Our July 4th Weekends

We had lots of birthdays to celebrate over the 4th holiday. We flip flopped from our usual schedule. One of our nephews is a Yankee Doodle Dandy (he was born on the 4th). We usually celebrate his birthday and his brother's birthday (born at the beginning of August) on the weekend closest to the fourth. This year, their birthday party had to be the next weekend. So, we celebrated our niece's birthday (born on the 6th) on the forth weekend.

Emma Claire turned two this year with a backyard splash party. As you can see from the slide show, everyone had fun in the pool and on the zip line. After the party, we watched fireworks at American Village.

Braxton and William had a science party this year. They had a really cool cake made to look like a beaker! There were also science experiments.

We had lots of fun this year! Enjoy the pictures.

I've been tagged . . .

8 x 8

Things I am looking forward to:
1. Having children

2. Growing old with Ben
3. Learning a foreign language
4. Learning to play violin
5. Learning to play golf
6. Catching up on my blog
7. Becoming a better photographer
8. Traveling

Things I did yesterday:

1. Talked to Ben

2. Worked

3. Talked to my Mom

4. Shopped

5. Bought some things at Costco

6. Practiced chipping, pitching, and driving

7. Watched the SYTYCD elimination show
8. Ate some Mango sorbet


Things I wish I could do:
1. Perform magic (when I was a child I thought I could if I could just figure out how)
2. Travel all over the world
3. Pay off my debt
4. Be rich so I could establish a foundation
5. Play violin
6. Be fluent in several foreign languages
7. Raise one eyebrow above the other
8. Sing

Shows I watch (all year)
1. Psych
2. How I Met Your Mother
3. The Big Bang Theory
4. Bones
5. NCIS
6. The Mentalist
7. Gossip Girl
8. The Closer

Favorite foods
1. Spaghetti
2. Spinach sauteed with garlic

3. Pot pie

4. Milk

5. Dark chocolate
6. Chocolate cake with only raspberry simple syrup on top
7. Fresh vegetables
8. Fruit

Places I've traveled
1. California
2. Denver and Breckenridge, Co
3. Virginia
4. Kentucky
5. Arkansas
6. Ohio

7. All over the Southeast (from Texas to NC and all in between)
8. Missouri

Places I would like to travel:
1. All over Europe
2. China
3. India
4. Japan
5. Australia and New Zealand
6. All over South America
7. Costa Rica
8. Everywhere in the U.S. that I haven't been yet

People I tag:
1. Kim Thomason
2. Meaghan Ryan
3. Crystal Lamar
4. Kristin Barron
5. Lots of my friends want a blog but don't have one yet. That is why I tagged some of the above people. So for my 5. - 8., I tag all of you who want to get started. Start with this!

I've been a terrible blogger!

As I said earlier (in one of my lonely previous posts), I had wanted to start a blog for a while. I created it when I had some time, but then got so busy that I didn't keep up. I promise I am going to try really hard to catch up and keep it up!

My Adventures in Blogland

Ok, so I still haven't changed the look of the blog, but I have an idea. I think I am going to purchase a custom blog. I have been shamelessly searching through other blogs and, if I like one searching for the source of the design. I found a couple I liked that were available through the free sites, but nothing I loved. So, even though I don't want to pay, I think I will buy one. I found a couple of sites who do custom blog layouts. Anyone want to suggest others? Now, I will collect my favorite aspects of blogs, my favorite scrapbook material, my favorite photos, etc. When I think I can tell someone what I want, I will buy! Any stories on what your favorite/least favorite part of your blog is?
Also, I added several blogs that I follow (somewhere on the right side of this page). Right now, these consist of friends blogs and blogs about food, photography, travel, and genealogy. However, because I don't have a customized blog yet, they are all mixed into one list. Finally, let me say that I have no idea if there is content on these blogs that might offend you. By linking these from my page, I am just saying at least something on that blog interests me. I am not, however, making a political statement, making a moral statement, or wholly endorsing anything. With that said, enjoy. Also, if you follow or know about any great blogs in any of those categories, let me know.

New Blog

I've wanted to start a blog for a while. . . so here it is. I have to admit, I thought it would be a lot easier to make it look the way I want it to. I am a scrapbooker also, so I would like to completely design the layout, but I have no idea how to do that. If anyone happens on this blog (even though there is nothing interesting to read yet) and wants to give me some tips, please do. Meanwhile, I will try to learn all that I can. I will probably have more and better posts after I know what I am doing. My husband and I are near thirty, ready to start a family sometime soon, paying off debt (from law school), have a home we would like to sell but will probably keep a while longer because of the market, and so on. I think that there are many other people out there with the same interests, wishes, and problems as us. Maybe my posts will be familiar, entertaining, or something else, but will at least be something my friends, family, and others will be able to relate to. And, sometimes maybe something I'm doing will be totally crazy and unique, but that should be interesting also. Stay tuned . . .