Update

Hi! I know it's been a looooong time since I've updated. Really sorry about that. There been a lot happening around here & especially now with the holidays upon us. We're all still here, kids are still very busy keeping me running everywhere. I'll be glad when they can drive!!

I don't have much time on here so I just wanted to say Happy Holidays & Merry Christmas to everyone. I hope you all make cherished memories with the people that you love.

It's Too Quiet In Here

I sent Bret & Cody off to church camp yesterday & I actually thought I would enjoy some quiet time in the house by myself. But, I'm starting to think I don't really like it. I miss them so much already & it's just waaay too quiet in here. I don't know if I can stand this for 4 whole days. I know they're having fun though. I just hope Bret is taking lots of pictures for me & taking a few of her brother also. She's the only one with a camera. I don't think I would really trust Cody with a camera just yet. Well, I'll probably have pix to post next week from camp, cuz we all know how much I love pictures!!

Happy Father's Day

I have the best dad in the world & I want to honor him today. I am so thankful he is in my life and that he is healthy & happy. I have always been a "daddy's girl" & still am today.
I miss you so much Daddy, wish we got to spend more time together!!!! I love you!

**This is my dad & I in 1988, the day I graduated high school. He knew I was moving away that day. Who knew I'd never go back home.**

**My dad w/my brother & I & some of his grandchildren in November 2008.**

OMG, I received this cool award from Marlene yesterday!!!! How cool!!! She always makes blogging so much fun for me and she is so super talented!

Thank you so much girlfriend!! Please go by her blog & check out her work. She is truly an inspiration.
The rules for this award are.......

* post 10 honest things about yourself and post the award on your blog.
* give this award to some people who follow your blog or friends you follow.

10 honest things about myself:
1) I think you all know this about me by now: I ADORE TIM MCGRAW!!!!

2) In order for me to be a productive scrapper, I MUST have all my stuff spread out in front of me where I can see ALL my options. I just figured this out last night & think that's why I've lost my mojo again. It's too clean in here!!!

3) After living in our house for 3 1/2 years, we FINALLY have some good looking landscaping going on. Thanks to my hubby for that!!

4) I love sushi, could eat it every single day & never get tired of it.

5) I love the sun! I'm a sun worshiper from way back when. I wish it was summer all year long.

6) I don't really like animals. Now don't get me wrong, I'm not mean to them, I just don't like them. The only reason we have dogs is for our kids.

7) I color my hair every 5 weeks because I am 100% gray. I refuse to accept that!

8) I am the luckiest mom in the world. I adore being w/my children & feel so lonely (& guilty) when I'm not.

9) I see the power of God working in my life every day. I am amazed at how much he loves me & takes care of me.

10) I love butterflies & hummingbirds. Real ones & especially in scrapbook projects.

I’m giving this award to......

1) Tara

2) Kristie

3) Brittany

4) Julie

5) Emilie

6) Jill

So Much For That

Oh well, so much for my idea of "slowing down for the summer". Today I found out that I'm gonna be running kids EVERYWHERE this summer. Ok, Bret to dance practice a 2-3 times a week, Cody to football practice 3 days a week & working more cuz someone just quit & it's just me there, for now. Hopefully we'll have someone very soon. The bad thing is that both kids practices are during the day, during the time that I'm working, about an hour apart each time; drop off & pick up. UGH!!! Thank God that I have such an awesome job where I can come & go as I neeed to. I've also recruited my cousin, Somer, to help me out. She's not working this summer & she wants to make some extra money. YAY!!!! Thank you Somer-baby!!!! I couldn't POSSIBLY do it without you!!

Many Updates

Since my last post, Bret & I saw Taylor Swift in concert, along with Kim & Olivia. Soooooo much fun!!!!! Taylor is AWESOME!!!!

Hubby celebrated his 41st birthday.

Bret & Lee had their last school dance of the year & Cody went to his 1st school dance.

My brother Jeff & his precious little girls Dakota & Brilee came to visit. While they were here, we also got to spend time with my other niece Jasmine. I love having these kids around!

We went to see a Memphis Redbirds game. So many of our friends & family went with us to witness the 1st performance of Bret & the Nettleton Jr. High Dance Team. I'm very proud of them!!! They were awesome! I'm looking forward to a year full of dance performances.

And last but not least: we have these 3 beautiful Mallard ducks that seem to think they are now pets (or dogs). Jonathan has started feeding them dog food, so now they come up to the garage 3-4 times a day looking for food. The smallest duck even has a duck band around his leg. They're very cute, but are starting to leave a mess all over my garage by pooping everywhere. Now to find a way of keeping them in the pond & not in my grarage. Hmmmm...........

Well, that's all for now. Hopefully I can do a better job of keeping up from now on. I think things are finally gonna slow down for the summer.

Oh yea, I also broke down & joined Twitter!!! Follow me here: http://twitter.com/lolabeal.

New Posts

Wow, so it's been a while since I've updated. I haven't even looked at my blog in a couple months. We have been so busy!! So much has been going on & I have a bunch of updates that hopefully I'll get on here today. I did have a scrapbook night last night at my house with some really great & funny friends over. This is the 1st one I've had at my house, besides w/just Kim & I. I didn't get any scrapbooking done, but I did have lots of fun. I laughed so much, which is so much fun for me. My daughter had a couple friends over & they stayed up all night with us & now all the kids have been swimming today while I took a nap. Going to run some of the kids home & I'll be back in a little while to post some of the happenings going on in our lives.
Ta-ta for now!!

"Race To Witch Mountain"

I took the kids to see "Race To Witch Mountain" today. Our first spring break outing. It was such a good movie. Lots of adventure & I ALWAYS love a movie with The Rock (Dwayne Johnson) in it. I'm a huge fan!! He's just so cute!! Ok, enough about The Rock & back to the movie. Bret was a little skeptical about the movie because she loves the old movie so much. She didn't think the new one could live up to it. (She's a huge fan of old movies.) But about 15 minutes into it, she says "Mom, I'm glad I came now". Yea, I knew she would be.
Highly recommended. Cody, Bret & Lola stamp of approval.

Friday was such a good day. My baby girl, Bret, has been working so hard all week long at a dance clinic getting ready for dance try-outs for her school. They had the actual try-outs Friday morning & we had to wait til 3:30 to find out if she mad the team. Scan to 3:30pm...SHE MADE IT!!!!!!! WOOT-WOOT!!!! She was so nervous & so was I, even though I tried to hide that from her. So get ready cuz I'm sure there's going to be lots of pictures after school starts next year. She is now a NJHS DANCER!!!

Also, another shout out to my sweet online scrapbook & blog friend, Marlene!!! Girlfriend, you come up with the coolest ideas!!! I love visiting her blog cuz she always has something that I want to try. Like my pretty name signature on the bottom? She shared this great website where you can get make one of your own, or two, or three. I LOVE this so much that I had to share with everyone. Thanks Marlene!!! You rock!
You can get it right here:
http://www.mylivesignature.com/

Baby Pictures

Ok folks, don't you just love it when you find old pictures of your kids, like when they were babies? I just ran across a cd that I had made for my dad a few years ago of my kids. I printed a whole picture album full of pictures to give to him for Father's Day. So I've been looking at these pix & their sweet little faces, and boo-hooing like a baby! Brings back so many memories. I miss having my babies, but I am so proud of the awesome young kids they've grown into. Just thought I'd share a few. I have to admit, they were the sweetest, most beautiful babies I've ever seen. (I'm not biased at all...promise. LOL!)

*This is one of my FAVORITES. I actually have this one in a frame sitting on my tv.*

*Bret about 18 months old*

*Cody when he was just a little over a year old*

*Bret about 2 years old*

*Cody after his 1st hair cut, little over a year old*

*My precious babies**

Aren't they beautiful? Of course they are!! Now, please don't tell me if you think they are not. LOL!!

Snow Day 2009

We had a wonderful snow day in Jonesboro this weekend that started out of nowhere on Saturday. The flakes were coming down so hard and they were huge! It started covering the ground pretty quickly. It continued to snow through the night & when we woke up Sunday morning, we had about 5-6 inches. Wow, it was beautiful. But it didn't last very long once the sun came out. It was pretty much melted away by late Sunday afternoon. Cody did get out for a little while Sunday morning & enjoyed playing for just a little while.

A Wonderful Community

Finally....We got our cable back, which is also our internet. WOO-HOO!! I can't complain tho, because we did get our electricity back late Saturday night. There are still tons of people in Jonesboro & surrounding areas that still do not have electricity & even some with no water. All this due to the recent ice storm last week. Boy, you don't really miss the simple things in life till you have to live without them. There's been a lot happening this week & hopefully I'll have a new post up soon. But for now, I'm still praying for all those who are without electricity that they will get it back very soon. I am so thankful to live in such a caring & giving community. People are so kind here, always pulling together in times of crisis to help strangers like they're family, even when they need help for themselves. I could not dream of a better place to live than Jonesboro, AR. Would you please keep our state of Arkansas, also Missouri, Tennessee & Kentuky in your prayers? There are so many people who still need prayers & help.

If anyone who reads this needs a place to stay, please let me know. We have extra bedrooms & bathroom, with lots of extra room. We would love to have you as our guest as long as you need it. Hot showers, tv, kitchen, you can do laundry, use our kitchen & have lots of room for kids to play. I mean that, from the bottom of my heart. PLEASE let me know.
God Bless!

"How Lola Got Her Groove Back"

Well, as many of my friends know, I have lost my scrapbook mojo for about 7 months now. As much as I love scrapbooking, I had no interest what-so-ever in doing anything about it. I didn't even want to look at my supplies or go shopping for more supplies (like I need anything). So this weekend, at Kim's scrapbook birthday party, I had planned to take my "Breaking Dawn" book & read while everyone else scrapped. At the last minute, before I left home, I decided to grab a few things & my bag full of pictures, just in case the urge hit me. Thank goodness I did, because IT HIT ME!!! YAY!!!!!!!! Whew, I am SOOOO relieved. Hopefully, I can keep the MOJO this time, because I am really looking forward to getting together with my friends again for some all night crops. I don't know what was wrong with me, but I'm just chalking it up to hormones. Hormones get the blame for everything now, at my age.

Anyway, here are my newest layouts. I only got 3 done, but that's 3 more than I've done in the last 7 months. Thanks for taking a peek. :0)




....And that's....."How Lola Got Her Groove Back". Oh Yea......

Kim's 40th Birthday Party

We had a FABULOUS 40th birthday party for my best friend, Kim this weekend. Kim says this is the 1st birthday party she's ever had in her life. So Jill & I wanted it to be very special for her. We decorated everything in black/hot pink with a princess theme. We got her a flashing tiara & wand & a party beaded necklace. I made some awesome flower arrangements for the tables. (I can't believe they turned out so good because I don't do flower arrangements!) Lots of Kim's friends showed up for food & fun. Some even stayed for a night full of scrapbooking. We cooked chocolate chip pancakes & bacon for breakfast Saturday morning, & then another full day of scrapbooking. Kim & I were inspired by our friends, Karen & Jennifer, to take some funny glamor pictures. Wow, what fun!!! And the best part is that we put a smile on our sweet friend's face for a little while. She needed some fun & so did we. We have GOT to do this more often. Ok, so we've decided that we are gonna try to get together once every month or two for at least 1 night of scrapbooking & fun. Of course, I don't know how much scrapbooking we'll get done, but at least we're gonna have fun with some music & laughing & of course eating.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY KIM!!! I LOVE YOU!!!
**SILLY GLAMOUR SHOTS**

**THE PARTY**

100 Random Questions About Lil' Ol' Me

Just in case you were wondering......

1. Started my own blog – Done that
2. Slept under the stars – Yep
3. Played in a band – Nope, but you know my dream is to be a country music singer, but I'll settle for playing in a country music band.
4. Visited Hawaii – No, but hopefully someday!
5. Watched a meteor shower – Nope
6. Given more than I can afford to charity – I wish I could.
7. Been to Disneyworld/land - Not yet
8. Climbed a mountain – No
9. Held a praying mantis - EWE.....probably when I was a kid.
10. Sung a solo – Yes
11. Bungee jumped – Nope, not that brave anymore.
12. Visited Paris – Nope, but want to.
13. Watched lightning at sea – Yes
14. Taught myself an art from scratch – Yes
15. Adopted a child – No
16. Had food poisoning – Nope, thank God.
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty – No
18. Grown my own vegetables – Yep, I actually did grow tomatoes one time; mind you, they weren't very big, nor did they produce more than about 4 tomatoes, but at least I tried.
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France – Nope
20. Slept on an overnight train – Nope
21. Had a pillow fight – Yes
22. Hitchhiked – Never
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill – Ummm YES!
24. Built a snow fort – Nope
25. Held a lamb – Nope
26. Gone skinny dipping – Nope
27. Run a marathon – HA!!!! Yea, right!!
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice – Nope
29. Seen a total eclipse – I think I have.
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset – Yes
31. Hit a home run – Can't remember, but prolly not.
32. Been on a cruise – Still wishing for that one, too.
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person – No
34. Visited the birthplace of my ancestors – I guess, if that's Sharon, TN where I grew up. But if not, then NO.
35. Seen an Amish community – Nope
36. Taught myself a new language – Nope
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied – Nope, don't think that'll ever happen.
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person – Nope
39. Gone rock climbing – Nope
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David – Nope
41. Sung karaoke – Yes
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt – Huh??? I don't even know what that is.
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant – Nope
44. Visited Africa – Nope
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight – Yes....in Mexico on my honeymoon & it was so great.
46. Been transported in an ambulance – Nope
47. Had my portrait painted – Nope
48. Gone deep sea fishing – Nope
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person – Nope
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris – Nope
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling – Nope
52. Kissed in the rain – Yes
53. Played in the mud – Yes
54. Gone to a drive-in theater – Yes
55. Been in a movie – Nope
56. Visited the Great Wall of China – Nope
57. Started a business – Yes....a small one.
58. Taken a martial arts class – Nope
59. Visited Russia – Nope
60. Served at a soup kitchen – Nope
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies – Yes
62. Gone whale watching – Nope
63. Got flowers for no reason – Yep
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma – Yep
65. Gone sky diving – Crap No!!!
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp – Nope
67. Bounced a check – Yep.
68. Flown in a helicopter – No
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy – Well, my mom has them, which I hope to ever-so-gracefully sneak out of her house some day.
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial – Nope
71. Eaten caviar – Yes, but did not like it.
72. Pieced a quilt – Nope
73. Stood in Times Square – Nope, but on the bucket list.
74. Toured the Everglades – Nope
75. Been fired from a job – Nope
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London – Nope
77. Broken a bone – Yes, the stupidest bones a person could possibly break, that a doctor can do nothing about. Except for my arm when I was little.
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle - Yes
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person – Nope.....bucket list.
80. Published a book – Nope, not me baby. Hopefully Bret will be the author some day.
81. Visited the Vatican – Nope
82. Bought a brand new car – Yes
83. Walked in Jerusalem – Nope....bucket list.
84. Had my picture in the newspaper – Yes
85. Read the entire Bible – Nope
86. Visited the White House – Nope
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating – Uhhh....nnnno.....Passes out from blood here!
88. Had chickenpox – Yes
89. Saved someone's life – No.
90. Sat on a jury – Nope
91. Met someone famous – Yes
92. Joined a book club – Nope
93. Lost a loved one – Yes
94. Had a baby – Yes
95. Seen the Alamo in person – Nope
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake – Nope
97. Been involved in a law suit - Yes
98. Owned a cell phone – Yes
99. Been stung by a bee – Yes.
100. Ridden an elephant – Nope

Another Collage

I just had to show another collage that I created. This is my boss's baby, Trey, who I babysit 1 day a week. He's so adorable.

Man, I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this collage thing!!! Told ya I'd be making a bunch more of these things.

Photo Collage

At the beginning of 2008, actually at the end of 2007, I decided I wanted to take a monthly picture of my kids for a whole year to create a yearly scrapbook for each month. Well, I can't believe I did it, but I did. I think I may have missed 1 month, so that page will just have a space w/no picture in it, with journaling on how I forgot to take a picture that month. I'm hoping this will give more more inspiration to get back to my scrapbooking, now. I have been out of the mood for soooooo long.

I made this photo collage using Google Picasa with all the pics I'm going to use in the scrapbook. I have to say thanks to my good online scrapbook friend, Marlene, for actually giving me this idea. I saw one on her blog that she made & it was super cute! I can't believe I have been using Picasa for this long and have NEVER tried out that tool on there!! What is wrong with me???? I'll probably be making a bunch of these collages now, so get ready for it! Please take a look at Marlene's collage: (http://myspotofsunshine.blogspot.com/2009/01/new-year.html). She's very talented and I love her work. Thanks Marlene!!

PEPAW MILES

My beloved Pepaw Miles passed away on December 31, 2008. He was 94 years old & lived a long, happy, fulfilled life. This was a great man of whom I have many, many wonderful memories. Now my Memaw is left behind to carry on without him. They were married December 24, 1930. Wow, that's 78 years!!! They have 5 wonderful children & countless grandchildren & great-grandchildren. I worry about her, but I know she's going to be fine. She has my dad & all of her other children & grandchildren around to take care of her. I love them both sooo much. He is going to be greatly missed.

We will be traveling to TN today for the funeral. Please say a prayer for our safety traveling, along with many other family members who are traveling from out of state, and also for strength for my Memaw. I am so blessed to have such a wonderful family.

I hope you all have a wonderful & safe Happy New Year. God Bless!