Flashback Friday - More family photos

So my friend Miranda said I should make this a regular post...I will see how it goes. But I was inspired to scan in some old photos I keep with my jewelry. I figured if it ever gets stolen the photos would go with. Now I have them forever.

I assume this was 1976

I'm not sure when this was exactly, but can you believe I never had braces!

American Idol Again

Okay, I know I promised not to continuously blog about American Idol, BUT this is the best season ever. If you have never watched Idol, the time to start is now! The show is down to an hour on Tuesday nights and I promise it will be an entertaining hour. They are down to 9 contestants and last night everyone did a really great job. This really is the best talent they have ever had. They are just starting to have the star mentors and last night they sang Dolly Parton songs and it was so fun to watch!

I do worry that the website www.votefortheworst.com is actually carrying Kristy Lee Cook along and that is too bad, because it means that someone with a viable chance of winning will have to go home in her place.

I really can't decide who I think should win it. I have been sad about who left the last few weeks and know it is going to be harder going forward. Hope you have fun watching!

Opening Day!

Today the good lord begat another blessed year of Cubs baseball. Only 161 games to go, well 'til playoffs anyway. It is our family tradition to eat hot dogs and cracker jacks, and drink PBR while watching the first Cubs game of the year. I wish I could take sole credit for this creative idea, but I stole it from Dave Moore. When we all worked at American Century he would always bring in hot dogs and throw them in the crock pot on opening day.

Unfortunately, after two separate rain delays, the ace pitcher left the game with forearm cramps, then the highly celebrated newly appointed closer allowed 3 runs in half an inning and the runner up to the closer spot allowed the losing run in the 10th inning. Luckily there were some highlights...Zambrano was on his game. He pitched 6 2/3 innings of scoreless baseball. And Kosuke Fukudome hit a game-tying three-run homer in the ninth to tie it up, but they still fell a little short and lost 4-3. It was a bummer, but we are glad baseball is back!

"Camping"

So this weekend my sweet and funny husband had a big surprise for me. He was so excited to tell me that we were going camping. Now if you have ever traveled with children you know this isn't a very exciting thought because by the time you pack, load and unpack all the crap you need to travel, let alone camp with kids, you are exhausted. So I was quite pleased to see the tent in my backyard! What a great idea! He even pumped up the air mattress for me! So we played hot tomato, looked at shark books, and ate popcorn. We even slept...a little :o)

Family Reunion 1985ish

My friend Miranda does a regular "Flashback Friday" post on her blog and I am going to steal her idea for this week only. My Aunt Betty recently emailed these photos of a family reunion to my cousin Ken (who I actually met and became friends with years later by seeing his name in the phone book) and he sent them to me. So I couldn't resist posting them on my blog, even after my sister Kristin's death threats when I mentioned my plan. The 80s really were a rough hair and fashion era.

My Dad, Aunt Betty, Cousin Steve, Aunt Nancy, Beulah, Amy
Uncle Jim, me, Grandpa Marty, Kristin

Maybe Ken or Aunt Betty could help me out with all the names on this one :o)

Morgan's First Insta-Care Visit

So last Friday (Good Friday) we were in the middle of preparing a yummy dinner and Morgan was standing on a stool trying to reach something on the counter. Then that something fell and she turned to go get it and ran out of stool. She landed hard on our tile floor. Then when she stood up she wouldn't put any weight on her right foot and it was starting to swell. So it is 10 minutes to 5:00 pm on a Friday...I pick up the phone to try and catch the doctor for recommendations and I get the after hours line. So they page the doctor on call and he says I should take her to the insta-care place just down the street. So we put dinner on hold and Morgan and I race off. When we get there I can't even tell what foot it was. I call Ben to be sure I should still take her and of course we decide yes. I go in and she is running, literally running around the waiting area. Are you kidding me? So I still see the doctor, knowing full well that I am wasting her time. I catch Morgan and she wiggles her foot around and confirms that she is just fine. So fine in fact that when we get home she requests to wear a pair of knee high boots with a one inch heel (that we got from my sweet friend Mary). Are you kidding me??????

Spring has Sprung!

This post is a few weeks over due, but I am still pleased that Spring has sprung! The trees are beautiful, the weather is pleasant, and I think all the leaves finally fell of my tree so I can rake for the last time! The South really is beautiful in the Spring. There are so many different types of blooming flowers and the azaleas are especially beautiful. I wish we had more in our yard. Speaking of our yard here are a few photos.