We call it...

A friend's father wrote this on Christmas 1988. I thought it was beautiful and fitting, and wanted to share.

Sometimes the need for a look at life's reflections coincides nicely with tradition and holiday celebrations.

We pause to remember the good derived from each experience, and be thankful for the chance to look back at our leisure.

...We discover a link...a bond...a mutuality of love we've shared; A thread, woven finely among the fabric of hope, happiness, joy, hard work, and tears.

A cushion, ever there to soften a momentary stumble, never allowing more than a scraped knee on the valley floor, yet protecting reality from the whimsical grandeur of accomplishment, either sustained or fleeting as December sunshine.

A link. A bond. A thread. A cushion. A lifeline.

We call it...family.

 

I am forever grateful that I call all of you my family.

I Love You,

Danielle

Mauritius...The Highlight Reel.

For more photos, please see my Facebook page.

Baked Apple Cider Donut Holes

I wish you could smell the inside of my house right now...Just made this recipe to send with Alex to daycare for a fun Fall treat.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups flour
• 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 1 large egg
• 2/3 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup apple butter
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/3 cup honey
• 1/3 cup apple cider
• 1/3 cup plain yogurt (I used plain nonfat Greek yogurt)
• 2 Tbsp canola oil
• canola cooking spray
• 2 Tbsp unsalted butter
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 Tbsp cinnamon

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees and spray a mini muffin pan with cooking spray. 
2. In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon. 
3. In another large bowl, whisk together the egg, brown sugar, apple butter, vanilla extract, honey, apple cider, yogurt, and canola oil. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredient mixture and whisk until just incorporated. Don't over-mix - a few lumps are okay. 
4. Using a tablespoon or cookie scoop, fill a 24-hole mini muffin pan with the batter; fill each hole only 3/4 of the way, or you'll end up with huge mini muffins (maxi muffins?). Bake for approximately 10-12 minutes and cool on a wire rack. 
5. While donut holes are still warm, melt butter in a microwave safe dish. Combine cinnamon and sugar in another dish. Using a pastry brush, very lightly brush a tiny bit of melted butter onto the top of each donut hole, then dip the top of the muffin in the cinnamon sugar mixture. Roll the donut hole in the cinnamon sugar to coat the sides and top. Serve warm or at room temperature.

No-Bake Energy Bites

Made these little bites of heaven today.  Very good.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup (dry) oatmeal (I used old-fashioned oats)
• 2/3 cup toasted coconut flakes
• 1/2 cup peanut butter
• 1/2 cup ground flaxseed or wheat germ (I did 1/4 cup ground flaxseed and 1/4 cup wheat germ)
• 1/2 cup chocolate chips (optional)
• 1/3 cup honey
• 1 tsp. vanilla

Method:

Stir all ingredients together in a medium bowl until thoroughly mixed.  Let chill in the refrigerator for half an hour.  Once chilled, roll into balls of whatever size you would like.  (Mine were about 1″ in diameter.)  Store in an airtight container and keep refrigerated for up to 1 week.

Makes about 20-25 balls.

Big Night in Richmond

For the second time this year our team visited victory lane. This time it was in Richmond, Va.

It was a big night for a lot of reasons. It was the first time that one of our teams has ever won multiple races in a year. It was the first time we'd ever had a team make the Chase playoff - and we had two teams. The team executed perfectly and ended up winning by over a second.

Here is a look at some of the pictures from post race.

Out of gas, but ready to celebrate.

The team soaking it in

Lets go to Victory Lane

Walking to Victory Lane

Through the infield grass

 Here ... you might need this.

Sharing a walk with the boss

Last picture of the night - around 3 a.m. 

Uncle Den - you missed a fun night! Hope to catch you next time we are in Richmond.

Starting to Feel Like Home

It's been just a little over a month since we closed on our first home together ... and Caitlin and I have been working like crazy to get things the way we want them. We have accomplished a lot, and it's been a great learning and very humbling experience. I put some photos down below to give you a small snapshot of this last month.

Closing Day

Patching Walls

Cleaning

Late Night Painting

Removing Carpets

Removing Hard Wood Floors

Replacing Floors

Exhausted ...

The "AFTER" Shot

The Outdoor Work Begins

Organizing/Laundry

Bean Bagging It

Starting to Feel Like Home

Our First Completed/Decorated Room

Grilling

Fantasy Football Draft