Beautiful Butterflies

We have this HUGE Butterfly Bush in our yard and each year the butterflies cover it in the summer months. This year is no different ... there is literally a butterfly on each limb.

Mike took these beautiful pictures yesterday.

I thought I would share how they came about ...

He had been working outside all day putting up siding on the addition. He was drenched with sweat, and so, so tired. He came to the front door and said "Quick Missy give me the camera". I ran the camera out to him, thinking something was wrong. He started taking pictures of the various butterflies. My heart just filled with love for him. He was so HOT and so TIRED, yet he took the time to capture these beautiful creatures ... gosh I love that man!

Hope you enjoy ...


This one is gold and brown ... beautiful!


It's hard to see ... but this one is black and blue


A couple of different butterflies


In this picture alone I can see FIVE butterflies!

This Boy Loves Bananas!

Griffin absolutely loooooves bananas ... I thought I would share this very cute picture of him eating one today.



If he sees a banana ... he wants it ... and he wants it NOW.

The other day when we were at the Children's Museum he discovered a plastic banana in the play kitchen and brought it to me ... he wanted to eat it. So cute!

Here's wishing everyone a GREAT Sunday.

Harley's New "Do"

Yesterday Harley got her hair cut ... she searched the internet for different styles and found several that she liked. Many of course were celebrities, Jessica Simpson, Nicole Richie, Hilary Swank, Sandra Bullock ... the cut on each one she chose looked exactly the same to me.



This is Harley after we visited Shear Wildness yesterday ... and she loooves her new cut. It's cute and sassy ... just like she is.

Oh ... and since this post is about Harley ... thought I would share the link to her handmade scrapbook embellishments again.

Click on the following link to see her darling items!
Harley's Scrapbook Pieces

Stop by for a peak ... you might see something you HAVE to have.

Mexican Corn On The Cob Recipe

If you like corn-on-the-cob ... you will LOVE this Mexican corn-on-the-cob recipe!

It's from Paula Deen's cooking show ... love her.


Start with fresh corn-on-the-cob


MMMMMM .... doesn't it look yummy???


Clean the corn ... removing all the silk


Slather each ear with mayonnaise ... yes ... MAYONNAISE.


You will also need Parmesan Cheese, Chili Powder, Salt and Pepper


Dust each ear with PARMESAN CHEESE
Sprinkle with CHILI POWDER, cracked pepper and salt
Wrap each ear individually in aluminum foil
Place into a PRE-HEATED 350 degree oven for 20 minutes


It is the MOST delicious corn-on-the-cob you will ever taste!

Air & Space Museum - Washington, DC

My husband Mike is an avid flyer ... he's currently taking flying lessons and he's loving it. This past Saturday was quite rainy and dreary, so we decided to take a trip to the Air & Space Museum in Washington, DC. DC is only an hour and a half from our house ... we really should visit more often ... there is soooo much to do.

I thought I would share some photos of our trip


Signs to Washington


Mike and Griffin checking out the engine area


War planes ... this one was cool ... it was painted like a shark


Space Shuttle Enterprise


Wow ... look at these computers ... they were humongous back in the day!


More airplanes ...


Griffin running around the wide open space ... he was tired of being in the stroller


Harley and I are on the right ... the folks on the left would not leave ... so Mike went ahead and took the picture


The Enola Gay


More airplanes ...

We also saw the Concord and the Virgin Atlantic plane that just circled the world, however I guess I didn't take any pictures. It really was ALOT of fun. If ever in DC, make sure to check it out.

Harley's Scrapbook Pieces

As I've mentioned before, my niece Harley is spending the summer with us.

We thought of a fun way for her to earn some extra money while she's here.

Drum Roll pleaseeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeese ........................

Introducing .... Harley's Scrapbook Pieces ... just click on the link to see her darling handmade Scrapbook Embellishments.



This is a picture of Harley hard at work punching her Scrapbook Pieces.

Please take a moment to see her collection ... you get SIX Handmade Scrapbook Embellishments for ONLY $1.00! You couldn't ask for a better deal!

Tuesday Morning With Griffin

So ... I'm sitting here this morning (6:00 am) trying to decide what to blog.

I look over and Griffin is climbing onto the rocking chair to watch Jay Jay the Jet Plane. My heart is overwhelmed with love for this sweet little boy ... so ... my blog is going to be about him.

He actually went to sleep at 6:30 last night. He fell asleep while we were eating dinner. He never took a nap yesterday ... and he actually slept until 6:00 this morning. We are going to get back on schedule today.



One of his favorite things to do is play on the front porch and blow bubbles. He's so cute when he does this. He climbs up on this little antique chair we have out there to reach the bubbles and then hands them to us to blow them for him.

1:30 PM TUESDAY UDPATE!
So ... we had to run to Richmond to take some things to Mike at work. We stopped by and picked up lunch to eat when we got home. As we were eating lunch I said "it's good" ... and then Griffin said "it's good" too! Oh my gosh!! I could not believe he actually said it. Harley and I looked at each other with our mouths wide open and starting laughing. Of course we tried and tried to get him to say it again, but he wouldn't. Sooooooo ... Griffin said his first official "sentence" today ...

"It's Good!"

This 'N That

Just thought I would post some thoughts today ... I'm a bit overwhelmed.

This weekend Griffin started tugging at his ears and was quite fussy. So, this morning I took him to the pediatrician and he has an infection in each ear ... more antibiotics ... another 2 hour wait in the pediatrician's office, plus it's an hour drive there and back, then on to the pharmacy, and had to get groceries. I'm just exhausted ... didn't get home until 3:00 pm ... and really ... I just want to go to sleep.

I guess it could be because I'm PMSing ... or perhaps because the dag'um birds wake me up every morning at 5:00 am. Anyway ... no nap for G today ... it's too late, maybe he will go to bed early.

I don't know what I'm cooking for dinner ... chicken something. I've layed out chicken and I'm sure I will be able to come up with something. Faghitas? Spinach Chicken? Stir Fry? I just don't know ... and no one else will tell me what they want.

My inlaws left on Saturday ... it was so nice having them visit ... and it was great fun having them around ... but really I can get NOTHING done while they are here. It's just nice having the house back to normal ... less food to cook, fewer dishes to wash ... and we get our chairs back in the living room ... and I guess Mike can take the leaf out of the kitchen table to make more room in there again.

I just feel completely OVERWHELMED! I can't seem to get caught up on my scrapbooking orders ... and I feel really bad about that.

I think I have a solution that I am implementing on Tuesday.

I'm going to start working on the kitchen table while Griffin is awake. That way I don't have to worry about him grabbing stuff from my work table ... and Harley is going to help me. It will be sooooooooooo nice to get caught up on my orders. I'll just have to clear the table before lunch and dinner each day. Honestly, it's the only way I can think of getting things done. And I think it will work.

Such a down post today ... but it's how I'm feeling ... tomorrow is sure to be a BRIGHTER day.

It's Friday Again & A Wyatt Update

I can hardly believe it's Friday again ... where did the last week go? It's so hard to get anything done when you have family visiting. I guess I will have to "surrender" to the fact that nothing will be accomplished until Monday. Although I've been working (as much as possible, but not nearly enough) ... I feel like I've gotten NOTHING done.

Any hoooooooo ....

It's been a month since we first found out Wyatt has kidney failure. I thought I would give an update on how he's doing. This is a picture Mike took of Wyatt and me the other not ... I can't believe I'm sharing this picture because it is HORRIBLE ... but it's one of very few of just Wyatt and me.



He seems to be doing okay. We are continuing the water therapy every other day, along with antibiotics and Pepcid AC. He's still not eating very much, but he's drinking lots and lots of water. He is still getting around, even running after a squirrel yesterday. Maybe God has decided to give us more time with him.

Little "Mean" Girls

My father-in-law and Mother-in-law are very interested in architecture. So, we decided to drive into a historic part of Richmond called "The Fan". There are some very old, ornate, beautiful homes there ... and it was great fun looking at all of the homes.

We came upon a tiny park right in the middle of all the homes and decided to let Griffin play for awhile.

There were about 8 kids playing around, and three little girls playing together. As Griffin was wondering around he walked near them and they said to him "This is OUR sand, go away" ... I thought ... mmmmmmm. I walked Griffin away from them and he was sliding, having a good time. Then I overheard the little girls say ... "We do not like boys". Never once did one of the mothers correct their daughters, or say anything to them.

Well ... I overhead several more things being said to other children.

One of the mothers then said something like ... oh they say things ... but they don't really understand what they are saying .... oh my gosh ... they are creating MEAN GIRLS! Do they not understand that? I just wanted to go up to them and say, he doesn't want to play with you anyway ... but I didn't ... yes ... I was an ADULT.

Anyway ... we left and went to the Children's Museum and had a GREAT time!


C'mon ... who could be mean to this face???

Sweet Summer Memories

Ahhhhhhh ... Sweet Summer Memories.

Warm weather & Ice Cold Watermelon ... is there anything better than that?

Add a cute boy with a backwards turned baseball cap and it's absolutely a perfect summer day.

Mike's Dad Ray (Pop) and Step-Mom Jeri (Nana) are here visiting from Florida. They brought a wonderfully sweet watermelon with them and we dug right in. Griffin didn't care much for the taste, but he had fun poking holes in the melon ... and Pop let him.

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies ... Yum!

I enjoy simple pleasures ...

Like spending time with my family and baking cookies. We decided to make our favorite Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies last night ... they were delicious! We use the recipe on the Quaker Oatmeal box but instead of adding raisins, we add lots and lots of chocolate chips!


Mike, Griffin and Harley anxiously awaiting the cookies from the oven


Lined up and ready to bake ...


Yum ... cookie dough!


More cookies ready for the oven


Up close ... don't they look delicious??


Is there anything better than warm cookies from the oven and a glass of ice cold milk?

TGIF

Thank God It's Friday ...

Even though I'm home everyday, I really look forward to Friday. There's something about the last day of the "work week" that I look forward to.

Griffin, Harley and I will be running errands today.

I finally have an appointment for an eye exam today. Since my glasses broke about 2 weeks ago I've been wearing my old "coke bottle" glasses from the early 90s and my contacts. I like wearing my contacts but it's hard to see close up with them. When I'm working I'm constantly taking my glasses off to draw faces and putting the small penning details on my paper piecings. I wish they could just repair the glasses that broke. The arm broke off, and I really do not think they can be repaired. I will ask though. It would be nice to have a back up pair that aren't so dated. I asked Mike if he could sauter them back together for me ... he said ... no, with a laugh. Anyway ... it's off to the eye doctor today for me.

This is a picture I took of Griffin the other day when we went for a walk. He is fascinated with flowers and rocks. He stops every two feet to explore and touch ... I love it!



I'd like to wish everyone a very happy weekend! Have fun!

Watching Daddy ...

When Mike is outside working, Griffin keeps a close eye on him through the windows.

It is absolutely one of the cutest things you will ever see.



The other day Mike was mowing the grass and I wanted to take a picture of Griffin watching him.

He will literally move from window to window throughout the house to watch his Daddy outside ... sometimes even standing on toys to see him better.

Look closely in the picture ... you can see Mike on the lawn mower.

Simply Irresistible ...

Griffin is my favorite photography subject ... I just love taking close ups of him.

I thought I would share some of my newest favorites. You can always click on my images for a larger, clearer view.


Lashes ...


Laughter In Motion ...


Concentration ...


Full Attention ...


Sweet Baby Lips ...

July ... So Far ... In Pictures

July has been BUSY, BUSY, BUSY so far ... I thought the best way to share is with some pictures.


My sister Joy and nieces Harley (13) & Stephanie (16) came for a visit on July 2nd


This is Joy & me ... I miss her soooo much


Within 20 minutes of arriving ... Harley was on the floor playing with Griffin ... yes, I believe she will fit right in with our family. Joy and Stephanie went home on July 5th, but Harley is going to stay with us through mid-August


On Monday at about 10:30, we decided to make a trip to the beach. We've lived in Virginia for 3 years and we've never been to the beach here. We loaded the car and were on the road by 11:30. We arrrived at the beach at about 2:00. It was so, so crowded there. The beaches are much more different than Florida Beaches. The sand is much coarser, there's no shells, and there's really not much beach to play on ... but we had a GREAT time anyway!


Mike and Griffin had alot of fun playing in the water


Scoping out the beach action ...


Isn't it beautiful? I loved being near the boardwalk.


Many of you have asked how Wyatt is doing ... honestly ... he seems to be doing really well. He is still on anitbiotics and Pepcid AC everyday and we are doing the water therapy every other day. Harley, Griffin & I walked down to the mailbox yesterday and Wyatt walked all the way down there with us. I was very proud of him. We are showering him with love and spoiling him rotten ... which is totally deserves.

It's been nice having Harley here. We look forward to having a really fun summer ... and with her help I will get caught up on orders!