Enjoying the south!!!

We arrived safe and sound at Orlando, Florida, Sunday afternoon.  Our flight went great and the kids really enjoyed the ride!  Baby did great too!!!

 

After claiming our luggage and then waiting a VERY LONG TIME for our rental car (let me tell you that when we do something 'new', it just doesn't seem to go without some kind of mishap!)  As we were waiting in line for our car rental, Mike realized his phone is not on his hip pocket.  He went running back to see where it feel off.  I tried calling it but he had it on vibrate.  Here, when he came back, it was laying beside his golf clubs!  So glad he found it!!!  Then when he got the car, we SQUISHED into the car and off we were for some food and our resort!

Here's a picture of our resort from our 14 story porch ...

View of Disney and Epcot ...

We are living in a presidential suite this week.  VERY NICE!!!  It's got four bedrooms (2 master suites), four bathrooms, a nice kitchen and gorgeous furniture!!!  It lives up to it's name "Presidential Suite"!

Our living room ...

The weather was not the best right when we arrived.  Yesterday and Sunday, it was chilly.  The kids still swam a little in the heated pool water.  Just thought they had to get wet!

Today, was a very warm and gorgeous day.  Mike and I got to get our runs in this morning right here on the resort paths.  We then sat at the huge pool.  Ashlyn loves the water and is doing great!  Hadassah is really having a good time with her friends that came with us.  Matthew is of course using his faithful goggles in the water!

Sisters in the pool ...

 Eating their pancakes this morning ...

 Of course in heart shapes ...

 Hadassah enjoying the pool ...

Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches at the pool ...

 Ashlyn in the water ...

 Making a funny face ...

 "Hearts" in Orlando ...

 "Sweet Pea" in her 'heart' shirt ...

 We bought these at Walmart for the kids Valentine treats ...

 I LOVE all the tropical plants around here!  Can you see the 'heart'?

 Card for my hubby ...

 My date tonight ... HAPPY VALENTINE'S HONEY!!! XOXO

We are so enjoying our vacation so far!!!

LOVE all you've got today.  And tomorrow.  And forever!!!

Delicous hearts ...

Every morning, as soon as I wake up the kids for school, I ask, "What do you want for breakfast?"  Lately, its been french toast.  Or hot chocolate and toast. Or pancakes.  This morning it was pancakes.  Matthew ordered his by saying, "Make me one really BIG one.  The last time you didn't make it big enough."  OK.  Hadassah ordered hers by saying, "Make me three little pancakes with m&m's in.  LITTLE ones."  OK. 

So different!  I like it that way.  Matthew soaks his pancakes (without m&m's) with homemade syrup.  He scrapped his plate clean this morning and said it was good.  Hadassah ate her pancakes with whipped cream on top.  The first time she ever did this, I was kinda grossed.  Whipped cream on pancakes???  Then I tried it and now I really like it that way too.  Not so sweet, especially if you already have m&m's in them!  No syrup for her.

I had a tiny bit of pancake mix yet to make and so I made it for Mike.  I carried it over to him and asked if he wants it.  He said, "No thanks."  I came back to where the kids were eating and Hadassah said, "Cut it in a heart shape and then ask him again."  I did, and when Mike saw it, he smiled and said he would love to have it!  It worked!  Hadassah and I smiled!

We are still enjoying the "heart" things and really love Valentine's.  I made Mike a gingerbread latte' before he left the house this morning and tried to make the milk foam into a heart.  The caramel syrup helped with the design too.
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We've been busy this week with packing and shopping for some clothing for warm weather.  We are going south for a little and I have been preparing for our vacation coming up!  Matthew has a bunch of his school work done already, so he won't have to taking it along on vacation!  That's great!

I bought another bag yesterday.  I have a BIG weakness for bags, purses, and and and and well, bags.  At church the other night, Mike and a friend were joking about their wives bags.  They made a comment that it would be safer/easier to find something in the everglades filled with alligators than to find something in our bags.  (Or something like that.  Really now???) 

Mike hates looking in my purse.  He claims he can't find anything he's looking for!  He always looks at me with "the look" when I ask him to seek and search in my bag for something.  Things like the check book, pens, fingernail clippers, etc. just never can be found by him!!!  He says when he finally does know where the check book is, I switch purses!  True.  Not always a new purse, but I like to switch often.

I was looking for a new beach bag.  Something BIG and not bulky.  Thanks to Joe Boxer from Kmart.  That was my find.  Then I was also looking for a bag that I could use as my diaper/travel bag.  I love bags ... but not really "diaper" bags.  They have lots of pockets, which is great, but they all look like "diaper" bags.  I like a little more of a classy look but refuse to pay a lot of $$$ for a really nice one.  I went round and round in a few stores, hoping to find something I like.  Finally, I just decided to use what I already have.  Then I saw it ... a big bag, nice, roomy, some pockets and in my option good for my use!  I bought it and it really is going to be nice using it.  I actually found it in the luggage section, so because of its size, it might just be something I will use when traveling or for bigger occasions.  When I showed it to Mike, he said, "Hon, they are just getting bigger!"  I know it, but flying with three kids and a hubby, I knew bigger would be good.  For some odd reason, mom's get to carry every one's things!  I think it will be just perfect!  He said that all he would need for his vacation would be that bag with a few sets of clothes.  That's it.  Well, maybe, but I said that because he is a father of three, that will not work. 

I am trying to keep it simple with my packing, but I keep thinking of all I want to take along.  A few games for the kids.  Some toys for baby.  Some foods.  Some "heart items" for Valentine's Day on our vacation.  Etc...

Simple.  Simpliar.  I try.  I will.

 

Because it's kinda rare ...

I just have to post a few snow pictures since it seems to be rare this winter. 

With having a fresh, small falling of snow yesterday, it won't stay long with the sunshine today is bringing.  I always say, "If it's going to be cold, it might as well snow."  I kinda live that thought all winter long. 

This winter, is different though.  I am enjoying all the sunshine, the warmer weather, and the not so bitter cold winds!  I can't help but think that the ground is confused and the bugs might be bad this summer though if we don't have a hard cold yet.  There is still time for that however, but when the weather is nice, it makes the long winter seem to go faster!!!  I like that!

There are buds starting on some trees and my spring flowers are coming through the dirt!  They think it's spring coming ... which it is, but just a little longer yet!

Snow on my lavender plant ...

 Snow on my roses that seem to want to start fresh, new buds!

 New buds in February???  Wow.

Hearts & Love

Hearts.  Love.  Kisses.  Hugs. 

These are all things that seem to be broad casted all around us this time of year.  February is filled with red, pink, hearts, and dollies!  I like it.  I love any holiday, even the smaller ones like Valentines Day. 

I helped the kids make all their valentines for their class this week.  (Sorry, forgot to take pics!)  They will miss their party at school next week because we are going on a family vacation and won't be around for it.  We decided to make valentines for the kids in school even if our kids can't be there.  Hadassah and Matthew both took a red paper heart and stuck a valentine lolly pop in it.  They addressed it to each person in their class.  They looked really nice!

Extra lolly pops floating around the house.

Thinking of Valentine's Day coming up makes me think of hearts.  My heart.  The hearts of the children that live in our house.  The broken hearts of those hurting around us. 

"Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life."  Proverbs 4:23
"The meek shall eat and be satisfied;  they shall praise the Lord that seek him:  your heart shall live for ever."  Ps. 22:26
"For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."  Matt. 6:21
"Let not your heart be troubled:  ye believe in God, believe also in me."  John 14:1
"Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me."  Ps. 51:10

We just had three evenings in a row where we went to Winter Bible School.  There was such great wisdom taught and lots of things to ponder on.  The speaker talked a lot to the father's and mother's and how it is important to reach to the HEARTS of your children now ... when they are young.  Challenge.  Trying.

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Ashlyn turned 45 weeks old yesterday.  She still only has two teeth but I think she is cutting through some more.  She seems a little irritable this week.  However, she is the LOVE AND LAUGHTER in our home!  We just all smother her with kisses and get the biggest laughs from her many, funny faces she makes.  It seems like she knows how to show off already!  Too cute!

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We are packing our suitcases!!!  Matthew is counting down the nights we have to sleep yet before going on a family vacation!  I think he's at 3 more nights!

Packing for a vacation is much funner than unpacking when you get back home and it's been awhile since I needed to pack baby things!  A great blessing but more stuff!  Mike asked last night how many suitcases we are needing to take along?  Um mmm, a few!  (Yep, that big suitcase is packed again, but this time for a longer get away!)

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Enjoy the HEART season!  Take extra much thought of LOVE.  Do an extra kind deed for someone that needs some LOVE and COMPASSION today.  You really won't have to think that hard, because there are so many people around us that maybe just need a pat on the back or a simple hug to remind them that someone LOVES them!  Kiss your kids extra much today!  Kiss, hug, and enjoy the snuggles your hubby gives you and give him twice as many back!  Celebrate the HEART month with LOVING moments!

Here are some HEART things around our home right now ...

Ashlyn was given this little shirt for a baby gift and it's filled with hearts!  Love it!

Also, bought a heart of chocolates for my lover! 

I want to give it to him when we are on vacation!  Shhhh!

 We are having fun with the window markers my mom gave to Hadassah for her birthday!

Here's a note I wrote for her on her bedroom mirror.

 A a note she wrote for me on the back door!

 Brownies cut into heart shapes ... of course!  It's almost Valentine's Day!

 Mike's mom has these donuts on hang when we go to their house.  Matthew loooves them!

She blessed him with a box last week!

And, the hearts on Ashlyn's pants today ...

 My secret sister gave me this glass for an anniversary gift! 

I love gifts like these!  Milk and granola for my breakfast this morning was great!

If you would be at my house right now, you would notice this card on my kitchen counter. 

I gave it to Mike on our anniversary! 

What a perfect time of year to celebrate an anniversary and Valentine's!!!

Ashlyn was pressed the little heart of this bear this morning over and over again.

It sings a little song and she soaked it all in!

I hope your week is filled with lots of hearts too!

Happy Hearts Day!!!



Too sweet!!!

This was last night!  Hadassah is such a cucumber lover and she often eats them!!!

We discovered a few weeks ago that Ashlyn loves them too!!!

Totally ridiculous watching these two eat that big green veggie!  Wow!

Hadassah ended up just giving the cucumber to Ashlyn

because she insisted on holding it and having every bite possible!!!

... Enjoying ...

Then, again last night, Mike had the Nutella out and was dipping strawberries in it.  The container was empty, so he handed it to Ashlyn.  (Only dad's are allowed to this right???)

Boy, did she dig in!!!

Too sweet!  Too cute!  Just couldn't help but sit back and let the camera roll!  I took so many pictures of her eating this chocolate.  Time to clean up???  Yep, mom got the job!  So worth it!!!

I hope you are having a super weekend and enjoy the football game!

I love Super Bowl Parties!!!

My week has flown by ...

Another weekend is starting .... already!  My week has been so busy.  Busy with appointments, tending to a sick boy, and trying to rest myself from sickness.

Matthew was home two days this week from school because he was sick.  On Monday, he was home from just a cold but I didn't want him sneezing and spreading his germs to all his classmates around him.  Then yesterday, he was home again, but this time from the stomach bug.  Throwing up and sleeping was pretty much what he did all day.  He is the easiest kid to tend to when sick though.  (Well, compared to Hadassah!)  I didn't even know when he was throwing up sometimes because he would go to the bathroom himself. 

Hadassah was sent her very first dozen of roses from her Uncle, John Micheal.  He sent it to her for her birthday and for encouragement.  What a blessing and the smell of the roses is awesome on my dining room table.  There's no lady that will complain about having a dozen of roses on her table from her husband (anniversary flowers!!!) and another dozen right beside for her daughter!!!  Wow!  Blessings!!!

On Wednesday, I felt like I was coming down with a cold and tried to drink lots of liquids and hot teas, etc..  Thursday, is was a runny nose and then yesterday I woke up feeling terrible.  Mike took one look at me and said, "Don't even get close!  I don't want to catch it too."  It's not the most loving thing to say to a wife first thing in the morning, but I probably said it to him before too.  Thankfully, I was able to rest and doctor myself up.  Wednesday also was another timeline for Ashlyn.  She is now 10 1/2 months old.  She makes all kinds of funny faces and is pure bliss!!!

Here she is making one of her funny faces ...

 10 1/2 MONTHS OLD ...

On Tuesday, was Matthew's Reader Tea at school.  This is when first grade invites mothers to their classroom for tea, cookies, and reading books.  Matthew read a book to his class and Ashlyn and I sat and listened.  He did great and his story was cute!  Thanks for inviting us Matthew!

Tuesday was also Mike's Dealer Day at the shop.  Baby and I went to the shop for lunch with Mike and all his dealers and Mike had a great display of sheds for the dealers to browse around in and look.  Mike does so good at days like these and his work crew sure knows how to make their sheds appealing!

Now, today is Saturday already!  I don't mind that at all!  I love weekends, especially now that Matthew and I are feeling much better! 

I prepared some dessert for tomorrows big game ... Super Bowl!  Here's a really easy idea if you still need something to make for the big game!

Pipe white icing on football shaped Oreo's ...

 Bake cupcakes ...

 Pipe green icing on top of the cupcakes and top with a cookie ...

Easy as that!!!

Have a SUPER weekend!!!