Crazy Mom With 4 Boys

Football or Commercials

2012-01-27T21:17:00.001-05:00

Do you watch the Super Bowl for the football or the commercials?I do enjoy watching football but I really like checking out the commercials played during the Super Bowl.I was looking around to see if any of the commercials were out on the Internet yet and I did find a couple.I think every year the Dorios commercials are at the top of my favorites. Like the past years Doritos has had a contest for anyone to make their own commercial for the Super Bowl. Out of the finalist here are the ones I liked, in the order I like them.Ok maybe this one is my favorite because it looks like Dexter is in this one. I'm sure Dexter would love to have Smokie's name on the tree. This one I just love the face on the baby as he is heading for the bag of Doritos. Very cute.This one is just so stupid it made me laugh. There are more. I found these on YouTube. Which one did you like?

I love my scanner

2012-01-23T06:20:00.000-05:00

Today I love my scanner, because it is working. I seem to have a real love hate thing going on with this so called easy to use scanner we bought. I was working on doing a little scrapbooking and had 2 pictures I wanted to scan. I scanned them with no problems so I did a few I didn't plan on doing. Like these pictures, this isn't one of my boys it is My Hubby. He was a wrestler in high school. What a stud he was!

Can we skate yet?

2012-01-22T18:50:00.000-05:00

For Christmas our Little Guy received a new pair of ice skates, a hockey stick and a puck. He was been very excited to get out on the lake an play some hockey. Well this has not been a very normal winter so far. The lake just froze over about a week ago. In the past the kid's have been able to make a rink and skate on the lake the week between Christmas and New Years when they are off from school. Not this year. He asked all weekend if the ice was ready for skating. Today they went down to check it out. Nope it is just not thick enough. Maybe next weekend if it stays cold.

Dexter had to go and check out what they were doing. He loves to run around the yard when anyone is outside with him. He seemed to think that they put a hole in the ice so he could get a drink. Just what he needed after a run around the yard and nice cold drink of water.

Sweetness

2012-01-22T18:00:00.000-05:00

I wanted to share this pictures with everyone. It is of my great niece and nephew. They are just so precious. My niece took the baby to have Ann Geddes type photo's taken. I don't know who the photographer was but I think they did a great job. This is just one of about 15 great shots. There are many photographers that take pictures like this. From what I have read they like to take this style photo's of babies no older then 2 weeks old. Within the first couple of weeks the babies are still more comfortable in the position they were in when they were in their mommy's. The studio needs to be very warm and it is best if the baby just ate. I guess a nice warm room and a nice full tummy makes for a very happy sleepy baby. I don't know if that is what they did to get this picture but what every they did worked. Both kid's look great in these picture.

Walgreens-Express Scripts

2012-01-15T16:00:00.001-05:00

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Walgreens for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

Many of us turn to Walgreens when we have a prescription that needs to be filled. Walgreens are all over and when you are not feeling good and just want to get your prescription it is easy. Walgreens is fast and I have found very friendly.

Walgreens and Express Script

Walgreens has been in negotiations with Express Scripts for a new contract to continue as part of its pharmacy provider network. The contract Walgreens was in with Express Scripts ended December 31, 2011. The contract negotiations were unsuccessful. Walgreens is no longer part of Express Scripts' pharmacy provider network as of January 1, 2012.

If you don't know if your insurance plan is managed by Express Scripts please check with your local Walgreens pharmacist. If you look on the back of your card and see Express Scripts you could be affected. If you using a military prescription plan this could effect you. If you are affected Express Scripts wants you to order your medication and not get them from Walgreens.

Walgreens Prescription Savings Club

Walgreens is trying to minimize the disruptions by offering a special discount on their annual membership for it Prescription Savings Club. An individual can join during a special January Promotion for only $5, or $10 for a family membership, and receive savings on more than 8,000 brand name and all generic medications. More than 400 generics are available with a three-month supply for less than $1 a week. Regular annual membership is $20 for an individual and $35 for a family.

Walgreens are doing all they can so you do not have to change your pharmacists. You can also get information regarding this at Walgreens on Twitter or Walgreens on Facebook.

Book Review - Night Sins by Tami Hoag

2012-01-10T16:50:00.000-05:00

The movie, when I was looking for information on this book I noticed it has been made into a TV movie in 1997.

At Amazon.com this book is only $7.99.Book Review: Night Sins by Tami HoagNight Sins takes place in Deer Lake, Minnesota. Megan O’Malley has just been promoted to field agent for the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA). During her career, O’Malley had to fight against sexism from her male counterparts. The Deer Lake police force and male citizens slighted O’Malley from the moment she arrived. Chief Mitch Holt was willing to give Megan a chance, plus he couldn’t help but be physically attracted to her. During the male female competency competition at the station, a boy named Josh was kidnapped from the local ice rink. The case has become high profile and a matter of life and death. The kidnapper drops creepy, yet cryptic clues that no one can figure out. In the middle of this chaos, Chief Holt and O’Malley fall into bed. If word gets out about their affair, O’Malley’s career is over. In a sexist career like law enforcement, O’Malley’s respect and creditability can be thrown out the window because she’s a woman. Is it fair? Of course not, but that what the male dominated world of Deer Lake is like. Night Sins is an excellent book. All the main and supporting characters are well developed. Hoag’s writing flushes out the characters to a point that you can’t help, but become emotionally involved with them. The sexually scenes with Holt and O’Malley gets a reader’s blood flowing. The plot is engaging, interesting, and disturbing. After all, no one can help but become emotionally involved when a child gets kidnapped whether it is fiction or non-fiction. However, the book’s characters drive the plot more than the plot drives them, which does make for a better book. There are only two drawbacks to Night Sins. One, the book is a little too long. Most novels are 350 to 400 pages at the most. Night Sins is 540 pages long. Some readers like reading a regular 300 page novel and move on to another one. Two, Night Sins is a two parter. That’s right. You’re not going to get all the answers at the end of this 540 page book. Readers will have to read Guilty Sins by Tami Hoag to get a conclusion. When I figured this out I was not happy. If a story doesn’t end in one book, I want to know up front before I get invested in it. What can I say? I just hate that kind of surprise. My first reaction was, “I’ve been duped. This was my first Tami Hoag read and it will be my last.” After I calmed down, I realized that it wasn’t a total lost. Night Sins is a great book that will take any independent woman on an emotional ride. Judging from Night Sins, reading Guilty As Sin might not be a waste of time. Plus, Tami Hoag proves that she can tell a story in a unique way. I’m not mad at her anymore about the two part business. Bottom Line, Night Sins is a fantastic book despite the fact that it is too long and readers will have to read Guilty As Sin to get a complete conclusion. Women who are single and have an independent nature will especially enjoy this read.I just finshed this book today.

Once again I thought it was slow till about half way then I couldn't put it down. It leaves you hanging till the very end. Then goes into another book, Guilty as Sin. I think I will be starting that tonight.

MatchBook.com

2012-01-07T00:00:00.001-05:00

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of MatchBook for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

Do you know someone going to college and paying out lots of money on books. Many of the kid's today in college add a lot to their student loans on books. Just one book can cost $100 or $200. It can really add up fast just for one semester. What if for some of the books you could get them for FREE online. Sound good to you then you need to go check out MatchBooks. MatchBooks has remixed books for commonly taken core classes. You can get the text book online for FREE and they don't expire. This is great for students that can't afford books. What a great idea.

MatchBooks are not the same at the original text book but they have remixed the text. You will still have the material you need in the text book for your class.

MatchBooks is all about value, they are written by leading scholars, they are customized to match the table of contents, chapter order, chapters and sections cover the same topics and key terms.

Check out Flat World Knowledge on Facebook for more information. If this is something that could help someone you know pass this information.

Let me know what you think. Is this something you think you would use? Do you think this is a great idea? Do you think you would tell someone you know about MatchBook? Just make a comment on this post of why you would use it or recommend MatchBook to a friend or family member.

I would think it is a great way to help with the great expense of school. I know many young adults get out of college with so much debt. This could be one way to cut some of the cost and some of the debt. I think that is a very good thing.

Another Birthday in our house

2012-01-04T19:07:00.000-05:00

Happy Birthday to you.
Happy Birthday to you.
Happy Birthday dear Son #1.
Happy Birthday to you.

Yesterday we were celebrating Son #1's birthday. What a very busy day it was. I went back to work after being off for 2 weeks. The Little Guy headed back to school and we had a birthday boy in the house. His girlfriend came over to celebrate with us. Aren't they cute together.

We couldn't leave Dexter out he likes to celebrate too.

We were even able to get a picture of the whole family. I love when we are all together.

This is the last of the birthday's in our house till March. That birthday is My Hubby's and he will be turning 50. I think I need to do a little planning.

Happy 2012 Everyone

2012-01-01T11:11:00.000-05:00

Last night we went out. For the past 3 or 4 years we have gone out to dinner and to a movie with Al and Christina. After the movie we head over to the bowling alley where our Little Guy is with friends. For the past couple of years we have spent the first minutes of the new year in the car. That is what happened again last night. Here we are at a light, in the car on the road.

We had a really nice evening. We ate at Chili's had the dinner and a movie deal for only $35.00. I thought it as very yummy and a good deal. We went and saw the new Sherlock Holmes movie. It was really good. My Hubby took a little nap during the movie claiming that is was a very slow movie. I think he just doesn't do good when eating before going to the movies. Son #1 and his girlfriend just ended up staying at home. I guess Son #1 has the same idea's as mom and took a picture too at midnight. What a cute couple they are.

The weather is just crazy. I just posted about the snow coming down. The snow is all gone and we are back to spring again. This picture was from yesterday.

This pictures was today. The lake had been about half covered with ice and now it is almost all gone. This year Santa brought our Little Guy ice skates, a hockey stick and a puck. We just need ice. On a normal year the week between Christmas and New Years is the best skating. I'm sure cold weather will find us soon.

But for now it is nothing but blue sky's.

Hope you had a wonderful New Years Eve. Did you do anything? I would love to hear about it.

Gift Card Weekend January 6 - 8 of 2012

2011-12-31T06:00:00.001-05:00

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Gift Card Weekend for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

I don't know about you but I LOVE Subway and so does my family. I saw this chance to win a $10 gift card and I wanted to know more.

For a chance to win this $10 Subway gift card like Gift Card Weekend on Facebook. After you have 'liked' Gift Card Weekend take a look around their Facebook page. See all the Participating retailers like:

JCPenny
Regal Cinema
Subway
Sephora
Applebee's
Bass Pro Shops
Adidas
Buca di Beppo
Lowe's
Spa Finer
Marriot
Giant Eagle

100 gift cards will be given away leading up to Gift Card Weekend January 6 - 8 of 2012. Gift Card Weekend only comes around once a year so don't miss it. Besides the $10 Subway gift card give away other participating retailers will be giving away gift cards also.

Gift cards purchased during the holiday season and redeemed Gift Card Weekend have a change to win too. Also if you are a gift giver just increase the value of your gift cards from participating retail partners. These offers are available to your recipient when they use their gift cards during Gift Card Weekend.

Gift Card Weekend will be here soon. So get over to their Facebook page and 'like' them for a change to win.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo - Movie 2011

2011-12-30T06:15:00.000-05:00

Rated: RRun Time 158 minutes
Starring: Daniel Craig, Rooney Mara and Christopher Plummer

Journalist Mikael Blomkvist is aided in his search for a woman who has been missing for forty years by Lisbeth Salander, a young computer hacker.

Yes I went to the movie theaters the other night. I went with a friend to see The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. A couple of months ago I read the book,here is my review on the book. I also rented the Swedish movie, I found out fast that I'm no good at reading subtitles and watching a movie. I just couldn't do it and follow the story. I had been really looking forward to the American movie to come out. Like most books that are turned into a movie, the book was much better. You just can't put in all the little details in a movie like there is in a book. I think the movie missed a lot and it had a bit of a different ending. I don't want to say much just in case you are going to go see it. I'm glad I went to see it but I was disappointed.

If you have seen it I would love to hear what you think.

Who Shook the Snow Globe

2011-12-29T14:48:00.000-05:00

On Monday it was beautiful. I don't know what the temperature was but it felt like spring. My sister in-law was even working out in her yard and some of her flowers were peeking up out of the dirt. There is a saying in Michigan to just wait 5 minutes and the weather will change. Well it was more then 5 minutes but the weather made a big change in about 24 hours.These pictures are from Tuesday, it was like someone picked up the snow globe and shook it all up. There were beautiful big snow flakes falling from the sky.

The lake even started to freeze over and the geese were out there sitting on the ice and swimming in the water.

It was so cool that Dexter just couldn't leave the heater. He said it feels sooooo good.

2011-12-27T19:40:00.002-05:00

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas. We had a wonderful day.

This is our tree after Santa had arrived.

My family including Dexter. This is Dexter's first Christmas with us. He was a very good boy with all the family here celebrating. I think he liked having so many people playing and petting him.

This is the blanket/wall hanging I made for my new great nephew. His room is done in a fish theme. I made a colorful fish with his name in bubbles above the fish. I think they really loved it.

This is my new great nephew. He loved being all the love he was getting all day and being fussed over.

This is my great niece, she couldn't be sweeter. It is so wonderful to have little ones in the family again. I am very blessed to have such a great family. I hope everyone had a wonderful day and have a safe New Years.

Slim-Fast

2011-12-23T16:00:00.001-05:00

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Slim-Fast for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

I was really happy to get this chance to write about Slim-Fast. I really know about this product. I first used it to diet a couple of years ago and found that I really liked it. I still use if to diet but also if I know I'm not going to have time for breakfast, lunch or even dinner I drink a Slim-Fast. I love the taste and it fills me up. They use to be in cans but now they have a nice new plastic bottle shaped container.

Slim-Fast is a great way to lose unwanted pounds you may put on during the holidays. I know I always put on a few extra pounds with all the parties and goodies around this time of year. Slim-Fast has 10 grams of protein, 5 grams of fiber and 24 essential vitamins & minerals. Slim-Fast also comes in great flavors like my favorite Creamy Milk Chocolate, yum. There is also Cappuccino Delight, Strawberries N' Cream, French Vanilla and Rich Chocolate Royale. I have had them all and they are all very good. Slim-Fast is also very easy to buy that Wal-marts, Target, Kroger's, Safeway or even online at Amazon.com and at the Slim-Fast 3-2-1 store on facebook. Also make sure you go to Slim-Fast on facebook and like them. I did.

Slim-Fast also has wonderful snack bars. Put the Slim-Fast drink together with the Slim-Fast snack bars and you have the new Slim-Fast 3*2*1 plan. 3 healthy snacks, 2 Slim-Fast shakes or snack bars and 1 balanced meal. Do this diet plan and you will lose weight.

Elf Magic

2011-12-21T12:50:00.002-05:00

Last weekend I went to a friends house for a ornament party. She has a adorable 4 year old that couldn't wait to tell and show everyone their elf. I wish I would of taken a picture she was so cute. She went into the kitchen and above the sink they have a pot rack and up on the rack was a elf. Their elf even had a name, sorry I don't remember his name. From her I figured this elf was watching and knew when she was naughty or nice. I'm sure this is one of Santa's elf's and he reports to the big guy himself.Then just the other day I was on fb and a friend of mine had pictures of their elf named Gordon. Here are a couple of picture of Gordon. Their elf had been playing outside.

I felt like I had missed out on something here. I turned to my good friend Google and I found The Elf on the Shelf. Yes the Elf has it's own website. If you would like to buy a elf for your house I found the book and elf on Amazon.com $29.94. I think this is very fun and I really wish I had little ones around the house that the magic of a Elf could look over and report back to the big elf Santa.

Happy 20th Birthday Son #2

2011-12-14T07:57:00.001-05:00

We have a birthday boy in the house today. 20 years ago today we were blessed with our second son. It sure doesn't feel like 20 years ago time goes by in just a blink of a eye. He was my crazy busy toddler but a great teenager. He has turned into a wonderful man. He is away at collage right now, he will be coming home tomorrow for Christmas break. This picture is from last year. I'll post a picture of him with his cake this weekend.

Here is Son #2 on his birthday.

Look I even got into a picture. He really hasn't changed much in a year. I do wish he would get his hair cut.

Christmas Movies

2011-12-12T06:00:00.000-05:00

We love watching movies at our house. Every Christmas season we have one movie we have to watch and that is National Lampoons Christmas Vacation. I'm sure I have seen this movie about a 100 times. After watching it so many times you would think it would become boring, but oh no it still makes me laugh. Cousin Edy is just so funny and I think we all have a Cousin Edy in our family.

Do you have a Christmas movie that you love to watch every year?

BowlingShirt.com

2011-12-11T18:35:00.001-05:00

I'm very lucky to have been picked to do a post for BowlingShirt.com. I had told them that my oldest son is a bowler and would love to review one of their shirts. So, I'm not just the lucky one so is Son #1. He gets a new shirt out of this.

We didn't get to pick out the shirt just the size. I asked for a size medium and we thought it was a good fit. Son #1 really liked the colors they sent and the fit.

I wanted to get some pictures of him bowling in it but I wasn't going up to the bowling ally. This is Son #1 before leaving for bowling.Go check out BowlingShirt.com. They stock over 100 design options. You can have your shirt with custom screen printing, computer embroidery and even retro hand sewn embroidery. They have women's shirts and youth shirts. If you are having a party have shirts made for everyone. I'm sure everyone would love them. Need them quick this is the place to order. You get your shirts in just 3 easy steps. Give BowlingShirt.com a look.

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Dexter Story

2011-12-11T17:55:00.001-05:00

It isn't Christmas around our house without the Grinch. We have him and his dog under the tree.

This is our first Christmas with Dexter. He seemed to feel strongly that a dog should not be wearing a antler on it's head. Dexter felt so strongly about it that he was going to take it off!

We ended up saving the dog from getting his antler eatten off. Dexter is still keeping a eye on it but has not atempted to remove it again.

Glass Block Craft

2011-12-07T22:19:00.000-05:00

A friend and boss of mine at work has been making these amazing glass blocks to decorate the counter at work. She also make a set for her mantle at home.

To start with she buys a glass block that already has a hole drilled in it. Most craft stores have them now. I want to make a couple too and I picked mine up at Menard's. I heard that Lowe's and Home Depot carry them in red and green but only during the Christmas holiday season.

The first block is for Halloween. There is a design on both sides. Side one is a jack-O-lantern and the other side is Frankenstein.

Next is the fall/Thanksgiving block. A scarecrow on one side and a turkey on the other.

Last is the Christmas block, candle and Santa on the other side.

Remember I have not made one yet myself. I only hope I can come up with a creation close to as nice as hers. She takes tissue paper in the color that works with the theme and apply it to a side of the block with Mod Podge glue. Put a couple of coats of glue on the tissue paper. I didn't take a picture of the sides and I should of. She has picked out napkins that works with the theme of the block and glued it to all four sides of the block. Go online and pick out a stencil pattern you like and print it the size you want it on the block. Then cut it out of card stock paper in the color that goes with your design. Glue onto block. Then put a couple of layers of glue on the whole block. Buy either a single light that will just go into the bottom or you can buy a small string of low heat lights to put into the block. Now plug it in and enjoy.

I hope to have a wonderful winter block to share with you soon.

Winter is Here

2011-11-30T21:12:00.001-05:00

Yesterday it rained and the wind was really blowing. Then it started to snow and the wind kept on blowing. Next the power went out. This morning we woke up to a beautiful winter wonderland and still no power.

Driving to work was not fun but I was very happy to make it there safe and it was warm at work. My Hubby and Son #3 were at home with no power and no heat. I think the whole neighborhood yelled a great big hurray when the power came back on at about 3:00. My Hubby had the house all nice a warm by the time I came home. Have you been having any storms?

2011-11-28T06:30:00.000-05:00

I was very busy last weekend. I cleaned and I cleaned then I decorated. I put up the Christmas tree, it is the santa tree this year. My hubby put up the outside Christmas lights. I think the halls are all decked.

Dexter helped everyone and it really tired him out. He loves his new bed and was snoring up a storm.

Crazy, Wonderful Weather

2011-11-27T20:37:00.001-05:00

We live in Michigan and yesterday it was 64. I think it was warmer outside then it was in our home.

I had not had time to pull out some flowers. They are in pots by the front porch. I'm so glad I left them because with this warm weather they are blooming again.

This is just crazy but I love it. We were putting up our Christmas lights with pretty summer flower in the yard.

I heard that is is going to snow on Tuesday. I'm so glad I took time to enjoy the beautiful weekend.

How was your Thanksgiving?

2011-11-26T20:11:00.001-05:00

How was your Thanksgiving? We had a very nice one. We were all together and I was able to even get a family picture. My boys are getting go big and I'm getting so old. How did this happen?

We also had a little fun. This is my SIL getting ready to take the turkey out of the pan.

Below are the football watchers. The Lions were on everyone was watching the game off and on. There was a lot of yelling at the TV too.

We had lots of great food and wonderful family time. I think we all ate to much. I tell myself every year I will stop when I'm full and I never do it. What did you do on Thanksgiving? Did you cook? I didn't and I miss the leftovers.

Plant Bulbs Just Dig, Drop and Done

2011-11-26T06:00:00.001-05:00

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Bulbs. Dig, Drop, Done. for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

When I say flower bulbs what do you think of? I get confused and I know I don't know which bulbs to get or how to even plant them. If you feel the same way I do go check out Curbside Chaos. I did and I learned a lot.

I did the Garden Guru Tool located on the home page of Curbside Chaos on the bottom left.

1st- I picked the Country I live in, United States

2nd- I picked the zone I live in, the dark green area.

3rd- I picked the month I wanted the bulbs to come up, I picked, May.

I was then given the beautiful flowers shown at the top of this post. I would love to be looking at them in my yard in the spring, they are just beautiful. Please also visit www.digdropdone.com to learn more about everything to do with bulbs. How to plant the bulbs was the important one for me and it was explained so I could understand it and I think I can even do it. Bulbs. Dig, Drop, Done is also having a contest and are giving away a $5,000 yard makeover! I sure know I would love this. All you need to do is submit a photo of your yard to Curbside Chaos. Make sure to check out the video's, I think I could relate to Marcy, the busy mom. I'm a mom, a wife and I work. I love to garden but don't have a ton of time. There is a lady with a great bulb message for everyone. Oh one more thing for every share on Twitter, "Bulbs. Dig, Drop, Done" will donate $1.00 to Rebuilding Together, the nation's leading nonprofit, working to preserve affordable homeownership and revitalize communities. So please Twitter.

Are you thinking of getting new eyeglasses?

2011-11-22T04:01:00.001-05:00

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Zenni Optical for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

We spend a ton of money on glasses every other year. There are 6 in our family and we all wear eyeglasses. We are very lucky to have insurance but we still have to pay out at least $200 for each pair of eyeglasses. This adds up fast. I have been given the chance to tell everyone how to get cheap eyeglasses by Zenni Optical. They have so many eyeglasses it is very hard to pick just one pair. At the great pricesZenni Optical offers you can pick out two. I went and checked out the frames that they have and found so many that I think I would like to get a couple with the great prices. I looked at the selections for kid's and men and I think Zenni Optical has more to pick from than the place we go to. If you are like us and have to wear glasses but don't like to spend all that money please go look at the selection Zenni Optical has to offer. I think you will be surprised at the cheap eyeglasses that they have to offer and nice the frames are. You will be really styling in your new eyeglasses and feel like a new person.

With all this savings, I'm going to have extra money. Oh what to do with the extra money. I think I would do some Christmas shopping with the extra money. Christmas is coming soon.

Comedy for the Whole Family

2011-11-20T04:01:00.001-05:00

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of American Family Insurance for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

American Family Insurance is bring Stand Up For Family to you. Very funny comedians have fun with everyday family things and it is all family friendly. AmFam knows that everyone in a family loves to laugh and to laugh at them self. On the Stand Up For Family website there are some very funny videos. I really enjoyed Bath Time. I'm sure all kids and adults will be laughing at this one. I don't have any brothers or sisters but I can just image if I did some of these funny things would happen. I know in my home with 4 boys many of these things joked about have happened. It is so much fun to laugh and watch a comedian tell joke with out bad words. I also love to laugh and have fun with by kid's and with these comedians you can. AmFam brings you Stand Up For Family and all the fun comedians and funny stories. Please check out these video's and have a few laughs. I think AmFam came up with a winning idea here. I'm sure everyone loves to laugh and Stand Up For Family will make you do that and put a smile on your face.

2011-11-19T06:00:00.000-05:00

Last Sunday we went up to Son #2's football banquet. It was a really nice day for the almost 2 hour ride there. I miss Son #2 like crazy when he is away at college. I'm always looking for reason to go visit him. The banquet was really nice, they do a good job talking about the players and the football program.

This season there was only 5 seniors that were honored at the banquet. I didn't understand why there were so few. My Hubby didn't know why and son #2 didn't know. So I went and asked another mom of a player who has been in the football program for 4 years.

I will use Son #2 as my example. When you play football for a college you only have 4 years of eligibility. If you red shirt your first year (you don't play) you are called a red shirt freshman. Then the next year you play you are then a freshman. Or if you are like Son #2 and you end up being a medical red shirt (didn't play because of a injury) you are call a red shirt freshman again. Then in your third year of college you play you are a freshman, then your fourth year a sophomore and so on.

There were only 5 seniors on the team this year because many of the boys don't stay until they were a senior on the football team. Many graduate before making it to that point.

Son #2 red shirted for 2 years and has 4 years to play football. To be a senior on the football team he will be going to college for 6 years. Not a bad thing, he could go for 6 years and graduate with 2 masters degrees. That sounds great to me. I guess we will just have to see what happens.

One other term I want to tell you about and that is a true freshman. This is when a player does not red shirt so he is a true freshman. You will hear is often when watching college football on TV.

2011-11-18T21:27:00.000-05:00

On our way home from the scrapbook show we passed this house.

All of these, sorry I don't know what they are called, were out in front of one home. There has to be, I don't know 40 or 50. It looked very festive. Good idea to put them up before the weather gets bad.

2011-11-18T06:23:00.000-05:00

Last weekend I went with my best shopping friend to a scrapbook show. I haven't scrapbook in a long time and I really have a lot to do. I have baseball and football picture I would like to scrapbook plus Son #3's graduation and grad party. I better get started. The scrapbook really made be excited to start scrapbooking again and gave me so many idea's. They had some great idea's for page layouts. Here are some picture of a couple of pages I would like to make.

This last one I would like it to say diving. Son #1 was a diver and this would be perfect. At the show I did good. I didn't spend a arm and a leg. I could of there were so many really fun products there.Do you scrapbook?

How about Thanksgiving in Branson

2011-11-18T03:00:00.001-05:00

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Hiltons of Branson for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

Every year I think that we should go away for Thanksgiving. Take the nice long weekend and get away. Out of all the holidays Thanksgiving isn't my favorite. I do have a lot to be thankful for and I am. I just think Thanksgiving is a lot of work. All that cooking for everyone to eat and the men to eat and watch football then I have to clean up. Maybe we should run away to the Hilton Promenade at Branson Landing or the Hilton Branson Convention Center Hotel Both in Branson, Missouri. I have read that the Level 2 Steakhouse has a Thanksgiving Brunch and there is also "Turkey to Go". Sounds like a winner to me, someone else doing the cooking sounds wonderful. This could be a holiday that I enjoy. Everyone is my family loves country music and I'm sure that we could find a couple of shows in Branson to go to with great country music. It would also be a great way to get in the Christmas mood. I'm sure all of Branson would be all decked out for the up coming Christmas holiday at Thanksgiving. If you don't have any plans for Thanksgiving think about visiting Branson, Missouri. I can't make it this year but maybe next year who knows.

Dexter where are you?

2011-11-17T06:30:00.000-05:00

Dexter.......Dexter where are you?

Brett can't find Dexter anywhere. We even used the word "treat" and no DEXTER, DEXTER, DEXTER.

He didn't run away he was upstairs sleeping. What a lazy doggy he is.

He is so tired he wouldn't even open his eyes. I guess he really needs his beauty rest.

Babies vs Puppies

2011-11-15T03:01:00.001-05:00

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Puppies vs. Babies for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

Okay off the top of your head which one would you pick Puppies vs. Babies? I thought babies I have 4 boys and oh my they were soooo cute when they were babies. Wait I think we called Our Little Guy Yuda from Star Wars when he was a baby. Maybe I should pick puppies we had a little puppy once named Kelly and oh my was she cute! She was black with a little white on her. She was all legs and so funny and cute. Wait I think I said I would never have a puppy again because she was such a pain to house train. She was really cute but more work then a cute little baby. Okay I'm back to babies for the Puppies vs. Babies online contest. Wow I didn't think this would be so hard!!!! Well what do you think on this one Puppies vs. Babies? I wish I could pick both because they are both so cute but sometimes both are so ugly in a very cute way. Like a pug with it's pushed in nose, a baby with a toothless smile. Both so very cute that just thinking about them make me smile.

Make sure you go and vote on the Puppies vs. Babies online contest.

Leave me a comment on what you voted for.

My Holiday Cards From Mixbook.com

2011-11-14T18:46:00.001-05:00

I was so excited to get my Christmas cards in the mail today. I have my favorite people on them, my family.I just went to Mixbook.com Christmas cards and picked one out. It did take me a little bit of time to pick one out. There are so many to pick from and they are very nice. You can even write a special message and sign your card how every you wish. I found some went with my picture better then others. I was very pleased with how they turned out. If you are starting to think about Christmas and want to do something special with your cards this year check out Mixbook. I think you will be able to fine the perfect card to send out from your family.Mixbook is also on facebook and twitter. Two other ways to check out what Mixbook has to offer.

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Slice Safety Cutter

2011-11-08T15:51:00.000-05:00

I was sent this great little cutter to review. I do a lot of coupon cutting and was very exciting to see how this compact cutting tool works. As you can see it came in the mail and in this nice package with good directions.

This product is the Slice Safety Cutter but there are many more slice products that they carry. Including items like tweezers and scissors. I was very happy with how the Slice Safety Cutter worked. As you can see I even ended up with a helper. We found that it took a little bit of getting use to. At first we were pressing down hard and we ended up cutting many sheets of coupons. You just have to lightly set the cutter on top of the line you want to cut and move it. It was very easy. My little guy had fun cutting coupons. This will not cut your finger I would even let a much littler guy then My Little Guy use it. I can also think of other uses for the Slice Safely Cutter like scrapbooking and it is so small I could have it in my purse and take it with me.

I really liked the Slice Safety Cutter and would love to try their other products.I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

The end of Jr. Football

2011-11-06T19:05:00.000-05:00

Yesterday was the banquet for Jr. football. My Hubby and our Little Guy went and had a really nice time. This makes our last year in Jr. Football. Our Little Guy will be in high school next year and we hope will be playing on the high school team like his brother did. This year was our 12 year of having a player in Jr. Football. It really doesn't feel like it has been that long. Kid's really grow up fast.

The Little Guy was really happy with this years trophy, it's a little helmet. Look it looks like it was made for Smokie. We thought it was great fun to put the helmet trophy on the cat but I don't think she thought it fun at all. Just look at her eyes I think they really tell what she thinks about this helmet.

Reuseit

2011-11-02T16:38:00.000-04:00

I'm very excited to show you what came in the mail for me yesterday.

It's a Nalgene 32 oz Wide Mouth Reusable Bottle, Tritan. I was so happy to of been picked to review a water bottle from www.reuseit.com. I was told to go to www.reuseit.com and pick out a Water Bottle. I thought this would be easy. Oh not it was not, there were so many to pick from. I am very happy that I picked the Nalgene 32 oz Wide Mouth Reusable Bottle, Tritan, I have already used it a couple of times. I love the wide mouth on it. Also it is the perfect size for me to carry when I'm walking, not to heavy and it holds the right about of water for my walks. I like to have ice in my water and the wide mouth makes it so much easier to put the ice in. LOVE IT!As you can see in my picture below this product is bpa free. I really try to watch for these labels. Most of the water bottles also came in different colors. So many to pick from. Nalgene also has many different style water bottles other then the one I picked. Go check them out for yourself and sure you could find one you love just like I did.

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Happy Halloween

2011-10-31T14:58:00.001-04:00

Everyone have a very fun and safe Halloween

Book Review - The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo - By Stieg Larsson

2011-10-18T06:42:00.000-04:00

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

The disappearance forty years ago of Harriet Vanger, a young scion of one of the wealthiest families in Sweden, gnaws at her octogenarian uncle, Henrik Vanger. He is determined to know the truth about what he believes was her murder. He hires crusading journalist Mikael Blomkvist, recently at the wrong end of a libel case, to get to the bottom of Harriet's disappearance. Lisbeth Salander, a twenty-four-year-old, pierced, tattooed genius hacker, possessed of the hard-earned wisdom of someone twice her age--and a terrifying capacity for ruthlessness--assists Blomkvist with the investigation. This unlikely team discovers a vein of nearly unfathomable iniquity running through the Vanger family, an astonishing corruption at the highest echelon of Swedish industrialism--and a surprising connection between themselves.

It seemed that everyone I know has read this book and I for some reason had not. I thought the beginning was very slow but after about 20 or 50 pages I was hooked and could not put it down. A very good story that you just want more and that is a good thing because there is 2 more books. I give this book a 5 out of 5 stars. There is a movie coming out too and I can't wait to see it.

Our Annual Cider Mill Trip

2011-10-17T06:24:00.000-04:00

For over 15 years we have been getting together with family and going to the cider mill. We go to the Parshallville Grist Mill. This time of year it is a very popular place to visit. We went last weekend and the weather was warm and the bees were in abundance.There were so many that we couldn't even eat our cider and donuts there. No worries we just took them home and ate them.

Dexter even went to the cider mill he loved all the people.

After the cider mill we headed over to the pumpkin patch. Our little pumpkin had fun picking out the perfect pumpkin.

My Little Guy picked out a pumpkin for him to carve too.

After picking out the perfect pumpkins we headed back to our house for pumpkin carving and chili. Oh and since it was Sunday the guys were watching some football too.

Everyone was very busy getting all the seeds out to make some yummy pumpkin seeds.

This is my niece who is busy making a new little pumpkin who will arrive November 18th and it's a boy. We are all very excited.

Here are all the carved pumpkins with the artist who created them. I didn't carve one, I was very busy taking pictures. They all turned out so good. Our little pumpkin had so much fun playing with them. She loved how the tops came off. Happy fall to everyone. Do you have anything special you do with your family in the fall?

Fall Color 2011

2011-10-16T15:58:00.000-04:00

It has been unseasonably warm here in Michigan. It has been warm and the trees are all changing it is just beautiful.

The other morning on my way to work it was foggy and the sun was coming up in the foggy. I just happened to have my camera in my purse and took a couple of pictures on my drive.

This one I think turned out the best.

This one I thought the trees had really nice color.

I just work down the road here. I love this big tree in the field.

Not bad for drive by shootings.

These are just some pictures of the lake. It is always pretty.

Tonight the weather is going to be getting cooler. I think the color for the tree's have peaked. Time to start raking all the leafs off the lawn.

Last Weekend

2011-10-05T19:41:00.000-04:00

Last weekend we went up to see Son #2 at college. It was the homecoming football game and auto show that is held at Northwood Universtiy. It was a little cold but that didn't stop us. We tailgated a little bit and watched the football game, they lost. Then joined by Son #2 walked around the auto show. We each picked out what we would like to buy, if we won the lottery.My Hubby picked........

I picked............

And Son #2 picked...............

After that we walked around campus a little bit. They are building a new indoor football practice field. The building is huge. They get a lot of snow up here in Midland, I'm sure a indoor field will really get used.

Straight Talk

2011-10-04T17:00:00.001-04:00

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Straight Talk for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

Are paying a arm and a leg for your cell phone service? I know I am and I don't like it at all. There is a service called Straight Talk that can cut your cell phone bill in half. There is NO contracts so no waiting 2 years to get a new phone or to change plans. Just think of all the money saved by switching to Straight Talk and cutting you cell phone bill in half. Let's see what would I do with that money?????? If I saved it all year I could go on a really nice vacation. That sounds wonderful to me.

This part is going to have you Hook, line and sinker. Like I already said there is No contracts plus No surprise bills and NO credit checks. Straight talk has great nationwide coverage and excellent reception. 411 calls are NO extra charge. You will be free from activation, reactivation, or termination fees. Call a friend and tell them of the great deals Straight Talk has. I'm not done either they only use trusted phone manufacturers like LG, Motorola, Kyocera, Nokia and Samsung. You could even check out Android on Straight Talk. I told you I would have you Hook, line and sinker that Straight Talk has Everything you need.

Let's talk plans. There is the "All You Need Plan" is for heavy phone users you get 1,000 texts and 30 MB of web data.

Unlimited monthly service is on $45, and includes calls, text, picture messaging and web. What a great deal!

Straight Talk has a great phone selection. They have reconditioned phones for only $10 with a camera, mp3 player, mobile web access, and blue-tooth capability. Everyone could use a phone like this. They also have amazing smart phone. Straight Talk has everything anyone would want. Go check it out.

Cheer Finger Gloves

2011-09-28T21:21:00.000-04:00

Look what I made today. Cheer finger gloves to cheer on my son's football team.
They are calling for cool weather this weekend so these gloves will be just perfect for the big game.
GO NORTHWOOD!

THE SKY IS FALLING

2011-09-27T06:00:00.000-04:00

It really feels like the sky is falling when you are walking around my yard. Don't look up.

If you do you might just get one of these acorn right on your nose.

I think I'm going to start wearing a hard hat when I'm outside doing yard work. The trees really have a ton of them this year. I sure hope it doesn't mean we are going to have a really cold, very snowing winter. I don't even want to think about that.

Tammy

2011-09-25T17:10:00.000-04:00

This was from Friday night. It was our Little Guy's 13th birthday. The kid's seem to enjoy cupcakes more then a cake so that is what I make them now for their birthdays. The Little Guy wanted carmel cupcakes with carmel icing and that is what I made him. The happy birthday cupcake holder came from Oriental Trading and was only like $8.00 isn't it nice. I wanted to post a picture to show everyone The Little Guys hair cut. Yes he had me buzz off all that pretty blond hair. He said it was just to hot and sweaty when he was playing football. I understood. Tammy

2011-09-24T07:47:00.000-04:00

I don't know how many times I will still have flowers for my walk around the yard. I was really happy that the couple of cold nights had not killed everything. I really love so much about fall. The beautiful colors that the trees turn, the cool air, going to the cidar mill, apples and so much more but I always feel a little depressed too. I think it is because I know that winter is coming. I'm just not a winter person. I'm cold all the time and I don't see much of the sun and there is that cold white stuff that falls from the sky. Oh I don't even want to think about that stuff. Well there isn't anything I can do to stop time so I have to just go with it and try to enjoy what I can. For now it is what is left of my flowers for the year.

Happy 13th Birthday to The Little Guy

2011-09-23T07:45:00.000-04:00

Happy birthday to my youngest son know as The Little Guy. He isn't so little anymore. As a matter of fact today he officially turns into a teenager, he is 13. As with all my boys it seems like just yesterday that they were just baby's and I was their whole world. Not anymore. Our Little Guy is very busy with school, sports, friends and so much more. He is turning into a wonderful young man and we are very proud of him. I will post some picture of him on his birthday. I don't have any yet with his hair all buzzed off. He looks much older. Happy 13th Birthday to The Little Guy.

What a beautiful sky tonight.

2011-09-22T20:21:00.000-04:00

The sky was just beautiful here tonight so I though in case you missed it I would share.

Have you ever heard that saying "red sky at night a sailors delight"? If it is ture then we are going to have a beautiful day tomorrow.

Dexter the Houdini Dog

2011-09-22T19:32:00.000-04:00

Dexter is like the Houdini of dogs. It seems that nothing will hold him. He hit the door of his cage till it bowed out and the latch would hold. So we added a bungee to it. This seemed to work he didn't get the door open but he did try to brake the bungee. I guess that didn't work so he then pushed up hard with his back till the bottom popped out and then he lifted it up and was out. He was only home alone for about 20 minutes. I guess we need to come up with a new plan. Tammy

NMEDA

2011-09-19T16:00:00.001-04:00

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of NMEDA for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

Do you know someone that is disabled? Do you have a loved one that is having a hard time getting around? Are you wondering where to get a van or other items to help? Have you ever been in a parking lot or a store and see either a van or a special wheelchair that helps someone with a disability get around? Then wonder where do they get the items to fit their special needs?

The place to start is NMEDA. They don't sell anything so don't think you will meet some pushy salesman. NMEDA is a nonprofit that helps people with disabilities get equipped for their special needs from deals located all over the country. I checked and there is a dealer only 30 minutes from me. Go to NMEDA and see if you have and deals by you and let me know if you do.

NMEDA helps people with a disability get vans or other items to help them with their independence. They also help the elderly so they don't have to rely on family and friends to help them get around.

If you know someone who could use this service please let them know about NMEDA.

Our Yard

2011-09-15T21:27:00.004-04:00

I was so happy to see that some of the sunflower seeds that I planted grew into beautiful flowers. I think sunflowers are one of my favorite flowers. They make me smile and feel happy. Tonight the weather man said we could get cold and I already feel the temperature dropping. They said to cover any plants that you want to protect. Summer sure is over and fall is here. I'm sure the trees will be starting to turn colors too after tonight. Time to go to the cidar mill I think.

Dexter Update

2011-09-15T21:07:00.001-04:00

Dexter just can't be left in the house alone. He is going to hurt himself. First we had a plastic crate it was a XL but Dexter is a XXL dog. He didn't fit. Then a friend let us use this metal cage. It is working good. He does bark when we are gone but I think he will stop this at some point. We have only left him for about a hour and a half at a time. The past couple of days we noticed he had some scratches on his nose and wondered how he got them. Well today we found out. He is pushing the door to the cage with his nose and head. Today he was out of the cage when we came home. The dog is a escape artist. I just can't believe it. So I guess we need to figure something else out.
This is Son #1 showing Dexter that the cage really isn't all that scary.
Son #1 had to get a new door for his car. He went up to the junk yard to get a new door and left his car in the driveway without a door. Dexter thought he would check it out and see how it felt to be in the drivers seat.

Isn't he a good looking doggy. I just wish he didn't miss us so much when we are gone.

TracFone

2011-09-12T22:01:00.001-04:00

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of TracFone for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

Are you looking for a new phone service? Are you sick and tired of the phone service you have? Do you think you spend to much on your phone service? Well then you should look into TracFone they have So many features and the cost is low. Here are some Real TracFone customers talking about TracPone.

With TracFone there are not contracts to sign. You don't have to wait to get out of a contact or to get a new phone or pay a fee because you want out of your contract. You would have to do that with most companies. TracFone is perfect for kid's. Today kid's are so busy they need a phone to stay in touch with mom and dad. There are plans as low as $9.99. There is also no credit checks. This can be very important. Times have been bad and there are many good people out there with bad credit. This is not a worry with TracFone.

See what I'm talking about when I say that TracFone has So many features. They have all the phones you love and would love to have. Here are some more Real TracFone customers talking about their experience with TracFone.

Here is the biggest reason I would change:

First Day of School 2011

2011-09-11T10:35:00.004-04:00

After what felt like the shortest summer ever school started this week. It is so odd for me to only have one of my boys in school now. Here is Our Little Guy he started 8th grade on Tuesday. His last year in middle school. I can't even believe this, wasn't he just a baby. It was a very busy week for him. He had school all day then came home and headed off to football practice. He was very tired when Friday came alone. No more sleeping in and just hanging out all day. He did seem to enjoy seeing friends he had not seen all summer and so far no complaints about his classes. Fingers crossed for a good school year.

Alzheimer's

2011-09-06T21:29:00.003-04:00

Many of you already know that Alzheimer's runs in my family. I really worry that I will someday end up with Alzheimer's. I was reading Woman's World and they had a little article that said protect your brain with Advil. Boston researchers found that using ibuprofen for pain makes you 40% less likely to develop Alzheimer's than if you use Tylenol! Ibuprofen reduces brain inflammation, a key risk factor for the disease. Well for a change it sounds like I'm doing something right. I always reach for a ibuprofen product for all my pains. I really like the percentage that ibuprofen could help.

Book Review - Caught by Harlan Coben

2011-09-05T08:48:00.000-04:00

Seventeen-year-old Haley McWaid is a good girl, the pride of her suburban New Jersey family, headed off to college next year with all the hopes and dreams her doting parents can pin on her. Which is why, when her mother wakes one morning to find that Haley never came home the night before and three months quickly pass without word from the girl, the community assumes the worst.

Wendy Tynes is a reporter on a mission: to bring down sexual predators via elaborate—and nationally televised—sting operations. Wendy and her team have shamed dozens of men by the time she encounters her latest target. Dan Mercer is a social worker known as a friend to troubled teens, but his story soon becomes more complicated than Wendy could have imagined.

Caught tells the story of a missing girl, the predator who may have taken her, and the reporter who suddenly realizes she can’t trust her own instincts about this story—or the motives of the people around her. .

I have been reading like crazy and have been reading some really good books. This one my friend Judi had read and I had it just sitting on my desk. One day at lunch I picked up and it grabbed by to very first chapter. I think I'm going to look into more books by Harlan Coben. I give this book 5 stars out of 5.

This book can be purchased at Amazon.com.

Book Review - The Neighbor by Lisa Gardner

2011-09-03T08:35:00.001-04:00

From a master of suspense comes a chilling new novel that explores the dangers lurking closer than you think. Because even in the perfect family, you never know what is going on behind closed doors…. This is what happened… It was a case guaranteed to spark a media feeding frenzy—a young mother, blond and pretty, disappears without a trace from her South Boston home, leaving behind her four-year-old daughter as the only witness and her handsome, secretive husband as the prime suspect. In the last six hours… But from the moment Detective Sergeant D. D. Warren arrives at the Joneses’ snug little bungalow, she senses something off about the picture of wholesome normality the couple worked so hard to create. On the surface, Jason and Sandra Jones are like any other hardworking young couple raising a four-year-old child. But it is just under the surface that things grew murky. Of the world as I knew it…. With the clock ticking on the life of a missing woman and the media firestorm building, Jason Jones seems more intent on destroying evidence and isolating his daughter than on searching for his “beloved” wife. Is the perfect husband trying to hide his guilt—or just trying to hide? And will the only witness to the crime be the killer’s next victim?

This was a really good book. It had many twists and turns. I think I have found my new author that I'm going to have to ready all their books. Lisa Gardner does a great job at making you not want to put the book down. I give this book 5 stars out of 5.

You can get this book at Amazon.com.

Dexter Update

2011-09-02T19:59:00.007-04:00

Dexter is saying I'm really a good boy don't get mad at me. Just look at that face isn't it sweet.

But he was bad again last night and went out a window screen on the second floor again. Son #3 was coming back home and heard the screen rip. He saw Dexter jump off the roof like it was nothing. Crazy dog.

Someone said get a crate and crate him. My boss had one for her 95 lbs. lab. Well as you can see not big enough for 120 lbs Dexter. Think we will have to keep looking. He really didn't even like to be near the crate.

Someone else said get him a Kong dog toy. We did that too. We had to get the XL size and The Little Guy is showing Dexter how to get the treats out of it. He does seem to really like it. We have it in the freezer right now with peanut butter in it. The plan is next time we go out we will give him his Kong toy and it will keep him busy for some time. Maybe he will forget we are not home.

Dexter even let The little Guy put his football jersey on him. Dexter then posed for pictures. Silly boys.

Doggy Help

2011-08-30T20:59:00.004-04:00

About 2 weeks ago we added Dexter to our family. He is a very nice dog and for the most part a very good dog.

For the first week we were here at home all the time. We then started leaving him for a short time (up to a hour). The first time he broke out of a window screen and was laying in the yard when someone came home. The next time we closed the windows down stairs and he was alone about a half hour. He went out a screen on a open window on the second floor. He had to of either jumped or fell off the porch roof because he was in the yard again when we came home. He didn't hurt himself thank goodness. Today I came home and he was outside again. My Hubby had left a window open about 3 inches in the family room. Dexter was able to open the window and get out. But before getting out he was trying to get out the bathroom window because the curtains were pulled down. It looks like he was checking out the window above the sink because there was dishes on the floor. Once again he was only here alone for about 45 minutes. When he does this he knows he has been bad. He will not come back into the house for hours. Next week schools starts so he will have to be home alone for 4 to 5 hours. We have left the TV on for company that didn't seem to help.

Does anyone have any words of advise for us. If this keeps up we will have to find another home for him.

My Yard

2011-08-25T22:08:00.005-04:00

My yard and gardens are still looking good. There is such pretty color and my plants are growing and happy. The air is changing and the evenings are getting cooler. I can't tell that fall is just around the corner. I want to enjoy the yard as long as I can before I have to start cutting everything back for winter.

This plant is on my porch and I bring it in the house during the winter. Last year I had beautiful blossoms all winter.

A friend of mine found this water pump for me last year. What a great find, I love it and think it really looks good in my garden.

These are about the size of a dinner plate. They are huge and are just beautiful in my garden.

Football

2011-08-21T21:55:00.002-04:00

When August 1st arrives that mean it is football time. The boys love football and look forward to when the games beginning. Today was picture day for The Little Guy. He is playing for the last year in the Jr. football league and is enjoying being one of the big kid's. He really isn't big but he is one of the older kid's. We keep hoping he grows. He has really been giving his all at practice and it looks like they are going to have a good season.

I also have son #2 playing college football. I don't have any pictures of him yet. He has been at football camp for the past 10 days. He said the team looks great and he hopes he will be playing this year. Last year he was a freshman and was red shirted. Being red shirted means you practice but you don't play in the game. That was hard on him but I he did his time and worked hard so let's hope he plays.

Martinsburg Institute

2011-08-16T20:00:00.001-04:00

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Martinsburg Institute for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

I had never heard of Martinsburg Institute till I had received this opportunity to write this post. Then I did some reading about Martinsburg Institue and though what a great service they provide for the men and women serving in the Military.

I think we all know someone who is serving in the Military. I have a cousin,a cousin's husband, a really good friends son and a neighbor kid that are. I know they all want to get a education and learn a career well serving in the Military.

Martinsburg Institute is a great way to do this. The Martinsburg Institute has been around since 2004 and is listed on the DANTES website. This is how thousands of Service members have benefited from a number of unique programs geared towards their specific needs. Military friendly training-Military families report that the unique, ongoing support helped them to reach their goals. You can train from any location, here in the states, when you are deployed nationally or internationally. You can train from anywhere. The training can also be done with or without the internet and there are many certificate or degree programs available.

I looked at the programs they have to offer and I think I would go for the certificate in Financial Management and Accounting. I like to work with numbers. Or how about Corporate Leadership I'm sure that could really help once out of the Military with getting a new job. Martinsburg Institure has many more please go check it out.

If you know of someone in the Military that is looking for a program like this have them check out Martinsburg Institute or call Michael Johnson at 504-756-7676.

Dexter

2011-08-14T10:47:00.002-04:00

We have a new addition to our family. His name is Dexter. His owner couldn't keep him anymore so we became his new family. He is doing great and the boys just love him. I'm sure you will be seeing him around my blog a lot.

Dexter and our Little Guy. The Little Guy is still little compared to the dog.

Book Review- Bones by Jonathan Kellerman

2011-08-09T06:17:00.000-04:00

At first it was just one body, but then came the bones--of murdered women whose bodies had been dumped into Los Angeles's Bird Marsh. Detective Milo Sturgis teams up with psychologist Alex Delaware to unearth the demented killer behind these serial crimes. With this 23rd installment in the Delaware series, bestselling author Jonathan Kellerman crafts another addictively suspenseful thriller--BONES will chill you straight to your....

I have had this book sitting on my book shelf for about 2 years. It was okay. It had some very slow chapters. The story was good so it keep me reading. I'll give it about a 2 1/2 our of 5. Not a bad read but not a great read.

Book Review - Live to Tell by Lisa Gardner

2011-08-07T06:25:00.000-04:00

Book Review - Live to Tell by Lisa Gardner

On a warm summer night in one of Boston’s working-class neighborhoods, an unthinkable crime has been committed: Four members of a family have been brutally murdered. The father—and possible suspect—now lies clinging to life in the ICU. Murder-suicide? Or something worse? Veteran police detective D. D. Warren is certain of only one thing: There’s more to this case than meets the eye.

Danielle Burton is a survivor, a dedicated nurse whose passion is to help children at a locked-down pediatric psych ward. But she remains haunted by a family tragedy that shattered her life nearly twenty-five years ago. The dark anniversary is approaching, and when D. D. Warren and her partner show up at the facility, Danielle immediately realizes: It has started again.

A devoted mother, Victoria Oliver has a hard time remembering what normalcy is like. But she will do anything to ensure that her troubled son has some semblance of a childhood. She will love him no matter what. Nurture him. Keep him safe. Protect him. Even when the threat comes from within her own house.

This book was so good I couldn't put it down. I have not read a book that I felt this way about in a long time. Lisa Gardner does a great job bring each charter to life. If you are looking for a book that you can't put down this is it. I give this book 5 stars out or 5.

Eyeglasses

2011-08-06T20:00:00.001-04:00

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of globaleyeglasses for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

About a month ago I went to the eye doctor. I have worn glasses/contacts since I was around 16. I turned 48 just yesterday so it has been a long time. I try and see my eye doctor about every 2 years. I only wear my glasses at night or on the weekends so I'm not real concerned about my glasses looking good. But I do really like them to be fashionable just in case I do have to wear them out into the world or to work. Any ways to get back on track my prescription for my glasses had changed. I was going to get new glasses, I picked out some frames that I thought looked good on me. The lady figured it out with the lenses and it was going to be around $500 for my glasses. She seemed to think nothing of it. Hey I don't have that kind of money so I said I guess I don't get new glasses.

Now I have heard about GlobalEyeglasses.com to get affordable eyeglasses. When I say affordable I mean darn right inexpensive. GlobalEyeglasses.com has complete eyeglasses available starting at $6.95. They also guarantee customer satisfaction or you get 100% of your money back. They will ship right to you in a prompt way and customer service is their main priority. Here is the really fun part they have what is called a virtual mirror where you can try on eyeglasses online and then share with your friends or family to see what they think. They have tons to pick from and if you are looking for a certain pair they also have a refine search to help you find the pair you are looking for.

Okay I'm sold I'm going to go check it our. Maybe next time you see me I'll have on a new pair of glasses.

My Garden

2011-08-05T06:38:00.000-04:00

I really enjoy playing out in my garden. I find it really relaxing and I love sitting back and just enjoying how beautiful it all looks.

Below is over by our shed I have been working on this garden for a couple of years now. The plants seem to be growing really nice. Since this picture the Rose of Sharons have bloomed and their colors are just beautiful. The humming birds have really been buzzing around the garden.

I have a planter like this on each side of the walk way up to the house.

The Hibiscus plants seem to really like the hot weather we have had.

This is one of the blooms on the Rose of Sharon.

Butterfly bush

Hydrangea with my one bloom. This is the second year that we only had one bloom. But this is better then no blooms which is what we had before this one showed up.

We had a family move into our bird house.

This was a little tour of my yard. How is your yard looking?

Crazy Mom where have you been?

2011-08-04T20:45:00.009-04:00

Has anyone missed me?
I have been away kind of. I guess I should say busy enjoying my summer. It has been very busy. I have been really enjoying working on my yard. My plants seem to be all blooming and look really nice.

Son #3 graduated. I think that is why I have been so busy in the yard getting ready for his graduation party.
We had Son #3's graduation party in June. We had a perfect day and everything went great.

Son #3 also had his 18th birthday.

We went to Cooperstown, NY where our Little Guy played baseball. We had a great time.

My Little Guy and me went up to Oscoda for a couple of days on the beach. I'm a hot weather and beach person so this was a wonderful couple of days.

Yesterday was my birthday.

As you can see I have been busy enjoying life. I'm going to do a post on each event and tell you more of what we did. Oh I also read a couple of books that I want to tell everyone about too.

TracFone

2011-07-23T10:01:00.001-04:00

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of TracFone for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

Has anyone ever heard of TracFone?

I had not till I was given this opportunity to write about TracFone. I was very interested because where we live we have 2 so called dead zones just by my home. We don't even have the best service at our home. It is one of those things where if you are getting a good signal you stop and stand there and don't move. We also have 5 phones on our current plan and that is the maximum we can have. We have 6 people in our family. Right now our little guy doesn't have a phone but he is getting to age that it would really be nice if he had one.

Here is a video of real TracFone customers talking about the great product and services TracFone has to offer.

I watched the video's and found out that TracFone offers the least expensive way to own and use a cell phone in America. I know I really need to cut my bills back and I hate spending so much on phone service. There is no contracts, no credit checks, no activation charges or cancelation fees. I love that sentence with all those no's to extra services, charges and fees. TracFone is talking my language. But there is more. TracFone has great national coverage and excellent reception. TracFone offers brand name phones from leading manufactures like Motorola, Kyocera, LG (this is the kind of phone I have), Nokie and Samsung. You can pick a simple phone or a smart phone.

real TracFone customers

This is wonderful too, TracFone is a pay so you go phone service. You can pay online or with cards available at thousands of retail stores. Sound like there should be a store by everyone with a TracFone card to sell. You can get a 1 year service card which will double your minutes for the life of your TracFone, and 800 minutes, for only $119.00. Sounds like a deal to me.

You can also pick from plans with 200 minutes for under $30,00, and as low as $9.99 for 50 minutes.

If you are looking in for a new phone check out TracFone.

real TracFone customers

Thomas Jefferson

2011-07-14T13:52:00.002-04:00

I was sent what I thought as a very interesting email about Thomas Jefferson and want to share the information with you.

Thomas Jefferson:
At 5, began studying under his cousins tutor.
At 9, studied Latin, Greek and French.
At 14, studied classical literature and additional languages.
At 16, entered the College of William and Mary.
At 19, studied Law for 5 years starting under George Wythe.
At 23, started his own law practice.
At 25, was elected to the Virginia House of Burgesses.
At 31, Wrote the widely circulated :Summary View of the Rights of British America" and retired from his law practice.
At 32, was Delegate to the Second Continental Congress.
At 33, wrote the DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE.
At 33, took three years to revise Virginia's legal code and wrote a Public Education bill and a statute for Religious Freedom.
At 36, was elected the second Governor of Virginia succeeding Patrick Henry.
At 40, served in Congress for two years.
At 41, was the American minister to France and negotiated commercial treaties with European nations along with Ben Franklin and John Adams.
At 46, served as the first Secretary of State under George Washington.
At 53, served as Vice President and was elected president of the American Philosophical Society.
At 55, drafted the Kentucky Resolutions and became the active head of the Republican Party.
At 57, was elected the third president of the United States.
At 60, obtained the Louisiana Purchase doubling the nation's size.
At 61, was elected to a second term as President.
At 65, retired to Monticello.
At 80, helped President Monroe shape the Monroe Doctrine.
At 81, almost single-handedly created the University of Virginia and serve as its first president.
At 83, died on the 50th anniversary of the Signing of the Declaration of Independence.

John F. Kennedy held a dinner in the White House for a group of the brightest minds in the nation at that time. He made this statement: "This is perhaps the assembly of the most intelligence ever to gather at one time in the White House with the exception of when Thomas Jefferson dined alone."

When we get piled upon one another in large cities, as in Europe, we shall become as corrupt as Europe - Thomas Jefferson

The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not. - Thomas Jefferson

It is incumbent to every generation to pay its own debts as it goes. A principle which if acted on would save one-half the wars of the world. - Thomas Jefferson

I predict future happiness of Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them. - Thomas Jefferson

My reading of history convinces me that most bad government results from too much government. - Thomas Jefferson

No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms. - Thomas Jefferson

The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government. - Thomas Jefferson

Thomas Jefferson said in 1802:
I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies. If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around the banks will deprive the people of all property - until their children wake-up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered.

With everything that is going on in the United States we really need to look at this words.

I hope you found this as interesting as I did.

Sunday Drive

2011-06-26T20:50:00.006-04:00

Fishhawk over at As The Crackerhead Crumbles has the Sunday Drive. A bunch of blogs are featured including mine, Crazy Mom With 4 Boys. Please go check out (take a Sunday Drive) to all these wonderful blogs.

I'm going to show you what I did this beautiful Sunday.

I did a lot of watching the sprinkler. I find it so relaxing to hear the water going back and forth over the plants.

I sat and had some ice tea and looked around.

I moved the sprinkler and had to change seats. It was nice a little different view.

I went looking for My Hubby and he was watering too. Just on the other side of the house. As you can see it was a beautiful beautiful day. We did get a few things done. We took our little guy up to umpire a baseball game. We went grocery shopping, spent a hundred dollars and it felt like we hardly had anything. Put gas in the car. Gas had gone down to $3.54 that was a nice surprise.
I did enjoying water the plants the most today. Sometimes it the simple things that are the best.

What did you do today?

Around My Yard

2011-06-23T21:32:00.011-04:00

This spring I worked and worked on our yard because we are having a graduation party for son #3. I'm really pleased with how our plants are blooming and growing. Here are some pictures of my yard.
I love all the beautiful colors.

These look like they will be in bloom next week.

I can't wait to see how beautiful this Hollyhock is going to be.

We have a family living in the bird house.

Love the colors in this rose. Look at all the buds too.

We have two of these pots by the walk way to our house. They are filling in really nice and the trees I have in them are blooming too.

I really enjoy sitting on my porch and looking at my flower gardens. How is your yard growing?

The Garden is in Bloom

2011-06-12T19:12:00.007-04:00

We have been very busy getting our yard ready for the up coming graduation party we are having for our son. I really love working in my garden. Every year I'm amazed at how beautiful each plant is and how much they have grown. Most of the plants have now been planted a couple of years. They are now looking really good and the flower beds are filling in very nice. Here is a tour of a couple of my flowers and garden beds. I can't pick which once is my favorite. Do you have a favorite plant in your garden?

Have you ever used Walgreens Brand Health & Wellness Products?

2011-06-12T00:01:00.001-04:00

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Walgreens for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

Have you ever used Walgreens Brand Health & Wellness Products? I know we have. With 4 boys we end up will all kinds of cuts and bruises, colds and flu, plus all kinds of other things. Our budget is tight so I have found that buying store brand products that work great also save us money.

We have used Walgreens Brands band aids, pain reliever and cold medicine. Each item that we purchase worked just as good or better then their well known brand equivalent. When I compared the ingredients to me it looked like they were the same.

When you purchase a Walgreens Brand Health & Wellness product you are also helping bring preventive wellness services to communities with the Walgreens Way to Well Fund™. Walgreens has contributed over 3 million annually to communities with the Walgreens Way to Well Fund™. They offer free tests and education with the Walgreens Way to Well Fund™. I really like buying products from companies that give back this is very important to me.

If you have not tried Walgreens brand products please do. I think you will be very happy that you did. I know I am.

Some bloggers are offering giveaways.

Today is National ICE TEA DAY

2011-06-10T16:26:00.003-04:00

Go to Lipton Ice Tea on Facebook and "like" them and then go to special offer on the left side to print a coupon for a FREE 20oz 100% Natural Lipton Iced Tea.

I love ice tea. I can't wait to get my FREE tea.

National Donut Day is TODAY

2011-06-03T05:12:00.000-04:00

Everyone loves a really good donut now and then. Today would be the perfect day because it is national donut day.

Go to Krispy Cream today and get a free donut. If you have never had a nice warm fresh Krispy Cream donut you have too. My mouth is watering just thinking about it.

On June 3, Dunkin’ Donuts treats guests to a free donut with the purchase of any beverage. When you eat a donut you have to have something to drink like some really cold milk, sorry I don't drink coffee. My Hubby loves Dunkin' Donuts coffee so that is what he would get.

Well I have to go and get my free donut hope you get one too.

HAPPY DONUT DAY!

Our Crazy Weather

2011-06-01T21:46:00.007-04:00

I was getting sick of looking at our lake with snow. Time for a nice spring picture what do you think? This is a picture I took last night. The colors in the sky were reflecting just beautifully off the lake. I'm so luck to get to look at this every day.

It doesn't always look so peaceful and beautiful. Last Sunday we had a Tornado come over. It came up very fast. Our power went out just after we had finished making dinner. Then came the winds and rain. I was able to take a couple of pictures. They really don't show much. It is hard to tell but the lake was very ruff. I have never seen it look like this.

Then after it had passed we went looking to see if there was any damage. We were very lucky it only took the top off of a couple of trees.

The neighbors were not so lucky they ended up with a tree falling into their garage and down the road they had a tree hit their home. We have been having some very crazy weather. We went from winter, I had the heat on in the house on Saturday to summer it was 93 on Monday.

Free BellyBag

2011-05-29T10:01:00.001-04:00

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of CryoCell International for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

When I saw the picture of this FREE BELLYBAG it made me smile. I have 4 boys and I loved being pregnant. I didn't love how sick I was in the beginning but loved when I could feel my baby move around in my belly. I know 3 wonderful moms to be. They are all on there second little one. So far I know that one is having a boy and they already have a 3 year old girl. I know of another little boy on the way and they already have a 1 year old boy. The last one already has a 1 year old little girl and I don't think she has found out what she is having yet. What fun.

I have done other posts for Cryo-Cell they are a cord blood bank. If you are asking what this is then you need to go to www.Cryo-Cell.com or www.Cryo-Cell.net and look into it. This is something that was not offer when I had my babies. It's very interesting and could save lives. This is also where you will find out how to get your FREE BELLYBAG. Look into Cryo-Cell for someone you love that is pregnant or if you are pregnant look into it for your family.

Graduation Party Part One Continued

2011-05-24T22:35:00.007-04:00

When I did my first post on planning a graduation party last week I didn't have any pictures. I had wanted to scan a couple of things and couldn't get my scanner to work. Well I gave up and just took pictures of things. Here are my pictures.

These are a sheet of the wallets that I ordered from Snapfish. I think they were like .79 a sheet. With my picture editing program I even added my sons name and 2011. I ordered 4 different pictures for the wallets. My boys really don't give them out so I didn't order a lot.

I cut the pictures apart.

Then I took my handy scrapbook corner cutter and rounded the corners.

Now look I have 4 wallets perfect to be handed out.
Here is a picture of our graduation party invitations that I also ordered from Snapfish. The only thing I would change is the printing about the party is to dark on the green. Our school colors are green and gold and I think I should of changed the word color to a yellow. You can do all this when you setting up your invitation.

This is one of the announcements I ordered. At the top of the picture is the card I made to go into the slots in the announcement.

Here the name slip is in the announcment.

This is what was sent out to Grandma. I think it turned out very nice.

I plan on doing another post regarding more graduation party planning.

Graduation Party Part One

2011-05-17T21:48:00.003-04:00

Sorry that I have been away. I think about blogging all the time. It seem that by the time I get home I'm sooooo tired that I don't get my blogging done. Sleep wins. So what have I been doing? One thing is planning Son #3's graduation party. This is my third grad party, Son #1 in 2008 and Son #2 just last year. I'd like to think I'm getting really good at this. I thought I would share some of the planning I do and maybe help someone else with their party.

Back at the beginning of this school year a form came home regarding ordering graduation items. Ours are from a company name Jostens. They sell everything you could think of for your graduate. I order announcements to send out at the end of the year. Here is my advise on this just order enough for close relatives like grandma and grandpa, god parents and out of town family. I order 3. Yes you read that right 3, one for grandma, another for My Hubby's brother and family out of state and then one for my son's scrapbook. I have also found that I don't order all the little pieces like the 2 envelopes and tissue or that little card with the graduates name on it. Why you ask? Because you can only order them in larger amounts. I made the little cards with my son's name and year on it. I printed it on nice card stock paper using Word and it looks great. It's all going to go in the garbage at some point. Our order came in about a month before graduation.

The summer before your child starts their senior year it is time to think about senior pictures. The school for the year book will want a head shot the beginning of the year too. Pictures can be very costly. We are very very luck to have a wonderful friend that has taken our boys pictures. My tip here is just don't go crazy with them spending a ton or buying to much and I'm a picture nut. Plus don't order to many wallets. They are not used like they were as they say "back in the day". I think it is because of my next tip.

Once you have your date picked out for the party order invitation. I like to use places like Walgreen Photo's, CVS Photo's or Snapfish. I picked these three because I have used each of them. Every year they have different designs so look around till you find the one you like and make sure they have enough room for what you want to write on it. Also always check for coupons and discounts. They all have them at graduation time. This year I used Snapfish and they turned out wonderful. I scanned the picture I wanted to use and then loaded on to Snapfish and then started playing around till I had the right layout and words. Then I ordered them. I had them sent to our home and had them in a couple of days. You can have them sent to a store and have them in only a hour if you are ordering last minute.

Put one of these in with each announcement you send out and for everyone else send out just the invitation. They have a picture of the graduate on them so you don't have to enclose a wallet. I also found this year more then the past years that I didn't sent out as many invitation. Not because I didn't invite as many people but because of Facebook. Many of my friends and my kid's friends are on Facebook. I made up a invitation on Facebook with my son's picture and all the information and sent it out to everyone I wanted to invite. Super easy!

So sorry I have broken one of my blogging rules which is keep is short. I have so much else to talk about regarding planning for a graduation party so I guess I will have to brake it down into several posts.

I hope some of my tips help.

Happy Mother's Day

2011-05-08T21:41:00.000-04:00

I want to wish everyone a very happy Mother's Day. I spent mine at the baseball field. I didn't want to be anywhere else. My Little Guy was playing. The team ended up coming in second in the tournament and they played soooo good. It is the the beginning of the season and I think this team is going to do great things. 2 of my other boys were at the field too. They just didn't want their pictures taken. Son #1 was working so that the mother's in his department at work could have the day off. Isn't that nice.

I hope everyone had perfect day.

Royal Wedding

2011-04-29T14:20:00.011-04:00

Yes I did watch the Royal wedding this morning. I didn't want to miss it. I think it was just beautiful. Very much a fairytale wedding. I went and checked out some pictures and want to share some with you.

Kate and her dad going to the church.

The dress. Just beautiful. I really love Pippa's dress too. They are both very beautiful women.

Just married coming out of the church. Don't they look happy.

The first kiss. I missed this because I had to head on off to work. But I love this picture. Look at the little one in the bottom corner. So sweet, I don't think she wants to be there.

Kate's sister Pippa with the little ones.

The Queen in yellow looking wonderful.

Brothers looking all regal.

Proud parent and as some one at work call her Godzilla.

I added this picture for the hats. What is this a ring with a bow on it? Bad look if you ask me.

Did anyone else watch the wedding? What were your thoughts?

Where Did April go?

2011-04-25T21:38:00.008-04:00

I went to work today and wrote the date and couldn't believe that it was the 25th of April. Wow where did April go? The month is almost over. Our little guy has started playing baseball. The beginning of April we went down to Ohio for a baseball tournament the team did great coming in 3rd. They have played 3 league games with 2 wins and 1 lose. We just celebrated Easter. We colored eggs and had family over. I love getting together with family. Our great niece was over and she is just so very cute. She is on the move and checking out everything.

What did you do this month?

Here are some pictures from Easter.
Coloring eggs. Love deviled eggs and egg salad sandwiches yummy.

Our great niece.

Family fun.

Our little guy and Son #2 with grandma.

Dream Vacation Friday

2011-04-15T06:52:00.000-04:00

Where I live gas prices are going up and up and up. So today I thought I would dream about a vacation close to home. Close to home for me would be a vacation in Michigan. We are very lucky to live in a very beautiful state. Michigan has the great lakes all around it so going to the beach is a easy thing. It's harder to pick which one. I had a very hard time picking places I wanted to showcase here, there is so much to see. Below is just a couple of places we enjoy if you are thinking of a vacation in Michigan go to Pure Michigan and see all that Michigan has to offer. When I was a kid I went with my class to Greenfield Village and the Henry Ford Museum many times. I have taken my kid's a couple of times and we always have a wonderful time. I even went to a wedding at the chapel in Greenfield Village and it was the prettiest wedding I have every been to. Discover America’s Greatest History Attraction. 300 years of history makes the Henry Ford the #1 cultural tourism destination in Michigan. Model T’s, IMAX, ragtime, historic foods, 1867 baseball, the Wienermobile™, the Rosa Parks Bus. A museum. A village. A factory tour. The one place you must visit in your lifetime. Did you know that there are 115 light houses in Michigan? Just going to all the lighthouse houses would be a fun vacation. My favorite is the Old Mission Point Lighthouse. Old Mission Point Lighthouse Built in 1870, this light is now maintained by Peninsula Township and short-term keepers are allowed to live in the lighthouse. It is half way between the North Pole and the Equator exactly on the 45th parallel. It was decommissioned in 1933. On your way out to see the lighthouse there are a bunch of wonderful winery on Mission Point. Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes is a very beautiful place. You drive up to the dune, you see people climbing it and you think I can do that no problem. Think again! It is hard to climb in sand. Take my advise and just let the kid's do it. There are rides out on the dunes or if you have your own 4 wheeler or dune buggy you can go out on your own. If you ever vacation in Michigan you have to go to Mackinac Island. I haven't been to the island in years. I would love to go up there and rent a bike and go for a ride around the island. There are no cars on Mackinac Island you either walk, ride a bike or go by horse. Being on the island is kinda like being back in time. Lot's of family fun.

Poe Footwear

2011-04-14T15:54:00.000-04:00

I was given the opportunity to review and try out a pair of Poe Footwear. I was given this really cute pair of gold shoes. They are very comfortable and was able to wear them all day the time I wore them. The creator of Poe Footwear is Sheri Poe. Sheri has created these amazingly comfortable and affordable shoes. They are a great way to put your best foot forward as you go through you day, your month, your year, your life. To look at all the wonderful shoe that Sheri has to offer go to poefootwear.com. I love the animal print ones. Which ones do you like.

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. Tomoson Product review & giveaway Disclosure.

Travel Baseball in Cinci

2011-04-13T21:01:00.006-04:00

Sorry I haven't been posting much lately. Baseball has started up and we have been very busy. Last weekend we went to Cincinnati to the Cincinnati Midwest Tournament at Rumpke Park. We started our weekend off with a trip to the Cincinnati zoo. I love animals and I love going to the zoo. This zoo was very nice. It wasn't very big but had all the animals we wanted to see. Below are the wildest animals at the zoo. The boys we took, hahahaha. The rest the the weekend was busy playing baseball. The boys did great. The weather ended up getting really hot. On Sunday it was 90. These boys have not been in this kind of heat yet. It's been cold in MI. They did great and drank lots of water and played some really good baseball. They ended up coming in 3rd out of 12 teams. Isn't that great. The winners were the Detroit Bees. I think we will be seeing them at other tournaments this year. Next time I we will beat them so they better watch out. This is my Little Guy with My Hubby who is coach. We had a very fun weekend and will be enjoying lots of baseball this summer.

Rock the 70's

2011-04-12T10:01:00.001-04:00

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Hiltons of Branson for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

Do you remember the disco era? Did you love that music and dancing to it? Then you will not want to miss out on this great deal!

Head on down to Branson, MO for a night to remember, May 13th. You ask why because The Village People along with Maxine Nightingale & Janice-Marie will be at the Branson Tri-Lakes Center. You are now thinking FUN. Well it does get better. The Hilton Promenade at Branson Landing is offering a special package for this big event.

You can groove the night way to The Village People with Maxine Nightingale & Janice-Marie. Hear all your favorites like YMCA, In the Navy, Macho Man and Boogie Oogie Oogie. I know you have a smile on your face and are singing these song right now. Enjoy the concert then after don't leave because the performers will still be there to sign autographs and take pictures. Oh what fun. The rock the 70's package is at The Hilton Promenade at Branson Landing you get 2 tickets to the show and one nights stay starting at $219.00 for two.

After this big event and all that grooving you are going to be doing you will be happy to get back to the Hilton Promenade at Branson Landing or Hilton Branson Convention Center Hotel. As always they offer the best accommodation for any stay in Brandon, MO. They offer Serenity collection beds with pillow top mattress covered with 250 thread count triple sheets with down comforters. Talk about plush. Of course they have high speed internet which is a must.

When in Branson there is so much to do. They is golf, shopping and of course there is the shows. There is the lake with the fun Duck boat rides. Something for everyone. It's hard to pick what to do but anything your pick will be fun.

Do you have any disco songs you loved? I like to known which were your favorites.

Dream Vacation Friday

2011-04-08T06:25:00.000-04:00

This week I decided to go visit some old friends and loved places. About 20 years we lived in Arizona. My oldest son was born in Scottsdale, AZ. I would love to take the kid's down there and show them all the wonderful places in Arizona. I loved living there. I like the heat. Winter is not my thing. Arizona is so beautiful. There are many things I would love to do in Arizona that I didn't when we lived there. Below is the London Bridge is Lake Havasu, AZ. Lake Havasu is a big spring break place. It offers lots of water fun.

Lake Powell is known for houseboat rentals. This is something I always wanted to do and haven't. You can rent a houseboat for a week and get lost out on the lake. It is soooo beautiful.

Of course the Grand Canyon is a must see. They have that new walk way that goes out over the canyon that I would really like to see.

This is Phoenix. When we lived there we lived in the northern part of Phoenix by Bell Road.

I think we would stay at one of the wonderful resorts in Scottsdale, Scottsdale, AZ. I would love to go to Bobby McGee's a resturant that I worked at. We still have many friends there and would so enjoy seeing everyone.

Phoenician Photos

Mermaid or Whale

2011-04-07T06:02:00.000-04:00

I get joke and story emails all the time. Most of them I read and delete. Every now and then I get one that I just have to share. This is one of them. I hope you like this as much as I do.

Recently, in large French city, a poster featuring a young, thin and tan woman appeared in the window of a gym. It said:

¨THIS SUMMER DO YOU WANT TO BE A MERMAID OR A WHALE?¨

A middle aged woman, whose physical characteristics did not match those of the woman on the poster, responded publicly to the question posed by the gym.

To Whom It May Concern:

Whales are always surrounded by friends (dolphins, sea lions, curious humans).. They have an active sex life, they get pregnant and have adorable baby whales. They have a wonderful time with dolphins stuffing themselves with shrimp. They play and swim in the seas, seeing wonderful places like Patagonia, the Barren Sea and the coral reefs of Polynesia. Whales are wonderful singers and have even recorded CDs. They are incredible creatures and virtually have no predators other than humans. They are loved, protected and admired by almost everyone in the world.

Mermaids don't exist. If they did exist, they would be lining up outside the offices of Argentinean psychoanalysts due to identity crisis. Fish or human? They don't have a sex life because they kill men who get close to them not to mention how could they have sex? Therefore they don't have kids either. Not to mention who wants to get close to a girl who smells like a fish store?

The choice is perfectly clear to me; I want to be a whale.

P.S. We are in an age when media puts into our heads the idea that only skinny people are beautiful, but I prefer to enjoy an ice cream with my kids, a good dinner with a man who makes me shiver and a piece of chocolate with my friends. With time we gain weight because we accumulate so much information and wisdom in our heads that when there is no more room it distributes out to the rest of our bodies. So we aren't heavy, we are enormously cultured, educated and happy. Beginning today, when I look at my butt in the mirror I will think, ¨Good gosh, look how smart I am...¨

As many of you know I'm aways dieting or looking at a way to get rid of a few extra pounds. Well this is a whole new way of looking at this. I'm all in for being a whale. :)

Movie Review - The Town

2011-04-06T06:29:00.000-04:00

Rated: R Run Time: 125 minutes Movie Made In: 2010 Starring: Ben Affleck & Jeremy Renner Boston bank robber Doug MacRay (Ben Affleck) falls for a woman his gang had previously taken hostage after feigning a chance meeting with her to ensure that she can't identify them in Affleck's adaptation of author Chuck Hogan's novel Prince of Thieves. The son of a tough Charlestown, MA thief, Doug passed on his chance to walk the straight and narrow in favor of becoming a career bank robber. Not only is Doug's crew one of the most ruthless in Boston, but they're also one of the best; they never leave a trace of evidence, and always make a clean break. Over the years, Doug's fearless partners in crime have become something of a surrogate family to him; Jem (Jeremy Renner), the most dangerous of the bunch, is the closest thing Doug has ever had to a brother. But a divide begins to open between the two career criminals when Jem takes bank manager Claire Keesey (Rebecca Hall) hostage during a particularly tense heist, and the group subsequently discovers that she hails from their own tight-knit suburb. When Jem proposes that the gang make an effort to find out just how much Claire recalls about the crime, Doug fears that his volatile partner may do more harm than good and volunteers himself for the job. Later, Doug turns on the charm while pretending to bump into Claire by chance, and becomes convinced that she doesn't suspect him of being the same man who just robbed her bank. As the feds turn up the heat on the gang, Doug finds himself falling for Claire, and searching desperately for a means of cutting his ties to his criminal past. But with each passing day, Jem grows increasingly suspicious of Doug's true motivations. Now caught between two worlds with no chance of turning back, Doug realizes that his only hope for finding a happy future is to betray the only family he's ever known. We watched The Town and I have to say it was really good. Son #1 had brought it home and I hadn't even heard of it. It had a good story. Ben Affleck did a really good job. I'm going to give this movie 4 stars out of 5.

A Bunch About Nothing

2011-04-05T06:24:00.000-04:00

What is up with chicken and waffles? I just don't get it, sorry. People keep telling me it's southern thing. Well I know about chicken and I know about waffles but having them both on the same plate, NO. Could anyone explain this to me please? This whole Japan nuclear meltdown thing is getting to me. I'm not some tree hugger or looking to save the plant but this is really really bad. It's in the ocean, the air, it's in their food and animals. Every day we seem to hear less and less. I think they don't know what to do. Like I said this is really really bad. It's cold here today and yesterday I cleaned out the leafs from my flower beds and my tulips. I wonder if they are going to have black on their leafs. I think I should of waited. The kid's are on spring break this week. I sure hope the weather gets better. I'm very jealous of all my lucky friends that when away to warmer places. But I sure hope they are having fun. I went to a "toy" party this weekend. It was fun. The lady giving the party was a real hoot. She had songs and raps, plus all kinds of names for items and body parts. I had a bunch of really good laughs with everyone. I also left with a little brown bag and I'm not telling what was in it. Gas prices are out of this world. Today we paid $3.82. I got gas on Friday and paid $3.60 and thought that was bad. WHY does it keep going up? Gas is just killing my budget.

Paul International Movie

2011-04-03T18:30:00.000-04:00

Rated: R Run Time: 100 minutes Made in: 2011 Starring: Simon Pegg and Nick Frost Still at the movie Two average sci-fi geeks get caught up in the ultimate interplanetary adventure after picking up an extraterrestrial during a road trip to Area 51, and becoming the targets of a nationwide manhunt. Graeme (Simon Pegg) and Clive (Nick Frost) are to pals with a taste for the unusual. They know we're not alone in the universe, but they won't be satisfied until they get a firsthand glimpse of the most notorious government research facility in the entire United States. But somewhere deep in the Nevada desert, the two UFO enthusiasts are cruising in their RV when they happen across a most unlikely hitchhiker. Paul (voice of Seth Rogan) is a pint-sized alien who has spent the last 60 years in Area 51. He's been cooped up in the care of the U.S. government for far too long, and he's starting to get a little homesick. Graeme and Clive are more than willing to help their wisecracking new friend get back to his mother ship, but Special Agent Zoil (Jason Bateman) of the FBI is closing in fast. And he's not the only one; in their race to get their new friend home, Graeme and Clive have also become unwitting kidnappers, and the enraged father of their not-so-unwilling captive (Kristen Wiig) is determined to rescue his daughter at all costs. I went out last week to the movies. I took my SIL out to the movies for her birthday. Our other SIL came along and we had a great time. Susan picked for us to see Paul. I hadn't even heard of it. I was told it was about a alien. Sounds good to me. It was different than I thought but it did make me laugh. I love to laugh so I'll give Paul a thumbs up for that. The bad words were a little over the top but I think they had to do that for the laughs. The only reason it's rated R is for the bad words. I don't think I would spend $8 to see this movie but I would of enjoyed watching it if I had rented. I am going to give Paul 3 1/2 stars out of 5 stars.

Pier 1 imports for your Outside Spaces

2011-04-02T10:01:00.001-04:00

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Pier 1 for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

Yahoo spring is here! I love spring and summer. I love being outside. I think the the size of my house almost doubles with adding outdoor living space for entertaining in the nice summer weather. We live on a small lake and have a couple good size decks and a nice lawn area to enjoy when the weather is warm in the spring and summer. We also love to entertain and this year we have a son graduating from high school. That means graduation open house and decorating.

Where do I go when I'm looking for fun things to decorate my outside space inexpensively and fun? That would be at Pier 1 imports. I go to my local Pier 1 often at lunch to pick out new things and to just look around at all the wonderful new things. They have all their spring and summer items out right now. I'm looking for things to give my out door living space that WOW factor. I think I found it with things from Pier 1 like, I love the small tile colorful tables and chairs they have call Galiana Outdoor furniture. Planters they have them cute rabbits fashionable metal or looking for paper lanterns yep they have them 19 inches, 14 inches or 8 inches. I will be buying some of them. I would also love to get a outdoor Papasan chair with a really bright colored cushion. I think a couple of them would look awesome on my deck then after summer. After I have the perfect room in my house to bring my outdoor items indoors. Everything I use outdoors from Pier 1 is perfect for indoors. The furniture the rugs just everything you buy is indoor/outdoor talk about a value and a WOW factor. You have to go check all this fun stuff out at Pier 1.

Participate in the Pier 1 Tweetups Atlanta, April 5th and NYC, April 20th. Join in on the fun.

Dream Vacation Friday Week 2

2011-04-01T10:15:00.001-04:00

Today I picked Key West, Florida as my vacation dream this Friday. I picked Key West because friends of ours just went down there. They were saying what a great time they had so I want to go. I have been here before but it was like 30 years ago. My grandparents lived in Miami and we went to the keys. I don't even really remember it. I only remember this bar we went to. It had a huge bar that was a circle and in the middle there were real seals. I got to feed the seals. It was very exciting. Another plus is I would not need a passport. I don't have one so not needing one makes this very appealing to me.

There are many Keys to visit, Keywest is at the very end. Wow just look at the color of that water! Is this place just so tropical mansion looking? It's called the Curry Mansion Inn. Looks like a fun place to stay. There are so many places to stay. Here is the Parrot Key Hotel and Resort. I love how the white sand is right there. Here is the Hyatt look at the beautiful pool with the ocean in the distance. I did find that it is very expensive to stay anywhere in the keys. I also loved that there is so much to see and do in the Keys. There is snorkeling, sailing, kayaking, fishing, historical sites, shipping, dining, parasailing and even jet ski island tours. I think I'll do one of each.

Once again sun, sand, palm trees and fruity drinks my kinds of a vacation.

Branson, MO for Vacation

2011-04-01T05:01:00.001-04:00

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Hiltons of Branson for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

Spring is in the air and I'm thinking vacation. I'm so ready to go do something fun. It sure has been a very long winter of work, work and no fun. The kid's are going to be on spring break next week. Easter is only in a couple of weeks. Summer time sure goes by fast so plan ahead for vacation.

Branson, MO is a fun place. It seems to have a little bit of everything for all ages. We love country music and they have some great country music stars there. I would love to see the Charlie Daniels band. Branson also has many theaters with all kinds of shows. You could be there a week and see two shows a day and still not see them all. This summer they will also have the 3rd annual Missouri Food and Wine Festival. There are beautiful golf courses and lakes to have fun on. For the kids and kids at heart there is Silver Dollar City theme park. That sounds like fun to me.

If we were to go we would enjoy Silver Dollar City then a nice dinner at the Level 2 Steakhouse and finish the evening of with a show. I think after a wonderful like that I will really enjoy resting in our Hilton hotel room.

There also is great places to stay like the Hilton Branson Convention Center Hotel or Hilton Promenade at Branson Landing. Both hotels have packages that include two adult tickets and two kid tickets for Silver Dollar City. Plus a $25.00 food voucher for the Level 2 Steakhouse at the Hilton Branson Convention Center Hotel. This package for 2 nights and 3 days of family fun is $455 plus tax. Sure sounds like fun to me.

Book Crazy

2011-03-27T18:18:00.004-04:00

The beginning of the year I went a little book crazy. I bought a couple of James Patterson books, a Kristin Hannah book, a Dan Brown book and these pictured above. I have been reading the Lean Belly Prescription by my favorite doctor on The Doctors, Travis Stork. It's really good. He states over and over again that it isn't a diet it's a prescription. It's a diet or a life change if you ask me. I'm working on dropping a few pounds. I'm going to take his idea's and use them. I'm just not happy at the weight I'm at. I don't feel good and I'm very unhappy at the way I look. I know it will take time it took time to get this way. Wish me luck I'm going to need it.

Book Review - Swimsuit by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro

2011-03-26T06:44:00.000-04:00

A beautiful supermodel disappears from a swimsuit photo shoot at the most glamorous hotel in Hawaii. Only hours after she goes missing, Kim McDaniels’s parents receive a terrifying phone call. Fearing the worst, they board the first flight to Maui and begin the hunt for their daughter.

Ex-cop Ben Hawkins, now a reporter for the L.A. Times, gets the McDaniels assignment. The ineptitude of the local police force defies belief – Ben has to start his own investigation for Kim McDaniels to have a prayer. And for Ben to have the story of his life.

All the while, the killer sets the stage for his next production. His audience expects the best – and they won’t be disappointed. “Swimsuit” is a heart-pounding story of fear and desire, transporting you to a place where beauty and murder collide and unspeakable horrors are hidden within paradise.

James Patterson did it again another great story. This book is why I have not been doing much blogging. I could not put it down. It was very good. A little disturbing but good. I have to say I didn't like the ending. you will have to read it to see what you think. I give this book 5 starts our of 5.

Dream Vacation Friday

2011-03-25T09:29:00.009-04:00

Today I'm going to do a little dreaming.

I would love very much to go on vacation. I really really need one. But (always a but) I don't see one for a long time in my future. I thought I would start doing a post on Friday of places I would love to go on vacation. I have heard that if you picture things in your head it is more likely to come true. We will see.

Last night I was watching Wheel of Future and the prize puzzle trip was to St. Lucia. It looked really beautiful and warm. It's so cold here in Michigan right now. I'm very much into going to the beach anytime. I love the water, sun, sand and tropical drinks with little umbrellas.

St. Lucia Vacation:

As you can see St. Lucia is a island down towards South America. The tiny Caribbean island of St. Lucia, with a South Pacific vibe and lush preserved habitat, is a vacation destination that knows very well the true meaning of relation. Only 27 miles long and 14 miles wide, the island has two coastal peaks which rise up to 2,000 feet from sea level and dip into astounding tropical rainforest brimming with exotic fascinations like birds of paradise, wild orchids and the indigenous St. Lucia parrot. Spotting the rainforest are lovely field crops of plentiful tropical fruit trees.

It looks like Jalousie Beach is where I would want to spend my time.

This was a review I found on Jalousie Beach.

Jalousie Beach is one of the most picturesque areas I have ever been to. We visited on a slightly overcast, rainy day (as a part of a fantastic Cosol tour) and I was still in love!

The chairs/umbrellas are not worth the rent if you're visiting from outside the resort, but drop your towel and do some swimming/snorkeling (I was told it was among our Caribbean cruise's best)!

In reading about this area I see that Jalousie Beach has some of the best snorkeling in the area. Sounds like fun.

I also checked out the Anse Chastanet Resort. The rooms look big with great views all the way around them.

The only thing that didn't sound very good was that you have to get into a small plane to get to this little island. This sounds very scary to me. I don't love to fly on a big plane, but will do it.

Has anyone been to St. Lucia? Do you have a favorite island you like to vacation at? I would love to hear about it.

Now I have to start thinking about where I'm going to dream vacation next Friday.

Professional Blogging Career Diploma

2011-03-24T15:00:00.001-04:00

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Ashworth College for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

I feel like I could really use a professional blogging career diploma. I have so many questions on how to do things. Well I could go take online classes from Ashworth College and in 6 months get a professional blogging career diploma.

Everything I know about blogging came from friends. I had no clue really about blogging when I started. I have had my blog now for 3 years. Wow I can't believe that. There still is so much I would love to know. I would also like to learn how to build websites and blog layouts. I love the extra money I make on my blog by talking about wonderful services and products. I have learned so much and have come into contact with such wonderful people.

If you love playing on the computer and you have something you would like to say or share with the world then blog. I think getting a blogging diploma from Ashworth College would be a great idea. It is good for our brains to learn so why not help your brain and learn how to blog.

I started a new blog just 2 months ago. It's called Cook and Dine with Us. It's really fun cooking and going out to eat then sharing it with everyone. I find blogging very rewarding.