emily

Many of you know my friend Emily. Many of you don't.

I *do know* that many of you are prayer warriors and
would be willing to lift Emily up whether you know her or not.

Emily is having surgery today and again in two days to hopefully bring healing to her body as she deals with an illness that she perseveres through gracefully but that is certainly very hard.

I know I am not filling this post with details but I would like to ask you to please lift my friend Emily up today and on Thursday.

Please ask God to heal her body and give her relief from sickness so that she can be the wife, mom and friend she wants to be.

Please ask for skill and compassion for all of the medical staff attending her.

Please ask God to surround her & her family with peace.

Please ask for a completely complication free recovery.

Thank you so much for letting me ask this of you.

This is really important to me and I appreciate being able to call on other prayer warriors to join with me and many others in petitioning for Emily.

Thank you!

Kelly

what is your favorite time of day?

I'm not entirely sure what mine is but I thought it'd be interesting to see what you have to say.

I think I like whatever time of day I feel like I "hit my stride" which can vary from day to day. I do also really like lying in bed in the morning listening to my sweet baby boy babble in his bed and I also really like talking to Adrian at the end of the day.

What's your favorite time of day?

Kelly

photo of clock tower in NYC taken by my friend Jenni

too cute

if I do say so myself.

I love this kid!

Kelly

Happy Turkey Day!

photo from Thanksgiving 2008 found at the kids' table

Do you have a "kids' table" at your Thanksgiving meal?

Do you sit at it or at the grown-ups' table?

If any of my cousins are reading this I'm sure they're rolling their eyes about now remembering how as the oldest cousin I was always vying for a spot at the grown-ups' table. Then as time went on I migrated back to the kids' table and became known as the cousin who always asked the other cousins lots of questions. :)

I hope you are enjoying your day today!

Kelly

Thanksgiving table

When I go to my in-laws' house I usually am in charge of setting the table.

I like it. I like having something that from the beginning of me going to visit there kind of has been "my job". It's safe (unless I drop and break something I guess) and it gives me a niche.

Plus, I find it fun to play around with other peoples' things to create vignettes. It's a new perspective from using your own stuff.

This is our Thanksgiving table from last year.

I'm not sure my father-in-law would have ever expected that his spool of twine would find it's way from the basement to the dining table centerpiece. :)

leaves from the yard snatched up quickly as it was beginning to rain, nuts found in the kitchen, pears robbed from the fruit bowl . . .

The majority voted to forgo the turkey in favor of lamb.

I must say it was quite tasty.

Sweet potato casserole with pecans, cranberry salad, brussel sprouts . . .

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Looking forward to making more memories tomorrow with the other side of our family.

We are very blessed to have wonderful family and feasts on both sides!

Happy Turkey day tomorrow!

Kelly

p.s. do you watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade? I like it.

Travel Tuesday - Pittsburgh, PA

Welcome to Pittsburgh!

Lots of people think Pittsburgh is dirty.

I think it used to be very industrial and smoggy but it is beautiful now!

This is a photo taken on an overcast fall day last November.

Do you see the reflexion of the bridge in the water?

I love to visit Pittsburgh, especially around Thanksgiving. Although springtime with the tulips blooming is quite magnificent as well.

Besides, where else can you can really great Polish food? (okay, I'm sure there are *some* other places but I don't know where they are.)

We like Pierogies Plus.

These photos were taken last Thanksgiving. We got pierogies, haluski (noodles and cabbage with LOTS of butter!) and sausage. Yum and double yum.

Have you ever been to Pittsburgh?

What do you like to do or eat there?

Kelly

speed scrabble

Last summer I posted about speed scrabble and despite a request for a "how to", I have not yet done that. Well today I am ending the procrastination and telling you how to play speed scrabble so you can play too!

Get your hands on a scrabble or banana grams game.

Dump out all of the tiles and turn them face down in the middle.

(You don't need the scrabble board, you can put it back in the box.)

Each person draws seven tiles and keeps them face down.

One person says "go".

(We play that the person who wins the last hand says "go"

each time so on the first round just pick whoever.)

Each person tries to use those seven tiles to create words.

The words all have to interlock like on a scrabble board. Each person is working with only their own tiles though. It is like scrabble solitaire.

Once someone has incorporated all seven of their tiles into an interlocking "board", then they say "draw". Every person draws a new tile and tries to work it into their board as well. When someone is out again they say "draw" and it continues until there are not enough tiles left in the center for everyone to draw one.

At that point, whoever has all of their tiles incorporated into interlocking words on their board wins!

Also, if anyone gets stuck during the game and wants to trade in a tile, they can but they have to draw *two*.

There are variations on scoring but we like to add up the point values of the tiles we didn't use and you're aiming for the lowest score.

If you play let me know. If I've left anything out or if something is unclear let me know and I'll try to clarify.

Do you have any games that you love to play when your family gets together?

Kelly

Saturday morning

my amazing husband made these super yummy sweet potato pancakes at my request

Recipe here

Kelly

soaking beans

I think they're pretty.

Even more, I'm thankful for a wonderful husband who soaks them

and makes them into chili for us.

In other news, my computer is sick. :( It had to go to the apple dr.

I am hoping for a quick recovery.

Kelly

seven months

You've really mastered sitting up.

On October 26th, you learned how to sit up from being on your tummy! That was fun.

The next morning, early, I came into your room for your early morning feeding and you were sitting up in your crib! It made me feel really happy and excited for how you are growing up and learning to do things.

You still like to play with water bottles and "help" Mama fold laundry usually by playing with the bag for your socks.

You have been pulling your shirt on when we've been dressing you and we think you're so smart. Right before Halloween you learned to pull it off! Such fun.

You started rolling over on your tummy to sleep. We put you down on your back and you flip right over and get your thumb in your mouth. It's the cutest thing. You'll also get your hiney up in the air and often tuck your hands underneath you to sleep. We love it.

One night when you were fussy during dinner, we all laid on the floor together in the dining room after we ate and Daddy made up funny verses to "If You're Happy and You Know It" and you were absolutely cackling! We loved it and just ate it up.

You are playing so much. You play independently well for short periods of time and you really like this orange octopus and all your bath toys both in and out of the bath.

We went and played at Mrs. Shevawn & Miss Claire's house one day, we had dinner at Mr. Ryan & Mrs. Julie's house and you really liked playing in the jumperoo there and you hung out with Daddy while Mama went to Canton to meet up with the Aven girls.

You played over at Mrs. Monique & Mr. Ron's one day so Mama could work on decorations for a baby shower.

Mrs. Jenny & Caden came over to play.

You experienced your first Halloween. We went over to Mrs. Renae and Mr. Steve's to go trick or treating and pass out candy with a bunch of our church friends. You dressed up as a scarecrow to go along with our sweet friend "Dorothy".

We got to go to Houston to visit our family there and you enjoyed your time getting loved on by everyone. Your Aunt Jenny made you laugh so much!

Your Aunt Kim bought you a bunch of fun clothes including her favorite, "My Aunt Rocks".

You still love to chew on Sophie.

You had such a good time with your Poppy! He loves you so much and told me specifically, "I love that boy." more than once our time there.

You also love your Sweetie. She sang songs to you and you gave her kisses.

You are continuing to eat like a champ.

You eat bell pepper, cucumber spears (people keep asking me if I'm feeding you dill pickles), turkey, chicken, beef, breadsticks, etc. You also ate tortilla and refried beans at Rosa's first with just Daddy and then as we dined al fresco when we walked over after your ENT appt. It was fun to be sharing a meal with you that way.

You also ate pizza for the first time at Cavalli when Uncle Edmund surprised us with a long layover here! You got to go play basketball with the guys at church with Daddy and Uncle Edmund while Mama was at girls' night.

You hit 17 lbs!

You also go down for your naps and bedtime by yourself and we are so thankful and proud of you.

We all had the stomach bug this month while Grandad was here visiting (hence no photos of his visit) and you ended up having to go to the emergency room because you were getting dehydrated but the great doctors and nurses there got you fixed up in no time. You looked pretty cute in your little hospital gown although I'm so thankful that wearing it was so short-lived and I have tremendous respect for those parents who must endure hospitals with their children consistently. You loved playing with the little pulse/oxygen monitor they put on your big toe with it's bright red light and a wire that you could "reel" your toe in by and play with.

You and Mama slept on the floor together and it was such a cozy time. That was a definite silver lining in this whole thing.

You did get to ride your first trolley with Dad and Grandad this month.

You like your Bible class at church and do well with the different teachers. I remember one Wednesday night when I went to peek in on you because I realized it had been a while since you'd eaten and you might be hungry and you were quite contentedly sitting in Mrs. Beth's lap looking up at her and playing with her face while you were in class with the "big kids".

You stayed with Mrs. Pennye and did great so Mama and Daddy could have a date to go out and eat Italian and hear our former president, George Bush, speak at UNT where Daddy works.

You always seem to know when we need you to be a trooper and you rise to the challenge like when Mama had to go to the ER right after you were born and again this month when Mama got sick and other times too. We are so proud of you and love you so much.

We love you, Little Man! Happy Seven Months.

white chocolate covered cranberries

The holidays are approaching. I'm more excited this year than I've been in awhile. I think it definitely has something to do with having a little one.

Would you like a recipe for a holiday treat that makes a great gift?

It actually can't even really be considered a "recipe" I wouldn't say.

White chocolate covered cranberries are a very, very tasty treat. All you have to do is buy raw, fresh cranberries and dip them in melted white chocolate or actually a white almond bark product something like this. Most grocery stores carry it too and I don't think it's that expensive. Then you just let them dry.

It's not at all hard but it does require a lot of patience *or* a group of really fun people to work with so that you're totally distracted from the mindless task you're repeating.

These photos all came from several years ago actually (pre-blogging days for me) as you can see by the date stamp. I had the privilege of working with a bunch of really cool, selfless and hardworking people in the singles group at my church to make up a zillion bags of these to be sold at the "Incredible Edibles" shoppe as part of the New Friends New Life Holiday Home Tour fundraiser.

New Friends New Life is a really incredible ministry that helps women who are involved in sexually oriented businesses to get out. It is a truly inspiring ministry. Please check out one of the links I've included if you'd like to learn more.

If you make white chocolate covered cranberries this holiday season, I'd love to know what you think.

Also, I'd love to hear from some of you who read my blog but don't usually comment. :)

When a girl's not on facebook she's got to hear from her friends somehow, right?

If you are someone who dipped cranberries, made cookie mixes, attended the NFNL home tour, or somehow found yourself reliving memories from this post, I'd love to hear from you in the comment section today! Thanks!! Kelly

marshmallow soup

What did this post title make you think of?

The first time I read the words "marshmallow soup" I was definitely intrigued but was also picturing something perhaps pink and white, somewhat frothy and definitely sweet.

The above photo is marshmallow soup, a specialty at Rise no. 1

(yes, it's one of our favorite restaurants and I'm starting to realize that I talk about it all the time)

See the "marshmallows"?

They're not marshmallows at all.

Really.

I know, they really do look like it, huh?

They are actually tiny goat cheese souffles! Yum!

They're floating in tomato carrot bisque and topped with a drizzle of pesto.

Cool, huh?

Kelly

photo by Adrian

Ten on Ten - November 2010

3rd photo by Julie

11th photo by Adrian

Ten on Ten

THE IDEA

Take a photo every hour for ten consecutive hours on the tenth of each month. Document a day of your life and find beauty among the ordinary moments. Then share your beauty with us!

Thanks, Rebekah, for the great idea of documenting our days this way.

reminder

Tomorrow is November 10th if you'd like to do Ten on Ten!

photo from Adrian's iphone November 2007 on the way to/from Thanksgiving in Pittsburgh. I think this is a cool airport display of "paper airplanes" but I can't remember which airport it was in. Do any of you know this airport? Jog my memory please! Thanks! Hope you all have a good day! Kelly

why we dressed as a scarecrow

because this little cutie was dressing up as Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz and we were going to their house to trick or treat (actually, mostly to pass out candy to the bigger trick or treaters)

Look at her adorable ruby slippers!

she even has Toto!

Thanks you guys! We had a lot of fun. Happy memories made.

Kelly