TOO CUTE!!!!!

This was too cute not to share......remember this when someone has had too many beans for dinner.....it's just a BUTT SNORE!!!! (are there "Breath Rights" for that????)

Till next time, yinz crazy guys.....zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz oops, sorry!

Sorry yinz guys....

....ya haven't heard from me in awhile cause I was sorta on vacation....and one of our stops was this fabulous mansion in Alton IN. It's owner is the uncle of our Pastor. OMG...it was incredible! We got to stay one night here....definately not enough time!

Just to prove I'm telling the truth...this is me in front of the mansion!!!! (and not photoshopped either!)


This is the back of the mansion......

And Sweetie Man sitting in the back yard...oh, did I tell you the Mansion sits on the banks of the beautiful Mississppi River???

Check out this view from the back yard!!!!!!!!!!!

For all you cooks out there....check out this kitchen!!!!!

Let's not forget the "wheels" in the garage!!!

Can you spell "LAMBORGHINI"????????????

I could go on and on here!! There was a guest house, a pool and hot tub, 13 bedrooms and 9 baths and an arcade and theatre in the works!!! And one family occupies this. The great part is that the gentleman who lives here came from nothing to this!!! And now he gives back to those in need....it's an awesome story and an awesome family. It was a sorta side visit on our way to the Willowcreek Arts Conference in Chicago Illinois. Well worth the stop!!

Hey, and the Arts Conference wasn't so bad either....lots of fun there too! All in all, even with the long drive, it was a good time! Constantly on the go....and we got a taste of real Chicago Pizza....mmmmmmmmmmmmmm!

So, that's were I've been yinz guys. At this point in time, my son and his fiance are ripping the carpet out of my house and re-painting some rooms for me (sorta a trade off for room and board). So my house is in a bit of turmoil....it's not easy to always find the computer let alone get to it...know what I mean! So, bear with me here. Not to worry, Jen...I'm still alive!

Till next time, yinz crazy guys....................

Our Honeymoon

Since it's the official start of the Sunshine Season....thought I would bring you a little bit to get you going with some Honeymoon pictures from beautiful Punta Cana....Enjoy!

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

A Classic....

If you haven't watched this and you are a mom....consider it my present to you..

http://cosmos.bcst.yahoo.com/up/player/popup/?cl=7769235

HAPPY MOM'S DAY, YINZ GUYS!!!

Hey.....

I'm still writing Thank You notes....in the mean time check out who has a blog now....
My Girl......

MAXINE

Enjoy....

Our Wedding....

Well, we're back...and very very happy! Everything was beautiful. I do have to tell you a little story. The day, weather-wise, was warm but rainy and cloudy so we were dodging raindrops most of the day. The church we were married in has beautiful large windows, so the night before, knowing the weather was going to be dreary, I said a prayer that maybe just for a little bit, around 7 pm, the sun could shine through those windows as it is so beautiful. As the wedding drew near, I sorta forgot about it and said it really wasn't that important anyway as I was just so happy nothing could dampen this day. Well, I was in a room with curtains on the window getting ready and then when it was time, I was to step out into and down the hall to the sanctuary. Well, as soon as I stepped into the hall and looked into the lobby area.....the sun broke through all those clouds and shined for about one half hour like you would not believe! Well, needless to say that is when the tears started to flow.....my breath was taken away! God had truly blessed our marriage! Sweetie Man said the God was letting in our parents and my brother and his wife from Heaven to watch us get married....either way, it was absolutely amazing!!! The rest of the night it poured and hailed, but we were inside having the time of our lives. The honeymoon was incredible but I'll let you digest pictures of the wedding first and then I blog some honeymoon. Thank you for all your wonderful good wishes for us both...you are all awesome cyber-friends!
With that said, enjoy the pictures below. Be sure to press both the arrow in the middle and when the music begins, press the play button on the bottom. Let me know if you have trouble viewing and I'll set up another link also. Enjoy yinz guys.......

Make a slideshow - it's easy!

Well TODAY is the DAY....

It's finally here...the day I become Mrs. Sweetie Man! We've waited eight years for this day and believe me we are ready!!! Everything is pretty much in order and ready to go. I want to thank you all for your good wishes and congratulations during the past couple of weeks as I rambled on about this day. You guys are the best! I wish I could webcast it for you but we are hoping to upload a video on the blog in a week or so after the honeymoon. Keep us in your prayers for a safe journey for all the travelers including us (I'm not crazy about planes) and for an awesome wedding this evening! Thanks, Yinz Guys....talk to ya in a week or so!!!!

To all you Animal Lovers...

Sweetie man made this at Bitstrips! I didn't realize he did this thinking, how cool that he found a cartoon that really happened to us! Then I realized he made it at Bitstrips. Check it out and make your own cartoon strip with people that look just like YOU!
Till next time, yinz crazy cartoons.....

4 DAYS AND COUNTING!!!!

Why should the wedding ring be worn on the fourth finger? You really won't believe it - but it is, as it says, Amazing.

There is a beautiful and convincing explanation given by the Chinese.

Thumb represents your Parents
Second (Index) fin ger represents your Siblings
Middle finger represents your-Self
Fourth (Ring) finger represents your Life Partner
&the Last (Little) finger represents your children

Firstly, open your palms (face to face), bend the middle fingers and hold them together - back to back

Secondly, open and hold the remaining three fingers an d the thumb - tip to tip
(As shown in the figure below):

Now, try to separate your thumbs (representing the parents)..., they will open, because your parent s are not destined to live with you lifelong, and have to leave you sooner or later.

Please rejoin your thumbs as before and separate your Index fingers (representing siblings), they will also open, because your brothers and sisters will have their own families and will have to lead their own separate lives.

Now rejoin the Index fingers and separate your Little fingers (representing your children), they will open too, because the children also will get married and settle down on their own some day.

Finally, rejoin your Little fingers, and try to separate your Ring fingers (representing your spouse).

You will be surprised to see that you just CANNOT, because Husband &Wife have to remain together all their lives - through thick and thin!!

How cool is that??? Till next time, yinz crazy guys.....

ONE WEEK AND COUNTING....

I MOST CERTAINLY DO!!!!!

Maxine Says....

Who I REALLY am!

Saw this on Kari's blog.....I've always told Sweetie Man that he brought out the ME who I thought I was (scraped away the years of crap heaped on me)...he brought out who I remember being when I was young.....The description below is about as close as you're gonna get to who I am...for real! (this is weird---except for the last sentence as I will be HAPPILY settling down!)

What Lucy Means

You are relaxed, chill, and very likely to go with the flow. You are light hearted and accepting. You don't get worked up easily. Well adjusted and incredibly happy, many people wonder what your secret to life is. You are a very lucky person. Things just always seem to go your way. And because you're so lucky, you don't really have a lot of worries. You just hope for the best in life. You're sometimes a little guilty of being greedy. Spread your luck around a little to people who need it. You are very open. You communicate well, and you connect with other people easily. You are a naturally creative person. Ideas just flow from your mind. A true chameleon, you are many things at different points in your life. You are very adaptable. You are a free spirit, and you resent anyone who tries to fence you in. You are unpredictable, adventurous, and always a little surprising. You may miss out by not settling down, but you're too busy having fun to care.

What's Your Name's Hidden Meaning?

It's CRUNCH time!!!

Honestly, I'm not that bad but I do hope Sweetie Man understands IF I do happen to get a little irritable with only 16 days to go to the wedding. I work better under pressure but I do have a slight tendency to focus intensely on things and if anyone gets me off track....I could bite their head off! Nothing major tho!!
A few of you did ask how the plans are coming along. Very well actually. Got a trial run on my hair and ended up having it highlighted for the first time in my life. Got alot of compliments tho alot of people also thought I got new glasses (see my post on "What Women Notice")...go figure! I also lost 22 pounds total since January so that helped alot...especially in my face I think. Yesterday, got my nails done in what's called "pink and white"...I just love getting "fake" nails! That is such a treat for me...never had it done and my nails are naturally thinner than paper! I just feel so GIRLY...something I never had felt till I met the Sweetie Man! Tonight is the "final" dress fitting...I hope. The hem was wrong last time so hopefully I can take that "baby" home today!
People are waiting till the last minute to tell me if they will be attending....a little frustrating but I have to admit, I'm the same way with RSVP's. Maybe next time I'll be a little more prompt.
So, it's all coming together for the most part and it's not even that big of a wedding. But it is fun and exciting...and the best part is that in 16 short days I'll be MRS. SWEETIE MAN for the rest of my life!!!!!
Till next time, yinz crazy guys....(check out my book blog...managed to get a quick book review in ...enjoy!)

Happy Easter....Happy Spring!

Won't you wear a sweater?

In honor of what would have been Mr. Fred Rodgers' 80th Birthday, March 20, 2008 is "Won't you wear a sweater day?" What an awesome man he was....he touched so many lives. I have my sweater on today...do you? Happy Birthday, Mr. Rodgers!

Happy St. Pat's day, yinz mcguys!

I'll be honest with, yinz guys....I have nothing to blog about!!! I've been busy getting ready for the Sweetie Man to come home from his work trip (gone since Janaury) and also staying very busy with our Wedding preparations. Next week we'll be getting together with our caterer, Pastor, getting our Marriage License, sending out invites, etc.....and we're not even having a big wedding.
I was surprised recently though with Sweetie Man making reservations for a honeymoon to......

.....shhhh...can't tell you yet....but this is a real picture of it! Needless to say, my mind is just going crazy...it's really difficult to concentrate recently, so you understand the lack of blogging!
Anyway, off to daydream...again.....till next time, yinz crazy guys......

You lost HOW much weight?!

.....15 pounds and goin down, my sweet little great nephew! (don't ya just love this pic) And I have to say the power of prayer works....cause I've been praying this time that I can stay on this diet and I've even gone past the point that I usually get stuck on. Okay, I know I'm bragging but with the wedding coming up and now I found out a "real" honeymoon....well, needless to say, I'm happy.
But I do have to vent for a moment....please keep in mind that if you know anyone who is struggling with weight loss or on a diet....please DON'T SABATOGE THEM! Do not try to tempt them with foods they shouldn't or don't want to eat. I have a few good friends that are very respectful of my dieting and I love them for it. BUT...then there are those who are not so respectful. I knew in my heart that it was a classic case of jealousy cause they never even mentioned the fact that I looked thinner (15 pounds, come on...) and sorta critized my choice in food. I'm safely losing about a pound to a pound and half a week and it is to my doctors' orders. And I plan to maintain once I get to the point he feels is good for my height and health. (which will probably be at least another 15)...but come on people...you wouldn't blow smoke into the face of a person trying to quit cigarettes or push a drink on a recovering alcoholic....why then would you push food on a dieter?
I don't get it. A friend of mine invited me over for her birthday and had this huge ice cream cake....and you know what she said? She said, "I know you're on diet so I understand if you don't have a piece." I wanted to go up and hug her!!!! I actually was an inspiration to her to start on her diet..now THAT's a friend!!!
So, in conclusion.....please don't sabatoge us dieters....encourage us....congratulate us....this is very very difficult....it is an addiction like anything else and we need all the help we can get!!!
Okay...till next time, yinz crazy guys......

Hey there, Polly....

...that happens to be my future husband's head you're pecking on! And you wonder why I want to marry this Sweetie Man of mine!!!!!

Till next time..."Polly wants a cracker"....yinz crazy guys!!

Happy President's Day....

....Oh, what the heck....go out and buy a new "mattress"....(get it? President's Day sales...mattresses on sale...oh, never mind)

Till next time, yinz crazy guys......