~ Nine ~

Earlier this month, Little Lamb turned...NINE!  My baby.  My little one.  NINE!! 

She's sweet and smart.  Lovable and witty.  She's a very spirited child...WE LOVE OUR LITTLE LAMB!!!  She is truly - one of a kind.

Her Birthday Extravaganza included her favorite cake...German Chocolate.

The day began with Mass...to give thanks for life.

Then, Grandpa & Grandma (p) took her to lunch and a birthday gift finding spree at her favorite craft store...completing the fun-filled outing with a visit to an ice cream shop. 
Happy, happy, happy.

Treasure Map...

Little Lamb is blessed to have both sets of grandparents...so we continued the celebration by enjoying the afternoon with Grandma & Grandpa (m).

Treasure Hunt for B-day gifts...

Hand-made, fresh and warm, tortillas were enjoyed...mmmmmm.  So good.  No one makes them like grandma!  We all agree, hers are the best!

Birthday girl gets to sit at the head of the table...German Chocolate Cake - hand-made with love.

No time was wasted to "dig" right in and enjoy the birthday treasures...


Home, working on gift

For the past several years our Little Lamb has asked to visit a local pumpkin patch...it's actually a farm.  It's her tradition...Corn maze, panning for gems, hay rides, farm animals, pumpkins galore and much more!  We have visited this pumpkin patch/farm ever since Conductor & Butterfly were in Kindergarten...

Nine.

Nine.


HAPPY NINTH BIRTHDAY SWEET "BABY" GIRL...
WE LOVE, LOVE, LOVE YOU!!!



{pretty, happy, funny, real}

~ Capturing the context of contentment in everyday life ~

Every Thursday, at Like Mother, Like Daughter!

 

I thought I would give this a try...LM,LD is one of my top 10 favorite blogs.  The "HAPPY AT HOME" posts are helpful, while at the same time, fun to read.  My personal favorites are the "The Reasonably Clean House!" and "Food Organization"...well, my recommendation would be to just go there and read them all!

 

{pretty}

I bought these fresh cut flowers about 10+ days ago...they were looking quite sad, so I trimmed their stems, cleaned and changed the water in the vase...I think they still look PRETTY.

 

{happy}

 Visiting the "Happiest place on Earth"...but what made me HAPPY, was the park was not crowded! (one of the many benefits of home schooling - take vacation when everyone goes back to "school")

 

{funny}

 This LOTR costume really cracked me up; very FUNNY...the entire Lord of the Rings gathering was F.U.N.

 

{real}

 

pencil marks under table, courtesy of bored student...

Piles...PILES...PILES

~ Tea at Three ~

For Four...

Tea at 3 for 4

Ever since we started home schooling, we began the tradition of breaking for tea in the afternoon.  Usually about 3 O'clock we sit and enjoy a cup of tea and a simple snack. 

Our energy is revived, and our "stress" released.  Stress that is caused by our everyday foibles...or by allowing the exterior troubles to disrupt our day.

Enjoying tea definitely falls under "a few of my favorite things" category.  And enjoying tea with my children is the BEST of all.  Well, at least right up there!

Little Lamb's pumpkin spice bread (with carrots!) yum-me!!

When I go "home" to visit my parents...I can usually count on being offered a cup of tea;  another favorite thing.  I can sit and relax and enjoy the good company of my mom & dad.

I hope to give that same gift to my children...

Fresh from the garden...

~ Game Two ~

GIANTS 2    TIGERS 0

They're off to Detroit...

~ Let's Play... ~

BALL!!!
Daddy scored and is at World Series - GAME ONE...
And back home there is plenty of
*High Energy*

Re-creating AT&T Park...Home of our San Francisco Giants!

Tonights fare:
Nachos & Chili Cheese Casper Dogs (mama's has saurkraut + cold one)

BASEBALL ~ AMERICA'S PASTIME 

God Bless America! & protect those that protect us!

 

Whose broad stripes and bright stars, ...Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there...

 Oh, say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave.  O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave...

Giants 8

Tigers 3

 

 

 

GO GIANTS!!! 

~ UN-limited Edition ~

Although it says "Limited Edition"...there seems to be no limit in the "Pumpkin Spice" products...

pumpkin spice overload

 

*Pumpkin Spice Bagels
*Pumpkin Spice Cream Cheese
*Pumpkin Spice Eggnog
*Pumpkin Spice Coffee Creamer
and my favorite of all....Pumpkin Spice *hand-made* Bread!

Little Lamb says, "Now they need to make Pumpkin Spice Tea!"

 

Hmmmm....

~ LOTR ~

Lord of the Rings Extravaganza Discussion & Party...Costumes, Favorite Snacks...a Grand Time was had by all!

We hosted a gathering to discuss the story and to see how the LOTR Trilogy is is filled with Catholic wisdom... 

Friends joined for an afternoon of fun and thoughtful discussion dressed up as their favorite Lord of the Rings character.

With a contest for best costume...

Watching selected scenes and talking about the Catholicism in the Lord of the Rings trilogy.











 

Our friends, Mr. H led the discussion and Mrs. H organized the entire event.





Everyone brought their favorite snack to share with the group...

 Sacred Heart...

 WOW...what an an amazing afternoon...actually, it was PRECIOUS!!!  ;o)

 

 And...the after party...

They're taking the Hobbits to Isengard...while dancing the "Cotton Eyed Joe"