Cake Decorating Class

This is my first cake I made in Abi (my niece) and my decorating class that we are taking in Harrison. The class is so much fun, and I am learning alot. The instructor tells us, that after this course we are considered professional decorators. I don't know about that, but it would be cool, to do this for a living. Special thanks to my sister Amanda for making this happen. :)

To write or not to write

Well guys hello.... I know it has been a while, and it's not cause I don't have things to write about. This year will be one I will never forget. It's just that, I wasn't sure I wanted to write. Cancer is a word, everyone knows and understands, and has a story to go with it. Most people are also not inhibited to tell you about their Cancer story. I don't mean to be hateful, but I don't want to hear their story. Especially this year, between Chemo, Radiation, 3 surgeries and another round of CHemo. Maybe by next year, when all this is just a memory, I won't mind. So here is what's going on with me, besides fighting cancer. Morgan started her rodeo season again this last saturday. She did good, not great....but with moving her horse and trying to figure out where for her to practice, I was real proud of her. Avery is living in her own little apartment, going to college (getting A's) and working at Home Depot. I started back to work last week, and it tires me out, but I am glad to have purpose again. With the holidays coming soon, yes I said it....I am getting excited about this time of year. and that is about it. talk to you soon, M

New Kitchen is my vacation

I can't believe, they are finally done. I have wanted this for so long, and we finally got the granite countertops in. Aren't they beautiful?
My husband has been so awesome. He took out old countertops, and help install the new ones, put in a dispossal, faucet and undercounter lights. He is so awesome, he also gave up his vacation for my new kitchen...Thanks honey!

Prom Dresses

I know it's been, a while since I've posted anything, and well....I go through phases I guess. I have a hard time posting just my writing, mainly because I am not a writer. I feel I need to show a picture with my story, maybe the pic will explain what my writing does not. But however I do not have a picture for this story. Morgan has been after me for several weeks to go Prom dress shopping. I have to be honest with you, and tell you I didn't want to go. If you have had teenage daughters or had any experience with teenage girls, I think your will understand my reluctance. I even had the fortune of going with Miss Melanie, Jerrad's mom to the dress shops. Well, long story short. It was nice, Morgan had an idea what she wanted, tried on several dresses, and ended up picking out the first one she tried on. Plus, we didn't have to buy it, came with shoes and jewelry. It all turned out nice, so March 31 Prom photos to follow....stay tuned, it's just plain exciting here!

Leaves

So on Thursday, I got off alittle early. That doesn't usually happen alot for me. As I was driving home, the scenery was so beautiful, even with the rain, saw several deer enjoying the afternoon too. I went home retrieved my camera, and just drove around for a couple of hours. The Leaves are awesome this Fall, it was the most relaxing thing I have done in a while.

What I've done

There are days in my life where I feel I haven't done anything. At the end of the day, I wonder did I do something worthwhile, you know.... really accomplish something so that I feel like I didn't waste the day. Sometimes its a struggle for me to see the "big picture". Then, WHAM....I look at a picture like this one....I did that (with Ralph's help), everyday....I help make her a little better. She's most beautiful thing I have ever seen, my biggest Accomplishment.

Fair Parade

Avery and Morgan are both in the Mountain Home High School Band, which is so awesome. Avery plays the clarinet and Morgan the flute, but during marching season, Morgan is on the Color Guard (flag line). Now I know your scratching your head, because if you know Morgan you know she isn't full of grace (probally got that from her momma "sorry") but she is doing pretty good being only 1 of 2 sophmores on the team. She got to show some of her flag skills during the parade, isn't she amazing!





This is Avery's Senior year, she has been playing the clarinet since 6th grade, and she has done a super job, my favorite time to watch her is on the football field at halftime during homegames. We go and watch the highschool football game, but it's the band that makes the whole experience worthwhile. I love my girls, and I am so proud of them.

GO BOMBERS!

Jeep business

A couple of weeks ago, Ralph and I went on an overnight motorcycle trip to Branson. I loved taking rides on the bike with him...but it was getting physically hard to do so, between my bad knee and his elbow/shoulder...we would ache for hours afterhand. The final decision to do something different was when we were coming back home and having to fight the wind. It was tiresome. Saw this Jeep in town, well, everything just worked out, and now we're proud owners of this awesome Jeep. I think Ralph is excited about his new toy.

Smiles around

Have you ever seen anything so beautiful? Scott Gatewood invited Avery to his Prom in Highland Ar.

New Toy

You know...alot of stuff doesn't happen at the Birdhouse. Matter of fact, I find us plain boring. But every now-and-then, something small happens to make our day. Our neighbors gave us their "old riding lawnmower". It had been sitting by their house all winter, not covered-up or had any care. So we weren't sure if it was even fixable...but Ralph thought it would be a good project for him and Morgan (who's summer job is lawnmowing) to work on. So Avery took the carburetor to Powell's true value (her job) and rebuilt it with some help. Then we took the lawnmower to the
shop to see if it was even worth fixing. For less than $120 bucks, we got a "
brand" new mower.....from the pictures I hope you can tell how excited Ralph is....LOL ....he really is, he's just concentrating.

Katie's Big Catch

So Ralph's brother Mike and his wife Katie came and visited us for a day. Just to give you an insite to their lifestyle, I will let you know they are retired, and are Cruisers...Not car "cruisers", but sailboat kind. Off the California/Mexico coast. Their goal is to sail around the world. Not for me, but great for them. Days on the boat, floating in a HUGE body of water, that has things in it that could swallow you up....like I said not for me. Anyways, had a great time with them, took them to the overlook at the Damn in Lakeview. Katie is such a hoot....She's in a sea of big fish, but we got a pic of her with a world record from our part of the country. Afterwards we went to Gaston's and had a great meal....Thanks Uncle Mike.

The Water was 45 degrees

My hubby got to be the Safety Diver for the Polar Bear Plunge again this year. They had a great turn out and raised over a thousand dollars for the Special Olympics. I think their all crazy, I was freezing just sitting on the dock taking pictures. Ralph said it was a little cold, only 45 degrees...not near as cold as in the past.

Snow Puppies

Yesterday the "dusting" we were suppose to have, turned into alittle more. Not complaining, it is beautiful. Sad to say, this morning it is already melting. But I was lucky enough to get my puppies (their not puppies, Ginger the schnauzer is 6 & Tinkerbell the yorkie is 3) play in the snow. They were having tons of fun.

I love the snow on the trees, here is a pic of the crab apple in the back.

Cowgirl Mini Album

Avery spent most of the day helping me with my youtube video, thanks Ave!

Avery

Saturday Evenings

You know normal people go out and do stuff on Saturday evenings, maybe dinner or a movie , or perhaps alittle shopping at the local stores. Not the Birds, we sit around and watch our daughter practice goat tying with our precious pets in our living room. We're so PROUD of her. LOL

PS. Thanks to Casey, golden retriever and Ginger, min schnauzer for being so still and patient.

The tree is down.

It is amazing to me how fast I like to put up our christmas tree. I don't think I even waited till after Thanksgiving this year. Avery help me get a new skinny tree from True Value and I was real proud of it. But usually as soon as the presents are open the tree comes down....I don't know why I do it. It's like a switch goes off, no presents no tree...but it's not just the tree, it's all the holiday decorations gone. Well this year I did do better, I waited till the 27th, when I'm super sick...and the mood came over me. Quickly the tree comes down, thanks to Ralph and Morgan's help. I just didn't have the energy, had the will but no go-go juice. So Christmas is over, and the tree is down, and my house is back to normal.

She's 17 already.

Last thursday was Avery's birthday....I tried to plan it out, make it something special for her, I think I succeeded but not sure. Dec 2nd, Avery and I took off and went to Springfield to meet Aunt Anna and Lani for a day of shopping. We had a great time, Avery got alot of cool things that she wanted and then to top it off she had a "cool" birthday cake from Dairy Queen waiting for her when we got home.

Christmas tree

I got a new tree...yeah. it's 7' and skinny, so it fits in my house. No present undeneath yet.

Halloween Tree

It took me several miles driving around to find the perfect dead tree. By the way there isn't such a thing, and alot of black paint, but I got a cool Halloween Display....How many people you know have a halloween tree . Next year hope to hang stuff on it, like ghosts, skeletons...if you have any ideas please leave comments.

Morgan my Cowgirl

Finals for Rand Little Britches Rodeo in Dolph, AR.
Morgan did her best time, and got 3rd place for the night and 5th place for the all around. She did a great job, and I am very proud of her and "the gray", as everyone calls him at the rodeos. Can't wait to see what they bring for next season.