CHECK THIS OUT!!!!

A giveaway for a brand new book from newly published Erin (Wynne) Provost!

Erin and her good friend Jessica create and produce these children plays for the community garden in Idaho! Each year they create parts for the local children that want to be a part of the production!

The entire play is by volunteers and even her kids get into the action with helping make the costumes, choreography, set design, and even illustrating...just to name a few!

Local adult talent also comes from Jessica's husband Lex, who plays Milo the cat and he sings and plays his guitar!

Erin has decided to pen the play into her first book! 

And Im here to offer some GIVEAWAYS!!!!!

See this #AmazonGiveaway for a chance to win: Milo's Garden. 
https://giveaway.amazon.com/p/9b087211dc663b0a 
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Ends the earlier of Aug 17, 2016 11:59 PM PDT, or when all prizes are claimed. See Official Rules http://amzn.to/GArules.

Good Luck!!!

PS- you can also purchase this book from Amazon for $4.99! A fantastic deal!

Off to Another Great School Year!

Well today we had our "Kick-Off" session at the local casino- 

and I have to admit it always gets me excited to start off the new year!  

The only thing that could have made it better was to offer coffee and sweets, 

but that would have cost a small fortune for sure!

Tomorrow is "Work-In-Our-Classrooms" day! Yippee!!!   And school starts Wednesday! YIKES!

After the "Kick-Off" today, we had staff training and we played a game I hadn't seen before!

I came in 2nd, which is hysterical as I had no idea if it could even be done! 

So my best friend video-taped it- here you go!

You Gotta Read These!!!!

I never have time to sit and read.

NEVER EVER.....NOT EVAH, PERIOD.

I love reading- but life gets in my way and bullies me out of relaxing with a book... until I visited my sister and she kept talking about this author and quoting all these funny sayings and bits of stories.

My sister has an incredible talent for knowing the words to every song you have ever heard. Truly it is a gift. Same goes for telling stories and rhyming things....but I digress.

So I actually got to read this book:

It didn't take me long to crave the next time I could squeeze this into my schedule and continue reading it....one night I laughed so hard I had tears running down my cheeks and I was making noises that were a hefty combination of a drowning seal and a laughing hyena. Im sure of it! 

I can't believe I didn't wake the whole house up!

So then I had to read her 2nd book:

Which I continued with the sad pathetic laugh/dying noise and kept thinking to myself, 

"Her husband is a saint, her husband is a saint"....

I am not going to spoil one thing from these books- but if you want some funny, sad, hilarious, 

no-way-that-happened-to-anyone type of book- then LOOK NO FURTHER!

Grab her books now and read them in order (not necessary but it makes more sense)

Jenny Lawson also has a blog too!

To my sister- THANK YOU for allowing a ton of laughter into my life! I needed it!

Now peoples-go get you some funny reads!

PS- my sister is going to be an author soon! Stay tuned for more info! 

Vacationing in beautiful Idaho!

I'm so glad we went!

I'm rejuvenated and inspired by everything I saw- even if it was for the 10th time! 

How can you not beat this as a view?

My sister has such a great deck that is comfy and has an incredible view- pine trees abound her property that seem to touch the blue sky and puffy white clouds! 

(we seem to have neither in Palm Desert)

It was a time that I could unwind from the 'busy-ness' that is my life, and let my imagination explore and dream of new ideas for me to try when I get home.

I especially enjoyed my daughter playing with her cousins and having fun! 

It seems the older she gets, the less involved she becomes with what is around her. 

I loved seeing her play board games and swim in the lake!

We didn't overextend ourselves with activities (I hope!) like we usually do. Not that we do too much, but we sure know how to pack in a lot for each vacation! 

I enjoyed doing more of a relaxing one!

*Note- I have to thank my brother-in-law Robb for helping me with my computer- AGAIN.

I will not post a pic of him, but love him dearly. 

We boated over to Mom and Dad's place and picked them up for a mid-day cruise! It was a beautiful day and night on the water! 

 

One incredible new place we visited this time was the Greenbriar Inn. It is an impressive 1908 house that has been remodeled into a restaurant, event place and guest quarters! It is listed on the National Registry of Historical Places and only a few blocks from the lake and downtown! 

After boating all day we headed over there for their nightly entertainment and tapas! 

I can't wait to go back and maybe even stay there!

 

I finally got up to the hill and swung in Aunt Bette and Uncle Ted's swing. They used to keep it on the top of their hill on their property- so it was very fitting to place it at the top of my sisters hill! 

A beautiful view from there and so quiet and peaceful.  

Her place has many different kinds of wild flowers growing, but I somehow only took a picture of the little daisies down by the driveway!  

Until next time.....

Thank you Erin, Robb, J, B, J, Mom and Dad!

More great times from Yosemite

Unwinding among the pines

Feeling like I've been treading treacherous waters for a long time.










I've had too much on my plate....for too long.


Each breath of crisp air released an ounce of stress.







I found myself speechless and watching my breath rise up








Listening to crunching needles under my feet, and ducks squawking at each other







This site stopped me in my tracks. My first thought was the backyard in Pittsburgh, as a child, with all the incredible colors of leaves the trees would have!









All cares have melted away at this point








Have you ever noticed?








How many types....








...of leaves can be....








...found together?








....And I'm still breathing in and out...








Life is great.








We needed this

WHAT?! My twins are 9? When did this happen?

This is my little man Cope who was born (hurriedly) on June 11, 2001 at 9:57pm.
















And this is my little girl Tierney who is strong-willed and knows it all. She was born on June 11th at 9:59pm.













This is them now...... where did all those years go?














































And this year I dropped the ball and didn't take ANY pictures during the party! I know! I know!
So here are some 'after the party' pictures....




Having a friend spend the night
















Fresh fruits....












to counter-balance the design-your-own cupcakes.












The fancy helmets they got for baseball













And the fully-enclosed FORT they made for the sleepover










There were many other wonderful presents they received, but this post would be forever long....so you'll just have to come over and play with them here!

It was a wonderfully-relaxing day with friends.

Thank you everyone!

Hummingbird babies are here!

Yes, she finally hatched her babies!

Look how proud she is...carefully inspecting her new little ones.

I had to stealthily watch and snap a picture while she was away....

My, they are teenie-weenie!
More postings as time goes by!