Boxer puppies

My brother-in-law has the sweetest Boxer named Bella and she had 7 adorable puppies.  Two males and five girls.  Everyone of them are so cute with beautiful markings.  Bella is such a good momma and she takes great care of her babies. 

Cleaning her baby off

What a perfect Boxer!

Nothing sweeter than a Momma and her baby

We won't be getting any of the Boxers though, because this Boxer thinks she is the Queen Bee and has a slight jealousy problem.  When we love on her sister Baylee the Beagle, she thinks she needs to "talk" to us and let us know she doesn't like it!  Silly spoiled White Boxer!

Summer Evening Baseball

Birthday Party for Baylee the Beagle

Our beloved Beagle Baylee Boo recently turned 5 years old.  It seems like it was just yesterday that we brought her home and the boys fell in love.  She's a Beagle so she causes us a little heartburn, as in, running away every two seconds if she's not on a chain in the backyard!  I know it sounds mean, but it's a 50 foot chain so she has the room to roam around the yard and find shade to lounge in during the day.  Beagles follow their noses and it gets them into tons of trouble.  She will literally dig out of the yard and go as far as possible with her nose to the ground.  She doesn't even look for traffic, silly dog!  So, I consider the chain her lifesaver.  Baylee is a super sweet dog and when she decides she wants to cuddle and get her belly rubbed, she'll come right up into your face as close as possible.  It's so cute!

We decided to have her birthday party on an afternoon that her cousin Bella the Boxer would be able to come celebrate with Baylee and her sister Allie the White Boxer.  We bought little tiaras for the girls and made them some special peanut butter dog cookies.  The pups had a great time, even though Baylee's a little shy and didn't like the camera.  It was also the last time we saw Bella pregnant.  She just had her puppies so I'll post them later.  They're adorable!

Get ready for some adorable doggie pics!

Baylee didn't like her tiara at first

Our favorite-peanut butter doggie cookies

Bella - the expectant momma

The Queen Bee - Allie

Small Fry and his birthday girl

Mr. H and Nana

Beautiful boxers

Menu Plan Monday

Monday -
Breakfast:  Bagels with whipped cream cheese
Dinner:   Spinach Lasagna Rollups (Zucchini instead of lasagna noodles for me), Steamed broccoli, Garlic toast

Tuesday -
Breakfast:  Cinammon Toast and Orange Juice
Dinner:  Grilled Chicken topped with Sauteed Mushrooms and Onions and Provolone Cheese, sweet potatoes topped with brown sugar and butter (yum!), Salad

Wednesday -
Breakfast:  Oatmeal with Raisins
Dinner:  Grilled Porkchops with Rustic Brown Mustard Sauce,  Green Beans, Corn on the Cob

Thursday -
Breakfast:  Cereal with orange juice
Dinner:  Meatloaf with Steamed Carrots, Cabbage and Broccoli

Friday -
Dinner Out!!!

Saturday -
Dinner:  Seafood Gumbo

Sunday -
Dinner:  Roast Beef with Mashed Potatoes

Soccer Camp!

This morning was the boys first day at soccer camp at one of the big colleges in the "Big City".  They were so excited last night, running around looking for the perfect shirt to wear and, of course, trying to find that missing chin guard!  It just isn't a soccer mom weekend without searching under beds looking for a chin guard or the other soccer sock. HA!

The unfortunate thing about the camp being this week is.....it's supposed to rain Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.  We have had about 2 inches of rain since last night!  Yuck!  The boys were excited about the possibility of playing soccer on the football field. Instead, they're inside the big gymnasium that has an artificial turf practice field and then the other side is a rubber matted volleyball facility.  I think they'll really have a great time anyway and they are learning from some of the best soccer coaches around.

I have to admit, I was nervous for them but they just walked right in and made themselves at home.  I'm so thankful the boys have no fear when it comes to sports.  I was such a shy child, I would never have gone into a camp situation at all.  I would have made myself sick dreading it.  Thank you Lord for confident, self aware little boys.

We also have plans to rent the city pool on Friday night but if it's going to be stormy, I'm not sure thats a great idea.  Guess we're going to have to play it by ear!  I need the rain for my yard and flowerbeds, but I really don't need any type of flooding.  We live in a town that's surrounding by a creek which floods all the time.  We need to creek to stay down!

3rd grade Art Show

My little Small Fry loves art.  He took an art class after school this year and worked so hard on perfecting his skills.  At the end of the 3rd grade, all the students get to hang their masterpieces along the hallway and display their talent at the end of the year Art Show.  To better give you an idea of life with Small Fry, this is the conversation he and I had at 6:10pm on the day of the Art Show. He is a certified "mess".  And that's another way in the South to say he's a little Toot and I love him for it!  It makes life interesting!

 It had been a crazy day at work, including someone getting laid off and I was beat. 

 I had started cooking dinner when Small Fry sat down at the bar in the kitchen and said,

 "Mom, our Art Show was tonight and it's over at 6:30." 

I looked at him with horror in my eyes and said,

" What???  You are joking aren't you?"

He said, "Nope, and it's almost over."

I about died!  I yelled for Mr. H and Tater Tot while turning off the burner on the stove and running to the bedroom to throw my work clothes back on.  I had already put on shorts and a tank top with my hair in a clip on top of my head.  UGH!  Thank the Lord, I hadn't washed my makeup off yet!

Well, with a little hustle, we made it at 6:20. Thank Gosh we live only 2 or 3 miles from his school. 

Makes you appreciate small towns and the fact that everything is within 5 miles!

Self-portrait

Two more self-portraits....notice the shaggy blonde hair

My 5th grader with his 4th grade teacher, Ms. Hendrix...she's 9 months pregnant and as cute as can be!

Pictures of different climates