It's true, I'm addicted

This is my addiction lately.  The Wood Connection!  I was told about this place by a friend of mine months ago.  They sale wood that they cut....all you have to do is sand (which I hate), paint embellish with paper, glitter, vinyl, ribbon etc.  They have samples of all of their projects and all of the things you need to make them.  ONE stop shopping!  It is such a fun place.  I usually go at least once a week.  Take a look at the web-site or you can stop in and see all of the darling things you can make. 

"Fourteen"

Ashlee turned 14 on the 3rd of August.  Sadie and Mikayla stayed over from Sunday to Wednesday.  they had so much fun,  We LOVE having those girls over, they get along so well.
~Mikayla, Sadie and Ashlee at the Olive Garden for lunch.  So fun and so Yummy!

~They  had snack foods watched movies and played WII.  After dark the girls and Jake played capture the flag!

~LOTS of SWEETS~

Ashlee's friends gave her some great presents.  She has some really sweet girls in her life.  

Happy "14" ASH!!!

It seems like just yesterday..

.........That we brought home our beautiful baby girl.  
 

When she looked like this,

we had no idea she would  grow up so fast,

..................

~Now that she's 14 she is still as beautiful and fun!!

Where did the time go, and when did I tell her she could get so big :)

We went to lunch, just me and my one and only favorite girl. 

We went to Ashlee's favorite restaurant

Her first fortune cookie as a "14" year old.

  Well technically she doesn't turn 14 until 9:33 but whatever, we aren't technical.

Her fortune was right on too, She wants to be a writer someday.

We love you Ashlee!!!  Thanks for being "my girl"

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to YOU!

Food, Family and Fireworks = Fourth of July FUN!!!

I Love Holidays....All Holidays, on July 4th I was originally planning on going to the "Hot Rockin' 4th, but well, our plans changed...So instead our family had a little party.
I love decorating for Birthdays, and Holiday Parties....that is my secret passion, so of course, any chance I get I take full advantage!

~Here is my Red, white and blue, table scape.
I love how it turned out.  I of course, being the O.C.D. person that I am, had to match the food for the table too. 

**These are the best little cheesecakes, and they are soooo easy to make too.
  I think they were a hit!

The rest of my table :) :)

I loved my fruit plate.

The fruit was yummy too!

****Uncle Gary, Jake, James and Ashlee.

I love these guys****

James and Ashlee

****

James and his fireworks

He was so happy to have them, and we were all happy that they were legal. haha

After all what would Independence day be without FIREWORKS!!!

We had a fabulous time.

Food+Family+Fireworks=FUN!!!

Happy 4th of July!

 

Beach....BABY!!

We loved spending time on the BEAUTIFUL beaches in California. There is just something that is so relaxing about being at the beach..... listening to the waves and feeling  the sand between your toes.  It was such amazing weather while we were there. It was an overcast day and we all got sun burned, even with sunscreen...except for Ashlee. The sun in California is sooooo HOT!! 

Malibu Beach. 
My cousins Carolina and Craig took James and I to Malibu beach.  On the way they showed us all of these fancy beach houses.  WOW...they were SO  beautiful, but of course very pricey.  I think we may have even driven past Mel Gibson's house!   We loved spending time with them.  They showed us a good time and were very hospitable!!

Seagulls "looking for lunch"

Laguna Beach :
also courtesy of Craig and Carolina. After we went to the beach we went to Joe's Crab Shack.  It was so yummy and so so fun.  I went alone since the rest of the family decided on  something else. 
I loved it!!

James chillin' on Malibu beach

We heart California?
Or at least that's what it's supposed to say.  Oh well, you get the idea!

Huntington Beach:
with the Family!!

It was a beautiful day to relax on the beach!  Ashlee was all set with her snacks and a book!  Here she is all cozy ready to read!!!!

The pier at Huntington Beach!

Writing in the sand, as soon as we would write something the water washed it away.  I just love leaving my mark, ya know, it's kinda like proof we were there  haha

We saw this CUTE pelican @ Malibu beach begging for food......he didn't even care that people were up close to him and taking pictures of him :)..

~~~James~~~

The boys played some frisbee as well.  

We miss the beach already!

Hot dogs & corn dogs MUST taste better in Disneyland

Hot dogs & Corn dogs........

apples and chips.........&

DRINKS.....

*and the grand total was.........
too much!

***We should've gone to a sit down restaurant, it would have been cheaper.
  At least we have a souvenir!

~Livin' it up at the HAPPIEST place on Earth!!!

Our family went toDisneyland YAY!!!
June, 21st, 22nd & 23rd 2011

Getting ready to spend the day "where dreams come true!"

Day 1

Ashlee and her daddy

Walkin' through California Adventure, for what seemed like the hundredth time. ha ha

James, Jake and Don

Ahhh, refreshing!  Ashlee cooling off.  it was a nice day.. really not that hot...but the mist feels sooo good

The favorite RIDE......
The Tower of Terror.
We always go on it way too much, but we love it!!

Day 2

~~  the traditional DISNEY picture :)

Tower of Terror

We lost track of which time this was..

Day 3
The kids at the entrance to Disneyland!!!

It was an amazing trip.  We always have so much fun there. Well, almost all of us ;)

An evening SWIM***

And.....a soak in the hot tub!!!
We had such a fun time that we really hated to leave, I guess we'll just have to come back next year.
If you want to see more of the pictures you are welcome to go here!