Time for vacation...

Early this morning, Rob and I walked down to the beach to see the sunrise, first we saw pink clouds, then the bright orange ball of the sun...
We've been enjoying the salty waves, sand and just being together.

Below see all 6 pairs of feet: Dad, Mom, little Olivia, Rob, me and Hannah (that was starting from top going clockwise) on the sand at Myrtle Beach!

Inspiring me to sew with felt:

Wouldn't that be a nice homemade gift for someone? Maybe I'll get busy...

When we get home...we're still in South Carolina...

Boys drool...

Isaac came over for a little while today...my sister took Olivia shopping for her birthday! Olivia is going to be 7 very soon...and Hannah will be 9 next month!
Check out that drool...
Woke up to lots of noise...they were cutting down a big old maple tree a couple of houses down from us! It was fun to watch...I was glad to see the "made in USA" on the back of their equipment.
That's done...then they chopped up the root. Looks so different on the street! I think we need to plant some trees out front!!!The girls enjoyed an ice cream cone while Lusy watched...
In case you haven't seen these postage stamp, they came out last month...love the old cowboys!This is our front door...the mailbox with a letter for someone whose birthday is coming up soon...and one of the hanging baskets I got for Mother's day. Olivia said "It's candy cane flowers!"

All made in the USA

Olivia meeting her new cousin, Natalia on May 10, 2010... We went to see her and the rest of the family again yesterday:
I got out Jamie Oliver's Italy (a cookbook) from the library. I made some chicken tetrazzini to bring to my sister's house....and have a look at all those pretty pizzas:
We had homemade pizza for lunch today...I mixed the yeast, flour, salt, water and honey up before I headed out this morning. When I got home, Rob was making it into pizza crusts. I had spinach and ham on mine, with rounds of fresh mozzarella that melted so beautifully.
This nice soap was made in the USA...actually milled in Vermont. It smells great. I love Crabtree and Evelyn. Especially since I got a $10 gift card in the mail from the company in honor of Mother's day! Yes, I bought something for my mother there...and something for me...and for my sister, spent more money, but it's worth it!

It's a girl...

Early this morning...a little girl was born to my sister, Susanna, and her husband, John. She gave birth at home and shortly after 2am woke up her older daughters to meet their new little sister. She was 8 pounds 8 oz and 21 inches long, has brown hair and shiny dark eyes, she got quite a nice grasp on my fingers...so very sweet. I was so excited to take photos...and apparently left my camera at their house, but here is a photo someone else took:Three little girls...we'll see if the hand me down clothes make it from my sister in law (Lucy) and then Hannah and Olivia, to Juliana, Emma and their new lil sister...otherwise, we'll have to go shopping!

Still waiting...

My sister is expecting her baby anytime now (her "official" due date was 9 days ago, but I was 3 weeks late when my mom was expecting me)...I'm glad she's letting God be in control instead of going to get induced. Wondering if it will be a boy or girl? We packed a picnic and went to Sharonwoods, played, then walked while Olivia rode her bike (she'll be 7 in a few weeks, but still isn't ready to take off the training wheels) and Hannah her scooter. So much poison ivy, but we're all okay...I thought I stepped into some and my ankles were itching that evening, just worrying about it...ha!
We went to Krohn's conservatory to see the butterflies, flowers, beetles and crickets...in Japan, it is popular to have a cricket as a pet and there are cricket vendors who sell little houses made of bamboo for them. So cute! Learning about Japan...admiring all their kitty decorations!
Rob sharing a little white butterfly with Olivia.
Such pretty ribbon...here's the designer's blog.

Waiting for a baby...

Today is officially my sister, Susanna's due date...yep, her 3rd little baby will be here soon...and we are waiting patiently!
Until June 20th, you can see a wonderful exhibit of butterflies in Cincinnati...we plan to go within the next 2 weeks, so we can see the cherry blossoms. If you're interested, more information here: http://www.butterflyshow.com/pdfs/General_Event_Release_2010.pdf
Olivia reading with her Aunt Karena on Sunday afternoon.
Rob got a charcoal Weber grill for his birthday, no more propane for us...although propane is quicker, it's not the best...and I got a bag of Cowboy charcoal for him:No need for lighter fluid...this stuff is 100% natural and works nicely! Great flavor. I love the packaging...reminds me of our vacation last summer, out west to Yellowstone. I wish I'd been in a better mood and not so tired while we were in Cody, Wyoming...it was my birthday and we had driven 9 hours that day from the Black Hills of South Dakota, all I wanted to do was set up the tent and get dinner fixed, instead of going to the rodeo.
I'm sure we'll go back there again...
Have YOU made plans for a summer vacation?

Carrot cake

* see below for recipe

Rob got 5 bags of sand for our sandbox...and then we got some shovels & buckets from ACE Hardware (made in the USA).












Yesterday, Bethany came over and we scrapbooked...along with our girls...little Anna, Olivia and Hannah.
We made carrot cake last night and ate it today (after I got home from work and before Rob left for work), for Rob's birthday. He even helped himself to a second slice... It's pretty healthy, well for a cake, it is:

Carrot cake

1 cup sugar
2/3 cup oil
2 cups shredded carrots
1 cup crushed pineapple
2 1/2 cups flour
1/4 t. salt
2 t. baking powder
1 t. baking soda
1 t. cinnamon
1 t. nutmeg
1 c. shredded coconut
2/3 c. chopped nuts (I used raw cashews)
2/3 c. raisins

Preheat oven to 350'F. Combine sugar, oil, carrots and pineapple. Sift dry ingredients together, then add to wet mixture, add coconut, nuts and raisins. I baked (for a bit longer than 30 minutes) this one in a bundt pan, then sprinkled a bit of powdered sugar over the top, when it was done...