Twilight & Edward

I am so hooked on this series!

It's insane - I feel like I'm 15 again!

Our New President - Barack Obama

Very cool badge from 2 peas. Don't forget to vote!

Countdown to Election Day - you decide

Gulf Shores, Alabama

We had a wonderful time in Alabama! The accommodations were fantastic and the gulf is a gorgeous clear blue-green with white beaches. Along for the ride was Me, Mom, Aunt Madge and Aunt Ethel. Tommy and Joyce came over from Metairie, Louisiana and stayed 3 nights. Later in the week Patty, Lynette and Lara came down from Louisville, Kentucky and stayed 3 nights too.

A Must Read - The Story of Edgar Sawtelle

We stopped at the local Wal-Mart in Alabama before going on down to the gulf shore. I wanted to get a new book to read on the beach. Oh, did I ever pick a winner! This book is one of the best books I have ever read. I could not put it down. This is not a fast-reading book. You want to take your time and savor every word. It is so well written it blew me away. I would rank this book up against any of John Steinbeck, Ernest Hemingway or Colleen McCullough's works. This book was fantastic!

Chicago Part 2 - Windy City Scrapbooking

Weekend in Chicago

Yep, that's me!
Lynette took us here for Dim Sum i.e. breakfast

Great shot of Chinatown by Lynette

Lynette and her new nephew Lucas

Dinner at Connie's - that's Lynette's mother, Alice

We had a wonderful time meeting her family, seeing the sights, good food and a great hotel.

Big Bang Boom! 2008 July Fourth at Lake Storey

Fireworks set up on the bank of Lake Storey

Wow!

Wow! Wow! Wow!

WSW June 14-21 2008

Very cool badge for Worldwide Stamping Weekend at 2peas in a bucket

Happy 16th Birthday Lara!

June 10 - Flowers, presents, cake and ice cream, Oh My!

Vacation Bible School at FCC Aha!

Our theme this year was "Power Lab" Each night there was a Bible point and Bible buddy to help the kids remember God miraculous power. 1. Fizz & Jesus gives us the power to be thankful, 2. Sparki & Jesus gives us the power to help others. 3. Dewd & Jesus gives us the power to be brave, 4. Max & Jesus gives us the power to live forever. 5. Electra & Jesus gives us the power to tell others about God. After each Bible point the kids would raise their right hand and yell Aha! Similar to a mad scientist - think the professor in Back to the Future. You get the idea, Aha! The little Bible buddies are pictured above. Linda and I worked the Science Cinema featuring Chadder Chipmuck. Thanks for loaning us the lab coats, Patty. Everyone loved them and we looked so authentic!

Sex and the City - the movie

This is the epitome of a chick flick. Mom, Jerri Anne and I went to the theater last night and saw the movie - it was fantastic! Everything I hoped it would be. The story picked up just as it had ended in 2004. It was so cool seeing old friends again. I will purchase this movie - I loved it! Thanks girls! and Big of course!

Me and Mark Twain

I was in Batavia at the public library yesterday for professional conduct and ethics training through Prairie State Legal Services. This statue of Mark Twain is at the entrance. He's reading one of his favorite books to me - Huck Finn! Gosh, this is a gorgeous new library. They even have a coffee shop on site.

Graduation 2008

Christopher graduated from Augustana on Sunday May 25th. That's him walking the stage at the iwireless Center in Moline. What a day! We're so proud of him. He graduated with a double major, physics and mathematics. And he worked 2 jobs, campus library and Menard's.

Christopher with the Physics Club outside the science building at Augustana.

The Family on the campus of Augustana.

Happy Birthday Christopher!

Christopher turns 22 on May 18

One of my favorite poets...enjoy.

I thank God for this most amazing day;
for the leaping greenly spirits of trees
and a blue true dream of sky;
and for everything which is natural,
which is infinite,
which is yes."

{ee cummings}

Croppin' at The Slammer in Aledo

Linda Mowrer and me having a good time goofing off while we wait for lunch. We all had such a good time scrapping, chatting, eating...

The Slammer Bed and Breakfast

Jerri Anne and Diana waiting for lunch at "The Livermore" It's a new restaurant in Aledo.

Jerri Anne and I found the jailhouse keys in the kitchen door lock. Look closely and you'll see the letter "A" - I would love to have it for my collection...

I went to a scrapbooking crop at The Slammer in Aledo this past Saturday. The building was formerly known as the Mercer County Jail. It's now a bed and breakfast. The dining area is the actual jail cells. Tablecloths and curtains are all done in a black and white stripe. Our cropping area was in the basement known as the Chain Gang Room right next to the Drunk Tank.

Today's Quote

Live every day with enjoyment -
we don't know what tomorrow will give us.

Starting an excerise plan

A facinating historial series on HBO - I highly recommend it.

Live with intention. Walk to the edge.
Listen hard. Practice wellness. Play with abandon. Laugh.
Choose with no regret. Appreciate your friends.
Continue to learn. Do what you love.
Live as if this is all there is.
------ Mary Anne Radmacher

a Quote to Ponder...

We make a living by what we do,
but we make a life by what we give.
- Winston Churchill

Happy 19th Birthday Patrick!

Nicole's Graduation

Nicole graduated on Friday April 11 from boot camp. She is officially in the US Navy and on her way to quartermaster's school at Great Lakes. The above photo is Nicole with her mom, Lorraine Woods and her mother's boyfriend. Patrick rode up with them Thursday afternoon and stayed at a hotel overnight. Friday night they stayed at Lorraine's mother's home. Lorraine said her mother was up cooking for them at 4:00 a.m.! She wanted everything to be perfect! As you can see in the photo, Lorraine is very proud of her daughter. She was just about to bust when she was telling us all the details about the ceremony Saturday afternoon. Patrick looks pretty proud too.

Patrick with Nicole and her mother's boyfriend.

Patrick took these great pictures of the gradutation ceremony. Nicole was able to come back home for 24 hours so we were able to see her on Saturday afternoon. She looked wonderful in her uniform, dress blues. Nicole gave Mom and I a copy of her graduation photo - professionally taken - and a program of the event. Lorraine said it was SRO, the place was packed! A friend of hers was also there to see her daughter graduate, so they got seats up front with her and her family. Her friend is actually in the service too and deployed to Kuwait and she was approved for leave to come back to the states for graduation. This woman, Michelle Pulley, is also Jerri Anne's assistant warden at Henry Hill Correctional Center. There were television cameras everywhere to capture her daughter's reaction. Michelle's daughter did NOT know she was coming to the ceremony. Mom and I saw it on TV. We were trying to find Nicole in the crowd, but didn't. What a surprise. Nicole said she was interviewed for the Navy channel (didn't know they had one) and she said she'd get us a copy of it. We're looking forward to that.

Jessica McClintock's New Victorian Fragrance

I was in Bergner's at the Shoppes on the Grand Prairie in Peoria last Thursday and tried this new fragrance. It's wonderful! Perfect for Spring. I love it! I was going to purchase a bottle, but there were no bottles available, only the tester. Rats! So, I go shopping online. Guess what? I can't find it in stock anywhere. This perfume must be incredibly popular. I'll keep looking...

Project Runway? It's Fierce!