happy thanksgiving

I'm just popping in this morning before the Thanksgiving Day Parade comes on t.v. to share with you some things that I am thankful for today.

*an amazing family
*good health

*a cozy home

* this little girl that is intense and mellow...and funny

*wonderful friends

*freedom

*this little girl that is thoughtful and sweet...and funny

*a merciful and gracious God who loves His children

*the ability to stay home with my children

*and last, but certainly not least, this wonderful husband of mine who is smart and sensitive, a provider and a Daddy, and so, so funny! Now you can see where the girls get their sense of humor :o)

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving...and remember to give thanks. xo ANG

practice makes pie

I must admit that although I have baked many a turkey for Thanksgiving I have never in my life made a pumpkin pie. I know it's not difficult. This is America after all and all I have to do is go buy a ready made crust and a can of pie mush. Okay, I could make a crust and buy the can of mush but my previous experiences with homemade pie crust were not so great. My solution...just avoid making pie. I do love me some pumpkin pie so I would eat it if someone else made it...I just wasn't making it. I make other delicious treats for the holiday season, so believe me, we are not deprived of yummy treats. And now, in our state of gluten free living I have the perfect out when it comes to making pie....or so I thought. Recently, two things have happened. First, we went for our annual fall fun day at the pumpkin patch with our friends. The girls got to choose cute little pumpkins and paint them then they were off to play and climb and jump. Oh, it was a fun day...see?

But then, once again we had two little pumpkins whose paint came right off when it rained. Sure we could have painted them again, but why? They were just going to sit there and rot. Hmmm, I bet those would make a great, fresh, pumpkin pie. Oh, but the crust is an issue. But wait!...and here's the second thing...I found a gluten free pie crust mix made by Gluten Free Pantry. I've been pleased with many of their products so maybe I should give their crust a try. It is called "perfect" pie crust mix...so it must be good, right? Well, I took those little pumpkins (after building up the excitement of having pumpkin pie long before Thanksgiving) and baked them in the oven just like an acorn squash. I scooped it all out and gave it a whirl with my mixer to make it smooth and I tell you...perfect.

And yes, I bought the crust mix. It was a quick and easy mix. It smelled like regular crust. It felt like regular crust. It even rolled like regular crust. Our hopes were high for a delicious tasting crust and a delicious tasting freshly made pumpkin pie. The aroma of freshly baked pumpkin pie filled the house. It came out beautiful. Just look at it. Hungry?

Thankfully I made it during the day so by the time we were ready for dessert after dinner the pie was ready to be devoured. The girls could hardly contain their excitement. Okay, I was excited, too. How could I not be? It was all working out just perfectly...like I had made a billion pumpkin pies before. Then I sliced it and ....

we couldn't eat it fast enough! It turned out so good. The crust was a little thick for some...I like it that way though...but it was flaky and buttery and oh so yummy. My first pumpkin pie. Delicious!

Oh, and just the other day in all of the bleakness as the trees shed their leaves, my azalea wanted to show off a little more before it got too cold. The brightness of the one purple bloom amongst the dark, dried up leaves was beautiful. Too beautiful to leave outside. The bloom was quickly rescued and brought into the house for a drink of water.

Thanksgiving is right around the corner so remember to give thanks. Today as the cold rain comes down and extra layers are worn I am thankful for my little house in the city. It's warm and cozy and we are all in good health. Happy Thursday. xo ANG

Don't forget to go here to enter my giveaway.

thankful thursday

I can't believe how long it's been since I have done a Thankful Thursday post. Sheesh! I really need to get back on track here. I think I'll go the simple route today since nap time is almost over.

1. I am thankful that the weather has been very warm all week! It was super windy yesterday...and it is still windy today. However, it is still warm.

2. Getting back into our routine after going to the beach has been a welcomed event. As you already know, I thrive on schedules and routine, but my girls seem to enjoy routine as well. There is less whining and more fun when we know there are things that need to be done and we work our way through it together. So for being home and having a routine I am truly thankful.

3. The girls are still talking about our trip to the beach. It was cold there, with the exception of the first day, so there was no playing in the sand and lingering on the beach all day with a good book, a bag of snacks, and a bottle of water. We enjoyed relaxing at the beach in a whole new way...indoor pools. We also enjoyed the aquarium, which is a must when we visit the beach. I am so thankful that I have a husband that is a wonderful provider, a good steward of our finances, a planner extraordinaire, and a beach bum at heart. We are blessed.

Now, without further ado...more beach pictures.

thankful thursday

This has been a crazy week...sorry for the lack of posts. It is Thankful Thursday though and I have much to be thankful for today.

First, I am thankful that although I have a cold right now, my children do not. I am also thankful that it's just a cold and not a nasty stomach virus.

Second, I am thankful for the time that I got to spend with my family over the weekend. I always wish the visit could be longer, but we enjoyed the time we had. Also, it was my PopPop's 88th birthday!

Third, I am thankful for the little overnight trip with Tim and the girls. We spent the night in a hotel (the girls first time in a hotel) then we went to the National Air & Space Museum right outside of D.C. by Dulles International Airport. Really fun. Lots of cool planes and helicopters...and the Space Shuttle Enterprise!

More details and pictures to come, but if you'll excuse me, I need to go blow my nose...again!

thankful thursday

The unthankful heart discovers no mercies; but the thankful heart will find, in every hour, some heavenly blessings. ~Henry Ward Beecher

It's the little things that get overlooked, forgotten, and taken for granted. Here are a few simple that I am thankful for today.

As promised, I took a picture of the girls' Shirley Temple dolls on display at our library. I am thankful that O & E were excited to share their treasures. I am also thankful for the joy it brought them every time someone stopped to oooh and aaaah over the dolls. (Is it just me or does E look a little like that doll beside her?)

Today the temperature got up in the 50s! The sun was shining and there was no wind...we haven't had a nice day like this in a long time. I am so thankful that we were able to play outside for a long time. The girls rode their bikes, raked some leaves, ran a few races, picked berries out of my monkey grass, and "fed" the crickets that were hiding beside the house. We were having so much fun I forgot to take any pictures. I did enjoy a nice, steamy cup of my most favorite tea when we finally made back inside, and for that, I am thankful.

There's nothing quite like a delicious orange or red grapefruit to satisfy my craving for all things citrus. However, as you are probably well aware, the price of citrus fruits is outrageous! Then I saw an ad in my Family Fun magazine for these.....
I hadn't seen them in the stores yet and just assumed they'd be expensive, too. Well, my dear husband brought home this bag full of Cuties. They are so easy to peel, so sweet, and not a seed to be seen. They are just the right size for the girls and just the perfect little boost of vitamin C that we need right now. Thanks Dear. We are all thankful for this special, nutritious, delicious treat.

thankful thursday

Happy Thanksgiving!

thankful thursday

For each new morning with its light,For rest and shelter of the night,For health and food, for love and friends,For everything Thy goodness sends.~Ralph Waldo Emerson

As my daily routine gets a little more busy and as Thanksgiving and Christmas grow closer and closer, I am reminded of how blessed I am. I have a husband who is a wonderful provider for our family. I have two beautiful children that are healthy. I have a home that is safe and warm with a yard that my children can enjoy. I live in a country where I am free to worship God and study His Word. I am undeserving of His grace and mercy, nevertheless, I am blessed...and for that I am very thankful.

thankful thursday

God has two dwellings; one in heaven, and the other in a meek and thankful heart. ~Izaak Walton
Every time one of my children becomes ill I am even more thankful for their health.
Every time the leaves fall I am even more thankful for the colors that God has created.
Every time it rains I am even more thankful for our warm and cozy home.
Every time I exercise I am even more thankful for the encouragement from my husband and friends.
Every time the morning alarm rings, although still tired, I am even more thankful that God has given me another day to enjoy with my family.

thankful thursday

I think I learned to appreciate and treasure each day, because you don't know how many you're going to be given. ~Sandra Day O'Connor, US Supreme Court Justice

If you know me, then you know that cold weather is not my favorite. However, I know when cold weather arrives there are many things to see, and do, and enjoy. And for these things, I am very thankful.

Playing in the leaves.

Playing in the snow.

Enjoying the beauty of the fall colors.

What are you thankful for this time of year?

thankful thursday

"It isn't what you have in your pocket that makes you thankful, but what you have in your heart." ~Author Unknown
(I know this quote isn't referring to motherhood, but when I read it I was reminded of how full my heart is....and sometimes my pockets!)


~As I put my hands in my pockets to warm them I found a used tissue. I am thankful for the snot-nosed little girl that gave me a hug this morning...and hid her tissue in my pocket.
~As I searched in my purse for a pen the other day I found a little pile of sunflower seeds. I am thankful for the inquisitive, flower-loving girl that wanted to save some seeds from our sunflowers so we could plant them next year and enjoy another summer of really big, totally tall sunflowers.
~As I sorted the laundry to wash yet another load I found a band-aid in a little pocket. I am thankful that sometimes a kiss on a boo boo and big hug makes everything all better.

thankful thursday

Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name. And do not neglect doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is pleased. Hebrews 13:15-16

one - I am thankful for the warmth of summer stretching into autumn. **windows open wide, feet adorned in flip-flops, the last few tomatoes ripened on the vine**

two - I am thankful for active imaginations. **girls that, immediately after breakfast, are transformed into cats, then cowgirls, then ballerinas**

three - I am thankful for laughter. **not only is my husband funny, seriously, really funny, but my girls are funny, too. there is lots and lots of laughter in our house throughout the day** (between bouts of whining and teasing, that is)

thankful thursday

Hem your blessings with thankfulness so they don't unravel. ~Author Unknown

Just a reminder (for myself) to be thankful for the grace and mercy that isn't earned or deserved, but given to me as a Gift.

1. my husband - He is funny and loving and encouraging, smart and knowledgeable and humble, the head of the household, the daddy of my girls, the love of my life.

2. my children - they have such different personalities, polar opposites really, yet both of them are sensitive, and creative, and funny!

3. freedom - with the election coming and many opinions flying through the air, I am so grateful that I was born in this country, our country, the United States of America....freedom.

thankful thursday

When the rainbow is in the cloud, then I will look upon it, to remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth. Genesis 9:16
Now, I know this verse doesn't have the word thankful in it and it doesn't refer to being grateful to God for anything. However, what more is there to be thankful for than the promise of God in visible form? If a rainbow in the sky reminds God of the covenant He made with Noah and all living creatures...then shouldn't we be reminded of God's promise as well?


one - visual reminders of God's promise- When we lived in Hawai'i we saw rainbows at least once a month...if not more. Amazingly beautiful. Now that we're back on the mainland, and have been for several years, rainbows are a rarity. While on vacation in September we were excited to see two rainbows in one week!
two - short lived colds - Miss E had a very short cold that, thankfully, the rest of us didn't get. With the cold/flu season getting closer it was nice to avoid this first little one.three - the return of our car - Although it's been a month or so since our car broke down and we had some unnecessary work done on it, we are thankful that we finally found a knowledgeable mechanic that fixed the real problem and now we have two cars again.

thankful thursday - mini

Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. 1 Chronicles 16:34


1. Friends coming for dinner....looking forward to great fun and fellowship....a great motivator to get my house nice and orderly.

2. Preparing to leave for the beach....also a great motivator to get my house nice and orderly because I enjoy coming home to a nice clean house....oh yeah, hurricane or no hurricane this is a much needed vacation and we are thankful for the chance to get away for a while.

3. I'm up to 44 miles of walking/jogging in the evening....very thankful for friends that hold me accountable....we're making great progress and there's more to come!

Just a cute picture of the girls at the beach last September....we're excited and ready to go!

thankful thursday

Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving; Sing praises to our God on the lyre, Who covers the heavens with clouds, Who provides rain for the earth, Who makes the grass to grow on the mountains. Psalm 147:7-8

one - rain, rain, and more rain! - It hasn't rained here since very early in July so I am so thankful for days of rain. I can already see the tomatoes in my garden smiling.

two - beautiful babies - We had a play date with some dear friends the other day that was long overdo...great conversation for the moms, great fun for the kids, I mean really cute kids...here's their youngest, adorable right?!
three - new discoveries - The other day Miss O asked for one of the books high on her bookshelf, you know, the books that are to be admired but not touched, especially by little sister. Well, I gave it to her, then minutes later she asked for another, then she started pulling all the Sweet Pickles books off the shelf that were mine when I was little. Books. Were. Everywhere. She came out of her room about 20 minutes later and said...."Mom! Mom! I can read everything on my shelf!" I, of course, knew she could all along, but she didn't have the want to sit still with books with more words than pictures (we all love a great picture book). She was so excited to discover it. She's only 5 years old and already has her nose in a book most of the time.

thankful thursday

Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom, teaching, and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Whatever you do in work or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father. -Colossians 3:16-17

one - lots and lots of grape tomatoes - Despite the lack of rain our grape tomatoes are bountiful. There's nothing like a great big salad adorned with juicy, vine-ripened, garden fresh tomatoes.

two - motivated, holding-me-accountable friends - Still walking (with a little jogging mixed in for the sake of an increase in heart rate). Our goal is to walk at least 3 times a week, 4 times if at
all possible. Four miles each time. Bring it on, baby!

three - helpers in the kitchen - My girls really love to get under my feet be helpful in the kitchen. We made some rice crispie treats, a yummy snack that is quick and easy and perfect for little ones to make, plus, we all enjoy them (even Daddy because they're gluten free). Then we gathered up all of their play dishes and utensils so they could have a go at washing dishes. No dishwasher here...it's all by hand in our house. I personally don't mind washing dishes, I just crank up the radio and wash away! (I know Mama, it's taken 35 years and I finally don't complain about it!) Anyway, the girls had a ball! There was water and sudsy bubbles everywhere. They stood in their chairs at the sink for almost an hour scrubbing, rinsing, taking turns, getting wet, and having fun.

thankful thursday (on friday)

In God we have boasted all day long, And we will give thanks to Your name forever. Selah. Psalm 44:8

Let me just preface this post by saying the girls had their doctor appointments yesterday.

one - growing girls - Miss O is now 42 lbs(50th percentile) and 45 1/2(75th percentile) inches tall! Miss E is 35 lbs(80th percentile) and 39 inches(75th percentile) tall. Both are comfortably on the growth chart. They've come a long way from being off the chart...one really skinny and one, well, not so skinny!

two - brave girls - I am happy to say that both girls were very comfortable with the doctor and even when they got shots and finger pricks there was minimal crying. The crying they did do was pretty quiet. Believe me, they can wail, but they were super brave and not at all traumatized by the event. I'm so proud of them. I think it helped to read about Elmo going to the doctor and watch The Magic School Bus about germs, sickness, and why it's important to get check-ups and shots.

three - a doctor who listens - If you have ever taken your child to the doctor, whether it be the ER or just the pediatrician, you have probably been dismissed at some point as an over-protective, anxious, don't-know-what-you're-talking-about mother. Let me just tell you that throughout both appointments (which they were kind enough to overlap so we wouldn't have to be there so long) the doctor and the nurse never doubted or dismissed a word I said. Believe me I had a list, a little, tiny, short list, of concerns and questions....all of which were addressed and thoughtfully answered. From ear wax solutions to epi-pen prescriptions - I never felt for one minute that they were rushing through the appointment or internally rolling their eyes because of my concerns.

One more thing...

Behold, children are a gift of the Lord; The fruit of the womb is a reward. Psalm 127:3

Okay, I don't think that this is what that verse was talking about, but these pictures were way too cute not to share!

thankful thursday

In ordinary life we hardly realize that we receive a great deal more than we give, and that it is only with gratitude that life becomes rich. -- Dietrich Bonhoeffer

one - Although we really need a little rain right now, I am thankful that the girls' swimming lessons didn't get rained out. Today was the last day and we had a lot of fun!

two - afternoon walks with the girls - there are lots of pets in our neighborhood so the girls like to see how many we can find...we saw this little guy on our last walk and he was kind enough to smile for the camera!

three - fun at the playground - since we were completely without our normal routine these past two weeks we took advantage of the extra time in between and after swimming classes to join our friends at the playground...lots and lots of fabulous fun with friends!

thankful thursday

Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. Colossians 2:6-8
one - old friends - I got a call from an old friend the other day and today she came by for a visit. We live near each other but never seem to find the time to hang out. I'm so glad she came over..it was nice to see her again.
two - new friends - Because we have been at the pool every morning this week for swimming lessons our normal routine is a little out of whack. If you know me, you know I thrive on routines. However, I have had the opportunity to make some new mom friends that have little ones like mine, are homeschooling like me, and generally are really nice women. I have enjoyed the time I've had with my "old" mom friends at the pool, but we all have made new friends.
three - swimming lessons - I can swim and have tried to get my girls to be comfortable in the water but I haven't had the chance to really push them into learning more. Boy, oh boy, these swimming lessons are so great. They are having fun and learning a lot. Both girls have reached the milestone of putting their heads completely under water. This is HUGE people! I mean, seriously, I still struggle with hair washing sometimes because they don't like water on their faces. Now, I can't guarantee that they'll do it again, but at least they did it and I caught it on film memory card camera. Oh yeah, you know I did!