to sierra on your graduation day.

"All who have accomplished great things have had a great aim, have fixed their gaze on a goal which was high...one which sometimes seemed impossible."

~Orison Swett Marden

I can't believe that in just a few hours you are going to graduate high school with honors. I am so proud of all your accomplishments that you have done throughout your life, and I know that it won't stop here. 

From taking your first breath when you came out of my body, to hearing your first cry. From learning how to walk, and talk saying your first words (mama & dada), and other words that include please, thank you, no (my least favorite), and my favorite phrase..."I love you mommy". 

In learning how to pray, seeing your first dance recital, and realizing that you could sight read at the age of six. Coming to terms in knowing that you have an innate talent on playing the piano when you were just six years old blew me and your dad away. From your first piano recital, and all of those huge accomplishments in between that seem small such as getting your first certificate in 1st grade for reading so many books in one month was inspiring. 

Those are amazing accomplishments girl, and I know that you are going to become someone even more amazing. I have a feeling that you will be known for your talents, and for being your beautiful self.  

Be strong. 

There will be times when "life" will want to take you on a downward spiral, and ruin your beliefs in accomplishing your goals. Don't ever lower your standards for anyone. Adversity will want to take over as the main source in your everyday living, and want to destroy all that is good. Don't let it. I pray that you will never allow the world to pull you down, but at times when you feel that it is take deep breaths, ponder, and kneel to God in prayer. And know that I will be praying for you, and with you from afar in spirit. 

You shine like the stars on a crisp, clear night, and your smile is as bright as the sun. Keep shining, and smiling, and your dreams will take you to places you have never been.  

Believe that! 

I love you girlie, and congratulations on a job well done! 

xo-mama

cape may zoo & a lot of vines.

I know I mentioned that I wasn't going to blog for a few days because my inlaws are in town, but I couldn't help myself. Blame it on my addiction for writing, and posting pictures. I'm still going to make this post short & sweet because I need to get ready and start my day. I always manage to find the time which is usually in the wee hours of the morning to write, and blog about our day even if it's just with a few pictures.

So without any further rambling here are a few scenes from our day at the Cape May Zoo yesterday. Hope you don't get annoyed with all my vines. I love the zoo, and all the animals here were out in full force compared to the last time we came. Blame it on summer! I also couldn't help vining Noah's reaction when he saw a lizard from behind the glass. So I hope you enjoy them. and the pictures too!

burmese python & some little boy's hand.

And the vines...

World of Birds.
Burmese python.
sea turtle
Lizard behind the glass.
mexican beaded lizard.
red eye tree frog.
cotton top tamrins.
Noah's reaction looking at a potbelly pig.

Man...vining is addictive!

Happy Thursday! 

p.j.'s pancakes in princeton.

Monday was such an odd day for school to end for Lexie and Chelsea, and all I have to say is. "I'm glad it's over!" Lexie woke up today feeling out of sorts because she thought it was Saturday. It totally didn't feel like a weekday for her. Since school is out for these girls, and because they both did so well throughout the school year in passing to the next grade level we wanted to do something special for them.

Last summer Lexie & Chelsea wanted to make pancakes almost every other day, and because they are a lover of pancakes we surprised them with a trip to downtown Princeton to eat breakfast at P.j.'s pancakes house.

This place is sooooo good! Seriously good. Lexie got the strawberry, blueberry, and peach pancake sampler. We all sampled some delicious pancakes on this day! 

Downtown Princeton is one of our favorite spots in New Jersey. There are so many cool shops, and great food. We fell in love with this place the first time we came here, and touring Princeton University last fall was an adventure. 

We love that these two are home with us for the rest of the summer. Sierra is obviously not in the picture. She still has school for the rest of the week, and on Friday she graduates!! We are so excited for her. I told Jon earlier that this is the beginning of small travels without our oldest daughter. I might as well get used to it. Luckily we have this whole summer to spend with her before she is college bound. We are definintely going to take advantage of our time with her, and all of our kiddos. Just watch! 

And now we await the arrival for the grandparents to fly in from Utah to be here for Sierra's graduation. We are excited to see them! If you don't see anymore posts for the next couple of days it's because of them. And they are more important than blogging! I can always catch up on blogging, but my inlaws...we are lucky if we see them twice a year! 

Have a great day! 

a be-lated fathers day post.

As I was surfing Facebook this past weekend reading the statuses of various friends, and bloggers online wishing their fathers a happy Fathers day the look on my face would go from a frown to a smile. 

Reading all the wonderful things that were written with pictures of their fathers those frowns turned upside down...into a smile. Especially when I saw a collage of pictures that my own daughter made with her dad. 

As I was looking at her picture gratitude filled my soul, and I no longer felt sadness. I realized that even though I don't have a father in my life right now because my own left us when I was about six, and two of my stepfathers have passed away I have realized that I do have "father figures" in my life. They may not be blood, but some of them are the best dads I have ever met.

So many of these women who wrote things about their fathers, and husbands brings such sweetness into this life. How wonderful it is to have more that one amazing man in their life.

Me...I have to say I have three. My husband, his pa, and in a spiritual sense...my Heavenly Father. I have realized that Heavenly Father has a significant role in my life. I rely on Him so much in all that I do on a daily basis. I rely on Him to give me faith and hope in all things. I rely on Him in prayer to be a better wife, and mother, and overall a good person. He's the way in all of my living, and there is not a day that goes by where I thank Him every morning in waking up each day alive and well to greet my loved ones. 

Especially my husband. 

In the temporal world Jon works hard, prays hard, and is the most amazing person you'll ever meet. I am so grateful that my kids have a father who has stuck around for the past 18 years, and I know that he will be here for many more. He's also the goofiest! 

Oh...did i mention he is also a good cook, and a pro at grilling? I know it was Fathers day and all, but he insisted on grilling fajitas with all the fixings outside with our little smokey joe. 

And you know what...they were amazingly delicious. Don Pablos, Chipotle, and any other mexican restaurant out there, look out because this gringo can cook. 

This was also a sneak peek at what will be served at Sierra's graduation party next weekend! 

Hope everyone had a nice Father's day weekend and a happy Tuesday to y'all! 

the chilliest morning walk.

So Jon has had a lot of time off on his hands this past week in the mornings so we've decided to go on early morning walks with Noah. I'm grateful that the sun starts rising at about 6:30 in the morning so that we can head out before the girls get to school. Now that school is almost over we can go on our walks a little bit later in the morning.

Yesterday we woke up to what felt like fall. The weather was chilly, and I was ready to head out when I went back inside only to get a sweater and a hoodie for Noah. Jon was all cool, and like, "It's not that cold". Okay Utah boy I get that you are used to cold weather, but I have acclimated to this weather in Jersey where when it's 50 degrees in the morning...I'm cold, and I need a sweater! Blame it on the morning dew which I love!

And then the sun grew warm, and I was like...I'm hot! I took that sweater off quick!  

I love it when Jon and I have these moments together...alone. Well, not really alone because Noah is with us, but we can talk about a lot of things without the girls interrupting us. This gives us a chance to talk privately about anything and everything. I mean there are certain things you don't want your kids to hear you know. 

Luckily Noah was enthralled at the scenery as we walked down the path. Sceneries such as a dead rat on the pavement, squirrels scattering through the grass, and up the trees. He would point out at every little bug he can set eyes on. Looking at the birds, and butterflies flying across the way were his favorite.

He's a nature boy through and through, and loves being pushed around in his stroller. I think those distractions prevented him from listening to our conversation. 

It sure was a beautiful day, and I look forward for many more of these walks with my sweet family, and some with just Jon and I. Sometimes you just need to be alone with your hubby.

I also want to wish a Happy Father's Day to my wonderful husband who is just pure awesomeness. Thanks for all the love, and for being a great friend...you're always there when I need you! 

Xo

a (cute) boy in a wheat field.

picking wheat, and having fun. 

There will be more days like this throughout our summer!  

Happy Father's Day weekend! 

summer in the country.

There's something about the country that brings tranquility. I don't know if it's the southern girl in me or the fact that I used to live in North Carolina that makes me yearn for those "quiet days." There are days where I miss those moments of the sounds of summer in the country. The feeling of sunlight on your face as your walking through a wheat field. You know, the kind that you quite don't hear in the city because of cars speeding down a 20 mile an hour road and police cars with flashing lights passing by on the weekends.

There are days when I don't mind all that, but every once in a while i need to go to a place to relax, and breathe clean air. 

Feeling the clean, country breeze while eating outdoors helps me appreciate the outskirts of South Jersey. Because when life becomes too much for me to handle...I sometimes need to take that extra 30 minute drive out into the country. 

We accidentally found this mini cafe off the highway towards Cowtown called Lapp's and it was a gem. We stopped for lunch, and filled our tummies with pulled pork sandwiches, hamburgers, and a hot dog for Noah. The shakes were pretty good too. 

This place was delish! We actually ate here once last summer. Kind of sad that it took us almost a year to return, but we made a vow to never take this place for granted. Those pulled pork sandwiches are just too good to resist.

Another thing I love about summer in the country are those good ole' farmers market stands. I look forward to this season where I can buy fresh fruit where the prices aren't too bad. 

Mmm...strawberries and watemelons. Now that is my taste of summer! 

On our way home we were driving through Mullicah hill when I spotted this big ol' red barn. I saw the word antiques on it, and I went right in. As soon as I walked in this store reminded me of The Quilted Bear in Utah. (For those of you who live in Utah and are familiar with the Quilted Bear...this store is kind of like that except with antiques.) There are different vendors who sell their stuff, and it's worth browsing. 

Now, I'm no "pro" when it comes to picking out antiques, and knowing if something is worth buying, but I do have a good eye for good merchandise. Jon on the other hand does. I love milk glass, and old mason jars, and it so happens that I found a few at 4 bucks a pop. Of course I didn't buy all of this, but this milk glass reminds me of things my grandma used to have. I swear my mother had that chicken container at the bottom. 

I found this red tricycle for Noah for 55 bucks, but I didn't buy it. I think it's worth the price because it was heavy and made out of tin. They certainly don't make bikes like that anymore.

Boy was i tempted to take one of these home. They had so many in different styles.  I'm so old school, and I miss those days when my mom had a turntable and would play the Grease, and Saturday Night Fever albums. Those were the days, and I will own of these...soon!

This is also a perfect place to find old albums at good prices. I'm itching for some nostalgia in my life! 

Golden books are my favorite for the little ones. I remember owning quite a few throughout my childhood, but the only one that survived which I hold in my possession is this one. 

I thought this picture was so sweet. It reminds me of Noah (without the dog). Oh look at those curls!

If I owned my own store I would definitely put this sign or something similar to it outside. Hopefully people won't get offended by it if I did! 

For those of you who live in Utah and are familiar with the Quilted Bear...this store is kind of like that  with antiques. There are different vendors who sell their stuff, and it's worth browsing. 

I now have added this store to my list of favorites, and getting the taste of summer in the country...literally was beautiful today! 

Forgive this shot...our three year old son took it! 

Happy Thursday! 

potbelly & wegmans.

It rained all day on Monday, and yesterday the sun was shining... all day. I loved it. Spending the day with two of my favorite boys escorting me to the places I love going to without any hesitation is pure luck. I married a man who will literally jump off a cliff if I did. Not that I would ever do that, but you know what I mean. I say let's go here, he says, "okay". 

Today was a Philly kind of day, and I was craving a toasty warm sandwich from Potbelly. I became spoiled with that place when we first had it in D.C. These sandwiches are to die for, and today we drove to the city to get a taste of the best sandwiches on earth.

Noah fell asleep on the way, and it's probably a good thing because he doesn't really like his sandwiches toasted. He likes soft bread, and those Kings Hawaiian rolls. He can eat a whole package of those. We let him sleep as Jon and I enjoyed our lunch feasting on our big sandwiches.

Poor little kid was so tired. He didn't even budge while sleeping on this hard wooden bench. 

I just love all the decor in this restaurant. From the booths to the ceiling, and even the restrooms (sorry...I don't take pictures in restrooms!) I did however have Jon take this picture. It was mounted high on the wall, and I loved the quote on it. 

Wise words from Andy Warhol, and it's so true. I think everybody should like everybody. Look at the ceiling...isn't it cool. If only my ceiling looked like that. 

The staff here is super friendly. They gave me a free soda from the refrigerated section because their soda fountain machine was being worked on. I was hoping to get the shake for free as well, but to no avail. That's okay...I was hoping Noah would wake up so that he could eat something. 

And he did.

He woke up while I was taking pictures of it. Truth be told I've never had their shakes until today. They were pretty good, and I especially loved the tiny cookie they put on the straw as their signature. That's how you know your shake is from Potbelly.

Every time we come here I have to buy oatmeal chocolate chip cookies before we leave. Always. They're not for me...oh no. They are for the girls because all of them have such a big sweet tooth. 

*****
After lunch we headed towards King of Prussia to run an errand, and stopped at a nearby Wegmans. I know there is one close to where we live in Cherry Hill, but this was convenient at the time. I just love this place. It's so clean, and it looks healthy! It reminds me of Stew Leonard's in Connecticut, and a mini Trader Joe's. 

As I was leaving I was eyeing these gnomes. I thought they were so cute, and they were on sale.  I decided to wait on buying them until we actually have a "real garden" to place them in. Noah thought they were cute too! 

My favorite flowers are hydrangeas. Ever since I visited the east coast for the first time in the year 2000 I fell in love with them. Now I take pictures of them wherever I see them. Our house would be rocking with these in the front lawn. Too bad I didn't take any home. Next time. 

Wegmans is at the top of my list for the best markets. It really is a cool place to shop for all kinds of things.  

Life on Tuesday was pretty good. If only I had day trips like this everyday. It's always nice to get out of your element in Jersey & cross that bridge to eat at one of your favorite places.

And go to your favorite market.