When the days are hot and the kids are bored making a pitcher of summertime lemonade is a fun activity!
together
An impromptu overnight visit from Jill and family was super special!
They were returning from a week-long vacation in Myrtle Beach and made the 10-hour drive to our home to rest up before continuing another 5.5 hours to their NY home the next day.
See the center photo above… Ryan happily completed his first 5-mile run with his mom!
We made the most of their time here by having all of the cousins together on this hot, humid day.
Since it was another stormy day, the boys laughed and played on their various devices.
And the girls played dress-up and giggled a lot
Chloe tried to sweet-talk PopPop into giving her the cell phone
Abbey had just a few okay hours after her wisdom teeth extractions before a week long time of great discomfort. Her face is puffy in these photos taken at the Gazebo on Main Street of our town.
Weekend with the Littles
feeding Raider gold fish crackers
getting pics is not for slackers
lots of lovin’ all around
squirmy baby can’t be found
playing hard and fighting sleep
toddler antics make you leap
waffle breakfast summer days
soaking up the morning rays
climbing cherubs up in trees
help me PopPop, will you please?
giving little sister hugs
showing PopPop tiny bugs
ending with family party
times like these warm my ❤-y
Where Have You Been
we’ve been to Lenape Lake in Mays Landing where PopPop John
played as a boy while visiting his aunt and uncle
who can resist climbing an old wooden fence
showing the girls where he used to canoe with his brother and where we took their mom and aunts to ice-skate in the winter
the next day we stopped by our favorite Popes’ Gardens center and while it was still too cold for the annuals we wanted, we had fun visiting the alpacas, turkeys, pheasants and many other animals
and, or course, Rosie the goat
joining The Tablescaper for her new Oh the PLACES I’ve been !
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
Mustache Bash Birthday Party Ideas
My beloved had a birthday in January. Wanting to celebrate, get together with family and a few friends and looking for a time of laughter and fun, I decided to throw a party. A party with a Mustache theme. A Mustache Bash Birthday party. There is tons of inspiration and ideas packed into this post!
December Highlights
outside vignettes
inside
Our weekly Bible Study Community Group having a blast at our annual Christmas Dinner
The dearest folks that bring so much encouragement, wisdom, prayers and love to us and each other every week.
John’s Company Holiday Party.
Abbey is an employee here too, since July and someone took a photo of her and the co-founder/Executive Vice President because they are the youngest and the oldest employees.
Christmas Eve at Jamie’s playing “Don’t Eat Cashew!” game.
Enjoying the ambiance and Christmas Eve peacefulness of her warm home.
Christmas morning with Abbey
Watched (over and over) a heartwarming video of NY grandkids singing to us via cell phone video.
Erin, AJ and Jared & Jamie, Josh and family arrived late afternoon. They learned that Cashew was being extra mischievous and hid all of the Christmas presents. After dashing throughout the house, Keri was the first to find them in a large cabinet that recently housed our TV.
such fun
chilling after dinner
Look of fright on Chloe’s face as PopPop takes her photo.
She is a bit uncertain of him as were two other grandkids when they were babies.
Some little ones love guys and some prefer girls but they all come to love him when they get a little older.
Here he is trying to to divert her attention so she realizes he really is a nice PopPop
One of my favorite shots
The adults were still chatting in the dining room after dessert and I walked into the kitchen and noticed the kids playing with the trains and talking about the village houses and which are there favorite. Noah even remembered which ones were his NY cousins’ favorite.
It was so sweet to hear see them having a quiet moment at the end of some busy days.
Notice Caleb looking over the sofa arm 🙂
Crochet Gingerbread Hat
This adorable crochet gingerbread hat pattern was created by the talented Sarah from Repeat Crafter Me. If you like to crochet, you will love visiting her place and scrolling through all of her amazing projects!Continue Reading
Happy 3rd Birthday, Cambrie Noelle
Cambrie LOVES Minnie Mouse!
So for her Birthday I made her a hat.
The pattern is from Repeat Crafter Me
this little 3-year old sweetie melts my heart
peeking in the window
It was a rainy, chilly afternoon when Jared and I met Jamie and the kids at the Pop Shop
to celebrate Cambrie’s birthday in the quaint town of Collingswood, New Jersey.
A few years ago, Bobby Flay arrived at the Pop Shop for a Grilled Cheese Throwdown.
big bowls of ice-cream made everyone happy
and there might have been some noisy children too…
even in the rain the streets were beautiful
~*~
When Ella stopped coming for childcare back in September, I told her I would take her to our church’s Living Nativity. So, that is what we did Saturday night. I told her afterward we could go to Friendly’s for dinner and ice-cream sundaes. Much to my surprise, she wanted to head back to my house where we spent a couple of hours playing together in the nursery, She made me lots of plates of play food, played dress-up and read an American Girl magazine to me.
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
around the table
and Face Time with Jill and family in NY 🙂 
Work and Play
wheelbarrow rides
from this…
to this
Keri’s record of her time working with PopPop to move wood from the driveway to the back patio.
what a sweet girl she is
♥
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.
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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.