First pic of Baby Hartsell

DUE DATE DECEMBER 5th!!

Prayers for the soul of a soldier...

Please pray for the repose of the soul of Joel Lewis. He was in the ARMY stationed here at Fort Lewis. He was killed yesterday by a road side bomb in Baghdad. He was the fiance of my best friend, Julie Smith. Julie my thoughts and prayers are with you during this sad and hard time. I love you so much and we will get through this together. Thank you all for your prayers.

Angel's First Birthday!!

Our sweet Angelica Rose turned the big ONE this past Monday, April 30th. We celebrated her birthday with family on Sunday and had a great time. She looked so pretty in her birthday dress from Grandma and loved opening all her presents. She also really enjoyed being able to dig into her birthday cake, Chocolate Carrot Cake. This was a new recipe I made and it is a keeper....so good!!! Hard to believe one year has already gone by....we have been so blessed with Angelica and can't wait for all the years to come. Enjoy the pics!!! There are some captions on the pics in the slide show if you click on them.

Sunday outing...

This Sunday we went to Pikes Place Market, then the Seattle Aquarium and Angel stayed awake the whole day. But as you can see from the last picture, we wore her out enough that she didn't even want her dinner...

Swing time...

We went on a walk last Friday, and Angelica enjoyed her first swing ride...we need to get one of these one day!!

Absence...

Forgive me for not posting musch lately...even my husband who likes to know what is dinner each night, misses being able to check the Menu plan online. I have been busy with the "joys" of pregnancy...you know

-feeling tired
-enduring waves of nausea the moment I am vertical
-having a metallic gross taste in the mouth
-feeling tired
-crazy cravings of potato chips and ice cream and guacamole
-enduring all the yucky smells
-feeling tired
-wondering how I am going to get thru 7 more months
-going to the bathroom a lot!
-trying to find something to eat and drink that tastes good
-and did I mention feeling tired??

I promise I will try to keep some posts coming.

Saint of the Day

St. Teresa of Los Andes

(1900-1920)

After 56 years...

...they are still in love!! More than ever. Happy Anniversary Meme and Pepe. We love you so much. Your marriage is such a blessing to us all and I hope you have many more years together.

Question to all you moms....

This past week Angelica has gotten some pimples on her face....not like a rash but more like acne. I also did some this past week as well. I am still breastfeeding...has anyone ever noticed this correlation before if you were pregnant and still breastfeeding a baby? I am wondering if this is hormone related.

Saint of the Day

St. Stanislaus

(1030-1079)

A day or two late....

Monday: Dinner Out (thanks to the basketball team)

Tuesday: Leftovers

Wednesday: Parmesan Chicken, Mashed Potatoes, Caesar Salad

Thursday: Tri-Tips, Noodles & Asparagus

Friday: Spaghetti with Crushed Tomato Sauce

Saturday: Pork Tenderloin with Dijon Marsala, Crispy Potatoe Bites, & Broccoli

Sunday: Dinner with Family

Going for a walk...

Angel and Daddy went for a walk the other day and I snapped a few pics...so cute!!

Easter Pics (slideshow has a lot of pics)

Easter Table...

For Easter this year, I made place settings. The girls and boys had different birdies. The bird nests and eggs were even edible which everyone loved. What special ways do you decorate your Easter table?

Easter Recipes...

We had a wonderful, happy and blessed Easter yesterday. We went to 815 mass where my youngest sister sang in the choir. Angelica slept thru it all on Grandma's lap...she had a rough night the night before. Then we went to my folks for the day. Had a yummy brunch, I made a spring-brunch bake and mom made hot cross buns and a fruit salad. We had a yummy lamb dinner with a new potatoe recipe (mom I need that one!), jello salad and a new broccoli recipe I made. Later we had neighbors for dessert. Let's just say I went crazy trying new recipes this year. Thanks, Kate for two of them. If you click on the pics, you can get the recipes as well!! If you had anything yummy for Easter please pass on the ideas and recipes!!! Would love to hear them and try them.

Grasshopper Pie

Here is that recipe I promise to many of you from St. Patty's Day...sorry so late. (click the pic)

Angelica has an announcement....

Yes...we are expecting baby Hartsell most likely around the first week of December, don't have a confirmed due date yet. But, wanted to get everyone praying that the sickness I have had so far doesn't end up being as bad or as long as last time & that this new little life grows strong and healthy!! Will keep you posted!!

Been away...

Sorry, I have been absent from my blogging world for a bit...Angel is having the major runs and not wanting to eat or she throws it up....poor thing. No fever or anything else, so assuming it is a tummy bug......all you moms out there....any good aids and cures to help fight this? This is the first time she has really ever been sick, no fun! thanks!!

Menu Plan Monday

Monday: Chicken Tenders & Waffle Fries

Tuesday: Flank Steak (marinated in a little ketchup, oil, garlic and onion powder, honey, ginger, soy sauce), Asparagus & Red Potatoes (in olive oil and Italian seasonings and baked)

Wednesday: Soup Supper at Church

Thursday: Grilled Bratwursts & Broccoli & Tater Tots

Friday: Homemade Mac n' Cheese & Tuna Fish (I add a little mayo, apple, celery, onion, pepper, salt, mustard)

Saturday: Grilled Italian Chicken Salad

Sunday: Dinner with Family

This is a cool pic....

...can you see the baby??

Sporting the Adidas wear...

...click here to check out pics taken last night at my folks house. Angelica did not like the grass much at all (was confused by how it felt I think), and Aunt Caitlin was trying to teach her how to play soccer!! And yes, it is another outfit from Aunty Megs. :)

Saint of the Day

Blessed Didacus of Cadiz

(d. 1801)

Cross stitches I made for wedding gifts...(click on pic to see detail...)

Ellen's bridal shower

Yesterday we had a Pampered Chef Bridal Shower for my dear friend, Ellen Campbell. She gets married in WI in April. We had so much fun and I even got to give her her wedding gift....for those who have wanted to see pics, I will post pics of my cross stitch soon, but here are pics from yesterday....love you Ellen!! If anyone needs a GREAT Pampered Chef Consultant, click here!! If you want to see the games I did, click here. Here is my first attempt at making an invite...not too bad if I do say so myself!

Basketball party pics...

We had the Champion Basketball player STARS party Thursday. Jason gave the girls trophies, medals, goody bags and presented them awards. I made the awards for him and really am starting to enjoy the stamping, scrap booking stuff!! Thanks mom for letting us have the party at your place!! (click on pics to see)

The Annunciation of the Lord (Solemnity celebrated tomorrow)

"Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word."

(click here for a good site on how to celebrate tomorrow (scroll to bottom)...even can lift your Lenten penance obligations...hmmm do I taste ice cream?)

Tupperware Time....

The other night while I was cooking for my friend's bridal shower...Angelica decided she would help me reorganize my tupperware cabinet...

Saint of the Day

St. Catherine of Genoa

(1447-1510)

Shortly before Catherine’s death she told her goddaughter: "Tomasina! Jesus in your heart! Eternity in your mind! The will of God in all your actions! But above all, love, God’s love, entire love!"