Grateful...

doesn't even begin to describe it!

I have so so much to be thankful for!

Family - crazy or not I love 'em! ;)

Friends - ditto! ;)

Home - we're so privileged in this country to even have a roof over our heads and yet we complain that they're not big enough, not nice enough, etc. I'm SO guilty of this! ={

Hope - seriously! how can I even begin to say "thank you" for the hope that I have in Christ?! It makes the tough things in life seem so small when I allow myself to think about what I have in Christ and what heaven is going to be like! Come quickly, Lord Jesus!!!!!

Wishing all of you a VERY Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Resigned to Reality...

I  was put myself in charge of making homemade ice cream for our Thanksgiving festivities tomorrow.

I have never made homemade ice cream before and I am now a forever fan!

I made vanilla ice cream {recipe available upon request =) } and it is a.ma.zing!

**side note** Vanilla bean's are ridiculously expensive!!!! I chose extract! =)

It was easier 'an butterin' toast!

I can't wait to try it with apple pie!

I also *please, hold your applause* made cinnamon ice cream!

It is insanely yummy and should be against the law!

I can't even believe how good it smells and looks! It's the prettiest ice cream I've ever seen! 

I 'll take a picture of it tomorrow when I put it in a pretty bowl. For now it's just in a mixing bowl in the freezer.

I can't wait to try it with apple pie!

Why yes, that may mean 2 slices of apple pie and I'm ok with that.

After all we're  supposed to gain weight from Thanksgiving till New Years so I'm just doing my part!

With the leftover heavy cream (we all know why they call it that!) I think I'll make coffee ice cream! 

HOLY YUM!!!

Dear Dr. Davis and Dr. Davis. 

I would like to schedule a consult for January 2nd, please. 

You see my mid section will need {ahem - more} considerable work done by then. 

I'm just planning ahead! =) 

Sincerely, Resigned to Reality

{bariatric surgeons at the Davis Clinic}

=)

All I want for Christmas...

Ok, it's really not all I want, but I'm pretty sure it's what I most want! =)

Isn't this so pretty?!?!

I'm thinking I might get the names of MY kids on it though.

Just a thought!

*** Awesome, darling hubby -- if you happen to be reading this and might be interested in getting it you can find it here. Just sayin'! ;) ***

The Cat in the Hat and his cronies (i.e. Thing 1 and Thing 2)

* A good time was had by all.
* Wigs were (mostly) not worn. (As in, Josie wore hers part of the time and Caleb wore it for the picture!)
* Lessons were learned (Do not try to make a wig again! Just buy one!! side note: they did look better than in the picture, but we had to throw them on them quickly and snap the picture before tears and torn up wigs resulted!)
* Way too much candy is now in my house! Eeek!

Brotherly Love (Why can't every minute of every day be like this?!)

Sammy: "Eeeww! Mommy!!! Caleb has boogies!!"

Me: "Then get him a tissue and help him blow his nose"

{goes to get tissue}

Sammy: "Here, Caleb. Blow out....no, that was in. Blow out! Out, Caleb. Like this..."

{blows through his mouth}

Sammy: "Like that, Caleb. But with your nose....good, Caleb!! Good job!!! You are a good nose blower!!!"

My Design Style

So, I just took the HomeGoods StyleScope Quiz.

I think these types of things are generally silly, but the description really does describe what I'd love my house to be someday.

As for my "style"....I never would have described myself as country in any way!!

Oh well! The casual part is right on! =)

One question made me laugh. The answer options were:

a My front hall looks like a train wreck - a pile-up of coats, mail, bags and junk.

b My place is just too small to really decorate.

c Nothing goes together; everything I own seems to be from a different style or era.

d It's as dark as a cave in here.

e My home feels sort of cookie cutter; I'm not sure what my actual style is.

Ummm...can I choose f all of the above?? Actually I think I'd just choose b-d. Well, I settled on c since about everything is a hand-me-down and not something I would choose on my own.

Reminds me of Aladdin (so shoot me, but I love that movie!!)

"One day Abu, we'll be rich, live in a palace and have no worries at all!"

That palace will be more beautiful than anything I could even imagine and God is preparing it for me!

Whoo-hooo!!! I won't even have to decorate it! =)

Debby, you are a COUNTRY CASUAL

Your home expresses your open, easygoing approach to life. You love unique finds, and can turn a few mismatched garden chairs or floral teacups into a charming arrangement. You appreciate a pretty mix of relaxed pieces, like painted wood or weathered furniture, lovely florals and other patterns, lots of throws and pillows, mementos and bunches of fresh flowers that give your home a unique sense of breeziness and charm.

You value order. You feel happiest if your home is well organized. You understand that when your house is in order, your mind feels clearer. Rather than a lot of meaningless objects or overly-designed items, you are happier with a few well-placed things. Your home is your respite from a busy life. Try to avoid letting things into your home that you don't really love.

Welcome FALL!!

I'm learning to love fall. I don't find it easy to accept the end of summer.

Who wants to say goodbye to:

* play dates at the park (i.e. mommies getting together to chat and who need their kids to run off some pent up energy/take good naps for crying out loud!)

* day trips to the shore (beach for the non-south jersey crowd),

* Rita's water ice (can I get an "amen"?!?!)

* eating on the deck/reading on the deck while the kids run off more of

aforementioned pent up energy (I have boys. 'Nuff said!)

* ICED COFFEE!!!! (*sobbing*)

But fall is also fun! PreK starts (and aforementioned mommies all sing the Hallelujah Chorus), the leaves get all purty, the weather gets cool enough to bum around in jeans and a sweatshirt, my house actually gets a smidge of attention since I want to put some decorations up!

It's a beautiful time of year so...

WELCOME, FALL!!!