Just when I thought I was done...

I woke up this morning with a nagging dull ache in my left ear. I went on about my workout and housecleaning until I began to feel it getting stronger. My wonderful friend Margaret got me an appt. at 10:10 this morning...so I got a shower and ready to go in 15 minutes! Dr. Wright told me what I already knew another ear infection in my left ear. That makes 2 since February. I can't believe this again! She started me on Omnicef. I got back to Dr. McGhee (my ENT) in July to see what he says about all this. The only thing is he doesn't/can't do tubes in my ears because of all the tubes and surgeries I had as a kid. I guess that's what I get for being 3 1/2 months premature! Oh well. I have been working at the preschool a lot lately, and am supposed to work all next week....guess I'll have to wait and see! Off now to rest!!

Sunset Lake

Think a beaver ate on that one???

Memorial Day evening Luke and I went to Sunset Lake for a walk. We also brought along our cameras. After a quick run to the gas station for Off bug spray we were all set. The Geese were wonderful! I got some really good pictures. It was so humid we didn't stay for the full sunset, but did walk the whole lap. I think it's about a mile and a half. Enjoy!

Happy Memorial Day!

Mom and the rolls

Some of her flowers on the deck

Dad... Mr. Nascar

Chris wishing he was playing!

Chris and Charelle

Me and Luke (I look awful...my hair is getting on my nerves and no makeup! Oh well!)

The spread
We went to Mom and Dad's this afternoon for a Memorial Day Lunch. Mom went all out. We had brisket, ranch bacon taters, fruit salad, deviled eggs, cheese dip, baked beans, olives-for Luke, and a Chocolate Brownie Cookie Pie (by the Deen boys...what meal isn't complete without something from Paula!). We stuffed ourselves for sure. Charelle tried on what was leftover of Aunt Debbi's thousands of shoes and she even found some that fit! Then we played a race car game Dad got for the Xbox. Let's just say if I ever drove on the road like I did on that game....it would be bad! Thanks Mom and Dad for a day of fun!

I've blown a Gasket!!!

The oil marks

My engine

My Handy Man

Mr. Mechanic Hands
Well not really, we are just hoping so! My car has been leaking small amounts of oil for about the past 6 months. It hasn't been a lot of oil to be concerned with, but lately it has been getting heavier. So, today Luke took my car apart and replaced a gasket and some spark plugs. He says it drives better now and hopefully that will fix the oil problem. He also says it should accelerate better, and we all know I love to do that! I drive my car much the way my Mom drives....FAST!!!

Dorey's

http://www.doreyfishfarm.com/

Luke and I went with Ann and Randy last night to Dorey's Fish Buffet. It was AMAZING! The food was awesome...it all tasted home made and the desserts were out of this world. I'm still feeling full this morning! The best part was they even have a petting zoo. At night, the deer come out and you can feed them. This one buck in particular had the deer feeder all figured out...he would stand on his hind legs and turn it to get the food out. They would eat and we would watch. This one goose kept trying to keep them away and she did pretty good...pecking them in the faces til they moved...that was her food! Of all the times for me to forget my camera, this was one of them. But we are going back soon. Check out the website if you want to know where it's at! Enjoy the video. Luke took this on his phone.

If you can't get it to play, click here, this should work! http://flickr.com/photos/lwilliams/2519489451/

Upward Soccer Celebration

Tons of kids and parents

Me and Casey

Chris and his team

They were having fun!

This is the magician dude that came...I can't remember his name!

He had 2 participants

And he wore a straight jacket

And got out of it!!!

This was my favorite act...he made it snow!

Chris, Charelle and their team

Sanders Hall was packed!

I woke up this morning with bruises on both sides of my knees. I couldn't figure out for the life of me what I did to cause them to be so sore. Then it hit me...Upward Soccer Celebration! I took pictures from the balcony last night and hung over the edge with my knees up against the ledge most of the night..hence the bruises. There were TONS of kids and parents at church last night. The slides I had been working on were great. It was really neat to see the kids react to seeing themselves on the big screen. The thing everyone seemed to remember was the pesky mole on the field! The coolest thing was running into my friend Casey Harris. I haven't seen him in about 5 years. We graduated from high school together exactly 8 years ago last night. He is in the Air Force now at the base in Vegas. He will be going to North Korea sometime in the future for about a year. I'm so proud of him. Enjoy the pics!

I'm proud of Luke!

Luke had a pet portrait session last night at Mills Park for someone who found his website just by searching Google! Luke has never really done pet portraits for someone other than me and our dogs/cats but he did an awesome job! If you want to check out his photography website it's: http://www.lukewilliamsphoto.com/ and you can go to Pet Portraits to see Mollie. She's the last picture on that page....a beautiful Sheltie. Way to go Luke, I'm proud of you!

My Ding-Dong Cupcakes

The chocolaty goodness cooling

Filling it with creme

Topping it with the icing

The handy dandy carrier

We are ready to go!
I found this recipe in the Taste of Home I got from the cooking school. These cupcakes are SO good. I've eaten 2 already today....going to have to walk tomorrow for sure! Luke still had his camera out from Upward on Saturday, so he took a few shots of me making them!

Creamy Center Cupcakes
1 pkg. devils food cake mix
3/4 c. shortening
2/3 c. powdered sugar
1 c. marshmallow creme
1 tsp. vanilla
2 cans chocolate frosting (I only used one...to use 2 would be TOO much!)

Bake the cake mix according to the directions. I actually changed it a little. It's WAY easy to do and the cake is much better. For the oil (use melted butter instead) and for the water (use milk instead) then add your eggs. Let the cupcakes cool completely on a wire rack.

Mix the shortening, powdered sugar, marshmallow creme, and vanilla together. I used the back of a spoon to split the cupcakes. Then I took a Ziploc bag and filled it with the creme. Then I filled the cupcakes. Top them with the chocolate frosting. They are wonderful. I found this container carrier at Target and loved it!!! Enjoy!

DiCarlo's with Jason and Alicen

Luke and I met Jason and Alicen last night for dinner at Di Carlos. We loved it! This was our first time to eat there. What a neat little place. The table was candle-lit and the food was fantastic. I would highly recommend it if you like Italian food. We went over to their house for a few games of Uno Attack and cupcakes. We really got Luke on one of the games. Jason took all the wild cards and put them in Luke's hand. Then when we got ready to play...we acted like we were all shocked. The look on Luke's face was priceless. We really enjoy hanging out with them...even if poor Sassy cat doesn't like us too well. Thanks guys!

I hate the neighbors children part 2

So today I'm right in the middle of cooking lunch. In the midst of trying to boil the potatoes and fry my cube steak...the smoke alarm keeps going off....I guess the batteries are going dead. Then on top of the continuing beeping, I notice it is now followed with a thud. Great...where is that coming from. Then our dogs start to bark and look at the neighbors fence. Yep, low and behold the dumb neighbors kids are outside with a baseball. They are throwing it at the fence and one of the planks in our privacy fence is now cracked. I point this out to Luke when he walks in the door. The kids FATHER is outside and tells Luke...well we were going to fix it....and lets the sentence drag. Luke takes his drill from the garage and begins to screw back the planks those stupid kids messed up. The father never apologizes or utters another sound. He is so nice though to hold the planks in place so MY HUSBAND can fix what his little heathens messed up. So, we are now collecting baseballs, T-Balls, and golf balls from our yard. Pretty soon we'll have enough for a whole baseball team. I think we should have gotten the water hose after the father...don't' ya'll? Anyway. Next time those little kids do something, I'm going over to meet the parents....and it won't be too pretty. I mean come on, if your kids are hoodlums...that's one thing. If they run in the street at dark, well that's your problem when they get hit. But, if they proceed to damage someone else's property....that's gone too far. You should yank a knot in their tail and be responsible....fix the fence....or at least offer too. Well I'm off my soap box.

Upward Soccer and Photostory

I'm sitting in the living room tonight writing this blog. I have been working most of the day on our Upward pics for the party coming up on Monday night. To help Luke out, I decided that I would work on the actual slide shows that are going to be shown. Boy have I learned a lot!!! Number one, it takes time to do this kind of stuff! Number two, it's a lot of fun. Finally number three, it is addicting.

There will be a 25 minute slide that will loop at the beginning and end of the ceremony. I am still trying to get that one just right. Tomorrow though, Luke and I are going to take some more pics. I have my batteries and I am ready! Hopefully things will go great tomorrow and I can finish this project! It's been a lot of fun.

If you ever wanted to make your own slide...check out: http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/digitalphotography/photostory/default.mspx
Just install this program....trust me it won't crap out your box. (I always ask Luke before I install anything). It's a SUPER easy program. Dad and Luke have made many memorials using Photostory. I'll have more pics in the morning!

Happy Mother's Day

Chris and Charelle

Samson

MadisonMurphy

Dad enjoying that Strawberry Salad

Mom

One of Luke's pics...look closely!

Key Lime White Chocolate Cake...delicious...it's a Paula recipe of course!

Snoopy-Do

Stormy

BJ

Samson
We fixed a spread for Mother's Day lunch. We grilled burgers, deviled eggs, made ranch-bacon potatoes, a strawberry salad, and a White Chocolate Key Lime Cake. Chris and Charelle were able to come over and join us. SadieRose even came over to play with her cousins. It was such a nice day, we enjoyed sitting outside and having the windows open. Afterwards, Luke and I took a nap and then visited with his Mom and Grandma. Happy Mothers Day!!!