Acapulco ROCKED!!

We had a SUPER time in Acapulco. The weather was fantastic...85 and sunny every single day! Clouds were a rarity! It was just a very relaxing time! Here are a few pics from our trip. DH and I outside of Hard Rock Cafe.
This is DH and I on Valentine's Day. Our server, David took the pic. We had an AWESOME dinner for 2 that night...some excellent Mexican wine as well!
This was a rock, naturally made, that was on an island that we saw on a Lagoon tour. Look closely, it looks like an ape's head!
This is a picture of one of the MANY gorgeous sunsets we saw. This was our last night there and we walked the beach.
And lastly, me with one of the clif divers...don't I look HAPPY??? DH needs to learn how to keep his fingers out of the important pictures!!!
DH loved Mexico and agreed that we can go again! WOOHOO!!! I can hardly wait to start planning that trip!!!

Hugs
Laurie

ACAPULCO HERE WE COME!!!

I can hardly wait...tomorrow DH and I leave to MN. We'll do a little shopping at Mall of America and have dinner at our favorite restaurant, Twin City Grill. Then on Saturday morning, very early, we'll fly to Acapulco for a week!!! This trip is our Christmas gift to each other!!! WOOHOO!!!


Hugs
Laurie

Today is a better day!

Thank goodness the sun rises and a new day dawns! Yesterday was just one of those days that one would rather sleep through. I was angry at the DH, the oldest 2 kids need to REFOCUS and figure out how to get their lives on track, little stuff built up...but all is well! (except for those oldest 2...but moms always worry!!!)

Thanks for the well wishes! I needed to vent and decided to blog!

Have a great day!
Hugs
Laurie

Life...

Sometimes life sucks. Answers that you want aren't there. People you want to respond and treat you with respect don't. The ones you love don't act like they love you back. People who you thought were your friends aren't. Sometimes we don't even live up to our own expectations. I guess it's just LIFE...it is what it is...but sometimes it SUCKS. I think I'll get some sleep...

A new handbag for me!!!

Here is what I got done today. I had some money left on a gift card from Joann's and wanted to make a handbag out of this Amy Butler fabric. The pattern is b y Lazy Girl Designs. I need to purchase a button for the flap as decoration. But I liked how it turned out.

LazyGirl Designs are so easy to follow and they are very neat!!!

This is the front...the flap needs a brown button!
Here is the back...not too much different than the front...just a little less flap showing!
Here is the inside...the lining matches the fabric for the flap.

Have a great weekend everyone!
Hugs,
Laurie

Just not a lot going on...

I haven't posted in awhile. There's not much going on. I haven't been in a quilty mood since I finished the house quilt top. I'd like to get it quilted and bound and hung up...but the mood isn't there!

I've been watching my food intake the past week and have lost almost 5LBS...so that is GREAT news. I want to lose at least 6 more before Acapulco in February. I CAN DO IT!!!

The kids and dh are fine. I'm waiting to hear if my oldest got a management job at Boston Market. He REALLY REALLY needs this job. The place he managed before closed before Christmas. He has bills to pay. Honestly, I don't think he's been hitting the pavement that hard looking for a new job though. He's not the most self-motivated person in the world.

DH is interviewing for a job here in KC that he REALLY REALLY wants. I hope he gets it. He's such a talented and smart man. He's always looking for challenges in his job. This one would definitely provide that for him.

That's about it I guess. Just wanted to check in!

Have a great weekend everyone.
Hugs
Laurie

Winter weather...

Well, it's definitely WINTER-like here. Sleet stuff though...not the pretty stuff S*N*O*W. DH called and he rear ended a pickup truck. The truck came to a sudden stop and dh was on ice. There was nothing he could do. The truck is fine but DH's car is wrinkled in the hood area. I'm not sure what the car looks like since traffic is moving at 15 MPH on the hiway so DH will be awhile getting home. It looks like a night for movies and snuggling. If this weather is affecting your town...be smart and stay home!

Hugs

Laurie

PS...this winter scene would bring a HUGE smile to my face!

Blogger issues?

Is it just me...or is blogger being difficult? I have tried to upload pics for 3 days and no luck. I hope it's not just me.
Hugs
Laurie

Final phase of the 'hood is complete!!

WHEW...I finally got the top completed! All I have to do is put the backing together and get it loaded onto the longarm! Probably get to that this weekend!



The sashing strip is a deep purple, almost a black purple, with a brighter, bluish purple along with it. It's a Nancy Crow fabric. I think it finished it off quite nicely!!!

Hugs

Laurie

Urban Sprawl! LOL

This section of the 'hood gave me headaches! UGH...I have been working on these for about 6 hours or so but I continued on and conquered the headaches! LOL...only one more set to go and then I can assemble it! I'm really liking this! It's a happy quilt! Now to relax!

New Year's Eve...a close call

For years now, we have fondued for New Year's Eve. We usually do a cheese fondue for an appetizer, then our pnut oil fondue for the main course, followed up by chocolate fondue for dessert. The main fondue is done with electric fondue pots. The other 2 are done with sterno under the bowl. WELL...while getting ready to eat I put the sterno where it belonged under the chocolate in the bowl. It was sitting on the cupboard in the picture below. I decided to put the sterno out and rather than use the "snuffer" that came with it I picked up the flaming sterno container and it fell to the floor. Sterno gel splattered up the cupboard door and we had the potential for a bad fire. Luckily, we got it put out but not before we had some damage. (sigh) I had tears in my eyes and my son said, "Mom, this was an accident and it's not going to ruin our night!". He was right...we had a great time, stayed up to late, played games, and laughed a lot! Ya just gotta love family time!

Here are pic that my son took to capture the moment after all had settled down!
Happy New Year's everyone! I hope you do something quilty!
Hugs
Laurie

Another neighborhood complete!!

I got another set of houses done. I did misspeak in the previous post though. I thought I had 30 houses to do...YIKES...but I only have 10 more to go! WOOHOO!!! I think I am going to call this quilt "Funky Town"!!! Whaddya think? ;o)
Hugs
Laurie
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
PS(unfortunately, one color is showing as red but it is really a hot fuschia pink!!)

The trees are done!!

It sure is great to get something quilty done! I finished the trees for my polka dot house quilt! Only 30 houses to go! YIKES!!!

Now to cut out another grouping of houses! Have a very Happy New Year! Stay safe!
Hugs
Laurie

Thank goodness it's over!!

We had a great Christmas, as usual! We went to MN for 2 days and then drove home on Christmas day for our celebration with the kids. My DH takes this week off and that is always nice. Unfortunately, the restaurant where I work at 2 days/week was very short staffed and the mgr. talked me into working a bit. UGH...I said only short shifts though so it's not too bad. But I have to work Saturday evening for a few hours...that will be strange!

I hope everyone had a blessed Christmas! Now to put everything away!!!

Hugs
Laurie

5 years makes a huge difference

WOW...5 years ago we spent our last Christmas in MN. It was a sad experience since we had spent our whole lives in MN. We had our usual celebrations at both sides of the family on Christmas Eve and then our own family celebration on Christmas day at our home. Then the sad reality set in on 12/26/2001...the moving truck showed up and starting packing up our things.

Was I happy...not AT ALL. My whole life was in MN...one sister lived a mile east of me and the other lived 1 mile west of me. We all quilted. We used to shop together and have a great time. When one had an issue with a quilt there was a meeting of the sisters!!! If my dad was sick or my in laws were sick we could be there in an hour.

But a job is important to survival. My DH had lost his job because his company had been sold. He tried SUPER hard to find a job in MN but it just wasn't there. It was obvious that we were destined to leave MN. His company that was sold had a branch in Kansas City, MO and they offered him a job. He took it...we aren't big gamblers and believe in security.

We had (still have) 4 kids. One was a senior in HS, one was a jr in HS, a freshman in HS and a 7th grader. We made an agonizing decision to leave the oldest 2 in MN with my sister to finish HS. The other 2 came with us.

We ended up moving into our house in Overland Park, KS on 12/29/01. New Year's was very sad but my DH and I tried to make it a celebration for our 2 boys who moved with us. Every weekend we tried to find something to do. It took awhile but our boys finally adjusted.

For me...it took over 4 years to find my niche. I FINALLY have girlfriends and can say I "think" I am happy here.

Do I miss MN? ABSOLUTELY!!!!! Do I miss my family? ABSOLUTELY!!!!!!!!!!!! Do I like staying in a hotel on Christmas Eve night in MN? ABSOLUTELY NOT!!!!!! Do I like driving back to KS on Christmas Day to have our own Christmas? YES AND NO!!!

I am very thankful for the fact that my dh has an amazing job that he loves and that provides very well for our family. I am thankful for my family being together (we are all in the KS area). I do however miss MN a LOT and my family.

The experience was difficult...bad situation, bad time of year, bad stuff all around. But I survived!!!! My kids survived! We are stronger people because of it!!!

Merry Christmas everyone!!
Hugs
Laurie

Margaritas anyone???

I swear...kids never cease to amaze me. The place of business (Moe's) that my boys (all 3 of them) worked at went out of business and closed its doors on Saturday. The employees were paid to move stuff out of the store and onto a truck. This event turned into a "reunion" of sorts because the employees just couldn't say good bye to each other, which is very neat!!! SO...after cleaning stuff out, they drove to the other Moe's about 15 miles from here and had dinner! GO FIGURE!!! Then they ended up here for a few hours before heading to midnight bowling. They had a blast and it was neat to see.

NOW...here is where it gets interesting. My dh and I went to a wine tasting and dinner Saturday night. We left an empty house and came home to a wild time! BUT...when I came in from the garage (the view this pic is taken from) I was NOT a happy mom. IN FACT, one could say I was PISSED! THIS MONTROSITY of a margarita machine was on MY kitchen cupboard! KEVIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIN!!!!!!!!!!!!! He came upstairs and said, "Yes mother?" ARGH!!!!!!!! WHAT IS THIS THING I asked and why is it here? LOL...he bought it for $20. THEN...I said it is NOT staying here and he said it's going back to school with me. I said on an AIRPLANE??? He said no, someone would drive it back. OMG...I thought he was smarter than that! It takes 20 amp wiring and his old school is NOT going to have that...they don't even have CABLE at his college!

Well...the next day I saw Margarita mix and off we went! LOL...here they are getting it ready! DOn't they look proud?
It's WORKING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Now for the good stuff!!!
The empty tequila bottle and more mix! NO...they didn't drink any of it...they are just acting! BUT...this is what I live with EVERY day that the college boy is home!!! And YES...I LOVE IT!!!
Hugs
Laurie

What I did today...

Sometimes commissioned work is fun, sometimes it's not! I like to make tshirt quilts for others and have had some fun with them. But, this one was tough...METALLICA tshirts!!! ICK...so I dug in today and got to it. Finding the right sashing/cornerstone fabs was the hardest part. I thought it needed color to jazz it up...but I was WRONG...I'm actually pleased with how this turned out. Now to quilt and bind it. I'll post again when it's done!

This is for the son of a gal that I did one for her DD. When her son saw his sister's quilt he was IMPRESSED and said it was COOL! LOL...his mom said he NEVER gets excited about anything so she figured she had a great Christmas idea for him!



Hugs
Laurie

One down...3 to go!

FINALLY...blogger is cooperating!!!

4 girlfriends and I get together and have lunch while exchanging Christmas gifts. I wanted to make them something that represents my talents with something they LOVE to do! I decided to make pillows. I appliqued the trees onto the background, bordered it, and then found buttons at Joann's that depict something that my girlfriend loves to do. I only have one completely done.

This one is for Carla...she LOVES to shop!!! LOL...so here is the first one done...Now to finish the other 3!!!

Also, here are pics of our winter wonderland from the snow on Thursday. I couldn't post them yesterday because I didn't have the toolbar on my dashboard. It's here now! Enjoy!

Hugs,
Laurie

Well...I'm a survivor...

I wanted to post pics of our winter wonderland but I don't have the option for adding pics on my dashboard anymore. Not sure why...

Today is also the 8th anniversary of when I was told I had breast cancer! That was NOT a good day in my life. I was alone, holding on to a phone, saying OK, OK, OK, OK to all the things the phone was saying to me. I hung up and tried to call Steve (dh). He wasn't at his desk. I tried to call my sister, she wasn't home and doesn't have a cell, I tried to call my dad, but he was having coffee with his "cronies". I tried to call my best friend but she wasn't home either. I WAS ALONE. I FINALLY called Steve and pushed "0" for his secretary. I got him out of a meeting and told him. There were 2 people who loved each other holding on to phones, unable to speak.

LIFE HAD CHANGED. Life was strange for a long time after that phone call. It was a series of Drs. appts, all of them asking the same questions and poking at the same spot on my breast. The oncologist, the surgeon, the radiologist, the plastic surgeon...they all did the same thing. By the time I got to the radiologist I was paralyzed for words. DH had to do the talking for me as I sat in a chair with silent tears streaming down my face. Telling 4 little kids was probably the MOST DIFFICULT thing...I remember little Dan, just 9yo saying "are you going to die, mom?" OH, that ripped my heart out. My oldest, Joe was 15 and said nothing. Sarah, 13 screamed and sobbed. Kevin, 11 said...hmmm...OK.

The FIGHT began. I had a double mastectomy with immediate reconstruction on 12/13 after much FIGHTING to get an appointment. They wanted to wait until after the first of the year because lots of people were having elective plastic surgery since they had reached their deductible! But I KNEW I could NOT wait that long and told my regular surgeon that if some chick who wanted new boobs for New Year's Day was keeping me from saving my life she could "go to hell". He said, "I'll brb". He came back and said, "Would this Saturday be ok?" The day of surgery was that Saturday. The plastic surgeon was on call and my surgeon came in on his day off! YES...ON HIS DAY OFF! NOW that's a caring Dr.!

The recovery was brutal. I couldn't stand up straight for a month and exhaustion was overwhelming. A month later I began a rigorous chemotherapy treatment for which I qualified for in a study. I went every other Friday for 8 treatments. In between those 2 weeks I was given a shot by my neighbor every day for 10 days. The shots kept my white blood cell count up so I could stay on track with my treatments. I did so well that my oncologist cancelled my last 10 shots after my last treatment! HALLELUJAH!!!! I remember wanting to have my hair for the 2nd treatment. I did...BARELY...it was falling out but I plastered it on with hairspray. The nurses were AMAZED I had hair for that treatment! I didn't tell them my secret! LOL

Well, that Sunday, my head hurt so badly that I had the kids shave my head....what an EMOTIONAL day that was. I SOBBED and SOBBED and SOBBED. NO ONE TOLD ME HOW HARD IT WOULD BE TO BE BALD!!!! As far as I am concerned that was the most difficult part of the whole adventure. There were a lot of check ups after that. A few scarey times where I had a brain scan and another time when I had a bone scan...both negative.

I am still here...7 years later and CELEBRATING LIFE!!!!! You see, I'm a FIGHTER...I told ALL of my doctors that I wasn't going to let a little breast cancer take my life...I was too young, 38yo at the time, and my kids needed their mom for a LONG TIME!!!

My DH was WONDERFUL through all of this. He went to every Drs. appt with me and every treatment. He held me the day I sobbed like a small child into my pillow trying to make the gazzillionth decision in a nano-second. He always told me how beautiful I looked and was sad when my hair started coming in. "I kinda liked your bald head" he said as he rubbed the newly forming peach fuzz!!! We also found out how many people in our community in MN loved us. Meals were brought EVERY DAY for 8 SOLID WEEKS! It was a good thing it was a cold winter because our porch become a freezer! These were 4 course meals WITH dessert!!! AMAZING!!! A gal came and cleaned my house every week for us. People carpooled the kids to their various practices. People came to take me to lunch just to get me out of the house. It was INCREDIBLE to feel the LOVE!!!SO...the story started out bleak and has a happy ending! I AM A SURVIVOR!!!!!!!

OH, also, this brought me to quilting! My sisters quilted when their kids were very little and were getting back into it. One sister dragged me to a quilt store several times to help her with a project. Eventually, both sisters and I were at a LQS and I said, "I CAN DO THIS!" And I did! So I guess I have cancer to thank for bringing quilting into my life!!!

Hugs
Laurie

POSTING PICS???

What happened to the option for posting pics????? The tabs for links/pics and other stuff are no longer here.

It's *S*N*O*W*I*N*G*

It's GORGEOUS outside!!! Last night it was ICE which stinks. No school today and that was fine. Now, it's *S*N*O*W*I*N*G* and it's my favorite nature gift from God. Hopefully tomorrow I can post a picture of God's beauty!!!

I have done some applique today as well which was fun!

Have a great night!
Hugs
Laurie
ps(school is cancelled for tomorrow as well!)

Sarah's Orthopaedic appt

We saw the orthopaedic doctor this afternoon. Sarah's broken ankle was put in a boot and she was told to bear weight on it as she is able and ditch the crutches ASAP. That was the GOOD news...the bad news is she also tore her ACL. UGH...not having insurance...she is going to see how it goes. Some people never have the surgery to repair it. FINGERS CROSSED here...

The Dr. was GREAT!!! And because she doesn't have insurance there was a 40% discount on the Drs. visit and more than 50% on the boot. That was GREAT news for Sarah...now we wait for the ER bills and she applies for aid from the state.

She wants to work! Hopefully she can get back on her feet soon and do some hosting at the restaurant.

Hugs
Laurie

EQ6 Upgrade...Activation Issues

I just received my EQ6 upgrade today. I was THRILLED until I read the following on page 8 of the manual:

"Please note: EQ6 software provides a total of 4 activations. Each Time you replace your current computer with a new one, activating EQ6 on the new computer will use one of your activations. For example, if Betty spends part of the year at her second home, installing EQ6 on the computers in both homes would use two activatiohs. If Betty's computer hard drive needs to be replaced, installing EQ6 on the new hard drive would also use an activation."

I have 2 computers that I use EQ on...i usually design on my laptop while watching TV at night and then email it to myself, load it onto my sewing room computer for actually making the quilt. I am NOT HAPPY about limited activations for a product that I spent money on without that knowledge. I'm not sure I would've upgraded if I had know that ahead of time.

I did write to the company about this and asked what they plan to do about it. I might have to look for a different desiging software program.

Anyone else upset about this?

Hugs
Laurie

What a day!!!!!

WOW...what a day it was!!! I have to back up to last night...a little background info!

Sarah played indoor soccer last night...I chose to stay home but at the last minute decided to go if Dan would go with me. Dan didn't want to so I stayed in my jammies. She called me and said she rolled her ankle and messed up her knee. I felt badly that I didn't go. I haven't seen her yet so I have no clue as to what happened. She said it hurt like crazy when it happened and she has a very high pain tolerance. I am hoping she didn't tear her ACL because she doesn't have any insurance...we can't carry her anymore because she's not a full time student.

Now for today. She came downstairs at 10:30 or so and was in major pain with lots of tears. OUT OF CHARACTER for her. So I said, let's go, we're going to the ER. She cried more and said I can't afford it...I don't have insurance. I said, it's not about insurance, it's about finding out what is wrong with you. Off we go to the ER...xrays taken and we find out she fractured her ankle. The put a temporary splint on it and said we need to call an ortho and get an appt for her ankle and knee. She is on crutches right now and not a happy camper. She is a server and this time of year (the holidays), servers make a ton in tips.

Here she is on crutches and her resting her leg on my lap!


Here is a picture of my youngest 2 who decided to "dress for dinner"!! LOL
And lastly, a big thumbs up for turkey day dinner!!!
I hope everyone's day was less eventful than mine!!!

Hugs
Laurie

Thankfulness

My day started out great. A friend who found me on the internet for longarming e'd me yesterday and wanted to stop by to show me a snowman quilt she was donating to charity and before she donated it she knew i'd like to see it. She said her camera wasn't working properly. Well, long story short...Cindy had to stop by here at 7AM cuz it was the only time I could squeeze her in. I said to her, "WHAT CHARITY is THIS quilt for?" She said, "I fibbed! It's FOR YOU!!!!!" I will post a pic later...when someone is home to hold it up for me. She is the QUEEN of scrap quilts...I mean, she makes a quilt and then proceeds to make a scrap quilt out of the leftovers! I always told her how much I admire that in her. She on the other hand, admires my talents as well!!!

Anywho...she also gave me a cardinal painted on a sandstone type surface that I will hang in my sewing room, a mug that has snowmen on it, and some little M&M dispensers that have hats to match the snowmen!

The funny part was that I dropped quilts off to her house last Firday and the fabrics in my quilt were on her ironing board and I was admiring them! LOVED 'EM LOVED 'EM LOVED 'EM! I even asked her what she was going to do with them...her answer...A SCRAP QUILT!!! Little did I know it was for ME!!!

Here are a few pics...Cindy called the quilt "Laurie's Woozle Quilt". Woozle is the word she uses instead of utility quilt!!! She stitched it into the binding.




I'm very blessed to have Cindy in my life...she is really a neat person and a true friend. She asked if it was ok to give a quilter a quilt! I said ABSOLUTELY!!! One I didn't have to make my self! LOL

Have a happy thanksgiving tomorrow. I did all the prep work...all that is left is to set the table.

Hugs
Laurie

Sigh...

Well, we perservered thru a winter storm in Iowa and Minnesota to arrive safely at our destination. Then my son's team played their soccer game in 25 degree temps with winds out of the southeast...COLD...

Unfortunately, we outplayed the opponent and lost. GRRRRRRRRRR...We lost 2-1 and my DS scored our only goal...it was awesome in that my DS had 18 family/friends in the crowd. But he was bummed that the team lost!

Life goes on...

Road Trip

Tomorrow DH and I will leave for MN...our homeland!!!!! We haven't been there since Christmas. We will go to our nephew's football game tomorrow night before heading to our hotel. Then on Saturday, at approximately 1:30, our son Kevin and his college team will play their first game for the NCAA soccer tournament! GO NORTH PARK VIKINGS!!!

If you want to watch the game on the puter LOLOLOLOL just go to www.northpark.edu and there is a link on the left side of the page. Kevin is #21!!

I had my sister in MN make hankies in school colors to hand out to the fans...I want to get us CRANKED up!!!!! A lot of family is going to be there to watch as well...even though the temp is only supposed to be 39 degrees! BRRRRRRRRRR

Have a great weekend...GO NORTH PARK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hugs
Laurie

BITTERSWEET turns SWEET

OMG...I am DYING HERE!!! North Park (my son Kevin's soccer team) got IN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They are in the NCAA tournament! We'll know more tomorrow morning as to when/where they play!

I was on the NCAA site and saw we were in, but was re-reading it over and over (making sure it was true) when Kev called! Actually, it was his friend Dan on Kev's cell...kev was too excited to talk! I said let me talk to my boy!!! Kev said it spread thru campus in about 5 mins and that NPU is nuts!

Our Dan had gone to bed and came out when he heard me scream!. (sorry Dan) I even went upstairs and woke Steve (dh) up to tell him the great news!!!!! GO NORTH PARK!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YOU DESERVE THIS OPPORTUNITY!!!!!!! I AM SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO EXCITED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks for listening to me!
Hugs
Laurie
(who is looking forward to another road trip or 2)

A productive day!!!

I had the opportunity to quilt today! Even though what I would've rather been doing was driving back from Chicago...but that wasn't meant to be...this previous post explains that comment!
http://gottaquilt.blogspot.com/2006/11/bittersweet-award.html

Anywho...I got a second set of polka dot houses done today! This quilt is going to be SO HAPPY!!!

Off to dinner...have a great rest of the day!
Hugs
Laurie

Here are both sets of houses.


This is the first set of house blocks that I did...with the star block on it.

And this was today's project...the house with the heart on it!!!

AFTER PICS...

WHEW...The room feels MUCH better!!! Now to mess it up again tomorrow! LOL...Here are after pics from cleaning.

Amy, my design board is nothing fancy...just styrofoam from Home Depot that is covered in felt! I pinned it to the wall with "T" pins! Not fancy but FUNCTIONAL!!! ;-D

Hugs
Laurie

UGH...WHY OH WHY DO I DO THIS???

Here is today's MAJOR PROJECT!!! This is what happens when a quilter is a road trippin' soccer mom! LOLOL I can't concentrate here so it's time to
C-L-E-A-N!!! That way I can mess it up again tomorrow!!!

Here's my longarm...it actually got worked hard yesterday with 4 small quilts being done! WOOHOO!!! Now to clean her up and load another one!
This is the view going out of my quilting room. The pile of quilts on the chair is what I accomplished yesterday!
This is my pressing board and design wall...lots of "stuff" ended up here in the past few weeks!
Here is my sewing area...the pile of fabrics on the chair are from various projects or projects wannabes! LOL...a stack of books ready for action...garbage ready to be hauled out...

I guess I'll be busy today!!! Have a great day!
Hugs
Laurie

Bittersweet Award

My son Kevin, who plays soccer at North Park University in Chicago was named CCIW Conference Player of the Week on Tuesday. It is an AWESOME honor but it became bittersweet when his team lost 1-0 in the conference semifinal of the tournament. In order for the team to go to the National Tournament now they have to wait until Sunday and see if they get an "at large" bid. If they had won the tournament they would get the automatic bid. There were a lot of long faces after the game and some tears. The team finished the season at 19-2-2! Nothing to hang their heads about! Keep your fingers crossed that good news comes along on Sunday/Monday!!!

Here's a link to the article: http://www.cciw.org/fall_soccer_m/POW06_9.php

Here's a pic of Kevin. I can't tell you how proud I am of this young man. He is a kind, smart, gentle, handsome, and loving person. Seeing Kevin after the game Tuesday night was one of those painful moments for a mom. I didn't have any words to say to him that could take the agony of defeat away. All I could do was give him a hug and tell him I loved him.


I LOVE YOU KEVIN!!!!!
Heart
M