Good Bye September

I can't believe that it is the end of September. Where did the month go? September was a very busy month for us. We had so much fun and got to spend time with a lot of our favorite people. We also got to go to our favorite vacation spot.

So sit on back and grab a snack and something hot to drink and see what we've been up to. It's gonna be a long one since I didn't blog at all this month. I told you I was super busy.

The beginning of the month bought us much time to play. Which was nice since I knew that the next couple of weeks was going to be CRAZY!!!

Labor day weekend we celebrated the holiday by staying in town and enjoying our Saturday summer traditions of going to The Farmer's Market, Mollies for breakfast, running errands. We also went to StroudFest which is a town wide festival that gets bigger and bigger every year!!
We took a boat ride in my father's new-old boat that he worked on all summer. Tommy, Speed Racer, and my father took the boat out for a little spin while Ballerina and I painted some ceramics. I asked Ballerins if she would like to go on Pop's boat and she said "no thank you." So I went out with my father and Speed Racer. I sat there and watched two of my three favorite men interact. Speed Racer and my father have a very funny relationship. One that I think s very funny. Some days Speed Racer thinks that my father is the greatest thing and other days they fight. All this time I thought Ballerina would be the ball buster in this family but I am starting to think that Speed Racer is going to be the ball buster. (It makes sense Girl, boy, girl, boy aka Nana, Pop, me, and Speed Racer. Anyway, I watched Speed Racer bark out orders to my father and I watched my dad not listen, but then I sat there and watched my little boy feed animal crackers to my father. It was such a great moment for me to watch them. I have a feeling that Speed Racer and my dad are going to be the best of friends. They are very much alike!!!

Labor day weekend went by in a flash which was ok by me because I just wanted Thursday to be here. Earlier this year Tommy, our cousin (will call her Becca) and myself that it was time to re-start a Nieman family tradition of going to LBI for a fun family weekend of fun!! What a blast we had!! The house was great, the food was good, and the company was the best part!! Plus so many people to inter-act with the kiddies.

The week of the trip I was packing and food shopping for everything we needed. Thursday came we dropped off Bing at the kennel and headed for the shore but first we needed to make a little stop to see one of our favorite little girls.


My little niece Baby O. Is she just not the cute? We actually had some girl bonding!! I was excited that she reached up to me!! It made my day!!!

Uncle Tommy was the one who suggested the stop so he could see his little niece. he hadn't seen her since 4th of July. Another little girl I have to compete with!! LOL!!!

It looks like they are all playing together but their not!!! I can't wait for that day!!

We stayed for about an hour and then hit the road for exit 63!! Tommy and I decided that we would go down a day early and stay at a little motel on the bay!!

Once we got down there we stopped for lunch at Plantation House and then went to the light house.

It was very windy!! We couldn't stay here very long.

Tommy and Ballerina walking on the rocks!!

Speed Racer and Tommy thinking they might get to fish!!

Ballerina showing us how windy it is at the light house.

Too much wind for us so we decided that we would just head to the motel and enjoy the bay!! (Ok Tommy and I really needed a drink!!!)

1. The sun setting over the bay.

2. Tommy once again thought he was going to fish. Ballerina had other ideas for her Daddy.

3. Ballerina wanted a picture of doing funny faces.

4. The bench over looking the bay.

5. Sun setting.

It was a very exhausting day for us. We couldn't wait for our family to come and play!!

The Nieman family arrived to the house at different times. Some of us were lucky to have a few hours down at the beach before we had to head back to the house for appetizers and cocktails. For dinner we had Paella. It was so yummy!! Even Ballerina ate it and she is not a big dinner eater. After dinner and the kiddies were put to bed we all retired to the porch catching up on stories and our lives. It was a lot of fun just being together.

Saturday was an absolute beach day, so we all hit the beach. It was great!! My brother in law was prepared!! He brought a huge canopy, spackel buckets and adult size shovels. What a boy scout... he was PREPARED!!!

1. Ballerina striking a pose for the camera.

2. Tommy, Speed Racer, and Uncle Mike looking for the perfect wave.

3. Speed Racer had a wipe out but he got back up and continued "surfing."

4. Ballerina playing on cousin Pat's turtle.

5. The dude's planning their course of attack.

6. Surfer dude!! He was loving the water!!

7. Speed Racer and his new "surf board"

8. Ballerina still on the turtle.

9. Ballerina thought she would give surfing a try.

Ballerina and Baby G playing so nicely.

We had such a great trip!!

Speed Racer loved surfing in the water, taking long walks with his Great Uncle Glenn, and having long talks with his Great Aunt Laurette!!

Ballerina loved being with her Aunt Jo, playing with her adult cousins, playing hide and seek, and talking to anyone that would listen!!

Tommy and I loved being with our family. We feel so blessed that so many wonderful people played and amused our kids!! Our kids are very lucky to have so many wonderful people in their lives that really care about them!!!

I hope that this becomes our tradition once again!!

After a great weekend we had to head home and say good-bye to Tommy who would be gone for the whole week. I had unpacking and loads of laundry to catch up on. I also had a little project I wanted to do by the end of the summer. I wanted to re-do our powder room yet again!! I forgot to take before pictures. If you forgot it was a very pale blue!!

The sink area.

The art work is original art work done by my mother in law and Tommy. I have such talented artists in my family!!

Tommy's art work.

The whole bathroom!! I have a couple projects I want to do in here!! You'll have to wait and see!!

I was never so happy for Friday to come. Tommy would finally be home after traveling all over the east coast. I kept joking by calling him Jeffrey and I would call myself Ina. (Barefoot Contessa) You have to watch her show to understand!!

That Saturday Ballerina started her second year of dance class!!

The twins saying good-bye. Speed Racer told her to have fun!!

Ballerina ready to go!!!!

What a difference a year makes. Last year she made me sit in the dance room with her and this year she ran right into the room. She was so happy to see her friend!!

After dance class we headed for our annual apple picking.

We go to the same farm every year. It's not too big!! It's just right for the four of us. We love apple picking and then we had a wonderful lunch together.

Another busy week!! My mom and I decided to throw my sister in law a baby shower. She is due in December. When I throw a party I like to work with a theme. The baby shower theme was apple of my eye. All things apples!!!

I did all the cooking and decorating. You know me I love to throw a party. I even did all the flowers. I thought that they turned out pretty good!! Everyone said they had a great time and everything was yummy!!!

I have you pretty caught up. Hopefully will be able to tell you next week all the fun things we did this week and what we did this weekend. Big Weekend for this Nieman Family!!

Gone Camping...

Ok, well we went for half a day of camping. I thought it woud be fun to take the kids to my parent's camper for a few hours today. We had a great time camping.

When we got to the camper it was snack time. I thought that Smores would be a perfect snack. However, I have to admit I don't know how to start a camp fire plus it was very hot. So I decided to do the next best thing...

Goldfish Smores. They are so tasty as the kids say. I thought that Ballerina needed a little Tinkerbell bling.

After snack I thought that we would hike around the campground. We headed down to the river to see the water. We had to stop for some photo opps. I have to tell you how I love that the kids are suddenly posing.

I love these pictures. I think I will get some of them framed!!

As we hiked I thought that I would snap some great pictures of the kids and things that I saw along the way.

We stopped at the two beaches that the camp ground has. One beach is sandy and the other is rocky. The kids enjoyed the rocky one more because they were able to throw the rocks into the water. I can't believe that the leaves are already changing colors.

As we continued our hike I thought that it would be nice to hop into some air conditioning. So I introduced the kids to something they did not know the campground had until now....

A Game Room. The kids had a BLAST playing air hockey. It was so great to watch them play. Speed Racer is so naturally good and Ballerina is going be a competive little girl. I think I know what I should get the family for Hanukkah!! LOL

After our hike and fun in the game room we headed back to the camper to eat our lunch and

and went to the pool for a swim and to cool off. Sorry no pictures of the pool, I had to watch the kiddies swim.

It was a great day!!! Sometimes I think that it would be great to have a little place to get away to during the week. It would of course need to be on the water.

Something like this would be fun. Like a home base that we could go to for meals and to get changed. I think it would be fun to find something like this really cheap and make it really fun for us to go to!!! I know you probably think I lost my mind. Everyone needs a place to escape!!

Well I must go wake up the happy campers.

Worthington State Park

This past weekend we had nothing going on which was much needed and desired. On Sunday morning Tommy, the kids, and I went on a hike. We all love to take hikes especially at this destination because of the stream that runs next to the trail.

I hope that you had a great weekend.

Ballerina posing for the camera.One of the many waterfalls and pools that are on this hiking trail.Everyone walking over the bridge. We are always looking for the grumpy old troll that lives under the bridge. (Dora the Explorer)The sun filtering through the trees.Here are the kiddies enjoying their hiking sticks.Here are the happy hikers. I think that this might be one minute that everyone was happy.

Tommy trying to escape the whining and crying. Don't jump!!!

Favorite Things

I recently learned about a web-site that has some incredible pictures taken by other people. I went on the web-site to look up some pictures and found soo many awesome pictures.

I thought that I would share with you some of my recent favorite things.

I am in love with barns. I could just see myself sitting there drinking a lemonade with Tommy and the kiddies.

Here is another barn. Just love them. I think that I am going to print out some pictures and hand them in the quiet room.
All photos from Flick R

What's your lastest obsessions?

I don't know if it's because Ballerina wants to be a cowgirl for Halloween, but I suddenly have a thing for cowboy boots.

Lavender. I love the smell of it and it helps me relax a little bit.
I would love to have an old truck to go antiquing in on the weekend. I would also love to go to the Country Living Fair.
Roosters. I have this thing for roosters that come and go. Anything and Everything Patriotic. I love being an American.
Vintage bikes with baskets. If I didn't live in the Poconos I would be all about getting a bike to ride around on my free time.

Dinner and A Movie

Several weeks ago my Mom and I made a date to go see a movie that I have been wanting to see since I learned that they were making the movie. I read the book and absolutely loved it. After I read this book I wanted to go to Italy to eat and drink and then to Bali to rest in one of the huts that she lived it for several months. Have you guessed the movie yet?

That's right....

I have to admit I was a little nervous to go and see the movie. I was so afraid that I would be disappointed with the movie and then not like the book anymore.

I thought that they did a great job with the movie. I don't know that if I directed the movie if I would have cast Julia Roberts but she did a good job.

When I left the movie I felt the same way I did after reading the book. I want to go to Italy to eat and drink and then head on over to Bali for some rest in the hut and hang out with Ketut and the medicine lady and her daughter Tutti. I am still trying to figure one thing out and maybe you can help me with this. (Only if you read the book) how and the hell do you make your liver smile?

If you haven't read this book you need to read it!!

OTHER NEWS:

Yesterday the kids and I went to a garden center to get some hydragenas. We got some and I love them. I can't wait to watch them grow and fill my house with their blooms.

The color is limelight!! They will turn a little pink in the fall when they start to dry.

I can't wait to go and pick a couple but Tommy keeps telling me to wait a little longer. Has he just met me? I'm gonna wait.

Hope you have a great day

Last Nights Supper

Yesterday, I told you that I was cooking something good for dinner. I also promised that I would share the recipe with you.

As I was making this YUMMY soup I realized that I was going against my summer rule... NO SOUP!!! But I had to go against my rule because everytime I eat corn this summer I start to think about my Corn Chowder. Alright it's not my corn chowder it's Ina's (Barefoot Contessa). I make this chowder every fall but I couldn't wait any longer. I had to have it. I am glad that I made it because the kiddies LOVED it. Ballerina said that it was her favorite part of the day.

I used corn on the cob but I have made it with frozen corn too. It's a lot of work taking the corn off the cob, but I did it!!!!!

The only thing it was missing was my pumpkin bread. I wasn't going to break the pumpkin bread rule. I don't make pumpkin bread until October and we eat it through Thanksgiving. (Boy, I have ALOT of rules.)

Ingredients
•8 ounces bacon, chopped
•1/4 cup good olive oil
•6 cups chopped yellow onions (4 large onions)
•4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter
•1/2 cup flour
•2 teaspoons kosher salt
•1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
•1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric
•12 cups chicken stock
•6 cups medium-diced white boiling potatoes, unpeeled (2 pounds)
•10 cups corn kernels, fresh (10 ears) or frozen (3 pounds)
•2 cups half-and-half
•1/2 pound sharp white cheddar cheese, grated
Directions
In a large stockpot over medium-high heat, cook the bacon and olive oil until the bacon is crisp, about 5 minutes. Remove the bacon with a slotted spoon and reserve. Reduce the heat to medium, add the onions and butter to the fat, and cook for 10 minutes, until the onions are translucent.

Stir in the flour, salt, pepper, and turmeric and cook for 3 minutes. Add the chicken stock and potatoes, bring to a boil, and simmer uncovered for 15 minutes, until the potatoes are tender. If using fresh corn, cut the kernels off the cob and blanch them for 3 minutes in boiling salted water. Drain. (If using frozen corn you can skip this step.) Add the corn to the soup, then add the half-and-half and cheddar. Cook for 5 more minutes, until the cheese is melted. Season, to taste, with salt and pepper. Serve hot with a garnish of bacon.

Ballerina enjoying her Chowder!!!

Of Course Speed Racer wanted his picture taken too.

I have sooo much soup left!! We are having left overs tonight. Well the kiddies and Tommy are having left overs. I am going to dinner and a movie with my Mommy!! Come back tomorrow to see what we went to see and get my movie review!!!