Congrats.....MARTHA

Well, well, well.....if it isn't Martha Marchan....mi sista!!!! She graduated in September from ITI Technical College (Information Systems). This is kinda late.....but better late than never.



















Martha is growing up....yes, yes, yes.....I can remember when we were little kids sharing a room. She always would have her clothes all over the place. I remember I used to put all her clothes in a pile in the room. Then I got in trouble so I stopped doing that.
















Martha works at Albertsons.........ummm yeah....Its like Publix.



















I wonder what Martha is thinking in this picture.....probably...."man I'd rather be at Las Palmas eating Fajitas". LOL Just kidding.




















I told Martha I was gonna post this picture.....this is in her "bad girl" days. She had just beat up this chubby kid in the bathroom. She flushed the toilet and put their head in there. Then she wrapped them in toilet paper and flused them again. Then she saw me and said I was next. Needless to say I high tailed it outta there!!!!! LOL..... No way...just kidding. If you only knew the story behind this picture.......

Thanksgiving Evening with the Pentecosts

What a fun and yummy day indeed.
Mark and I started our Thanksgiving day with The Macy's Day Parade. Whoohoo So many fun characters floating in the air.

Lunch was served later that day around 2-ish at D & M's house. Lots of yummy food to eat. And let us not forget Bubble attacking Jon with smooches!!! Ha Ha Ha. Our "Thankful" Game. Fun times I tell ya!!!!

Then on to our place. Everyone had a chance to ride the horses. Well everyone rode except Mom....but thats okay...ha ha ha. Grandma sat inside listening to Christmas music and time to time sneaking a peek at us ride.

Looks like David is having a blast!!!















Mark is giving Dad a short lesson. Looks like Dad is having fun.















Jon was a little hesitant to ride, but I told him I'd lead Banner. He seemed pretty nervous. Guess its been a while since Jon rode the horses huh.... After a "short" ride...Jon was ready to get off Banner.















Daddy P, Sarah, and Michele watch on as the rest ride. Whats in that cup Dad??? Oh look is that my Bubble you have there Michele?

















Looks like Chad is having a ball! Nice hat Chad. Its soo you!!! LOL I think Mark is doing an excellent job teaching you.
















After we entertained ourselves with the horses, we all made our way in the house. The smell of pumpkin spice, vanilla, desserts......hmmmmm filled the air.
The desserts were "delectable"!!!! The hot chocolate was yummy.
After chatting and eating, we sat down to watch "Over the Hedge". There was a loud snore coming from the couch....who could it be. Chad, Mom, Dad.....hmmmm....ha ha it was Bubble. She had a long day!!!!

Special thanks to all that made our Thanksgiving Day super, fun, and yummy!!!!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving....with family, friends, good food, and great memories!!!!!!!!

The Holidays are Coming!

The Holidays are coming, I’m so excited it’s my favorite time of the year (Thanksgiving & Christmas) - I’m already listening to my Christmas CD’s. I remember when I was young, after Thanksgiving- it always seemed like forever for Christmas to come. Now that I am older-it’s pretty much right around the corner. So with that being said, here’s a little game of Favorites for Thanksgiving & Christmas!!! Enjoy!!!!

Favorite Thanksgiving Memory as a child? Helping my mom cook the Thanksgiving lunch, eating with the family and using those fancy wine glasses for our “sparkling grape juice”, and then watching a movie we rented.

Favorite Thanksgiving Memory as an adult? Last Thanksgiving, our family (Pentecosts) had a progressive style Thanksgiving. (Jon and Sarah –appetizers, David and Michele- Main Meal, Mark and I – dessert, and Mark’s parents- night cap and a movie. It was a full day, but I had fun.

Favorite Thanksgiving Food? My mom’s stuffing & cheesecake & Turkey

Favorite part of the winter? The coldness, wearing coats and winter wear, snow-if I lived up north-sledding, the holidays.

Favorite Christmas song? Chestnuts Roasting on an open fire

Favorite Christmas movie? National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.

Fake or Real Tree? Growing up always fake. Since Mark and I have been married- REAL. I really like it better.

Stockings after presents or before? Before

Favorite Christmas Memory growing up? Opening one present Christmas Eve- it was usually pajamas my mom made- I was so happy because I was able to wear them to bed. My mom would bake bread Christmas Eve in time for Christmas morning breakfast. We’d always get a slice or two that night. Waking up Christmas morning- Dad would read the Christmas story and my siblings and I would be so impatient and wanted to open our gifts. After we opened our gifts we’d have Christmas breakfast (country-salted- ham, baked bread, hmmmm yummy days!!!! Then go and play with our toys!!!

Favorite Christmas Memory as an adult? The Christmas before Mark and I got married. I came to visit him and his family for Christmas. They were so warm and welcoming. I got off work (Christmas Eve) around 12 and flew out of New Orleans to Tampa. I was soo excited to see Mark. He greeted me at the airport with a rose. It was soo sweet. That Christmas was special and I got to know his family better and we had a wonderful time.

Did you believe in Santa as a child? No, but when we lived in Germany, the kids in the apartment would leave their boots outside the door and on Christmas morning there would be candy in there if they were good and coal if they were bad. I got candy. It’s a German or European custom. I think Santa comes from that.

Wanna play? Copy and Paste- but put your answers where mine are.

Today in Gabriella's Cafe we are serving....

Spiced Hot Chocolate

1 cup milk
1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
1 square BAKER'S Semi-Sweet Baking Chocolate, finely chopped
2 OREO Chocolate Sandwich Cookies
MIX milk and cinnamon in saucepan. Bring just to boil on medium-high heat.
ADD chocolate; beat with wire whisk until chocolate is completely melted and milk is slightly frothy.
SERVE hot with the cookies.

Its Novemeber...and its starting to cool down...YEAH! So a cup of hot chocolate sounds wonderful and warming to me.
Today we are serving Hot Chocolate.....Enjoy.

Soooo.....when you start sipping your hot chocolate....what is one of the first things that comes to your mind?
Hmmmm....for me..... It would probably be early mornings as a child getting our garage sale started, sipping our hot cocoa in the cold, waiting for people to come by.
Another memory is Christmas Morning Breakfasts as a child. Eating country ham (salted one), fresh homemade baked bread, and enjoying my delicious hot chocolate with those little marshmellows.
Hmmmmmmm.....Good times!