Don't take your life for granted....

On Monday, we had the pleasure of taking my grandmom

to her last radiation treatment for breast cancer.

I think her face says it all!

We went to IHop afterwards to celebrate...

she LOVES pancakes, and has really wanted to go there for some time!

The end of radiation treatments and pancakes with strawberries and cream cheese on them....

What a great day! (-:

Family Pictures at the Beach...

When we went to Assateague, Maryland camping a few weeks ago, I decided that I wanted to get some family portraits on the beach. So here are some of my favorites......

How great it was that the horses were once again on the beach so I could take Ally's picture with them? She has a huge love of horses, and I wanted these pictures particularly because these are her 3rd birthday pictures.

It's hard to believe Collin is 17 and only 6 months shy of his 18th birthday. I will always treasure this picture because I know it is only a matter of time before he won't be able to go with us on summer adventures....and it is great to get a picture of all three of the kids together....not usually such an easy task! Ally couldn't ask for two better big brothers....

Here's my little Michael all grown up...he'll be 13 in a couple of months...he certainly isn't so little anymore! Still the jokester, he'll never be to old for a hug from mom! Check out Fred's face...LOL. He was only slightly perturbed that we were supposed to be pulling out of our campsite at this very moment because it was check out time!

If only I had remembered to take my sunglasses off in our family picture!!! Now we'll have to go back so we can get a better shot! (-:

I am surely blessed to have such a great family!!

We all have our challenges, but they only make us stronger!

Since I wanted Ally's pictures done for her 3rd birthday at the beach, I thought it would be extra special to make her a sundress. I was really happy with the way it turned out...I lined it with eyelet to make it heavier and let some of the eyelet hang below the hemline.

I changed all these pictures to Vintage using Pioneer Woman's actions in Photoshop CS3! If you are lucky enough to have photoshop, check it out!

FRIDAY (TGIF) FILL IN'S

Another week bites the dust. (-:

1. I grew up thinking I would have lots of kids, and in a way I do. (-:
2. April Rose is a fake was the last website I was at before coming here. (It was allegedly a fake blog that has raised a lot of concerns in blogland)
3. Why don't you just be happy, life is waayyyy too short!!!!!
4. Hanging with the kids helps me relax. (MOST of the time...LOL)
5. Thanks for the the challenges because they make me stronger .
6. ???? very off-putting. (not sure what that all means..LOL)
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to speaking at graduation to present savings bonds in honor of my grandfather on behalf of all 12 of his grandchildren (-: , tomorrow my plans include spending time with my family and Sunday, I want to RELAX!

The 1 year old Birthday of Curious James!

My littliest nephew, James, turned 1 last week and my sister in law, Jamie, had the cutest party for him all in the theme of Curious George James.

She based the theme around this book of Curious George...

Jamie made this GREAT pinata all by herself, isn't it the cutest?

And the picture of James in the basket of the hot air balloon really added the finishing touch! LOVE IT!

As a decoration, she used a projector and traced out this image customizing it for James.

For the cake, she made this AWESOME monkey cake! It tasted as great as it looks..she even used cookies for ears!

How ADORABLE! I was really impressed!

And so was the birthday boy...

Assateague, Maryland Camping Trip, May 2009

The last weekend in May we headed to the beautiful island of Assateague, Maryland, where wild horses roam free, and ghost crabs rule the night. We LOVE it there....campsites are right near the beach, and it is so beautiful. We aren't even beach people, but we love the beach in the mornings and evenings when it is cool and peaceful and there is nobody else to share it with...it is like our own little personal paradise!Okay, well maybe we do have to share our paradise a little, but we don't mind...

Fred found a sand flea, and of course Ally had to hold it...YUCK!

That's Michael dancing in the ocean...yup, that boy always keeps us entertained!

Do you know how many pics I had to take to get Collin smiling? I lost count...LOL.

He hates his picture taken!

This weekend was Ally's 3rd birthday,

and since she is so into horses, it was the perfect place to take her!

Check out Miss Hollywood with her new stroller taking a morning stroll...

Ummm. Sorry. Ally doesn't do 10 MPH. EVER.

Fred, Ally and I ventured out to a little group of islands to see the horses...

especially the "baby" which was Ally's favorite!



This year, I am trying to actually be in the pictures whether I like it or not...

Of course when I read there was a place where I could get a "Bucket" of ice cream,

you know I was all over it!!!

Michael decided he had to have one too...which is particularly ironic because for the first 10 years of his life, he only ordered chips whenever we went out for ice cream!

Only one of the two of us finished completely.....

Did you ever have any doubts knowing my passion for ice cream??

The birthday girl went for a smaller size, and she didn't finish hers either.

We also were able to hit a Nature Center that none of us have ever visited before.

And then of course, we had to play on the playground next to the Nature Center...

I am not sure who loves it more, the 3 year old or the 12 year old....

The horses stopped by our campsite to say goodbye and to wish Ally a happy birthday before we left on Sunday....wasn't that nice of them???

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Ally's 3rd Birthday Party

Since we took Ally camping for her 3rd birthday, we just held a small little party for her back at the house with family.

I made her a princess cake a couple hours before the party was to start....I used marshmallow fondant for the dress. I haven't worked with fondant too much, and I didn't realize that you are suppose to let it "rest" for a few hours before using. Live and learn!

As you can tell from my hubby's shirt, it was down pouring outside so he got all wet on one of his excursions outside. It seems to downpour every year when I have her party...

Who knew that for 7 years there has been a perfectly good hook on my porch for pinatas??

In the past, we have made some of the brave men hold the rope and hope they don't get a beat down while the kids attack the pinata with a bat....thanks Harry and Randy! You guys were the best pinata holders EVER. But now you can retire since we had a hook the WHOLE time! I don't think either of you wanted anymore kids anyways....

So that is the shortened version of the party just so I have a record of it for my little girl!

w