This weekend was one of celebration -- fathers & a birthday!

Saturday Brett & RoseAnne invited us to their house for dinner. After fixing a little issue with the grill, Brett cooked us dinner, the guys opened presents and then it was nearly dark and time for Mamma & Pappa to head home. The rest of us settled in to watch "The Bucket List." A great movie. One that asks: "Is there joy in your life?" and "Does your life bring joy to others?"

Happy Father's Day to the inlaws:

Brett, Gene, Pappa & Mark

Sunday we went to church with my family in Pine Bluff and celebrated my Dad. I am very proud to be my Daddy's daughter. He's very well thought of in the community and everywhere I go people tell me I have some wonderful parents...that I already knew!

Happy Father's Day Dad!

Sherri, Dad & Me!

And last but certainly not least...Sunday was Mark's birthday. We celebrated, Saturday night with his family, Sunday with my family & Sunday night with our neighbors & friends, the Osbornes.

Happy Birthday Honey! I am so proud to call you mine!

Mark & his celebratory creation - a Strawberry/Caramel Sundae

Well – it’s official come year end there will be no more Alltel. Alltel will merge with Verizon in a $27billion deal.

What does that do to me? Well – who knows. I could ride it out for the retention pay and severance package. But if the ideal opportunity presents itself (and I WILL be on the lookout), I will go.

I’ve been wanting to make a career change for a while and haven’t really known how to go about it. Not sure WHAT I want to be when I grow up, but it’s about time I figure it out! I’m tired of rhe HR field – it wasn’t a field I ever intended for my career, but the opportunity presented itself and I took it. It has been good to me so far, but I’d like to do something that I enjoy more. Something in a more creative field.

If you have any suggestions on career counselors or information, please be sure to send it my way.

And if you would, please say a little prayer for me as I search for contentment and security.

I can't believe my niece, Lauren, is 10 years old! My how time flies as you get older!!

May All Your Wishes Come True!

SURPRISE! SURPRISE!



I cannot believe David COOK won --everyone was speculating it would be Archuletta. I am really surprised at how emotional DC was..I think he himself was truly surprised.

This was not a stellar year...in my opinion...but I do think David Cook will do well. And he seems to be a genuinely nice person.

So Congrats David..well done.

Bella does not approve of her momma surfing on HER time!!

For a couple of years we have been looking for a CREAM dachshund. Well this past weekend, Mark found one. And isn’t she just precious! She is our little Diva. As of right now, she is an indoor dog, but she LOVES the outdoors…quite the explorer. We first introduced her to our other “children” through the fence and Rowdy acted like he was ready to eat her up…barking & growling and such…but when we put her in the backyard to play, they all greeted her and then went about their business just like she was supposed to be there! So I imagine once she gets a little bigger, she’ll be an inside/outside dog like the others. My mom thinks it’s time for a little “birth control” and after four..I’m inclined to agree!!

Meet Bella “Blondie” Jewels

Lindsey made her acting debut in the local production of Cinderella! She was happy to be one of the pumpkins to help Cinderella get ready for the ball...but she really would like to have been Cinderella! Broadway here we come!!

Isn't she just the cutest lil pumpkin!

To my Mom, Sister & Mother-in-Law -- the best mothers in the world!!

My Mom, Sister & Me (We missed you Stevie!)


My Sister & her girls, Lauren & Lindsey


Mark & his Mom (my MIL)



I hope you all know how much we love & appreciate you!!

Like every good scrapper, I celebrated National Scrapbook Day! I was on hand at The Scrapbook Patch in White Hall to help with some NSD projects. Friday night we did a hybrid coaster project and Saturday we did a commemorative NSD layout.



We had a great time...there were around 20 scrappers on both days and we had good snacks, great projects, make n takes & conversation. If you didn't crop on NSD this year, you need to make it a point to celebrate next year!

For those of you that attended, I promise to post some useful tips & links that we discussed in the next few days.

Friday was a bit unsettling around here! There were several tornadoes in the area and one actually touched town in our town, but about 1/2 mile south of our subdivision. There was at least one death and a lot of devastation. The tornado touched down in Hensley, crossed I-530 and touched down again in the little community of Woodson downing lots of trees and powerlines, just east of us. Please keep these small townspeople in your prayers.

Mark was working from home, so I had a good contact to keep an eye out and take care of our babies outside.

Meteorologists have confirmed that at least 11 tornadoes struck the state on Friday. I am very grateful we are safe.

Arkansas Tornadoes

Just for fun & giggles, we took our neighbor Ralph and his family to Hooters for his 31st birthday. Cecelia had never been so it was a true experience when we told the waitress it was Ralph's birthday and she made him go up front, stand in a chair with a beak and flap his arms like an owl. I must say...it was truly entertaining!

Here's a little peek -


Even little Ralphie had a big time!


Happy Birthday Ralph! Hope you had a great time!

I had a great weekend at "Scrappers Gone Wild" scrapping with my sister, Sherri and my niece, Jennifer. This was the first time we had actually all gotten together for a weekend retreat and I am certain there will be a repeat performance!

Me, Jen & Lynne


I must say -- this was one of the best retreats I have ever been to. Dana & Diane do a great job with everything...prizes, snacks, contests, and all the special little happys!! I always take just about everything I own and get very little done...this time I actually got several pages done and even won 3rd place in a layout contest! Got me some free RED bazill paper flowers!

Here's a look at my prize winning entry! Uncle Mark and Harrison with his first fish!

my 3rd Place Layout


The last contest of the day was to make a list of everyone's first name. And they only gave you 2 minutes to get them all jotted down! Out of 34, I remembered 31 and WOO HOO! won a knock off Ipod...and it was RED!!! Oh happy me!

Here's a big pic of the group on the bridge at Ferncliff. Ferncliff is a Presbyterian Retreat Center and it was absolutedly gorgeous up there. See anyone you know?!

Scrappers Gone Wild!


This week will be busy, busy, busy! Tonight I have to price all my TLC inventory because tomorrow night I am taking it all down to my friend, Lea Ann, who owns The Scrapbook Patch in White Hall. Lea Ann is allowing me to place my excess inventory with the hopes of getting a little bit of my money back.

Then, of course, National Scrapbook Day is this weekend, and I am helping out at the White Hall store with the crop, a commemorative layout and the make n takes. Here's hoping for a great turnout!!

Saturday was the 2nd annual Mountain Maple Circle Picnic. It's nice to get together and meet all our neighbors and get to know them better. We start out with a cookout and then end the night with a big bonfire and fireworks! As you can tell by some of the pictures...the fireworks were kinda loud for the little ones. And oh...the boys didn't find any mudholes, either!

Here's a little sampling of the fun! Thanks Paula & Cecelia for your work in getting this together this year and Robin, we sure did miss you!!

Make a slideshow - it's easy!

Have you done your taxes? I FINALLY made myself sit down last night and finish ours. Thank goodness for TURBO TAX! I LOVE that site! It looks like we're going to get a little back this year and have decided it will be spent on things needed for the house. We need new windows and are praying we don't need a new H/AC unit! We'll find out Friday when the man comes to check out our a/c unit. Lord knows we're not getting enough back for a whole new unit!

Krystal Grant had a great idea for a layout swap for former TLC consultants.

So I decided to participate. This is my layout - it is supposed to symbolize something you gained through your experience with TLC. The main thing I am taking away after my short tenure is some "forever friends." Friends I never would have met any other way. So though the experience ended on a somewhat sour note, the friendships I have gained will last a lifetime.

I am still in shock...TLC emailed us yesterday with the news they were dissolving all consultantships and would now be an ecommerce market with "buyer's club". Well..no thanks.

So, if you are interested in any TLC merchandise - just let me know! I have a good bit of inventory and am selling at a nice discount!

THE GOOD:
BEAUTIFUL weather! This weekend was absolutely gorgeous...sunny with just a touch of coolness.

Saturday I went to the park at Maumelle to take family pictures of my sister's in-laws. Such a good looking bunch!


Happy Easter - Sunday was spent with my family. We all went to church, out to eat lunch and then home for the girls to hunt Easter Eggs. And they're off!


My sister had a great idea this year. She put a puzzle piece in each egg which made for a fun afternoon activity.


THE BAD:
My sister's birthday is March 4 -- it took us until March 23 to get together to celebrate. That's pretty sad seeing as we all live within 30 minutes of each other.

Happy Belated Birthday, Sherri!



AND THE UGLY:
North Carolina Tarheels 108
Arkansas Razorbacks 77

'nuff said!

Hope you have a great week.

To me, all Fridays are good! But holidays that are paydays are ESPECIALLY good!!

Took a trip to Charlotte's Eats & Sweets in Keo today for lunch. OMG - this place is about a 20 minute drive, but SO worth it. It is an antique still working authentic soda fountain with cafe tables and antique items scattered about the decor and the food -- their Keo Classic sandwich with turkey, cheese, onion, tomato, avocado on grilled sourdough bread with a Parmesan Spread,their fresh fruit cup with poppy seed dressing and their "sweets" -- oh their sweets! Today I chose Peanut Butter Passion Cake - my lunch date had Strawberry pie.

It was such a beautiful spring day, it was VERY hard to go back to work, but we got off early so that was a nice little perk.

GO HOGS! The Hogs just beat Indiana and will now face #1 North Carolina to reach the Sweet Sixteen.

Click here TO CALL THOSE HOGS

Gotta a call from Lauren this evening...I love it when I answer the phone expecting it to be my sister and it's one of my nieces! They very seldom call. But this little voice on the other end said..."Well, I'm a member of the Eagle Band." Yes, Lauren is going to play the trumpet in her school band. She thought about the saxophone, but decided the trumpet was more fun to play (and also one of the loudest!) She's a petite girl...why not the clarinet or flute?



This girl is busy! She has gymnastics 3 hours a day 3 days a week and church activities and now Band...let's hope she still finds time to do her omework!