Sisterly Entertainment

And we thought it was for the dolls....

GO CAVS GO

Today Game #2 for the NAIA Women's Soccer National Championship was between CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY (of which my sister Caitlin is the Senior team captain) and Berry College from GA. So since we couldn't be in Daytona with her, we paid to watch the game live on the computer....so Angel and I got in our Concordia attire, made a poster (of which Angel colored), made some popcorn and got some bubbly cider ready.....and it wouldn't be complete with a CU and GO Caitlin CHEER (see video below)....

...then it was a NAIL BITER of a game...Angel watched in earnest (and some confusion as to why we were watching a soccer game on the computer and why we were screaming for Caitlin)...Thanks Theresa for watching with me....

(Caitlin shooting a beautiful corner kick!)

Every time we yelled...Emma cried..and poor babies naps kept getting postponed because the game ended up going into double OVERTIME....with a tie game of 1-1 and if no one scored it would have gone to a shoot out (yuck!)....but (this is where I really get to brag).....with 90 seconds left in the last overtime....CAITLIN....yes my sister, CAITLIN #6...did one of her beautiful crosses to the goal...and her teammate knocked it in!! The CAVS advance to the quarterfinals and we continue to cheer them on....even if it is from a distance!! GO CAVS GO. Anyone interested in watching the next game with us....it is 8 AM our time Wednesday morning!!

(the concordia Men's team also won their NAIA game in a shoot out and will advance too)

Beautiful Example

Last night we had the privilege of attending a foster parent couple shower for our dear friends, John and Jenny. I had never been to a shower to celebrate the decision to become foster parents. They have worked so hard through the classes and training and preparing to get ready to welcome children into their home. They are such a beautiful couple and the children that get placed with them are going to be so blessed to have a wonderful example of loving parents. I look forward to witnessing them transform and impact these children's lives and watching their family grow....I am touched by their courage and generosity to open their hearts and home to children just waiting to find a family!! I hope someone took pictures last night because I forgot my camera and would love to have some!! But....of course there were lots of good friends to catch up with and like usual some yummy food!! I am posting the recipes of some things I brought and were a huge hit.....enjoy!!

Meringue Cookies
Chocolate Caramel Slice (a recipe from my friend in Australia that converted the measurements and ingredients for me...thanks Kate)
BBQ Glazed Homemade Meatballs....these were a HUGE HIT and very yummy.
Zippy Cranberry Appetizer
Apple Cider (I just buy apple cider and then in stock pot add numeg, cinnamon, 1/4 cup brown sugar, 1 cup OJ, 1 TB butter, and mulling spices...so yummy)

St. Andrew (Christmas Novena) Starts Today

St. Andrew Novena

Hail and blessed be the hour and momentin which the Son of God was born of the most pure Virgin Mary,at midnight, in Bethlehem, in piercing cold.In that hour, vouchsafe, O my God!to hear my prayer and grant my desires (here is where you mention your request), through the merits of Our Saviour Jesus Christ,and of His Blessed Mother.

Amen.

(It is piously believed that whoever recites the above prayer fifteen times a dayfrom the feast of St. Andrew, on November 30th, until Christmas will obtain what is asked.)

[Imprimatur: +MICHAEL AUGUSTINE, Archbishop of New York, New York, February 6, 1897.]

Making our Thanksgiving Place Cards

For the past several years, I have always liked making personal place cards for our Thanksgiving table. This year, Angel helped and did a fabulous job making hand and finger turkeys...the perfect size hand for this project. She wasn't too sure about getting her hands dirty at first....my little clean queen!

Emma's gifts or Angel's new toys??

Emma's Birthday Party

On Monday we celebrated Emma's birthday with a spaghetti dinner (which she loved as long as it was ground up) and the most delicious cake....I have made it the Hartsell kid's traditional first birthday cake now...the super moist Chocolate Carrot Cake. Angel and I enjoyed making a poster and decorating the house with streamers for the party. Marmee and Poppy brought some balloons and we all had a fun time watching Emma (or Angel) open her gifts (including a piggy bank, beautiful engraved jewelry box, blocks and a dolly) and of course eat her birthday cake!! (video below) (although she was hesitant, making funny faces and just wanted to mush it more than eat it....she would rather have ice cream...which I gave her after she got messy!) Thanks to all for her gifts and birthday wishes!! (there are some funny pics in slide show including one of my dad with the new doll!!)

Off to Nationals in Daytona

Last weekend, we went down to Portland to watch my sister Caitlin play soccer for the first game off the National Tournament. It was a great game and she even had one shot on goal and three assists. They won 5-1 and get to head to Daytona, FL today to continue on their chance to win nationals. It was a little bittersweet because after about 10 years of watching her play soccer, this could have been the last time as she graduates in May. But we are hoping one day maybe she can coach her nieces. We stayed the night so we could have some time visiting and catching up with her and enjoyed hearing her give her testimony at church the net day for Christ the King. Way to go Caitlin and good luck in FL...wish we could be there!! Here are the STATS from the game and definitely READ THIS for the write up and a great pic and comment about Caitlin. And....if you are interested in following them in Nationals you can go to this NAIA site for game times and HERE to pay a fee to watch which games you want to on the computer.

(the slide show has some cute pics of the game)

Story Time

Our Angel Fairy

(thanks to her friend Lili in Australia)

The Bear Hunt

Angelica loves the book "We are going on a Bear hunt" and her Papa decided that they should go on their own personal bear hunt...all around the house....and....

......they did.....

...and they found one!!

Birthday Clips

Emma had a fun birthday...(sorry I know I am just getting around to posting things)...Since we were celebrating on Monday, we just enjoyed the day, let her open the cards that came in the mail, and had some ice cream with a candle of course!! Angel kept telling Emma all day "Happy Dirt-Day Emma honey!" So cute....and yes dirt-day is how she says birthday. Enjoy the clips...will post birthday party pics soon.

-They enjoyed some fun times playing in the tupperware drawer...like they do every day!!!

-This is Emma not really interested in opening cards, would rather play with the toys, but Angel decides to volunteer to open them and read them! I think she was confused why all the festivities were for Emma.-

-Finally got her to open a couple, even though Angel still wanted to read them herself!-

-And the ice cream birthday wishes!! With Angel blowing out the candle....of course!

Happy Birthday Sweet Emma!!

A year in pictures:

Hard to believe that this sweet girl is ONE today!! (at 3:24 pm to be exact!) In one year she has almost tripled her birth weight of 7 lbs 9 oz and definitely gotten longer from her original length of 19 inches. We will have updated stats next week when she goes for her one year check up. It is amazing to me how much they grow and change in one year and how much you can love an individual. There are so many things we have learned and love that make you you:
-how you love to snuggle to sleep
-how much you love nursing and call it "mum-mums"
-your little temper and strong spirit that shows when you want attention
-your sweet smiles and kisses
-how you hate wearing bibs
-how adventurous and how you have no fear and climb on everything
-how much you don't like changing your diaper or putting on clothes
-your funny words for things such as "bup" for up, "Gel-Ka" for Angelica, "Ni-Ni" for Night Night, "Mo" for More
-how much you love the water and your baths
-how you love birdies, string cheese, balls, and actually anything your big sister has
-how you love crawling up stairs
-how much you are already talking and SHRIEKING
...all the little quirks and things about your personality that make you are sweet, stubborn and special Baby Girl...well not so baby anymore!! Here are a few pics from today...Angel was a little jealous I gave Emma a balloon and said it was her birthday too!! We are going to celebrate with family on Monday so more to come!! We love you Emma Catherine and Happy Birthday! Saint Catherine of Siena, pray for her.