Happy Birthday Dad......

Today is my dad's birthday........he is 76 years old.

and my dad, well, let's just say he is probably the best dad around. I know, you think you have the best dad but let me tell ya, your's is second place compared to mine!

Love you dad.......

later........

Saturday and picture overload....

On Saturday, Nicole, Maddox and I went to Lewis Ginter Botantica gardens.......it is just so beautiful there. And turned out to be a great "weather" day......sun shining, low humidity and warm temps.

They have a great childrens garden with water features that the kids can get in so Maddox really enjoyed that part. (to really see the pic good, click on it and enlarge......

later......

Milo....

Here's Milo.....my mom and dad's crazy dog!

we surprised them with Milo 9 years ago for Christmas

he's really, really smart and loves to drive my mom and dad crazy.......

later.......

Memorial Day....

Thank you to all of the men and women who serve and ensure our safety and freedoms...

later.....

Love....

This is what love looks like.........

later...

You know it.....drop cloth curtains

here's the room I'm re-doing......and of course, couldn't wait to try the drop cloth curtains. Just fabulous...9.99 a panel, just quickly sew up the rod pocket and there ya go, all done!! You can also see the dresser I'm painting. We have the new flooring to lay....it's a very light laminate floor. I'll post pics when I'm finished with the room.

Oh how I love my peonies!

love them! along with my hydrangeas, roses....all of my flowers.

How does your garden grow......

Random pics from the yard and deck

30 years.....

30 years ago Johnny and I were married.

30 years ago was the first of many "best days of my life!"

30 years of laughing together and having fun.......making a home for our 3 children, working hard toward our goals, watching our children grow up.....hanging out and laughing a lot!

30 years later.......I feel so lucky.....and so loved by my husband!

later.......

Back to the real world......

We're back from Atlantic City and vacation is over :(

Johnny and I had a lot of fun gambling.........he played Black Jack and I stuck with the slot machines. I hit them pretty good but as is probably the case with most, I lost what I won!!

Trump's Taj Mahal was nice.......though the restaurants were pretty expensive.

We were right on the boardwalk and I think his hotel takes up about 4 blocks. The steel pier was right there at our hotel.

To be honest, the boardwalk is a little sleazy..........we only went out there during the day....not the kind of place you want to be out in the dark.

so here's some pics......of the steel pier, the entrance to the hotel, our room, the casino......

later......

Mother's Day........

Hope everyone enjoyed Mothers Day.........

I went over to visit with my mom and dad........who just happen to be the most perfect parents ever! I just love my mom....I admire her and I always wanted to be like her. I think in a lot of ways I am! So it was great to just sit out on the porch with them and chat.

I have pics but I'll have to put them up later.
Johnny boy and I are on vacation and we're leaving in the morning for Atlantic City...woo hoo! And now it's almost 10:00 and I haven't packed anything.

We'll be back in just a few days and I'll have lots and lots of photos.

later.........

A contest........

and it's pretty awesome.........check it out over at the Lettered Cottage.

Link to this post on my blog: http://theletteredcottage.blogspot.com/2009/05/coastline-contest.html
In the same post, also link to Grace's Etsy shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=7044601

And now he's 21........

My youngest, my baby, my baby boy.........he turns 21 years old today.

It's hard to believe.......where did the time go.

It took us 2 years to get pregnant with our first. Then it took 4 1/2 years for our next one. So when our second one was 3 months old, we found out we were expecting our 3rd child.......imagine our surprise! And I was not the kind who wanted to know what we were having...they were all surprises. But I knew, I just knew that third one was a boy.

And having a boy was so different! I had been taking care of our 2 little girls who were all girly and sweet and good....and played and were happy. Then we had Jake! Whoa was that different............boys are just so much more work......good work but work none the less.

- he did not like to sleep

- only took 20 or 30 min cat naps

- could get dirty just walking to the car to go somewhere

- loved to flush things down the toilet...like cars, action figures!

- he loved getting into everything!

- loved baseball, football and swim team

- loved riding his bike

- loved skateboarding even more

- and now loves snowboarding

- loves tattoos.....though mom doesn't "love" them

- blazes his own trails

He's my big guy now........no longer my little guy.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JAKE!! We love you so much but then again, you know that!

later.........

6 more days......

4 more days in the office........

6 more days and we're in Atlantic City

woot woot

later.........

Rain Rain...........

though I wish it would not rain on the weekend.......look at what it does for my garden. I can't believe how many Lily of the Valley I have this year........

pics of my purple iris', and look at my tomato plant with a tomato already! Also, my blue hydrangea.

see the little buckets that I planted my herbs in.......they are from the Target dollar section. I just used a nail to punch a few holes in the bottom for drainage. Also, the little blue lanterns...also from the dollar section.......I'm going to put tea lights in those.

I could just sit outside all day looking at my garden.......but, it's raining!!

later........