Another day of tutoring!

I picked up my little mentor person yesterday after her lunch. She was all excited to show me her "Women's" size shoes...since they didn't have any in her size in the kids section. They were cute little ballet flats. I remember how excited I was to actually wear women's shoes too! We sat in the library and she pulled something out of her pocket. "I made this just for you, cause my Momma told me too." she says handing me a white envelope. This is what I saw!

It doesn't get any sweeter than that. She was a little embarrassed because her writing wasn't straight, but I didn't care at all. This will for sure go in my scrapbook!!! She said she had a good birthday, but that the cupcakes were a HUGE surprise. We talked about a lot of other stuff, but I have a feeling this birthday is not one she will forget anytime soon. We are still reading our Little House on the Prairie book, which she still says she doesn't enjoy. It's amazing though, when I stop to ask her about something we've read, she just wants to get back to it! Ha! They are taking a field trip this week to the Arkansas Historical Museum...which I'm sure will inspire her to finish our book. I only have a few more weeks left with her...which makes me sad, but to think I've made just a small impact in her life is worth it.

Scrapbooking at the Lake

Debbie and her ducklings

Cheryl, Judy, Me, Pam, Jaime, & Debbie (Margaret wasn't there yet!)

Judy, Cheryl, Pam, Debbie, and Selena

Evan and Lillie, Jaime's kids

Ann setting up her Cricut

Yesterday all my scrapbook ladies gathered up their junk and we headed to Debbie's Lake House. It was pouring by the time we got there, but that didn't stop us. We loaded all our stuff in Debbie's House and scrapped for most of the day! Her house is wonderful!!! It's right on Lake Catherine and is so peaceful. She has a huge wrap around porch that we started scrapbooking at, but the blowing rain and cold pushed us inside. We all brought different things to snack on throughout the day. I was able to get about 2 double pages done...which isn't bad considering we visited most of the day! I even got some pics of the baby ducks Debbie and Jaime have been trying to raise...I sure hope they make it! It was so much fun. I'm so blessed to have these wonderful ladies in my life.

My Salsa

I made Salsa for my scrapbook friends I will be seeing tonight and tomorrow. Everyone seems to really like it, so I thought I'd share it on here!

My Salsa (for this pic I doubled everything below)

1 28 oz. can diced tomatoes

1 can rotel

1 can Italian Style Stewed Tomatoes-with garlic, basil, oregano

2-3 Roma tomatoes

1 jalapeno, diced and seeded

1-2 onions (I was able to use Vidalias this time....LOVE those!)

1 bell pepper

1-2 T. minced garlic

salt & pepper to taste

pinch of sugar

1 small handful of cilantro

Pulse all the above ingredients in a food processor. I actually just pulsed the onion, bell pepper, stewed tomatoes, cilantro, jalapeno, and fresh tomatoes together. Then mixed that with the rest of the ingredients in my bowl. I've learned it ALL won't fit in my food processor! Enjoy!

A Wonderful Surprise!

Happy Birthday Hot Pink Cupcakes-pink's her favorite color!

Cupcakes, Juice, Happy Birthday Napkins, what more could a girl want!

This was her birthday surprise. She loves dark chocolate and jelly beans! Plus I threw in a cup pencils, card and notebook!

Today was my little tutoree's birthday. I was so excited about my surprise to her I barely slept at all last night...isn't that nuts??? I was able to pick up her cupcakes and juice boxes and be at the school WAY before 12:30. I waited patiently out in the car until it was time to go in. All the while trying to hide from her. One little girl saw me in the classroom and she also saw the cupcakes but promised it was a SECRET!!!

My little tutoree was the last one to walk in the classroom. I swear she could hear my heartbeat as excited as I was. She was shocked! The look on her face was simply priceless. She passed out her birthday napkins, cupcakes, and juice boxes. We sang Happy Birthday to her....and I even gave her a present! I even got 2 hugs today from her! I think she made my day just as much as I made hers!

I can't to talk to her next Monday!!! Enjoy the few pics I took.

Taste of Home Cooking School

Mrs. Nancy and her prize

Christylee and her Mom

The Taste of Home Cooking School

Me & Mom

UCA Theatre

Mom and I went with Christylee and her Mom to see the Taste of Home Cooking School this past Saturday in Conway. It was a blast as usual. Mrs. Nancy even won a prize....it was a wine prize which we thought was hilarious since she's a preacher's wife and doesn't drink! The school lasted about 3 hours, but we got some fabulous recipes. Happy Mothers Day Mom!

It'll Cost How Much????

The broken piece...somewhere I really don't know!

The top half of my seat

Boy that looks like a comfy ride now! LOL!

My Poor Car

Luke doing research online.

Luke took some friends out to eat lunch the other day at work. Of course, having 4 people in my little focus is really a squeeze. While one of his friends was getting out of the backseat, with a broken elbow, his pants leg got caught on the lever on my seat! Off it went!! Luke thought he could fix it....so the surgery began last night. We ended up having to buy a part from the Ford dealership which should be here on Tuesday.....that little lever was an EXPENSIVE one!!! It cost us $100 bucks for such a little, but important piece. I have a feeling Luke won't be putting 4 people in my car again!

Being Tender Hearted

Sometimes I hate that I have such a tender heart.....especially when it comes to animals of any kind. This morning I let everyone outside in our usual routine. I noticed a pair of birds in our Crepe Myrtle....I also saw one of them land on the ground. I thought it was a rather small one and just figured it would fly away if one of the dogs got too close. I was SO wrong. Samson went right for the little guy....and I watched it all. I am so thankful Luke was home and could go get something to dispose of him with (in our house that would be a walmart sack!). So as I watched the little bird take his last breath with Samson looking at me wondering what he had done wrong I cried. In fact, I've cried almost all morning. Sometimes I simply hate being so tender hearted. At least that little fellow is flying in heaven.....now I just think about his poor little birdy Mom! This heart thing sometimes stinks!!!