memorial day .....

To all those that have given the ultimate sacrifice in the fight for freedom .... thank you. 

I leave you with a little trip down memory lane!  Kyle was/is a Marine (cause once a Marine always a Marine).  This picture was taken March of 2005, the day he returned home from a 7 month deployment in Iraq.  This was a very happy day.  I think that anyone that has had a loved one go over seas (i.e. get deployed) there is always a concern/worry/fear that he/she might not come home.  So when they do, words can't describe the relief.  This picture is still hanging on our fridge!

Aren't we cute!

mickey cookies (and minnie too!)

I got a new cookie cutter!  Mickey Mouse!  (I ordered it from the Disney Store so that makes it authentic right?!)  I got it because I am planning on making Mickey Mouse cookies for Tyler's birthday party at school.  And since his birthday is over a month away, I decided to do a practice run :)

Good thing I did, because this was not an 'easy' cookie cutter.  The ears kept wanting to shift around when I transferred the cookie from the table to the pan to bake.  So I had a couple Mickeys with lop-sided ears, until I figured out how to keep the ears from moving in the process. 

But for a first attempt at Mickey's I think they turned out pretty well.  I think my favorite is Minnie with the bow!

landscaping

This morning I dragged my mom over to do a little landscaping in our backyard.  Our backyard has definitely been a work in progress.  I think the previous owners did nothing so we are starting from scratch.  And yes I know we have been here almost 4 years and we are still working on it!. 

We have some places that have pretty bad erosion, due to the slope of the land.  So after much deliberation, I figured the best way to 'fix" the erosion was to create a wall. 

And the best way to create a wall is with railroad ties!  Thought I was going to say wood.  Well, wood is expensive, especially if you start looking at treated 4x4s or 6x6.  And railroad ties are free ... if you have connections!

So here is the final product .....

flowers and ladybugs!

I made cookies for my momma!  Well actually they were for her church group, it was her turn to bring snacks.  I think they turned out great.  I had full control over what to make ... which was really nice!  I started with the flower, then remembered I had some cute 'bug' cookie cutters.  I went with the ladybug.  I think they were a big hit!



Final product!



 

up close picture of the ladybugs

I decided to add a small ladybug on some of the flowers to tie the two cookies together. 

up close picture of the flower, with a ladybug!

Uncle Mikie is home!

The good thing about Uncle Mikie is that he can be wild and crazy ......

but he can also chill on the couch and watch Chuggington!