Thankful Thursday

“What can you do to promote world peace? Go home and love your family.” 

                                       Mother Teresa

This Thankful Thursday morning I am so beyond grateful for my recent trip to Nevada to be with my family. On Sunday, I got to surprise my mom and dad who share the same birth DAY. They were both born on November 4th, but 4 years apart. 4 is kind of their number. Their birthday is the reason that they even met. A mutual friend of theirs 42+ years ago set them up on a blind date because of it, and the rest... well it's MY history.

“I sustain myself with the love of family.” ― Maya Angelou  


My parents are without a doubt my heroes. 42 years married, 5 children, 6 grandchildren, a faith in Christ that is inspiring, those are just some of the reasons I look to them for inspiration. This past summer my dad had some major health issues and so this birthday I was especially grateful for his 71 years of life.  Nothing like a little brush with almost death to appreciate the everyday moments.

“you can kiss your family and friends good-bye and put miles between you, but at the same time you carry them with you in your heart, your mind, your stomach, because you do not just live in a world but a world lives in you.”
― Frederick Buechner

Another life I'm really thankful for this morning is my brother Greg's. That's him in between my sister Jen and I on his birthday. He was born the day right after my mom and dad's birthday on November 5th. My mom tells the story that she was at her birthday party 35 years ago, big and pregnant and she started to get contractions so she had a glass of wine to relax her. Well it did relax her, so much so, that Greg was born the very next day. Huh, funny thing is though the "relaxed" effect didn't linger. Nope, that kid is full of more energy than Red Bull on Crack! Seriously though,  My brother is all kinds of amazing. He is a truer, than true friend and I'm thankful I also get to call him my brother.

I got to see this little sweetie, my niece Sophia that I have nicknamed #lastminutebiscuit , because she was born on Dec 31st last year. I can hardly believe that this biscuit is going to be 1 year old soon. She is walking and talking and I was bound and determined to teach her my name while I was there. I kept saying can you say....  Auntie N-o-e-l....  Auntie N-o-e-l? She just smiled at me so sweet and cute like. It melted my heart every time. The good thing about the beginning of my name is that its the start of another word that most lil's learn to say pretty quick(NO!!) so I'm pretty sure my name will beat out her other Auntie's and Uncles.  Well, and even if she just goes around saying NO!! I'll take the credit for that too ;)

Are there any words that an Auntie can say to express the joy within that our nieces and nephews bring to us? All I can think of to say is that my nieces, even my oldest niece Kaylanne who I haven't seen in far too long, brings me such joy. When I see a part of my siblings, or my sister-in-love Hillary who is no longer with us, in my nieces it makes my heart swell with joy. They are JOY incarnate to me. There I tried, to express what a niece or nephew can do.

“The bond that links your true family is not one of blood, but of respect and joy in each other's life. Rarely do members of one family grow up under the same roof.” 
― Richard Bach, Illusions: The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah

The final above quote is truly what I'm thankful for today because, I realize that my family of origin, is a rare gift. The older I get the more I realize how rare this gift, my family, truly is. I deeply love and admire each and every one of my siblings, and my parents. To have had the health and good fortune that we claim, through the Grace of God, is without words the greatest gift a life could ever behold.


Linking Up Here and Here

42 years

He thought she was a hippie.
She thought he was a stick in the mud.

He noticed she had a love of music.
She noticed he had a great radio voice.

She liked that when they were together his eyes never wandered.
He liked that she loved baseball, even if it wasn't his favorite team.

They both shared the same birthday, November 4th... 4 years apart.
4 is kind of their number.

He went to seminary.
She went to the convent.

Thank God they didn't follow through with those vocations, or the world would have missed out on one of the greatest duo's of all time.

They've been through
babies,
toddlers,
teens,
careers,
healthy times,
mortgages,
more teens,
taxes,
adoption,
pets,
moves,
vacations,
unhealthy times,
downs,
countless baseball seasons,
loss of all their parents,
empty nest,
kids moving and moving back,
ups,
cars,
and grandkids.

42 years of being on the same team.
They are my heroes.


Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad.
You are an inspiration.

Spring Break

We are on Spring Break here in the MoNoSco household. Woot, Woot!!

Here are some things we've got planned for our Spring Break this year.

This cake is a must try because, for one I LOVE sunflowers, and for two I love sunflowers :)
You can find the recipe here;Peeps Sunflower Cake.

Then we plan to finally get over to the zoo. I am already so excited for the pics that will come from this outing. I wonder if there is something wrong when I am more excited about the pictures that will come from an outing that the outing itself? Hmm.... Does anyone else think like this?

Come on picture taking people, help me feel normal again.

In between outings we have many at home projects,and fun activities planned because let's face it there are just as many fun things to do at home as there are when you are out and about. Especially when you have Pinterest as your new bestie.

Here is a must try idea, that we found on Pinterest. Big surprise there, right?Marbled Cracked Eggs

This is something that I wouldn't dare try when my kids were younger. I'm gonna be really honest for a minute here and just say that the whole dying eggs activity, even as a preschool teacher always scares the shit out of me.

Maybe I am alone here, but the constant thought in the back of my mind, no matter how many precautionary measure I have taken to keep those cups full of bright dyes from falling all over the place is something that looms in my psyche each and every time I hand that wand over.

Come on, keep it real. Am I alone in this?

Also on the list of activities is the event we have been waiting for, for quite some time.
The arrival of our beloved family. Grandam Ellen, Grandpa Greg, Uncle Jeremy, Auntie Gina, Uncle Izzy, and cousins Savy and brand new Sophie.

They are coming to see us, but also my sister Bean, aka Gina, her favorite flowers are tulips and so ...

We are planning to take the family to this event this weekend;Tulip Festival

Again another event that I am really just giddy over the potential pictures that are to be.
Crazy, but true.

Of all the events that I am most excited about this Spring Break, none will compare to this...

Meeting my last minute biscuit.
AKA my new niece Sophia Adelle.
Sigh...
Is she not the cutest lil last minute biscuit you have ever seen?
Are you wondering why I keep calling her last minute biscuit?
Well, I am glad you asked.
She was born on New Years Eve.

I haven't met her officially yet, only via skype, and pictures so more than all the potential awesome pictures in the world, my heart is swelling in anticipation with the thought of holding this beautiful baby girl.


What are your plans for Spring Break?

Is It Baseball Season Yet?

Those of you who know me and have been reading my blog for a while, know that I am a huge baseball fan. I think this enthusiasm for b-ball started way back when, I am sure I was just a little sprite, when I was a wee bit of a thing, when I was younger. I would notice as a young girl that my Dad, would get very, very excited around a certain time of year. Having no real idea why that was I began to take a closer look at why he was hooting and hollering at the television screen. And then one summer in LA we went to I believe it was the Dodger stadium for a real pro-ball game and I was hooked!

I had so much fun with my cousins and my family and it was warm and sunny, and there was popcorn, and I am sure peanuts, and all was just so right with the world. And so my love for this game began.
Now, what you must understand is that I am a girly girl beyond measure. I wear more jewelry with each passing year that, if you were to weigh me over half my weight would be from sterling silver and not meat and bones. At least that's what I keep telling myself. Don't mock me!

I also love makeup really a lot. In fact one of these days I am going to do a makeup blog. The only reason why I haven't yet is because then you would really know how much time I have on my hands, and I don't want to scare you all off. So I love jewelry, makeup, perfume, shoes... don't even get me started on shoes, basically accessories.. and well, you get the idea. Girly Girl.
At this point you must be wondering how or why does baseball fit into all of this.
Well I am going to tell you, because that's what you are here for. Or wait, is it what I am HERE for?

Noel's Top 5 Reasons Why I Love Baseball

5. The game itself well, It is easy to understand. I love Easy and what's easier than, A,B,C, easy as 1..2..3 (sing along) BASEBALL?

4. I like the number 3, 3 bases, 3 strikes, it just makes sense.

3. I like how the teams play each other more than once. It's a series kind of thing. Those of you who enjoy a sport that doesn't involve a series of events, well... I just feel sorry for you.
2. I like, no I LOVE wearing baseball hats. They work perfectly for my hairstyle which is usually non-existent.

And the number 1 reason... Drum Roll Please....

1. I like (and this is where it gets crazy because I never even played the sport) the smell of baseball gloves. GO ahead, find a glove, smell it, report back here!

Sidenote-And of course, I love the Boston Red Sox baseball team... greatest ball club EVER, END OF STORY, NO DISPUTE, NO COMPARISON, DON'T EVEN TRY TO DEFEND YOUR OTHER MEASLY TEAMS BECAUSE I WON'T HEAR OF IT!! I love Fenway Park. The history that is there, well it's almost tangible.

Well now here is where this part of my story for the love of the game gets tricky.
For so long I have loved The #1 Baseball Club Known to Man, aka BO-Sox and that was that.
Here is where my dilemma comes in.

I now live in Seattle.
We have a Pro Ball Club.
You might of heard of them... Probably NOT!!
The Mariners.
They are unequivocally THE WORST Baseball Team in the US of A!
Sorry but it's true.


They are the underdog of baseball teams.
They have more fans for the opposing teams, ALWAYS, that it's just so very sad.
It makes one want to root for them.
It makes one remember the little guy when they were little, and hope that one day they grow up to be a big strapping man that the BO SOX are someday.

Are you catching what I am laying down here people.
I remember being a fan of the Bo Sox before they won.
I remember the 80 year long stretch.
I remember when the dream team was formed in the inner womb of baseball and so began the story that changed baseball forever.

The underdog became THE DOG!


Well, don't hurt me Bo Sox Nation but I want that for the Mariners.
I really do.
Only of course when they are not playing against you Bo Sox.
Pshh.... Don't you ever doubt my love and devotion to you Boston, BUT... I have to break it to ya,

I do live in Seattle now.

And now for a real Top Ten From Big Man Dave...Hope you enjoy this Dad! This is high tech for my little blog here:

Just Thoughts

Three weeks left of summer break. I need to get this family back to real life time instead of island time. We have successfully once again thrown away the clocks for the summer and I fear we will go into shock if we went cold-turkey back into school schedule time. So really, I am thinking we only have two weeks left of break and the week before school starts is always busy with school stuff and getting back into the groove.

Emma has really taken to baking and cooking things in the kitchen. Tonight it's cinnamon cupcakes with creme cheese frosting. Mmm...mmm good!!

Moses marinated a steak for this evenings dinner that I am pretty excited about.

I am not going with the first publishing company that offered to publish my book. There was some things in the contract that just didn't sit well with me and so I decided not only did I have no business looking at a 10 page legal document but that it was time to look for an agent. Looking for an agent has been interesting to say the least. More on that later.

My neighbors down the street are getting ready for the big Burn. They are coming into town at their usual speed for this time of year. Always provides for some free entertainment. They are all so nice and very excited that you can't help pick up on that energy. Hope they don't get rained out this year.

My other neighbors have been unusually nice lately. Bringing over all kinds of fruits and vegetations. These are not the usual nice neighbors.

We still haven't heard any news back from our bank lenders about getting "Help for Homeowners". They said it would be 30 to 90 days before we heard anything. It's been 37.5 days so there is still some time I guess before we have to start packing.

Picture of my Dad and Isaiah at Savy's 2nd b-day.

My Dad

Gregory Anthony Pellant is my Dad. Born the youngest of 3 boys it was I am sure a bit of an adjustment for him to have been given 3 girls, 2 sons to raise. I would like to say that he's done a really good job with both. What really is the role of a good dad? What measuring stick do we use to say that's a good dad right there? For me I would say, ask the guys children. If you were to ask this child whether Gregory was a good Dad I would say yes. Yes, he is a good dad. Now, this might come from the wisdom of being a parent myself, but I think if you were to ask me even in my teen years when I would get irritated that he would ask me to take a shorter shower, or turn off the lights, or do the dishes, etc... I think even then at the core of my young being I still knew;

He is a Good Dad.

When I was a little girl I wanted a Cabbage Patch doll more than anything in the world. I remember them being very expensive and hard to come by. So hard to come by that one morning my dad caught wind of them being sold at a local store but said we would have to be there really early. He took me out to breakfast and we waited outside the doors with everyone else, mostly moms to get this doll. We weren't successful. They had already been sold out before we even got there and it really was just a gimmick to get people to come to their store. My dad comforted me. He said, we would just have to go on the hunt again.

He is a good Dad.

When I was a teenager, I had been dreaming of owning a VW bug for as long as I could remember. Every VW that was on sale in our little town I would imagine myself in my dreams driving it down main street, I would imagine the day of purchase and everything right down to what kind of cute decor I was going to hang from the rear view mirror. I worked at the Rec Dept at the time and didn't really make a whole lot of cash. So, I knew the fancy bright shiny VW's probably wouldn't be an option so I went on the hunt for the rejected VW that maybe my little brother could fix up for me( He would fix it after he broke it but that's a story for another day, I digress). I found one. It was 500.00 cash only. I didn't have that kind of money but my dad did. He bought my first car.

He is a good Dad.

My last year in High School I was in a play called South Pacific. I played the lead role Nellie. My parents had payed for me to have voice lessons since Jr High so I am sure it was nice for them to see all their hard earned money pay off. I remember that my dad and mom came to one of the last shows. After the show I came out to my car and it had been covered in stickers from the cartoon character Ziggy. They said, YOU DID IT!!

He is a good Dad.

I was only out of High school for about year when I started dating Moses. My dad had known of my crush/infatuation about this boy named Moses since my sophmore year in High School. When Moses was nominated the home coming king that year my dad took his picture out the paper and blew it up made a few copies and teased me relentlessly about my high school crush. I still have those copies of Mo with a crown on his head. Now a few years later this boy named Moses was pursuing his daughter and was over a lot. I was only the young age of 19 when Moses asked my dad for permission to marry me. My dad didn't grill him, embarrass or harass him. He knew how much I loved this boy. He knew it since I was a young teenage girl. So he said yes.

He is a good Dad.

On our wedding day I will never forget how much my dad made me laugh to ease the nerves a bit. As I was walking down the isle, really the grass lawn out at Wallies he kept cracking jokes and made me laugh so hard that by the time Mo saw me he was wondering if I was taking this, our wedding day serious. My dad gave me away that day and then has proceeded all these years to ask me for a copy of our personal vows that we said to each other. I think it's amazing that he is willing to learn from his children.

He is a good Dad.


He has taught me a lot about the male species. He has taught me that men can be faithful to their wives. Men can get up everyday and provide for their families year after year after year. He has taught me that most men like sports. All sports. He has taught me that not all men are driven by fortune, fame, lust or other worldly things. My dad has given me an example of a man who is steady as he goes. He is humble. He has shared his home with total strangers over the years for the sake of doing what the bible calls us all to. Loving your neighbor. He graciously stepped aside when his parents died and there was some inheritance money left specifically for him, but there was some dispute about where it should go. He stepped aside. Said it wasn't his to begin with.

He is a good Dad.

When I was little I remember thinking that my dad was the strongest man on planet earth. He always seemed to be a strong tower of wisdom and to me because of this, he was a bit frightening. I didn't understand my dad for a lot of years. I still don't fully understand everything about him but one thing I do know is that this is a man I have heard countless time apologize for his mistakes. A man who isn't afraid to cry in front of others. A man who loves Jesus. He has shown his love for Jesus his whole life. Even in things he would consider grave hypocrisy's he has shown what it looks like to repent. He has shown what it looks like to love a woman, the same woman for 40 years. Without a wandering eye his love has stayed true. He has loved 5 children and now 5 grandchildren. He has given his whole life for the love of his family. He knows and has never forgotten in "mid-life" crisis who he is.

He is a good Dad.

My Dad and Politics

In conversations with my dad yesterday we did something we haven't done in a long time. We talked politics. Normally my dad has always been a no muss,  no fuss I am voting republican and that's it, kinda guy. He did say that he has to keep the issues simple for himself and the biggest issue that he faces with Obama is that he is pro-choice. 

I told him that I didn't think so, he obviously is pro-life he has two daughters himself. He laughed, but underneath I know it got him thinking. I told him I thought that it is such a shame that people would totally overlook a genuine good man in politics for that one issue. I understand how passionate the issue of abortions and pro-life vs choice is. Trust me, when I was a teenager I was one of the sign holders down town in Carson City who was spit on for my beliefs. Also, I am one who since the time I was a little girl I didn't have pictures of the teen idols hanging in my bedroom, Oh no it was pictures of cute little babies that was my choice for decor in those days. And anyone who knows me , knows I am a lover of babies, children, life in general and all things that promote that. 

Here is where my dilemma lies, just because on paper a person would say they are pro-choice is it that cut and dry? I don't believe that it is. I understand that for those that pick that box it is not just that easy. Just as for those of  us who pick the box that says life if when standing before us was a person in flesh in blood,  the woman who has been violated and is now found pregnant, and no one else can do that job of carrying that life for 9 months but her, would feel a tinge of at least, this is not as cut and dry as I thought. Neither box is an easy one to pick and for the record I still very much pick the box that says life but I do so with a great sensitivity toward those who don't, not an arrogance or self rightouesness. 

I would like to ask each and everyone of us that do pick that box when faced with the young lady in our lives who got pregnant before we thought they should have, how did we handle this situation?  Honestly, what was our first reactions? How supportive  were we of this young lady whose whole life has now been turned upside down? Recently, my heart was broken for a young lady at youth camp who has an almost one year old daughther now and  who was told she couldn't help out with the youth because "her walk with Jesus was not strong enough". Here is the girl who did the right thing and is now paying the price for it in the camp that checks the box "life". GO figure!!!  I told her I was sorry and that just because she didn't have the title leader she most certainly can and will lead by her actions and that God knows her heart.

Here is the question for me, because I  go vote for  someone who is not pro life on paper, does that then advocate or say I am in agreement with this persons box that says choice? I am pretty sure that the world of politics and the issues that we face are bigger and more complicated than that. 

This fall will be the first time I am voting democrat and it is because in years past I just kept it simple, stuck with that one issue and voted morally the way that I saw fit.  This year will be different. 

Unless a meteorite comes down and takes Obama out or he asks Hillary to be his Vice President I will be voting for him. I have been doing a lot of reading up about him and I believe what he has to offer our country at this time in history is of great value. I am still listening and watching for anything that would cause me to cast my ballot otherwise, right up until the day I will be praying about it but right now that is where I am at.

I understand completely if I get absolutely no comments on this blog because I realize it is a hot topic , these are just some of my thoughts take em or leave em.

Happy Father's Day

I spent the greater part of the evening with my Dad. His older brother's Bob and Dick are in town and to see them all together is always a treat. When these three get together it is quite entertaining in a good way. Not in the way my mom's family is entertaining which is not always in a good way. Case in point refer to blog below , Last Friday night. Anyhew, not the topic of this blog. What I wanted to talk about is my dad. A man who spent the great portion of his life being a radio announcer or DJ or whatever you wanna call it and now is getting ready to retire from being a grocery store clerk. My dad loves jazz music and all things sports related. Tonight there was a Basketball game on that bro-in law Izzy was very interested in. My mom took offense to the fact that he wasn't rooting for Boston but I am not a basketball fan , although I did take stats for the boys b-ball team in High School . It really never stuck. I can appreciate any good game though and tonight was a nail biter. Needless to say my dad was rooting for the Lakers because unlike my mom he detests all things Boston(not really it's just this funny passive agressive thing they have had going for many years). So funny those two. So there they sat, Izzy and my Dad glued to the television. It was so enjoyable to hear the two of them get quite excited.

I love my dad. I love that he loves sports. I love that he has loved my mom for 38 years and counting. I love that although he is not perfect by any means he's still trying. Always committed to getting better at his roles in life.

Father in laws are also on the list of the Dad's I love. Over the 13 years of marriage I have come to appreciate them both.

Mo's dad Rusty gives me a greater insight to the man I married than probably anyone else around and he is the amazing Bionic man. With so many surgeries I can't even tell you, He never and I do mean never complains. He is amazingly strong and I love him.

His step dad Tom also an incredible man that keeps his mom happy. Which what more could you ask for there, right?

Anyway, if I didn't get to tell you myself today, Happy Fathers Day to all the dads out there. I hope you spent it in good company and with lots of love.

Happy Anniversrary

Mom and Dad 36 years is something to celebrate. I am proud of you and thankful for you. Hope you two love-birds get a nice break. Just singing your praises.