Fun Family photos

We had family pictures taken. Our friend Annie did a great job. Check out her website here.
Here are some pictures from the shoot. We saved a bunch for our Christmas cards, so you'll have to wait until then to see our 2009 family portrait.
Enjoy these gems in the meantime.

Moo!

For Cow Appreciation Day at Chick-Fil-A, we dressed up as cows and got free meals. It was fun to hear the workers at the resturant ringing their cow bells as we walked in.-Pretty darn cute if you ask me. Marketing genius!
Zach and Tanner loved making thier cow masks. I cut circles of black vinyl scraps for their spots. It was fun. Even Asher went, as veal. We love Chick-Fil-A, but its a 25 mintue drive for us. We got stuck in a huge accident in Harrisburg, and it took us over and hour to get there. Im not sure if the free meals were worth the drive, but they all had a great time once we got there and ate some yummy food and played with friends.

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Sacrifice stinks sometimes

Dear Nikon,
I have been dreaming about your D40 for some time now. I think of it almost everyday.

When I see it through shop windows my mouth begins to water and saliva drips from the corners of my awed mouth. I dream of its clicking sounds and the gentle press of my fingers on its frame. The fun we would have at the beach, family reunions and playing in the yard together. The fabric strap around my neck, and the priceless digital memories we'd create. Oh how it would make my blogging, photography, professional, and creative dreams grow and improve. A goofy smile spreads across my face as I think of taking it home, cradled in my arms for the first time.

But, how will I explain to my children that they cant go to preschool this year, becuase I spent the money on a camera. I cant have both (eyes filled with tears).
Just know that I want you, I love you, and I will be coveting you from a distance.
Why is sacrifice so hard?-

ok,ok, so Im not leaving every possesion and crossing the plains. Im not sending my only son to war,Im not raising 10 orphans or selling my hair for food...but geez, why do the things we want (not need) have to cost so much money!!!

Book worm

Most people know that I love to read. I have been a slacker about writing down some of the books I have read. While, I dont reccomend some of them, I will give you a brief overview of the books I have read since March.
Guilty by Ann Coulter:

Interesting book. Not really a fan of hers, but she did have many good points. I consider myself a conservative and so I had common ground on some points, but not all points. The chapter about how Single Motherhood has been glamourized by Hollywood and media, and the contribuition single motherhood adds to to social issues like crime stats, STD's, Abuse, prison. Pretty fasinating and right on the money in my oppinion.- It is definately one more thing I have read that solidifies my ideals of defining marriage between 1 man and 1 woman. Very interesting book. Not for everyone.

Blessings by Anna Quindlen
A baby left on a garage doorstep. The grounds keeper at a historic lovely home finds the baby and takes care of it.- This is how the story begins. You need to read the rest. Good, light, interesting summer read.


Persuasion by Jane Austen. I had never read this classic until June. Its more insightful to the movie, if you read the book. It was an easy short read. Finished it in 2 days. I can never get enough Austen..but why, oh why, cant people just come out and say what they mean and what they want. They stand in rooms together in silence, thinking crazy things, and never (out of propriety) say a word to anyone. Maybe my blabbermouth could learn something from this time period.

Due to the fact that I am in Hershey, I figured I should know something about Milton Hershey. What a cool guy. Im currently in the middle of The Emperors of Chocolate: the secret world of Hershey and Mars. by Joel Glenn Brenner- I must say, its delightful, loving it so far!I'll review when Im done.

July 4th!

Well, as circumstance would have it, I left my camera at home for all the Independence Day activities. My appologies to the grandmas who were waiting so eagerly.

We did have a great day. My parents came down from Nazareth. We took a picnic lunch to the local pool. Ate and had a great time swimming. Then pizza for dinner and off the to Hershey Symphony Orchestra preformance. It was awesome! I think my favorite was when they played Bring Him Home from Les Miserables , dedicated to the soliders still fighting around the world. The man who sang was amazing. Then the fireworks show.

A late evening for Asher who normally goes to bed at 7:30. He was delirious by the end of the fireworks that ended around 10:30. Poor Baby. He was, as always, the perfect baby.

Asher also got a hair cut. He had a trim when he was little but, this was a real, in the salon hair cut. All those curls...gone for now. But, showing signs of coming back soon. I could barely see his eyes for a while. Here is the not so happy picture now. Sorry about the shadows, my camera is awful!

Slice of Heaven

Its Blueberry season here in Pennsylvania. We've been overloaded with them at our house. Im not a huge raw blueberry fan, so I have been looking for recipes to use them in. Breakfast items are always a given. I was looking for something other than pancakes and muffins.

I found an amazing recipe online. I made it last night, and boy was it a hit. I must say, it was the best coffee cake I have ever had. Its a must try, if you like blueberries! The trick in this recipe is Sour Cream. OH MY, it was heaven.

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
4 ounces butter, softened (8 tablespoons)
3/4 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1/2 cup sour cream
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups blueberries
***Topping***
1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed
3/4 cup flour
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
dash ground nutmeg
5 tablespoons melted butter
1/2 cup finely chopped walnuts or pecans, optional
Preparation:Grease a 9-inch springform pan. Heat oven to 350°.
Combine the 1 1/2 cups flour, baking powder, soda, and salt; set aside.
In a mixing bowl with electric mixer, cream the 4 ounces of softened butter with 3/4 cup granulated sugar. Beat for about 3 to 4 minutes. Beat in the eggs until smooth. Beat in sour cream and vanilla. With mixer on low speed, beat in the flour mixture just until blended. Spread the batter in the prepared baking pan. Sprinkle blueberries evenly over the batter.
In another bowl combine the brown sugar, 3/4 cup flour, cinnamon, and nutmeg, stirring with a fork until smooth. Add the 5 tablespoons of melted butter and blend well with the fork. Blend in chopped nuts, if using. Sprinkle the crumb mixture evenly over the blueberries.
Bake for 40 to 45 minutes, until the cake is firm and top is browned.
Let cool for about 10 minutes on a rack; remove the side of the pan and cool completely before slicing.