yummy crab legs

yummy crab legs, originally uploaded by frogverde.

new years crab legs

new years crab legs, originally uploaded by frogverde.

this is a big one... deep into the depths of my soul

1.  What do you want more of in your life?

more order and calm, relaxing moments   

2.  What do you want less of in your life?

less chaos, yelling, frustration

3.  What are three things you are doing regularly that don't serve or support you?

time wasting on Internet, working for something that isn't my passion and not exercising

4.  What do you really, really want?

to enjoy life more with the people i love without having to run through a string of conditions before it can happen. from being able to eat on the dining room table to purchasing 3 dressers for the kids, there are always long drawn out processes that could be avoided and would lessen the stress of the entire family which would, in turn, lessen mine.

5.  What's one change you could make to your lifestyle that would give you more peace? letting go of clutter

6.  In your current situation, what are you grateful for?

everything. my life (even with all the stress) is a blessing. i have a beautiful family. healthy, smart children, a husband who loves me for who i am and a great support from God loving women at church

7.  What is the value of your current attitude?

the value is great right now. i am riding on the bliss of the Christmas spirit. Enjoying my time off work and loving 'being in the moment'.

8.  What's one way you could have more fun in your life?

letting go... no one can achieve perfectionism

9.  What is your life really about?  What is your purpose?

Jesus is the reason for my life. i logically know this but and emotionally feel this but have to apply this to my actions. i thank the Lord every day for the wonderful blessings He has given me and the ability to please him with my actions and words

10.  What would you like most to be acknowledged for so far in your life?
raising my children to be followers of Christ. Each one of them has asked Jesus to be their Lord and Savior. If NOTHING else, I can stand on this accomplishment.

Bonus Question

Who is responsible for your happiness? Ultimately, it is I. But I rely on the strength I need to create my own happiness form God.

If these questions intrigue you...

If you are going into or are in the midst of a transition... only my own... to be a better me. More follow though, less mess

If you want to get stress and expectations under control... i have to do it and stop talking about it.

 

cali and rea

cali and rea, originally uploaded by frogverde.

cali and rea on the floor today

what? what? say what?

what? what? say what?, originally uploaded by frogverde.

i thought this child just turned 4, not 14! how does this happen? somebody please explain!

mountain goat

mountain goat, originally uploaded by frogverde.

let sleeping dogs lie

let sleeping dogs lie, originally uploaded by frogverde.

this is cala being dog-gone good and tired. this is how i feel today!

Cali's Holiday Greeting

Cali's Holiday Greeting, originally uploaded by frogverde.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from Cali and the Dalessandro Family.

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Christmas Quiz

We know everything there is to know about Christmas, right? Maybe yes. Maybe no. Here's a fun family quiz with a dozen questions to test your knowledge about Christmas that will help you separate fact from tradition and sometimes, plain fiction. The following are all true or false questions…

1. The innkeeper in Bethlehem told Mary and Joseph, "There's no room for you in the inn."

2. Jesus was born inside a barn/stable.

3. Xmas is a disrespectful abbreviation for Christmas – taking Christ – so to speak out of Christmas.

4. Jesus wasn't really born on December 25.

5. "The little Lord Jesus, no crying he makes…" (from Away in a Manger).

6. The "wise men" followed the star in the sky to the manger where Jesus was.

7. The "wise men" who found Jesus were not kings.

8. A 'manger' is a stable for domestic animals.

9. The first candy cane was made to be a visible reminder of who Jesus is and what He has done for us.

10. The Bible says that three "wise-men" visited Jesus.

11. Our nation's earliest colonies insisted on making Christmas a holiday.

12. Jesus' birthday was not celebrated by His earliest followers.

answers will be posted tomorrow...
 

 

 

simple truths

 

 

Just because two people argue,
Doesn't mean they don't love each other.
And just because they don't argue,
Doesn't mean they do love each other.

We don't have to change friends if
We understand friends change.

No matter how good a friend is, they're going to hurt
You every once in a while and you must forgive them for that.

True friendship continues to grow, even over
The longest distance. Same goes for true love.

You can do something in an instant
That will give you heartache for life.

it's taking me a long time To become the person I want to be.

You should always leave loved ones with
Loving words. It may be the last time you see them.

You can keep going long after you think you can't.

We are responsible for what we do, no matter how we feel.

Either you control your attitude or it controls you.

Heroes are the people who do what has to be done
When it needs to be done, regardless of consequences.

Money is a lousy way of keeping score.

My best friend and I can do anything or nothing, And have the best time.

Sometimes the people you expect to kick you
When you're down will be the ones to help you get back up.

 Sometimes when I'm angry, I have the right to be angry,
But that doesn't give me the right to be cruel.

 Maturity has more to do with what types of experiences you've had
And what you've e learned from them, and less to do
With how many birthdays you've celebrated.

It isn't always enough to be forgiven by others;
Sometimes, you have to learn to forgive yourself..

 No matter how bad your heart is broken, The world doesn't stop for your grief.

Our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are,
But we are responsible for who we become.

You shouldn't be so eager to find
Out a secret. It could change your life forever.

Two people can look at the exact same
Thing and see something totally different..

Your life can be changed in a matter of
Hours by people who don't even know you.

Even when you think you have no more to give, when
A friend cries out to you - you will find the strength to help.

Credentials on the wall do not make you a decent human being.

The people you care about most in life are taken from you too soon.


'The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything;
They just make the most of anything.

This message, including any attachments, is solely for the use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and/or privileged information.  Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution of this communication is expressly prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply e-mail and destroy any and all copies of the original message. Thank you.

it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

 1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate? Hot Chocolate
2.Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? Wrap 
3. Colored lights on house/tree or white? white, but the kids wanted colored this year.
4. Do you hang mistletoe? yes
5.When do you put your decorations up?  the day after Thanksgiving before reagan was born. now we celebrate her that weekend and decorate the following week. one thing a night goes up for about a week.

6. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)? Excluding dessert?! Who came up with these questions?! Um...sheesh, I don't know, I love it all!

7. Favorite holiday memory as a child? italian seafood christmas eve and playing with my cousins for 2 whole days!
8.When and how did you learn the truth about Santa?  i was about 8 or 9 and an older cousin mentioned it. it made sense so i looked it up and it was true! no santa, but when i confronted my parents i was told that if i didn't believe in santa, he wouldn't bring me gifts, so it was our little joke and my oldest and I have it going now.

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? yes
10. How do you decorate your Christmas tree? With ornaments, ribbon and white lights. and this year color too to apease the children.

11. Snow. Love it or dread it? Love to look at it, hate to deal with it.
12. Can you ice skate? oh yeah
13. Do you remember your favorite gift? ever? No, but i do remember the year I got a pink super mario brothers watch and little foot stuffed animal from the land before time. it was very cool.

14. What is the most important thing about the holidays to you? Spending time with family - I love family!
15. What is your favorite holiday dessert? Cookies - any and all!
16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? Waking up at our house on Christmas morning and the opening of the advent calendar each day.

17. What tops your Christmas tree? an angel.
18. Which do you prefer giving or receiving? i love giving and knowing the receiver liked the gift. but i do have my list made although i would prefer to buy it myself and have them wrap it and give it back to me so i know it's what i want. (yeah, i know i'm picky.)

19. What is your favorite Christmas song? mary did you know and o holy night
20. Candy Canes. Yum or Yuck? Yum
21. What do you want for Christmas? a new camera
22. Do you attend an annual Christmas party? Yes, several
23. Do you dress up for Christmas Eve or wear PJ's? We dress up for the family party, but then get comfy cozy in our PJ's.

24. Do you own a Santa hat? yes. one for each of us.
25. Who do you normally spend Christmas with? my family in the morning, them we usually host or go to my husbands side.
 

reagan's snowman

today rea and daddy went out in the year to build a snowman. it has button eyes and a carrot nose and is as cute and tiny as rea herself. how sweet!

5th grade science fair

today was the science fair at j's school. he received an honorable mention certificate and 3 medals. i am so proud of him. he did an experiment on nails and rust. he wanted to see if the ph of a liquid would speed up the process of rust on nails. considering all the variables involved and the fact that rust happens faster on certain kinds of metals, he did a nice job.

he typed the research paper that went along with it all by himself, so that alone deserves a medal in my opinion.

Go Jimmy!