Sweet Home New Jersey

I'm back!! Its hard to believe that the kids and I were away from our home for 15 days. 

From my previous post, you can see we left the middle of June for a family vacation in Florida. We had such an amazing time... a little tired from trying to fit in as much Disney on our last 2 days in Florida but what a great time we had!! 

On Sunday the 23rd, we drove from Florida to my parents home in Tennessee. Each summer the kids and I go for a visit (sometimes with Dave). Knowing we were driving to Florida, we decided that instead of coming all the way home to headed back south a week or so later for our annual visit we would make it a "stop" on the way back north. Dave flew back on Monday the 24th while the kids and I stayed driving back just this past Tuesday (July 2nd).  

We had a great time visiting with my parents. I'm always taken back by the beauty and quiet of the area. Living in the most populated county of northern NJ it takes time to adjust to the "quiet" that happens in rural, farm country - no hum of traffic or activity, no planes over head, etc. As for the scenery, there is nothing like taking in God's creation in its natural form. Breathtaking!! 

Friend's of my parents have a beautiful pool and gave us an open invitation to use it while we were in town. The kids absolutely loved it. I think we missed just 2 days at the pool during our entire visit. The pool is 10 feet deep accommodating the slide and diving board. The funny thing is my kids spent the majority of their pool time in the deep end. They slept pretty well at night for all the "work" they did swimming that deep end. A big "thank you" to the Johnson family. I think you will have annual visitors at your pool!  

It was fun watching Emily cooking with her grandma in the kitchen.  Grandma has a lot of cool cooking gadgets and Emily LOVES gadgets so cooking was a lot of fun for her. The kids did really great trying and eating some of Grandma's specialties - "deconstructed" cabbage rolls, green bean soup, etc. 

Another special event while visiting was celebrating Matt's 8th birthday. While on vacation in Florida, I asked Matt if he still wanted me to make a cake for him. Of course, he said "yes, the tornado cake, with debris." I thought for sure being away from home would get me a "cake pass". No such thing!!  

So, I attempted my second cake in 11 years. I would have loved to make something that was a little more of a 3-D cake but that just wasn't going to happen. Instead I baked a 13x9 chocolate cake and created the tornado from icing.  I was able to find black food coloring at Wal-Mart and piped the tornado on top a layer of white icing. I crushed Oreos to make the debris trail and added a few trees and farm animals inside the tornado.  Now I know the tornado scale only goes to an F5 (when your son is a tornado enthusiast you learn your facts) but seeing he was turning 8 and he is our little tornado I rated his cake an F8. Matt was very happy with the outcome of the cake and let me tell you this cake tasted delicious. I thought for sure we would be throwing some of it away for lack of being eaten. No way!! This cake was eaten over 3 days, it was that good. 

Matt also requested that for his birthday we eat at McDonald's. Why? Well, mainly because of their Wi-Fi connection. Although Grandma has a computer and Internet access, she is not set up with Wi-Fi, so all our electronic items were on Internet vacation, except at the local McDonald's.  

Matt and the boys (Grandpa Joe and Uncle Bob) sat together.

While the girls (Grandma, Emily and I), got to sit next to them at another table.

It seems that the last two summers we've visited Tennessee it has been close to the 4th of July which means buying fireworks. Last year, Dave was with us so we blew them off several times during our visit. This year seeing I was in charge we only did them our last evening there. We purchased them at the local fire department. Grandma & Grandpa knew the people working the sale and the one young man who is a fireman took Matt into the bays to check out the trucks. He even let Matt put on some of his gear. Matt so wants to be a fireman so this was a major plus to our visit. 

All in all we had a wonderful time. It is sad that we only get to see them once a year but we are happy that we get to do that. 

Tuesday morning we left at 7 am in order to make the 9+ hour trip home in one day (usually when alone with the kids, I'll split the drive). The weather during the first half was a little rainy but the rest of the trip was bright and sunny. Oh, we stopped in Maryland to get gas and eat lunch and right behind the Wendy's was a Hobby Lobby. I know you're wondering if I went in.....you know how I love Hobby Lobby, but I am 3 hours away from being home after 15 days. Of course, I went in!!! A little walking around helped after all that sitting. 

We made it home around 6 - we arrived in NJ during the beginning of rush hour traffic. We loved on Jingle, unpacked the car, then loved on Dave when he got home from work.

Going on vacation and visiting family and friends is awesome and something we love to do BUT it is also great when you come home!!!

Choices, Choices, Choices

This year has been the "birthday of choices" for Emily and Matt. 

When the kids were younger, we would do birthday parties for each of them but in recent years we've been alternating who gets the birthday party based on the age they are turning. Emily being older has changed her style of birthday party to "girls only" get togethers or sleepovers; Matt is more into event parties: Monster Golf or a trip to Monster Jam with a friend. 

As kids get older, we can all attest to the fact that their birthday present requests get more expensive.  So, choices need to start being made.

One Christmas, we purchased a Kindle for the family. In the beginning, I was using it the most for reading. Then, the kids discovered the apps for the Kindle were different from their DS's which had been keeping them content. Slowly, my Kindle reading dwindled as the kids debated over whose turn it was to use it. 

This situation created the "birth" of the "birthday of choices". The kids are currently attending a private school where their classes consist of 10 children. Taking into account their classmates and a few church and neighborhood friends, we gave the kids the option of having a birthday party, which would be their present from us, or a Kindle. We felt this would be a fair choice as both would equal the same amount of money being spent. After several explanations of it is one or the other not both and yes, they could take cupcakes in to school to celebrate their birthday's with their classmates, both kids chose to receive the Kindle. 

Emily's birthday has passed and she was ecstatic to received her Kindle.  Now, Matt is just waiting for the end of the month to receive his. Then, finally, I will be able to go back to using the "family" Kindle for reading.  

As the kids are getting older, we are trying to teach them that life is full of choices and that they need to really think about the choices that they make whether they be regarding the small day to day things or the big issues of life. This birthday choice may seem like a simple lesson but it is a start. It teaches them the value of the gift they are choosing and shows them that  it cost them one thing to get another.  

Our goal is to raise kids who weigh the choices they need to make and choose wisely being good stewards not only of their money but other's too! 

Oh and in the end, I am positive they will be happy with this year's  "birthday of choices". I know Emily is.....Matt has a little more time before his happiness arrives.  

Oh my 11!!!

Today is a very happy and yet eye opening day for me. Today is Emily's 11th birthday. It seems like just yesterday I was in the hospital awaiting her arrival which came at 6:40 pm.

Its funny how in the day to day of life, you don't always "see" how quickly your children are growing. The rush of getting them off to school and to activities overshadows the passing of days. But then there are those moments when the reality of time hits you right in the face. 

Now am I all that surprised she is 11 today? No! She's been asking me for months if I can believe she is turning 11, to which I always replied "yes". However, when I think of the years and events approaching within those years, I sit back in astonishment of how little time she has left to be "little". In 2 years she'll be 13, in 5 years she'll be allowed to drive, in 8 years she'll be graduating high school, in 9 heading off to college and who knows when marriage will come into the picture. Now, I am not trying to rush these years, I'm just in the frame of mind that soon she will be a young woman "on her own" and my job as the day to day mom will have ended. Yes, I am well aware motherhood never ends but the season of being needed on a daily basis will have ended and my motherly role will change.  

Even now we are entering a new season together! Emily is no longer a little girl. She is definitely a preteen who is turning into a beautiful young lady. Oh, we have our times of butting heads but thankfully God has blessed her with a sweet spirit so these times rarely happen and I'm praying it stays that way through the teen years to come.

When I think of my life, I cannot imagine it without her. God truly blessed us with our little girl. He has also challenged us through her too! If someone told me before having her, that she would experience social and educational needs, I would have panicked and wondered "how in the world do we get through this". I believe God does not give us more than we can handle. I'm also grateful that He doesn't always reveal what is coming ahead of time, because in my human insecurity I would want to turn and run, not depending on His love and goodness and sadly miss out on amazing blessings. Emily's needs have been met beyond what we could have imagined. The teacher's she has had, the case worker's, Sunday School teacher's, family friends and friends have all been placed in her life at just the right time and I know that is all a God thing. 

This past year we've seen Emily grow in her belief and faith in God. I cannot tell you how much that means to us as believers. As a matter of fact, next Sunday she along with Matt will be being baptized.

This a quote I've been waiting to put up in Emily's room and I believe now is the time as she enters this preteen stage of her life. I want her to know that not only is she precious to us even more so she is precious to God. He has an amazing plan for her life and she need only to surrender it to her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
As she starts her 11th year, my prayer for her is that she grows in God and continues to become an amazing young lady.
We had an amazing day today celebrating the beginning of this new year. She was happy to get her birthday present and eat her moustache birthday cake. Tomorrow starts another year and a year God has intended for her.

Happy 11th birthday, Emily!!! We love you so very much!!

Emily's Mooostache

Now, most girls do not want a moustache but Emily, she loves them!! Not on her personally but on anything else it is "awesome".

To say she is obsessed with them would be an understatement. Earlier this week we went shopping at Claires and she decided she needed a new wallet. At first, she was all set on getting a wallet with owls and a cute little saying and that was quickly tossed aside when she found this moustache one. 

Now when you talk to Emily about her newest obsession you must pronunciate it the Emily way "mooostaches". 

Tomorrow is Emily's birthday and due to other planned activities and her gift choice she is not having a birthday party. Now usually for birthdays if there isn't a party we buy a small cake that serves 4 from the local food store. In Emily's case, it would be cheesecake, her other obsession. 

This year, however, I made a minor mistake by showing Emily a cake on Pinterest that was of course a moustache. What was I thinking? Of course, that is the cake she wants. So, after not having made a birthday cake for her last 10 birthday's and Matthew's 7, I attempted to make her a moustache birthday cake.

First, I baked 2 9-inch cakes. Emily chose to have red velvet cake. Now, I'm a persnickety person when it comes to red velvet anything. For my birthday, I get a red velvet cupcake from Cupcakes by Carousel which in my opinion is the best red velvet cupcake I have ever tasted. I also love PF Chang's red velvet dessert "shot". So, making a boxed red velvet cake, let alone a cake at all is a great task for me. I do have to say it did look very good when I brought it out of the over and after it cooled it looked very moist.  

Now, I did pull up the picture/instructions for the cake when I went to cut it just so I did it correctly.

I did make it a double layered cake. The one on Pinterest was a single layer. What concerned me most was with the amount of "loose" cake crumbs because the one side is flipped over and cutting in half exposed the inner part of the cake.  This made me a little concerned about the frosting stage.

Of course, a moustache needs to be a proper color and Emily was okay with the idea that I may only be able to make a brown one.  However, when I was on my Hobby Lobby endeavor yesterday, I made sure to peruse the baking section. There it was black food color. It is made by Americolor and it is a soft gel paste. I did make sure to transfer the frosting to a metal bowl to mix in the color....could you image what a plastic bowl would look like after this.  I didn't make it too dark, I would say it is more of a dark gray, mainly because I was unsure if I would need more frosting and I didn't want to not be able to make the same color a second time. If you are looking for unusual colors for frosting, definitely look at the baking section in the craft stores. 

When I was finished,  I was very pleased. I called up Emily to check it out and when she saw it she got the biggest smile on her face....that was enough to know I did good!! Tomorrow we get to eat it and I hope it tastes as good as it looks. 

Back to Business

As you've probably noticed, I've been "offline" for about 3 weeks. During this brief hiatus, not only did normal life happen - you know the day in, day out activities - but some special moments too.

Probably the best moment was being able to travel to Illinois to surprise my brother, Dennis, in the celebration of his milestone birthday 50! I arrived the day after his birthday and was able to spend 4 days with him and his family. Recently, Dennis mentioned in one of his messages, he's a Pastor, about my tendency when we were young kids to "wander off" while our family would go bumming (translation - window shopping). Keeping this story in mind we surprised him at a local grocery store saying I was lost, you know "wandering". 

In order to keep him in the dark that I was coming to town, I went ahead and sent him his birthday card which wasn't just a card. I've been trying to be a little more "clever" in my birthday greetings this year. The idea for his greeting came to mind several months before his birthday. 

I purchased a helium filled "age appropriate" balloon, I had to tease him about his age, and attached to the balloon's string the actual birthday card. I mailed it so it would arrive the day prior to his birthday, which meant next day air. Although the idea came months before, sadly my execution regarding mailing got totally delayed. It was a good thing I did though. According to him, the balloon was only inflated for a day.  

This trip was especially restful as I traveled alone leaving the kids home in the excellent care of their father and a few friends to help with the time between school and his return from work. 

I had such a wonderful time catching up with my brother and his family! It had been way too long since I had seen them. Hopefully, Dave, the kids and I will be able to go there soon and visit again.

My trip home was a little unnerving. Sadly, my flight was on the day of the tragedy at the Boston Marathon. Thankfully my flight not only stayed on schedule it actually left a little earlier and I arrived home ahead of schedule. I was greeted by Dave and the kids, such a wonderful sight!! 

Since the trip, I've been trying to get back into the groove of daily life which has come back slowly.  I've also been sidelined with a few migraines due to the erratic temperature shifts we've had here in the Northeast. I'm feeeling like I am now back on track and the proof is that here I am blogging again....looks like we are "back to business".

Oh, during this online hiatus, I've still been busy trying out new recipes. I'll be posting the successful recipes we've tried......they are scrumptious!

The Eve of 45

In 2 hours (okay I am rounding), I will be 45 years old.  Now if you talk to my mother, she will tell you I am not officially 45 until 6:45 p.m. on September 1st. 

Does 45 bother me? No, it doesn't. I'm ready for it.  I'm ready for the year to come to be all that God has planned for me, no matter what that may be. 

He has truly blessed me with an amazing husband and two incredible kids - people who I love but fail time and time again because I try to do things myself and not turn them or circumstances over to God.  What I long to do is be a better helper to my husband and mother to my kids this year. Perfect? Not by a long shot, but all that God intends me to be for them. 

I have some amazing friends - some old (times wise) and some new. God has given me some honest friendships where we are able to sharpen each other and for that I am incredibly thankful.

My family (Papp & Wessel) lives far away in miles and yet I know that they love and pray for me, Dave, Emily and Matt and for that I will always be grateful.  I'm thankful my parents had me (one of 4 in 5 years), thankful for my upbringing and how it has molded me to be the person I am today, thankful for the Wessel's for having Dave and that my dad and his dad had the crazy idea to introduce us which in turn will be 17 years of marriage October 6th.

I'm thankful to my God!  Someone I have "known" for a long time but am only really feeling like I am coming to know personally more and more each day. For His love, His grace, the salvation He has gifted me, the plans He has for me and will bring me through.  

I have to say that most years my wish list for the year to come include "me" motivated things, like looking the best I can for my age, being more committed to things I fall short on, being the best mom and wife I can be.  What I want for this year is to know what God wants for me, for my family and to act on it.  I want to be bold in my faith and show Christ to those around me so they can know Him too in an incredible personal relationship - not one that will keep struggles, pain and hardships away but that will allow God to be seen in the reactions and obedience that stands firm in the midst of the good and the bad.

Is my goal lofty? No, not if I give it over to God, the one who loves me.  Will I struggle? Yes, because I have that human nature.  But that is not an excuse, obedience is a choice and "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me". 

What I ask for the year to come is prayer. Prayer to stay in communion with God and find blessing in the circumstances that He brings my way and to my family.  

45 I am ready!!  I think I've been saying I am 45 for the last 6 months so it isn't much of a change.  :)

Happy Birthday!!

Wishing my mom, Nana Joan to Emily & Matt, a very Happy 70th Birthday!  We love you very much!!