Looking back on the year of 2013, the one thing that stands out to me is how deeply blessed I am. I have the most wonderful husband and I love him so much. His heart is so big and so full of love for our family.

 

 

So, instead of using today to reflect on the year in its entirety, I am soaking up all the ways I've been blessed in 2013 and anticipating what God has ahead for our family.

 

 

PS: I plan on using this more in 2014 :)

 

Lazy Thursday

 

I'm having a lazy day. I wish the kids and I were out taking advantage of all the leftover snow, but, the little girl is sick with a viral infection. I'm praying that none of us catch it. I've been advised to keep them separated. Ok doctor. That's easy. So far, the six year old's new birthday presents are keeping the boys entertained, except that our house now looks like Kevin McAlister has been here. While they're making a battlefield of the entire downstairs, the little girl and I are cuddled up on the couch watching princess movies. We've been pretty lucky, lately, with our well streak...I sure hope she feels better soon. 

 

I've been enjoying looking at all of the beautiful, festive homes on my favorite blogs. Dixie Delights is one of my favorites to look at for ideas during the holidays. She goes all out at every holiday. So fun! Perhaps I'll get around to taking some pictures of our unprofessionally holiday-decorated home sometime soon.

 

I finished up Sadie's Christmas and Santa yesterday and still have the boys' left to do. We've always been last minute Christmas shoppers and I'm completely ok with that. This year we're getting the boys bikes. I'll also be checking out JM Cremps. They always have super cute little boy wonderfulness.

 

This year, Sadie's getting a dollhouse. I'm not sure who will be more excited- me or her :)

 

Well, I better get back to "Tangled"!

 

 

 

 

 

There is nothing I love more than a Virginian fall. It's the perfect backdrop for Thanksgiving. There is so much I have to be thankful for this year.

 

 
Sometimes I find myself getting caught up in the craziness of our days, that forget the blessings all around me.
 

...sugar is sweet and so are you.

 

One of these days, you'll be grown, my sweet little one and you'll do whatever you want to do because you can. I hear ya. At two and a half, you know that deep in your soul. I know most two year olds think they know it, but you really do. Believe me, I'm behind you 100%. The day will come, as "they've" (You know if you are the "they" and if you are the they, you should keep the wisdom to a minimum. I say that with all the love.) told me, where "all too quickly" you really can "Do it ME SELF!!!" And you will and it's going to be the most beautiful thing in the world to watch. I can't wait to see what the Lord has for you, precious.

 

 

You're a spit fire and I don't worry about you a bit. You will always be ok. You can take care of yourself and you're confident in that. I pray, as your mother, I never squash that. God rolled so much fun and so much goodness into one tiny little being. I'm still learning how to harness all that spunk. Bear with me, sweet girl.

 

 

I had a defining mommy moment today. I think it was somewhere between fit one and five or that phone call to Daddy...I lost track ;)

 

 

Thank you for being my daughter. My very own daughter. I know you didn't pick me, nor I you, but thanks for sticking by me through the good and the bad. It was truly a match made in heaven.

 

 

 

I love you forever and always no matter what,
Mommy

 

 

Painter's block.

I've hit painter's block. It wasn't intentional, but I haven't painted or refinished something in about a month. There are still those dining chairs and window seat that are begging for a good recover. The fabric's here, so what's stopping me? I need to get on that. But this weather just makes me want to drown my house in pumpkins, sip on cider (hard or hot), slip on a cable knit sweater, and watch my babies play in the leaves. Maybe I should get on that instead. Yes, that sounds much better.

Isn't fall just the best? I love it. The colors make the season feel so magical.

Happy Monday!


via


kid's craft via

sister

The fabric

I am so excited! The fabric for our dining chairs and window seat arrived yesterday. It took me forever to decide on a fabric. There are just too many choices! I was going to do a print on our dining chairs and a solid on our window seat, with some accent pillows in the chair fabric. In our forever house, with our forever furniture, that would have made perfect sense. The honey suggested that I cover the dining chairs in something that could be easily sold :) He knows me.

 

 

So, I settled on a beautiful, heavy linen fabric. It's a light brown/gray and I love it. I think it's really going to freshen up our window seat. Especially when I add some throw pillows. I'm pretty sure I'll use blue...Maybe buffalo checks?...Something easy on the eyes. I may do two bolster pillows. The kids are always up there and they often crush the blinds with the bigger pillows.

 

When we first moved into our house, the window seat was covered in a dog hair-covered, badly faded rose-colored gingham. Under that was this awful, out of date Laura Ashley mistake. We quickly recovered it in a cheapo cotton fabric that we found in the sale section for like $5 or something. The kids, gingerly, call the window seat, "The fabric" and when I think about changing it, it makes me a little sad. A little. But I'm still changing it :)

 

 

"The fabric" is where our middle and youngest children were introduced to their siblings, so it's a special place.

 

 

It's where we took that beloved first family of five photo that we'll forever cherish.

 

 

I don't ever want to keep something just because I have a memory attached to it. Thank goodness for pictures, right? I want to keep it because we, as a family, love it and it works for us. Changing the fabric will be a little sad, but I'm excited to brighten up our dining room/school room with the linen. You can never go wrong with linen.  

 

Now where's that staple gun?...