The food is now kept in the refrigerator

Today I am happy.

I am happy because I can now eat these things

without cutting, pealing or avoiding them all together.

I am currently practicing my new smile for an after picture...

Click here for a before picture

Oh to be a kid again

No responsibilities, no worries, no appointments, no tie downs, and minimal clothing.

You want to be a kid again?

I have found the place just for you - the fountain of youth.

AKA OBX

With the sunsets

and salt water

There is only time to waste doing whatever you want!

The Outer Banks of North Carolina where the bathroom is anywhere you want it to be

Where if you play your cards just right, you can be waited on hand and foot.

And eat until your tummy is just too full

We found if you walk far enough down the shore line

you can find a sweet spot for shell collecting.

Hanging with friends

and enjoying the heat.


This vacation will be hard to beat!

Oh to be a kid again.

Some things just never change.

Back From The Break

Nieces, nephews, and in-laws! Oh my!

So far my parents have 25 grandchildren and hopefully more to come.

p.s I love all my sibling in-laws!

11 girls

14 boys

We had such a great time at the reunion with family. This was Mike's 2nd time visiting Canada during the summer in the almost 7 years we have been together. We always go during Christmas or Thanksgiving when it is negative 35 degrees outside. Don't ask me why...

As a result, we were able to enjoy more outdoor activities with family other than sledding and ice fishing.

The days were warm, the nights were cool and I was "home".

And this is my family...

My beautiful grandmother is one of the greatest ladies I know!

Blake loves his great grandma and her treat pantry

My dad and his girls

Staying up late laughing and enjoying moments together make

these 2 girls my best friends.

My favorite part is seeing all the cousins enjoy each other.

I took so many pictures of them together - too many to share!

Here are a few.

Cousins are the greatest!

Blake and "Cousin Jared" were attached at the hip.

literally...

Two in the bed and the little one said "roll over"...

These 3 are the same age and had the greatest time together.

This was an early morning jump on the tramp before breakfast.

Grandpa taking the kids out to the pumpkin patch

Of course the favorite and most passed around was the

newest member of the family, my little sisters precious Amy

We had so much fun eating and laughing together

fishing, boating,

hiking and enjoying the beauty

that it was hard to leave and go back to the city.

But we did leave and hopefully not for long... maybe ;)

Madilyn seems to agree.

While up north

We have been having a lot of fun on our vacation and I have been taking a lot of fun pictures to share.

Stay tuned for more... after the break!

a moment just for us

A tightly packed day was to end with a much anticipated date with my husband...

Sleep in, shower,
clean messy house,
grocery shop, eat, play date,
pick up, drop off,
swimming lessons, more dropping off,
fill the empty gas tank
and finally thanks to Philly traffic I was running behind to meet my husband at the stadium.

As I pull up to the already started game, I call Mike who informs me that he too is running late (on his bike) and a bit lost. After giving me coordinates I was off to rescue my fare prince. By the time I found him, there was a 1/2 hour left in the game so we opted to take the loss and not go just to see the final play.
Color coordinately dressed (for our winning team) and a bit bummed, we headed home.
It was the drive home in the dark, the touch of a hand and a stolen kiss at a traffic light that made the could of been a failed date night a big hit.

I'm happy to be us and more than happy to share the "failed" moments together!

It must run in the family

A few weeks ago in primary I had a sharing time lesson on how to come closer to God. I had little footprints cut out of paper and asked the kids to write or draw on the footprint what they can do to come closer to God. Then they had to come to the front and share what they had written or drawn. When it was Blakes turn this is what he brought up to show the class.
























Blake climbing a ladder.

I'm positive he inherited that clever brain from his dad.

Not for sale

Banana Ball

When we were little she would tease me, trick me and make me do things I didn't want to do.


Lucky for her, I still love her.

Mostly b/c for years she was the queen of bangs and I coveted her full fringe.

She is still my idol and I still covet her beautiful, shiny locks of lovely curls.


Except for right after she wakes up in the morning...


HAPPY BIRTHDAY JANA Banana Ball!!!