Happy Memorial Day

Thanks to all the service men and women who have served our country.

Today we are planning on placing flowers on my mom and dad's grave, the one thing I like about the cemetery on Memorial day weekend is all the flags and flowers. When my dad died I was almost two and we lived in Garland, Texas, he was buried in Gladstone, Missouri and we moved to that area soon afterwards. My mom was from North Missouri and her sister lived in Gladstone. I think of the time my brother, a neighbor and me (who was probably 3-4) walked to the cemetery which was through an open field behind our house. I can still see my mom driving slowly with the station wagon looking for us, we never walked up there again.

I have plans to get some work done around our house today, hopefully my husband is in agreement. ;-) Brats and burgers on the grill is on the menu.

I've finished all my swaps that are due in May and have a June swap halfway done. Now I need to concentrate on the two sessions I'm presenting at the La Leche League of Missouri Conference coming up this weekend in Columbia. The first one is "Finding your hidden Creativity" which I'm leading by myself, so I need to do the most work on that one. The second I'm co-presenting with another lady is "Cook Once-Dine Twice" it's a once a month cooking session, I'll be doing the cooking club part. I also have to get all the items for the group boutique and silent auction together. I'm sure I'll be half crazy by the time I'm through, but it will be well worth it for the enjoyment I'll get. Lu Hanessia will be speaking, I heard her two years ago and loved her. Here is a link to an article she wrote. She also has some really cool t-shirt, I love "Don't squash my spirit", "Sometimes I amaze myself", "Love doesn't spoil", " Unconditional" and one we all need to think about "Hang up and talk to me". She has many more listed here. I'm also looking forward to hearing Diana West and Dee Kassing speak along with other LLL Leaders on ways to help breastfeeding moms. One of the most rewarding times is reconnecting with old friends and making new ones. I've been involved with LLL for over 14 years and am so glad of all the friends I made and the path my mothering journey has taken. It's also wonderful to be surrounded with like minded people and not be the odd balls. :-)

Crazy Weather

The weather has been crazy here the last two days. Tornado sirens going off crazy winds and the skies have been wild looking. Our 10 year old was in Eureka Springs with her grandparents last weekend and they dove back up Sunday. They were ahead of the tornado that hit Joplin but saw the dark clouds.

	Taken from the top of Bishop-Mcann-May 24,2011 by Scott Cook- KCMO

I-29 South of Barry Rd. KC MO
around noon. by kccatdr 5-25-11
(Nothing wants to line up today)

	Today is a beautiful sunny day and the paper said the bad weather has left the area, for now. This is also the last day of school for my girls, we're looking forward to a fun busy summer.

Friendship Swap

I signed up for the Friendship Swap on Tricia's blog awhile back and received my box from Margie at Hungry Hook Primitives yesterday. She packed the box full of prim patriotic goodies. I was hoping she would make me a hooked item and she did. Isn't this a wonderful prim hanging, it's my first one!!






She also included two prim boxes, they were inside this cute basket. My 5 year old quickly left with the basket and filled it up with her stuff. That girl moves fast. Margie also sent two framed pictures, a star and three pillow tucks that say Life, Liberty and Happiness. Emailing Margie we found out we both are married to Jim's, we each have a daughter named Kaitlyn, we enjoy reading mysteries and Katie Fforde books, and of course love prims. I would really love to try my hand at rug hooking in the future, it seems like I have so many crafts I already do and quite a few unfinished projects, that I can't bring myself to start a new craft....yet. :-) Margie thanks so much for swapping with me.





This is what I sent Margie for the Friendship swap.



Melissa before the 8th grade awards and dance, Friday night. In the fall she'll be at the high school, it's hard to believe how fast those kids grow up.

First year of College over

It's hard to believe Freshmen year is over and we all made it through okay! We're glad Kaitlyn is home. She'll be taking classes at the community college and working at the rec center this summer.

Amy's B-day again

Amy's birthday at Grandma and Grandpa's. I love her expressions, such a sweet little face.





My crazy girls!

Mother's Day

This will be the 6th Mother's day since my mom passed away. I love this picture of her she was always laughing or smiling about something. When she passed away she looked nothing like it. Alzheimer's is a cruel and frustrating disease. I miss her everyday. She was a wonderful mother, she was also my Campfire girls leader and she taught Sunday school for years and that's only touching on a few things. Apple salad, cheese ball, chocolate pudding cake, lasagne and green rice were a few of the dishes she made I loved. She enjoyed sewing and made a lot of our dresses. She also found time to take an oil painting class and a floral arrangement class. Mom you are missed and I'm sad that you were never able to meet Amy. Thanks for being my mom!

Catching up on May

Melissa at Band A Rama-- Turner High School

Jaime and Melissa at the Mother-Daughter Banquet.

Happy 5th Birthday to Amy!

My baby turned 5 today! We met friends at the park and had cupcakes. We'll celebrate on Sunday with Grandma and Grandpa.


The time flies by-- yesterday she was a baby and today she is 5. I never thought I'd have a baby in my 40's but I did and I can't imagine life without her. Her birth was the best birth and one I would have liked to have with my other girls. I had her at a new birthing center with a midwife. Her birth was the least expensive but our insurance would only cover a small percentage since they were out of network. I saved the insurance a lot of money only having a few tests, no genetic testing and no official sonogram you would think they'd be happy to save that and pay the bill.




I received my secret sister swap a couple days ago. Isn't this seed envelope cute ? She also sent this mop cap, soy candle melts (they smell good), seeds and prim magnets. Thank you secret sister!

Happy May DaY

I think I'm almost caught up with my blogging. We bought a new camera and a new camera card, the pictures look great and when I tried uploading to Picasa the computer did nothing. The new card was a 4 gb and our computer wouldn't take it, so all my pictures on that card we had to get on a cd to get them on the computer. Now I need to buy a new 2 gb card, charge my batteries and we should be back in business.