All's WeLL!

I know Summer is here when we start making trips up to the Lake! We took a little time off from our everyday, humdrum, monotonous week and drove up the road for a little R&R in the sun. We hiked in to our own little private beach spot that we enjoy hanging out in....only to find that it was no longer full of water. The lake is being emptied right now, getting ready to fill back up with the abundance of water coming down the mountains so many of the "fun" spots at the lake are extremely low...since our spot was empty and didn't appeal to us much this trip, we hiked over to a different spot, one that offered some nice sandy beaches and lots of water to play in.

The kids jumped right into the water...they squealed a bit, shivered a lot and played until they

couldn't stand the cold water anymore.

We hiked around the rocks...played in the sand...AND-

...found a Crawdad wondering up onto our sandy little beach.

Cameron couldn't help but pick it up and tease it a bit.

...and then Draego found the little critter.

HE HAD A HAYDAY...he tossed it around, taunted it, teased it AND

then did what any smart person would do...he ATE IT! YUM!

Yes...give me a plate of these little guys,

all cooked up, with some melted butter and I would have ate up as well!

They're a little "redneck" delicacy!

We all enjoyed the sun..."JUST a BIT"...and we have LOBSTER skin to prove it!

Halle slipped and fell on the mossy rocks,

making it a bit of a challenge to get back to shore~ so she took Kimber up on her offer to

come out and play in the water....

...only to discover the water was deeper than

she thought-she panicked a little...okay ALOT...

and she practically drowned Kim!

Somehow Kim was able to get Halle back to the side so she could climb

out of the water...but it was a bit terrifying for a minute.

(no, I wasn't snapping pics at the time...this was taken before our little incident)

All is well that ended well, right?!

We had a great time, enjoyed the sun, enjoyed the sand,

enjoyed the break and ENJOYED each other!

THIS is what FRIDAY's were made ARE FOR!!!

Following the LeaDeR!

I know...I just posted pictures of this gorgeous little man...but I had to share his

ADORABLE little face some more~

...he just makes me smile when he smiles!

...he just makes us all (including Kim) talk when he talks~

...he just makes me laugh when he laughs~

...I even wiggle my tongue when he wiggles his~

...he makes me so extremely happy whenever I get to be with him~

Just look at that adorable little face, how could HE NOT make the

world a better place just by existing in it??!!

This little man makes the world go round, he makes me want to be a better person

and to be the best grandma I can be!!!

I sure LOVE this little guy!!!

Eating MY ElePHant one bite at a time~

I made myself a bucket list a few years back...(frequent readers will remember when I did that) you know, those "infamous lists" of things we want to do before we die?! I've been working on my list (of 75 things) little by little and I've actually crossed off 10 things that I've "always" wanted to do. Strangely enough though, as I cross one thing off, I have the urge to add another one. It's so satisfying to set a goal, make a plan, and then to set out and "DO IT". With that satisfaction, comes the desire to accomplish more and more...I've actually thought of at least another 10 things that I want to do before my life comes to an end..so I'll be adding those to my list as well!

One thing that I have on my "bucket list" is to "plant an herb garden that will grow"...kind of corny I know...I've planted an herb garden before, several times in fact- and every time I planted one, it died (sometimes because I thought it was a weed and disposed of it). So this time has to be different. I actually have to make it work by succeeding in the "growing" part of it.

SO FAR, SO GOOD!

I'm actually "watching" the weeds grow too...

they seem to survive no matter

what I do!

I've got a little "Lemon Thyme" growing~

...some Oregano

...and some garlic.

I planted all my little herbs in the greenhouse this time, making it possible for me to know exactly where they are-

(this way I will know that they aren't WEED's sprouting up in my garden) and come Spring next year ...

I won't till them back into the ground (only because I don't use the tiller in my greenhouse).

I am actually really excited to start using fresh herbs in my cooking. I still want to get some Basil and Dill and then my little herb garden will be complete!....now to just remember to water the silly thing so it will grow...then I can cross growing an "herb garden" off my Bucket list!

I'm also training for a 5K that I will be doing in October of this year (crossing off yet another "to do" on my Bucket List). I'm an avid power walker and I actually power walk a 5K or more every day...but I would really love to RUN/JOG a good part of this 5K...which would be a HUGE

accomplishment for me. Since having 6 children, my hips and back have never been the same... and running any distance, well that's pretty much been NON-existent for me for many years. Running almost always ends in my hips and back popping out, sending me to the chiropractor for several intense treatments and an ORDER NOT to RUN OR JOG anymore. THIS time I am working up slowly and listening to my body. If its hurting, I don't run. If I feel like my hip is going to pop out, I stop... So far I'm doing really well.

I can run off and on and haven't had any problems.

NO, I don't "glide" like a Gazelle or one of those"real runners",

my running is not pretty to watch and anyone who saw me would

probably laugh at my attempt ...

but that's okay...

I AM GOING TO run anyway!!

PS...if you see me running...don't judge my efforts please~

On the RISE~

As the snow begins to melt high up in the mountain tops, its continually bringing concern and alarm to our little town. It isn't that our little area is new to the idea of flooding....BUT what we are new to, is the amount of snow that IS IN the mountains (12+ feet) that has to make its way down the canyons, filling the rivers that run through our little town, and then moving on to the big wide open ocean. There is just SOOOOO much water! With the onset of warmer days, the rivers are now rapidly on the rise (have been for some time) and are beginning to ease their way over the tops of the river banks in some area, spreading out to any open ground available.

This cute little pond/small lake...is really a pasture for horses~

The water has spread over to where the trees grow~

Kim jumped the "Caution" tape and ran out over the board walk to see the water...its NOT supposed to be running UNDER the board walk AT ALL!

.....and to think the flooding has "only just begun"...there's alot more to come!

I am worried where its all going to go... *sigh*

Heavy Heart...

I've been up since 2:30 am...haven't been feeling my best the last few days, but I am on the mend and I am feeling better every day.

As I've been watching/listening to the news this quiet, dark morning, I can't help but feel very saddened as I hear about all the devastating tornado's, floods and fires around the country...some as close as a few hours drive from home. It seems Mother Nature is on a rampage and leaving her mark in so many peoples lives. My heart goes out to those who have suffered a loss, whether it be someone they know and love or in many cases, the loss of their homes and property. Our homes are a place of refuge, a place of peace and solitude, a place to feel AND to keep us safe...and to have all that ripped right out from under you is devastating to me. I realize that THINGS can be replaced, but can the feeling of peace and safety every truly return? So many of these people have no where to turn, no where to go and no one to ask for help. Loved ones were lost in some of these awful disasters...children, parents, daughters, sons, grandchildren, grandparents...relatives...some still haven't been found! I can't imagine the pain, the suffering, as well as the loss they must feel. I sit here as the sun is coming up over the mountains, listening to the birds chirping outside my window. I can smell the fresh aroma of the lilacs as the breeze brush past them...and I feel a little guilty. What are some of these people waking up to? What happiness are the finding in their lives? I know people eventually recover from adversity, I know that people in general, are strong and very resilient...but sometimes life can be tough and deal us an awful hand of cards and it takes a long time to recover from such trauma and life altering experiences!...its not always easy to "come back" from the devastation of things that happen in our lives.

This morning, I am grateful for where I live. I am grateful for the beautiful green grass, the tall swaying trees (that are rooted in the ground), the chirping of the birds, the barking of the dogs...I'm extremely thankful for a warm, dry, safe home, for a soft bed and for my family who are all safe and sound, and for the wonderful neighbors that we have. I am thankful that I am able to watch the sun come up, the dawning of a new day- without having the worries and stress that many people around the world are waking up to this morning.

My heart is heavy for these devastated families.

There isn't much I can do, but I will be keeping them in my prayers.

Messy StuFF~

It won't surprise most of you, especially those that know me, that I don't deal well with stress...I never have. Stress drives me CRAZY! I am not the kind of person that loves to work under pressure, not the kind of girl that saves things to the last minute or the woman that flies by the seat of her pants...so its no surprise that this little "bathroom" redo has me a little UN-WIRED!

We had a leak from a pipe that was in the wall... evidently for longer than we were aware of. We didn't realize what was going on until the wall literally started to fall down...UHG! Piece by piece it crumbled to the floor..unveiling MOLD...surprise, surprise. We fixed the leak but that didn't take care of the mold issue. We have had people in and out of the house for several weeks now. Some cleaning, some ripping out anything covered in mold and some testing for mold spores. FINALLY~the mold is GONE (woo hoo, woo hoo!!!!)...but now we are waiting to see what our insurance will cover...and then comes the WORK! I DESPISE remodeling projects. I know I will be thrilled with my bathroom when its finished...but the process, well thats another story!

No judging please...this house WAS built in the 70's and still resembles that in some areas,

like the bathroom!

The mold men ripped out the carpet in the bathroom...because it was moldy. They cut

out parts of the wall....

...took out the shower, completely...its all GONE~

They used a big machine to clean the air and rid our room and bathroom from

any mold spores (and smells)...its amazing how fresh the air is now that

the mold is gone. We didn't even realize how bad it was until its no

longer lingering around.

They cut out parts of our bedroom wall...and some of the carpet there too.

its going to be a long process I'm afraid, one that I will appreciate when

its done...but I'm a bit worried about how to deal with this ADDED STRESS

in my life UNTIL its done.

I realize that some people can just "go with the flow" "deal with whats dealt to them" as well as

"smile and enjoy the ride"...I'm NOT one of those girls. Stress isn't my friend (thats putting it lightly)!!! I'm doing my best to NOT think about it and trying very hard to not dwell on the mess or the bigger mess that is to come...I'm trying to stay focused on the FINISHED project...but its been difficult to say the least. What I wouldn't do for a genie in a bottle right now!!!! For now...we are sitting and waiting for an estimate from the insurance and then we will go from there......

I will keep you updated as this story progresses...

HOPEFULLY it will progress quickly!!!

Bragging rights~

May is always a busy month for us. It seems like we have a calendar full of events that have to take place during the last big month of school that are both fun as well as tiring. The kids have papers and projects that need to be finished. There are school activities and year end celebrations. There are recitals and banquets as well as food that needs to be prepared for such events....its both exhausting as well as fun.

Halle had her year end recitals for dance as well as piano this month and they ended up being on the same day, which made for ONE HECTIC FEW HOURS! It was a little chaotic, but we made it through without a hitch.

She did an amazing job at both events....

but I think she was revealed to have them over and done all in one day.

She stressed and worried for days

about forgetting her dances as well as the songs she would

be playing for the piano recital, but she performed wonderfully...her worry was for nothing!

We are so grateful for ALL the wonderful teachers who help Halle excel in

each area of her life, but today we are grateful for the extraordinary ladies who

teach her the ARTS...both piano and dance.

They not only teach her the general skills,

but they also teach her to be disciplined and dedicated in

her practice and performances.

I love watching each of my children develop their talents and

be able to excel in areas that

make them feel good about themselves...

Great Job Halle!