Sweet Sixteen

John and I are celebrating our 16th wedding anniversary today. Wow-- that's a long time hanging out and buttoning eachother's hard-to-reach places!

We met at a Young Single Adult dance in Miami. Our courtship was a whopping 24 days before our engagment! We were engaged for about 5 months and married in the Atlanta Georgia Temple.

Our life together has been great. We have four beautful children and we laugh a lot in our home.

Tonight we are going Salsa Dancing!

First Annual Father-Son Campout

John and Nicky enjoyed their very first Father-Son Campout this past May. I wish that I could have seen it. They had a great time! Nicky helped Daddy pound in the tent stakes and I understand that he was a very helpful and happy little camper.

The Rain in Spain...

Oh, Eliza, you do it so well...

So I am contemplating the change of seasons, and thus the change of wardrobes. For me it goes from shorts and a t-shirt to jeans and a t-shirt, but it wasn't always that way. I used to always be dressed up-- I mean, someone actually had to tell me to buy tennis shoes to take to college because it hadn't occured to me! I don't know where that girl went... it seems like I don't get dressed up during the week, unless I have a lunch date or doctor's appointment. Just when did that happen?

Consequently, Friday nights and Sundays are my days to dress up- but I don't enjoy it nearly as much as I used to. I am out of the habit.

As I contemplate the new season I think, wouldn't it be great if hats, glorious hats, tremendous hats, flamboyant hats were in style? And how about this gown? I mean, tell me you wouldn't get a kick out of wearing this one.

In reality, however, this hat might stand out a little at Target, don't you think?

La Dolce Vita

You Belong in Rome

You're a big city soul with a small town heart Which is why you're attracted to the romance of Rome Strolling down picture perfect streets, cappuccino in hand And gorgeous Italian people - could life get any better?

What City Do You Belong In?

A Time for Spooks

Here is one of our favorite family crafts. They are fun to make and they look great. And yes, this is an old picture... but I miss those days when the girls were smaller than me!

Cheesecloth Ghost

Materials

* Cheesecloth
* White sugar
* Warm water
* Bowl
* Wiggle eyes
* Scissors, balloon, large cup or jar

General Instructions

* Make a mixture of sugar and water. Put in sugar first—a whole bag to make multiple ghosts. Add water until it is a thick, watery paste. While sugar is dissolving, make a form for your ghost. I use a large plastic cup with a balloon in the top.
* Once sugar has completely dissolved soak pieces of cheesecloth in mixture. Remove and drape over "ghost form".
* Allow to dry a minimum of overnight. May take longer.
* Once dry remove form from underneath. Your ghost should be quite firm.
* Glue on wiggle eyes
* These make great Halloween decorations for dinner tables, at your doorway or on your desk.