Does Summer Have to End?

Happy 4th Birthday Annabelle!

The birthday girl trying to blow out her candles, mommy had to help.
My little darling eating her sack lunch that Aunt Mel made for all the girls, she cut out pb and j sandwiches with a flower cookie cutter! The balloon lady made each girl a balloon of their own choice, flowers and horses were a big hit.
The balloon lady sang happy birthday, my sister requested that she not dress up like a clown. Yikes!
Sweet Annabelle, I can't believe that you are 4 years old!
A super serious discussion was taking place here!
Those of you in my family that remember Dayton's love of killer whales when he was young will get a kick out of Myah's choice for the face/body painting, she chose a killer whale too!

Mel had these bouquets of balloons lining the driveway. So cute!
These were the party favors, little watering cans with a bracelet, chapstick and magnet with each girls initial on them.
You know how much I love me some cupcakes!
I had to include this one of Dayton, he was thrilled to be the balloon boy! Hee hee!

My niece Annabelle turns 4 today! She is such a precious dainty little flower. She wanted a balloon party this year so my sister hired a lady to come and blow up balloons for the guests. The party was adorable and Annabelle was so cute trying to blow out her candles. She kept blowing upwards so Mel had to help her. The weather didn't cooperate so we had to move the party inside to the playroom. It was fine we just couldn't do the outdoor scavenger hunt, bummer! I was ready to win the prize! Ha ha!

I put the music from the movie Enchanted on here for Annabelle today, she loves to sing this song!

Happy Birthday Sweet Annabelle!

Happy Birthday Nate!

Nate and his girlfriend Rachel are both at the same college now!

Our nephew Nate has had a big week, he moved away to college on Tuesday and today he turns 19! This will be his first birthday away from home, from the sounds of it he is loving his first few days of college life. Just wait till classes start on Monday! We spent yesterday on the boat with the rest of Nate's family who are still at home and it was very different not having him around. Even Dayton said " I miss Nate". Happy Birthday Nater!!!

Morgan Is In Heaven Now

I received this message from our Pastor this afternoon and thought I would pass it along to all of you who took such great interest and gave many prayers for Morgan and her family. I can't imagine losing my child at just 15 years of age. Please keep their family in your prayers.

Fellow followers of Jesus,It is with great sadness and joy that I bring you this news: Morgan has gone home to be with Jesus at about 1pm this afternoon. Her suffering is ended and she is with God in perfection! For this we rejoice. But those of us still on earth are left to mourn. Especially her mom and dad and brother and sister. Please be in prayer for the C. family - and stay tuned for specific ways that we can be the church to support these wonderful people through this horrible experience. Remember this simple truth - we all who follow Jesus are all going to be with God in heaven - some simply go before others. The earth is not our home. We are only here for a short time.God, I pray you will bless the C. family with peace.

Happy 20th Anniversary Scott and Lora!

Then.... Now....

Today is Mark's brother Scott and his wife Lora's 20th anniversary. I can't believe it has been that long, the years have flown! I had just graduated from high school when they got married. I remember being so excited for them. They had a really fun wedding and reception and we danced the night away. We want to wish them many many more happy years together!

Good Luck Nate!

Our nephew Nate leaves for college this morning. I just can't believe it! He is super duper excited about starting this new chapter in his life. We stopped by their house the other day on our way home and his thing were all neatly packed in his bedroom all ready to go. He is a wonderful young man with a promising future. We wish him all the best and also want to send big hugs to Scott and Lora, I know this is going to be an emotional week for them. Their 20th anniversary is tomorrow and Nate's birthday is on Saturday, his first away from home. What a week!

She loves the beach, can you tell?

The Buzz

Well, it happened, Myah got her first bee sting yesterday. We have been working outside on my flower garden and the bees are everywhere. Myah is my little helper, she even wears her gardening gloves (or glubs as she calls them). She came walking down our deck and got stung on her pointer finger just below her nail. She cried and cried for about a minute, of course you always worry that she might be allergic, but we are happy to say, it looks like she can tolerate a bee sting just fine. As soon as we told her she was going to get some medicine and a band aid, she was all better. She is a tough cookie! I have always used a mixture of baking soda and water to make a paste for the sting, my parents did this with us and it works!

She also had a little visitor the other day. My neighbor Pam is watching little Kendall all summer and she brings her over now and then. Myah loves her and on this day they decided to play with their babies. Kendall soon became the baby, she wanted to be pushed in the doll stroller and Myah loved pushing a real baby around!

I can't believe that summer is winding down, I feel like it just gets started and then it is over. We are going away for the weekend to get some sun and sand and school shopping!

Niagara Falls

It is only fair that they take my picture every now and then.

I forgot to post these pictures of our stop to Niagara Falls while on our way home from Cooperstown. I had been there one time when I was 15 but the rest of my family had never seen the beautiful falls. I think Mark was amazed at the magnitude and power that they generate. We stayed on the American side, we didn't want to get tied up at the Canadian border, but they were still just as breathtaking as I remember.

Let the Games Begin!

I am so excited as I am sure many of you are to watch the Beijing Olympis 2008! I remember when we were in China our guide explaining to us that 8-8-08 was the luckiest day in China and the number 8 is meant to bring good fortune. We received Myah on 6-6-06, another very lucky day in Chinese culture. I remember when we were in Beijing there was alot of construction and hype about the Olympics coming. I can't believe how quickly that 2 years has past. I love watching the Olypics and cannot wait to tune in especially this year with it being in China and all. I was so excited to see that many of the stores have sections devoted to the Chinese heritage. Many of the PBS shows lately have had many stories pertaining to the Chinese as well. I have found it to be very interesting and informative. Of course the pollution has been a huge source of bad publicity and let me just say that the pollution was very bad when we were there, I am hoping that it has improved.

From the images that I have seen it looks like they had a beautiful opening ceremony, if I know one thing the Chinese like their pagentry and tradition. I can't wait to watch it tonight! Here are a few images from the opening ceremony that I found online.

Also I want to thank all of you for your prayers for Dayton, he is getting better at a snails pace but he isn't in the pain that he initiallly was, which is good!

Say a little Prayer

My poor Dayton was at the ER twice yesterday with severe stomach pain. Both Doctors determined that Cooperstown was not kind to his intestines and bowels. He was in so much pain last night I felt horrible for him. I have never seen him like this ever! The doctor looked at the x-ray and really seemed concerned but there is not much she can do for him except give him some meds and wait it out. Please say a prayer for him, my heart is just breaking for him. He was supposed to attend his golf tournament this morning after taking lessons all summer and all he can do is lay on his bedroom floor in pain. He is sleeping finally, he needs his strength that is for sure. Please pray for me as well, I am going to have to force him to eat some things he isn't going to like very well. Thanks everybody!

A Few Shameless Plugs!

I have been waiting to post this until all of these ladies were ready and the time has finally come! I try to pass along the goods to you when I can and I am really excited for all 3 of these ladies and wish them lots of success in their new business ventures. Please tell these ladies that I sent you, I am sure they won't hold it against you that you know me!!! Hee hee!

First off I want to introduce you to my sweet friend Jenni Jackson and her new clothing line. Myah did some modeling for her website and her clothing is super cute! She is such a dear friend to me and I can't wait to work with her on choosing fabrics for future creations! She has gorgeous holiday dresses that you just must check out, Christmas will be here before you know it! Visit Jenni at http://www.jennijackson.com/ *****Jenni just added a 30% off coupon for all of you in my comments section**** I told you she was sweet!!!

My cousin Sheri is next on my list. She and her friend have started a super cute on line business called the Diaper Bag Company. Visit here to see her adorable selection of all things baby. She has some super cute blankies, adorable diaper bags and nursing covers. Plus a great selelction of items to fill up the diaper bags. Here are a few examples of what I love on her site...

Lastly, my bloggy friend Barb has inspired me with her wonderful recipes, thoughts on life and her crafts. She started a small online business in order to contribute to her household income. Her landlord upped the rent on their home and this little business is helping her to stay put. I just love Barb and would love to encourage you to purchase one of her very well made blankets, burp clothes or sock monkeys. I ordered a set of burp clothes for a shower gift and was very impressed with the quality of Barb's work. She has a special lady bug set that I know you would all love. Barb is very organized and hardworking and is very timely in her work. Please stop by and give her a look by going here. Here are a few items in her shop.

Happy Birthday Sheri Flo!

Today is my cousin Sheri's birthday!She is 4 years younger than I am and I used to carry her around on my hip all the time, probably the reason I have such back troubles! Ha! She is now 5'10" and could carry me around! She lives in sunny Florida now so we don't get to see each other very often at all, maybe once a year. We grew up very close to each other and our birthdays were always within a week of each other so we got to go shopping with Grandma together alot! I hope you have a great day sweetie and hope you hop on a plane and get your tushy up here soon! Love ya! ! PS: I took this adorable picture of her last time we were together in March of last year!

Like Father Like ....Daughter?

Myah found a few of my plate holders.....
Putting them in her "holster" ......
Not good when your handcuffs fall down your pantleg!
Putting her toy Parrot (she calls it her carrot) under arrest....
Poor Carrot is going to jail!

I know 3 posts in one day but I am behind, cut me some slack!

This one is at Myah's request, after I took these pictures she said "put them on your website momma!

Lately Myah has been carrying around a pair of toy handcuffs and a few of my plate holders and acting like a police officer. She calls one plate holder her gun and the other her taser. I am so proud. The funny thing is, is that she hardly ever sees Mark in his uniform. I don't know where she picked this up from. Dayton used to do this all of the time but he grew up seeing Mark on duty all of the time. She is always grabbing her handcuffs, telling us to put our hands behind our backs and she cuffs us. She even pretends like she is tasing us. I am trying so hard to girly her up she is going around arresting her animals and friends. Where have I gone wrong! :) She also has taken a liking to playing baseball. She is actually hitting the ball pretty hard when she gets ahold of it. Luckily she still wants to take ballet! I think I am losing her to the men in my life!