Just Hanging Out

Look Mom!

Latte- Our English Mastiff

We never know what her legs are going to do....

For such a big dog,

she can move those legs just about anywhere!

We were all in the kitchen at dinner time

and I turn around and she was just sitting

in this position.  I was so glad that the camera was

in the room... nothing like a Kodak moment!

I had plans to post Madison's DYI headboard

but was informed her room was not clean enough

for a photo shoot!

 Here is a sneak peek!

"Laughter is the best medicine!"

 Happy 16 Birthday Zac

Time flies when you have kids.

They start out with tiny feet and hands...

and before you know it...

they grow up!

My mom went all out to help make Zac's birthday

extra special, planning a surprise party for him!

It was a wonderful family celebration

honoring the first 16 years of one special young man!

Zac and his yummy cake!

Mom thought of everything...

balloons,

Zac's tiny feet and hands,

food in the shape of cars

(he is 16, after all),

festive plates and silverware

and to top it all off

a fun sleepover

with cousins!

Thanks mom for helping make

 Zac's birthday memorible!

I love you Zac!

A Birthday Wish

My "baby" is now officially a teenager.

Madison turned 13 on Monday and celebrated

with 3 of her closest friends!

They went for pizza,

played "Monster Golf",

back home for cake,

movie and a sleepover.

(Madison on right)

God has blessed me with such a wonderful daughter.

I have seen her develop aspiring traits

including:

love for family,

care for friends,

passion for the written word,
responsibility,
a helping attitude,
and
artistic and creative aptitudes!

My heart is warmed when I see
her beautiful smile!

I continue to look forward
to watching her grow
and develop into
the wonderful and beautiful young woman
with a sweet heart for others and God!

I look forward to many more years
of creative writings and
pray that one day
 her dreams
will all come true.

I pray that she will continue
to walk with God,
and that He will lead her
to heights of joy!

Happy Birthday, my dear!
Love,
Mom



Following in My Footsteps

I'm so excited! 

Zac (my soon to be 16 year old)

 got a job for the summer!

No, not in Paris...

but at our local amusement park

Kings Island!

If you are old enough to remember

the Brady Bunch, they filmed

their amusement park show at Kings Island

 back in 1973!

(so I date myself)

My first job was also at Kings Island!

I worked a total of 3 summers

as a rides operator.

Funny enough,

 Zac will also be working rides.

He has already chosen his crew

and will be working on

The Crypt.

This ride was formerly known as

Tomb Raider, but the name was

changed a few years ago when the park

was sold from Paramount

back to Cedar Fair.

His reasoning for picking this ride...

it's inside

(air conditioning and

 staying dry in rain!)

Smart Boy!

As a side note (and because I've gone up the

Kings Island Eiffel Tower countless times)

this is a 1/3 sized replica of the

real Eiffel Tower in Paris, France.

And for me, that's high enough!

All photos are from the Internet!

Catching Up

Carpi Diem = Seize the Day

I'm beginning to wonder if my newly adopted

outlook on life is about to send me to an early grave!

This past week it's sent me to the couch, sick!

I wanted to take a few minutes to update my

the last few weeks!

First our trip to Disney was wonderful!

We spent one day at Epcot where we

enjoyed both the attractions

and the annual Taste of Epcot!

Zac found a carmel covered chocolate cupcake

at the new carmel shoppe!

Madison tried a baked ravioli!

Wayne and I were so busy eating, we

didn't stop to photo all our samples!

Zac and me!

Madison and me!

The weather was perfect for our trip!

Although, the kids were slightly sad that it was too cool

to swim in my Aunt's beautiful pool.

We spent the second day at MGM Studio.

The kids found they loved the

Rock and Roll roller coaster!

We also discovered the "Single Rider" line help

to make a 40 minute wait, whittle

down to about 15minutes!

Our trip was very quick...

we drove down on Friday and Saturday,

went to Epcot on Sunday,

MGM on Monday also starting our drive home that night

finished our trip home on Tuesday.

We all decided it was worth the trip!

The time together with family was one to be

remembered and treasured!

I was even able to meet a blogger friend

while down in Florida!

We had discovered beforehand that Sue,

from I Need Mom, would be in Orlando

visiting family the same time we were there!

It was so much fun to meet up in person!

We arrived home to a busy rest of the week.

That Friday, Zac and I took off for

Indianapolis, Indiana to volunteer

at the Bands Of America

Grand National Band Competition!

By volunteering for two shifts we were

able to see most of the Semi- Finals

and all of the Finals for free!

Our local school band,

 the one Zac preformed in last year,

made it into the semi finals and

was only one or two bands away

from making it into the Final 12 bands

out of 90 marching bands from all over

the United States!

It was a great weekend for Zac and I to share together!

Unfortunately

, I came home sick and have been

"taking it easy" most of the week.

I did want to share a sweet surprise

that was waiting for me when I arrived

home on Thursday night...

My friend Amy and her children had dropped

off some yummy goodies for our family!

I teach art to 2 of her beautiful girls on Fridays!

I can't tell you what this sweet gift did for my spirits!

It brought such a smile to my face and heart!

If you want to follow Amy's adoption check out her blog.

Growing By 2 Feet

Our other news has to do with this sweet cottage!

Wayne and I are currently under contract to purchase

this one bedroom home in a neighboring town.

My in laws will be living here once we

make some cosmetic changes to the interior!

Once spring rolls around we will be

 painting and landscaping

the exterior!

I looking forward to sharing this project with you all!

Pumpkin Party

Every year my Mom and Dad

host a Pumpkin Party

for the kids and grand kids!

Over the past few years,

we have combined

a trip to the local pumpkin patch

and

a fall leaf raking, bonfire party

into one fun filled

Pumpkin Party!

Mom will prebuy big pumpkins

and use those to decorate her porch.

To make it fair we have the kids pick a number

from a bowl...

Then one at a time they get to pick their pumpkins!

Zac (my son)

Kee (my nephew)

Bennett (my nephew)

Jamie (my niece)

Jon Mark (my nephew)

Haly (my niece)
and

Madison(my daughter)!

While Nona (above)

and

Mom Mom watched on...

the kids

carved pumpkins!

As the kids get older,

they take over the carving.

Happy to report, no one lost a finger

to a wayward knife!

Love the finished pumpkins!

Of course, Mom made plenty of yummy food!

A festive birthday cake for Nona...

candy corn and pumpkin gumballs

( a big hit!)

Pumpkin cookies...

homemade Carmel corn

and...

making for so mores!

And those were just the desserts!

For dinner we had sloppy joes, hot dogs,

brats and pumpkin pasta!

Dad and Mom even made a fire pit for roasting

the marshmallows!

We all celebrated Nona's birthday!

Blowing out the candles...

with a little "help"!

The boys talked Grandpa into getting

out his pellet air riffle

for some target practice!

Even Grandpa got into the act!

I am linking to

Simple Pleasures over at

A Collection of This and That.
Please be sure to stop over by Dayle's
and check out all the simple pleasures!

My simple pleasure is
 time spent with my family.

I am blessed to still have two grandmas,

my mom and dad,

my sister, her husband and 5 kids

and Wayne and my kids.

We all live in the same 6 mile area.

Cousins are friends!

We are each other's support and

love is always in the house!

Happy Thursday!