My love of baking....

With all the modern advances you would think there would be one where you could taste this cookie via the web. This is a cream cheese cookie with lemon drizzle. They turned out super yummy and the escape time (baking!) was like therapy for me. The cookies were a hit and loved by all! Sam even insisted on tasting the lemon. That was a shock!

Celebrating with friends....

We got to celebrate recently with friends that had their finalization day for their precious gift!!! God has given them the most precious little girl that is a sweet as they come! She is simply beautiful too! Sam takes great delight in her and loves everything about her! He couldn't get in our car fast enough to arrive and start the celebration!

Sweet Thanksgiving memories......

We spent the day in Dale, Texas celebrating Thanksgiving with family. It was priceless in every way! Isn't Traes grandmother classically beautiful? She is 90 years young and a precious woman with a heart of gold.

Birthdays!

This was Sams birthday cake when he turned 2. He didn't eat cake for year 1 or year 2. The first time he ate cake was on Traes birthday this year. It was red velvet cheesecake from Cheesecake Factory! The child does have good taste! On this cake I made him (above) I had Big Bird, Elmo, Burt and Ernie on top. Sam goes over often and lines his friends up on the table (just like they were on the cake) and sings Happy Birthday! I think this will his first birthday he really knows what is going on! I am getting excited about planning his party. Hoping he takes at least a bite of cake this year. :)

Our little musician....

Sam is still very passionate about music! I just sent him in the playroom and got down his leapfrog book toy and he found the one song on it, got his guitar and turned it into music time! It is in his blood and we are excited to see how the Lord grows that love in him.

Brothers.....

Andrew (19) and Jacob (14) have a way of connecting as brothers that make this mama very happy! Andrew an make Jacob smile and laugh better than anyone I know. Love my boys so very much and so grateful they are mine!

Developing a love....

We always joke that Sam didn't have a choice to like books or not. With us as his parents and surrounded by books, they would be a part of his life. I think there are some kids that are lover of books their entire life but many more times it is a love that has to be developed. It has been really sweet this year to see Sam seek out books to read and view on his own. He loves to be read to but also finds enjoyment in gathering a big pile of books and going through them. That makes us smile!

Me again....

31. I LOVE a great blanket. Fleece is my favorite fabric to have a blanket made out of. So soft, so warm and always there to bring comfort.

32. I am a big picture kind of gal. I love the daily but I usually can't look at a decision or situation without looking at the whole picture and on down the road. That means sometimes I over think decisions which can be good or not so good!

33. If I was going to be a salesgirl I would try to sell you the Sonicare toothbrush! That thing is amazing and does amazing things for your teeth and gums. Go buy one!!!! If they were cheaper we would buy them for Christmas presents! Go buy them for yourself, your kids and I promise you won't regret it!

34. Quality time is my love language. That is the way that I feel truly loved. If you buy me a gift, affirm me, give me a hug or help me with laundry that blesses me. It really does but my primary love language is quality time so that is what fills my love tank fully! If we spend the day together, have a great phone conversation, go on a trip together, make memories and connect heart to heart is what fills my love tank.

35. Chicken fajitas is one of my very favorite meals! Fresh moist grilled chicken, grilled onions, shredded cheese and I am one happy girl! Sometimes I pair it with a fresh tortilla (it has to be homemade and fresh or not worth it) but I love it on it's own too.

36. One of my dream vacations is to go to the New England during the fall.

37. The older I get the more I love antiques and I am especially drawn to antique toys. It is Jacobs passion and has rub off on me!

38. I love to keep a well stocked pantry. I really dislike having to run to the store to get 1 or 2 items just to make a recipe. I have had friends tell me they would like to come shop in my pantry because we had a nice selection! My freezer (we have 2!) is stocked well too!

39. One of the sweetest, most romantic things my husband does for me daily is get the bed ready each night for me. He turns down my side, sets the pillows up just how I like it and adds anything else he knows I need before I turn in. By the end of the day I am done and this sweet gesture speaks to me and loves on me in a sweet way.

40. Growing up I loved gymnastics, swimming, fishing and water skiing. We lived in the Northeast with lots of snow but I enjoyed summer activities much more than winter ones.

Silly boy!

Mama's cookies....

Baking is a love and passion of mine. Each of my boys have their favorite recipes and Sam has already decided that his is a spicy oatmeal raisin cookie. He gets the biggest smile when we talk about them and loved helping me make some last week. We soak the raisins in warm water to help soften them and plump them up a bit so he stirred those while I threw everything else together. You can see my KitchenAid mixer in the background and it is one of my favorite kitchen toys. I bought it about 18 years ago when I was making gingerbread houses with Andrew and my handheld kitchen mixer couldn't handle the dough and burned up.