Laurie's Life

I have my 20 year class reunion this weekend. I had told myself that I was not going to buy a new outfit for the reunion. But Saturday afternoon I looked through my closet and decided that I may need to get something for the Saturday night event. Steve worked all day Saturday. He called around 6:30 to say he was on his way home. I told him that I really wanted to go to the mall when he got home and see if I could find a dress. He suggested that we all go out to eat pizza and then he would just drop me off at the mall and entertain the girls as I shopped. I told him that I wanted him to take me to Francesca's and I would look there and we could go home. I had seen on the internet that they were having a sale. I thought if I can't find a dress there, then I don't need one. They had some really cute items. I found one dress that I thought was reunion worthy. I took it to the dressing room. As I put the dress over my head, I noticed that it was VERY VERY VERY tight a...

Amber and Erin Amanda and Hannah Jaimi and Jordan Gretchen Aaryn, Kade, Sarah Grace, Sarah Kate, Lena and Tracy Kelly Avery and Angela Drew, Kinley and Emily Harper Tracy and Lena Natalyn and Sarah Kate Natalyn, Alex, Sarah Kate, Neely and Kade Jackson Emily and Alex Emily calls these kids her, "bef friends." I hosted playgroup today! Not much to report, but I think it was a pretty fun time. I tackled the library again this week! My sweet friend, Jaimi, came up with a brilliant idea for library day. She has a son, Jackson, who is Emily's age. She has a daughter who is fourteen months old. She threw out the idea of one of us taking the older kids to the library and one of us staying at home and keeping the little ones and then switching the next week. I jumped on the idea!!!! A brilliant idea, that worked out perfect. I took Jackson and Emily to the library this week. They did great!!!!!!!!!!!!! They listened and participated. I was calm, cool and collected! The...

On Saturday morning, we went to our local farmer's market. I have never been to it before. Steve has been several times to get us vegetables and meat. We had the best time! It was so fun to see all the beautiful fruits, vegetables and flowers. There were enough cats and dogs there to keep the girls entertained. We came home and had a fruit and vegetable lunch. Steve fried us some delicious eggplant and squash. Of course, I am sure all the nutrition was gone the second they hit the Fry Daddy. There was a sweet woman there giving away kittens. I came VERY close to letting Emily have this one. This was her first time to hold a cat! Saturday night, we over to Kelly and Scott's to help celebrate Scott's Dad's birthday. We had a great time and enjoyed great food!!! Happy Birthday Billy Don! I have thought so much this weekend about our nation. I am so proud to live in the U.S.A. I am thankful for the men and women who have fought for our freedom. But, I am sad...

Do you think I liked the apple cake? It was ohhhhhhhhhh sooooooooooo GOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I will give you the recipe. I got this out of my old home church cookbook. It is a dandy! Fresh Apple Cake 3 c. chopped apples 2 1/2 c. flour 2 c. sugar (I used a LITTLE more) 2 eggs 1 tsp. soda 1 tsp. salt 1 tsp. vanilla 3/4 c. cooking oil Mix all together until dampened. Pour in large 9 inch tube pan that has been greased and floured. Bake at 350 for one hour. I added 1/2 tsp. of cinnamon. The girls liked this cake. Steve would not have eaten it if it were the last sweet on earth. He HATES apples. Actually all fruit. Kelly and I put our girls together for a little matching outfit photo shoot. We got some framers. It is near impossible to get them all looking at the camera and still at the same time. Sarah Kate was saying, "Come on, Let's go!" We took Emily and Sarah Kate to their very first movie today. Emily LOVED it! The glasses bothered her. We saw...

I have been craving apple cake lately. Apple cake probably does not sound good to anyone except me and maybe a ninety year old woman. I decided that Emily and I would make one this week. It is baking as I type. It might not be worth a flip, but we had fun making it. Some Emily funnies: Last night we were watering our flowers on the patio. There were some pink flowers in particular that were VERY wilted. Emily said,"Mom, these flowers are so sad!" Then she went to the planter with her watering can and said,"Oh girl, I'll help you get up." Later on that night Emily asked if she could go out and see if those flowers had gotten up. Emily calls Little House on the Prairie "Little House and the Fairy." I don't know who she thinks the fairy is. She is pretty fond of Laura.

Due to Steve's crazy work hours lately, he was able to take off early on Friday afternoon. We made a little family outing to the Gentry Wilderness Safari. We made wonderful memories together. We were able to get up close and personal with some of the residents. Emily was a little hesitant to pet the animals. Kristen the cat has caused her to be scared of all animals. We loved seeing this joey in it's mama's pouch. Have you ever read the account in the Bible about a donkey that spoke? Check out Numbers 22:1-36. Isn't this tiger cub cute? My girls favorite animal: THE KITTENS . Sarah Kate went to her buddy, Wells, birthday on Saturday. Saturday night, my friend, June, surprised me with a jar of Albert's Famous Hot Sauce. Albert knows what he is doing! It is the best I have ever had from a store. Although I do love On the Border's salsa that you find in the grocery. Some random thoughts: On Saturday afternoon I went to Walmart to get a curtain rod. I enc...

I had a great test of self-control last night! I passed the test!!! I offered to bring chips and salsa from Chili's to playgroup this morning. I decided it would be easier to get the chips and salsa last night after Steve got home, rather than be late to playgroup and get the girls out in the heat. I got the salsa around 9:00 last night. I had to keep it in my fridge until 11:00.a.m. today when playgroup started. I knew this would be very difficult for me not to eat it. You see, I am not normal. I can't just have a little taste and be done with it. When I eat chips and salsa I just have to have a moment with it. I inhale each heavenly bite. I have seen how my sweet friends drizzle at little salsa over their chips on a plate. I can't do that. It has to be all or nothing with me. I have been known to eat 8 and 9 bowls of Chili's salsa. The wait staff have given me drink cups of salsa to save them a trip to my table over and over. I just simply LOVE the stu...

This is Emily's drawing of her Uncle Justin, Aunt Cissy and cousin Reid. Justin is wearing a hat. Emily loves to draw her family! Aunt Cissy sent Sarah Kate this darling pillow case dress for her Birthday! This morning, I took the girls to the local public library for story time. I am trying to recover from our visit there. I am worn out! The place was out of control. I am sure there were around 40 or more children there for story time and there was not enough room for all the children to fit. They sit in a really cool enclosed dome for the children's time. I shoved Emily in the room while Sarah Kate refused to sit with her. SK was overwhelmed and so was I. I spent the next thirty minutes trying to keep Sarah Kate from destroying the library. After the stories, they did a craft. SK joined Emily for this. SK threw THREE major fits while we were there. The entire library was looking at us!!! When she doesn't get her way, she goes down to the floor, spreads o...