Autumn Moon Festival Fun

What fun times spent with friends who have become like family to us. A few weeks ago our China travel buddies gathered together to celebrate the Autumn Moon Festival. It was a lively bunch to say the least. Barbee Ruth's parents hosted the festivities and a great time was had by all. We had food and more food(Chinese of course) and the conversation around this table was quite animated! Just look at how intently Clara Beth is listening to what Barbee Ruth has to say
Clara Beth: "This food is absolutely delicious!"
Barbee Ruth: " It is, but I am just loving this new dress I have on."
Clara Beth: "WE must get together more often."
Barbee Ruth: "Yes, let's tell our mommies right now."
I can just imagine this was exactly what they were talking about that night! What do you think...

A quick little break from the fun. This only lasted a minute before they were both off again to join the others.
They all climbed, jumped, squealed and giggled under the light of the autumn moon until yawns started. Then we all ventured back inside to say our good-byes before heading home.
But our night would not have been complete without the infamous attempt to get a picture of all of them together. This was the most successful of many(about 50) tries. There were a few sweet faces missing that night(The Matthew's family couldn't be with us, we missed you guys!!!) but I know we'll ALL be together again very soon because.............. Look Out, we're hosting a Halloween Party!! WHOO HOO we can hardly wait!!!!

Until next time...................

Enjoy the blessings of sweet children in your life. They grow up so very fast. I find so much comfort in knowing that no matter how much I love them our Heavenly Father loves them even more.

I will pour out my spirit on your offspring, and my blessings on your descendants.

Isaiah 44:3

For this I am so thankful.

Robin

Simple Things

Tonight was a busy night at our house. We had Anna Kayla and Greg coming over to eat with us. I also had a PTO meeting to attend so whatever we decided to have for dinner had to be QUICK and SIMPLE. The Grill Master and I teamed up and we turned quick and simple into simply wonderful. We decided to have chips and burgers with all the trimmings. Yes, we used disposable cups and plates!! We did liven things up a bit with cute napkins and a fun tablecloth on the dining room table. It's hard to believe but when all of us are here together we have outgrown the kitchen table. Can you believe that!!
There's ALWAYS time for dessert at our house, even if it's Snicker doodle cookies that you just break and bake!!! What could be easier.
Here are the two little ones relaxing with a cookie after their meal.(See how relaxed Clara Beth is, she's lounging right on Emanuiel) He doesn't mind, this is the first cookie he's had since his surgery four weeks ago. I believe he would endure anything for that!!aah....... what better way to unwind after a big meal than with a little video gaming. While Bubbie's away the kiddos will play. You better hope he doesn't catch you in his room!!
Hurry Mei Mei, I think I hear him coming, we better make a run for it! Until next time................If you think what you are doing is plain and simple just make it simply wonderful.

The steps of the godly are directed by the Lord.
He delights in every detail of their lives.(even the simple ones)
Psalm 37:23
How neat is that!!!

Robin

Our Handsome Little Cubbie and Our Cutie

Tonight Emanuiel received his vest for Cubbies. This is our Awana program at church for preschoolers. It is designed to help little ones learn all about scripture. Paul takes him to his class while I help in the nursery. He was absolutely beaming when he came in tonight to show me his vest and bag. My heart was just bursting looking at him and how happy he was. Clara Beth was more interested in his bag than the vest. She wanted to take it and put it on her shoulder. That didn't last long, he made sure that it stayed on his shoulder. When we got home he came right in and hung it on the door knob(where he sees me hang their bags). This little fellow doesn't miss a thing!! Soon it was time for bed, he did have to put it on just once over his pajamas!! I knew he would.
Just a little hugging and loving before bedtime. What a great way to end a day. Now we are all off to bed!! Until next time........................

I sleep and wake up refreshed,
because you, Lord,
protect me.
Psalm 3:5

Happy First Day of Fall

I love fall. It is one of my most favorite times of the year. We have enjoyed the crisp mornings as we leave for school and the cool evenings that are perfect for pulling Clara Beth and Emanuiel around the neighborhood in the wagon. I love the foods that we think of in autumn, just picked apples baked into pies, pumpkins with seeds for toasting, hearty soups and stews simmering on the stove that make your house smell like home. To celebrate the beginning of fall we had one of our favorite cozy comfort meals. This is not fancy food just good down home cooking that my mother taught me how to do. She's been gone for over ten years and cooking was her passion. I still feel very close to her anytime I am working away in the kitchen. So tonight we had one of her go to meals. Savory Stewed Beef over Rice that simmered in the crock pot all day, Ham Flavored Pinto Beans(that also bubbled away in another crock pot), Baked Sweet Potatoes smothered in butter, brown sugar and cinnamon and warm from the oven Cornbread Muffins. What could be more tasty on the first day of fall. The little ones and big ones gobbled it all up. I only wish I could have had enough time to bake an apple pie!!! That would have been autumn perfection!! Maybe tomorrow night.
We had another big first at our house tonight. After dinner Land had to get ready for his first night at Junior Cotillion. This is a dress-up affair so he had to get all gussied up. This program is designed to help young people treat others with respect and dignity. They also throw in a little ballroom dancing for fun. Doesn't he already look like quite a gentleman.
All ready to tackle cotillion.(I know he wishes this was football he was tackling.)
Too handsome for words, can you tell Mom is just a little biased. No pictures of the little ones tonight. They kept moving in opposite directions........imagine that!!!

Remember that our evenings together will become fond memories of our treasured families and that the bounty and fullness in our lives comes from the Lord. So today make a memory and thank the Lord for the family that you have to share it with.

Say"thank you" to the Lord for being so good,
for always being so loving and kind.
Psalm 107:1

Until next time............
Robin

So Sweet Even In The "SWARM"

This week one of my good friends came over to take pictures of our family. We made plans to go to a neighbor's yard(which is quite beautiful) to make them. When we arrived we noticed that there were lots of mosquitoes flying around. This soon became a SWARM. I have NEVER seen so many in my life. She snapped a few pictures before they tried to carry us off!! I am very fortunate that they do not bite me, however the rest of my family is not so lucky. In the few minutes we were there they were almost eaten alive!!!!

She was able to get this one before we ran for our lives!!!!! She really does great work.

Look at this beautiful picture below that she took of Clara Beth last March. It almost took my breath away the first time I saw it. CB can be so serious at times and she completely captured that in this picture. You can see more of her work here http://www.bludomain10.com/karenholubek/# We are planning to schedule another session and I can hardly wait!!!!

Coming soon pictures from our Chinese Autumn Moon Festival Celebration!!! Until next time..........So wonderful to be able to celebrate with good friends. Like Psalm 16:3 says
As for the Godly people in the world,
they are the wonderful ones I enjoy.
So blessed to have Godly friends to share things with.


Robin

Very Thankful Thursday

But all who humble themselves before the Lord shall be given every blessing, and shall have wonderful peace. Psalm 37:11 On this Thursday I am so thankful and so blessed. My two babies are making great transitions. Our prayers are being answered and we are rejoicing. This is a picture of Clara Beth(doesn't she look like a happy girl). It was taken on Wednesday(her first day with Mrs. Dawn) She only had tears for a few minutes and then she did great yesterday and today!! Oh how this eases a mommy's mind!!! Thank you to everyone who sent up prayers for us. They are being answered!!!!!!
Here's my other sweetie this morning. We did a trial run at school. I am so thankful that he will be able to attend the three year old program at my school. He has a wonderful teacher and speech therapist that he will see daily. This will allow him to be immersed in language each day. His after school situation has also worked out!! Another prayer answered!! Isn't he so cute with his little backpack!! There's Clara Beth all ready to go too!!

Now for a little entertainment!!!!!!!! Here we are right before bed. Emanuiel visited the library at school today and brought home Brown Bear, Brown Bear. Of course there is a black sheep in the book, which just happens to be CB's favorite song(BAA BAA Black Sheep) so we sang it over and over and over. (please ignore the laundry in the background,I am)

Until next time...................Rejoice because tomorrow is Friday and that means w*e*e*k*e*n*d!!

Robin

More Reasons to Celebrate!!!

Well it doesn't take much for us to have a celebration around this house. Friday Land celebrated that he finally was able to bring his trumpet home from school. We gathered around the kitchen table as he very carefully took it out of its case
We then watched as he oiled each part.
Even the little ones waited patiently as he polished and oiled it, then finally he tried it out for us!!!!! We can't wait to hear more!!!!!!!!!!!!! Now if I can just keep these four little hands away from it we'll be okay!!!!! They are drawn to that trumpet like little magnets...
In case you haven't noticed we LOVE food around here!!! I love to cook and try new things. On Sunday we celebrated(I know we were a week late.)Grandparent's Day. We are very fortunate to have Paul's parents close by. They are such a big help to us with the children. We had lunch here Sunday after church so that meant that I had to do one of my very easy but elegant meals. Our menu included, a family favorite of ours, Cheese Stuffed Shells, Crusty Parmesan Bread, Mixed Green Salad and to end it all Heavenly Banana Dessert(courtesy of Paula Deen). Thankfully Emanuiel is recovering so well from his surgery I have been able to take foods like these and puree them in my food processor for him so he hasn't been left out. I even did this with our dessert. He loved it. If any of you reading have great recipes that you would like to share leave them in the comments section. I would love to give them a try. Especially if you have a family favorite that is quick and easy. I go back to school on Wednesday(sniff, sniff) so these kinds of recipes would come in very handy. Also, if you would like my Stuffed Shells recipe just let me know. It has a delicious sauce that I use for Baked Spaghetti and Chicken Parmesan.
Here's a picture after lunch with the grand parents. We got the two little ones but the two big ones were somewhere else in the house. It's so hard to get everybody in a picture!!! Until next time..................gather your family together and celebrate something. I always say, ordinary days are my favorite kind of days. Today celebrate the ordinary!!!!

He fills my life with good things.
Psalm 103.5:5

Today celebrate the good things in your life, the ordinary and the extraordinary.


If you would please also say a little prayer for us. I go back to work(to 24 wonderful little kindergartners)on Wednesday and Clara Beth and Emanuiel will be transitioning into their new places. Pray that all goes well.


Robin

Wonderful Wacky Wednesday

This is my big guys favorite snack. Paul and Land enjoyed this after church tonight, needless to say this plate wasn't full for long. The two of them can really attack a snack!! That was the wonderful part of today. Now..............................
On to why it was a Wacky Wednesday. Think back to this picture that was taken while we were in China, notice the TWO strollers. Now imagine me, minus Land, only ME, pulling and pushing BOTH of these at the SAME time. Call me crazy because I must be, but that is what I had to do today to get my hair cut, not only a cut but brows done and highlights(a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do) No, I didn't plan it this way but that's just how it worked out. The two little ones were supposed to stay with grandparents, along with their little cousin, but she had a fever, I didn't dare chance either of them catching anything, so off we went, all three of us along with TWO strollers. After I pushed and pulled them into the salon, amid very strange looks, they watched me get waxed, foiled, dried, cut, and styled. And if all of that wasn't enough did I mention that it was raining!!!! I must say though that over all they both were very well behaved. Well that was my Wacky Wednesday, how was your day????? A double stroller is definitely on my shopping list.


On a side note, if you stop by our blog to see what we are up to we would love for you to leave a comment and say hello.

Until next time.........

Robin

CELEBRATING

We love to celebrate!! Tonight we celebrated our son-in-law, Greg's birthday. We have a tradition in our family that when it's your birthday you get to plan your birthday dinner. The sky's the limit. His meal of choice was, what we like to refer to as, a seafood extravaganza. The menu included: Cajun and Honey Glazed Shrimp Skewers, Shrimp Scampi, Cajun Tilapia, Asian Glazed Salmon, Chicken Scampi over Linguine, and Baked Potatoes. Yes, we cooked ALL of that. Here is Paul preparing the skewers for the grill.
This is Land licking the bowl, Greg's dessert choice was a brownie pie covered with vanilla ice cream, hot fudge and topped off with a cherry. The little ones looked on as Land licked away. Don't worry they didn't want any, you'll see in the next picture what they were up to while all of the cooking was taking place.
Yes, they succeeded in removing ALL of the pillows from their beds and then jumping on them and the beds!!!! They are very talented jumpers!!!!
AHHHH! the grand finale to a wonderful meal.
The birthday boy and Anna Kayla finishing off their dessert.
This is everyone, with full tummies, enjoying the rest of the evening. Nothing compares to celebrating special times with your family.

This is the Lord's doing;

it is marvelous in our eyes.

This is the day that the Lord has made;

let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Psalm 118:23-24

May your days be filled with joy and celebration.

until next time....................

Robin

Peek-A-Boo

Thankful Thursday

Thankful for a wonderful husband that I love dearly.
A son that gets more handsome and taller with each passing day. I love him with all my heart
A sweet girl that cracks me up with all of her insight on life. To her everything is a dance.
A son who's belly laughs bring a new sound to this house. He and Clara Beth were meant to be together.
And a beautiful daughter(who has grown into quite a lady) and son-in-law that I know God brought together to further His Kingdom. What more could a mother want.................I have been blessed beyond measure.

The Real "BACKYARDIGANS"

My plants got quite a good watering from these two.
Emanuiel thought the water in the bucket needed a few good swishes with the arm splints.
They did take turns. After a few reminders.
Emanuiel supervising the watering process.
All done watering, now for a few runs down the slide.

Labor Day Fun

At the spur of the moment we decided to host a Labor Day Cook-out,( yes you can question my sanity here). So we invited about 20 family members and friends. Here is the grill master taking a rest after grilling hamburgers for all of us. It was fun and we topped it off with home-made ice cream, something that Emanuiel can actually eat!! I tried to snap a few pictures(most of them turned out terrible) but here are a few of the two little ones.
Emanuiel and Clara Beth taking a much needed rest after several trips up and down the slide.
Notice the arm splints(haven't slowed him down a bit and he can take them off by himself!!) They took a few spins around the patio on various riding toys. No swimming this time, Emanuiel has tubes in his ears. It was hard enough for him to drink his Pedisure while others ate, there was no way others could swim and him not be able to.

Yes, he is JUMPING off of Land's bicycle ramp. He watched Land actually jump it on his bicycle earlier, thankfully Emanuiel didn't try it with his new bike!!!! Unfortunately all of the other pictures of our guests were blurry. That's what happens when I am behind the camera and trying to keep up with the two little tornadoes!!!