My new 'do

I got my hair cut and dyed today. I really like it so I wanted to show it off.





In other news, my new Macbook hard drive arrived today so hopefully my hubby will be able to have it fixed up for me soon.

Happy Birthday Grandma!

Today we all got together to celebrate my Mom's birthday. She wanted to go to White Fence Farm for lunch so we all met up there. The food was really good and we wound up with a really nice and helpful waiter. After cake and Mom opened her presents, we went to check out the "petting zoo" animals. There was a super cute baby goat, llamas and some feisty rams.



The Birthday Girl!


Cassandra, Joe and Mom


Josh, Dad, Abby & Evan




All ready to go shopping?




Feeding the animals

If only I could buy the farm...

This farm is just a few blocks from our house and it's for sale. I wish we could live there. It's all cute and small with 2 cows. Abby and I like to make up stories about the cows. It's a Momma and a baby cow although the baby is getting quite big now.

Oh Noes!!!

I broke my Macbook.

Hopefully my computer whiz husband can fix it.

It's like the nicest thing I've ever owned.

Our last fire of the summer

Happy 1st day of fall everyone!

Friday night we had our last bonfire of the summer. We roasted marshmallows, made s'mores and enjoyed hanging out together. I wish I'd gotten a group shot but I think we got too wrapped up in having fun to remember to take a lot of pictures. I don't even have one of Evan because he was too busy playing with his friend.

Anyway, enjoy!









The guys:



Abby's kitty had to join us of course:


Abby also tried out her new roller skates.

My fall "garden"

The weather has been so beautiful lately and I've enjoyed spending a lot time of out on our deck when I'm home. It's a great study location (so as long as none of the neighbors are outside and wanting to chat) for me when I'm home. We don't have a whole lot of outside to call our own, so I really make the most of what's there. Anyway, here is what our deck and porch look like this week:


Of course, my little shadow Gracie wanted to be out with me taking photos...


Yesterday I found this little fellow on our porch. I believe it's a praying mantis.

The letter to the tooth fairy

Abby lost her 2nd tooth this week and accidentally swallowed it. Of course she was worried about what she could leave for the tooth fairy under her pillow since she didn't have the tooth. So we told her to write the tooth fairy a note. So here's her note and her toothless grin:

Huskies on Parade: Part 3

This past weekend, we got out and found some more Huskies. According to my school newspaper there are many more out and about town. So I'm sure we'll be out hunting for more. It's cute how excited Abby gets when she sees a new Huskie.

Nothing says summer like ice cream cones!

This weekend we went to our favorite ice cream stand in Sycamore. It's nice to sit outside under the bright colored umbrellas and enjoy some cheap soft serve ice cream. I know with the fall coming we won't be doing this as much so it was nice to get in that one last time.


Abby always manages to get as much ice cream on her face as she gets in her mouth. It's cute though!

Quote for the day

Saw this in my random quote of the day and wanted to share:

"The woman who holds a child in her arms and says, 'It's okay that they laughed at you. You are smart; I promise you are'; the woman who holds a man in her arms and says, 'You are no less of a man for having lost your job; to me, you are brilliant and strong'; the woman who can give hope to those who have no reason to hope; the woman who can endure deep pain and know that this too shall pass, and can hold on till it does–the woman who can do and say these things, and has the courage to mean them, carries a conviction that makes them true."– Author Marianne Williamson

For the ladies in my life

My friend Alycia sent me this and I had to share:

Pregnancy, Estrogen, and Women

PREGNANCY Q & A & more!
Q: Should I have a baby after 35?
A: No, 35 children is enough.
Q: I'm two months pregnant now. When will my baby move?
A: With any luck, right after he finishes college.
Q: What is the most reliable method to determine a baby's sex?
A: Childbirth.
Q: My wife is five months pregnant and so moody that sometimes she's borderline irrational.
A: So what's your question?
Q: My childbirth instructor says it's not pain I'll feel during labor, but pressure. Is she right?
A: Yes, in the same way that a tornado might be called an air current.
Q: When is the best time to get an epidural ?
A: Right after you find out you're pregnant.
Q: Is there any reason I have to be in the delivery room while my wife is in labor?
A: Not unless the word 'alimony' means anything to you.
Q: Is there anything I should avoid while recovering from childbirth?
A: Yes, pregnancy.
Q: Do I have to have a baby shower?
A: Not if you change the baby's diaper very quickly.
Q: Our baby was born last week. When will my wife begin to feel and act normal again?
A: When the kids are in college.

'ESTROGEN ISSUES'
9 WAYS TO KNOW IF YOU HAVE 'ESTROGEN ISSUES'
1. Everyone around you has an attitude problem.
2. You're adding chocolate chips to your cheese omelet.
3. The dryer has shrunk every last pair of your jeans.
4. Your husband is suddenly agreeing to everything you say.
5. You're using your cellular phone to dial up every bumper sticker that says: 'How's my driving-call 1- 800-'.
6. Everyone's head looks like an invitation to batting practice.
7. Everyone seems to have just landed here from 'outer space'
8. You're sure that everyone is scheming to drive you crazy.
9. The ibuprofen bottle is empty and you bought it yesterday.

TOP TEN THINGS ONLY WOMEN UNDERSTAND
10. Cats' facial expressions.
9. The need for the same style of shoes in different colors.
8. Why bean sprouts aren't just weeds.
7. Fat clothes.
6. Taking a car trip without trying to beat your best time.
5. The difference between beige, ecru, cream, off-white, and eggshell.
4. Cutting your hair to make it grow.
3. Eyelash curlers.
2. The inaccuracy of every bathroom scale ever made

Girl's Day Out

Yesterday I met up with 2 of my girlfriends from high school. I think it's really amazing that we are still friends 18 years later (even more amazing is that Amy and I are still friends after 25 years). It's nice to have friends that know you so well. Unfortunately we don't all live 5 minutes apart anymore and we can't get together as often as we'd like. How I wish someone would come up with a teleporter or something!

So Brandi, Alycia and I met up yesterday for lunch and shopping and got a chance to catch up. It was a really good time and kind of reminded me of the days in high school when we'd meet up at the mall and hang out. Although this time, we weren't talking about the boys we had a crush on or shopping for tapes and posters...it was talking about husbands and kids and shopping for them.

Here we are:


Brandi is really crafty and talented and she made each of my kiddos a cute little hat. I had Abby model hers for me already:

More weekend photos

Here are some photos from our weekend. Sunday we went to our good friends' house to celebrate their anniversary (Congrats on 3 years of wedded bliss Rob and Alycia!).



Here are Alycia and I:





Video of Abby pushing her Daddy on the tire swing:

Huskies on Parade: Part 2

Today we set out to find and photograph the 2 remaining Huskies that are out now. We got a pleasant surprise too: one that wasn't listed on the site yet but is out!

Here are the ones we saw:





If you want to see a slideshow of all of our Huskie pictures: please go here to see it.

Here are two cute photos of Abby while we were on our Huskie hunt today. Since I had a map of the Huskie's locations on Saturday, Abby had to make herself a map of our adventure too.


Here is Abby taking a photo of one of the Huskies: