Warm crocs for winter, thanks Grandma Carol and Grandpa Gary!

 

Charlie playing with his new Geo Tracs, thanks Aunt Maria and Uncle Henry!

 

Jackson dressed up as Santa, belly like a bowl full of jelly and all.

 

Avery in front of Aunt Tracy's house on Christmas Eve. We went to church with our friends Derrick and Lea, they had a beautiful children's service. They also gave out Celtic crosses which Avery is holding in her hand. We had a nice dinner out with family and then drove through the display of Christmas lights on the Virginia Beach boardwalk. The lights are amazing and go on for blocks.

 

 

It is when you least expect a good picture that you finally get one.
After trying the studio and at home, nothing. This photographer took 2 shots and it is fantastic.

Avery was so excited to tell Santa what she wanted, the puppy that listens to commands. Charlie was a little hesitant, but finally warmed up, he thought that if you didn't sit with santa and tell him what you wanted, you wouldn't get presents. Then he thought he was getting the presents tonight, like santa was going to hand him them racecars he asked for...surprised by his request?

And the kids loved all the electric trains set up. They can't wait to take you back daddy!

warm friends and warm hats

These wonderful warm winter hats arrived in the mail last week. I used them for our Christmas card photos, but those photos didn't do them justice.
I am so thankful for warm friends and warm hats! Thank you Lea, for sharing your beautiful craft with us.

pneumonia

Yup. Stephen's diagnosis early this morning after being taken to the hospital in an ambulance. And a sinus infection.

Poor guy.

We're hoping for a much healthier 2009. Anyone have a bubble we can live in for a few weeks?

Not the Thanksgiving I envisioned

I was looking forward to Thanksgiving.

But the 5 of us, all sick, are just going to be thankful in a quiet home, probably eating pizza. Plans to drive 6 hours south to spend the weekend with my family is not feasible they way Stephen and I are feeling.

My voice sounds like Darth Vader. My breathing too.

We will also spend time praying, especially for Kristi. The chemo has wrecked havoc on her body and she is now fighting a bacterial infection. High heart rate, low blood pressure and low white blood cell count. She is in the ICU and the doctors say the next 24-48 hours are critical. I am so sad her family is going through this, but especially this time of year.

Flashback Friday

1 year ago today I thought I was having a breakdown. I couldn't figure out why I was so emotional. Stephen was away in Miami for the final Nascar race, and by the time he returned, I finally realized that I should probably take a pregnancy test.
And then the craziest year of our lives began.




Baby Jackson at about 10 weeks old.

Quote of the day:
To love abundantly is to live abundantly, and to love forever is to live forever.
Henry Drummond

Soup of the week

To cut back on grocery bills, get our family healthier by eating more veggies and to keep us warm this winter, I have been making 1 homemade soup a week. We usually eat it one night with a good bread and then I have it for lunch again another day.

Today it is carrot soup. I didn't even know I liked carrot soup until Melanie introduced it to me. The kids actually asked for carrot soup this week, it helps to have a library book that talks about how yummy carrot soup can be!

I pulled this from allrecipes.com
Creamy carrot soup
SUBMITTED BY: Grace Yaskovic

1 cup chopped onion
1/4 cup butter, cubed (can substitute for EVOO)
4 1/2 cups sliced carrots
1 large potato, peeled and cubed
2 (14.5 ounce) cans chicken broth
1 teaspoon ground ginger
2 cups heavy whipping cream (can substitute for milk)
1 teaspoon dried rosemary, crushed
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper

DIRECTIONS
In a Dutch oven, saute onion in butter until tender. Add carrots, potato, broth and ginger. Cover and cook over medium heat for 30 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Cool for 15 minutes.
Transfer to a blender or food processor in small batches; cover and process until smooth. Return all to the pan; stir in the cream, rosemary, salt and pepper. Cook over low heat until heated through.