Baby Shower!

Jack, the dogs and I went back home to visit family and go to my first baby shower for little Duke. Ann planned a very nice and fun shower with friends and family back home at the Elks in Clearfield. We got a ton of wonderful gifts for the baby and had a nice time catching up with family that we just don't get to see often enough. The gifts were very thoughtful and we loved them all. His room is looking quite lived in despite him not being here yet.

The yummy cake that looked almost too cute to eat.

My sister, Megan, and I next to the cake.

Ann, Dad and I before the shower. I look HUGE in this picture but decided that I better start putting pictures of me up so everyone can really see how big I am getting. But seriously this might be the last one because I can't bear to look at it. I just pretend that I am still the same size prepregancy and don't look in the mirror too often.

Ann had the gift table set up real cute before the shower with a basket for all his new books and a place to put all his new goodies. It looked awesome and he got soooo many new books that I can't wait to read to him. I loved that idea.

Ann made this diaper cake with lots of cute goodies for her soon-to-be grandson. It's really cute so we'll see how long it takes until I have to take it down to get at the diapers!

OK. This was a gift that was "to" Pappy Wayne from Cousin Hilary and family in Missouri. Dukes Pap is a huge Cubs fan so we will wear this just for Pappy Wayne but "GO PHILLIES!!!". I think it is adorable and just made convince Jack to let him wear it just when the Cubbies play.

Mmm hmmm. It even has his name on it!!!

Aunt Megan made this just for her first nephew. It is very cute and one of my favorite gifts of the day! I think he'll love it.

Grandma Ann made this for Duke and we LOVE IT! It is so soft and beautiful that I can't wait to wrap him up in it. I think he'll be getting his picture taken in this right away!

I had a really great time at the shower and again feel so grateful for the friends and family in our lives who care so much about us. We are always counting our blessings.

Duke's Room (so far)

We are starting to get Duke's room put together and the more we put in there the more it is looking like a babies room. I still don't have any cute animal theme on the walls or anywhere but I like the blues and browns. He will have toys and books in there to look at and we will eventually get some wall hangings. I think I am going to do family photos in cute frames from Restoration Hardware Kids and Baby. Their boy stuff goes with my "theme" of blues and browns if you can call that a theme.

The only artwork he has to be framed and hung on his walls so far is by his cousin, Avah. She made this masterpiece just for her "Christmas Cousin".

His already large shoe collection. Yes, those are cowboy boots you see in there from his Mom-Mom. He has a whole outfit to go with, which will be photographed and posted once he fits into it.

His awesome dresser/changing table from his Great Grandma Harper, Grandma Beth and Grandma Ann. It is already getting piled with wonderful gifts.

He got lots of great clothes from Aunt Jen from when his cousin, Loucky was a baby. I have them spread out on the floor in front of the dresser.

His toy basket that is already getting filled with books and goodies, mainly from his crazy Aunt B (Aunt Peach). She always has something for him and blames it on Avah having to pick up a toy or book while they're out.

These baskets will go on his bookshelf that is coming soon. We got all the baskets from Restoration Hardware.


Duke's crib, where I hope he sleeps peacefully most of the night for us. His Mom-Mom Horgan got him his new crib. His first "silky" is hanging off the side ready to be cuddled from his cousin, Avah. His bed linens are hanging there too just waiting to be washed and put on a mattress.

So that's what we have so far. Hopefully we have more share soon. Our house is starting to fill up with new baby gear and toys and some great hand-me-down toys too. Thank goodness for sister-in-laws who want to get rid of their baby stuff!!! Our friends and family have been extremely generous and we love them.

A Saturday of Baking

The apple peeler! If you bake apple pies a lot - get one!

Before baking

After Baking - YUM!

It was kind of a rainy, fall Saturday and I had a ton of apples sitting on my table so I decided to try out mom's dutch apple pie recipe. I was dreading peeling all the apples I needed to make the pies so we went to BB&B and got ourselves an apple peeler. The best $16 I spent this year. It took 10 minutes to peel, core and slice 7 apples!!! The rest was easy as pie (had to do it).

I also wanted to bake some Halloween cookies for the Eagles game at the Francis' and for for my mother-in-laws birthday today. Happy Birthday!!!

Happy Birthday to my MIL today and to Aunt Lynny yesterday!!

The niece's and nephew's Halloween treats this year.

The day was spent with my house smelling like cookies and apple pie! What could be better than that? We haven't tasted the pies (2) yet but hopefully they taste as good as they look. I am going to warm them in the oven before I take them to the party.

The girls watching my every move. Bubba was at my feet.

I still have a bunch of apples so I need to find some quick, easy and yummy apple recipes.

Apple Picking

Avah in the pumpkin patch.

Avah reaching for the perfect apple.

Posing before she makes the climb to the top where all the big apples are!

Yesterday my sister B, niece Avah, and I went to Solebury Orchards apple picking. It was the first time for all of us and it was a lot of fun. Tons of huge apples to pick and trees to climb. I stayed with my feet on the ground and let Avah do the majority of the work. I brought home a jug of apple cider for Jack and today I am baking my mom's dutch apple pie. We'll see how it turns out.

Avah and B in the orchards.

We have so many apples now that I am going to have to bake a pie everyday.

Talent