A Snowy Day at Home

Today we woke up to snow falling and the ground a beautiful sparkling white. I was sure Steve would have a delay...but, no. He left and the little boys and I settled in and watched the snow fall.

First up, a photo shoot with Fanti. Titus wanted me to take a picture of him and even told Fonti to smile.


While Quincy was napping, Titus and I set up a blanket with pillows in the sun room so we could watch the snow. From the moment we first moved in this house I've been dreaming of sitting in this room watching the snow fall.

Of course the cars were close by-

Next up, cookies! My favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe is from the Mennonite Community Cookbook. Instead of nuts I use toffee chips. I bake for exactly 8 minutes 35 seconds and they are incredible. My mom used to grade her recipes so she would remember how she liked each one. I do this now too and this recipe is a definite A plus.

Titus thinks so too-

Quincy hanging out in his crib mid change. I miss having a baby in a onesie all day. I love seeing those chubby legs.


The three of us were on the couch when Titus quickly hopped up and said he had to go fix his hair. He came back and asked for Quincy and told me to take a picture. That's his new thing now, going to fix his hair before a picture. Maybe he's self-conscious of it now that it's growing out again. :) I love his face in this picture. Like he's so annoyed that his little brother wants to snuggle with him. Even though it was he who asked to snuggle with Quincy.


Steve had an early dismissal and got home just after nap time (since he stopped at the gym before coming home). Quincy was happy to have some extra time with his dad-



Quincy was back down for a nap and we made our first snowman together as a family. Titus loved watching the old Frosty the Snowman cartoon this Christmas and was excited to make our own Frosty-





Then he took Frosty's arms and ran-

Frosty put back together again-

Next up, building a tunnel-

Quincy was up again and came out to join us-




Steve already has a delay for tomorrow...we're hoping for a closing. And with snow falling like this, it seems pretty likely-

Two and a Half Years

Titus occasionally says to me, "I can count on you mom." I love it.

He is officially two and a half years old. I can't believe it. It's sad to me that during the first year of his life we celebrate each month. Now we do that with Quincy. But since Titus turned one, we rarely think about exactly how old he is.

He is growing into quite the little character. He never ceases to amazes us and gets us laughing daily. He talks non stop.

I told him last week he can be anything he wants to be. He can be a teacher like daddy, he can be the president, he can be a trash truck driver. His ears perked up and he got a big smile and said, "And I can pick up the trash!"

He adores his little brother. He goes to him and rubs his head and kisses him. Still calling him, "my little Quince." He gets the Quince from me as that's what I often call him.

He recently has me picturing him as a doctor. He "works on" Quincy and says he's making him better. He'll push on his legs, arms, or head. I'm sure this comes from him regularly going along to Quincy's doctor appointments.

He loves the snow now. Although we usually have to threaten punishment to get him dressed to go out, once he's out there we then struggle to get him back inside. He loves to ride in his big wagon from grammy & pappy in the snow. Yesterday I pulled him down to the pond behind our house.

His favorite toys are still his Matchbox cars. He takes them everywhere-even in the tub.

He adores his dad. He talks about how they will one day play basketball together and "make dunks" and Quincy and I will watch them. Recently he was watching a game on tv and said to Steve, "that should be us."

We've finally gotten into the routine of eating dinner together each night. We hold hands and pray. Titus repeats the prayer and says "we're a family."

We are so in love with our little guy and are both nervous and excited to watch him grow. He keeps us on our toes and is continually a challenge to parent. He is strong willed and intense. He has a temper, which I hate to admit, but so do I.

Reading the book "You Can't Make Me" by Cynthia Ulrich Tobias, I came across a quote by Dr. Dobson from "The Strong-Willed Child"- "It is my firm conviction that the strong-willed child usually possesses more creative potential and strength of character than his compliant sibling, provided his parents can help him channel his impulses and gain control of his rampaging will."

Steve and I both feel we will need to surround him with positive, constructive options as he grows and matures. Whether it be sports or arts/music or ministry, we pray that he will find his passion and use it for the Lord and that it will keep him focused...and help him to change the world. We know the potential is there.




you can purchase this great shirt here ...and see more of Titus.

Baby, It's Cold Outside

It seems we've had one snow storm after another. I feel like we've had snow on the ground since the day after Christmas. I'm not complaining. It's beautiful. I really don't have any desire to take both kids out in this cold for many outings so the snow makes staying inside more fun. We have amazing views from this house and it's just stunning to see it all covered with snow. We've also been enjoying having Steve home a few extra mornings due to school delays and snow days.

Today Quincy ventured out for some fresh air-

Sunday Morning Thoughts.

This morning I'm feeling quite exhausted...overwhelmed...in need of a "break." But then mothers don't get breaks I'm learning. I'm fighting a cold. It made it's way from Steve to Titus to Quincy to me. I was up three times with Quincy last night...and the three nights before as well. The sink is overflowing with dishes. The worst feature of this house is it's lack of a dishwasher. The dryer is running now. Doing laundry on Sunday mornings has become the new routine. In place of going to church. I'm ashamed to admit...we haven't gone in months. If I was truly honest...I think we've only gone once since being back in Pennsylvania. As I type I am listening to the live Calvary Chapel Ft. Lauderdale service. We listened to the 8am service also. It's been 7 months since we've been back here and I still feel torn between the two states. Maybe even more so now as time goes on. It's a hard thing to face, the place that has always been my home doesn't feel so much that way anymore. I went out for milk early this morning. There is snow on the ground and there were no cars on the roads. It was nice, peaceful. The sun was still coming up. Yesterday I took Titus to my parents house for an hour so he could sled down the little hill in their backyard. It was the most perfect morning. Seeing his excitement about going there. Watching my mom watch him sled. But then...Florida. I still miss it. I long to be back at "our" church. Seeing the people who just received Christ walk front during EVERY service. So moving. I always got teary eyed. Even now watching it on the internet brings a lump to my throat. There was a feeling there that can't be described. A closeness to God that I don't feel here. Sometimes I wonder if that's why I wanted to leave. It was scary. Wondering what God was going to do with our lives. How he was stretching me. Now I can only wonder what things he had in store for us.

Just a Little Off the Top

Quincy's first haircut at 4 months.

before-

after-


Titus' first haircut at 5 months.

before-

after-

Moment in Time

Standing in Quincy's nursery.
Holding him in my arms.
Swaying him to sleep.
He just stares into my eyes the whole time.
The snow is falling fast and hard outside his window.

Christmas Day Meals

I've never been a big fan of cooking. So I was a little nervous about cooking my first Christmas dinner. My excitement grew though as I started planning the meals and what I wanted to make. I gathered ideas that I took from various holiday dinners with friends and family. Late Christmas eve after the kids were asleep and all the gifts were wrapped ideas started filling my head on how to decorate our dining area. I wish I had thought of decorating sooner. I am already jotting down ideas for next year. :)








For breakfast I made sticky buns. I got the recipe from my mom, who got it from my cousin Nicole. For several years my mom made these sticky buns as part of her Christmas morning brunch. I added fruit and little chocolate treats that Steve got from one of his students the day before. For our drink I used a little glass pitcher that had been my Maw's. My mom and her sisters used it as kids. I made a ginger ale-mango juice punch that we had at the home of the Bryan's on Thanksgiving day when we celebrated with them while in Florida. And french vanilla coffee in festive mugs.





Titus praying for our breakfast-

After-

For lunch I made ham steak (Steve is the only meat-eater in our home), my mom's potato casserole recipe, Steve's aunt Jane's sweet potato fluff, my Mom-Mom's cranberry sauce. We also had green beans and rolls. With sparkling cider.


Quincy sat at the table for the first time-

He loved it-

In the afternoon we had appetizers. I used a recipe I found in a parenting magazine to make these-

Along with my favorite chocolate chip toffee cookies from a recipe in my Mennonite cookbook, shrimp, and more sparkling cider.


I'm excited to continue this tradition of spending Christmas day together at home. I'm excited to see how it changes from year to year. I pray that each year is as special as this one was.