Hello again...even though it has been almost 3 months since I have blogged...tons of things have happened...but I guess I'm just addicted to Facebook...and post mainly on there...but my work has a huge contest between departments for Halloween...My department did the Thriller video...



We had so much fun...we did not win a department that did Star Trek won...


Then on Halloween night, my church had our annual Trunk or Treat and the theme of our booth was rock stars because we had the rock climbing wall...there I am as Cyndi Lauper-ish...
It took over an hour to crimp my hair...but it was so much fun!

So...I haven't posted in over a month...I get on the blogging ups and downs I suppose...but so much has been going on...which would make you think I would have topics to blog about, which is true, but I just haven't had/made the time...So, I'll go with some highlights...


I was promoted at work in July! I am extremely excited about my new position...
I met my dad for the first time in about 26 years...it went ok, but I don't think I will be blogging about this one...
I am on my second Invisalign tray...and I can see progress!
I got a new dog. I rescued him from the lake...His name is Harbor...
Lil' Man turned 5 last week...he's getting so big...he also caught his first fish this summer...

I'm probably leaving something out but that is the gist...I hope everyone has been doing well...since I haven't been blogging, I haven't been reading either...Hopefully, I'll get back on track soon!

This 4th of July I went with my family to small town America where Lil' Man lives...We got up early to stake out our spots for the town parade..

As did others...

Here are Lil' Miss & Lil' Man...


No small town parade is complete without some sort of vehicle with long horns attached to the front:
Lil' Man learned real quickly that if you wave...

candy is thrown at you...

I looked all over town for a sequined visor like this one...but no luck...I bet she made it herself...

just relaxin...
What parade doesn't have a Sonic hot dog??? I just wish he was throwing lime Cokes instead of kids meal toys...



But I settled for a lemonade...


I also saw a ton of 5 year olds driving large vehicles...


Look at how the horses are being festive with their hooves...

We were tired real quick...even though the parade was only an hour...


Family...fun...patriotism...such a great day!

So a week ago I got my first Invisalign tray. I am super excited about it...my orthodontist thinks my process will be done in about 7 months. The way it is working so far is I will have a tray a month...Here are some pics with my tray in. I am only doing my top teeth.




Sorry for the exaggerated smiles, but I was trying to get some decent before pics...I have quizzed people periodically this week and no one has been able to tell on their own that I had a tray in my mouth. My teeth were a little tender at first but nothing that was unbearable...I will keep updating as I get new trays so you can view my process also...

OK...i think i have a new pet peeve...this is my numero uno...for now...annoyance...

why do people feel the need to talk on their cell phones in public restrooms? I am now making it my mission to be as noisy as I can...to make sure that the person they are talking to know they are in a restroom...no i do not mean i am purposing to toot loudly either...you know...to do stuff like turn the water on full blast for a second...flush while they are talking...make sure the metal door has trouble locking so i have to rattle it a few times...quickly move the paper towel handle so it is annoying...even dry my hands a little longer if it has an automatic dryer...

just some thoughts...

people tell your caller that you will call them back in a sec...it's not hard to do...

what is your current pet peeve???

So today my family and I went shopping everywhere...we even stumbled into a thrift store...this is my Thrift Store Item of the Day:

A lovely full length nightgown/robe with adorable red roses along with a very flattering lace neckline...If I remember correctly, it even had pearl snaps...

I did not purchase this because honestly...I don't want to be single forever...

But who didn't have a g-ma or aunt that had this...or at least something similar...

Hopefully this title will make sense in a little bit...

So...my friend, Micah, and I went to the .38 Special, Styx & REO Speedwagon concert at our zoo amphitheater on Saturday night...I lahuve outdoor concerts! There's friends, music, sun, stars, tons of people watching, etc...

Here I am with Micah...just a quick special shout out to her for being an awesome wing girl...and keeping the crazy drunk (though hilarious) man with all of the beads away...which I so returned the favor when we were leaving and a mini fight broke out and I directed her to safety...

It was rather full so they wouldn't let us bring in our chairs...boo to the zoo...but it all worked out...
Now onto the people watching...I didn't walk around a lot but I estimate there were 942 mullets,

87 girls with bikini tops on...and like only 2 were fit enough to have them on in the first place...remember, I am not judgin...just watchin and reportin what I saw...and what we had fun laughing about...
there were also about 22 women that I saw that did not feel the need to wear a bra...people, please wear a bra...you may not of had to wear one when you went to your first REO concert in 1974, but you need one now...

but the one accessory/outfit that we saw which was my favorite was...
Boot Moccasins!!!!!!

Sorry for the booty shot while trying to get the boots...but I had to snap the pic quick...he was sittin down...

.38 Special was first...

Then Styx...Renegade rocked...by the way...

Then it was on to REO...I know this pic is bad, but I was too busy swayin' with our concert neighbors to Can't Fight This Feeling, and belting out Time for Me to Fly...

Outdoor concerts...especially retro ones...are the best for people watching...it was a full moon, so maybe that made it even better...

Journey & Night Ranger tickets go on sale soon...I am so there...anyone have boot moccasins I can borrow???

My mom was born...

It's hard to imagine what you would look like today at 53...In my mind's eye you'll always look 29...

Happy Birthday, Mom...I love and miss you.

The theme for the I Heart Faces photography contest are "Happy Birthday" for kid entries and "Anything Goes" for pets...

Here my friend's daughter is opening the best present ever at her 5th Birthday Party...


My dog, Holden, is just striking a pose...isn't he handsome???

thanks for your comments! You can see all of the entries at iheartfaces.com

So for Memorial Day Weekend I had the fun opportunity to spend time with some great family friends...let me introduce you to some:

Here is GranDe and Pops...aka DeDe and Charlie...they have a lake house...I heart them...but I did heart them BEFORE they had a lake house... :)


Here are some of their grandkiddos...









Here I am with my dear friend Becky...DeDe & Charlie's daughter...
yeah...I'm pretty bad with trying to take the self portraits....

We had a fun weekend of tubin'...seadoo-in...boatin...and swimmin...it did rain on us quite a bit...so we worked in going to a movie in the next "big town"...

I had such a great time...It was so good to get away and spend time with some great friends!