"Wii" had a wonderful Christmas~

We have laughed so hard today! The Wii has been the best $ we ever spent on a Family Christmas present.

Hope each of you have had a Merry Christmas~

A few of the things I love about the South~

Childhood memories - they remind me that a simple life is so remarkably full

The music - okay, those of you who know me well, know that country music is not my thing, but when I am in Nashville, going downtown is a must ~ those honkey tonks draw me in, get me dancing and play over in my head for the rest of the night

Cobblers and pies - it is an essential end to an evening meal

The ladies – I so enjoy being called honey, and sugar and love - it makes my heart dance

The men - they way they hold doors open and practically bow as you pass. Their old world charm that makes them both full of charisma and pride

The delicious depth of the air - the way it clings to your skin and fills your lungs

BISCUITS - need I say more?

Secrets - like knowing better than to order a Pepsi anywhere within a 250 mile radius of Atlanta, heck for that matter knowing that all soft drinks are called 'coke'. Or knowing that the reason that southern ladies tease their hair is so that it won’t go flat the moment the walk into the humidity. Knowing that to enjoy a great glass of iced tea is to enjoy it sweet. And that the state flower is spelt F.L.O.U.R., God bless ‘em

Beauty ~ it is everywhere

Football, BBQ and Whiskey – there are fans of these three things all over the world but in the south they are aficionados

Tomorrow as I board the plane bound for my sister and Tennessee, more than just my clothes will go through a transformation. Going home is good for my soul ~

What do you love most about your part of our beautiful country?

A wish granted~

When we were at Disney earlier this month for Vito’s 10-K race, Bella and I had a date night in the Magic Kingdom. During the Wishes Firework Bella made a wish. Her wish has to see a falling star.

Being the cool mom I am ~ I had to help fulfill this wish. In my search to find an upcoming meteor shower I came across some interesting web sites.

Here are a few:

http://www.universetoday.com/2004/10/20/orionid-meteor-shower-october-21/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orionid_meteor_shower

http://www.seasky.org/astronomy/astronomy_calendar_2009.html

http://meteorshowersonline.com/calendar.html

So while most people were snuggled warm in their beds, Vito Bella and I took a pile of blankets and made a bed out on our front lawn. Laying there looking up at the stars above Bella's wish was grated (eight times). It was truly enchanting to witness the show above and pure delight from my daughter. As we laid there holding hands Bella said “this has been the best night, I am definitely doing this with my kids someday”

Today I helped grant a wish, started a new family tradition, and made a memories for our family that will last forever~ and I did it all before the sun came up! Pretty great day, right?

A fall, a bit of construction and some time away~

Since July Vito has been training for a 10K

At the beginning of August while on one of his runs, he fell~

bruising his ribs and breaking a toe.

When he returned home and told us what happened

Bella told him that "she would be his doctor and that she was going to need to do a little construction on him"

A few weeks went by without incident, then one evening while

we were all at home Vito fell again.

This time Vito went to see a doctor (one who actually went to medical school.)

The doctor gave him a range of motion test, finding that one leg was much

weaker than the other and recommended that he go see an

orthopedic surgeon. X-rays were taken, with the conclusion

that he had torn cartilage in his hip.

Thankfully surgery is not necessary. He required rest, healing and down time. So from August till this past Monday, that is exactly what he did.

On Monday Vito woke up and said I am doing this race even if I have to walk it.

The race is Sunday, so we are headed to Orlando for some family fun and to cheer Vito on.

I have to admit that even though his

'construction', healing, rest and down time

has gone well, I am still a bit nervous.

But he is determined~

I'll let you know how it all turns out on Tuesday.

Girlfriends, I hope each of you have a fantastic weekend~

Clove studded oranges~

Thank y'all so much for your comments on my 'Fall' post. A couple of you asked how we did the clove stunned oranges~

We used two small containers of whole cloves and about 10 oranges. Then we proceeded to make fun, unique, random designs on the oranges by poking the cloves in~

To make it easier on Bella's fingers, she would poke the orange with a thick upholstery needle first then she would poke the clove in.

It smells wonderful but thanks to my sweet friend Lisa (and courtesy of Paul Dean) here is a recipe for something that will make your whole house smell like fall

Sliced apples

Sliced lemons

Sliced oranges

Bay Leaves

Whole cloves

Cinnamon sticks

In a slow-cooker, combine fruit to preferences of smell. Cover in water. Top with bay leaves, whole cloves, and cinnamon sticks. Leave slow-cooker on low.

Let me know if this helps~

Fall~

I can see it in the sky, as the darkness comes so much earlier now.

I can smell it in the morning while I am taking my walks.

It is felt in the evening as I watch Bella run up and down the soccer field.

It is seen, smelled, and felt ~ it’s just, well… not quite, but almost: starting to fell like fall.

ALLLLLLMOSSSSTTTTT ~

Now if the middle of the day would only begin to cooperate!

A bowl of clove stunned oranges, one tradition we have that makes our home smell like our favorite time of the year

How does He do it~

How does God take a day that was tough right from the start

and end it so beautifully?

I don't know how, but I am awefully thankful that He does.