Lookie! Lookie!

Yesterday, I went to a Tag Sale and found this....and bought it for $50!!

Its a solid oak roll top desk! (but our computer monitor is too tall, so if we ever chose to close it, we'll have to lay down the monitor....hum....oh well!) I liked it and it is SOLID WOOD so $50 was a steal! It was originally $200, but I waited it out till the sale went 75% off and BOOM - swooped in and got it! Of course, it didn't hurt that I knew the lady running the sale, so I told her that if it hadn't sold by noon (when they went 75% off), to put a sold sticker on it and I'd be back! I also managed to grab a octagon shaped beveled mirrow in a pretty cherry frame for $10, a silver plated serving tray for $6.25 and a small pyrex dish that fits into a pretty silver "holder" or whatever- not sure what to call it - but I only paid $2.50! I was so excited! OH - we had to take all the drawers out to move the desk, and when we stuck our heads around the corner to check on Sarah...well....her own personal playground!

Gotta love her!

Sweet Corn Season

Sarah's first sweet corn! Actually, her first corn on the cob! She devoured the thing! I'm not sure if it was the novelty or the taste (it sure was GOOD!). I remember with Beth, I could get her to eat anything if it was on a stick! I think corn on the cob is the same principle. Isn't she cute?

Ahhhh.....sea level!

I CAN BREATHE!!!

We are home from Colorado - Denver, then Breckenridge. I'm very glad I went. I had never been to Colorado, so I'm glad I got to see it and the mountains, but I have determined that I just am not an outdoorsy girl. I think the mountains were beautiful, as was the town of Breckenridge, but I couldn't live there and probably won't visit anytime again in the near or distant future (well, maybe for a day or so). The altitude is HIGH - like 11,000 feet above sea level or something. I don't think I had full-blown altitude sickness, but I had a headache pretty much the whole time, as well as major fatigue and breathlessness. It just wasn't a "great" feeling.

We started out last Wednesday with a TWELVE HOUR delay on our flight -we were supposed to leave Nashville at noon - we left at 11:45 p.m. and landed in Denver around 1:30 a.m. and arrived at our hotel in Golden around 2:45 a..m .and landed in BED around 3:00 a.m. Beth was such a trooper! She slept most of the plane ride and car ride to the hotel, but it was still a LOOOOONNNNNGGGGG day for her. (and me, too!) We went to the Denver zoo the next day and Friday we started UP to Breckenridge- taking out time and stopping often.

In Breckenridge, we met up with 11 (I think) other "Girl" cousins for the weekend and spent most of the weekend gabbing and eating! It was fun and I learned A LOT about the family and about my family members. It was well worth it.

Here are some pictures:

At the Denver Zoo

In a small little town, heading UP - this is Beth and me with my cousin, Barbara, from California. Beth took an INSTANT liking to her!

Beth in the Hot Tub at cousin Sara's house in Breckenridge:

And here are the GIRLS!

These are all the FIRST girl COUSINS:

Left to Right - my mom, Jane, Barbara, Nancy, Susan and Sara (its her house!)

Now for the second generation (my generation) - I guess we're 2nd cousins...maybe?

Left to right - the second generation -Shelli, Ashley, Katie V. and me.

Now, add in the THIRD generation of cousins:

Added into the picture are: (L to R) - Brooke and Michelle (Shelli's daughter-in-law and daughter), Nora & River (Katie V's kids) and Beth.

Maybe next time we'll include all the boys, too!! (and Sarah!)

Outa Here! Again!

Beth and I are on our way to Colorado today! (not in the RV pictured above, unfortunately, it is our cousins that we got to check out this weekend....pretty sweet, huh?!)

We'll yoddle to you from the top of the Rockies!

YUMMO Grilled Chicken recipe

"We" made this last night and OH - MY - GOODNESS!! It was so good and fairly easy to make! I recommend marinating the chicken for longer than 10 minutes (like maybe 4-5 hours!) and using FRESH basil and nice ripe tomatoes! SO GOOD!! And to top off the goodness- its low fat!!

Grilled Bruschetta Chicken
from Kraft Food & Family

1/4 cup KRAFT Sun-Dried Tomato Vinaigrette Dressing, divided
4 small boneless skinless chicken breast halves (1 lb.)
1 medium tomato, finely chopped
1/2 cup KRAFT Shredded Low-Moisture Part-Skim Mozzarella Cheese
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil or 1 tsp. dried basil leaves


PLACE large sheet of heavy-duty foil over half of grill grate; preheat grill to medium heat.
Pour 2 Tbsp. of the dressing over chicken in resealable plastic bag; seal bag.
Turn bag over several times to evenly coat chicken with the dressing. Refrigerate 10 min. to marinate.
Remove chicken from marinade; discard bag and marinade.
GRILL chicken on uncovered side of grill 6 min. Meanwhile, combine tomatoes, cheese, basil and remaining 2 Tbsp. dressing.
TURN chicken over; place, cooked-side up, on foil on grill.
Top evenly with tomato mixture.
Close lid. Grill an additional 8 min. or until chicken is cooked through (170ºF).


Nutrition (per serving)
Calories 200
Total fat 7g
Saturated fat 2.5g
Cholesterol 75mg
Sodium 280mg
Carbohydrate 3g
Dietary fiber 1g
Sugars 2g
Protein 28g
Vitamin A 10%DV
Vitamin C 4%DV
Calcium 10%DV
Iron 6%DV

What am I going to do with this child?

First things first- that is MUD! And this picture was taken AFTER she'd been stripped of her clothing....AND she was at her Grammy's house (not that she would have gotten into any less trouble at our house, either!). What can I say...she loves mud and dirt....and dogfood...but that is a different story, different day.....ho hum.....

Is ANYBODY in reading this?

If you just read this line - please post a comment - a small little bity comment. Just so I can know that all my efforts to write and update pictures on a weekly basis is not a lost cause! :-) If you do read regulary - THANK YOU!

VACATION PICTURES!!

Here are a few pictures from last week's vacation in Destin! As usual - it was fantastic weather and people everywhere! I think we are going to go back to going down there in April/May or September/October. The crowds were just awful! I'll let the pictures speak for themselves - we had fun! Beth loved the beach and was a tad more daring this time with the water! Sarah loved the sand AND the water. Mom got some great pictures of me out in the water with Sarah, but I don't have those on my computer yet! Bob and I barely saw each other, as one of us seemed to constantly be inside with a napping child, as Sarah went down around 10a and woke around 11:30 and Beth went down around 12:30-1:00 and woke around 2-3:00 and then Sarah went down again around 2:30-3:00! It was crazy!! And as usual - we had some awesome food, but unfortunately, none of it was at restaurants! We have great neighbors down there from Lousiana and they make some mean seafood/cajun food! (and a roasted pig, this time, too!!)

I'm glad to be home and I think the girls are, too! Back to reality tomorrow!

4th of July!!

And to wrap it all up - this picture pretty well sums up how we ALL feel today!