Sing! Sing a Song....

Last night, and the night before, I was able to attend the girls'--Natalee and Maggie--choir concerts.
I've tried to put up videos so you can all enjoy it but for some reason, it won't load. I'll keep trying. In the interim, here are pictures. :)




Natalee's was fun. A bunch of middle schoolers singing their little hearts out is always a good time. And they did pretty darn good!

But Maggie's? was AMAZING!

Yum! Who wants a Cake Pop?

We made the cake-pops and can I just tell you, they are DELICIOUS! :) And loads of fun to make!

YUM! Who wants to lick the spoon?

Here's the "batter" and a few of the almost pops.

We got busy making quite a few of them. I recommend reading the directions fully before you dive in. I accidentally put too much frosting in the first batch and we had to quickly make another cake to even things out.

We discovered that being prepared really helps when you're making these.

Once the balls were formed, we stuck them in the freezer (like Bakerella recommends) and waited. And waited. And waited. It was a good thing we did! If they're not frozen, they don't like the melted chocolate and fall off the sticks. But soon we were ready to dive in to the "frosting" part of it.

We found it was really important to keep your chocolate melted.
And though ours were definitely not as pretty as Bakerella's, they were a lot of fun to make and they tasted wonderful!

Using coffee stirrers doesn't work very well. You really need the lolly-pop sticks.

Blah! I vant to eat your cake pop!

This was our "Old Man" cake pop.

Katie

Maggie's "artistic" picture of the table and stuff on it...

They're so much fun, in fact, that I'm making more on Friday to take with us on Saturday for our church activity. I think they'll be a hit! Thanks Bakerella!

Swwweettt bloggers! I found a good one!

Once, a long time ago, I enjoyed being creative, baking and doing all those "girly" things. After having all the children and being busy as a mom, I sort of lost my love for all of it. Every once in a while though, I get a hankering for some baking and when I find a person who is beyond creative I like to follow them--just to see what new things they'll come up with next. It just so happens I did find someone new. And I'm in LOVE!

My new favorite blogspot!

I grabbed the fall edition of Betty Crocker at our local grocery store last night because the cover was so enticing. Isn't it always that way? And inside I found recipe after recipe after sweet recipe that I'm dying to try. There are more things in this little compact magazine to try than I think I have time for in a day. Good thing there are more days of Fall for me to use than one!

Here's a copy of the magazine cover.

So, I'm going to do my reading for class and then, yes, I'm going to attempt to have some fun in my kitchen with some of these wonderful recipes I've found. I'll put some pictures up when I've finished. They won't look as good as those professional ones Betty Crocker has in her magazine, but hey, it's all good--especially the food! :)

Home again...

But for how long? You may ask. I can honestly tell you I'm here for a while.

The trip was FANTASTIC! We saw so many wonderful things, experienced history and learned so much. We visited places I never thought we'd get a chance to see. Ahhh. Vacations. :)

Of course, the best part of the trip was seeing our son, Jeff, graduate from Basic Training. Now I know I'm a little late on this particular post, especially because he returns home from AIT some time next month, but it's still important to write about, right? Right...

Holding the Company Flag

We flew into Jacksonville, FL and were accompanied by two of the best people anyone could ever ask for as traveling companions, my in-laws. Truly, they were a lot of fun to be with and we enjoyed the 15 days we had with them to tour and discover. They weren't sure they'd be able to make it at first but in the end they were there and 100%. It was great.

Lee and Ruth

After the long flight, we jumped in the rental car and took off for Savannah, GA. Now, anyone who knows me, knows I LOVE Savannah. Those who live there might call it the "Black Hole of the south," but I adore visiting and seeing all the sights. There's never a shortage of things to explore or beauty to behold. From the Spanish Moss to the canopy of trees that shroud the streets, Savannah holds a mystery and an air of discovery to her.

Savannah, GA

From the many squares that litter down-town to the quaint River-Front shops, Savannah entices. She entices you to walk back in time, slow down and become genteel, refined and well-mannered. I must admit to having a love affair here, in Savannah, an affair with history and Southern Hospitality. They are good mistresses.

South Carolina has its own choice places to see and visit but we never seem to get further than Ft. Jackson for some reason. One day, we'll go explore her shores and cities and see what bounty she has to offer. But for now, we are sufficed with the amazing soldiers she produces and that is good enough for me.

Virginia, now there's a place to set some visiting roots! From plantations that still function to cities that glow in the night, Virginia has it all. It's that southern pace that really causes a person to be drawn to these states. It's slow, easy and comfortable. And like Savannah, Virginia holds secrets from the past. I love to visit anywhere in Virginia. I'm never disappointed.

Jamestown, VA looking out to the Atlantic Ocean

Seeing Washington, D.C. was better this time than the first. We had the opportunity to tour the Capital Building, see the actual Senate House and take our son, and soldier, to Arlington National Cemetery where he had the chance to participate--although not directly--in the Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknowns. Because he was in uniform, he was able to solute those men who gave their lives willingly for our freedoms. It was surreal to see my son solute them and know that some other mother, some where, didn't know the whereabouts of her son, a soldier. I was proud in that moment, proud and humbled.

The Tomb of the Unknowns

We met up with my sister-in-law in DC and had a great time touring around. She took her parents back with her to Delaware and Jeff and I took our son on to his AIT. We had a wonderful time with him and were sad to say goodbye after such a short time with him but we know he's doing what he's always wanted to do and he's happy. That's all that matters.

Jeff and I took a few days to tour around Virginia after that and went to places like Jamestown, Williamsburg and a few other spots. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves but were happy to head up to Beck and David's to see them and the boys and spend some touring time with them in Delaware and Pennsylvania.

Amish Country was a lot of great shopping! I highly recommend going there with an abundance of money! Just remember to either ship home or pack into a different bag any items that are liquid and check them in! I promise, you'll be glad you did when you get to security at the airport. : /

A great little band!

We ended up at the Liberty Bell, Constitution Hall and many other exciting places while we were there. We had the best sandwiches ever at Reading Station and I did some more shopping. It was a great day, couple of days, in Philly!

This is THE place for Philly Cheese-steak Sandwiches!

But if you want a great Italian sub...look no further!

Beck and Jeff

You always have room for ice cream!

There's never enough time, is there? It always seems to be cut short and it's time to head home again. But we didn't pack our bags up quite yet. We went to Valley Forge and spent the day walking where George Washington and his troops wintered and lived. We visited the most amazing church while there and grew to appreciate those men who gave their all for our country. It was stirring and humbling to walk those grounds.

The monument to the Revolutionary soldiers at Valley Forge

I am glad we went and I'm even more glad to be home to share these experiences with all of you. I hope you enjoy the few photos and the little bit of story. If you want to know everything we did, well that, you'll have to ask me in person. :)

Alright Folks, We're Off!

Tomorrow starts the long trip back east. I'm so excited to see Jeff I can't hardly stand it. We have a picture of him along with some video courtesy of www.victoryconcerts.com. They are a fabulous group who go out to the bases and encourage our BCT--soon-to-be--graduates and give them a much needed moral boost.

Jeff is the one holding the two sodas right in front.

My amazing in-laws showed up safely yesterday and all is well with them. I'm so grateful. They've had a long road with Mom's illness and Lee's. But both are doing phenomenally well. It's going to be so much fun to have them along to do some great things while we're back there. I'm excited for the opportunity to see Beck and David and the boys again--and so soon! :)

The kids are back to school on Monday. We, of course, won't be here. We miss their first two weeks of school. I'm really grateful Katie is old enough to play "mommy" while we're out taking care of Jeff. I don't know what we'd do without her. And of course she is excited because JT gets to come home in a week for a few days of leave. They haven't had much time in the way of newlyweddedness. (Yes, yes I did just make up the word)

I start back to school Monday also. How that's going to work is anybody's question. Thankfully there are  ways to access my classes via the web. Too bad I can't access my actual on-campus classes. But it will all work out, right?

I think the most exciting part--besides seeing Jeff--is that I get to have my husband for 15 days without Quality Towing waking us up and interfering in our lives! 15 blissful days of a silent phone. Ahhh! :)

I just got off the phone with Jeff and he's told me there's a hurricane due for Savannah, GA and the rest of the eastern coastline. He thinks he wants to go body-surfing. Gotta love that crazy man!!
Watch for pictures. I promise to add some of Jeff's and my trip. Especially ones with Jeff, Jr. and all the fun things we get to do with him. We only get one day but it's one day more than we've had for a long time.




Alright folks. We're off....

I'm leaving on a jet plane...

It's true. I just got home and in 11 days I leave again. Only this time I get to take Jeff along with me! I'm tittering with excitement. 15 days of just us...what a novel idea.

We're doing pretty much the same trip Katie and I did with a few twists. We aren't going on the extra trip up to Boston; we're heading into Philadelphia to see what wonders it holds. I'm excited to see my sister-in-law and her family again so soon! I'm looking forward to some good "water-ice" from Rita's and having Jeff share the experience. The question is, what flavor to try this time??

While we were out and about on our last trip, we got news from home that my mother-in-law had been placed back in the hospital. Thankfully things are going better with her now and we're still holding out that she and my father-in-law can accompany us on this next journey.

It's hard to believe that Jeffrey T. is ready to graduate from Basic Training! It seems like it was just yesterday that he left. He'll be home from AIT before we know it and off on a mission. Where does the time go? I think it slips by and we are so busy we miss half of what's going on.

Anyway, I thought I'd add a few pictures of Kate's and my trip for your viewing pleasure. :) I know, I know, you're really looking forward to it, aren't you?? You are? I'm so glad.

This is one of the gates leading into Harvard Yard in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

 At Beck and David's house with the boys. Aren't they adorable?

Outside of Carlo's Bakery in Hoboken, NJ. It was a crazy 2 hour wait to get inside. But we did see Joey and Grace!

This is the Changing of the Wreath. Part of the Changing of the Guard Ceremony at Arlington Cemetery in Washington, DC.

Trippin in da citay

Home is where your bed is! And it's a great place to lay your weary head after a week and a half of traipsing about the country. But playing in the city was fun too. And we explored (Katie and me) more than one city! 

We started out in Jacksonville, Florida and made our way over to friends in White Springs, FL. Where we enjoyed some true Southern hospitality and delicious home-cooked meals. Can we say yummy fried chicken, green beans, creamed corn, fried pork chops, etc. etc. etc.! And to finish it off, grits and sausage and bacon for breakfast. :) Yes, it was good! 


While we were there, Devin Harris--formally known to us here in Vegas as Elder Harris--took us out to the family pond to find a "gator." But he was an elusive fella who only showed us his eyes when it was dark. Harris jumped in his boat and paddled around and around calling out, "Here gator, gator, gator," to no avail. The sneaky thing stayed hidden. However, there was a point in that adventure when Devin actually got a hold of it by the neck. He was quite sad that we didn't get to see a gator in its natural habitat. I think we were fine..yep just fine. 


The following day took us to Savannah, Georgia. I love to visit this eloquent, quaint city. It's like stepping back in time. Good friends, more like family, allowed us to stay in their home. Rhonda has been a Savannah resident for 2 years now and Ashley for 4. They say it's a better place to visit than to live. It didn't matter to us, we just love the history there. We tootled around the town and ate at our favorite hole-in-the-wall restaurant, Zunzi's. It's not a well known eatery to many. Mostly the SCAD students frequent the joint. Let me tell you, it's fantastic! Once the deliciousness of Zunzi's wore off we sauntered over to Leopold's Ice Cream Shop. Ahhh! As my father-in-law says, "There is always room for ice cream." Especially when it's so dang delicious!

We headed up to Colombia, South Carolina next. Our stop there brought a happy, but too short, reunion for Katie and JT. We spent Family Day messing around and buying fun gadgets for JT to play with while he finishes his AIT. The next morning we enjoyed his graduation ceremony and tossed his things into the car and hurried off to Petersburg, Virginia--passing through 2 states on our way to Aberdeen, Maryland.

The East Coast is packed with lush, green, tall trees that surround you on each side of the roadway. If you're claustrophobic, it can be a tad unnerving. Fortunately, it does open up enough to keep the feeling at bay. I was grateful for those patches of open sky. 


After a good nights sleep in Aberdeen, we met up with my sister-in-law, brother-in-law and their two adorable boys. It was a visit many years in the making and I can't begin to describe how wonderful it was. They got to meet JT and we got to spend the day trying to maneuver our way through DC! We saw many things from a distance. But it was still worth every second we spent together. 


Too quickly we were heading back to take JT to AIT. It was hard for the kids to say goodbye and I felt so bad for them both. But they are strong and they do well, all things considered. It was very late when we dropped him off and he was gone fast. Two escorts helped him find his barracks and tote his items there. The kids barely had time to kiss each other goodbye before they shuffled him away. 

We woke up early the next morning, set out for Beck and David's house and ended up spending the day with them. It was a wonderful visit packed with Philly Cheese-steak sandwiches and Rita's Water-Ice.  But it was the company that made it soo good! We had fun playing with the boys and talking and catching up on many things. It was perfect.


Boston came the next day and we were excited to visit such an important city. Our little hotel was about 30 minutes from downtown and we decided to take the subway in. I was glad we did. There's not much in the way of parking there and what there is, is expensive. 


Our first stop was Harvard. WOW! What a beautiful campus! The buildings are like a time warp and the ambiance is nothing I've experienced before. It was truly a great place to see. 


Jumping back on the subway, we headed into the heart of Boston. There is so much to see and do there. It is impossible to do it all in one day. But what we did do, we thoroughly enjoyed! The Old North Church where the lanterns were held to signal the British attack; Paul Revere's house and Square; the crypt and bell tower in the Old North Church; shopping at Quincy Market and Faneuil Hall. The list goes on and on! 

Walking the Freedom Trail was the highlight of the trip. Our tour guide was fantastic! We went to the Granary Burying Ground where Paul Revere, the Franklin family, Sam Adams, John Hancock and many, many others are interred. We touched buildings and walked in footsteps of those who fought for our freedom and gave us this amazing land of opportunity. It was an awesome experience!


But like all great things, our trip had to come to an end. And so the next morning, bright and early, we headed back down the coast and landed in Petersburg, VA again. Sleep was a definite friend that night. The next morning we decided to visit the Berkley Plantation and enjoy some more of what Virginia has to offer. It was well worth the stop. 


Soon we were in Savannah again and then off to the airport in Jacksonville to fly home. Our trip and our adventure had come to its end but the memories never will. Laughing and crying and playing with my daughter was certainly the best part of the whole trip. I would do it again in a heart beat!

Up Up and Away

On Thursday, Jeffrey T. leaves for MEPS. FINALLY! Phew what a long time in coming this has been. There was a mess up with his ASVAB score, so he had to retake it and then we waited on the Dr.s to decide he was clear to go. But we are there. And he is happy.

Katie and June started school back in August. Both have a heavy class load. It will pay off in the end and that's what we're waiting for.

The rest of the kids are doing great.

Maggie got a lead role in her school's play!! HOORAY for Maggie! We are very proud of her. We also found out that she is second, out of the whole school district here, in reading. She can read 288 words a minute, out loud, without mistake!

Natalee is pulling A's and B's in all of her classes and blossoming into a beautiful young lady. She's also crossing her fingers and toes that she made it on the school's dance team.

Karlee is on track to graduate with honors. *beaming smile* She is the manager for the JV volleyball team at her school.

Kyle is doing well too! He is really getting close to getting his Eagle. He's a cute kid. His math teacher told me that it's his goofiness that he loves the most. Who couldn't love his nuttiness?

Jacob is having a great time as a fourth grader. He went with his mom on a field trip the other day and they had a blast.

There are the updates. When we find out what job Jeffrey T will be doing, we'll let you know!

The Long Road to Blogging

Obviously, this is not one of my strongest suits. Blogging kind of took a dump when I got Katie home and life continued.

A quick catch-up is in order, I think.

Jeff, Jr. has not joined NG yet. They put stipulations in place because our state had too many soldiers. It's a Federal law that only X amount of soldiers can be in place in each state and we were way over that mark. The thought is that sometime this month or next he'll get the opportunity to get things signed and squared away. I'm not holding my breath....

School starts again in a few days. Kate and I are both taking full class loads and will be very busy. I don't think she really understands just how much work college is going to be.

Jeff, Jr. is a Senior this year! It's crazy to think my children are aging so quickly especially when the majority of the women I associate with are still cuddling babies with diapers.

Kyle and Karlee are Sophomores, 15 and busy; Maggie is in 8th, Natalee starts middle school as a 6th grader and Jacob is in 4th. We've finally reached the point of one child in Elementary again. Getting older has its perks. :D

Jeff is still hanging in there at Quality--for now. It's a miserable job but we're grateful to have one in these economic times.

That's about it for updates. When, and if, Jeff, Jr. decides what he's doing, I'll update again. Until then enjoy the rest of your summer!!