funny friday foto

bieber fans!

when we were at great wolf lodge this girl was standing next to us wearing the same shirt as cari and we had to snap a picture :)

window seat inspiration...

one thing i have been longing for in my home is a window seat. 

my future home that we build, after the kids are off to college, will have a window seat possibly in every window. 

it is safe to say that i LOVE them ... a lot!

i came across this beautiful pic and had to share.

maybe one day i will be able to post my very own :)

what space are you excited to create these days?

funny friday foto



i found this message from my hubby one morning this summer that really made me smile :)



...from a girl just like you :)

i am so amazed at how judgmental women can be at other women. 

it's really sad and what's even worse, i know i have been at fault : (

we should encourage one another, but often times we tear each other down.

i think i first began to experience this in jr. high.

i have been in and out of several schools...8 in all. sometimes because we moved...and sometimes because my brother would get kicked out of the present school we were in.

i have been the "new girl" more times than i ever cared to be.

(this alone has made a big determination on where my kids go to school and the reason we won't be moving anytime soon)

i have met many different types of ladies, tried to fit in many, many times, and failed. 

i had to learn that not everyone will like me and that is okay.
(this was something that was very, very hard for me and something i still have to work at being okay with)

one thing is for sure, we are all the same no matter where you live.

we all want to be accepted, we all have our own insecurities, and we are all doing the best we can.

as my girls get older they will be dealing with this more and more. as it is, my oldest daughter that is entering into 3rd grade this fall has already experienced rejection from her girlfriends. it's tough walking it out, but i hope to be help her remain true to herself and learn that everyone is dealing with their own insecurities. 

i want to encourage all the women out there that are reading this...be kind to other women. you never know what they are going through and what they are dealing with. encourage other mothers, especially new ones and be a great role model for the little girls that are watching you.

women from our church did a Bible study on this book several months ago and it impacted me greatly! if you haven't read it yet, pick it up...or download it :)

here are some of my favorite quotes from this amazing book...

"Attitude is everything when it comes to limitations, and the way you view yourself will acutely shape how others view you."

"...the only thing it takes to develop insecurity is to be born human and raised on planet Earth."

"Not everyone who is sensitive is insecure, but make no mistake: everyone who is insecure is usually sensitive to a fault."

16 + 16 = 32 great years! happy b-day honey...

today is my sweet husband's birthday. he is now 32 years old.

16 years ago he asked me to be his girlfriend.

he couldn't have a girlfriend until he turned 16.

that means i have loved him half his life.

they say young love never lasts...but i don't know any other kind.

love is a choice you make...not always a feeling.

he is my best-friend, my prince charming, my partner in crime, and "funer" than anyone else I know (inside joke).

i love you chad, and look forward to another great 16 years with you. fast forward-that would make us both 48 years old and living in an empty nest...living it up! i can't wait to see all our travel plans come to life!

chicken parmesan...just for jamie!!!

 i will be making this today for my husband and his family celebrating his 32nd birthday

 

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• Pinch of crushed red pepper flakes
• 1 28-ounce can tomatoes, lightly pulsed in a blender or food processor
• 2 teaspoons coarse salt
• 3 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts (3 whole breasts, split down the middle)
• 1/2 cup plain breadcrumbs
• 3/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, plus more if needed
• 1 1/2 pounds fresh mozzarella cheese, sliced thin

Directions

1. Heat a saucepan over medium-high heat and add 1 tablespoon of the olive oil, the garlic, and the red pepper flakes. Stir for 30 seconds. Add the tomatoes and 1/2 teaspoon of the salt. Simmer for 30 minutes.
   
2. Meanwhile, working on a large surface covered in baking parchment or plastic wrap, lay down the chicken breasts. Using a sharp slicing knife, cut each piece in half horizontally through the middle.
   
3. In a large prep pan or dish, combine the bread crumbs and 1/2 cup of the Parmesan cheese. Spread out to cover the whole bottom of the pan. Lay down as many chicken breasts as will fit on the mixture. Sprinkle salt and pepper over each piece and turn over, completely coating with the bread-crumb mixture. Repeat the process with the remaining pieces of chicken.
   
4. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Swirl in 2 tablespoons of olive oil, along with butter, to coat the pan. Add the chicken breasts in one layer and cook until golden, about 3 minutes on each side. Remove and repeat the process for the remaining chicken, adding a little oil and butter to the pan as needed.
   
5. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Spoon some tomato sauce into a greased 9 x 13-inch baking dish to cover. Layer in the chicken pieces and top with mozzarella slices. Spoon over about 1 1/4 cups more sauce, and sprinkle on the remaining 1/4 cup of Parmesan cheese. Bake until golden and bubbling, 30 to 35 minutes. Let rest for at least 15 minutes before serving.
   
   Mad Hungry with Lucinda Scala Quinn - She has added many great dishes to our family meals!

diary of a whimpy mom...

i think i have completely lost my edge...

when i was younger there was no ride too extreme, too high, or too scary for me.

i loved facing my fear head on with my hands straight up in the air!

but, something happened soon after having kids...i lacked the desire to take risks.

i began to realize that no ride seemed worth it - plus...it just wasn't fun anymore...it hurts and i bruise like a banana (honestly, i think i always have...i should probably up my iron intake!)

i used to picture myself as a fierce tigress ready to pounce on the opportunity for adventure...

but lately, i see myself as a grumpy old house cat that only likes to bathe, lay in the sun, and take naps.

during our recent vacation this became even more clear to me when i returned home with a sore throat from screaming way too loud on a family ride...it surprised me that no one else was as terrified as i was.

i guess a lot of things change as we get older (and wiser)...

but mostly, i think my kids have turned me into mush and i have become that woman who sits with everyone else's stuff while all the cool kids go ride the exciting rides...and somehow i have never felt more content :)

i guess i'll just stick to what i have become now most famous for in my family...cuddling!
oddly enough, my soft body provides great cushion for those who want to lay on me. i've become soft inside and out...those darn kids...but i love them and wouldn't have it any other way...well, a little muscle wouldn't hurt :)

this is our 10-year-old cat named cheeto. he is a maincoon which means he is naturally big but normal for his breed and he is also very playful like a dog. (they call them the gentle giants) his face is yellow because he got a little too curious checking out some flowers i had out in a vase...he had pollen telling on him. this was taken sometime last year.

funny friday foto

snake plank

thankful thursdays...

i'm thankful for...

family vacations!!

every year we try and get away just the 4 of us...

this year we decided to plan a trip to the great wolf lodge and stop near by to see the new legoland and sea life aquarium that just opened up.

this was our first time having to invest money towards a family vacation, but in the process we learned it was money well spent.

here are pictures of legoland...
there was plenty to do and the kids seemed to really enjoy it.



here are pictures of our room (which i think the kids felt was a huge part of the experience) at the great wolf lodge...
i loved the fact that the cleaning ladies tucked in their babies everyday
and the bunk-beds were a hit!

Here are some pictures of the inside and outside water parks...

everyday we felt we had a different experience. there was so much to do for all age levels.

Here are some of the fun things we did during our stay in the hotel...
swimming isn't the only thing to do here. we played a scavenger hunt game for the 3 days we stayed and ended up fighting the dragon at the end, we played bingo, colored t-shirts, enjoyed story-time, and more.

This was our trip to sea life aquarium....

this ended up being very educational. we even got a free vip pass to see what things looked like behind the scenes. it was a great place to discover sea life.

to sum up this vacation i would refer to cami's quote on the back of her new t-shirt..."best vacation ever."

i find it very important to get away at least once a year with the family to create great memories. 

we are already talking about next year's plans and i look forward to the many more family vacations we get to share.

i'm thankful for family vacations!!!

little readers

as i have mentioned before,

we put a big emphasis on reading in our household.

i have never forced my kids to read...

they just know it is something we do...we read :)

Cami's new little reading nook in her room (after giving her sister her dollhouse) She is hoping for a bean bag here soon!

we have read with them ever since they were little 

and we always try to make it a very fun experience and we supply them with plenty of books to look at!

each child also had their favorite book as a baby

Camille loved Goodnight Moon, which was a gift from a friend (her first book)

*she loved blowing the fire out and sh-hing when we saw the old lady*

*she used to call it "night-moon" and would get so excited for us to read it every night!*

Carigan loved Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? 

*there is no surprise that our little one LOVES animals!!!*

*she loved how we would make different voices for each animal*

it was such a monumental event when camille read her favorite book all by herself for the first time.

and today - July 13th, 2011- on a regular wednesday, carigan, read her favorite book all by herself for the first time...with funny voices and all!!! we hadn't looked at the book in years...so it was neat to hear it again :)

my kids were never over-night-readers...it comes with lots of encouragement, patience, and practice

but, anything worth having is worth working for!

handwritten mail...

my oldest daughter, camille, received a letter from one of her school friends the other day.

we then had a great opportunity for her to practice her letter writing skills in writing her friend back.

it got me thinking...

remember when people use to write letters and

mail them...

and wait for a response back.

it is an art that i hope never gets forgotten.

as for my daughter, this is just the start...

she has plans to write many more letters this summer to her girlfriends :)

 

american girls...

one morning this summer

all the american girls made it to the breakfast table...

"rockin" robin and rebecca

carigan...

camille

and myself of course :) *behind the camera*

we celebrated...

it was a sweet morning with just us girls :)

love this idea...summer on a string!

The easiest way to hang onto summer?

Hang a keepsake banner.

 Ours came together fast from postcards, ticket stubs, and a handful of shells.

Materials:

Glue

Mementos, such as postcards and photographs

Card stock

Hole punch

Ribbon or twine (we used jute)

Shells (optional)



Instructions:

Glue mementos to card stock, then punch two holes at the top of each card.
String the cards onto the twine, leaving space in between for shells, if you're using them. Working on a covered surface, glue the shells to the twine. Let the glue dry completely before moving the banner.

*disney family fun magazine is the best*



funny friday foto

my youngest daughter drew this...needless to say, she is a huge fan!

is it too late to talk about our 4th of july?

we spent our 4th this year at home

we took an educational approach this year and learned about a different founding father

each day of the week before the 4th (idea from imom)

we also learned the timeline that led up to the signing of the deceleration of independence

the kids (and myself) learned so much and were able to remember it all

we also made a flag cake for the first time :)

and made time for lots of playing and relaxing

this is my husband...my 3rd kid :)

later on we had a scavenger hunt with several hidden scrolls that contain interesting info about our country

this was their idea for this picture :)

the night ended with us watching fireworks outside our bedroom window on the roof of our porch

(my favorite sweet memory of the day)

*i'm convinced that one day we will be celebrating the 4th in philedelphia so i can hear the liberty bell ring :)*

the count down has ended...

we have been pretty busy this past week...

making a chain...

to count down the days...

until we leave for our family vacation.

it's finally here, we leave tomorrow headed to the great wolf lodge!

we are all very excited!!!

lots more pictures to come...

funny friday foto

these are my husband's feet. 

he had just cut out eye holes for a super hero mask requested by our youngest daughter. 

the girls were trying to find a use for the holes and this was one of the ideas my silly husband came up with.