Monday Morning Coffee Talk

 

Good Monday morning! This is my vibe right now, my friends. Just dragging a bit this morning and wanting to stay snuggled up with Mocha a little bit longer. Flynn came down with a cold, and it slowly progressed over the weekend in the textbook way colds seem to do. She has had everything from a sore throat to a stuffy nose and the general yucky feeling to the relentless cough. She and I spent Saturday and Sunday on the couch, finally finishing The Walking Dead with bits and pieces of The Hunger Games and The Maze Runner in between. Everything else can wait. For now, we rest, drink soup from mugs, and watch movies we have seen many times before. Fortunately, Flynn felt well enough for our Friday night's traditional St. Patrick's Day dinner. 

I made the best Irish Beef Stew and again discussed why we only have it once a year. Madison brought the most delicious Irish Soda Bread, and Peyton did it again with an amazingly perfect Baileys Irish Cream Chocolate Cake. I will link these recipes below and strongly urge you to try them!

Today the green and gold are packed away, and soon the bunnies and eggs will appear. Tonight I am making homemade chicken tenders with sweet potatoes and green beans and then I plan on watching The Bachelor to see if Zach can get closer to deciding which of the remaining women he will choose to spend the rest of his life with. Because Reality TV is the perfect place to do that.

Well, I hope you have a cozy Monday. Thanks for visiting. I am always glad you do!

Billie Jo

Irish Beef Stew

Irish Cream Chocolate Cake

Top Of The morning To You!

 

Hello! Just an average March morning here, my friends. I need to load and run the dishwasher, shower, homeschool, and run some laundry. And I will get right to it. Soon. ; ) Have a cozy Wednesday, my friends!

Billie Jo

Christmas 2022

Hello again, my friends! Christmas Eve and Christmas Day have come and gone for another year, and we enjoyed them immensely in the very best way: together. Christmas Eve in our home was cozy and quiet, thanks to Madison and Nicolas, who hosted our entire family, as well as my sister Margie and her husband, Chris, for a traditional Danish Christmas celebration on Christmas Eve.

Our hosts for the evening! They worked very hard to share Nicolas' beautiful Danish traditions with us. We enjoyed delicious hors-d'oeuvres while visiting and listening to Christmas music in their beautifully decorated home. I offered to help if needed and was happy to assist with the gravy! We enjoyed roasted duck, Frikadeller, which are Danish meatballs, red cabbage, broccoli cheese casserole, Caprese salad, baby potatoes, and crescent rolls. Delicious!

After dinner, we exchanged our Secret Santa gifts. This year I was thrilled with the gift my Secret Santa gifted me! Christopher made me this beautiful sign for my kitchen! I absolutely love it! And promptly found a perfect place to display it the minute I got home!

After the gift exchange and a super fun game, we were treated to dessert, courtesy of Peyton, of course! She surprised us with the most delicious, beautiful dessert I could only dream of making! It was as good as it looked!!!

After dessert, we bundled up and braved the colder-than-cold weather to head home and relax before bed. And just like that, it was Christmas! Madison and Nicolas joined me, Steve, Flynn, Rhett, and Kyrstin for a brunch of nut roll, cinnamon rolls, coffee cake, and fresh fruit with juice and coffee. After brunch, we settled in the family room to relax and open presents!

The day passed in a blur of cookies, music, games, and naps. Peyton and Chris joined us later for dinner. It was snowy and cold outside but cozy and warm inside as we enjoyed the evening together. Mocha summed up the feeling perfectly.

Christmas Day was beautiful, and we continue celebrating with dinners, games, and visits because I strongly feel that Christmas is more than just one day. 

Merry Christmas, my friends!

Billie Jo

 

Friday Thoughts

~Not how I want to spend my holiday season~

 Hello, my friends. And Happy Friday! I have been thinking about my intention of simplifying our holiday celebrations this year for many reasons. First of all, my children are older now, and as much as I would like to hold on to every tradition we enjoyed for so many years, I also realize they may no longer be as relevant. In addition, I also recognize that my anxiety tends to flare up during times of stress, and as my therapist reminds me, even though I don't think of holiday preparation as stressful, good stress is still stress. And finally, I want to be sure that I leave time to practice self-care during this festive time to enjoy and appreciate the beauty of the season. 

That sounds well and good, right? But what exactly does it look like? What specific things can I do to prepare for and enjoy a simple, cozy, family holiday season? I am glad you asked!

Delete Instagram from my phone. For me, the constant scrolling is overwhelming. The barrage of images, decorations, recipes, and gift ideas fills my brain with unnecessary thoughts and expectations. I think back to my mom, and the wonderful Christmas seasons she gave us. The meals were family favorites, the decorations were ones she had for years, and the entire feel was homey. There were pop bottles on the table and wrapping paper on the floor. The tree was covered with random, mismatched decorations; we kept the same ones every year. My childhood Christmases weren't the images I repeatedly see, telling me that I need to have my house, my tree, my presents, and my table picture perfect. They were better than that. They were real. 

Plan less. Years ago, I was the expert micromanager. I suppose I had to be with four young children and all the activities that go with that. I used to make a schedule for everything we needed to do, from mailing Christmas cards to baking cookies. It worked then. Now, I realize I don't need to be so structured. It isn't easy for me, but I am working on it. I am not going to stick to a schedule of preplanned activities just because we used to do them or because everyone else is. If we want to bake some cookies, we will. Some nights we might call the kids to come over for a movie or to take a ride to look at the Christmas lights. If we do, great. If not, that's ok too. 

Gift with intention. This year Santa asked the kids for ideas of a few things they want or need and a few they didn't. That way, Santa can be ready with everything wrapped long before Christmas Eve, and I won't be tempted by all those things I see that I don't really need to buy. I find great joy in giving and putting thought into the perfect gift for each of my people, and sometimes less is more.

Focus on home and family. I always try to do this and hope to do the same this holiday season. For me, being home, sitting by the fire, and looking at the twinkling lights of the tree brings me peace. I am happiest in my cozy clothes, surrounded by my family, watching our favorite Christmas movies. The season passes so quickly; I want to enjoy every single moment. I can do that by simplifying my preparations and commitments and turning inward while leaving the chaotic world outside.

These are the things that I think will work for me. They may or may not be right for others. You do you, my friends. Do what works for you and your family. After all, family is what matters most. 

 ~This is more like it~

Have a cozy weekend, my friends. See you back here Monday!

Billie Jo

Google for the images.

Wednesday In November

 

Looking outside at the lake today, I see November in Pennsylvania. September has a look. October has one too. This is November. Muted browns and barren trees, with some stubborn leaves hanging on until the last gust before falling to the ground. The beginning of November is the time of year I catch my breath. I use this time to turn inward and prepare myself and my home for the weeks and months ahead. This year I am thinking about simplicity. About intention. And about a more relaxing, family-centered holiday season. How about you, my friends? What is November for you this year?

Thanks for visiting!

Have a cozy day!

Billie Jo

Happy Halloween!

Today is the day! It's Halloween Day! I hope your Halloween is happy and cozy, and spooky! But not too spooky! I am visiting my mom today and taking some special Dunkin' treats for her and her friends. Then Madison is coming over, and we will watch a Halloween movie with Flynn because, in this homeschool, Halloween is a day off! Dinner is a favorite and easy Cheeseburger Casserole before Trick or Treating and the end of a Happy Halloween season!

Friday night was our Third Annual Family Halloween Party! I am always so excited to see the costumes they come up with. I only knew Flynn's since I helped her with it; she looked so good! I will share the pictures, and then below, I will tell you what they dressed as. Can you guess???

Madison and Nicolas with Draper...

Peyton and Chris...

Rhett and Kyrstin...

And Flynn and her friend Bee...

What makes me the happiest is how much these young people enjoy spending time with each other. And how much they humor me when I get going with my games every single holiday.

Once a teacher, always a teacher!

(And don't mind my fuzzy socks. My feet are always cold!)

I served my cheese broccoli soup, traditional mummy dogs, chips, apple slices with dip, and Hawaiian Punch. Because I am fancy like that. But the star of the show had to be Peyton's homemade chocolate cake!

It was as good as it looked!

Well, I hope you have a wonderful Halloween, my friends.

Thank you for visiting!

Billie Jo

And the costumes were:

Madison and Nicolas: Queen Frostine and Lord Licorice with Draper as Plumpy from Candyland

Peyton and Chris: President Trump and First Lady Melania

Rhett and Kyrstin: New York City tourist and The Statue of Liberty

Flynn and Bee: A Plague Doctor and The Grim Reaper

And this year's winners were...

Flynn and Bee!!!!

Pinterest for the fun images!

Easter 2022

Good Monday morning! I hope you enjoyed your weekend and that your Easter was lovely and filled with faith, family, food, and fun. I am so thankful that my children enjoy our holiday traditions so much they are happy to watch The Easter Bunny is Comin' to Town and set out carrots and juice for the Easter Bunny! 

 

Three of my four! Peyton and Christopher attended the Easter Vigil mass, where Christopher played his violin. Easter Sunday was sunny and warm enough for Steve to cook the bacon for brunch outside. This makes me happy, for as much as I enjoy a piece of bacon every now and then, I do not enjoy my home smelling like it for days after! Steve and I were so happy to have everyone with us for Easter Brunch. Kyrstin, Rhett's girlfriend, was working but was able to join us later for dinner and dessert. 

Our Easter brunch included bacon, scrambled eggs, fruit salad, herb and cheese quiche, cinnamon coffee cake, Danish kringle, and deviled eggs. We also had coffee, tea, and orange juice for drinks. Mass, baskets, games, chocolate, naps, and fun followed brunch on our beautiful Easter Day. And now, forgive me as I finish this so I can get the fire going, pour a cup of hot coffee and get ready for the snow that is coming later today! 

How was your Easter, my friends? Any plans for today?

Thanks for visiting. And prayers for our world.

Billie Jo