Dropping in

Before we left for vacation Cleopatra and her pet Giraffe stopped by for a little visit. Thankfully, I was here to feed them refried bean, salsa, carrot roll-ups and peaches. I don't even want to think of them dropping in for a visit while I was away. Thank goodness for small miracles.

Catching my breath...

As both of my readers have noticed, I have fallen off the blogging wagon. Not really fallen off, just drug a little. And since my cousin requested that I blog more often I will try to do so. I do have a very good excuse, the dog ate my blog...wait, no that won't work. I have been on a bit of a vacation, if you want to call driving for two days each way with two kids under 6 a vacation. We went back to Ohio for bit of a visit. Since Webby and I are both from Ohio (actually we graduated together, but that's a story for a different day, and you've probably already heard it anyway) and haven't been back since we moved away a year and a half ago, we figured that now was to time to go. Sweetie Heart had a break from school so we decided to take an exciting vacation back to the land of our birth. It was a great trip with lots of family visits and a few friends too. Unfortunately, when traveling back to a place that you have actually lived, one week is no where near enough time to see everyone you that want. It really stinks that it worked out that way. We did get to see a few friends, but not near enough. If you are a friend in Ohio and I didn't get to see you, I am very sorry. I really did want to, there just wasn't the time. However, consider yourself personally invited to come and visit us and have our undivided attention.

The kids really do travel well. Just as long as I pack enough snacks and stuff to do. Our car was completely packed. On the way home from vacation even more so. My amazing husband is a very creative car packer. He ended up stuffing things under the seats and in with the spare tire. Of course all the foot wells, except for the drivers (that's just unsafe), were filled with stuff as well.

We stopped in PA to visit my sister and her family and meet her newest little one. Very cute. Here are some pictures of my girls with cousins on both sides.


I think that first one really show the different personalities of the kids the best.

When we got to PA my sister informed me that she wanted to come, too. Then after seeing the girls play together she called our mom and asked if they could come too. Well, you can imagine what a grandma would say to the opportunity to have all of her grandchildren together. We had a marvelous time. Big D had a great time playing with her older cousins and little C cried, but also got held a lot by everyone. And I got puked on... 5 times in one evening. Oh the joys of babies. But they do smell good, don't they?

We got to visit with the H family in Ohio. They really are like family. We walked in and she started giving me clothes for Sweet Girl and even some stuff for me! And I must say it feels pretty good to fit into stuff that used to be hers. I love D like a sister and wish they would move closer to me, like right next door. Or even in my town. That would be okay, too. Here's the beautiful D now.

And don't you love the computer growing out of her head. I took that picture myself. Don't I have me some mad skilz?

We went to the zoo. Whet for a mini train ride at the zoo. Went for a ride on a really fast carousel that scared the dickens out of Sweet Girl and probably scarred her for life. Drove through the Pittsburgh ghetto because they closed the interstate for weekend road work. It was a ton of fun, but I need a vacation from my vacation now.

On both ends of the trip we stopped and stayed at Chez Hults. They are great people and are up to having us invade their space and camp out on there floor whenever we're in town. Here's a great picture of their twins and our girls.


I think I'll do a post later with just pictures. There are just too many from which to choose. (How's that for creative wordage. I'm trying to not end my sentences with prepositional phrases. Mostly because I have two friends that are writers and I can see their faces cringe whenever I do.)

On whom do you rely?

So I just linked over to this article from one of my favorite bloggers. This really got to me. Sometimes I really need to reflect a little about how much I truly do need my maker. I have been blessed in so many ways, and yet I forget. I think that what I am doing is all about me. When in reality everything that I have and everything that I need comes from my Heavenly Father. He knows me better than I know myself. He knows what I can handle. He loves me with a love that never ends. He wants me to come to Him, to rely on Him, and, sometimes, when I don't He humbles me. Then when there is nowhere else to go I turn to Him. In reality, that is the first place I should be turning, not the last. I love Him deeply, I am grateful for everything that He has given me and yet when was the last time I told Him?

Bedtime Stories

I was going through Sabine's projects and school work tonight. I have been letting it pile up for awhile now. So due to the fact that we are headed back to visit family I decided to prepare them for the trip. We will bless the lives of our family with her beautiful works of art. Anyway, separating the save from the recycle and ran across this:







I laughed so hard I almost wet myself!! Pretty much every night after I put them to bed I hear them jabbering away. I can't really hear what they are saying, just that they are talking. So apparently, this is what has been going on.

On another note. I got my haircut on Wednesday. It's shorter then I usually get it. I also trimmed Anika's hair. It seems that Anika must be cuter than myself because everyone seems to be noticing Anika's cute haircut, but not mine. But that's okay...I'll get over it. Maybe next week they'll notice.

A couple of things

So here is another masterpiece by Sweetie Heart. It had water spilled on it, so some of the color ran. Curse you washable markers. I love you...I hate you...but mostly I love you. I forgive you...this time.



I do need to say that she is not coming up with these ideas and drawing them all by herself. Yes, she has natural ability. It is being enhanced by taking a drawing class after school. It is called Young Rembrandt's. It teaches the language if art as well as technique. She loves it! And it really is getting her out of her art"box."

Here's a picture of Sweet Girl. Isn't she adorable. And she loves her some books.



Yes, those are football helmets on her pajamas. She calls them her cookie jammies. And, no I am not a football fan. I am a cheap fan. Girls pajamas on eBay cost a lot more. I could get 4 pair of cute girl color feetie jammies for what I paid for 8 pair of boy feetie jammies. Besides she just sleeps and them and doesn't know the difference. I do admit that I put her in the red jammies (also with 2 small football helmets on the chest) for Christmas. Because, you know, pictures.

Lastly, I was tagged by my sister to do the book tag.

Here are the rules:

1. Pick up the nearest book (at least 123 pages)
2. Turn to page 123. Find the 5th sentence
4. Post the 5th sentence on your blog
5. Tag 5 people

Believe it or not, I had to get up and grab a book from the bookshelf. I picked the first one on the top shelf. This is a kids' book of miscellaneous information. It's called The Knowledge Factory: A lot of facts about a lot of things. The 123 page is about motorcycles.

It works: but wear on the rotors, poor fuel consumption, and high emissions counts against it.

I don't think I have enough reads to tag people specifically. So I'm tagging anyone with a blog who hasn't done it yet. Cheers!

The Artist

No not that one. I think this one is much better. Of course, she is mine. So let's just set back and enjoy a few of the amazing pieces of art that have been created at the hands of my amazing Sweetie Heart.







And here she is. Isn't she beautiful?!



Let us not forget that she's only 5 3/4 years old.

Hey old lady!

The other morning sweetie heart was getting ready for school. It was raining a little bit and I told her to get her umbrella. It's one of those kid sized umbrellas with a hooked end.


Sweetie Heart: (hunching up a bit with umbrella hook side up) I'm an old woman.

me: Put on your backpack.

SH: But old women...yeah old woman wear backpacks.

me: They do?

SH: Yeah, you wear a backpack.

me: (chuckle) So...I'm an old woman?

SH: Well... you're an old lady.

me: Thanks, young lady.


So I guess to a 5.75 year old, an almost 34 is an old lady. So here's to all you old ladies out there. May you become an old woman in many years. Of course, to my daughter that might be next year. Here's a picture of the old lady now, taken by the young lady (if you couldn't tell by the angle.) That's her art in the back ground.

WFMW: Best Ever Measuring Cup

Every kitchen should come equiped with one of these. It is a must have! I know it is a little weird to sing the praises of a measuring cup. But look at this thing! It is awesome! My grandma gave me one of these when I was a teenager. I loved baking even then. I fell in love. I don't think I could live without one of these.
It is perfect for oil and honey and all those other sticky things that are impossible to get completely out of your normal measuring cup. You just push it and it scrapes down the sides. You can also measure multiple ingredients at the same time. Plus as an added bonus you can also use it to convert cups to tablespoons, etc. Awsome! And that's what works for me. For other helpful hint visit Shannon @ Rocks in My Dryer

Tribute

I love BNL! this is a really great video. One of many on youtube. Check them out!

WFMW- Delicious Turkey

Tired of the same old turckey every year? Tired of dry turkey? If you like garlic, you will love this easy recipe! I found this recipe for chicken so I increased the recipe. Everyone raved over it! This recipe is for a 3-4lb chicken so increase it according to the size of your bird.

Delicious Turkey

1 teaspoon dried Rosemary
2 teaspoons Salt
1 Tablespoon coursely chopped Garlic
2 Tablespoons Extra Vergin Olive Oil

Mix together and rub between the skin and flesh. It's a little harder to get to the legs and thighs, but if you cut the skin a little you can use a spoon to get some in there. If there is any left over throw it in the cavity of the bird. If there is time to let it marinate great, if not no problem. Cook your bird as you normally would. This makes the meat nice and moist and very flavorful. I hope this will make your Thanksgiving even more tasty!
For more helpful hints visit Shannon @ Rocks in my Dryer