Mama's Little Chick

Dear Daddy

2012-02-10T00:25:00.002-05:00

"You are the rock that helped me stand up tall. You loved me, nurtured me, taught me, and guided me. Although you are no longer here in body, your eternal love keeps my head held high and passes on to each generation." ~Mama Hen

Dear Daddy,

It has been fourteen years since your passing and it still feels like it was not too long ago. You may not have been given a full life here on earth, however your impression, incredible love and guidance continues on in all who knew you. You were my rock! You were always a light I gravitated to. You made me feel like I could soar above everything and all and always feel confident no matter which way the chips would fall. You taught me to pick myself up when I fell to the ground. You always made me feel like no matter what, I was so unbelievably loved! It is this love that shone through you and passes through me onto my beautiful daughter. You are missed every day and every minute. There is a space within my heart that will always feel empty until the day we meet again. May you always know that I have the utmost respect for you and all that you did for me. I pray I may pass this along to your granddaughter. I love you Daddy!

Gigi & Thanksgiving Thursday

2012-02-04T15:06:00.007-05:00

"The excitement of a new family member is out of this world!"

~Mama Hen

We have a new baby and her name is Gigi. I surprised Little Chick yesterday with going to the air port to pick up our new baby. She did not know what we were doing other then that we were going to the airport for a surprise. After my little guys passed on I did not think I could have another Pomeranian, but my heart has been aching for one and here she is. When we saw her crate we knew it was ours before even having it in front of us. Little Chick caught on when she saw another woman picking up two dogs. When we opened the crate door we fell in love instantly! The whole drive home she sat in Little Chick's arms as if she just knew this was her family. She had fun with Lolli and the cats when we arrived home and Little Chick and Gigi could not get enough playtime and hugs! It was so much fun watching Little Chick and Gigi running around in our fenced in yard. Gigi had her first bath last night and was a trooper. She climbed into bed with Little Chick and cuddled up in her arms and was happy to meet Pooh Bear. What a beautiful blessing! We love Gigi!

Thanksgiving Thursday: 1.) Little Chick and my family. 2.) For Gigi and the abundance of joy she brings us. 3.) Little Chick's overflowing love for all animals. 4.) My mom and all the help she always gives me. 5.) Little Chick's hugs!

Little Chick at the Inn

2012-01-31T13:50:00.006-05:00

"There is no time like the present to create a magical memory." ~Mama Hen

A couple of weeks ago Little Chick and I took a little trip up North to one of our favorite Inns. It was just for a night, but we had a lot of fun! I did not get a chance to write about it and wanted to share our great time. We first stopped for our ladies luncheon at our favorite quaint little restaurant. Little Chick made sure she had a highchair for her little doll. We then headed to the Inn and went for a dip in the pool. Little Chick was excited to use her new goggles. We had our dinner at the Inn and got Little Chick's favorite seat next to the fish tank. I promised my baby that we would go for another swim before bed. She had so much fun! I had a log put in the fireplace and had an enjoyable evening reading my book. The next morning we got our table by the fish tank and then went for a swim before we packed up to leave. It was a wonderful trip with my daughter!

Listening to the jazz band at our ladies luncheon.

My Little Helper & Smile Sunday

2012-01-29T00:25:00.001-05:00

"Every day tasks are much more fun when we have someone to do them with." ~Mama Hen

While I was doing the dishes last night Little Chick came over to my side and just watched what I was doing. I looked at her and she beamed me a smile. I said, "Would you like to help me with the dishes?" She excitedly replied "Yes!" and went quickly to grab the chair so she could reach. It was the first time she did the dishes and she was so eager to learn. I was so proud of my Little Chick as she scrubbed away and then rinsed each one. It certainly made the every day task a lot more fun! Happy Smile Sunday!

Thanksgiving Thursday-Walk Towards the Light

2012-01-27T09:12:00.002-05:00

"In times of uncertainty, walk towards the light and it is here that you will find that everything will be alright." ~Mama Hen

This scene said a lot to me when we were in Vermont. It shows two very strong large branches headed in different directions, yet all the smaller branches growing from each head straight up - directly toward the light. Nature can teach us so much. We may not always know which direction we should take. However, I believe that if we always keep God's ever radiant light right in sight no matter which way we go we will be just fine. There is so much to be thankful for each and every day. I am so grateful for my abundant blessings. May all your days be celebrated and given the utmost thanks.

Thanksgiving Thursday: 1.) Little Chick and my family. 2.) Gods love and ever comforting blanket of hope, strength and guidance. 3.) The pitter patter of rain on my window. 4.) Little Chick's warm hugs and heart melting I love yous. 5.) Inspiring talks with my best friend Marcy!

Weekend Trip to Vermont

2012-01-23T10:55:00.009-05:00

"The moments we cherish the most may go by as quick as a flash, but the warm feeling they leave behind will last a lifetime." Mama Hen

This weekend we surprised Little Chick with a trip to Vermont. This was the third time she has taken a fun trip there and the excitement she had was contagious! We had an amazing time at out favorite Inn. On the way up we stopped at a delicious restaurant in Massachusetts. When we arrived we immediately got our bathing suits and headed to the pool. Little Chick had a blast swimming! On Saturday it was 5 degrees and snow flurries were coming down. It was perfect for a beautiful horse and sleigh ride. Little Chick was beaming when she saw the horse trailer pull up with the two gorgeous horses, Duke and Dancer, who would be pulling our sleigh. She watched eagerly as they were lead out and prepared for our ride. Little Chick met an adorable German Shepard named Barley. Of course she took the time to play with him and give extra hugs and treats. The sleigh ride was magnificent! We then returned to the Inn for another swim. On Sunday Little Chick was excited to go to Billings Farm and see all the baby cows. She had so much fun petting them. They were all about one month old and some just two weeks. It was a beautiful trip to Vermont!

Dinner at the Inn.Little Chick and Little Lolli check out our view when we woke up.

Breakfast.

Dancer.

Little Chick and Barley.

Maple syrup lollipop!

Lunch at Simon Pearce. See the view?

One tired Little Chick.

Dear Little Chick & Thanksgiving Thursday

2012-01-19T00:25:00.000-05:00

"Beautiful daughter of mine, may you always know the love I feel for you is greater than any amount that can ever be measured." ~Mama Hen

Dear Little Chick,

You are my beautiful baby girl and I am so proud of you all the time! You are growing so quickly and I just want to stop time and cherish each moment. You are doing so well in school and work so diligently on your homework each day. You are eager to read and learn new words. Your excitement to see everyone around you smile brightens the day for all. You are so talented in so many things! You have taken your piano lessons seriously and impress me every day and your instructor each week at class. You are becoming an incredible swimmer! You swim like a fish with your head under water and I can't tell you just how proud I feel when I see how much you have accomplished in such a short time. You are always considerate of everyone around you and your heart is so full of compassion, love and kindness. It is truly special to have empathy for others and at such a young age you already know how important it is to be an empathetic person. Your love for your animals and for horses is contagious! You are so caring and fun to watch as you take such excellent care of the animals you are around. You love to make me beautiful pictures and surprises. When you say "Mommy, close your eyes. I have a surprise", my heart melts. We remind each other each day of how we are one another's gift from God. I prayed my whole life for you and I am so incredibly thankful for being blessed with my beautiful daughter! I love you my adorable gift from God!

Love,

Mommy

Thanksgiving Thursday: 1.) Little Chick and my family 2.) For my mom who is always there for me with a listening ear and endless love. 3.) Beautiful sunny days! 4.) Friends who take the time to really listen. 5.) Good old fashioned letters in the mail (thank you Marcy) and for technology that brings us closer together.

Dear Marcy &Thanksgiving Thursday

2012-01-12T12:15:00.005-05:00

"A true friend is a priceless gift and their friendship an everlasting treasure."

~Mama Hen

Dear Marcy,

I am writing this letter on Thanksgiving Thursday because I am forever grateful for the incredible friendship God blessed us with so many years ago in Mexico. You are an amazing woman with an abundance of talent, love, compassion, and kindness flowing continually from your heart and soul. You always put others before yourself and you continue to encourage all of those who know you to be the best person they can be. You inspire me and have always listened with a loving ear throughout the years. Each day I am thankful for having been blessed with your friendship. You never judge and your words are always kind. May you always know the same love, strength and kindness that you so selflessly pour out to the rest of the world daily. I love you my dear friend and on this day and on every day I want you to know how truly thankful I am to have you in my life.

Thanksgiving Thursday: 1.) Little Chick and my family 2.) For my incredible friend Marcy. 3.) For rainy days, a hot cup of coffee and a great book. 4.) Love. For the abundance of love I receive and for the ability to love so greatly and fully. 5.) Adventures with my daughter.

Little Chick Lost Her Fourth Tooth

2012-01-10T10:01:00.006-05:00

"Oh the excitement of all the childhood milestones! Enjoy each and every one. Time has a way of flying by." ~Mama Hen

Little Chick lost her fourth tooth this morning. She woke me up at 6:30 and said "Mommy my tooth came out! I am so excited!" We got our little suitcase out and she carefully placed her tooth inside. She can't wait to have her tooth fairy, Oceana Wavey, come tonight. She already placed the suitcase under the pillow for when she goes to sleep tonight. Oh how exciting it is to be young and waiting for the magic of the tooth fairy! These are precious moments we will cherish always.

Placing her tooth in the little suitcase.

Ready for the tooth fairy!

My Favorite Days

2012-01-07T14:29:00.012-05:00

"My favorite days consist of simply being with you my love."

~Mama Hen

As the weekend approaches, Little Chick always says "Is this a Puppe (doll in German) and Mama day?" I let her know when Saturday will be here and then we get excited that we will have the whole day to ourselves to explore and go on adventures together! These are my favorite days! Little Chick lets me know all the time that she loves our Puppe and Mama days. Today we headed to the beach with Lolli again. We have been doing this a lot since the New Year began. We also went right after school yesterday as the temperature here started to rise. Today was spectacular! We spent about three hours walking Lolli and petting every dog (at least 50) that came to see Lolli. Little Chick was so excited to ask everyone if she could pet their doggie. She is such a huge animal lover! It was about sixty degrees today and the sun was shining so brightly upon the beach. As I watched Little Chick walking Lolli with her new pink leash from Santa and beaming when she could befriend many more doggie pals, I could not help but feel so at peace and blessed. These are my favorite days! Simply being with my beautiful baby daughter and taking our sweet doggie, Lolli, for a walk on the beach.

A Fresh Start & Thanksgiving Thursday

2012-01-05T00:25:00.000-05:00

"Upon waking each morning, take a deep breath and exhale. Thank God for the opportunity to enjoy another glorious day!" ~Mama Hen

New Year's Day was a wonderful day to take Little Chick and Lolli to the beach for a long walk! It was brisk and the air was fresh - perfect for the start of a brand new year! Santa gave Little Chick her own leash to walk Lolli. She was so excited to use it! It was a great start to the New Year!

Little Chick loves to see all the doggies on the beach!

Thanksgiving Thursday: 1.) Little Chick and my family. 2.) For my daily opportunities to begin fresh and accomplish more. 3.) Family gatherings! It was so nice spending time together for Christmas and all of our birthdays. 4.) For all of the wonderful birthday calls I received from family and friends! 5.) Walks on the beach with Little Chick and Lolli.

Happy New Year

2012-01-01T10:25:00.005-05:00

"Every New Year, new month, new week, new day, new minute, new second, gives us the opportunity to reflect and move forward with a positive force and great attitude!" ~Mama HenHappy New Year!

May your year be filled with happiness, great health, an abundance of laughter and silliness and a whole lot of love!

My Beautiful Birthday

2011-12-29T18:17:00.004-05:00

"Birthdays are like ones own personal holiday meant to be celebrated by all loved ones!" ~Mama Hen

My birthday today has been fantastic! Little Chick and I went for breakfast at the Inn and sat on the water next to the beautiful fish tank again. It was delicious! We then went for another swim before leaving. I am so proud of my Little Chick, or should I say Little Fish! On the way home Little Chick was so pooped out and fell asleep along with her tired doll. When we got home I had a gorgeous arrangement of flowers come that was made to look like a birthday cake. It is spectacular! My best friend Marcy sent them (thank you Marcy!). We got dressed and headed to my birthday dinner party. It was a lovely day spent with the people I love!

One pooped out Little Chick!

My Birthday & Thanksgiving Thursday

2011-12-29T00:25:00.004-05:00

"Birthdays are a time to celebrate, reflect and rejoice." ~Mama Hen

Today is my birthday and I am excited to be on a fun mini trip with my adorable Little Chick! It seems like not so long ago that I wrote my post for my fortieth birthday last year. I can't believe how fast the time has a way of flying by. I decided that I wanted to go up North for a night and stay at one of our favorite little Inns on the water. I did not want to do dishes, laundry, make beds, etc. I did not want to think about anything but having fun with my daughter. We had so much fun yesterday stopping for our favorite ladies luncheon and then settling in at our Inn and heading to the pool for some splish splashing fun. We relaxed a bit with a great book and then headed to dinner and then another wonderful swim. Little Chick is swimming like a pro! I am looking forward to a fabulous year!

Our cozy room.

Our fantastic view.

A walk by the water.

Little Chick swimming back and forth with no float! Yippeeeee!

Resting before dinner with a great book.

Our wonderful table on the water and next to the fish tank.

Back in the pool after dinner. Yahooooo!

Little Chick is cozy and asleep and I am curled up by the fireplace with a great book!

Ahhhhhh! What a wonderful day!

Thanksgiving Thursday: 1.) Little Chick and my family. 2.) Birthdays! Thank You Dear Lord for each second, each moment, each day, each month and each year! 3.) Grandma Hen's gift of sending Little Chick and I for a wonderful birthday getaway! 4.) For Little Chick's huge heart and endless love and care for everyone around her. 5.) For my friends Marcy and Geri who always know what to say and how to make me laugh!

Our Beautiful Christmas

2011-12-26T16:40:00.009-05:00

"There is no time like the "present" to laugh, be merry and simply enjoy." ~Mama Hen

It was a lovely Christmas here in the Hen House! Little Chick was so excited to wake up on Christmas Day that she could hardly get to sleep on Christmas Eve! Of course we made yummy sugar cookies for Santa and left some carrots for Rudolf. Little Chick was so happy when she opened up her horse trailer and truck from Santa. This was first on her Christmas wish list. The day was filled with family, love and plenty of laughter!

Little Chick and her cousin.Cookies for Santa.

Matching Christmas PJs of course.

Lolli's Christmas gift from Santa.

Yippeeeeeeee a horseeeeeeey!

Little Chick's horse trailer. Thank you Santa!

Christmas fun outside with Little Chick's cousin.

More fun!

More matching PJ's!

Opening our wonderful package from Aunt Marcy!

Happy Birthday & Merry Christmas

2011-12-23T20:48:00.004-05:00

"Enjoy it all! Each day is a gift and should be unwrapped with fervor, delight and endless gratitude." ~Mama Hen

Today is Grandma Hen's 70th birthday! Happy birthday Grandma Hen! We celebrated with a fantastic dinner and plenty of laughter and love. We wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas and a joyous time with family and friends!

Merry Christmas!

Thanksgiving Thursday

2011-12-22T23:44:00.011-05:00

"Thank You Dear Lord for the family and friends who make the journey so fun and the challenges less burdensome." ~Mama Hen

Thanksgiving Thursday:

1.) Little Chick and my family.

2.) The joy of hanging ornaments with family.3.) Hot cocoa parties with the people we love!3.) Making ornaments together.

4.) Sharing special time with the friends we love.

5.) Making delicious treats to share with Grandma Hen.

6.) Tasting the yummy treats we had fun making.

7.) Hanging out by the Christmas tree with Lolli.

Happy Thanksgiving Thursday!

Little Chick's Gift

2011-12-21T00:25:00.000-05:00

"We are all given gifts to cherish. We must nurture these presents and allow them to grow and flourish." ~Mama Hen

Little Chick is enamored with all of God's living creatures. She has a huge heart and a gift that draws these animals, mammals and livings things to her. Little Chick had an amazing experience with a Beluga whale at the aquarium. The two were connected for at least twenty minutes until one of the aquarium employees asked if she could disconnect a moment so some other people could see the whale. It was spectacular how the Beluga and my daughter would not leave one another's side. They smiled and made faces and talked the entire time. It was outstanding. When we left to see some other exhibits and then returned, the two connected once again. It was one of the most beautiful things to watch. Little Chick has a gift and her living creature friends know they can trust her and come to her. It was a fabulous day at the aquarium!

Kisses!

Guess Who is Swimming?

2011-12-18T00:25:00.003-05:00

"Every milestone fills the soul with everlasting strength, hope and delight." ~Mama Hen

Little Chick swam without a floaty across the pool (without any help) for the first time! On Thursday Little Chick was at her swim class and her teacher asked me when she had learned to swim. I said, "Oh she has been swimming for a long time", thinking that they meant swimming with a float on. Then I looked up to see my baby girl swimming back and forth the deep end without any instructor help or floatation device. I was so incredibly proud. She then jumped in over and over from the side and simply kept on swimming towards the teacher who was always a couple of feet in front of her.

I am so proud of you Little Chick!

Shining Star & Thanksgiving Thursday

2011-12-15T09:15:00.007-05:00

"Beautiful daughter of mine, you are my shining star, may you forever shine."

~Mama Hen

Little Chick did her first show last night at school and she was fantastic! She and her classmates were shining stars on that stage. I could not stop smiling from ear to ear when they performed. My beautiful Little Chick I am so proud of you!

Shining Star!

Excited to get to the show.

My shining star!

I am so proud of you Little Chick!

Thanksgiving Thursday: 1,) Little Chick and my family. 2.) Little Chick's excitement about our wonderful world. Her enthusiasm is contagious! 3.) Spending time with my sister. It means the world to me. 4.) My friend Geri and her endlessly giving heart. 5.) The abundant love the holidays brings out in everyone.

The Present

2011-12-11T11:16:00.006-05:00

"The spirit of Christmas is in the hearts of all who share the gift of being together in the present." ~Mama Hen

Little Chick and I love Christmas time! Along with our ornament tradition, we also love to create gingerbread houses each hoilday season. We especially enjoy sharing this with my sister and Little Chick's beautiful cousin. We had so much fun spending time together with family yesterday while decorationg our Christmas houses. After we were done we all headed out to dinner with Grandma Hen and my sister's husband. We topped off the day by visiting a spectacular home in the area that decorates their entire property with thousands of lights and Christmas decorations. The children were beyond excited! The true gift of Christmas is the blessing of being together.

Christmas Traditions

2011-12-06T09:22:00.011-05:00

"Family traditions are created with love and are wrapped ever so warmly within ones's heart until it is time to unwrap this beautiful present again." ~Mama Hen

Since I was young and on my own I started the tradition that every ornament on my Christmas tree would be handmade by me or family. This tradition has become so much more special since I became a mommy. I love making ornaments with my daughter. We already started making some and had so much fun putting them on the tree. While opening the boxes with the past Christmas ornaments my heart melted when remembering Little Chick's tiny hands creating each and every one. We had a wonderful time playing Christmas music and decorating our beautiful tree. It is such a magical time of year.

The first ornament.

Yippeeeee!

Little Chick's new ornament.

Cookie and Belle love hanging out under the tree!

Little Chick and Grandma Hen enjoying watching Santa Paws by the beautiful tree.

The Magic of Christmas

2011-12-03T22:55:00.005-05:00

"How magical a moment walking hand in hand on a crisp day in search of the perfect Christmas tree." ~Mama Hen

Little Chick and I love when it is time to go find a Christmas tree. This year we decided to cut our own tree. What an incredible time it was! We walked and walked throughout all of the beautiful trees in search of the perfect one. It was Little Chick's choice and she found a magnificent tree! She was the one who took my picture while cutting it down. It was a truly magical day with my baby!

We found our tree!

Great photography Little Chick!

Yippeeeee!

Beautiful!

Christmas Countdown & Thanksgiving Thursday

2011-12-01T10:51:00.011-05:00

"The holidays encompasses a myriad of emotions. It is a time to reflect, love, open our hearts and give with an abundance of warmth. Give thanks for the holidays!" ~Mama Hen

Little Chick is so excited that today is December 1st! When she came down the stairs for breakfast she saw our Santa calendar back on the door ready for the countdown. She made sure to put the candy cane on the number one and then move on to opening the door to her Christmas house calendar. This was a surprise present from her Aunt Geri. What an exciting time of the year!

Making sure she takes care of her baby kitties.

Thanksgiving Thursday: 1.) Little Chick and my family 2.) My mom! I love her so much! Her love is so abundant and never fails to take care of all of us. She is truly amazing and I feel so incredibly blessed. 3.) The feeling that Christmas time brings! 4.) Hot chocolate and whipped cream. 5.) Heat. It is finally cold here in the Northeast and I am so thankful for having heat.

Little Chick's Little Christmas Tree

2011-11-29T17:16:00.008-05:00

"New traditions begin with a whole lot of love, creativity and the spirit of the holidays!"

~Mama Hen

Little Chick got her own little Christmas tree. We started this tradition last year and she could not wait to go and pick out her little tree. So off we went to the farm and she was so excited to choose the one she wanted. All the way home she talked about how she was going to decorate her tree. We called Grandma Hen to come and see all the excitement. It is a beautiful little tree and is decorated with a whole lot of love!

A Happy Thanksgiving

2011-11-25T11:43:00.005-05:00

"Oh there is so much to be thankful for! Families should gather often and give thanks for their greatest gift - one another." ~Mama Hen

We had a beautiful Thanksgiving holiday! Little Chick was so excited when her cousins and auntie and uncle arrived. Thanksgiving is a day to remind us of all the things that we should be thankful for.

Thanksgiving Thursday: 1.) Little Chick and my family. 2.) My beautiful friends. 3.) All our furry family and friends. 4.) The abundant food on our tables each day. 5.) The warmth of shelter and the love that surrounds us.

Cousins

Matching PJ's

Christmas Cheer

2011-11-21T18:16:00.016-05:00

"The light of giving can brighten anyone's day!" ~Mama Hen

Little Chick was so excited to go with Grandma Hen to the store and pick out something that she would like to get ready for Christmas. She loved this dress and the matching one for her doll. She could not wait to get home so she could dance with her dolly all dressed up in Christmas cheer! She had so much fun holding her baby up and twirling around while making sure to catch every move in the mirror. We hope you are having fun getting ready for the holidays!

A Horse Lovers Dream Trip

2011-11-14T17:44:00.013-05:00

"Making dreams come true takes a little planning and simply making it happen." ~Mama Hen

Little Chick loves horses! This past weekend we had a spectacular vacation at the Rocking Horse Ranch! From the moment we arrived there was nonstop fun! For a horse lover it was a dream come true. Little Chick got to ride all day. We took many horse and wagon rides, as well as a tractor wagon ride at night. She had fun swimming and splashing about in the water park, and on Saturday between all the swimming and riding we saw the Nutcracker performed in their theater. For lunch Little Chick was visited by Betsy the horse and Tombstone Tom. On Saturday night we headed up the hill to a wonderful bonfire, camp songs and roasting marshmallows. It was a horse riders oasis and dream vacation!

A fun water park!

Riding Callaghan.

A horse and wagon ride.

The Nutcracker.

Roasting marshmallows! Mmmmmmmm!

Delicious!

Singing camp songs.

Another horse and wagon ride.

The ranches little filly - Root Beer.

Dining with Betsy the horse.

A horse lovers dream!

So Many Fairies & Thanksgiving Thursday

2011-11-11T10:45:00.014-05:00

"Go to sleep little fairies. May your dreams be filled with magic." ~Mama Hen

Little Chick waited every day for her fairies to arrive. She loves Tinkerbell, Vidia and all of their friends. Well, they finally came and she is ecstatic! She made sure to get them all cozy before she headed to bed. It looks like Cookie and Belle thought it would be a cozy place to sleep as well. Have a great weekend!

Thanksgiving Thursday: 1.) Little Chick and my family. 2.) Tooth fairies and the magic they bring. 3.) Beautiful colors on a crisp autumn day. 4.) Hot cocoa with a hint of mint. 5.) Little Chick's incredibly creative imagination.

A Cherished Tooth Fairy Moment

2011-11-07T20:11:00.009-05:00

"Remembering the excitement and joy of waiting for the tooth fairy will transcend you to a magical place - your inner child." ~Mama Hen

Little Chick just lost her third tooth tonight. She was so excited! It has been loose for a while, but we knew it would come out within a few days. After dinner we called Grandma Hen and asked if she could come and give her opinion on when this tooth might come out. We tried eating apples and wiggling it. Finally Little Chick got it out! We all danced and celebrated. Little Chick placed the tooth in her tiny suitcase (from her Calico Critters) and had fun placing it under her pillow. She was so excited and had a hard time getting to sleep. Little Chick has her own little tooth fairy named Oceana Wavey that comes each time. She said, "Mommy, I am sure Oceana Wavey is already flying over here." I told her that she had to cross the ocean first and that she would be here when she was asleep. It was so exciting to watch Little Chick beaming in anticipation. These are the moments to cherish forever!

Little Horse & Thanksgiving Thursday

2011-11-03T00:25:00.000-04:00

"A wonderful night with family, treats, fun and a whole bunch of silly." ~Mama Hen

We had a fun Halloween! The power outage did not stop us from having fun. Little Chick was a horse! She had asked months ago to be the horse from the movie Spirit. We had a fun time watching our little horse trot from house to house. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving Thursday!

A sloppy Lolli kiss.

Yummy!

Dinner after trick or treating.

I love my little horse!

Thanksgiving Thursday: 1.) Little Chick and my family 2.) For having power back in very cold weather. 3.) Seeing Little Chick's precious smile when being with family and celebrating the holidays. 4.) For beautiful snow storms. 5.) Hot coffee on a cold day.

What Will We Be & Smile Sunday

2011-10-30T00:25:00.003-04:00

"So many choices and so many dreams. A lifetime to fulfill them." ~Mama Hen

Little Chick loves to play dress up! This Halloween we had many choices of what we could be, but Little Chick knew right away what her decision would be. Hmmmmmmm! Will she be a ballerina? A bumble bee? The belle of the ball? Snow White? Lolli wanted to participate in the decision making process and dressed up as well. It snowed here this weekend! We have no power and are at Grandma Hen's house again (thank you Grandma Hen). We hope you are having a wonderful Smile Sunday!

A bumble bee?

The belle of the ball?

Snow White?

Facing Our Fears & Thanksgiving Thursday

2011-10-28T12:47:00.013-04:00

"Facing our greatest fears can be a challenge, however, the result so rewarding."~Mama Hen

Autumn is here and Little Chick and I are loving it! The other day we went to a local farm so Little Chick and her buddy could go climbing the hay stacks and jump into the corn pit. They had a wonderful time. Today we went on a filed trip with her class to the fire station. Little Chick has a fear of fire and it was a brave moment for her. She sat and listened to the firefighters. She did not want to hop on the truck, but said she wanted to be brave and headed on up in the drivers seat. She had faced her fears and felt much better for doing so. I am so proud of my Little Chick!

Thanksgiving Thursday: 1.) Little Chick and my family. 2.) For Little Chick's bravery and facing her fears. 3.) For heat on chilly days. 4.) Marcy! I love you my dear friend! 5.) The beautiful fall colors.

Transport Me

2011-10-25T00:25:00.001-04:00

"If I could rewind the clock I would most surely return to the time when you were here." ~Mama Hen

Lately I have had days where I wish I could transport myself back to the time when my Dad was here. I miss the comfort and safe feeling I always had when I woke up each day simply knowing that my Dad was just a phone call away. We often take for granted the people who are our "rock" while on this journey. It is almost fourteen years that he has been gone and in some ways time has made "dealing with" his loss more bearable. I guess in some ways I have mastered the art of compartmentalizing the tremendous hole I feel in my heart since he no longer was here to talk to, visit, or simply hug. I see so much of my Dad in Little Chick. His great big smile and incredibly bright personality are only a couple of things she reflects. I only wish he was here to see my beautiful daughter as she grows and continues to brighten the world we live in with her infectious smile. If I could rewind the clock I would love to revisit my Dad in the picture you see. He had visited me when I was living in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Although he worried and wanted me home and safe, he always supported my decisions and encouraged me to follow my dreams and passions. My Dad was my strength, guide, role model and inspiration. More than anything his love was like a blanket of comfort and safety. I miss him so and pray that he knows just how much he meant to me.

Fate & Thanksgiving Thursday

2011-10-20T00:25:00.001-04:00

"Fate is a combination of hope and what is meant to be."

~Mama Hen

Last week while Little Chick was in school I took Lolli to the beach for a long walk. She absolutely loves going for walks and seeing all her furry companions. Each time we approached a dog her tail would wag and she would do the happy dance. It was very cute to see. At one point we bumped into a beautiful black dog named Emma. I began talking with her mom and an extraordinary story came about. I had mentioned that we rescued Lolli over the summer. She replied that she had rescued her dog about a month ago. I asked her what shelter and it turns out we had gotten our dogs from the same shelter. This was pretty amazing because the shelter was an online rescue site. We continued to talk and I said that my dog had come from Arkansas. She said, "My dog came from Arkansas also!" I then said that my dog had a litter and that is when they found her in a ditch. She said that her dog had babies, as well. Then I said that my dog had already been placed, but the family had not treated her well and needed to be placed again. She said that the same thing happened to her. We could not believe it! That night I e-mailed the kind woman from the shelter and told her that I had met Emma. She could not believe it either! She said that Lolli and Emma had been in the same shelter in Arkansas and she wondered if they had recognized one another. She also said that there was a video of the two dogs in Arkansas playing together at the shelter. She sent it to me along with a video of Lolli's babies. It was incredible! Fate has a way of working out in wondrous ways! Here is the video of Lolli and Emma playing in Arkansas: http://youtu.be/M1tK1uiYCms Have a happy Thanksgiving Thursday!
Thanksgiving Thursday: 1.) Little Chick and my family. 2.) God's ever abundant blessings! 3.) My mom always helping out! Thank you mommy! 4.) Little Chick's wonderful gift of making everyone around her smile. 5.) For long walks on the beach with Lolli.

More Soup & Smile Sunday

2011-10-16T00:25:00.007-04:00

"Nothing cures a cold better than Mama's homemade soup!"

~Mama Hen

Little Chick has another cold and had to spend the day resting in bed. Of course I called Grandma Hen immediately and asked if she could bring over some essential ingredients to my "Kisses Soup". She is the best and went shopping right away. So while Little Chick stayed in bed drinking lots of fluids and watching Little Bear, I made her the soup I always make when she is sick. She came down stairs and said, "Mommy, don't forget the kisses!" I said, "They are already in there, but I will definitely be adding some more." So before she went back up stairs I showed her that I was adding plenty more of the best ingredient - mommy's kisses. Happy Smile Sunday!

Get well my Little Chick!

Saying Thank You & Thanksgiving Thursday

2011-10-13T10:51:00.005-04:00

"Saying thank you can mean the world to someone and takes so little effort to say." ~Mama Hen

Little Chick wanted to paint me another surprise last night. I was so excited when I saw her adorable creation! I, of course, said a huge thank you and gave my baby a big kiss. Her eyes lit up as she said, "You like it mommy?" I replied, "I absolutely love it!" We all have so many opportunities to say thank you each and every day. It is so important to show gratitude to the people around us and to our creator above. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving Thursday!

Adding more hair.

So adorable!

Thanksgiving Thursday: 1.) Little Chick and my family. 2.) The incredible amount of kindness and love my beautiful daughter pours out every day. 3.) For a lovely hot cup of coffee on a cool, rainy Autumn day. 4.) For old friends and new friends. 5.) Dreams! For the wonderful feeling of being able to dream and work towards something.

Living from the Heart

2011-10-12T00:25:00.000-04:00

"The heart is the center of it all."

~Mama Hen

The other day Little Chick asked me if I could set up her paints. She said, "Mommy you can't look because it is a surprise." She was painting for a while and I asked if I could see. She said, "No mommy, you will love this surprise. I will let you know when it is ready." Finally she said, "Mommy you can see it now." When I came around the corner she was still painting. I squealed with delight! She just kept painting as I told her how proud I was of her. When I saw the heart in the middle my own heart just melted. The love that my daughter poured into painting that gift for me is a reminder of what it all is about. Everything we do revolves around the heart - how we use our heart, give from the heart, love from the heart and simply live from the heart.

Smile Sunday

2011-10-09T13:25:00.004-04:00

"Ahhhh.....There are so many reasons to smile!" ~Mama Hen

We are at the beach enjoying this beautiful day! Time has a way of floating by so quickly. Capture each moment and make it really fun!

Have a happy Smile Sunday!

Peaceful Walks & Thanksgiving Thursday

2011-10-06T10:50:00.006-04:00

"Taking a walk with a loving companion can be so peaceful."

~Mama Hen

Little Chick loves going for walks with Lolli. Yesterday was such a beautiful day so we headed to the beach after school and took a long walk. Lolli and Little Chick looked so adorable together along that peaceful stretch of beach. We will definitely take advantage of all the great Autumn weather. Happy Thanksgiving Thursday!

Just hanging out with my buddy!

Thanksgiving Thursday: 1.) Little Chick and my family. 2.) Gorgeous Autumn days and long walks on the beach with my loved ones. 3.) Apple cider, pumpkin picking, crunching in piles of leaves and sunny cool days. 4.) Little Chick's caring heart. 5.) Flannel pj's, cozy slippers and hot cocoa.

Ladies Luncheon

2011-10-04T09:52:00.007-04:00

"Each moment offers an opportunity for fun and happiness. Make each day a cherished memory." ~Mama Hen

Little Chick and I love taking trips up North and enjoying a ladies luncheon. Over the weekend we decided to go to one of my favorite little towns -Essex. Since I was a teenager I always loved visiting this town. It is small, quaint and historical. When walking along the sidewalks I like to think about years ago when people were in horse and carriages. It makes me appreciate the luxuries of today (heat, electricity, transportation, etc.). It also makes me think about how strong the sense of community had to have been in order to simply survive, especially during harsh Connecticut winters. Little chick and I ate at the Griswold and we had so much fun listening to a 40's band playing. Of course, after we finished our meal, Little Chick danced up a storm! It was a wonderful day to be cherished!

Look at Little Chick dance!

Autumn Fun & Smile Sunday

2011-10-02T00:25:00.001-04:00

"The change of seasons offers a chance for a fresh start and an abundance of smiles." ~Mama Hen

Autumn has always been my favorite season. I love all holidays and what they represent. I cherish the idea of family being together and sharing moments that will always be remembered. This time of the year naturally makes me smile. The crisp air, cuddly sweaters, pumpkin picking, apple cider and delicious homemade pies are just some of the many things that make me happy. On Saturday Little Chick was so excited to put out all the Autumn decorations. Grandma Hen came over and we played together outside, put out the decorations and then took Lolli for a walk. Little Chick loves taking her dog for a walk. It was a wonderful cool Autumn day! Happy Smile Sunday!

Horses & Thanksgiving Thursday

2011-09-29T16:27:00.006-04:00

"Passions and dreams make the journey exciting. They are the spark that keeps us going when we might otherwise not have the energy." Mama Hen

Little Chick's love for horses and riding is something that can't be missed. She trots all over the house, in the yard and in the aisles at the store. She wants to read horse books, watch horse movies and learn about all there is to know about this beautiful animal. She beams when she knows she has her riding lesson. She loves bringing all of her horse friends carrots and makes sure she visits all of them before we leave. Today she rode her favorite Snickers and enjoyed giving her and Memphis lots of carrots. I am not sure what the name of the horse is that she is hugging, but as you can see there is lots of love there. I am thankful my daughter has such a love for animals and a passion for riding. It is a flame that burns within and lights the way. Have a happy Thanksgiving Thursday.

Thanksgiving Thursday: 1.) Little Chick and my family. 2.) Being able to nurture Little Chick's love for horses and all animals. 3.) For classical music. I get such joy out of hearing my favorite composers and sharing this love for music with my daughter. 4.) Rainy days and holidays. I love spending time reading books at the book store with Little Chick. 5.) Having a camera and being able to capture all the wonderful moments we share.

Love

2011-09-26T14:34:00.005-04:00

"Love contains many ingredients. Sprinkle some compassion and kindness on top of some empathy, selflessness and care, mixed in with giving without expectations, helping others and never ending hugs and kisses and love is ready to be baked. Continue to bake and watch love grow. Time has a way of making love more savory and delicious."

~Mama Hen

There are many facets to love. It is not something we can expect, nor can we ignore. It comes from many places and is made up of so many parts. When we are young we love with no effort at all. We think the world is a loving and caring place to be. As we get older and go through some experiences that make us wonder about people and how they can at times be uncaring and hurtful, we learn to guard our hearts and our feelings. Some do this more than others. I have learned that love is something that needs to be nurtured every day. It is something to be appreciated and held on to dearly. We can not take it for granted and we must always do our best to outwardly show the people we love that we feel the way that we do. I feel incredibly blessed for the amazing people in my life that I love dearly. I know that this is a gift to be cherished. What have you learned about love through the years?

Bright Smile Sunday

2011-09-25T00:25:00.001-04:00

"Beautiful daughter of mine,

your smile has a brilliance that brightens even the cloudiest of days." ~Mama Hen

Little Chick has the brightest smile! She has a way of turning any frown upside down. I love how she always wants to make sure that her family and friends are smiling and happy. She will make a funny face or give a huge hug when she thinks someone needs to be cheered up. She has a huge heart and makes sure she uses it to brighten the world around her. What an incredible gift! I learn from my daughter every day. Have a happy Smile Sunday!

Art Projects & Thanksgiving Thursday

2011-09-22T00:25:00.000-04:00

"May you always know how proud I am of everything you do my love." ~Mama Hen

Little Chick is still sick and has missed the past few days of school. I wanted to make sure we worked on the skills being taught at school and sorting was one of them. So we have been doing sorting projects each day. On Tuesday we practiced sorting our shapes and colors and on Wednesday Little Chick had fun sorting horse treats by size and color. She loved this idea! She did wonderfully and I am so proud of my Little Chick!

Sorting horse treats.

Adding the stem.

Thanksgiving Thursday: 1.) Little Chick and my family. 2.) For Little Chick's love of learning! I am so proud of you! 3.) Music and its ability to transcend us to a wonderful memory in time. 4.) For all the beautiful and caring cards my dear friend Marcy send with all of her love to both Little Chick and myself. They always put a smile on our faces. 5.) For my daughters huge and caring heart! Even though she is sick, she always wants to make me smile.

The Most Important Ingredient

2011-09-19T00:25:00.000-04:00

"The most important ingredient in making a soup to cure a cold is love." ~Mama Hen

Little Chick has a cold. This weekend has been filled with the sniffles, ears and throat hurting and a visit to the doctor. Immediately I always make my home made chicken soup. Today I asked Little Chick if she knew what the most important ingredient was. She peered in the soup as I was making it and I put my hand to my mouth and filled it with kisses and then tossed it in the pot. She smiled and said "Kisses!" Every time she came in to ask if the soup was ready I threw in some more kisses. I even threw in some from Lolli, Cookie and Belle. When we sat down to eat the soup Little Chick said "Mmmmm, mommy this is a delicious soup." I tossed some more kisses in and she ended up eating three bowls of broth. When she was all tucked in for bed she said, "Thank you mommy for that delicious soup!" I told her that I made that soup with all my love.

Spreading Smiles & Thanksgiving Thursday

2011-09-15T09:35:00.008-04:00

"Spreading smiles doesn't cost a thing. However, its result is priceless." ~Mama Hen

Little Chick had her first two homework assignments this week. I was so proud of how wonderfully she did. Last night after she completed her work we decided to make a card for her teachers. She first wrote a beautiful letter and wrote "School is cool!" She then made an ice cream cone and placed the numbers in order. Then she made another card for a teacher that said "Orange you great!" Little Chick had orange cookies as a gift that she was excited to bring in. This morning she could not wait to bring in her wonderful cards and present for her teachers. They all had an enormous smile on from ear to ear. It really does not take much to make someone smile and its effect is contagious.

Little Chick drew her teachers.

So adorable!

"Orange" you great!

Thanksgiving Thursday: 1.) Little Chick and my family. 2.) The power to make someone smile. We all have it. 3.) For our beautiful animals. We love Cookie, Belle and Lolli so much. 4.) The hint of autumn in the air. I love this season! 5.) For each new day! I appreciate all that God has blessed me with. Thank You Lord.

Cherished Moments Monday

2011-09-12T13:14:00.010-04:00

"Time with loved ones is a precious thing."

~Mama Hen

Little Chick was so happy to tell Cookie and Lolli all about her day at school. Lolli was so excited that she was home and gave her lots of kisses. We had fun yesterday at Mystic Aquarium. It was a beautiful day and we were really happy to see the Belugas getting their lunch. We made sure to say hi to our penguin and sea lion friends. We also love seeing Charlotte the sea turtle who was injured by a boat. She is a determined little turtle who swims as if she never got hurt. On the way home I saw a heart in the clouds. It always makes me feel so good when I see hearts all around me. It is a beautiful reminder of how much love there is all around us.

See the heart?

Let Us Remember

2011-09-11T00:25:00.000-04:00

"Give thanks every day for your abundant blessings. Each new day is a gift and each blessing a treasure." ~Mama Hen

On this day we remember those who have passed on, those who immediately went to help and the ones who were left behind. Today is a day that we should also remember that although there are moments where things seem bleak in our own lives, there are so many blessings to be grateful for. Today is a day we can put things into perspective. It is a time we can reevaluate our lives and see that the abundance of blessings are worth smiling about as often as possible. Life is short and if we don't take time to "smell the roses" now, then when will we? Let us remember all of those who have suffered from the tragedy of 9/11.

Little Kindergarten Chick

2011-09-08T10:55:00.009-04:00

"Let the sun shine brightly on all that you do."

~Mama Hen

Little Chick started Kindergarten and looked so adorable in her uniform and backpack! Little Chick says she is wearing her "unicorn". So cute! She was so happy to put her horse lunchbox into her backpack that of course has a horse on it as well. She walked right into her classroom, said hi to her teacher, gave me a kiss and said "You can go now mommy." My Little Chick is a school girl now. Happy September everyone!

I am so proud of my Little Chick!

Dr. Little Chick & Thanksgiving Thursday

2011-09-08T00:25:00.000-04:00

"Give thanks for the gift of compassion and kindness." ~Mama Hen

Little Chick has such a huge compassionate and kind heart. She adores animals and wants to know that they are all doing well. The other day I walked into the family room and saw Little Chick taking care of all of her animal buddies. She made sure to give every patient a hug so they would feel better right away. She also was really good about letting the patients that were waiting know that she would be with them as soon as she could. Today when we were at a store Little Chick pointed to a snoopy dog bed and asked if she could get it for Lolli. She said "Mommy Lolli will love this cozy bed!" I loved that she was being so thoughtful of her little dog. She was so excited to give the present she picked out to Lolli and see how cozy she was all curled up.

"I will be with you as soon as I can Belle."

"It's OK Cookie. I am right here."

Taking the little dogs temperature.

Lolli's new bed.

Thanksgiving Thursday: 1.) Little Chick and my family. 2.) For compassion and kindness. 3.) Cool rainy days and wearing my favorite sweatshirt from my dear friend Marcy. 4.) Watching Little Chick be so thoughtful to others. 5.) For having had grandparents who loved me so much!

Letting Go of the Clutter

2011-09-06T00:25:00.000-04:00

"Letting go of all that clutters your heart is not only cleansing, but essential to making room for all the exciting things yet to come." ~Mama Hen

Recently I had a minute where something that had weighed down my heart had lifted and dissipated out into the universe. It was a moment of "letting go". I am not sure what exactly triggered my ability to do this, but the result was incredibly cleansing. There are a few things sitting in my heart that have been weighing me down for years. Finding the strength to forgive others is essential. Although this is just one experience with letting go, the feeling it has left me with is an open heart. It has also helped me to realize just how much something from the past can take away from the present. It is all about learning to forgive others and accept that the past is something that is simply that: "the past". It is something we cannot change and something we all must learn from. I hope that in time I will have more cleansing moments and will be able to say that I am completely free from the people and scenarios that have weighed down my heart so heavily. For now I will be thankful for this glimpse of what "letting go" is truly about.

Happiness & Smile Sunday

2011-09-04T00:25:00.000-04:00

"Surround yourself with what makes you happy. Life is way too short to pass up an opportunity to be filled with silliness and laughter." ~Mama Hen

Little Chick loves to take Lolli and I for a ride in her Jeep! I am always surprised when the little car actually goes with me on board. Grandma Hen could not resist capturing a picture of how we spend our days. Little Chick beams happiness and it makes everyone around smile. I love you more than anything baby girl! Have a happy Smile Sunday!

Thanksgiving Thursday and Power

2011-09-01T11:59:00.006-04:00

"Make the best of uncomfortable circumstances. You may look back one day and think of them as some of your fondest memories." ~Mama Hen

Our power just went back on! I can't say just how excited we are. We have been visiting my mom every day just for a shower and cup of coffee. This picture above was taken a couple of days ago. My dear friend Geri came over for a hot shower and to spend the night because she had no power either. Just as we took this picture my mom's power went out. We made the best of it and had a little party! Although it has been rather uncomfortable, the circumstances brought our family and friends together. That is really what life is all about! Happy Thanksgiving Thursday!Thank you Grandma Hen!

Thanksgiving Thursday: 1.) Little Chick and my family. 2.) Thank You God that my friends and family were fine in the hurricane. 3.) For electricity and the comforting feeling it brings. 4.) For family and friends during times of need. 5.) For my best friend Marcy who stayed on the phone with me for a couple of hours last night to help the time in the dark pass by!

All is Well After the Hurricane

2011-08-29T13:06:00.004-04:00

"Give thanks for the gift of simply being with family."~Mama HenWell, the hurricane is over and we are so thankfull that we are all fine. We have no power, but that is the least of worries in these moments. It was one of the most frightening things I have experienced. Having my daughter makes the worry so much greater in times like these. With two enormous trees looming in our yard, I spent the night praying they would stay in tact. Our prayers were heard and we are fine. I hope everyone that experienced this storm is doing well. Have a good week!

Thanksgiving Thursday - Blessings

2011-08-25T18:17:00.011-04:00

"Celebrate each day!

It is a gift to be unwrapped and appreciated daily." ~Mama Hen

Yesterday Little Chick and I decided it would be a great idea to head to Mystic for a day trip. We went to the aquarium and to Mystic Village for a delicious lunch. We then headed to the beach for some splashing fun! The waves were lively and we had a blast! We had so much fun that we made a plan to go back up north to the beach today. We spent a few hours playing in the water until a big rain came. We headed into town for lunch and then came home. It was an amazing two days filled with abundant blessings! Thank You Dear God!

Today at the beach! What a great day!

Thanksgiving Thursday: 1.) Little Chick and my family. 2.) For beautiful days with my adorable daughter at the beach. 3.) For finally feeling relief after an annoying bout with poison ivy. 4.) Family time! There is nothing like simply being together with the ones we love. 5.) For wonderful presents that come in the mail. Thank you to our two beautiful cousins in Spain for Little Chick's great birthday package!

All the Little Happy Moments

2011-08-24T00:25:00.001-04:00

"All the little happy moments add up to a life filled with contentment and the fondest of memories." ~Mama Hen

Today my best friend Geri came by for dinner and some family fun. When I was putting Little Chick to bed I thought about how many happy little moments we share each day. I always try to fill our days with fun things and most of all the happiness of simply being together. We started our day at a park with Little Chick's friends and they played and we had a picnic. Then my friend came in the afternoon and we played lots of games and then of course we had a birthday party for some of her furry friends. I let Little Chick use my good camera and she did a fabulous job! She was so cute directing Geri and I on what faces to make. It was a day that had no particular significant moment, however all the little moments added up to the most magnificent day!

My Little Photographer

"Make this face Gege."

"OK mommy make this face."

"Gege and mommy make this face."

"I love you mommy!"

So silly!

Little Chick & Lolli at the Beach

2011-08-21T00:25:00.000-04:00

"There is such peace in sharing family time at the beach."

~Mama Hen

Little Chick, Lolli and I took a trip up to the beach in Guilford. It was Lolli's first time at the beach and we were excited to share our favorite place with her. We had so much fun swimming for hours! Lolli was not sure if she wanted to go in at first. But when she did, Little Chick was there to make sure she was loving it. It was a beautiful day at the beach!

One tired Little Lolli.

Little Chick loves Lolli.

Happy Smile Sunday!

Little Gardner & Thanksgiving Thursday

2011-08-18T00:25:00.000-04:00

"Be thankful each day. Every breath, every smile, every hug and every new day is an absolute blessing." ~Mama Hen

Little Chick and I wanted to plant some flowers under a tree in our front yard. All that digging for worms inspired me to weed as well as add some color to bring a smile to our faces. So we began planting and Little Chick wanted to do everything by herself. She did a marvelous flower bed and now I call her my Little Gardner. There is something so magical when we, as parents, can pass on the love for nature and the outdoors. Little Chick also had her riding lesson on a new horse this week. His name was Lightning. She looked adorable on that enormous horse. And of course, Lolli and my daughter are just as cute as can be when they are together. Happy Thanksgiving Thursday!

Riding Lightning.

Visiting Memphis.

Thanksgiving Thursday: 1.) Little Chick and my family. 2.) For the gift of family. 3.) Cool summer nights. 4.) Picnics at the park. 5.) For love. For the love I have to give and the love I so abundantly receive. Thank You God.

Perfect Rainy Day

2011-08-16T00:25:00.000-04:00

"Crafts, digging for worms and puddle jumping make for a perfect rainy day!" ~Mama Hen

It has been rainy the past couple of days and Little Chick and I love making the best of days like these. We made sure to head to the book store and read lots of books. Then we came home and worked on this ice cream counting craft. Of course Lolli always stays by Little Chick's side and even climbed on her chair wanting to help. We then headed out into the rain to dig for worms. Little Chick hit the jackpot today and found at least 25 worms. Lolli helped her by digging a few holes in the dirt. We topped the day off with some fun puddle jumping. It was a magnificent day!

Puddle jumping!

Cruisin' with Lolli & Smile Sunday

2011-08-14T00:25:00.003-04:00

"A smile does not cost a thing yet its power is priceless." ~Mama Hen

Little Chick took Lolli out for a cruise in her Jeep today. The two love playing outside together! Little Chick actually took me for a ride also. I could not believe that I could get in her car let alone that it moved. It was so much fun having her drive me around for a change. She was smiling ear to ear while taking me all around. Then we had a magnificent time digging for worms. When Grandma Hen arrived Little Chick could not wait to share all of her wormy pals with her. Happy Smile Sunday!

Look mommy! This one is huge!

Happy Smile Sunday!

I Have Learned & Thanksgiving Thursday

2011-08-11T19:31:00.004-04:00

"Each day we are blessed with the gift of learning. The question is, do we soak up the opportunity to learn and enrich ourselves, or do we ignore the lessons and let them pass us by?" ~Mama Hen

Every now and again I like to write about the things I have learned. After reading the "I have learned" poem that my dear friend Marcy sent me years ago, I try my best to take stock of the lessons that come my way and what I have learned from them. Here are just a few:

1.) I have learned that friends come and go, but family and friends we truly connect with will always be there.

2.) I have learned that getting aggravated with people only hurts myself and my health. I have to take care of myself because no one else can do it for me.

3.) I have learned that life may not always seem fair, but if we truly evaluate what we have, we should feel incredibly blessed.

4.) I have learned that God sends us magnificent gifts each day in the sunrise, flowers blooming, the food we eat, the friendships we share, the glorious sunsets and so much more, but we are so consumed at times with what we don't have and what we want that we miss these gifts.

5.) I have learned that time goes by in a blink of an eye and there can never be too many I love yous.

Thanksgiving Thursday: 1.) Little Chick and my family. 2.) Watching my daughter say please and thank you all the time. She is so polite and kind to others. 3.) For my cousin who makes me feel better just by hearing her voice. 4.) For fresh breezes on warm summer days. 5.) Thank You God for each and every blessing you present us all with every day.

Little Chick's Birthday Party

2011-08-08T17:35:00.005-04:00

"Family, friends, cake, presents and fun! Birthdays are a time to celebrate Gods greatest gift - you." ~Mama Hen

This weekend we celebrated Little Chick's birthday party with all of her friends at Pump It Up. She had so much fun! She insisted on wearing her "birthday dress" that she wore on her big day. I thought leggings and a cute shirt would have been better for climbing, but she knew what she wanted and got around just fine. Her cake had a picture of her kissing the horse she rides - Snickers. She received such wonderful gifts, many of which had to do with horses and riding. She was so excited! It was a fabulous day! Happy birthday Little Chick!

My Little Artist & Smile Sunday

2011-08-07T00:25:00.001-04:00

"To create is to share such a wonderful part of ourselves."

~Mama Hen

Little Chick is my Little Artist. She is such a wonderful painter! Today we practiced writing and decided to make a tree and an apple. Little Chick started by writing each word and then painting the picture. I am always so proud of my beautiful daughter. These paintings are going to be framed. I love displaying my daughter's art around the house. It brightens up our home and always puts a smile on my face! Have a great Smile Sunday!

Look mommy I made an S!

Miracles

2011-08-04T10:48:00.004-04:00

"Give thanks for the many miracles we are blessed with each day." ~Mama Hen

Little Chick is my greatest gift! She is my ultimate blessing - a miracle. I waited for many years to finally become a mommy. It was what I had wished for since I was young. When people would ask me what I wanted to be when I got older I would always say a mommy. So when God blessed me with my beautiful daughter on July 26, 2006 I was in such a happy place there are no words to describe it. Last night when I checked on Little Chick sleeping with her arms wrapped around Pooh Bear, I looked at her with such an overwhelming feeling of gratitude. She has filled my heart with an abundance of love and all that is good in the world. I am humbled that God has chosen me to be this beautiful child's mommy. Little Chick may you always know that your mommy loves you more than anything!

Thanksgiving Thursday: 1.) Little Chick and my family. 2.) All the big and small miracles we are blessed with daily. 3.) My mother's giving heart. 4.) My determination and spirit that keeps me going and never allows me to give up. 5.) Chocolate! Oh how I love chocolate.

Lolli's New Buddy

2011-08-03T00:25:00.000-04:00

"Love is a gift we receive every day." ~Mama Hen

Little Chick received this Lolli look alike two years ago from Santa. Who knew we would have the same adorable dog as our pet? While we were playing in the family room one day Lolli began to make a grumbly noise and perk up staring at the carpet. She had noticed her Lolli look alike and stood her ground. We could not help but laugh! So we grabbed the other Lolli and Little Chick introduced them properly. What a blessing our adorable little Lolli is in our lives! Thank you dear Lord.

Have a great day!

Birthday Money - Smile Sunday

2011-07-31T00:25:00.000-04:00

"Birthdays may come just once a year, but should be celebrated all year long." ~Mama Hen

Little Chick has been wanting a friend for her fish Goldie. I explained to her that Goldie is a Japanese fighting fish and can only be in the bowl by herself. So she decided that she wanted to get another bowl that can sit beside Goldie. She used her Birthday money from her Aunt Marcy (thank you Aunt Marcy) and bought her new fish, the bowl and the rocks. She named this fish Sapphire. She had so much fun putting in the rocks and introducing Goldie to Sapphire. Happy Smile Sunday!

Having Goldie and Sapphire meet.

Happy Smile Sunday!

Little Chick's 5th Birthday Party

2011-07-26T21:13:00.013-04:00

"Birthdays are a time for family, laughter, lots of presents and delicious cake." ~Mama Hen

Little Chick's birthday was so much fun! Today was her family birthday party and in a couple of weeks she will celebrate with her friends. This morning she woke up very excited to see all of her surprises. She had a huge smile on while walking down the stairs to the playroom where all of her furry friends were waiting in party hats gathered around her presents. She loved all of her gifts, most of which had something to do with horses. My dear friend Geri showed up and took us out for a birthday brunch. We then visited the horses at the stable where she takes riding lessons. Later we had delicious birthday cake and then headed out for a swim. Little Chick could not wait to put on her matching bathing suit. We played some of the games she got as presents and then had fun talking about our fabulous day! Happy birthday my beautiful baby!

Surprise!

Cutting the cake.

Little Chick's matching bathing suit.

Happy birthday Little Chick!

Little Chick's 5th Birthday

2011-07-26T00:25:00.001-04:00

"Birthdays should be celebrated every day!" ~Mama Hen

Dear Little Chick,

Happy birthday my beautiful daughter! May this day and every day be filled with overflowing love, enormous smiles and plenty of belly laughs. You are my miracle. I thank God every day for blessing me with you. I waited so long to become a mom and feel so humbled that God gave me the honor of being your mommy. I love you more than words can ever express my adorable little girl. Happy 5th birthday my love!

Love,

Mommy

These pictures are from Little Chick's 4th birthday last year. How time flies!Little Chick's furry friends are waiting to celebrate with her this morning with lots of surprises.

Happy Birthday Little Chick!

Little Chick's First Trip to the Nail Salon

2011-07-25T00:25:00.000-04:00

"Each birthday should be filled with surprises, fancy dresses, enormous giggly smiles and a whole lot of fun." ~Mama Hen

Little Chick's 5th birthday is on Tuesday and we have been getting ready here in the Hen house. Today I surprised my daughter with taking her to a nail salon to have her hands and feet done. She has never done this before and at first was not sure what it was, but when she saw all the color choices she was really excited! We had an appointment with the wonderful woman who does my nails. Everyone was happy to see Little Chick when she walked in wearing her beautiful crown. She chose her color and then said, "What about my feet?" What a gal! She then picked out another color and sat in the chair like a big girl. As she was getting her hands massaged with the cream, she then massaged the ladies hands also. They both started giggling so much that the whole place was laughing. She got a beautiful cake painted on one finger and one toe and a gorgeous flower on a finger and also a toe. All the nails were topped off with "sparklies". It was an amazing day that we will never forget. When we got in the car Little Chick said, "Thank you so much mommy for my wonderful surprise." My heart melts!

Little Chick massages the ladies hands also.

Time for the toes. That tickled a bit!

Now the cake and the flower are painted on her toes as Little Chick looks at her beautiful finger nails.

Time to dry them while having a lollipop.

"Check out my beautiful nails mommy!"

Have a great week!

Family Time Painting Birdhouses

2011-07-24T00:25:00.001-04:00

"The time shared with family is something so precious and can never be replaced." ~Mama Hen

Last year we started the tradition of painting birdhouses for all of our birdie friends who come to visit our yard. We had so much fun doing this last year and could not wait to do it again. This year we had all of our bird houses picked out and bought in the beginning of Spring, but somehow time and life got in the way of us painting them and finally we were able to do them this weekend. Little Chick was so excited to have us all work on our houses. Of course Lollie wanted to help out as well. We know we should have had these bird houses up sooner, but you never know who will come around looking for shelter. We hope you have a wonderful Smile Sunday!

Lollie loves Grandma Hen.

Happy Smile Sunday!

Marks of Time

2011-07-22T11:57:00.006-04:00

"Etched on our faces and bodies are the signs that we have loved, laughed, lost and cried. These beautiful marks of time show that we have lived." ~Mama Hen

Recently I have started treating myself to a manicure. It is something I never really did except when I got married and it takes a lot for me to "stop" and actually do something so pampering for myself. However, I am learning that it is a moment that I can relax, reflect and refresh my spirit. Today when I was at the nail salon I looked at the beautiful woman working on my nails. She is the one I have regularly. I like her because she exudes such warmth and kindness. She can't hear that well and her English is minimal, so I do not really talk much with her. This allows me much time to contemplate. Today I looked at the lines etched around her eyes and neck. I stared at my own hands and arms and remembered all of the scars and the stories behind each one. There were by far many more freckles or should we say sun spots all along my arms and the signs of getting older could be seen in my hands. As I looked at her and then myself I really started thinking about all the laughter, tears and life that brought these marks of living onto our being. If each line could talk, what would they say? We all have a story to tell and the older we get it is important not only to tell them, but also to listen. After all, what more to life is there then our "story". No one else shares our marks of time, which makes them precious and us so unique.

Little Chick's First Movie & Thanksgiving Thursday

2011-07-21T00:25:00.001-04:00

"Seeing the excitement on one's face for all the big and little surprises is priceless." ~Mama Hen

Little Chick saw her first movie theater film yesterday! She was so excited! It was perfect that it was the new Winnie the Pooh movie, because Pooh has been her favorite since she was a baby. I told her that I had a surprise for her in the morning. She could not wait to see what it was. We drove to the theater and although she did not know what we were doing yet, she could not keep from smiling. When we went in and bought the tickets I told her that we were going to see Pooh Bear. She did a happy dance! We of course got popcorn and some candy. I contemplated bringing snacks from home, but wanted the experience to be authentic. So we each got some yummy movie theater popcorn. When we walked in the theater Little Chick held her bag of popcorn and skipped down the aisle to the seat she wanted. It was a spectacular day!

Dreaming of Pooh!

Thanksgiving Thursday: 1.) Little Chick and my family 2.) Experiencing the firsts with my beautiful daughter. 3.) Enjoying the summer. 4.) Our adorable dog, Lollie. 5.) Having my mom over for dinner and play time with Little Chick. She loves having Grandma Hen over.