Happy New Year!

Happy New Year to all of you! We are at the tail end of Christmas, Epiphany is just around the corner!

Today is the Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin. It's not a Holy Day of Obligation this year in the US. Are you going to Mass anyway? There are a few being offered around town. Hubby has just left to drop the big boy off at work this am so I have a few minutes to get some words down and get everyone ready to go.

We stayed up last night to watch the ball drop..relatively uneventful. Only because I was dead tired, slept until 1155 and then woke up..kissed the hubby and kids..went back to bed.

New Years resolutions? Just be nicer. Stop being so judgemental and prideful. I'm talking to myself here ;) Unless, of course these things apply to you...then feel free to use them as well.

I know they sound so "stock" but it really is true. I also want to read one book in the Bible, every quarter and really let it soak in. Practice Lectio Divina. This is really not a resolution, just a reminder to do it.

Well, I better get a move on the clock is tickin'!
Happy New Year to ya'll!

Trick or Treat!

The kids finally got their costumes together for the candy spectacular that was our neighborhood Halloween trick or treating.

Candy distro didn't start in earnest at 6 but rather closer to 7 when the skies were darkened and it's just way more fun!

A few neighbors were decked out to scare, but nothing over the top. Most just had a few decorations at best. I spent most of the afternoon making popcorn balls with the kids. We handed them out and, to my surprise, the neighborhood kids loved it! I only had one little girl, maybe 4 or 5 say "That's not candy! That's popcorn! You can't put candy in popcorn?!?!" It was comical at first. But she was still at it as she walked down the street with mom.

I saw only a handful of teenage trick or treaters. Not including my 2. I was surprised. I thought I'd see many more. Had one infant trick or treater. Poor thing. She was all dolled up in some sort of pink tutu and fast asleep. Dad was pushing the stroller and tryin' to score some candy.

Here are some pics of the kids Halloween 2010. We had Nerd boy, Darth Hanes, Jailbreak Julie & Just A Bum. See if you can pick 'em out.

A New Direction

I've been distracted from blogging lately. I bought my new camera..a Sony a230. I love it. I don't even know how to use it, but I am learning! I can't wait to take pics of the fireworks tonight! I have created a new place to post all my photo's on this learning journey. Love That Face! I hope you'll stop by there every now and then and take a gander at my photo's. I'll be taking the portraits for the home school groups yearbook next year, so I need to practice, practice!

Hope you all have a wonderful 4th of July! Thanks to all who serve to keep us free! Thanks to all those who have served and to those that will be. You are the heart of America!

Easter Has Just Begun!

I love that the Church does not just celebrate this Awesome Feast for just one day! Today begins the Easter Octave. 8 days of celebration and joy! Preparing us fully to live the Easter message!
Have a beautiful Easter. Everyday!

Here's a pic of the kids..it always amazes me to see how much they grow. I don't notice it until I take a picture...or they tell me they've outgrown their undies! ;)

Happy Valentine's Day

Flowers for all my online friends..Have a wonderful Valentine's day!

Hubby and I, ready for the dance last night!

Valentine's Day Funnies

Her husband had been slipping in and out of a coma for several months yet she stayed by his bedside every single day. When he came to, he motioned for her to come nearer. As she sat by him, he said, "You know what? You have been with me all through the bad times. When I got fired, you were there to support me. When my business fell, you were there. When I got shot, you were by my side. When we lost the house, you gave me support. When my health started failing, you were still by my side. When I think about it now. ....I think you bring me bad luck!"


Valentine for Osama
Little David comes home from first grade and tells his father that they learnt about the history of Valentine's Day. "Since Valentine's Day is celebrated for a Christian saint and we're Jewish," he asks, "will God get mad at me for giving someone else a valentine?"
David's father thinks a bit, then says, "No, I don't think God would get mad. Who do you want to give a valentine to?"
"Osama Bin Laden," David says.
"Why Osama Bin Laden?" his father asks in shock.
"Well," David says, "I thought that if a little American Jewish boy could have enough love to give Osama a valentine, he might start to think that maybe we're not all bad, and maybe start loving people a little bit. And if other kids saw what I did and sent valentines to Osama, he'd love everyone a lot. And then he'd start going all over the place to tell everyone how much he loved them and how he didn't hate anyone anymore."
His father's heart swells and he looks at his boy with new found pride and says, "David, that's the most wonderful thing I've ever heard."
"I know," David says, "and once that gets him out in the open, the Marines shoot him!"

Ah...the Holiday Season

So..this morning my hubby and I got up and decided to head out and do a little shopping at the post exchange..You know, after Christmas sales and 1/2 price candy. Maybe pick up something cool for Epiphany.

We were tooling around the discounted Christmas candy aisle..really just a few bricks of Christollen that's been around since November 28th, some smashed foiled Lindt reindeer and regularly priced (never on sale) Starbucks gift sets..and I see a clerk wheeling out her cart filled with goodies to stock the shelves..looks like chocolate..red..gold.."maybe she's putting out some good stuff from the stock room" I thought.

Nope.

I looked closer and it was chocolate..the red and gold boxes were festive enough, however heart shaped they were. Yep. Valentine's Day Candy on December 26th. I had to stop her. What the heck is this? Who would want to eat candy two months old? "Oh, Walmart has had Valentine's Day candy since before Christmas," she says. "Personally, if you ask me," she whispers, "I wouldn't buy it..what if you break up before then? Or get something for someone you don't like anymore in Febuary?" She laughed. I didn't know whether to be shocked more by the thought of Valentine's candy in December or her comments. Both equally shocking.

Happy Thanksgiving

Share Your Menu Monday

Today is going to be a fun day! We are on Thanksgiving break! The kids can sleep in! We will have a houseful on Thursday and we are going to take some time to get ready for it today and tomorrow.

I love to get together with family and friends. There will be 18 of us so far. Here's our Menu:
Roast Turkey
Glazed Ham
Southern Style Green Beans with Bacon
Whipped Cauliflower
Roasted Sweet Potatoes with Pecans
Golden Yukon Potatoes
Yeast Rolls
Simple Cranberry Sauce
Homemade Turkey Gravy
Herb Stuffing
Pumpkin Cheesecake
Various Fruit Pies
Brownies
Flan
Cookies

I'd love to share your menus and trade recipes with anyone who's interested.