Tooth Fairy is coming tonight!!!

Hey look! One less tooth...more money in the bank for me! Mom says I am too cute!

Father's Day Celebration

Today was a day to celebrate being and having a Dad. Sometimes we do not always agree with our fathers and at times we might even feel like we can never quite gain their recognition. The thing we have to realize is we would not be here on this earth living our lives without our Dad's. So, no matter what happens or has transpired in the past, it does not really matter, because we have our own minds and limitless potential . Even if your idea of the perfect father is not what you've inherited in your reality, make the best of him and what he has given you. My father and I do not always see eye-to-eye on every subject and life situation, but that is because of what he gave me...a mind to call my own. The irony is, the very part of his personality that drives me to the brink of emotional exhaustion is precisely the trait I inherited....the stubborn, don't tell me what to do, I can and will figure it out for myself-trait. Yup! Him = Me. What more can I say except Happy Father's Day, Dad. Lots of love from the apple that does't fall far from the tree. The man standing to the right of my father is my 92 year old grand-father...that is where the strong will originated. For that I am grateful. I feel very blessed to have these men in my life despite the transient challenges being part this gene pool renders. As you can see, the old guy and the oldest guy not only act like one in the same, the physical resemblence is uncanny as well.

A Wonderful Surprise!!!

Jeff and I recently went to dinner with a couple good friends of ours, Jane and Jeff Whitley. Jane had gotten a new ring for Mother's Day and we decided to go check to see if it was done being sized while we waited to go to dinner at Longhorn Restaurant. We had 30 minutes to kill and it was a nice evening so we went for a walk over to the jewelry store. A couple of weeks prior, Jeff had offered to get me a now setting for my engagement diamond, but I felt guilty and decided with the economy not doing well and the price of fuel, I should wait on the ring...well, there was a jeweler at the store that brings his unique settings to Kay Jeweler 2 times yearly, I told him the story about my issue of being really hard on my jewelry and a need for a deep setting. Of course, he pull a gorgeous setting out and even set one of his diamonds in it so I could see how mine would look in it. Needless to say, we caved, Jeff assured me I deserved an new setting and I went home with a ring and wrap that night. What a sweetheart Jeff is, huh? I could not ask for better! Yep, he us a hopeless romantic...he got down on one knee to give the ring to me. How sweet was that!!!! I couldn't get a good picture of it because it sparkles so darn much the detail in the ring is all blurred out. Trust me when I say, it is breath-taking! I LOVE IT! I am a very lucky woman!

Flowers to brighten up our world

Here are a few pics of the annuals I planted....gotta love um! They make me happy!

VEGGIES....I CAN'T WAIT 'TIL HARVEST TIME

OK....2 posts in one day. I know, I will try harder to do them as I have the experience. Yesterday I had the pleasure of finishing the planting of the garden. Jeff hates to plant the garden, but I really enjoy it! This is my 3rd veggie garden ever. Last year I had a good yield, hoping the same for this year. The garden did grow a bit in size this year. We'll see how I do keeping up when it comes time to harvest. Although there should not be much waste because I plan to can and freeze as needed. I also think it is time for me to take over the spaghetti sauce making job in our family...my father will have to give me a lesson. Always eager to learn new skills! This year I planted cukes, two kinds of tomatoes, green beans, peas, carrots, three kinds of lettuce, green peppers, jalapeno peppers, cantaloupe, squash, brocolli and of course pumkins for the kids. I found a lot of old horse shoes and other various metal parts while planting. There used to be an old farm on the property. When my parents first bought the land, there was an old house and a barn that was still standing. As kids, my sister and I found a ton of old dishes, glasses, farm tools, etc. Kind of neat! Anyway, I will keep you posted on the progress of my garden as she blooms! Oh yeah, the picture above is my silly little man, CAMERON. He wants to help me sell some veggies in the event we have a surplus. I know of a few neighbors who may have an interest in some fresh garden veggies. The deal is, he will have to help me care for our plants this summer. I hope to begin to instill a work ethic in both my kids this summer.

Life is busy but rewarding!

It has been way too long since my last journal entry....life has been extremely busy. I have, however, managed to plant my perenials along side our garage. Here are a few pictures of what I planted. I am new at all of this, only hope it all decides to come back for a visit next year. After our long winters, we all desperately need to see signs of life and color. Here in Maine, that is vital to the spirit! I must say the act of planting a garden left me feeling appreciative of the beauty of nature and a sense of peace. I never would have imagined just how therapeutic gardening can be. Looking forward to my next post about planting my veggie garden!

Being a Mom

Being a Mom is the best and the hardest job in the world. Today, I just want to share my first experience as a new Mom. When my daughter Abby was born, over 12 years ago, my friend Erica (who was very pregnant at the time) aske me, "So, how does it feel to be a Mom?" All I could say is you love your baby so much, you heart actually aches. That is still the only way I can explain the deep emotion I feel for them. I would do anything for them. I want nothing but the best for my kids. Each day, no matter how difficult, I set out with the primary objective to keep my kids safe, happy, encouraged and growing up to be strong little people, both morally and intelligently. I am so proud of my kids and as much as I complain about the overwhelming responsibility of raising kids in this world, I would NEVER change having them. They are my joy...my world and I am thankful on this Mother's Day to ponder how lucky I am to be so blessed!

Weekend in Rangeley

Our family went to Rangeley this past weekend. Abby brought a friend and Cam had 2 little buds to play with all weekend. It was a great little get-away...the snowmobiling was great, until we had to park our sled. Cam was disappointed, but Tyler let him and Jeff ride his sled for awhile on Saturday. Took all 6 kids sledding at the golf course. That was really fun. Lorna and I revisited childhood for awhile that day. After a few white-washes and sucking wind to climb what felt like a mountain several times, she and I and all 6 kiddos went back to camp to feed the deer. That, I have to say,` was the highlight of my weekend. At one point, there were 23 deer feeding on the front lawn. Of course the front lawn is under 6 feet of snow.(almost, not an exageration...or maybe the tress have gotten shorter this year) Well it was a nice late Winter weekend away. Now we look forward to Spring. It is nice to hear the birds chirping in the morning now! It is a sure sign that warmer weather is eventually going to arrive.

GOING TO RANGELEY...GOD'S COUNTRY

Today we are going to Rangeley. I am so ready to get away for the weekend. The kids are really looking forward to going snowmobiling and tubing at Sugarloaf. Lorna and Andy, Shelly and Pete, Dad and all the kids will be there. We definitely need a little get away. I will try to get some good pics while up there. Hopefully the deer will come to feed on the front lawn. Well, off to shop and pack. Have a great weekend!

Meet Our Family

Gracie-Girl Remembered

It was April 1999 when Jeff and I decided it was time that Abigail (3 years old) needed to have her first pet. Collectively, we decided on a Bassett Hound. I grew up with hounds as a child and loved their docile nature. (Plus, the sad eyes and droopy ears are not hard to take) We found a litter in Locust, NC and made plans to visit the kennel to see the pups. They were barely 8 weeks old at the time. I remember arriving at the home where the breeders brought us into the garage. There was the puppy pen. There had to be at least 8 puppies in the pen all looking up at us under their wrinkled brows, long ears and pathetically sad looking eyes. All three of us fell in love with this one pup that persistantly followed Abby around the pen. We really think she picked Abigail. That is how we were picked by our Bassett...little did we know, this dog would eventualy take the thrown at our house. Gracie was a very, very stubborn dog. Mouthy as all get-out!! She never really barked, only talked non-stop in the deep, gutteral tone to us any time she wanted to be feed, put out, or just plain paid attention to. She was known for her "three-legged stance" . Funny as heck! In order for her to make eye contact she found it more easily achieved by lifting one front leg barely off the ground and leaning ever so slightly to the opposite side and then she would begin her mouthy talk. Irritating...yes, but boy did we miss it when she was gone! I remember taking "low belly" out for a walk one warm summer day, when all of a sudden on the way back home, Gracie decided she had walked far enough. She was overweight and I probably should have turned back long before I did, but I didn't. She plopped herself on the ground and refused to get up. I tugged and tugged at her, even tried to bribe her with a snack...oh no, no way was she going to budge! In short, I carried her home...now that was a sight to see! Me, all of 5ft 1 in. tall carrying a furry sausage with 4 legs, at tail and long ears. Needless to say the lazy princess took a long leisurely nap that afternoon. Oh, well I learned my lesson and now it is a fond and humerours memory I will have for life! Gracie was a great pet, loyal to the end. She passed on January 9, 2007. It was a very bad day for Abigail, Cameron, Jeff and I , but our lives are that much better for having Gracie in them. We will always love and remember her for bringing humor to our family for the almost 8 years we had her.