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By: Kelly Hoeckelberg-Young,
on 3/17/2011
Blog: Cross Your T's (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
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I've gushed about my neighbors before ... and here is just one more reason. Two of these sweet, little spring treats were delivered to my kids today. How clever and creative is that ... a little Peeps Chick guarding its eggs in a nest made of chocolate-covered noodles! So very thoughtful. Such kind gestures are one of the little things in life that I treasure - whether giving or receiving. They never fail to bring a smile to my face {and guaranteed squeals of delight from the kids!}.
By: Kelly Hoeckelberg-Young,
on 3/15/2011
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This week's 'I Heart Faces' photo challenge is titled 'Sun Flare'. When I read that, I was thrilled ... and immediately went to my two favorite sun flare pictures ... before it dawned on me that neither of them shows a face (one of the main criteria!). Ah well ... I still like them and thought it would be fun to share them despite their not being challenge-worthy!
Both were actually just shot with my Droid phone.
By: Kelly Hoeckelberg-Young,
on 3/8/2011
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By: Kelly Hoeckelberg-Young,
on 3/3/2011
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Every time we would visit the town, we would walk by that window and I would comment how much I loved those blossoms. Sometimes, I'd stop and run in to check them out up close and peek at the price. But, I never purchased them.
Now, as the skies darken outside, these beautiful blossoms bring a touch of light, warmth, and charm to the house. Love them!
Have you been surprised recently with something you've been wanting for a long time?
By: Kelly Hoeckelberg-Young,
on 2/28/2011
Blog: Cross Your T's (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
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I'm having a little photography fun today, and entering a contest with ...
This week's contest theme is “Head, Shoulders, Knees & Toes … Anything But A Face!”
This was taken at a little friend's birthday party, where the kids got to decorate their own cupcakes {you can imagine the excitement!}. At the time, I was playing around with camera focus, and my hubby encouraged me to get a shot of our son's cupcake, with him all blurry in the background. I have loved this colorful shot ever since!
Doesn't it make your mouth water?! :-)
By: Kelly Hoeckelberg-Young,
on 2/22/2011
Blog: Cross Your T's (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
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Projects, sketches, and papers are always coming home with the kids from various places ... school, Sunday School, daycare, the gym, etc. Sometimes, it feels like we are drowning in little trinkets and half-finished art projects.
Other times, it feels like we've found a special treasure.
My son formed this bowl out of clay in Sunday school, and my daughter made the little heart during a children's choir practice break. They brought them home and each project went its separate way for a few days ... the bowl to dry, the heart to sit on the counter waiting to be 'mended' (two of the beads still need to be ironed back on!).
One evening, my daughter placed her heart in her brother's bowl and declared, "There! That's pretty!", and slid it into a place of prominence on the counter.
I have to agree ... it is pretty, and adds a simple splash of color and charm to the kitchen counter. So, this one will stay on display on the kitchen counter for a while. It makes me smile ... and who doesn't need to begin and end their day with a smile.
By: Kelly Hoeckelberg-Young,
on 2/22/2011
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I'm having a little photography fun today, and entering a contest with ...
This week's contest theme is 'Cell Phone', and this is one of my absolute favorite pictures taken with my Droid ... to me it's a picture of absolute joy and fun (and a bit of surprise!). My last words to them before snapping this picture were, "Just don't get wet!" :-)
By: Kelly Hoeckelberg-Young,
on 2/15/2011
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By: Kelly Hoeckelberg-Young,
on 2/8/2011
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By: Kelly Hoeckelberg-Young,
on 1/19/2011
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By: Kelly Hoeckelberg-Young,
on 1/11/2011
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We were the first house built in our subsection of the neighborhood ten years ago.
We had no idea who would be our neighbors.
We also had no idea what we needed in a house, given that it was the first for both of us after years of apartment living and we did not yet have children.
While we could use more space and maybe a bit more yard, our little house has served us well and we treasure it.
As for our neighbors … if we had it to do all over again and – this time around – knew about each of the families living in the homes surrounding ours … we would buy this house in a heartbeat.
Our neighbors are our friends; our children are all friends; we watch out for one another’s homes and families.
And, as if that weren’t enough ….
In the days leading up to Christmas, wonderful treats arrived on our doorstep … from a gorgeous poinsettia to scrumptious plates of beautifully-decorated cookies.
Around Halloween, our dear friend and neighbor was taking a cake-decorating course. And, brought over these amazing cupcakes which I didn’t even want to touch, for fear of ruining hours worth of work in one bite!
Before the craziness of the holidays even arrived, this lovely plate of gingersnaps was delivered ‘just because’ … and on a day when we REALLY needed it, given a homeowner’s nightmare scenario that concluded with us finding – under the house – both a leak in our main water line AND a dead possum being eaten by maggots {no joke … the smell was horrid!}.
Then, there was this little tea party … Hello Kitty-themed as you can see. Thrown for my daughter by a talented, former-professional-caterer neighbor who happens to be the only female in a house of boys. My daughter had lamented that she was sad that she never got to go to their house and play with the boys like her brother, so our neighbor kindly offered my daughter her very own tea party. Imagine my awe and my daughter’s squeals of delight when we walked in to find this waiting for us (not pictured ... a nice little spread for the boys too!) …
{click on image to view larger}
It is true … you can’t choose your neighbors. I also know that – even if we could – we would choose no differently.
Are you blessed with fabulous neighbors that you treasure?!
By: Kelly Hoeckelberg-Young,
on 1/4/2011
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By: Kelly Hoeckelberg-Young,
on 12/28/2010
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By: Kelly Hoeckelberg-Young,
on 12/23/2010
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Thank you for the Gingerbread House you sold this year.
First, it was a bargain ... maybe $10, and well worth every penny.
Especially considering it came with the following glorious words printed on the box: "Pre-Built".
That would be the second wonderful thing ... there was no constructing required, save for a small tree.
It was all about the frosting and decorations ... fun, fun, fun.
It even came with a snowman and a gingerbread man. So cute.
And, here's the third and most wonderful thing of all about your gingerbread house ... it's indestructible.
We can certify this.
As we moved into position to snap a quick picture of the finished product - our children beaming with pride at the creation they had labored over for an hour - my son, who was holding the glass cake platter that now displayed the gingerbread house, slipped right off his chair.
In a split second, he was flat on the floor.
Somehow, he saved the glass cake platter, his arm held high over his head with the platter firmly in his grip.
But, the gingerbread house had crashed to the floor.
Amazingly ... the side peak of the roof was the only spot that sustained damage.
Minor, considering the 'earthquake' that had just occurred.
So, thank you ... for selling a product that not only brought joy to the children who decorated it (and the parents who didn't have to construct it), but held together through a fall that could have destroyed an hour's worth of careful decorating within a matter of seconds!
Please, please ... sell it again next year!
By: Kelly Hoeckelberg-Young,
on 12/21/2010
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(click on picture to view larger)
By: Kelly Hoeckelberg-Young,
on 11/30/2010
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By: Kelly Hoeckelberg-Young,
on 11/24/2010
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"Turkey" by B, November 2008
By: Kelly Hoeckelberg-Young,
on 11/11/2010
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Our children's school holds the most amazing and inspiring tribute to our Veterans with an annual Veteran's Day Chapel.
The children, ranging in age from 5 to 15, sing patriotic songs with such passion and might, it takes my breath away and makes me smile. Here is just a sampling ... the 1st through 3rd grade choir (including my son!):
A song, "Letters from War", and accompanying video by Mark Schultz is played ... take a look @ http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6534897612011365856&hl=en# but grab a tissue first (pssst ... the ending is happy!).
Each branch of the military is honored and applauded, as they ask Veterans and active-duty members to stand and be recognized.
A list of wars, including the number of individuals who participated and the precious souls who were lost is read ... and those who served in those wars are asked to stand and be thanked with applause.
And, an active-duty Air Force Lieutenant Colonel, also a parent at the school, speaks ... words of such wisdom for our youth, who are being made aware how very lucky we are to live where we live.
The ceremony opens and closes with a moving bagpipe solo.
All of it, quite frankly, has by heart leaping into my throat ... tears welling up in the corners of my eyes, as the human cost of all these wars and how thankful I feel settles into my brain.
Wouldn't it be nice if all the world believed peace to be the answer?
Thank you to all the men and women who serve, and thank you to the families of those who serve, including my sister and brother-in-law. You sacrifice - in so many ways - for the sake of our freedom.
Be safe.
By: Kelly Hoeckelberg-Young,
on 11/1/2010
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By: Kelly Hoeckelberg-Young,
on 10/26/2010
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Our little family adores a local pumpkin patch that resides on an island. Annually, we make our way to the opposite end of town to this quiet farming community, where we enjoy a hayride out to the pumpkin patch, picking pumpkins, visiting the livestock, climbing on hay bales, and shopping in their local store for fruits and veggies straight from the garden.
This year's first attempt was on a perfect fall day ... temps in the low 60s and a clear blue sky. As is par for the course in a region that rains a lot ... everyone had decided to make the same trip. As we sat in traffic, and watched the little cars off in the distance inching their way across the two-lane bridge and down the two-lane road leading to the pumpkin patch, we realized it was probably time to turn around. We had been in the car for nearly an hour, and estimated an additional two hours to inch our way there.
The following weekend, plans were made once again ... and, this time, it poured ... and poured! Sure, there would be no crowds ... but it wasn't really the experience we were going for.
Maybe we'll have a successful trip this coming weekend ... or maybe not! I'm learning to 'go with the flow' a bit more these days.
In the mean time, we've brought autumn inside the house.
My sweet friend, Kelli, owns a wonderful Real Deals on Home Decor store. She was having a sale; and, we, being small business owners ourselves, had to go support our fellow small business owner!
Look at the gorgeous pumpkins we found. And, those beautiful oak leaves. The turning colors of the leaves are my favorite part of autumn outdoors ... why not bring them inside (without the mess once they turn crispy and crumble all over the floor!).
And, how can you resist children's art ... doesn't it just make you smile?
Do you decorate your indoors for autumn or Halloween?
By: Kelly Hoeckelberg-Young,
on 10/12/2010
Blog: Cross Your T's (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
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By: Kelly Hoeckelberg-Young,
on 9/28/2010
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He had struggled over the past few years. Throughout his lifetime, he was an avid walker … literally logging multiple miles per day well into his 80s. When his legs started getting weaker and tripping became more common, he reluctantly gave up his outdoor walks and purchased a treadmill. Eventually, even that became too much for his legs.
This last July, he turned 94. In the days before that life achievement, he had reluctantly moved into a retirement home, selling the house that he had built with his wife and lived in for 60 years. My Grandma passed away 18 years of days ago. He missed her terribly every one of those days. I suspect he stayed in that house for so long because so many memories of grandma still existed there.
He was a sweet, kind, generous, and unassuming man. His smile lit up his face. He adored and admired each and every one of his 3 daughters and sons-in law, 11 grandchildren and their spouses, and 24 (and counting) great-grandchildren.
For several summers in a row, in my pre-teen years, he and grandma would take my sister, Heidi, and I on long road trips, fifth-wheel trailer in tow, visiting wonderful sites in the western United States and Canada. To this day, they are some of my fondest memories of Grandpa. And, they were his too. Being in his 90s seemed to make those memories even sharper for him, and he would ask, “Kelly, do you remember the trips we used to take?” And, then, we would proceed to laugh about the time we saw the baby bear in a campground, or the time we waited out a tornado warning, or our regular requests from Grandma for ‘just a smidge’ of ice cream … which was code for ‘lots of ice cream in a huge bowl’.
When I picked up my daughter from school today, I told her that her great-grandpa Don had gone to heaven this morning. “That makes me so sad,” she said softly, but then pepped up when we started talking about him being in heaven with the Grandma she never knew.
As we were driving to daycare, she asked, “Mommy, are you crying?” “Yes, sweetie … Mommy’s a little sad right now,” I responded. “Would you like a hug when we get to Judy’s (daycare)?” she asked gently. “Yes, that would be very nice,” I said with a smile.
Both my children adored their Grandpa Don. My daughter, though, had an amazing connection with him that started when she was just a toddler. She seemed to gravitate to him … wanting to be near him … even in the midst of Christmas gifts and cousins, she always made her way to where he was sitting, either to help him unwrap a gift or sit on his lap.
One of their last memories of him will be when we visited his new apartment at the retirement home. My son thought the miniature version of a house that Grandpa was now living in was so very cool. And, Keiya got the pleasure of riding on the seat of Great-Grandpa’s walker as he pushed her around the first floor of the building.
I am thankful for the time my children had with him.
I am thankful for the time my husband knew him … he adored my husband.
I am thankful for all the wonderful memories I have of him.
I am thankful he lived a long, mostly healthy 94 years. I am sad that it ended with a fall that injured his head and brain in a way that he couldn’t recover. I am sad that he was in pain during h
By: Kelly Hoeckelberg-Young,
on 9/21/2010
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I adore autumn. There is something about the crisp, coolness of the air, the vivid leaf colors, the comforting smells of cinnamon and spice, and the anticipation of the upcoming holidays that has always won autumn the title of 'favorite season' for me.
One of my favorite signals that fall is approaching are our Crape Myrtles. They are gorgeous year-round, whether it be their leaves or their bark, but ... from late summer into fall, they are stunning show-stoppers.
As the rest of the garden is withering into a state of brownness, these beautiful plants are in their prime, with an eye-catching show of berry-like buds that transform into colorful, popcorn-like blooms.
In my opinion, they are a perfectly cheerful way to close out the summer months and add an additional pop of unexpected color in the fall. And, really ... who couldn't use that?!
~ Happy Autumn ~
By: Kelly Hoeckelberg-Young,
on 9/15/2010
Blog: Cross Your T's (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
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(Click on picture to view larger)
An amazing display at sunset.
As their name would imply, they are quite the little aerialists ... always in constant, swirling motion. At times, their flight patterns seemed to take on the shape of cylinders, as they prepared to dive into the chimney. Controlled and chaotic, all at once. Another miracle of nature.
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So sweet!! Those little cards made me smile. Precious.
Snuggles from my ten-year-old boy (that don't come as often now, but I cherish each one of them), and my friend who's waited two years to get pregnant finding out she finally is!
Awww she's lovely.. a very alert newborn. :)
Wow!! So much happiness!!! It's almost too much all at once ...
I adore the post-its. On one of my drawers, my daughter drew a little stick man flying through the air. And, she signed it.
I'll never wash it off!!
sf
What a great week and so many reasons for a smile, Kelly!!!
Congrats on your beautiful niece!
It is the little and big things that make our days!
When my daughter starting writing she would leave me I love you notes on Post Its on my pillow. It was so sweet! I of course had to keep some!
I love all of these things too. Makes like so wonderful to have love in our lives. I love Starbucks too! I have a gold card. . .
Cute drawings and congrats on being customer of the week. Your niece is adorable. My little special was my son setting his alarm 15 minutes early so he could shovel snow before school.
What a heartwarming post! Love the post-its. I'd leave them up until they fell down, too.
Aw, how precious! :)