The Show

We all went to see this cute movie while my sister and nephew are visiting.  Hot buttered popcorn and diet coke.  How lovely.  And the movie was pretty cute as well.

Wild Animals

 We are just having such a nice time with my sissy and nephew.  On Sunday we began our fun with lunch at Red Robin.  Yum.  Gourmet sandwiches for everyone.

 We had some auntie and kiddo pictures taken.

 Then we moved onto the zoo.  This little fellow was very interested in what we were doing.  Very cute.

 Took a ride on the choo choo.

 We were sharing with the kids stories of when they were quite smaller and the train rides at the zoo we took them on.

 Taylor loves llamas.  She was looking at this one with adoration.....the llama was looking at her like it was about ready to spit.

 We got to take a trip to Africa while at the zoo.

 And while there we got to feed these beautiful creatures.  Look at those tongues!!!

And that was our trip to Africa.  :)

A New Chapter

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Today I begin another new chapter in my life.  I am going back to work again outside the home after being a stay at home mama for the past nine months.  I am excited about all the things The Lord has in store for me with this adventure.  I am believing that this is the right thing for my family and for myself.  I am looking forward to building friendships with the people that I will work with and also getting to know the patients that will cross my path each day.  I am a people person.  I love hearing the stories of peoples lives.  I have been blessed with meeting some of the most wonderful people in my career and I am very much looking forward to meeting more!  Off I go!

Summertime Fun

 My sissy and nephew are here for their vacation this week.  We have been doing lots of fun stuff so far. Yesterday we headed to the beach.  It was a beautiful beach day.  We packed a picnic lunch and beach blankets and headed out.

 There was some fine sandcastle construction happening.

 It was time to get the piggies out again in the sand.  I love feeling sand in my toes.  But all the sand we brought home that ended up on my kitchen floor....not so much.

 These fellows were out again.  They did not bother us to much.

 She actually got in the water.  The water temperature was 64 degrees!  BURR!  I am a bathtub warmth kind of gal.

 Big sister and cousin buried her up to her neck in the sand.

 The pirate ship and lighthouse look good together.  Boy...did I ever miss this view over the winter.

The two sisters on the beach together.  Gosh...do I love her.

 We ended our night with fireworks on the driveway.  It was fun to watch the different colors.  The poor doggie did not like them though.

 This morning we made french toast for breakfast.

 With caramelized bananas on top.  Kind of like bananas foster.  We decided we all could be french.  :)

And topped it off with this lovely stuff.  Looks like it is going to be a fine fine day.  Hope yours is to!

Happy Fathers Day!

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There are probably a lot of you out there who are remembering your fathers this weekend very fondly.  I am one of those girls as well.  My daddy is the best.  He really is!  He is a wonderful example of how God wanted Fathers to be on this earth.  He has always been a hard worker for our family.  Now, he is a wonderful care-giver for my mother.  He is strong.  He has really big hands.  He is giving.  If you needed something, he would help you.  I have seen him help strangers on many occasions.  When he tells me he loves me, my heart melts.  He gives wonderful advice.  He has never meet a stranger.   I have been greatly blessed to be his daughter.  He calls me the number one daughter.  Not because he picks me over my sister...but because I am the oldest.  I wish I was a millionaire for a day.  If I were, I would buy my daddy a brand new truck.  His is on its last leg/wheel.  I would also buy him season tickets to the Chicago Cubs games for a whole year.  He has been a cub fan since 1940 and has a membership card to prove it in his wallet.  I would also buy him a bowling alley because he loves to bowl.  He meet my mother in a bowling alley.  And lastly, I would hire someone to make him strawberry shortcake every day for a year because that is his most favorite!  But, since I am not a millionaire, I am sending him my love.  And I know that he will take that any day.  I love you daddy.....from your Number One Daughter.  xoxoxox

New Toy

Here is my new toy.  Now I am a Mac Girl.  There are several things that I am enjoying with her.  One thing is putting her on the kitchen counter and pulling a recipe up on Food Network and cooking away.  Another cool thing is blogging in my bed!  Could not do that with my old PC.  This just may be the beginning of a wonderful relationship.

Farmers Market

I am a happy camper.  Our Farmers Market opened up and we stopped by yesterday to see what goodies were there.  We picked up peaches, strawberries, oranges, onions, corn on the cob and green beans.  There is nothing like fresh produce in the summertime.  It is hands down...the best.  My youngest daughter and I snapped the beans this afternoon after church and they are simmering right now on the stove with turkey bacon and onion and some spices.  Wish I had smell-o-vision....I would share with you.  My grandma and I used to snap beans all the time together when I was a child.  I have a lot of wonderful memories of her and I doing beans.  I was sharing those memories with my daughter today.  Next on our agenda is making strawberry jam.  My wonderful Grandma and Mama taught me about being thrifty and canning the summer produce so we can enjoy it all winter long.  And now I get the privilege of passing down those skills to my kiddos.

My View

For the past two days this has been my view.  We have been having very warm weather here in Michigan.  The kids are in complete summer mode.  Staying up late, sleeping in and trying to get along.  I am trying to get used to them being home with me all the time.  I know that someday soon they will be gone from the protection of my wings.  It will happen before I know it.  For now, we are going to splash in the  warm water, squish sand in between our painted toes, pitch a rainbow beach umbrella and eat as many homemade popsicles as we can.

Roller Coaster Riding

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What a week I have had.  After all the birthday celebration for my daughter and myself...I was blessed to bring a dear friend back to Michigan with me.  She was able to stay the entire week with me!  We had so much fun together.  We visited antique malls after antique malls.  We went to our local Amish town.  We talked a lot and solved all the problems in the world.  She taught me how to make hummingbird food and we filled up my feeder and they came to eat already!  We took lots of walks around my yard looking at plants.  She is an avid gardener.  We laughed and laughed.  We had a lot of fun.  I just got back from taking her home and I miss her already. 

We also got a new computer while I was gone.  And I have no earthly idea how to work the thing.  I know I will love it when I get it all figured out.  And I have a sewing project to make.  A laptop case to protect her!  But until then.....I foresee frustration galore.  I am anxious to look at all my lovely blogging friends blogs and catch up on what you all have been doing.  That is....if I can figure out the new computer.  :)