Our Thanksgiving

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving as we shared the day with my in-laws. This was my first time making the meal and I really enjoyed serving my family in this way. We are so blessed and it was a great day to remember those blessings while creating memories to cherish.

Our menu:
Spinach-and-Cranberry Salad with Warm Chutney Dressing
Green Bean Casserole
Mashed Sweet Potatoes
Mashed Potatoes (my playgroup insisted they had to be on the table)
Cornbread Stuffing
Sugar-and-Spice Cured Turkey
Yeast Rolls
Pumpkin Cheesecake


Since I spent more time in the kitchen than behind the camera, I don't have many pictures to share. I did manage to snap this one of my table. I love to set the table, yet I rarely have the opportunity to bring out the china and crystal. It was so much fun to really go all out!

Our D.C. Trip and White House Tour

On the Wednesday before Thanksgiving we headed to D.C. (yes, on the busiest travel day of the year) for a tour of the White House. My in laws went to high school with the father of a man who works in the situation room of the White House and he arranged for a private tour. It was awesome! We had a wonderful time and were just amazed that we were there--walking where our past presidents had walked and standing at the door of the Oval Office. My mom-in-law and I even used the bathroom...not the same one the President uses...but, quite possibly the same one as Condoleezza Rice! It will definitely be a time I will never forget. Ella on the otherhand...just see the pictures!

Before the White House...at the Merry Go Round at a D.C. area mall. We love the new outfit from Mimi and Papa.

Enjoying time with Mimi.

We were early to the White House so we stopped to have some coffee and there was a great fireplace for the backdrop for some pictures.

Daddy, Mommy and Ella

In the Press Room, which is the only place inside we could take pictures.

The family outside under the seal. You can see what Ella thought about the experience. She fell asleep about halfway through the tour on Daddy's shoulder. The tour started at 8pm and her bedtime is typically 7pm, so she was tuckered out!

We wanted a picture of the three of us for our Christmas card, but this one will not be making the cut!

Our Injured Family

Chris and DoubleStuff have matching boo boos! Chris cut his finger while drying a glass and Dubs has a really bad ear infection that led to an ear that had to be drained. Both are healing quickly!!!

Ella Turns Two

Not three, and most definitely not five. When we ask Ella how old she is it takes her three tries for her to say that she is two. We are amazed that two years has passed since we were in the hospital waiting for her arrival.

We had a wonderful time celebrating our little girl with family and friends! Mimi and Papa came from Michigan and Nana and Poppy were here from Roanoke. The Philips Family and the Ferguson Family also joined us! And our special friend Carrie came from Richmond, too! Here are some highlights...

Ella's cake!

Enjoying cake and ice cream.

And mom thought I would be cleaner this year...little did she

know that chocoate cake is great for your skin.

Reading a birthday card.

Ella and Ethan playing with Ella's new shopping cart and food.

Ella on her new sofa from Uncle Tom, Aunt Emily, Cousin Kurynn and Cousin Marek.

The perfect place to read!

Enjoying Fall

We are enjoying the cooler temps, although I can't say we are a big fan of the end of daylight savings time. It is not even 6pm and I don't know what to do with Ella. It seems like she should be going to bed, yet we have another hour of fun to be had. I'm sure we will adjust to the change.

Below are some pictures from Halloween. Ella was a lamb (mommy's creation). She was a cutie and enjoyed visiting neighbors. At first she wasn't very happy about putting the costume on and I thought she would just be wearing a cute Talbots t-shirt with cats dressed up but she got used to it. You can tell from the first picture that she was not impressed by the 500 pom poms that I glued onto a onesie. By the end of the evening she was saying "baah" and laughing.

Mom, are you sure about this?

Maybe I will like it, if I get some sugar in me...

This is fun, bring on my friends.

With neighbors...they were a bit scary for Ella.

Ella with Ethan and Emelia.

I love my CROCS

Ella's Crocs are on her list of favorite things. She received them as a gift from Mimi (thanks again Mimi) when we were in Michigan in August and she has worn them almost every day since. When I ask her to go get her shoes she says, "Crocs Mommy". She can even put them on by herself! We have received so many compliments and Ella graciously says, "thank you".

On the correct feet...50% of the time.



And then there is the other 50% of the time....

Is it FALL yet?

So, it is officially fall! My favorite season! But, it still seems like summer. We went to the playground today and we had to put on sunscreen and the little ones were sweating. I guess we should take advantage of the warmth while it lasts, but Fall, hurry it up!!

Here is Ella in her attempt to help me water plants a week or so ago. She is still enjoying the summer weather!

My Up Do

Ella finally has enough hair for a pony tail and Mommy loves putting it up. Surprisingly, she leaves it up. Although she plays so hard that I have to redo it a couple times a day! Which you know I don't mind.

Fabulous Food Friday

First, I hate to say this will be my last post that is defined by the day of the week. As you know, I missed Thankful Thursday again. So, no more pressure for me. This is supposed to be fun, right....



This marinade is from my best friend Katey's mom and I love it! I use it for kabobs with chicken, sausage and vegetables and it is my favorite meal (except when I was pregnant with Ella and the thought of it made me sick).



O'Brien Marinade

Wisk together 1/3 cup honey, 1/2 cup dijon mustard, 1/2 cup vegetable oil, 1 tablespoon soy sauce, 2 cloves of garlic and 1 teaspoon ground ginger.



Enjoy!

Fabulous Food Friday (ok I know it is Wednesday)

This is my favorite fall treat. I had been craving it for weeks, but it just wasn't cool enough to make it. The temperatures finally dropped and the weekend had the crisp air of Fall, so it was time. I don't have this recipe written down, so it may not be the original, but it worked and was yummy!


Pumpkin Dump Cake (aka Laura's dessert, which is a recipe she was given by Marianne)


Mix one large can of pumpkin pie mix, one can of sweetened condensed milk and 3 eggs. Dump in a lightly greased 9x11 inch pan. Sprinkle with one yellow cake mix. Melt 1 and 1/2 sticks of butter and drizzle over cake mix. You can add chopped pecans before the butter if you wish.

Bake at 350 degrees for 50 minutes. Serve warm. With ice cream or whipped cream for a real treat!

Thankful Thursday (combined this week and last)

I have so much to be thankful for, yet I know I take it all for granted. These posts are a wonderful way to remember all the ways I am blessed.

I am so thankful that Ashleigh, Cathy and I took the infant and child CPR class a couple of Saturdays ago. I thought I would never have to use what I learned. Yesterday, Ella choked on some goldfish and I have to use my newly learned techniques. She has swallowed wrong before, but nothing like this... She did the universal choking sign and it was clear that she was distressed. I picked her up and did the Heimlich. It took two times for the clump of goldfish to come up. Very scary!

I am thankful that my husband doesn't have to travel often. He was away on Monday night and I did not enjoy it one bit. I feel for all of you that have to play "single mom" while your husband travels for work. It is hard work to be the sole caretaker of a little one(s).

I am also thankful for my husband. This past weekend he realized my need for a break and planned a night out. We rarely go out and it is a real splurge in our budget, but I have been in a transition mode as I am watching a little boy every day and I just needed some time with just my husband. We went to PF Chang's and enjoyed an awesome dinner!

Catch-Up!

I'm already a bit behind in my posts...surprise! So, today I am going to play catch-up and hope you enjoy the posts....better late than never.

Fabulous Food Friday

Each Friday I am planning to post a favorite recipe or shopping tip. I am on a quest to master my food budget (which I typically overspend) so I am always looking for new ways to save time and money and great, easy recipes.

Today I have a favorite recipe which I made for our at home date night last Sunday evening.


Barbecue Roasted Salmon

Combine 1/4 cup pineapple juice, 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice and 4 (6oz) salmon fillets in a zip-lock bag; seal and marinate in refrigerator 1 hour, turning occasionally.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Remove fish from bag; discard marinade. Combine 2 tablespoons brown sugar, 4 teaspoons chili powder, 2 teaspoons grated lemon rind, 3/4 teaspoon ground cumin, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon in a bowl. Rub over fish; place in an 11x7 inch baking dish coated with cooking spray. Bake for 12 minutes or until fish flakes easily when tested with a fork.

**Don't try to skimp by not using fresh lemon. I tried once because I didn't have a lemon on hand and I noticed the difference.

***Great with my favorite wine, Our Dog Blue from Chateau Morrisette on the parkway near Floyd, VA.

Thankful Thursday

I have seen Thankful Thursdays on other blogs, so I thought it would be a great addition. Here is my first attempt...

~I am very blessed to be able to stay at home with Ella. I am thankful for a husband that works so hard to provide for our family. I am thankful that God has blessed our decision for me to be home and has never let us down financially (even if we don't have our "wants").

~Our two shedding dogs, Oreo and DoubleStuff, who love me unconditionally, despite the messiness of the house (often due to their abundance of lost hair) or my lack of time for them.

~Our neighbors, the Phillips family. Despite the fact that they are Ohio State fans, they brighten our days and our doorstep so often. And they adore Ella.

More Pictures from Beach and Michigan Trip

Last night at the beach

Ella being "crabby"

Ella and Daddy at the park

Eating Daddy's favorite ice cream, Blue Moon

Ella with MiMi and Papa

Ella in MiMi's Flower Garden

Ella and Cousin Kurynn

Cousin Marek

Welcome

Welcome to my first installment of the Life with the V's post. I must say that I have absolutely no clue what I am doing, but I think a blog would be a fun way to "scrapbook" the happenings of our journey through life on earth and to share pictures and updates with family and friends.

For now, I will share some updated pictures of Ella. She is now 21 months old and so much fun!! This is a picture from our early August beach trip and you can see from those eyes that she always catches the attention of everyone around.