I'm in Love

HE'S dark, handsome, has a mustache, wears white all the time, always has a hat on....and he's always smiling......But I don't know his name.... would you like to see him?

Here

He

Is

and my husband's not jealous at all!

Craving Pancakes

I've never had a craving for pancakes until after making these


For the recipe go here

Meet the family

I was putting Belle, along with the rest of the "gang", down for a nap when she said, "Mommy, these are my cousins". They all have interesting names like: Fifi, Piggy, Bear, Teddy, and Baby....They're a wild bunch!

What Is Love

THE Bible says Love is

Patient

Kind

Does not envy

or Boast

Is not arrogant or rude

Does not insist on its own way

Is not irritable or resentful

Does not rejoice at wrongdoing

Rejoices with the truth

Bears all things

Believes all things

Hopes all things

Endures all things

L O V E

N E V E R

E N D S

(1 cor. 13 ESV)

That scripture was read at our wedding. Since our wedding, I can say, as with most couples, we have had our share of ups and downs in our relationship. We have gone through a lot of difficult seasons together and unfortunately those difficult seasons didn't always bring out the best in us. But I believe, with Gods help, and what He has been showing me lately (....correction... what He has shown me all along, but it's just now starting to sink in) that your marriage can and should reflect the essence of 1 Corinthians 13.

I was a bit under the weather this weekend and my darling husband displayed the most beautiful reflection of love when he allowed me to rest, alone, in my bedroom - and brought me this for lunch

Now that is love!

Here I am

USING my Pilates machine



I used the rebounder for a few minutes after reading a book that reminded me about our part of the equation in keeping our bodies healthy..."God expects us to care for the physical bodies which He has blessed us and not neglect or abuse in any way."

Exercise and nutrition play a huge part in God's plan for us to live in optimal health. More on that later...

Lunch

I'M trying to eat more healthy lately so here's what we had for lunch:

Tuna wrap, cantaloupe, and strawberries.

Giving thanks and strawberries

MY sweet mother brought over some Strawberries for us. She knows that we have been sick for a while so she also brought juice, crackers and a few other items.

I am so blessed...

to have wonderful friends (that bring me pie), and such a wonderful mother - that brings fresh fruit.

Thank you Lord for all the wonderful family and friends in my life.

What a bargain!

MY mother and I stopped by a local consignment shop the other day. I had no expectations of making a purchase but was delighted to come across these 2 cookbooks-that I had to buy.... I do have a thing for cookbooks you know..... The best part... I paid $2.50 each!!!!!

Feel the love

Today we are all feeling the love.... the love of others, that is....

I love random acts of kindness. I love doing things for other people...it's such a wonderful feeling to know you have done something for someone else.

Today, I, we, were on the receiving end of the kindness. First, Jack came home from school with a heart lollipop that someone gave him, and that made his day. Luckily I was able to find one for Bella hanging around our house - and that made her day!



And then, upon returning home from getting Jack from school, a wonderful friend of mine dropped off a pie for us! Peanut Butter cream pie that is. PEANUT BUTTER CREAM PIE!!!!! Thank you, thank you, thank you Aunt Sue! You are the best! This made my day.... wait till daddy finds out.... anything with peanut butter in it is like winning the lottery to daddy...



by the way, she made the pie herself!!!!

Good News!

I am going to be an aunt....again..

My sister is going to have a baby!!!!! And I'm sooooo excited!!!!!!!

Bella names her toys

Bella decided to name her stretchy rabbits today.....



"Mommy, this one is David and this one is Becky"

Little Missy's Cravings

+

=

Handsome boy

JACK emerged from the bathroom this afternoon sporting a new do.



He said he needed to fix his hair since his hat made it look funny!

Pizza Night

I love pizza night. And every once in a while we have "make your own pizza" night.

...The Yummy Toppings:

All grilled: Red onion, mini portabella mushrooms, fresh broccoli, and an orange bell pepper


Avocado, and yes, even pineapple...


Green and black olives


The kids love to make their own




My pizza


Jack's pizza


Bella's pizza

I would have taken a picture of daddy's pizza but he ate his.

Simple Pleasures

This makes me happy

No, not the donuts! Well, yes, they can make me happy (only the powdered sugar kind), but I LOVE my cake stand. L O V E it! I guess it reminds me of my father's bakery. I grew up surrounded by all kinds of wonderful sweet treats.... cakes, pastries, cinnamon buns, Philadelphia butter cake, all sorts of cookies, pies, coffee cakes, tarts, soft pretzels.....the pretzels...they were great! My dad grew up in Philly and when he moved away from there to marry my mother he took with him the best of Philly.... he unquestionably could make the best cheesesteak hoagies, cheesecake and buttercake....the best!

I miss those days....the bakery days. I wish I could travel back in time, as a grown up, and be able to go talk to my dad in the bakery again, and watch him as he magically worked the dough to form perfectly shaped rolls. Mine were never perfect like his. I would love to watch him make his alligator bread again....as he snipped the dough to resemble the scales on an alligators back and tail.

It was like watching an artist as he effortlessly spun the most beautiful roses out of icing. I don't know how many times I tried to get my roses to look like his, they never did turn out as nice. My dad is now retired and I am so blessed to be the recipient of all his recipes....the recipes that hold so much history.... they are all stained, some of them a little gritty - probably from some really, really old flour - some have oil spots on them, most of them are wrinkled or worn and faded... All telltale signs that once upon a time there was a baker that took a few ingredients written down on paper, and crafted the best baked goods you ever tasted... At least I think so!

Field of Diamonds

SOMETIMES I like to think that I am the first one to see the sun in the morning. I live just down from the mountain that hides the sun until it's ready to show its beautiful face. And when its rays hit the snow it looks like a blanket of diamonds has covered my back yard.



If you look close you can see the diamonds...it's spectacular in person



My back yard



Doesn't it look like a blanket...

100th Day of School

It was a CELEBRATION today for Jack's 100th day of Kindergarten! He came home with one hundred pieces of candy! Well, not really.... he ate some at school.... and it wasn't all candy - it was a mix of raisins, crackers, and a necklace Jack made.... but ate, so he couldn't show me.



What a good big brother... sharing his goodies with Lil' B!

"It was an accident"

That's all Bella said when I saw this mountain of tissues this morning...

I'm not quite sure how this could be an accident!