Dancing Cinderella...

Lilee's Dance Recital

(June 13th, 2009 - 6:30 p.m.)

She did such a great job and had sooooo much fun!

Rehersal was Sat. morning at 9:15...way too early for this little late sleeper!

But getting up early was worth it because afterwards, Lilee and "her girls" were treated to a "mini" manicure and pedicure before the big night! They wanted to make sure their fingers and toes matched thier dance costumes...SPARKLING!

Early Saturday morning...rehersal and primping.

Later that night...the big show!!!

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We are so proud of you, baby girl! Everyday we see you growing up...into a beautiful, loving, joyful little girl (oops...) I mean BIG girl! You did a such a great job and we're so proud of you!

We love our Angel Face!

Mommy and Daddy

What's on my mind...

What is it with people who put up a "front"? Why put on a show? The need to display a different version of yourself...while concealing your authenticity????....On the inside, I’ll bet you are one miserable person, insecure, and uncertain.
One thing I refuse to allow in my life...opinions and judgments of other people to manipulate my thinking. I’m not naive. I know they exist. And it's not that I don't care about what other people think…in some small way, I guess I do because it keeps me in check. I think people that try and prove their strength by “not caring”…are trying to create a fictional description of themselves. After all, let's face it… we all have a small speck of curiosity that wants to know what people think of us. It’s only when we hear something critical, that we try to act like that opinion is irrelevant. I just don't believe in allowing someone else’s assessment of me (especially from a distance) to effect who I am, and who I want to be. The fact that you can not control what someone else thinks of you is a part of life. I accepted that a long time ago. Only after accepting that reality…was I able to be 100% unaffected.
Go ahead and show your emotions, don’t camouflage your reactions. Allowing other’s to witness your vulnerability…that’s what makes you real. That’s what distinguishes one person from another. Be unprocessed…be rare…not man-made.

A grateful attitude...

"Thou shalt rejoice before the Lord thy God in all that thou puttest thine hands into." - Deuteronomy 12:18

Lately, I've needed to add a few extra minutes at the end of every day. If only to get the last few tasks finished.  Maybe I could borrow from the next day, but then I'd be cutting that day short. Seems like there's never enough time...always too much to get done...often feeling overwhelmed. One thing I'm never in short supply of...laundry that needs folded, bathrooms that need cleaned, beds that need made, groceries that need bought, and so on, and so on, and so on. But instead of complaining about the seemingly endless tasks I have in front of me every day, I guess I should try to find joy in each of them...realize the reason I have all of this "stuff" to do.  If I look at my "to do list" with a positive attitude, a grateful attitude, I am reminded that each one is a result of a gift God has placed in my life...my children...my husband...my family...my home.  I should be forever grateful for each task.  The next time I'm tempted to complain about the mounds of "stuff" I have to get done...I should turn the murmuring into praise.  God, thank you for giving me children to clean up after...a husband to pick up after...a family to keep in touch with...a home keep up on.  I am a blessed woman.

Congrats to Hunter!!!

Congrats to Hunter....
We are SOOOO proud of you! You should be proud of yourself! You're a terrific kid, with a great big heart...and your growing into such a wonderful young man. Keep up those good grades in middle school this fall, ok? You've worked really hard this year... and you deserve it! We love you tons and tons!

***************Leave Hunter a message by clicking on the "comment section" below.

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Hmmm...which do I choose?

Yes...everyone knows I love taking pictures...capturing moments, memories, silliness, and laughter. However, I'm finding it more and more difficult trying to pick which ones I want to post when there are more than a million to pick from! So...I thought I'd make it easier on myself and just post a direct link to some of my fav's! ....(upper right hand corner of blog)

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It's a GREAT day today...look who's at "Mommy 2's" house!!!

Baby Easton is here today! I'm so thankful to be
able to have the opportunity to keep him a
few days a week, and help out my sis.
Shhhhhh...Lilee is still asleep...
so I've got him all to myself before the "little mommy" gets up and starts hogging him! She luuuuuuves her Baby Easton!
I promised him I wouldn't take anymore pictures after I took these...but we all know that's a big fat lie!

His mommy was sad to have to go to work and leave her little man...but he wanted me to give Mommy a message fron her little man...
Don't be sad, Mommy, I'm already havin' tons
of fun! Love you, and I'll see you at 5:30!"

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What NOT to do with your 1,100 gallon Koi fish pond...

This is what happens when you begin a project before a baby...then, baby comes = project is forgotten.

BEFORE...

...AFTER

*********A word of advice**********

If anyone out there has a husband who one day says to you, "Babe, what do ya think about putting a Koi pond in our back yard?".......
First, smack him upside the head, then run! Run fast...so he can't catch up to you and talk you into it. Take it from me...he'll eventually convince you. Then, the next thing you know...it will have been 2 years since the nasty thing has even been touched. Your kids will want to go outback and play...but you'll tell them no in fear of some (very neglected, very angry) deformed monster Koi coming out and sucking them into the swamp!
After a while, you'll soon realize...it has to be done...the overwhelming chore of cleaning the funk. I ask all of you mom's out there...do we ever really need anything else to clean???
Nope...enough said.
In conclusion...DON'T DO IT!!!

JUST SAY NO, NO, NO,NO and again NO!!!

***(next year... he's doing this all by himself!)


****Click on the slideshow for pics of all the funky details...

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