Hello 4th of July...and Hello to a New Tradition!

I'm joining CuppaKim & Katygirl today in a 4th of July link up :)

 For the last couple of years we have gone to a local parade with friends in the morning and then later in the afternoon we would go to our church which used to put on a huge carnival-like event and then everyone would watch the fireworks that were set off close by.

Last year our church decided not to have its big event and we decided to stay home.  At home, we realized that we could see a local fireworks show perfectly from our driveway (like we could see them well AND hear them!).  We said then that we should have a get together for the 4th and then watch fireworks from our house.

This year we invited a few neighbors over for some fun, food, and fireworks.  We started small this year because 1. it was our first year to have this gathering and 2. we had just gotten over having serious power outages (us included) in our area and we didn't want to go all out since there was the potential of the power going out again.

It ended up being a good time.

 There was a water balloon fight!

 My husband...the Baby Whisperer...lovin on Miss Lily.

 We let off some smoke bombs and firecrackers.

 One of my neighbors gave us some huge sparklers...those were a lot of fun. 

 Thinking cool thoughts as we waited for the fireworks to start...it was 100* that day.  It was a really good show...sorry no pictures :(

Overall we had a great time and can't wait to do it again next year!

*BONUS*  I was supposed to make these cookies on the 4th but my neighbors brought a lot of desserts to I didn't end up making them.  I made them yesterday for a cookout that we attending and they were a hit!  I saw the idea here and just used break and bake cookies (because that's how I roll).  You should try them...like right now!

Friday Daydreaming - True Friends

I'm joining Becca again this Friday as I ponder friendships and reminisce about the last trip with some of my dearest friends (minus Melanie).

Me, Tanysha, Anita, & Tara (sorry for the bad picture quality)

Here's Melanie...she was there in spirit.

These girls are so dear to my heart and I miss them terribly (we all live in different cities now).  We have all been friends since our younger years (Anita, Tara & I have been friends since middle school and Tanysha joined our posse in high school.  And Melanie and I have been friends since THIRD GRADE!).  

In 2009 we all got together in Atlanta.  We saw the sights, ate good food, played Uno, and laughed endlessly.  There's nothing like girlfriends who love you unconditionally!

This picture reminds me that it's time to plan for another trip :)  

Everyone Needs a Motivating Friend

This is my Lyndsey.  Do you have those friends who know you well and know when to give you a swift kick in the butt and who read your blog posts, like this one, and push you to put your words into action...that is Lyndsey.  I love her!

Yesterday she came over to take pictures for my header.  She got some amazing shots and I cannot wait to get them and create the new header.  She is an amazing photographer...she has such an eye for it and the determination to learn to photograph well.

She also helped me figure out how to take pictures of my cards so that I can get my etsy shop up and running (you know, the one I have been talking about forever, but still have not done!).

Typically, I take shots of my cards on my dining table because that is where I make them.  Lyndsey showed me that if I take pictures of them in the kitchen that I would have better lighting...and she is so right.  She also explained that since my table has an orange/brown tone that those colors would reflect onto my shots...ohhhhh.  Look at what she showed me:

I love the way it turned out and now that she has shown me I will be able to take some great shots for my shop!

I also have to add that I got the idea of putting a piece of card stock behind the card from Heidi.

A Heavy Heart

Friendship is a major thing to me...major.  So when one of my friends is suffering it makes my heart heavy.  I explained to you briefly on Monday that I have a friend who recently lost her husband...suddenly.  Words cannot explain the grief that we all are feeling, even with the knowledge that he's dancing with Jesus...grief is still a process.

I called on a few blog friends to pray for my dear friend.  Sweet Becky took the time in the middle of her packing to pray for my friend and today she has a lovely post filled with God's Word and expresses feelings that my heart cannot process just yet.

Please read her post here.

Becky...I can't thank you enough.  From the bottom of my heart you are a blessing.

miscellany monday

1.  A reason to celebrate...a birthday.  Over the weekend the kids and I traveled to Cleveland for my step mom's mom's birthday.  They had an entire weekend planned with a spa day, a few dinners, a concert and going to church together.  We were able to join them on Saturday for dinner.  Ms. Louise's daughter, son in-law, and granddaughter even flew in from California!

Ms. Louise and her beautiful granddaughters.

Here's Ms. Louise and her friend Mary.  Mary is amazing...she will be 89 this year.  Aren't they jazzy!

2.  Welcome Spring!  Well yesterday was the day...the first day of Spring.  For the most part the weather was nice and we even got outside for a bit.  I got some shots of the evidence of Spring.

Here are my daffodils and some mini tulips trying to make their debut.

Spring also reveals the clean up that we'll have to do over the next few weeks :)

3.  Bike Time.  Rondell (and I, a little) have been working with Jamison to try and ride a two wheeler.  We're hoping this is the year she makes a break for it.  Yesterday she and Rondell worked a little more and she had more confidence than she's had in the past.  Next I think we'll take her to a walk path where there are less bumps.

Look at the concentration!

Then there's this guy who will be riding a two-wheeler before I know it.

4.  I LOVE surprises.  During church yesterday I received a text from one of my best friends, Melanie, saying she had a surprise for me...she was in town and was going to come and see me!  Marja brought her over and it was so good to hug her and sit down for a chat with my girls.  Melanie also got to love on my kids a bit.

Today we're going to lunch and hang out some more and I can't wait :)

And Caleb got to love on his girlfriend Mila.

The Good, The Bad & The Ugly...of Sushi

Last night I had dinner with 3 good friends and one new friend (hi JJ).  We went to our friend Angela's to part get together and part celebrate our friend Tonya's birthday.  Angela (who is a great cook) decided to make sushi and a few other items.  Now I tried sushi years ago and don't remember the experience going well, but Tonya told me to step out of my box (and I've been reading a lot on Lissa's blog about taking risks) that I decided to try it.  Well, you can probably tell by the title how it turned out for me :)

 The Good:  Getting together with these ladies...Angela, JJ, Katie & Tonya.

 More Good:  Doesn't it look nice?  Angela had great presentation.

 The Bad:  Tonya was a bad mama and just gobbled it up!  Yummy, yummy in her tummy.

 More Bad:  Do you see the fear in my eyes as I'm about to try it?

 The Ugly:  My face, after tasting it.  At least now I can say I tried it...for the last time.

And just so I can think happy food thoughts...Rondell made THE best banana pudding the other night.  He used Paula Deen's recipe (here) and it turned out amazing :)

 

 More Good!

The Simple Woman's Eveningbook - Monday, July 5, 2010

For today...

Outside my window...dark and warm. We went to Cleveland today so I'm just now getting a chance to do my Monday post.

I am thinking...about the WONDERFUL 4th of July weekend that we had.

Gorgeous weather...check.

First up...the 4th of July Parade:

The kids were excited...and hot.

Gotta get the chairs ready...I love these little chairs. This one is my friend Amber's son's chair...Go Bucks!

Lyndsey and I getting our cameras ready!

Gotta get the perfect spot.

Here come the fire trucks...let the parade begin.

What's a parade without the clowns?

Caleb...I never did figure out why he was so mesmerized.

Next up...Food, Fun & Fireworks:

Got to hang out with lots of friends, including these two lovely ladies...Marja and Kim. Marja has been my friend for years, one of my best friends, and Kim & I met through blogging and realized we attend the same church...she's the sweetest!

Marja & Mila getting ready for the fireworks.

Mila & Jamison waiting some more for the fireworks...that was the hardest part of the evening, waiting for them to start. But, once they did...

Day Two took us to our friends Jason and Angela's for a cookout and a dip in the pool:

Then we headed to my in-laws to hang out with family and see the newest member of the clan...baby Quincy!

Day Three took us to Cleveland to see some of our favorite people:

We stopped by to say hello to my homie Kristina. We've been friends since the 3rd grade and I love her like a sister! The kids liked being there because Miss Linda gave them Popsicles.

We also got to see my dear friend Tanysha and her family. They were in town from Georgia and she asked us to come up and see them. Tanysha is another friend who is just like a sister to me.

Here are Caleb and Tanysha's son Marcus.

We also got to surprise these two:

My dad and Renee had no idea we were coming!

I am praying...still to be able to adjust to our new schedule. We've been pretty busy lately and I'm praying that this week we can sit down and figure out a good system. Order just helps me function...it just does.

I am reading...nothing. Same as last week, I haven't made the time. I have a book on reserve by James Patterson that I'm going to pick up tomorrow. I'm determined to get some reading done this week...I miss it.

From the kitchen...I haven't even thought about meals for this week!

A few plans for the rest of the week...Well since I got nothing productive done this weekend (but well worth it I must say...we had a GREAT weekend) I plan on tackling my To Do list and figuring out a good routine for us for the summer.

Tell me about you...here.