Bursting with Laughter

Baseball and Softball fun!

2011-04-26T11:08:00.000-07:00

As many of you know I am constantly on the go to either softball or baseball and I LOVE IT!!! It is sometimes chaotic but I wouldnt have it any other way!

The below baseball pictures are just a few taken by the great Amber Wilburn. http://www.amberwilburnphotography.com/

Here is my Park Man up to bat - he ended up getting an in the park homerun!

He's SAFE!!!!!

An this one is my favorite - I love this little guy!

I can't wait - Amber is coming back this Thursday to take more and my Park will be pitching!!!

Here are a few of my little slugger - she can really bust the ball! She has really became a great little softball player. She made 2 double plays in last weeks game! I am so proud of her!

Check out these little cuties!!! Go Ponytail Express!

Christian Guys & Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue - by John Crist

2011-04-23T07:58:00.000-07:00

I came across this post on Stuff Christians Like blog - if you have never been to the site - you really missing out, it's hysterical! http://www.jonacuff.com/stuffchristianslike/

John Crist was a guest blogger - he is pretty funny - check it out!
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Doing Crazy Things With the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue

Stuff Christians (guys) Like: Doing Crazy Things With the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue

Is it just me, or does every guy know that the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue comes out in February, circa Valentines Day.

Its just me? Ok…never mind. (this is awkward…)

But seriously, I polled some of my Christian guy friends, all with varying levels of relational statii (that’s the plural of status), and they all had different reactions to the swimsuit issue. P.S. I saw the cover in a gas station this morning and there seems to be less and less swimsuits involved every year. The cover model’s name this year is Lusty McLusterson. Weird. Anyway, here’s what my friends said when I brought it up:

1. “The Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue comes out in February?”

This is an obvious lie. Especially because last time I was at this guy’s house he had February 15 circled in red marker on his calendar…a sports Illustrated Swimsuit Calendar. Got em.

2. “I called Sports Illustrated myself and had my Swimsuit Issue cancelled!”

You know what’s weird about Christians? Everyone used to struggle with things, no one ever has any current struggles. I finally got up the nerve to tell my pastor I struggled with lust and his response was (paraphrased), “oh, yeah, I understand, I used to struggle with lust…when I was 6.” Thanks pastor…that makes me feel great. The guy that calls and has his swimsuit issue cancelled probably tried to convert the customer service rep from India too. After the call, he created tracts that looked like swimsuit issues on the outside but when people open it the realize there are no scantily clad women on the Roman Road.

3. “I get the swimsuit issue so I can review the new styles so I’ll know what to buy for my girlfriend.”

Again, I’m skeptical of this guy. To protect his identity we’ll call him Mitch. Innocent Little Mitch told me he needed to keep the Swimsuit Issue a secret from his girlfriend so the swimsuit he buys for her will be a surprise. I’m sure his girlfriend will appreciate it. How thoughtful. Right ladies?

4. “I keep the Swimsuit Issue because it reminds me to pray for the girls one by one. This way I have a face (and a body) to remember.”

He’s got Brooklyn Decker’s photo right next to the photo of his Compassion Child. I should get this guy to help co-lead my new Bible Study.

Pretty Funny!

Plants are in the ground!

2011-04-21T12:13:00.000-07:00

We finally planted all of our plants last night - just in time for that downpour early this morning! I was actually kind of nervous they would be damaged - but they looked ok this morning!

This picture is not so fabulous - hopefully I will get a better one later

Got cilantro and tomatoes - perfect for salsa!! Yummy!

Here is a delicious recipe for Black Bean Salsa:

2 (15-ounce) cans black beans, rinsed and drained

1 (17-ounce) package frozen whole kernel corn, thawed

2 large tomatoes, seeded and diced

1 large avocado, peeled and diced

1 small onion, diced

1/8 to 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves

2 tablespoons lime juice

1 tablespoon red wine vinegar

Salt and pepper

Directions

Mix all ingredients thoroughly in a large bowl. Cover and chill overnight. Taste and add salt, pepper or more lime juice as necessary. Serve with tortilla chips as an appetizer, or with grilled chicken breast as a meal.

I wish that you could smell this Lavender - it smells so lovely!

Check out all of these fabulous uses for Lavender - Who knew?

Lemonade: Make a tea with fresh lavender leaves and hot water. Strain the water and add it to your lemonade. Put a dollop of honey infused with fresh lavender in iced tea, or put dried lavender flowers in your sugar bowl. For an unexpected surprise, add fresh lavender flowers to a very cold glass of Sauvignon Blanc. The wine’s fruitiness pairs well with lavender.

Grilling: Tie fresh lavender and fresh rosemary into a bundle and place it on the grill with your favorite meat (lamb is particularly yummy with lavender).

Cooking: Add one-half teaspoon of dried lavender to your favorite sugar-cookie mix, or make fresh homemade lavender ice cream. Blend chopped lavender flowers with butter for a savory scone topping.
NOTE: Adding too much lavender to your recipe can be like eating perfume and will make your dish bitter. Because of the strong flavor of lavender, the secret is that a little goes a long way.

Carpet freshener: After the fresh lavender dries, grind it up and add it to baking soda, then sprinkle it on your carpet. When you vacuum, the whole house will smell like lavender and it’ll freshen your vacuum cleaner, too.

Dog deodorizer: Rub a clump of fresh or dried lavender into your dog’s fur.

Sleep aid: Squeeze fresh lavender flowers to release their calming oils onto your fingertips, then rub your temples. Or boil dried flowers in water and inhale the vapors.

Antiseptic: Rub lavender essential oil or fresh lavender flowers on a cut to hasten healing.
-Cleanser/toner for skin care: (especially dry or mature skin) Blend 15 drops each of rose and lavender essential oils with 25 ml of witch hazel and 75 ml distilled water (or another flower water) and apply morning and night before moisturizing the skin.

-Moisturizing the skin: Bland 3 drops of lavender essential oil with 1 teaspoon wheat germ oil (or a moisturizing cream). Apply twice daily.
-Sunburn: Due to its excellent healing and analgesic properties, lavender can provide instant relief from heat rash or red and sore skin. It can also prevent blistering.

-Make a lotion using 12 drops of lavender essential oil in 1 tablespoon of distilled water. Dab the area gently.

Potpourri: Mix dried lavender flowers with fresh thyme, rosemary or mint leaves, ground coriander and ground cloves for an aromatic potpourri.

Bath sachet: Place 2 tablespoons of lavender and 2 tablespoons of oatmeal in a muslin bag or cheesecloth, and tie it beneath the bath spigot so water flows through it. Rub the bag on your skin while bathing. Or add 1 pound of baking soda, 7 to 10 drops of lavender essential oil and a handful of fresh lavender blossoms to a warm bath.

Mister: Add a few drops of lavender essential oil to a sprayer bottle of water for a refreshing room mister or a dog deodorizer.

Run out and grab you some Lavender to plant today!!! That list makes me wonder how I have

made it so long without it!

Garden Update

2011-04-19T11:28:00.000-07:00

Here is a quick update on the garden. Soil and peat moss are in now it's time to go get the fruits and veggies in the ground!

And isnt this Garden sign too cute??? I picked it up yesterday at Hobby Lobby for 50% off!!

We also purchased a strawberry plant in a hanging basket about 2 weeks ago and we now have our very first strawberry - he is so cute!!!

Just about ready to be picked!!! My kids will fight over who gets the first one so

I will probably just take it! :o)

Letterboxing in Pigeon Forge

2011-04-18T12:40:00.000-07:00

We took a little mini trip to Pigeon Forge for a long weekend and while we were there we decided to do a little Letterboxing. I love going out finding the boxes in towns we are visiting! We decided to go out on Saturday afternoon which sounded like a good idea but it got so SUPER windy - we had to hang on to Ella, for fear of her blowing away!

We made 2 seperate stops - the first one was in a old cemetery!!! Kinda creepy but super cool! The name was Shiloh Memorial Cemetery. There were graves dating back to the early 1800's - very cool! I am so mad at myself b/c I try and take a picture at every letterbox we find - I forgot the first one!!! It was so dang COLD!!!

Here was is our second find - we had to follow clues to find it hanging in one of the bushes.

And this one was our third find, it was hidden in an old stump under some rocks.

The fourth letterbox was located in a hollowed out hole in the tree - this section was very eerie!

At the next spot we found 2 hiding by The Enloch's

I really do feel a bit funny posing by headstones!

We then hopped in the car to set out for our next hunt. This one was located on a hiking trail behind a trolley parking lot. We got a little soggy at this stop due to all the rain we had on the previous day!

We really love Letterboxing - the kids have so much fun doing it! We are getting ready to hide our first one!!! You will all have to seek out The Quad KEPT!!!!

Here are a couple more pictures that I just liked from our trip that I thought I would share!

Until next time!

Our Busy Weekend!

2011-04-12T07:55:00.000-07:00

Wow the weekend flew by - we had so much going on it doesnt even feel like I had one! My Saturday started with my Leadership Douglas Service Project. Our class decided to revamp the greenhouse located at Douglas County High School. The Hope Project will begin using the Greenhouse to grow and sale plants and vegetables!

Here are a couple of my LD Friends after sweating it up in the HOT, HUMID Greenhouse!

On Sunday we had the kids pictures made at my friend Nicole's house. She has a beautiful landscaped backyard! I can't wait to see how the pictures turn out! Here are a couple that she emailed - I will get the rest on a disk tonight!!

We ended the weekend by working out in our yard - just about have our garden ready to plant - Can't wait!!

Oh and one last picture - My sweet friend TL gave me some "hand-me-up's" for Ella and we just LOVED these pj's - Had to get a picture!!

Raised Bed Garden

2011-04-07T10:07:00.000-07:00

I am so super excited about starting a garden. We have talked about it several years but have never taken the time to make it happen! Well as most of you know Keith lost his job about a month ago and we thought while he was at home this would be the perfect opportunity to make it happen! This week is spring break so Keith and the kids are going to build the frame today - here is how it looks so far....

Do any of you have any secrets about gardens?? Here are the things I would like to grow and if you have any helpful hints to make them successful I would love to hear them!

Green beans, cucumbers, peppers, tomatoes, sweet potatos, okra and squash

Check out this Cool Potato Tower - I really want to try this:

This is great because it takes up much less room, the potatoes grow up instead of out!

Stay tuned - I hope to document this as we go, or should I say as we GROW!!!!

Baking Extravaganza!!

2011-04-06T07:39:00.000-07:00

As many of you know, I LOVE to bake - it's my passion and I just can't get enough of it! If only I could have my dream come true and open a little bakery/coffee shop right here in Downtown Douglasville. I have a location in mind that is vacant, it's just calling my name!!! But then there is that little thing called MONEY that I am lacking! Oh well a girl can dream......

In the mean time I will just continue what I'm doing from my home - I have a pretty big order to fill for a sweet friend tonight. I will be making a dozen Chocolate Chip Cookies, a dozen Peanut Butter Cookies, Easter Bark and also some Smore's on a Stick! My house will be smelling pretty delicious tonight!!! While I am working on this order I have decided to bake some cookies for our wonderful Sheriff's Department. I went on a ride-along with Deputy Joseph Pounds this past Friday and was totally amazed by all that they do! I don't think we thank them nearly enough!

I will leave you with a couple of pictures of cupcakes that I have recently baked - beware - your mouth will begin to water!!!

Cookie Dough Cupcakes - my son's favorite

Thin Mint CupCakes - yes made with Girl Scout Thin Mints

Book Character Day

2010-10-29T09:07:00.000-07:00

Today ends the Red Ribbon week and they ended with Book Character Day. Ella decided to be Eloise and Parker wanted to be Where's Waldo - Which I thought was HILARIOUS!!!!

My sweet little Eloise!

How can you not love this face!

I thought they really looked great!!! Too bad Ella had to leave school with a bellyache, I pray that she doesnt have Strep - AGAIN!!!!

Hip Hop Horaaaaaay Hoooooo - Hey - Ho!

2010-10-27T07:32:00.000-07:00

Today was Hip Hop Day - We didn't have too much in the Hip Hop Department at home but I always see the Hip Hop Stars wearing Sports Jerseys - So we went with that! I thought that looked super Cool!

Speaking of Rap, Parker had to write a Drug Free Rap to an exsiting song and just switch the lyrics for his writing assignment this week. I thought he did an AWESOME job. He is performing today. The winner gets an IPOD Shuffle - he is super stoked!
Check out the Rap - It is sang to the tune of Ice Ice Baby!

Yo Mrs. H Let’s Kick it!

Drug Free Baby

Alright, Stop shut yo mouth and listen

Park is back with a drug free lesson

Drugs will grab a hold of you tightly

You’ll think about them daily and nightly

Will you ever stop, Yo I hope so

Your hooked so tight, can’t ya let go?

Your makin’ me scream, you acting like a fo-ol

Don’t you know that smoking aint co-ol

METH! Make your heart go boom

It’s killing your brain like a poisonous mushroom

DEADLY! When you smoke dope daily

You’ll get caught and it’s a felony

Quit it, forget it you’ll never get a date

Ya brain cells are gone, the girls are gonna hate

You’ve got a problem, you need to solve it

Put down the drugs while Parkman applauds it!

Drug Free Baby

Now that your heart is pumpin’

With a drug free life, yo sho’ be somethin’

Think about - all that money you’ll be makin’

All the ladies saying, what’s shakin’

Saying no - to drugs is easy

If not - you’ll look like Lindsey

She aint cool, she’s in limbo

I’m on a roll it’s time to go solo

Liv-in’ in 2 0 1 0

No drugs for me got serious mojo

Drugs on standby, Please don’t get high

High on life cuz I’m so fly!

Keep on pursuing don’t ever stop

Big dreams or you’ll be a big flop

Get it in your head

Doing drugs is dumb AN Y DAY, IT CAN KILL YOU!

Your not hot, you look like a weenie

Cant you understand it makes you a meanie?

Take a minute and see the signs

It causes rage and cost many fines

READY! For the drug free life

You gotta quit it now, you gotta quit it right

Oh no, what’s that sm-ell

Stuff you smokin’ your headed to ja-il

HEADED! Down the wrong street real fast

Jump in my car I’ll help you get past

Friend to friend that’s what we’re for

Sayin’ no to drugs that’s how you score

We’re on the scene you know what I mean

No drugs for me I remain clean

You had a problem and we solved it

You put down the drugs, Parkman applauds it!

Drug Free Baby – I’m clean, I’m clean

Yo man let’s get out of here

Word to your mother!

Don't you just love it!!! I thought he did a GREAT JOB. He did most of it himself and when he would get stuck I would help him find a word that rhymed! I hope he wins, he worked so hard on this!

Stay tuned - tomorrow is Rock N Roll Day!

80's Day

2010-10-26T06:48:00.000-07:00

This week is Red Ribbon Week - today is 80's Day! I had so much fun with this, took me back to my youth!
Park with his tight rolled jeans and Teen Wolf Shirt and Ella with her crimped hair and leggings!

Tomorrow is Hip Hop Day - I have NO IDEA what we will do for that. Stay tuned!!!!!!!

The hair is GONE!

2010-08-30T06:07:00.000-07:00

Parker decided this weekend that he wanted to cut his hair. He has had longer hair for so long, I was kind of nervous about what it would look like. Well I love it! I can see his cute little face now - He looks so grown up! I just love this little man, he is filled with so much personality and seems so much older than he really is!

Check him out!

He was super excited about his new Faux Hawk -

Back to School

2010-08-05T09:30:00.000-07:00

Well today I sent my 5th and 1st graders off to school!! I can not believe they are getting so big! Where has the time gone? I must say that I am super proud of the little people they have become, they make me so proud everyday!

Parker was so embarrassed that I was taking his picture in front of the school! Right before I took it he said "Ella please don't blink so we have to stand here and take another one!" What a little turkey! Little did he know I was coming inside to take a couple more!

Her is my little anchorman, this morning was his debut on the school news! I really wanted to stay and watch but he told me that he was a little nervous ant thought he would do better if I just left!!!

He was really mortified here that I was still taking pictures!!! But like one of his teachers told him, I am his mother, I have earned the right!!!! :o)

And here is my little Bell so excited to be a 1st grader - She loves school so much - I pray that it continues each year. She had a super swesome teacher last year, Mrs. Thompson has big shoes to feel!!!

I pray that both of my babies have an excellent school year!!!

How do you feel about Harry Potter?

2010-07-16T07:12:00.000-07:00

I am "borrowing" this post from Stuff Christians Like, which I just love - check it out http://stuffchristianslike.net/

anyway - How do you feel about Harry Potter? Me personally, I really feel there is nothing wrong with it. My son has almost read all of the books and my husband has read them all. I know a lot of people get in a tizzy when they hear anything about magic but why? It's not real and my son knows that, isn't it ok to have an imagination? I bet a lot of those same people that dislike Harry Potter so much celebrate things like Santa Claus, Halloween, Tooth Fairy, Easter Bunny......aren't all of those things make believe?

I would love to hear your take on this, read the below article and then tell me your thoughts!

P.S. Wasn't there magic in Narnia?

Hating Harry Potter, giving Gandalf a free pass.

by Jon
Once upon a time, there was a wizard. Though his background was shrouded in mystery, there was little doubt he was the most powerful wizard in the land. He had a deadly enemy, but good friends, including a red headed guy he always hung out with. People that should have loved him, once instead made him spend his nights in a small, prison like room. He rode the backs of winged animals and had a bitter rival who hated him. Christians had an incredibly strong reaction to the books he was in, which were written in the United Kingdom. I am of course talking about …

Gandalf.

That’s Gandalf’s story. But it reads a little like Harry Potter’s doesn’t it?

Who knows Gandalf’s back story? It’s as mysterious as Harry’s. (Did you know his last name is MacGargle? True story, Gandalf MacGargle.) Both wizards were powerful and hung out with red heads. Gandalf had Gimli, Harry had Ron. Gandalf was imprisoned on top of the tower by a former friend, Harry was trapped under the stairs by his own family. And Christians have had an incredibly strong reaction to the books.

We love the Lord of the Rings.
We hate the Harry Potter series.

But at the end of the day, they’re both kind of magical. Tolkien was a Christian, so in many ways we weave in Christian theology to Gandalf and the other characters. I think there are a ton of parallels, but I also think we elaborate a little on the story. And Potter author J.K. Rowling? Who knows what, if any, spiritual leanings she has.

The wild card to a debate which I think might have been covered approximately 95 million times prior to this article, is the new theme park at Universal Studios in Orlando.

I am not exaggerating when I say that my brother and I have already talked about going there this December. Our feeling is that to go to a replica of Hogwarts and Harry Potter’s world during the summer wouldn’t make sense. You’ve got to go when it’s cold enough to wear a Gryffindor scarf and you can drink a butterbeer and perhaps get some sort of sweets from Honey Dukes. (Bennett is going to bring his one year old and give the sorting hat a whirl, fingers crossed it doesn’t say “Slytherin!”) Harry Potter never wore shorts that I’m aware of, but that’s beside the point. The point is, I’m going.

I asked my wife about this debate, Harry vs. Gandalf. The first thing she said was that we would not be a family who raised their kids to attend Universal, so great is her love for Disney. The second thing she said was that I couldn’t read the books to our oldest daughter until she was 12. I told her I had a different belief about the likelihood of our pre-pubescent daughter sitting down with her dad to hear a book about magical wizards. But I don’t know if I’m going to read them to her or not.

I don’t love the dark arts undertones and I love the irony of writing about Harry Potter in the same week in which I claim to be getting more conservative. But where are you at on this?

Harry vs. Gandalf.

What do you think about Harry Potter?

Letterboxing - 2nd Attempt - MISSION FAILED!

2010-07-12T06:27:00.000-07:00

Well our second attempt to locate a letterbox was not a success, but we still had a great time! We arrived on Sunday afternoon around 3:30 and had a quick picnic lunch. Man was it hot! The clues for this letterbox said it was located in Clinton Park like the first one. The directions had us going deep into the woods, we followed the clues and we were beginning to think we were not going the right way, so we turned around and started over!

Ella, Murphy and I decided to sit by the pond and watch the frogs while Keith & Parker started the hike again. They called me about 5 minutes later and said they had found the correct path all the way back into the rocky flats area. And let me just say - those rocks were so hot the heat was radiating from them. I bet we could have cooked our lunch on them! Poor little Murphy, was pooped! He was so hot I was really worried about him. Keith had dug all around in the place it was suppose to be, I was really nervous he was going to stir up a snake!!! Parker had already ripped his shirt off and Ella was begging to take hers off. I told her that little girls do not take their shirts off, She came back with, "Well I don't have boobies yet!"

Well after poking around awhile we decided the box was not there, maybe someone found it by accident and took it! So we started our journey back - with Ella whining that she was too hot and that she could not take another step. Well she and Murphy felt the same - we got ready to walk and Murphy just laid down, so Keith picked him up and put him in his backpack, I so wished I would have taken a picture! Parker was leading the pack with his shirt on his head and "staff" in hand looking like he was about to part the Red Sea. (should have gotten a picture of him as well)

We finally made it back to the car dripping with sweat, the first thing I did was pull up the clues on my phone and email the folks who placed the box, to see if it had been removed or if we were looking in the wrong area.

Later that evening I received an email from the "placer" - She said that she has been meaning to remove the link, she thinks the box was lost in the flood in September!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Holy Cow - so we looked in those woods for 3 hours and the box was not there and has not been for 10 months!!! Too funny! At least we got some good exercise in!!! :o)

Letterboxing - Something Fun for the Family

2010-07-09T07:30:00.000-07:00

If you have not heard of Letterboxing - it is a blast!! We went out on our first "hunt" last night! The kids had so much fun! After Keith and Parker solved all of the clues we went out in search of "The Medieval Mystery". This letterbox was hidden at Clinton Nature Preserve in Winston. It was well hidden, we were beginning to think we were on the wrong path when Parker spotted our last clue! We had so much fun, Ella was ready to go find our next one last night but it was beginning to get a little dark and we were without a flashlight!!!!

We can not wait to go on our next journey!!!!

Want more information:

http://www.atlasquest.com/

http://www.letterboxing.org/

Our Busy Memorial Day Weekend!!

2010-06-01T08:28:00.000-07:00

Wow - this weekend was super busy but super fun! Ella was a flowergirl in a wedding, and she was BEAUTIFUL!!! Parker was in a baseball tournament in Woodstock, this was their first tournament playing together as All-Stars and they did FABULOUS!!!! They played 7 games in 3 days, with 3 of those games being on Monday. They battled the heat, humidity, rain & THUNDERSTORMS!!! But after all was said and done they won FIRST PLACE!!!! I am so super proud of them!

Parker is playing 2nd base and pitching. He did great, had a lot of great plays!

Here are some pictures of our weekend:

Parker with Coach Collins

The #1 Winston All-Stars

The group with the little fans (sibilings) My Ella thought she was one of the boys this weekend!

The team trophy was huge - Taller than Park as you can see!

They were so excited!!

And last but not least my very pretty flowergirl, I just love this little girl!

I can't wait to see the "professional" pictures - I am sure I will have to share those with you all when I get them!

Parker and his All-Star team start another tournament tonight - I hope they will WIN it again!

My Ladybugs

2010-05-26T05:56:00.000-07:00

I am so super proud of my Ladybugs, they won First Place at the End of the Season Tournament last night. After two night of double headers (which is a whole lot for 4, 5 & 6 year olds) they did it! They have came such a long way, at the beginning of the season a couple of them could barely even hold a bat, let alone swing it! They all did so great! My very favorite little Ladybug, Ella did awesome last night, she caught her first pop fly and also had the most awesome play at home to tag a runner out. The umpire said that it should be on the play of the week on ESPN!!! :o)

I have had so much fun this season with these little cuties, but let me tell you it is HARD work!!! If you have never been a coach I am telling you it is really tough, and before you get all huffy and puffy at your kids coach take a minute and ask yourself, what would you do in their shoes and remember we are human and make mistakes too!!!!

Here are some more pics:

My favorite little girl

As fun as the season was I am a bit relieved it is over - Parker has started All-Stars and is in his first tournament this weekend in Woodstock, it's tough when you got 2 running in 2 different directions. But I love it and wouldn't change a thing!!!

Ed Hardy........Just don't do it!

2010-05-13T08:42:00.000-07:00

Ed Hardy is a clothing company that makes a wide range of expensive t-shirts, hoodies, and jeans. These clothes are notable for their use of elements from classic tattoo design such as skulls, hearts, and dragons. I know hate is a very STRONG word but I HATE these clothes. I mean take a look at these GOOBERS.....

They are really cool, don't ya think!!!! My husband has a name for these guys with the initials of D.B. Don't get me wrong I really do like the "slim fit" shirts that are in for guys right now but something about the Ed Hardy ones just make me ill. I always think they are about to head out to a UFC party or the nearest night club so they can do their "White Man's Overbite Dance" you know the one where they sway back and forth while holding a beer in one hand!!!!

So this is my public announcement for the day...... If you own any Ed Hardy clothing, burn it! Or WAIT maybe you could hang on to it and instead of having a Tacky Christmas sweater party I will have a D.B Ed Hardy gear party!!!!

Oh and one last thing..... I realize they are now selling Ed Hardy merchandise for children, please don't do that to those innocent babies - IT'S JUST WRONG!!!!

P.S. I do understand that Ed Hardy was a legendary Tattoo Artist, but he never should have let Christian Audigier get the rights to produce apparel! He is also the same guy to bring us those lovely Von Dutch trucker hats......

need I say more???

Ed Hardy

Christian Audigier

Kate Mcrae

2010-05-12T10:14:00.000-07:00

Well my blog today isn't something that will make you burst out in laughter but is something that I hope you will read and begin praying with me for this sweet, sweet girl.

Isn't she beautiful, her name is Kate Mcrae and she is almost 6 years old (just like my Ella). This little angel is battling cancer. She has a brain tumor that was discovered in June of last year. She has already been through, brain surgery, chemo and is currently undergoing proton radiation. Her tumor is so rare that at this point once she finshes the radiation the doctors are unsure of what to do next if the radiation does not kill the tumor.

I stumbled across her website about 3 months ago and just feel attached to this little girl, maybe it's because she is the same age as Ella and I just can not even begin to think of my baby girl going through this.

I follow her blog daily praying for a miracle. I do know that our God is the Great Physician and with him all things are possible. I hope that you will join in with me and pray for Kate and her sweet family.

Here is Kate's Story:

This site is dedicated to our beautiful and courageous daughter Kate who is currently battling against brain cancer.

June 29, 2009 has forever changed our family. The day continues to bring a torrent of emotions as we recall it, and yet we pray that one day we will recall it knowing it changed us but did not defeat us. It was a Monday where I, Kate's mom, was going to take our 3 kids Olivia 7, Kate 5 1/2, and Will 4 to the water park. A day of celebrating summer. Plans changed quickly as I noticed that a slight tremor in Kate's right hand over the past three days had notably worsened.

We made an appointment to her Pediatrician. Early evening we were headed to Phoenix Children's Hospital for a stat CT of Kate's head. I patiently filled our Kate's kindergarten application as we waited to be released after the CT. We however would not be released. Rather 3 people came out to tell me that our little Kate had a large mass on her brain. Our world stopped.

You can never prepare fully for a moment where one sentence changes everything. We were emergently admitted to PICU and began the battle for Kate's life.

There are no words possible to describe how difficult this journey has been. Our hearts saddened to a point we didn't know existed. And yet, we are fully prepared to walk this and fight with Kate every step of the way.

We believe strongly in the power of prayer. We know none of this has caught our God off guard. And He is fully capable of healing our daughter.

Love,
Holly & Aaron Mcrae
http://www.prayforkate.com/

Once you go to the site you can click on blog, this will take you to her caring bridge page. You can read the current journal or you can click on journal and start from the beginning. You will see that this family has had so many ups and downs but through it all they have kept their faith and know that God is with them every step of the way!

Grab your babies, Hug them, Squeeze them and thank GOD for their health!

Don't sweat the small stuff!!!

GOD IS GOOD!

It's been a long time..........

2010-05-11T12:26:00.000-07:00

Like that fine band Led Zeppelin once said, "It's been a long time since I rock and rolled!" except for me, "It's been a long time since I blogged at all!" But I am taking the steps to get back on track!!! A dear friend has "reminded" me often that I have not blogged and that I was letting my followers down. I am so sorry and I promise to TRY and do better!(TL)

Let me just say that my world has been super, super busy - THE WORKING MOTHER IS VERY OVER-RATED! With work, coaching softball, baseball, PTA, Room mom, Sassy & Sweet, Treasurer and all the other stuff that I do I stay pretty crazy. But you know I don't think I would have it any other way. I had someone tell me that I needed to quit trying to be a stay at home mom, but you know I want to be there and do all those things for my kids - I wish that things were different and I could stay at home but until that day I am going to keep on truckin' like I have been. Yes, I will probably be grey a lot sooner than some but I will be happy that I was so involved in my kids lives!

Until next time America............. Smith Out ---

Super Excited

2009-09-13T17:09:00.000-07:00

My friend Amy Darsey and I are embarking on a new adventure!

Amy and I both LOVE being in the kitchen (minus doing the dishes) so we have decided to take what we love and try to make a business out of it. We are going to have lots of sweet treats to choose from, packaged super cute for great gift ideas!

Say a little prayer for us, I am so excited about this I can hardly contain myself!!! We are in the process of working all the kinks out and plan to have a Taste Party real soon!

Stay tuned everyone!!!!!

Still hurts after 8 years...........

2009-09-11T09:16:00.000-07:00

Doesn't it seem like just yesterday that this horrific assault took place against our country. I don't know about you but I still tear up every time I see images like the above. It just breaks my heart to think of the innocent loss of lives. The picture below is one that is just mind boggling.

I say to myself, "How bad were things inside to think that jumping would be a better option!" Or maybe he fell - either way HOW SAD!!! I pray that God came and swept him away before he began to fall and also that the family never saw this photo. Oh how AWFUL!

And so many times we get caught up in all that happened at the World Trade Center that we often forget about the other 2 attacks.

Exactly one hour after the WTC North Tower was hit, Flight 77 crashes into The Pentagon.

All 58 passengers, four flight attendants, and both pilots on board, as well as 125 occupants of the Pentagon, died. Thanks to the quick thinking Military and civilians running up and down the corridors yelling for people to get out helped to save a lot of lives.

Lastly when United Flight 93 took off, it began a journey that would end not in San Francisco, as planned, or smashing into some Washington target, but in an aching glory. No one will ever know exactly what happened on that plane but the key to whatever took place on Flight 93 may be the 41 minutes it sat on the ground. It gave the passengers enough time to hear about the three other hijacked planes that smashed into the World Trade Center and Pentagon that morning.

Below are pictures of the Hero's that confronted the planes hijackers:

Without these 5 courageous men- there would have been even more devastation and loss.

God Bless these men and the families they left behind!

I hope that you will take a moment today to pray for our country and for those families of lost loved ones. I pray that we will never forget September 11th and how it changed our country forever!

I leave you with a couple of images that make my heart smile - that remind me that those men and women were never alone in their last moments. God was right there with them, comforting them and taking them home!

This is a cross that was uncovered under all of the rubble and debris:

God Bless America!

The Crazy Night Man

2009-09-04T07:43:00.000-07:00

Well last night we all hung out and watched TV in the family room, both kids were out pretty early. Parker was asleep by me on the sofa and Ella was piled on top of Keith in the recliner. Let me start off by saying when Parker is asleep he is out of this world into a whole other dimension! I mean it's like he has been given anesthesia - when you try and wake him up he talks about the craziest things and is just completely limp.

With that being said I know I am up for a challenge when tying to rouse him to go upstairs to get in his bed. The boy is 74lbs and I just can not carry him. I call his name a couple of times, give him a little nudge.....nothing! I then grab both of his arms and pull him up while saying, "Parker look at me, it's Mommy, I need you to get up and walk upstairs to your bed" He looks at me smiles and goes back to his comatose state. I try again, " Parker baby, Mommy can't carry you please get up" I pull him up to his feet his head bobbles around and I get him walking leading him by the hand. We make it over to the steps and I see that his eyes are closed, I tell him that he has to open his eyes and take a step. Well 15 steps later we finally make it to the top, at this point his eyes are open and I think he is good to go. I say to him, "Ok buddy go get in your bed, love you!" I go to my room to fold some towels on the bed and then walk to Ella's room to get her clothes ready for the morning and to make sure her bed is ready for her when Keith brings her up. Keith gets her into bed I give her a kiss on the forehead and tell her goodnight. I turn her light off and walk around to Park's room and look in the bed and he is not in there!!!!!!!!!!! I think to myself, "Oh dear, he must have laid in the floor." I walk around the bed and do not see him anywhere. I walk outside his room and say to Keith, "I can't find Parker" and out of the corner of my eye I see movement in the office!!! His head popped up- He had went into the office pulled the chair out and sat down and laid his head on the desk and went back to sleep!!!! When he lifted his head silver glitter was falling off because earlier that day I had made a sign for cheerleading. It was so funny!!! I am so glad that I went and checked on him or he might have had a crick in his neck this morning!

If only I would have taken a picture!!!!! Darn it - I couldn't quit laughing long enough to think about getting a picture! Oh well here is a picture of him anyway so you can get a visual of his cute little face!!!

Sounds like a Great Job, well maybe not!

2009-09-01T05:33:00.000-07:00

I have always thought it would be so cool to be a Drug Rep. They all dress so cute, in their top notch business suites and their oh so cute heels and they all have the most perfect shiny hair- Have you ever noticed? They beebop in the doctors offices with the biggest smiles on their faces like life just couldn't get any better. Call the Doctors by their first names, bring the staff all kinds of treats- it just seems like the most perfect job.

Well I found the downside to the job.......while sitting in the waiting room of the Gastroenterologist (after flipping through every Chron's, Colitis & IBS magazine - apparently it is against the rules to have any normal magazines like Southern Living or Family Circle in there) The door opens and in comes this tall, dark & handsome man (don't forget dressed to kill) pulling his bag of "goodies" behind.
As he enters everyone looks up at him and he smiles and I swear his teeth sparkled, he then turns to the ladies in the front office- they all smile at him and they open the little sliding glass window to talk to him. He remembers that one of the ladies had been on vacation and that one had been out sick - just s super duper guy! Well then the bomb is about to drop....................... The office manager ask, "So are you dropping off more Nexium samples for us?" and he says, "Yes, but I also have a new product I would love to talk to Jay about." (You know he and the doc are on a first name basis). The other ladies in the office perk up to see what this might be...... The Office Manager then says "Oh, tell us about it!" and then that perfect mouth opens to reveal those perfect teeth and he replies back..................."I have a brand new Suppository that comes with an Easy ANAL GLIDER!"

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!

Oh my dear, it was bad enough to hear the word Suppository come out of that mouth but then to hear ANAL Glider - I almost laughed out loud!!!! I looked around the waiting room to see if anyone else was listening but they were all knee deep in the current issue of Colitis Weekly.

So to sum this all up - there has got to be a down side to every job. I now know that I could not be a drug rep, at least not one that pushes suppositories with ANAL GLIDERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So, I leave you with a picture.......

I am stepping into the BLOGGING World

2009-08-31T07:04:00.000-07:00

I have decided to become a "blogger" (thanks TL for the push) I have debated it several times but decided it would probably be much easier than trying to send emails and pictures about things going on in The Smith Family!

I am super excited and can not wait to get going, I hope something fun and exciting happens in my life today so that I have something to share! :o)

Coming up with a blog title really took some time - I could not think of anything so I thought to myself, most people know how much I love to laugh and just how loud my laugh can be so what better name than........................Bursting with Laughter!

In the meantime here are a couple of pictures from Ella's first game this past Saturday.

Goooooo Falcons!

These 3 are inseparable!

Parker cheering on his sis!

Tune in........ I hope to have something to blog about shortly!