I'm back.....

Hello, I've been gone for quite awhile....decided to get back to blogging again.  I'm opening up a new chapter this year with weight loss and getting back to church.  I want to use scripture and prayer to help me with my weight loss and I've joined WW also to give me great tools.
I am also starting to look for a new job in the Destin or Pensacola Florida area starting in August.  If I find one, I will be moving down "ealier" than Ken.  He will be quitting Big Lots in January 2014 and then he will move on down.  So we definetly have some big changes coming our way.
I got a knee replacement in October of this past year.  Started my first day back to work yesteday....!  It was quite a long journey coming back from the surgery, but I fell it's made me stronger as a person to get through it all.  Still working at physical therapy and I can now ride an upright bike, which I haven't been able to do for years.  So my plan is to buy a new bike this spring and  hit the trails.
I now have not only Johnathan, who is now 2 1/2 years, but also have Josephine who is now 8 months old and Johnathan's little sister.  My younger son also has a little one on the way and will be here in June.  So between Ken and I we will have 10 grandchildren.
I have also made a change recently to go blond and start letting my natural hair grow out.  I am tired of coloring it and decided to embrace my "young" age.
Well, enough for now.....keep watching for new posts.

What a Contrast!

Such craziness....last Saturday we had snow blowing like crazy and ended up with almost five inches stuck to all the trees and so forth. Of course by late Sunday it was all gone.  Not a trace!  This weekend, we've had beautiful weather and today it's supposed to be around 80 degrees.....only in the wonderful midwest!!!!!

Hello....I'm back!  Where have I been?  I don't know, life gets in the way.  But I'm back to blogging.  Yes, this little boy has grown quite a bit since you last saw him.  He's going on ten months, crawling and getting into everything.  He's such a joy!  I'm glad it's getting to be warmer weather so we can take him out and about.  Can't wait to take him to the "big" park to feed the geese.  He's gonna love it.

I am very proud of myself today.....I finally used my cuttlebug that was purchased about 1 1/2 years ago. Yes, it's amazing....I know! I actually got it out of the box it came in a few weeks ago and purchased some new diecuts and I cut out letters and the cutest little feet and flip flops today. The little feet "slip" right into the flip flops! Just perfect for my "Destin" book. I've been procrastinating about getting it started long enough and started the first page today. Once I get going, I'll be fine. I leave you today with a pic of my gorgeous tabby, Taz (Tazmanian Devil).

"It is in their eyes, that their magic resides."

Spent the day out weeding in my garden and cleaning up a few things since there's an everchanging landscape out there. It was a beautiful day outside, pretty hot, but humidity was low and a cool breeze to help keep me going. Got almost everything done I wanted to. Have to put a bench back together that fell apart this spring, but had to charge the power drill. That's tomorrow's project outside. Everything looks so cleaned up and beautiful. Here's some pics I have to share!

What a gorgeous melon color this daylily has.....so delicate looking.

My beautiful, over-taking coneflower. Yes, it's natural to this area, but it's getting carried away this year. I actually had to tear some out. I love taking profile pics of this flower and I also caught a bee on it. He was busy working his way from bloom to bloom.

And the best for last....my favorite of all-time. Just love the brightness of this bloom. It certainly puts on quite a show.

Johnathan Andrew

Introducing Johnathan Andrew.....June 11, 11:40 pm ~ 6 lbs 10 oz and 18 1/2 inches long. He's a tiny one and doing very well. It was a long day, thought he would never arrive.....but made his appearance just before midnight.

Here are some of the beautiful flowers I have blooming right now.....just love daylily's! Should be out there "weeding" right now...weeds, weeds everywhere. Why do the weeds grow at an amazingly faster rate than the flowers?
Chrissy (my son's girlfriend) is being admitted tomorrow evening to be induced on Friday for the baby...so you'll know where I will be. There will be lots of pics to come. His name will be Johnathan Andrew, John for short which is a family name for us. At first she was going to spell it Jonathan, but felt John wouldn't work then. Alot of people think spelling it Johnathan is not correct, but I've seen plenty spelled that way......! My mom, Jonel (who is named after the family name) is estatic about having a grandson "named after her"! Oops, make that great grandma....I'm the grandma! Whoopee!

This is my favorite ever picture of my husband. I just love it. Who would know he's 58.....looks like a young stud!! LOL

And this would have to be be my second all-time fav pic of my husband. You don't catch him being silly like this too often.....at least in front of a camera!

A great time was had by all in Destin, Florida this year. We had wonderful weather, the ocean was beautiful (no oil) and great family time. No baby arrived while we were gone, which I was happy of. But we still have no baby......anyday now!

Goodbye Bike ~ For now.....

Well, this is a two-post day it seems.....! Tried riding my bike today for the first time since knee surgery. That is my "outside" bike. Didn't work. Everytime my left knee bent I went ooowwwww! Then started to fall off. Needless to say I parked it under the carport where it might stay until I give it away. Don't know if I'll ever be able to ride it again. Very frustrating since I was looking forward to possibly hitting some good bike trails with Ken this spring up near Grafton. Had high hopes! Those shattered today......I'll have to stay inside and ride my incumbant bike and look at the walls! Grrrrrr.........

Happy Mother's Day

The real religion of the world comes from women much more than from men - from mothers most of all, who carry the key of our souls in their bosoms. ~Oliver Wendell Holmes

Happy Mother's Day to the best mother in the world!

Destin, Here We Come

Now all I'm thinking of is I am gonna be in Destin a week from today.....sunshine and ocean, here I come! We are going with my mom, dad, sister and brother-in-law and it's going to be a very special time of sharing. While there we'll celebrate Mother's Day and my mom's 73rd birthday; since we are arriving later than usual this year. The last three years we've been in Florida on her actual birthday...this year plans changed because of a wedding scheduled this weekend.

So looking forward to a warm sunny week of shopping, sharing and spending time together on the beach covered with beautiful white sand looking out over the blue-green waters. I so dream of living near this beach.....! Hopefully that dream will be visualized in four years or so. I want to live out the rest of my life near what I consider to be one of God's greatest creations...that beautiful and awesome ocean!

Card Making

Went to my friend Deb's the other night for another "all-nighter"....we didn't get alot of cards done, but made some really cute ones. This one below took quite some time to do, since the tassle is handmade from embroidery thread. Ken and I have a granddaughter graduating from eighth grade and I made it for her. We were so excited for the way it turned out. Cute as a button....don't you think?

Just love these colors together....

Using Deb's new stampin up butterfly punch.

My pics of the day are from my garden....here's what's blooming right now. I just love, love, love this photo. This is such an endearing flower....the columbine. It's official name is Aquilegia (a-kwil-lee-gee-uh). Somehow, whenever I'm around these flowers, I just expect to see a little fairy floating around! :-)

Purple Columbine

Pink Columbine.

Yellow bearded Iris!

Dianthus.....such a cute & happy looking little flower!

Hanging Out In Cemeteries

Today I met my dad and stepmom in Staunton, Illinois and went to the cemetery there to find some graves of ancestors. Here is my dad and I with the stone of my Great-grandparents Adolph and Emma Hefer. We found quite a few others and also visited the cemetery in Mt. Olive where some others are buried. Got lots of good pics for my scrapbook. Also visited and met relatives I've never met before...always fun!

Scrappin' at Deb's

Scrapping at Deb's.....favorite times......! This is Michelle, there was four of us this time scrapping the night away. Actually we all made cards to get "stocked" up! And celebrated my birthday too, and watched a 20 inning Cardinal game (which they lost). So we had a busy evening and a late evening, got home around 1:30 in the morning. Loved every minute of it, too!!!

My BFF, Deb......this is where it all takes place.....

Nel.....

Just love this little penguin.

So cute....the card's not bad either!

How cute is this little guy?

Wisteria.....

Every spring I drive by this house and wish I had this in my yard.....! Absolutely beautiful, and wish you could smell it....awwwwww! It's all down there fence by the road, so I had to stop and take pics this year. I'm gonna get one of theses plants...gotta have it!