" To LoVe aNd Be LoVed In ReTuRn "

It's always fun to celebrate Valentine's Day! I made a " mailbox" and we write little notes to each other and put them in the box. It is a fun way to show our love to one another and the kids have fun doing it. After all, "All you need is love!"

I aM sO gLad We DiD!!

I, along with everyone else witnessed a really great chapter in history this morning. I am so proud of our Country and for our first African/ American President. I like saying " President Obama" I think it sounds really good. I am glad that I kept my eight year old home from school to watch it with us, even if her teacher was rude to me when I took her later in the day. I am glad that my kids will grow up remembering this as " normal" I am proud to be an American. As one of my friends who works for the UN said today.... " I am so proud to be American, it hurts."

God Bless America!! And God bless all of us.

ChArLie'S AnGeLs

" LeT ThEm Be LittLe"

Let them sleep in the middle!

I aM WiCkeD ExCiTeD!!!!!!!!

Some people get really excited about sports. Me.... not so much! I get excited for Broadway plays and new Presidents! I can not wait for next Tuesday! Believe me.... there will be a celebration at the Luke house! I am Wicked excited to see Wicked again too!Here's to change, baby! YES WE CAN!!!!!!!!!!

ChIcKs RuLe!!

Today I got to spend the afternoon with my two sisters, two of my nieces and my daughter. It was so fun! We saw Bride Wars and we all loved it! I am so thankful that my sister and niece moved back from Virginia and also thankful that I got a cute" bonus" niece named Jayne! Of course I am also grateful for Sophie. We went browsing at Thanksgiving Point and got a good collection of candy and saw the movie! Really, who could ask for more? Thanks girls! YOU RULE!!!

On A DaY LiKe ToDay, I WiSh FoR DaYs LiKe ThEsE!!

ChIcKen NooDle SouP fOr ThE BoDy aNd SoUl

My cute sis- in- law asked me for this and I thought perhaps someone else may want to try it.

This is my mother- in-law's recipe and it is tasty!

5 or 6 chicken breasts
9 carrots
8 celery
1 onion
2 or 3 T. dry chicken broth
1 1/2 t. salt

combine in an 8 quart or larger pan filled with water. Cook about three hrs.- remove chicken and cut into small pieces and put back into pan.

Mix together in blender:

1/4 c. butter
2/3 c. flour
1 c. milk

Add mixture to soup 1/2 hour before serving.
Add 12 oz. egg noodles the last 20 minutes.

I am telling you that this noodle soup will beat most you have had before!

YUM-O

I like to serve it in bread bowls!

I'll Be A SunBeAm FoR HiM!

Isn't it fitting that right at the start of the coldest month of the year, we get a little burst of sunshine! It comes in the form of a Sunbeam and this little guy was really excited!! The only downside was that he wanted to wear a spongebob tie! Funny how I could not seem to find it!

We are so proud of our little guy!

" TiCkLeD PiNk "

Eight years ago we bought our house. It was a SAD little house, it was a dirty, broken, unloved, cluttered, horrible little house..... but my darling husband saw potential ( I did not) In fact, I cried a lot! Inch by inch Charlie started painting, making, fixing, changing and low and behold almost every little inch of this house has been re done. Some rooms have been re done more than once. Every little whim or idea that came to me in the minutes before sleep have been completed. I owe this to my husband and our expanding mortgage. There is however one little room that I have not allowed to be changed all that much aside from cleaning and painting, I have wanted to preserve the PINK bathroom! It screams 50's and I LOVE it!! so, when I had the idea to paint the bathroom cabinets pink, Charlie obliged and not only that he added lovely PINK stripes to the walls! I LOVE it even more. For those who don't happen to love it, please just pretend that you do, because the chances of a remodel in that room are ZERO!!!!!

PS I know that the post below this one was a bit self absorbed..... sorry!!

ThE LoNg aNd ThE ShOrT Of It!

I have been talking about it for months now, and I decided new year, new do! So, I cut my hair shorter than it has been since 7th grade! I really like it...... Charlie is a fan of long hair so I am sure I'll grow it out again, but til then, it's fun!

So here's some cheesy before and after pictures!