CoUnTy fAiR...

(Sometimes you can click the photo to make things larger so you can get a better view of the photo. It will enlarge it so you can see them better with detail)

Our county fair starts this week! We love entering the kids' art work from the school year into the fair. They usually win ribbons. The purple ribbon is the best in fair. Bethanie has won those two years in a row. Hers are all the framed ones except the one second from the left. That one is Matthew's. The ones on the floor, the first two from the left are Bethanie's, and the other two are Matthew's.

I am so excited that we actually have this many entries. I think it is by far the most we have entered. Judging is on Wednesday. I cant wait to see what they won! My bet is the middle one in the back (Bethaine's) will take at least a blue ribbon. I am hoping best in fair. The one of Matthew's the the left of it is really really good too, and it might do that well too! I cant wait!

InDePeNdEnCe DaY...

We had a *BLAST* today with family and friends! We had a get together at Jeff's parents. My parents, brother and his family came, and our Branch President and his sweet wife came. We ate so much food. I am sure tomorrow I wont be taking off a sticker from my fridge. Al (my FIL) made his famous fresh fried catfish. Potato Salad, Coleslaw, Carrot Salad, Deviled eggs, two kinds of home made ice cream, oh-baked beans, peach cobbler, my white flag cake....I know I am not naming everything. While we were eating (in the garage with the doors all opened up) a big thunderstorm whipped up a fuss. It was LOUD and windy. We were enjoying just sitting there and watching it all. When it was over, we looked out into the yard and saw tons of tree branches down. We were concerned because it was not just a few branches, in some cases, it was whole trees. So Jeff and I went to see if our house was OK. It never hit on our side of town! It rained, but no wind thankfully. After we ate, Ann (my SIL) and I went for a walk. We were in so much pain and agony from eating the best meal ever and so we thought we had better walk it off, even just a little walk. We attacked some hills near by.

We then went and bought a few fireworks for the kids. They are still little enough that they don't need the big stuff. Matthew stayed inside for most of it. He just isn't interested. Which is fine, too.

Below is some of the damage we spotted from our thunderstorm. FREAKY!!! I guess Mother Nature let off a few fireworks of her own!

A huge tree is in the middle of the road by the golf course, on the way to the college. We were so totally rubber neckers here. We saw the lights and had to see what it was all about.

This is the house directly behind my in-laws house. Their neighbors tree split in half.

This is some of the damage at my in-laws house. Sheesh! Still nothing on our end of town...

JuLy 4tH (OK 3rd...)

We are celebrating our holiday on the 3rd instead of the 4th because Jeff has to work the holiday. So we are doing a fun family get together at Jeff's parents house. My parents, brother and his family are coming too. The kids are so excited to do fireworks and then we will watch the city fireworks around 10:00 p.m. We might do it at Jeff's parents because Matthew has a hard time with the fireworks going boom.

I am making a cute flag cake and homemade ice cream. My recipes will be posted on my Recipe Box site! Check it for them. They are tried and true recipes!!!

We will be taking a family photo too! IF the kids co-operate. :OP

ReCiPiEs...

I am working on adding some new recipes to my recipe box! Check it out over the next few days! Several of them are 100 calories or less!!!

ThE iNcReDiBlE sHriNkiNg WoMaN...

So, I am really working to burst through my stupid plateau. One thing I did was a visual reminder. I did up a visual reminder with that clip art "I AM WORTH IT". I made like, I don't know, 20. But I put only 12 on my fridge. I made them rather official. I laminated them and taped them to the fridge with a really fat picture of me. It is the heaviest I have been without being pregnant. I just had a baby (Madison) in that picture, and I DETEST that photo, so I put it on my fridge so I can look at it every day. So far, I have lost 6 lbs by using this visual reminder. It is the first thing I see every time I walk into the kitchen. I have also been working my tail off at home trying to get things done with the house. If I lose the next 9 lbs, I will be soooooooooo happy. Then I will re-evaluate my goals and strive further.

ThE oLd FLipPer-oO...

So, I woke up this morning (er, yesterday morning???) and jumped out of bed, as fast as this 36 year old body would allow, and I decided to play RING A ROUND THE BED ROOMS. YEP! I switched them all around. No one (except Madison) is in their regular rooms now. It is really neat because now both of the girls have THEIR OWN ROOMS, and Matthew is quite happy about where he is. I did this myself....OK, not totally myself. My FIL came by and helped me move an air conditioner, then he went and napped in the recliner until my MIL got back. :O) But I did it. I am going to pay pay pay tomorrow. I am sooooooooooo sore I probably wont be jumping out in the morning...