Happy National Ice Cream Day

Happy National Ice Cream Day

Several years a go President Reagan declared that July 18th to be National Ice Cream Day.  Several chains (i.e Starbucks, Mayfield's) offer cents-off coupons.  Baskin-Robbins is retiring five flavors this year to make room for some new flavors.  I can't believe that one flavor they are retiring is French Vanilla!!  That is ridiculous -- it has been around since 1945 and was one of the first flavors launched by Irv Robbins and Burt Baskin.  Oh well, we'll have to wait and see what they come up with to replace it.  :-(

Hope you have a wonderful day and enjoy your ice cream!!

Until next time..... Lorie

{Info from USA Today}

Caught in the Rain

One day last week on our walk, we were just on our way home (about 1/2 mile from the house) and it started to rain.  We took shelter under one of "nature's umbrellas" - because I forgot to bring one of our own - a big beautiful tree.  This seemed to keep us mostly dry for about 10 minutes until it really started coming down and we started getting soaked.  We finally gave in and started walking home, here is the result:

They don't look very happy, do they?

Of course, now I'm getting the look, "Stop with the photos, mommy, and get me a towel!"

I, of course, had to share what I looked like - my poor hair!! 

(Note where I cropped the photo: wet top + air conditioner = NO blog exposure!! TeeHee)

Here are the babies getting dried off, they really like to be cuddled in their towels.  If you'll notice, Mia has a pink towel and Nano has a blue towel... I'm nothing if not coordinated.  I love the look on Nano's face as he is looking at Bill, right after I took the photo, Nano gave Bill a big kiss.

About 10 minutes after we got home, it stopped raining... figures!

Until next time..... Lorie

Nano and Mia Make a New Friend

On our walk the other day, we ran into a little creature that the babies had never seen before... a snail.

I've actually never seen a snail this close up outside it's shell, it is kind-of cute.

Until next time..... Lorie

An Update from Afghanistan with Photos

I got a message from Nikolaus on Facebook the other day thanking me for some care packages I sent him along with some photos of him and his buddies in Afghanistan, so I wanted to share them with you all.

This first one is of him and his unit, they are doing pretty well after losing one of their guys, but all the support they receive from home - along with all of you - has kept them strong.  So from them and from me, thank you so much for all your prayers and words of encouragement.

These next two photos I am SO proud of... Nikolaus has been promoted from PFC (Private First Class) to SPC (Specialist) while he has been over there.  WooHoo!!  He is really a great soldier and Bill and I couldn't be more proud of him!  Here he is receiving his promotion from his superior officer.

These next few are of him doing what he is specializing in... mortar combat - in other words, blowing things up, yeah, that's my boy!!  Look at those muscles, when did my little baby become a man?  The first thing I asked him was why he wasn't wearing a helmet doing such a dangerous job - always a mommy, huh?

It is a really LOUD explosion...

...and, it makes a really bright flash.

Here he is on patrol in full gear - good boy, wearing his helmet.

Afghanistan looks like such a sad, dry country to me. He said the dust gets everywhere!!

Thank you again for all your support of me, him and all of the troops stationed in Afghanistan and all over the world protecting our freedoms.  God bless America.

Until next time..... Lorie

Cartoon of the Day - I am Already SO Sick of Political Ads!!

Can you believe we have until November before the these ads will be over??  Thank goodness for my DVR!!

Until next time..... Lorie

Our Week in Random Photos

I thought I'd share with you what we've been up to lately through some random photographs that I've taken.

These are my favorite sandals that I wear every day...

Can you tell????

{Please ignore the desperately in need of a pedicure toes!}

This butterfly we ran into during one of our walks... I have never seen one like it before, nor have I seen one since. I love the green color and the fuzzy white face.

Here is another one of my grasshopper friends, he posed for me looking straight at me. I didn't use my zoom for this one, just the regular lens... I was this close to him - amazing.

My son Alexander's girlfriend Rachel and his roommate Tom came down to Florida with Rachel's best friend Devon (who works seasonally for Disney World) for a visit and Bill & I were able to have lunch with them.  It was really great to see them, I only wish Alexander were able to come down, too, but he couldn't get the time off from work.  Alex hopes to get some time off during the fall or around my birthday.  It might even be possible to have BOTH boys down here at the same time if Nikolaus gets home from Afghanistan around October like he is supposed to. Yippee!!!

Tom & Rachel

Bill, me & Rachel

We saw this man and his daughter fishing in downtown Celebration at the lake and they caught quite a few little fish with the bread they were using for bait.  She was using this adorable little pink fishing pole and got so excited every time she caught something.  We stood there and watched them for about 20 minutes.

This is the fountain we have in downtown Celebration... the children LOVE to play in it, you can always hear my favorite sound in the whole world around here: the sound of children's laughter.  Nano was exploring and got caught by one of the sprays... poor little guy.

Just another one of our critters we met on our walk.  Of course this was right before Lady Mia ran after him and he flew away.  Mia is getting a little annoyed with the birds and ducks because they can swim and fly and she can't.  :-)

Nano and Lady Mia making a new friend... they just went up to this butterfly who sat their as they sniffed him.  They were so gentle with it I was totally amazed.  Then it just flew away and they watched it go.  I am always in awe at how they react with different kinds of animals, how did they know to be so gentle with this beautiful creature?

We ran out of peanuts on this morning and this little guy was asking us for one and didn't quite understand why he couldn't have one when I was explaining to him that he had to wait until the next day.  Isn't he just the cutest little guy?  (Sorry for the fuzzy pic - he was moving towards me.)

Just wanted to include one of me and Bill during one of our walks - this is with our new iPhone4... it has the coolest feature, in that you can take self-portraits because there is a front & back camera. LOVE it!  The front and back camera is also used for "FaceTime" phone calls, which I'm sure most of you have seen a commercial for... which, BTW, always makes me cry.  It is like a Dick Trace watch phone call where you can see the person on video that you are talking to.  We had our first FaceTime call with my step-son, DIL and grandson the other day and it was FANTASTIC!!  I hadn't seen my grandson in 2 1/2 years so it was SO good to see him.  He showed me all his new toys and even sang me a song, I was such a happy grandmother!!

This last one is my favorite photo of the week... With the heat that we have been having, I have given my little babies a couple of cool baths after their walks to cool them down and they really love them.  They looked so cute when they were done, I just had to take their picture.  Here are my little drowned babies after their bath...  Aren't they so cute???? I have even made it my wallpaper on my laptop and my iPhone4.

Well, I hope you all had a fabulous week and are managing to stay cool in this heat - be careful all of you up in New England during this heat wave.  Drink plenty of water and stay cool.  HUGS!!!

Until next time..... Lorie

Mommy and Me Monday

It’s time again for Mommy and Me Monday sponsored by Krystyn at Really, Are You Serious?  Pop out from behind that camera and capture yourself in action with your kids. Check out the inaugural Mommy and Me Monday for more information.

Here is my submission for this week... me and my babies at a function in downtown Celebration.  They just love going downtown to see all the people and eat all the wonderful food.  Plus when they get tired of walking, they get to ride on mommy's lap and look around at all the excitement.

Don't forget to head on over to Krystyn's blog and add your post to her link and visit the other participants.  Have a wonderful week.

Until next time..... Lorie

Happy 4th of July

From our family to yours... Have a wonderful Independence Day!  Have fun, be safe and please remember those men and women who have fought and are still fighting so that we have our freedom.

God Bless America!!

Until next time..... Lorie    

Memory Rewind - Baby Nano

Link up your Memory Rewind on Maria's Space and bring out those pictures from a couple of years ago and journal about them.

This is Nano Bytes Shewbridge just a few days after we got him in June 2008... he was SO tiny and his hair was so short.  He was so afraid of everything, but loved to be held and cuddled, something he STILL loves to do. 

Now you all know why we have spoiled him as much as we have, how could YOU have said no o anything as adorable as this.....

Until next time..... Lorie

The Grasshoppers of Celebration, FL

On our walks with the dogs throughout Celebration, I have recently discovered these absolutely beautiful grasshoppers and have started photographing them.  They have the most brilliant colors in their wings that are really visible when they jump.  After doing some research, I have learned that they live high in the trees because they have incredible vision, being able to see for miles, and this allows them to see fellow grasshoppers and to be seen.

The brilliant color of their wings are so that when they jump the flash will been seen by other grasshoppers... it is such an amazing shade of red that I was in awe!  I hope you have enjoyed these photos and my little Entomology lesson.  :-)

Until next time..... Lorie