1/2 c red bell pepper, diced

2 c. fresh blueberries, rinsed and drained well

1/4 c. chopped almonds

Salt and pepper to taste

Optional ingredients you can also add:

3/4 c. diced tomato

1 c. diced avocado

Combine chicken, celery, onion, bell pepper and almond then toss with dressing. Carefully fold in blueberries until well coated and refrigerate 30-60 minutes.

Happy Birthday Maria!

Photo: MarthaStewart.com

My friend Maria doesn't have a blog. She doesn't read my blog either. But I wanted to give her a special shout-out today. Happy Birthday Maria!!!

Corn shuckin'

Izabelle shuckin' corn at our local fair last night. I didn't take very many photos..it got dark before we knew it. We stuffed ourselves with fair food! Man I love that stuff! We also sat and watched the square dance, round dance and buck dance competition. My friend Jennifer and her partner are warming up before their round dance competition in photo #4. Jennifer and her husband (not shown) won FIRST PLACE in round dancing! Their team won SECOND!

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Friday night..my MIL and I went to a local crop..I didn't get a ding-dong thing done..but we had a blast!!! We met some new friends and found out about a CK event next month..ROAD TRIP!

Starkissed Creative Memories

Becoming private was easier than I thought!
BTW..Jersey Girl..word verification..GONE! *wink*

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Speaking of Jersey Girl..if you interested in purchasing the software that allows you to create pictures like this plus much, much more..then click here. {Update: Or click here and it will take you directly to this product}. This will take you to her Creative Memories web site. The product is called Memory Manager 2.0

It may appear that Izabelle and Mattie are nicely sharing a DQ Starkiss treat..but that is not the case at all. It was late and they both just got done jumping on the giant jumping thing in the kitchen..Izabelle pulls a Starkiss out of the freezer (I didn't even realize we had any left..she must of been hiding it in there..cause you can see the ice crystals that have formed on it) and of course Mattie wants a bite. Mattie is screaming because Izabelle won't share..so I told Izabelle to give Mattie a bite/lick. But to hurry because it is time to go to bed. Mattie almost ripped it out of Izabelle's hand..they are both eating it as fast as they can while both gripping it as hard as they can. Good times!

Happy Birthday Renee!

Photo: http://www.photobucket.com/

Q: Who is Renee?

A: She is on my list of blogs on the left. We live about 10 minutes from eachother..and she owns the local DQ:)

{Reminder}

If you usually leave a comment anonymously..please take a minute to sign up for a free account at Blogger (http://www.blogger.com/). You are NOT required to have a blog. But this will allow you to receive the invitation to continue to read my blog. My blog will become private on Saturday, August 23, 2008.

Thank you!

Case of the {crazies}

Rich bought this Jump'n Double Slide Bouncer on Sunday at Costco..and then decided to inflate it in the kitchen/diningroom. So we just took the leaf out of my kitchen table and moved the table toward the other end of the kitchen. The inflatable bouncy thing is much more important than the kitchen table..don't you think? *wink*

"Mammie to you" {Edited}

We (Me, Rich & Yaya) took Mattie to Chuck E. Cheese Saturday night for pizza, games and more birthday cake. She has had 3 birthday cakes this year..and they were very g-o-o-d! Yaya made this one..the cake is Oma's secret recipe..I think it tasted the best. So..Yaya..can I hire you at $35.00 per cake? I will need another one on September 5th.

The lighting inside the building wasn't good..and I don't know how to operate my camera correctly with bad lighting.

When we sing "Happy Birthday" to Mattie (Izabelle sang again to her this morning)..Mattie says, "Mammie to you!" So cute:)

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{P.S.} If you usually leave a comment anonymously..please take a minute to open a free account with Blogger. (http://www.blogger.com/) You are NOT required to have a blog. But this will allow you to receive the invitation to continue to read my blog..my apologies for any misunderstanding. My blog will become private on Saturday, August 23, 2008.

Two & Seventy-Eight {Updated}

{Update}: I took Mattie to a nearby park today for a little birthday photoshoot..it went well!

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Today Mattie is 2. She is still asleep. I can't wait until she wakes up..because we have a big day ahead of us. I took her little personal 6" round cake out of the freezer this morning. So it should be ready for her to play in later..I hope I get some good pictures to share:)

The first 2 photos were taken yesterday..the day before she turned 2. She is wearing an outfit from A.C.T.G.F. We bought her 2 new pairs of shoes on Thursday @ Stride Rite. She has one pair on in this photo..and then she got some new Keds. Very cute!
We were on the way to a leadership meeting for Avon..and I told her that Yaya was going to be there..so that is what she is saying, "See Yaya."

Photo #3..before we brought her home from the hospital. Man do I have the "baby fever" right now..

Photo #4..my Guelita (on the left..photo taken October 2006)..she is 78 years old today. I ordered flowers this morning to be delivered to her by 2. My mom is having a birthday party at her house for Guelita today..cake, pinata and everything! I wish I could be there. Happy Birthday Guelita..I love you!

Private

Photo: flickr.com


{I soon will be making my blog private}
I have been thinking about this for awhile now. The only thing that has kept me from doing it sooner was the Blogher Ads. But the money is really not worth "people" invading my privacy.

So...

The following is a list of readers I have email addresses for..I will be sending you all out an invitation to read my blog. (This just means that you will have to sign in each time to read it)
1. Renee G.
2. Doris S.
3. Missy
4. Jennifer aka Jersey Girl
5. Teresa M.
6. Aunt Lillian
7. Aunt Susie-Q
8. Aunt Margy
9. Yaya
10. Cecile
11. Adrienne
12. Andi
13. Rhen
14. Sherri VonL
15. Tina aka T.T.
16. Michele aka Shelly Belly
17. Tammy aka Tornado Tammy
18. Bonnie
19. Chelle G.
20. Hollye C.
21. Mom/Texas
22. A.C.T.G.F.
23. Sherri L. {SIL}
24. Jackie C.
25. Debbie R.
26. Krystal G.
27. Tamara
28. Amber Housley
29. Tammy G.

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(If you would like to continue reading..and your name is not listed..please email me with your information..thanks)