The Glimmering of Christmas.

boxes found their way down from the attic. lights unraveled across the floor. ornaments unwrapped and ready to be hung on the perfect little branch. nutcrackers standing at attendance to welcoming the season. Stockings hung on the banister awaiting to be filled with little surprises. our Christmas tree was shaken, tree stand attached, and sitting in water just waiting for the trimmings to be applied. after the tree branches settled the trimmings were applied. lights began to sparkle between the branches ~ adding that glimmer of Christmas. ornaments strung with ribbon to hang on the branches. hallmark memory ornaments placed on the tree ~ building a tradition that will last for years to come. Olivia's first pair of shoes and slippers were tied onto the tree (thanks to the grandmas). sheer ribbon fell delicately between the ornaments to fill the empty little wholes.







our tree is up and sparkling. filling our house with the smell of Christmas. oh how love this time of the year.

hello lost little world.....

Its been crazy lately. A little bit of a whirlwind has taken over my life. In the midst of working, finishing the house, moving, getting ready for Thanksgiving, hosting Thanksgiving, and now getting ready for Christmas time has just flown by me. I can honestly say that I don't think I have any clue what I have been doing for the last month. My days seem to blend together by the fuzziness of the bad connection of the old tv's rabbit ears.

But in this last month a lot has happened. More than we could have ever hoped for. We moved into a gorgeous home. A home where we will bring home our little one from the hospital and start a family. A home that opens its doors to friends for weekend football games. A home that we can sit and rest in as we kick off our shoes from a long day of work and just cuddle. This home will hold so many memories, and I can't wait to start them!

Since the last post the baby and I have been moving right along. We are on the go (well I am on the go and I am training it to be on the go too!). Today I am 5 months pregnant and anticipating feeling the first of many little kicks.

Wednesday, we went to the doctor. We were able to see our little bean. I love those moments........especially since I am still in the in between and seeing this bundle of joy makes everything so much sweeter. This doctor visit was a bit more special. We had a few helpers that tagged along with us. Quisha and Eyahna came for the ultrasound. This was a much anticipated visit because now its more than just a baby. It our little girl! Yes, she is growing right along and taking after her mother! She was rather stubborn on Wednesday and didn't want to move when the lights were dimmed, and the red light of the camera was flashing. We actually had to wait for about another hour and then finally she performed her graceful dances that swept us off of our feet and into a whole new world of love and happiness. The girls were ecstatic, jumping for joy and Eyahna screaming at "I won! I won!" Now they can't wait to go shopping for her room (and I can't either)!



before we know it..........twenty weeks of pregnancy comes in a blink of an eye. We get to see her peacefully tucked away as she grows slowly but perfectly. I can't wait to hold her in my arms and simply love her all the time.

belly & body changes

No big bump yet.....but I can feel the tightness of my jeans as I attempt to button them. I have found a new love in my life (for those of you that know me- I absolutely love my jeans). I love my belly band! Thanks to Kristine.....I can squeeze my booty into my favorite express jeans and still feel cute! According to Drew I have "filled out" a little in the tummy area but I simply just feel fat. I am so excited to have the bump so people don't look at me like I am trying to squeeze into jeans that simply don't fit me anymore. A couple weekends ago I went shopping with my mom and I broke down and bought two pairs of leggings- yes, Suzanne, leggings. I'm still not sure if I can pull the whole look off but I am going to try it when I head to Pittsburgh in a little over a week.

Another minor body change- well more like a huge body change is how "top heavy" I feel (I tried to write that in some sort of a nice way). I refuse to buy bigger bras because I know that I am going to just get bigger but my word......do they have to hurt so much. I did buy a few built-in-bra camisoles that I now live in!

My daily wardrobe has changed a lot.....I don't go for the cute look anymore....its more for comfort. I even threatening my boss and warned her there is a very high chance of me showing up to work in my jammies. I'm all about the comfort right now......not how cute I look- cause simply I just don't look very cute. Hopefully next month I will look cuter!

before we know it.......fashion has slipped down the drain and comfort has found a cozy spot on my new body. Oh, how I am loving my pregnancy experiences!!!!!

awake & energized

Well, hello there blogging world. Long time no talk. It's been awhile.....a long while, but the second I get to this little spot it feels like I was just here yesterday. Writing all about life's wonderful treasures, reading other's blogs that seem just blistful!

The past month (month 2) has been a bit of a roller coaster. I think I've heard it all. From "take all the naps you can" to "this is what I did to get rid of my morning "all day" sickness". When they say that you will be tired, which is an understatement, you so are. I think that I have slept more in the past month than I have in the last 26 years of living. I just can't get enough of it. When I am not sleeping, I have no appetite.....because I am so sick.....because nothing sounds good. The only thing that does sound good or that doesn't make my stomach turn is Ramon- or any pasta that doesn't have a lot of sauce. After getting really sick for two days straight my doctor decided to take me off of prenatal vitamins and try just a folic acid pill. Everyday got a little better.....but boy oh boy did I not want to do anything for a single month. Between me and you I think my coworkers couldn't wait for me to get out of the "tired, sickness, raging hormone, unsteady stage. Now I am not saying that I have been a total lunatic but I will admit that I just didn't have the energy or desire to do anything.......let alone wake up at 6 am, get ready for work, drvie 30 minutes to work, and get bogged down with "must do's" that even if I wasn't pregnant I couldn't pull off let alone get myself to roll out of bed and shower in the morning.

This past week has been pure bliss. Not only because I have been feeling a lot better....***whispering voice***(I actually think my morning "all day" sickness has waved good bye) and my energy level is starting to pick up. My mom bought me this amazing body pillow that has helped me find sleep again and cravings are starting to pick up. But because we got to see our little one again. This time with so much more detail! Simply perfect. The little head, feet, hands, tummy. I just can't wait to finally love on this little one!



Before I knew it......I was over my all day sickness and trying to take in every single moment of my pregnant days. I love being pregnant and I can't wait to start feeling the butterflies and kicks!

Our little bean....

has taken me for a ride. this little one is in total control and i absolutely don't mind. i'm so hungry that i don't know what to eat. during my indecisiveness i get struck by starvation and i can't even think about eating. after i force myself to eat in hopes that the nausea will leave and go away forever i'm to tired to do anything that makes my life see exciting. so i throw on oversized pajama pants and a big shirt and lay on the couch. i fight to keep my eyes from closing but they always win and i end up going to bed ready to eat again. my nights are short but at the same time long.......i have to go to the bathroom all the time and when i do get up to go my hunger sits in. this is an experience that i am taking in-trying oh-so-hard-not-to complain (although everyone tells me that is what pregnant women do!).

i've been making a list of questions and concerns that i wanted to take with me to my second doctor's apt. i've have heard so many don'ts, do's and not sure abouts that i'm not sure if i know which way is up or down.

all in all yesterday was the cherry on top of the icecream. everything around me stopped. simply stood still. as i sat in the waiting room of the doctor's office time seemed to slow down. they couldn't call my name fast enough for me to get into that little room and lay down on the table. we were able to see our little bean. just so tiny and content. safe and sound. we also recieved a little surprise at this visit too-the heartbeat. i wasn't expecting to hear it.......but we did. beating so fast and perfect!



the sickness, tiredness, not wanting to do anything mood is so completely worth it. yesterday reality set in. just to see the little bean was more than i could ever want.

Rock-A-Bye......

baby, in the treetop

when the wind blows, the cradle will rock

when the bough breaks, the cradle will fall

and down will come baby, cradle and all

baby is drowsing, cozy and fair

mother sits near, in her rocking chair

forward and back, the cradle she swings

and though baby sleeps, he hears what she sings

from the high rooftops, down to the sea

no one's as dear, as baby to me

wee little fingers, eyes wide and bright

now sound asleep, until morning light.

Why the lullaby?

Well, August 13, 2009 brought magical news. News that will make a difference everyday of our life! We found out that I am pregnant! Yes PREGNANT! A matter of fact almost 6 weeks pregnant! I have been waiting for this moment. The moment where I see two pink lines show up in a window of a pregnancy test. The moment that I get my blood work comes back with levels shooting through the roof. The moment that makes me want to eat anything that I can get my hands on. The moment that I get my first ultrasound (which will be September 4, 2009). We are oh so very excited for the moments that we will get to experience.

Our little bean is growing......oh so fast and before we know it we will have a bundle of joy to love on!

Moving Day

Today was it! We moved lots and lots of boxes. We moved lots of furniture. I cleaned and watched Veda moo as Brad was so nice to offer a helping hand. We tried to beat the afternoon thunderstorms that grace Southwest Florida this time of year. With luck, we basically did. Although we moved we did not move into our new home we had to get out of the townhome since we have a renter for the townhome. We are living in two different places......our belongs scattered all over North Naples! My parents house is buckling at the seams with furniture, televisions, clothes, pillows, and other things that I probably won't realize I have when we move once again and for the last time! Our clothes and sleeping arrangements are at Drew's parents house. Our new home is holding mattress, box springs, desks, boxes, and who knows what else as we are trying to finish up so we can move!

Tomorrow we only have about two car loads left of miscellanous items that really don't fit in a box or that was just awkard to pack. Drew and I will get those items and then we will bid a farewell to our first home. The home where Drew proposed, The home where we slept on our wedding night. The home we brought Gigi to. The home that opened so many doors and have created so many memories in! I will miss that house......but for now we are moving onto bigger and better times!

For now we are in limbo but it will all be worth it when we move into our new house that we can grow, laugh, live, and love in!

Thank you Mom, Dad, & Brad for helping us move today! We couldn't of done it without all of your help!

Memories

For about the last year and half I have been searching for one particular item. One item that will hold all of our memories. One that will be completed on a yearly basis. One that will be passed down for generations to come. One that will share with the world how much love Drew and I hold for each other and life as we know it. A book that I will be a tell all to anyone who reads it. I have been on the hunt for an Anniversary Book/ Journal. I went to every store you could possibly think of.......even every Hallmark store that is in the greater Southwest Florida region in hopes that one of them would just so happen carry something a little different. No one carries a book or journal that allows you to write in memories of each year of your marriage. I found all sorts of other books/journals but not an anniversary one. After reading a friend's blog a light bulb went off in my head. I could make my own Anniversary Book. With the help from Kelly she gave me a couple websites where I can create my own digital scrapbook pages that I can print out and add to beautiful book.





Finally I have completed our 1 year anniversary pages and I am in love with them! No more stopping at stores to search for something they don't have. Now I can make my book personal and let it reflect a beautiful life that is being loved.

Boxes and Boxes

I started packing today. Its rather overwhelming. Just the thought of where to start......made me not want to even begin. Hence the reason why I went to Suzanne & Brad's house and sat on their couch and watched tv.....then talked Suzanne into going to the mall with me yesterday. I know in the back of my mind that I need to get on the ball with packing before school starts up but I just don't have any motivation. Probably because I know that the house isn't ready and I don't want to move twice in a weeks of each other. Unfortantely, we don't have a choice but to pack and move before the house is ready. With God's grace we have a renter for the townhome!!!! YEAH!!! So needless to say we need to be out of here before Aug. 29th. With choas, school starting, and a bridal shower to attend we simply have no time what so ever!

So I made my self pack today. I forced my self into the garage and grabbed a few boxes. Opened up the office closet and just stared. We have so much stuff. I mean how do we accumulate so many thing-a-ma-bobers. I told myself.......if we haven't used it since we have moved here (2 years ago) than its going in the garage sale pile. So that is exactly what I did........I robotically picked up items and either placed them in the box or the "has to get sold" pile. (Speaking of if you are looking for any free-bies come to my house before Saturday........take what you want!)

After getting about 4 boxes done and having to run a couple errands for my Aunt my little phone sang a tune. Brad and Suzanne called to offer some help! YES~ I had four more hands to help me do what I really didn't want to do. They brought me an ice cold sweet tea from McDonalds and we got drove head first into more boxes. Well actually Brad did.......Suzanne needed to watch the Season Finale of Tori and Dean that I had Tevo lastnight! She watched to episode and Brad working in the kitchen. I emptied a hutch that was full of candles ( I simply love candles ~ I am always buying them!) After the episode was done Suzanne cleaned out an oak chest that sits at the end of my bed that is filled with my childhood memories. We had so much fun going through my scrapbooks and looking at some of my old school activities ( I actually kept one out to have my students do this year!) We laughed so hard.......Brad came up and shook his head at us because we were playing rather than packing! Oh sweet childhood memories! After that we hung out while Brad and Drew moved a couple of pieces of furniture into Drew's truck to that we can get them to my parent's house for the garage sale!

I think we made a pretty good dent in the packing up.........

Garage Sale Pile....

Keep Pile (so far).....

Drew and I really appreciate all of your help Brad and Suzanne! We know we can count on you all the time!!!! Thank you for being such amazing friends!

A Celebration of Life

A party if a glorious event. It brings friends and family together. Laughter and conversation run through the walls of the house that buckles at the seams because so many people are there. The burning charcoal floats through the air and carries the sweet smell of baby back ribs, corn on the cob, and jumbo shrimp through the groups of people. Outside the boys are in a heated game of basketball and the kids are jumping, running, climbing, and swinging on the jungle gyms and trampolines. There is music bouncing off of the speakers and echoing through the masses. Some people are singing and dancing others are enjoying the music.

What is the reason for this gathering? Its for a special person that touched every person that filled that house. On June 28, a little girl was born. A little girl that would grow up to be this trusting, loving, caring, sister, friend, mom, and loved one. Every year for her birthday we would end up at a loud, crazy, night club to do what she loved to do: dance! After shutting the club down we ended up at Denny's or IHOP or the closest food joint that was still open. We took over the restaurant and settled our cravings in hopes of not waking up in the morning too sick. This party included all that she would loved.......food, music, friends, and family! I can't wait to have another celebration for her next year!

Craziness

I know it has been a long while since I have blogged but its been a little crazy. With trying to get the townhome rented, the new house finished- before we get the townhome rented, my tooth getting pulled, getting sick from the overdose of pain pills that I took, and just wanting to live up my last few moments of summer vacation bliss~ I honestly just wanted to take a little vacation from the blog. I have missed it though. I have missed the overwhelming relaxation that takes over my body when I begin to write. I have missed looking at the pictures that I took to capture our little moments through out the day. I have missed reading all the comments from my devoted little readers.....even if there are only a few of you out there.

Just because I haven't written in a while doesn't mean the I have stopped taking pictures. I mean I love my camera. If my camera could talk and eat noone could ever get a hold of me. It would be me and my little camera.......attatched to the hip. Drew would have to get used to it sleeping with us!

Over the last few weeks we have had so much fun! Since my parents bought a boat we have taken advantage of all of our "free" moments to go out onto the wide open water and soak up the little spots of heaven that not everyone gets to enjoy. We have taken it out randomly, wether it is for a Thursday night sunset or a Sunday afternoon joy ride. Its that one place where you can relax and temporarily forget all about lifes potholes that have recently popped up out of nowhere.











Last week I had to get a tooth pulled. Not like a wisdom tooth but one that you use all the time. I never realized how often I needed my back chompers......and now that I have a tiny whole where my implant will soon rest I feel akward. The stitches are helping the fact either. Not to many people know this but I still had a baby tooth......to me, for the last 25.8 years I have refered to it has a baby tooth but dentist call it "tooth k". That makes it sound so unimportant. I mean that little guy hung in there for a long time..........who would of know that I would have had to part with it after 25.8 years? I was sort of attatched to it. I know you are probably thinking.......what she still has/had a baby tooth? What in the world? Well here is my philosophy on it: when God was creating me he focused so much on giving me all of these wonderful characterisitcs and kind of forgot to add that last grown up tooth. So all in all I had to have it removed last week. The removal was not easy to say the least and I had to take hydrocodine to manage the pain. Needless to say I didn't feel any pain for 2 days, but I payed for it on Sunday morning when my body was fiening for some more. I slept all of Sunday away in hopes of not getting sick anymore and sleeping away my "how bad I felt for ditching on Brad, Suzanne, and thier friend" (sorry one more time for that).

On another note Drew and I found a great renter for the townhome!!!! YEAH!!!! She will be moving in at the end of August and that means that I will be spending the next two weeks of my vacation packing the house and moving boxes to my parent's house. We are so blessed to have this person and we have thanked God numerous times! We are well on our way to moving into our new home with less financial worries now!

(If you feel like helping my doors are open for any hands that are willing to lend me some love!)

Before we know it.......when we think we are going to be able to rest the world opens a gate that allows for all sorts of hills, rivers, mountains, plains, and oceans to come rushing in. We are so thankful for all of blessing and we wouldn't change it for the world!

1 year of bliss......

July 12, 2009.
an oh so special day.
our day.

It's been 1 year. I honestly can't believe it. Where did the time go? I mean I feel like it was only yesterday that I was planning, and stressing, and over planning. The day had arrived and honestly it wouldn't have mattered if we didn't have the right green sash for the flower's girl dress, or the center pieces didn't come out right, or if we didn't collect enough sand dollars. It just didn't matter....because we were there together making a promise to each other that nothing really matters expect for the love we have for each other and the love we share with the people we care for. I am so lucky to have a man that truly loves me for who I am. Not for what I could be, but for who I am when I'm sad, happy, grumpy, silly, sick, over the top, frustrated, calm, cranky, and all of the other emotions that sometimes just take over my body. I am a better person when I am with him. I love you Drew and I simply can't wait to grow old with you.

He still:

~makes my tummy flutter like the first time I kissed him
~makes my heart ache when we aren't together
~makes me smile when I look down at my ring
~makes me want him when I know he is staying at work late.
~makes me look forward to him coming home for that "I missed you so much today" kiss
~makes me want to go to bed and quickly wake up on for the first kiss of the day
~makes me so incredibly happy that I can't imagine how I am going to feel in 50 years

On the Road Again

I know I haven't written lately.....~tsk...tsk...tsk....to me~ (the kind with a finger pointing and shaking vigorously at me). Well this post makes up for it!

There is something to be said about driving down the interstate.........with the destintation a thousands of miles ahead. It has that special feel. Like when you wake up on your birthday and you get all of these phone calls from people who really care......just to say "Happy Birthday"! And that excited, butterflies in your tummy, feel. Like when you are going out on that first date with that one person that you just can't stop thinking about. When you plan a trip you normally think about flying so you get to the destination fast but in the end its all about what you did to get to your destination.........that truly is the yummiest bite of all.
This summer Drew and I ventured out on our 2nd roadtrip together. Before we packed up, loaded the car, dropped Gigi off at my parents house, and hit the road we decided that this was going to be our anniversary get-a-way. A little vacation from the busy journey that has us completely entangled in the construction of a new home and life itself.

~Day 1: Wednesday, June 24, 2009~

We left little old Naples, home, the sweet smell of comfort, and knowing how to get from point A to point B. Our first stop........Jacksonville, Fl to stay with a dear friend ~ Michelle. On our way to Jax we stopped in Sarasota to get a bite to eat from our favorite fast food joint~ Chick-fil-a. (According to Drew, he believes that Chick-fil-a's food is of better quality than any of the other fast food joints.) After eating at any over crowed Chick-fil-a I was granted an opportunity of a life time.........~ready for this~..........**drum roll please**.......... to drive the rest of the way to Jax!! Not long into the trip (after our first upscale dining experience) we had a little scare. Now let me set the scene.......I'm driving. The road is wide open, a few cars but not too many. Drew is reading a book, lounged back in the passenger seat looking rather comfy. Then all of a sudden we hear this loud noise and the car shakes a little. My immediate thought was.....flat tire. Now all sorts of things are running wild in my head. Drew doesn't know how to change a flat tire. I for sure don't know how to change a flat tire. We can call roadside but that would take forever. Maybe the roadranger is close and sees a young couple stranded and in need of help. Even if we get someone to change the tire we can't ride all the way to our final destination on a spare. In the midst of my mind completly taking control of my body, I hear Drew freaking out~ asking me, "what did you hit? what did you run over?" I make my way over three lanes of this not so busy highway and we make it safely to the side of the road. I prepare myself for the worst but I am praying for the best (do to the fact that first of all we weren't even driving one of our cars but it was Drew's mom's car)......we get out of the car eyes open wide checking all of the tires........much to our surprise not one of them was flat. We looked south and saw this white thing laying on the side of the road, Drew walked over to it and it was one of those spray jugs that pest control people use for the pesticides.......we think that got stuck under the car~but I know for a fact that I did not run over anything. We got back into the car, wiping the nervous sweat off of our foreheads, and headed back onto the road. We passed through Sarasota, Bradenton, merged onto I-4, passed Disney and all the other theme parks, Orlando, Deltona, made our way onto I-95 and finally made it into Jacksonville.....grabbed clothes out of the car and made our sleepy way into Michelle's house ready to hit the first piece of furniture we saw.

~Day 2: Thursday, June 25, 2009~

6:00 am alarm clock ringing........me hitting the snooze (just give me five more minutes to sleep). Michelle came out and woke up Drew asking him what time we were thinking about leaving......Drew woke me up and I jumped into the shower......I took a quick one anxiously ready to get back onto the road. We stopped at Panera ate a little deli style breakfast. We were just two hours away from sweet little Savannah, Georgia. This quaint old town that entraps you. The history, the beauty, the southern hospitality. I simply did not want to leave. We had heard the wonderful rumors about this little nugget of gold but the rumors did not do it justice. It was simply breathe-taking.



After immersing ourselves into the lovely backdrop of true southern hospitality we set out to conquer our final destination ~ the lowcountry ~ Charleston, South Carolina. Only two hours away from Savannah we checked into this quaint hotel right off of the main strip and close to every hot spot Charleston has to offer. We unpacked, showered, and head out to find some dinner. We ended up at this little Italy restaurant that was delicious. The ambiance was so romantic and delightful. After dinner we met up with the bride and groom to be, Nick & Joellen, for some drinks, dancing, and laughs.



~Day 3: Friday, June 27, 2009~

Today we ventured outside of Charleston. We went where the oldest, working, living plantation meets the murky waters of the river that flow into the sparkling blue bay that meets the old, trendy, busy city of Charleston. Today we visited Boone Hall Plantation. As we entered the estate we drove down a rocky dirt road lined with live oak trees that were draped with spanish moss. As we drove we kicked up the dirt and left a dusty trail. In the haze of the dust you could see the slave cabins lining the left field and the horse stables and pasture on the right. At the end of the road the Boone mansion sits majestically looking out onto the open oak tree lined drive. This historical little treasure holds so much truth, emotions, and history. As we walked the grounds we were engulfed in what the honest truth of what our country used to be.



~Day 4: Saturday, June 27, 2009~

Wedding bells rang today. You know the kind in the movies when the bride and groom run out of the old, white church and high from the steaple the bells ring loud for everyone to hear. Nick and Joellen made a promise to each other on this day that they will never forget. They made a promise in a 200 year old eclectic Catholic Church with balcony seating. They made a promise to each where outside of the church they had a private horse drawn carriage ride awaiting for them. They made a promised to love each other through all of lifes bumps in front of all of their loved ones. It was a magical wedding.

~Day 5: Sunday, June 28, 2009~

Waking up to another alarm ringing at 6:00 am. Time to head home. We had a long drive ahead of us but it was yet another adventure that we held in the palm of our hands. As we made our way out of South Carolina, and into the back foot hills of Georgia we decided to play the ABC game. Just trying to pass the time........we were neck and neck until I found the letter J and blew Drew out of the water. Until I got stuck on X and he was lucky enough to spot the one and only "xterra" s.u.v........I lost but tried to loose gracefully! We made our way into Florida........oh the longest drive of all.......but we made it all in one piece ~ safe and sound.


**Before we know it.......we take time out of our busy journey to spend time with the people we love. We take a chance and embrace the memories that we will have for a life time. There are so many adventures to be had and so many places to be explored. Get out there and explore them!**

Play Dates

Play dates are always fun. It brings that aura of being grownup. New adventures, responsibilities, conversations. Its like playing house. Except now there are real babies, and real dogs, real cooking, and, real conversations.

Last week Wylie and I had a little play date. I brought Gigi over to play with Emma, Teddy and of course Leah! While Wylie and I ate lunch, baked cookies, and talked - Teddy and Gigi played......Emma growled and played the protective big sister role, and Leah fed all of the pups!

Gigi had so much fun playing with her boyfriend and letting Emma be a little brat. I think her favorite part of the day was experiencing Leah's highchair. She quickly learned that if she stayed right next to Leah's left side she would in deed get a little treat! And oh my.......did she ever!

Thanks Leah for being such a great sharer~ Gigi loved it!

Recipes

Lately, okay maybe not lately- more like always, I have been craving chocolate. I decided to make some homemade chocolate chip cookies. MMMM, just the sound of the gooey goodness makes my mouth water! I bought all of the ingredients, per the recipe on the back of the Nestle Tollhouse Chocolate Chip Morales baggy. I mixed all of the ingredients and followed the recipe. I scooped the chocolate chip covered dough onto a cookie sheet and simply couldn't wait to gobble up all of my hard work as I dunk them into ice cold milk. Now I am sure that you are thinking to yourself about running to your fridge to see if you have any cookie dough so you could indulge in the yummy soft, warm, gooey goodness of chocolate right out of the oven! As the oven timer beeped loudly to let me know they were done I was already getting them out of the oven! As I waited for them to cool off a little I began to pick at the egdes just for a little taste.......I already had preconcieved notions of what they would taste like. I was ready for them to simply melt in my mouth as the warm gooey chocolate melted on my tongue and the ice cold milk washed it down!



Much to my surprise........that were HORRIBLE. Something was missing and I couldn't figure it out. I threw away 3 baking sheets of cookies and less than half a bowl of dough. I mean honestly how hard is it to make a batch of delicious chocolate chip cookies? Well this recipe was not very good.

Before we know it........I-am-wishing-for-a-delicious-chocolate-chip-cookie-recipe.

Does anyone have one they want to share with me?

BBQs

That time of the year is here.
When you get together with friends and family.
Grill out.
Eat.
Swim.
And play.

The long weekend was nice. It was great to relax and enjoy a week day as an extra weekend day. In the spirit of Memorial Day Drew and I drove to Ft. Lauderdale, for the day, and indulged in all that comes with the Memorial Day festivities.

We ate lots of food.


We played.


We enjoyed the company of great friends and family!


before we know it.......we are dusting off the cob webs and jumping head first into the goodness of the outdoors. Enjoying the festivities that comes with this season! Can't wait for some more goodness!

Carlene & Eli

My cousin and her husband.

They have so much to give.
They have a true love.
And a strong bond.
Hearts waiting to give more love.

After a long journey they have been blessed with a bundle of joy. I have never seen Carlene and Eli anymore happier than they are at this moment.

Veda Elizabeth Fox

happy birthday to you
happy birthday to you
happy birthday dear Veda
happy birthday to you!!!

Welcome little one.
Little sweet pea.
Sweet as the honey that came from the bee.
We are so glad that you have finally come.
It is a grand day and your adventure has begun!

Congratulations Bradley and Suzanne!

Summer is almost here.

Sunny mornings.
Hot sticky weather.
Cool ocean water.
Endless hours of laying on the beach soaking it all up.

Until.......

The sky opens up and rain pours down.
The thunder rolls in and the lighting strikes across the dark sky.
The rain pitter-patters on the concrete.
Rain drops cling to the window.
Puddles scatter the ground and wait for little feet to jump in.

Today we went to Lover's Key. Just the two of us. I made up a picnic basket with all sorts of yummy treats. A Tuna sandwich for Drew, a Chicken Salad for me, cheese slices, crackers, chips, fruit, lemonade, and water. This delicious spread of amazing food. It was rather yummy if I do say so myself!

We sat on the beach and enjoyed the weather. Soaked up the sun. Listened to the waves crashing onto the shore. Talked. Enjoyed the company of each other.

As timed passed by, the sunny clouds drifted away and the dark thunder storm clouds rolled in. The ones that bring the good rain. The rain that hits the house so hard that you curl up on the couch and close your eyes. The rain that makes you turn off of your lights and tv and listen to the rain hit the roof, windows, and ground. The kind of rain that makes you just sit and breathe because it gives you a reason to slow down.



After the rain clouds rung their self dry and the sun began to peek through we woke up and took Gigi for a little walk. We had a busy weekend and poor Gigi has been locked up......we felt bad and wanted her to get some energy out. As we walked we watched our shadows guide the way. Just for for we made some shadow shapes..........

what a fun way to end the weekend!

Before we know it.........its that of the year again. That time where we explore the outdoors. We become adventurous. We get out of the house! Summer can't come soon enough- I can't wait for some more sunny morning/rainy afternoon days with Drew.