Getting ready for the 4th!

This is last years celebration. I actually dug out a lot of VERY old papers to do this searching for red, white and blue. Some were from 1996 old CM papers... just goes to show that purging your old stuff might be just throwing money away it all comes back around eventually...

Relaxing by the pool!

Jim relaxing after getting the girls from camp yesterday.

It is nice to have company coming it makes you CLEAN! The boat is all ready for business. Katie and I cleaned it today. It was VERY dirty the cats had been using it as their private bed all winter.... YUCK! It is all nice and clean now! I can't wait to go to the lake now!

SOMETHING NEW TO TRY IF YOU ARE IN NEED OF ENTERTAINMENT
We've discover the channel G4. Crazy Japanese challenge shows. They are addictive! Unbelievable obstacle courses, it just fun to watch!

FULL HOUSE!

Soon to be FULL HOUSE!

Today we pick up the girls at camp! Both will be home for the 4th of July week. In four days my brother's family will be here for a visit. After having the house pretty much to myself for almost a month it is going to be HUGE adjustment, but a good one. I was beginning to show signs of being a hermit...

I actually had a dreaded home party this week, Premier Jewelry. I love their stuff!
It was very small turn out, but predictable because of the timing. Half my friends were either teaching VBS, on vacation (lucky bitches!), at base-ball games, or having baby-sitter issues (glad I'm past that now). But three friends made it, and another wants to order. It was nice little party. I have food left over for an army, BUT that is good today I'm taking it for the end of camp picnic. Jim and I ate it for dinner last night (bonus no cooking for me!) My house is spotless so ready for company. I may have to run the vacuum again and dust, but everything is in place so that will be a snap. Heck I may have the girls do it!


Porch hanging basket flowers



Iron Butterfly




Jim and I have enjoyed having some time to ourselves. We went to one of the wonderful juried craft shows in Nashville. We bought a iron sculpture for one of the beds by the pool of a butterfly. I LOVE IT! Last weekend we bought perennials plants and Jim put them in the bed. I am very please with how it turned out. We also bought the HUGEST hanging baskets I've ever seen for the front porch. OMG! they are gorgeous! Just $25 a piece which I thought was a total bargain. any way it has been fun perking up our place!

We also got to eat out just us! We went to Fridays and tried the Ultimate food network challenge winners food. It was really fun to have watched on TV then get to try it! They put them on the menu! we got different things and shared them plus a piece of the vanilla bean cheese cake (which I HIGHLY recommend). It was perfect! We really enjoyed ourselves.

Hope everyone is having a lovely week!

Odds and ends

Silly kid picture of the week.
Ian and Keely with the Bennett Grandparents

My family has deserted me!

The girls are off at camp and Jim is on a business trip. At least I have my DOGS!
It's been really weird rattling around in this house by myself. I should be getting more stuff done, but I find myself going out or on the phone/internet. Strange people seeking behavior for me...

I did get DH's Father's day gift done! I just have my dad and Jim's step father to shop for... forgot that detail. OOPS! I found a great deal on some Born red sandals! $14 Ok $16 after taxes and such but they are usually $39 to $130 I was jazzed and they are RED what I was looking for, YiPPEE!

Tonight is girls night out. We're going for cocktails and then to see the Sex in the City Movie. I've been dying to see it! Should be a hoot!

Flowers with wings!

I seriously could have stayed the entire day just taking photos at the conservatory. Usually I have to stock butterflies for hours to get the shots I want.
It was totally amazing!

The Butterfly Conservatory at Niagara Falls

Butterflies everywhere you look! Feeding time! they love fruit.


Jim and his friend the butterfly. It hung out with him a long time stayed on his shoulder even when he walked.

It's in the top 10 of my favorite places on earth now.

You walk in and there are hundreds of butterflies every where! I think I stood there at least 10 minutes not moving just watching all the colors fly by me.

I was snapping pictures like mad with both my camera's. I'd go back to Niagara Falls just to go back to the Butterfly Conservatory!

The Falls

I was very pleased with this shot! the weather wasn't the best the first day we were there. But I got the rainbow!!!

Me and my girls

Jim and the girls

We had a lovely flying trip to the falls! We packed a bunch in just two days. These were taken the first day. We did the walk behind the Falls. It was a bit disappointing really, but it might have been nicer if the weather was better. We walked the city, well the touristy part any way. We made plans on what we wanted to visit. Good exercise!

We got to see fireworks over the falls that night. Very pretty! Very COLD!

Ian's All Wed!

Bruce, Keely, Ian & Susan


Holy cow! When did he get old enough to go to college? Get married? YIKES! I'm NOT that old! Wow! all my nephews seem to have aged greatly but not ME!

The wedding went beautifully! Hopefully so will the rest of thier married lives!