It's Birthday Week at Our House

Happiest of Days to my BIG 5 year old this week! I love you soooooo much and hate that your getting so big! This has been a fun week celebrating~

Friends from the Womb~ Tiffany is a good friend and classmate at Calvary!

Homemade cake is BEST!!! made by: Carter and Mommy

Celebrating for the 5th year at Cheeburger Cheeburger in City Place. Papa Bill and Dad in the background.

The awaited BIG box from Aunt Char and Uncle Jim in Jersey! Always filled with lot's of goodies and fun! Thank you Aunt Char and Uncle Jim!!

What a GREAT smile!

Ms. Karen is the BEST! She is an amazing lower school teacher at Calvary Christian, we just LOVE her and love her style. She makes every child feel loved, and teaches the Bible to her class just like it should be! I commend her on her BOLD spirit and her ways of the Lord. She has special Birthday songs for the birthday boy!

Photo Session Give Away! Check it out!!

Photo Session Give Away!

CoConut CirCle is thrilled to announce the 1st Annual Photo Session Give Away Contest!
Inspired by the generosity of others, and anxious to spread the word about my all new blog page and redesigned web site, I have decided to create a raffle....a random drawing, designed to give away 5, yes FIVE, individual Basic Package photo sessions with me, April, owner and photographer of CoConut CirCle.
These sessions are TOTALLY FREE to each of the 5 winners with nothing to buy and NO CATCH! Each winner will get a CD with the high resolution professionally edited images from their winning session to keep and duplicate! NOTHING to buy and NO CATCH. Just help me spread the word about CoConut CirCle Photography and you will be entered to win.

Here is how is works:
TO ENTER: make a "comment" to this blog post including your FIRST name and LAST initial, CITY, and the TYPE of photo session you would like to have, ie maternity, infant, engagement, newborn, senior photos, etc.

A sample comment entry:"April M, West Palm Beach, Engagement"You may only enter one time this way.

To increase your chances of winning, you may enter additional times using the following alternate methods (one time for each):

1) "FAN" CoConut CirCle on FaceBook and you will receive an entry (if you are already a FAN of CoConut CirCle, you will automatically receive this entry)

2) Create a Status entry about this contest blog entry on YOUR FaceBook page, then go to CoConut CirCle's FB page and post "I entered!" so that your entry can be verified and counted.

3) create a POST of this blog entry on YOUR blog or web site. Then come back to THIS blog post and enter a comment including YOUR blog or web address so that your entry can be verified and counted. Sample entry comment:"I entered: visit me at www.CoConutCirCle.com"

4) become a "follower" of CoConut Circle's "April's Inner Circle" Blog page. This will generate yet another entry for you.

5) send an EMAIL to your friends whom you think might be interested in winning a photo session, inviting them to visit this blog (http://www.coconutcircle.blogspot.com/) and enter. When you do, "CC " me in your email at CoConutCirCle@hotmail.com so that your entry can be verified and counted.These methods allow you to enter this drawing up to 6 times! The more you enter, the better your chances of winning and the more people you help me tell about CoConut CirCle!This raffle is open to everyone, including clients of CoConut CirCle. Each entered can only win 1 of the 5 sessions, and in the event a name is drawn twice, another name will be drawn and declared the winner. The five individual winning names will be drawn and posted on this blog on Monday, Feb 15th at noon. You have 2 weeks! The winners will be listed exactly as they were originally entered: first name, last initial, city, and session type for example:"April M, West Palm Beach, wins an Engagement Session"The winners will have 48 hours to contact me to confirm their prize. In the event that a winner does not come forward in that time, another name will be drawn. All winning photo shoots must be shot in Broward or Palm Beach counties, so basically, "you must be present to win!"That's it! I am giving away, TOTALLY free, 5 indivdual photography sessions to 5 lucky winners just for helping me spread the word about CoConut CirCle. I am truly blessed to be able to do what I love in the supportive environment of my loving family, terrific friends and wonderful clients.

This is my way, in some little way, to "Pay it Forward" and give something back. Thank you for supporting CoConut CirCle, and please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions.

Good Luck to everyone!April

Super Bowl Party Treat

Okay so you all know I love to cook, right? Well, check out this Super Bowl Snack. Truly amazing! Wish I was havin' a party!

Fingerprint Friday

There is a song by Steven Curtis Chapman that says:

I can see the fingerprints of god.

When I look at you I can see the fingerprints of god

And I know its trueYou're a masterpiece

That all creation quietly applauds

And you're covered with the fingerprints of god

So look around you and see where YOU can see God's fingerprints.

Is it in nature?

Kids?

Animals?

Where do you see them?

Hopefully this will make us look at things through fresh eyes throughout the week.

Today I dedicate my "Fingerprints of God" segment to the PEOPLE of Haiti-their country is broken, their hearts are broken, some families are now broken...

Living in South Florida has made us accustom to our close neighbors of Haiti across the Atlantic and in our own backyard. My job with the Dept. of Education/No Child Left Behind program has allowed me to work closely with the Haitian population locally with personal employees and recipients of the government program. Brett's job at the resort has allowed him to employ several loyal men of many years who are like family at work and the resort employs over a thousand Haitians in Hospitality/Convention Services, and other areas. These 5 men that we are honored to call friends have lost direct relatives in this disaster in Haiti. We often wonder why things like this happen and to the poorest of countries. We will never know the answers, only God.

God's Word says, " But You, O Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, and the One who lifts my head high." Psalm 3:3

This is a country of a large amount of Believers, but as many who are there are that many who are not. Please keep them in prayer to have faith, streghth, and endurance of whatever comes in their days ahead. And our world should be praised for their efforts in helping rebuilding.

The Wedding 11.15.09

Mr. & Mrs. Greg Biotti

Beth & Greg

Not sure why the photographer did so many sideway's shots, but here's our group - Griffin, he was asleep! He was not a party animal that night!

Mommy (Matron of Honor) & Carter (Ring Bearer)

Griffin looks on.....

It was a great wedding on St. Pete beach at sundown! Congratualtions to Beth & Greg - we wish you many years of happiness!

I'm a Ham!

When asked to smile for the camara-this is what I got. Too funny! We spent some time before Thanksgiving in Orlando with Nana and Papa and Aunt Debbie and Uncle Mike. We went to Downtown Disney for some daytime fun on this day.

Griffin watches the stage show with deep thought and a few fingers.

Happy Thanksgiving!

It was a day of Thanks this year. We have a lot to be thankful for and to have gratitude towards. We celebrated traditionally at my mom & Joe's house for an evening dinner with close family.

Fingerprint Friday

There is a song by Steven Curtis Chapman that says:

I can see the fingerprints of god.
When I look at you
I can see the fingerprints of god
And I know its true
You're a masterpiece
That all creation quietly applauds
And you're covered with the fingerprints of god

So look around you and see where YOU can see God's fingerprints. Is it in nature? Kids? Animals? Where do you see them?

Hopefully this will make us look at things through fresh eyes throughout the week!

This is an ICE sculpted display of the Nativity. Top picture is Mary, Joseph, and the babe-Jesus! and the second picture is the whole caboodle - We visited the ICE display yesterday at the Gaylord Palms Resort in Orlando. A nice change to dress up with scarves, mittens, and hats. The exhibit gives you a Parka (what's that? - us, South FLORIDA folks don't own those). It was a chilly 9 degrees in the exhibit! It was just breathtaking of the artistry the designers come up with each year. AMAZING!

I LOVE MY BOYS!

Today while at the Gaylord Palms Resort there was a whole lotta brotherly LOVE!

Scoobie Doo Visits for Halloween

Scoobie Doo was the costume of choice this year. I am not sure why, but to Carter he is pretty cool!

A Day at The Patch with MOPS

Soccer Season Begins

Carter plays soccer for our YMCA we belong to here in Boynton. He is on the FORCE! If you have never come out to watch pee wee soccer it is sure to bring a a huge smile to your face. They run in every direction, score points for both teams, and have been discribed as being like a swarm of bumble bees going every which way. He loves it because he is active and not waiting for the ball as he did in T-Ball last year. His coach is our good friend, Ann, and her daughter Sophia plays too (shown below). Come on out and cheer him on at 10 am at the Boynton YMCA on Saturday's through November!

Isabella and Carter ready to head out to soccer! She is ready to cheer him on the first week!

Griffin is 6 months

Wow, how time flies, GRIFFIN is 6 months now. Here he was enjoying a little time at the pool while we were in Clearwater a few weeks back.

Health Update: Griffin is doing much better these days. A week back he spent a few days in the pediatric unit at Bethesda for some respiratory issues, but he is bouncing back now. At his 6th month check-up this week he is on the full-term baby charts now for 6 month olds at 25% for weight, and 50% for height. He is growing like a weed. He has never missed a bottle or a meal and now enjoys lot's of pureed foods, and is drinking water from a sip cup. He is full of smiles and brings so much JOY to our lives!

Student of the Week

This past week Carter was chosen to be Student of the week! He was so happy he got picked he said. He told the class all about himself with this cool poster.

Happy Fall

These pictures are so "Fall-ish" - Love 'em! Do they inspire you as much as they inspire me? I had Brett head over to the storage this past weekend to pull the bins of "Fall" out of the sea of storage so we could decorate a little here in the Palm Beaches. We don't have rolling hills with leaves turning color or beginning to fall, but we have a little less humitity and a bunch of rowdy kids in the neighborhood ready to trick or treat in their hot little costumes, my son included! As well as some cheesey decorations to let everyone know Halloween is arriving and fall is making it's way...Enjoy~

?? Where are we ??

Funny you should ask - I have heard, " Did you give up blogging?", How about that new family member, keeping you busy not to blog anymore?" Anwser: NO~

Well, long story short boy #1 had an accident with our big camera - a BIG accident! He had good intentions, but.... We borrowed a few dinosaur digitals from family and our stash in the closet, but nothing is like your great big fancy camera with all the fun features when you are an aspiring shutter bug as myself.

So.... after many months now "winging" it with the dinosaurs, and maybe a little bit of complaining...my honey bought be a brand spanking new and improved manual/digital Canon. Just like my old one, but the newer version. WOW- my heart is like pitter patter like the day last week when I said when do you think we can get a new one-the baby is like almost 6 mos. old-and we never took any photos on our terrific vacations this summer-life is passing us by...do you get my drift....maybe that's why he said last week- okay great, go on to Best Buy and buy what you want!! YEAH! Thanks Honey!!!

So stay with me, I haven't quit. I am unloading everything this weekend from the dinosaurs and the disks I had to make-and before you know I will be back. I know you won't be disappointed.

Speaking of not being diappointed...

Did anyone try the declicious CHOCOLATE cake recipe I posted? I only have one word-SINFUL!

BEST EVER CHOCOLATE CAKE!!

Chocolate Bundt Cake

3 eggs
1 cup sour cream
1 package of chocolate pudding mix
1 package of chocolate cake mix (any brand)
½ cup vegetable oil
¾ cup water
½ - 1 whole bag of chocolate chips (you decide how chocolatey you want it)

Mix above ingredients in a large bowl. Grease and flour a bundt pan. Pour mixture into pan and bake 45 minutes at 350. Let it cool before flipping it onto a plate. Garnish with strawberries, powdered sugar, or ice cream. Enjoy!

Sweet Soft Smile

Love the soft smile of my littlest boy!

Griffy in his new high chair

THE littlest BOY GOT A BIG BOY HIGH CHAIR- HE IS NOW EATING BABY FOOD!

Griffin Pics

Alright, it's been a while I know since my last post. I have had some camera issues thanks to my little buddy Carter. Always meaning well he wanted to take pictures without my knowledge of Griffin and well...some reason there is a malfunction on my camera...oops. Anyhow, we had a coupon for some free shots at Picture People last week so since we have only had some infant pics done of Griffin, I decided to take him for the freebies. These were cut/pasted from their website so of course you see the watermark image across him, but I just wanted to share. He has come along way. Over 11 pounds now, and doing well. We have had a few praise reports for him this past month, one- we FINALLY qualified for the Synagis shots that will help his lungs stay strong when the RSV virus is around (a common type cold for us-him a hospital ICU stay), and second- his red blood cell count is slowly climbing since the blood transfusion now. Please keep that in your prayers that it will continue to climb in normal ranges. Enjoy the new pics~

My Little Firecracker!

My little Firecracker-2009!