DIY Amy-style

Soooooo....my mom wanted to do a little updating around the house this summer. We decided to start in the bathroom. These are some before and not-quite-all-the-way after pictures. We still have a few things to do, but I wanted to put these pictures up...

When we started the walls were a cream color. We painted them a honey-dew melon color. The cabinets were builders-grade oak.

Primed the cabinets

 Painted the cabinets Woodrow Wilson Presidential White

Changed the light fixture to something, ummmm, well, beautiful.

It used to be brass vanity style.

We are still going to work on the mirror and put some knobs on the cabinets. Now for some new flooring...just kidding Dad. We can wait...awhile.

Stay tuned

Happy St. James Day

I was so excited about today because I have three Jameses.

Scott James

Zachary James 

Daniel James.

I really wanted to get a picture of them all together, but Scott had to work late.

We had Nacho stuffed shells for dinner and ice cream with blueberries, raspberries and chocolate shells for dessert.

You can go here to find out why St. James is represented by the scallop shell.

I'm not being lazy, it's just a rather lengthy explaination, but very interesting.

Love all my Jameses.

St James the Greater, pray for us!

Super Awesome Catholic Family camp....Tennessee style

We just couldn't call this Super Awesome Catholic Family Camp II...it just didn't seem fair to our Washington contingent. It was more like a continuation.

We stayed at a KOA campground just outside Smoky Mountain Nat'l Park. It was lots of fun. The families were all part of our Lenten Bible study group. There was lots of fishing, games and food (of course) and as a special bonus, we got to attend mass at St Francis, where Fr. Shelton is pastor. Bonus!

I didn't get as many pictures as I'd hoped, but I did want to remember our fun time. By the way, this was waaaaaaaaay back in the middle of May. (during computer sickness;)

Goin' fishin'

Maggie's first fish

My friend Caprice and me

 The best we could get of the kids. Davises, Parsons, and Richardsons

On the way home. Guess who didn't sleep during the campout...

Looking forward to SACFCts II

CYO beach trip

I really wanted to title this "Best Week Ever", but I thought it might insult those in my family who were not privileged enough to go along with us.

Ummm... IT. Was. Awesome. I really could this whole post there, but I won't. I'll let you see a few pictures from paradise, Myrtle Beach, SC.

Ok, This is the house where we stayed. It was called "A Piece of Heaven". Say no more.

Mrs. Youth Minister having coffee on the balcony (we only got to do this EVERY MORNING).

My sissy and me drinking coffee.

Mrs. Beautiful and me getting ready to go out on the boardwalk for shopping, dinner, and fireworks. (This plus the beach was almost too much for me to handle)

Oh yeah, we did bring some kids along with us. See? There they are swimming out in the ocean (I think those are our kids. Just kidding, they really are our kids. We watched them like hawks when there were in the water)

Loved the house. This was the living room

Dining room

 Kitchen. Yeah, I know, roughing it.

 Pool in the back. Private

 Rachel and Amandarae

Bedroom where Beth and I slept. Yes, that door goes to to balcony looking at the beach.

Fun on the beach

 Amandarae, Rachel, and Amy. The Three Cuties.

 Making rosaries for the troops.

 Mrs. Beautiful with her bambino.

 The whole gang

The Misses Cuties

Amandarae, Rachel, Ellen, Angela, Amy

 Too Cool

My cutie and me.

My toes in the water. So I wouldn't forget it really happened.

These kids were so great. So much fun and helpful. It was really awesome of them to give us such a great vacation and such a fun time with them. It hardly even seemed like work.

Purple Heart for Mr. Lawson and county commission southern style

One of the boys in Zachary's Boy Scout troop has a grandfather who was being awarded the Purple Heart. The family invited anyone who was in the scout troop to come to the ceremony.

It was very moving and beautiful.

I was also impressed by the fact that the crest of Blount County, TN had education, industry, and religion on their county seal. The county commission meeting was started with a prayer and then called to order with "God save the United States, and God bless the great state of Tennessee." I was very pleased.



In which Emily turns twelve

Really? Twelve? How is that remotely possible? This sweet girl was just wearing pigtails and showing me her hula dance yesterday. Now she's a pre-teen who also thinks I'm going to let her be in grade seven next year. "Ha!" says I.

Oh, wait. She really did turn twelve. That would make me....never mind.

Here are some pics from Miss Emily's birthday party.

 

She wanted to have an American Girl themed party, with a camp out. We improvised.

 

 

 

 

For a craft we made "nature candles" like in Samantha's time. The girls hunted for leaves and flower petals that they wanted to put on their candle. Then they painted melted paraffin over the top of each item. They turned out really cute. And they just had so much fun making them.

 

 

 

 

Happy 15 year old joins the fun.

 

 

Rachel, Rebekah, Emily and Elisa showing off their finished products.

 

 

 

 

Happy birthday, my sweet butterfly girl. I love you so much!

 

***Emily's birthday is in May, but due to technical difficulties, I am just now able to post pictures***