Sandcastle Contest Winners!

Here are the sandcastle winners!! Hannah & Sarah Jane had lots of fun creating this castle. I was originally going to help them but they said that only children can enter...but I was allowed to "pack" the molds for them...although the Dad next to us built his kids castle--always one parent who does not want to follow the rules and just let the kids do it. But the girls really had fun and thanks to Bob (one of the strangers who took pictures) sent these to us we now have 2 photos from our vacation--yeah I know I forgot my camera... Thanks again Bob and see you next year at the shore! Oh the girls won a glow in the dark bracelet...pretty cool while it lasted.

Hey! Back to School...Yeah Me!

august 10th 222/365, originally uploaded by Zoë (HPAD).

Ah the smell of colored pencils, crayons--these things still make me happy. When I was little I could not wait to go back to school. By mid-August it was time to shop for back to school supplies.

This reminds me of what I heard on Glenn Beck the other day...and it just made me plain good-old fashion MAD. In New York they are giving (yes the government) 200.00 check to each kid in the family...these are poor families, welfare etc. and do you know what the parents are buying??? not school supplies such as pencils, backpacks, lunchboxes--No they are buying video games and flat screen tv's. What happened to buying your kids the things they actually need for school? I was just so mad after hearing that program...

Well all you Mom's out there in cyberspace...Happy Shopping! Enjoy the rest of the summer with your children...because soon schools will open again and the house will be once again quiet.

God's beauty is in full bloom

I was busy yesterday taking pictures in our yard. The flowers are so colorful with rich hues--I just had to smile. I hope that all of you stop to smell the flowers-for God has created them for us to enjoy. Summer is quickly passing us by and soon the children will be back at school...hmmm...will I miss them or do a "yeah me"? I love the summertime for it is a time to kick back. We have been relaxing on our back porch with family and friends. We love to eat outside--especially when it is raining. The sound of rain makes you be mellow. We even ate outside during a thunderstorm which is pretty cool! What a canvas the Lord has created when it comes to summer--flowers in all colors, bugs, birds. Well I hope that everyone is getting out and about this summer whether digging in the dirt or just grabing a good book to read while lounging on the porch swing (with a big glass of koolaide--grape flavor of course and some cookies too) Kick back and enjoy the rest of summer--for it is passing us by and we will blink ;) and fall will appear. We went back to school shopping with my mother-in-law the other day. Had loads of fun and shopped till we dropped. We hit the Salvation Army store (local thrift shop) and the girls and I were in pure heaven! We love this store--you never know what treasures we will find. Besides clothing I also found frames,(for the many pictures and art projects to be framed) flower pots, and some other odds and ends. Of course I have to take Kevin for jeans but maybe not till January--yes our son is one of those knuckleheads that wear shorts all year long--we pick our battles. Well enjoy the rest of summer and take time to listen to the sound of rain or take in the beauty of the flowers.

Books--so many books so little time

Just wanted to update everyone that I am going on my 287th book--of my goal of reading 352 books by the end of this year. I I really got ahead of schedule this year when I was a permit sub for the local high school doing study halls. I love to read books!! Summer is the best time to pick up a book--with so many to choose from there really is no excuse not to read. Enjoy these fun pictures of the books that I found. Post what books you have read this year--I would love to hear from all of you.