Friday, July 30, 2010

Being a bookworm has it's benefits!

One thing that we've been doing to keep busy this summer is heading to the local library! We've discovered some great books AND movies! Who knew?!?! I got really excited to see the DVD rental area! There were several movies that we haven't seen and to be able to rent them for free?!? Perfect!


Well, the kids registered for the Summer reading program and started working towards their goal of 10 books. When we returned their completed list, we were blown away by all of the freebies they received! Not to mention getting to put their names of the Wall of Fame!

Get a load of the rewards...

They received 2 Chick-fil-a kids meals, 2 Chick-fil-a ice dreams, 2 books, 2 milkshakes from Steak and Shake, 2 tickets to an Atlanta Hawks game, Sam gets a free book from Barnes and Noble, 2 free dinners at Benihana, and four tickets to a local movie theater!

They were so excited and felt like they had accomplished a great feat! Thank you to the local public libraries! We're glad that our tax dollars are going your way!

Read on~
Laurie

Thursday, July 22, 2010

Oh, the excuses....

I know you think that I would have some lame excuse for why I haven't blogged in so long. Well, I have an excuse, but I can promise you it isn't lame! Here ya go....

A few weeks ago, I was doing my weekly shopping in Kroger when I was stopped by a friendly gentleman who just so happened to be a recruiter for the Victoria Secret Bathing Suit catalog! He said that I had the perfect look for the newest bikini line! Can you believe that?!? So, his entourage whisked me off to the Virgin Islands for a quick photo shoot!

It was so fun! They pampered me, fed me caviar, massages every day...it was pure bliss!

Well, when I was at the airport heading home, guess who was sitting next to me?!?!? Brad Pitt! Seriously! He was looking rather lonely. Angelina and the, what 10? 12? kids were no where around. He started talking to me and after about an hour, he said that he just loved my laid back style and great sense of humor. He asked if I could accompany him to an awards banquet, because Ang and the kids were in Mozambique looking for another sibling. I called John and he had no problem with it! (John is such a great and truly understanding husband!) So, instead of flying back to the good ol' USA, we detoured to Paris for the banquet.

The dinner was incredible and it was neat getting to know so many celebrities on a personal level.

Well, while we were on the dance floor, (I can't remember if it was while we were doing the rumba or the venetian waltz) but a nice woman from Dancing with the Stars interrupted us and asked if I'd be interested in being a contestant on next season's DWTS. You know what?!?!? I said "Hey, why not?!?" So be looking for me in the fall!

Well, I'm back to the real world and enjoying life. The kids seem to be enjoying the summer and the countdown to vacation is on! Here's a peek at our lives over the past month or so....

The kids and I tried our hands at geocaching. This was our first find! The treasure was located in the Alpharetta Visitors Center.
Lily tried her hand at cheerleading and loved it! This is Miss Lil and BFF, Abby.

We spent a weekend in Chattanooga to take in the Riverbend Music Festival. It was a blast! The best part was having front and center seats to hear one of our favorites...Alison Krauss! This is a picture of the stage from our hotel room. We watched Sheryl Crowe in the air conditioned comfort of our room!

I made a batch of blueberry conserve. It is oh so yummy! Here's Lily's look of bliss after she tasted it!

Sam and his girls!
Horrible pic! We both had rolled out of bed and put on swim suits to spend the day at the water park. But it was with my friend of 30+ years...I had to post it! Love ya, Nicole!
Splash!



We hosted a Fourth of July party for several friends and it was so much fun! Food, friends, fireworks...can't wait until next year!


And Lily can make a friend anywhere! This one, she picked up from inside of our pool! Yes, he was still alive!


We took a Saturday road trip to Amicalola Falls in N. Georgia to take in the beautiful waterfall! And yes, Sam and Lily made it up (and down) all of those steps!
John completed another 100 mile bike ride. I call him "Crazy", others call him "fit"!

This little hairy thing spent a day with us as we searched for her home. The kids loved her and Bear did, too. But the local vet scanned her for a microchip and we were able to locate her owners! They were thrilled!

So, I hope to get back into a normal blogging schedule. But I can't make any promises! Who knows who I'll run into at Kroger today!

Giggles~
Laurie

P.S. Please pray for my sister-in-law and niece who are leaving on Sunday for a 9 day mission trip to Malta. Safe travels and good luck to you both!

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Paula Deen ain't got nothin' on me...

well, except for some t.v. shows, a magazine, some cookbooks, a cookware line, a restaurant, a few million dollars, etc. But besides that, she's got nothin'!

(She's got some pretty darn white teeth, too!)

I mention dear Paula, because she has given me my latest inspiration in my canning adventures. Right there on page 41 of the latest issue of Cooking with Paula Deen. Sweet Georgia Peach Honey - yum! I mean come on, how could I pass up something that sounded so perfect and so southern?!?

Sweet Georgia Peach Honey -makes 6 pints

1 large unpeeled orange (quartered and seeded)
1 unpeeled lemon (quartered and seeded)
12 cups of unpeeled peaches (pitted and chopped) approx. 20 peaches
8 cups of sugar

Add oranges and lemons in food processor and process until smooth. Add peaches, in batches, to lemon/orange mixture and pulse until smooth.

In a Dutch oven, combine peach mixture and sugar. Bring to a boil over medium-heat, stirring constantly to prevent scorching. Reduce heat to medium and cook, stirring frequently, 1 to 2 hours or until mixture is the color and texture of honey.

Follow standard canning procedures, processing 10 minutes in the water bath.

Oh Paula, thank you so much (or shall I thank your "Grandma Paul", who is credited in the magazine) for sharing this! It is delicious! And pretty!!


Can do~
Laurie

P.S. Perfect addition!

*Strawberry Preserves, Peach Honey, Blueberry Conserve

Saturday, June 26, 2010

Dog days of summer!

What do you do on these hot, steamy days of Summer?!?! Well, a lemonade stand, of course!

Lemonade $.50 - peppermint $.05 What a deal!


Bear joined in on the fun!

Patiently waiting!

Well, they ended up $11.50 richer!

Perfect Saturday~
Laurie

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

And now, another edition of:

Conversations from the backseat of my minivan!

I know you've been waiting on pins and needles for another edition and I do believe this one will please!


Allow me to set the stage for you:

Sam, Lily Clare and myself are leaving the cool, air conditioned house and entering the minivan that has to be 200+ degrees. We are all buckled in and waiting for the A/C to do it's thing. Conversation begins....

Sam: Oh my gosh, no one wants to touch my armpits right now!

Lily: Why?

Sam: Because they are so, so wet!

Lily: Oh, let me feel!

Conversation pauses as Lily leans across the seat to (I'm assuming) touch Sam's wet armpit.

Lily: Ha, they ARE so wet!

Silence.

Lily: Mine are too!

Sam: Let me see.

Again, conversation pauses while Sam confirms Lily's statement.

Sam: Yeah, and they smell, too.

Lily: Yeah.

Then we pull into the Publix parking lot and exit the now cool minivan and enter the sweltering, humidity laden, asphalt heated air.

I can only imagine the condition of their armpits at this point.

Raising my hand cause I'm Sure~
Laurie

Monday, June 7, 2010

Ahhhh....

In his happy place......


And, yes, that is his happy look!

Arfff~
Laurie

If she thought....

saying "Susie sells seashells down by the seashore" was hard before?!?! Baby girl really has her work cut out for her now!


So precious!

Loving the lisp~
Laurie