whatever

bouquets and rain boots

this is one reason i love to garden.

these were beaten down by the rain and didn't look like they would make it back up.
i cut them and this huge bouquet is making our kitchen bright and cheery.
i grew all of these..me and God.

as i was putting it together i was remembering all the arrangements my mother and grandmother always had on their tables.
there has always been gardening in my life.
my parents have a beautiful yard focused towards butterflies and birds.
my grandmother had many kinds of different plants...nothing run of the mill.
she has bamboo!

we had a big storm (again) sunday night and then again monday morning.
sooo good for the grass and flowers!
and then perfect to splash in afterwards.

when talby got her rain boots on she asked me to take the little spider web out of the one she didn't already have on.
i shook the boot and a HUGE spider came tumbling out.
much bigger than a quarter.
four of the kids were right there and we all screamed like crazy!
we sprayed it with clorox clean up till it died.
i was afraid if we tried to smash it we'd miss.
then they stomped on it.
what is up with kansas and these gianormous spiders?
my worst fear.
thank goodness she didn't put that boot on first.
when we first saw it i yelled "take your other boot off! take it off! take it off!" and i kicked mine off too.
we were all quite shaken.

then it was time for the fun.
i know i have shown puddle jumping pictures before but these are just as cute.

i love this one.
annie is still and everything around her is moving.
just deciding what to think of the water in her boots and being splashed AND rained on.

we ended up in a neighbor's backyard to see her fish.
her pond is so beautiful.
especially after the rain.
her fish are so big...she's had them a long time.
i wish it was my pond.

and then we needed a snack so we headed home.

i was supposed to have yearly woman exam ( 3 years later) today.
i couldn't remember the time.
i called to ask and they couldn't find it.
my appointment had been lost.
oh darn.
i was really looking forward to a pap test today.
HA!

i got my kids enrolled in school (3 of the 4 at least).
it's coming up quick.
16 days....
my favorite commercial of all time is a mom pushing a shopping cart with a big smile and dancing a bit.
the first words are "THEY"RE GOING BACK!" and then the song starts in "it's the most wonderful time of the year." it's for school supplies.
it's true.
i enjoy school ending but i love school starting.
i wish it wasn't till september though.
that drive at 8:00 AM everyday is going to be rough...for me.

vacation 2007

we had a wonderful vacation.
we love the beach.
the weather was the best.
craig was the only one with a sunburn.
our friends rock!
i get crazy around kids and a bonfire...bad queen.
the kids got along so well...with each other and their friends.
chicago is as cool as ever.
harry potter 7 is not long enough (says lauren).
my great aunt liza is 96 years young.
the ulrich hotel in the boonies was amazing!
i love jake and abby.
i miss my friends.
a baseball bat will help start your fuel pump in a restaurant parking lot.
talby beat me in bowling.
peter i am sorry we didn't come over...you are missed!
GPS kicks butt.
the lego store is cooler than skyscrapers (say my boys)
IKEA is still awesome.
maribeth you are so dear to me.
always make friends with people who have a car as big as yours.
laughing with old friends is one of the best feelings there is.
chicago traffic is so ridiculous...kansas does it right.
maggianos...pedro...apple-tinis...good times.
paying for a new fuel pump is not fun on your vacation.
gone 9 days and not one stop at starbucks!
we have the best friends ever.
glad to be home...even though it's a big mess.

packing up

this morning some of my sunflowers opened up in the back yard.
so pretty.
they are very tall but very tiny heads...oh well.
and all the zinnias are blooming.
i think that is my most favorite flower.
so bright and cherry.
so many layers.
happy flowers.
this little lady bug was picture perfect.

i haven't scrapbooked in a month!
i was out of pictures....not caught up....just caught up till i went digital (christmas)
well i am no longer any where near caught up!
and i am happy about it.

i ordered over 500 pictures from scrapbookpictures.com.
as i was opening the package that came today i thought how cool it was that i don't have to go into a store for my pictures ever again if i don't want to!
i love that.
AND i love getting mail so that's great too!
i got some 8x10's in black and white. and tried a 12X12 size too to cover my entire scrapbook page.
how totally cool they are!
and now my memory card is empty and i plan on filling it up with all 263 images that it can hold this week.
i would like to have a back up card in case i need more but my husband isn't going for that...yet.

i made these cutie-pie shirts for annie and her little friend abby we are on our way to see.

super easy and annie is dying to wear it.
i just stuck it on with a couple pins
and sewed around & around & around.
no rhyme or reason
the shirts were on 70% clearance at carter's.

then how do you like this hysterical shirt!
it is just right for me for vacation....or any day really.
and...i made the camera strap i wanted to from the happy things list!
i choose black and white for craig's sake...i wanted pink.
that shirt cracks me up.

i have a whole walmart story to share but i guess it will have to wait to we get back...

well we are out of here!
literally in five minutes we will be on our way to vacation.
i will miss my blog because i am addicted to it.
maybe by next year i will have wireless internet and a laptop so i can keep up with all the blogging world while i am sitting on the beach.
i am lame...i know.
enjoy your week... i know we will.
pray for us in the car ride tomorrow!
see ya.