Foto Friday

Bankrupt

My Menu for Easter Brunch:
Spinach and Gruyere Quiches
Ham w/ Parsley-Mustard Sauce
Spring Salad w/ Tangy Vinaigrette
Lemon-Ginger Bunt Cake

So on my HOT date tonight Brian took me over to Wegman's because I needed a few unusual items for the above menu. The one that gave me the most trouble was the Crystallized Ginger. I don't know maybe it isn't that unusual, but I sure haven't heard of it. However, I am also the girl that a few years ago when making cookies called my dear Mother-In-Law to ask if I could use coke, because it was the only soda I had. She quickly responded, "NO! You need baking soda. I will be right over." So anyway when I finally found the crystallized ginger it was $11 for this little spice bottle. This better be the best Bunt Cake ever! Although I did have a blast just wondering the aisles for an hour or so. Thanks for a great date Honey!!

Big Day

This morning I went to school with Hannah Grace to help out with the Easter Party. I had a wonderful time and Hannah Grace was so excited to have me all to herself. I am so proud of her. I wished I had taken the camera to the party they did a race with the egg on the spoon, had and egg hunt, crafts and lots of songs and games. I am so grateful that I am able to be a part of Hannah's world. Thanks to Brian for watching Carter, Allison and Sarah Jane.

Another FIRST! Sarah Jane is eating cereal. I don't think she really likes it. When I went in for her 4 month check up the doctor told me that I should start feeding her cereal. Well truth is that it is so much easier just to give her milk. So with her 6 month appointment around the corner I decided I should at least try to feed her some cereal. For now SJ just laughs and laughs and lets the cereal drip all over the front of her. Sweet baby.

Tonight I had a HOT date with my Husband. Yippee!

Table Talk

I am so excited about my new side table. It is an antique oak wine barrel that was crafted into a table. I just love the marking on the table.

Brian and I went in search of bedroom furniture the other day and on our way out of the store I found this table. I wasn't sure, but once we got it home I just loved it. I plan to decorate the table with some vineyard books and a pewter dish full of corks.

The Grill

Tonight we hosted dinner for the Hostetter Family. Brian really wanted to try out the new grill. So we had some NY Strip steaks on the grill and German Potato Salad with Bacon. I also made a Tomato, Chickpea, Walnut and Arugula Salad that was lite and fresh.

All of the dishes were new things we wanted to try, but everything was great. I just love Ryan's face in the above photo. Did you notice the shirt?

Had to put up some photos of us.

Turk Family

The final course of the evening was a Chocolate-Truffle Torte. I just want to say that this was more difficult than ANY cake.

Foto Friday

Movie Night

Brian was traveling yesterday, which made for a really long day for me. At about 6:00p it was time for a movie. We close the big drapes which make it really dark. Then we turn off all the light and pretend we are in the movie theater. We just bought 101 Dalmatians and the kiddos loved ever minute. Although I think the only reason Carter was into it was the popcorn. We love you little buddy.

chocolate covered fun

While Hannah was at preschool today I went to Chocolate World with the 3 little ones.

Allison really wanted to eat the giant candy, but Carter kept telling her "no.no.no."

Wow look Cows! It was so cute to hear Carter and Allison say Moo and pointing the entire ride.

"Oh! Carter this is so exciting!" Allison exclaims.

Oh Yeah. Sarah Jane and I were there too.
We even got to hang out the Rebecca and Anna for a short while before picking up Hannah.

"No, I don't want to go. I want to nap here," Allison wishes as she points to where she wants to go.

Dress Up Fun

Hannah Grace had a blast dressing Allison up as a princess.

Nothing like some good two hand touch in a gown. Her Dad will be so proud!

The girls are running from the scary lion.

ROAR!

We are having so much fun with Allison coming over. My kids are really going to miss her when she isn't coming over everyday.

The Turks

We had a wonderful visit with David and Autumn. They arrived on Friday night and the kids were so excited to see them. Hannah wanted to show them their bed because they were having a sleepover at our house.
Saturday morning Brian and I made our traditional Saturday morning waffles. Then left to go to the Lancaster Market. We bought some fresh cheese, fresh bread, cookies, and pussy willows. Brian is still trying to understand why I would want to put these sticks in our house with no flowers. I love them! Saturday night we went out for a date.
Our date night started at McCleary's Public House. The architecture was amazing and the counters were all copper. Great find Honey!

Our next stop was at Bebu's Brewery.

They took us on a tour on our way to the table. The photo above is the hole where the skinny workers would crawl in the barrels to wash them. Although they did not have light and could not light a candle with all the fumes. After cleaning for about 4 hours the workers were intoxicated and sent home with a full day of pay. Maybe this is one of the jobs that you would see on the show 'dirty jobs'.

Here we go 43 feet under Mount Joy into the Catacombs. I don't know how to explain it... the atmosphere was great but I did feel like a teenage mutant ninja turtle might be lurking around the corner.

Thanks for a great visit David and Autumn. We miss you guys and wish you lived a little closer.

Warm Weather

It has been so warm here that you can wear short sleeves. Last night we slept with the window open and just listened to the thunder storm. I love listening to the rain and the rumbling thunder. Although my favorite thing about rain is kissing in the rain. I don't know why but I just think it is so romantic to just lock lips in the pouring rain.

The Bear

Sarah Jane is such a big girl. I am sad to say that my baby is growing up. She now has to sit straight up in the stroller. She loved being outside today. As you can tell by that cute grin on her face.

I am also watching Allison today. The kids just have so much fun playing together. I am just so glad I got to take them outside to play for a while. The fresh air was wonderful. Although back inside Hannah and Carter were teaching Allison how to go down the stairs on her belly. She was laughing and laughing. I don't have any photos of this activity because I was hands-on. Hannah might have Allison potty trained in the next few days. wink.wink.

We found a little pond by our house that had ducks. The kids were running in circles yelling quack quack!

Love walking the babies.

Of course the kids found the only snow on the ground and had to play in it. Since it was so warm it was a combination of snow and mud. YUCK! But the kids loved it!!

Carter got his shopping cart stuck in the snow.

Lunch time.

Hannah's Hair Design. Hannah really wanted Allison to wear bows in her hair today. She looks so cute and she knows it to. She is a doll baby.

Prayers

We had a wonderful morning. We made our Saturday morning waffle breakfast and then had family time. During our family time we sang songs, prayed, read the bible and acted out the story of Lazarus. The kids wrapped Brian up in toilet paper and pretended that he was Lazarus and Hannah was Mary, Lazarus sister. I played Jesus. Anyway we acted out the story and Lazarus came to life and pulled off all the paper. The kids had a great time and we talked about a lot of different things. I just hope they stop calling Lazarus the toilet paper man.

Anyway on another note we have some big decisions that we are making as a family right now and we would appreciate all the prayers we can get. Just pray that Brian and I can have direction, wisdom and peace. I just don't see how things could work out for us, but I know that God can do anything! I will share more details as our prayers are answered.

Hannah just loves putting on layers. She was so cute today!

SJT

Sarah Jane

Giggling Janie

Dinner @ 5

We had a great dinner last night with the Mohr family. Carter had a ton of fun with Jackson and Hannah had a blast bossing the boys around. We had a really wonderful time with John and Angie even though they bought the house we wanted. wink. wink. I know God has a house for us too. Thanks for a great night !

Extra Baby

On Thursday Allison came to hang with us for the day. We had a great day! We took Hannah to school which was really fun getting all 4 kids up and down the stairs.

After Hannah's school day we went to buy a birthday present for her friend Brooke. I am still in shock that I took 4 kids, 5 months, 1 year, 2 years, & 3 years old into the Disney store. What amazes me even more is that I never felt overwhelmed or out of control. It was a little bit of a challenge getting everybody in and out of the car.

The kids were so good they each got a gift. Hannah picked out a Minni dress. Carter liked the gloves.

Here Hannah is modeling her new dress while she is writing cards to Kacy, Jordan, and Brooke.