Decorated foyer

I finally got my foyer done! I bought these frames and put them up on one side of the foyer--wedding pic, pics of us and our pets (a collage I put together), both sides of the family, and nieces and nephews:

On the other side is the table, with the candle holders my SIL Becky gave me, candles I bought to go with them, a tabletop frame full of niece and nephew pics, a photo cube (holds loose change) with pics of nieces and nephews, a LO I made on a cool little stand I got, and the decorative mirror I finally picked out.
Here's what the whole thing looks like (hard to get a good

picture w/ all that backlight coming in from the doors):

I'm really happy with it so far--makes me happy to come in the door or walk past it! :)

Happy Anniversary to Me!

Yesterday was our 8th anniversary! It really doesn't seem like it's been that long! Guess that's a good thing, huh? Jared had to work, of course, but we went out and got fried shrimp po-boys and friend mushroom slices when he got home. We had agreed not to get each other presents; instead, we were gonna go to Bed, Bath, & Beyond together and get a backrest for each of us to be able to read and watch TV in bed more comfortably. But, Jared being the stinker he is, went and got me presents, anyway. I mentioned our anniversary the night before and he pretended like he didn't remember. Then, he came out with two presents for me--a backrest and a memory foam pillow (for my neck problems):

He didn't even wait for our anniversary to give them to me--he was too excited! So cute! Then, yesterday, he gave me the LSU wallet (exactly matches the purse my mom gave me) and a card. I felt like a jerk because all I gave him was the card I made for him. We're gonna go get another backrest, though, so I have one and he has one. It was a relaxed anniversary. I'm still in love with my wonderful husband and I can honestly say I'm still glad I married him! :)

Temple sealing

I was able to attend the temple sealing of one of my "adopted" brothers Friday night. Brandon has been one of my brother Tim's friends since they were in high school and Timmy baptized him into our church. Brandon and his brother, Greg, were always at our house and I remember picking them up to go to church and various activities all the time. I consider them part of our family. Brandon and Jennie's sealing was awesome, of course, and I was so glad I got to be there with them.

Here's the happy couple:

The couple and their two witnesses

(my friend, Seth, on the left and my brother, Ben, on the right):

Brandon, Jennie, Becky (my SIL) & Ben:

We all went out to Olive Garden afterwards to eat and celebrate. Some people who did not go to the temple met us there (Tim, Greg, Jared, and a few others). It was a special, fun night. We even had a few of the guys (Tim, Greg, Seth, and Matt) over to our house afterwards for cookies. We hung out 'til after 1am--so fun!

Mischievous cat

If we leave anything on a counter or table ledge around our house, this is what happens (this is Chloe on my scraproom table):

Usually, she's standing at the ledge, looking toward the floor to watch it fall. And she usually doesn't get down to play with it--she just wants to see stuff fall. Silly cat! She sure is amusing at times! It's really funny when Jared comes home to find his contact case and other stuff on the bathroom floor. Hee hee!

THINK YOU CAN FLY A HELICOPTER ?

I laughed out loud trying to play this!

Read directions first before you start....
must hold left clicker down to go up...
release to go down...MOST DIFFICULT
Some people have worn their finger out on this.
If you are working for a living, do not forward to your co-workers..
The rest of the day will be useless to the company..
Think you can fly a helicopter? Click on the link
below and give it a whirl!
Guaranteed to drive you crazy!!!!!!!!!

http://www.hurtwood.demon.co.uk/Fun/copter.swf

Fabulous advice from Maya Angelou

My good friend, Meredith, sent this to me. I need to work on a few of these!

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE…

enough money within her control to move out
and rent a place of her own, even if she never wants to or needs to...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ..

something perfect to wear if the employer, or date of her dreams wants to see her in an hour...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE

a youth she's content to leave behind....

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ..

a past juicy enough that she's looking forward to
retelling it in her old age....

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ....

a set of screwdrivers, a cordless drill, and a black lace bra...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE .

one friend who always makes her laugh... and one who lets her cry...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ....

a good piece of furniture not previously owned by anyone else in her family...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ...

eight matching plates, wine glasses with stems, and a recipe for a meal, that will mak e her guests feel honored...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ..

a feeling of control over her destiny.

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...

how to fall in love without losing herself.

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...

how to quit a job, break up with a l over, and confront a friend without; ruining the friendship...


EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...

when to try harder... and WHEN TO WALK AWAY...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...

that she can't change the length of her calves,
the width of her hips, or the nature of her parents..

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...

that her childhood may not have been perfect...but its over...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...

what she would and wouldn't do for love or more...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...

how to live alone... even if she doesn't like it...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW..

whom she can trust,
whom she can't,
and why she shouldn't take it personally...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...

where to go...
be it to her best friend's kitchen table...
or a charming inn in the woods...
when her soul needs soothing...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...

what she can and can't accomplish in a day...
a month...and a year...

Bday present from Jared

Here's what Jared gave me. He came in from work and I was on the computer, in my scraproom. He kept telling me to look at my lamp; when I did, I saw it hanging up above my scrapbook table. He swears that it had been hanging up there all day but I worked on a LO this morning before going into town and I never noticed it. Not sure how I couldn't! Here it is: I'm going to hang it up in my LSU scraproom. I would love to hang it out in the front yard but Jared would prefer not to. He's not as big an LSU fan as I am, dang it! But at least he supports my love of the most awesome school ever! :) He's such a great hubby!

While I was adding the posts earlier, this happened:

The ducks from the pond came over by the window and Chloe was pretty fascinated. I opened up the window so she could hear them better. She just sat watching them. I thought it was pretty cute!

Videos from yesterday

Belle was being a total ham on the trampoline!


She had a mirror and got a kick out of herself:


Here's everyone singing "Happy Birthday" to me:

Happy Birthday to Me!

It's been a pretty good birthday so far. Just like most of my birthdays, I got a cake and presents yesterday. And, of course it was a red, white, and blue cake. My Maw-maw used to always make an American flag cake. When I was little, I always thought the fireworks were for my birthday--kind of a let-down when I realized the truth but it was good while it lasted! :)

Here are my favorite pics from yesterday's 4th of July party:

All-American Sweetie:
She LOVES juming on the trampoline!!!:
"Emergency Stop" on the trampoline (from gymnastics lessons):

Eating my yummy cake and ice cream!

Jared with a Roman candle:

Oh, and here's my birthday present from my parents. Cool, huh?!

We're going out to dinner for just Jared and I to celebrate my birthday tonight. I'm sure we'll have fun!

Scrapping Buddy

I took this pic of Chloe "helping" me scrapbook the other day. She's so funny! I am constantly having to make her get off my stuff.