Family, fun, fireworks, and freedom...

is what our 4th of July was full of!! We met for a picnic at Tautphaus park with my Grandma and Grandpa Fillmore, my aunts, uncles, cousins, and a "gaggle" of kids! We had a yummy lunch, the kids played, the adults visited, and then we brought out the pinata! The kids had a great time... While the younger kids were playing and doing the pinata, the older kids headed to the skate park. They loved it and I too was pretty impressed with it!
Here's Justin...
Here's J...
And my oldest kid {at heart} had to give it a try...
Halle, Blake and Shannon were hangin' out watchin' them ride!! Shannon could actually have her baby anytime now!! I am so excited! There were some young kids going all the up around that bowl thing! Made me nervous! They were wearing helmets and I patted their helmets and told them they were good boys for wearing their helmets and they just looked at my like..."yea whatever, get outta my way lady"! We headed home for a bit to gather more treats and something for dinner! We then headed to the same spot on the river that we have sat at for the past 20+ years!! It's my favorite part of the day! We got there about 3:00 and just "people watched"! Can I just say that all sorts of people come out of the woodwork! We just park our chairs along the sidewalk and sit, visit, eat, play games, and hangout till the fireworks! We went for a walk along the river while we were waiting! Had to get an ice cream and sno-cone!! When the fireworks started everyone got in a spot and just layed there and "ooohed" and "awwwed", someone had a radio blastin' and they always play that song "Proud To Be An American" by Lee Greenwood {especially when they are talkin' about 9/11 ~ makes me want to cry} and I just thought how lucky I truly am to live in this country, to raise my kids in a place with such great opportunities and choices, and the beautiful area we live in! I had the opportunity to send a care package to a service "women" serving and ya know, I never really thought about the women serving over there! Leaving their families to protect mine! I am so grateful for all of the Armed Forces and they are blessed each night in our family prayers! I snapped this picture as we were walking along the river, it pretty sums up all I am grateful and thankful for...My freedom, my religion, and my family! By having the freedom and choice to enter into that beautiful building with the love of my life, John and I will have our family forever! And of course we had to end the night with a few more fireworks ~ if you could call them that! They were more like dynamite on a stick! They were SO loud! We only had a couple so we ended the 4th with a big bang...literally! Hope you all had a great 4th!!

Level II, BBQ, and something new {kinda}...

Halle moved to Level II in swim lessons! She is doing so great! She had a real fear of water and HATED getting her face wet ~ even to the point of when she was little she would need a towel right by the tub so if she got a little splash of water on her face she would need to wipe it off immediately!! She now can back float, pencil float, blow bubbles, go completely under water, and is practicing doing her windmills... We also had our annual family 4th of July picnic and fireworks show at Mandie's last night! We had hamburgers, chips, salads, and fudge bars!! And of course...the fireworks! Thanks Mandie and Mike ~ it was alot of fun! I just realized I didn't get any pictures of Justin, but he was there runnin' around with the torch lightin' all the "illegal" ones we had! And finally somethin' new {kinda}! I love the Bumble watches that have the interchangeable bands and ordered six for Christmas last year {yes...I ordered my own Christmas present}! I have always wanted to make some but never got around to it....till now!! My mom, sister's, and I got together and made one for the 4th of July, then I put together a black and pink one!We made one for Grandma Fillmore and she loved it! I also had enough beads to make one for Hannah! And just so Hal didn't feel left out, we made her a bracelet!Now we can make a whole bunch for different holidays and outfits for the girls and me! We also went to the spalsh park in Rexburg with my sisters, my aunt, my cousin and her two darling little girls ~ but I am so tired that I am going to bed! Jace went to the movie with his friends and I am just counting the seconds till he gets home so I can go to bed! Though I still have to go get the girls to bed! They are still up TRYING to clean their room! Hannah can not were her 4th of July watch Saturday if she doesn't clean her room!! I know. I am a totally mean mom but we seriously cannot get this girl to clean her room! So I hope she gets it clean cause I said it and now I have to stand by it...no matter how hard that can be at times!! Well it's a typical summer night...it's 11:12 p.m. and everyone is still up! But we don't have anything in the morning so what does that mean? We can all sleep in!! YES! So thankful for...1) I got to get together with my cousin ~ even though we didn't get to visit much 2) Jace just got home...he had a great time 3) I just went and peeked in Hannah's room and she just might get it done {cross your fingers and piggies}!

I didn't ever think it could happen two times in a row...

but it did!! I hit another weekend of awesome garage sales!! This time the boys came with us, on the hunt for anything golf!! We had a rough start cause we left at 7:00 and none of the ones we really wanted to go to started till 8:00. So we headed to McDonald's and got some sausage mcmuffins and hash browns ~ a garage sale day tradition! The first one we hit I found me a couple of cute skirts, some jeans and shorts for the girls, and of course we had to pick up a few more toys! Paid a little more than I like too, $2.00 for each for the clothes, but the the clothes were in great condition! Next we headed to the country club garage sales were the boys just KNEW there was going to be golf stuff there! I found a cute Relic watch and some dress up jewelry for the girls and the only things the boys found were golf balls! They were $1.00 a dozen so they bought 4 dozen {which they left in the back of my car, loose, and when I went to open up the back later on to put my groceries in...48 golf balls rolled and bounced all over the Wal-Mart parking lot! Luckily, a nice couple helped me gather them all up ~ them crazy boys!!} I finally found a little play house that I've wanted for the girls, had to call mom to bring her truck and come pick it up for me ~ thanks mom! While we were waiting for mom we hit a few more where Justin found a shag bag full of balls and Jace found a putter! It was the most I have ever spent at garage sales ~ $80.00 ~ but I think we found some great treasures and the girls love their little house! Mom had to take their new truck over to have the muffler toned down ~ they bought it Friday and the muffler was a little too loud for them! She told my dad..."we aren't a couple of teenagers Mike"! So while we were waiting for that to be done we headed over to the Farmer's Market! It was alot of fun! They had complimentary strawberry shortcake, we had some kettle corn, and the best corn on the cob I've had in a long time...grilled in the husk, slathered with some yummy lime butter, then they put parmesan cheese on top of that and a sprinkle of cayenne pepper! YUMMY! Mom bought a cute new watch and a darling diaper bag for the newest little girlie of the family which will be making her debut in a few more weeks...I can't wait!! Justin talked in church today and did great! He talked on "Service to Others"! I just cried the whole time he was up there...there were two other missionaries speaking for their farewells and all I could think of is...where has the time gone? I remember when he gave his first talk in primary like 12 years ago! Have another fun filled week planned...Halle is doing swim lessons again, Jace has a football camp, Jr. Golf, my cousin is here from Boise and I hope to get together with her and her two little girls, have a picnic and go to the splash park in Rexburg, a cookout and fireworks at Mandie's, and of course one of my favorite holidays is this weekend...the 4th of July!! Parade, picnic, food, fun, family, and fireworks!
So thankful for...1) a great relief society lesson today by such a sweet,immensely talented, smart, lady whom I admire in more ways than one {love ya Steph} ~ filled my spiritual reservoir 2) next month is our 18th anniversary...working on a awesome "homemade" gift for John ~ so excited! I give ya a seak peek here and there as it comes along! I hope he likes it 3) so thankful for my freedom!

Lava...

is where we went yesterday! Can I just say we had a super good time! I hadn't been there in years, we floated the river there last year, {which was the river trip from hell}, but haven't been to the "swimming pool"!! In fact I think the last time I went was when I lived in Soda and took the bus there for swim lessons, so that was like, 25 or so years ago {man, I'm gettin' old}! But it was so fun! I think I'll let the pictures do the talkin ~ and there will be alot of talkin'...

Halle wants to know when we're goin' back! I think we only made it a half a mile before this happened...And the super cool thing is if you go Monday thru Thrsday your immediate family can get in for $20.00! Pretty good deal! So we will definitely be goin' back! So thankful for...1) none of us got too burnt 2) we all were completely wiped out ~ swimmin' and sunnin' can really wear you out 3) we all slept great cause we were so worn out!

Today I hit a good one...

of all my Saturday mornings of getting up at 6:00, getting ready, and going from neighborhood to neighborhood with cash in hand, in search of cute little girls clothes...I hit a couple of great garage sales today! I found one that had Halle's size and they were like brand new...

I got 2 pair of jeans, khaki pants, 3 pairs of shorts, 4 shirts. They were brand name {not that it totally matters to me, but they had 'em for a great deal}...Oshkosh, Children's Place, Carter's and Bongo. How much do ya think we spent? $8.00 for everything! So we headed out and on to the next one! We turned in to the neighborhood and it went quite far in and I started thinking, "if I get all the way down here and it's one of those sucky ones...I was gonna be pissed" but it was a great one!! I rarely find stuff for Hannah but we hit the jackpot baby... We found 2 pair of jeans ~ Children's Place, 2 pair of corduroy jeans ~ Gap, Levi jacket, Roxy sweatshirt, Wet Seal jacket, 2 Gap sweaters, Abercrombie shirt, Aeropostle shirt, Cherokee warm up suit, a little holiday shirt from Children's Place, flower belt and a bracelet. How much do ya think we spent? Well before I tell ya, let me tell you it was Barbie, Polly Pocket, Littlest Pet Shop, and My Little Pony heaven for two little girls that were with me! They bought a Barbie swim pool, Polly dolls, Littlest Pet Shops, some magnetic Princess dolls, and some other little this and thats...so the total was $18.50 for all! I broke it down and I spent $10.00 on the clothes and they spent $8.50 on their "treasure" ~ which are now sporadically spread out throughout the house! It was a fun morning! We even made it home by 9:00 to say goodbye to Justin who was headed to Lava for Stake Youth Conference! He spent all day yesterday doing humanitarian projects at the stake center then that evening they had a dinner and a testimony meeting! He had a great time and loved the food...they had Subway for lunch, roasted pig for dinner, and I'm not sure what they'll have today but I'm sure he'll love it! He's 15 and his life mostly revolves around food ~ how much and how good it is, sleep, money, golf, friends, and driving anywhere he can!! Jace went to the air show in Rexburg with Mike and Mandie and then they are headed up to Green Canyon! John's workin' and Hannah, Halle, and I are just hangin' out getting John ready to go salmon fishing all next week! And figure out what to get my dad and John's dad something for Father's Day, which I have NO CLUE what to get! They are soooo hard to buy for! John's Father's Day is this fishing trip ~ that was easy!! We also went to "UP" at the drive-in Thursday!! I loved Carl and Ellie's love story! It was alot of fun and a cute movie, though I never did figure out where all those dogs came from and it still bugs me! We had John's mom pop us a big bag of popcorn {I don't know what she does, but this lady can pop the best popcorn ever}, grabbed some drinks and treats and headed out! Halle fell asleep about 45 minutes into it! It was alot of fun ~ and way less expensive than the theater ~ so we hope to go a few more times this summer! And of course I left my camera home and John wouldn't turn around and go get it! Well it sounds like after we get through this weekend the weather should be lookin' better! YEA!! So thankful for...1) great deals at great garage sales 2) takin' my little girls...they love looking for "treasures" 3) went to a great jewelry party the other night and got some cute stuff, I even booked a party so I could get some more!!

Oh what do you do in the summertime...

when all of your kids are home? Do you go with your brother with some money from mother and go golf a course of nine? Is that what yours do? So do mine!!

Oh what do you do in the summertime when all of your kids are home? Do you swim in the pool and learn all the rules so you can go down the slide?

Is that yours do? So do mine!

Oh what do you do in the summer time when all of your kids are home? Do they run and slide as you cheer from the side?

Is that what you do? So do I!

Oh what do you do in the summer time when your kids get bored? Do they dress up in clothes and put on a show??Is that what yours do? So do mine!

Spent the weekend...

making these...went here...stocked up on some summer reading. The girls picked out a few books and we are reading a series called "No Way Ballet ~ Stepping Out" together each night! I checked a few books out for Justin...one called "Supersonic Saints" by John Bytheway. It's about LDS pilots and some of their experiences and Jace is reading the "Rowan" series. I checked out "Teaching With Love & Logic", John always rolls his eyes when I read these "self-help" books ~I also went to Deseret Book and bought "The Five Love Languages." We truly each have our own "love language" and if we learn what each other's is, we can really "communicate"! I also want to read "My Sister's Keeper" but I don't know if I want to read it before or after I see the movie! I forget what a great little library we have right here in Shelley! Off to bed...have a busy week! The girls start swim lessons in the morning! I checked the weather forecast and it looks like we might have some warmer weather headin' our way! Keep your fingers and piggies crossed! Going to try some new recipes this week. I only post them after I try them so be on the lookout for those over at "Cooking Mama's." So thankful for...1) got a new calling in church today, should be fun 2) substituted in primary today...I miss primary 3) FINALLY got the gift card to my dear friend who won my giveaway!! We were going to meet for lunch, but life is just too crazy right now so I dropped it off at her house and she had this for me {I snatched this picture from her blog}...She made this and filled it with Clodhoppers {which I have never had and but they were quite yummy}! She is amazingly talented in making cards and all sorts of cute things! And an amazing mom and wife...she started a backpack program at her daughters school for children who might not have food at home to eat over the weekend. So they send a backpack home with the children each weekend so they have some thing to eat! She is always thinking of others and I just think she's one of the greatest people I know! Thanks Jo....love ya!

Rain, Rain...

go away! Come again another day!!

Has anyone else had it with this rain? I love a good rainstorm, but this has not let up up for days now and as I watch the weather each night, it doesn't look like is will anytime soon either! It is nice cause we don't have to water the lawn and flowers, but a few days of warm, hot, sun would do me so good right now and it probably doesn't help that I feel like I'm gettin' a cold {grrrr}! I feel bad cause Hannah has only been able to play two of her softball games. I went Monday to drop her off a ½ hour before the game to practice and that's the exact time a huge hail storm hit! We parked under a huge pine tree and waited the storm out. It quit exactly at 5:00, right when her game was supposed to start! They cancelled the game cause the fields were one big mud puddle! Both her and Jace have one tonight but we'll see if it happens cause it's raining as I type! Justin's in Pocatello at a football camp probably getting rained on. I asked him this morning if he had packed some dry clothed to change into in case it rained and he said no. I asked him if he wanted to go back and get some so he wasn't in rained soaked clothes all day and again he said..."no, I'll be fine" {with an exasperated leave-me-alone-mom tone}! So him being 15 and knowing it all...I let it go {I just hope he's not freezing and ends up getting sick}! It's hard doing everything for him and double checking that he has EVERYTHING he MAY need, following him around like a shadow and nag...but like I said he's 15, he does pretty good at always getting things in order but when he doesn't and I suggest something and he doesn't listen...I then just have to say ok and hope he learns to take extra clothes next time and listen to his mama!! The weather did hold out for Halle's game last night! She is having a great time playing and played catcher last night... This next picture is my favorite... Not sure what she's doin' but she sure has her eye on the ball! Well my house is clean, the girls are playin' Mario Kart on the Wii, going to go put my dinner in the crock pot and Halle and I are off to get our hair cut and mine colored ~ cause my celestial blonde is starting to show! They called John in a day early for work so he's going back tomorrow and will work 5 days, have four off, then leave for 5 to go salmon fishing! So thankful for...1) my love/hate relationship with this rain 2) my house is actually clean and has stayed that way for the last 3½ hours 3) the rain has stopped, we may be playin' ball after all!

Run Halle!! Run!!

Halle had her first game last night and did great!! We took some pre-game pictures... We figured since she had to wear a tan shirt and a black hat {someone who loves pink} we would add a pink flower and tie the sides of her shirt to make it more "girlie"! Her loved it! She still isn't quite sure of which way to run or when so we kept yelling..."Run Halle! Run"!! ~ reminded me of the old Dick and Jane books every time I yelled it!And here she is battin'...

Jace had a game in Rigby that we had to hurry right up to. It was their last game and they won! Jace hit the ball got on first and the bases were loaded and his friend hit a grand slam and they won the game!!They are all done with their season but are playing in three tournaments this summer! Which he is excited for since he didn't play much during the regular season due to his elbow..."stupid dumb elbow" which he cries out in pain as we are doing his therapy!! I can't believe how that really screwed up his elbow like it did! He still doesn't have full range of motion, but we are getting there!! Justin did a few jobs for Mike yesterday! He drove "orange boy" around yesterday!For now that seems to be his mode of transportation {which he by no means is complaining, him and John are thinking of putting a regular bed on the back}! He earned some money but it was hard work and he was sooo tired! He had to remove some rocks from a ladies flower bed, load them in the back of "orange boy", then put them back later on in the day, and then Mike had him pick weeds! He's a hard worker and was so glad to take a hot shower and crawl into bed last night! Hannah had a fun day...every Tuesday and Thursday all the little girls in the neighborhood {about 10 of them} her age get together and do a activity for a couple of hours. All the moms are taking turns doing a different activity. Yesterday they rode over to have lunch at the school and played on the toys! Then a few of the girls and her went swimming! She too just falls into bed each night! Actually we all do! We are all night owls!! We play hard all day, stay up late, and sleep in!! So far we are lovin' summer! So thankful for...1) my kids, we are still adjusting to our summer routine, but I love having them home 2)we had the weed man spray for grubs {grrr}, hopefully it works and our lawn won't look like it died this year 3) got me some flowers and hanging baskets ~ love them!! Have to give a shout out to my brother-in-law Mike B. ~ it's his birthday!! Happy Birthday Mike!! Today is also the the day the Teton dam broke ~ June 5, 1976...33 years ago! Wouldn't that have been crazy to be havin' a baby while all that was goin' on? We love ya!!

I always talk...

about a whole lot of nothin' but always somethin'...but that's what my life is mostly about! To others it may seem "boring", but I love it and wouldn't have it any other way!! I love the simplicity I have in my life, the day to day stuff we do, the activities the kids do, it does get a little busy at times, we have our fair share of problems and worries, our kids fight, John and I fight, but everything that does happen, good, bad, happy, and sad, I know that I have a family, kids, and a hubby who love me and will always be there for me and I love them!! Anyhoo...I was running {yes you read that right...I can run a whole 6 blocks and not sound like I am having a heart attack} the other night and a black car full of hot mamas {Christy, Kara, and Jayla} wanted to go to a movie! I was all sweaty and gross but I swung by my house grabbed my purse and went and saw Ghosts of Girlfriends Past {thanks Christy for the movie}!! It was cute...a little slow and predictable but Matthew McConaughey is sooooo good looking {heart fluttering} though he is starting to look a little old!! So I wanted to give a shout out to these awesome ladies ~ and tell em' thanks for putting up with me and all my weirdness ~ I truly appreciate you and your friendships!! John, Justin, and Jace went over and trimmed all of Grandpa Fillmore's bushes and trees! It takes most of the day but they sure do a good job... Hannah had her first softball game last might and did great!!We left the last ½ hour of Hannah's game and headed to IF to catch Jace's.

He is so glad to be playing again...After Jace's game the girls and I headed home and John and the boys went to Sports Authority to pick up some equipment for Justin's newest obsession...Frisbee golf!! They are going tonight for mutual and he was practicing outside last night. So they had to go to Sports Authority to get a "Viking Driver" Frisbee. I thought you could use just a regular Frisbee, but no...you need a driver and wedges and other stuff he rattled off! Remember I'm just the mom and don't know much of anything!! John also brought this box home for me... I knew it was a new pair of running shoes but he picked them out and this is what was in there... like em'? My oldest smart $#% son switched the shoes! Him is soooo funny ~ if he was Chinese his name would be Me Fun E!! But then he showed me these...Love them!! Like walkin' on air!! Thanks John! The kids have been going to lunch everyday at the grade school {if ya live in Shelley, Sunrise is serving breakfast and lunch every day for I think 6 weeks! It's a great program and the more kids that go, the more money the school district receives...so head on over!} Halle and Hannah love it! The boys go every once in a while but it does not fill them up! Halle has her first game tonight {if it quits raining} and is still a little unsure about where first base is, but I told her not to worry {hers my little worry wart} and listen to her coach! We've been stayin' up late and they kids play till right up to bed time...So far we are lovin' summertime!! Except Halle was singin'...

"Rain, rain, go away, come again another day!" So thankful for...1) the rain ~ not having to water everything 2) gave blood today ~ saved a life 3) almost have the new ward directory done.

It was a success...

the garage sale went great! It was a beautiful day, made a little extra money, and everything is all cleaned up!! But can I just say garage sales are ALOT of work!! I spent all last week getting ready and Wednesday afternoon I forgot about Halle's T-ball practice so when her coach called and asked if we were coming, we jumped in the car and hurried down there! She had a fun time and can't wait till her first game. The first picture looks like she threw the ball at the little girl in front of her {weird angle} but she threw it past her... and what little kid can resist playin' in the dirt and pickin' flowers...
and while we were waiting Hannah was practicing her throwing... She does pretty good and this year she is the youngest one on her softball team {she's playin' with 12 year olds} so she has been practicing with her dad and brothers! This coming week will be busy...Jace is finishing up with baseball ~ he's only played one game this season due to his elbow but played last Thursday and did great! He only has two games left but is playing in a couple of tournaments this summer. Hannah and Halle start T-ball and softball this week, thank goodness they fall on different days! The boys start doing summer weights in the morning {6:30 ~ ugh}, they have a basketball camp, Jr. golf starts Monday, need to get the girls signed up for swim lessons, and hopefully squeeze in a movie at the drive-in!! I love havin' the kids home for summer, it's takes a few days to get into "summer mode" but we're gettin' there! It's thundering outside and sprinkling a little...I love thunder, so I'm going to go lay on my bed, close my eyes and listen to the thunder...and my kids who are fighting, making the dog growl, and getting in to the pantry to get something to eat, even though we just ate {sigh}!! So thankful for... 1) the thunder ~ especially when it's loud 2) John's off for four days 3) summer fun and freedom

Justin's art final...

Justin really likes to draw and doodle. He had an art final yesterday and I thought it turned out pretty cool. These are a few of the things he likes... KTM, Tiger Woods, Oakley, Fox, Trout Bums, Alpine Star, Kicker, STI {Subaru car}, his initials, and some doodling. He got an A! He took the rest of his finals today and can you believe the last day of school is tomorrow? CRAZY!! Went and stocked up at the Wonder Bread Store with Twinkies, Ding Dongs, fruit pies, and bread {my kids always resort to toast with freezer jam for a quick snack, so we need plenty of bread}! Off to take Halle to t-ball...her is so excited!! So thankful for...1) Jace will be home tomorrow, he's been at science camp, miss him 2) last day of school is tomorrow 3) getting ready for a garage sale, my basement is CLEAN!!

Road Trip!!

John had to work today {sad} but he gets double time and a half {happy} so yesterday we skipped church {bad} and headed to Cave Falls! On the way there John found a little side road ~ John LOVES taking side roads and seeing where they lead to ~ this road led to the Bechler Ranger Station! It was sunny so we decided to have a picnic there... Justin tellin his dad he just saw a fish "this BIG"!!We packed up and headed to Cave Falls! It was a nice day, sprinkled off and on for a bit but no wind. When we got to Cave Falls the girls and I had flip-flops ~ as seen in picture above ~ on {we had tennis shoes but left them in the car}~ it was a little muddy and slippery ~ so we hung out by the water fall and explored a few trails while John and the boys went down to the cave {besides...caves scare me}... The falls weren't huge but it was pretty and now we can say we've been to Cave Falls! On the way out John found another side road he wanted to take and we had to stop and let the boy's shoot their "pingers" {ya know ya can't be a true red-neck unless ya take your gun{s} with ya and shoot at empty soda cans and animal crackers}... And last but not least we stopped and fed the fish at Warm River but by then it was getting a little chilly and the rain was startin' to fall so we threw a loaf of bread at the fishes {Jace and Halle ate most of theirs} and headed home! It was a fun day and we hope to take more road trips this summer ~ just jump in the car and head somewhere we haven't been! So thankful for...1) all of the men and women in our Armed Forces who have fought for our freedom 2) a day to remember them and those we have lost 3) the beautifully decorated cemeteries.

Halle's Graduation!!

Halle graduated from pre-school Thursday night! Her was sooo excited! I have been asking her what I am going to do next year without her when she goes to kindergarten and she told me, "mom just do what ya do when I goed to pre-school, you will be okay"! I will be okay...but it I will still be sad the day she walks into those kindergarten doors! Halle took pre-school from Mrs. Ottley {just so she could have someone else besides grandma} and did great ! Her loved pre-school! We spent the day getting ready for graduation yesterday...we painted nails, had to buy a new white shirt and some pink sandals, picked up a few groceries from Wal-mart and headed home to get ready! On the way home she told me that we couldn't do a "big ponies" or "cinni-buns" or her graduation hat wouldn't fit...so we did a french braid ponies! Things got a little crazy when I got home {Jace is still doing therapy on his elbow ~ but he's doing better} so Justin made the brownies and decorated them...I thought he did a pretty good job!! So without further ado...presenting Halle, 2009 Learning Connection Pre-School Graduate...

Mom and Dad left to go camping and wasn't able to be there but

bought Halle a cute little wrist corsage... Her flower and balloon from Aunt Mandie {Mandie also brought her a huge chocolate bar but she ate that right away}, the brownies brother made, and her graduation present... Already to go... I wish I had recorded the whole thing but here's about half of...

"I'm A Nut"

Halle and her Great-Grandma Fillmore...Me and sweet 'ittle lady!! How I love her! She is such a good little girl with such a sweet ♥ and loves her mommy! She's my helper, my shopping buddy {she actually hates to shop but I drag her along and bribe her with McDonald's} and my little chef! Before I know it I'll be writing about her high school graduation! Your dad and I love you and are so proud of you! You are such a blessing to our family and bring such joy and happiness to our lives! Congratulations!!

You're a child of the 80's if...

*Songs by Debbie Gibson still haunt you to this day ~ {John had a HUGE crush on her with a big poster of her on his wall when we first met}

*You thought Molly Ringwald was REALLY cool, was there an 80's movie she WASN'T in? ~ {sooo wanted to kiss Jake Ryan in Sixteen Candles...sigh, and member

"what's a happenin' hot stuf"}

*You can remember watching Full House and Saved by the Bell for endless hours ~ {still catch a re-run here and there}
*You have seen at least 10 episodes of Fraggle Rock

*You had slouch socks, and puff painted your own shirt at least once.

*You were shocked and horrified at the Challenger explosion, which you were probably watching in school at the time ~ {I was in the 7th grade}

*You know what "Sike" means

*You know the profound meaning of "Wax on, Wax off." ~ {was so in love with Ralph Macchio}

*You know that another name for a keyboard is a "Synthesizer"
*You had Kool-Aid in every flavor and color

*You have ever called 867-5309 ~ {Jenny I need your number}

*You inserted the word "like" into, like, every sentence ~ {sometimes still do}

*You owned a doll with 'Xavier Roberts' signed on it's butt ~ {still have mine}
*You had a poster of Rob Lowe, Kirk Cameron, or Michael J. Fox on your wall

*The first time you ever kissed someone at a dance fell during "Crazy for You" by Madonna
*You know who Mr. T is. (What's my name fool!)
*You know who Fat Albert is. ~ {Hey! Hey! Hey!}
*You ever wore fluorescent, neon clothing. (Every color!) ~ {and socks and scrunchie to match} *You ever wore the "hypercolor" shirts that changed color from hot pink to orange when ever you stood in the sun or got hot!
*You could breakdance, or wish you could. ~ {I can still moonwalk}
*You wanted to be The Hulk for Halloween ~ {no but I was Wonder Woman}
*You begged your mom to get you Gizmo for your birthday or Christmas
*You Believed that "By the power of Greyskull, you HAD the power!" ~ {had a little bro who had ALL these guys}
*Partying "like it's 1999" seemed SO far away
*You thought that Transformers were more than meets the eye
*For the girls... you wore your hair on the side of your head and you wore your L.A. Brats.
*You wanted to be on Star Search ~ {still do}
*You can remember Michael Jackson when he was black
*You wore a banana clip at some point during your youth ~ {I even think I was still wearin' one in the early 90's}
*You remember the garbage pail kids, and owned some ~ {glad those went away}

*You knew what Willis was "talkin' 'bout"
*You knew "Rut row raggy" and "Zoinks"
*You HAD to have your MTV. (they ACTUALLY played videos??)
*You actually thought "Dirty Dancing" was a REALLY good movie ~ {soooo wanted to "dirty dance" with Patrick Swayze}
*You remember when ATARI was a state of the art video game system ~ {had one}
*You owned only cassettes
*You were led to believe that in the year 2000 we'd all be living on the moon.
*You remember and/or owned any of the Care Bear Glass collection from Pizza Hut or the Muppets glasses from McDonalds
*Poltergeist freaked you out ~ {still does}
*You knew who Ben Stein was before you could win his money, "Bueller?"
*You carried your lunch to school in a Gremlins, ET, Dukes of Hazzard, Knight Rider, Strawberry Shortcake or A-Team lunch box.
*You have ever pondered why Smurfette was the ONLY female smurf ~ {not till now}
*You know what leg warmers are and probably had a pair ~ {several}
*You wore biker shorts underneath a short skirt and felt stylish
*You wore your Izod shirt with the collar flipped up
*You had a Swatch Watch with the Swatch Guard ~ {no but wanted one real bad}
*Your Legos collection started with the free sets in a Happy Meal
*You remember when Happy Meals came in a box, not a paper bag
*You remember when Saturday Night Live was funny
*You had Wonder Woman or Superman underoos
*You know what a "Push Up" ice cream is
*You had to come in the house when the street lights came on
*You had to change into play clothes after school ~ {and I make my kids change too}

*You owned, or knew somebody with a Commodore 64 ~ {had one}
*You hated Scrappy Doo ~ {not really, did you hate him?}
*You recorded songs off the radio with your boom box ~ {on cassettes}
*You wish you had a light saber
*Somehow you still know all the words to songs played on VH1's "Big 80's"
*Your arm was full of rubber bracelets ~ {in every color}
*You have ever said, "Gag me with a spoon"
*You have ever wondered what happened to Saturday morning cartoons
*You had to get up to change the channel
*You can still sing 1 to 12 from the Pinball machine on Sesame Street.
*You thought the "Thriller" video was pretty cool ~ {so cool}
*You remember the first time you went into a video store to rent a movie
*You wore those wide, colorfull shoelaces ~ {I had rainbow ones}
*Quiet Riot's "Come on feel the noise" was the best song - ever ~ {still is isn't it? ROCK ON!!}
*You know where "I want my two dollars" came from ~ {no I don't}
*Yo still cannot go in to the water because of that damn movie - Jaws
*El Debarge's "Get a beat to the Rythem of the night" plagued the radio every hour

You owned a pair of parachute pants ~ {loved mine}
*You remember life before minivans and SUVs

*You've recently horrified yourself by using any one of the following phrases:
"When I was younger"
"When I was your age"
"You know, back when..."
"Because I SAID so, that's why"
"What the HECK is this noise on the radio?"
"Just can't (fill in the blank) like I used to"

If you can identify with at least half of this list then you, my friend, are a "Child of the 80's." Now, how old do you feel? ; )