let freedom ring

headed to heaven on earth again.  get to stay the whole week this time.  we'll be staying at the timeshare.  and  the kids will be with us (sash, koll, and oksana where are you?) so this pool will be hopping with ball progeny.  

but the best thing about the 4th of july in the white mountains is the show low freedom fest.  old style, hometown parade, barbeque, farmer's market, artisan fair, rodeo, and fireworks.  the best fireworks known to man.

and then there's the thrifting.  which requires a trip to the bank before we leave.

can't wait to show you all my treasures.  because they will be there.  they always are.

can't get enough of that white mountain thrifting.

tea time (and a sneak peek)

oh how my girls love a tea party.  they love fresh flowers and hats.  they love pretty dishes and "fancy" food.  they love talking like "grown ups" and sipping lemonade.  it makes me wish they would never grow up.  that they would always want to come to nana's.  and spend hours pretending we are "fancy" people.

it couldn't have been a more perfect afternoon.

except we missed oksana.

sani leigh, one summer you must stay home so we can be "fancy" with you too.

could these pics be any worse.  is it me or the camera?

which is why i have yet to post my finished dining room pics.

well, that and the fact that it's still not quite done yet.

jen, please help.  you take beautiful pictures.

wanna come over?

p.s.  sani, hurry home.  we miss you.  we don't like having fun without you.

Personalize your own free photo collage

up north

headed here.  pinetop, arizona.  heaven.

to read.  to rest.  to work.  to play.  to thrift.  i love thrifting in the white mountains.
good stuff.

craigslist and z-gallerie have my heart this morning

i should be doing something constructive.  but no, i'm perusing craigslist.
and this is what i found.

a black and crystal chandelier.

stunning.
(seriously though, where would i put it?)
 oh, heck, that doesn't matter because

i want it.  i want it bad.  and i could have had it.  because my daddy sent me, my sister and my mom gambling this weekend.  and he paid.  (thanks dad!)  but no.  apparently i don't know how to gamble.  every machine i sat in front of must have been smiling big and thinking, 'oh, here she comes...loser...'

so while i don't have the money to indulge this splurge, if i had  won this weekend at wild horse pass i'd be calling on this baby right now.

and on craigslist it is $50.00 less than the z-gallerie price.

200 smackeroos.

but then nothing can replace the time spent with my mom and sister.

we sure know how to laugh and have fun.

but gamblers...yeah, we're not so good at that.
i'm bitter.

my own personal super bowl weekend

started at mc cormick park where the cobras met up with the scorpions for a hotly contested game of flag football.

turns out drew ball has an arm not unlike that of drew brees.  he knows how to get the ball where it needs to go.  and lead his team to victory.  must be a drew thing.

cobras - 26 - scorpions - 0

and this drew knows how to celebrate after the game too.

let's see...3 pankcakes, 2 strips of bacon, 2 slices of ham, 2 sausage links, hash browns extra crispy, bowl of fruit and two cups of hot chocolate.

we're making our own drew brees over here. 

a shower, a missionary, and somebody's wish list

a full weekend for sure...my feet still hurt.  but one of the best ever.  it started with a bridal shower for my niece, allison.  she will soon marry mike.  they are good together.  and she raked in the loot.  it made me happy.

                                          the spread, the panty line and the attendees.

and carrie and ashley were the best co-hosts and workers ever.  they let me leave early...and did all the clean-up...so i could go off to prescott.  i love you girls.

the trip to prescott (rhymes with bisquit) was to attend a missionary farewell.  elder max kurtz is quite the young man.  confident, ready, and a smile that is going to light up spokane.  you will be in my prayers elder kurtz.  every night.

and of course, the prescsott trip included these amazing women.

somebody's wish list.  no self esteem issues here.

(and because chicka trips without them would be boring and dull.)

i got your backs girls...thanks for having mine.

i love my life.  i am blessed.  i am grateful.

my pocketbook is full.

want a designer blog?

if you do go  to designer blogs and check out some of their fabulicious designs!  and you won't be disappointed in their service either.  erin designed my blog...probably not an easy feat for someone as blog challenged as i was.  and they are having a giveaway.  you might want to enter.  i just did!

let's partay

cousin christmas sleepover

only had one meltdown...abelha

and one temper tantrum...elise

overall a success!

vegging after the white elephant exchange.

emeline is sick.

but she loved her new blanket.

boys and computer games.

i can't figure them out...the games that is.

nana and bumpa's bed is a great place to hang out and watch cartoons...

can we get some breakfast over here?

ah, dippers, sausage, pop tarts, chocolate donuts...and oranges.

oranges.  come on nana.

you just threw those in for our parents.

good stuff maynard.

it's the attack of the cousins.

sash is under their somewhere.

no more monkeys jumping on the bed.

nana needs a nap.

gearing up

it's a most wonderful time of the year.

this is what i've got planned for this week.

can't wait!

last week

 every day was a full day.  here are some highlights.

a doctor's appoitment where my mom received a shot in her left eyeball.
yep, right in the eyeball.

next time i'll leave the room.

but it didn't stop us from shopping and lunching and shopping somemore.  good times.

(and take my word for it, be glad i didn't document this event with pictures.)

a sleep over with abelha because we like to hang out together.

the start of the christmas decorating.

bee and i had fun rediscovering our favorite snowmen.

a soccer game with sani leigh.

but i forgot my camera so this tennis pic will have to do until her next soccer game

when i'll be sure to bring my camera.

and her 6th grade soccer team tied with the 7th grade soccer team, 3 to 3.

way to go sani leigh.  show them 7th graders who you are and what you got!

a visit from these 3.  just because. 

this boy.  he warmed my bath towel one morning as i was showering.

he knows how much i hate these chilly mornings.

i love living with this boy.

oh and i was in charge of the food for the wedding reception of david and marissa andrews.  with the help of some amazing women whom i love and admire beyond words, we cooked and worked and fed more than 175 people.  we had asian chicken, peppered tri tip on the grill, roasted red potatoes, raspberry vinegrette salad, and garlic and oregano toast.  i was too busy cooking and serving to get any pics of this event.

but it was beautiful and resplendent and classy and divine.

that's just how the andrews roll.

i am a lucky girl to have such a full and satisfying life.

my chickas and me

day 1

oh my.  i didn't know i could have so much fun in one weekend or that i could laugh so hard, or shop so long, or talk so much.  palm springs with these ladies was over the moon!  oh and the things i learned.  why there is just no end to my new knowledge base.  here are some of the things i learned:

1.  tl = totally low

2.  if you fling a twinkie you might be found out.

3.  the vig is a one cheek establishment.

4.  that might not be a plane you see in the sky.  it might be someone's stallion.

5.  nose clamps are not an attractive look.

6.  "cut to the chase" exists only as a precursor to wtmi.

7.  "my point is"...really, could you just cut to the chase.  oh yeah.  you don't do that.

8.  wtmi.  yeah, well, like it or not that's what you get.

9.  hobbits like the word sunshine.

10.  when you say you don't watch tv it doesn't really mean you don't watch tv.

11.  if you drop the cosbys off at the pool be sure to flush.

12.  fit to be tyed causes panic attacks.

and last but not least...

13.  diet pepsi with lime is really, really good.

day 2

day 3

full trunk to match our full hearts.

love you chickas.

thanks for the most fabulous weekend.

and we're off

he to do this

me to do this

i sure am glad i'm a girl!

p.s.  i need a tutorial in uploading pics...almost makes me swear every time.

p.p.s.  did you know palm springs has stallions in the sky?