Taking time...

Last weekend, after my hubby and I went to dinner, we drove around contemplating whether to go see a movie or rent one and relax at home in front of the fireplace. Well, the home together in front of the fireplace won out! As we drove down some of the roads, we were so fascinated by the vibrant colors nature was showing us. I asked my hubby if he has ever noticed it as beautiful before. I then realized that I never really paid that close attention, that I never really took the time to stop and appreciate the beauty of fall. We decided to stop, revel in the beauty and snap some pictures to capture it. What I loved most was that he was as eager to stop and snap a few that he thought were cool.

Below is my favorite

Just wish my son could have been able to spend the time with us, he would have loved to take some pictures. He has been working every day for the past 9 days! But, tonight he has off and I am looking forward to spending some time with him!

Yummy!

Pineapple Cream Angel Cake

I recently made this cake and it is so good, but the best part is the lower calories and lower fat. However, when I made it, I did not have Lite Cool Whip and that is what the recipe calls for. It takes 4 ingredients (well 5 if you count the 1 1/4 cups of water needed to make the cake).
It is super easy and takes very little time to make, aside from the time the cake is in the oven.

So here goes, the needed ingredients:

1 20 ounce DOLE Crushed Pineapple, in juice, un-drained
1 1.5 ounce JELL-O Vanilla Flavor Fat Free Sugar Free Instant Pudding
1 cup thawed COOL WHIP LITE Whipped Topping (or SUGAR FREE)
1 package 10 ounce round angel food cake, cut horizontally into 3 layers

Bake the cake as directed on the package and let cool.

Slice into 3 layers. I have found the best knife to use is a serrated knife with short sawing motions.

I chill the pineapple and dump into a mixing bowl.






Add the Sugar Free Instant Vanilla pudding mix.







Stir until the pudding is well blended into the pineapple.





Add 1 cup of Lite Cool Whip




Mix until well blended together and creamy.








Frost bottom layer







Frost second layer







And finally frost the top layer and refrigerate for 1 hour before serving.







Try it...unless you do not like pineapple, which my son let me know after I cut him a slice :(
At least the hubby likes it :) Yummy!

A legacy......for my Mom!

Recently I became a member of the Niles Service League and it has brought me great pleasure. Mostly because I share a membership to this service organization with my mother. She is not currently a member, in fact I don't think an active sustainer, but she was an active member and served this organization in the late 70's and early 80's! The main reason I am so proud to serve is that my mother, on her birthday in 2005, strongly suggested that I join, that a group like this was 'right up my alley', because of my desire to volunteer and be active within the community.

Well, I was hoping to become a member before Alzheimer's robbed her of the memory of her request. I was so proud to tell her that I am now a member, although I don't know if she really remembers that part of her life, she smiles back because she sees my expression when I talk of my involvement. What I like best is when I talk with her of how her involvement helped me understand the importance of giving and serving. I often remind her of the times we would deliver Meals-on Wheels together, or the times we would volunteer at the Open Door Residence (for the mentally challenged) and the many hours we spent when she chaired the Rummage Sale one year. What I want most to convey to her is how much she has impacted my life with the way she lived her life! I am proud to serve, but it also helps me to keep my mother's giving spirit going strong. Some day she will know that I honored her request, and when that time comes.....I hope I make her proud, because I am so very grateful to be blessed with her as my mother!

Below is a picture of a few of the ladies I served along side of, for the area Youth Parade games that we hosted.

Below is the picture that ran in the local paper with the group of new members. I showed my father, and he was so happy that I honored my mother's legacy. I have a feeling I will be getting much more out of this involvement than I could ever give!!!

"How can we expect our children to know and experience the joy of giving unless we teach them that the greater pleasure in life lies in the art of giving rather than receiving."

~James Cash Penny

Slurp..........

There is nothing normal about this little guy. But then, he just wouldn't be the fun little guy we have fallen in love with!! Never a dull moment, that is for sure!!

My hubby said, "you know, he's like a two year old......if he's not sleeping, he's up and into everything". Both we both agreed, we wouldn't have it any other way :)

Turning out ok.........

I am feeling so extremely proud of my son! He is working 20-25 hours a week, taking a college level course in his junior year and pulling in some great grades. He is finding it hard at times, especially when he was playing tennis also. His life was school, tennis, work (until 10:00 pm), and studying until past midnight some nights! He was overwhelmed at times, but kept plugging away!

He had some free time Saturday afternoon and made his old Mom pretty happy by spending the day together taking pictures of nature and each other. I love this one I captured of him. He looks so grown up! Oh, I find myself wishing he was small again. Time goes so fast!

Just wanting to freeze frame life for a while :)

Gentle strength..........

I just love capturing my husband as he affectionately interacts with one of the cats! There is just something about the gentleness he shows! Makes me fall in love with him over and over again!

Below he is with Jade. She use to get most of his attention, but Colby swoops in and takes over, such a jealous little guy! So, I loved when I noticed he took her outside for some one on one time! She loves the outdoors! Oh, and that gentle kiss!

I adore this, Colby ran to greet him the other day when he came home for lunch! This one I love, with his big strong hands gently petting Colby's tiny face!

I can only imagine how I will feel when I catch him interact with our grandchildren one day! Can you ever love someone too much??

Senior year is almost here.......

Colton picked this as his class ring. I think he did a great job. He picked two stones, one actually his birthstone (Ruby), the other to make it have his school colors (Topaz) and diamonds on the side.......cool idea!!

School grad year and tennis.

His name and golf on the other

I love his design!

But, the one thing I don't like is........his last year of high school is coming soon. Exciting and bittersweet at the same time, I want him to go onto college to learn, branch out and face the world on his own....but, that means an empty nest.

Don't know if I am ready for that yet!

Now, that is true frienship........

These two are always grooming each other. But, I will have to say, when it comes to the ears, I'd have to draw the line. Colby doesn't seem to mind though........

Well, maybe on second thought..........yuck!