Day 220. My Favorite Guy.

I saved this one for you for today.  Yes, technically, he's giving me another one of his, "please don't take my picture" looks, but oh well.  I liked it anyway. :)

Day 219. Labor Day.

We had my side of the fam come over to our house to celebrate Labor Day.  It was a nice day.  We ate.  We played.  We rested.  We visited.

Some of us had the RIGHT IDEA!

And some of us are full of fun, energy, and mischief!

On a separate note, my adorable sister, holding our adorable niece.  She's the favorite aunt.  It's unanimous.  We just can't seem to outdo her.  She bakes their favorite desserts (and lets them HELP her in the kitchen), brings them treats every time she sees them, makes sure to share LOTS of snuggles, and has an ample supply of gum, candy, and first aid in her purse!!!

And just a quick shot of my happy dog.  Doesn't she just look filled with joy?  HA!  I think she may not like to have her picture taken.  :(

Day 218. First Birthday.

This weekend, we celebrated my niece's first birthday.  Oh, what fun she is!  :)

Pretty Princess was the theme for the day, of course!

...because she IS such a pretty princess!!!

This was our gift to her.  It's called the "something blue" bracelet.

I have to "plug" this a little, because I think it's just too darling not to tell you where I got it!  A friend from church represents this company, called U Design Jewelry.  If you want to check it out, click on the link below:

Kim Gronek, U Design Jewelry

The stones on either side of her name, are her birthstones.  And the blue charm is a keepsake charm, to keep with her on her wedding day... "something blue."  It comes with this little poem, and you can add beads to the bracelet as she grows, so it will continue to fit her.  I just loved it!  A perfect keepsake gift for her first birthday.  So sweet.

Day 217. HAIR!

I've written before about the unique perspective one has, being the oldest child in the family.  Of course, it's all I know, so I might as well enjoy it!  It really is fun, because in so many ways, I was able to get all of my growing up finished (relatively speaking, of course), and get to really watch how my brothers and sisters have changed and grown along the way as well.  Being the oldest of five has been very entertaining!  I can honestly tell you there are few people (aside from my husband and children, of course) who I could possibly love and cherish more dearly.  This is my "baby" sister.  There are six years between us, and when we were young, we would be the first to tell you how VAST those six years seemed.  I was married and having my first child, when she was graduating from highschool!  We have always been in different life stages, but RIGHT NOW has been my favorite.  My children are growing, and hers have just gotten here.  :)  I get to relive some of my "baby" days with my sweet niece and nephew, and I get to watch my sister be a mom! 

Before she stayed home with her little ones, my sister was a hair stylist.  She was probably the only person I know who DID hair, but kept her own healthy and long and untouched.  She has rarely cut it, and has NEVER colored it (outside of a random highlight or two).  Last week, she decided to take the plunge.  And look how beautiful she is!


This photo was taken back in April, with her long locks.  :)







































And this one was taken this weekend, after she had it cut.  My favorite part of this story, is that she only had the nerve to cut it after it was long enough to donate.  The salon where she goes, donates the hair to breast cancer patients.

The Bible refers to a woman's hair as "her glory."  I don't know anyone who defines that more than my sister.

Day 216. S'mores!

Our neighbors invited us to share an evening treat of s'mores and fun!  Our kiddos have a good time, playing together, and the temperature actually got cool enough for us to sit around and ENJOY the toasty fire.  I can feel FALL coming on, and I'm loving EVERY second of the transition!

Day 215. Classics.

When my sweet, wonderful friend visited this summer, she encouraged me to try reading some old "classics."  I am NOT much of a reader.  I get bored easily, and move along.  Not to mention, I'm WAY easily distracted!  But when my sister coerced me to give the Twilight series a try, I became HOOKED!  I couldn't put them down.  When my friend discovered this, she thought it was ridiculous that I could enjoy such a thing WITHOUT the ability to enjoy a good piece of classic literature.  Well, we went to a bookstore, and I asked her to choose two.  I would give them a try, just to say I HAD, if nothing else.  Hmmm, that was 3 months ago now.  I'm only halfway through it, and it's about to kill me.  My husband keeps teasing me, as to why I don't just give up... BECAUSE I SAID I WOULD READ IT!  And I'm certainly trying.  I'm finally at a point where I might even be enjoying the character of Mr. Darcy.

I know... I know... how have I gotten through life without reading such things?  Well, when it was mandatory in highschool, I just didn't.  Again,  I TRIED.  I just didn't have the determination I have now, to actually finish it.  And, yes, I would fail the test that came later, of course.  Oh, the things I wish my children would never discover!

In case "the charcter of Mr. Darcy" didn't give it away, this is the book I'm laboring through...  place marked and all. You see how torn and tattered it has become.  I take it all over the place.  I can only read a chapter or two at a time.  And then it stays in the car, or on the kitchen table, or at the water park... WHAT?  Who said that?  Oh, I'll get through it, don't you worry!

Day 214. Zhu Zhus.

These things have invaded my home.  Noisy, squeaky, little things.  They scare my dogs.  They get under foot.  And my two younger children think they're AWESOME.  We have a little collection, complete with Kung Zhu armor and weapons, costumes, and Zhu Zhu tracks.  Sheesh.  The things we'll do for our children.