Here's a cute little Surprise for ya.

Last weekend Greg and the 4 older kids went back to Solon for Homecoming. We did this last year too. So much fun seeing all of our friends! Sadly tho, Lily and I stayed home as I was fearful that she would get lost in the massive crowds during the game. Solon always has a huge turn out for homecoming.

Anyway, while Greg was there he stayed with our friends Allen and Keela Harrington. Allen gave Greg a CD he made that has tons of pictures of our boys together at scouting events, birthday party's, and other outings. And as I was looking through the photos last night. I got a kick out of how much the boys have changed. Some of these photos dated back 3 years ago. And as I was looking through them I stumbled upon 4 videos. Allen took them during our last visit to Solon, October 2007. The weather was unusually warm and we all hung out by their pool. I was so thrilled to see them that I just had to share them with you all too.

Mostly of Lily...she's a year and half old. Seems like that was ages ago. She has changed sooo much.

Thanks Allen and Keela for the special memories and for hosting my family once again! Love you guys!

Week 4: 30 pages in 30 days

Page 1.
My BIG garden on Solon!

Page 2 of My Garden


Seagulls in Iowa? Oct 2003

Tess and her friend Seth. He was so sweet to her.
She saw him last week when they went to Solon.
She said "He still Looks the same." Tess always liked
touching his short hair! ha ha

Well that's it...actually I did a little more just haven't taken
pictures of them yet...but this is 30 layouts in 30 days. I did it!

Week 3: 30 pages in 30 days

Page 1.
Another layout of Tess' First Halloween Party in Kindergarten.

Page 2 KD Halloween


Page 1.
Leia and her gerbils she got for her 11th birthday.

Page 2. Gerbil World

Halloween 2003 in Solon

Halloween 2008 in Tomah

Halloween 2003 in Solon.

Week 2: 30 days 30 pages

Halloween 2005 in Solon

Tess' 1st class party in Kindergartern class.


1st day of School Sept 2008

Halloween 2007 in Tomah

Halloween 2004 in Solon

Seth is always watching out for Lily. It's true love!

Tess swinging in Solon 2004. Nice to enjoy childhood.
Hope she never forgets.

Can you tell I'm catching up on Halloween pages?
Hope you enjoy!

30 layouts in 30 days...

NOT much is happening here these days. Well there is a lot just not much that I can post pictures about. The boys will have a football game this week and I will try to get photos or a video to post soon...so in the mean time I'm gonna try and post scrapbooking layouts. Gonna do 1 a day for the whole month of Sept. There are several of other scrappers trying to do this same challenge too. Just thought I would share all my new layouts with you. Some of these photos were taken way back in 2003. I'm years behind in my photo scrappin and trying to catch up with the main events that happened each year. So be prepare to see old and new photos. Here's the first 7 days worth. Hope you enjoy.

Tess was a pretty kitty for Halloween 2003! Check out how long her hair was!




Greg cutting the boys hair...another set of 2003 photos.
Look at the face on Seth...the hardest part of cutting they're hair was telling them to SIT STILL!




This is an awesome shot that Britton took of herself when we went shopping last July.




More photos of the boys from 2003 playing with fire! I miss living in the country so we could do things like this!


Us playing games...2003 in the old Farm house in Solon, Iowa!


Our old pussycat Roscoe...he died in Iowa but I still have great memories of the funny things he would do...like sleeping in baskets. He was a super big cat too squeezing into these small baskets! Silly kitty!



Leia on her 11th Birthday...darn that was almost 4 years ago! Time flies!

Oh my the month is almost over!

Gosh just one more day and I've only posted a couple times this month! I better let you know what we've been up to.

Greg has been traveling a lot. Had to go to Kentucky and Kansas for 2 weeks. I think he is really tired of all the driving he's been doing. But he's home now and doesn't have to leave again for another week! Yeah, I know but he has been home a week already. So that's good...2 weeks home, a week gone!

While Greg was gone the kids have started Fall sports. Beren and Seth are both play Middle School football. Leia is now playing volleyball and has already had her first game. Unfortunately they lost 2 out of the 3 games. Leia was super nervous...so hopefully all the jitters will leave the more she plays. Here's some snap shots of her at the game...

Leia's the tall one...#18! She picked 18 for her love of the Colts, Payton Manning!

Little practicing before the game. Leia is 2nd on left.

Lily called Leia's name and she gave us a quick glance.

Love this photo of Tess and Lily watching the game! Love those pigtails! haha Girls are so cute!

Recent scrapbook page I made of Leia with her "Wilson" volleyball!

I don't have any photos of the boys playing football yet. They haven't had a game thus far so that will come later. They're sore and tired from all the practicing!

Both boys are in MS Marching Band and had lots of practices before school starts. Just 2 more days and they are back to the grind again!

Leia had her orientation for High school too. She is so excited and yet nervous being a young freshman this year. Her fears will be over when all the homework assignments come!

Tess was able to meet her 4th grade teacher. I can't believe Tess is already in 4th grade! Amazing! Also, Tess received a letter that she can take piano lessons this year...she is sooo excited about this. She also wants to play a sport...soccer but I haven't found out the schedule yet...so we will wait and see how that goes.

Fall is always a Super busy time for us because of all the back to school events and sports. So if you don't see a lot of posts for me in September you'll know why.

Some more layouts...

I love hanging out a scrapbooking sites currently I'm in a contest called Shanty-lympics. Each week all the contestants are given a challenge. Mine this week was to use the color green, some bling, ribbon, and chalks. This is my entry: Signs of Summer



Close up of the little birdy that I colored in by using Versa Mark ink and chalks.


Another layout I made the day before...just for fun. Love this photo of Tess! Can you tell she is so happy to finally get the piano lessons that she has been begging for for 4 years now! She's really good at it and we've decided to let her have weekly lessons this school year.

It's my Party and I cry if I want to!

Well I sure do feel like crying! I can't believe I'm 45! That's a scary number...half my life is over! Boo hoo! None the less I still had a nice Birthday...cake, presents, and dinner out! What more can a girl ask for?

Update on Britton

Well She got it. She got the job she wanted. Well kinda...

Britton will be working at a Famous Restaurant in Portland called Mother's Bistro and Bar.

Visit the restaurant's website here: Mother's

Britton applied for a line-cooks position. After the interview she received a call from Lisa the owner/chef with a new position. Britton will be the test cook for Lisa's new cookbook...she also will be a substitute for anyone that calls in sick or has the day off. Britton really doesn't know how she feels about this new position..she's a little nervous. She said she really wanted to be a line cook...But I know she will do fine and learn alot. I gotta feeling she will slip into another postition once it comes open. But in the mean time she will learn all the ends and outs of this place.

Now for info on this restaurant. Britton is such a lucky...no blessed girl to get a job a Mother's. Lisa Schroeder owns 2 restaurant in Portland...they're side by side. One is called Mother's and the other one Momma Mia's! So Britton will probably work at both of them as she is needed to fill in for others. As you check out the website notice that they have served many famous people. Read the info about it here: Chef's Blog

Also some famous Chef's come into the restaurant too. While Britton was doing her working interview Cat Cora from Iron Chef dropped by for a visit in the kitchen. Britton doesn't watch TV so she really didn't know who she was...funny huh? One of the guys she was working with had to tell Britton who Cat was! What a girl!

So here is a video of the opening of Momma Mia's and Chef Lisa Schroeder. Lisa has her own Youtube show called Chef Cam...so maybe one day we might see Britton in one of her videos!

Check it out here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLSxb20Dlt4

Good Luck my girl...Mama's always praying for you!

More scrapbook pages...

It's the BOO CREW! Leia the gangster, Beren a soldier, Seth a ghoul, Tess a Witch, and Lily is a Lil' witch!

Just some cute fall pictures around our house and Lily all dressed up in some cute Halloween clothes.

Some new layouts...

Me wearing Mama's 1950's dress in 1979.

Leia after she skinned up her shoulder when she fell from her bike.

Me with our sweet Lassie dog...her name was Charcoal.

Beren says "Cheese"! Boys are gross!!!!

Tess seeing things from a different view.

Beren and Seth having themselves a BRODEO!

That's "Guy Time' to me and you.

Funny photo of a wooden snake on our front porch.

Placed there by Greg the "JOKER"!

Halloween 2007!

Peanuts!!! I love'em...need I say more?

haha

A weird vehicle Leia spotted in Wal-mart parking lot.

She just had to take a photo of it. Part motorcycle, part car...very strange!

___________________________________

This is a bout 3 weeks of work. Boy I need to become a faster scrapper! I'm trying...I'm trying!

Hope you enjoy!
Click on photo to see a close up.

Well they're gone!

Yes... my girl has really flown the nest this time! Matt and Britton were with us for 3 days and left this morning for Portland, Oregon! We'll miss the old girl ! It's gonna be strange not having her close by us. Iowa City was only 3 hour drive from us....now she a 1,900 miles away! She is definitely "On her Own" now!

Greg and I have all the confidence in the world that she will do well and success at whatever she puts her hands to. She wants to start her own Soap and Shampoo Company but first she will look for another kitchen position. She was told that restaurants on the West Coast love hiring hardworking Mid Westerns! And she is a very hard worker....they'll be lucky to get her!

Matt has a lot of connections in Portland...he use to live there about 3 years ago. Matt will do well there as he too is a hard worker! Not sure what field he will go into...he is a very talented Graphic Artist, has worked in the Food industry and built some websites too! Whatever Matt does he will do well!

They both love the simple life...they don't live above their means and live a life as what they refer to as a Self-staining lifestyle. Meaning the live as green as they can...don't buy more then they can offered and try to do everything as natural as they can. Neither own a car and prefer to ride bikes. By the way both are in great physical shape...Matt rides about 50 to 60 miles for exercise every day! This doesn't include riding to and from work everyday either. Britton rides more for pleasure and for transportation to and from work too.




Matt and Britton have rented a moving truck and plan on taking 3 days to get to Oregon. Not sure how much sightseeing they plan on doing but they did say they were stopping in South Dakota and again in Montana. Britton has always wanted to see Montana. I hope she gets to see more then just a view from the truck.

They also have their crazy cat with them...Britton said she cried for hours on the way up here. Hopefully she calmed down for them.

They're off to the BIGGEST ADVENTURE of they're lifetime!

Imagine having this for Dinner!!!

This is what I had for dinner last night...guess where?
At my house! By Chef Britton! Doesn't it look yummy? Well it was and I wish I had some more to eat right now! ha ha

After our long day of shopping Britton came home and cooked us this fabulous meal. Let me see if I can describe it for ya. Seared Scallops over a bed of zucchini herb flavored basmati rice, Maui Carrots in a savory sweet brown sugar sauce and a creamy avocado sauce, topped with red onion and napa cabbage!

Britton in action! Believe it or not...this was the first Meal Britton has ever cooked for us since going to Culinary School. Once she cooked us a steak..but that's not as glamorous as this meal!

Three plates ready to go...one for Me, One for Greg, and One for Britton! Matt missed out on a great meal...he's a vegan and refrains from food like this...but he did enjoy eating the rice! That's okay...just means more for us! hee hee

Daddy gives a big kiss for serving us such a delicious meal!

The girl has great talent and is a MUCH better cook then her mom will ever be!

Thanks Britton!