Can we say "10"! Yes Angie turned ten this past March! Our baby girl! She's still one of the best things that has happend to our lives. She truely makes people smile. I already love this age. She gets funnier each year. She had a great 10th birthday, she really scored this year. She now owns a new camera that shoots out pictures right as soon as she takes them. So no waiting around.

She scored on her favorite and she calls them "rainbow booty shorts"! She's a goof! They remind me of a pair I once owned at ten years old! I think I even had rainbow roller skates to match them. ha! ha!

A lunch pal she wanted REALLY, REALLY BAD! She spotted it at Tjmaxx and begged for it and I said no the whole time and then went back the next day and bought it! She only had 100 lunch pales all different kinds! ha! ha! One for every out fit she owns. Since then luckly we have been able to narrow it down to two lunch pales. The rest went to Goodwill. There was just no room on the lunch box shelf in my kitchen. Thank goodiness I bought this one!

Had to get a pair of new shoes. This girl LOVES shoes!

Then her brothers treated her to a new activity bag for her trip to California with mom. The boys put all kinds of goodies in the bag. This will also be her new school bag for fifth grade. So the boys did a great birthday gift.

Of course some heart shaped glasses is a must!

She was hiding her pink cheeks here. Since she is ten now it's time to learn a few things about being a girl. Yes, it's all about arm pit hair! ha! ha! So she got this great book written by the American Girl books and this will be her go to guide when things just don't make sence.

There's nonthing like a pack of brand new rainbow color pens! I couldn't wait to draw with her too.

What's in the bag Angie? I think this was a great 1oth b-day for her! She recieved some great gifts from her family AND went on a great trip to California! She is by far a very loved little girl! She is such a special little lady in our lives.

She's all about finger rainbow color finger polish on her nails. Mood rings, Icarly at nite, her bike and roller skates are freedom to her. New hair do's even when they look funny to mom. Animal print clothes is her fashion. A great mystery book is perfect on a rainy day. Hanging with mom in the kitchen making jello is fun. Icices after dance class from dad hits the spot every time. Playing dolls and pretending they come from different places is great. Looking up to her big brothers and of course teasing them is always fun. Calling girl friends on a friday evening and arranging sleep overs are routine. Still moms pies are the best in her eyes. Root beer and pizza night is still here favorite meal. Dusting the house with mom is not fun at all even when mom does put on music.

Leaving with 50 testing lotions on your skin from Bath and Body works is so cool to this 10 year old. Of course we always have a coupon to buy some! ha! ha! Flowered head bands are pretty. Trying differnt seasoning on popcorn is fun and even if it is cinnamon and sugar. YUCK! The latest best movie is "Diray of a Whimpy kid 2". The latest book is the American Girl "Kits Mystery" books and every now and then her girl scout badge book. She loves her family and tells us so every night before bed. This is what being 10 with Angie is all about.

She loved this card so much she put it on her bullenton board in her room.

The CRAZY candles! These are a must for birthdays!

Keep trying Angie! You almost blew them out! We didn't have a b-day hat so the Krispy Kremes hat had to do.

Yes Angie is TEN now and it was a fun birthday to share with her once more!

This was Angie's first time performing in her schools talent show. She used her great singing voice and sang one of her favorite songs "Freckles". She really can sing a pretty note. Again this is just one of the many fun parts of being a parent.

Okay I'm back for now that is!.... I have been crazy busy as always but even more so these days.

A lot has happened in the last few months so I'll try get things up to speed. If the computer will work with me too. You never know if your in luck with the internet.

Anyway... Where do I begin! Well this is a start here, this is Angie's girl scout durby racing truck. Of course she made it all by herself! ha!ha! Noooooo...just kidding! She just told us what kind she wants and mom and dad went to work. Isn't that how it works? Well anyway, it won some great awards and it's just too fun. Her girls scout sisters loved it! It's her own girl scout truck with cute tiny little girl scout cookies in the back. That was John's doing.

Okay I'm myself again! I feel much better and my house is some what back to normal. At least the laundry is caught up. The kids have been in and out of school lately with all the ice we've been having which has helped getting better cause extra sleep in the mornings. Now that I feel better I have lots I want to do. So I would like to share my big plans for the new year....

Top on my list I would like to have more tender moments with my kids. With them growing up so fast sometimes I miss those moments. When I was a stay home mom I would get a lot of those and well this year I think there needs to be some.

I would really like to organize more area's of our house. Like the big doosey our basement. John's work shop too. I know this will take a lot of pull on his part cause he's the hoarder in this family. He always seems to think we will need it later and then it sits for years. So it's time to clean and get rid of things.
I'm already going through closets. I do that ever new year. Spring cleaning too. The best time is when every body is at school and at work.

The next big thing is I'm getting a new sewing/craft room and a guest room. So I will be decorating and having fun with that. We already started Brad's teenage room. I can't wait tell it all comes in place.

Then with the news of my folks moving out this year is just huge for me. I have so many things I want to do with them.

I also want to check out another museum in DC. I still haven't seen everything.

I'm going to keep reading great books.

Keep trying new recipes every month.

We are still shooting for puppies forsure this year...hopfully Valentines if mother nature works with us.

Maybe become a stay home mom again. Not sure...I've been praying big time.

Learn more garden tips.

Paint some paint by numbers paintings with my son Brad.

Use more new words in my conversations.

Go apple and berry picking this summer.

Start Christmas planning early this year.

Organize my photo's in the boxes and computer library.

Make more fun jewerly and purses.

Draw some great chalk art on the drive way with Angie when the weather warms up.

Go roller skating more with the kids. (My grandma roller skated until her early 70's...isn't that cool!)

Paint the whole inside of our house and the doors and trim. Big job I know!

Keep dancing with Angie.

I would like to go to the park more when the weather warms up.

Finally learn how to play my ukulele. Maybe my sons would want to start a band with me! ha! ha!

I really want to learn how make a great cake for my 40th birthday and share with all the people I love.

I want to be able to enjoy running again. I'm gonna try and try.

I want to make a painting of a person. This is huge for me cause this very hard for me...but I always had the desire to do one.

I would like to fix up our front porch this summer. Big hanging furns, planters on the railing. Finished wood ceiling and freshley painted rocking chairs, and last pillows on the porch swing.

Time to get rid of the play ground.

Last just keep smiling and use my manners and be greatful for all that I'm blessed with and remember to have a kind heart no matter what.

Can't wait to start great memories with my family and now my folks who will be here soon. Yippe!

I can't wait to do walks with mom again. Listening to music with dad. Dad becoming a boy scout with Brad. Learning how to knit with mom. Showing them around all favorite places here in V.A.
Having them coming to all the kids activities. Sharing the holidays with them. Just something to look forward to this new year!

I have so much to do to make a great year but most of all I'm so greatful for all that I'm blessed with and I just pray everybody stays healthy and happy to all.

Have a great 2011!

I've been sick for the past two weeks and laying in bed is just not my thing. So far I've seen a whole lot of Paula Deen's down home cooking shows. I just love her. My son Brad really does. He tells me some day he's gonna find a young Paula Deen and marry her. He thinks she's so nice and her cooking is the best,and he could really love someone like that. Isn't that the sweetest thing ever. Then of course I've watch all kinds of old movies on the TMC channel which I love on a cold cozy night or rainy spring day. I finally learned what Jersey Shore is about and well NO Thank You! Too many mean girls...not into that. Then there was the night shows too that I like to watch. I've even caught up on the Hallmark channel and watch Little House and the Parie. I haven't watched that in years, well since I was a young girl. It still makes me cry.I have to say though my dogs sure like to keep me company when I'm sick. It's so sweet. They sleep when I sleep and check up on me a lot. They are too cute. I did start reading our good friend Pam's book and so far I'm hooked. Now I can't put it down. I feel like my house is hopping with dust bunnies every where and laundry piled and the couch pillows on the living room floor cause I'm the only one who puts them back. Well John does too when he see's the mess. This was not what I was thinking for the New Year! Once I get better I have big plans to make things happen. I have ants in my pants as the old saying would say. Plus after watching all these cooking shows I want to cook some thing...that's when I feel better. Right now a good grill cheese is plenty for me. Jello too! Anyway...hope all is healthy...catch up soon.

This is just a few images of our 2010 Christmas. It was a nice Christmas once more at home. We were lucky again to have more snow on the ground this Chritmas which was a nice extra treat. I do have to say it was little sad knowing Angie no longer believes in the big jolly man in the red suit. That was hard. We didn't even put cookies out and a carrot for the reindeer. I guess that's what happens when the kids grow up. I always enjoy Christmas, but Christmas 2011 will be special knowing my family will finally join us. I think I'm gonna cry if I think about it too much. I miss them the most on Christmas and my Birthday. It will be so much fun to go help my mom decorate her new home for Christmas and shop with her and well just drinking hot coco and being with her. I've made my mind up that Christmas 2011 I will go back to my old ways when I was a stay home mom when I would start preping for Christmas in the spring just because it was the only way we could afford it. Then too I use to make a lot of home made gifts just cause I had more time then money. Now it's funny every body wants my home made gifts. Which always makes me feel so good. I just remember how much time I had to enjoy the month of December cause all I had to do was decorate the house and spend time with the kids. With the kids getting bigger and my folks being here I feel even more motivated to go back to starting my old ways.

I just think waiting tell Oct. just isn't enough time to really enjoy the holidays. Plus I think I'm going to come up with some new traditions to do with my big kids now and my folks. Why not right! Christmas is a great holiday to do so. I think we should do a little winter road trip to the Mountains during the kids winter break too, and finally teach the kids how to ski. Now that John has a new fancy truck why not! Anyway... this Christmas was nice and the kids seemed to enjoy the holidays. Now I need to look forward to another great Christmas.

That's all for now I'll catch again soon.