Fall

I must say, I have REALLY been looking froward to Fall this year. More so than ever! I am so sick and tired of having 90 degree days. It's not fun. The pool even got too warm a few times. Fall has always been my favorite season. I have a Fall birthday, the weather is gorgeous, leaves are beautiful and I LOVE all the festivities! Hayrides, pumpkin patches, Holloween, decorations, Mums, Baking cookies, and of course my favorite: Pumpkin soup! I have made it for years, and love it!! Michael is not a fan so that just means more for me :) I am also looking forward to taking Charlotte to Hillridge Farms again this year. She had so much fun last year!

On another note, Charlotte has started preschool and we are very excited. It allows mommy a little extra time to clean and grocery shop-things that have gotten to be a challange lately with a two year old! She loves her new teachers and that makes us very happy!!

Here is the recipe for my delicious pumpkin soup!! You will not be disapointed :)






INGREDIENTS



2 tablespoons of butter
8-oz. of fresh sliced mushrooms
½ cup chopped onion
2 tablespoons of all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon curry powder
3 cups chicken broth
2 cups canned pumpkin
1 tablespoon honey
¾ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
¼ teaspoon white pepper
1 (12-oz.) can evaporated milk



Garnish: chopped chives and sour cream



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DIRECTIONS:



1. Melt butter in a large saucepan. Sautee mushrooms and onion until tender, stirring often.
2. Stir in flour and curry powder.
3. Gradually add chicken broth. Stir constantly over medium heat until mixture becomes thickened.
4. tir in pumpkin, honey, salt, nutmeg, and pepper. Reduce heat to low and simmer for ten minutes, stirring occasionally.
5. Add milk, stirring constantly until mixture is heated through.
6. Garnish each bowl with a dollop of sour cream and a sprinkling of chopped chives.

D-O-N-E

I'm Done.

Tomorrow is my last day and I can almost taste it!

NO. MORE.WORK!!

I get mornings with my princess back and my GREATLY missed playdates with friends!

Freedom.

I have loved what I have done the past 2 months, but I love my CC a bazillion times more so spending this precious time with her will be priceless!!

Total Happiness.

Dutch Family

The Girls!

Tea Time at the O'Henry Hotel

15 Years ago, I spent 2 months living in Eiendovhen, Holland with the Van Theil's!! It all started in '93 when a friend of my parent's asked them if they wanted to host a Dutch girl's visit, named Marijn. My mother had a few different exchange students stay with us when we were younger, but they were all French. Marijn was my age and my parents thought it would be so special to have her come over to stay with us. It wasn't long before she came over the pond to stay with my family!! We clicked imediately and had so much fun together. It has always been hard to find things to do with Marijn in GREENSBORING!! We took her to the beach,went swimming and lots of shopping :) She loved it here. So, a year later, I went by myself at 14 to stay with her family. She has two other brothers, Stein and Diedrick. My time over there was so memorable! I had my frist beer, an Amstel Light in a Pub watching the World Cup, and saw many things I had never seen before. I visited 5 countries while over there and Holland was my favorite! I love the countyside and the rolling plains of Tulips!! Windmills are everywhere and the scenery is to die for!! I would move there in a heartbeat, I'm serious! We biked EVERYWHERE and even to her school where all you would see were BIKES! No cars!! We rode to shop, play tennis, eat etc. This is why they laugh and make fun of Americans for being so fat! They litterally ride bikes everywhere! I think I lost 15 pounds during my visit!

Fast Forward 15 years later! We all say how horrible it is that it has been 15 years!! Definitly not waiting that long next time to visit! So, Marijn is married and 14 weeks preggo!! Marijn and her mother came to the States to visit Washington and they drove down to GBO for the weekend to stay with my parents. We had such an amazing visit!! It was story after story and shopping after more shopping, at Friendly Center of course. We probably spent 1.5 hours in Anthropology alone!! They have one in London but thats a plane ride for them. So, our time together ended way too fast!! I guess we're going to have to get a plane ticket in the next few years to Holland-OH DARN!! I cannot wait!!

Even though it had been 15 years, we all still feel so close-like family. I miss them a lot and have often thought about them over the years. We have kept up with each other through emails (post cards at first ;) ). Charlotte doesn't know it yet, but one day she will get the opportunity of a lifetime-to visit Marjin and her children in Holland. The same goes in Raleigh-we will get to host her children here. i cannot wait, although that will be a few years away :). Here are a few pictures from our visit. One more thing: they loved CC, of course and think she is going to be an actress one day!! She cannot stand not being the center of attention!!!!! ha

Best Friends!!

Charlotte and Hudson

Charlotte and Hanna

Charlotte and Olivia

Before Charlotte was born, she had a best friend, Hanna Pell. We just knew they would love each other so much. Liz and I have such a special bond, how could these two peaches not?? Soon after I had Charlotte, I met Olivia's mommy, Judi! We clicked right away. After meeting in Babies R Us of all places, we quickly developed a great friendship, as did Olivia and CC!!! Judi was my saving grace. I had been couped up all Winter with Charlotte, had no friends with kiddos, excepts ones that lived in other states and was desperate for an outing with others!! Shortly after meeting Judi, I found Erin Smith!! We were college roomies and had not spoken in years! I was SO over the moon excited to find out she had a little girl too!! So, the playdates bagan and I was not ALONE anymore. HA. What a blessing it is to have such fabulous friends!! Watching these little ones grow up is so special as they are all so different. I know they will all turn out to be just wonderful young ladies, just like their MOMMIES!!

Bye-Bye Paci's

MINUTES OLD!
Yes, it is finally time to get rid of the ever so loved Pacifiers. Since being minutes old, my little butterbean has LOVED and I mean LOVED her pacifiers. I always said I would never let her have them. Even before birth. I was too scared it would interfear with breastfeeding. Well, Miss Priss came out sucking her thumb. Her poor fingers were blistered from sucking them in the womb. So, I did it. I gave it to her right away. She took it imediately and it was love at first suck! She had zero problems with a bottle or breastfeeding-as far as confusing them. In fact, I remember clearly giving her all three in the hospital, the boob, the bottle and the paci much to the dislike of the lactation Nazi's (yes, that's what I call them, or one in particular).

So, 2 and a half years later it is time to part ways. I am not that nervous since she has been chewing them and creating holes in them but I am nervous for me. I have relied on these things for two years now!! Crying, tantrums, sick, sleeping, car...etc. Ugh, I think I'm just as attached. They instantly calm her and crying stops. Good for me and her but now it is bad for her teeth. They are seperating and while we will never know if they caused this, it is time to stop!!

We are moving Cahrlotte to a "big girl" bed with the next to weeks so she will officially be a big girl and no pacis!! Note: She goes all day long at school without them and of course I pop one in when I get her-BAD MOMMY!! :)

Emma Claire Stott!

My little 10 year old cousin Emma is here visiting us this weekend! We ar having so much fun going to the pool, playgrounds, renting movies, and this afternoon we are headed to the airport observation park, if the storms hold out. Charlotte is slightly obsessed with Emma and wants her undivided attention ALL THE TIME! Poor Emma :) They are having a blast and played with play dough for an hour straight this morning!