I ♥ Faces...They're At It, Again!

If the saying, "Laughter is the best medicine" is true, we must be healthy as horses around our house because we're constantly laughing about something! Over at I ♥ Faces, the theme for this week's photography contest is LAUGHTER. So, here's my entry...
I took this picture of Brittany and Abby in our backyard last summer and they were in one of their silly moods. Abby climbed up on Brittany's shoulders without her expecting it and she started cracking up! Brittany's looking at her as if to say, "Excuse me...but what are you doing?" This sort of thing is pretty typical around here! Where would I be without my goofy girls who constantly teach me how to seize the day?

"The most wasted of all days is one without laughter."~E.E. Cummings

"American Idol" In OUR Future?

Just a reminder...don't forget to enter my giveaway here! It ends on Friday at noon! Good luck!

My good friend, Angie, over at 7 Clown Circus hosts "Wordful Wednesday" each week. It's always a lot of fun because you get to share a picture, any picture, and tell all about it. As you know, I'm never at a loss for words! So, please stop by Angie's blog and check it out! You'll be so glad you did!

Now, last summer we took a 7-night cruise aboard Freedom of the Seas, which I highly recommend! We had the best time! Well, the girls and I discovered that there were recording booths onboard! You could, actually, make music videos of yourself singing! You were able to pick the song and the background, then you'd step inside the booth and record your video. All you saw behind you was a "green screen", but there was a monitor in front of you with the lyrics to the song, as well as the background you'd chosen. You were superimposed on the screen, just like the real deal! It was so much fun and truly addictive! I bet we did it 30 or more times... sang with Bon Jovi, Rascal Flatts, N'Sync, Backstreet Boys, you name it! Yes, even a little "Sweet Home Alabama" with Lynard Skynard. We had dance moves that would put Justin Timberlake to shame...I REALLY mean that! LOL!

Well, this picture shows Brittany and Abby in the recording booth one evening after dinner. Abby was always pretty serious about it, but Brittany and I couldn't keep a straight face! I thought Brittany was going to tinkle on herself, she was laughing so hard! Look at Abby...she was watching herself on the monitor and hoping that Brittany would compose herself so that she could continue with her recording. Oh, she has visions of hitting it big in the music industry one day....so do I! :) Just one question...why is it that I always sound so phenomenal in the shower, but like a dying calf everywhere else? Must be the acoustics! LOL! Those were some good times!
“A bird doesn't sing because it has an answer, it sings because it has a song.”~Maya Angelou

All Good Things Must End...Pt. 4

I think I owe all of you an apology. You see, today, I don't have one solitary story of how I made a complete fool of myself on the slopes. No, those days are gone...for now, anyway! I'm so sorry to disappoint you! However, I do have lots of pictures to share with you on our final day in Vail and some of the surrounding towns. Hope you enjoy them, though I'm sure it won't be nearly as fun as reading about all of my "skiing antics". LOL!

On Wednesday morning, we decided to drive over to Avon, CO. for breakfast at Denny's. That was the best bargain we found during our entire stay and the food was so good! Once we finished, we drove over to Beaver Creek, which is another ski town with some fun shops. This is the view we had on our way.
When we got there, we did some walking around and browsing in all the shops. Abby, of course, couldn't resist striking a pose by this statue of an ice skater.
Here's a few pictures of the girls...and me!

This car was built completely out of Lego's! Neatest thing I've ever seen! The creator must have been a genius! Can you imagine the time and patience that must have taken?
After we left Beaver Creek, we headed south towards Frisco and Breckenridge. Check out this breathtaking view!
We're entering Frisco...it was the quaintest little town at the foothill of the mountains.
In Breckenridge, we found this building named after Abby. :) Bet you didn't know she was famous!
Once we got back to Vail, we decided to ride the gondola to the top of the mountain. See that mountain the girls are looking at? That's the one that Chris said was a green slope on our last day of skiing, but Abby and I decided to bail after suffering a few falls. I'm so glad we did...Brittany said it was pretty scary to ski down!
The view from the very top...it was SO windy and COLD!
Pictures of the girls taken at the same location...
Abby being her silly self in Vail Village...
Here's a couple of views we had when we left for the Denver airport bright and early on Thursday morning. Oh, the handiwork of God! I have probably said this a thousand times over, but this was truly one of our best trips ever! As we were going to the airport, I asked the girls what their favorite memory of the entire trip was. Brittany said, "It would have to be watching you fall down all those times, Mom...that was SO hilarious!" Abby said, "It was definitely when you fell down on the conveyor belt at Gopher Hill!" Hmm...I think there's a common theme going on...mom + falling=laughter. You know what, I think that's something they'll always remember and, for that, I'm very grateful! I hope they remember me as a mom who sought to have fun, no matter the cost!

For me, my favorite part of our trip was simply being together...I cherish those moments more and more all the time. Brittany made a comment that, next year, she wants to go to the beach with a bunch of her girlfriends. I recall feeling that same way when I was her age. However, I'm a mother now, and hearing that does make me sad because I know that all too soon, times like we just shared will be a thing of the past. So, for now, I choose to seize every opportunity I'm given to let loose and have fun with my girls. Making memories...to me, that's what matters! I'm holding on as tightly as I can!

"Life gives us brief moments with another...but, sometimes, in those brief moments, we get memories that last a lifetime."~Author unknown

What Goes Up Must Come DOWN...Pt.3

Well, after our first, and somewhat disastrous day of skiing, it would have been very easy for Abby and me to just toss in the towel and say, "No more!" But, we're not quitters...OH, NO! We take on a challenge full force and stare fear right in the face! So, even though we woke up on Tuesday morning battered and bruised (mainly our egos!), we both knew we had mountains to conquer!

After talking things over with Chris, I made the executive decision for Abby and I to head to the "newbie peak"...GOPHER HILL! Yes, you read that correctly...GOPHER HILL! We all made our way over on the shuttle bus. We got off with a renewed sense of determination. We popped our skis on and off we went to learn the sport, one baby step at a time!

Now, GOPHER HILL, I must confess, was overrun with about 20 little 3-4 year old kids who were, also, learning to ski. Precious, I know, but let me tell you that I was very intimidated by them! They were all skiing beautifully without any poles! I couldn't believe my eyes! Oh, was I going to have to show them a thing or two...never mind that I was the only adult around, other than the ski instructor. Abby and I hopped on the conveyor belt to take us to the top and, miracle of miracles, neither one of us fell...YET! You got it...as soon as I made the turn to head down the hill, I went SPLAT! Oh, it was an ugly fall...and so were the 4 or 5 times right after that! I really think those little kids were snickering at me, too! Abby fell down once or twice, but she's a kid, so it wasn't as noticeable.

Abby and I spent a good part of the morning going up and down GOPHER HILL, which happened to be directly under a ski lift, so everybody could watch. Lucky me! Abby and I were about to hop on the conveyor belt when a little girl fell down on it right in front of me. I made the comment to Abby that I was SO glad that hadn't happened to me. The poor thing had to crawl on her hands and knees to get off of it! Well, as I was getting ready to get on the conveyor belt, I was giving Abby a speech about how we needed to believe in ourselves and that I had full confidence that we'd get the hang of things. Onto the conveyor belt I stepped. I lost my balance and down I went on all fours! I had to scramble around and crawl off the moving belt on my hands and knees! Now, I know how that little girl must have felt! I turned around to look at Abby and she was laughing uncontrollably! She said, "Mom, that was the funniest thing EVER!" I'm so glad I can provide some great entertainment for my family! LOL!

Here's Abby going down GOPHER HILL...
And Brittany saying, "I really hope some cute snowboarding dudes don't see me on GOPHER HILL!" Oh, yeah, she was way too cool for that!

After practicing on our skills for awhile, we decided to head to the nearest lodge for lunch...BIG MISTAKE! Chris and I both had ham and cheese sandwiches, Brittany had a chicken salad sandwich, and Abby had plain chicken salad. Would you believe that cost us a whopping $45? We about fell over! The sandwiches weren't even edible...the bread was very hard and dried out. Big bummer!

Once we finished with lunch, Abby and I decided to go down GOPHER HILL a few more times. We were finally getting the knack of it! So, onto the ski lift we went and headed up to 11,000 ft. elevation!

We got stuck on the ski lift for about 20 mins. or so. Here's a picture Chris snapped of us as we were waiting to start moving, again. I'm on the left...the one whose skis are spread apart. Hey, I was trying to prepare myself for what lay ahead!


We, soon, reached the mountaintop and it was time to off-load. Well, I did scoot to the edge of my seat, but my feet went out from under me and KERPLUNK...down I went! The chair grazed my head! I caused a chain reaction and 3 PROFESSIONAL snowboarders behind me hit the ground, too! Yes, the ski lift had to be shut down, again, so that I could crawl my way to safety! I was so embarrassed! When I, finally, got on my feet, I looked around to find 5 grown men laughing hysterically at me! Yes, Chris was one of them! I just laughed along with them...what else could I do?

Here we are at the very top of the mountain...talk about a LONG way down! Abby and I were both afraid we were going to slide off the cliff!

Chris went over to look at the map of all the slopes and saw that a green slope was just off to the right from where we were standing. So, he and Brittany led the way...Abby and I followed. We stood at the top and looked down and it was pretty steep. However, I didn't want to let Chris down, so I mushed onward...against my better judgement. Abby was right behind me. We both fell down about 3 times. After the third fall, Abby and I looked at each other and decided that we didn't feel confident enough with our skiing abilities to venture further down the hill. So, I waved to Chris and told him to come up. He and Brittany took off their skis and walked up to meet us. Abby and I took our skis off and we walked back to the ski lift that we'd just gotten off. We explained to the operator what was going on and he said we could ride the lift back down. Those words were music to my ears...trust me! Abby and I hopped on and Chris and Brittany decided to ski down to the bottom to meet us. Chris called riding down on the ski lift the "RIDE OF SHAME". Oh, I understand why...Abby and I were the only "loser pants" on it going down...everyone was going UP! They all stared at us, too...some even pointed! LOL!

We got to a section of the lift where we had to off-load and ski to another one. You got it...down I went, AGAIN! Yes, they had to shut the ski lift down another time. See? I think I was beginning to get a reputation around town! :) However, when we made it to the bottom of the slopes and off-loaded...I didn't fall! Woo hoo! Abby looked at me and said with such seriousness, "Mom, I am so proud of you!", as if I'd accomplished some great feat! Well, now that I think about it, I did!

After we made it back and ate dinner, we all went for a walk in a neighborhood behind our hotel. Here's a little bungalow I'd love to call my own...up for sale for a measly $3 million! I guess that's how the "other half" lives! Here's the girls being their usual wacky selves... Chris and Brittany on the elevator. I think they were telling secrets about Abby and me being 'loser pants". STINKERS!So, that wraps up our second day of skiing. Our third day was spent mostly on sightseeing in some of the surrounding areas, which I'll be sharing about tomorrow. A couple of days of skiing was plenty for all of us...we were all feeling a little on the stiff side. Hope to see you back tomorrow! You can quit laughing now, by the way! LOL!

"If you are never scared, embarrassed or hurt, it means you never take chances."~Julia Soul

Contagious Laughter!

My friend, Jeannie, over at Jeannie's Little World is having a contest right now where she's asking participants to post their favorite photo. Well, as you already know, I have MANY favorites, but this one of my girls is at the top of my list. It was taken when Abby was about a year and a half old and Brittany was around 6. I was attempting to take a picture of them that I could use in our Christmas cards. Abby got so tickled...and the rest was history!

Have a good evening...see ya tomorrow! ♥

Counting My Blessings...

It's that time, once again, for Thankful Thursday, hosted by Rhondi at Rose Colored Glasses. What a perfect opportunity to reflect on all that I have to be thankful for! Please be sure to check out Rhondi's blog...you'll be so glad you did!

OK, I have to share a little secret with you. Shhh...don't tell anyone, alright? Are you ready? Brace yourselves...I AM NOT a perfect mom! Shocking, I know! Yep, I have times when I lack patience and I'm not the most understanding or sensitive mom on the face of the planet. Believe it or not, but...I even raise my voice, at times! Oh, it's true!

You see, I have a 17 year old daughter, Brittany, who is the apple of my eye, BUT, she suddenly thinks she's an adult! It happened the very moment she turned 17...I am not kidding! BOOM, just like that! I never even saw it coming! Now, she and I both can be quite head-strong on occasion, or "hard-headed", as my dad used to say! So, that greatly hampers our ability to see things clearly from the other's point-of-view. I'm simply a mom who tries hard to look out for her best interests, yet she sees me as someone who's being "over-protective". She's just a teenage girl who's trying to find her way in this world, but I still see her as needing my guidance...I hope and pray she always will!

Then, of course, there's my other daughter, Abby, who is 12 years old, a "tween", they call it....the apple of my eye, too! She has done a lot of growing up this past year. I've seen it in her, physically, and emotionally. She, for certain, is my BABY, my last child to raise. She's in that "middle of the road" stage where she wants to branch out more on her own, but she's not quite ready to venture too far away from the secure foundation of her family. Finding a balance between the two is no easy task!

All of these "growing up" issues make me a little loopy, particularly with Chris on the road like he's been. Sometimes, I deal with whatever comes my way with grace and I'm, oh, so proud of myself! Then, there are times when I don't fare as well in that department. So, on this "Thankful Thursday", I am thankful that I have two daughters who love me, regardless of the times when they think I've gone a bit coo-coo! I am thankful that I'm "big enough" to ask for their forgiveness when I've fallen short and I'm, especially, thankful that they forgive me! What a blessing that is! I am so thankful that I can admit that I'm not a perfect mom, knowing full well that no such person exists...and I accept that. I am thankful that God has given me the ability to forgive myself for those times when I've raised my voice or stormed off in a huff...He knows I'm not perfect, either, but His love for me is! I am thankful that I can get on my knees and ask God to guide me in my mothering...and He does! I'm incredibly thankful for my two girls who challenge me, encourage me, and make me want to be the best person and role model I can possibly be! I am thankful, beyond measure, to be a mother!

Here's a video I'd like to dedicate to Brittany and Abby; it's one of my favorite songs about mothers and daughters. I love them so much...always have, always will!!!



"A daughter is the happy memories of the past, the joyful moments of the present, and the hope and promise of the future." ~Author Unknown

Have a great Thursday! Be blessed!♥

How Do I Spell L-O-V-E?

Suzanne over at Coloradolady is hosting a photography meme each Wednesday for the month of February, so I thought I'd participate! Each person is supposed to post a photo(s) that tells a story and represents what they think about love.

Well, my girls definitely make me think of LOVE! This picture was taken on Mother's Day about 2 years ago when we took a trip to the north Georgia mountains for a picnic and some hiking. The girls planted a big kiss on me when we had stopped by a stream for lunch! I just LOVE this picture!
I LOVE the outdoors and spending time with my hubby! Here we are with some friends that we met through Chris' former employer. We took a company trip to Vail, CO. a few summers ago and we went on a bike tour down a very steep mountain! We were flying...and we weren't wearing helmets. Not smart, I know! Oh, to feel the breeze blowing in my hair was amazing! We stopped by the road to take this picture. I LOVE the mountains and the clean air...so refreshing!

I LOVE to see my girls having fun together and acting silly! I had them out in the backyard a year or so ago and attempted to take some nice photos of them. Of course, as you can see, they seized the moment to ham it up in front of the camera! Never a dull moment...but, I wouldn't have it any other way!
I LOVE music and my brother, Kevin, taught me how to really appreciate it...especially classic rock. Here he is doing one of the things that he loved best...playing the guitar. He never learned how to read music, but he taught himself to play simply by listening to a song and plucking out the chords until it all came together. He was diagnosed with cancer not long after this picture was taken. What I'd give to hear the sound of him playing his guitar just one more time!

I really must share with you the kind of night I had last night. The girls went to bed and I sat up watching TV and reading until about 10:15 PM. Well, just a few minutes after I turned off the lights, the electricity went out...our ceiling fan stopped, so that's how I knew. I got up and took a peek out our bedroom window and our entire neighborhood, as far as my eyes could see, was pitch black! It was extremely windy, so I'm sure that had something to do with it.

Well, as usual, when things go awry, Chris is out of town! So, I fumbled around in the bedroom trying to find my way to the door. Of course, Bella is hopping all over the floor thinking it's play time! I managed to find my way downstairs and open the basement door...I'm thinking that maybe, just maybe, it's only a blown fuse (I know...it was wishful thinking on my part!). Well, I tried to turn on the basement light and NOTHING! Nada, zip, zilch!!! By this time, my feet are freezing and I'm beginning to worry about keeping warm through the night with the dropping temps!

I make my way back up to the bedroom and I hear a very loud chirping noise. I knew immediately that it was our downstairs smoke detector. A couple of weeks ago, it started chirping in the middle of the night...drove me bonkers! Chris got up the next morning and had to reset it. It caused the alarm to sound and it was loud enough to wake the dead!

I, finally, ended up calling Chris on my cell phone in a frenzy telling him I was afraid the girls and I wouldn't survive the cold winter's night without electricity. The temp dropped down to 16 degrees...I am no pioneer woman! I like the conveniences of modern-day life. I must admit, the panic mode had set in, which I think he found to be pretty hilarious. I explained to him the predicament I was in and told him about the smoke detector. He said for me to go down to the basement and find his flashlight and ladder. So, I grabbed my cell phone and held it so that it lighted my way. I found the flashlight and ladder and made it back upstairs. I called Chris, again, so he could walk me through everything. I told him that I got up on the ladder and there were two buttons on the smoke detector...which should I push? He told me to try the button that wasn't the test button, first. I did...and it wasn't even a button, just a little light that wasn't illuminating. I got back on the phone with him and he instructed me to push the test button and to be prepared for it to sound. Up on the ladder, again, I went and nervously pushed the button. I thought my eardrums were going to explode with that high frequency noise...OUCH! Sure enough, it woke Abby and she leaned over the upstairs banister and asked what was going on. I gave her a quick rundown and told her to head back to bed that Mom had everything under control! Yeah, sure!

I went back upstairs and walked in the bedroom and the electricity came back on! Thank the Good Lord! I called Chris back to tell him I had "fixed" everything, then crawled back into bed...it was 11:15 PM. I fell back to sleep and at about 1:00 AM, the electricity went off, again! I lay there hoping and praying it would come back on so I didn't have to get up and go through all of that, again! Sure enough, a few minutes later, it was back on! Of course, I didn't sleep much the rest of the morning because I was afraid my alarm didn't get reset correctly and it wouldn't go off. However, at 5:15 AM, it did and I wanted so badly to roll over and go back to sleep...I'm so pooped! Looks like today, I'm going to have to find a few minutes for a little catnap to get caught up from all the sleep I lost. It was a very LONG night! Poor pitiful me! :)

Anyhow, I hope your Wednesday is AWESOME...do something YOU love today! ♥