Photo Fun!

Mads and I have been sneaking out for

holiday fun photo shoots recently.

Of course, it was before it snowed and iced up and dropped

the temp to 10 degrees!

We traded in a camera for a new prime lens

and have been having fun testing it out!

She loves everything about the holiday season!

Maybe since she has a holiday birthday, it's in

her genes to love December!

She even loves the cold and snow whereas I could jump

right back into spring and warmer temps!

Hope you're enjoying getting into the holiday spirit!

It's Invisible!

Last Friday, Maddie and I had the opportunity to spend the evenings with the Littles! 

We had so much fun!

Warning - that Incredibles 2 movie is strange (at least M and I think it is).

The kids always go to bed like little angels!

Jane (8 years old) had a rather complicated good-night

ritual for the boys and Dorothy consisting of

playing and singing an original song on her harp, playing another song, 

making up a story and then praying together.

That took a while!

Photo from Jane's First Communion in April

However, Jane and Harry (5 years old) had a little trouble getting to sleep.
Both missed their Mom and Dad and felt very sad.
One time when Harry was crying and I went to see what the problem was,
there was a bucket next to his bed [it hadn't been there before].
He said he was sad and he threw up!!! 
Oh No I thought - yuck!
But . . . there was nothing in the bucket.
I told Philip about it later, he said that has
happened before. 
When asked why the bucket is empty, Harry responded
"It's invisible throw-up!" 

Meanwhile, Jane was up a few times because she was cold
and her comforter "was not very comforting!"

Those kiddos are such a hoot!
We love them to pieces!

It's Chilly/Chili Around Here!

Brrrrr -- winter has hit here hard already

with snow, wind and 10 degree temps!

When it turns this cold, my thoughts turn to food - of course!

Chocolate chip cookies, fudge, soups and chili!  

Does it say something about me that the first foods I list are cookies and candy??

Do you believe it - I have never made chili myself!

Just recently I found a great recipe for 

no-bean chili using the crockpot!

We do not really like beans and this recipe is perfection!

So here's the recipe and Lynn's photo!

Mine looks just like this too!

I even have the same white bowl!

Great minds -- you know!

Photo from Lynn's Kitchen Adventures

And, for the win, I used leftover chili to make 

goulash that Mr. Tennis has been requesting!

It turned out so fabulous!

I think I could figure something out to mix the leftovers 

with every single day!

Even M liked the goulash!

Photo courtesy of world wide web

Patting myself on the back for 

actually making something yummy for dinner!

Fudge is on my list for this cold weekend!

Photo courtesy of world wide web

What about you?

Any great and EASY recipes I should try?

Stay warm this weekend friends!

Happy November!

Well, October sure zipped by at warp speed, didn't it!

Hello November!

Hello Cold Temps -- it was 26 here this morning!

BRRRRR!

The cold weather actually got M out of her uniform shorts 

(her legs had to be freezing) 

and into her uniform skirt with leggings and the

uniform sweatshirt.

Of course, no one wears coats in high school!

However, she did wear jammies out for a photo shoot

not too long ago!

She's so funny!

She is gearing up for Christmas decorating and

hopes/plans to get the tree up this weekend.

We don't feel the need to wait until after Thanksgiving!

Hope November is starting well for you too!

How about you?

Christmas decorating and shopping on your "to do" list?

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween!

Seems like October has zipped right by - do you agree??

Maddie is dressing up as a Llama tonight!

She is too funny and at least

should be warm enough in this get-up!

Bonus -- she can wear it as jammies later!  :)

Happy Halloween!

Be Careful!

Friendly Reminder . . . 

Be Careful What you Wish For!

We were wishing the rain would stop!

Oh yes, it finally stopped and then --

SNOW!!

Really!

On Sunday, October 14, 2018,

we received 6-7 inches of snow!

Soooooo crazy!

And so wet and heavy - goodbye flowers and plants!

Poor trees in our neighborhood that had

barely started to turn color

were hammered!

All those leaves covered in heavy snow and ice 

led to lots of branches going down!

You could hear tree branches cracking!

Some areas looked like a war zone.

Mr. Tennis went out and knocked the heavy

snow off one of our favorite smallish trees.

It bounced right back up -- YAY for our little tree.

The sun came out and finally after a day or

two of dealing with slushy messes and

the snow melted away!

Praying it stays away until approximately

December 20 - the day before M's bday as

she always wants snow on her birthday.

Rain, Rain, Rain, Rain . . .

Rainy days and Mondays and Tuesdays

 and Wednesdays . . .

basically every day for the last two weeks, it's been raining!

We have definitely had our share and more of

rain this year.

Usually the farmers are praying for rain  --- 

this year, they're praying for

NO MORE RAIN!

Evidently, there are bumper crops waiting

to be harvested, but it's too wet!

Look at how nice and green our grass is -- 

this is not normal for this time of year!

Even my dog wants boots and her own little umbrella!

Weather alert -- the sun may peek out tomorrow,

but more rain forecast the rest of the week!

I think we should all have a day off work

tomorrow to celebrate seeing the sun again if,

in fact, it does come out!

Let's don't even talk about  my hair and this weather -

it's not good people, not good at all!  

What's new in your area??

Please send sunshine!  

I'll even take cold temps

if only we get some sunshine!

Rain, Rain Go Away!!