Close to my heart...

With both kids in softball and baseball, the past few months have been crazy busy and I haven't been able to work on my digital pages like I had intended to. When I think about it, I really haven't taken the photos I had intended to take either. My original goal was to do at least a page a month on each of the kiddos (more if I could) because they grow up so fast. Bug just turned 8 and Zee is now 11 and pretty soon they'll be moving out....eeks!!! Yes, I know that it is a few years down the road, but if those years pass as fast as these last ones have, it will feel like tomorrow.

So after the hustle and bustle of the tournament this weekend for Zee, tonight I finally was able to sit down and put together a few pages. Mind you, it takes me forever to do one page, even in digital where it is so much easier, because it has to look just right or it's a no go. I think that they call that being anal...heh!

Anywho....I was able to complete three pages. Yay!! Have a looksie :)

The first one is from Bug's last game of this season. He has improved so much this year and just loves the game!!

The second and third ones I had so much fun making. They just make me smile. The story behind them was that the day I got my new Nikon camera I was taking a ton of photos. We were just finishing eating dinner that night and I was taking some candid shots of the kids. They started to make goofy faces so I took advantage of the situation and kept snapping. Zee started with it and then Bug is like, "Mom Mom Mom..take MY picture!!".... LOL! Hence the two goofy layouts that I am sure will bring smiles for many years.

Oh, and for the record, both kids said that they loved them (the layouts)!! We'll check back in about 10 years and see how they feel then! Ha! :)

And The Thunder Rolls...

Zee is in her third year of fastpitch softball and loves every minute of it. It's the one thing that she has really latched onto and she's incredibly good at it!! Last year her favourite position was catcher. The pitcher and her had an amazing connection and she was spot on 90% of the time. However, last year she really wanted to try pitching, but because so many girls already had the position, she didn't get the chance. This year, she has and loves it. She starts just about every game pitching and she gets better and better at it. If she's not pitching, she's at first base. Personally, I think she should strive towards first base because it's the position she is best at, but she has to find her niche and passion on her own. I feel she will have a tough time deciding between first and pitching. I am just so proud of her that no matter where she is put on the field, she does her absolute best to learn the position and to help her team in the game and she has fun, which is the most important part of the game!!

We have a local Pro Fastpitch team, The Rockford Thunder, that Zee just loves. She's constantly begging to go to the games. She even told me that one day maybe she could play for the Thunder! It makes me smile to know she is thinking that far ahead and that she has that much heart for the game. So when I saw that they were going to be hosting a clinic, I signed her up. She was so excited because a few of the girls from the team were actually doing the training. Megan Willis (catcher) and Chelsea Spencer (short stop) were the ones that Zee worked with most. Of course she got their autographs and she even got a picture with each of the girls.

Pictures: Zee and Chelsea then Zee and Megan

Terrible Ending

I went to see My Sisters Keeper today and was truly disappointed. The book was amazing and I know that they cannot possibly fit every thing that happens in a book into a movie, but I was speechless at the end. They completely changed the ending. I mean black vs white, night vs day. What happened in the movie did NOT happen in the book. I just don't understand why or how they can do that. I don't know how much involvement an author has over a movie that is based off of their book, but you would think they would have some say to make sure its true to the novel, and in this case, it didn't happen. If she did have some control over it, then shame on her. So many things were left out. Main charachter traits were not protrayed the same and some main charachters were left out completely. The movie was choppy and did not flow very well. That's just my opinion based off of reading the book. Take it for what it's worth.

I'm not saying the movie was horrible but I'm wishing that I hadn't wasted the money to see it. I should have waited until it came to DVD. I really should know better when it comes to books versus movies. I'm hoping Harry Potter will be the exception to the rule.

My daughter went with me to see the show and it was a nice time to spend together. I think part of the reason she wanted to come along was to tease me because she knew I would cry. She, amongst others I know, always pick on me because I cry at everything, especially sad movies. I told myself that I wasn't going to cry this time because I already knew what happened and what it was about so there would be no reason to, right? Gah! I tried really hard and still soaked three napkins with tears! I don't know how people do it. How they can watch a movie like that and not be affected, or if they are, how do they hide it? I wish I could be more like that. Keep more to myself. Be strong and not so vulnerable. I'm working on it, but it's not an easy task....At least I wasn't the only one in the theater who didn't leave with dry eyes!!

Slow Food

It's no surprise that I love turtles so when I happened upon this photo on Cute Overload I almost squealed!! Too cute! The photo originated HERE :)

Oh Oh Oh...this flicker user also had this photo too.. heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

Painted Faces

I could use somebody. There's just no one to notice....

Scrumptious

"I know my choices will be creative so long as I follow my heart." ~~Huey Lewis

One of my most favourite treats of summer is strawberry pie!! Of course you could make it during the winter or fall but it's just not the same, so I only tend to make it in the summertime. Today was such a day for a treat! No reason in particular. I just had a massive taste for it! :)

It is such an easy recipe so I thought I would share it here with you in case YOU had a taste for it too!!

Now depending on how in the mood for cooking I am, sometimes I will make my own crust, but today I just used a store bought frozen pie crust and followed the directions for baking the crust first. So you will have to choose what is easier for you.

While your crust is baking, combine 1 1/2 cups of water, 2 Tablespoons of cornstarch, and 3/4 cup of white sugar in a saucepan and heat on medium heat, stirring constantly. Mixture should come to a boil. Still stirring, boil for about two minutes. Your mixture should be nearly clear. Lower heat and add one 3 ounce box of strawberry jello mix and stir until completely dissolved. Turn off heat and set aside to cool. NOTE: The mixture should be a thick consistency.

While that is cooling, wash and de-stem your strawberries. I like a lot of strawberries so I used 2 - 1 pound containers. De-stemming probably isn't the technical term, but the way I remove the stem is to use a straw. Yep. A good ole straw. I hold the strawberry, stem side up, and push the straw from the bottom up until it pokes through the top. This Removes the stem easy peasy! :) After all your strawberries are de-stemmed, slice them. Again, I take the easy way out and use an egg slicer to slice my berries...hee hee. Super quick and the slices are even! Oh, and it keeps the knives out of my hands, because that can be dangerous sometimes!

Making sure your crust is cool and your jello mixture is cool, place your strawberries in the bottom of your crust. Again, me loving strawberries, I pack them in and have a nice rounded top when I'm done. Once placed, take your mixutre and pour over the strawberries. Use it all if you can.

Refrigerate for at least an hour and serve with Cool Whip! (If you're like me, you may want to buy two tubs of Cool Whip as one may not last until the pie is ready..hee hee!!)

Viola! Mmmmmm.....Enjoy!

















P.S. Happy Birthday Huey Lewis!! :)

Independence

Today means different things for different people. For some it's an excuse to party or to get an extra day off of work. It's a chance to stock up on fireworks, get together with friends and act like foolish kids again. Of course, all of this is fun and part of the holiday but hopefully in the midst of all the fun, we stop to realize what today really means for us. The day that we adopted the Declaration of Independence. Freedom that did not come easily. Freedom that we still have because of the men and women who have fought to earn our freedom. Never forget that we still have to fight for our freedom, that it will never be handed to us on a silver platter because anything worth having, is worth fighting for.

I always think of Martina McBride's song, Independence Day this time of year. I know that it is not necessarily about our country's freedom, but it just goes to show you that no matter what kind of independence you are looking for, it comes at a price.

New Divide

Ever since it's release I've been addicted to Linkin Park's new song, New Divide, that was written for Transformers : Revenge Of The Fallen. At the time there wasn't a video and apparently I missed the release of it in early June. Hmmpf! I happened across it as I was on Blip and pulled up New Divide to listen to and saw that there was a video for it. Yay!

If you like Linkin Park, have a look. It's a unique piece of work with a bit of the movie reflected in it too.



Oh, by the way, the movie is really good too!! No, I didn't cry. Ok. That's a lie. :)