Happy Birthday Dear Anna!!!!

Happy Birthday to You!

Happy Birthday to You!

Happy Birthday Dear Anna!

Happy Birthday to You!

I love you girl, and I hope your day is full of love and laughter!! God is shining on you during your special day beaming with pride of how beautiful of a woman you've grown to be. I am so proud to have you as my friend/sister, and I am thankful for everyday I'm blessed with your encouragement and love. You are such a gem!!!

Make sure you have lots of giggles and treats today and enjoy being you!!!!

I love you xoxoxo

Lots of Sickies

Well, it's hasn't been the best of a week here, let me tell you! I have a house full of sickies. That has been the reason for me not having any new posts for a little while. I'm looking forward to having a new post soon when I get everyone healthy again! :) I at least just wanted to stop in and say HI!! :) xo

Gotta Love a Bonfire!

Who doesn't love a great bonfire on a beautiful crisp day? It was wonderful! The sun was shining, just a slight breeze and nothing but clear blue skies above. We were blessed with such a perfect day, we wanted to make sure that we did something special with it. So, we decided on a trip to the woods for a bonfire and walk, and of course a snowball fight ;) We only had to drive about 1/2hr to get to this fantastic place. The view was unbelievable, and everything was just perfect. We made a big, warm bonfire, and brought hotdogs and marshmallows, and a big bag of chips. Of course we had a big thermos full of steaming hot coffee for mommy and daddy to sip on. YUMMY! mmm mmm good!

Sophie was having so much fun making snow angels! It was so precious to see her giggling while wiggling around in the snow. What a sight! She tired herself out and plopped down by the fire to snack on her chips.

We ran around and played, and made little "Snow Elves" that we hid around the clearing we stopped at. How cute is that??
After we played, we all hopped in the truk for a little fun 4Wheel drive on the old road that ran through the woods. The kids loved it! So did, I :)

After a fun day of play in the snow, we had quite an appetite. When we got home I whipped up an incredible bean soup, and it was warm and cozy and oh so good. It was the perfect end to a perfect day.I hope you all have a wonderful day full of blue skies and lots of hugs and kisses!

xoxo

Happy Birthday Baby Girl!!

Only you aren't a baby anymore! You're 3!!!! My little baby girl has grown into a beautiful big girl, and it seems like it happened overnight. I am so proud of you, Sophie. I love you! xoxo

Our day was so filled up that I didn't have time to post all of this yesterday. We had such a fun day. Sophie's birthday seemed to last for three days! It seemed that each time we turned around another person came over for a visit to give her a present. People are so kind :) We are a very lucky family.

So, to let you in on what our evening celebration was like.... in one word~ PIZZA !! Who doesn't love a good pizza? What could be better to kids than a big yummy pizza? Well, a big yummy pizza that we made together!! Yes, I am guilty of relying on store bought pizza when I'm in a pinch and want an easy meal. Well, my days of guilt are all over :) I decided last night that we were going to make our own for fun, and it was way better!! Not to mention how much healthier, too!

We had so much fun making these pizzas. We laughed, and teased, and to be honest, I was so happy to be working with Sophie. I really believe that a little girl learns at a young age what it means to tend her home and her family at a very young age. Every time we do something like that side by side it shows her how important it is to take care of her family. It also shows her that it can be fun!! When we "women" take care of our families, sometimes it can become such a chore. But, there is such an upside to it as well. It is a joy and a blessing that we are able to take care of our family. It is also a joy and a blessing that we have a family to take care of. Aren't we fortunate??!! YUP! You bet we are!!

Well, we ended up making two pizzas, and they were so yummy! We made the crust out of a great recipe that I found at Hillbilly Housewife. I love this site, it's full of such delicious meal ideas. I've tried several and they were all wonderful. Anyway, the recipe we used for the dough is called Homemade Biscuits and it turned out perfect. I'll certainly make this again. The kids loved it so much, that they have asked if we can have pizza night every Friday night. Sounds great to me! It's healthy, and yummy, and my children love it. It can't get much better than that! Plus, it's fun to make, and they get excited about it. It's a hit!

Sophie got lots of nice treats for her birthday, and she was so happy! She got some nice new clothes, a crocheted head scarf, a big child size plush Dora doll, a new princess movie, Dora fork and spoon, two story books, some crayons and colouring book, and a Tinkerbell head band and glove set. So cute!! She's such a precious little thing.

The yumminess (great vocabulary there!) didn't stop at the pizza. We had cake and ice cream, too. I bought the cake, because I wanted the pink icing piped around it. She wanted a pink cake and pink icecream, lol that was her big request. So, I got the cake, and then I decorated it. I got bunny marshmallows and little Easter coloured jelly beans, and had lots of fun! I made it into a little bunny Easter egg cake. LOADED with way too much sugar, but oh, sooooo good!! mmmmmmmm ;)

We had an awesome night. After we had all our treats, we settled in to watch the new princess movie. Even the boys managed to sit through it all with minimal groans! lol poor boys. It was a pretty movie, though. The colours are amazing in this movie. Sophie loved it, and that's all that matters in the end. Everyone was getting a bit tired out after the big sugar rush they were on. Steve fell asleep on the couch while watching the movie. The boys were getting pretty groggy by the end of it, too.

When the movie was done, I began to get my second wind. I did a quick search online to find some dishcloth patterns to keep me busy until the Winter Wonderland Ensemble pattern gets posted. I was only online for a few minutes when all seemed to get nice and quiet. I turned around to find this...

How cute is that? I guess we were a little more tired than we thought! As a mom, I find I really love these moments. Look how innocent he is... wow, to be think I've been blessed with these little critters.

Only, my other son wasn't so tired, lol he thought he should get the party started back up again. So, what better thing to do but show my maturity level.

Uh huh.. I'm not much older than 3, myself :) We took a few more pictures, and had a bit more fun and laughs.

Well, I've got lots to do this morning, I'm taking my children to see Alvin and the Chipmunks at the theatre for a treat today. Gramma sent them some Valentine's Day cards with a bit of money in it for us to use to go to the movies. I think that was a pretty awesome idea, so I'm very thankful. Today will be a fun day!

Take care everyone, and have a wonderful day. Remember to give someone a cuddle! xo

Friendship

Isn't it wonderful?

Friendships are a blessing, and I am so thankful for each and every one that I have.

I have made new on-line friends, and I consider them to be some of the most special people I've ever had the pleasure of getting to know. Each one of them have touched my life in a different way. I have learned so many different things from you. Some have taught me baking ideas, some have taught me crafting tips, some have provided spiritual wisdom, and some have quite simply just made me smile. What a joy each of you are to me!

I would like to share two special gifts that came in the mail for me. The first one I'm going to show you is a swap package. I was a member of a swap at Lullabies and Lace, and my good friend Deborah was my partner. This is what she sent to me...



Isn't that awesome? Look at all those yummy treats! I've been having my new tea each morning, and let me tell you it's really good. I've never had this type before. The red box is what I'm drinking in the morning. It's called Awake. What a lovely flavour it has.. and with those shortbread cookies... Just posting this is making me want to go brew another cup! What a sweet friend, Deborah is. I'm very thank for this gift.

The next package that I would like to share with you came from my dear friend Melanie. I met Melanie at Lullabies and Lace and she has taught me so much. I'm sure she doesn't even realize the impact that she's had on my life. This is a true Christian lady. I am honoured to have her as my friend. Anyone that gets to know her will be so happy they did.

Before I show you the package there is a little something else I want to share with you. I'll give you a little explanation first about why the next package is so incredible to me.

Do you know what is so amazing about how God works? I registered one day to be a tester at a crochet forum. That's all I was there for. Plain and simply just to crochet. Little did I know what would be waiting for me there. He had it all figured it out. He led me there for my passion to crochet, and there was a purpose behind it all. Nothing just happens. God makes it happen. When I got there, I found two ladies that I had no idea would be used by God for anything other than friends to crochet with. Anna and Melanie are these two ladies. Allow me to sing their praises just for a few more seconds before I embarrass them both!! Sorry ladies, but I have to tell the truth here ;) I have learned so much from both of these women. They are women that lead by example, not just words. They live by the word of Christ. What a treasure each of them are to me! True wives and mothers, and followers of Jesus. I love you both, dearly. I thank you for all you have shown me and taught me. I appreciate you for the talks and the guidance, and the support. You are beautiful.

So, now that I am sure they are blushing and getting ready to swat me for embarrassing them like that, I'd like to get back to my package from Melanie. That little explanation from before sort of backs up what I received in this gift. I was given one of the most remarkable books I've ever owned. Melanie's kindness and generousity really shines through.


I have been seeking to be a better wife. I want to become my husband's Help Meet. When I say this, I don't mean just little things here and there, I mean the whole thing. I want to be the woman and wife God created me to be. I was lacking... oh my was I ever lacking! I've been searching people from all over trying to find wisdom on how to change~how to improve. God gave me all the tools, I guess I just had to learn how to use them. What I didn't realize is the person that could offer me the extra tool that I needed was right there the whole time! She had the book that would turn things around for me. So, finally, lol after all my gabbing, here is the book!!




Yup! There is is!! I'm so excited to own this. I have only just begun my reading, and already my heart is changing. I think it began to change on the first page. If any of you are seeking what your role is meant to be within your marriage? This is your answer. I just can't say enough about this book. It's life changing. Thank you, Melanie. Thank you so much.


Well, if that wasn't good enough, she sent me a whole box full of goodies! Take a look at this...



All I can say is I am one lucky girl! Yarn, patterns, and oops! I just noticed I forgot to include the tea! Well, she also sent me lovely green tea with peach, and green tea with honey. mmmmm Like I said, I'm a lucky girl!


I hope you all have a wonderful day, and that you aren't asleep after all my ramblings ;)


God bless!

Thank you, to all of you.

I want to say thank you to all of the ladies that touch my heart everyday. You may not know me, you may not even realize that I am reading your blogs everyday, but that's ok. God is working through you in so many ways that many of you might not even be aware of. He speaks through your words and your thoughts. I appreciate so much the words of wisdom and inspiration from each and every one of you. Your love of Christ is touching women far and wide. It's certainly touched me. You are all an encouragement, and I'm thankful for each of you. I am so fortunate that God leads me to your blogs to share in faith, love, and spirit. Thank you...

Beware of Marshmallows

Marshmallows Attack.

You'd never think it was possible, huh? An innocent fluffy little marshmallow capable of being a threat to your well being? Impossible? NO, it's not. They may look innocent and sweet. They may be cute and spongey~but beware. That's all just a disguise. Marshmallows really are quite vicious. They lure you in with their soft and gooey goodness, but then they pounce on you when you least expect it. Still don't believe me? Well then you better take a look at the proof.

UH HUH... There's no denying the truth now, is there? These little characters are out of control. If any of you value your fingers, I would suggest being very cautious when dealing with them. They trick you into thinking how much you would love them when they get all velvety and warm... Yeah... that's when they reel you in and attack!!!! I can still hear them snickering at me while they lay fixed to Rice Crispies cut into squares. See, they thought they were clever. Well, I proved that I'm just as clever. I showed them who's boss. Mess with me? I'll mess right back~ now they are glued to a bunch of cereal and getting ready to walk the plank and slide down 22 hungry little monsters' throats. Let's see who gets the last laugh!! ;)

Since it is Valentines Day tomorrow I decided it would be fun to send in some treats to Alexander's classroom. My poor finger is still hurting and I'm barely able to type. Man those things can burn right through your skin!! I screamed it hurt so bad. Tyler came running to see what happened to me as the flesh was slowly melting off the bones. Sounds dramatic, huh? Well, let's just say I warned you. The next time a bag of marshmallows taunt you, I suggest that you turn and run in the other direction. Don't be fooled by their clever disguise.

We are sitting in the middle of another nasty storm here, today. Here is a view from my backyard winter not-so-wonderland.

Schools and just about everything else have been cancelled for the day. Right now it has changed to freezing rain. It's really cold and wet out there. The kids and I ran out to get some Valentines for their classmates this morning, but we've stayed inside for the rest of the day. We've had the fire on, and a delicious turkey dinner in the oven. It's one of those warm you up kind of meals.

Valentine's Day came early for me this year! Look what showed up here last night for me!

Pretty, huh? I love roses, well any flowers for that matter. They just always seem to make a room feel more feminine.

Here's one last picture to show you before I go tend to dinner. I finally, and I stress finally got my doily done for Anna. I don't have time to block it because it has to be packed for the mail tomorrow. I promised myself I would get it done today, and it is her favourite kind, a PK doily. I made it with DMC Cebelia, my favourite thread. It's an antique pink colour, I love this shade. I've got some yummies coming your way Anna, and now I can fold this up and tuck it in, too!! You're officially one doily closer to reaching your 37 quota.

I hope you are having a wonderful day, I'm going to sulk about my finger a little more and finish up supper. I'll wait for hubby to come home, and maybe squeeze a little sympathy out of him! Surely a melted finger is worthy of a back rub?

xo

Yummy in your Tummy!

Yummy!

That's exactly what the winner of the Lyrics of Laughter and Love contest at Lullabies and Lace will be saying. I've been a busy little girl shopping and gathering treats for the contest winner. I even made a few stitch markers to go in with the prize package. What better way to spend your time but eating chocolate, sipping tea or coffee, and crocheting?!

I'm so excited to be making up this package, because it is the first one I've made. I'm so proud that I got offered the chance to be a moderator at Lullabies and Lace. I love being there so much, and to make it even better I was given a job to do. And.. not just any job, but a fun one!! I get to be the Games Moderator and spend my extra time coming up with ways for all the ladies to have some laughs, good times, and win treats!! I challenge anyone to tell me that isn't just a perfect way to have a bit of fun!! I get the chance to wrap all of my favourite things into one. Chocolate, Crochet, Tea, and Friends~pretty lucky, aren't I?!
Things have been pretty quiet around here lately, Sophie and I are just trying to get caught up on our sleep since our trip to Ann~with~an~A's house. We are pretty much back on track now.
I wish I could have had lots of company last night for dinner. I tried something different last night, and it was soooo good. My poor hubby got heartburn and ended up being up at night ;) lol I guess I should have warned him what would happen! I don't suffer from it, I'm fortunate.
I made quesadillas and oh my... DELICIOUS! I made mexican rice to go with them, and wow! It was so good. I just made up my own little thing, and it turned out so tasty. I've never made it before, but I will certainly make it again. It would have been the perfect meal to serve for company~I welcome any of you to my table. ;)
Since it's been such a quiet couple of days, I don't seem to have anything too exciting to say. But, in my experience, sometimes lack of excitement is a good thing!!
I must run along because I have lots of chores to do before my little sleepy head gets up from her nap. I also have a few parcels to prepare for the mail. Melanie, Kim, and Anna.. you'll have to stalk the mailman soon. ;)
xo

I am WOMAN, hear me ROAR.... meow ;)

It's official. I am WOMAN, and hear me ROAR! I just did one of the craziest, most daring things I have ever done in my life! Little ole me, from my little ole town, in a little ole city, ventured into the BIG city! And not just one city, but SEVERAL cities! Newark, New York City, and Baltimore, just to name three. You got it! I went on a road trip.



My dear friend, Anna and I have been trying to arrange a visit with each other. What could be better than two girly girls, doing girly girl things while eating chocolate and sipping tea? Well, let me tell you, NOTHING!!! There is nothing better than enjoying a kind heart, sharing stories and treats with a friend as lovely as Anna.

What could make it better you ask? Well... stitch markers could!! I have been wanting to buy some pretty stitch markers, but have yet to find ones that I really wanted. SO, I'm not really the artistic type, and I guess I'm not really creative, so it never even dawned on me to attempt to make my own. This was Anna's brilliant idea, and boy am I thankful!

We went shopping for beads ( c'mon, what kind of visit would it be if we didn't go to a craft store? ) at Joanne's. WOW! Now that is a store for girls!! We don't have that store where I live, so it was just a huge treat to go there! They have everything a girl could want to play with while snacking on Oreo cookies. ( yes, we really did have Oreos, and of course, they were double stuff! ) We saved the chips and M&M's for the next day! ;) I had so much fun making these stitch markers, what a fun way to spend the afternoon. Anna made hers in about an hour, and they were beautiful. Me? Well, not so fast. It took me the whole 4hr Anne of Green Gables movie to make mine.

I will tell you as I told her, that had to be one of the most relaxing and lovely afternoons I've ever had. Was it the treats? Was it the fun girly beads and crafty stuff? Was it Anne with an E? Was it my special friend Anna? The answer is yes. Add all of those things together, and what does it spell? P-E-R-F-E-C-T. You got it. Perfect. I was in a state of bliss. I'm a very lucky girl. A beautiful friend who shares such a love for Jesus, a passion for crochet, and a sweet tooth for all things yummy. And to top it all off... she loves a good cup of tea. If that doesn't spell perfect than I don't know what does! Now we just have to teach her how to cope with late nights ;)

I can't say it enough, it was so quick and so spur of the moment, and I am blessed that I had the chance to get there. I'm so thankful that God gave me the gift of my trip to see Anna and her family. Isn't He awesome??? THANK YOU!

It certainly was a crazy trip, though! Oh MY what was I thinking when I decided I could do that drive?! If only any of you were able to see me in my car LOL, it was a sight. I was lost so many times! And it just happened that I always managed to be lost in a place that I couldn't dare step out of my car for directions without something serious happening to me! I want to know who named convenience stores convenient. They AREN'T. Goodness, I couldn't get a stitch of help from them at all! They would just shoo me away and tell me they didn't know where anything was. Ok, and it didn't help that I was asking for a road that went West, when apparently it only runs North or South. Gee... thanks.

And, since Anna didn't mention it in her post (and I'm surprised she didn't because she is still teasing me) I guess I'll have to step up and mention it in mine. I give the term "female drivers" their bad name. YUP, ladies, it's official. You can blame me for men thinking we are hopeless behind the wheel. Who do you ask, you are wondering? Well, just go to the "convenience" store in Marlborough, Mass. and ask the clerk. She'll gladly tell you about the girl who approached her late on Sunday night asking if she was in New Hampshire only to be informed that no... actually she is in a entirely different state. ugh. Ok.. now that was embarrassing. Good one, Amy. Real bright.

We all had a nice chuckle out of that silliness, but to my surprise, that wasn't going to be my only fun for the night. Nope! I guess my night had lots of fun prepared for my amusement purposes. I'm really not thinking it was for my fun, more like the fun people would have laughing at me when I tell them just how sad and pathetic I must have appeared on my travels! It all began at about 3am. I had been driving since late in the previous afternoon, and I was really getting exhausted. Well, I'm pretty much afraid of my own shadow, so when it was time to pull over for a quick shut eye, you can only imagine how I was feeling in a dark parking lot just outside of Newark. Yup... paints an interesting picture, doesn't it? But of course, I am woman aren't I? And meow? Nope not this girl. I ROAR. So, I can do this. Yes I can. Well, no, really I can't. Just ask the girl and her boyfriend who scared the wits out of me banging on my window asking for money. Yeah... for some odd reason, I just didn't see the humor in that. I don't think I reached in my wallet so fast in my life. I also don't think I ever slammed that car into gear so fast and got onto the I95 with such a great speed! ROAR? ok maybe not. But I can make one fierce meow.

Moral of this story? I'm not sure if there is one, lol, but what there IS... a girl who reached deep inside and found the will to get in her car and go against the odds. And I did it. Me. Yup, Me. I'll remember it for the rest of my life, and I will be thankful everyday. Ok, so part of being thankful is that I didn't die in a ditch somewhere of a heart attack because I was afraid of anyone who looked at me! I'm proud of myself. Yay, me! I did it!! Ok, you got me again. It was God that did it :) He just gave me the fun of using me as the vessel. I'll cherish this trip forever. I learned so much, and I've been so inspired. There's still hope for me. God showed me that. Have I mentioned lately that He is pleased with me, and He has good things planned for me? Anna reminds me of that everyday. I'm so fortunate to have a God that loves me and a friend that loves me enough to remind me. I am blessed.

So, that's what my week has been like. Exciting, crazy, scary, adventurous, uplifting, encouraging, loving, endearing, and best of all.... fun.

Have a beautiful day everyone, and remember to tell someone how much you love them. You'd be surprised what it can do.

I love you, Anna. This has been a week of a lifetime, and I can't wait to do it all over again this summer. It will be my turn to treat you and take care of you. And we can do it all while sipping our cordial on the front porch of our cabin on P.E.I

I can't wait. xo

By the way.. I'm wondering if the cop that pulled me over on the turnpike is still laughing at me for asking in tears if he could only help me to get back on the I95 North, only for him to tell me that I am already on it. No wonder he didn't give me a ticket. He probably thought I didn't have the wits to read it. ;) Yup, I am a female driver.

A Little Mixture of Tidbits

Well.. today's post is just as the title says.. a little mixture of recent tidbits. Things have been crazy hectic it seems, and I've not had a chance to post anything. I've had my little daycare friend, Charlie and my hands have been pretty full!

So, what's new in my world? For starters, I can't stop raving about my new hooks! I'm in awe when I look at them, and I think I'd rather frame them than use them! I'm a proud new owner of two TOTC hooks, and they are such a work of art.

I'm just as excited to have my newest one, that just came in the mail today. It's another lovely handmade wooden hook, and then a metal hook of your choice is inserted when you purchase it. I love it!! The colours are perfect and it is called Key Lime Pie.

Well, could it get more interesting than that? You betcha!! Now, I guess I shouldn't go tootin' my own horn, but please allow me a big BEEP BEEP! May I please introduce you to my latest project....

Yup, you got it! I'm learning to knit! Uh huh, me, Miss Can't Handle More Than One Hook is doing it! These floppy, smackin' the arms of my chairs things they call knitting needles are slowly teasing me into being my friends. I've joined the world of having a second yarn talent! Oh.. did I say talent? Well.. I.. umm.. ok, so it's not a talent, more like abilitly.. well, no.. not ability, gee.. it's more like a "let's pretend I'm a knitter" kind of talent! Yeah, that works~ I'm a pretend knitter, and I'm proud of it!!! Anyway, my big project that is waaaay over this little head of mine is a lovely Aran Sweater. I am making it with Paton's Decor since it was the closest option available to match the original yarn chosen. It's nice to work with, and so far so good. Besides one big gaping hole, it's working out ok.

Someone please step up and tell me how to correct a knitting mistake, because right now I'm just going to blame it on Sophie for snagging against something she walked by!!!! Either that, or I will just say it was a gift and I'm being polite by wearing it on her! Poor little girl.. to think I would make her wear anything I attempt to knit!

Speaking of my poor, unfortunate daughter, I'm very lucky she is still speaking to me lately. There is something to be said about a daughter's love for her mother. My beautiful little girl with hair down her back needed a trim. Me being the "wow, I'm such a talented money saving mother" decided that I should go ahead and do it myself. Afterall, it was very straggly (yeah, not the best english, but it works here) and all different lengths. I couldn't style it anymore and it always had to have it pulled up in a ponytail. I thought that it would be good of me to trim it up to one length and finally take that plunge.

SPLASH is all I can say.

Oh my... Bella Scissor Hands is on the loose. I guess I got a bit scissor happy and didn't realize it, because by the time it was even and all one legth (besides the bangs) my little girl had a BOB. Ok, I don't really find that funny, even though she is beautiful, gorgeous, and I do think she's precious this way. I want her hair to reach her bum, and now it doesn't reach her chin!! It's a good thing she isn't even three yet. Thankfully she has a few years left in life to grow it all out! It's nice and even though, and so much healthier looking. But, never, never, never, again will I go near that poor innocent little victim I refer to as my daughter with any type of hair tool other than a brush! And make that a really dull one that can't even pull out a hair!

Now, my boys on the other hand... they've also suffered me trying to be an efficient mother that can cut their hair. At least I can use clippers on theirs, and the like it buzzed, so I'm not so angry about them :) I'm pretty powerful with a set of clippers~ look out hair stylists... I'm on the loose!