{I Looked Out the Window and What Did I See?}

I LOOKED OUT THE WINDOW AND WHAT DID I SEE?

POPCORN POPPING ON THE APRICOT TREE!

Spring is here on Long Island. These pictures were taken a week ago. You can only imagine with how many trees are here how beautiful our spring is. Oh how I love the 4 seasons here on the East Coast.

I love how my girls are such wonderful friends

I love watching my girls play!

Happy Spring!

{One funny things I drove by and normal you hear nurseries say EAster Flowers here, well I saw one that said Passover Flowers here. Seeing that reminded me that I'm not in Utah anymore : )}

{A New Hobby}

You can visit my new blog

andiedellphotography.blogspot.com

I need help building my portfolio!

{My Moods}

Let's Face It  . . 

SOME DAYS I FEEL LIKE THIS

OTHER DAYS I JUST FEEL LIKE THIS

OTHER DAYS I TRY TO FAKE IT LIKE THIS

BUT ALL THE OTHER DAYS I FEEL

LIKE THIS

Especially when I see my girls look like this!

{I HEART Valentines Day}

Wow we had a great Valentines Day. I loved every minute of the day. We got to spend time with our most lovable friends this day.

Here's how we started the morning. 

One Dozen of Sprinkles Cupcakes!

Boy does my hubby know me good. How silly and giddy I got when he surprised me these. He got these in the city after work. Sneaky Sneaky

AFter we ate our cupcakes (well some of them) we headed outside for some pictures.

I made these the night before and got them all ready for to deliver to my friends and of course my family. This may be my favorite cookies next to Black & White Cookies.

The cookie on the right with no chocolate is for my friend Christy who gave up chocolate for the whole year. She's so awesome!

For Lunch time I surprised Nancy aka my seragat mother with flowers and these cookies at the school she works at. She turned around and took us out for a slice of pizza at her favorite Pizza Place. I forgot the name of it but she order us one with bread crumbs on top and oh my it was delicious. I love hanging out with Nancy. I loved seeing how excited she got when we surprised her. She seemed so happy and I was too!

The Friday before Valentines Day Nancy surprised our family with amazing cupcakes from the Malverne Bakery. She was nervous it wouldn't be open on Valentines Day (cause it's closed on Mondays') so she brought the early.

The frosting Malverne Bakery is amazing light and fluffy. Nancy also brought me another collection of old magazines. She subscribes to so many and when she's done reading them she brings them my way. You have no idea how excited I get for these. Here's is just one of the batches she has brought over to me.

Other magazines are Veranda, Architecture Digest.

After spending the afternoon with Nancy I headed back to the house. On my way home I thought so much of my Mother and how much she loved Valentines. About how she died on Valentines Day too. Some would defer but I love that my mom died on Valentines Day. It strongly reminds me how much she loves me and I thank my Heavenly Father for that wonderful gift, that tender moment. Valentines Day is a time I think not only of my mom and Heavenly Father but a time I think about Christ. If it wasn't for him I wouldn't be able to live with my mom and Heavenly Father again. He showed the ultimate amount of Love that no one has ever done. I owe him my love, my obedience, my service. Every Valentines Day I feel an rejuvenating feeling of what Pres. Hinckley asks and that is to

"stand a little taller and be a little better."

The moment before I turned to the my street. I had a strong feeling about my mother. I starting tearing up and thinking, "mom if you were here I would of done this for you" (that is take her flowers and cookies and surprise her at work.) I wanted my mom to know that I still love her and I hope she is still proud of me. I drove in the driveway and Emberlynn ran towards the door and brought me back this blue monkey. I smiled and with curiosity quickly walked to the door and saw all this

My favorite part was to read this . . 

If this was not a tender moment from my Heavenly Father and my mother then I don't know what is.

My heart was so full and yes of course I cried. It couldn't have came at a better time of day. It was simply perfect!

AFter I was home and called my husband about my wonderful day. I quickly whipped these up for the girls after school snack at the Anderson's house. It was jello.

AFter eating these we headed to Abbi's Little Mermaid Play at her elementary school. It was so much fun and darling. Here is Abbi after the play with MB.

AFter the play we headed home for dinner. I forgot what I made so it must of not been that stunning or picture worthy. But here is what I made Jon after the girls went to bed. 

Cheesecake filling!

YUMMY

Happy Valentines Day to ALL!

{The Boat Song}

Dear Jon,

May this song express my love to you. You have taken me to many places, many adventures some difficult, some easy, some fun and some scary, but I would do them ALL again as long as you were beside me. Thank you for supporting me, encouraging me and loving me. On the flip side I want you to know that I am so proud of you for all your hard extreme work that you do at work and some how miraculously you come home rejuvenated and energized and be the best husband and daddy ever. There's no wonder why Emberlynn wants to be a dad when she grows up and Mason gets so excited he almost starts to cry if you don't find him first and Addison and Alix scream and shout for you and leap into your arms. You are my childrens HERO! YOU ARE MY HERO! I love you so much. You are my everything!                

Love,

           Andrea

{Alix's Baptism Day}

WOW! I can't believe Alix is 8 years old. Where did all the years go? Why do kids have to grow up? Why can't I cuddle them all day and hear their adorable chuckles? I have no doubt in my mind Alix is going to be a wonderful woman because she is a wonderful young  girl. I love hearing and living her testimony. She is kind to her brother and sisters. She thrives when given a challenge. She loves doing her chorus and hardly ever needs to be told to do them. She thinks of others before herself. She loves helping me in the kitchen and with crafts. She loves her daddy more then anything. She always tries her best to do the right thing. She sees so much good in others. I couldn't be more proud to call her my daughter.

Her baptism day was such a wonderful day. It was a snow flurry Saturday that put a half of an inch on the street enough to keep people indoors but for us enough too keep things calm and peaceful. On the way to the church Jon expressed his gratitude and compared the snow fall is like baptism. How the white blanketed snow is clean and pure and through baptism we become clean and pure.

The day felt so calm, slow and peaceful and it was wonderful to be able to take it in and savor the moment.

Here is Alix and her Daddy

I made this memory book for her to write her memories. It also had all her pictures we took in it.

Here is her program. The program was so wonderful. We had Jon's sister give a talk on the Baptism and Nancy Jones (aka NY Grandma) give a talk on the Holy Ghost.

Bro. Jones and President Anderson were the witnesses.

This was my sisters idea to blow up a picture. It now hangs in her room. What a great idea Tanya.

Alix in her two other friends sang the song about rainbows. (Can't think of the title right now) Here is Alix practicing before everyone gets there.

Here is the Trio. They all sang so beautiful. They all knew the words. They were all so beautiful. I couldn't ask for better friends for Alix.

Bekah, Alix & Bekah

Always a party with the missionaries!

Nancy gave such a beautiful talk about the Holy Ghost and tied in a bear with her talk. She then presented the White Bear to Alix for her to remember this day. It was supposed to sit on her desk which it is during the day and then she grabs it at night and sleeps with it. 

And life is not life here in NY without our "Neighbors." They were so sweet to come and enjoy such an important day in Alix's life. We love them so much.

Wasn't sure I had a picture of me and Liz, so here it is!

Here is our other sweet Cynthia Jones. So glad she could make it in the snow!

Here is Alix and Bekah with Pres. Anderson who conducted and was a witness.

Of course I needed a picture with just me and my Angel.

Here Daddy and Alix.

A funny thing to remember is Alix got dunked twice. When they got in the water. Jon drew a blank wether or not to say her name. He asked and they said, "no" (but really not sure if her heard right.) Jon kept looking around thinking to himself that doesn't sound right but proceeded with out saying her name. When he started I thought it sounded weird but no one said anything and I didn't want to say, "Wait!" cause I wasn't 100% sure. Then he dunked her then the witnesses said something. So Alix got dunked twice! Alix thought it was pretty cool! So all was good. Of Course we gave Jon a hard time. Jon gave Alix such a beautiful Confirmation afterwards. 

Kristen got off her mission in December days before Christmas. Her dad flew her to NY to represent the family sense they couldn't make it. It was perfect and we loved her being here and loved her sweet talk. She sounded completely like a missionary. She is so grown up, mature and absolutely beautiful. She has such a sweet light to her. I couldn't say enough how beautiful her talk was. The spirit touched everyone.

After the baptism we had a beautiful luncheon there at the church. We feed everyone soup and rolls with a veggie plate and mini cupcakes. I thought I took pictures of it but I was enjoying myself too much and almost forgot to snap the ones I have. It was a lovely gathering. Afterwards Alix told she felt so warm and good inside! Family from afar sent cards and such thoughtful gifts. She also got a nice leather scriptures and a beautiful scripture case to go with it. Since that day Alix loves reading her scriptures and she makes a strong effort to read them on a regular basis. Alix mommy and daddy couldn't be more proud of you! Congratulations and hope you always remember who you are.