So much to talk about

Saturday finally came and went...My 20 year class reunion! Look, I'm not in a uniform for a change...It was nice to get all dressed up and I have to say that I didn't look half bad...If I could subtract the fat it would have been better... I think i look just fine in this pic...This dress has little rhinestones that went down the side of the dress where the slit up my leg is...It's only the second time I ever wore this dress..and thankfully i fit right in to what everyone at the party was wearing.

This is only a portion of my graduating class.."88"

Our class is 364 people...this is maybe 100

Frank is out there trying to mingle with the ladies..trying to do the cuban shuffle? or something like that. He gave up soon after.

This is me and an old buddy Erich, He lives in Hollywood now and has been in a few movies. He said he has not been in any speaking roles but is working on a few projects...He is such a sweetie. He invited me and my family to come to Hollywood and stay anytime we can get out there. How nice!

Me and Frank sitting for dinner. Yeh...that's a face only he can love..lol remind me no close ups ever again...lol

The reunion was a big success for alot of us. I unfornately did not meet up with alot of my "click"

I was still happy to see some of the people.....It was worth going, just to say I did. Lots of nice things that they did...They had name tags with our maiden names and had a photo of us from the yearbook on it to help "jog" our memories...It sure helped in my opinion. They passed out memory books...those that registered on the website were in it. A few people I am going to email shortly to say hey and see what is going on in their lives. Also in the memory book they had a cd with alot of pictures that people donated to be put in there from our high school days. And I was suprised to see that they had the whole "88" yearbook towards the end...that was awesome to see everybody in the yearbook...since I was not able to get one this works for me.

All in all it was an awesome night..would have been made better with a few of my special and dearest friends.....

Now...on to the better part of my life

I'm a proud mother of a 13 year old!!!! Two teenagers! Lord help me!

After our night out I spent Sunday cleaning the house and getting ready to celebrate my little girls special day. I wish her all the best and hoping that life will be easier for both of my children. It's amazing the Love for a child, and the Love that a child gives is just as amazing! You want to do more for them than for yourself...Isn't that always the case?

Well back to the reality of life in the morning..(work)

Hope everyone had a spectacular weekend!

HAPPY 13th BIRTHDAY AMBER

.

Amber was born Tuesday Semptember 26th, 1995 at 10:32 a.m. She was 8 lbs 8 1/2 oz., 20 inches long.





She was the most precious little girl! She had the cutest little voice when she was little. When she was younger she was definitely daddy's little girl. Darin was only 13 months old when Amber came, and Darin did not like sharing his mommy, so when daddy was home he took care of Amber and I would take care of Darin. Lately the jobs have seemed to switch. Amber wants me more and Darin wants his dad now. Funny how things work out. I use to cry alot because Amber would run to daddy for everything.





Amber has a very stubborn personality, if she thinks she is right, there is no talking to her. She has gotten alot better with not saying everything that comes to her mind. (at least out loud).


She would always embarrass her father and I with what would come out of her mouth.





Amber loves to help out with everything, teachers are always telling me that she has the "motherly instinct" she is always helping others. I love that about her.





She has always loved animals....even when she was very little she would say she wanted to be a vet or work at the zoo. At first I encouraged her love of animals with having lots of them in my home. But now-a-days I just don't have the energy...she does...but I don't! I have found out that as I get older..simplier is better. She still says that she is going to be a vet or work at the zoo. I'm glad that she already knows she wants to go to college. At her age I just wanted to finish high school! I have very few regrets in life...not going to college is one of them...





Amber is a very challenging little girl, she gives me a run for my money...but i Love her with all of my heart!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!





13 things I Love about my daughter:





1. she is loved by all





2. she is a helper





3. her love of animals





4. she's a tom-boy (at the moment)





5. she's my height! (lol)





6. the way she collects things,,,sorts things...and she is happy doing this!





7. her conversations...she will sit right next to me and we talk and talk





8. the way she hates mornings....like me! lol she reminds me of me when my mom used to wake me up in the morning. .





9. she likes shopping





10. I like her adventurous side...joining wrestling and all





11. I love her hugs





12. I love when she tells me she loves me





13. Of course...SHE IS MINE!

HAPPY 14TH ANNIVERSARY!!!!

Today we celebrate 14 years of marriage. Time just fly's by.





I met Frank thru a mutual friend of ours. I had gone over to my friends house to play some games, drink some beer and just hang out. When I walked in I found Frank there. We were introduced by our "friend". Frank originally only came to Michigan for a little vacation. No real intentions of staying, he was to go back to Vermont in 2 weeks. In the mean time he was talking about me to his friends and I was talking about him to the same friends. I told my girlfriend "he will be mine". I just knew he was the one for me.





In just one week he asked me out and when it came time for him to leave he said that he decided to stay. He got a job here in Michigan and we were very happy.





I believe it was October of 1993 he asked me to marry him just after our mutual friends got married. He was so drunk and I told him to ask me again when he was sober. The very next day he asked me again and I told him yes. It wasn't until Christmas Eve 1993 that he had a ring underneath the Christmas tree waiting for me. I was so surprised! But he was more surpised that in the same instance I found out I was pregnant with Darin!





We were married just after Darin was born. September 17th 1994, we picked this date because it was the same day that Frank had first asked me out 2 years earlier. Our wedding was everything that I wanted and some extra.


Going to check out the wedding photo album now...

Day to Day

Since putting my dog at rest there have been a few unexplained things happening around here. One night I looked down the hall and could have sworn that something went from the bathroom to my room to my son's room...this was Mini's path when she was around. I thought I was the only one that saw this, but when I told my daughter about it she said "I thought I saw the same thing". About the third day after she past I was watching t.v. and animal planet was doing a documentary about Great Pyrenees. I cried so hard. The fourth day I was getting ready to go somewhere, wait..first let me remind you that Mini had been loosing her bowels for about 6 months before she past....ok...now I was getting ready and all of a sudden I got a big whif of what smelled like her "poop" at first I thought the chihuahua's? Looked all over, never saw anything and it did not smell like it was in any special area. Everyone thinks I am crazy for that one. But I would like to think that it was her way of letting me know that she knows how sad I have been and that she is still watching over us.

My son just informed me that last night he awoke to what sounded like Mini barking around 5 in the morning.

It took me almost a week just to be able to talk about her without crying my eyes out.

The kids are doing ok with the whole school routine. It's nice to have a couple of hours to myself here and there. Especially with the fact that in a 6 week schedule I have had exactly 3 days off. My boss told me how much she has appreciated my help...she don't understand that it's helping me also. Frank just informed me that his company is now only going to be open 4 days a week until they get more business...and no he is not getting 10 hours a day to make a 40 hour check, it will be 8 hour days. Sucks, Sucks, and more Sucks!! Frank did stop by an old job to see if he could maybe work part time for him. His old boss was not there, so maybe he'll catch him on another day.

I get so worried these days....bills, school supplies, and Christmas is just around the corner. Everything usually works out someway, somehow, I just have to almost have an ulcer before I see the light.

Anyways....there are so many things up and coming this month....

Our (Frank and I) wedding anniversary, 14 years on September 17th. Amber's 13th birthday is on the 26th!! I will have 2 teenagers!!! And on the 27th will be my 20 year high school reunion!! I'm looking forward to the upcoming days!

I hope everyone is well.

ok...for some reason blogger is not letting me space for paragraphs...so everything is running together. Sorry folks.

R.I.P. MINI WE LOVE YOU

Today was one of the hardest days of my life!

My baby girl Mini was put to rest. She was a beautiful Great Pyrenees, she was 12 1/2 years old. My vet said that in big dogs life she was over 120 years old.



My son Darin was 2 years old and my daughter was only 1 when i purchased Mini. They loved her dearly...I never worried about my kids playing with her, pulling her hair, riding her. She loved them anyways. When we all went to bed Mini slept at our feet when she could jump onto our bed. With her Arthritis in the last year she chose to sleep next to the bed.



Before I went to the Vets today I wrote the doctor a note of why I chose to do this. The reason that I wrote it down was that I knew I would not be able to pull myself together to tell him. Another reason was so that I could remember why I was doing it. Everyone that I talk to thinks I made the right decision.








Reasons:

1. Her arthritis has gotten worse. As she tries to sit her legs shake as she is going down, that shows me that she is in pain. It takes her a good 5 minutes to sit or lay down comfortably.



2. Last summer I had 5 tumors removed and it took her a long time to heal after the surgery. After getting her shaved this summer I discovered 3 to 4 more tumors growing. I can't make her go through that pain again!



3. The last 2 weeks she has been getting bloody noses. I have no idea why, and they are just random...which makes me believe that she has something eternal going on.



4. For the past 6 months she has been loosing control of her bowels. She could be sleeping and she would have a couple chunks out of her. She doesn't even realize it. I could deal with it..but it's not Mini, at first I put it as an age thing. She had never messed in my house before, that's why I know it's not like her.



5. I also believe she is having mini strokes. One day she walked into my room and sat down and just stared at the floor, while sitting there she was rocking side to side and would not respond to me when I was talking to her.

These are the main reasons I made my decision...I hope I made the right one. I feel like I gave up on her...But at the same time I believe I spared her horrible pain.

The doctor gave her a shot to sedate her and she laid down Everyone was petting her and telling her how much we love her, Amber and I cried so hard. Then the doctor came in and gave her the lethal drug and stayed with us until she took her last breath then checked her heart and said "her heart has stopped" I thought I couldn't cry any harder than I had been, but after those words the tears came like waterfalls!

This was taken her last night with us. Just to look at Amber's face in this picture has me balling my eyes out.


WE LOVE YOU MINI...REST IN PEACE!

I changed the color of my hair. It's called light golden brown... It was time for a change...the blonde streaks just made me look like i had a head full of grey and i don't have grey hair yet..ok..maybe a couple, but not that anyone can notice. I know i look like death warmed over...this is day 16 of working straight...plus i am mentally drained I will be writing about that tomorrow.

My big dog Mini is seeing the vet tomorrow..unfortunely it's to put her to rest. I have been in mourning all week trying to prepare myself for what's about to happen. I can't let her suffer anymore.

Darin is doing just fine. He saw a specialist on Monday and was told that there are no broken bones and that he must have sprained it severely! He still has some trouble putting full weight on it but no longer requires the crutches.

The kids went to their schools and recieved their schedules. They talked to alot of their friends waiting line. I ran into my uncle at my daughter's school and it turns out 2 of our cousins go to the same school, small world! I had no clue! They had pictures taken for school I.D.'s. and it looks like the kids are happy with the classes that they got for the first semester.

Darin got small engine repair...this should be interesting for him..he does like to build things.
He also got Physical education in his first hour...I hope his foot heals in a week, so he has no problem with doing this class.

Amber got Music and life skills for her electives...she is not looking forward to music...boring she says!!! All the rest of the classes are usual reading, social studies, math.. you know.

We ran into her wrestling coach and he was trying to talk Amber into Basketball also. Wrestling was so positive for Amber last year ...she had alot of buddies and they all said hello to her and asked if she was going to do it again.

I'm still working my arse off! My day off is not until next Friday! I'm just trying to hang in there. Not that i hate my job but you do get tired of being there so much. My boss apologized parfusly for scheduling me 31 days with only one day off. I told her it's ok..i need the money but that i hoped she would schedule me more hours in a short amount of days than more days all together. We'll see.

My truck broke down on Sunday so I had to bring it to the dealership on Monday. It would not start, all it did was click. Turns out it was the battery and thankfully it was covered under the 3 year warranty. I thought it was the starter...but in the man's word's "whatever it is your covered" I love those words! The towing was also covered! On Star is the greatest...they did all the work! Told them the location of the car and where i wanted to take it and everything. Worth the 18.95 a month i pay for it. One day I am going to lock my keys in the car just to try out the unlocking of the doors feature...super cool!

Anywho...yeh I know i am boring...but this is my life as i know it right now.

I am so looking forward to my reunion...Maybe because i will wear something other than a uniform possibly! Watch me start passing trays or something lmao.

14 years and 2 days later

Darin has done it this time...
Last night Darin came home saying he fell of his friends bike pegs and rolled his foot and landed full weight on it...OUCH!
His foot looked like someone layed an egg on top of it...With all of the swelling i knew that they would not be able to x-ray it properly until some swelling went down.

When he woke up after icing it all night the egg went away and some light blue bruising was there..I thought he probably pulled a muscle or sprained it real bad. .I thought he would be fine until after i got back doing some errands, when i did come back i looked at his foot again and the bruising was no longer light it was dark blue and his father and i decided maybe we should take him to ER just to be certain there was no break.

Just what i needed...my only day off in 31 days and i spend
2 1/2 hours at work in the ER. My luck!
Anyhoo...doctor says it's a possible growth plate fracture and i have to take him to see another doctor in just a couple days...just to be sure.
Luckily we had these crutches from the last time he hurt his foot. They put on a makeshift cast until we are certain what he did to it.




Looks like he will spend the rest of his summer vacation doing this...
hooo hummm

14 years of experience and many more to go!

This is obvious what this is..lol



Darin's Birthday Party!










Amber layed in the grass and took her own picture and i think she looks lovely in it. I see the teen coming out of her...stay tuned for next months birthday featuring Amber.










Remember when we used to carry Darin around? lol


Now look who can carry who.










This is Darin, his best friend Josh and Josh's little brother Austin. They live next door and are Darin's BEST FRIENDS!
Josh is a year older than Darin...but much smaller.






This is a very nice pic. He towers over me.
He was recently measured and is now standing 6 feet tall. He grew about 2 inches over the summer!

I have been trying to grow my hair long again. It's been short for several years now and now i have decided that I will grow it long again. I've been pinning my hair back to keep it off my face.

Frank and I

Frank and Amber

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BIG BOY!!!!

August 16th, 1994
My baby boy Darin was born. It was the happiest day of our lives. He was so cute. His hair was so light that he looked bald.

I went thru alot to have him. Gestational diabetes was the worst. I had to poke my fingers 5 times a day and take insulin shots 2 times a day.

Three weekends before i had him i had to stay in the hospital so they could shove what they called seaweed sticks onto my cervix to try to get me to dialate. The worst!!!!! I hurt so bad because my cervix was what they called high and it felt like a bat was being pushed inside of me. The day that i had him i told the doctors that if he was not born today that i was going home and i would not come back for all of that again....I would not be coming back until his head was almost out of me. Finally one very nice doctor with very long fingers was able to break my water so that i would not be going home. I was in labor from 7 am. until 9:00pm , by then the doctors decided that his head was too big to come down my birth canal and that a c-section would probably be the best. By then i just wanted him out! Darin was born at 10:29 pm., he weighed 9lbs 11 oz. and was 21 inches tall.





Here he is at 3 months. That smile is to die for!





















Here is my 14 year old boy in the green shirt.
He is getting to be a man. About to have to shave for the very first time very soon. Getting his manly voice. Getting his manly hair all over!
He will be driving soon. He is already asking to go hunting with his dad. So many first on the way.





Since he is going to be 14 ...here's 14 reasons why I LOVE HIM.
1. A total sweetheart
2. He does not like to see me sad.
3. God this kid is Funny!!!!
4. The way he will come up to me and say "give me a huggie" *melt*
5. Smart!
6. He is tall enough to reach me things that i cannot reach! lol
7. The way that he is just happy sitting home.
8. generous.
9. I love his eyes..he has long eyelashes.
10. The way that he has a few select friends.
11. He loves some responsibility...
12. I love his facial expressions.
13. He's cute
14. I love the fact that HE IS MINE!!!!!!

I am still alive

I am totally tired! All i do lately is clean house, work and for fun i run to the grocery store...That's my life in a nutshell the past 2 weeks.

I week ago i finished a 10 day work week and had one day off and i am currently working on a 15 day work week then one day off and then it looks like another 15 or so days is in my future. My job seems to be doing some sort of sweep of getting rid of some people. They deserve it...don't get me wrong. They had been warned and still insisted on doing what they were doing so BYE!
I got some good news this week, I am officially hired into my hospital. Now i can recieve benefits...that means i will start earning paid vacations!!!!!!!!!!!! I have not had one for at least 3 years. Most importantly dental insurance and vision insurance...my husband does not get this where he is.

I try to sneak in some fun time in there...my mom posted pics on a concert we attended on Sunday. They played alot of our favorite music and my daughter was even suprised that they were playing songs that she even knew. She was excited to get a free t-shirt!

Not much going on here like i said...hopefully i will have something worth while to report about. But for now this is going to have to do.

My most favorite picture of me in the whole world

Mom sent me a bunch of pictures today...for upcoming posts about my children's birthday's. She sent me this one...I LOVE THIS PIC!!!!! Other than my kindergarten pic and this one there are no other favorites. This was taken in the 11th grade.

I think my hair...my make-up were perfect! To me at least.

No reason for this post..lol...other than i got this pic and loved it.

47 things about me

I stole this from Order of Dissary who stole it from Liam




1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? My mom says Caroline Kennedy

2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED? It's been awhile..i don't remember

3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? nope...not a bit

4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT? bologna

5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS? 2 kids..one boy and one girl

6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? Yep...

7. DO YOU USE SARCASM ALOT? only all the time!

8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS? nope..

9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? hell to the NO!

10.WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? Captain Crunch

11.DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? Sometimes

12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG? Not really

13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM? Moose tracks!

14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE? Their Atitudes!

15. RED OR PINK? Red

16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF? body..fat, fat and more fat

17.WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST? dead would be my grandmother on my dad's side. Alive...I miss my best friend that moved 3 hours away.

18. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO SEND THIS BACK? Oooorrr….copy and answer it in the comments or blogs

19. WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING? right now..I am wearing blue shorts and white socks

20. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE? mash potatoes, chicken

21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? tv in the background...sounds like john wayne

22. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? teal

23. FAVORITE SMELL? I love the smell of lilacs

24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON PHONE? Husband

25. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON WHO WILL RESPOND TO THIS? probably

26. FAVORITE SPORT TO WATCH? wrestling.

27. HAIR COLOR? medium brown wish blonde highlights

28. EYE COLOR? Green

29. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? nope..still have great eyes.

30. FAVORITE FOOD? my mom's stuffed cabbage!

31. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS? chick flicks with happy endings...

32. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED? I think it was Bastard of Carolina...I was flipping thru channels and it looked interesting..the ending really made me mad

33. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING? blue and white striped with flowers

34. SUMMER OR WINTER? winter

35. HUGS OR KISSES: Kisses by a really good kisser

36. FAVORITE DESSERT? ice cream

37. MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND? Hopefully any one that reads my blog

38. LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND? Not trying to hear that! Or those that have already participated.

39. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING? Not reading any at the moment

40. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD? No mousepad

41. WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON TV LAST NIGHT? I love Money

42. FAVORITE SOUND? waterfalls

43. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES? Rolling stones

44. WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME? Florida

45. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT? I can type pretty fast

46. WHERE WERE YOU BORN? Southfield, Michigan

47. WHOSE ANSWERS ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING BACK? Anyone's

MY MYSTERIES edited and added

1. The never ending sock mystery...You wash them, you dry them, but to mate them there is always one sock that goes to sock heaven..lol

2. I don't know how or why, but i am missing plates! I don't know if the kids are breaking them and throwing them away without telling me... I used to have alot.

3. My towels, where in the world did all my towels go?

4. How in the world does dust collect on a ceiling fan that is in constant motion?

5. How can my daughter stand her bedroom being so messy. It's not horrible...but i like things in their place. I've seen worse...My neighbor's girl puts plates with food under her bed and in her dressers...So i guess i am lucky, Amber knows I would freak out if I ever saw that.

6. Why my son prefers boxer's over briefs?

7. Ok...this sounds stupid...(not like i haven't said stupid things before) Why do my little boy dogs get horny with my big dog? She has never been in heat her whole life! They don't know what they are doing but insist on trying..lol...if you saw it, it would be more funny.

Well that's just a few of the mysteries that i think about when i am bored. Looking at them...I think...I NEED A LIFE!! LOL

Edit:
Thanks Eileen for reminding me
8. Spoons...where do they go? I've bought spoons 3 times in the past year...what the?

Just after work I got this email that made me ponder these questions also.



QUESTIONS THAT HAUNT ME!
If one has sex with a prostitute against her will, is it considered rape or shoplifting?

Can you cry under water?

How important does a person have to be before they are considered assassinated instead of just murdered?

Why do you have to 'put your two cents in'... but it's only a 'penny for your thoughts'? Where's that extra penny going to?

Once you're in heaven, do you get stuck wearing the clothes you were buried in for eternity?

Why does a round pizza come in a square box?

What disease did cured ham actually have?

How is it that we put man on the moon before we figured out it would be a good idea to put wheels on luggage?

Why is it that people say they 'slept like a baby' when babies wake up like every two hours?

If a deaf person has to go to court, is it still called a hearing?

Why are you IN a movie, but you're ON TV?

Why do people pay to go up tall buildings and then put money in binoculars to look at things on the ground?

Why do doctors leave the room while you change? They're going to see you naked anyway.

Why is 'bra' singular and 'panties' plural?

Why do toasters always have a setting that burns the toast to a horrible crisp, which no decent human being would eat?

If Jimmy cracks corn and no one cares, why is there a stupid song about him?

Can a hearse carrying a corpse drive in the carpool lane ?

If the professor on Gilligan's Island can make a radio out of a coconut, why can't he fix a hole in a boat?

Why does Goofy stand erect while Pluto remains on all fours? They're both dogs!

If Wile E. Coyote had enough money to buy all that ACME crap, why didn't he just buy dinner?

If corn oil is made from corn, and vegetable oil is made from vegetables, what is baby oil made from?

If electricity comes from electrons, does morality come from morons?

Do the Alphabet song and Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star have the same tune?

Why did you just try singing the two songs above?

Why do they call it an asteroid when it's outside the hemisphere, but call it a hemorrhoid when it's in your butt?

Did you ever notice that when you blow in a dog's face, he gets mad at you, but when you take him for a car ride, he sticks his head out the window?

Weird that this email came on the same day i posted this page...lol

I'm SOOO EXCITED!

The city of Warren is repairing sidewalks of course all of my sidewalk had to be replaced. While they were there i got a quote on replacing my driveway and to put in my porch that i have been wanting for a long time. From the time that i got the quote to saying yes, they had most of my cement pulled up before i could grab my camera and take before pictures. But i got during and after pictures to show you.

My front sidewalk

Because the driveway was getting done the old walkway to my front door had to be replaced or i would have had a major trip hazard.

Old dirt driveway.

My new cement...new walkway and part of the driveway.

New driveway for me to park my truck on :)

This is the most exciting...after 10 years I have a porch!!!! I smiled ear to ear as they were pouring my porch. I was looking out the vertical blinds to admire it.

New sidewalk!

It looks so purty!!!!! Now i just need new gates and Put up the little half wall around my porch and decorate it and my front of the house will be just beautiful. I'm so excited. Little by little i am getting my house the way i always wanted it.

TaDa...A New Amber

Amber got a new look...I took her to the beauty shop near by and got some wonderful advice from the hair stylist Sue. She said that the blonde with black is wonderful for a little while but when it fades it gets ugly fast.

She recommened doing black with red bangs and I think it looks fabulous!

She used onyx black and merlow red. In the sunshine it really shows the red.

A view of the back all black.

I said "smile if you like your new do!"

guess she does :)

Happy Belated 4th of July

This is what I love to see....My kids playing.

Our 4th of July was spent outdoors! My neighbors invited us to a BBQ and games and neighborly chit-chat!

Darin is playing a little one on one badminton.

At night we waited for the fireworks show that happens on our block every year. This would have been a nice father-daughter pic if Amber would have kept her tongue in her mouth.

Amber enjoying some sparklers

Frank and his best friend Bert. Our across the street neighbor.

Frank acting like the statue of liberty..

Can you see that my son is taller than my husband in this...he is 13.

Amber trying to pull the statue of liberty pose :)

On the 5th of July My daughter, her best friend Lisa, my parents and I went to beautiful Stoney Creek for a picnic. This is just one of the two beaches this park has. The scenery is just beautiful! This was early, before anyone started to go swimming.

Amber and her friend went for a dip. They said that is wasn't that bad...Bull Pucky! I am still in hypothermia.

Afterwards they sat in the sand and took in the "scenery" .....Lifeguards, men in bathing suits.

This is when Amber and her friend Lisa was just walking in the water.

*reminder*

Need to buy Amber a bathing suit. I forgot to put this on my things to do list.

Hope everyone's 4th was as wonderful as mine.

*Question*

My daughter asked me if she could dye her hair...Of course I thought she wanted more carmel highlights like always...Nope...She asked if she could dye her hair black with her bangs being blonde. She saw it on the movie "Hairspray" and she keeps talking about.

The question...would you let your daughter do this?

I'm thinking about it...letting her experiment with different ways to be her own individual. It can't hurt anybody. And I have seen this ...and I think it would be cute on her. I am going to give myself a few days to think about this.

What do you think?