So happy together!!

10 years ago, today J and I tied the knot. I CANNOT believe how fast the time has flown by or how great the past 10 years have been. We certainly have had our ups and downs, but thankfully we've only grown stronger from them, without a doubt due, to our faith and wonderful family support. I could have never imagined that a blind date would blossom into marriage (that's a whole 'nother post in and of itself!). I guess that's why I'm not in control--God is!

Thanks for the wonderful memories and for many, many more to come!!

Wordless Wednesday

"Happy"

While the Noodle can certainly be silly, loud, goofy, boisterous, talkative and (at times) down-right obnoxious, her more "natural" state is a bit more sedate and quiet. New situations and people that she's not that familiar with cause her to withdraw a bit and observe her surroundings. She can be very serious and will look at you with those deep, dark, brown eyes and you just wonder what is going on in that little mind.



Often, when we are driving, she'll be talking away (either to me or just to herself) or will be nodding her head to the music playing. Other times, though, she'll just be sitting there quietly, looking out the window and taking it all in. It is during these quiet times, that she'll often comment "I'm happy" from out of the blue. The conversation usually goes something like this...Me: "How are you doing back there? Everything okay?" C.N.:"I'm fine, I'm just quiet..." (a few minutes pass by and then) C.N.: "I'm happy." in which my heart bursts and I reply: "Me too!!".



It is then that I'm reminded, once again, how the Lord indeed answered our prayer above and beyond what we could have ever imagined, by blessing us with the perfect child for us, at the perfect time. I'm happy too, Chinese Noodle, I'm happy too.

Breakfast with Bear

This morning in preschool, it was breakfast with bear day. The kiddos got to bring in their favorite bear and then ate breakfast at nursery school. The Noodle was quite excited about it. When J got her up this morning, she asked him if I was going to go to school to be part of the fun. Then, when I got home from the gym, she asked me the same question. Quite honestly I hadn't planned on it (I didn't think the teachers were expecting the parents to come in), but since she specifically requested more than once, I asked if it would be o.k. when I dropped her off. When I arrived, she didn't see me and then when she finally looked my way, it took a few seconds for it to register that I had come in. And then a huge smile broke over her face...priceless!

Quiet round these parts

It has been pretty quiet round these parts the last few days. Just normal, every day life. Following the routine and all that. Not that I mind in the least. It is all too easy to take "typical" days for granted...until something happens that makes you yearn for the time when your life followed a common rhythm. Life can change in the blink of an eye. Don't be fooled into thinking that routine is boring. Be thankful.





**Do you think her jacket is a tad to small?!

Wordless Wednesday

What's cookin'?

This is a yummy recipe that I use a lot. New Year's Day, weekends, friends over for dinner--you get the point. It is from a Bon Appetite magazine, but I don't remember the year (probably circa 2003-2004). It is easy and quite tasty.

Roast Pork with Cherry and Honey-Mustard Glaze
**the recipe originally calls for apricot preserves which is also really good

1 C cherry/apricot preserves
1/3 C chopped, seeded jalapeno chiles
1/4 C red wine vinegar
1/4 C country Dijon mustard
2 T honey
2 garlic cloves, chopped
2 t chopped fresh rosemary
3/4 t salt
3/4 t pepper
1 pork tenderloin (EVOO, S & P to taste)

**depending on the size of your tenderloin, you may have some glaze left over. It freezes well.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Whisk all ingredients except the pork in medium bowl. Set aside. Butterfly cut your tenderloin. Drizzle EVOO and S & P to taste. (Yuck...raw meat)



Cover tenderloin with glaze and pop into oven.



Cook for about 45 min. (again this will vary depending on tenderloine size). Spoon on extra glaze and serve. We had it last night with Indian flavored kale and brown wild rice. Delish!



What are you cooking for dinner tonight?

A slight obsession

A few weeks ago, when I went into the Noodle's class for her Easter party, I saw that the teachers had the little legos out for the kids. When I came home and told J, his eyes lit up. You see, J has always loved, I mean LOVED legos. One Christmas, Santa brought him some duplos and his older brother some of the regular legos. J wanted nothing to do with the duplos and moved right into the legos. I believe he was one and a half that Christmas?!

This fascination continued throughout J's childhood through middle school and even occasionally into high school (a little dorky, but oh-so endearing!). There was a room in his parent's house that was used as a closet. J would take over the entire closet floor and create elaborate cities in there. Since it was out of the way, he could build, expand and create to his little heart's content. Obviously, this had a profound impact on his career choices!

Fast forward to last night. I had to teach Centergy so J was going to get dinner ready and we'd eat when I got home. When I got back, he sheepishly told me that they'd been busy up in the attic...getting down the legos...all of the many, many boxes. Oh boy. Here's what our living room looked like and yes, each tackle box is FULL of little blocks and all the accessories that go with them.


The first thing that the Noodle said when she woke up this morning was, "I want to go play with my legos". J was quick to point out that they were, actually, HIS legos...lest she forget. Ha ha.

I foresee lots of of bruised feet in my future, as stepping on those little blocks is now going to become a way of life in our house.

Make a list and check it twice

The Noodle enjoys going grocery shopping and, overall, is usually quite helpful. It is one of her favorite games to play at home, especially when Grandma comes over. Price checks are a frequent occurrence. I decided to take an old clipboard, give it a "make-over" and create a master list for her to use when we go shopping. My ulterior motives also includes a little bit of pre-reading as well, but we won't tell her.

Wordless Wednesday

Happy Easter!

"Jesus Christ is risen today, Alleluia! Our triumphant holy day, Alleluia!
Who did once upon the cross, Alleluia! Suffer to redeem our loss. Alleluia!"





Hymns of praise then let us sing, Alleluia! Unto Christ, our heavenly king, Alleluia!
Who endured the cross and grave, Alleluia! Sinners to redeem and save. Alleluia!





But the pains which he endured, Alleluia! Our salvation have procured; Alleluia!
Now above the sky he’s king, Alleluia! Where the angels ever sing. Alleluia!




Sing we to our God above, Alleluia! Praise eternal as his love; Alleluia!
Praise him, all you heavenly host, Alleluia! Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Alleluia!"

T-shirt refashion

I don't know about you, but I have a TON of T-shirts left over from college. Each spring, I bring them out and each fall I put them away again...never wearing them once. Why do I keep doing this?!?! L and XL baggy shirts may have looked good at one time (hmm, perhaps not), but certainly not now. Sentimental reasons, I guess. Fond memories and all that..........

Soooo, I happened to stumble upon this website and thought "A-Ha!" The perfect use for gently worn, filled with happy memories T-shirts. So, I pulled out 2 clean (though very wrinkled) tees:



and turned them into this:


She certainly knows how to "ruffle her stuff", don't ya think?!


A very blessed Easter to you all.

Good Friday

***Make sure you "pause" the music on the blog.

Come on Spring!

Slowly...
Slowly...

And then finally it is here.

And just because she's our Noodle:
Tai Chi?

Karate?

Whatever is going through her mind, she certainly not letting go of her purse!