Easy Bake Oven

Miss M loves to help me in the kitchen and asked Santa for an Easy Bake Oven. Santa came through and brought her one on Christmas Day. Our first treat we made was a brownie.

Here she is putting it in the tiny pan....

...and patiently waiting while it baked.

Miss M and her completed brownie. She ate the whole thing herself! LOL

Yesterday we made pretzels, but she didn't enjoy that as much.

Have a great day!

Peace and blessings,

Lisa

My Word for 2011: PEACE

My word for 2011 will be PEACE. I am working toward peace in my heart, peace in my household, peace in my classroom and workplace, and peace in our extended family. The past year has been filled with stress, chaos, anxiety and drama. I'm looking forward to 2011 being a better year. I'm also reflecting on these questions as part of a challenge I've taken part of during the month of December:

1. Evaluate Your Walk with God in 2010 - Were you daily in God's word and in prayer? How can you improve your walk with God in 2011?

I do pray daily, but want to read the Bible more and encourage my family to do the same. I tend to start lent and advent activities with the kids and then life gets in the way. I need to improve in that area.

2. Your Marriage - What is one word you'd use to describe your marriage in 2010? Easy, frustrating, growing, romantic, hard, strong, amazing. What is one thing you know your husband wishes you'd change in your life?

Our marriage grew stronger despite all of the craziness we went through building the house. My goal is to increase our romantic life with a date night at least once a month, once a week would be fantastic and have more time together at home alone.

3. Your Children - What was a high point and a low point for each of your children in 2010? What is one thing that each of your children need from you in 2011?

The kids really are my life. I am teaching ds some more chores to help him become independent and able to function on his own when he goes to college in 6 short years. DD is always in need of attention and lots of it, so we'll continue to give her that.

4. Health - What healthy habits did I maintain in 2010? What unhealthy habits did I create in 2010 that I need to change going into 2011?

I need to lose at least 20 lbs. I am a stress eater and with our busy lifestyle sometimes our habits are not the best. It's a struggle to live in a house of skinny people, who can eat whatever they want and not gain a pound. I need to make an effort to pack my lunch instead of eating in the school cafeteria. I need to start exercising again. My heart health isn't the best and doing those things will help with that. On the positive side, I've cut a lot of fat/frying/sodium from our diet.

5. Ministry - What ways did I use my talents for God in 2010? Pray about what God would have you do in 2011.

I did some baking for the church this year. With life in a blender, it was hard to get myself involved. I do think my work is one way that I serve God. It's tough going into that environment everyday and dealing with issues that 6yos shouldn't have to deal with. I hope to do some knitting for babies in the NICU this year and maybe get it started through the church.

So, that's where I'm at....thanks for reading my essay. ;0)

Peace and blessings,

Lisa

Christmas Smilebox Part Two

Create a free digital scrapbooking design More photos from Christmas Day! Peace and blessings, Lisa

Christmas Smilebox Part One

Create your own free digital scrapbooking design Thanks for stopping by! Peace and blessings, Lisa

Peace on Earth Challenge~Week Five

This week's challenge and suggestions from Courtney at Women Living Well:

Find a minute this week to get alone...outside is best. There is something about the big open sky, the trees, and the sounds of nature that help us to see and hear God clearly. Take your Bible with you - visit Matthew 27 and 28, evaluate 2010 and commit 2011 to living your life completely for God.

Here's some evaluation questions to assist you in your time alone.

1. Evaluate Your Walk with God in 2010 - Were you daily in God's word and in prayer? How can you improve your walk with God in 2011?

Suggestion: Ponder your schedule and then write down a set time for a quiet time each day. Mine is 6:30am every morning. Consider starting or joining a Good Morning Girls group in the new year. I email my girls every morning Monday through Friday. Enrollment for the new 3 month session begins January 1st!

2. Your Marriage - What is one word you'd use to describe your marriage in 2010? Easy, frustrating, growing, romantic, hard, strong, amazing. What is one thing you know your husband wishes you'd change in your life?

Suggestion: Write down the steps you can take to change that area in your life. ie. being more organized, cooking healthier, being more flexible, being more respectful, kissing him like you mean it more often...

3. Your Children - What was a high point and a low point for each of your children in 2010? What is one thing that each of your children need from you in 2011?

Suggestion: Write down the steps you can take toward giving your children what they need. ie. manners training, reading to them more, one on one time, my undivided attention, memorizing God's word together...

4. Health - What healthy habits did I maintain in 2010? What unhealthy habits did I create in 2010 that I need to change going into 2011?

Suggestion: Write down some goals for 2011 in this area. Write out a plan for how you will reach them.

5. Ministry - What ways did I use my talents for God in 2010? Pray about what God would have you do in 2011.

Suggestion: Surrender your life to God. Be willing to be used for his purposes - remember that each season of life brings different priorities and opportunities. Pray over this.

Choosing a Theme Word:
Pause and look over your evaluation. Now choose a theme word for the new year.

My word for 2011 will be PEACE. I am working toward peace in my heart, peace in my household, peace in my classroom and workplace, and peace in our extended family.

Hope you will join us in this challenge.

Peace and blessings,

Lisa

Menu Plan Monday, December 27th

Welcome to another Menu Plan Monday, hosted by Laura at I'm An Organizing Junkie! This is the last Menu Plan Monday of 2010. Here's our plan for the week:

Sunday~Leftover Lasagna, Salad, and Rolls

Monday~Marvelous Meatloaf, Oven Roasted Potatoes, Corn

Tuesday~ Saucy Pork Chops, Rice Pilaf, French Style Green Beans

Wednesday~BBQ Bacon and Cheddar Chicken Sandwiches, Oven Fries and Fruit

Thursday~Kielbassi and Potato Roast

Friday~ New Year's Eve~Pork Roast with Kraut and Mashed Potatoes, Salad

Saturday~Winter Classic Hockey Game--Let's Go Pens!

Have a week full of peace and blessings,

Lisa

Christmas Eve

On Christmas Eve, we hosted our annual dinner. This was our first dinner party in our new home. We had to change out the dining room tables so that we had enough room for everyone to sit down to eat.

My family in our dress clothes. We attended the Christmas Eve Mass.

My Parents

My brother Dominec, his gf Kim and her son Cody.

After dinner and gifts, the elves dropped off some gifts for the kids. (Thank goodness DS is a good sport and plays along for his baby sister!)

The gifts!

New lounge pants for Hunter with his favorite team logo!

New pajamas for Miss Maddie!


Ready for bed....after a story or two read by Pappy.

Peace and quiet after a busy day!

Blessings and peace,

Lisa

Merry Christmas from Our Family to Yours!

Merry Christmas!

Peace and blessings,

Lisa

Flowers from my Husband

I love the stocking for the vase. So clever!

Peace and blessings,

Lisa

Peace on Earth Challenge~ Week Four

Here's this week's challenge:

Christmas is just 5 days away and so much of our time is often spent helping the children to remember the "Reason for the Season". Now it's our turn. Once the kids are in bed get yourself a HOT drink (again we are warming the body as we warm the soul.) Get ALONE and turn out the lights by your Christmas tree, a lit fire, or a candle and just be alone with God. Pray, talk to him, I encourage you to sing Christmas carols or songs praising him, and just rest with Jesus.

Are you up for the challenge? Join us at Women Living Well.

Merry Christmas!

Peace and blessings,

Lisa

Menu Plan Monday, December 20, 2010

Welcome to another Menu Plan Monday, hosted by Laura at I'm An Organizing Junkie! It is Christmas week! My! Where has the year gone? I can't believe it's almost over! This week should be pleasantly calm. There's only one night of hockey and then we are free to do Christmas activities the other evenings. Here' s the menu plan for this week:

Sunday~Spaghetti with Homemade Meatballs, Garlic Toast and Salad

Monday~Spiced Pork Chops, Rice Pilaf and Carrots

Tuesday~Herb Chicken with Honey Butter, Penne with Olive Oil and Garlic, Green Beans

Wednesday~Sloppy Joes, Macaroni and Cheese and Baked Beans

Thursday~ Pizza and Wings Take Out

Friday~Christmas Eve Dinner

Cheese and Smoked Sausage Tray for Appetizer
Lasagna
Breaded Veal Cutlets
Tossed Salad
Baker's Dozen Dinner Rolls
Assorted Cookies and Candies

Cheesecake Sampler

Saturday~Merry Christmas! Dinner at Mom's

May your Christmas be filled with the peace of Christ, the love of God and the happiness that only family and friends can bring!

Blessings,

Lisa

Gingerbread House

The kids and I decorated this Gingerbread House last night in honor of Christmas. They did a pretty nice job for our first attempt!

Merry Christmas! Thanks for stopping by!

Peace and blessings,

Lisa

Peace on Earth Challenge Week Three

This week's challenge: Pull out your calendar and SCHEDULE a night where you will go to bed very very early. Take your Bible with you to bed and read in bed for at least 5 minutes. Read in Isaiah 7:14, Micah 5:2, Jeremiah 23:5, and Isaiah 53. These are prophecies that were fulfilled by the birth and life of Jesus. Get extra blankets for a warm nights rest, pray God gives you deep rest and that no one wakes you. Then turn out the lights and sleep. I pray that when you wake, you face the new day of Christmas stress with extra strength and vigor.

As Courtney posted on her blog:

We have been poisoned by the belief that more cookies, more presents, more decorations, more parties, more more more will make us happier. Even when we are pursuing something noble such as serving others at Christmas through charity the over-activity brings chaos to our homes and families.

This really spoke to me....it's so true. I feel the pressure to make more cookies and candy, buy more presents, decorate more, but I think I do it to make others happy. It in turn makes me stressed out. We are making an effort to simplify and be confident in our decision to do so.

I have scheduled my early bedtime and look forward to that time!

Peace and blessings,

Lisa

Christmas in Our New Home

It's another snow day in West-Central Pennsylvania, so I thought I'd share some pics of our Christmas decorations. I wish they showed how warm and cozy the rooms look, but my camera just doesn't capture that.

Welcome to our home. This is the foyer. The advent calendar is on the closet door, so that dd can easily reach it. The nativity is on the table and the poinsettia was a gift from my brother.

To the right of the foyer is the hallway and stairway. I'm not thrilled with my garlands, but will fuss with it over the next few weeks to make it better.

The living room is to the left of the foyer, through the pillared archway.

The other half of the room

The fireplace, which has really kept the living area warm these last few cold days.

Our tree

One of my many Santas from my collection on the kitchen island. I'm burning my candle daily as part of the Peace on Earth challenge.

A few more Santas on the kitchen counter....it's missing something too, gotta work on that!

Thanks for stopping by!

Peace and blessings,

Lisa

My Snow Babies

Snow Day mean snow removal. Thankfully dh has power tools to do the job....

and his helpers!

Our snow princess

Thanks for stopping by!

Peace and blessings,
Lisa

Snow Day Candy and Cookie Baking

It was a Snow Day for me today, and then after some getting to school through a snowstorm drama the kids were sent home early today. Since I was home we did some baking and candy making.

Here's a picture of my cookies:

Chocolate Caramel Cookies


We also made some Chocolate Pretzel Treats

You need a bag of Pretzel Snaps and a bag of Hershey's Kisses. This bag of kisses made 53 treats.

First, have your helper take all of the wrappers off of the kisses. DD loves this job...seriously...and often unwraps them by sorting them by color. lol While your helper is unwrapping the candies, preheat the oven to 170 degrees Farenheit. Then lay the pretzels on a parchment lined baking sheet.

Next, place a kiss on top of each pretzel on the tray. Pop the tray into the oven for 4-6 minutes. They will look shiny when they are melted just enough.

Press another pretzel onto the melted kiss, smooshing it to make a sandwich. When all your sandwiches are made, pop them into the fridge to chill for a few minutes. Once set, store in an airtight container or bag and enjoy!

Thanks for stopping by today!

Peace and blessings,

Lisa

Peace on Earth Challenge, Week Two

Here's this week's challenge: Take out your calendar and SCHEDULE a night where you will take a warm refreshing bubble bath. Bring your Bible. Read the story of the birth of Jesus in Matthew 1, 2 and Luke 1,2.

This will definitely be a challenge for me, but I definitely need a break from the busy-ness of the holiday season and my regular life. I am going to schedule my bath for this morning, since I have a snow day and my children do have school. It will be quiet here this morning and it will give me time to refocus on the meaning of this season .

Are you up for this challenge? Join us at Courtney's blog.

Peace and blessings,

Lisa

Menu Plan Monday, December 6, 2010

Welcome to this week's Menu Plan Monday, hosted by Laura at I'm An Organizing Junkie. It's another busy week ahead with a hockey game almost every night. Fortunately, or unfortunately, depending on how you look at it, I'm off of school today for a snow day. The Lake Effect Snow machine is dumping snow on us until tomorrow night at 7 pm, when the storm warning is over....at least that is the current prediction.

Here's the plan for this week:

Sunday~Weeknight Lasagna Toss and Garlic Toast

Monday~Ham Steaks, Pierogies and Green Beans

Tuesday~BBQ Jack Chicken, Rice Pilaf and Glazed Carrots

Wednesday~Chicken Fingers and Macaroni and Cheese

Thursday~ Dance and Hockey--take out!

Friday~Pizza and Wing Night

Saturday~Tacos with all the toppings, Mexican Rice and Corn

Have a week full of blessings and peace,

Lisa

I'm joining Courtney during this busy month of December and taking part in the Peace on Earth December Challenge.


Here' the first challenge:

Write at the top of your December calendar page - I Peter 5:7 "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." This will be a reminder every time you look at your calendar and feel anxious about all you have to get done - to pray. God cares for you. Release your worries to him and rest in him.



Also, go buy an extra large candle and light a candle everyday in your home in the month of December. I will be starting mine in the morning! But you can start yours at dinner time. I will be placing mine in the kitchen - the main hub of my home. Each time the candle catches your eye, say a prayer for peace in your home.


I have the verse written on my calendar and have a candle burning on the island in the kitchen. If you are interested in joining please visit Courtney at Women Living Well.


Peace and blessings,
Lisa

Another Outside Photo

It's a little dark...so I'll try again tonight. This was last night at 5:15, so it's getting dark quite early here. The icicle lights are hung now too, so I'll try to get one with them on!

Blessings,

Lisa

Visit with Santa and the Festival of Trees

Our township had light up night and the festival of trees last night. We went to check out the trees and visit with Santa. Earlier in the day, dd wrote her letter to Santa and when we arrived dd promptly put it in the mailbox. Santa will be writing her back! She is anticipating his response to her wish list of a doll, an easel, an easy bake oven and books.

Miss M and Santa

Our PTO's tree...in school colors

Miss M and the Santa Tree

The Patriotic Tree...the lights were red, white and blue, but my flash took them away.

Thanks for stopping by!

Peace and blessings,

Lisa