When you suddenly decide to make a breakfast cake with certain little girls so you can have a breakfast tea on the porch, and you want an apple theme because these certain little girls want to use a certain teapot, you quickly do a search looking for a recipe with ingredients on hand. That’s how we came to make Apple Coffee Cake and have breakfast and tea on the porch.Continue Reading
Ryan’s Birthday
Last night we celebrated Ryan’s 10th birthday at his Aunt Jamie’s
all ten of our grandchildren around the table
then cake and presents
It was a very warm summer-like evening (after snow and chilly weather a couple weeks ago) and the kids were playing out on the front lawn.
Shaela called to me to come outside and see this little one, obviously wanting to be part of the fun, peeking out the window from her crib.
Usually we take just the birthday child on a special outing but wanting to spend time with Jill and her family while they are visiting, we all went to Valley Forge today.
The weather was perfect and the kids had a great time
Brad and Jill
Brad Jill Shaela Brenna and Ryan
a fun shot
one more day of above average temps then it’s back to seasonal weather
Spring Break
Our kids were on spring break last week but our New York kids are on break this week and spending the time here with us. That means lots of get-together’s and lots of photos 🙂
My New Favorite Fettuccine Alfredo Recipe
I recently saw Lidia Bastianich prepare Fettuccine Alfredo using just a few ingredients. Although I already have a favorite recipe, I know it is high in calories. I made this version lighter and love how quickly it comes together as the pasta is cooking. Don’t be afraid to use the sage ~ it infuses just a hint of flavor.
Sage-infused Fettuccine Alfredo is an easy recipe for a lighter, healthier version of Fettuccine Alfredo. Serve with a crisp salad or topped with grilled chicken for a lovely Easter dinner, romantic Valentine’s Day or whenever you want a special pasta meal.Continue Reading
Sugar & Spice
Caleb’s Birthday
This handsome young chap just celebrated his 5th birthday!
PopPop and I made him a set of wooden chalkboard city buildings for playing with his cars
Project found on Hellobee
simple angles cut from 2×4’s
a good sanding and several coats of chalkboard paint applied with a roller
windows and doors drawn on with chalk
and ready for imaginative playtime
Chloe’s 1st Birthday
Chloe celebrated her 1st birthday. Well, unless you want to wait three more years until February 29th, 2016 for this leap-year baby.
(these sweet photos were taken by Jamie)
Remembering her tiny face from last year, PopPop John thought an outing for another Shamrock Shake mustache would be fun.
Chloe liked this idea. It is hard to see, but both she and PopPop are sporting green mustaches.
Sweet girl took her first steps her birthday morning and by afternoon was walking like a champ at our house.
Basket of Felt toys
Our granddaughter, Chloe Shiloah, will soon celebrate her 1st birthday. Since she is a leap-year baby, her birthday will be celebrated March 1st. I made her a basket of felt toys full of brightly colored, softies for her little hands.Continue Reading
Lily White’s Party
Lily White’s Party…
Our daughter, Jill was telling me how recently she used a saying with her children that she remembered her dad saying to her as a child as she and her sisters prepared for bedtime. She knew he learned it from his mom and wondered where it came from. John would tell the girls, “Time for Kitty White’s Party”. Continue Reading
With Our NY Kids
A few days after Christmas, John and I traveled to New York to spend some time with our daughter, Jill, Brad and their children, Ryan, Brenna and Shaela.
Our 5 1/2-hour drive turned into an eight+ one but we finally made it safe and sound.
Don’t Eat CASHEW! Game
Long before Elf-on-a-shelf became popular, this Elf, named CASHEW, came to our house each December 1st and magically appeared in various places throughout the month. Join in the fun with a game featuring this whimsical fellow called, Don’t Eat Cashew!Continue Reading
Best Buds
Friday afternoon I picked up our oldest granddaughter, Keri then her sweet friend, Annika, for a weekend full of fun activities. These adorable little girls were a delight and had my heart smiling continually as I listened and watched their interaction.
Anni is the granddaughter of my very dear friend of 28 years.
Our kids grew up together and are close friends.
Now, the children of our kids are growing up together and forming sweet friendships.
After getting PopPop and Jared, our first stop was McDonald’s for dinner and giggles. Even at 9-years old, the girls still had fun climbing and sliding in the Playland gym.
Next it was to our local high school to see a delightful production of Annie followed by ice-cream sundaes with all the toppings at home.
It was a late night, but Keri and Anni were up early and helped me make a pancake and sausage breakfast with tea in their own birthday-month tea cups. (The girls are 20 days apart in age)
Heaven knows why the kids are all fascinated about our crawl space. They couldn’t resist helping PopPop bring up boxes and boxes of Christmas decorations.
Then it was outside to gather leaves… again. Our yard did not look like we already spent days raking/blowing/hauling leaves to the front curb, so Jared, Keri and Anni helped PopPop gather more for the leaf collection trucks coming this week.
It didn’t take much coaxing from Keri and Anni for me to get out my childhood Barbie dolls. The girls played for a couple of hours on my bed enjoying the same dolls I played with at their age.
There were also pots of tea with cream and sugar cubes, art work created, Mad Libs to chuckle over and hours of chatter.
More Ice-cream, the Muppet’s Christmas Carol movie and finally bedtime.
Our church has two campus’s and this morning we will attend church at their campus and then enjoy a fellowship lunch together after service.
I haven’t done one ounce of decorating yet but I sure did enjoy every moment with these two cuties.
My Blessings
Work and Play
Oatmeal Cookies to the Rescue
What’s a Mom-Mom to do when her always talkative and friendly 15-year old grandson becomes a one-word-answer, not-much-to-say young man? That’s a heart Ouch! One that this mom of all girls never encountered. Oatmeal Cookies to the Rescue!
all is well
a little wet
a little wind blown
We had a couple of shutters blown off the house and a large, heavy bench from the porch end up in a flower bed, but nothing that could have been. We are very thankful. Many are still without power. The number of power outages in New Jersey from hybrid storm Sandy climbed to 2.7 million. As I type, our utility company still has 900,000 customers without power.
Yesterday I drove to Jamie’s for some time with the kids. Lots of traffic lights out and a detour from a downed tree but no problem getting there. Caleb was so excited to see a crew mulching fallen branches.
Drizzly cold and windy, we got some outside time while jumping in a pile of wet leaves
and a warm hug
a little baking
a 1st hurricane deserves a 1st lollipop ~ it was well received!
and almost shared with a friend 🙂
~*~
The news coverage and photos of the shore points are incredible.
Thank you for your thoughts and prayers.