Tuesday, November 11, 2014

November 11, 1918 - Armistice Day

The First World War (1914-1918) was ended on this day 96 years ago. At 11 o'clock on the 11th day of the 11th month, peace was declared between the Allied nations and Germany.

In 1919 the First Official Armistice Day was held at the Buckingham Palace grounds. Many other countries followed suit.

After World War II, the name was changed to All Veteran's Day (later shortened to Veteran's Day) in the US. This was in order to honor the veterans in WWII and other wars that followed.
We are eternally grateful to those who gave their lives for our country.


Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armistice_Day


Tuesday, September 16, 2014

Cousin's Camp 2014

Last month, our family traveled up to New Jersey to visit family and friends. Dad, Mom, Anna-Rebekah, and Jenna Beth stayed with a cousin on my mom's side, and Timothy and Ethan stayed with Mee-mom and Uncle Jake's house. Matthew, Susannah, Elijah, and I stayed with my Grandfather and Grandma-Diane at their shore house. Each year they take some of the grandkids for a few days to fish, swim, climb the lighthouse, and just have a great time with our grandparents and cousins.
We drove up on Wednesday making pretty good time. We left around 7:30 am and reached New Jersey around 3:30 pm.
It was probably the quietest car ride we have ever had since Timothy, Ethan, Anna-Rebekah, and I had our earbuds in and the little ones listened to Doctor Doolittle.
Jenna Beth
Anna-Rebekah, myself, and Susannah 
(btw, that's Matthew photo-bombing in the background)

We stopped at the Stafford Diner in Manahawkin, NJ for dinner. 
Matthew, Jenna Beth, Elijah, and me

Dad and Ethan

Timothy

Anna-Rebekah and Susannah

Mom and Susannah

When we arrived in Waretown dad dropped off the four campers -- Matthew, Susannah, Elijah, and me.
         On Thursday, we woke up bright and early to get ready for a fishing trip. We packed lunch, ate breakfast, loaded the boat, and slathered everyone with sunscreen. 

Elijah caught the first fish of the day - a fluke! Sadly, it was not big enough to keep.


I caught a second fluke - also to small
I caught a small blue fish that was a keeper, but we did not get pictures.

On Friday, we visited the Judge's Shack on Long Beach Island State Park. 

Breakfast time



Ready to walk out to the shack


On the way to the shack


The Judge's Shack


Cousin Noelle, Susannah, me, Elijah, Matthew, Grandfather, and Cousin Evan


After visiting the shack, we drove over to the bathing beach



Back at the house, Matthew, Susannah, and Elijah went crabbing in the lagoon. Matthew caught four crabs in the trap.

Playing Michigan Rummy, a Cousin's Camp tradition


Friday was seafood night!






Saturday was the day we climbed Barnegat Lighthouse.
\

Ol' Barney

We made it to the top!

Our family came back to retrieve us on Saturday evening.
Jenna Beth and Cousin Noelle



Family photo!
(Elijah, Grandfather, Jenna Beth, Dad, Matthew, Mom, Timothy, Susannah, me, Anna-Rebekah, Noelle, Evan, and Ethan

Sisters

Me and Noelle

Evan, Elijah, Timothy, Ethan, and Matthew

On Sunday, we visited a church in Sicklerville and met up with one of my mom's cousin.
Outside of the church with Mee-mom and Jake
Anna-Rebekah took this picture

I took this one

We spent the afternoon with some good friends, then drove home. We left Woolwich, NJ around 7:30ish and arrived home at 2:30 am. 
Thus ended our trip.

Monday, August 4, 2014

Susannah's Birthday Party

My sweet sister Susannah recently turned 10. I was put in charge of planning her party. Of course, being myself, I decided to go all in and do elaborate preparations. I had seen a really neat cake on Pinterest that had polka dots on the inside. I really wanted to try it so I begged my mom to let me make it. She said I could as long as I started it a few days before the party, thereby giving me enough time to make a plain vanilla cake should it flop. The recipe called for a cake pop pan to make the polka dots, but I didn't have one so I improvised. I made regular sized colorful cupcakes and then my ingenious older sister shaped them into balls with an ice-cream scoop.  Thankfully it did work and although I had to stay up till midnight the night before the party to finish last minute preparations (such as decorating the cakes), the party turned out to be a great success. 
The party table, decorated by Anna-Rebekah
The polka dot cake!
The little girls made bookmarks and coffee filter butterflies
They also played a game called Pass the Parcel in which a present, wrapped with as many layers as there are participants, is passed around while music plays. When the music stops, whoever is holding it unwraps a layer. You keep repeating that until there are no more layers. The gift usually goes to the last person to unwrap it, however we put a bag of m n m's for everybody to share.

The moment of truth....it worked!
The happy birthday girl

Friday, April 25, 2014

Pearl Blossom Boutique




For a while now, my sister, Anna-Rebekah, and I have been crafting away in our dining room, striving to open an Etsy shop. We have finally achieved that goal! I am excited to introduce Pearl Blossom Boutique. Each flower is handmade by Anna-Rebekah and I. I cut them out, and she singes and assembles them. We work together to produce these beautiful singed flowers. 

  

To see our complete collection, please visit https://www.etsy.com/shop/PearlBlossomBoutique?ref=l2-shopheader-name

You can also follow us on Twitter: @PearlBlossomBtq
Or Instagram: PearlBlossomBtq 


 Crocheted Lace Rose Brooch
 
   








Wednesday, February 26, 2014

SurveySavvy

I have been a member of Survey Savvy for about a year or two now. When you sign up for surveysavvy, you will receive emails that give you an opportunity to complete a survey and earn an incentive. The incentives usually range from about $0.50 to $10 plus if you don't qualify for a survey, you are entered into a drawing. You can view their privacy policy when you visit:
https://www.surveysavvy.com/how_it_works

To sign up today, please go to:
http://www.surveysavvy.com/?m=5517047

Thank You!

Survey Savvy
Intelligence adds up