Killer Lymanade Recipe

YOU WILL NEED:

7 KEY LIMES

or 3 REGULAR LIMES

1 CUP SUGAR
6 CUPS WATER

Cut limes in half(into quarters or eighths if smaller blender), put all ingredients into blender,
blend on high for 2 minutes. Pour through wire mesh strainer into pitcher,add ice enjoy!

Things not to do your first week at a new job...

1. Do not try to retrieve that stray piece of paper from under your desk drawers using your foot. It might turn out to be a sticky "rat trap" that you get to spend the next 10 minutes prying from the sole of your shoe. If you do intend to try this make sure you wait until almost everyone is gone for the day - much less embarrassing. Note to self - find out if the building you will be working in has rats BEFORE you accept the position!
2. Do not attach your proximity key/ID badge to the top of your pants. You just might fling it into the toilet and and have to retrieve it, wash it in the sink and dry it with the hot air dryer on the wall. All the time praying it will still work so you don't have to tell the IT guys that you tried to flush your ID on the 2nd day on the job.
3. ID badge part II: Do not put your id badge in your church bag with the magnetic tape that you cut up in little pieces to hold up visual aids.... Remember the IT guy said "keep it away from anything magnetic".... more praying ensues. I am a very blessed girl - it still opens the doors.

magnolias...

This is a photo of a magnolia blossom from the tree outside of our front door. The magnolias are so beautiful!

Amber and Ashley turn 18!

We had a great surprise mini party for Amber and Ashley at 12:01 am the day of their birthday. We surprised them when they came home from a movie "last night 17" bonding time ;o) They are wonderful girls and we had so much fun getting ready for the party. Haley blew up balloons, Nick tied them. I pulled off pieces of tape and Haley put up all of the streamers. It looked great. When Noel and I got home with the girls - Haley and Nick blasted them with silly string. We toasted at 12:01 with their favorite sparkling grape juice. Such a great time.

Shanna's famous chocolate chip cookie recipe

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Cream Together:

1 cup shortening ( I use Crisco Butter Flavored)

1/2 cup white sugar

1 cup brown sugar (I use light brown sugar)

1 teas. vanilla

Add:

2 large eggs - beat well

Sift and Add: (I stir the dry ingredients together in a seperate bowl and then slowly add them to the wet ingredients)

2 1/2 cups flour

1 teas. soda

1 teas. salt (I only use 1/2 teas.)

After above ingredients are mixed together...

Stir In:

1 cup chocolate chips (I use milk chocolate)

optional 1/2 cup nuts

Drop on cookie sheet and bake in oven at 375 degrees for 8-10 minutes. (It always seems to take at least 10 minutes for me)

Chelsea and Cahleb come to visit

We had a wonderful week with Chelsea and Cahleb here in Texas. Spent time at the pool. Saw some sites around Houston. Ate lots of yummy food! Chelsea reminded us all of how much we LOVE rice krispy treats and Shanna's special chocolate chip cookies. Delish ;o)

I'll post some pics so you can see some of the fun we had.

We just had the time of our lives on a 7 day Eastern Caribbean cruise with Noel's company. Nicholas, Amber and Ashley were with us and that made it so much fun. We went to Puerto Rico, St. Thomas and St. Maarten. The weather was wonderful and we ate and played until we were undone. The kids had so much to do by the end of the week they were pretty wiped out too. It was fabulous.