Girl Time!

The day before Halloween, we had our very first visit to the Adventure Aquarium in Camden NJ (near Philadelphia). We went with their favorite Aunt Becky. We arrived soon after it opened that morning. The Aquarium was empty when we arrived. Everyone had a great time!

On our way home, we had a YUMMY lunch at Rembrandt's in downtown Philadelphia near the Art Museum. Rembrandt's has been around for over 20 years. It's well known for it's awesome burgers which Becky and I devoured. Sydney's mac-n-cheese was [artery clogging] "to die for"!

 Aunt Becky holding Sophia and Sydney.

They have a wonderful live shark exhibit.

Sydney... the girl who loves turtles!

Sophia with her new (stuffed) baby harp seal and good old "Uno" (the cat).

Philadelphia skyline in the background across the Delaware River.

Thanksgiving Day

Thanksgiving is one day, out of the year, that I cook for my in-laws, Jan & Denny (Bob's Mom and Step Dad). There is a little anxiety on my part because all year long we enjoy Jan's wonderful gourmet cooking so it puts the pressure on me to come up with something half as good. Plus, I love to try new recipes so it's hard to narrow down the menu and not want to cook everything that sounds good.

This year, I went with a traditional Thanksgiving menu (with a slight twist here and there). It turned out to be the best tasting and easiest Thanksgiving meal so far. The turkey is always a fresh ~20lb turkey that I brine for at least 24 hours (trick to having a moist 20lb turkey). I always have an appetizer cheese plate from Downtown Cheese with a few savory cheeses. I also cheat on a few items that I pick up at Williams Sonoma that save a lot of time. I couldn't make them any better even if I tried... these items include turkey gravy base, brine solution and bread chunks to use in the stuffing.

This year we enjoyed fresh herb-butter turkey, thanksgiving stuffing, goat cheese mash potatoes, sweet potato crunch casserole, roasted green beans with sage butter, whiskey-glazed carrots and maple-orange cranberry relish with jalapeño.

Sydney and Sophia loved the Holiday preparation from the shopping to preparing the food the evening before. Sydney especially was a huge little helper in the kitchen. She helped make the cranberry relish, the stuffing and the pies.

I can't forget to thank my awesome husband... he did all the grocery shopping, picked up the turkey & cheese in Ardmore and surprised me with some beautiful dark purple calla lilies (my favorite!).

Here are a few pics of our wonderful day of family and feast....

Sydney & Sophia always willing to help with the
shopping...

They also sat on Santa's lap! Picture is on the blog post below.

Me and my proud little helper!!

Sydney and Sophia wanted to sit at the
"pretty" table for breakfast on Thanksgiving morning....

20lb brine-turkey with no basting.. instead I
cover the breast with foil the entire
cooking time (plus a lot of herb-butter rubbed under the skin)

Bob Carving the turkey

Family! that's what it's all about... and a
great feast together!

Sophia and Aunt BeckyGMa and Sydney - ahhhh....

Thanksgiving Day Prayer

Heavenly Father, on Thanksgiving Day

We bow our hearts to You and pray.

We give You thanks for all You've done

Especially for the gift of Jesus, Your Son.

For beauty in nature, Your glory we see

For joy and health, friends and family,

For daily provision, Your mercy and care

These are the blessings You graciously share.

So today we offer this response of praise

With a promise to follow You all of our days.

-Mary Fairchild

a taste of summer

How summers always seem to fly by… I did very little air or car travel this summer, but work was still crazy busy with emails, phone calls, emails, Live Meetings and more emails. Argghhh – some days I feel like quitting so that I can spend more time with the girls. Then I have those energized days where I love my job and the challenge of it all (...had to mention that in case my boss’s wife is reading this… Hi Darlene! ).

We never did get around to having a big bar-b-q party. We did have a few little cookouts with family. My hamburger loving husband did lots of grilling this summer. His 3 girls reaped the benefits… burgers with gorgonzola, veggie kabobs, corn-on-the-cob, cucumber & tomato salad and Becky’s Baked Beans! If you live in the Gilbertsville area you need to try these baked beans located at the Deli counter in Freed’s Supermarket (2024 Swamp Pike, Gilbertsville)… credit goes to Connie our next door neighbor for having them at one of her cook-outs... You will never buy Bush’s or make homemade ever again!

...
The girls had a great summer. Sydney (2 ½) started the summer venturing into the hot tub with a float (the type with leg holes providing complete support and security). Sophia (1 ½) started with arm swimmies. She was very brave from day one… she ventured in the pool even the deep end! Over the summer, at her own pace, Sydney began to expand her swimming skills and comfort level. By the first week of September, Bob had them both jumping off the diving board. They both know how to hold their breath when they go under water (Sophia’s been able to do it almost all summer).

...

Only weeks ago, Sydney would have preferred to stay in the house to read a book or watch Noggin and Sprout… now she wakes up asking if she can go swimming. Bob and I are so surprised. We are trying to take advantage of her desire to swim.... there are only a few "pool" weeks left in the season. I’ve posted some pics below of Sydney jumping off the dive and Sophia jumping in the hot tub.

1,2,3...

perfect form

Yeah!

Sophia's turn... 1,2,3...

20 times off the diving board is exhausting!

Miss Corn

Miss Cob

Aunt Becky & Daddy

Mom and Dad