A friend's blog

The great thing about blogging and social networking is you meet great people and sometimes discover people you already know are doing the same!  I recently joined another group (Amherst Moms), and the coordinator of the group has a blog as well.  She has a fun one describing life as a mom to her children, dogs and husband....very cute!  Check her blog out at www.holyboogers.today.com.  Plus, she's lucky enough that she gets paid for every click on her blog, so go check her out!!

Today will be spent getting ready for tomorrow's party.  Talk about last second, I finally decided this morning what I will be making...so off to cook and do all the final touches to make the house warm and inviting. 

Yesterday was a blast.  Isabelle and her friends destroyed my house and had a great time doing so!!!  They painted, glued, ran, screamed and giggled the afternoon away.  Isabelle crashed

 about 30 minutes after everyone left.  She was so tired and slept with a smile on her face :-)

(One quiet moment)

(Having fun playing and creating)

(Before everyone arrived - the art play area)

iMac is here and cooking with Isabelle

My budding chef and I decided it was time to use some bananas that were not going to be long for this world and make some yummy homemade muffins.  Isabelle *loved* being able to pour, mix and spoon throughout the experience - as clearly noted by her BIG smile

I am also thrilled to announce that this is my first posting using my new iMac.  Some things are intuitive while others, well, let's just say I called Apple support three times last night and have the toll-free number close at hand.  I usually don't get this excited about electronics, but WOW, I really like this thing.  Very easy to use and takes up so much less space....great for those of use who do not have a lot of space to spare.  

Still getting ready for Saturday's Holiday Open House.  Starting to get some of the finishing touches accomplished.  I wanted (and have done) to fill a vase or glass with lemons and cranberries as a center piece for the dining room table.  I was just about to go out and buy what I wanted to use when I discovered I already had something....a vase from a long time ago.  Sometimes being a bit of a pack-rat can be to one's advantage!  I'll take pictures and share.  It looks stunning!  Get creative this holiday season and see what you have laying about to use as decorations.  You may surprise yourself as I did to myself!

Awaiting my iMac

Today is the day my new iMac arrives and I am waiting with bated breath. Everyone I know who has one raves about it. Being this will be my first iMac or computer from Apple of any kind, I hope it is as good as noted. To complete my Apple set, I will need to get the iPhone....not sure about that one yet....iMac and iPod are pretty fine right now.

The Holidays are Here

(Possibly the picture for our Holiday cards)

Thanksgiving was really great. Spent time with both my Mom and Al's family, and it was really very nice. Isabelle had a blast playing with her cousins...as any kid should! Now, I am prepping for both Isabelle's "kid" birthday party (Thursday) and our Holiday Open House (Saturday). This month is a busy one. Every weekend something is going happening, and the weekdays are no less busy. Dinner parties here and the like. Wow, when January comes around, I'll be bored!

Joined FaceBook, and was amazed at how many of my friends are already a part of it. Also joined Twitter....though no one I know is on it as of yet...working on that one!

(Isabelle and I)

Over the weekend, we went to purchase our Christmas Tree, and had a lot of fun doing so...as the pictures below indicate. The house is almost all decorated. I have decorated an artificial tree in our screened-in porch, and it looks awesome. Used red and gold decorations only, and it looks grand!

(Isabelle in action!)

(Helping Daddy find the right tree)

Photo Session Preview

A preview of the great pictures taken at Isabelle's most recent photo session.....just too cute!! (Taken earlier this month.)

A Murphy's Law sort of day

By Murphy's Law, I am not referring to the TV show (never watched it, so truly do not know if it relates or not), but more to the old saying. Well, today was one of those days. It started yesterday with Isabelle getting a little cold. So, instead of working, I spent the day with her. We cuddled on the couch, watched movies and just plain had as much fun while being quiet as possible. This morning, my computer has decided to meet its maker. Normally, annoying as it would be, I would not be too stressed. Alas, tomorrow is a big event I am planning and was hoping to spend today getting the last minute items completed. Instead, I spent the day trouble-shooting my PC with Dell and then configuring Al's laptop so I could get some work done. It is 9:30pm, and I am so tired!!!

So, no pictures yet and I need to get to sleep. I may watch a Sherlock Holmes movie before falling asleep...I need something to relax and unwind my frazzled mind ;-)

An afternoon with horses

It is a beautiful fall day and Isabelle and I headed to the barn this afternoon. I am happy to report that my love of horses seems to be passed on genetically!! Isabelle did not want to leave and we spent over two-hours watching, petting and hanging out with the horses at the barn. She has not been to Denise's since she was about one, so it was totally new and exciting. Not to mention she has not been so intimate with and seen so many (over 20 horses were visited today!!) horses in one spot. She was in heaven. She cried that she did not want to leave...her exact words "No Mommy, no go home, stay here with hee hees (horses)". We were not even half-way home and she fell asleep. And with good reason - we spent most of the time outside doing all sorts of horsey activities. Now, this is my kind of play date ;-)

BTW, Denise has been my trainer for over 10 years. She has a fabulous stable - Southwind Farm, and you can check it out at her website (www.southwind-farm.com). She is planning on updating it soon with more great pictures and additional info!!