the simple woman's daybook for may 31st

Alright, guys, you know the drill! Another Monday means another Simple Woman's Daybook, so head on over to Peggy's to read up on all the rules and regulations, then come back and type up your own post, link up and...volia! You've just particapted in the blog carnival that is known as The Simple Woman's Daybook. I don't care if spell check thinks that "Daybook" isn't really a word; I'm still going with it.

For today...May 31st, 2010. Happy Memorial Day, ya'll!
Outside my window...A storm is brewing, so it's pretty dark and overcast here. Now that I think about it, rain almost always seems to be a threat whenever I write a Simple Woman's Daybook. Interesting, don't you think?
I am thinking...About today's events. Dad and Clark getting back from a family reunion in the mountains, which Mama and I opted out of going to, a cookout at the grandparents house, and a little shopping for some clothes with Mama. Ahhh, today was a good day. 
I am thankful for...One on one time with Mama, like we had today. Actually, most of the weekend, really. I love when it's just me and her riding in the car and talking about, um, things that we'd never even dream of talking about when Clark is with us. This afternoon was no exception!
From the learning rooms...Today's a holiday, so no math for me! I really need to get the ball rolling, though, because my goal of finishing up the book by my b-day isn't really possible, unless I do three lessons of math a day. Um, no thank you.
From the kitchen...Leftover chicken from the cookout was on the menu for Dad and Clark. Mama and I stuffed ourselves with a early dinner, so we didn't eat with the guys. Cookout food is good once in a while, but I don't really want to look at potato salad any time soon.
I am wearing...A white tank top with some workout shorts. You know, standard bed time clothes! 
I am creating...The answer to this question hasn't changed since last week, really. I feel bad about it, but not motivated to make anything. Sad, I know. 
I am going...To go spend some time with the family. We haven't really been together any this weekend, so I was torn between blogging and watching TV with them. :)
I am reading...Sam gave me a new book today, so I'm itching to start it soon, but since Mama made such an effort to get me a book from the library's book sale, I wanted to finish the book she got me before I started Sam's book. 
I am hoping...To hear rain on the roof as I go to sleep. Dad just walked all around the house saying that storm we were supposed to get has fallen apart. We really need the rain, so that was bad news.
I am hearing...The hum of the computer and the TV going on and on about something. Also, a car going by playing loud music is breaking the silence. A drawback to living in the country: people can play their music just as loud as they want, which makes for some pretty interesting summer nights when all the windows in the house are open.
Around the house...Everyone else is in the family room, and as soon as I finish this blog post, I'm joining them! Family time, ya'll.
One of my favorite things...I kinda answered that one in the "I am thankful for..." question. Really, it is one of my favorite things, along with family time. 
A few plans for the rest of the week...Mama and Dad are having to make up for not working today, so while we're at work, Clark and I will be here at the house, doing chores and school most likely. Sounds fun, doesn't it? 
A picture for thought I am sharing...I didn't take any pics today, partly because it was really cloudy and windy, so I'll leave you with some more American flags pics, okay?

happy memorial day!!

Just hopped on for a quick post while Mama's at work, since she's really not too happy about me getting on the computer in the morning. I tried to tell her that I hadn't gotten on Blogger yesterday, but to no avail. This no blogging on Sunday has some serious withdrawal symptoms; I dreamt about my blogging friends all night last night. Yes, I've got it bad...
Speaking of things that are serious, this post was meant to thank everyone who has served and/or is serving our country today. The fallen heroes deserve some love too, so here's to you guys (and girls!) who risked your life to help a America be the country it is today. Thank you, thank you, thank you...for all that you've done, along with the sacrifices that your family had to make as well!

(all of these pics were taken last 4th of July, when Emily and I took pictures of anything and everything we saw. that was back when she had a new camera, plus a blog, while i just had the old version of her camera. not much has changed...except i have a blog now! :) how could i forget about that?)

how could i forget this???

nichols/lyons first time in pool from Sarah-Anne Lyons on Vimeo.
Really, I'm not sure how I forget to post this along with the post about our afternoon with Em and Andrew! Do me a favor and stop watching after you don't see anybody in the video. We didn't have a place to set up our camera so we could see the whole pool, plus we kinda forgot that it was still recording. Oops. Also, I'm pretty sure you don't want to hear the lecture the boys received from Mama and Dad about having sharp things that could damage the liner of the pool, which would mean no more pool. Phew! How's that for a explanation?

lowe's

Last Saturday, after the yard sale we were in (along with a couple other families.), the whole family headed out to Lowe's in search of some gardening things to spend all the money we made that morning on. Yes, all of it was spent at one store. Don't you get a lecture about not spending the money all in one place when you receive a large sum of money? Apparently that doesn't apply to grown-ups. In Mama's defense, she did spend about two dollars of it on a Java Chiller. Our family has a problem with frozen drinks, you know. And to think that Mama and I don't really like ice cream. Hello, irony!
So...back to Lowe's. When boredom strikes, whip out your camera and start taking pictures! That's my new motto. And, no, I don't have a patent pending on that little phrase, so feel free to use it. You're welcome. :)
Even thought it's blurry, these guys are pretty interesting, no? No idea what they are, though. Thoughts?

I'm not even going to say what this one reminded me of, but I'm sure you can figure it out. Hint: I love all things medical. That's all I'm going to say...for fear that I might lose followers.

I've seen these before! I really truly can't remember the name, though. On second thought, I don't think anyone told me what their name was.

The red, er, purple sea...of flowers. Sorry, couldn't resist! (A million bonus points to the person who knows what I'm talking about.)

Lovely metal background? Check.

Color, indeed, Mr. Lowe's flower description tag!

Oops, didn't realize that my camera strip was in there! Looks like a snake.

It's hard to tell what color this little guy is. Red or orange? My vote is orange.

And, FYI, I risked being kicked out of the gardening department for you guys. Let's just say that a mean looking lady who had on one of those "vendor" vest, which are very official looking, happened to appear out of nowhere as soon as I pulled out my camera. Oh, the things I do to get a picture! :)

fix it friday

Yay! I'm finally getting to post a Fix it Friday on the same week it's supposed to be done. Actually, I have to confess that I toyed around with the idea of not doing it this week, for the sole reason that I had some other idea for posts that were also "blog-about-this-thing-this-day" type thing. Why, oh why does very thing have to be on the same day? Why can't it be on a Tuesday or something? Oh well, "Fix It Tuesday" doesn't quite have the same ring to it, I guess...
Before I go off on a rabbit trail, which I do quite often, I'd better direct you to this week's photo that's in need of some help! I'm pretty pleased with my edit, although I have no idea what in the world I did to make it so pretty.
This week's edit (original photo):
They are too cute, don't you think? I can't get over their candid faces! I measure a photographer's success in the candid shots they take, actually.

My edit:
I know I messed around with everything option I had, like exposure, brightness, saturation and all of that. And  I wish I knew how I turned the background that awesome blue color, but, of course, I don't. The good thing about having photoshop? You can save the way you made certain pictures look and then, with a click of a button, apply it to any photo you upload. Sigh...It must be really nice to have that feature, especially for a forgetful person like me.

I'm working on some other posts, scheduled for this weekend, so be sure to check back later tonight and tomorrow afternoon. But, as you know, no posts on Sunday. :)

an afternoon with friends

Warning: picture overload. like, picture overload as in more pictures than the beach posts. Which, by the way, is still sitting in my draft folder. I'm a bad blogger when it comes to doing posts like that. I'm good at the fluff kind of stuff, but I can't seem to get the hang of telling you guys what I did a couple days back. Interesting! Switching subjects to the real thing that this post's about...
This afternoon, we finally got together to see the Nichols, and we just about had to refrain from going outside and screaming, we were so excited. It seemed like a long time since we were all together, and what better excuse to use to get them over to our house than that the pool was ready for swimming?
They were the first guests we had over to swim, and I think they've been the first ones for a couple years now. Not that Sam wasn't here first, but they were the first people to actually get in the water. Sam only dipped her toes in. :)
(FYI, some of these pictures are from Em's camera, and some are from mine. See if you can spot which ones are from whom.)
The pool is so pretty when it's still like this...

Such a candid shot. I think he was talking to Em, who was right beside me.

Look at those muscles, Em! You been working out or something? Hahaha, couldn't resist.

I think that's one of the best jump shots I've ever done. I love how the boys are just playing with the toys, not even caring that I'm going to spray them in the face with water in roughly half a second!

I really should have turned around like I did before for this one. Clark and I call this jump the starfish. Yes, we make up names for our jumps.

Clark does some of the best cannonballs...next to Dad, of course. :)

After we swam for a little while, we went back inside to get a snack, upload a video, and play the Wii. When the boys were cooled off, we headed back outside to take some more jumping shots. It took a lot of begging to get the boys to cooperate, but they did. Thanks guys!
He looks like a little man. A very tan little man.

Brother/sister love. Everyone together now...Awww!

He really wanted me to take this picture of him, so I did. I didn't know Dad was in the bottom right corner, though.

On to the jump shots! It was pretty hard when it was Em and I's turn. I think she was taking picture on both mine and her camera, and that takes mad photo-taking skills!
Such enthusiasm, Clark!

Her cheerleading pose cracks my up...in a good way.

Love her face in this one...

Andrew wasn't a fan of taking pictures, but his were too funny not to put on the blog. He reminds me of a eagle or something.

I realized that my cover-up was caught in the wind mid-air, so I promptly pulled it down. You never know who might see you out there. 

Remember I said that I had the best jump shot ever earlier? Well, this one doesn't hold a candle to that one! If my hair wasn't going every which way, I'd put it up as my profile picture, which needs to be updated, by the way.

Thanks for the great afternoon, you guys! Many, many memories were made today...

almost wordless wednesday: besties, take two!

An afternoon of fun in the sun with our friends...Ahhh, it's the life, really.

(photo courtesy of Emily. i was the mean friend who wasn't satisfied with her own pictures so i stole, er, asked nicely to borrow her memory card and upload her photos.)

More pics coming soon...like, when I upload them later tonight. :)

worship music wednesday

I'm still in a blogging funk of sorts, and I'm still in that WMW rut, which isn't helping my creative juices flow. At all. So, needless to say, I'm still on the search for a song that really speaks to me, but for now, here's a song that was one of my faves. Not to say that it isn't anymore, but it was moved down from my top five...

(Ignore the cheesiness of the video, please. I'm guessing that the person who did this was amateur, but I'm sure that I couldn't have done any better.)

The Lord your God is with you

Hes is mighty to save

He will take great delight in you

He will quiet you with His love

He will rejoice over you with singing

He will rejoice over you with His song

He will rejoice over you with singing

He will rejoice over you with His song

And through the night (in your darkest hour)

When you are tired (and you've lost all hope)

He will hold you tight

He will rejoice over you with singing

He will rejoice over you with His song  

And, just in case you've never heard of the verse that this song is based off of, here it is...

"The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with his love, He will rejoice over you with singing."

Zephaniah 3:17 (NIV)

Side note: As soon as I opened my Bible to look up the verse, I felt peace come over me. All I can say is...nothing. :) For once in a long time, I'm speechless...

frosty (NOT the snowman!)

(This post was scheduled, but I just wanted to let you know that I'm still in a blogging funk.)

Yesterday we went to Wendy's for lunch, seeing as we had zero options for food in the house. The Wendy's we went to was pretty sweet, since it was built about a year ago. What would make it even sweeter? A frosty. Apparentely, Mama went into labor with me while eating a frosty, so I'm assuming that's the reason I wanted a frosty last winter...when it was 32 degrees outside. 

Clark and I split a small, which we don't usually get, but we didn't have enough to get each of us one. Germ alert, germ alert. I consoled myself with the fact that we're family and we can't possibly have any germs that the other one doesn't have. Yeah...

Clark likes to smooth his frosty out with the side of his spoon. I promptly told him to stop. 

So sorry about the blurriness!

Why do I embarrass myself? It wouldn't be that bad if I wasn't doing something with my mouth/tongue.

Creamy goodness in a Wendy's cup...

Clark decided that it would be fun to pretend to flick a spoonful of frosty on my head. Mama and I giggled like little girls the whole time I was taking the pictures.

Oh, and dude in the background, you are now famous. You know, since you are in a picture that I uploaded to my blog and all that good stuff.