Monday, April 30, 2007

Calling all Homeschooling Moms!!!

Image credit: Scholastic.com

I NEED HELP PEOPLE
!!! I don't know where to go, who to talk to or even what to do when it comes to Homeschooling, all I know is that if I do have to homeschool I want to have a christian curriculum and that is about all I know, hence my stress! So if you have any tips or are currently homeschooling your children, I would LOVE some info or advice please....pretty please with a cherry on top???


The move is coming soon and I'm starting to feel overwhelmed, there just seems to be so much to do and plan, it's truly stressful. The biggest thing for me right now is Jasmine's school, not until we have base housing do we know which school she is able to attend, and as things stand right now there is a very strong possibility that I will be homeschooling her.


Cool Slideshows

This weekend was wonderful, we had warm temperatures and took advantage of it to the fullest. I think we were only in the house to sleep and eat and oh, use the bathroom of course LOL
Other than that we were outside in the pool, tanning, grilling and just having a ball...I'm nice and brown and I feel wonderful :)

I also got to sit outside in our swing and read my Fannie Flagg book "Can't wait to get to Heaven"....IT IS HILARIOUS. I can't believe I had never read this author before, who by the way wrote the very well known and wonderful "Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe"......she's so funny and the book really captivates you from the first page. Here is a little blurb just so you can see how funny it is:

As predicted, around ten AM, just as Norma had finished applying her special Merle Norman facial mask for dry sensitive skin, the phone rang for the fourth time that morning. "Norma, if Adam and Eve were the only two people on earth, then where did Cain and Abel meet their wives?"
"Oh, I don't know, Aunt Elner....at Club Med? Don't ask me. I don't even know why the chicken crossed the road."
"You don't? Well I do!" said Aunt Elner. "Do you want me to tell you?"
Norma gave up and sat down. "sure," she said. "I'm just dying to know."
"To show the possum it can be done."
"Aunt Elner, where do you hear these silly things?"
"From Bud and Jay. Did you know that another name for the potato bug is the Jerusalem grasshopper?"
"No."
"Did you know there are forty-seven trillion cells in the human body?"
"No, I didn't."
"Yes, that was the correct answer yesterday. It won somebody and electric knife."
Norma had just put the phone down and was headed to the bathroom when the phone rang again.
"Hey, Normal, you just wonder who had the time to count all those cells, don't you?"


LOL I swear this book is just too funny, I am loving it and I'm definitely picking up any Fannie Flagg books I find from this day on. You have GOT to read them. (Anabela, let me know if you like the book)

Saturday morning I gave the house a good cleaning, actually Curt and the kids helped too, so now we have a spotless house. Here's the thing though, why is it that kids associate cleaning with someone coming over???

Jasmine's best friend came over for the afternoon, and yes while I did make sure she had her bedroom clean, the rest of the house cleaning is done because it's what I do everyday, especially on the weekends when Curt is home and can keep the kids busy, I get a LOT more done.

Anyway, I was cleaning the house and asked Jasmine to help with some stuff to which she quickly says....well, this is how it went:

Jasmine: Why are you cleaning mommy?

Me: Because it needs to be done Jasmine.

Jasmine: But why, is someone coming over?

Me: Yes your friend is coming this afternoon but that is not the reason I'm cleaning....

Jasmine: Oh, is someone else coming over?

Seriously, come on, if anyone hears this they're going to think that we live in a pigsty which only gets cleaned out if someone decides to come by.

It's like the day she stayed home sick and saw me cleaning (this cleaning thing just really confuses her lol) and she asked why I was doing it and I told her that it's what I do everyday...she replied with "really??? Oh I thought you just did your blog" LOL

If you're interested in seeing what I'm cooking this week, just head on over to my food blog where I posted my menu.

BTW we watched "Night at the Museum" yesterday and it was brilliant...we all watched together as a family and loved it.

Alright I'm headed out, I have a 4 year old that believes the couches pillows look better laying all over the living room floor...what is with kids and couches??? At least once a day you can find them diving off the couch onto a pile of pillows.....it does look fun but the mommy in me cringes everytime.

Have a great day everyone, God Bless,

Saturday, April 28, 2007

Feels Like Summer!!!


FINALLY FINALLY FINALLY.....we are having amazing weather, upper 80's and clear blue skies. This is what it looked like this morning, I actually started laughing because it's like someone decided to scribble across the sky....how neat is that huh?

Yesterday morning I got out the new pool, blew it up and filled it with water, soon Nicholas and I had both jumped in there for about 30 minutes, thirty minutes of which I shivered and thought my teeth would fall off from the shattering. LOL


By the afternoon it was just beautiful, hot hot and it felt wonderful being in the cool water, needless to say we spent the rest of the day in the pool, barbecuing and just having fun.

I'm a summer person, I am in my element when I'm surrounded by water, sitting on a beach towel and tanning, nothing better than that, OTHER than the smell of the pool water.
Don't laugh but seriously, I got in there and the first wiff of the water I was instantly
transported back to my childhood remembering lazy afternoons with my brothers, splashing around, the scent of sun block and hotdogs permeating the air.

I was complaining about my white legs the other day, well no more, I'm one of the lucky ones that goes brown straight away and all I really need is about 2 hours in the sun. I'm so happy cause I'm all brown and look like I just returned from a vacation at the beach LOL

Jasmine had her best friend over today, she's this really sweet girl named Betheny and I love watching them together. They played in the pool, ate hotdogs, played video games and th
en Curtis took them and Nicholas to the park while I ran by the library.

I LOVE THE LIBRARY!!! If I had to pick a place to get lost in and left to fend for myself, it would there. I would have to grab some snacks to take with me, but that would be all I would need....I guess I would emerge months later totally knowledge of every subject ever written about and also blissfully happy with the smell of book pages on my fingers LOL

Anyway, I picked up 3 movies and some books.


Ellen DeGeneres - Here and Now
Ellen DeGeneres has done everything, from starring in hit sitcoms and movies, to writing best-selling books, to having her own new talk show, scheduled to debut this fall. But she's never forgotten her roots as a stand-up comedian. Taped at New York City's Beacon Theatre before a live audience, Ellen DeGeneres: Here and Now features the kind of humor that first made her a star, offering her offbeat insights into everyday life. Her feel good humor touches on something that everyone can identify with.


How to Deal

Halley is a young high school student who is disillusioned with love after seeing the many dysfunctional relationships around her. Her parents are now divorced and her father has a new young girlfriend she doesn't care for too much. Her mother is now always alone; and her sister is so overwhelmed by her upcoming wedding that she barely leaves the house anymore. On top of that, the shallowness of all the girls and guys at her school convinces Halley that finding true love is impossible. A tragic accident, however, leads her to meeting Macon, and suddenly Halley finds that true love can occur under unusual circumstances.



Big Momma's house 2

Martin Lawrence returns as FBI agent Malcolm Turner, a master of disguise who again goes deep undercover as the sassy septuagenarian "Big Momma." The FBI has learned that a computer software developer named Tom Fuller has created a computer virus that allows access to classified US government files, Fuller is planning to sell the virus to terrorist organizations all over the world. Upon hearing this, the FBI's best lead is Fuller's wife. So Malcolm goes undercover again as Big Momma in order to pose as Mrs. Fuller's nanny. and as always, Big Momma once again turns the house upside down.


And then I picked up these 4 books, the Fannie Flagg one I've already started, it's sooooo good, thank you Barb for bringing my attention to this hilarious author.

Fannie Flagg - Can't wait to get to Heaven
Jennifer Crusie - Manhunting
Sherry Garland - A line in the sand : the Alamo diary of Lucinda Lawrence, Gonzales, Texas, 1835
Barry Denenberg - So far from home : the diary of Mary Driscoll, an Irish mill girl

Can't wait to read these!

Anyway, it's a saturday afternoon and my break is up, I have kids to play with and movies to watch. Hope you're all enjoying your weekend.

God Bless,

Friday, April 27, 2007

Show and Tell Friday!!!


The wonderful Kelli over at "There's no place like home" has started this friday feature, here's what she had to say:
Welcome to Show and Tell Friday!" Do you have a something special to share with us? It could be a trinket from grade school, a piece of jewelry, a new antique find, an old love letter. Use your imagination and dig through those old boxes in your closet if you have to! Feel free to share pictures and if there's a story behind your special something, that's even better!

If you would like to join in, all you have to do is post your "Show and Tell" on your blog, copy the post link, come over here and add it to Mr. Linky.
If you've been reading my blog for a long time, you may remember me talking about my greatgrandmother and what a HUGE influence she was on the woman that I am today.
I'm sure there's times she shakes her head at me and wonders what I'm doing, but I know that deep down she's proud and THAT means the world.


One thing I love doing is cooking, and she did too. I remember spending hours watching her at the stove and learning from her. Those were some of the best moments of my life.


When I was about 15 or 16, we sat down at the kitchen table and together we collected recipes from magazines or newspapers to make this little booklet for me. I still have it and it's one of my treasured possessions. Now mind you all the recipes are in portuguese, because, well, because I'm portuguese LOL



Some of the pages are starting to fall apart, and at first I was thinking about redoing it, but then I remembered that my greatgrandmothers hands touched it, she tied the strings for me and I wouldn't DARE undo it. I hope to one day pass it on to my daughter.

Thursday, April 26, 2007

Pictures and more Pictures!

If you're looking for my Slow Cooking Thursday post, it's just below, there's some YUMMY recipes being shared.

Now, are you
ready for some more pictures? I have a few more from Margate, South Africa and then I have some I took yesterday of Jasmine and us, also the diner we had dinner at.....so come in and sit for a while, I know I know I share a lot of pics, but I really enjoy showing you all and especially the family, what we're up to on this side of the world.

So here we go, here's a little slideshow with some new ones from Margate. My brother took pics of places we had all been at together on vacation so it brought back wonderful memories, especially the seaside apartments we stayed in with our grandfather before he passed away. Enjoy!!!


Cool Slideshows




Now for yesterday, you remember it was Jasmine's birthday so I took some pictures of everyone, me included. I don't think I have to tell you how much I hate having my picture taken I always feel like I just don't look right and then when I try to look decent it comes out being forced and just weird LOL


Yesterday I decided to just let it go and just be myself...so you're warned LOL

Miss Jasmine doing what she does best, talk on the phone with her friends.

Mommy and kiddos, excuse the dark circles under my eyes, it's been a tough month.

Too funny not to share, I LOVE his face in this pic


Me in all my glory LOL

Mommy and birthday girl, she says she was trying to look like a pug???? LOL

Mommy and Nicholas, little man wanted his pic taken too

Now onto the dinner pictures, Jasmine picked a diner to go to. I LOVE diners, I just think there's nothing better than sitting there in your booth, eating a burger and fries with a milkshake and then having a sundae or banana split for dessert....what is BETTER than that I ask you???


Grinde's Diner


Inside the diner


Dessert Menu on the wall


Mushroom burger and seasoned curly fries


Daddy and birthday girl



Little man posing for the camera


I just had to post this one LOL Maybe his drink was spiked with something LOL

And there you have it, hope I didn't put you to sleep or bore you to death with all these pictures....I guess it's safe to say that I love my camera, Curt actually said to me yesterday "you look like a tourist with her camera" LOL

As long as I'm not snapping embarassing pictures of anyone I think it's safe right??? Doesn't everyone take pictures of their food??? No??? Is it just me??? I know Barb does too so I feel better LOL

Hope you're all enjoying your thursday, don't forget that tonight we have Ugly Betty, Grey's Anatomy and October Road (it's becoming one of my favorites to watch)

I'll be back tomorrow,

God Bless,

Slow Cooking Thursday!!! April 26, 2007


Welcome to my weekly Crockpot Recipes Exchange. It's such a great way to share your avorite dishes or to learn some new ones to make for your family.

What do you think??? Do You have some great recipes to share, or perhaps you're looking for some delicious ones to give you a reason to pull out the ol' crockpot???
Time to pull out those crockpots and put them to good use. If you want to join in, just grab the banner and add your name to Mr Linky :)

I'm giving you 2 recipes today, I figured I would throw in a dessert to go with the chili :)

Enjoy!




Six-Can Slow Cooked Chili


Serves: 8

Ingredients:

* 1/4 c Cornmeal
* 1 ts Paprika
* 1/2 c Bbq sauce
* 28 oz Can whole tomatoes w/juice; cut up
* 2 cn Chili without beans; 15oz ea

* 15 1/2 oz Can Pinto or Dark or Light Red Kidney beans w/juice
* 15 oz Spicy Chili beans w/juice
* 1 cn Condensed French onion soup

In 3-1/2 to 4 qt crockpot, combine all ingredients; mix well. Cover; cook on HIGH for 2 to 4 or until thoroughly heated. Or cover and cook on LOW for 8 to 9 hours. TIP-For hotter chili flavor, 2 ts chili powder can be added.



Fresh Apple Coffee Cake


Ingredients:

* 2 cups biscuit mix
* 2/3 cup applesauce
* 1/4 cup milk
* 2 tablespoons sugar
* 2 tablespoons butter or margarine, softened or melted
* 2 apples, peeled, cored and diced
* 1 teaspoon cinnamon
* 1 teaspoon vanilla
* 1 egg egg, lightly beaten
* 1/4 cup biscuit mix
* 1/4 cup brown sugar
* 2 tablespoons firm butter or margarine
* 1 teaspoon cinnamon
* 1/4 cup chopped nuts, if desired

Combine first 9 ingredients. Spread in a lightly greased 3 1/2 quart crock pot (or spread in a lightly greased baking dish which fits in a larger sized crock pot). Combine streusel ingredients with a fork or pastry blender; sprinkle over the batter. Cover and cook on high for about 2 1/2 hours, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.


Wednesday, April 25, 2007

It's wednesday already???

Wasn't I just saying that the weekend had flown by and it was already monday but it seems that I blinked and it's wednesday??? Why are there not enough hours in the day anymore???

Do you all remember growing up the days seemed to drag, I used to say "I'm bored, there's nothing to do" but then my stepmom or dad would say something like "if you're bored I have some things for you to do, like clean your room". Boy was that enough to make me find something fast LOL


So it's the 25th of April and it's my little girl's birthday, yes, 8 years ago today she was born. I am just amazed at how much she's grown, it's so hard to wrap your mind around the fact that they were so little and now so big and independent. It's like she's turning 18 years old instead of just 8, the attitude is there, the phone calls from friends and the "whatever's" are ALL there, scary I know.

She's not having a birthday party this year, she just wants to go out to dinner with the family and really who are we to argue, I just figure it's cheaper on my pockets LOL

Curt is still having a hard time realizing that his little girl is growing up, he went out yesterday to pick up some last minute gifts for her and when he returned he said to me "I got her all these girly things", but if you could have seen his face LOL
It was like he was telling me that he got robbed or mugged or overcharged....I wouldn't know it but I've always heard about how hard it is for a daddy to watch his little girl grow, NOW watching Curt gives me some insight into what they may be feeling. It's not pretty I tell you LOL


I'm sharing some more pictures of beautiful Margate and also the Ushaka Marine World, my brother and SIL and the kids are just LOVING their vacation and I don't blame them, here we are in the cold and they're sitting at the beach enjoying the ocean, eating seafood platters and watching the dolphins......*SIGH* I feel the jealousy nagging at me LOL

I posted a new recipe on my food blog and will continue updating throughout the day so if you're looking for something new to try be sure to go by and take a look.

Our move is underway and there's so much to do, we pretty much have 2 months left here in Idaho before moving on to Arizona, so now the crunch begins, planning, planning and more planning. The one thing to remember is to stay calm and not get stressed out, the move is going to happen whether you fight it or not, so it's best to just get excited about it and think of how you'll be seeing new places and trying new things, it's like I've said before "being in the military you get to travel around and live in wonderful places" MAKE THE MOST OF IT!

The only thing that is worrying me is Jasmine's school, trying to find the right one and where she'll be comfortable at. It's tough, you want the best for your children and it's not easy to drop them off every morning and leave them for hours, it's doubly worse when you're not familiar with the school, the teachers and students......pray for me people, pray that I don't get all caught up in it and end up sitting in the back row of Jasmine's class everyday LOL

Nicholas just turned 4 and he's extremely smart for his age, I think having an older sister helps because he wants to do everything she does. In getting ready for Kindergarten next year, I want to be sure that he's ready and knows the basics and more if possible.....I found this great screening tool online for 4 year olds, it's developed to get an idea of your child's prereading skills. It's a simple 20 question game that you do with your child and at the end it gives you the score....Nicholas actually scored 20 out of 20!

Go ahead and give it a go, it's wonderful and after you get your score you're also given ideas activities and resources to help them strengthen those prereading skills.

Get ready to read - One on One Activity Cards
Get Ready to Read website - tons of great ideas and tools

Alright and with that I'm out, I have tons to do around here. Don't forget about the Slow Cooking Thursday tomorrow, get those recipes ready and get the word out, would love to have more people join in :)

God Bless,

Tuesday, April 24, 2007

I bring coffee and pictures......

Come on in and sit with me, I have some pictures of Margate to share with you and I'm sure I'll have more later. You know we could all use a trip to the beach right???

This weather has been absolutely dreadful lately, I'm so miserable, I want sun and warmth not rain and snow at this time of the year.

I am tempted to wear shorts but I would hate to traumatize people with my pasty white legs, is there anything worse than the first few times you wear shorts after winter??? LOL

I COULD get some fake tanner but then I would just be a walking orange and I fail to see the appeal of that.

Anyway, this is going to be a busy week, tomorrow is Jasmine's birthday, my little girl is turning 8 years old. How???? I can't believe how big she's getting, it's just amazing how fast time slips away from you before you know it you're kids are all grown up.

She's really excited because not only is it her birthday tomorrow but the second graders are going on a field trip AND she has a dentist appointment in the afternoon. YES you heard right, a dentist appointment on her birthday and she wouldn't have it any other way....this child LOVES the dentist and is always thrilled to go.

I don't have much time for a long post this morning, I have tons of errands to run and I want to pick up a few more birthday gifts for Jasmine, so here are some pics from Margate, South Africa.







I hate to leave you so fast but I really need to get going, enjoy your tuesday, I'll be back tomorrow.

God Bless,

Monday, April 23, 2007

Monday already......


This weekend went by a bit too fast for my liking, I was JUST getting into the quietness and sleeping in and BAM it's monday morning with another hectic week ahead.

So my kids are both sick with a cold, Jasmine is actually back to school this morning after being home thursday and friday last week. She passed the cold to Nicholas who in turn passed it to me.....I've told them I'm not interested in this kind of game but they just don't listen LOL

It's a given, when one of the kids is sick you KNOW you're going to get it too, I believe it's in the Mommy Handbook though I may have skipped that part, but I sure learnt fast and the HARD way LOL

As I'm writing this entry, I got an instant message from my brother Paul who is enjoying 2 weeks in Margate, South Africa. He was telling me all about the fun they're having and all the wonderful pictures they've taken, he'll be sending them to me later and then during their stay he will send more each day so that I can share with you all. I'm SO excited because it's like a little bit of home that I get to see and you all can enjoy too....so when I get new pics I'll be sharing them here on my blog.

Tomorrow they're heading to Durban for the day and going to Ushaka Marine World....now I'm even MORE jealous LOL
They might also go by this HUGE Mall called The Gateway, look at the wonderful attractions they have, indoor surfing WOW.
I have some pictures and will post them later today after I get them all organized.

This morning I got my coffee and then headed on over to I'm an Organizing Junkie for her Menu Plan Monday, I swear it was 6:30 am and I thought I would be one of the first on the list.....ummmmm I guess no one else is sleeping anymore because I ended up being #44 LOL
I managed to visit all the blogs but everytime I would hit refresh there were more....I finally gave up after #75 I just got a headache trying to visit all the Menu Plan ladies, so if I didn't make it to yours don't worry I will try to get them in tonight or tomorrow morning.

If you want to see my Menu Plan for this week it's on my Food Blog and I've posted the recipe for the Portuguese Piri Piri Chicken I'm making for dinner.




I want you to go over and check out Fishcreek house, it's one of my favorite blogs and today she's sharing a couple of recipes that are sure to have your mouth watering, she also talks about Earth Day and Organic food and products. Great post!!!

There's another blog I want you to go visit, it's Anita's My Country Cottage Garden and it's written in both German and English. This lady has a magic Green Thumb, she has the most beautiful gardens and always shares pictures which leave you in awe.

With that, I am out of here, got a little sick one to take care of, have a great day everyone.




For dinner tonight I'm making Portuguese Chicken Piri Piri, the recipe is up on my food blog if you're interested. It's pretty much a grilled chicken but it's been marinated for a day in garlic, lemon, olive oil and pepper flakes, it's really really good.


Dancing with the Stars - *New*- ABC - 7pm


Little People, Big World - *New* TLC - 9pm





Laundry
Bathrooms
Trip to Airman's Attic to drop off donations
BX for some more presents for Jasmine's Birthday on wednesday
Budget for this month
Moving plans

Sunday, April 22, 2007

Fathers and Daughters!!!

Credit Image: DonnaBellas

Jasmine has always been daddy's girl and up until a few months ago she was all into the kinds of things he likes. Even though she still is to a certain extent, she's becoming a young lady and has started drifting towards girly things.

She likes the dresses and the pretty tops, the high heels, the earrings and don't let her near make up because she will bombard you with requests for that pretty lip gloss, or the red nail varnish. Yes, a girly girl indeed. Me, I'm ecstatic, I feel like I JUST gave birth to a girl and now we get to play together.


See for most of her life she wanted to do things with daddy, she watches all his movies with him and talks about superheroes and dinosaurs, comic books etc. Inside the stores I would try to pull her towards girl things only to be met with a dismayed NO, she wants to go look at the cars and boy toys.....it was depressing to say the least but I also knew that she was learning and discovering things so I let it go.

Now that she's into girl stuff, hubby is finding himself a little freaked out, it's hard for a daddy when he sees his little girl growing up.

Yesterday was a perfect example of how out of place he feels with these new things.....we had gone out for the day and Jasmine got herself a new lip gloss set, after returning home the first thing she did was put on the lip gloss, not perfectly I might add because it ended up above and below her lips LOL


She proudly walked up to daddy to talk about something and he said "Have you been eating your crayons?" LOL
OH MY GOODNESS
!
I thought I was going to die laughing, I've never laughed so hard in my life.....she just looked at him and said "No daddy, it's lipstick", she found it funny too. I tell you I still chuckle everytime I think about it......oh the wonderful dynamics between dadd
y and daughter is great!

I'm sure you're listening to the beautiful song playing, it's by one of my favorite bands called IL DIVO and it's called Mamma, the words are absolutely beautiful and bring tears to my eyes everytime....the video itself is brilliantly done too and a sure tear jerker. Enjoy!!!



The first thing I did this morning was go visit all the blogs that I've been neglecting, I think I've gotten to them all, but there are some blogs that though they are my favorites, I really never comment. Do you have some like that too???

It's those that you LOVE visiting every morning and admiring the beautiful pictures and wonderful posts but you don't say a peep, for me the reason is that they're usually the ones with tons of comments, 50 or more and I feel like little ol' me will just get lost in the crowd, so I sit in the background, Oohhh and aaaahh about them and just close it down and go on my way.


Last week while when we went to the Boise Zoo we made a wrong turn, shocking I know, and ended up in the middle of Boise. I have to tell you I have been here for almost 9 years and never went into the actual city, yes we went to the mall and the outskirts but never to the middle of town. I am so annoyed with myself for not doing so because it's absolutely stunning.

Boise State Capital

Downtown Boise

It was great driving by the Old Boise Historic District.

If you're brave and hungry enough, you could swing by Big Jud's Country Diner and try to eat their One Pound Big Jud Burger served with One Pound of Fries.....yeah that's MY KINDA PLACE!

Well as much as I would love to stay and chat, there's things that need to be done around here....which makes me wish I was with my brother Paul and his family right now, they're enjoying 2 weeks in Margate, South Africa. One of my FAVORITE vacation spots, boy how I miss it.



You all have a wonderful sunday, it's rainy here so it's indoors for us, popcorn, movies and family time, hopefully some naps in between, one can only hope right???

Saturday, April 21, 2007

FIVE SENSES SATURDAY!!! April 21

Well it's Saturday and you know that means my Five Senses Post, hope you enjoy. Oh by the way, I've added a new feature to my blog, under the menu section on the right side you will see a "Listening to" area, everyday there will be a new video, all you have to do is click the play button to listen. Most of these are Christian Songs so I know you'll enjoy.

The song I picked for today is by BarlowGirl - Never Alone....I think we've all felt this way sometimes:


I cried out with no reply
And I can't feel You by my side

So I'll hold tight to what I know

You're here and I'm never alone


We cannot separate

You're part of me

and though You're invisible

I trust the unseen



::Hear::




- The Fray "Look After You"
- Nicholas crying after his immunization shots
- Jasmine talking on the phone with her friend




::See::


- Animals at the zoo
- My husband smiling at me
- My family through the webcam




::touch::


- The tears falling down Nic's face
- The cold water in the pool
- The warmth of Jasmine's forehead when checking for fever




::taste::




- Crab Rangoon at the Chinese Restaurant
- First sip of coffee in the morning
- Cold Beer after a hot day at the zoo




::smell::


- White Linen Scented Candles
- My roses blooming in my front yard
- Ice Cold Coke with a lemon slice