Good Times, Great Friends...

A few Fridays ago, our long-lost cousins Mike and Beth Dickinson called to see if we could have dinner with them (they seem long-lost, but the fact is they only live about an hour away). We were able to pull it together quickly, and met at a mexican place just down I-75 a few miles. The food was great, the service not so much. We wrapped it up with ice cream, cookies, and coffee at McD's (it was really for the playland...whenever we get together with friends at a restaurant, we usually wear out our welcome and have to move on to another. Really now, what waitress wouldn't want to deal with a dozen kids for 3 or 4 hours anyway? Ha!)
Hopefully we can do it again soon!

Michael trying to convince us that he loves Beth more than his coffee...I don't think he could live without either of them!


Isaiah enjoying his chocolate chip cookies...


My first time to see Sophia...


You don't even want to know the stories these two could tell...at least I don't want my boys to know!


I guess we know whose side of the family is responsible for these two nutcases, right Beth? :)

Smiles...

What Do You Do When...

...you have a really great pic, but there is this ugly pink thing just to the upper right of the main object, and you can't crop it without compromising the photo????
Enlarge the pic for the "full" effect!:)

Harmony ~Class of 2009~

I'm hopelessly behind in blogging. The saying "I'm so far behind I thought I was first" could almost be my motto lately! Although I'm not officially working yet, I have been doing lots of preliminary stuff from home, which has been pretty time consuming, as well as the day to day routine of taking care of four kids and a home (some of you know all about that)! The kids are ready for school. Summer flew for them, until this week. I don't know that I have heard anyone utter the phrase "I'm bored" -- they know I would make them un-bored real quick -lol---but they are ready for structure and challenge.
Here are some photos from Harmony Burley's open house, which took place in June. Since she was only 4 when Greg and I started dating, I can't believe she is old enough to be out of school and headed for college! I didn't get a great variety of pics, but here are the few I have.
Best friends...Harmony and Amanda...
Khara and Kelsey...I think Khara was enjoying the remnants of the chocolate buffet...

Harmony and her aunties :)...Karson and Allison didn't get the memo about the photo shoot!

Carl and Dorothy Johnson...like grandparents to Harmony...

Uncle Greg and Harmony always end up in a wrestling/tickling match...I won't say who usually wins...

Harmony and her bf...

I can't give you any explanation on this photo...these are some of the cousins...Ryan with a nerf vest...Allison eating off of the floor...Kaden cheesing away...just havin' a ball!

Uncle Mark, Harmony, and Uncle Greg...

Congratulations, Harmony! We are proud of you!

TAKING PRIDE AGAIN!

I don't know your feelings on the matter, but I've been a little downhearted about the whole political scene lately. Not so much because the "other" party is running the show, but because the America that I know and love is being turned inside out at the will of a few idiots in Washington D.C. (you might find that disrespectful, but it's true).
For those who love all the government goodies, and would rather receive those tax-payer provided "gifts" than to get a job (or jobs - whatever it takes) and pay their own bills, none of this even matters. For the rest of us who want to be able to make our own choices, and take home our own paychecks (which actually assures future security and prosperity), we are sick.
This week, I have been amazed by average conservative Americans, who are showing up to speak their heart, and do their patriotic duty. I'm proud of them! They are well-spoken and knowledgeable of the subjects (as opposed to many of their senators and representatives).
If you have the opportunity to attend a Town Hall Mtg., I hope that you will be there and have the backbone to stand up for basic principles of freedom. Our founders were some of the most intelligent, sacrificial, and well-meaning men that ever lived. Unfortunately, most young Americans will never know or understand their greatness. Here is what Thomas Jefferson had to say:

"A government big enough to give you everything you want is

big enough to take away everything you have."

If you don't believe it, just wait and see.