summer lovin' have me a blast

i'm a winner...i'm a winner

SWEEEEEEEEET! One of my 5 readers :) nominated me for a blog award. "My friend" over at consider it pure JOY (whom I have never met but we stalk each other blogs) has sweet stories and really loves the Lord. She tells alot about herself in her blog. The award is called Honest Scrap blog award. So I will tell 10 things about my self and then nominate blogs I read.

1) I like lipstick...alot. I put it on pretty much first thing in the morning.

2) I need to read my Bible more....I am working on it.

3) I put things on my to do list even if I already did them....I put them on it and cross through it. It makes me feel good.

4) I have seen alot of cool nursing things...people who eat money (quarters, 3 bucks worth), pins, pens, call light clips, rocks (yup about 2 lbs of gravel, not even kiddin), and assortment of other things that make my job interesting.

5) I love scrapbooking, crafts, flowers, photography and using my Photoshop elements to make a pic interesting.

6) My favorite place to visit is Northern Michigan in a little town called Frankfort. It is our place to go to relax and reconnect and make memories and have fun. We go here usually 3-4 times a summer.

7) When my daughter Laine was born I was scared. She was diagnosed with a rare condition. It is treatable but not curable. I thought there was a chance she could die. We prayed and we asked God to heal her and she is almost 4. She is healthy most days. We are blessed.

8) I love coffee....alot. I don't really go for the coffee maker kind. I like the fancy stuff from the cafe at the hospital, or Caribou, or Starbucks, or Panera Bread. (sugarfree vanilla skinny latte..iced in the summer and warm in the winter.

9) Someday I would love to visit Paris. Maybe in the spring. If it was Paris I would be willing to go anytime.

10) I love my kids. They teach me so much and make me a better person.

These are some of the blogs I read you might want to check out...you'll be glad you did.

check out Liz...she is a grade school friend who is a creative, piano playing, chicago living mom or maybe stop by and see Sara....she loves all things Pink and has the sweetest daughter. I like reading Melanie's stories...she is a friend of a friend and I didn't know about blogs till hers. I have been praying for Nikki and her story of trusting God in the mist of some very difficult days. I am inspired by Kris's story of adopting soon 2 teenage girls. I also think that rach at in his hands has a story of her son that she will soon meet that is awesome to read about. I was roommates with Charisse for one summer and now she is a mom with stories.

The Rules:(1) Thank the person who nominated you for this award {that would be me}(2) Copy the logo and place it on your blog.(3) Link to the person who nominated you for this award.(4) Name 10 things about yourself that people might find interesting.(5) Nominate 10 Honest Scrap Bloggers.(6) Post links to the 10 blogs you nominate.
(7) Leave a comment on each of the blogs, letting them know they have been nominated.

everyone needs a friend like sallie....

About the time that Laine started preschool last fall, she introduced us to her friend Sallie. Sallie was her good friend and played with her and listened to her. I felt like I had come to know a little friend of Laine's and looked forward to the day we could have a playdate. One day while dropping Laine at preschool I thought I saw who I thought was Sallie. I said "Laine look... there is Sallie". To which she replied "uh momma that is not Sallie....that is Ellie." I thought it was a little strange but figured I would meet her another day. As time went on I finally asked her teacher "Is there a Sallie in Laine's class?" She said "No...No Sallie, just Ellie." As the days last fall went on I began to suspect the maybe obvious....Sallie is Laine's imaginary friend.

Call me crazy, but I actually adore Sallie. She almost never comes to our house though...at least when we are home. When we are at home Sallie is at school....when we are shopping or away from home. Sallie is at home playing. She did join us on our most recent vacation however. Sallie listens to Laine and always says nice things to her. When Laine needs more chocolate it comes in really handy to have a friend who needs a piece too. When Laine doesn't want to pick up her room she usually says it is because Sallie wants to play with something.....or Sallie doesn't want to clean. Laine says Sallie has told her that she is pretty and smiled when she told me. Laine has shed real tears when her cousin told her Sallie was ugly. Not even kiddin. Balling her eyes as we are walking out of church. I couldn't really get what happened. "Laine...are you hurt...did you hurt yourself...Laine please stop crying and tell me what the matter is." It was all I could do to not laugh when she replied "she said Sallie was ugly and has ugly eye lashes." Laine really loves Sallie. I wonder how long Sallie will be around. I hope you stay around for a while Sallie....you are a good friend to have. Until you leave Sallie....you are welcome at our house anytime.

some pics from a garden

the fun days of summer

jean jacket day

swing to the stars

summer days on vacation

i hope as my girls grow older and have their own families that they will pass along the things from our vacations that make them special. i love our summer trips to the same quaint beach town. it has a wonderful ice cream shop with a walk up window not a drive through. it has an A and W but not a McDonald's. it has a drive in movie theater. it has friendly people who introduce the girls to their dogs and expect us to say hello next time we pass them on a walk. it has beautiful scenic drives along the beach, into the vineyards and the along a simple little river. it has a sandy beach just waiting for the next castle to be built. it has sunsets that can't be beat and petoskey stone hunting trips that we always go on. i could go on about more memories...and maybe another day i will. i love how coming here to this town help us reconnect and spend time together. i love my family.

sisters summer 2009

just a little poppy

Isn't this flower so beautiful? My eight year old picked it yesterday. I wish I could say I grew it. I did not.... this poppy came from my mother-in-law's garden. Her garden has many unique types in it. It was such a special treat for my daughter to think of me. What a blessing she is. Thanks Paige...

it was all fun and games....until

it was all fun and games until paige turned the squirt gun on laine.....

a blogiversary and such a busy time...

We have been so busy at work, school and with our families I have hardly had time to update here. Our nephew graduated high school (yea for you Quinn), Paige has her last day of school this week. Last week was her last piano lesson till fall and her girl scout troop had a ceremony for the work this year. We have had a fun time with all the end of the year activities. I have been really busy at also (a new system all us nurses have to use to pass our medications to our patients. it is really helping me to be more patient...get it? :) it takes so much longer to pass medication now yuck!). we have a vacation planned soon and can't wait until we can relax and enjoy the beach and time together. And can you believe I have been blogging for a year now. Actually it was yesturday and I missed it!