Tuesday, June 30, 2009

MckLinky

There’s a great new “linky” service available and I wanted to let you know about it. It’s called MckLinky – www.mcklinky.com. After realizing the need for a new, reliable linky capability, Brent Riggs and MckMama got together to create a free, easy to use linky service for all their blog friends.
MckLinky is a free link list feature that allows you to do include lists of other blog links like MckMama does on Not Me! Monday. You can use MckLinky any time you want your blog readers to leave a list of links on your blog. It’s simple, reliable, free...and loads of MckFun!
Thanks for spreading the word, good "luck" and happy MckLinking!

So let's try it out!! I have a friend who is expecting a baby boy this fall. She and her husband are in search of the perfect baby name. Type up a post on your blog about your favorite boy name and link it here using MckLinky. I'll forward your best boy names on to my friend.

The Yankees Big Night

The Yankees
Coach Dave, Coach Eric, and Coach Rob
Jordan, Josh, Trevor, Mac, Connor, Sam, Lakeithio, Tanner, Tommy (can't see him but he is behind Tanner) and Kevin
(Missing Ben-on vacation)
The Yankees had a great season. They advanced to the finals of the Division II county wide tournament and got to play at WKU's softball field. Although the Yankees lost the game, they were received 5th place out of 36 teams(I think). Either way, they did an awesome job!!
Way to go YANKEES!!

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

"I just can't wait to do it again"

"I just can't wait to do it again!" These were Connor's words just before bed tonight when talking about his first swim meet this afternoon. This afternoon the Southland Sharks hosted the swim team from Portland, Tennessee. Having never been to a swim meet myself, we didn't have any idea what to expect.
After warming up, the event cards were passed out. Connor ended up with three individuals and 2 team relay events. I had thought he was only going to participate in a single event. Were we surprised!!

Connor competed in the second event of the meet along with three other boys his age in a relay. He swam the butterfly stroke to help his team win first place. During his second relay he swam the breast stroke and his group came in second. Before having to leave to go to the baseball game, Connor competed in an individual swimming the butterfly. He came in fourth. We left and went to his baseball game. We made it back in time for his last event, the individual free style. Connor swam with borrowed goggles as we were rushing to get back in time. He came in fourth. Not too bad for his very first swim meet.
Now as far as the baseball game goes....the Yankees won 21-7. We advance to the next game in the tournament and play again tomorrow night. GO YANKEES!!
What a night......




Saturday, June 20, 2009

Last week at swim team practice, Coach Powell was there to guide and teach the swimmers. Each day focused on a particular stroke with Friday's focus being on diving in and stopping at the end of the lane (at least for Connor's group). Connor continues to improve with each practice. The Southland Sharks first swim meet is this Tuesday, June 23 at 4:30. We're hoping that we won't have a conflict with the baseball tournament.

Coach Powell giving Connor some specific instructions.

Connor, on his mark.

GO!!
I thought I'd get a picture of Connor in motion. He is doing freestyle in this picture. He time seems to keep improving. He hasn't gotten an official time yet. That will happen at the meet on Tuesday.


Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Imitation

Hasn't it been said that imitation is the best kind of flattery? or something like that....

This afternoon we had a big thunderstorm come through the area. Didn't really need to be on the computer so I thought I'd use my time productively....I cleaned the kitchen. There is nothing I like better than to bake in a clean kitchen. So with it wet and gloomy outside, I decided to make a treat for after dinner. Here is where the imitation comes into play. Several of the blogging authors I like to read include pictures and recipes of some of the things they make. This is soooooo yummy, I thought I'd do the same thing. Here goes....

You just need a few simple ingredients:

2 packages 8 oz. cream cheese (softened of course)
1 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1 egg
2-3 cans of crescent rolls
pecans
You can tell by the photo that I use the off brand ingredients. They work just as well and cost less too.

Combine the cream cheese, sugar, vanilla, and egg yolk (save the egg white for later) with a mixer.

In baking dish or on a cookie sheet, layer a package of crescent rolls. Sometimes it takes a little more than a package to cover the bottom. Then spread the cream cheese mixture over the crescent rolls as pictured below.
Cover with remaining crescent rolls. Beat the remaining egg white and brush over the top. Sprinkle with pecans as pictured below.

Now bake at 350 degrees for 20-30 minutes. Cool and enjoy!!

I'm telling you, this is yummy in the tum, tum, tummy!!

Monday, June 15, 2009

Making a Difference

I believe it is important not only to teach my children about giving back to my community but to actually attempt to make a difference. When Connor was in the first grade his school hosted a blood drive and each student that brought in an adult to donate received a prize. That was my first time to donate blood. Today the American Red Cross hosted a blood drive here in town. My friend, Pam, and I headed on over. She went to get the swabs done to determine if she might be a blood marrow donor match for a little boy in her family. I went to donate blood because I have O postitive. Not sure if either of us will be matches for anyone but we tried. Wouldn't you want there to be a match for you child if they needed it?
Only my third time to make a donation to the American Red Cross.

Pam's first donation to the American Red Cross.


The American Red Cross is always in need of blood. Don't hesitate to take a few minutes and make a donation that could save someone's life. Donate today!! A few minutes of you time today, tomorrow or even the next day could make a real difference to someone else!!

Sunday, June 14, 2009

Determination Goes A Long Way

Keaton, the child with all the determination in the world. (We took the boys out to the park for a little while this afternoon after it rained. The sun had come out and made for a beautiful afternoon.)


Rob and Connor got some batting practice in at the batting cage while I took Keaton over to the playground. He played on the slide just a few minutes, completely ignored the Merry Go Round today and headed over to the pirate ship to play.

He got it in his head he was going to climb to the very tip top of the ship (not real sure what that part is called but on this particular ship I don't think you're supposed to be able to climb to the top or anything).

The beginning of his journey. I had already gotten him down more times than I cared to count and I kept telling him, "You're not supposed to walk on this part." Finally, I got tired and gave up but not Keaton.
He seems to have pretty good balance, doesn't he?


He wasn't discouraged when he tried it one way and then had to try another. He just kept on trying.
and trying.

Almost there.
Just a bit more.
Did it!!
A job well done!
The happy face of a child who has accomplished what they set out to do. If we could all be as blessed to reach our goals once we set them! Way to go Keaton!! (Thankfully he didn't fall and break anything.)

Summer Fun

I finally got a new camera. It was a happy anniversary present to myself I guess you could say. Anyway, I thought that since I had taken a few new picts of my own, I take a minute and let you know what we have been up to so far this summer.

Connor's baseball team, Coached by Rob, finished the season tied for 3rd place. We have now started the the double elimination county wide tournament. We advanced in the winner's bracket after the first game and will play again on Tuesday night at 7:30. The next game after that will be on Saturday, June 20 at 9:00. Hopefully the boys will continue playing well and/or continue to improve.

Swim team and just having fun in the pool have been way up there on our list of things to do this summer. Swim team practice is every day Monday-Friday at 9:00 until 10:00. The boys have made all practices except for one....it was really cold and rainy. It was a day that I had inservice so I let them and the babysitter off the hook. Anyway, they both arew doing well. Connor is learning new strokes and gaining speed. Keaton is learning the routine...down on one side of the lane and back on the other. He is also doing a great job waiting his turn and following directions. We really aren't really working with him with any strokes other than freestyle. Here are a few picts of the boys at the pool yesterday just having some good old fun.


Keaton loves to jump off the low board. He'll walk up to the high board and turn around and come right back down. That's just fine by me. I don't think I'm ready for him to take the big leap of the high dive just yet.

Connor will go off either board. This just happens to be a picture of him off the low board. He thinks I should have taken a picture of him off the high board. (I didn't want to keep my camera out too long. It's new and all. I didn't want to take a chance of it gettting wet.)


Here, Keaton is getting ready to go down the slide. He loves it!! The picture of Connor on the slide didn't turn out well. It was too blurry to share. I'll have to do better next time.


Friday, June 12, 2009

Our 11th Anniversary

Rob and I were married eleven years ago today. On Friday, June 12, 1998 we were married at Debbie and Billy Joe Williams house in Tompkinsville, Kentucky. Throughout the years we have experienced blessings as well as losses and faced it all together.
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Love does not consist of gazing at each other, but in looking together in the same direction. ~Antoine de Saint-Exupery
The goal in marriage is not to think alike, but to think together.
~Robert C.Dodds

Sunday, June 7, 2009

Three Column Blog

I just got finished playing around with the layout. I have been reading other blogs that used the three column layout and I wanted to try it. What do you think??
It took me a little more time but I think it was worth it. Let me know what you think about it.

Thursday, June 4, 2009

Blog Addicted

Recently, I have gotten hooked on reading other people's blogs. I love to read the blogs of friends and family but I have also started reading other blogs as well. It has become a habit of mine to check each day to see if any of my blogs have been updated. I have all my favorites posted in my side bar under Blogs I Like to Read.

I started reading http://www.mycharmingkids.net/ after one of my friends had added a Pray for Stellan link to their blog. I began reading about Stellan and his family. Stellan's mom, Makmama, is an entertaining writer and a wonderful photographer in addition to being a busy mother of four children, one of which has a heart condition.

http://babybolte.blogspot.com/ is a blog that I found today while reading the Twittering section of Makmama's blog. The Bolte family has experienced great loss and still has a great amount of faith in God.

One of my friend's who will remain nameless also enjoys reading blogs. http://flythroughmywindow.blogspot.com/ and http://71toes.blogspot.com/ are two blogs she reads and recommended I check out. Although I haven't gotten as hooked on them as I have on mycharmingkids.net, they are still interesting. Both have wonderful photography and cute kids. Darby at flythroughmywindow just recently posted a recipe that I can't wait to try out.

Check them out and let me know what you think!! Happy Blogging!!