I bought some new shirts

Ok, I know this is nothing Earth shattering, but it kind of is for me. I have purchased a few shirts recently, and none of them are T-shirts, long sleeved T-shirts, etc. I usually find a boring shirt that I like and then buy 4 of them in different colors, usually from Old Navy, or Gap, and of course on sale. I am that girl. I am not saying that I don't like the shirts that I have bought in the past, but they are soooooo boring! So I was inspired by spring and bought some new shirts from Kohls and TJ Maxx. I was very excited, can you tell?

"She wore an itsey bitsey teeny weeney..."

This is the very first bikini that I have bought since before we got married! I am so excited...I figure with my 10 + lbs lost I needed a new suit and I hope I can rock it! I am a paisley gal and I loved the pattern! Maybe if I get really brave, and get a tan I will post up a picture of me in it...
NAHHHHHHH!!!!!

A first for me...a feast!

I set my table

I made homemade dinner rolls

A snack platter

Homemade cabbage and apple salad

Homemade mashed potato bake

My first ever turkey!!!

Slightly overdone ham (was wonderful on the inside!)

We also had cranberry sauce, gravy from scratch, and brownies! It was delicious and I have never made an entire Turkey dinner by myself. I made this for my mother who loves turkey dinner, and I love her...so I made her a surprise dinner! I am a proud lady, but believe it or not...my favorite thing to make was the rolls! I am a true baker at heart!

Lookie here!

It worked!!! I planted the seeds on March 8th, and in only 18 short days I have 50 sprouts! I am sooooooo excited! I will keep posting the progress of my little Delphinium babies. So wonderful I can't stand it...I can't wait to plant them.

Italian Sausage Penne Pasta

1 pkg. Italian Style Sausage
1 Jar Spaghetti Sauce (of your choice)
Pasta style you prefer(Jules calls me the Penne Queen...it is my favorite)

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Place the sausage in an oven proof casserole bowl large enough to hold all of the sausage links and the jar of sauce. Pour the sauce over all of the sausage links. Cover with tin foil and place in the oven for 1 hr. Test sausages with meat thermometer to ensure 180 degree temp. Set aside when fully cooked and boil water for pasta. Cook pasta according to directions and rinse. Place all together on a serving platter and as we say...
EN-YOY!!!

My newest aquisition!

My newest pair of Dansko shoes...called Merrie! Love them!

On my walk today I saw...

A wonderful smattering of beauty!

The Boathouse Restaurant

Couldn't they just write it out? Do they have to be so visual? GROSS

Keep out never looked so lovely!

This always makes me laugh! What a name for a mountain!!!

I love driveway pillars! There were many that caught my lens on the walk.

Isn't this gorgeous? I want it bad!!! If it wasn't cemented into place I would have stolen it!

This is to die for! What craftsmanship!!!

Love the twisted metal of this one

Serenity personified

I want to print this up and give it to J when we are in a fight!

My favorite of the day...in the thicket of it! LOL

Don't you just want to sit here and have a chat? Saw this down a stairway to an alley way

Growing sideways...never seen anything like this before!

Church steeple of the church where mom and dad were married

Un-utilized adorable cottage at the entrance to private property

I'm a big MOM now!!!

For the past 4 years 8 months and 5 days our son S has slept in our bed, or slept with me in his bed, or at least fallen asleep in my presence EVERY SINGLE NIGHT!!! Tonight J and I made a pact to try something new that my sister has been doing with her son (Eben) for a while now and it works very well. We kissed him good night, tucked him in, and explained to him that he is going to have to be a big boy and fall asleep AND sleep in his own bed without mommy and daddy. After many tears and cuddles and reassurances...he did it! Hell...I did it! I am a huge pushover, he is my cuddle buggle, my hot water bottle, my security blanket and as much as I know how he needs to be able to do this I was as reluctant as he was. I am so proud of my little boy...we are growing together every day!

I am in LOVE!!!

If you buy one album this year...either MP3 through Itunes (like I did) for only $13.99, or the actual CD...please give Kelly Clarksons new CD, All I Ever Wanted, a try! It is awesome, and perfect for those high energy workouts, or just to get you pumped on the way to work! Kelly rules, and her voice is AMAZING!!!

I had to share...I made my husband handsome again!

We purchased this Wahl Professional Clipper last year, and ohhhhh the haircuts this one has seen. It is the only one that doesn't die half way through the cutting my wonderful husbands THICK ITALIAN LOCKS! Highly recommend this clipper!!! Worth every penny!

Here he is with the finished product! LOVE HIM SOOOOO MUCH!!!

The mound of hair on the floor...gross but wonderful at the same time! LOL

I encountered some funny things today and thought I would share...

This morning while skiing with my Men (J, my Dad, S and E) we were having a blast! All of a sudden we came upon my cousin Jack who is 11 years old. He is a rather rambunctious child and the boys love him for that reason. We were skiing for a bit with him and his friend when all of a sudden I realized...he is wearing a T-shirt, and I can see this because...
HIS COAT WAS WIDE OPEN!

HERE IS THE THOUGHT PROCESS AND CONVERSATION THAT FOLLOWED:

Me thinking: What in the hell is he doing with his coat wide open, he just got over a cold!

(pause)

Me thinking: Now, I should definitely say something...but I don't want to be that annoying older cousin...but then again if I was his mother I would want someone to speak up and tell him to get his coat zipped up. SAY SOMETHING LAURA!!!

Me: "Jack, I don't want to sound like your mother here but...what are you doing with your coat unzipped? You just got over a cold didn't you?"

Jack: "Oh uh, yeah right?"

Me: "Soooooo zip up your coat!"

Jack: (pause)

My Father (his uncle): JACK!!!! ZIP IT UP...ZIP IT UP!!! ZIP IT UP...ARE YOU CRAZY!"

Jack: "Okay" then proceeds to zip up his coat.

AHHHH that was painful, but I now realize why my mom and Gram always got on Jules and I to zip up, wear your hat and gloves, and above all...USE YOUR HEAD!!!!
THANKS LADIES!!!!

Then as we took a couple more runs we stopped at a lift line for a break to figure out where to go next. I looked over and E was leaning over to eat some snow... virgin, crystallized, pure white gold! He was very thirsty from all of his hard work and needed to have his thirst quenched...no juice, water or other beverage available...what would you do???
Then after he had had his FILL, I felt these eyes on us... I looked over to the lift attendant who looked at us in a revolted way and made a grossed out face! I took a good look at this judgmental 18 year old looking guy and guess what I saw?
Him standing there drinking a crappy soda and SMOKING A CIGARETTE!!!
I wanted to say "Oh yeah, gross huh? This snow is probably going to kill him someday!" But I didn't, my inner censor shut me down...I told my father though, he laughed!

***BEWARE***
IDIOTS RUN A-MUCK IN THIS WORLD OF OURS

Leftovers for dinner...something new and delicious

Hillshire Farms Kielbasa
Pasta Salad (from the other night)
Frozen Corn

Cut and place the Kielbasa in a skillet. Cook until warmed through and turn pieces frequently. Add the desired amount of the cold pasta salad to the hot skillet and mix together. Heat thoroughly. Meanwhile microwave the corn and once cooked add to the skillet. Combine, and transfer to serving dishes. It is easy and EXTREMELY YUMMY!!!! The Italian dressing is wonderful warm...give it a try!

Outside+Mud+Playclothes+Boots+Boys=FUN!!!!

I admit it...I am not one to have them outside as much as they should be...but this year I am making an effort!

Found this little sprout in our small bulb garden...either a tulip, a daffodil, or a hyacinth.
(we planted them all 4 years ago...they luckily come up every year!)

Spring Cleaning Time Has Sprung...Inside and Out

I decided that the kitchen counters were in need of a major re-organizing and cleaning! I am sooooooooo F-ing sick of the perpetual clutter that takes over my counter tops...ARGHHHH!
Hopefully this will solve the problem! I love the result

Then S and I decided that the outside of our house made our very humble abode look a little on the trash side...and I mean trash! With all of the wind and the snow and the rain and the things that were never brought in before the snow flew this winter there was much to be picked up! My trusty little man and I took to the task with gusto and believe you me...the grounds are clutter free! We 3/4 filled our weekly dumpster (90 gal.) with the things that had blown around. Here are the pictures of the yard after the clean up! Imagine the yard with all of that CRAP strewn all over the place, lovely huh!

"Mommy I am tired!" Can't blame him...he is a great helper! Thanks buddy!