Chilly weather calls for Snowman Soup

Tonight our weather calls for the low 20's which means we will be sipping on snowman soup.  Make some extras and deliver to a friend


For tags: http://simplykierste.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/snowman-soup-big.pdf

A little dash of Christmas

Our very own Merry Christmas....... in pictures



My one and only Christmas Craft - yarn trees

Texas Thanksgiving

A Thanksgiving  with cows, fireworks, s'mores on an open fire, and the beach -- only in Texas where the weather is gorgeous!  Our Thanksgiving started on Grandpa's Ranch with a great visit with family.  Next stop --- Galveston for a stroll on the beach and later a visit to the Rain Forest and Festival of Lights at Mary Moody Gardens.  Many memories from this trip... Hope you had a memorable Thanksgiving. 

 

The beach was empty - our own little paradise

 

sunset - almost time for fireworks

The Light n' go bonfire logs are the best.  Portable and inexpensive

fireworks on the fence line - great for staging

 

 

Fish made out of plastic water bottles

Circus Fun

Going to the circus was a great way to end the Summer.  

I can remember taking Courtney and Christopher and

 it still holds all the thrills and excitement 12 years later. 

This was Sarah's first circus so it was extra special.   

 

 

At the pre-show on the circus floor

clowning around



She had to have cotton candy and of course a circus hat

Loving that cotton candy

 




 

Ash-baked Orange Brownies - 5 easy steps

After grilling we always have an abundance of hot coals and nothing else to grill.  Inspiration came from a Young Women's Activity from the previous week and loads of fun (thanks Mandy and Carrie).  So today  ---- we tried this at home and here you have it ......

 Ash-baked Orange Brownies. 

 

 These are so easy and very scrumptious

Here's how you do it....in five easy steps 



Start with basics -- brownie mix, oranges, and aluminum foil



Step One 

Slice end of the orange cutting on this side (is this the navel side?)

  

Step Two
Using a spoon scoop out inside of orange
do not scoop out lid you just cut - the juices from the lid are needed when cooking
Your oranges should look like this when done
 now you are ready to add the brownie mix

  

Step Three

Make brownies following directions on package

Spoon brownie mix into orange shell filling about 2/3 full -

it will expand so do not overfill

This is Sarah spooning brownie mix into orange shell -

you can be as messy as you want

 

Step Four -

Place top on orange that you sliced previously

Using two sheets of foil--

Wrap covering entire orange

Use another sheet of foil and

Wrap again covering entire orange

 

 

Step Five

Place in hot ashes so orange is surrounded by the hot coals or ashes

 (no flames)

Cook for about 20 minutes

These were done in about 15 - the coals were very hot

 

 

Delicious .... and with a hint of orange

 

 



The designs of an 8-year old interior decorator

A couple of months ago Sarah asked if she could decorate the mantel all by herself.   She wanted to pick out all the items, arrange them, and create a theme.  On Saturday we headed to Hobby Lobby where she carefully selected all the items (this took about an hour). 
The best part was to stand back and just watch as she made each decision. 

She started out with lavender candlesticks and birds colored in pink and purple (I was not sure about having those colors in the living room ---  but she was in charge).   

After going back and forth between the lavender and something antique -- the final decision was "birds."   Once everything was on the mantel she said, " we  need something else such as a banner."  We looked online for some examples and she decided on burlap and lace.  Burlap is always messy and attaching the little pieces were somewhat of a challenge but she did great. 

I wonder if she is growing up too fast to be thinking of decorating but then later that afternoon there was playing and jumping on the trampoline with friends, running through the sprinkler and whining that she had to come in.  No --- she is still that little girl with a flair for style like her older Sister. 






Bird or Pear - she went with the Bird



She wanted something rustic

 

Continuing with birds and adding some color



She found this at Target later in the day when we went to buy birthday presents



Chevron Burlap, beige and tan lace.  This was so inexpensive to make - $6.00

 

Burlap was everywhere but she did a great job

Every Love Story is Beautiful... But Ours is My Favorite

I love thee to the depth and breadth and height my soul can reach

Elizabeth Barrett Browning


sorry, picture is really old

 How do you find the right words to sum up how much I completely love you and to tell you how thankful I am that YOU are MY Valentine Forever.   Our story to me never ever gets old or boring! You came into my life when I thought there was nothing.  My life began with you.

My 14 things I love the most……

1.    Your ability to build and fix everything and anything

2.    You standing in the driveway giving me your  “I Love You” sign language symbol each and every time I leave the house to go anywhere

3.    Your willingness to do anything I ask (you have only said “No” twice in our entire marriage and of course you were right!)

4.    Your accepting my weaknesses and faults and loving me just the same

5.    When you wrap your arms around my waist and kiss my neck

6.    The little notes and presents you live around the house and in my car

7.    The touch of your hand in mine

8.  The way you gently push my hair behind my ear

9.  Your total and complete goofiness that makes me laugh and smile

10. Your adoring love for our daughter

11. When I look up and see you watching me

12. Knowing I can depend on you

13. Telling me I am gorgeous and beautiful

14. How you take me in your arms and tell me that you are forever in love with me! 

Now for the post -- here is our love story……. I honestly didn’t know it would turn out this way…….my father told me no one would want to marry me….

   It seemed like a lifetime of waiting to find one another.   In High School we had similar friends and attended the same Ted Nugent concert but our paths never crossed and our existence of one another remained a mystery.    Somehow destiny brought us to the same place of employment.  Our first encounter would be in a class I was teaching on 7 Habits for Highly Effective People- he was one of forty participants and to me just a name on the roster.  It would be two years later before our paths would cross again and both our circumstances in marriage had changed.  While interviewing his staff for a Team Building Exercise he walked into the break room and began talking about his children and the weekend.  I looked up and said, “You are divorced?”   It would take him two weeks to get up the courage to ask me to lunch.  Our lunch date was at Houston’s (no longer open but we are still together).   I knew at lunch that we would be married.  He on the other hand wanted nothing to do with marriage and definitely no more children (he had two and I had three).   But I knew in my heart that one day we would be married.  Jump forward to a January warm day in Texas playing putt-putt golf – standing behind me he says, “would you marry me if I asked you?”  I pretended not to hear (I know that is so wrong, but I wanted him to propose).  Several weeks later on February 13^th (he wanted to ask me on Valentine’s Day but was too excited to wait) this wonderful and charming man on bended knee asked for my hand in marriage.   We were married on May 6th, 2000 (easy for keeping up with the anniversary). 

Our life would begin and for me a life of what seemed so natural as though we had been together for eternity.  But combining a family was one of the hardest things I have ever done (that is definitely another story).  There were many struggles, heartaches and disappointments.  Now that the kids are grown the differences and struggles seem so trivial.   As life would have it not all ended in a happily ever after but we made it through and intact as a couple.

Our biggest surprise was the birth of Sarah.   He was adamant about not having more children and I did not press the point.  However, on a quiet day at the same moment we both felt a sweet spirit was waiting to come into our family.  It was somewhat as a shock to us both.  Very quickly I became pregnant only to lose the pregnancy 12 weeks later.  The baby was to be born on his birthday and the loss hit us both very hard.  Shortly after the miscarriage I would become pregnant again only to lose the pregnancy at nine weeks.  Our hearts were heavy as we pondered whether to try again. 

While driving home one day from errands he would take my hand and say, “we do not have to try again, you have been through enough.”  In tears I said, “I would like to try one more time and see.”  It would be a year later before I got pregnant.  Our deadline was my 45^th birthday.  If there was no positive pregnancy then I would have my tubes tied.   Pregnant again!  This is also another story and quite remarkable but for another post.  I will jump to the end – Sarah is now seven and arrived healthy and has changed our lives forever. 

He is my one and only and holds my heart. He is my Happily Ever After.  

 

Happy Valentine’s Day