Breast Cancer Research Stamp

Since its introduction, the Breast Cancer Research Stamp has raised more than $55 million for breast cancer research putting it among the most successful commemorative stamps of all time.

Congress has passed legislation extending the Breast Cancer Research Stamp four more years, through 2011. The House of Representatives passed the bill on Tuesday, and the Senate followed the next night. The bill now awaits signature by President Bush.

Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) and Representative William Lacy Clay (D-MO) spearheaded the effort extend the life of the Breast Cancer Research Stamp. Take a moment to say thank you to these CHAMPIONS!

Joss Stone

Have you heard Joss Stone's cover the the Nat King Cole classic L-O-V-E in the Channel commercials? It is AMAZING!

If you haven't heard it and would like to, you can listen to it on her myspace page. It can also be purchased from iTunes!!

I see a music theme developing this week!

Alicia Keys

from people.com: "I'm dating myself ... No, I'm serious. She's this beautiful woman ... her name is Alicia, I'm getting to know her better and taking her out. I'm taking her where she wants to go and she's learning new things. She's having a good time."

Now, Alicia has the right idea...LOL!! Can you "date" yourself when you're married? *snicker*

Answered Prayers

Our family is extremely thankful for your prayers. The SSA approved my dad's disibility! It's still going to be tight for a little while, but at least they will have some income.

Physically, my dad is doing well and continues to improve. Today was his last cardiac rehab session. He received a diploma that he now wants to frame and hang on the wall in his rec room. What a goof ball! :)

NFC North Champions

I sure didn't see this coming in the pre-season. I picked the Green Bay Packers to be 5-11 this season! I know that wasn't very optimistic, but we're the youngest team in the NFL even with a 38-year-old quarterback! ;) Good thing I am not the gambling type who would have put money on that pick...LOL!

Olivia's Words

Olivia called from her best friend's house this morning to say, "Thank you for letting me go to the concert. It was AMAZING!"

I could hear her BFF giggling in the background. They both had a good time and they were still giddy from the whole experience. My girlie & her friend were a bunch of giggle gooses! :)

Friendship

The most beautiful discovery true friends make is that they can grow separately without growing apart. -- Elisabeth Foley

When Little Girls Grow Up...

they get chunky blonde hi-lites...

they may add a "funky" color...

and they go to their first concert! Olivia & her best friend are going to see the Jonas Brothers tomorrow night! The show they are going to is without Hannah Montana. I don't think the girls would have wanted to go it she was going to be part of the show.

Technological Upgrades

The weekend after Thanksgiving we upgraded from a 27 inch TV we bought in 1999 to a 42 inch LCD TV! Since the box on that TV was only standard definition not the wonderful HD, that meant a satellite upgrade was required too! Today was the day!The wonderful tech had to go through all that fresh snow we got last night & this morning. He did it without complaints or grumbles about the weather.

It's nice to have HD & DVR on one receiver in one room. The box in the living room will need to be upgraded at some point to get all the available HD channels, but we don't watch that one much so that can wait until the price of the HD & DVR combo boxes come down in price a bit more.

Back to the wonderful tech, would you believe he took off his snowy boots and slipped on a pair of Crocs to walk on our carpeting? How do I get Bob & Olivia to keep their wet and/or shoes off the carpeting...lol!

Round Two

We finished with round one overnight Saturday! Some areas of Milwaukee are still a mess, but Ole Mother Nature doesn't care. The snow has begun to fall again -- should be 2-4 inches by the time it is done tomorrow morning. Us lucky folks near Lake Michigan could get another 1-2 inches of lake effect accumulations!

I know someone who would like this forecast as long as she can stay in the house!

Thank You

Shelbi over at Keeper of the Chocolates have awarded me with the Rockin' Girl Blogger Award! She says I always have sweet things to say, but we all know she is the sweet one! :)

There are so many Rockin' Girl Bloggers out there that I don't even know who to name. Is it a cop out to name everyone listed in my sidebar? LOL! It probably is so I will name a few...

Carolynn (Your journal counts as a blog, right? LOL!) is the most amazing, inspirational woman I know. I am honored to call her friend!

Martha tells hilarious stories and loves to give "tours" of homes for sale in her area. She's tempting me to move to Minnesota. (Don't think you will turn me into a Vikings fan though...LOL!)

Mrs. Jones has wonderful decorating & organizing ideas! Need an idea and decorating plan for a party theme? She's your lady!

Frightful

Yep, we can use that word to describe the weather outside! Around noon today the snow began to fall! By about 4:30 about four inches had fallen, and sleet began to fall. The freezing rain began a little bit ago.

By about midnight the temps will rise enough that we will just have rain, and maybe even a thunderstorm.

Pretty strange weather day, wouldn't you say? That storm system is pretty huge so I am sure many of you are getting hit with it as well. Hope you are all safe and snuggled up at home!

UGH!

Cowboys 37
Packers 27
Favre injured (I think I heard the entire state gasp!)

As soon as it was announced that Woodson, Rouse, and KGB wouldn't play, I knew it was going to be an up hill battle. That Bigby stinks!

Big Game Tonight

Dallas vs. Green Bay
Cowboys vs. Packers
10-1 vs. 10-1

I'm all set to cheer on my team and favorite Packer, NFL sack leader, Aaron Kampman!!



(I still can't believe we're 10-1!)

24: The Unaired 1994 Pilot

A local talk radio host posted this on his blog. I was SO hilarious that I knew I had to share it with you guys!

1994 24 Pilot from CollegeHumor.com.

Think HUGE phones, pagers, AOL, perferated printer paper, etc.

Pregnancy & Cancer

A familiar story & the story of another.

It is amazing how far cancer treatments have come, but we cannot stop fighting until we beat this horrible disease!

2008 Danskin Triathlon Race Schedule

Yesterday while browsing the Danksin Triathlon website, I ran across the schedule for next year. Registration will open around Februaray 7, 2008! Anyone care to join me? :)

F5, Springsteen, the E Street Band

It has been a LONG time since I sat at my computer hitting F5 waiting for something to go on sale.

Bob is a HUGE Bruce Springsteen fan! Springsteen & the E Street Band are coming to town on March 17, tickets go on sale in less than 8 minutes, and here I sit hitting that F5! Remember those GoCollect ordering days? Hopefully, this will go a little more smoothly and I won't end up with a headache...LOL!!

ETA: The ordering went just fine and took less than four minutes. A far cry from those GoCollect Just the Right Shoe exclusive ordering days...lol! I guess ticketmaster.com has experience with web traffic from crazed fans!

The Snow Is Falling

Our first snowfall of the season began a few minutes ago. We had a few flurries last weekend, but there was nothing to measure. Most of our area will get 2-4, but closer to Lake Michigan (where our house is) will most likely be 1-3. The temps near The Lake, as we call it, are slightly warmer this time of year so we will have more rain than the rest of the area.

She's Home

Aubrie is home now! She will wear a monitor for at least the next week when she will be seen by her doctor again. It is still unclear what caused her to stop breathing, but Aaron & Angie are thankful to have their little darling home in time for Thanksgiving.

Thank you all for your thoughts & prayers!

Prayers for Aubrie

Please say a little prayer for my cousin, his wife and their newborn daughter.

Aubrie was born Thursday afternoon and went home Saturday afternoon. Sunday morning when my cousin's wife went in for Aubrie's 3AM feeding, she found her blue & not breathing. My cousin's wife did CPR until the paramedics arrived, and they were able to get her breathing again. Aubrie is now at Children's Hospital of Wisconsin. The doctors have done many tests, but are still uncertain of the cause. She is doing OK last I heard late this morning, but will remain in the hospital for at least the next 48 hours.

Around the World in 5K (Part 2)

I am just home from the 5K & the Folk Fair I mentioned back in October. It was a great run! Cold temps, rain/sleet/flurries had been forecasted for the day, but it turned out to be a nice day for a run. Temps were right around 40 when the 5K got under way, the sun was out, and the winds were light.

I only slowed to a quick walk pace twice. I estimate I walked a total of 35-35 steps to bring my heart rate down and catch my breath a bit. My time was 32:48 (Erin beat me by one second!). That is an HUGE improvement from the 43:40 in the Danskin.

My goal is to be able to run a 5k in under 30 by the 2008 Danskin! I'm taking a little time off to let my weary body rest, but I will be running again soon.

Reminder

Don't forget Project Runway Season 4 starts tonight! Is your TiVo/DVR all set?

It's Fragrant Lilac

The walls in our bathroom are finally painted. It's only been torn apart since July! The plans made so many months ago are coming to be and should be done over the weekend.

Oh speaking of the bathroom plans, now that the walls are painted I don't hate the vanity top in there. I think the problem was all those stinkin' different greens going on. What an improvement!!

I'll post before & after pictures once the makeover is complete!

I Heart This Music

Colbie Caillat's Bubbly is favorite song at the moment!

What's your favorite song right now?

Psst...Carolynn, If you haven't already, you may want to download it! ;)

The Alternative Pumpkin Pie

Doesn't this look divine?

It's Pumpkin Cheesecake with Gingersnap Crust. The recipe is at cleanhomejournal.com. Anyone else tempted to try this? I know I am extremely tempted!!

Thursday Thirteen #37

I don't feel the creative list making vibe today so for this week's Thursday Thirteen I am "borrowing" an an idea from Kelle!

Thirteen Things that Happened on November 8

1. In 1793, the Louvre opened as a public museum in Paris by the French revolutionary government. Prior to being a public museum, it was a royal palace for more than two centuries.

2. In 1864, President Lincoln was elected to his second term.

3. In 1866, the founder of the Austin Motor Company, Herbert Austin, was born in England.

4. In 1887, Doc Holliday, Old West gunslinger, gambler, and "part-time" dentist, died from tuberculosis.

5. In 1895, physicist Wilhelm Conrad Rontgen discovered x-rays.

6. In 1900, Margaret Mitchell, author of Gone with the Wind was born in Atlanta, GA.

7. In 1923, Adolf Hitler launched the Beer Hall Putsch. This was his first attempt at seizing control of the German government.

8. In 1939, the 16th anniversary of Hitler's Beer Hall Putsch, a bomb exploded just after Hitler finished giving a speech. Hitler was not harmed by the explosion.

9. In 1945, the passage of the Revenue Act of 1945 started an extensive post-war revision of the nation's tax system and cut taxes by $6 billion.

10. In 1958, the Ford Motor Company decided on the name "Edsel" for a new model in development for that market year. This model was a new addition to the Ford family of automobiles and was a tribute to Edsel Bryant Ford. Edsel served as company president from 1919 until his death in 1943.

11. In 1960, John F Kennedy was elected President.

12. In 1974, a Salt Lake City, UT resident narrowly escaped an abduction by serial killer Ted Bundy.

13. In 1992, Jacky Vranken, daredevil from Belgium, set the record for the highest speed attained while performing a wheelie on a motorcycle.

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Real Simple's Daily Thought

About a year ago I had a free trial subscription to Real Simple magazine. While I love an organized & simplified life, it just wasn't the type of magazine I like read so I canceled that subscription. I did, however, continue to subscribe to their Daily Thought emails. Each day they send an email with a quote and a few links to articles on their website. Most of the time I read the daily thought & immediately delete the email. Other days one of the article titles will catch my attention and I will read it. Today is simply read the quote and delete day, but I couldn't delete the email without sharing the quote!

To talk without thinking is to shoot without aiming. — Greg Clarke

Not a Shocker...lol!

You Are Not Messy

You're so clean, people have accused you of being a clean freak! You like things tidy, organized, and smelling fresh. Messes drive you crazy, especially when you didn't make them. It's hard for you to live with a slob - or someone who leaves their dishes in the sink.

Are You Messy?

Oh Boy!

Things here have been crazy since I was last here on Thursday! I ended up stay-in-bed-or-on-the-couch sick ALL day Friday & most of Saturday!

Of course, Sunday is football & race day! Woohoo; Packers baby! We're 7-1! I can't believe it and keep waiting for the bottom to fall out because aside from Brett (and my man Aaron Kampmann) we aren't that great. The next three weeks are kind of scary -- Minnesota, Detroit, and Dallas! I will be holding my breath all through those games...LOL!! The race didn't go so well!

Yesterday was another visit to the dentist. This time it is for that new crown I told you about a while back. The old crown is off, a temporary is in it's place, and the new crown order has been sent to the dental lab. I have to stop in there tomorrow for color match. Even the temporary is a HUGE improvement from the old crown.

Today was my day with grandma. She has been having some trouble with her right knee lately. She wasn't walking to well today so she wanted to cut the day short a bit. We went to her toe nail clipping apointment and the grocery stores. We had lunch at Culver's, and YES; I had frozen custard. ;) I needed, maybe even deserved, something soft & cold with all the dental work I have had done recently.

I have had a little time with all that going on to work a little on a quilt project and finally get all the wallpaper off the bathroom walls. WOOHOO! I will post some pics (and send some to you, C) once I have a sec after my camera batteries finish charging.

Thursday Thirteen #36

Every month has it's share of observances and awareness campaigns. I thought today I would list some of them.

Thirteen Observances & Awareness Campaigns During November

1. National Adoption Month

2. National Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month

3. American Diabetes Month

4. National Epilepsy Awareness Month

5. Great American Smokeout

6. National Healthy Skin Month

7. National Hospice Month

8. Lung Cancer Awareness Month

9. National Marrow Awareness Month

10. Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month

11. Prematurity Awareness Month

12. PH (Pulmonary Hypertension) Awareness Month

13. Tie One On for Safety Campaign (Red Ribbon)

I found this information at polhy.com! There are quite a few more.

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

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Happy Halloween

Don't eat too much trick-or-treat candy!

A Little Autumn Color

Taken in our front yard on October 20, 2007...

You can see the rest of the photos I took that early evening here.

Menu Plan Monday #4

October 29 - November 4, 2007

Monday: Quesdillas

Tuesday: Roasted Chicken, WW pasta, asparagus

Wednesday: Slow Cooker Pot Roast

Thursday: Sweet & Sour Pork Chops, brown/wild rice, & sugar snap peas

Friday: Penny's Pizza

Saturday: Dine out

Sunday: Leftovers

Thursday Thirteen #35

Thirteen Homes for Sale I Have Fallen For

We are considering a move to a nearby county -- not super seriously, but we have been looking online at homes for sale in a couple cities in that county. I am sure most of you know by now that I have a special place in my heart for older homes. Here are pictures of a few I could love.

~1~
~2~
~3~
a little different than my usual style, but I see potential
~4~
my favorite interior
~5~
Bob's favorite interior & exterior
~6~
not old, but a great newer house that has that old look
~7~
~8~
~9~
~10~

~11~

~12~
my favorite exterior

~13~
another newer home that has a little older home character

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Relief

Man, I am thanking the good Lord for gauze soaked in pain medication even if it tastes like cloves! :) My oral surgeon's assistant packed my dry socket with the previously mentioned gauze & the unbearable pain was gone in less than ten minutes. I have to go back to have it repacked tomorrow morning. That one will remain in until Monday when I visit the dental assistant again for a new one. Monday's packing should be the last, but I am not sure how long it will remain in at this point.

Answered Prayers

Thank you all for your prayers for Carolynn!

All four of Carolynn's biopsies and the unknown tissue were benign! In three months, she will have another FISH test. If it is negative, that means she does not have bladder cancer. If positive, the cancer would be found early and treatment would be minimal.

Thank the Lord for answered prayers!

Dry Socket Sucks!

As you know, I had my wisdom tooth extracted on Thursday afternoon. All the healing was going really well. I had very little pain. The vicodin was a bit strong for me so I stopped taking it, but I was able to manage that pain with Aleve every 4-6 hours. Sunday evening the pain suddenly became unbearable. I did take the vicodin since I was just going to bed. (I cannot tolerate the stuff.) When I woke up yesterday, it seemed slightly better so I did not call the oral surgeon. Well, late last night I woke up with that pain again. It is still here this morning and is shooting up my face, down my jawline, and into my neck. I called the clinic where I had my surgery. Unfortunatly, there is not a dentist in until tomorrow morning. I took a bright & early 8AM appointment.

A warm salt water rinse brings relief for a short time, the Aleve does nothing, and I won't take the vicodin unless it's bed time because I can't function. I need to be able to pick Olivia up from school. Then I may take one and head to bed. So much for working on quilts and the bathroom today! Grrrr!

Time for Your Mammogram?

Today is National Mammography Day! Is it time for you to schedule your mammogram? I made my appointment today for my November mammogram. Don't put it off...

Early detection saves lives!

Ouch!

I had a wisdom tooth pulled this afternoon! Boy, am I hurting right now. The vicodin the oral surgeon prescribed doesn't seem to be helping the pain, but it sure is making me lightheaded/dizzy! I'm not liking the dental profession at the moment.

On the other hand, I am very excited about my next dental appointment. I know that sounds silly, but I will be getting a new crown on one of my front teeth. Yes, one of the ones made famous in the All I Want for Christmas song...lol! I think the dentist would call it #9!

When I was 8, I feel off my bike I didn't get my hands down quick enough to break my fall and ended up hitting my mouth on the road. I broke off part of my tooth. From that summer until I was 18 I had this horrible looking temporary cap. This cap broke a few years later, was discolored; and I was always so self conscious of it. The spring of my senior year it was time for it to be replaced. While I was thrilled with it at the time because it was such an improvement over the broken, yellowed temporary one it replaced, it just never looked "good". Some of that is the products that were available at the time, but some of it was the skill of the dentist making the molds & doing the color matching. This one never made me as uncomfortable as the temporary, but it wasn't anything to brag about either.

On November 5, I go in for the prep work for that new crown. On November 19, it will be installed. I know it won't be "my" tooth, but I know it will be a big improvement on what I have now! So bring on Dr. Grant! :)

Thursday Thirteen #34

Thirteen Things in My "Beauty Arsenal"

I thought I would have a little fun with this week's Thursday Thirteen by listing 13 of my favorite things that are part of my daily take-care-of-me routine.

1. Bath & Body Works Midnight Pomegranate body wash

2. Bath & Body Works Midnight Pomegranate body creme

3. Venus razor (admittedly not daily once the weather turns cold! *snicker*)

4. Neutrogena Visibly Even Foaming Cleanser

5. Neutrogena Visibly Even Daily Moisturizer (SPF 15)

6. Neutrogena Visibly Even Night Concentrate (I recently switched to this Neutrogena line, and I totally love it.)

7. Everyday Minerals Fairly Light Foundation (I don't know what I did before I discovered mineral make-up. I love this stuff!!)

8. Everyday Minerals Blush in Waffle Cone (I just got this color & I absolutely love the bit of sparkle in this shade.)

9. Chi Flat Iron

10. any brand flat iron spray

11. L'Oreal Telescopic mascara in blackest black

12. L'Oreal Telescopic liquid eyeliner

13. Any brand glossy lip color

NOTE: The new TT banner is courtesy of Missy at Observations at Missy's Window. Thank you Missy!!

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Prayers for Carolynn

My dear friend, Carolynn, is facing a bladder cancer diagnosis. A few weeks ago she tested positive on a FISH test. FISH is very accurate (95%) and highly sensitive, but is not a definite diagnosis of bladder cancer. A positive FISH indicates abnormal growth/a possible tumor. As follow-up to the FISH, Carolynn had had a CT IVP. The CT IVP came back negative which means any cancer has not left her bladder.

As I write this, she is in surgery -- having a cystoscopy/TURB. At least four areas will be biopsied and any growth or abnormalities will be removed.

Next she will have to wait for pathology results. If the cancer diagnosis is confirmed, a treatment plan will be put in place. If the biopsies come back negative, she will have to wait three months and repeat the procedures. Bladder cancer is a recurring disease, and it could take a more time before it shows itself beyond the FISH.

Please keep her in your thoughts & prayers.

I love you, Carolynn, my dear friend!

Menu Plan Monday #3

October 15 - October 21, 2007

Monday: Beef Burgundy, WW Egg Noodles, and Broccoli

Tuesday: Taco Casserole, Corn

Wednesday: Crockpot Lemon Pepper Chicken, Green Beans, and Spinach Salad

Thursday: Split Pea with Ham soup and rye bread

Friday: Quesdillas

Saturday: Dine out

Sunday: Leftovers and/or sandwiches

Ford's Warriors In Pink

For 2007 Ford has added a little more excitement to their Warriors in Pink campaign. They have enlisted celebrities to join them in the fight against breast cancer by decorating and signing 1/18^th scale models of the 2008 Mustang with Warriors in Pink package. These Warriors in Pink models will be listed on eBay.com beginning October 15, 2007. The auctions will run through October 25, 2007. All all proceeds raised benefit Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

Celebrities include:

David Arquette & Courteney Cox

Kelly Clarkson
Toby Keith
Richard Simmons
Cast of General Hospital
Cast of Young & The Restless

Cast of Grey's Anatomy

Cast of Desperate Housewives
Cast of Brothers and Sisters
Laurie Force (wife of Legendary NHRA John Force, mother of Ashley, Brittany and Courtney)
Ashley Force (driver of the Castrol GTX Ford Mustang Funny Car)
Brittany Force (driver of the Brand Source Super Comp dragster)
Courtney Force (driver of the Brand Source Super Comp dragster)

This is Ford's 13^th year of support of Susan G. Komen for the Cure. To date, Ford has dedicated more than $90 million to fighting breast cancer and saving lives.

The 2007 Warriors in Pink apparel & gear along with the limited edition 2008 Mustang with Warriors in Pink package show Ford's dedication to making a difference.

For more information on the Warriors in Pink campaign, visit fordcares.com.

A Big Hit

Sunday afternoon was my cousin's wife's (guess that makes her my cousin-in-law...lol) baby shower. They are having a girl & are registered a couple places. I just HATE buying gifts off registries. I use them as a guideline for colors, styles, and other preferences like that, but I almost never buy something directly off the registry. I wanted to do something different for Angie's baby girl's gift and decided on a diaper cake. I think it turned out great...


There was oohing & aahing the whole time it was passed around the room. I am very pleased with the way the "cake" turned out! It's amazing what you can do with a bunch of diapers, a receiving blanket, baby socks, and ribbon.

Thursday Thirteen #33

Thirteen Quotes

My Thursday Thirteen is back after an inadvertent two week hiatus. Today I bring you thirteen quotes I have seen recently that I loved!

1. A love affair with knowledge will never end in heartbreak. ~ Michael Garrett Marino

3. The real problem of leisure time is how to keep others from using yours. ~ Arthur Lacey

4. Map out your future – but do it in pencil. The road ahead is as long as you make it. Make it worth the trip. ~ Jon Bon Jovi

5. A kiss is just a pleasant reminder that two heads are better than one. ~ Author Unknown

6. Make the most of yourself, for that is all there is of you. ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

7. You can't live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you. ~ John Wooden

8. Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes. ~ Carl G. Jung

9. Pleasure is the flower that passes; remembrance, the lasting perfume. ~ Jean de Boufflers

10. He who has health has hope, and he who has hope has everything. ~ Arabian proverb

11. The road that is built in hope is more pleasant to the traveler than the road built in despair, even though they both lead to the same destination. ~ Marian Zimmer Bradley

12. Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen. ~ Winston Churchill

13. A true friend is someone who reaches for your hand and touches your heart. ~ Anonymous

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Finally!

I have been hoping Olivia would get interested in some sort of activity at school, but I didn't want to push her into anything she didn't really enjoy -- like sports. A couple of her friends joined the stage crew for the school & community plays, and she decided she wanted to join as well.

Last night was her first night & she already had paint on one of the pockets of her jeans. Luckily, I was able to get most of the paint out. What didn't come out isn't noticeable so the jeans weren't a complete loss. Today she brought a change of clothes -- without being told.

I know I have mentioned in the past that she would struggle with getting assignments in on time and being prepared for tests. I am happy to say so far this year she is doing really well. She hasn't missed an assignment and most of her test grades are really good. There were a couple pop quizzes that should have been better, but her overall her grades are WAY above where they would have been in that past at this point in the year. We are so proud of her.

I guess she has finally learned from all the years of mom & dad nagging talking with her!

Happy 38th

To my favorite QB! ;)

Menu Plan Monday #2

A couple of the meals planned for last week got moved to this week. I just didn't feel like baking a ham when our temps were in the mid to high 80s. The high temps are breaking right now. Tomorrow should bring perfect weather for using an oven.

October 8 - October 14, 2007

Monday: Leftovers from dining out over the weekend

Tuesday: Baked Ham, Buttered WW Egg Noodles, and Asparagus

Wednesday: Turkey Tenderloins, Green Beans, Salad

Thursday: Scalloped Potatoes & Ham, Peas, WW Rolls

Friday: Quesadillas

Saturday: Dine out

Sunday: Leftovers and/or sandwiches

Around the World in 5K

I am going to do a 5k in a little over a month. Erin will be joining me once again. On November 18, 2007, we will be doing the Around the World in 5k. This year's Around the World in 5K is the 7th annual 5K run/walk through Wisconsin's State Fair Park. Portions of it will even be on the Milwaukee Mile. After the race we are invited to stay for the Holiday Folk Fair International -- FREE. There is a World Café at the fair with many foods made with cherished recipes that have been passed down through generations. I haven't been to the Folk Fair in years so I am really looking forward to this.

Running Right Along

Have you ever "accidentally" ran/walked 6.19 miles instead of 3.1? Well, I have...LOL!

My friend Erin & I decided we would go running down by the lake front for a change of scenery. Neither of us remembered to map a route along the trails to figure out how far we really needed to go. So we just thought of a spot and ran to it. Well, it turned out to be a LONG way. Needless to say, we weren't able to run much of the way back to the car, but we did run most of the way there.

ACK!

This is the second week in a row that I forgot to do a Thursday Thirteen! I will bring it back next week -- provided I remember...lol!

At Risk of Sounding Like Al Gore...

LOL!

I hate plastic bags! I mean I hate them with a passion not just because of how long they take to breakdown when the end up in landfills, but also for the way the multiply in my house. I read the the average family brings home 500 - 1,000 of these bags every year. I know most of mine end up in the trash which ends up in a landfill. Did you know those plastic bags do not biodegrade? They photodegrade which means they break down into tiny toxic pieces that can contaminate water & soil.

Given those reasons a couple weeks ago I decided I needed to find a new option. I ordered Envirosax. They are available to order individually or in a pouch. Ordering the pouch saves you a bit per bag plus gives you all the designs in the series you choose. The Envirosax roll up into an easy to keep with you size. When they are rolled up, they remind of me cute, little sleeping bags...lol!

They arrived yesterday, I used them today, and I LOVE them. Bye bye plastic bags!

Those compact fluorescent light bulbs are another story. I hate 'em, but I am giving one a chance! Just one though!

Fog, Fog, Fog and More Fog

It's that time of year in Southeastern Wisconsin -- Fog season! We have had pretty bad fog the last few days. This morning the visibility was down near zero. More is rolling in now, but the rain coming overnight will clear it out. Hopefully, tomorrow will be a sunny, beautiful autumn day.

Menu Plan Monday #1

Each day around lunch time I begin to think what in the world am I going to make for dinner. I have decided I NEED to plan my menu out at the beginning of each week. The plan is, of course, not set in stone, but it will allow me to have a plan to follow. It also allows me to make sure I have all the ingredients I need to prepare each meal in the house. Yes, even with my stockpile from playing the Grocery Game, I run out of things occasionally. Usually, it is a produce, dairy, or meat product, but I do run out.

In my travels around the blog world, I ran across Menu Plan Monday. If I make menu planning a little fun, maybe I will keep it up. I know I will find new recipes in the process, and that is always fun.

Here it goes...

October 1 - October 8, 2007

Monday: Quesadillas

Tuesday: Chicken Stir-Fry, WW Fettucini

Wednesday: Saucy Italian Pork Chops, Brown Rice

Thursday: Turkey Tenderloins, Green Beans, Salad

Friday: Baked Ham, Buttered WW Egg Noodles, and Asparagus

Saturday: Dine out

Sunday: Leftovers

Good Day for the Pack

The Green Bay Packers are 4-0, and Brett Favre broke Dan Marino's all-time touchdown record! Woohoo!

ALL-TIME TOUCHDOWN PASS LEADERS

PLAYERS	TEAM	TD PASSES
Brett Favre	Green Bay	422
Dan Marino	Miami	420
Fran Tarkenton	Minnesota NY Giants	342
John Elway	Denver	300
Warren Moon	Houston Minnesota Seattle Kansas City	291

Up next for the Pack: Da Bearz

Nonni's Biscotti & Susan G. Komen

Press release from Nonni's Biscotti's PR agency: Nonni’s Biscotti Partners With Celebrities to Raise Funds for Breast Cancer Research

More than 50 celebrities – comprised of movie and television personalities – autographed pink coffee mugs to support Komen for the Cure’s promise to save lives and end breast cancer forever. During the first week of October, in recognition of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the collector items will be listed in a charity auction on the eBay Giving Works site.

“Nonni’s Biscotti, as a brand, has always had a strong connection with women,” said Matt Duffy, marketing manager, Nonni’s Biscotti. “We formed a partnership with Susan G. Komen for the Cure because of the impact breast cancer has on so many women across the United States. We are proud to help raise funds for research, education, screening and treatment that will hopefully eliminate this disease one day. We hope this charity auction will not only help raise funds, but also increase awareness about breast cancer.”

Nearly 50 coffee mugs were autographed by many of today’s hottest celebrities during the Haven House Gifting Suite including: Sasha Cohen, Neve Campbell, James Woods, Lil’ Kim, Josh Henderson and Tyler Hilton.* One hundred percent of the final sale price of each mug will be donated to Susan G. Komen for the Cure. For a complete list of celebrities involved, go to www.nonnis.com.

“Susan G. Komen for the Cure is on a mission to end breast cancer forever,” said Cindy Schneible, vice president of resource development. “Partnerships like the one with Nonni’s Biscotti are an integral part of that mission, helping us reach millions of consumers with life-saving breast health messages and raising funds that support breast cancer research and community outreach programs.”

In addition to the charity auction, Nonni’s will offer biscotti in specially packaged pink ribbon breast cancer awareness boxes through December 31, 2007. The pink boxes of biscotti will be available at local grocery stores and wholesale clubs. Consumers are invited to visit Nonni’s Web site and support breast cancer research by entering in individual UPC codes from their purchased pink boxes of Nonni’s Biscotti. Susan G. Komen for the Cure will receive 75 cents for every unique UPC code entered on www.nonnis.com, with a minimum donation of $25,000, and maximum of $50,000. UPC codes can be entered until March 1, 2008.

Breast cancer continues to affect millions of women and their friends and families every year. In the 25 years since its inception, Susan G. Komen for the Cure has invested nearly $1 billion in research, education and health services. With the continued support of companies like The Nonni’s Food Company, Komen for the Cure will be able to achieve its vision of a world without breast cancer.

About Nonni’s Food Company
Founded in 1988, Nonni’s Food Company is also home to other premium quality brands including Nonni’s Biscotti, New York Style and Old London. The Nonni’s Biscotti brand uses the original family recipe including real eggs, butter and gourmet bittersweet chocolate that gives the biscotti a light, crunchy texture that is delicately sweet. The New York Style snack line includes Bagel Crisps and Pita Chips; wholesome snacks that capture the tastes found in traditional New York City’s bakeries. Old London serves up great snacks and light lunches with its core Melba toast products. More information can be found at http://www.nonnisfoods.com.

About Susan G. Komen for the Cure
Nancy G. Brinker promised her dying sister, Susan G. Komen, she would do everything in her power to end breast cancer forever. In 1982, that promise became Susan G. Komen for the Cure and launched the global breast cancer movement. Today, Komen for the Cure is the world’s largest grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and activists fighting to save lives, empower people, ensure quality care for all and energize science to find the cures. Thanks to events like the Komen Race for the Cure, we have invested nearly $1 billion to fulfill our promise, becoming the largest source of nonprofit funds dedicated to the fight against breast cancer in the world. For more information about Susan G. Komen for the Cure, breast health or breast cancer, visit www.komen.org or call 1-800 I’M AWARE.

*Celebrities featured are not paid spokespeople and are not directly endorsing Nonni's Biscotti.

The images in this entry are the coffee mugs signed by Matt Leinhert (top) and Andi McDowell. You can view the rest of the celebrity signed Nonni's Biscotti coffee mugs on the Nonni's website.

Project Runway Countdown Begins

I just read the "official" word that Project Runway's fourth season will begin on November 14. I am SO excited, and will be counting the days! :) Here are the names of the 15 designers who will be competing this season:

- Carmen, 37: Hometown: Charlotte, North Carolina; Resides in New York
- Chris, 44: Hometown: San Francisco; Resides in New York
- Christian, 21: Hometown: Annapolis, Maryland; Resides in New York
- Elisa, 42: Hometown: El Paso, Texas; Resides in Santa Fe, New Mexico
- Jack, 38: Hometown: Seattle; Resides in New York
- Jillian, 26: Hometown/Resides In: Long Island, New York
- Kevin, 30: Hometown: Fairfield, New Jersey; Resides in New York
- Kit, 26: Hometown/Resides in: Los Angeles
- Marion, 39: Hometown: Tyler, Texas; Resides in Dallas
- Rami, 31: Hometown: Ramallah, Jerusalem; Resides in Los Angeles
- Ricky, 35: Hometown: Escondido, California; Resides in New York
- Simone, 32: Hometown: San Francisco; Resides in Los Angeles
- Steven, 30: Hometown/Resides in: Chicago
- Sweet P, 46: Hometown: Los Angeles: Resides in Glendale, California
- Victorya, 34: Hometown: Winchester, Virginia; Resides in New York

Anyone else as excited about this as I am? Bring it on!

More Organizing

Today it was the "office supply" drawer & cabinet in the kitchen. We have WAY too many pens, pencils, paper clips, highlighters, post-it notes, etc. I got them under control today (for now). I swear that stuff multiplies in the darkness of drawers & cabinets. I am sending a box of stuff with Olivia to school. Her friends will love it -- much of it was never opened.

Home Sweet Home

Bob is home from Vegas. He got home about 7:00PM yesterday, and is a little tired today. He does have the rest of the week off, and I think he will need it to recoup from all those late nights (I should say early mornings...lol). He had a great time with the guys, and they are planning on doing it again next fall. :)

I need to start planning a women's weekend! Where should we go? :)

New Look

I spent a little time last night and this morning creating a new look for my blog. Yes, I am fickle when it comes to my blog colors and tire of looks quickly! I lost some features from my sidebars and need to tweak a couple things like font color and that dumb scroll bar at the bottom. However, it's pretty much the way it will look! I love it, but who knows how long it will last...lol!

Hooray for Dad

Olivia had the day off school so we headed over to visit my dad. He has lost about 30 pounds and looks slightly too thin, but he has his color back. He has moments of dizziness, but those are getting less frequent. He has his color back rather than that icky color he had in the hospital and for the last couple weeks. He has taken a turn in the right direction! Thank you for all your thoughts, prayers, and support in those difficult days.

There are still some issues, but now add income & insurance to the mix. At the end of October, his short-term disability will run out along with insurance. Short of a miracle, there is no way he will be able to go back to work which means they will have no money coming in unless he qualifies for Social Security. He has a meeting with someone at the SSA next Monday! Please say a little prayer that it will all work out!

This is where I put in a plug for long-term disability insurance. Check your disability policies and make sure you have sufficient coverage!

Where is Autumn?

Today was the first full day of autumn, but you wouldn't know it if you were in Southeastern Wisconsin. The temps hit 90 today! Bring back my crisp, cool autumn weather -- PLEASE!

Fun Weekend!

Saturday morning Olivia & I dropped Bob off at the airport. He headed off to Las Vegas with three of our friends for a guys weekend. I have heard from him a few times & they are having a GREAT time.

Olivia & I hit the mall for some shopping fun and then a local restaurant for lunch. We had a great time, but she was anxious to get home and head over to a friend's house for a bonfire and some girlie fun!

That evening Erin & I went to The Melting Pot (a fondue restaurant) for a girls night out. It was so much fun & man was it a lot of food! It was SO good! I thought fondue went out of style in the 70s. Who knew it was still around and so good...lol!! If you ever have a chance to go to The Melting Pot, jump at the chance. Just be sure you have a lot of time as it isn't a fast meal by any means.

New Feature

I have added a new feature to my blog that will hopefully bring me more traffic. If you are looking for more/new blog visitors considering checking out BlogRush. It is, of course, free.

Now you are probably wondering why I would want more traffic! I am considering trying my hand at a new hobby & opening an etsy shop to sell my wares! It probably won't be for a month or so because I have a to-do list that needs to be a ta-da list before I start something else! I will post more details as time gets closer!

Thursday Thirteen #32

Thirteen Quotes/Poems about Autumn

Autumn (Fall) is my FAVORITE time of year. So today, in honor of the first day of Autumn on Saturday, I have decided to combine two of my favorite things in the world. The glorious season & quotes! :)

1. Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower. ~Albert Camus

2. For man, autumn is a time of harvest, of gathering together. For nature, it is a time of sowing, of scattering abroad. ~Edwin Way Teale

3. Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower. ~Albert Camus

4. It was one of those perfect English autumnal days which occur more frequently in memory than in life. ~P.D. James

5. Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns. ~ George Eliot

6. Winter is an etching, spring a watercolor, summer an oil painting and autumn a mosaic of them all. ~ Stanley Horowitz

7. No spring nor summer beauty hath such grace
As I have seen in one autumnal face.
~ John Donne

8. Everyone must take time to sit and watch the leaves turn. ~Elizabeth Lawrence

9. falling leaves
hide the path
so quietly
~John Bailey, "Autumn," a haiku year, 2001, as posted on oldgreypoet.com

10. Youth is like spring, an over praised season more remarkable for biting winds than genial breezes. Autumn is the mellower season, and what we lose in flowers we more than gain in fruits. ~Samuel Butler

11. Besides the autumn poets sing,
A few prosaic days
A little this side of the snow
And that side of the haze.
~Emily Dickinson

12. October's poplars are flaming torches lighting the way to winter. ~Nova Bair

13. Bittersweet October. The mellow, messy, leaf-kicking, perfect pause between the opposing miseries of summer and winter. ~Carol Bishop Hipps

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

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Autumn is Coming

Even though our temps are WAY above normal for the this time of year I know the cooler weather is coming. We had a taste of it last week, but it warmed up into the upper 80s & low 90s the last two days.

Instead of being outside working on the yard like I should be, I spent the day organizing our linen closet. I love to clean and organize this time of year. We spend so much more time in the house and/or at home in the cooler months. I like starting that time out with things neatly in their places. It may sound crazy, but I find comfort in having the things around me organized.

The master bedroom closet is next on my to be organized list. That is going to be a chore because I need to get a lot of clothing out of there that we don't wear anymore. A trip to the Goodwill is in my future. I won't be working on that until later next month. ;)

A Home Sweet Home

May your walls know joy; may every room hold laughter and every window open to great possibility. ~ Maryanne Radmacher-Hershey

The Name Game

Martha at Elizabeth Hill Cottage tagged me with the Name Game...

The rules: List one fact that is somehow relevant to your life for each letter of your middle name. If you don't have a middle name, use one you would like to have. Tag one person for each letter of your middle name.

Here we go:

Spontaneous! While I like to be organized and have things around me uncluttered and neat. I don't like having a set schedule for each day. I love waking up each morning and just doing whatever I want. Thank goodness for Bob, the Planner! :)

Umbrella! I tend to to shield loved ones from hurtful things others say or do. I guess you could call that an umbrella. :)

Eclectic! My tastes are very eclectic. For my clothing, I love trendy, fun styles. For my home, I tend to stick to more of a classic, traditional style. I appreciate and like other styles, but am not comfortable with them around me.

Tags go out to Shelbi, Jenny, & Makita! (No pressure ladies! Only do it if you would like to!)

UGH!

Dad's back at the hospital tonight -- my step-mom took him to the ER about an hour ago. Apparently, for the last three days he has not be able to keep anything down. Every time he eats or drinks he vomits (TMI, I know!). Don't ask me why he waited THREE days before calling someone. (Although, this entry will remind you of his stubbornness.)

Part of me thinks he pushed to get home too soon. In the hospital he had to have therapy everyday. At home, he just sits in his chair. He is still very weak, sleeps a lot, has the abnormal heart rhythm...

I could go on, but I don't want to be a Debbie Downer on here. Please just say a little extra prayer for him tonight!

Alright, look at the date on the entry I linked too. How creepy is that?

Simply Vera

If you want anything from the Simply Vera line at Kohl's, I suggest you order from their website or RUN to the store right now! The line is going to be shown on Oprah tomorrow, and we all know what happens when Oprah likes something.

I checked it out today and love it! Some of it is a little dressy for my needs so I didn't pick anything up.

Thursday Thirteen #31

Thirteen Phobias

Earlier this week Bob & I won a trivia contest at a local pub & grille we visit regularly. The topic was phobias! We answered 9 out of 10 correctly! To celebrate that little victory, I have decided to list 13 phobias beginning with the letter B. (I guess I chose B for Bob...LOL!)

1. Bibliophobia is the fear of books.

2. Bacillophobia is the fear of microbes.

3. Botanophobia is the fear of plants.

4. Batophobia is the fear of heights.

5. Bogyphobia is the fear of the Boogie Man.

6. Blennophobia is the fear of slime.

7. Belonephobia is the fear of pins and needles.

8. Basiphobia is the fear of walking and falling.

9. Bathophobia is the fear of depth.

10. Batrachophobia is the fear of toads and frogs.

11. Bromidrophobia is the fear of body smells.

12. Batrachophobia is the fear of amphibians.

13. Brontophobia is the fear of thunder and lightning.

Do you have any phobias? (They don't have to start with B.)

This info comes from funtrivia.com.

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

I Heart Dancing Hannah!

Isn't this lovely? I recently purchased this necklace from Shelbi of Dancing Hannah & Keeper of the Chocolates fame! It arrived QUICKLY in beautiful packaging along with a sweet note of thanks! The piece is more wonderful in person!

If you like unique, one-of-a-kind pieces, stop by Dancing Hannah. You will not be disappointed. While you are there, make sure you notice the amazing shots Shelbi takes to show off the details of her beautiful creations. Just keep your hands off the pieces I have my eye on...lol!! :)

Six Years

NEVER FORGET!

It Works for Us

A few months ago we decided it was time for Olivia to have more responsibility when it comes to chores around the house. At 14, she is old enough that I shouldn't have to do it all. I wanted to come up with a list. Not necessarily just for Olivia's chores, but some sort of checklist that either one of us could follow. That was when I decided to give motivatedmoms.com a try. Yes, I paid for their printable chore planner. It was $8, but it is some of the best money I have ever spent. (If you want to give it a try, it's only $4 now!)

I changed the format and adapted the list for our family/home. Guess what -- it works! Olivia did the some of the chores on the list, and there was very little reminding that she needed to work on a few things on the list through out the day.

I am a big fan of to do lists and love seeing things crossed off so we will continue to use it during the school year. However, Olivia isn't expected to complete as many of those things during the week.

Simple Solution

The doors on our kitchen cabinets have been driving me crazy for some time now! The little foam bumper pads the previous owners had put on to replace the nice ones that should be there were worn out. They were so worn that the adhesive was coming through the foam and causing a few cabinet doors to stick. At times they seems to be glued shut! Thursday morning, I ran to our local Menard's to pick up some better quality bumpers. They are on the doors & no more sticking!

Biking, Running

I was able to get back to exercise a little bit this week. I got in two bike rides and one run.

WEEK OF SEPT 3

SWIM	BIKE	RUN/WALK*
0.0 miles	13.0 miles	3.25 miles
0hr 00min	0hr 55min	00hr 40min

The bike rides were fine even though this was only the second time I was on my bike since the triathlon.

The run today was another story! I met my friend, Erin, at a nearby trail for a morning run. It was hot, humid & raining lightly. We decided to run anyway because neither of us have had much time to workout lately and really need to get back into the groove. It kicked us both in the rear end. We weren't able to run the entire 3.25 mile trail, but did run the majority of it. We are going to meet every Friday morning for a run as long as the weather holds. I am sure we will get our ability to run that trail back in no time if we keep it up.

Thursday Thirteen #30

Thirteen Things Moved to the Back Burner
(while Dad was in the hospital)

1. Home cooked meals (I am getting back on track with that, and it feels good to being eating at home as a family instead of on the run.)

2. Eating right (Well, not completely, but I made some pretty poor choices on a few days.)

3. Working out (I got back to it this week! It felt good!)

4. Doing laundry (I did eight loads on Monday/Tuesday! I would do a quick load here and there, but most of it just sat for most of August.)

5. Cleaning the house (We just did the basics and Olivia helped out so much.)

6. Filing bills (They got paid, but never made their way into the file cabinet.)

7. Shredding junk mail and other misc. papers (This pile must be about two feet high.)

8. Grocery shopping (Thank God for my Grocery Game stockpile.)

9. Back-to-school shopping (Thank you mom for taking Olivia out for new school clothes. Even though it's been in the 90s the first few days she has been wearing all the new stuff you got her.)

10. Sleep (Don't think I will ever get that back. :))

11. Blogging (I am excited to get back to reading what has been going on in all my blogging buddies lives and to get back to writing about mine.)

12. Redecorating the bathroom (The wallpaper is only partially taken down from our bathroom walls. I will get back to this next week. I have all the stuff to begin painting and am anxious to get at it.)

13. Yard work (I have some tree/shrub trimming to do before the painter we hired comes to paint the fence & trim. He was supposed to be here late Aug/early Sept, but the rain we had a while back put him behind about 10 days. I am sure we will be hearing from him again soon.)

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

First Day

It seems like just yesterday we were sending Olivia off to Kindergarten! Today was her first day of HIGH school! Sigh, my little girl is growing up!!

A Time to Celebrate...

Dad went home Friday afternoon. His recovery isn't over, but being at home is good medicine!

This afternoon my brothers & I along with our families are invited over for a cookout! I can't wait to see Dad sitting in his chair in his house! :)