Dear friends,

I feel like reminiscing about the good ole' days for a moment to remember some of my very favorite things.....

That's right, Laura Ingalls Wilder. I wanted to be her! Sometimes I still kind of do. She represents something I think is lost by the world and myself sometimes. Simplicity. In a life filled with complication, big decisions, too much stuff,..she reminds me of being simple. Isn't being simple beautiful,..I think so.

I remember when my Mom and Dad woke me up early one morning; it was time to go to the hospital because I was going to be a big sister again!! I remember hugging mom's huge belly and my head only came up to her hips. My Dad and her gave Leslie and I these little Water Babies. They were the cutest dolls ever that were filled with water so they were heavy like a real baby. We got to have a "new baby" that day too.

My very first chapter book. I read it in my closet with a flashlight, it was my hangout at that time. I was sure glad I didn't have to live in a boxcar, but I remember thinking that if I ever had to live in a boxcar and take care of my sisters, I thought I could do it for a little while.

What fun! We had an old blue cooler in the garage that was our toy box. These skates were in there. You were screwed if the ankle straps came undone,...trust me.

Trolls, kind of scary if you think about it. A naked troll as a toy? You could really do a lot with their hair though.

I remember a specific time when Leslie and I got on the bunk beds and let the gak stretch from the top bunk down to the carpet. Then we realized our bright pink gak was in a pile on the carpet, but surprisingly it peeled right off.

Leslie also had some gak that smelled like popcorn (yeah she wanted that. she is weird like that). Brad our cousin was over one day to play and he got pissed at Leslie because she wouldn't let him play with it. Once he finally got his hands on it he ran to the front door and threw it outside across the driveway. It had all kinds of rocks in it. Well he took care of that, if he couldn't have it no one could have it : )






My first big girl bed was a day bed. It was kind of like this one except it was white. It had the round balls on each corner too. After a few years, a couple of these ball popped off. Well,....one day I decided to take these round balls and put them inside my shirt. Then I went to mom and dads room to look in their mirror to see what I looked like with boobs,....then Dad walked in,,,.....he promptly said, "Lee, cut it out". That wasn't embarrassing at all. Scarred me for life. Probably him too. lol.

I wanted Crystal Gale's hair although now I think its pretty disgusting!!

The California Raisins! Where are they now?

I had this exact Polly Pocket. If you hit the top of the little palm tree, the volleyball would go back and forth.

Ed and I went to Florida in October. We met my parents down there. Gma lives there now.

Dad and Gma

Out for Halloween at a tiki bar with the fam

Pool time

Found a shell with crab in it

Rented a Jet Ski!! It was awesome!

Watched the World Seris

Mom was doing some hardcore praying from them!

On Captiva Island. Walking to the lighthouse





Dad and I

Lunch!!

We went to the benefit pub crawl for my cousin Brad.

With my sistas

Funny Sisters

Most of the group that went

Rode thirty miles on the Katy with my friends Cris and Holly..my butt hurt....bad

Little did we know a portion of the trail was closed where they were replacing a bridge. Cris decided we should not take the detour. That we should drag out bikes through the creek. Still have a grudge but it was fun.

Cris decided to take some of the heavy machinery for a spin.

The guys met us down there to camp

Greg and Heather got married! It was gorgeous! They had it at the Foundry in St. Charles. This pic is from after the rehearsal dinner.

Pretty Bride!

Teri and I

Guys

Reception....just beautiful!

My table. Teri, Noelle and Rachel. Don't you love the teal and black?!?

Met up for a girls night in the fall too,...gotta have the girls nights!!!