Weekend Plans... Easter 2014

Easter is here. When Lent begins, Easter Day seems so far away. Somehow it comes quickly, whether we are ready or not. Friday is Good Friday. We will spend a quiet day reflecting and praying The Stations of The Cross together. Friday night we will have a simple fish meal for dinner and spend the night here at home, preparing for our Easter dinner on Saturday.

Years ago, Steve and I made the decision to reserve holidays for our own little family. We spend Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and Easter Day here in our home...just the six of us. We choose keep our children in their own home on these special days, rather than running here and there. It works for us...and I am glad. So...we celebrate with our extended families before or after. We usually host Easter here on Saturday evening. This year, the first holiday without my father, will be a small family gathering. My mom, my sister Margie and her husband Chris, and Steve's sweet sister Sally and her family will be joining us for ham dinner. I am looking forward to a simple, family evening. Afterward, we will set out our carrots and wait for the Easter bunny!

Sunday morning...Easter Sunday...we will attend early Mass together and celebrate the Risen Lord. After that, we will come home and hunt for baskets and surprises. Sunday's meal will be leftover ham and fixings...with some chocolate bunnies, I hope! And the rest of the day will be spent here in our country home together. : )

That is what we have planned for this weekend of Easter, my friends. I hope yours is blessed, and happy, and peaceful...whatever your plans may be. Thanks for visiting!

My little Flynn goes everywhere with me...she rides along when we take Madison to work everyday. : )

She has also become quite the little baker...

Peyton has taught her well!

Homeschool perk! Taking a break from studies to whip up a batch of chocolate chip cookies...because...well, Flynn asked them to. : )

We finally saw some signs of spring this week...this is what I saw early one morning when I took out the puppy...

and this is what I saw later that afternoon. She was soooooo happy! She has been waiting for her swinging days to start forever. : )

Simple fruit salad makes every meal better. : )

We have this in the refrigerator all the time.

One of my very favorite things in the whole wide world...my baby girl...with freshly washed hair in braids. I want to remember these mornings forever...

and these afternoons as well...

baking with all four of my children. Little Flynn rolled out the dough this year, and she was so proud!

We made bunnies...

eggs...

and carrots. We made crosses too, but I think they were long gone before I snapped theses pictures.

: )

(And if these carrots look red to you...it's because they are! I put way too munch red in and ran out of yellow!)

And I'll leave you with a selfie from last Sunday...

Me and my Rhett.

Happy and Blessed Easter, friends!

Time Goes Too Fast Tuesday

Time does indeed go too fast. And here are a few pictures to prove it...

Easter 2011

My Rhett and my Flynn...

Back when my littles all wore matching jammies... : )

and when a little one year old could check out her own Easter basket...

and new sippy cups were all the rage.

Happy Easter!

A Touch Of Easter

The sun was shining the day we packed up the shamrocks and leprechauns and pulled out the Easter box. It  finally seemed like spring! Here is a peek at our Easter decorated country home. : )

The Easter mantel...

 

 

with this pretty wreath my sister Margie gave me last year...

 

 

and a few sweet touches around a Bunny Cake candle. : )

 

 

These little guys are hanging out nearby, right near the chair where I drink my coffee.

 

 

The sideboard holds one of my very favorites...

 

 

and a few cute signs as well.

 

 

The family room smells wonderful thanks to this yummy scented candle...

 

 

which rests right near our Easter movie basket.

 

 

The holiday tree...which I moved yet again...is decorated in vintage looking décor...

 

 

like bunnies and

 

 

chicks and carrots. : )

 

 

And we enjoy burning this sweet smelling Bunny Cake candle every spring evening in our country home.

 

 

Happy Easter time, my friends!

 

 

 

Weekend Plans

The weekend is here again. And we are happy. Friday evening we are going to head over to the church for a Fish Fry. Lent is almost over, and that means the end of the Friday Night Fish Fry. Until next year. : ) After that, Rhett is planning on heading down to the theatre while the rest of us head home. For jammies and movies. Because that is what makes us happy. : )

Saturday I am going to go down to my mother's and help her sort through some things, clean out her closet, and put her spring bedding on her bed. I want to help her organize all of my dad's funeral memories together so she can pull them out and look through them when ever she wants. Madison works the afternoon and evening shift, so she will need to attend Sunday morning Mass. That means Steve will take Peyton and Rhett to Saturday afternoon Mass. Afterward, I am thinking Steve can fire up our grill and cook some burgers outside for the first time this season.

Sunday morning, I will attend early Mass with Madison before she heads to work. Then we have practice for a very special Mass in my hometown. The Holy Thursday Mass is being offered for my father, and our family is going to take part. Steve and I are going to dress the altar, my sisters are carrying flowers, and my mom and Rhett are carrying candles. I am so thankful this beautiful Mass being offered in my father's memory. It is such an honor for him. : ) After practice, I am thinking of picking up a pizza at the place in town where I used to go when I was in high school. I can still remember going in there with my bestie Jennifer on Friday nights. : )

Well, that is what we are up to this April weekend. I hope yours is happy and warm and sunny, whatever your plans may be. Thanks for visiting!

I took my flannel sheets off this week. A sure sign that spring has finally arrived.

Another sign of spring...I packed away my sweetie's winter jammies. This always makes me sad...there is just something about a little one fresh from a warm bath snuggled in cozy jammies that makes me happy. : )

But she is sure happy with her new Cinderella gown for spring!

This is what I found when I returned home on Monday from my overnight...This was waiting for me in the rocker where I rock my Flynn and read our stories. : )

Some fun Easter goodies around here...these brownies with Easter sprinkles...

and some yummy S'mores Bark too.

But just so you don't think we are total junkies...this is what Flynn is eating this very moment...

and this is what we had with our waffles last weekend. It's all about balance, my friends. ; )

Have a wonderful weekend! : )

S'mores Bark

Sometimes you just need a little something sweet. And some daughters looking for something to do. When my girls were looking for something to do today, I suggested they make this. And that is all I did. Because this snack is so quick and easy, they did it all by themselves. So if you have some kiddos that need something to do, why not ask them to whip up some S'mores bark. It is this easy...

 

Line a sheet pan with wax paper.

Melt some milk or dark chocolate.

Spread out.

Melt a little less white chocolate.

Swirl through.

Top with broken graham crackers,

Marshmallow Fluff,

and chopped Hershey bars.

Pop into the refrigerator for an hour.

It will look like this.

 

 

 

 

 

Then break it up and put it into a bowl.

 With a lid.

To keep it fresh.

If it lasts that long.

 

 

 

 

 

Be sure to sample a piece.

You have to make sure it's good, right?

Enjoy!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For Our Mom...A Getaway!

Sunday morning, two of my sisters and I left for our overnight getaway with our mom. Monday was she and my late father's 58th wedding anniversary...the first "First" since his death. We decided to take her to a charming resort hidden in the mountains of Pennsylvania...Bedford Springs Resort.

I wish you all could have been there to see the look on her face as we arrived and walked into the front door. It was her first visit to this beautiful place, and she was so very happy! Here are some pictures of my mother's special little trip. : )

She was beaming when we stepped through he door...

 

 

The lobby is beautiful, inviting, and cozy.

 

 

The entire resort is filled with lovely photographs of guests of the past...a reminder of life years and years ago. Sooo interesting...

 

 

and so beautiful too.

 

 

We walked through the Library on our way to...

 

 

the spa! My mom was excited for her first ever visit to a spa. She enjoyed every minute. : )

Afterward, we went up to find our beautiful room... 

 

 

was actually a suite! Thank you to my hubby Steve for the surprise!

 

 

Everything was so beautiful, clean, and cozy...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After we changed and got comfy, we ordered Room Service...and this, my friends, was my dessert. It was cheesecake with a chocolate crust, peanut butter icing, and toasted marshmallow. Ahhh...

 

 

And for my sweet mother...her very very very favorite!

Shoo Fly Pie!

She was in Heaven...

 

 

and this may very well be my favorite picture of the whole trip...my mom...relaxing and enjoying her favorite dessert. : )

 

 

After an evening of movies, talking, and laughing, as well as a great night's rest, we had a delicious breakfast and posed for one more picture before we headed home.

 

 

As we pulled away, my mom smiled and said it was like a dream...and that she knew my dad would be so happy for her. And he would be. If anyone is deserving of some special pampering, it is my mother...and I am thankful she was able to enjoy some.   : )