Home for the Holidays

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Dual Celebration

Happy Birthday to me, Merry Christmas to you!

Too bad you couldnt partake of my ice cream cake, with chocolate cake, layered with coffee ice cream, crunchy Heath bar and smothered in rich chocolate ganache.

YUM-E!

New Arrival!

My new kitty cat, aint he cute?? Kinda of a birthday present to myself! ;) He's just over 2 months, but he looks bigger then that! I'm still finding a name for him so I'll let ya know!

A Howard Family Christmas

Well here we all are. Wacky and werid as ever, but then again, what else is new? Ya only live once, right? Mind as well enjoy it!! And today also marks 12 days of Christmas left until Christmas...if that made any sense. Ha! William is definitly a Howard, he fits right in! ;)

Christmas is Coming...Get ready!

And away we go...!!

Hurray! It's almost December! Yes, I'm back in CT after surviving my parents driving 13 hours back from MI. Ugh. All in all it was nice seeing the Howard side of the fam! But, nonetheless, I am here! And it's time to start decorating, shopping, wrapping, baking, and hopefully, it'll snow!! Pray for snow!!!! I'll keep you posted..

Happy Thanksgivin' Everybody!

This beautiful world we live in.
Having family of my own.
Almost Christmas! There's
No place like home.
Knowing the Lord.
Sunshine and rain,
Glad I'm not in pain.
I can see, hear, and walk.
Very special friends.
I have freedom and liberty!
New England's 4 seasons.
God's Word to light my path.


Gobble, gobblely, gobble! Now, I want you all to have a happy, ful-FILLING Thanksgiving. (Get it?,did ya get it!? haha..) Relax, have a good time, and eat, eat, eat! Dont forget to watch the parade!!! And think of me as I am away,*sniffle*from all you dear folk, and I shall think of you!

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Friday night with Auntie Lori

QUOTE OF THE WEEK!

During a recent session of Parliament , England's Prime Minister Tony Blair was asked by an opposing member why he believes so much in America.

Blair answered: "A simple way to take measure of a country is to look at how many want in and how many want out. Only two defining forces have ever offered to die for you; Jesus Christ and the American G.I. One died for your soul, the other for your freedom."

Dont forget to VOTE!!

Do your part for our country!!

'...and the Leaf shall Fade;...'

Can you believe all the glorious, vibrant leaves are almost gone, and winter's icy fury is creeping it's way in? It got quite cold a little too early this year for me, I always like those Indian summers...like Laura Ingalls had on the prairie, ahhh, the good ole days! I hope we have a good New England winter this year, with snow up to my elbows!! That's how it used to be when I was a kid...I cant believe I'm now using the phrase 'when I was a kid'. Sad. Tragic. Pathetic. Scary. Hopefully I'll maintain a kid at heart until I'm 90!! Anyway, :) This is my favorite tree in the yard. A Japanese Maple. I wanted to capture it before it was gone with the wind...

'I do set my bow in the cloud,...' Gen.9:13

'... and it shall be a token of a covenant between me and the earth... and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh...and the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh this is upon the earth.' Gen.9:13,15,16


I took these pictures while driving on the higway-I know, very safe-it had just down poured and then out came the sun and this amazing rainbow! It was just so beautiful and so vivid(much more so in person!), that I had to share it with all of you!

Camping Slideshow

Create Your Own!

QUOTE OF THE WEEK!

'Never let yesterday take up too much of today.'


*68 DAYS TIL CHRISTMAS!*

QUOTE OF THE WEEK!

'All I have seen teaches me to trust the Creator for all I have not seen.' ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

QUOTE OF THE WEEK!

I found this poem while on vacation in a quaint little country store. I thought it was nice. Hope you enjoy it as well.

I AM A CHRISTIAN

When I say... "I am a Christian"

I'm not shouting, "I am saved".

I'm whispering, "I was lost".

That is why I chose this way.

When I say..."I am a Christian"

I dont speak of this with pride.

I'm confessing that I stumble

And need someone to be my guide.

When I say..."I am a Christian"

I'm not trying to be strong.

I'm professing that I'm weak.

And pray for strength to carry on.

When I say..."I'm a Christian"

I'm not bragging of success.

I'm admitting I have failed

And cannot ever pay the debt.

When I say..."I'm a Christian"

I'm not claiming to be perfect,

My flaws are too visible,

But God believes I'm worth it.

When I say..."I'm a Christian"

I still feel the sting of pain.

I have my share of heartaches

Which is why I speak His name.

When I say..."I'm a Christian"

I do not wish to judge.

I have no authority.

I only know I'm loved.

Vaca Slideshow!!

Create Your Own!

Mission accomplished!!

Well, we finally managed to successfully surprise Julie for the big 3-0 birthday!! Despite her fishing around, hinting and thinking everyone forgot about her birthday!! A-hem! (it aint called a "surprise" party for nothin'!) It was lots of fun!
" Surprise!!"(...or, scared?) Finally after 40 minutes in the dark!! (cool confetti, eh?)

She thought we were all burglars!! ha!
William helps Auntie Julie
Still sisters after the alleged 'everyone-forgot-about-my-30th-birthday-and-you-all-scared-me-to-death-of-a-surprise-party!!' Love you! xxoo

QUOTE OF THE WEEK!

'Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, and today is a gift, that's why we call it: THE PRESENT!'

GUESS WHAT?!?!

Well, while I was away on vacation, the 100 day mark till Christmas came on the 15th!! And now there's only 97 days left!! Along with that, only 96 days til I turn 26....eek! **sigh** *sniffle*
~~Check back for vaca pictures soon to come!!~~

Tribute to 5th Anniversary of 9/11

God Bless America! 'Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord...' Ps. 33:12
ONE nation under GOD, indivisible...!!

QUOTE OF THE WEEK!

'Food had power. It could inspire, astonish, shock, excite, delight and impress.'
~Anthony Bourdain
Kitchen Confidental

Vacation here I come!!!

Well, it's finally upon us. VACATION! Ya-hoooo! I'll be away from my blog for a whole glorious week! So I thought I'd just say a few words(a few words...) before I leave, because I know ALL of you check my blog in anticipation EVERY day.....right?? ;o) haha!!
So off I am to VA!! :) Hopefully to return in one piece and still having two friends! ha! Pray for safety please. Check back for pictures, naturally. :)
I love you all, thank you, thank you!!
I'll be back...

Happy Labor Day?...

To all of us lazy, non-laboring laborers, Have a great day! From, Me and Abbers


I need help......with my chopstix of course!!....but mentally as well I'm sure..haha..

QUOTE OF THE WEEK!

' Prayer is the way the life of God is nourished. We look upon prayer as a means of getting things for ourselves; the Bible idea of prayer is that we may get to know God Himself...
It is not so true that "prayer changes things" as that prayer changes me and I change things.
...Prayer is not a question of altering things externally, but of working wonders in a man's dispostion.' ~Oswald Chambers

QUOTE OF THE WEEK!

'We were created on purpose, so live on purpose!' -BeatBob

'...all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.' Col. 1:16b-17

Balloon Festival '06-Hosted by Plainville FD

The gang.

Balloons!

Tash and cotton candy! yum! (This is for the hotdog picture!!) ;o)


Getting ready for lift off...

OUOTE OF THE WEEK!

The greatest danger could be your stupidity. -Chinese fortune cookie

*~*SuPriSe!!~*~

Smile birthday girl!! Haha, love this pix.:)

The life of the party.

Balloon heads! -No!, not AIR-heads!! (arent these balloons great?!-Dollar store!, love it!)

Lydia

~Lydia Elisabeth Howard

Unidentified Flying Burgers?

Funny looking, huh? Well, that's how Shady Glen in Manchester, CT. does their burgers! Crispy, then gooey cheese ruffled around a yummy burger!
We-that is, Kelly and I-had quite a time finding the place, driving back and forth, up and down, all-around Manchester,(due to MapQuest's terrible directions) while we were growing fainter by the minute, deprived of food after our 5 mile walk!! *gasp*!
But we made it! But then we didnt know how to order our food, b/c you see, it's an old 50's place, so there are no menus. You look at plaques on the wall, that were dispersed throughout the restaurant, although in some awkward viewing positions. Nonetheless!, we recieved our water in dixie cups--yes, dixie cups --(Another interesting happening), and our food arrived promptly, we scarfed it down with some milkshakes,--strawberry for me and Kelly had vanilla. yum! All in all, it was an interesting day! haha! But if you're looking for a new, neat place to eat, Shady Glen is the place! Definitely an experience you must try at least once!! :) The cheese, of course, is a show-stopper!! haha...

QUOTE OF THE WEEK!

'It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible.' ~George Washington

MY NEW NIECE!!~Lydia Elisabeth Howard ~19" 7lbs. 3oz.

Here she is! Isnt she adorable?!

Lydia with her Auntie Lori. :) Sorry bout the goofy smile,haha!

Lydia Elisabeth ~with mommy's socked feet in the background!!

Mom is doing well, actually incredibly well!! They went to the hospital around 4am and Lydia was born by 4:45am!! Daddy and big brother William are happy and doing well too. I'm sure there will be more pictures to come. :)

Finally, NYC Pics are In!

Old Glory!

This eagle monument respresents all servicemen who died while at sea.

Our ferry that took us to Liberty and Ellis Islands.

Tash, snapping a few shots while at Liberty Island. Hi Tashy!! :)

Once more for our Statue of Liberty!

Kitten Search Continues...meow?..

Well, yes, I'm still searching for a kitten to nuture! After various trips to the Human Society and PetsMart, I cant seem to be there at the right time, or else there's only the older cats left.
So today I stopped at a farm that had a "free kittens" sign, and there was a seedy-looking old guy who's nose hair had actually grown into his bushy mustache, as one!!! -Highy disturbing.- Then he shows me the kittens, who,the poor things, were being keep in a skunk trap-thing!! So that didnt really pan out well.
Then I was thinking about those older cats, nobody wants them. Everyone wants kittens. Including me! Which made me feel horrible! But I did see a year old cat at Pets Mart that was adorable... so I dont know. I mean, maybe I should be saving one of the older cats, ya know? If from anything, the Chinese restaurants!! jk! (eek!)
But if anyone knows anyone that has kittens, let me know! ! Thanks!! =^..^= meow..

NYC Pictures-MORE TO COME!!

Tash and Me with the Statue of Liberty!!

Enjoying some ice cream at Ellis Island. (Excuse the flared nostrils- haha!)

-Here we are again...!