I've Outdone Myself....

I just started scrapbooking this afternoon and I couldn't stop! I'm tellin' ya...it's my addictive "habit"! Hee hee! I caught London blowing bubbles (he's getting very good at it too!) and couldn't resist taking pictures of him. I thought it was cool that I got the bubbles in the pictures too. He's going to look back at all of the photos I've taken of him and think I'm a complete photo nut - I keep telling myself that one day he will thank me for all of the pictures I took of him "just because".
I've outdone myself today....I don't know what in the world got into me but I decided to make homemade spaghetti and meatballs. I mean homemade, no sauce from a jar or frozen meatballs. Homemade everything.....and I must say that everything tasted absolutely fantastic and I'm still alive to talk about it! Hee hee! I'm becoming a great cook considering I knew nothing about cooking when we got married! Hmmm....what else can I whip up in the kitchen? Cookies, banana bread......the possibilities are endless!
TTFN....(ta-ta for now)

All things......Laura Ingalls Wilder!

Check out www.lauraingallswilder.com and www.lauraingallswilderhome.com

Another fascination of mine is the history of Laura Ingalls Wilder. When we went to Missouri to see my husband's Grandma we made sure to stop at the Laura Ingalls Wilder homestead. I was in heaven. My ultimate dream vacation would be.....to go to every homestead site where Laura Ingalls Wilder lived as a child and as an adult. Someday, just someday....my dream will come true.
I swear I was born in the wrong era. I would have made an awesome pioneer girl/woman. I love to grow my own food and do everything the "hard" way. But, I'm spoiled and I like my shower every day and the conveniences of modern medicine. TV is pretty cool too! Nevertheless, I liked that era and don't feel like I "fit in" much with the era I'm currently in. So, woe is me.....
A girl can dream though, right?

Check out my Slide Show!

The Sunshine you give...

I think I've broken my record.....I've been able to scrapbook every single day! This was one of our many trips to the beach. We had a blast and went on a hike too! My handsome little man....just melts my heart! My favorite little person in the universe!

My Fascination with the Amish Culture...

Peach Pie is my absolute most favorite pie in the entire universe! Give me peach pie any day! And......I've found an Amish Peach Pie recipe also - yum - o - (As Rachel Ray would say!)
Looks like I'll have to try my hand at making a pie.....oh yeahhhhh!


Amish Peach Pie
4 c. peaches, peeled and sliced
1/2 c. granulated sugar
1/4 t. salt
2&1/2 T. tapioca
1 (9-inch) unbaked pie shell
Topping:
1/4 c. all-purpose flour
1/2 t. cinnamon
1/3 c. brown sugar
2&1/2 T. butter or margarine, melted
Preheat oven to 425°. Mix together gently, peaches, sugar, salt and tapioca. Let blend for five minutes before spooning into pie shell.
To make topping: Mix flour, cinnamon and brown sugar with melted butter and sprinkle over pie shell. Bake for 45 to 50 minutes.


I am utterly fascinated with the Amish. They're way of life....everything! They do everything the "hard" way, whereas we're so accustomed to being lazy and dependent on electricity, etc.....

I've often thought that I was born in the wrong era. I would have been perfectly content being Laura Ingalls Wilder or some other long-ago character. I like to grow my own food and do everything myself. But, this day and age you're not really given the opportunity to do so with technology and society looking down upon you.

I told Mike that this Christmas I just want books on the Amish. I don't care if I even get anything else!

Goin' to the Movies...

We're so excited! We are going to the Drive-In tonight to see "Evan Almighty", and "Transformers". Mike and London both want to see Transformers and I want to see Evan Almighty. It will be so much fun. We haven't been to a drive-in since we saw Dukes of Hazzard, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory when we went to the beach property.

We're trying to keep everything as normal as possible for London while we await the results of Michael's bone marrow biopsy. These will be the longest days of our life - waiting to find out if my husband has bone marrow cancer. Of course I'm filled with wonder at what would happen to London and I if he has it. Where would we go? How would we live? It's scary to be faced with something like this. Noone will ever know either...unless they have experienced it firsthand. My best friend, her sister-in-law, and her mom have all volunteered to be tested to see if they are a match to be a bone marrow donor. That was really sweet of my best friend to volunteer. I think they ask family members first though.....but we'll see. My faith in God is dwindling...it has been for a long time now. I'm filled with questions and doubts about my beliefs and my own Chrisitianity. Just how, exactly, am I supposed to get answers to my questions and my beliefs? Heck if I know!

Which brings me to another topic.....I lost my job last week. In some ways it was a blessing in disguise. I think you get into a sort of comfort zone where you just go to work and do your job (whether you're happy at your job or not) but are so comfortable that you don't want to escape your comfort zone. My boss forced me out of my comfort zone....but I think I'm better off. I don't want to work for anyone who makes me feel like I need to beg for a raise, or explain my life circumstances. The things that are happening in my life with Mike's health are REAL. They are serious and not to be taken lightly. My family will always come before any job I ever have. If they cannot understand that....too bad. I intend to find a better job, but I will not let myself get caught up in being friends with anyone I work with. My motto will have to be (from now on) that I am at my job to do my job and that's it. I'm not there to get chummy and listen to the drama. It's sad it has to come to that.

That's my life....in a nutshell. 'Til next time.....

Our little family...

I just love this page - it's very cute and was so much fun to work on. Our little family may be little....but it's certainly full of love for each other!

C'mon Mommy....let's wade in the creek!

London's first time wading in a creek! He loved it and had a great time. I got pictures of his first expressions putting his feet in the water......priceless! We went to his favorite park and he had a blast playing in the water. (Mommy and Daddy had fun too!)

It makes me feel...

*SAD : when I see my son is not treated equally as his cousin. She's the favorite - and, it shows.
*MAD: when people think they don't need to ask my permission to drop their kid off at my house. Duh, use your manners - if you were even taught any!
*HOPELESS: to realize that I will never matter as a daughter to a mother.
*SCARED: to think my husband may have leukemia or something equally as scary, and that I could lose him.
*STUPID: to think that people assume I have no brain or thoughts of my own and they think they can take advantage of me. Duh, what planet are you from?
*USELESS: to think that if I were to lose my husband, London and I wouldn't even matter to certain people. As long as there is a favorite, (and it isn't London) we're not even needed to be a part of their lives.
*RIDICULOUS: to think that anyone even reads my blog or what I write on it.

You Light Up My Life...

I just LOVE this picture of my little man! He's so adorable and funny! What a fun page to work on!

Our Summer Adventure...

Riding the ferry to see Papa! What fun and what adventures we have together! Times are uncertain with Michael's health so we make the best of an uncertain time in our lives right now. Michael is my life....it's so stupid to say but I rely SO much on him. More than I rely on anyone really. I can't even go grocery shopping without him - how pathetic is that? To have our future so uncertain right now is scary....and so out of my control. We sit and wait for whatever the future holds for us right now. It's times like this that we feel so very alone. Everyone is wrapped up in their own lives and we are not the kind of people to ask for help - we never have been. Especially when it comes to London - we have a hard time asking people to watch him for us. So now, we wait and wonder....

Smile....and say cheese!!!

I just cannot believe it - I've been able to have some scrapbook therapy today and I've done 3 pages of scrapbooking. I'm in shock! Nah....my sweetie knows when Momma needs to have her "scrapbook therapy" (as I like to call it) time and he will watch London for me so I can "get creative." Thanks, honey....I owe you one! It's just nice to be able to take my mind off of stuff going on in real life and have my escape with my hobby scrapbooking!

You Make Me Happy When Skies Are Gray...

This is one of my favorite pictures of London posing for the camera. He looks so sure of himself and matter of fact. I just love him so much!!!

Over the hills, and through the woods....

This wasn't quite over the hills and through the woods.....more like hop on the ferry and drive awhile! But, we always have a great time riding on the ferry....especially knowing that my Dad and London's Papa are on the other side awaiting our arrival! Sometimes it's just nice to be the anticipated guests and have a fuss made over you when you arrive!

The Goofy Three Musketeers...

Being goofy on the ferry on our way to see Grammy, and Papa! We had fun, can't you tell?

Feeling Pretty.....Priceless!

Part of our trip to the beach - Daddy, London and I. We had a nice time and just enjoyed being together. That's what really matters - togetherness.....

Million Smiles Park...

They weren't joking when they named this park "Million Smiles Park". London loves it there and has such a great time. Actually don't tell anyone....but we have a blast too! And as an extra bonus you can play in the little stream babbling by.....it's just..........magical! Our new favorite place....hmmmmm.....can't wait to go again!

Our Day...

We had a fun day doing all of our favorite things together. We went to Rosabella's, then we went to the Castle Park. We had a blast and you were all tuckered out by the end of the day. Making the most of our times together......

Our Special Times......Together!

Life can be so unpredictable sometimes. Daddy just got out of the hospital for the 2nd time.....each time I feel like my world turns upside down. Just when I start to think that everything is going to be okay.....I get blind-sided. Note to self.....never get too comfortable with life - it can change at a moment's notice and leave you feeling so vulnerable. So, after Daddy got out of the hospital, and since we are still uncertain as to what the future holds......we are going to make the most of each and every moment that we have together. Because, you never know what hand life is going to deal you. This photo is so precious of London. Just looking over the edge on the dock......what is he thinking? He gets so physically sick when Daddy is in the hospital. The day Daddy came home.....London was his same, perky self and completely back to normal. My sensitive little boy.....I wouldn't change my London for anyone!!!!