Month: November 2012

  • Creativity, Choir, Carmel Hills, & Crowder’s Mountain

    Mom and Dad had their 26th anniversary in November.  Woohoo!

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    The anniversary table.  We printed a large photo of them to put in the 8×11 frame in their room.  A couple comments were made about how the strange lady who’d lived in the frame for quite some time would be missed…but I think everyone agreed that Mom and Dad (not some strange face for a sample picture) looked a lot better in the frame.

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    Mom had surgery at the beginning of  November. When she came home from the hospital, the little girls went all out to welcome her.  They had signs on the windows, chalk messages on the driveway, ribbons and streamers on the cars, and confetti to throw at Mom when she got out of the car.  So cute!

    Marianna had fun decorating Mom’s bed. 

    We tried to make the “recovery room” fun and comfortable.

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    Love them!  Missy’s choir sang at a retirement home a little while ago.  They did a good job…Missy LOVES to sing.

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    Some art work

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    We went to Carmel Hills Retirement Community with several students again and put on a small recital for the residents there.  They loved it!  And the students had fun too.

    At the end, Jen and I did a duet, Angela played, and then we had a short time of singing, which the people loved.

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    Some fun ladies. They would have partied all night! 

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    We six kids went to Crowder’s Mountain for the day last month.  Grabbed a friend last minute since we had an extra seat in our vehicle. 

    The leaves were still on the trees and changing colors at this time, so it was beautiful!

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    Missy had a blast.  She’s adventurous, but she also stayed close by the whole time.

    After we got to the end of the trail and climbed past the danger sign  we walked on top of the mountain and took in this beautiful view.

    When we go hiking, we’re used to doing it in the mountains and having a different view, but it was really neat to feel like we were above EVERYTHING and to see for miles and miles.

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    So gorgeous!

    Christopher was a trooper hanging out with all of us girls. 

     

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  • Bethany’s birthday

    Bethany turned 20!!  One of her requests was to make her own birthday dinner.  She made a delicious meal of chicken with fettucini alfredo.  Sooooo good!

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    Her birthday table

    I found this amazing recipe for breadsticks.  You can find the garlic alredo sauce here (http://mmmcafe.blogspot.com/2012/01/chicken-alfredo-roll-ups.html) and the breadsticks recipe here (http://mmmcafe.blogspot.com/2008/02/divine-breadsticks.html).

     

    Present time!

     

    A lighted frisbee and awesome boots!

     

    Carvel birthday cake

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    Happy 20th Birthday Bethany!!!!

     

  • Mom’s birthday

    Mom’s & Bethany’s birthday came quickly after Dad’s and Jen’s.  We’re in a bit of a birthday lull until Christmas (my birthday), though the birthday pictures are still coming!

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    Mom’s birthday table!  I feel that I should explain the Flirt thing.    My mom is not a flirt.  Flirt is an energy/vitamin drink our neighbor made and is now selling, and it’s a drink we really like (plus it’s healthy for you).

    I made a chocolate bunt cake completely from scratch, and it was deeeeelicious!

    Someone had the fun idea of putting birthday sticky notes on every cabinet in the kitchen.  Marianna and Missy enjoyed helping with that. 

    Mom with her birthday balloon and table

    Mom is always on the run, helping others, and NOT sleeping.    She’s an example to us of a servant, and we’re thankful that God put her as our mom.

     

    Opening presents!!

    Had to.  It’s tradition now. 

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    Our friend Rachel had stopped by for something, so we handed her the camera for a few family shots. 

    Happy Birthday Mom!!!!!

     

     

  • Nana Pat & Riverbend Farm

    Recently, we’ve gotten to visit quite a bit with our dear friend, Nana Pat.  She lives in a retirement home about 25 minutes from us, but was at her daughter’s house (our neighbor) for a while. It was so much fun going down the road and hanging out with her.   

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    Playing cards

    Missy brought over her cello one day and played for Nana Pat.  So cute!

    Our toothless girl!  We also brought over a small keyboard so the girls could play some of their pieces.

    Marianna made a cute pillow for Nana Pat.  She did a great job!

    Playing tic-tac-toe. 

    More tic-tac-toe.  Looks like they’re having fun, huh?

    Nana Pat is a special friend.  The little girls love her.  We all do!

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    Mom, Jen, Marianna, and Missy went on a field trip with some friends to Riverbend Farm.

    There were lots of fun things for them to do!

    Pumpkin picking!

    Interesting!

    We remember Riverbend as the farm that has the big slides.  They’re so much fun!

    They bring out the kid in you

    Walking up to the slide                                                                                                

    Fun times!!

     

    I have the week off of work this week (!!!!), so I will hopefully be able to catch up on posting pictures from the last two weeks. 

     

     

     

     

     

  • Fall-ish activities

    Mom and Jen found a fun place to take some pictures for their “birthday portraits.”

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    The two lovely ladies

     

    Mom took Jen out to Penn Station for lunch.  It’s one of our (or my) favorite places.

    Jen & her declicious sub

     

    Mom never fails to have candles on hand during birthday season.  She’ll put them in anything. 

    Perfect weather for pumpkin painting outside!

    While we were in New Jersey last month, we “tie dyed” our nails with our cousins. It’s the coolest thing!! You get a cup (or, like Jen did below, a paint holder) and fill it with water. Then choose the colors you want on your nails.  Untwist each nail polish and put one drop of color in the water. You’ll have color upon color in the water.  When you have all the colors you want, take a knife or tooth pick and slice the colors to make a cool design.  

    Make sure you put tape on your fingers (only leaving the nail showing).

    THEN….dip your fingers in the water.  It’s probably best to do one finger at a time (you can do one from each hand at the same time).  Immediately take off the tape and let the paint dry.  You can do all your nails or just a couple. Some people just do one or two nails and paint the rest solid color.   Have fun with it!!

     

    Marianna had a great time with her soccer team this season.  She’s a fast runner and a great teammate!

    Look at her go!!

    Jen coached a girls’ volleyball team this season and had a blast with them.  They especially liked her too.  She’s a great teacher and encourager.

     

    At Jen’s volleyball game.  Aren’t they cute? 

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    Bethany’s chamber ensemble had their performance recently. UNCC has definitely had it’s fill of Wescott’s…and there’s still more to come! 

     

     

  • Jen’s 22nd Birthday

    Jennifer turned 22 in October!  We had fun eating, laughing, and celebrating together.

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    Jen’s birthday table.  So cute!

    Her birthday dinner was southern fried chicken, a pasta side, rolls, vegetables, and salad.  And, of course, sparkling cider1

      

    Opening gifts

      

    Christopher got Jen five nail polishes.  He made sure she knew he DID IT FOR HER.  He was so proud of himself for doing a good job in picking out the colors, but also said it was quite uncomfortable (and funny) asking one of the employees where a certain brand of nail polish was.  Go Christopher!!

    Bethany decorated an apron for Jen.  It’s so adorable!!  She put two encouraging phrases on the pockets (for when things don’t go right in the kitchen) and wrote her name.  Love how personalized it is.

    Getting the birthday cupcakes ready!!

     

    Ze birthday girl!

    Christopher contributing his share to the dessert and Missy serenading us on the piano.

    Pre-posed pictures crack me up!  We cleaned up pretty nicely though, right? 

    Happy Birthday Jen!  You’re a constant example of what it means to be a missionary and live for the Lord.  Keep your eyes on Him and glorify Him with your life!

     

     

     

  • Dad’s Birthday

    I’m a bit behind on updating.  We’ve had four birthdays pass since the last post.    (4 birthdays in thirteen days means a LOT of food, sweets, and pictures)  I’m slowly but surely going through our pictures and will document each one hopefully by the end of next week. 

    The first birthday we celebrated in the birthday race was Daddy!  He turned the big five-O this year.  We had fun celebrating as a family.  We literally have to take out the calendar to see when we’re all going to be home at the same time for a long enough period so we can celebrate.  Haha!

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    Dad’s birthday table

    We get a bit crazy when we’re all together.

    Dad’s birthday dinner was taco salad!!!  So yummy.

    After dinner, we did presents.  The little girls love to help hand the birthday person the gifts and then organize them after they’re opened.

     

     

    Mom and Dad will be going on a trip sometime in the new year.  They still have to pick a place (which will be fun!).

    The observers.  Sometimes we forget that the birthday person is supposed to get the attention. 

    Gifts from the little girls

    We had a visitor with us that night!  Our neighbor, Snickers.

    I made a chocolate truffle cheesecake that I’m super proud of.   It came out really well and tasted soooo good.

    Mom and Dad

    It took me a second to realize this was our “singing faces” moment.  I was wondering why we all looked so weird (besides Dad and Missy).

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    Dad and his kiddos.  Happy Birthday Dad!!!!