And the answer is.....

Here is Monday's Mystery Photo again.

There were several great guesses, but no one guessed this....

Yes, it was close up shot of Christmas garland. Yes, I've already started preparing & buying Christmas decorations. Besides, this was on sale at Hobby Lobby.

You realize it's kind of bad though, when you run into friends at Hobby Lobby and they start laughing. They had seen my buggy, but not me and were saying to each other, they couldn't believe someone was already buying Christmas stuff.

Yep, that would be me.

Monday Mystery Photo

This one may look easy, but you're going to have to think outside the box on this one....

Friday Freeze Frame

Monday began a new school year for our girls. It also began a new season in life for us - we have entered the middle school years. It's a place we will be hanging out until approximately 2017.

Did you hear that "whooshing" sound? That was Ralph taking a deep breath, when he looked at that number.

Here is Morgan on her first day of 3rd grade. I never have to tell this child to strike a pose.

Here is Laney, ready to tackle 5th grade!

And, here is Madison, our 6th grader.

Yes, that is hand sanitizer hanging from her belt loop. No, I did not let her go to school like that. I convinced her to hang it on her book binder!

They are all growing up...

I am very proud of the young ladies they are becoming. I am also looking forward to this school year and all that they will learn.

Here's to a wonderful school year - 2011-2012!

Here is Monday's mystery photo again.

It's the stitching on Madison's new lunch tote. We have entered a new era, one that involves zebra print....

Welcome to middle school!

Monday Mystery Photo

So, be specific and tell me what this is.....

Happy Monday, everybody!

Friday Freeze Frame - Summer 2011 Recap

Summer 2011 is coming to end. Summer always seems to go by fast, in slow motion, if that makes sense.
Here's our summer in pictures (and a few words)....

Morgan, recuperating from having her tonsils out.

Making a fort in the living room.

Playing with soap, a tarp and water hose on what we called our "Redneck Slip N Slide".

Having milestone birthdays.

Hanging out with family & friends.

Playing in the rain.

Watching corn grow.

Green beans.

Tomatoes.

And lots & lots of mason jars.

Searching for Tinker Bell

Watching sunflowers grow.

Taking unknown roads and adventures.

Rainbows.

Braces.

And more slip N slide fun.

All that, plus hanging out with friends, swimming, volleyball camp, 4-H camp, hanging out with extended family, 20 year class reunions, reading & movie watching. Even though we did not take any trips, I would say that summer 2011 was great. Who could ask for more than a happy, healthy family to make memories with?

Answer to Monday's Mystery Photo

Drum roll, please......

Yes, it's a leaf. I admit that I am ready to see some more of these falling. I am so ready for fall to be here! I also want to say, "Thank you!" to Ben Hall of B's Photo Inc for letting me borrow the lens I used to take this pic. It makes taking these mystery photos so much more fun, and the pictures are crisp!

Monday Mystery Photo

So, what is this?

Friday Freeze Frame

Reminders are good.

This week has been one of those weeks. You know, those weeks. Full of 'why bothers', 'really?' and 'I'm just not going to care.'

That's when I get reminded.

Reminded that if there were no storms, there would be no rainbows. No color.

Color is a wonderful thing.

Yes, reminders are good. They help me remember to be thankful. To be full of grace. To see, what can be. The promise of something beautiful, after the storm. For reminders, I will be thankful....

Answer to Monday's Mystery Photo

Yes, the answer to Monday's Mystery Photo was corn roots.
Or toes.
Cause that's what they look like to me.

Such a lovely sight....

Especially when it's getting enough rain.

Love to look at rows and rows of corn.

And more rows....

Corn is my second favorite crop to watch grow. Wheat is first. Corn is just always fun to watch as it pops up and you can seriously hear it growing at a certain point.

It's just amazing to watch it change and grow.

Lovely and yellow.

Pretty and green.

I just love living in the country.