PARTY ON...

Yes, we had another party last night...this one was planned. My son's best friend's 16th birthday party. He and his friends planned it to be a surprise, and boy was it!






The birthday boy had gotten a rebuilt Jeep from his parents and drove it over here yesterday. Would you believe it wouldn't start when they wanted to go somewhere? So his Dad and my DH worked on it for a while, while my son stressed out about leaving since the girls would soon be arriving to decorate for the surprise party!!

Finally they left in my son's car, and the girls came over and started the decorating! Cracked me up, they totally put streamers and balloons all over the kitchen - things I probably would never do, but it was cute and they were excited.

OH YES! THE CAKE!

My son and his friend made another one of those awesome ICE CREAM CAKES! This time they used a white cake mix with BEN & JERRY'S CINNAMON BUNS ice cream and frosted it with Betty Crocker Vanilla frosting. Again, it was delicious. Tasted like a cinnamon roll. I think they've got something going with this recipe!!!

DEFINITION OF A COUPLE...

of friends, to me, is two. Dos. Two other people besides yourself, for a total of three.

Just a little miscommunication between me and my youngest.

In our family, the last BIG birthday party is at 13 years old. But somehow, my youngest, on his 15th birthday managed to have 12 friends show up last night for his "party." I had planned on taking him and his friends to see "Toy Story 3." But seriously, we could barely fit all 13 kids in our 2 vehicles!!! For some reason he had them come over 2 hours before the movie, so I made a fast run to Cheezie's for Pizza and Walmart for those yummy Lofthouse cookies I never will buy them. The impromptu party turned out to be a hit, despite our miscommunication. I am such a softie, sometimes...

WHERE IN THE WORLD...

has my dear husband been this week? Thank goodness we have GPS service to let me
View Larger Map">know!

This is Mt. Baker in Washington. He attempted to climb it 2 years ago with a small group but didn't feel well after climbing to base camp, and his feet didn't like the rental boots, either! This time he went with his own boots and summited on Friday!
Congrats, honey!

TEENAGE BOYS ARE A BLESSING...

when they go fill up my car and pick up the pizza!

ONE OF MY FAVORITE WAYS TO START THE DAY...

is this site that I feature on my blog list. With my husband getting ready to climb Mt. Baker in Washington, my daughter galavanting around Europe this week on free travel, and one of my sons at camp, this verse gives me much comfort today!

SOUNDING OFF...

So after helping out several days with disaster relief work from a flood in our area, I am reminded again that my problems are nonexistent compared to these families who have lost 90% of the contents of their houses...

It's interesting...some neighborhoods get lots of press and help while others are forgotten.

Why don't more people come out and help? I just don't get it...if you can do a load of laundry you can help. If you can find some baby clothes for an 18 month old, you can help. If you can pack up a kitchen full of dishes, baking dishes, pots and pans, you can help. If you can tear out wet sheetrock you can help. If you can feed some hungry, hot volunteers, you can help!!!

Another thought as I help this woman pack up the contents of her closet...what do I have in my lower cabinets that could be damaged by a storm? Maybe I'll move my photo albums up a little higher!

AND...it just killed me to see other neighbors whose houses weren't affected out mowing and weedeating their lawns today...maybe they helped another day or something, but that just went all over me....

Sorry, I'm a little hot and tired right now. Pray for these "neighbors" as they pull their lives back together this summer!

LIVING VICARIOUSLY...

through my daughter...driving a boat under a natural arch around the island of Capri...and I'm sure if there were guys on that boat she would be wearing a tank top...

BIRTHDAY GIFT FROM MY 18 YR OLD SON...

Isn't this awesome? It tasted awesome too! As my husband and I slaved outside making yard improvements, he invited a friend over to help make me a chocolate cake for my birthday. It has to be one of the moistest cakes I've ever had...and the secret ingredient is ICE CREAM! Click HERE for the recipe!

WHAT YOU LOOKIN @...

That is the name of this creation, available at Irma's Burger Shack, and if you eat the whole thing they will put your picture on their FB page. AWW...he didn't quite make it!

Would you believe this burger has:

GROUND BEEF

HAM

BACON

A FRIED EGG

HOT LINKS

LETTUCE, TOMATO, ONION

AND A GRILLED CHEESE SANDWICH ON EACH END?


CRAZY!

RUB-A-DUB-DUB...

Four teens in a tub? SOZ, I couldn't resist! Today we had our first official swim party of the summer! Let the fun begin! You're all invited to come and enjoy it too! Our kids actually don't use it as much as when we moved here 10 years ago. Give us a call and c'mon!

NOTE TO SELF...

NOT ALL KIDS ARE ALIKE.

REALLY? Not all kids write thank you notes as soon as the gift is received, much to the chagrin of their mothers. So next time I have one graduate and receive multiple gifts, I will withhold the gifts until the thank you notes are sent!


My graduate on the big screen recently, at the Cox Convention Center. Makes me proud...

ALL THE PLANNING IN THE WORLD WON'T HELP IF YOU DON'T HAVE A PASSPORT...

This morning was rolling along pretty well, until my dear husband brought our passports into the kitchen.

ME: Watcha doin? Makin copies of our passports?

HIM: No...look at your passport...

ME: ?

ME: What?!?!? It expired in APRIL?!?!?

HIM: Not good if we're going to Italy in July...

Me, the planner of the family, the one who is constantly on Tripadvisor's website, calculating ticket costs, noting opening times of museums, the one watching trip videos and reading Rick Steves books, finding out where the hidden gems are...

FORGOT TO CHECK MY PASSPORT!!!!

So, it wounded my frugal, coupon loving heart to do it, but $177.68 later, my new passport pictures and application are Express mailed to Philadelphia. Supposed to be here in 2-3 weeks. Hopefully 2 weeks!!!

I decided I had better renew my Driver's license that expires the end of this month, too. I've heard horror stories about people who have let theirs expire. Wouldn't you know I wrote my LAST CHECK for the passport fee and DIDN'T HAVE THE CASH to renew my license?!?!?! What do you mean you don't take credit cards? Thankfully a friend of mine was in the tag agency at the same time and bailed me out.

WHAT A DAY!!!

FOOD GROUPS...

BRAIN FOOD - we pondered this sign in a little diner in Checotah, OK - can you decipher it?


SNACK FOOD - at the Flying Fish in Little Rock, AR


MUST BE PET FOOD!



SOUL FOOD - Just girls getting to talk about the cares of this life - great therapy!