Almost a month ago

This girl was getting ready for her evening at her 8th grade graduation and how beautiful she looked.
I don't know where the time goes seriously..every day is a gift to be cherished because it goes by so fast. I can't believe she is going to Highschool in the Fall and there will be new beginnings in her life and in ours too. There will be sports, dances, lots more homework, pep rallies, new friends and new dreams. Being a Mom we want the yrs to go by so much slower than they do so we can enjoy the moments with our kids but I look at it as a gift each day to see how they change and grow and WOW how this little sweetie has grown and changed. She has always been petite stature but has a big mind for what she wants in life and one of her most biggest desires is anything to do with horses-a trainer, barrell racer, veternarian, and just about anything to do with them.
She has been drawing them since she was 5-how those drawings have changed over the yrs. and they are so beautiful.
I can't wait to see where the future takes her and so glad to be her Mom and go on that road with her along the way.
She is a gift to me !!

on her first day of  1st grade in her little schoolOn the Beach in Oregon during one of our vacations-age 7 yrs.4th grade photo-Love that haircut she gave herself..so funny but they all do it sometime or another :-)Practicing her dribbling in the house..lolShe was so happy when she finally got a horsewith her sister in their new clothes that they got for the fair to show 4-H animals in:-) Pretty snazzy girls.Together is the best place to be- :-) Cassie with her sister and brother8th grade :-)give a girl a horse and she is in heaven:-)Cassie with her cousin on her 8th grade graduation-Way to go Girl!!!

50 Things That Really Matter

this is a great little book with a lot of information in it. It's one of my most favorite books-one that I won't ever be taking to a thrift store to give away. It is just a happy feeling book and makes you smile, and cry at the same time. It is also a great journaling prompt with the titles of the book. Just looking at the titles makes me want to journal more about the Important things in life. I got mine at a Hallmark store a few yrs. ago and have read it many times but am delighted every time I clean out my craft room that stores all my favorite treasures-books, stamping supplies, scrapbook supplies, photos on the walls of family and friends and quote books. This one is my favorite by far for inspiration:-) Don't you just love those little shoes on the cover? That really is the reason I bought the book in the first place and then I read it..what a great book! I highly recommend it.

1. Wisdom
2. warm spring days
3. Memories
4. Honest work
5. Faith
6. Bubble Baths
7. Passion
8. Puppies
9. The sounds of music
10. Seashells
11. Candlelight
12. Saying "I love you"
13. Saying "I'm sorry"
14. Flowers
15. Motherhood
16. A Good Book
17. Kindness
18. Afternoon Naps
19. Friends
20. Thunderstorms
21. Sad Movies
22. Family
23. Gratitude
24. Quiet Time
25. Independence
26. Imagination
27. Contentment
28. Milestones
29. Hugs
30. Sunrise
31. A Child's Heart
32. The smell of a new baby
33. Romance
34. Holidays
35. Trust
36. Sympathy
37. Holding Hands
38. Charity
39. Summer Nights
40. Old Dogs
41. Family Dinners
42. A Good Cup of Coffee
43. Curiosity
44. A Sense of Wonder
45. Hope
46. Companionship
47. Home
48. Butterflies
49. Courage
50. You
    

Amazon.com: 50 Things That Really Matter: Hallmark: Books

Exploring Old Houses & Treasures

I don't know why but I have always loved old abandoned houses and buildings ever since I was a kid. I think it is the idea of who lived there before and what their lives were like, what they did for a living, how many kids they had (if they had any) if they had any pets and stuff like that.
I am a really nostalgic person and love History.
Today on the way home from town with the kids we finally stopped at the geo cache spot that Cassie had been telling me about and I had told her the next time we went by we'd stop-today was that day and I am so glad we stopped. I felt like it was a real treat, a two for one on the same day-I got to see the "old" abandoned house finally and she got to show me the fun treats you can find while using a gps-we don't have one but this is a fun thing they get to do at school that she has really has had a lot of fun with and had been to this spot with her teacher and classmates. They even got to go in the old house so she told me all about it before we even got in the door. I felt like I was in an old movie or something, it is the big kind of house that had lots of rooms in it and everything was pretty much destroyed-the walls had sheet rock that was coming apart and the carpet was different colors in every room(lots of colors) I was walking through the house just imagining the people that once were there and what kind of things they went through and why they left. It is in a beautiful area too, near the lake and the grass had grown really tall, you could tell nobody had been there for a long time. There were lots of trees all around the house and a barn, a bunk house, and old car that had been broke down for quite some time.
I had a great day with the kids on our exploration and can't wait to take my husband there just to see it. I know he probably won't appreciate it in the same sense I do but that is just something about me, I LOVE old warn buildings-it's the past that tells the stories of today.

I wish I would of had my camera with me but I am taking it for sure next time:-)

Rain or Snow??

You are dark and dramatic. You tend to be a bit over the top. You have strong emotions and they can change quickly. You are tempestuous. You are wild and unpredictable. You tend to overwhelm and surprise people. While you are aggressive, you are also a homebody. You don't really care for physical activities. This sounds like me to a point. I am dramatic and I guess I never realized how much til I got married. A lot of things affect me and it seems like the affect me from the heart really deep. I am an emotional person especially when it comes to family matters or life, birth or death of a loved one-well anyone that I am close to for that matter and it affects me deeply. Yes, I could say that I am over the top sometimes and I feel like I wear my heart on my sleeve a lot and people know this about me-my close friends and my family. Sometimes I wish I was not like this but that is just the way I have turned out and now being a Mom and Wife there are so many more things in life that matter than what used to when I was a kid myself-more things that really have value and point in my life..it is precious and not to be taken for granted. I am a kid at heart and can have a blast just hanging out with my kids learning new things about THEM:-) Some of my best memories ever are becoming a new mom and wife and I love the Drama of it all:-)

Are You Rain or Snow?

Spring-how it describes me:-)

You Are Chirping Birds




You are a very caring person. You especially feel for innocent beings, like animals and children.

You are keyed in to the world and very peaceful. You believe that everyone is connected.



You remain focused and in the moment. You are not easily distracted.

You have a good memory, especially for things that you hear. You listen carefully.


This was a fun quiz to take because I am sooo ready for Spring right now after a long Winter and lots of snow. I couldn't wait to see what the answer was..this describes me so much, I can't believe how accurate these quizzes can be. I do have a good memory, some of my most memorable times in my life are from when I was a kid and hearing a certain song or certain things outside or indoors and when I hear them now I can remember exactly what I was doing at that time and place. Moments are precious in my life because they pass by so quickly and if you don't take time to focus on them they are gone in a second. I have also been a peacemaker for so many years-I can't stand conflict and not because I feel that it should be perfect in every day but just because I am a very caring person and love those around me and in my life and want to do anything I can to make them happy or feel loved. I am a great listener and will put my time into another persons life to help them in any way I can. Right now the birds chirping really does make me smile:-)

What Part of Spring Are You?

My Word- Love

Your Word is "Love"

You see life as possibility to form deep connections with a few people. Relationships are the center of your world, and you always take time to bond with those you love. You are caring and giving. You enjoy helping those you love. And when it comes to romantic love, you feel passionately ... even in a very long term relationship.

What's Your Word?

I am amazed at how accurate these quizzes can be sometimes:-) This totally sounds like me. I have been a family person ever since I was a kid and family and friends are dearly important to me. Have you ever noticed how when you are spending time with family how fast the day goes by? I always say there is not enough hours in the day. I truly care about people and can't stand to see someone hurting or lonely. I can cry at the drop of a hat with songs, movies, situations, cards my kids give me and etc. Love is what makes me the person I am today!

Potatoe Bacon Chowder

This sounds like a great recipe that my cousin sent me and I really want to try it one of these days:-) Yum!!

INGREDIENTS

• 2 cups peeled, cubed potatoes
• 1 cup water
• 8 bacon strips
• 1 cup chopped onion
• 1/2 cup chopped celery
• 1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of chicken soup, undiluted
• 1 3/4 cups milk
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• Dash pepper
• 1 tablespoon minced fresh parsley

•  

DIRECTIONS

1. In a covered 3-qt. saucepan, cook potatoes in water until tender. Meanwhile, cook bacon in a skillet until crisp; remove to paper towels to drain. In the same skillet, saute onion and celery in drippings until tender; drain. Add to undrained potatoes. Stir in soup, milk, sour cream, salt and pepper. Cook over low heat for 10 minutes or until heated through (do not boil). Crumble bacon; set aside 1/4 cup. Add remaining bacon to soup along with parsley. Sprinkle with reserved bacon.

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My New camera

The brown truck arrived yesterday with my new camera that I ordered from QVC and as of last night I loved it but today there are things I am not able to figure out on it even with the owners manual. It is not very detailed so I guess I need to go to Kodak.com and look up the info on it. I am kind of torn between sending it back or keeping it,there was also a Canon that I really liked at QVC and what made me pick this one up is the delayed payments on it and free shipping along with a coupon to be used at Kodakgallery.com for 55.00. I know these are pretty dumb reasons for maybe possibly keeping this camera but I am a sucker for a good deal:-) I am also spoiled by the great 12 power zoom on my other Kodak camera but the lighting on that one I could never get right-especially when the kids had basketball games and the gymnasium was so "dark" on the photos.
I will have to go and do some more research on this camera I think. Here is a photo of it.It also has 14 MP..Love that!!!

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Mothers

MOTHERS

Real Mothers don't eat quiche;
they don't have time to make it.

Real Mothers know that their kitchen utensils
are probably in the sandbox.

Real Mothers often have sticky floors,
filthy ovens and happy kids.

Real Mothers know that dried play dough
doesn't come out of carpets.

Real Mothers don't want to know what
the vacuum just sucked up.

Real Mothers sometimes ask 'Why me?'
and get their answer when a little
voice says, 'Because I love you best.'

Real Mothers know that a child's growth
is not measured by height or years or grade...
It is marked by the progression of Mommy to Mom to Mother...



I got this in an email today from my Aunt and I just had to share-I love it! I am so blessed to be a Mom:-)

A shopping Day

Today it is such a beautiful day outside that I am feeling like I have a bit of Spring fever and want to take a road trip to town with the kids. The girls of course want to go to the mall and see what kind of things we can get our hands on:-) lol I want to go to my favorite store-Bath and Bodyworks:-) I wonder if they are having any sales today and maybe they have their new Spring scents out now. I love the stuff in that store, I could just spend a whole day in there and go crazy shopping. I hope the day goes good and that we don't get home too late, I can have a great time when I get to shopping and seeing all that's new in the stores. Of course we will have to go to Taco Bell for lunch too! :-) can't miss a day in town with the Bell.
www.bathandbodyworks.com

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