FOREVER...

Well it's been FOREVER since I posted on here...I have been baking/cooking but just haven't made anything that good perhaps! haha I was soooo sick for 2 weeks in December that we did all our yummy Christmas cookies after Christmas...we had New Years Sugar cookies! haha they were yummy...still a few favorites we plan to make!!

We had a wonderful Christmas and New Year! My brother moved to another state just before New Years...we were sad but he has a job transfer so we're happy if he is! but we miss he and my nephew so much!!'

We had a fun Gingerbread making party...here's Macy my sweet teenager displaying her "house"...the kids also acted out the Nativity story and it was so sweet and such a celebration of our Saviors birth...Mike and I always smile at the delight Christmas brings and the fun and love that overflows...we are so blessed!!!

Yummy recipe!!

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/downeast-maine-pumpkin-bread/detail.aspx

Here is a really yummy recipe for pumpkin bread! I add Walnuts and raisins and I use half brown sugar and white since I like that taste!! AND I split it between two loaves not three like it says!

Pumpkin roll!

Reposting this because it's sooo good this time of year and I"m craving it...think I'll make it this week and freeze one for having on hand for company or another craving!! haha

Pumpkin Roll

1/4 powdered sugar for rolling

3/4 C. flour

1/2 t. baking powder

1/2 t. baking soda

1/2 t. Cinnamon

1/2 t. cloves

1/4 t. salt

3 large eggs

1 C. sugar

2/3 C. Libby's 100% pure pumpkin (small sized can)

1 C. chopped nuts (opt'l)

For cake: Preheat oven to 375. Line cookie sheet (approx. 12 x 19") with waxed paper or parchment paper. Spray lightly with Pam.

Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves and salt in separate bowl and use a fork or whisk to stir it together.

Beat eggs and sugar in large mixing bowl until thick (I use kitchen aid). Beat in pumpkin. Stir in flour mixture slowly.

Spread evenly into prepared pan. Sprinkle with nuts.

Bake for 13-15 minutes, until cake springs back when touched. Recipe calls for sprinkling a clean towel with powdered sugar but I used a long sheet of waxed paper, a bit longer than your baking sheet with 1/4 C. powd. sugar.

Remove cake from oven and immediately loosen sides of cake and turn out onto sugared waxed paper (carefully). Peal off waxed paper that cake baked on. Starting with narrow end, roll cake and waxed paper together. Cool on wire rack.

Filling:

1 pkg. Cream cheese softened

1 C. powdered sugar

6 T. butter or margarine, softened

1 t. vanilla

Beat these ingredients together until creamy, adding vanilla last. Carefully unroll cake. Spread cream cheese mixture on the smooth side of cake (the nut side is the outside of the cake roll) all the way to the edges. Re roll cake and wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate at least one hr. Place cake roll on serving platter or plate and sprinkle with powdered sugar if desired and serve!

Make 10 servings and is DELICIOUS for a morning snack! haha

Summer's end....

Well Summer is ending...and I haven't kept my blog up very well this Summer...I like to do it for my own memories but we've been having so much fun this Summer!! The biggest surprise for me was Mike giving me tickets to a Tony Bennett concert! My mom always said I was an old soul when it comes to music!! and I am...he's one of my favorite singers and it was an absolute treat to see him live!! It was just about an hour away at an old theatre that is so fantastic to look at...The Fox theatre....He was amazing and despite his age he can still crank out the hits, wow!! I loved every minute of it!! Cross that off my bucket list!! The best story that goes with this gig was right after I opened the tickets I was so excited so I texted my sweet friend Leanne and told her and she wrote back and said....THAT'S SO GREAT!! I'M SO HAPPY FOR YOU...who is Tony Bennett!!???? hahahaha love her!

Mike has been getting healthy this Summer...I'm so proud of him! he's lost almost 20 lbs. He did a 24 day challenge (see here for more info ) with a product we love and he started walking on the treadmill every other day and he does Jillian Michael's circuit training DVD every other day he doesn't walk. He began to run part of his walking time and at Family camp this Summer he ran the 5K they do there as well as a midnight run locally (which was actually at 9 p.m. but it was dark!) he did a great job and we were so proud.....at our family camp Grace ran/walked it and Jordan walked it to since he was on a running restriction! it was fun!

Family camp as always, was a blast! it's so spiritually refreshing to hear people who love and serve the Lord speak about that...teach how to do that better and singing in that great big tabernacle with the outdoors wafting in...incredible! my kids LOVE going to camp...the older ones get great spiritual challenges for their age groups and Grace has a ball learning about God's word from a couple that comes to camp each year and they have the most fun and crazy ways to teach the kids about God's love!! LOVE IT! Here's Jordan telling Grace was a great job she did in the race!! love this!! a snippet of "sibling love!" :)

Somehow...this sweet baby boy of mine grew up to be a Senior in high school! how this happened so fast I'll never know but...it did! He has enough credits in high school so he was fortunate enough to get FREE tuition to our local community college...we just had to pay for books! he is LOVING it there and I'm thankful since he will also attend there his first year out of high school! (whew we don't have to send him off to college just yet....) He worked hard all Summer for our cousin and his pool business, he liked working alot but he realized a "taste" of the working world takes up your free time! haha he's a hard worker and we're proud of him! He is running Cross Country this Fall thankfully, after a running injury over the Summer. He did Physical Therapy over the Summer and is back in the races now thankfully!

We had a friend take Jordan's Sr. pictures...he's such an outdoor kid that we wanted outdoor photos of him. We did some at the beach that were great and some at his high school. This was one I loved of him on the track...I can see that toddler face still, asking me if he can watch Toy Story again for the 3rd. time that week!! Oh how the time does go!! He loves the Lord, he strives to serve Jesus and we couldn't ask for better than that! He is has a strong will (see I knew when he had that at a young age and drove me crazy it would be a strength one day hahaha) and has strong ideas about what he wants to do in life as a young adult....

This I love....we haven't had a family photo in so long...I love this...it was part of the Sr. photo shoot...we're grateful for our sweet friend taking the photos and doing such a beautiful job!! We're back to school now and I'm SOOO tired! haha I fell asleep Thursday night at 8:40....I'll get back into the swing of things!

I clean two houses, one every two weeks, one every three weeks so that will start next week. I help set up at our Ladies Bible Study, help teach on Weds. night 1-5ht gr. at church and I love getting my own kids where they need to be...It's a tiresome job at times but I wouldn't trade it for anything!!! HAPPY FALL Y'ALL!! it's almost here!

The family goes to Washington!

We just got back last week from a great trip to Washington D.C. Our kids have never been and Mike and I haven't been since we were first married! It was one of our greatest vacations! We saw SO much...yet there's still so much more we could have seen! We were surprised how large the White House was...and I was surprised how close to "downtown" it was...it was just up the block to a store that sold souvenirs of the White House..that was very strange to me...Somehow I thought it would be much more secluded and private! It is set far back from the street...yet somehow still so visable to the public! My girls both said they wondered if the President's girls secretly look out and watch people and wish they could go bike riding or to the park!

We had a fantastic tour of the Capital building...We set it up through our local office and had a wonderful tour by a college intern! We learned so much (I"ll admit..I wasn't looking real forward to this tour but Mike was and it was great!) We got lucky and at the end of the tour when we went back to the office our State Rep. walked in the door and we had a great photo opp!! I was in awe of the art work and the gorgeous pieces of art and fixtures and marble work and paintings and statues the Capital had! We sat in and listened to people approaching the "floor" in hopes that the President will hear about their proposals! We heard great history of previous Presidents, we saw where Presidents are laid out when they die for viewing...we walked underground tunnels to get to the Capital from across the street at the State Rep's offices...it was amazing and we would highly recommend this tour!

This is the one thing that made me so emotional...The wall that holds the names of fallen soldiers in Vietnam..My dad was in Vietnam and I stood there so thankful I wasn't reading his name on that wall! I discretely watched people with a map of sorts discover where, perhaps a loved ones name was and I watched a lady hold her hand on the wall and softly cry "oh daddy"..Did she every know her daddy? was her mother expecting her when he died? was she a toddler? did she remember him....and it still meant so much to her as an adult...I stood frozen ...thinking how unimaginable that would be......and then I was overwhelmed at the magnitude of names and the grief this must have caused......What a beautiful way to honor these men! I was struck at the silence and the quiet hush over this area of the park ...There were maybe 100 people walking but all you could hear was the soft spoken tour guide explaining the wall and how to find names and I smiled watching my own children being instinctively quiet and thought-filled.

and YES.........here I am Miss Julia Child myself!! haha This was at the Smithsonian of American History...Yes I realize many of you will find it quirky that the ONE photo I post is about...COOKING! haha There were amazing things to see there, some sad, some old, some new...There was an amazing display of the dresses all the first ladies wore for the inaugural ball...Accept for Mrs. Ford, since her husband was made Vice President when President Nixon left she "chose" her favorite gown to be on display..they were all gorgeous! Mrs. Obama's dress was stunning..all white with little crystals and her jewelery was amazing!! Even their shoes were displayed....Mrs. Lincolns waste on her gown was so small I couldn't imagine what she looked like!! That was a great display. There was a moving display during the Civil War times.....Many many many more....I loved the little "fun" ones...The Ruby Slippers from Wizard of Oz, Fonzie's leather jacket, Archie Bunker's Chair, Michael Jackson's hat....and of course: JULIA CHILD'S KITCHEN! I love the movie Julie and Julia so to see this kitchen was a treat!! She was ahead of her time on organizing and having gadgets!!

We also went to Arlington Cemetery.....We only made it half way because it was 99* out and 100% humidity and many hills to walk! But I was amazed again at the quietness and respect of those visiting! We saw where John F. Kennedy was buried and the eternal flame at the base of his burial place...When I saw all those little white gravestones I was so taken aback... I couldn't believe how many and how young the soldiers were when you read their dates of birth and passing! The grounds were stunning and tied in so well with the reverence that was just naturally there as you walked along the grave sights.....It's amazing to me that they took such care to honor these soldiers in such a beautiful and serene place!

It was a great vacation....one that kept us thinking and remembering almost daily since about some part of it! My kids learned so much and so did I!!

Summer lovin....

School is out and we're lovin it already!! The weather has been very rainy this week though so we're missing being in the pool but we needed rain (maybe not this much at once! poor farmers!) We had piano recital a few weekends ago and as always I was a proud mama....Makes me so glad that Mike's mom gave us the love for piano music and all three of our kids play...Jordan has played since he was in First Grade and will be a Sr. next Fall....I love watching him at the piano..I think his playing is a stress reliever to him sometimes! The piece he played at the recital was HARD and he worked since last September on it...he did great! The girls did great as well!














Father's day it was gorgeous outside so we had a pizza party outdoors and some people went swimming!! Here's my hubby.... THEEE best daddy to our three kiddos I could ever ask for!! He had a nice day of being celebrated....Thankful for him and the great daddy that he is!!














I dropped this gal off to church camp for the week last Monday...I'll be picking her up tomorrow morning and knowing her she will talk a million miles an hour to fill me in on all the GREAT stuff she did all week! She was learning more about lovin Jesus too so I always love that!! This camp is a super fun time and you have to have completed 3rd. grade to go...this is Grace's 2nd. yr. to go and it was Macy's first year not being able to go (I think Grace was sorta glad about that!! haha) I miss her..things are quiet with just a 17 & 13 yr. old home!! Grace usually keeps us in stitches so I look forward to her stories!! AND I JUST KNOW she hasn't brushed her hair all week...she hates brushing it!! haha I keep my expectations low!














This guy is working lots of hours at the Pool shop testing people's pool water and lots of other stuff, and then after work he goes out with our cousin to install pool liners or do pool openings! We never see him before 10 p.m. and so it was great to spend all day Sunday with him for Father's day...He treated Mike to a movie that night and they had a great time!! He's growing up and we miss him but we know it's just the beginning of his Independence! He's a great kid and we're so proud of him! he works hard and we love him so much!!! And this girl below was soooo happy 7th grade ended!! she is a SUMMER LOVER mainly for the late nights and late mornings!! We enjoy staying up late watching The Waltons and she reads reads reads....she has already read 2 FULL Chapter books this week alone...We had a great shopping trip yesterday while Grace was gone and it was so fun watching her pick things out and primp and choose jewelry etc. She is such a sweetie and so into "clothes" and the like right now....Her hair is always "just so" and it reminds me so much of myself at her age and I often think of my parents and the rolling of the eyes at the crazy outfits I came up with! SO we are just enjoyin the Summer already....I LOVE LOVE LOVE the late nights especially, reading leisurely by the pool and grillin up a hot dog for lunch...ENJOY your Summer all!!!

Birthday and Summer temps!!

Well....we've had a full and fun May and part of June!!! On May 11th. I had my Birthday and as asked for I got a super long Gold Finch feeder and 12 lbs. of seed!! The Goldfinches are so cute to watch...the seed is a tiny little black seed and the devour it! we are noticing as it gets hotter out that they don't come as often, perhaps because they are finding real food in nature one of my friends suggested! We always have fun at our family Birthday parties and laughter rings through out!!

It's also our Anniversary in May...this year 22 yrs. of wedded bliss!!! My standing "JOKE"....."It's been the best 10 yrs. of my life!" haha Really though, I am blessed beyond any life I could have imagined for myself!! and Mike surprised me with: TICKETS TO A TONY BENNETT CONCERT IN AUGUST!!! My mom always describes me as an old soul, since I love old music and Tony is at the top of the charts for me!!! He does not do concerts in the North very often and as a matter of fact he hasn't been in this area for a decade or more so I'm very very very excited....Macy and I already discuss what I'll wear...something black and with sequins she says since I'm in row 15 main floor!!! can't wait!!!

This precious boy turned 17 this May!! He continues to be the joy of my life!! my "boy" ...my only boy!! He got a real job this yr. at a Pool shop and he also helps open pools after store hours...He is a hard worker (he started working for my dad doing lawns years ago and that work ethic paid off!) We MISS him when he's gone working so often...he is busy with track conditioning and just teenage "stuff!" I suppose this is to prepare him for real life...when he doesn't live with his mama and daddy anymore....but I'll think about that another day and take the days I get!! We are able to sneak off to a local Cafe' sometimes and he LOVES it there so I can always talk him into it!! He's a delight to talk to one on one and he is so funny!!! He will be a Senior in the Fall.......my the time has flown and we are so proud of the turn out!!

This little dolly, Macy turned 13 last week! It's been her dream to have a surprise party all her life and so some of her friends had that idea...So we hosted it at our house and MAN OH MAN WAS SHE SURPRISED..I haven't download the photos from her reaction yet (of course we had to switch out memory cards during the party! ha) She had a blast that night with a few friends spending the night! We had a family party separately and she got so many cute things...A monogrammed bag we got her with the word: BABYSITTER on it! She will begin her babysitting career this Summer ...she is anxiously awaiting that first call for a sitter! haha We got her an IPOD and she's had it stuck to her ears since the minute she got it....We bought it from a friend whose daughter wanted to upgrade hers so it was loaded with tons of great music...she LOVES it!! She is a delight and I envy her sweet spirit!!! She also...got makeup on the morning of her Birthday...I was hesitant because...Macy isn't so fast on getting ready in the morning so I knew it would add to the "time" but she's been fine and looks very natural thankfully!

We're enjoying Summer temps and the pool and bike riding! We tried a bike trail about 15 miles from here and it was a hot hot day but fun.....there's a cool wood bridge to bike over (which I have to say...for Macy and I was kind of high and it was a little daunting to ride over the long bridge on a bike without feeling a bit whoozy but we did it...well Macy WALKED her bike! ha) We love being outside, grilling burgers, making s'mores on the grill, swimming of course and just hanging out!! School is soon out and we are READY to relax!!!! Hope you all enjoy a wonderful Summer!!!