Menu Plan Monday (a little late!)

For more great menu ideas, check out orgjunkie.com!

Monday: Meatloaf, baked seasoned potatoes and vegetables (I also made a huge batch of Spice-Banana cupcakes)
Tuesday: Saucy Baked chicken and steamed green beans
Wednesday: Grilled chicken and creamy corn; salad (hopefully all fresh from the farmer's market!)
Thursday: Fish Fillet with Herbed Tartar Sauce, coleslaw, steamed green beans
Friday: Leftovers or food at the downtown cruise in
Saturday: Out all day--sandwiches and leftovers as needed
Sunday: Out most of day--Crockpot chicken with sauteed zucchini, squash and onions and green beans for the people that don't like squash and zucchini!

Breakfasts: Cereal, waffles, eggs
Lunches: fruit, soup, sandwiches, veggie chicken nuggets
Snacks: Cookies and banana muffins, fruit, string cheese

Could you use a 250 dollars shopping spress

Wow Scrapping Cottage is having an amazing give away right now. Hop on over and check em out..

It's easy to enter, become a follower, pick your favorite CottageCutz die, it's that easy and you could be the lucky winner.. Good luck on picking your favorite die they have so many great dies.


Wishing you abundant blessings,
Tami

stuff-that-i-should-not-see

Yesterday, i accompanied a friend to TP and i watched this "stuff-that-i-should-not-see" in Hobby Station. Yes, this thousand sunny ship is soooooo cool!! But the price is not cool at all (T__T). I've been thinking ("should i buy this -too cool- stuff?") but the other voice said ("Don't do that, jak...u will regret like when you bought Star Wars figure 12 years ago"). Oh no..oh no...OH NO!!! what should i do? (stupid jak, lol)

"The entire Straw Hat Pirates crew and their ship Thousand Sunny sail into fans' collections in this cool trading figure offering that features five fun blocks that can be combined into one huge model of the adventure-bound pirate ship! It is really great."
"The five blocks with mini pirate crew figures include Luffy & bow block, Chopper & medical office block, Zoro & Sanji & restaurant block, Usopp & Franky & workshop block, and Nami & Robin & aquarium lounge block, Brooks not included yet. The meassure of thousand sunny is 25cm tall by 24cm long. Each box of 10 consists of two of each block, so you get to build two awesome Thousand Sunny ships!"

Mojo Monday #101

Here is my entry for the #101 Mojo Monday sketch. I love this sketch and just couldn't find time to play with it this week so finally today I got around to it. I have been wanting to play with my new slice black/white paper and this seemed the perfect fit. Hope you like it!

Ruth

There is beauty in the complexities

There is beauty in the simplicities

There is beauty in all creation

Ruth was written to open our hearts so we may see

the beauty and perfection in ALL God's Glorious Creations.

RUTH
Ruth is a kind and gentle soul
that nobody understood
Before her time she came and went
as if covered by a hood
She lived her life as different
she stood up strong and tall
Yet family kindly shunned her
keeping her from one and all
She found a love so tender
yet could not shout it out
For secret lives kept secret
was what it was all about
Few books her name is written in
of pictures there are few
When asked about this person here
it's as if no one knew
I feel a kindred spirit
with this name I found
Color prisms in this world
where black and white abound
So as I reach on out to you
for Ruth's around the earth
Don't look at what you're told to see
let your heart and eyes rebirth
See the soul inside of Ruth
the spirit deep within
God created her with His Love
to condemn is such a sin
Please look beyond myopic eyes
and see what's truly there
Each person has a story
though life be hard or fair
Ruth may be your neighbor
or a person down the street
Please look inside their eyes and see
a story not complete
Just because they're different
doesn't mean that they are wrong
God made us in His image
which makes us each so strong
So take a picture and share her life
put Ruth on your family tree
Add her name into the books
it's her place in history
We all are in this world alone
to live the life we can
So show compassion and some Love
to every child, woman and man
Once we realize we all are one
together on this land
A family of the universe
held in His Great Hand
Thank you to the Ruth's around
who lived despite the shun
For you are not forgotten
your history's just begun

Written 8/17/09
with Love and Light,
by Nina P.

This was inspired by family trees that have broken, neglected, pruned out , branches.

Happy Birthday Blooms

Happy Birthday There She Goes!

This week I was fortunate to be the winner of this beautiful Bloom set from There She Goes Clear Stamps (thanks Jessica). As soon as it arrived I knew I wanted to use it to create a birthday card for TSG's first birthday.

I started by stamping the image several times on Neenah Classic Crest with Espresso Adirondack Ink and then coloring with my Copic markers. I used YG02, YG07, YG09 and a touch of E37 for the flowers and G40, G82 and G99 for the stems and leaves. I cut the base image out with my Classic circle nesties and then sponged some Summer Sky Memento ink into background. The brown and yellow cardstocks are from Prismatics and the print is from Basic Grey's Marrakech collection. The brown satin ribbon is from my stash.

I wish you all a happy Sunday,

6 1/2 months later...

She finally ate! One of my female ball pythons has been fasting for over 6 months. Apparently she got into breeding mode (even though she was too young) and so didn't want to eat.
The slut! ;)
As a warm-blooded human, voluntarily going without food for that long is just something I can't relate too. I get cranky if I miss breakfast!

I'm so glad she finally ate. Maybe now she will be big enough to breed this winter.

Someone explain to me....

...exactly why the flags have been at half mast? Yes. I know Ted Kennedy died. But let's be brutally honest. I'm not mourning. In fact, the only nice thing I can say is that I do feel badly for his family. It hurts so much to lose a family member and I can imagine that they are truly grieving at the moment.

HOWEVER, America did not lose a great hero. America did not lose someone that deserved the flag to be lowered in their honor. With Kennedy's passing at least we have one less person that can do damage to our country and it's future. The man had no honor, no morals, no decency. He had no love of country or people. He had a love of power and the control that came with it.

I would much rather see the flag lowered to half mast in honor of a fallen soldier who gave his life to preserve our freedom and to protect me and my family, than see the flag lowered to half mast for a man so ill deserving of such an honor as Ted Kennedy.

Today America laid to rest a Senator, a man that SHOULD have served the best interests of the American people. A man who SHOULD have proved love of country over that of self. A man who did none of those things. A man instead, who disgraced his own life and continues to disgrace America by having the flag lowered in his so-called honor.

Logan is Two!!!

I apologize for the picture - I'm still working on my photography skills! Anyway, as I've said before my mission is to get these 35mm prints I have scrapped so I can play more with my digital stuff. I used my cricut on this one - love that cupcake!!! It is so fun to make. I've still got to add my journaling but I couldn't decide where or how I want to do it. I'm going to sleep on it. Hope you are having a great weekend!

Enjoy Life

Enjoy Life.........that says it all doesn't it! I created this card for one of the DTGD challenges a few weeks ago (I still have a couple more to share from DTGD). I covered 3 different challenges with this card. They were: Black/White with a touch of Red, Paper Tole and the last was to use some sort of texture.

I stamped the floral, butterfly and words (all Hampton Arts) on the base panel and then stamped it a second time on scrap and cut it out. Let me tell you, there were lots of little nooks and crannies to cut around! I did the same for the butterfly. After I layered the cut floral and butterfly to the base panel, I added some black satin ribbon as a final touch.

It's late and I am yawning, so I better hit the hay!

A Mother's Love

This was written today for a friend of mine that recently lost her mother.

A Mother's Love

While raising children
she did her part
A Mother's Love
comes from the heart

Changing diapers
and cooking too
A Mother's Love
shines through and through

Keeping us safe
teaching right from wrong
A Mother's Love
is oh so strong

As teenagers
we tested her will
A Mother's Love
guided us still

The college years
brought her new trials
A Mother's Love
kept hopeful smiles

Finding love
a new life did begin
A Mother's Love
welcomed them in

Starting a family
gave new appreciation
A Mother's Love
such steadfast dedication

Busy lives
yet never far apart
A Mother's Love
always dear to our heart

Age advances
we come back and embrace
A Mother's Love
wrinkled, yet full of grace

Elderly frail
mother changes her style
A Mother's Love
come sit for a while

Twilight's near
as we hold hands
A Mother's Love
our heart commands

At her last breath
Peace and Comfort come
A Mother's Love
we gain strength from

Feathered wings
surround us with love
A Mother's Love
now comes from above

Grief is short
when we remember when
A Mother's Love
is free to live again

Find comfort
in God's Love and Light
A Mother's Love
still hugs you every night

Written with Love and Light,
by Nina Pauline Ploetz (8/28/09)

For KT's challenge

Well this is a first for me, as I never done a challenge before but I had to make an exception for this one. My blogging buddy Shells' little Katie wanted to set a challenge on her mum's blog. She provided us with a sketch and the theme was cute,cuddly and romantic...I don't normally do cute and cuddly so had to search for an image..found this one on GFC, printed it off a few times and decoupaged it up. Why not pop along to Shells blog and join in with KT's challenge. Good Luck with the challenge KT hope you get loads of entries.

Been slacking on the blogging again, I catch up,.. leave it for a few days, but as you all make such amazing cards and so many of them, it takes me hours and hours to look at them all, I intend to try and catch up again with everyone later this evening. I also want to say thanks to everyone for the lovely comments you left me on my previous posts.

Starlight Invite & Miss Costa Rica Sims 2010

It's nearly here. Join us this Sunday, August 30th at 1PM SLT for the launch of fashion's newest hot spot, Starlight Exclusives. This upscale boutique features 18 designers who have created a special item EXCLUSIVELY for Starlight. Be the first to get your hands on the pieces of this spectacular collection!

Featuring:

Alatiel Malies - Alatiel Fashions
Aleida Rhode - Aleida
Amutey Decuir - Bliss Couture
Ashoka Eales - Phoenix Rising
Chianera Cioc - Chianera Cioc Couture
Clio Cardiff - Clio pret-a-porter
Dave Casanova - DCNY
Dezi Jarvinen - Staged
Elysium Eilde - elymode
Indyra Seigo - Indyra Originals
Kendall Larnia - Novi
Kieran Debevec - Phoenix Rising
Mami Jewell - Azul
Nardya Rousselot - Nardcotix
Odessa Dagostino - Vanity Designs
SySy Chapman - SySy's
Vasgez/VictoriaV McMillan - V-Fashion

Looking forward to seeing you there!
TP: To Starlight Exclusives

You can also check out all the photos of the exclusive outfits here:
Flickr: .☆Starlight Exclusives Group ☆.

Coming up next...


I am so thrilled to me a part of Miss Costa Rica Sims 2010.

There are 10 beautiful contestants competing for the Miss Costa Rica Sims crown, over L$100,000 in cash and prizes and a place at the Miss Virtual World 2010. They are in no p[articular order...

Pat Young
LaBella Forcella
Nina Constantine
Samantha Allenquer
Sunday Laks
Millie Gears
Imani Enzo
Florentine Rau
Aely Wiffe
Jennaa Loire

All this is part of the Costa Rica Sims 2nd anniversary celebration.

http://www.costaricasims.com/

You can head on over the the Costa Rica Sims main website and follow the links to vote for Miss Web Photogenic. It's under the resources tab.

Voting ends September 12th, 2009 at 12pm SLT.

Please head on over and show some support to the lovely ladies who are participating.

Thanks so much and best of luck to everyone involved!

Have an awesome week everyone!
Jennaa xoxo

And The Show has Begun!

Jawa Pos Friday Headline

My football season has begun! All football competitions around europe have started this week. The time when I wake up in the dawn has come. Lately, my ability to stay awake in the middle of the night has decreased significantly (i have to work it out, lol). Anyway, this morning the group draw of the greatest football competition around the world, Champions League, has been announced.

Samuel Eto'o vs Zlatan Ibrahimovic, the duel switch

Headline in Spain, England, Italy's big newspaper

This is the competition where Kaka, C Ronaldo, Zlatan, Messi, Buffon, Diego, Ronaldinho, Lampard, Gerrard, Drogba, Eto'o, Rooney, Ribery, ect will meet each other. What an exitement when i read the great group stage. Barcelona vs Inter, Real MAdrid vs Milan, Juventus vs Bayern Munchen!!! WoW!!! This is what a great show meant, guys!!! Just can't wait to watch them all...Forza Juve!!

Coupon Fairies

Are you a "coupon fairy"? I just love those people! Sometimes I try to be one myself, but I'm always slightly embarrassed at the thought of a manager of a grocery store catching me!

Let me explain what a coupon fairy is: Someone who leaves coupons that they can't use right on top of the product in the store for someone else to use when they come along. The other day I was out of laundry detergent and just didn't have time to sift through my (unorganized) coupons. Luckily, some wonderful coupon fairy had left a $2.00 off coupon right there on the shelf for the exact detergent I needed! I was in Heaven and had no problems swiping up the coupon and using it on my own bill.

So, are you a coupon fairy? Have you taken up the generosity of some anonymous coupon fairy?

Benefit Sale Begins..

Ok, it's literally been forever since I've actually written a blog and not just posted a bunch of pictures. I tell ya, though, life's been crazy!

I've been spending most of my 'at home' time out in the garage working on the Benefit Sale for Baby Amayah. I've been getting such wonderful donations for the sale from my co-workers, my aunt and a family from the school. Yeah, I said 'a family', meaning one. I've been a little surprised that we haven't had more of a response from the families at the school, having been asked to either help with the sale or donate items for it. I've had one family donate all their left-over items from their sale and also their garage sale signs. Otherwise, nobody has offered to help work at the sale or donate. Not a big deal, I guess, just found it interesting. I know people are busy, ect. But, if you think of the big overall picture here, Amayah and her family are struggling A LOT more than any of us right now. Any amount of time or any small donation would help.
I've literally been out in the garage pricing and organizing stuff til midnight every night this week and even though it's made me a little stressed and a lot tired, I'm doing it for Amayah and her family in need.

I have to say that I could not have done this without my wonderful husband's help and support. In fact, I have him home right now (as I type) running the sale. Yep, we decided we have enough stuff to have the sale start today, go through tomorrow and then do the big push on Saturday. I went home on my lunch break to help him set things out and we had made $40 before I even had everything set out on the driveway and even before all the signs were put out. We're hoping the weather stays as nice as it is today - it is GORGEOUS! A perfect day for a sale.

My mom and dad will be coming tomorrow to help watch the girls and run the sale. We're looking forward to their visit ~ and their help.

Also, yesterday I got a phone call from Adam around noon saying that his car just stopped running a few blocks from his work. He was lucky enough to be close to a service center and one of his co-workers helped him push it there. A few hours later, after they were able to take a look at it, we found out that the engine was shot and it would cost much more than the car is worth to repair it. So, we say goodbye to the Grand Am (aka "The Caddie").

The girls and I went up to Minneapolis to pick Adam up after school/work yesterday and we drove to the service center where the car was to empty it out. As Adam dug around in the trunk - Alexa glanced out her window and asked, "Mommy, is Daddy saying a prayer for the car?" I realized then, seeing her sad face, that she was a little heart broken having to say goodbye to "Daddy's Car'. We all waved goodbye to it and blew it a few kisses.

That car has been through so much, a few accidents, being stolen, having the windows shot out. Poor thing, no wonder it stopped working.

We are given comfort, however, knowing that 'The Caddie' will live on with someone else, as a friend of Adam's cousin bought it for $200.00. He's a mechanic that will be able to work on fixing it up in his spare time and put a new engine in it. We hope to see it driving happily down the road some day.

Grandma Juice

My mother in law has my daughter hooked on V8 Fusion..which is great because it has vegetables and fruit in it. However, I think it may be slightly embarrassing for Grandma, because everytime Reagan wants it she asks for "Grandma Juice!" Too funny!!

My Fourth Nephew

Now, i'm an uncle of four nephews!! Wow!! I can't even imagine that few years ago hahahaa...this is my fourth nephew, first son from my old brother and his wife (ya iya lah...). His name is Kenzo Keenan Khosuma (Triple K). I just received this photo a couple of days ago. My brother and his family live in Maluku Island (far away from my town).

I like this photo so much, like a mirror of warm and happy family, isn't it?

Papertake weekly challenge 22

Here is my card for this weeks

papertake weekly challenge 22

I realy enjoyed making this one although after i had stuck all my Papers down i whished i had destressed the edges on the outer background paper and the strip of flower paper down the side.

But you can go on forever and i didnt want to spoil it.

I 3d the wings and every thing apart from the flower has been made from my collection of vintage images.

I hope you like.

I thought id best make a card.

Good evening xx

Ive had a day playing today and have made 2 cards.I felt so guilty though as i was having a lovely timeusing my copics and sewing machine,as you do.Why dont men understand this.

I was abit stuck on where to start so as usual i hoped over to find some challenges,and instantly knew i just had to do this one.I had so many ideas in my head it was over flowing but time was moving faster than i was again so i made this one.

Im not happy about the pictures once again.My cameras not very good at picking up the rich colour and the detail in the stiching around the card.

I will try again tomorrow .

I never entered this car in to the challange as i didnt think it met the requirements but thought id share it with you.

I think my cat is anorexic

She throws up after every meal and has since she was a baby. She is in perfect health and gets bloodwork ran every few years to ensure that she is. But she still throws up. I tell you, I am so sick of waking up and stepping in cat puke..DISGUSTING I TELL YOU! It's almost like having a second child except this one will never advance to where she is able to get to the bathroom in time to throw up. Argh.

I do love her though...she was my first "baby" and I still love to wake in the morning hearing her purr and cuddle next to me. She still has her habit of snuggling into my hair to smell it and padding my shoulders with her little paws. And, although she sleeps 16 hours a day, there are those random moments of friskiness that reminds me of when she was a kitten.

I just really really wish she'd stop throwing up on my bed.

Open My Heart

This one is more of a morning prayer, meditation, song...

OPEN MY HEART


Open my heart and let me see
The Lights that are dancing inside of me
My joys and Hopes they laugh out loud
My Love for Life as high as a cloud

Open my hands and let me build
Bridges to people as You have willed
Building homes with Light and Love
My hands are guided by Yours Above


Open my mouth let my voice sing
Songs that take flight as Angels wings
Let my message be strong and true
May Your melody shine through all I do

Open my ears and let me hear
The wishes of nature soft and dear
Sounds of the earth come talk to me
I hear His voice say "go out and be"



Open my feet so they may dance
Moving in Glory as I start to prance
Lift my feet up off the ground
As I dance with Angels all around

Open my eyes and let in Your Light
I see the goodness in all of Your might
Such beauty You paint with Your feather brush
In meadows and forests oh so lush

Open my senses and let me feel
The Glorious warmth of all that is real
Faith in what is and yet is unseen
With Light and Love all is serene

Open my soul and let Spirit soar
Inside I want so much more
Made in Your image of Love and Light
With Guardian Angels I now take flight

Open my mind that I may know
How to reach others as Light I sow
Your knowledge is vast as Your Love is wide
Guiding my life is God by my side

Open my life that I may see
The Glory of Spirit inside of me
Bless my words that they may teach
Love and Light to all they reach

Written with Love and Light
by Nina P. 8/25/09

THE "CORY YELLOW" AND HOW IT CAME TO BE

Yellow blooms for Ninoy and Cory

Familiar scenes and activities of the past months marked the dramatic return of the “yellow fever” on the world stage where the atmosphere was characterized by people wearing clothes and using things and other symbols predominantly yellow in color. Even web pages, especially blog sites like this one (A Friend Named Goddy), were adorned with yellow ribbons with introduction or background why they are on the Net.

Occasioned by former President Cory’s affliction with colon cancer, her friends and supporters including the Catholic Church offered prayers for her recovery using yellow ribbons as symbol of their love and concern. When she passed away on the first day of August this year, the color yellow, identified with her--the country’s most loved president--became even more conspicuous and prominent in many places in Metro Manila and on the Net.

Cris Rivera, an officemate, approached me one vacant time and told me that his children asked him why the color yellow became “Cory’s symbol”. He said he had no idea and asked me if I knew the answer.

Cris is more than 10 years my junior and told me that he was just a student when the Aquino assassination and the People Power Revolution took place.

I told him that Ninoy Aquino’s return to the Philippines from his 3-year exile in the United States had the answer although I wasn’t really sure if I made a precise recollection of events. I told him I had no time to make a research but basing on events that unfolded during those times and news stories that I’ve read, I would try to give him a short background of the story.

As I started answering his question, I appeared like I was telling him a beautiful and deeply-moving story—a very touching love story between a patriotic man and his country and people; a very poignant love story between a man and his woman.

So, let me begin…

After Ninoy’s incarceration for more than seven years, he suffered from heart ailment that necessitated his release from his cell for a bypass operation in the United States. Upon the intervention of U.S. President Jimmy Carter, Ferdinand Marcos allowed him to leave the country subject to certain conditions.

When the successful operation was over, Ninoy and his family settled in Boston, Massachussetts. There, on fellowship grants from Harvard University and the Massachussetts Institute of Technology, he gave lectures and worked on the manuscript of two books. (President Cory, in her speech before the joint session of the United States Congress, stated that those 3 years they spent in Boston were their happiest years together.)

After three years of his self-imposed exile in the United States and after learning about the ailing Marcos’ deteriorating health condition, he decided to come back to the Philippines to unite the fragmented opposition.

Since Ninoy had been away for three long years, he wanted some signs or indications that people or those he left behind still wanted him back. Inspired by the old song Tie A Yellow Ribbon 'Round The Old Oak Tree which was originally recorded and popularized by Tony Orlando and Dawn, he asked them to tie yellow ribbons on trees and elsewhere.

In a television interview during the 26th year anniversary of Ninoy’s death, Mr. Lichauco (I believe he’s Ninoy’s brother-in-law) said that when Ninoy returned, yellow ribbons were indeed tied or placed on cars at the then Manila International Airport (MIA) and on some conspicuous places there, which Ninoy never got the chance to see since he was assassinated reportedly before stepping on Philippine soil.

Upon Cory’s return from Boston to bury Ninoy, she was able to know about the public’s outrage over the killing of her husband. That was evidently seen at the wake and during the funeral—the biggest ever in Philippine history—where roughly two million people escorted Ninoy to his final resting place.

When the opposition drafted Cory for its official candidate in the snap presidential election, she obliged and adopted the color yellow and the "L" or Laban sign for her campaign symbols. She wore yellow dress in the whole duration of the campaign period. The color yellow which became the symbol of protest united even more not only the opposition but the entire Filipino people.

Thus, the color yellow which in my high school days used to stand for “jealousy” radically changed its meaning to being a symbol of protest and courage.

Recently, however, in its dramatic return to the world stage, the color yellow, still ascribed to and identified with Tita Cory, became a symbol of love and affection as the whole nation grieved and mourned the passing away of its most loved president and leader.

I embedded a video clip of the song Tie A Yellow Ribbon 'Round The Old Oak Tree from YouTube uploaded by kilusf below. See also the lyrics of the beautiful song.

Enjoy listening. And singing.

Tie A Yellow Ribbon
Tony Orlando & Dawn

I’m comin’ home, I’ve done my time
Now I’ve got to know what is and isn’t mine
If you received my letter telling you I’d soon be free
Then you’ll know just what to do
If you still want me
If you still want me
Whoa, tie a yellow ribbon ‘round the old oak tree
It’s been three long years
Do you still want me?
If I don’t see a ribbon round the old oak tree
I’ll stay on the bus
Forget about us
Put the blame on me
If I don’t see a yellow ribbon round the old oak tree

Bus driver, please look for me
‘cause I couldn’t bear to see what I might see
I’m really still in prison
And my love, she holds the key
A simple yellow ribbon’s what I need to set me free
I wrote and told her please

Whoa, tie a yellow ribbon round the old oak tree
It’s been three long years
Do you still want me?
If I don’t see a ribbon round the old oak tree
I’ll stay on the bus
Forget about us
Put the blame on me
If I don’t see a yellow ribbon round the old oak tree

Now the whole damned bus is cheerin’
And I can’t believe I see
A hundred yellow ribbons round the old oak tree

I’m comin’ home

(Tie a ribbon round the old oak tree)

yes, we cry...

A man cry...
when he has strength
but he knows it has never been enough

A man cry...
when he has pride
but he knows it is worthless

A man cry...
when he has a dream
but he knows he will never reach it

A man cry...
when he has love
but he knows he has to let it go

A man cry...
when he has everything
but he knows it will turn to nothing

Ladies,
If you think a man never cry,
please...think again.



August, 25th 2009
image taken from imgfave.com

Practical Scrappers Design Team - WOW!

I just got an email last night notifying me that I had been picked to be on the design team for this wonderful new challenge site - Practical Scrappers! This site challenges us each week to use some of those supplies that we all have laying around in our little nooks (come on - admit you know that is part of the fun of this hobby is the collecting of paper, tools and embellishments!). Being a military family and moving often makes me very conscious of all the "stuff" I have collected during the time we are stationed at any one place so.....I'm really excited about this site and can't wait to really be put my "goodies" to work! Check it out HERE!

Weekend at the Cabin!

I'm going to blog my weekend with pictures.

It was fantasy football draft weekend at my house. My husband had

several (I mean several) of his buddies over 'all weekend' - so the girls and I

escaped to my most favorite place in the world - the cabin!

This is me and my Grandpa Carroll!

My brother Ben came out to stay the night with us, visit and hang out with the girls.

He started fishing off the dock when he got there and all of a sudden...

6 beautiful loons swam by.


Lillian isn't used to sleeping in a crib any more, but at the cabin she has her own
special crib. She looks very happy ~ because Unlce Ben let her jump in there.

One of our favorite things at the cabin is eating breakfast outside on the deck.

For some reason the food just tastes better out there.

Here are my babies after their tummies are full from breakfast.

Mommy and Lilli

Mommy, Lilli and 'Meow'

Me and my girls.

Alexa just got in from swimming with Ben.

She is freezing and I'm warming her up in the sun.

Alexa and I at the cabin! :)

Our favorite place!

Me and My Mom ~ Playing Cards!

We played Solitaire over and over and over and finally won

Sunday afternoon.

Me and My girls -

Enjoying a beautiful morning at the lake.

2 Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bunk Beds!

Alexa walking on the dock with her blankie and Ruby in hand.

Best Buds!

Grandpa Tom and Lilli-Cruz

Uncle Benski caught the girls a fish.

Alexa and Uncle Ben

Even tho it wasn't very warm, Alexa was determined to go swimming.

Luckily she has an Uncle that can't say 'no' to her. Uncle Ben took her swimming.

Thanks Ben!

Baby Lillian ~ Sound Asleep

Our cousin Stacey came out Saturday afternoon for a visit.

We discussed "Cousin Weekend" that will be held in June at the cabin.

We can't wait - should be tons of fun!

Stacey ~ Dawn ~ Benski

Stacey ~ Dawn

Jennah, her boyfriend, Matt and Grace and Cale also stopped by.

We had so much fun visiting, catching up and LAUGHING!

Jennah~Dawn~Stacey

Jennah ~ Stacey

Jennah and her boyfriend, Matt

They sat on the floor for (a while) and tried to finish Alexa's Snow White puzzle.

Even tho it was a challenge for them, they managed to put it all together.

Good job Guys!

The funny thing is, later that weekend, my dad struggled with the same puzzle.

Ages 4+ guys - come on!

Jennah ~ Lillian

Apparently Jennah has a tendancy to make children cry.

I don't see any tears. Again, Good job Jennah! :)

The Gang!

Benski~Alexa~Jennah~Cale~Grace~Dawn~Lillian~Stacey

Cale~Lilli~Grace~Alexa~Matt~Jennah

Grace~Alexa~Ben~Stacey

Gracie ~ Lillian

Dawn ~ Jennah

We got Benski to LAUGH!

Loving Sisters~ Alexa and Lillian

Alexa and Stacey on the dock at the cabin!

Cale and Alexa playing in the 'fort' under the stairs at the cabin.

Cale boppin me on the head with an inflatable hammer~

Grandma Diane reading to Alexa at the cabin.

Some 'down' time.

Lillian, looking so cute in a hat.

Lillian insisted on carrying my 10 lb. purse all over the place.

Alexa's wet clothes hanging on the line after Grandma Diane let her play in the water

with her clothes on.

Alexa catching frogs ~ and trying to catch chipmunks.

We caught a frog~

there are several pics of this ~

I thought they were all too cute.

Lillian was very curious and wanted to touch it.

Alexa would rather stand back and watch.

"I'm touching a frog!"

Time to go home..

Grandpa Carroll~Alexa~Dawn~Lillian~Grandma Katie

Thanks for letting us stay at the cabin!

We had so much fun!