SURPRISE BIRTHDAY PARTY FOR TONY !!

We managed to pull off a surprise Birthday Party for Tony tonight! It was awesome! He had no clue! The kids wanted to get together before we leave for the coast but we have been so busy all week with work , packing, getting our yard ready for our absence and the arrival of my folks that I had to recruit the help of Mom Norton and Deedra.

I told Tony that his mother had invited us over for dinner so they could visit with my parents before we left in the morning. We were to be there at 5:30 and Deedra coordinated with all the kids to arrive at 6:00. We were to be visiting out on the patio and they would all come out and surprise him! We had some touch and go for a bit (because you all know when Tony wants to eat...Tony wants to eat! NOW) We held him at bay without him becoming suspicious and he was definitely surprised!

It was a fun evening ! We wish all of you kids could have been here but we appreciate your calls and well wishes! Tony thanks you all for the digital picture frame! (and so do I....I love it !!)

Can't wait to put the seaside vacation on it !!

We leave in the morning so I will have to give up the blogging for a whole week!! Hope I don't have withdrawals!

4 Years and 50 pound later.....Still Bliss!

Tony and I just celebrated our 4th wedding anniversary! It has been a very wonderful happy 4 years! We marvel daily at how much we enjoy each other's company!

We are celebrating our 4th by going to Seaside again. (We did that on our 2nd anniversary ) It was such a good time we decided to go again and bring my folks.

Last year we celebrated in California with Mom and Dad Norton! Now some of you may say..."What a way to celebrate an anniversary...with your parents!" Come on! Were 50 plus!

It was wonderful!

Happiness is definitely being married to your best friend! I thank Heavenly Father daily for such wonderful blessings of a dear companion and loving family! Here's to many more blessed years !

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY! Compliments of Murray Berezay

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY



OPEC sells oil for $136.00 a barrel.

OPEC nations buy U.S. grain at $7.00 a bushel.

Solution: Sell grain for $136.00 a bushel.

Can't buy it? Tough! Eat your oil!

Ought to go well with a nice thick grilled filet of camel butt!!!

What Kind of Flower Am I ???

I am a Canada Thistle What Flower Are You?

I did the test, and it said I was a "Canna" (whatever that is, All I know is that it was prettier than the thistle!) then I copied it, posted it and this is what popped up! LOL I am from Canada after all so maybe this is more appropriate anyway but I don't know what the description is that goes with this. I'll make up my own: I am friendly and loving! I like to be nourished, physically and spiritually! I stand up for what I believe in and I'm proud of my accomplishments!........How's that?

"SIMPLE PLEASURES"

OK, I'm responding to Heather's "SIMPLE PLEASURES" blog....I thought about it and 1st and foremost on MY LIST is Noxema! With all the bike riding I've been doing lately (12 miles last night and 2 miles to work and back ...14 total for the day) I get the Dreaded "Road Rash" ....It ain't purty!! Noxema works wonders! I highly reccomend it!2nd on my list is Vitamin E Oil. I've been trying to take better care of my nails and I have found that rubbing a little vitamin E oil on my cuticles daily has really helped my hang nail situation and my nails seem to grow faster and are stronger! I get it at Wal-Mart and it's cheap and lasts a long time!

3rd is the "As Seen On TV" Ped Egg! I love it! Tony uses it too. My heels get really dry and they crack and bleed. I use the Ped Egg before going to bed and then rub a thick shea cream or Vitamin E oil on them and they have not given me a problem since! Love it, love it love it!!!

OUR GREENBELT BIKE TRIP !

Saturday, several of us got together to ride on the Greenbelt and have a picnic! The weather was in the 90's... beautiful! We met at Ann Morrison park around 11AM and let the kids play at the playground before leaving on our 6 mile ride! It was touch and go at the beginning but after we got moving tempers settled down and everyone had a great time wearing themselves out! Afterwards we ate a picnic lunch and let the kiddies play some more! It was a fun day! Now we have to plan a river float trip! The water looked so inviting!
SO GLAD SUMMER'S HERE!

Check out my Slide Show!

2008 GREAT DATE & STREET DANCE

Tony and I had a wonderful evening! It was sooooo much fun! A great start to our weekend! Once a year, there is an activity promoting "Nampa Healthy Families." All denominations are invited so our Stake always purchases several tickets and Tony and I have gone the past two years. Tonight it was held at the Nampa Civic Center. We had a delicious dinner of Bar-B-Que chicken, baked beans, potato salad and chocolate cake. They had a silent auction and several raffles throughout the evening. (I got a glass covered pie plate in the silent auction) The best part was the band and dance! SIGNATURE SOUND played and they were awesome! It was so funny because Tony bought a new Hawaiian Shirt on our shopping spree that I blogged about two weeks ago. Well, it turns out that the entire band was in the exact same shirt! They teased Tony throughout the night by asking him what instrument he played etc. One lady asked Tony if he was sitting out tonight because he was having trouble with his voice! Anyway, at one point in the evening the band asked everyone to look at the gentleman in the black shirt (pointing to Tony of course) then they said they were dedicating the next song to him! They sang ZZ Top's, "Sharp Dressed Man" It was great! CHECK OUT THE PIC'S! Everybody was crazy about my sharp dressed man!!

DO I STINK ???

Awwwww, the joys of exercise! If I leave a little late in the morning and really have to hussle on my bike, I worry the rest of the day....." Am I offending anyone?" The trip home tonight is gonna be a warm one but I don't stress about it then. Tony will still love me! Heck, he really loves me right now! I'm saving all kinds of cash! I could smell like rotten eggs and he wouldn't complain! LOL It's been 9 days straight ( excepting Sunday) of biking and I love it! I haven't seen a whole big difference in weight YET but I have noticed my energy level is improving and I actually find myself looking forward to getting on my "sweet ride" every morning!

The PROMISED RECIPE!! Mmmmmm! Good

OK, here it is!

STRAWBERRY WHIPPED SENSATION

4 cups fresh strawberries divided

1 can (14 oz) Eagle Brand Sweetened Condensed Milk

1/4 cup lemon juice

1 tub (8 oz) cool whipped topping thawed

Oreo Cookies (15 or so)

3 Tbsp melted butter

1. Line a 9x5" loaf pan with foil, leaving the ends extending over the sides of the pan.

2. Mix chopped cookies and melted butter. Set aside

3. Mix together the chopped strawberries (saving a few whole berries to slice on the top when finished) the lemon juice, the thawed cool whip (saving just enough to spread on the loaf when finished freezing) and the eagle brand milk.

4. Pour in into the lined loaf pan. Sprinkle the cookie crumbs on top and gently press into the mixture and then lay the sides of the foil on top of the cookie mixture. Freeze 6 hours

5. Invert onto a serving dish, peel off the foil and ice with remaining cool whip. Arrange a few sliced strawberries on top.

FATHER'S DAY CELEBRATION 2008

I'm finally getting my Father's day pictures posted. It's been a busy week with the Celtic game and all. ( he he!) We had a nice evening getting together to share Hawaiian Haystacks and Strawberry Whipped Sensation. (recipe to follow....tomorrow) We met at our home and visited and played backyard games. The weather was incredible! We wish all our Father's and sons could have been here to celebrate YOU, with us. We love and respect you all so much and are so grateful for the excellent examples you are to your families! Happy Father's Day! XXXOOO

Check out my Slide Show!

THE CELTIC'S GET IT DONE!!! NBA CHAMPS!!

WOW! What an awesome game! Tony and I were thrilled with the Celtic's BIG WIN over the Lakers tonight! Sure made for a great evening! Our home teacher came at half time and Tony said..." she'll let you stay (indicating me) if you keep the lesson short!" LOL! He did too! We were able to watch the 2nd half and cheer them on to a HUGE victory! Great, great game!

TAG YOUR IT !!

OK, I was tagged by Heather this past week and I didn't know what I was suppose to do so I had her explain it to me. (I'm a tad slow) anyway, here goes.....

4 JOBS I HAVE HAD:

1. I milked bee's for 2 summer's in High School. (Well, technically I was extracting honey form combs) I averaged 20 stings a day! Interesting job but I couldn't see myself doing it as a career. LOL
2. I worked as a sales clerk in a KRESS Dept Store in Alabama. I hated retail! Love to shope but I can't stand to be in a store ALL day if I'm not spending money!
3. Micron Technology 13 years... 7 of them graveyard! Ugh! Do what cha gotta do when your a single parent!
4. ProPeople Staffing

4 MOVIES I WOULD WATCH MORE THAN ONCE

1. Last of the Mohicans ( I love the music and the scenery) and for some reason Daniel Day Lewis looks so hot in that movie with his long hair and buckskins. LOL
2. Princess Bride ...Great Movie!
3. Harry Potter.....everyone needs a little fantasy now and then.
4. The Work and the Glory movies. I loved the books too!

4 PLACES I HAVE LIVED

1. Missoula Montana
2. Daleview Alabama
3. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
4. Sierra Vista,Arizona

4 PLACES I HAVE BEEN TO/VISITED

1. Hawaii
2. Disney World
3. Niagra Falls
4. New York City

4 FAVORITE FOODS

1. Pizza / Italian
2. Taco's / Mexican
3. desserts / obvious
4. steaks / Is that American?

4 PLACES I WOULD LIKE TO VISIT

1. Australia
2. New Zealand
3. Nauvoo, Illinois
4. Black Hills, South Dakota

4 THINGS I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO

1. Our trip to the coast in 2 weeks! Wahoo!
2. The birth of two new grandbabies! Wahoo, Wahoo!
3. Losing weight by riding my bike! BIG WAHOO!
4. 24th of July trip to the cabin. Yeah!

4 FRIENDS I AM TAGGING

1. Christa
2. Princess
3. Michele
4. Deedra

SWEET RIDE!!! verses SWEAT RIDE!!!

• CAFFERTYS BIKE SHOP
  CHECKING OUT THE MERCHANDISE
  
  TONY'S SWEET RIDE
  
  
  VERNIE'S SWEET RIDE
  
  
  
  I had to work the late shift on Friday so Tony beat me home. He changed his clothes and then rode his bike to ProPeople to meet me and ride home with me. He wanted to go to Cafferty's Bike shop to check out the possibility of raising our handlebars so we weren't putting so much weight on our wrists and arms. We locked up shop and rode two blocks into downtown Nampa to the bike shop. We checked things out and fell in love with the Specialty Expedition. Saturday morning we went back down and purchaced one for both of us! They wanted us to leave them for an hour so they could put on the accessories and check things over for us so we went home to wait for an hour and do some things around the house. Tony is on call this week and he got paged and had to make a trip into Boise to work. Luckily he got finished at 1 in the afternoon and picked up the bikes on his way home. It was just like Christmas! We took a sweet ride this afternoon. They are so comfortable! Guess I'll have no excuse now! I'm looking forward to riding to work all summer! We figure the gas money I save will pay for the bikes! SWEET! Now I'd better SWEAT!!!
  
  
  
  

GO CELTIC'S !!

Tony had to go to Stake meetings tonight so I was kinda listening to the game on the radio while I was sewing. Kinda bummed cuz the Celtic's were 20 points behind! Well, at the 4th quarter I went down stairs to iron and turned on the TV and WOW! What an exciting comeback for the Celtic's! I was hootin and hollerin and cheerin them on! It was a great game! Tony will be so disappointed he missed it! Amanda, if you ever check my blog, I apologise now cuz I know your a BIG Laker Fan but it's always been the Celtic's for me. Way back in Bird's day! Nothing like a little friendly competition. Right?

SUCCESS....but it wasn't purty!!

I made it to work .....do I looked surprised? I was!

I'm exhausted! SERIOUSLY!!

This is the living proof. My bike in the back room at work!

I said I was gonna do it, I did it, question is: Can I keep doing it? I rode my bike to work today. I left the house at 7:15, got on Davis just past the pool at Lyons Park and realized I'd forgot the keys to get into the building. Had to turn around, go home and get them. Then it was about 7:22. I peddled for all I was worth and by the time I got to work I was sweatin like a .......well, my kids know! Anyway, I was only 6 minutes late so I thought, "not bad!" The ride home was warmer but more relaxed. No deadlines to meet. Gotta keep it up. Maybe by the end of summer, you'll see less of me. I can only hope!

Andrew's 1st Road Trip, Comin Up!

Andrew makes the funniest faces...

But he sure lights up when he smiles.....

Jason and Traci and the kids are leavin for California in the morning to see my brother and his family! I haven't seen those grandkids for a couple of weeks and a lot can change on a 3 month old in that amount of time. I knew they wouldn't be here to party with us on Father's Day so I begged Tony to take me to Kuna tonight after we finished our Home Teaching. (Actually, no begging was required....he's a pushover LOL) Andrew is starting to smile and coo and I didn't want to miss it any longer....here's the proof

A TEAM EFFORT.....

Tony trimming the yard edges, check out our garden...it's growing! Vernie mowing the back yard....

Tony finishing the front yard

Enjoying Puff Pancakes , compliments to Heather...

Maybe we should make these at the cabin for one of our breakfasts!

Tony and I take care of the yard every Wednesday night due to the fact it's trash day on Thursday. It's been raining the past couple of days so I really wondered if we would be able to work outside tonight but we got home from work and it was beautiful weather so while Tony was trimming...... I made Heather's Puff Pancake (recipe from her blog) and put it in the oven and went outside to mow. I got the back yard done and then Tony finished up by mowing the front while I went inside to take out the delicious meal! Thanks Heather for the recipe. Easy and delicious!

GOOD INTENTIONS....

Tony, fixing the bike

The storm hits! (Well actually it was a little rain)

At Last .......Success!

Tony and I planned on taking a bike ride this evening to Deedra's to deliver the book, "Eclispe" but alas, our plans have changed. 1st off, he had to repair a flat tire on his bike and when he went to fix it the glue in his repair kit was dried out. Hence, a trip to the store .....then when he got home, we ate dinner and then had a visit from Chris,Tamara and Katelynn. After their visit, Tony went to the shed to repair the tire and then the rain set in. Not bad but bad enough that we decided to postpone our bike ride till a dryer day. THEN, after 1/2 hour Tony came in and said we might be safe on a shorter ride so we decided to go to Mom and Dad Norton's. We rode over, visited briefly, left the book cuz Deedra was coming over to get it (he he, she just can't wait another day) and then we decided to ride down to ProPeople to see how long it will take cuz I've decided to start riding my bike to work. You know, I can kill 3 birds with one bike ride.

#1. I can save gas

#2. I will save money by not driving to the store on my lunch break to shop

#3. I might even lose some weight!

Anyway, the trip took less than 15 minutes but twice a day should help. I'll keep you posted on how long this lasts and what the end results are. Wish me luck!

JUST AN EXPERIMENT....

Scotlyn yawning! A picture Heather scrapped!

Jayden in his Blessing clothes...

I am practicing stealing pictures from some of your blogs and these are a couple I have been coveting! Yeah, it looks like it worked ! I am so excited! This is legal.... isn't it????

SATURDAY SHOPPING SPREE......

Tony, concentrating on a price!!!!

These look good!!

So many suits, so little time!

Sandy, our sales lady in Men's Warehouse!

What do you think of this one Vernie?

Relaxing with a movie after a hard day of shopping!!

We spent most of the day shopping for a new Sunday suit for Tony. We got up, ate breakfast and then went to the Karcher Mall and the new JC Penny's complex in Nampa. We then drove to Boise and went to Men's Warehouse and the Boise Towne Square. At 1 in the afternoon, Tony dropped me off at a baby shower for Amanda (Heather's girlfriend) and he went to Deseret Book and Costco and shopped while I partied. After he picked me up we went back to the mall and finally decided the suits we liked best were at Men's warehouse. After getting the suits we drove back to Nampa, grabbed some Chinese food and came home and settled down to watch Passage to Zarahemla. It was a fun day, spending money and better yet spending time with one another.

ALMOST THERE......

I am getting so darn excited to see this movie! I'm nearly done with book three. I will finish it this evening. If I could, I would finish it here at work but the temps just keep coming in and I really can't read here anyway. I have to thank Heather again for turning me on to Stephanie Meyer. Deedra finished the 1st book too and gave it to Michelle. Deedra is now reading # two and will soon be giving that to Michelle and picking up # three from me. It is leaving us all "Thirsty" for more.......

REQUEST FOR "BEFORE & AFTER"

• MASTER BATH BEFORE
  MASTER BATH AFTER
  
  
  LAUNDRY ROOM BEFORE
  
  
  

  LAUNDRY ROOM AFTER
  
  

  WALL DIVIDING LIVING ROOM & KITCHEN BEFORE
  
  

  AFTER
  
  

  A LOT OF THE WALLS WERE LIKE THIS BEFORE

  

  KITCHEN BEFORE
  
  

  KITCHEN AFTER
  
  

  KITCHEN BEFORE
  

  KITCHEN AFTER
  
  After I posted the before and after pic's of the outside of the house, I got a request for some of the inside. I know most of you have seen these but for "future posterity" or anyone else who is checking out my blog... LOL here goes. The home we bought was a repo. It was a disaster to say the least! Hard to believe anyone can live like that but here is the living proof. It was going to be a "project" for Tony while he was out of work and the plan was to fix it up and sell it. Well after he got all the holes in the walls fixed (over 100 and a lot the size of the one shown) and then the walls painted and the tile laid, I said "I think I could live here." We added 700 sq feet on to the existing 1800 sq foot house, so now we have a little over 2500 sq feet. We nearly gutted the entire inside. We had to replace all doors, all kitchen and bathroom cabinets, all light fixtures, toilets and sinks, windows, baseboards and door trim as well as re-side and re-roof the entire outside. There was a lip built above the garage and it wraps around the home to break up the 2nd story. We are so happy with the end results and feel we have a very nice comfortable home. We love it! It is so rewarding to make a silk purse out of an old sows ear. Hope you enjoyed the before and after's. We sure did!