Weekend Plans... A Birthday, Groundog Day and Superbowl

Well, that was fast. February is here already. And the first February weekend promises to be busy and fun! Friday evening we are going to my wonderful mom's house to help her celebrate her 76th birthday! We will celebrate with pizza and cake and lots of love! After that, I plan on finishing up my laundry so I can do my Saturday night ironing a day early. I want to get my work done because...my dear best friend Marian is coming up for the weekend on Saturday morning!

Yes, Marian is coming to visit her very favorite family, right Marian? : ) I am going to get up early and get my hair colored fixed up and trimmed, so I should be home when Marian arrives. Rhett has a funeral to serve as well. Before we leave, we will be sure to watch the Groundhog come out and predict the rest of the winter forecast. I don't know how big of a deal this is in other parts of the country, but let me tell you...it is serious business around here! If you are up early, be sure to turn on your tv and see what all the excitement is about! I have a few fun worksheets and coloring pages for the kids to do as well.  Saturday will mostly be spent visiting and laughing and catching up. We will have Mass in the early evening, followed by dinner. I think we will have take out from our favorite place just up the road. We will probably watch a movie or two Saturday night, too.

Sunday is not just any Sunday... It is Superbowl Sunday! And we have a die-hard 49ers fan in Rhett! He is so excited! But enough about the game...on to what Superbowl Sunday is really about...the food! Right now we are planning on barbecue meatballs, cheesy potatoes, taco dip, crab dip, and some sort of dessert to be announced as soon as all the kids can decide on one. My sister and her husband will be joining Marian and us for a fun day of football and food! I hope my parents will be able to join us for at least part of the day. It will depend a lot on my father and the weather.

Well...there is our fun family weekend. I hope yours is fun and festive and Super, whatever your plans may be!

Where have these been all my life? Flynn actually asks me to wipe her nose with her "boogie wipes"! Try them...I swear your life will be better for it.

Tuesday was a busy evening. Steve and Rhett had soccer sign ups, so I planned an easy dinner. Pancakes and...

fresh fruit. My kids loved it!

So happy to find this in my mailbox today. It is the March issue, and today is January 31st. That drives me nuts...I don't like to read about spring stuff in February, so I set it in a cute basket in the kitchen until March 1. Tomorrow, I will pull out the February issue I got a month ago. Speaking of issues...! : )

 And some sweet little Groundhog chocolates to go with dinner Saturday night!

Have a great weekend, friends!

This Makes Me Happy...Books On My Nightstand

I love books. For as long as I can remember, books have been my best friends. My mom tells me I have always been able to lose myself in my books. I read different types, mostly biographies, mysteries, and historical books. Reading is also a love I have passed on to my children. It is not uncommon to find us all sitting on the sofa with our heads buried in our books. I am happy as can be when I have a stack of books waiting to be read. I know it is simple, but books on my nightstand make me happy!

Right now I have a Princess Diana biography, a new JFK book, and a mystery, just for fun!

Weekend Getaway Recap...Or I Took Pictures To Remind Myself It Was Not Just A Dream

Our weekend away was wonderful...We relaxed and rested and ate and visited. The kids had a blast at home with my sister and her husband. Weekend away=success! Now I am home, safe and sound where I belong... happy with my littles! Here are some pictures of our weekend away...

The resort we stayed at...Bedford Springs...charming!

Our room was quaint and cozy...and clean!

The bathroom...because I am weird like that...

Room service for breakfast...I had some hot chocolate

with homemade marshmallows and whipped cream...

a much-needed manicure

and pedicure. I am taking pictures because it will be a LONG time before they look like this again!

Saturday lunch was a yummy salad...

and a crazy good piece of peanut butter pie for dessert after a cozy dinner.

Weekend (Getaway) Plans

Yes, you read that correctly. This homebody is actually leaving her cozy home and sweet children for a weekend getaway with her handsome hubby. It is no secret that I love my home. Except for the daily school pick up, weekly grocery store run with my Flynn, and Saturday evening Mass, I rarely venture out. But this weekend, I am leaving my comfort zone to spend some time with my hubby. As much as I hate to leave my littles, I think it is so important for us to nurture our relationship and spend some time being Steve and Billie Jo, as opposed to Dad and Mom. It is a gift we can give them...a loving, strong marriage, which will serve as a model for their own someday.

We are going to a cozy resort not all that far away to rest and relax and eat and even visit the spa. Well, I am...Steve will probably sleep in! We are blessed to have my sister and her husband coming to watch the kids right here at our own house. The kids always have so much fun; it is like a vacation for them as well!

So, that is our weekend. I will be back here on Monday, but until then, I hope your weekend is happy and restful, whatever your plans may be! Oh, and don't forget...National Chocolate Cake Day is Sunday! Peyton has assured me she will take care of baking a yummy chocolate cake for when Steve and I get home on Sunday. Be sure to take a picture and share yours next week! : )

We finished up the holiday scented soap this week. I was sad until I found this. It smells so good!

I can never pass up holiday-themed treats...

And speaking of holidays...my sweetie all ready for Mass last weekend. And me playing around with Picasa...

Cherry-Berry Pie

This is one of our favorite desserts ever. I have had this recipe so long, I can't remember where I got it. It may have been in a magazine... or possibly on the Pillsbury pie crust box...We usually have it for Christmas, but it is also perfect for Valentine's Day too. Enjoy!

                      Cherry-Berry Pie

Ingredients:     1 pie crust, prepared
                       2 cups fresh or frozen raspberries
                       1/2 cup sugar
                       1 tablespoon flour
                       1 can cherry pie filling


Directions:        Heat oven to 400 degrees.
                        Prepare crust.
                        Place in 9-inch pie pan.
                        In a large bowl, combine remaining ingredients.
                        Spoon into pan.
                        Top with top crust. Seal edges
                        and cut small slits.
                        Sprinkle with sugar.
                        Bake 40 to 45 minutes.

I use the Pillsbury crusts.  They are delicious, I swear! I use frozen raspberries and do not thaw them.

 Ok...My husband just informed me that today, January 23, is National Pie Day! How weird is that that I posted this today? 

A Peek Inside...My Refrigerator

Is it weird that I like to see inside people's refrigerators?  Ok, it is, I admit. But don't you just love to take a peek? Well, since mine was clean and recently stocked, I thought I would let you take a peek inside. I just made your day, right?

Thrilling, I know! Ok... I keep yogurt and fruit cups together on the top shelf. I always open the packs first, so it is easier for the kids to grab one. The next shelf is where I keep fresh fruit in clear containers. I always cut the fruit up as soon as I get home from the store, but I don't rinse it until we are ready to eat it. The bins hold fruit and veggies. And the bottom drawer is for cheese and wraps. I always keep things in the same place, so it is easy to tell when we are out of something.

This door holds condiments...

and this one is for milk, juice, and butter.

The freezer drawers hold my fresh picked, frozen blueberries for cereal and breakfast items, as well as frozen veggies. And yes, it is bothering me that the bag of peas is folded over...

And of course, the ice cream drawer. As you can see, we all like different kinds!

Well...that's it! That is a peek inside my refrigerator! What is inside of yours?

Oh... and late Happy Birthday wishes to my sweet blogger friend Kelli! Hope it was happy!

Weekend Plans

I am loving the look of my January planner. All these empty weekends. ..no plans at all! I hope I don't bore you to tears with the details of our January weekends, but really, these are our favorite kind of days! Friday evening will be quiet. I am having tacos with fresh fruit for dinner. Then we will probably settle in and watch some tv. We love to watch Shark Tank on Friday evenings. The kids have all been tired, so I think it will be an early night!

Saturday I am going to finish up my scrapbooking! Yes, you read that correctly...I will be all caught up. I have been working along for a few hours most days and have had an excellent little helper. Flynn is a scrapbooker in training! We have Mass in the early evening, then I am planning a crockpot roast for dinner when we get home. Saturday evening is another quiet night at home. We will probably play some games or watch a movie. I am hoping I can talk Peyton into making some Monkey Bread!

Sunday is catch up on little chores day. I have an ever-growing list of little things that need to be done around the house. Exciting things like change the water filter in the refrigerator and hang a picture in the foyer. Thrilling stuff, I know! I think I will have a chance to get Steve busy on these things in between football games if I time it just right. I think we will get takeout pizza on Sunday night. I mean who wants to cook after a busy day like that? : )

Well, that is it...our weekend. I hope yours is restful and cozy, whatever your plans may be! Thanks for visiting!

I picked these up this week... how fun!

This is the view from my family room window. It is what I see when I have my afternoon coffee.

You are never too old for an afternoon nap!

This month's cupcake delivery...peach cobbler and almond joy? Yes, please!

Evening bath+baby magic lotion+fresh jammies+milk in a sippy cup=love!

My Sweetheart

Wait, Christmas is over? No more Christmas clothes?

What's that you say? Valentine's Day is coming?

Hooray!

Oh, this is a Valentine's Day outfit? Ok then... Cheese!

Our Winter Home

Christmas is over and is packed away for another year. Although that makes me sad, I am ready for a fresh start. A less cluttered home that we will snuggle into for the long winter ahead. Once we pack the Christmas decorations away, I give the house a good cleaning and set about making it cozy for the coming winter months. I keep the snowman theme up and add a few new touches and it's done! A less cluttered, cozy space for us to spend our time together and enjoy during the cold days ahead. Here are a few pictures of our cozy winter home.

The table in the mudroom...

our kitchen table...

with a snowflake reminder

and matching candy dish... a present from Ryan this year.

The sideboard...

with its own winter fun...

and a cute little sign that hangs above my desk.

The rocker in the hearth room has a sweet little pillow...

and the winter mantle is bare, just like the winter trees outside.

I love the clean, empty look after all the Christmas fun is removed.

The Christmas movies are replaced with warm throws to snuggle up with...

and our holiday scented candle is gone. In its place...a simple Home Sweet Home candle that burns every evening in our winter home.

Weekend Plans

The weekend is here. A quiet winter weekend. I am looking forward to a couple days of quiet family fun. Friday looks to be a chilly, rainy day here. That calls for a cozy, family fun night. I am planning a simple supper of sloppy joes, french fries, and fruit. Then we will make a bowl of popcorn and watch a movie, or play some of the new games the kids got for Christmas. I am afraid if we don't they will soon get lost on the playroom shelf. We always play the new Christmas games during Christmas week, and then forget all about them. Does that happen at your house too? The kids have had a hard time adjusting to the school routine after a break, so I think they will be asleep pretty early!

Saturday Steve's mother is stopping in for a visit. She doesn't get down often, so we are looking forward to visiting with her here. I am having homemade pizza stromboli for supper. The kids actually have fun making them with me. After supper, we are going to the evening Mass where Rhett is serving. He always looks forward to that. After that, the girls and I are planning on watching The Miss America pageant. We watch it every year together. It is a tradition in this house!


Sunday is another free day! I have brunch planned with waffles, eggs, sausage, toast, and fresh fruit. Once that is all cleaned up, I imagine some people in my house will be watching football. Even though our Steelers are done for the season, we are still a football house! I may even pencil in an afternoon nap! Well, that is our laid back winter weekend. I hope yours is nice and warm and fun, whatever your plans may be! Thanks for stopping by!

My sweet, sweet parents on my dad's birthday : )

My two lovely girls who came down for Mass last weekend wearing the same sweater!

Look what I found! Makes me feel better about my littles eating pop tarts for breakfast!

And a little mid-week treat to sweeten up our day!

We were so happy to have a visit from our dear family friend and former parish priest, Fr. Leon. He is also Rhett's godfather.

 He recently returned from a trip to Rome and brought us a Papal Blessing! We were so very excited and thankful!