Happy Easter

Easter was a great time for us this year! We celebrated a lot and made wonderful memories!

 

Below is a picture taken at my oldest brothers house the Sunday before Easter, which is when we celebrated with my family. My niece and nephew spent Easter day with their mom so we made our celebration early!! I LOVED my dress (my mom made it!!!!)! And me and all my boys wore purple! My hubby was a little concerned, but he looked great!

 

 

 

On Wednesday, March 27, we were the hosts to a missionary who was making his way home! He stayed with his mom and stepdad and we had a nice visit! He helped teach my mom the missionary discussions! He's awesome!

 

On Easter Sunday, we had the privilege of hosting all four of the missionaries and the senior missionary's daughter, husband and son. We had a BLAST!!! Laughing and making memories! That's what it's all about!!

 

I am hoping for spring here in PA and from the looks of the next two weeks, I may get my wish!!

 

 

Eight is Great!!!!!

On Januray 12, 2013, these two special little boys were baptized members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints!!

Brody (left) and Micahel turned 8 at the end of last year and couldn't wait for the big day!!!

 

Below is a picture of my mom, who was baptized last February, with her two grandsons!

 

As you can see, she is a proud grandma!!



The next picture is of Michael's other grandma, her friend, my husband Adam and Michael!

 

 

Below is a picture of most of the kiddos that attended their baptism!

 

 

The next is my husband getting ready to baptize the boys and I snuck in this pic!!

 

 

 

Here is Michael's Aunt Lauren, Pap, my husband and Mike, again!

 

 

The last picture is my favorite! I walked into where they were filling up the font, and this is what I saw. These innocent precious children, watching in anticipation for the font to fill. Don't know why, but it brought me to tears!

 

 

 

We had a fun day, filled with friends and family! I wish I would have taken a picture of the food table and decorations! I don't know what I was thinking!!!

 

Thanks for stopping by! Have a wonderful day, wherever you are! (Because in PA, it's FREEZING!!!!!!)

Getting back to the basics

                                                                         My handsome hubby and me at the pumpkin farm


After the shootings in CT last Friday, something changed in me. I sat down, first frozen, then angry, sad, and now knowing that a change has to be made for me and my family. I know that we need to get back to the basics.

 

 

Michael, my nephew and Aaron

 

 

I tend to burden myself with too much "stuff". I don't concentrate on what matters most: teaching the gospel to my children, so they have a wealth of knowledge stored for a "rainy day"; having the freedom to homeschool my kids, teaching them what they need and having the availability to teach them extra; doing what I can to have a healthy, happy family; and fulfilling my newest role as Relief Society President in the branch I belong to and having the ability to serve others and teaching my children to serve.

 

Those are the basics to ME!

 My husband and I are blessed to be able to read a story to our children and the scriptures nightly and be able to tuck them in each night. I can't imagine those parents that don't have that oppurtunity now. How quickly it was taken from them.

 

I hurt for those people and can't stop thinking about them. My prayers go out to them. Though  don't know them, I feel a love for them.

 

So, my new year's resolution is to get back to the basics. Family Home Evening ideas, scripture study ideas, homeschool ideas, and getting healthy tips. We have a tremendous tool that is the internet that we can use to inspire and help us! I love that there are so many sites out there that help us with great ideas to help us be better people!

 

Hope you have a great day! I am looking forward to the new year!   

 

 

Still Life, Tulips by Emil Nolde

Today in school, we had a little art lesson. The boys try to make their on version of the painting below entitled

Still Life, Tulips by Emil Nolde

Below is just a few pictures of the process! Aaron wasn't too concerned with the colors! But he did want to do what his big brother was doing!!

Below is Michael's picture! I think he did a pretty good job for a 7 year old!! He was so excited!

And finally Aaron with his picture! He actually threw me a smile!!! I love it!

Hope you are having a great morning!! It looks to be another lovely day!!!



Freezer Cookin'

Well, since I am officially obsessed with Pinterest, I figured I may want to give some of the ideas a whirl!!

I decided to try my hand at freezer cooking. And after about 5 hours of work, I ended up with 20+ meals!! WOHOO!!

I am pretty tired and after a good floor cleaning and two dish washer loads later, I am done. I even made some amazing gravy from the roast drippings in one of the recipes!! Yummo!!

Below are just some of the recipes I made! Haven't tasted any of them yet! But boy they smelled and looked great!!

Above is pepper steak

Above is italian beef

Then some steak fajitas

Above is beef stroganoff

teriyaki pork chops

honey garlic chicken

And the last picture is of my silly boys!!!!!!!!!! They didn't want a smiley picture so they did a silly one!!

So, that's been my day!!!! I hope your days are lovely and full of goodness!!

Thanks for stopping by!!!!!

Dear Summer,

You came and went!!!!!! What happened!!!

Yesterday was a wonderfully hot day here in Pennsylvania so we decided to take a swim! Hold on to summer just a little longer!!

 Above is little Aaron, a water baby from the start!! A little too fearless for this mama, but he had a blast no matter what

Aaron and Mike, splishin' and splashin'!!!

The last one is of Mike, hanging out, lovin' one of our last days of warm weather!! Today is is RAINING! And raining and raining!!!! And today's high is only going to be 68 degrees!!!!!!!!!! So we are trying to soak up as much of summer that is left!!!!!!!!

Gospel Art Show

Tonight at our branch we had a wonderful art show done by our awesome missionaries! Members of the branch took things that they drew, wrote, painted or collected and brought them for display. It was AMAZING!! I feel so blessed to have such amazing missionaries!

Below are just some of the many wonderful things brought! Hope you enjoy!

Below is a picture of the project that we worked on in primary! I painted the border and then had the kiddos put their feet on the "path"! The sign reads "We Follow Jesus Christ when we Choose the Right!" Then at the end of the paper is a rock with Jesus on it!! It's too cute! The kids were so excited!

As always, thanks for stopping by! Have a great night and enjoy tomorrow! The Sabbath is such a wonderful time to remember Jesus Christ and to be grateful for all that He has done for us!!

Night all!!