The Kapok Tree

This is a prehistoric looking tree at our friend's house in Florida. The boys had a great time taking the "horns" off and using them to be rhinos.

Cheap entertainment.

Clearwater Beach, Florida

The kids loved Clearwater so much that we rearranged our plans and brought them back the next day!

Fun in the sun!

Ben being buried by Marissa and Andrew at Cocoa Beach in Florida.

Ben said it was "awesome! (but hot)"

Prom 2008-Alyssa

A very good friend of mine made this dress for her.
She looks great in red! Who knew?

Prom 2008-Doesn't she look great?

My oldest daughter and sons. Jeremy and Tony are two of her best friends. They are definitely part of the family.

Cassie and Little Dan

Cassie and Little Dan could pass for brother and sister. I am surprised how much they resemble each other. Not sure if it will show up in this shot or not. We'll see.

Silly John

This is how John busied himself through the graduation program.

Don't you just love my teeth?

I wasn't going to publish this, but he does spend a great deal of time showing off his teeth these days.

Alyssa's graduation cake

This is Alyssa's cake. You can see that it was centered around her musical abilities.

She received the National School Choral Award this year. We were very happy for her. She worked hard to earn it.

Alyssa at her graduation party

Alyssa with her cake and other desserts.

We had so much food. (We went through almost all of it too!)

I baked off meatballs for a week before the party and cooked for two days to get everything prepared.

It was worth it. I think we had most of her favorite foods out.

Shelly Rollins made her beautiful cake.

Ashley and Mam

This is my other daughter that I gained a few years ago. (Doesn't she look just like me?) She and her family moved to Utah a short while ago and we REALLY miss all of them!

COME HOME!! :)

Our first graduate-Alyssa

She made it!! So did we!!

Ignore the hair. It was very windy.

(How embarassing.)

If someone can fix this picture, go ahead. :)

Show me your guns!

Ben, Alex, Eric, and Marissa

at Cocoa Beach, Florida

Florida Vacation

Breakfast at Westgate Resorts in Kissimee, FL.

Garage Demolition

And the walls came a tumblin' down!

Make way for the trampoline!!

Flooding

This is our flooded driveway and the tree laying there is off of the maple tree in our backyard. It flew over the roof and landed almost to the street in the front yard! They found 3 pieces of someone's landscaping timber that got away and ended up in the sewer system! The flooding made it to the garage door, but did not come in. (I hear you knocking but you can't come in)

Our drowning red Escort

John

Isn't he so cute?

My Pampered Chef Office

This is my office. Still trying to regain it since the start of remodeling.

Love Boat!

Here we are in front of the ship's clock.

Seriously, we both wanted to watch some episodes of "The Love Boat" after being on the ship for a couple of days.

It was a fabulous getaway.

The best day of all! Coco Cay

This is where I spent a whole day, just reading and relaxing. I need one of these at home! (I'd probably never take the time to use it anyway. Nice thought though)

Dining at the Captain's Table

A few days before we left on the cruise, one of the Executives at The Pampered Chef called and invited me and Eric to join them at the Captain's table for the formal dinner.

GREAT FOOD!! It was pretty nice having the recognition too, I guess.

BAHAMAS

Horrible pic of me, but what a great vacation! Eric and I earned a week long Royal Caribbean Cruise! The best part--The Pampered Chef paid for all of it!! We were truly pampered!

These are my favorite purchases.

I can't wait until we get the "finished look". I can live with this for now. :)

Living room to entryway.

The ceiling still needs painted...someday. ha ha

Dining room/Living room

Pictures just really do not do it justice.

We also still need to get the pictures hung.

I have hung the picture of Christ because I couldn't stand not having it up any longer.

Remodeling

We are slowing remodeling. For those of you who saw it before we started, it is quite a change.

(Thank goodness) I am grateful to my husband who stayed up for (literally) days to get this completed before Alyssa's graduation party.

My little "Mohawk Man"

We are alive and well!

Surprise Amanda! I am certain that at least 35 of you have fallen off of your chair now that you have realized that I am actually posting something to my blog.

So much has happened in the last few months that this will be the easiest way to reach most everyone, I suppose. I will try my hand and see how it works out. Can't promise anyone anything though. Love the concept-doesn't always fit my life.