Standing in a hollow log.

Pixie Pink Feathers takes one last look.

Trail Mix of the New millennium

Much of this week for me has been spent in preparation for a long weekend camping trip with the kids. We will be hitting the trails in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. Hopefully, at this time of year we will not be encountering any snow. But you never know the adventures that await you when you take your family on a camping trip!

As a child we did lots of camping. One of my first memories of camping was as a 6 year old. We left home after my dad was done with work and arrived at the campsite in the dark and the pouring rain. If you ask my mom what she remembers it goes something like this: It rained and rained and rained. And I was in a tent with a 6 year old (that's me!) and a 3 year old and a newborn (that is some guts right there!).

This is what I remember: Arriving in the dark. Settling in the tent. Falling asleep to the sound of rain. And waking up to the sun shining all over the place, glistening raindrops hanging off of trees and sitting on the blades of grass, our tent sitting in perfect view of a lake that the night before I couldn't see. It is a magical moment that is vivid in my mind as if it were yesterday.

Let me tell you of another memory of that camping trip (and subsequently all the other camping trips as well.) My mom always made what she called GORP. Now a days we call it trail mix. But it is essentially the same thing. She would mix salted peanuts and raisins and plain M&M's all together and put it in that old Tupperware canister...you know the one: light tannish brown with a cutesy flower imprinted on the side and the famous corrugated type lid. Now a days we call that "vintage". Anyway, the salt from the peanuts would make those M&M's and, yes, even the raisins, taste so yummy.

So the tradition continues. Only this time I have added to the pot. Mostly because I have to make a separate Non-peanut mix due to my allergy ridden son. And because Goldfish Crackers and Cheerios are staples in this household.

So there will be a posting pause as we enjoy our last family trip of Summer 2006.

La Vida Dulce!

Someday

When I cleaned out my closet last week I pulled out a box that contained my wedding veil.

The Girl, who loves when I deep clean because "she can find treasures" found this box and opened it. This is probably why it took 4 hours to clean my room....because every ten minutes she was finding something that I had to help her with. She also wanted me to drag my wedding dress out, but sometimes you just gotta say no.

We'll save that for another hot sticky day.

Playing Bride

Anatomy of the Handbag

or August True Confessions

While cleaning out my room last week I threw out 2 very large bags of trash. Purging of the unused trash is not only good for housekeeping...it is good for the soul.

Confession is also good for the soul. So it is here that I will start my monthly list of blogger confessions.

While purging my poor closet of all it's trashy fullness I came across my collection of purses and handbags, which brings me to :

Confession#1. When I am ready to switch out bags I tend to pull out the necessities and leave the junk and un-needed items in the unwanted bag. This helps twofold, you get a new clean purse going and then, later (sometimes 2.5 years later) you have something to write about in your blog.

After my closet was clean and organized I decided it was probably time to clean out the handbags of all the ample odds and ends. Out of five bags this is what I found. To make this easier think of the items in the circle as on the face of a clock. This is some of what I found:

1:oo- $1.33 in change. I was a little disappointed in this amount. Out of 5 bags you'd think that there would be at least $10.00!

2:00- A wedding favor tag that reads "Eric and Jenni May 2002". It has been so long I had to remember who Eric and Jenni were....Mostly because I didn't know him too well...and quite frankly because that was 2.5 years ago!

3:00- Assorted hard candies, mints and an occasional Sweet N Low package I swiped from various restaurants. You know, if you eat all that candy you want to make sure you have some sugar free sugar to balance it all out.

4:00- A checkbook register. Last Entry: 11/03. Scary.

5:00- Straws and earplugs?

6:00- A single Junior Mint resting on a paint swatch. The color name for that swatch: Coffee.

Confession #2: Yes! For one brief moment I thought about eating that one little Jr Mint...but I didn't do it!

7:oo- A lipgloss and mascara I have been searching for... for 18 months.

8:00- One of three Ritz Crackers. Each one in a different bag.

9:00- Paper clips and a store discount card...from a town I haven't lived in for a year and a half.

10:00- A ladies Bible study nametag.

Confession #3: I was always losing my nametags. I want to tell you this is the only one I have found. But this is true confessions.

11:00- One of many, many, grocery lists and some beads from my daughters broken necklace.

12:00- A plastic fork.

Now in the middle of the circle are various bits and pieces: Pens and pencils that were most likely stolen. If You are reading this and you see a pen that is yours...I am sorry.

Confessions #4- When it comes to your cherished pens and pencils, keep them close to you. I don't mean to steal them but I do.

And last, but certainly not least...Half a dog bone.

This little pile is the organized version....There was lots of other junk that consisted mostly of 1000 receipts from Costco and Kroger.

So there you have it. Some of you think I am an organized and efficient housekeeper. Ok maybe only one person thinks that. But now you know.

Some people shove everything into a closet or into the tub....I just throw it in a handbag.

New Cardio

Normally I keep my weekends 'blogger free', but to make up for my lack of posting this week I decided to post on a Saturday.

I stumbled across these Crazy treadmill guys. Normally on Saturday mornings my running partner and I would have already been done with our long weekend run but she's currently on a mission trip. When we can't get together on a Saturday I usually just do the treadmill. After seeing this video I am inspired. Instead of just running this morning I think I will try to make up choreography and start doing this when she and I can't get together. :)



Enjoy!

Blue Friday

This weeks color for the photography project is blue. You can see them below.

I seem to be in a bit of a bloggers block. I have many things on my mind and yet no time today to lay them all down on paper....or key board. But let me tell you about last night.

There is a gal from church who is getting married tomorrow. She comes from a large extended family whom I have the pleasure of calling friends (not to mention neighbors). Last night I went down the street to hang out a bit with the 3 of the 5 "K's" (there are 5 of us...pic to come) K3 is here with her sweet family from the land of Texas.

All that to say, I brought my guitar. I never want to seem presumptuous but I enjoy playing and they are a musical family and I know they enjoy singing just as much as me.

Now, let me tell you that there are many fine qualities about these beautiful K sisters...However there ability to sing together in 3 part harmony is one of their best. So I had the pleasure to play and sing with them last night. At times it was hard to sing and play because I wanted to stop and just listen. It was an amazing time of fellowship and singing worship songs. It makes me want to practice more and build up my limited repertoire.

But alas, I cannot blog nor practice my guitar right now because my room is a disaster that must be fixed. So I am taking my turkey sandwich lunch and heading upstairs with two garbage bags and an upbeat CD of some kind...cause the work has got to be done!

Have a great weekend!

La Vida Dulce!

Blue G

Blue -The Boy

Sabbatical

I took a bit of a sabbatical from blogging.

I had told myself that I needed to fold the ever growing pile of laundry that was accumulating on the guest bed before I could blog. It didn't happen on Tuesday. It didn't happen on Wednesday. Today I was going through some serious withdrawal...so I kicked my own rear and did what needed to be done.

I did my work. Now I can play.

Of course now it's time to cook supper.

In the meantime, go take a look at the newest member of our blogger's Circle of Friends.

La Vida Loca is a spin off of my blog by my much more mature friend. She is the older blond sister I always needed but never met until about 7 years ago. I love her for many reasons. Here are a few:

1. Being a lactation guru and R.N., she has actually seen me at my best breastfeeding self and at my current "can I borrow your 11 year olds trainer?" self...and she only brings it up when she really needs to.

2. Although she is not really that old, I tease her incessantly about her age...and she takes it graciously because she knows it means I love her.

3. She always buys me lunch when we are together. A residual effect from the days when I really didn't have any money...Please don't tell her that times have changed...I like my lunches.

So, that is my friend and new addition to the side link of blogs I currently read.

Tomorrow I will have more to post...unless the floors don't get cleaned....JUST KIDDING!

Last Monday of the Month

Yes it is a Monday.

I had to send the exceptionally beautiful pink, double knit, vintage Hanbury suit back to www.plaidponyvintage.com because it was a bit snug on the shoulders. It fit like a glove every where else but the sleeves on the jacket where about 2.5 inches too short and I felt like I was going to lose circulation in my arms because my shoulders are so broad...oh well, it wasn't meant to be.

As I type I am avoiding the treadmill, the laundry, the kitchen, and the floors. All which are on my list of things to do...on Monday.

On Monday I always miss my husband since someone has to work so i can keep up my habits. I often tell him he should be mean to me on the weekends so that I won't miss him so much on Mondays.

In a few weeks it will be even worse as the kids will all be in school as well.

The good news?

Monday only comes once a week.

And Friday is only 4 days away.

"Gimpy" is Born!

This was my project for this week. The hubby named her Gimpy because her right front leg is a tad bit shorter than the rest. She is made of linen (a couple of linen napkins that had major yellow spots). Her mouth is a little funky but for my first try I don't think she is all that bad.

Next I will try to make one out of wool felt. Maybe in Grey?

Pic 2

Pic 3

Why?

Why do I want to bake, even in the middle of the summer?

Why does summer have to go by so fast?

Why did I buy another watermelon today?

This is the pink vintage suit that I have had my eyes on for some time now. I am hoping it arrives on time for the Promotion Ceremony on Friday.

I am also planning on wearing it for a wedding in a week and a half. I was asked to be the Wedding director.

I think that if anything says officers wife or wedding director it's a vintage pink Hanbury suit with a string of pearls.

Or maybe it just says Beaver's Mom.

Either way I like it.

Pink

Without the jacket. How cute is that front pleat?

OK...i'm done.

Getting Ready

In preparation for my first full year of teaching music to preschoolers I have been planning lessons and researching songs that tell stories as well have good rhythm and movement. I have been researching and planning a curriculum based on research that I have read that says music set to quality literature opens a whole new world in the preschoolers brain and leads to success in other arenas of cognitive and developmental growth. In other words, teaching music to preschoolers can be a stepping stone to helping math and reading skills later in the school-age years...Plus they like it and so do I.

All this to say, I am organizing the curriculum for the year. I looked up the music for some old folk songs, since there are so many of those that tell great stories. One that I looked up was Clementine.

Having only grown up singing the first and maybe second verse I didn't realize there was a whole story. It goes as follows: (my personal favorite verses are 6 and 10 )

In a cavern, in a canyon,Excavating for a mine,

Dwelt a miner, forty-niner,

And his daughter Clementine.

-

Refrain:

Oh my darling, oh my darling,

Oh my darling Clementine

You are lost and gone forever,

Dreadful sorry, Clementine.

-

2. Light she was, and like a fairy,

And her shoes were number nine,

Herring boxes without topses,

Sandals were for Clementine.

-

3. Walking lightly as a fairy,

Though her shoes were number nine,

Sometimes tripping, lightly skipping,

Lovely girl, my Clementine.

-

4. Drove she ducklings to the water

Ev'ry morning just at nine,

Hit her foot against a splinter,

Fell into the foaming brine.

-

5. Ruby lips above the water,

Blowing bubbles soft and fine,

But alas, I was no swimmer,

Neither was my Clementine.

-

6. In a churchyard near the canyon,

Where the myrtle doth entwine,

There grow rosies and some posies,

Fertilized by Clementine.

-

7. Then, the miner, forty-niner,

Soon began to fret and pine,

Thought he oughter join his daughter,

So he's now with Clementine.

-

8. I'm so lonely, lost without her,

Wish I'd had a fishing line,

Which I might have cast about her,

Might have saved my Clementine.

-

9. In my dreams she still doth haunt me,

Robed in garments soaked with brine,

Then she rises from the waters,

And I kiss my Clementine.

-

10. Listen fellers, heed the warning

Of this tragic tale of mine,

Artificial respiration

Could have saved my Clementine.

-

11. How I missed her,

how I missed her,

How I missed my Clementine,

Til I kissed her little sister,

And forgot my Clementine.

-

I think I will leave this one out of the curriculum this year. I thinking it might be too much story for 3 to 5 year olds! Although, the tune is catchy...How many of you had to sing it while you read?

The Weekend in Pictures

Saturday: A visit to our states capital and the Natural Science Museum.

Sunday: An afternoon on the river.

La Vida Dulce

Freedom Rings

Spunk

With all the rain the mosquitos have gotten really huge.

Eat Or Be Eaten

Picnic

Beauty

Takin' a Dip

Suspension Bridge

Sunday Walk

Summer Fun, Having a Blast!

Red-The Boy

Photo Friday

In an attempt to get my kids thinking and being creative (and to keep them from watching TV during the heat of the day) I allowed them each to use the digital camera for 15 minutes.

We entitled the assignment Red.

They were told they could photograph anything they wanted as long as it had the color red as the main focal point. I thought they did pretty good. Even though they both came from their sessions with a gillion pictures of Kona.

They have both decided that next Friday they want to do the color Blue.

Happy Weekend!

Red-G

A Letter From The Dog

Dear Blog Readers;

I don't have much time, as Kellie and her pups are all doing a special photography project right now, but I am distraught so I sneaked into a room I, of all things, am not allowed to be in and logged into her blog. My hope is that you might be able to help me.

Today I had a haircut.

Obviously my very sweet Master as never heard of a professional groomer.

I was having a lazy morning after my walk. Just laying on my cozy blue bed, when all of a sudden I was hauled out to the driveway given a wretched hair cut and then, to make matters worse, a bath!

To say that I have been butchered is to be very nice. It actually looks like I have the mange. I had visions of the scene in " Mommy Dearest" where the little girl pup gets all her blond hair lopped off...Only I must say my Master was very gentle. Only it probably would have been better if she had just beaten me. At least I would still have my beautiful shiny coat.

The funny thing is while she haphazardly clipped away she kept telling me how much cooler I would be without all that hair...But then under her breath I thought I heard her say something about the ridiculous amount of hair that is floating around her house. I'm a dog...I can't help that my beautiful mane is thick and vivacious. Don't hate me 'cause I'm beautiful.

Please, if you love animals or have a shred of humanity, do not allow my sweet and very generous Master to get near me with scissors again. Remind her that although she cuts her sons hair and waxes her very own eyebrows, that she cannot, under any circumstances, add dog grooming to her list of talents.

Tell her to stick to making stuffed bunnies and playing the guitar.

My master's oldest pup took some pictures of me today and I am unable to post all of them now because of time constraints...Oh, and also the shame is almost more than I can bare. I have included the one above so that you can see how miserable I am. I am trying very hard not to mope...But I have had a bad haircut. Even my Master should understand that.

I am still very loyal to her though as evident in the last picture. Although there is a bit of revenge in the submission of this photo...She isn't wearing make-up and she hates to be kissed on the face.

Thank you kindly,
Kona

Doggy Forgiveness...

Water, Water, Everywhere!

Some people have pools in their yard, some run through sprinklers. Some go to the beach.

Some people can swim right in their own living rooms.

www.frommytexaswindow.blogspot.com

Send her some blogger love...She needs it.

Desperation

The Teacher Appreciation chocolate (see Gratitude post in May) has finally ran out.

The only thing left was the Raisinets.

And you know how I feel about raisins.

It's true what they say: You can make anything good if you fry it... or roll it in chocolate.

It is true desperation when you eat raisins for the sole purpose of a chocolate fix.

Summer Crafts

The kids and I enjoy doing Arts and Crafts during the summer. Especially crafts that could be considered artful (not just another thing to collect and quietly throw away) and could be given as gifts.

Secretly, I enjoy hauling out the sewing machine from time to time....Especially when the supplies are scraps and things I already had in the closet.

I found this great pattern on the internet at www.weewonderfuls.typepad.com

If you are "arts and crafty" you should checkout her site. Another great site is www.littlebirds.typepad.com I enjoy her photography as much I enjoy looking at her handmade creations.

Yesterday the kids and I spent the morning sewing bunnies together and what follows is our final product. The kids did the face details (with a tad bit of help) and I did the sewing that required working with machinery!

Bunny Buns, Bunny Belly

Snuggle Bunnies

The Happy Couple

Junk Mail

Some of you may have heard me say this before:

I LOVE MAIL!

Of course when it is bills or junk, it isn't the greatest, but I love cards and letters...and honestly any pretty colored paper. Included in this great love is e-mail. I love to receive it. Especially when you comment on this blog. (That was a paid political announcement.) Comments are mailed to my e-mail account.

But the junk mail I got in my snail Mail box yesterday really takes the cake. What came in the mail yesterday is un-acceptable. Especially because it came in a large coupon pack that got me all excited because sometimes they send you samples that are actually good. But yesterday my hopes where dashed and my love for mail was trampled on:



Need I say more?

True Confessions

It is yet again time for another true blogger confession:

I ate an entire watermelon.

Yes, all by myself.

No, not in one sitting.

I bought it on Monday and cut it into cubes.

I finished it yesterday.

I think that beats my own record.

Than I went back to the store and bought another one.

Perhaps a new addiction?

Laziness

I have a serious case of the lazy's today.

I would love to lay down on my bed and read a book...Through my eyelids.

I have actually accomplished a fair amount today. But I have a feeling this afternoon is shot.

What I really need is a Grande non-fat Vanilla Latte on the rocks from Starbucks but, alas, the closest Starbucks is far away and I'm too lazy to get into the car.

Perhaps a good workout would be just what I need to boost my energy. But than that would require changing into workout clothes and shoes. Indeed, a paramount production.

As I type my fingers have to stop every fourth word or so...Just to rest.

My eyelids keep trying to close and they don't want to open again.

A cat nap might be nice...But I am afraid it will turn into a luxurious lion size snooze that will make the afternoon too short.

But now that I have written about it I might get off this computer and try to shake off this silly sluggishness.

Or I might just crawl in bed.

Blogger Birthday!!!

As a blogger, and person who likes a good reason to celebrate, I wanted to take the time to tell you that many things in history have happened on this day. It seems that July 12 is a day of new beginnings and amazing feats! Let me share some with you....

Top Ten "Beginnings" in History that occurred on July 12th:

1864 - My Husbands hero, George Washington Carver, was born. He invented Peanut Butter

1923- Harry Houdini, while suspended upside down 40 feet in the air, escapes from a straight jacket. Maybe not a beginning to speak of...But maybe the beginning of people realizing he was one fry short of a Happy Meal.

1933- Congress passes 1st. Minimum wage law. 33 cents an hour!

1960 - Etch-A-Sketch goes on sale (shoulda bought stock in those)

1962- Rolling Stones gives first public appearance. 10 years before my time.

1976- TV Game show Family Fued premiered with host Richard Dawson. According to family legend I'm related to that guy. It's my only claim to fame so I'll take what I can get.

1982- The movie E.T. broke all box office records surpassing $100-million in ticket sales. How many of you saw that one in theater? I did!

1984- Geraldine Ferraro becomes first woman major party Vice President candidate. You Go Girl!

1985- Singing in the Rain opens at the Gershwin Theater in NYC.

2005- This blog, La Vida Dulce, is born with a post on Blueberry picking!

It is with great excitement that I celebrate this one year of blogging. With almost 300 posts, I never thought I would blog this long...and I never thought any one would read it!

La Vida Dulce...

A Bird That Flies But Doesn't Sing

or Yikes! Here Comes a Rant!

So, this morning I am driving on the highway on the way home from taking my son to the dentist. As it goes, the dentist is my son's least favorite place on the planet. I do believe he would rather be whipped (and have bad teeth) than to go to the dentist, but this morning it was imperative that he finish out a root canal that he had started three months ago. I, also, would rather be anywhere else than in those hours before taking my sweet first child to the dentist. Truth be told it's hard on everybody and we all get anxious.

I tell you this only to elucidate my frame of mind this morning. I had a weepy son who is fearful of the dentist. So he would vacillate between wanting to be hugged and encouraged, to giving me the evil eye and treating me with contempt for passing on my "bad teeth" gene.

I thought for sure this morning would go a bit better than yesterday.

Yesterday I tried very hard to ignore the fact that The Girl pointed out not one but three whiskers growing on my chin. While I had the tweezers out I decided I might as well clean up the eyebrows a bit...And to my delight I found in the middle of my right brow a...Are you sitting down?...Grey hair.

This, of course, did not make my morning, but I thought that I might add insult to injury, so I pulled out my scale. I knew that I had had a lot of culinary fun in Arizona but I guess I didn't really realize how much...6 pounds worth. Too many tasty tortillas and pool side popsicles and not enough actual swimming.

I was hoping this morning would go a bit more my way...But I was crazy to think that a morning starting with an Endodontist is actually worse than spending a morning trying to figure out how to save enough hair dye each month to cover eyebrows and deciding that those extra pounds are probably just added weight from the new beard I'm growing.

The dentist is much, much worse; for both my son...and my pocketbook.

Ok...so back to the highway on the trip home from the dentist...I have a boy in the back who is still not happy and now is noxiously numb. His sister, although worried for her brother is more concerned we will not make our 10:30 pool date and is talking a mile a minute in an attempt to cheer him up. And my cell phone is dying and beeping like crazy but has fallen to the floorboard and I can't reach it to make it stop.

I merge to the highway exit where people are supposed to yield to me and this red car pulling a trailer comes barreling toward me. He sees me and I am unable to slow down because I have traffic behind me. He is smoking a cigarette in one hand AND talking on the phone with the other all while his radio is blaring. He nearly broad sides me. I speed up so that he doesn't hit me and I give him a look that says "HELLO?".

To which he very angrily flips me the bird....As if I am the offending party.

Whatever!

Perhaps tomorrow will start off better...I am sleeping in.

Home Again, Home Again! Jiggety Jig!

We have arrived from our home in Arizona to our home in the Southeast.

It's good to be here!

Kona had a blast while we were gone. When asked, she insists she didn't have any friends over (other than the neighbor who took her for walks and stuff), but that one dog made more mess than I thought humanly possible...Then again, she isn't human.

I just spent the last two hours sweeping, vacuuming and moping the downstairs in an attempt to get rid of 26 days worth of dog hair. It was seriously gross. But now that everything is clean I can relax.

The night before we left there was a magnificent sunset. That was to top off the day spent with my niece and an evening slobbering all over my nephew (those cheeks are delicious). We also had a great "kid free" steak dinner with my parents which was great... but not quite as good as baby Fil's cheeks. It was a great way to end our trip.

So, give me a few days to settle in and I will get back to regular blogging.

La Vida Dulce!

'Cheeks' N Me

Sunset Between the Palms

Soaking in the Sun

It seems hard to believe that for 21 days I have been soaking in the Arizona sun. It is even harder to believe that in 3 days I will once again be back home. It's been a great trip! And since the hubby has joined us it has been even more fun.

One of the more spectacular sights here are the sunsets. We had the opportunity to see a great "sunset show" on July 3rd. We went to my aunt and uncles house for a great dinner with my my parents, my brothers and their families, and extended friends and family. The pic above is of me with my two brothers. Dan is on my right and Fil is on my left. I know what you are thinking: She is the oldest sibling? I know it is hard to believe, but I am in fact the oldest.

Below are a series of sunset pictures from that night.

We had a great time yesterday celebrating Independence Day. We had some friends over for swimming and eating and it was fun to hang out and relax.

We also got some great news while we have been here. That sweet man of mine has been promoted to Lieutenant Commander...Which means that from now on he might make me call him "sir". Actually, being the humble guy that he is, he has quietly acknowledged this great news while I have wanted to shout it from the mountains that surround our little valley. It's great news for him, which makes me happy.

So all is well in the desert...It's time to go swimming. I only have 72 hours left to perfect my Arizona tan!

La Vida Dulce!

Storms Moving In

Sunset on the mountains

Century Plants at Sunset

Arizona Sunset

Happy Fourth of July!

Dreams

You know how people often have that dream as a child where you go to school in nothing but your underwear?

Occasionally I still have that dream. Like when we first moved and I had to take The Boy to his new school. I had a dream that I was pulling into the drop off line at school, where the teachers come and get your kid from the car, only to look down and realize I had forgotten to put a shirt on. I panicked and then I woke up.

However, more frequently I have another re-occurring dream that completely irritates me. I dream that I have to use the restroom but I can only find one that is in the middle of a room full of people, or has doors that are really low so people can see you while you are doing your business. But the one that really irritates me is the dream I have about trying to find a restroom that is private,but when I do find it it's ALWAYS disgustingly dirty so I am forced to use the one that has no door on it, or is completely exposed. In these dreams I tell myself to hurry up and "tinkle" before someone comes in, but inevitably some stranger walks in and I try to act normal, as if peeing in front of people is an everyday occurrence that I'm OK with.

These dreams are so vivid and I wake up feeling embarrassed and can't stop thinking about them...Hence this post. Perhaps writing about it will rid them from my mind...Or perhaps it will make you think I am crazy...Maybe both are true.

A New View

A storm came through early last evening. It was amazing actually. A good soaking rain. Then the clouds started to blow away, but not before making a beautiful display on the mountains to the north.

I love living in the land of trees but I do miss being able to see sunsets and moments like this when the mountains are visible and showing off just a bit.

On a side note:
I have long wanted to change the face of this blog.
Today you get the new look.
Let me know what you think.

La Vida Dulce!

Random Question - June

For your birthday, your aunt gave you a maple syrup dispenser shaped like a rooster. Please write her a thank-you note:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dear Auntie,
Thank you so much for the beautiful rooster syrup dispenser. I have always wanted one just like that.

Actually I saw one once at a boutique, in a little town I vacationed in called Roosterville, and I wanted to buy it. But, just as I was opening my wallet to pay for my rooster, a hen walked in. She looked at my dispenser on the checkout counter and started to cluck very loudly, was crying profusely and making a scene. I tried to comfort this chicken and asked if she was OK.

Apparently my dispenser looked just like her husband of 10 years who had recently had the misfortune of meeting a door-to-door salesman by the name of Sanders. He was duped into believing that if he followed this grey haired salesman to to his office that he would be given $250 dollars for listening to a "talk" about his new business. This was an attractive deal to this fine rooster because he desperately wanted to buy his beautiful birdie bride a sky rise coop in the most coveted neighborhood.

Unfortunately this rooster followed Sanders all the way to Kentucky where he found out that he was actually a Colonel in an unidentified army who liked to serve roosters with a side of mashed potatoes.

After hearing this sad tale I felt horrible for this widowed chicken and decided I would gladly give up my rooster maple syrup dispenser(even though it was the most beautiful thing I had ever laid my eyes on and I desperately wanted it for myself)...I bought a cow dispenser instead.

Having the rooster dispenser is a much wanted addition to my collection. If in the future you see one in the shape of a pig or a sheep please buy it and I will pay you back.

Thanks again for the gift..You are always so thoughtful.

Love,
Kellie

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Now, if you feel so inclined, it's your turn...write your thank you notes in the comment section...I like to hear from you!

Hanging Out

The Gang: (minus my youngest brother Dan and my cousin Katie).

In a past post I mentioned my cousin who is 24 years younger than I am...He is sitting next to The Boy on the couch...My brother Fil is sitting next to me with his two little ones.

We are still having lots of fun here in hot, dry, AZ. This weekend I have eaten sushi, thrown a shower, and been gloriously slobbered on by my sweet nephew. I've been shopping and had more Venti Passion Fruit teas than I can count! This next week will be exciting as I anticipate the arrival of my sweet husband on Friday!

I wish I had more to say, or something funny to write, but my brain has gone on vacation mode. I will work on it! Until then...

La Vida Dulce!

Saturday Fun: Emily, Maliah, and Me

Two Things

#1. I have a new addiction: Starbucks Passion Fruit Iced Tea. I woke up thinking about it.

#2. I am getting lost in the city I grew up in. I got lost on the way home from the gym yesterday. They have built stuff all over this town and now I have no idea where I am. It annoys me....Luckily they have built a Starbucks on every corner so I can solve all my problems there. (see # 1)

Happy 1st Official Day of Summer

It's the first day of summer and it couldn't be better.

Yesterday I went to the gym with my sis-in-law. Her gym has these classes that are fun but are T-O-U-G-H! But with names like BodyAttack and BodyPump you wouldn't expect them to be easy. Let's just say that when I finished the Attack class on Saturday it felt good...But the rest of the day felt exactly like it did the day I ran a 10k...Tired and sluggish. Yesterday I did the Pump class which is "Resistance to Rhythm", meaning you lift weights to music until you think you are going to die, and then you wake up in the morning and can't bring your own coffee cup to your mouth because your muscles are screaming in pain.

Today I spent some time in my mother's real estate office doing some admin work for her and then I took the kids out side for several hours of swimming, popsicle eating and sun bathing. And although I used enough sunscreen to cover a small army I still got a bit of burn on my back (the perils of being 30). So my back has that sunburn itching that for now has to be ignored...Because the soreness of yesterdays work out doesn't allow for reaching around to scratch one's sunburned back.

But even a sunburn can't get me down on a beautiful summer day in the desert. As I type the first monsoon storm of the season is blowing in and doing it's best to look threatening. But there is something awesome about rain in the desert in the middle of summer and I say: Bring It On!

Below are a few pictures of the mountains as they anticipate a good summer drink.

La Vida Dulce!

Another view from the front of my parent's house.

Hazy Mountian view from my parents house.

Desert Monsoons on the 1st Day of Summer

Father's Day and Family Fun

My posting time has been considerably lacking but all is well. For those of you who were worried with all the news of Arizona being on fire, worry no more. The fires are in Sedona which is a good drive from here. Unfortunately, this is the desert and fires often happen at this time of year.
We have been having a great time swimming and hanging out with friends and family. On Father's Day we were all here and two of my cousins stopped by as well. They are fun gals and I learned two things while they were here: 1. Playing the game "can you fit through a coat hanger" is slightly humiliating but extremely funny. 2. Playing with cardboard boxes is still more fun than many fine toys.

My "little" brother gave The Boy a hair cut which in many ways is sort of like a passing of a baton. The Boy is the spitting image of Dan when he was 8 years old.Dan continues to wear his hair the same way. It works for him.

That's the scoop!

Speaking of "look-a-likes", these are my cousins Emily and Katie. Out of the 11 grandchildren (me being the oldest) there are about 9 years between Emily (on my right) and I . And 11 between Katie and myself. That doesn't make me feel quite so old as their little brother who is 24 years younger than me (and only one year older than my son!). Many people say that Emily and I are spitting images...what do you think?

The Boy getting a hair cut from his Uncle and look-a-like.