2010 Calorie Houses, Better know as Candy Houses!

Karla and Margaret in the designing stage

Sarah with her "Park"

Vinson and his "Mansion"

Erin's "Gift"

Joy's "Flower Planter"

Margaret's "Sledding Hill"

Grandma Landis' "Cottage"

"Karla's Kottage"

Geoff's "Candy!"

Yoda, McDonalds and my girl...

Another unique quote from my one of my kids as she and I passed a nearby McDonald's sign advertising the fact that they open at 1 AM Black Friday morning. The sign read "OPEN 1 AM". But what my daughter read was "Open, I am." Her comment, as she reflected on the odd wording declaring that they are open, had something to do with the possibility that Yoda lettered the sign at our McDonald's… Gotta love my girl! Daddy

college applications

A bit of Sensenig family humor...

Joy: "Do I have to apply to go to HACC?"
Mom: "You are already a student there."

Another quote got us laughing much harder, but public humiliation will be spared.

Peanut Butter Popcorn

Peanut Butter Popcorn is a recipe I discovered this summer online. My family loves it and so has everyone else so far. It seriously takes about 15 minutes, start to finish, and most of that time is for the popcorn to pop. It's great to have a recipe like this on hand (or memorized, like I have by now), one that takes much less effort and expense than enjoyment it brings.

2 bags of microwave popcorn, popped
1/2 cup butter
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup peanut butter
20 large marshmallows

Pour popcorn into a large bowl. In a glass bowl, combine the other ingredients. Microwave at 1 minute intervals, stirring between each time, until the mixture is melted and smooth. Pour the melted mixture over the popcorn, and stir quickly to coat the corn before it cools.

For fun, add peanuts. I've also thought about M&Ms, but I'm not sure if they would melt from the warm mixture (chocolate chips do, I've tried!).

Anniversary trip!

The last week of October Karla and I went to Pasadena, Maryland for ten days to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary.

We rented a cottage and made day trips to a few close-by locations.

We visited Annapolis three days and saw some historic sites there.

We also visited the US Navel Academy in Annapolis and took a walking tour there, although I think it should have been called a sprinting tour, the guide was tall and athletic and I had a hard time keeping up with him let alone Karla with her short legs…!

One day it rained all day so we stayed at the cottage and watched movies and played cards.

We drove about 1-1/2 hours one day to St. Michaels, a quaint bay town that has many little shops and also a Maritime Museum.

On our drive home that evening we were blessed to catch a wonderful sunset at a bay-side park.

A crane that was not too bashful, it only flew away when Karla started talking to it to get it to fly.

Another park at sunset.

Our back yard at night with the moon rising.

This was our back yard view from the cottage.

Saturday afternoon we took a short half-day trip back to Lancaster for Joy’s Tennis banquet. Sunday we traveled to Solid Rock Church for their meeting. We thought it was funny that we actually were earlier for church on vacation than we are when we are at home. We arrived fifteen minutes before ten for their service but found out that that was the first week they switched to two services and we were an hour late! But we came back for the 11:15 meeting and heard Kurt Allen preach an excellent message. Monday we edited pictures and Tuesday we packed to come home. We had a wonderful vacation and appreciate all the gifts that made it possible. Thanks especially to our kids for the early party and the gifts! We are amazed at Gods faithfulness over the past 25 years and look forward to see what he has planned for the next 25!

My 13th Birthday Prty

For my 13th Birthday Party I had a sleepover in my Grandma's attic with Ruth Anne, & Melanie Millen, Sierra, & Annaliese Stillman, Joy (Sensenig) & Me. We dressed up, had dinner took nice pictures. Then we Dances, then dressed up funny and took pictures. Then we watched FireProof. Then we went to bed at about 1-1:30ish. (Annaliese had to leave early.) We got up and they gave me gifts, then we had a nice breakfast. Then we had to pack up and go home. I had a great time!

Here are some of the pictures: (Taken by my Dad)

Margaret Sensenig (me)

Sierra Stillman

Ruth Anne Millen

Joy Sensenig

Annaliese Stillman

Melanie Millen

You can see more pictures at: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=14667&id=100001574776471

Soccer Game

Go here to see pictures from our game today:

http://s73.photobucket.com/albums/i215/geoffsensenig/Soccer%20CV%20Dynomite%20u13%20fall%202010/2010-09-25%20vs%20L-S%20WIN%204-1/

We played L.S. and won 4-1! We got all 4 goals in the second half!

Surprise Anniversary Party

Here is a "clip" from today's Crossway Life Monday News, which is also family news.

Geoff and Karla Sensenig surprised for their 25th wedding anniversary. A small group of family and friends celebrated Geoff and Karla's 25th wedding anniversary on Saturday night. Sarah planned the party 4 months early because it was the surest bet that they would not suspect anything. She was right and they were totally surprised. Congratulations Geoff and Karla. They were presented with a cash gift to be used for a special trip which Karla will enjoy planning.

Thanks to my grandma Landis, who did all the food, and my grandma Sensenig who allowed us to use her home. I was greatly affected that day on the rich blessing I have in both sets of my grandparents, Granddaddy and Grandpa included. A special thanks to my aunt Cheryl as well, who made a trip up from Charlotte, NC just for this occasion. I am also very grateful for all the friends who joined my siblings, family, and I in honoring and blessing my parents. I know they felt loved by the cards written by so many people from church, as well as built up by the time with a small group of friends. It was very hard to plan a party and keep it small, but I knew that would serve them. We just had some old friends that were a part of their actual wedding day, and most were also friends from church. We had around 30 people (including our immediate family).

My parents' faces were radiant all evening, and I was blessed to see them so effectively blessed. When my mom asked me late Saturday night how I pulled off some of the logistics and kept it a surprise, I could only say "God wanted to bless you, and he did." I loved seeing our Father show his love and care for my parents.

A friend from church was so sweet and kind to allow me to borrow her camera extremely last minute, as I realized it would be difficult if not impossible to use my dad's camera. My aunt was able to capture a few shots.