YEAH BABY DUNKIN DOUGHNUTS!!! YUMMY

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!

I am thankful for life. For each day the good Lord gives. For Freedom and Praise. I'm so thankful for my baby girl, whom I get a chance to see her firsts in life! I love her so much. I'm so thankful for my teammate husband. There's no-one else I'd rather grow old with. Thank you hubby for working so hard so I can take care of our girl and furry babies. For our family and their support. We're so fortunate to have the chance to live closer to them! Love you. For friendships near and far. Thank you Father!

We have had a wonderful visit in New Jersey! We've gotten to visit with Jeff and Barb and their lovely three children. We went to see Nelson and Susan's warming home and had a fabulous dinner at a French Thai place in d'hood:) Nelson and I played in the streets of danger! It was like old times. I wanted so badly to steal Susan's fall decorations, but Nelson made sure I left empty handed. We drove to cousin Stephanie and Voit's house, where Auntie Desy and Uncle Al were also visiting. They have a beautiful French decor home. The history of their home is sooooo cool. The track they live on used to be surrounded by a horse race track. Their house was a men's viewing building. They had a balcony on the second floor where back then you'd watch the race horses. They have a huge fireplace...oh I could go on. Thank you for a yummy lunch. Oh and Thanksgiving! I still got my Gingerbread Late!!!! Auntie Cynthia arrived as we were heading to Haddonfield for photo taking of Amelia. She went with us. It was a wonderful morning sipping late, enjoying the brisk cold air and walking through a beautiful historical town. Amelia was a perfect model, posing in front of Christmas decorate store fronts. After taking about 100 photos, we headed back home for an amazing Thanksgiving dinner prepared by Mom. YUMMY! Thank you mom for such a great Thanksgiving feast. Uncle Jimmy came for Thanksgiving too! What a great day. I love the East Coast, especially during fall/winter. The historical buildings are so much fun to photograph. We hope to come out during Greek Easter.

Tomorrow Amelia and I head to Chicago for Grandma Inez's funeral Saturday. I'm kinda nervous. Straty and I made such a perfect traveling team!!!!! I hope Ame does great. She's such a wonderful girl.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone....now get your trees up, your lights hung, the poinsettias planted, the spirit of Christmas is here! BELIEVE

New Jersey

I'm sitting here at the computer in the dining room, listening to the Hadj family in the other room. They're a hoot! It's a shuffle conversation...it started with places to take Amelia during Christmas as she gets older, to prices of homes, to Straty and ice cream and running 5k turkey trot, to Thanksgiving, friends, religion, "Everyone likes me"....mom is reading parts of the news paper, while Straty is watching football and dad is at the computer finishing up a stamp collection society newsletter. Amelia is sound asleep in bed. She didn't nap at all today!!! We went to Haddonfield!!!! I LOVE the ole town and the big German looking churches. I had to buy another photo disk for my camera. Now my computer is full and a digital disk for my camera. I think I have a problem with taking too many photos. I wish I could share the ones I took today!!!! Soon! Does anyone know what a start up disk on a MAC? Anyway, the leaves are on the ground and I can hear the rain tapping on the sky lights in the family room now. It's chilly, ok, bone chilling cold: high 20's low 30's. Burrrrr. We're having a wonderful time. Jeff and Barb with their three adorable kids came over for a feast mom prepared. Tomorrow we visit with Nelson and Susan. Wednesday we see more family and Thursday it's stuff our bellies day!!!! Friday Amelia and I head to IL for Grandma Inez's furneral, while Straty attends his 20th HS reunion. It's a busy trip, but lots of fun!!!!

The Heaven's sky was purple tonight and hymns were sung!

Tonight was a night full of the Lord. Tonight Dad was singing to his favorite hymns at the Gather concert. Mom, Amelia and Aunt Marcia were at church in a wonderful worship. Straty and I celebrated life, happiness and love as our friends renewed their vows....All the while Grandma Inez went peacefully home to Christ. Her favorite color was purple, so I can only imagine what the sky looked like as she walked through those gates. She loved to sing, songs like Amazing Grace, I don't Know Why, You are my Sunshine...Grandma was a beautiful woman inside and out. She was the grandma with Tang, Popcorn and Ice Cream! She loved her bling bling and family dearly! Most importantly she loved her maker. I'm so happy and praise the Lord for taking her home. She's been stuck in her earthly body for too long. Her spirit was freed tonight. I love you Grandma, I always will. You are my Sunshine.

Amelia is 10 Months old today...

I can't believe 10 months ago today Straty and I were on our way to the hospital for the arrival of our baby. The excitement of what we were having as well as the fears of the unexpected were rushing through my body. Now we have a beautiful baby girl and my fears, if that's what they are called are still running through my brain. Maybe not so much fears but concerns like if she's getting enough learning, is she healthy, is she eating the right things, what will this world be like for her when she has a voice? Right now though, I'm living in the moment and enjoying every waking moment with her. Even when she's sleeping I love to go into her room and watch her. Last night I had to pull her foot out of the bars of the crib. She loves to prop her foot up while sleeping on her side. She's a really good baby girl, even with her fits. We're so lucky. Love you baby girl!!

Christmas is coming!!!!

Well I have the Christmas itch!!! It started last week when I got the call from Bill that Starbucks had their holiday cups out. This week, I'm taking down fall. Why you ask? Well, we leave next Saturday for Cherry Hill, NJ to spend Thanksgiving with Straty's family. We'll be gone till the Saturday after. Every Thanksgiving, I start my morning with my very first Gingerbread late. It puts me into Christmas mode. That evening I take down fall and decorate the house in Christmas, so Friday I'm off to Target to get our tree!!!!! This week while I'm going through my cleaning, I'm taking down the fall and putting in Christmas. I'm a little behind, due to other projects, but I will succeed! I'm also working on the computer/photo thing. So many wonderful shots have been taken, that I can't wait to share. Like election day and Amelia with her sticker and pamphlet. Or her first steamed milk from Starbucks in her holiday cup. Or today she sat in a big bin with stuffed animals! She's growing so fast!!!! She's been taken off of baby food, drinking milk, pointing to what she wants, throwing fits, saying "dog" "duck" "dad" and "dat (cat)" She loves saying SSSSS and has "sock" on the tip of her tongue. I love it when she's just plain tired or emotional and cries out "ma ma ma ma ma" She kills me! Speaking of traveling. This will be Amelia's first airplane ride. I've made many lists: what to pack in the suitcase, what to bring on the plane, her schedule the day of travel and how we'll feed her and where we'll get the food from. Depending on well she does, Amelia and I may stay a little longer in NJ. We have to be back though for the Drive Thru Nativity at Church and Auntie Krista will be having a B-day! It's been a long day, so I'm hitting the hay early tonight! G'nite.

Happy Anniversary Grandma and Grandpa!!!!

39 years ago our family started with two people who fell in love. That love has carried into two more generations. A love that is unconditional, forgiving, compassionate, fun and crazy, supportive through the good and bad times. A love that will never die, but will carry on and be cherished through many generations. Mom and Dad we love you so very much and celebrate the commitment you made 39 years ago! The family you have created and raised with the good Lord as our foundation, knowing that some day we'll have families of our own. You have instilled in us many values that we will carry on. You have always made home a place that is warm and welcoming for those whom we brought in. You made Straty feel right at home. I'm proud of the woman I am and the amazing child I have and I give credit to the two of you. Memories have been flashing in my head all day today of growing up with your love. Thank you! I love you both so very much and am so blessed to be so close to the both of you. I am so fortunate to have you as my mom and dad. Amelia is so blessed to have you as her Grandparents. WOW...Grandparents. That is another love that is so amazing to watch you have. My heart melts every time you're around her. Happy Anniversary!!!!

Trick or Treat!!!

Halloween in Bloom

Here's photos of our little Flower child. She LOVED her costume. You could see her face light up when she looked in the mirror. It's so amazing how she knows when something special is going on or when she knows she's doing a "grown up thing" like drink from a glass... We had such a fun night! I had camera issues and of course working on the computer issue:) I have a ton more photos, so I'll attach soon. Photos such as Grandma and Amelia carving her pumpkin, Hazel and Miller as hot dogs:) The family came over over a fall dinner. Miranda, LJ and Amelia went trick or treating with a crowd of "groupies" following them:) After dinner we watched Twilight Zone. It was so much fun having the gang over in our new home.

Amelia loves to grocery shop!

FINALLY....I have been trying to post pictures since Friday. Anyway the family went to the market, Amelia's favorite outing. She loves to touch everything. She holds the coupons for daddy. Last night we went to Target and she had clothing from both sides of the isle in her hands, holding on for dear life and laughing so loudly. Then we went to play with the toys.