Saturday, November 30, 2013

It Looks like Progress


The electrician was here on Wednesday. 
Hubs and Corey had the day off on Friday.
Progress!!

 Insulation!



 Drywall!!



All thanks to our resident carpenter ♥



Soon ready to start painting,
we hope!

Hubs says we can start painting before the windows go in.
Yeah!!

Thursday, November 28, 2013

To all my Readers....

May your day be filled with more than Happy.....
                  May it be filled with Joy......
                                 whatever, where ever you find yourself today.

Because, a Happy Thanksgiving is not dependent on
 circumstances, things, or abundance.

Wishing you a 

Joy filled Thanksgiving Day!!


Our day, so far, has been filled with music and dancing.......
Macy's music filled Thanksgiving Day Parade
and 
Ellen dancing ♥


Tuesday, November 26, 2013

Family ♥

I'm sure the readers of this blog know that I'm over the moon in love with my family. I am...and I'm not shy about it either!

This past Sunday we had the most wonderful time with some of my siblings. How I was looking forward to seeing my sister, Barb, from Idaho! We met at our sweet Mary's house in the afternoon then had dinner with the next generation (which was mostly my kids and grands) at the community center in Mary's development. A warm fuzzy kind of day ♥

 My brother's wife, Nancy, show Barb and John
 the book she made of photos from their trip to Idaho in May.


 This is Sammy,
the delightful grandson of my sister, Jean.
He is SO cute!!

Dinner -

 Soup - 
I made Cheeseburger soup and
Black Bean Chili


 Mary Ellen made Chicken Corn Noodle



 Sandwiches, veggies and dip
and more...



Pumpkin Pie!!
and an Apple pie, too.
All made by our Sweet Mary.
Her pies are SO good!


 Brinley...
you cute little peanut!


 Big long table full of people I love ♥


 Shuffleboard - 
Aidan and Scott...



Grandma Mary and Paityn =)
and 
Brinley over there with the Blue Rabbit.




 Gina and Kim came after they were finished working.
Love all these girls!

Mary Ellen, Barb and me.
Jeanie had a 2 hour drive home and left before this picture was taken.

Jeanie, Barb and I sang together
as a trio ever since we were little girls.
Of course, we sing when we are together...
and we still get the giggles, too!


Someone thought it would be nice to get a family shot
of us since most of my family was there,
even though Marcy and Scott's kids were dressed for bed.
Not sure what was so funny
but it must have been hilarious...
look at Ellen!

It's just hard to get this bunch to behave =)
I love them anyway!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Blessings! Happy Thanksgiving from our bunch to yours!

Friday, November 22, 2013

My Week

It's Friday AGAIN!
Another week with out a post. I have such a boring life, hehe.
I actually did write a post a couple of days ago but it sounded so blah and boring, I never published it.

So, what have I been up to? (minus the cooking and doing dishes, laundry, cleaning, etc........)

Gina, Zoe, and I went to Target on Tuesday. I really like that store. Zoe had such a wonderful time looking at the Christmas decorations and toys. I had a wonderful time using coupons from my phone, smile. I found Archer Farms peppermint coffee pods that are really good.

Thursday morning found Gina and I at the dentist office. Gina was having work done on her teeth and I got to relax in the waiting room. Love that!! (I still do not like going to the dentist even though our dentist is the nicest man!) This office plays praise and worship music from a satellite station.  Love it! There were times when I could barely stand not singing and lifting my hands in worship....but I really didn't want to make a spectacle of myself. So, I sang along in my head and praised my maker....all while I was reading a book. So blessed! I later told them that I was enjoying the music, so much so that I had to sit on my hands. The receptionist told me that if I needed to lift them to worship, I was to go right ahead and do so! Dr. Hicks, you are the best!

Zoe has some beanie baby animals that she calls her pets. She has given me a blue rabbit to be my pet. I feel like a bad mommy when she finds my pet just sitting any old where - and I'm not with it! She brings it to me and lets me know I forgot it =) She handles them like they are real...carries them ever so gently, strokes them, rubs their ears. So sweet!

Christy worked a lot this week so I had childcare duty a lot. That fills up a week!

I made dinner every night. Sometimes the inspiration just comes as to what to make and other times I just really struggle. It was mostly a struggle this week. Gina made a broccoli cheddar soup one night. That was yummy! Tonight it was hot dogs, baked beans and mac and cheese.

Dale and Ellen are at another football game tonight. Manheim Central keeps winning!

My sister, Barb, and her hubby are flying from Idaho to PA today. We will be together on Sunday. I can't wait!!

That's about it. Thanks for visiting. Blessings to you today!


Friday, November 15, 2013

Almost a Week

It has been almost a week since I wrote a post. Time flies!

  • We recently passed two heartfelt anniversaries. Nov.7 was 31 years that my Mama went to heaven. I miss her so much. Some day I will go to my attic to gather some pictures of her to post. She was a very special lady but never thought that way about herself. Nov. 13 was 9 years that my sister Janet went to heaven. It was so unexpected. I still miss her tremendously.
Janet is on the left in the blue sweater.
This was taken the end of October just weeks before she died.
  • Don't hate me....I'm listening to Christmas music even though it's not yet Thanksgiving. I LOVE Christmas music. I LOVE Christmas. One month of it is just not enough for me...I must start early!
  • I'm watching Hallmark Holiday movies as I can, as well. Sure, some of them are cheesy...but I love them anyway. Nothing wrong with some feel-good warm-fuzzy stuff in my busy world ♥
  • I'm not wrapping gifts at Boscov's this year. Feels a bit sad but I just cannot fit in any time for it. Gina and I were doing some Christmas shopping today. She got her gifts wrapped and Fran was already working! It was so good to see that she was able to help this year. Last year neither of us were sure if we could do it again. I enjoyed working with her so much.
  • I'm working on the Women's Christmas Brunch at church. Nether I or the other leader feel like we have much time for this but we will put it on =)
  • I wish I could say I accomplished much this week. I don't feel like I did but my week went lickety-split fast!!
  • Zoe is a flower girl in a wedding tomorrow. Yes, I will post pictures as I can! Christy is in it too.
  • Aidan wants to bake cookies. Guess I should finish up this post!
Time to get the Christmas music started and bake some cookies =) Mmmmmmm!

Saturday, November 9, 2013

It's a Beautiful Day!

It's a beautiful day. Our leaves took their good old time getting pretty, but pretty they have become. And pretty they are as they fall. The kids are loving all the leaves...what kid doesn't??

Earlier this week -

 We found a rake in the barn.
Aidan went to work on making a plie.


 Cuties ♥


The leaves have been falling like crazy the last few days. Yesterday the wind blew some in piles, some right up against the kitchen door, and some blew across the road to the neighbors yard and across the field next to us. 

Corey and the kids had some fun raking and playing today. Leaves are SO much fun!




Where are the kids??


 Zoe says, Here I am, Nana!


Soon Aidan popped up, too =)















Yes, it's a beautiful day =)










 To be a kid again =)





Leaves are falling, falling...............


























**********************************************************************

While all this activity was going on outside, Hubby was busy inside....

 Not sure what the appearance of circles is from....
but this is the progress of the reno project.
Hubby took off the old plaster on the outside walls
so he can insulate them.
A window will go back in the space where it was taken out
many years ago to make room
for a chimney for a wood stove.
The wood stove was taken out during the renovation to make a downstairs
 bedroom and bath  for Marcy
and for the deck.


Lord, have mercy!
It has to get worse before it can get better =)

******************************************************************************

Happy Birthday to my Mother-in-law!

This is one of my favorite pictures of her...
Christmas 2006 
(not certain of the year, but it's close)
My MIL on the right and her sister, Mildred, on the left.
Such delight is written on their faces as they watch
loved ones open Christmas presents.
Beautiful!


Blessings to you today!


Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Pictures

Pictures....Family.....Fun! If you don't like to look at pictures, feel free to skip this post!


First, two which I forgot to post from Brinley's party - 

 While Brinley was opening her gifts,
Zoe found a book and took it to Scott's Dad
for him to read to her!
So sweet!!


Poppy with his two youngest Grands =)

Random pictures - 

 Ellen holds a chick at Cherry Crest Farms.
Holding the chick was her favorite activity!


 Last week we had several really nice days.
The kids had a great time playing outdoors
and..
getting dirty!!
They love to play in the gravel driveway.


 Christy found this cute horse by the road.
Zoe loves it so much.
Here she shows me a trick ride =)


 Yes I did!
Last week Gina treated me to a Starbucks.
I was going to get a Pumpkin Spice Latte...
but
Peppermint Mocha was advertised...
it was SOOOOOO good!


 We made chocolate chip cookies.

 I have such good helpers!

Christy works at ModernEyes - selling eye glasses.
She sometimes brings boxes of frames home to go through.
We had fun trying them!!


















Aidan loves these!
He wishes he needed glasses!





Blessings to you!

Monday, November 4, 2013

Happy Birthday to Brinley!

The last few days have been very busy. On Saturday I attended a women's seminar called Sister Care - Equipping Women for Caring Ministry. It was wonderful! I didn't feel like I could give up a whole Saturday but so glad I did. Well worth the time...and so nice to be part of something I didn't need to plan!!

Saturday evening our church held it's annual Fall Gathering including hayrides. Ellen was so anxious for this event. We roast hot dogs on a fire (the best way to make a hot dog in my opinion!), eat snacks that people bring, and drink hot chocolate or coffee =) I enjoy sitting by the fire, chatting with folks and drinking coffee. No hay ride for me...I've done that many times in the past and now just prefer to sit by the fire. I was very tired but glad I went.

(not a clear picture of the fire I enjoyed)

Sunday morning was church and fellowship meal following the service. Wonderful, both of them!

Brinley had a party later in the afternoon =) What fun! Love that little bundle of energy!!


 Birthday Girl, Brinley, has some dinner.


 Pop Pop, Christy and Greta have some, too.
We had a delicious meal!!

 Brinley will have some fun opening these!


 She opens the one we brought for her...
rip, toss =)


It's a carry bag with a puppy inside!
Not a real puppy, of course!


 She finds a cute outfit in a bag from Gina.


 Checking out what's in this bag...
she's already wearing the cute headband which was part of the gift =)


 A cute baby in a carrier....
not a real baby, of course!
Hahahaha!


 I don't remember the name of the girl in red.
She was a cutie, for sure.
I showed her this pic when I took it and she liked it =)


Time for cake!


 Happy Birthday to you, Brinley!


The kids want some
cake and ice cream!
And, a few adults want some too =)

It was a fun party, Brinley. We love you sooooo much and know you will love being 2! 

***********************************************************************

It is so cold today. We are mostly heating with the Eden Pure heater...heating oil is so expensive. This afternoon my hands were so cold that I felt like I needed to wear gloves. It's especially cold upstairs where I've been working on the computer. I had enough. I  turned up the heat and let the good old furnace run for a while. Ahhh, heat! It's such a luxury!! 

While finishing this post, I told Aidan and Zoe to go through the Toys R Us toy catalog, circle the items they like and put an A or Z beside them. What fun we will have looking at what they would love to receive for Christmas!! 

Blessings to you today!