Photos from Saturday

This is me and Cedric Johnson- US Marine. He was the CO of the ROTC Unit last year and came back to the Navy Ball this year. It was so great to see him! He's just one of my favorite friends of Kristina and Kevin's.
Lauren, Cedric, My daughter Kristina and her boyfriend Kevin-Navy Ball
King Kevin Lowe and his mom Debbie. So proud he was crowed King of the Navy Ball!
King Kevin and his beautiful date.. goofing around at the ball.


Every year we have a Navy Ball for the ROTC unit at our High School. Last night the ball was held at the DoubleTree Hotel. We had a great time. My husband is retired Army, and all parents that are military active or retired are encouraged to wear their uniforms to the ball. Bennie by DH wore his Army Class A's and looked so handsome! Kristina and I got all dolled up and danced the night away. Looking forward to next year... hopefully Kevin can attend to as a US Marine!
He joined the Marines and leaves in September for Basic Training. OORAH~!

 

Photos

Just some photos I took on my 3 mile walk last night... will post my Saturday Photos tomorrow. 

Friday Photos

Took these photos today.. just ordinary everyday photos... the windmill is in my backyard.. the horses are across the street. 

Fun Fact Friday- 2 Peas Blogger Challange

You know the saying... Thank God It's Friday! Can't wait for the weekend. It's going to be beautiful weather and I'm going to do some serious scrapping!

Here's my Fun Facts:

1. My husband works nights.. so I only get to sleep with him on the weekends. When we first got married, I could not fall asleep unless our feet were touching. Wierd... I can sleep fine when he's not home at night during the week, but if I know he's in bed with me, I have to touch feet with him to go to sleep.

2. My kids are 16 and 17. I still peek in on them everynight and kiss them goodnight before I go to bed. Just something I have to do or I can't go to bed.

3. I collect unicorns and ladybugs.

4. My first concert was to see Andy Gibb.

5. My first car was a Ford Mustang. Gosh I still love Mustangs... and my dream is to own one again.. when the kids are out of the house.

That's all for now... Have a great weekend! Looking forward to Saturday Pictures tomorrow!

Thursday's Photos

Thank you BonnieRose for showing me how to create these cool collages! I just love them!
I took these photos today on my drive around town. Love the Barn photo! Isn't it cool?

It was such a beautiful day today. I think somedays I forget how lucky I am to live in Florida where the weather is almost always gorgeous! 

Thursday Blog Challange - 2Peas

Complete these statements:

1. My current favorite song: I Believe by Brooks & Dunn
2. The last book I read: Sam's Letters to Jennifer- James Patterson- Awesome Book!!!
3. What I'm wearing right now: Denim Shorts and my USMC T-Shirt-- OORAH!
4. The last cd I bought: I bought 3 at one time.. Rascal Flatts- Me and My Gang; James Blunt and Norah Jones
5. The last gift I bought for someone: The Rascal Flatts CD- For my friend Debbie's birthday.

Wednesday Blogger Challange - 2Peas

Who is the most beautiful person you know - inside and out???? Blog about this person. Share whatever you'd like!

There are so many special people in my life, but the one person I could think of that is worthy of this title as "most beautiful person I know.. inside and out" is my daughter.

Kristina just turned 16. She is smart, beautiful, caring, giving and thinks of others before she thinks of herself. One of the things that amazes me about her is her kindness and loving nature.
She thrives to make people smile and laugh. She loves working with mentally and physically challanged people. When she was in 5th grade, she really formed a close bond to a boy in her class who is autistic. She has another friend in her Geometry class this year who is autistic as well. She goes out of her way to help, motivate and encourage.

She is truly an angel. She helps me whenever she can, almost always without asking. She takes time to do things for her brother ( to keep him out of trouble when he doesn't do his chores) and she can always make you smile no matter how bad your day is.

I love you Kristina!

Monday Monday...

Well, after spending the last day and a half in bed... I'm back to report I had a great time at my scrapping weekend!!!

I got 25 pages completed for Kevin's album that I'm doing for his graduation present. I think he's going to love it!!

I started feeling yucky Friday night.. my sinuses were draining horribly and by Saturday night my chest was so congested. I do feel a little better today after sleeping for 36 hours!

I met some really neat ladies this weekend at the scrapping event. I'm hoping to get to do another long weekend scrap again real soon! I got alot accomplished!

All Weekend Scrap!

Well, tomorrow I leave for my weekend scrapping adventure. I'm so excited.. nothing to do but scrap all weekend! My friend April who is a CMC, holds this weekend scrap twice a year. This is the first time I'm doing it and I plan to get a lot accomplished!

Tuesday's Blogger Challange from 2Peas

Challenge: list 5-10 websites on your Blog... websites that you like to visit, frequent often... let's all learn about some cool websites fr ea other! Websites can be sb-related or not.. anything!

There are alot of websites I visit everyday...

PlanetGarth
PlanetGarth Forums
For those who don't know me, I am a huge Garth Brooks Fan. I have been one of the webmistresses of this website for 8 years now. I manage the message boards there and help to keep the content on the site current. I've been spending alot more of my time at 2 peas and haven't been devoting the time I should to PG. (edited 5/3/06)

Even though Garth is retired, he still has a huge fan following and this website is listed as his official "unofficial website" since he doesn't have his own site with any content on it.

Google Mail - check my gmail several times a day.
2 Peas I'm addicted!
XM Radio Love listening online!
MM Magazine Forums

Pictures of Home

View from the back porch.
Photo from the River bank.
Looking at the back of the house from the river.

These photos were taken not where I live, but where I grew up. Home. Mom and Dad's house.
It will always be home to me. There's something about going to your house that you grew up in, no matter how long you've been gone from the nest. It's calming, it's serene. It's beautiful.

I love spending time at Mom and Dad's. My kids love it there too. Someday, my dream is to
own a home on the water, whether it's a lake, river, ocean; doesn't matter to me. I just love the water. Yesterday, we sat on on the porch and watched the boats go by, enjoyed the beautiful weather and enjoyed spending the Easter holiday together as a family. Caio!

 

Happy Easter! Sunday, April 16, 2006

Monica and Bennie
Eric, Monica, Bennie, Kevin and Kristina
Easter Cross at Church- Each church family brings in flowers from their garden to place on the cross. This is where all the families take photos on Easter Sunday.
Kristina and Kevin

We all went together to church today! Eric went with us which was truly a blessing since we've been struggling with him for the past couple months with going to church. We will spend the remainder of the day at my parents house for Easter Dinner. Since the weather is so beautiful today, we'll probably spend alot of time outside by the river and pool. Dinner is at 5 since Bennie has to work tonight. Eric won't be joining us since he works at 5pm. Kevin and Kristina are at his Nana's and then will join us for dinner.

Hope everyone has a Blessed Easter!

 

Saturday Photos.. Gorgeous Day!

Kristina and Kevin sitting on the bench in his garden.Ahh to be young again!
Kevin's sisters dog Molly! Isn't she cute??
I just love impatience! So colorful. I LOVE SPRING!!

Today's going to be a busy day. Housework, laundry..
and then the dreaded appt with the Tax consultant. UGH.
I'll be depressed for days after this meeting. This is the
first year we're going to owe taxes. Well, in 18 years of marriage
I guess that's pretty darn good.

 

The Color Purple

What is it about the color purple? I love azaleas!! Took this photo on the base at Parris Island last weekend. I have some azaleas in my yard and hopefully one day my bushes will be this big. My bouganvilla that I got for Mother's Day last year died this year during one of the freezes. I'm going to have to go out and buy a new one. LOVE Bouganvillas!!!

I love spring, I love Easter. Makes me smile when I get up in the morning and look out the window at the beautiful flowers, green trees and shrubs and the sunshine! 

Wednesday Blogger Challange - 2Peas

Challenge: Pick one. and Elaborate if you so wish!

chocolate or vanilla?
Chocolate... isn't it written somewhere a woman can not live without chocolate?
sandals or barefoot?
Being from Florida... barefoot. I never wear shoes in my house. Flip Flops or sandals are my shoe of choice when leaving the house!
basic grey or scenic route?
Well... I've not purchased Scenic Route.. but I do love Basic Grey. I'm always heading to the BG area at the LSS!
primas or HS flowers?
Ugh... love them both... I have only purchased the tiny primas.. I bought my first HS flowers and love them too!
computer journaling or handwritten?
I do both. I prefer computer journaling because it makes my LO look much more clean and crisp. But, I do hand journal alot too.
Madonna or Gwen Stefani?
Neither. Trisha Yearwood, Martina or Wynonna!
Leno or Conan?
Definetely Leno!! He just cracks me up.
Koolaid or Crystal Lite?
Crystal Lite.. hands down.
American Idol or Amazing Race?
American Idol!! Love that show... I've watched amazing race a few times, but never really could get into it.
catlover or doglover?
Both! I have two cats and one dog. But I have to say.. Dogs hold a special place in my heart!

Tuesday's Blogger Challange from 2Peas

Do you celebrate the Easter holiday? How do you and your loved ones celebrate this most special time? What are your special Easter plans for this weekend? Egg hunt? Bunnies and candy? Church services? What does EASTER mean to you? Do you celebrate its great significance?

Easter is a very special time for my family. My kids are too old for easter egg hunts but they still help color eggs for my neice who still hunts for the eggs. This is a special time that my mom gets her grandkids together to color the eggs.. usually on Good Friday evening.

Easter Sunday, we will get up for sunrise service at Church and then head to my parents house for Easter dinner. We spend time together as a family, go swimming and boating and have a great time.

Easter is very special to me. It reminds me of my purpose.

Monday Blogger Challange for 2 Peas

Challenge: I type a word.. you type the first thing that comes to your mind... this should be fun... ready? here we go...
1. Harry.... Met Sally
2. Black.... Olives.. yuck!
3. Delicious... Thanksgiving Dinner
4. Funny... My Uncle Wayne, he always makes me laugh hysterically!
5. Green... Kermit the Frog
6. Ribbons... yellow.. support our troops
7. Internet... addicted to it.. blogging and 2 peas
8. BBQ... Sonny's ..the best around.
9. People... Magazine.. love to read the latest gossip!
10. Quirky... my friend Debbie. Love her though!

Big Step Today!

I've been talking about joining Weight Watchers for months..

My friends Vickie and Debbie joined me tonight and we all took the plunge to take off the pounds! I am really excited about it. I did really well the last time I did WW which was 6 years ago. When I weighed in, I was shocked because I thought I would weigh more than I did. I don't ever weigh myself. Don't have a reliable scale at home.. and I refuse to step on the one at the grocery store where everyone can see what you weigh. LOL

My goal is to lose 33 pounds. Last time around I lost 46. I know I can do it!!

Now.. the question is.. how much can I lose before our annual week at the beach? That's July 1st! Maybe I'll get to buy a new bathing suit! :)

Wish me luck! I'll keep you posted!

Drink water..yuck.. drink water.. yuck...

Sunday Blogger Challange from 2Peas

Challenge:
Are there any NEW scrapbooking products {out on the market now}.. that you just **can't wait** to try?

Is there something out there that you just **gotta have**? Let me know your wish lists!

I just got into scrapping about 3 months ago so there are lots of things on my wishlist of things to try! Probably the one thing I would love to try is stitching. I love the rub on stiching but haven't found any yet. I also love the big Prima flowers or anything Heidi Swapp.

I'm really wanting to try LOs with the large chipboard letters! Hoping to do that in the next week or so.

Finally..Home...Sweet...Home...

It's been a very busy week for me and I'm finally home and have no travel plans for the immediate future! :-) First my trip to New York City and then came home for a day and left to chaperone the ROTC field trip to Parris Island. We had a great time!

Wednesday Blogger Challange - 2Peas

I've been out of town in NYC for the past few days.. tomorrow morning I'm off again to chaperone a school trip for ROTC. We're going to Parris Island, Marine Corp Boot Camp in South Carolina. It's always a fun trip and I'm looking forward to going!

Won't be around to blog until Sunday!

Here's my Wednesday Blog Challange....


Challenge: You find/win/are given/inherit $100,000. Make a list and itemize exactly what you would do with the money.

Spending $100,000.00 would not be hard and I'm sure it would go way to fast.

First I'd spend $10,000.00 to buy each of my children a dependable car.

I'd then spend $10,000.00 to pay off my debts... loans and credit cards.

I'd pay off my car which would be another $5,000.00.

I'd tithe $10,000.00 to my church.

I'd put new hardwood floors in my living room and kitchen which would probably cost about $5,000.00

I'd take my family on the cruise we've been wanting to go on for two years. Cost $8,000.00

I'd spend $10,000.00 on other home improvements such as painting, new furniture, fix up my patio and redecorate my bathroom.. I hate the wallpaper!

Buy me some new clothes. $2,000.00

Put $5000.00 in savings for each child.

Add on a nice Scrapping Studio, Not sure what that will cost.

Remaining would go into my savings account.

New York City, Spring and My Baby turns Sweet 16!

Just got back from my 4 day trip to NYC. It was amazing!! My daughter Kristina turns 16 today, and she wanted to go back to NY for a birthday trip and a little shopping. Her best friend Mallory went with us and we all had such a great time!!





I must say, these girls can shop! We did nothing but non stop walking, hopping buses and subways the first full day we were there. Saturday we got a little more sightseeing in and met up with some friends of mine and got tickets to Hairspray! It was FABULOUS!! Diana DiGarmo is now starring in this musical and she was outstanding. Kristina and Mallory got her autograph after the show and their picture taken with her. She's very sweet.














Took these next photos in Central Park on Sunday. The weather was absolutely gorgeous! I could have stayed there all day just taking pictures!


This is me and my baby... my sweet sixteen baby girl. It makes me cry to think she's growing up so fast and becoming such a beautiful young lady.

If you haven't already figured it out.. Kristina is my pride and joy. We are very close and do a lot of things together.

HAPPY 16TH BIRTHDAY
KRISTINA!!