Family Week-end

Saturday -
My sister Mary Ellen prepared lunch for my sister Jeanie and I. It was so nice to be together as sisters. Of course there are more sisters in our family, but they live too far away to join us. Jeanie doesn't live in Lancaster County but was here for the week-end. Mary Ellen served wonderful chicken and rice dishes and some of her wonderful applesauce from the freezer....still icy! Jeanie brought some yummy brownies and I made fruit salad. After lunch we sat in the living room and looked at old photo albums. What fun! I forgot my camera, no pictures.

After I got home, I intended to sweep the floors and do a bit more clean-up. I just did not have the energy to do anything! So I didn't.

Sunday -
We went to church as we usually do. I held our sweet Zoe who fell asleep in my arms during the music. Love it! After church, Hubby and some other men from church went to a car show in Harrisburg. I went to Caraba's with Marcy, Scott, Paityn, Ellen and Kim for lunch! I was never there before....oh my word, the food was AMAZING! I got the chicken trio....I have half of each piece of chicken left for my lunch today. From there, we came to our home to hang out. Paityn wanted to play in the snow. She really wanted to make a snowman. Her Daddy and cousin Andrew were more than willing to help her.

Nana, I need a carrot!

But the snow had dried out too much to make a snowman.

They did shovel some into a pile...

Paityn told Mommy,

"we made the butt but not the head"!!!!

PopPop went to the barn and brought out a saucer.

Get ready, get set, GO!

Down she goes!

SOOOO much fun!!!

Rates right up there with making a snowman!



Eventually everyone ended up here for food (I didn't have much), football (a very boring game) and fun (always an abundance of that around here!). Of course, Gina and Joe were missing. Miss them!

We discussed and looked at pictures of houses near the beach. We are making plans for renting a house  in Delaware for a week in August again this summer. Looks like we may try a house in a golf resort. It's not on the bay like last year but has nice amenities. And a lot less expensive which is important to all of us.

Now it is Monday. The week ahead will be much of the same. I will take care of my littles, bad weather is in the forecast and I will be cooking, cleaning and doing laundry. And I will also be preparing to lead a Bible Study for the Women's group from church. Before I know it, February will become March and the daffodils will be blooming. Oh, I can not wait!!

Have a meaningful Monday!

Oops, not good!

Why did I do that? Let me start at the beginning....

I started my day with catching up on a book study I'm doing. Then I caught up on some cleaning. Ellen had an Aaron Acres activity tonight at 5:30 that I needed to get her to. Got her there on time, I think.....traffic was terrible! Went home again. Hubby was home by that time. We found some things to eat (I didn't cook tonight) then made our way to my brother's shop to pick up the van which was there to be inspected today. Picking up Ellen was next on our list. I got the bright idea that we should stop for some good coffee. We don't do that very often. So we made our way to the mall where he dropped me off at the door of..... Starbucks! I got a cup of coffee for Hubby and a cup of white choc. mocha for me.....and a brownie to share! Yummy! Hubs picked me up at the curb and we were on our way to get Ellen. Suddenly it hit me.....I didn't even think to ask for decaf coffee....I was drinking a strong Starbucks REGULAR ! At 7:30 in the evening!! Just where  was my head? Oh well, not finishing it was not an option.

After getting Ellen, we stopped at my sister's home so Hubby could fix a closet door for her. She had some pictures she needed an opinion on where to hang. We made some decisions and Hubby hung them for her.

Now I'm in bed.....guess who is not sleeping =(  My bad!

More Snow

Oh dear, can you stand a few more pictures of snow???

Taken around 7 this morning.

I wanted to be sure I got a picture before the wind blew the snow off the tree!

Later in the morning....

the sun is shining!

I took the pictures from the doors...

no desire to go outside!

Winter wonderland!

Hubby is getting lots of opportunities to use that 'new to him' snow thrower this year! He was tiring of clearing the driveway by shovel. (But, shoveling is a lot quieter at 5 in the morning) Oh well, it's so much easier on him!

Ellen has a day off from school today because of the snow. This has been some week! Half days Monday -Wednesday, off Thursday, she was to have Friday off but will now have classes.

 Hubby was home yesterday. Their work has slowed for the winter. (I would be lying if i said this does not make me nervous. For many years, my job was the steady one but I no longer have a job!) They were going to take Friday off but because of the snow yesterday, they switched it up. So we discussed projects..... Recently I announced to the family that I am tired of the kitchen being stuck in the 70's. I can live with the cabinets (am told they were bought from a Sears catalog in the 40's...that's not why I can live with them....it's cheaper to live with them!!) and I will live with the aging floor for now....I would love to refinish the wood boards under the old vinyl someday. So yesterday I was researching kitchens on the Internet. I want to paint the cabinets, take off the wallpaper (that my dear Mother chose and loved) and paint the walls, wainscoting and trim. I don't want to spend much....don't have it to spend anyway! I have some other ideas too. I'm good with coming up with the ideas! As soon as I decide on colors, I will start ripping off the wallpaper....that won't be hard, it's coming off at several places! So there you have it. There is a reason why I don't take pictures in the kitchen....it is really ugly! When we moved into this home after my Mother died, I thought that the wallpaper would never wear out.....she chose a really sturdy one which was so like my Mom. Made to last! Well, now it's coming off the walls and is past time for a change. Wish me luck in accomplishing this task! 

Have a few errands to do, some floors to sweep and then my sweet little ones come to spend the day with me and Ellen. Love it!

Have a wonderful Thursday!

Snow

It's snowing again! Wasn't to be much this morning but this is what it looks like....

Looks like a bit more than the slush that was forecasted! It was to stop till later this afternoon and snow more tonight. It's still snowing. Schools are closing early. 2-4 inches is now 6-9. 

The blue skies from yesterday turned cloudier as the day progressed. Something was certainly up - weather related, that is! A snow day!

Have a great day!

Now, that is better.....

So much better!

Almost feels like a heatwave =)

I would have taken the picture yesterday of this thermometer

but this one is hanging on the barn....

That was much too far to walk in the extreme cold

just to get a picture!

Look at those blue skies!

It really does feel so much warmer today. I like that! Yesterday the furnace was working hard just to keep the house between 65 and 68.....at one point I had to check if it was turned higher because it was running so often!

Have a great Tuesday! My little ones will soon be here. It should be a good day!



Baby, it's COLD outside!

Just in case you are having a hard time reading our rusty thermometer....

it says  -2 degrees.

It is cold.

This calls for a stay inside kind of day with my soft warm blanket and lots of hot coffee or tea!

I wasn't expecting that...

In my head, I had my day planned. There was snow in the forecast for the overnight hours which we got. It wasn't much but all the schools in our area have a 2 hr. delay this morning. Except our home school district. They canceled. Ellen goes to a special class in a neighboring school. I got her up and made her breakfast. She got her coat on and we waited for the bus. And waited. And waited. I decided to give the school district a call to make sure they hadn't forgotten her. That happened once before. I was told that no bus service was available today because the district canceled classes. When school is canceled, they believe the roads are not safe and do not provide transportation to other schools. Uh, yes. I usually know this but the roads aren't bad today and I really do not believe that is why school was canceled. It never crossed my brain that she wouldn't have transportation today!

So why did Manheim Central cancel today? They were to have a half day. It wasn't a scheduled half day. But a tragic accident happened on Sunday taking the lives of 4 young men from the high school. There is a combined funeral service tonight. My guess it had nothing to do with the condition of the roads this morning and everything to do with not worth a two hour delay and early dismissal.  I can't blame the district for canceling. There are many grieving kids, teachers and families. I don't know any of the kids or the families but they have been in my prayers this week. It is a terrible tragedy. I came really close to losing a child once. Close -  That's not what these people are experiencing. They are experiencing loss. Life without a child has to be hard.

But, couldn't the district make an exception for today.....and provide transportation anyway???

Re-calculating, Re-calculating.

I'll be ok. I was looking forward to a day with just me in the house. I can still get done what I need to do. But I did tell Ellen that I don't want her to be jumping around dancing and cheering all day. I just do not think I can handle that. (explanation - Ellen loves to jump and dance and could do it all. day. long.... nuf said)

It WILL be a good day. Yes it will.
And please say a prayer for the hurting families.

Dancing Aidan, Stylin' Zoe

Yesterday Aidan wanted to dance with the Wii Kids Dance. So he chose the songs, I got them ready to go,  then he took the control and went to it......

Oh my goodness, he is too cute!

Meanwhile, Zoe was having a snack of Cheerios and cheese....

Check out those tights and purple shoes!

She will be a stylin' girl just like her Momma!

In between having fun with the kiddos, I made a pot of beef noodle soup (had left over beef and broth I needed to do something with) and onion cheese bread for dinner. It was a good day!

A Snow Day (snow, ice, freezing rain)

Yup, we have a snow day! Ellen is thrilled to have the day off from school. It did snow during the night, then  sleet and now freezing rain. The roads are ok, they are being plowed and treated. But I am going nowhere! When I had a job, I worried way too much about road conditions. I had to go to work. But now, I do not have a job and I will only go somewhere IF the roads are to my high standards!!

That's what my car looks like this morning!

I hope it warms up above freezing so it won't be such a pain to clean off!

There is ice on that tree.

The neighbors' red barn always looks so pretty when it snows!

Ice on the bushes in the front yard.

The ice build up isn't too bad. The weather forecast says it's to warm up. I hope it does! While I was taking pictures, a red pickup went up the hill fish-tailing all the way. I suppose the driver was a guy that thought it was fun.....if I had been in that truck, I would've had some words with the driver!! Sliding is not fun even if  one tries to make the vehicle slide (my Hubby knows that what I say is the honest truth!!) 

As of 11:40am, the ice is not getting better. There is more build up than when I took the pictures. Yikes!

And now it's almost 2pm, the ice is melting! Yeah!

Here are a few pictures from Sunday when the family was here.

Aidan was pretending to be a baby...

sitting in Zoe's car seat!!

A very cute baby!

It wasn't long until he had enough of this!!

Aidan eating a banana while saying "cheese" and

wearing Nana's cowboy hat...that's what he calls my beach hat! He loves that hat!

Paityn is relaxing on her Daddy. She was not feeling well.

Sorry, Kim, I kinda caught you at an odd moment!

Yawning is ok....I was tired too but it was a great family day.

Now Aidan has a banana mouth on this one!

Oh well!

Several of our family were not feeling great on Sunday. Marcy was feeling all congested, Andrew was coughing as was Corey, I was needing to carry a Kleenex box with me. Lynn had strep throat last week. Paityn ended up being sick in her stomach before they left our house!

Aidan and Zoe will be here today again. This Nana better get moving. There are a few things that should be done before they get here!

Have a wonderful day! Stay warm!

A Good Day

Saturday is usually a cleaning day around here. Today was no different. Before I started cleaning, I did some ironing. I like to iron. I really do! There isn't much that I wear that needs ironing, But hubby has shirts that just look better after a session with me and an iron. I think I did about 6 shirts this morning, 2 of mine and 2 dresses for Ellen.

After the cleaning was done, I was off to the grocery store to get a few supplies for the family dinner I usually make each Sunday. I picked up some carrots, celery, salad and was headed to the coffee aisle when around the corner came a friend I have not seen in years! Carol and I met years and years ago at a Bible Study held in her church. Her youngest daughter was in the same class as my oldest daughter, so for those years we would see one another sometimes. Then life happened and our paths just didn't cross. I cannot remember when we may have seen each other last. She said she saw a comment on facebook recently that I made to someone she knew. We caught up on our kids and of course, our grandchildren!! Carol, I hope our paths meet again soon!

Home again and the food prep began. I made a chicken cordon blu casserole that's in the crock pot ready to go in the morning, made a quick dip for veggies, boiled some eggs for the salad and made a wonderful smelling pan of brownies. Oh they smell soooo inviting! But, I will be a good girl and wait till lunch tomorrow. Yes. I. Will.

There are some dishes that are waiting to be washed and some celery to be cut. And my energy is fading fast. My cup of tea will taste especially good tonight!

Looking forward to Sunday! Our church now has the sermons on the web. This past week I listened to two of them. And I'm ready for more! A blessed Sunday to all!

A lazy day

I guess it's ok to have one of those once in a while! I did a lot of child care this week plus I've been struggling with a cold and cough too. The cold is getting better, thank God!

I have the WHOLE day (well, till 3 when Ellen comes home) to myself and I don't feel like doing a thing! I read this morning. I put some laundry away and made another pile on the bedroom floor to put in the washer. Didn't get it there yet. I gathered some quarters and dimes and nickles so I can fill jugs with  drinking water at the grocery store....need to go there to get milk. I will wash up the dishes in the sink after I get back because that bothers me too much to let go. Maybe some others things will be impressed upon my will to do when I return from my errands =)

We will have to see. Must say, it's nice to have some down time!

Have a great Thursday!

God's Painting

God painted our world white......

White can be beautiful!

Friends, Mall, Coffee, Littles, Chicken Pie

What would the world be without friends? Thank God we need not know!

This morning I went to visit a good friend and former co worker. She recently had hip replacement surgery. I had wanted to go see her long before now but too many things got in my way. She is doing really good. We had a wonderful time sharing about our lives, our families, our love for people, how God has used us and will continued to use us for his glory. What a sweet, sweet friend! I am so blessed to have met her.

From there I made a quick stop at the mall for 1 item. My time was limited so  it was in and out....yup, I can do that!

Next I stopped at a grocery store to get coffee. I could not believe I had forgotten to get it yesterday when I shopped for groceries! We cannot be without coffee, ever! The store was very busy. It's to snow tonight.....good grief, make sure you get your bread and milk! Even if it is only 2-4 inches of snow (which really is nothing around here!).

Next stop - Aidan and Zoe! Yeah! I stayed with them at their house while Christy went to the dentist. Aidan didn't want her to go. He cried but soon got over it. We watched some of his favorite shows, played monster and hide and seek with a blanket, looked at a Thomas the Tank engine book, looked out the window at the snow.....we had fun! Zoe took a nap some of the time.

Christy went to a grocery store too so it was almost 5 till she got home. By then, I was ready to head to my home before the roads had a chance to get bad. They were fine, I took it slow and everyone else did too.

That was quite a day! For dinner, I made a chicken pie with leftover chicken from last night. It's still not finished....I just checked and the potatoes are not soft. Now, I like my veggies with some crunch but not potatoes! I put it back in the oven at 400...I hope to not burn it but at the same time, it's almost 8 PM! I guess we will be eating with the rich tonight....that's what a former staff person told me her Grandmother said when they ate late in the evening =)

Tonight I will watch The Biggest Loser, a favorite show. I hope to be able to stay awake till it's over. Last week I fell asleep during the weigh-in's and didn't see who went home! Hate when that happens!

Have a good night!

Fahnestock Christmas - January 8, 2011

Yesterday we had Christmas again! It's kinda nice not having all the family dinners over in a few days. We gathered at Mother and Nancy's house at noon for a big meal of turkey cutlets, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, baked corn, peas, green beans, baked mac and cheese, red beet eggs, lettuce salad, ribbon salad and lots of cookies and desserts. Everyone knows that a Fahnestock meal has many food choices! So yummy!

After dinner we clear the tables (paper and plastic makes it easy!). We make a large circle because it's time for the gifts! The children love this part of the day!

Part of the circle.

We start with the youngest child....that would be Zoe!

She looks at Mommy and seems to say -

What am I to do with this?

Aidan and Paityn are so eager to help the poor girl out!

Aidan opens his gift.

No help needed!

Somehow I missed getting a picture of Paityn opening a gift.

I know she asked Aidan if he wanted to help her =)

Andrew gets a book to read.

Ellen opens a new watch.

Her Daddy watches =)

Those two girls are cousins.

They are the best gigglers!

I'm not sure why they are giggling over Riley's book!

After we were finished opening gifts, I went upstairs with Aidan who wanted to play with some favorite toys.

While relaxing in the living room I could hear those 2 girls giggling and giggling! It brought back many memories of times when our daughters were that age and the fun they had with their cousins. Sweet memories! Also, my niece Diane's son came to me with a stack of books and wanted me to read to him.

I read every one of them to him. What a sweet little boy he is!

Later, I wandered to the basement again and this is what I found....

A large group of cousins playing a game.

It was the girls against the guys.

They were having a great time!

And a group of children happily played among the adults =)

Game players and the happy children.

I was holding Zoe and Paityn wanted to take a picture.

I saw her finger in the way ...

I was telling her to give the camera to me...

And this was the result!

I took this picture of our Zoe with the big brown eyes.

She is a doll!

We had a wonderful time. It was so good to have Mother/Grandma Fahnestock with us this time. When we were together in November, she was in the hospital. I know she enjoyed seeing her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren enjoying their time together.

From Hair appointment to Dentist appointment

It was a day! First to an appointment I look forward to every 5 weeks then to an appointment I wouldn't make, ever, if it were an option!

Let me start at the beginning....

• It snowed during the night! Fluffy stuff was all over the car and on the ground. It was really pretty and I wanted to take a picture. I never got to do that =[
• Ellen had a 2 hr. school delay this morning because of the snow. Now, that means that everything is pushed back 2 hours, that's all. So why does it always seem more rushed??
• I had to keep my morning moving because of my appointments. I also had to keep Ellen moving so she didn't miss her bus. I wasn't feeling up to rushing. For some reason, even though I slept ok, I felt extremely tired!
• Ellen made her bus, I cleaned off my car and was on my way. The roads were fine. I also noticed as I headed south towards Lancaster that the amount of snow was decreasing.
• Just as I arrived to my hair appointment, my phone rang. It was the dentist office wondering if it was possible to come in earlier. Nope, not today! (I was really hoping they were calling to cancel!)
• First appointment was a lot of fun. It always is! Jess is great and the other gals are too! Only one of them was there today.
• I was on the way to the next appointment. I wanted to get something to eat so my stomach wouldn't be growling while at the dentist. And I realized that I needed a bathroom really, really bad! Good grief, why didn't I use the restroom at the salon??
• What to do?? I decided to stop at a grocery store near the dentist office because...I knew where the bathrooms are (!!) and I could get a quick hot dog and drink for a dollar...only, it is now a buck fifty =/ 
• Ah, to the dentist. Not something I was looking forward to. I always feel so bad for the nice people who work there. It's not their fault I don't like to be there! I was to get the crown on the tooth they had been working on several months ago. In an hour and a half, I was out of there.
• It's more than an hour since I've been home, 4 hours since they started the procedure and I'm still numb! My lip, tongue, chin and cheek!

The day is not over. But, for now, I am resting! Feet propped up. Comfy blanket. All I need is a snack.....!

Please Pray

Please pray for my sick babies, Aidan and Zoe. I went with Christy to take them to the Doctor this morning. They both have coughs and fever....and infected ears! They are not feeling well at all. But both children are such calm kids and don't complain. They are now on an antibiotic so I hope we soon see a return to good health!

Christy had to work today and hated to leave them.....I promised I would let her know if they really needed her! I know she would rather be at home with her sick babies......but we are doing ok. Zoe just wants to be held and Aidan is content to be on the sofa watching his favorite Mickey Mouse movie!

A baby needs me....gotta go!

Cleaning, again!

I will not lie. I do not like to clean! Yet for several years while my three oldest kids were little, I cleaned homes for a living!! It was a job I could do while being home before the kids went to school and after. It worked for us.
Now I'm not working and I do not have young children. I'm cleaning....a lot, it seems.... for me.....and my family, of course!

Tonight I host our Women's Ministry. My house is not very dirty but it always needs picked up. And the dust seems to be a constant presence! I've been pushing myself all day to get it done......I'm not in the cleaning mood at all!

 It's almost complete.

The big reward is a nice long shower then fixing up my hair and putting on something nice and comfortable!

 Motivation to finish is great!

Back at it......oh, and have a great day!

Where is Christmas?

Yes, where is Christmas? It was here yesterday morning. But it's now in these red boxes ready to be taken to the attic.

It goes by way too quickly. The house feels bare. 

I think I'm minding the end of Christmas more this year because I'm not super busy with a job. My focus will now be on starting a new year with new ways to grow....grow in grace, grow in faith , grow in love, grow in........lots to work on!

I also have many areas of this home that need organization. Enough to keep me very busy during these cold months!

Wishing you (and me) a terrific Tuesday!

Sunday - the Lord's Day and Family day

We went to church this morning as we do each Sunday. The first Sunday of the month is mostly music and sharing. Our sweet Granddaughter Zoe loves praise music. I had the privilege of holding her this morning. As soon as the music starts, she relaxes. It took her awhile but she eventually went to sleep. I was in my Nana glory! I could sing and bless my Lord and at the same time be blessed by holding this sweet child in my arms!

For lunch today, we met  my sister and her hubby at Subway. What fun! We never eat there. But my sister has eaten at this Subway in our little town of Manheim often after church when they lived in the area. We came home and watched the Karate Kid movie. Ellen, Greta and I saw this movie during the summer in the theater. A good movie!

Later, several of our kids showed up to watch the Eagles and Cowboys game.

Lynn is really a Steeler's fan but enjoys an Eagles game with our family!

Scott is a Eagles fan, in and out!

Andrew is a Cowboy's fan!

Something interesting happening, guys?

Andrew is happy!

End of game....

Guess who won!

Pop Pop enjoys some Paityn time.

Paityn and Kim play games on my computer.

Wii games.

A Toy Story game for Paityn

Kim gets into the action!

I already stopped taking pictures before Marcy tried her hand at the Toy Story game. Then they put in a Donkey Kong game. More fun!

Corey and Christy and their children didn't come today. Aidan isn't feeling well. Christy is just getting over a nasty cold. Let's hope Aidan is not getting it! I hope Aidan will be able to rest and get better.

My sister and her hubby will spend the night here again and head home in the morning. Ellen will go back to school. I guess life will get back to normal! I will take down the tree this week. Sorta sad. But it needs to be done. It's a new year. A new start. I like that!