It's just a little chalk.....

So...this is what Halle and Isaac did while we were camping...Hal's hand is in motion here...and it was so fun to color all over herself!  Isaac was doing the very same thing, but...you know it just didn't show up as much on him...HEHE!

Sad...so sad & mind boggling....

So the other day...well, actually, I think it was more like a month or so ago...I was eating lunch in our miniscule lunch room at work. I usually eat lunch at the same time and so, the same gals usually join me. I love to read....I so love to read...and I don't get much time to do that anymore with the little brown girl at home. So, I take my book with me to work, but...it's hard to really get "into" a book while others are with you...and I think it's kind rude sometimes too, especially since we sit at ONE table in our miniscule little room. Anyhoo...so, this day I was casually flipping through a Good Housekeeping magazine that someone had left there. I notice that Michelle Obama is on the cover...not my favorite lady, so...I press on. Did I mention, this is the "Collector's Edition" 125th Anniversary Issue?? OH MY! When I got to thinking about that it was quite impressive that this magazine has been around for that long. The cover of the magazine also boasts this, "125 Women who changed our lives". Hmmm....got me interested. I flip through and find the article....I see pictures of important and not so important ones (at least to me). Here is what Good Housekeeping had to say:

Some made music, some made noise, all made a difference. We celebrate 125 women who during the past 125 years, broke records, broke ground, blazed trails, and suffered trials, shattering ceilings of glass and even tougher stuff. While some are obvious choices and some obscure, all acted to increase our liberty, safety, and prosperity. One of them makes the best lemon meringue pie ever. We honor these matron saints whose work continues to bring pleasure, save lives and widen the scope of little girls' dreams.

-The Editors

I'm sure I now have all of you on pins and needles...right? Because I don't want to name all of 125...here's the top five....

• 1. Oprah Winfrey -- Queen of all Media
• 2. Hillary Rodham Clinton -- Secretary of State, Former First Lady, Former US Senator
• 3. Mother Teresa -- Missionaries of Charity Founder
• 4. Rosa Parks -- Civil Rights Activist
• 5. Eleanor Roosevelt -- First Lady, US Delegate to the UN, Human Rights Activist

I was disturbed and saddened...that Oprah & Hillary Rodham Clinton made the list before Rosa Parks. They considered Oprah a "Matron Saint"....WOW! Guess who number six was?? That's right...Michelle Obama...followed by Amelia Earhart as number seven. Do I want my daughter, who is a little girl with BIG dreams, to look up to most of these women?? Ummm....that would be a big, fat NO! I know I run the risk of offending some of you....and, I'm sorry, but...how about some other women instead? Like Mary, the Mother of Jesus....yes, Rosa Parks, maybe Mother Teresa...but, other's cross my mind. Like my friend Kristi who owns an eye clinic with her husband (both are eye doctor's) and loves Jesus with all her heart, or my friend Jessica who is an amazing Mama to four ALMOST five kiddo's....Halle's Great Grandma Rose who raised four children on her own after her husband died...and she took care of the farm AND worked! Now, Good Housekeeping...don't you think this would be a better choice? I do....It is up to ME and Halle's Daddy to instill dreams in our daughter. BUT, more importantly, to reassure her that with Jesus...all her dreams are possible! She may have hard times, but...following HIM is so much better than all these women have "achieved"!

Product Review

Just a few things here....sorry, no pictures of Hal this time. This post is devoted to me and some of my favorite products right now. The first is Bare Escentuals Bronzer...it gives me just the extra *warmth* I need during the summer months. Probably any bronzer would do..I got this from my Mom for free...so, it works well for me! The second is Clairol Nice & Easy Root Touch-Up. Let's face it...I'm not getting any younger and neither, unfortunately, is my hair! I find more gray all the time. Frankly, I simply CAN NOT afford to get my hair colored more than every 3 months. This product has really helped me STRETCH my time...and I feel so much better about my hair without the HUGE gray grow out line in my part. Check it out at your local Target, Walmart, Fred Meyer or any other store that carries hair color. My shade is: Light Auburn, Light Reddish Brown. Lastly, Hempz "Touch of Summer" daily mosturizer...in Medium Skin Tones. This is a daily mosturizer with sunless tanner in it. AND...can I just tell you? I love it...it doesn't stink and I don't have that silly orange glow that usually comes with sunless tanner. My sister-in-law, who owns a hair salon & spray tanning joint gave it to me and I'm so glad she did!! That's it for today...tomorrow we're off to Orgeon for camping with our dear friends....AND...I don't have to go back to work until July 22! Can you tell I'm a *little* bit excited??

With Jessie.....

This is Halle and her cousin Jessie...Pam, Jessie's Mom is my first cousin. We are so blessed to have this family in our lives! This summer Jess is watching Hal on Tuesdays or any other day that works for her. She needs some extra cash and Halle LOVES her...not to mention she loves Jess' friend Pete! Pete and his family also have adopted children.....today they ALL went to the beach and had some fun.....Excuse Hal only in her diaper...she peed through her swim diaper and bathing suit before they left the house...silly girl!!

***These are a few of my favorites from today...Jess, I stole them off your FB page...I knew you wouldn't mind***

Sweet Summer

It's Summer!! HOORRAYYY....I'm not much for hot weather...I'm sure some of you are booing while reading this. I just don't dig the super hot weather, UNLESS....I'm near a body of water or sprinkler of some sort. That's why I live where I do! This week has been sooooo warm...and I'm trying to do fun things with Hal. SO....today we picked up Kiana, ran a few errands and made it home in time for lunch & a nap. While the little brown girl napped Kiana and made a tutu...she's showing it off in the picture below. We watched a movie, ate popcorn and chatted...it was PERFECT! When Hal woke up we headed outside for some splashpad fun! Both girls were drinking out of the sprinkler at one point and we all had a good time...UNTIL...I went inside to get something and my sweet little girl pulled the screen door shut (it was open)...Mommy crashed right into it. OH MY! Aaron thought Halle would be the one to do that...well, nope....it was ME! Shoot.