[life lately]

Valentine Sweetness......

acting all shy.....don't let her fool you....

Sweet Giggles!!!!!! I Love it!!!

Rowen LOVES bath time 

and thinks it's funny when Weasley shows up!

#BEMINE

waiting patiently for Daddy to get home from work on Valentine's Day!! 

<3 <3 <3 

Date Night!!

{our Valentine's Day Dinner}

YUM!

February Coffee Center <3

#morningquiettime

Psalm 93:4 "Mightier than the waves of the sea is His love for you."

LOVE!!
I have that verse hanging in the guest room. 

also in the guest room....

thrift store frames + etsy printables = cheap wall art

Dad made pies! yummmmmmm.......
We enjoyed them on Monday before Nathan headed back to work.

Peanut Butter & Double Chocolate

(I'll take a slice of each please!)

Nathan usually stays at Bub's house the night before crew change...

these two.....

:O) :O) :O) 

XOXO

Feelin' Fall-y

I was still in summer mode when this rainy nor'easter came through yesterday and got me in the mood for all things pumpkin!!! It's like it was saying good-bye summer---hello FALL! I really hate to see this summer come to an end and am beginning to question if FALL is still my favorite season. Anyway, I had a craving for something pumpkin-y, so it was the perfect time to try Pioneer Woman's recipe for PUMPKIN PIE!!!

~Pumpkin Pie~

2 cups pumpkin

1 14 oz.can sweetened condensed milk

2 eggs

1 T. vanilla

1/4 tsp. ground cloves (I used nutmeg)

1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon

1/4 tsp. ground ginger

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

1 unbaked pie crust

Recipe: HERE

Pioneer Woman: Key Lime (or Lemon) Pie

Peter usually asks for Lemon Meringue Pie for his birthday (his Nanny's recipe). I noticed that Pioneer Woman's Key Lime Pie is almost the exact same recipe, so for June, I made a twist on PW/Nanny's pie recipes! 

Creamy Lemon Meringue Pie
(Nanny's recipe)

3 egg yolks

1 can sweetened condensed milk

1/2 cup lemon juice

Key Lime Pie 
(Pioneer Woman's recipe)

1 can sweetened condensed milk

2 egg yolks

1 T lime zest

1/2 cup lime juice

Graham Cracker Crust

15 whole graham crackers (the 4 section rectangles)

1/2 stick butter (melted)

1/4 cup sugar

In food processor, pulse crackers into fine crumbs. Add butter, and sugar. Mix together; pour into pie plate. Press into shape. Bake for 5 minutes at 350 degrees. Cool.

Make filling and put into cooled crust.

I used the 3 egg yolks, milk, and lemon juice, and made PW graham cracker crust.

PW recipe calls for whipped topping if desired, but Peter loves meringue on this pie.

Meringue: 

4 egg whites

beat until peaks form

slowly add in 1/2 cup sugar (1 T at a time)

beat until stiff peaks

put on top of filling and seal.

Bake for 15-18 minutes.

~Our Thanksgiving 2016~

-Thanksgiving 2016-

11/10/16

Finally, seven years later, I had both boys together at the Thanksgiving table! Well, technically, it's not Thanksgiving, but it's our Thanksgiving! 

Both boys crew changed on Wednesday, so we planned to meet and have dinner at Logan and Lindsey's house on Thursday. I cooked a bit on Wednesday, the greens, the sweet potato fluff, and the pies, and the plan was to cook the rest when we got there. 

We had a detour first though. We drove to Onancock to see Nathan & Kayla's place. I can't believe they have been there since August and we are just seeing it! (again...scheduling and they do come home every month!!!) 

I LOVE IT!!! 

It is perfect for this year while Kayla is in school. We got to see her for a few minutes in between classes, but she couldn't go to lunch with us. We stopped at the cemetery on our way to Market Street to visit Nanny's and Aunt Stella's graves. It makes me sad that we don't get there very often.

The day was getting away and I know Lindsey was getting nervous that it was almost 2:00 and the turkey wasn't even in the oven yet!! I had planned to do the turkey bag again this year since we had such fabulous results last year!! It had only taken 3 hours so I figured we still had plenty of time. As soon as I got there, we started cooking up a storm. 

I want to start some new traditions with Kamry, like doing a craft together at holiday time. Of course, she's too little this year, but we started with something she could be part of. Little hand print place cards!!! 


Here's my pinspiration:

source

We gave Kamry one of her Christmas gifts early since she is ready to start using it now. She loved her jumperoo right away!! :O)

How thankful & grateful I am for my precious family. For the love and laughter and good times together. I am truly blessed!!