Hello again....

and Happy Spring!

It's been quite a while since I've posted.  I've been wrapped up in other things in real life, and something had to give.  But I'm back now, and I'm trying to freshen things up here a bit.

Hope you are enjoying this birds chirpin', flowers bloomin', warm breeze blowin', seed plantin' time of year.  I, for one, am LOVING it.

Evan's 1st picks of Spring for mommy.

Some more picks from Evan, although these ones were meant to stay in the ground.  That's okay, he was just tryiing to be sweet.  :)

Enjoying an unseasonably warm winter day at the park.

70 degrees in winter?!  LOVE it.

Have a HAPPY DAY!

Make it SPECIAL!

Be back soon!
TTFN
~Tina

A Christmas Gift

Alexa got a new apron for Christmas.  I made it for her.  I guess you could say I cheated.  Okay, I cheated, bigtime.  It was an already sewn, denim apron.  I just "customized" it for her, but she appreciates it like I sewed every stitch myself.

 She couldn't wait to try it out.  So for the Feast of Saint Agnes, she and I made a vanilla cake together. 

Nevermind that it was from a box.  She still cracked the eggs (which was hysterical to watch because she was so grossed out by the "gook" inside), and measured the oil and water.  She mixed it all up with the beater and  helped me pour it into the pan. 

We went a little "fancy" with the bundt cake pan.  It turned out to be a pretty, tasty cake. 

We made a glaze from scratch using vanilla, milk and powdered sugar.  We kinda guessed with the measurements on that.

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~Some snowflake sprinkles were added for a finishing touch.

 I thought that was the finishing touch, but apparently Alexa decided it needed some color and pizzazz and glammed it up a bit with green sugar sprinkles when my back was turned.  "Now it's finished!" she declared. 

It was almost gone by the end of our Teatime.  ~~~~~~~~~~~~

We managed to save some for Taylor.

I've missed these relaxing Afternoon Teas.  And so have the kids, apparently.  Of course who am I kidding?  They are crazy for cake.  They like hearing an interesting story or two about a Saint, but everything is better with cake.

We didn't do a craft with this Teatime.  I was trying to keep it low key.  I was pleasantly surprised by how much Evan remembered about Saint Agnes.  I have been reading to him every day....one Bible Story and one Saint Story, but I wasn't sure just how much he was retaining (or even paying attention).  The girls each knew a bit about her, too, so we discussed her heroic life during the Caketime.....I mean, Teatime.  ;)

Alexa's handmade (....ahem....) apron held up very well, and she can't wait till we bake again!

Have a pleasant week, everyone!
TTFN
~Tina

Snowy Monday!......and yes, it's another post that ends in hot chocolate.

Every morning, I check the weather on the internet, as I sip my coffee.  On Monday, the weathermen called for some rain, but that was about it.  We went about our day....breakfast, prayers, school, lunch.

I checked the weather after lunch briefly too, when I checked my email (and facebook....yes, I'm on facebook), while the kids were on their freetime break.  At this point there was a chance of a few flurries....perhaps a dusting in some areas.

I was really hoping we'd get something.....something.  I knew it wouldn't be much, but just something that could pile up a little, and get the kids excited.

Within just a few minutes, some really nice, fat flakes came cascading down out of the sky.  I called Evan to the sliding glass doors to look out and man do I wish I was video taping that moment.  His face went from a "what, mom?" to a "OH.MY.GOSH.LOOK AT THAT!!!"  He started jumping up and down and exclaiming "It's snowing!  It's snowing!  It's snowing!"

I kept telling him it wasn't going to last or pile up at all, but we should still enjoy watching out the window it while it lasts.  But who was I kidding?  We couldn't just stay inside and watch from behind the glass.  We had to take this moment in and get as much out of it as we could!

 In Northern Virginia, snow is a hit or miss situation. 
An all or nothing.  And the weather forecasters were positive this was a nothing.

We have, in the past, been in the direct line of an awesome, snowpounding, whiteout, blizzard of a storm.  And we have also had winter's go by with only a flake or two dropping by for a very brief visit.
Every year it's anybody's guess how much snowfall we'll get around here. 

Those whopper storms are only every few years, when everything in the universe aligns just right.  They are very rare.

So I wasn't about to let this moment (and that's all this might be....a brief snow moment) go by without at least trying to catch a measly snowflake or two with our tongues, without feeling soft, cold snowflakes landing on our eyelashes.  We had to get out there...... fast, before it just stopped. 

So I went into hyperdrive to get ready (and procrastinated, yet again, with taking down the tree).......and we bundled up and headed out to the back yard.

We laughed, and ran around a bit.  The ground wasn't even covered, so the yard was kinda muddy.

I need to get a cute hat like Sky's.  I had to borrow John's since I don't have my own. 

A walk on the sidewalk (and out of the mud) amidst the snow flurries seemed like a good idea.  We went through the neighborhood, breathing in the cold, fresh air.  It's quite invigorating and makes you feel so alive, taking a walk like that.

We did start to feel a little too "invigorated" and the kids began complaining a bit of frozen toes, fingers, noses, etc.   I think they were just in "kahoots", trying to get sympathy so they could talk me into some hot chocolate. 

Little did they know I had planned on it, already.  I mean come on....if you've ever read this blog before or know me at all, you know that boatloads of my winter posts end with hot chocolate.  I love the stuff.  Don't judge me.  ;)

We peeled off the wet/slightly muddy clothes (one of the children....not mentioning any names.....ahem.... nine year old girl), thought it would be cool to try to make a snow angel in the whopping 1/18 inch of snow in the backyard. 

In case you are wondering, it doesn't work.  It just melts the snow in that one spot she landed, and smashes the grass and smears the mud in an almost recognizable angel formation.

 She does get an A for effort and bonus points for enthusiasm!  We love that girl! (who still shall remain nameless)

Everyone got dry and cozy and then we sipped our hot chocolate and ate the last of our gingerbread family.  We hate to see them go.  Actually we like to see them go, because they are yummy! 
But we hate to see them gone. :(

You're not really shocked by the vast array of Swiss Miss I keep on hand, are you?

Taylor was at school, so she didn't get the walk in the snow with us.  Well, actually she did get the walk in the snow, but just not with us. The snow kept falling and she had to walk from her bus stop, so I guess she did have her walk in the snow.  And I made her some of my fancy shmancy hot chocolate when she got in.  :)

And as an added bonus to my day....the tree is dooooowwwwwnnnnn!
YES!
I win.

TTFN
Happy Winter, Everyone!
~Tina

Another Teen..... :/

We officially have another teenager living in our house.

Be afraid.

I know I am.

Just kidding! 

It's Skylar's 13th Birthday, today!  Happy Happy Birthday, Skylar!  You rock like pickles!  And we love you so, so very much!

In The Blink of an Eye

Well, what d'ya know?  It's mid December!  How the blazes did that happen?!  I want to catch you up, but I really am lacking time lately, like everyone else, I assume.  It's always such a delicate balance....living life and posting about it.

I don't like short-changing either one, but if I have to, it's gonna be the "posting about it" part that will have to fall short.

I am however, going to try to catch you up....a little at a time.

Here we go.

Halloween....it was a lot of fun!  It always is.  It's a favorite holiday of the kids (and John) for sure.

That's our rag doll, Darth Vader and Alice in Wonderland.

Thanksgiving was awesome!  It's my fave holiday for the mere fact that it's so chilled out.  It's family oriented and relaxed and cozy.  Did you know the word "cozy"is one of my favorite words in the universe? 

My mom was here.  I love that lady!  The food was great!  They say too many cooks spoil the broth (or something like that), well not here, baby!  We all pitched in and made a wonderful dinner and dessert.  Yum, yum, yummety yum!

Sky and Grandma Jo

Desserts were fantastic!  I love a good meal, but dessert has always been my favorite.  I am probably a horrible example to my children, with the amount of sugar I can consume.  But, I try to keep it in check.  ;)  It's hard, though, with this selection.

Smiley Face cookies brought from PA!  Yummaaaay

Sunday night, after a relaxing Thanksgiving weekend, we began our Advent with a festive drive through light show.

Everyone all cozy in the van?....yep!

It was a good way to start the Advent season, (along with Mass that we went to that Sunday morning) and it was wonderful to Grandma here with us!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

On Tuesday evening, Skylar had a karate belt ceremony and Grandma was here for that, too!

You wouldn't want to run into her in a dark alley.  She'd kick your butt!

Great job, Skylar!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Then Grandma had to go home.  :(

It's always great to have her here....

Always hard to say goodbye.

Our Advent has been very busy, fun, exciting, full, interesting....etc. etc.

I hope to post more on that in the next few days.

Hope you are having a pleasant, peaceful, blessed Advent.

Have a great day!  Make it special!

TTFN

~Tina