Heartwarming

When Rob went off to work in December I was off to start a long term sub job. We were both off to working again and well it was exciting to be working yet having just said goodbye it's always an adjustment.

My little surprise came one morning when I opened the cupboard in our bathroom. There was a card for me from Rob. I had a feeling he had bought a card when we were at the store together but every place I looked around the house I couldn't find it.....(yes I was looking!!) I had not looked in the cupboard.

Nothing like sweet words written in ink by your Sweetheart to warm your heart and start your day. I brought the card with me to school and read it right before students came in to me. He had written exactly what I need.

"the voice of my beloved" Song of Solomon 5:2

Roossinck Christmas Take 1

We headed to Michigan for an early Christmas because Rob was to work over Christmas. The weather was no problem for travel this time, which was a blessing for me and Rob. :)

Saturday was our "Christmas Day." Dad and Mom's tree has ornaments with all of their children's names.

Maria's Christmas present being installed!!

Oh yes! That is me, and I know how to use it!

Everyone got involved!

Looks WONDERFUL!

Back to Mom & Dad's for dinner, mmmmm Christmas Ham!

I absolutely LOVE sweet potato casserole, mmmm I can almost taste it right now.

We had A LOT of FUN playing games!!! Especially many different versions of UNO. We also were able to visit some dear friends as well. (I'm not sure why my camera didn't have picture.) I miss my goofy friends!

We made a little pit stop to the Roossinck's Orchard as well as Eric & Liz's house.
REAL APPLE!

MICHIGAN STYLE- from Roossinck's Orchard. It was SOOOOO GOOD!
What a WONDERFUL trip it was.....

I must also say it was a lot of fun to drive together. Being stick in a car together for 10:30 hours, nothing to do but drive and chat, priceless.

Thank you Dad, Mom, and Maria for having early Christmas with us. It was a special time.

A Chesnutt Thanksgiving

Turkey??? Can you see it?

For sure, TURKEYS!!!

"What if your eyes get stuck like that?"

We headed to the Chesnutt's for a WONDERFUL THANKSGIVING DAY!!

The kids and I tried to put together a veggie Turkey, if you use your imagination you can see it....right?

Caroline, Grandma, and Jesse

The beautiful table!

OH YUMMY!

A lovely table FULL! (Mrs. Chesnutt is hiding behind Jan!) We missed Uncle Rob...and Aunt Carol, and Uncle Jeff, and Drew, and Carly, and Aunt Janice & Uncle Johne, and Aunt Barbara....but we had them in our hearts!

And then the entertainment!

It was discovered that the children can do this but us adult's, with our oily noses, cannot place a spoon on our nose! Trust me, even though there are not pictures, everyone tried... =0)

We ended our meal with delicious pie & ice cream and of course Charlie Brown's Thanksgiving!

Thank you Chesnutt's for a WONDERFUL Thanksgiving day.

Can she bake a PECAN PIE Robbie boy?

Well, today was the day of my first pastry crust pie!

Days before I had done my research:

I contacted my Grandma, who makes a wonderful Pecan Pie.

I talked to my Mom, maker of excellent pie crust.

Then I called Maria, I won't tell you all what she said.

The last was my friend Erika, who added a secret touch!

I had my cheerleaders set: Rob, George, Mom #2, Jan, & Carol!

I felt ready to go!!!

Thanks everyone, this was a work for you all!

Gathering the supplies!

Making the crust.

After putting everything in the refrigerator

The first roll out!

Setting it into the pan

Tucking in the edges

"Roped" edge according to Better Homes & Garden.

The filling is poured in

Into the oven

The finished product!!!

Ready for Thanksgiving!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING everyone!

The Aunts are back in town!

It was SOOO exciting to have the Aunts in town again. We LOVE this time because we see the 3 dear Rhode sisters having a WONDERFUL time together.

Before the Aunts left for Watoga, we were able to have them over to celebrate Mom and Aunt Janice's Birthday (a little late but it's fun to celebrate together!)

George was able to come for the evening as well. A lovely table full!

Rob did half the meal on the grill: Beer can chicken, grilled bread, and grilled veggies. I did the other half in the kitchen: Tuscan beans, salad, and Hummingbird Cake.

The birthday girls!

I LOVE having Rob home to help with the meal. He is WONDERFUL!

Cousin George and Aunt Barbara

About 2 weeks later..... after Mom and the Aunts had gone to Watoga State Park. The girls asked us if we would want to go to Cacapon with them for a couple of days. What a treat that was. We really missed not going to Watoga this year, Rob had to go to Denver for some meetings and I was working.

So we all packed our bags and headed out!

Dinner with the girls!

The evening was rainy but we found some games!

Mother vs Son!

The Aunts!

Mom!

The next morning was bright & sunny.

This is the lodge where we stayed and ate our meals.

We packed lunches and headed out.

What a WONDERFUL day.

From here you can see 4 states: PA, MA, VA, WV

Aunt Janice & Rob

The girls!

Finding out spot on the map.

Aunt Barbara and I decided to step back =0)

me & my Love!

The ladies

My hiking partner.

Yea, that's me.

The lodge.

It was a beautiful time.

Again, it was a wonderful time with the Aunts. We were SOOO thankful they were able to come again this year and that Rob could be home for most of their visit. It was FUN sharing our home with them, spending time laughing and telling stories, as well as the days in the mountains. As in the words of our dear Drew, "those are memory makers."