Happy Turkey Day

See you all next week for the Christmas countdown...

Almost...

Almost 1!!!...I love you Birdie! Where has the time gone?!

Tis' The Season...

Busy, busy...here is a glimpse at my project table...busy wrapping Christmas and Birthday gifts, trying to finish Christian's Baby Book before his 1st birthday, getting swap packages ready for the mail and I am working on a couple of Christmas craft projects too...tis the season for lots of crafts, projects and "hoopla"...I love it! What are you working on?

Special Gifts...

Aren't these cute? Some Christmas gifts arrived last week from Pottery Barn Kids...they are wrapped just precious with felt Santa tags and red grosgrain ribbon...can't wait to put them under the tree!

We had a great weekend with friends who came to visit...we saw Twilight (great movie!) and went out for drinks, did some shopping too. We did more shopping Saturday and had lunch while the boys enjoyed the ballgame. After the Notre Dame game we had friends over for pizza so all the kids could visit and play, they had a ball! Campbell and Charlotte loved having Ellie and Camryn (and their sweet dog Chloe) spend the night and stay with us...I loved having them all here too...miss you lots Maggie...your friendship is a gift! Anyway, it was a busy weekend with all my favorite things. Hope yours was happy too!

It's beginning to look alot like...

Christmas ornaments! Look what I found...VINTAGE ornaments! A whole box for, are ya ready....for $1!!! There must be 40 or so, all colors and sizes, I am so excited-I need another ornament like a hole in my head but I just cannot stop myself and for $1...who'd want to?!

Fresh Fallen Snow...and Other Fun!

Just wanted to share some pics of the kids in all their glory! It has been a busy few weeks, only to get busier. But it is truly fun (for the most part!) Highlights after Halloween have included: an overnight at the Airzoo Museum w/ Scouts, Nutcracker Tea, a special date with my two big kids to see a performance of The Nutcracker, followed by a trip out for hot cocoa and book shopping, Campbell's Fall party at school...we had a ball baking "pumpkin" cookies and making hand-dipped chocolate turkeys. We have also enjoyed our first snow this week and it was a big one! It was truly beautiful - the first snow always is and the kids were thrilled! It got us all in the Christmas "mood"! They are anxious to start decorating and I am too! There is so much to look forward to and I can't wait to enjoy the holidays with you all...

So Cute!

Look how cute! A BIG thank you to my sweet bloggy friend, Molly's Mom, check out her adorable blog at http://www.2doggsandababy.blogspot.com/. She sent me this cute monogrammed hand towel as a Pay It Forward gift. Thanks C, I love it and have loved getting to know you!

A Gift...

I woke up in a bad mood today! Tired and cold and rushed...no matter how hard we try to prepare for the day ahead (the night before) I always feel behind the eight ball, ya know what I mean? All the kids wake at the same time, wanting milk, bottles, breakfast, cuddle and play time all before 7am and a cup of coffee. They wake-up chatting and happy and want your full attention while I am focused on teeth, vitamins, hair, making lunch, etc...we awoke to several inches of fresh fallen snow and watched as more continued (continues) to fall. It was an early Christmas for the kids - they are beyond excited! So after we got one off to school and I had a small moment to sit and drink coffee, I remembered what a friend told me...and tells me almost daily - "Everyday is a gift!"...and just like that my mood changed...she is SO right...I decided to embrace the "grind", the chatter, the diapers, the meals, the messes and responsibility, the snow and all that comes with each crazy day with 3 kids...because life is a gift, each day on this Earth is a gift, motherhood is a gift and being Bryan's wife is a gift. This is a wonderful, beautiful season and I plan to enjoy it!...Hope you have a great Monday and a great week!

Another one...

Are you all sick of my "finds..."? I just have one more to share...these prints are from my neighbor's moving sale, $3 each! I have been looking for Botanicals for my Living Room and was thrilled when I spotted these, the colors, size and even the frames were all perfect for my space. They look great hung on the wall, can't show to show pics of my Living Room, it is one of my favorite rooms in the house...it houses my over sized toile tuffet, my rooster lamp, my ironstone collection and beautiful family photos, all my favorite colors are in this room too! What is your favorite room in your house?

Other Great Finds

More great thrift finds...white Milk Glass with this precious "heart" pattern around the edge, I got my first piece years ago from Bryan's Mema, a platter, then I started to see the same "heart" pattern on smaller plates and dessert dishes, so I began to collect it...I have a serious dish fetish (thanks Mom!) so now, it is always so fun and exciting when I find it at Tag sales or Goodwill or Estate sales. The other great find was this old wicker basket, I have it open, under a table in the family room, it is holding some scrapbooks. I also have an obsession with old baskets, they have so many uses and look great everywhere!

Party Planning

Busy, busy planning Christian's 1st Birthday party...(chirp, chirp!) and have fallen in love with this website www.hostesswiththemostess.com, great party planning ideas, take a peek. Can you guess my theme?

White Ironstone

I hit another great tag sale and scored a great white ironstone bowl...I collect ironstone and love it!, 50 cents, what a great deal - this will look perfect on my Thanksgiving table! I love using all my white ironstone and brown&white toile Turkey plates...How will you decorate your table?

The Apple (s) of My Eye

This is a very special Apple Pie that Campbell and Bryan made last Fall for his Thanksgiving Feast at school...I was on bedrest and was so sad that we could not bake together, Bryan stepped up as he did so many days last Fall and Winter to fill-in for Mommy...but it was Christmas come early when Christian arrived on December 6, healthy and happy! And,...Campbell, Charlotte, Christian and Bryan...you are all the apple(s) of my eye! Love you!

Cam's (easy) Delicious Apple Pie

1 pie crust (homemade or Pillsbury - we opted for the Pillsbury!)

5 C. chopped apples of different variety

1/2 C. sugar

3/4 t. cinnamon

Follow the cooking directions on the box for the shell, then fill the shell with the apples, that have been mixed together with the sugar & cinnamon mixture, set aside. To assemble a crub topping, mix the following:

1/3 C. sugar

3/4 C. all puropse flour

6 T. butter

Mix together until crumbly, then top the apple mixture with it. Bake at 350 degrees for 40-45 minutes or until bubbly and cooked through. Top with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and drizzle of caramel sauce.

Enjoy!

Already...?!

The snow is promised to fall today...you'll receive your Starbucks in their red Holiday cups, the stores are all decorated, the Churches are all holding their Holiday Craft Bazaars today, as well as many cute, small gift shops in town who will host Open Houses today...many big retailers opened at 6am today for "Doorbusters"! ...the Christmas music is being played on the radio and my kids are DYING to get our house decorated...And it is only November 8! It seems the excitement and the "hoopla" starts earlier each year! That is OK though, it is the most glorious time of the year! Never to early to start your planning...does anyone have some good blogs they like to visit for Christmas decorating ideas? And, if you wanna join in on somefun Christmas blogging swaps, visit http://www.clemsongirlandthecoach.blogspot.com/ and http://www.grovegals.blogspot.com/ for what promises to be two great ones! Happy Holidays...(early!!!)!

Cutie Clothes!

Aren't these cute? I found this great children's designer at an Art Show while visiting a friend out of town...LizzeAnne, she has an Etsy shop and makes the most adorable apron dresses and knot dresses. She typically just designs for little girls but I convinced her to make a matching "birdie" onesie for our "Birdie"...he and Charlotte will look adorable, Campbell said forget the birds, he'll opt for just brown, thank you very much! It came packaged so cute too!

A big "thank you" to our Nana too, for embroidering the precious pumpkin dress and bib for Charlotte and Christian too! Again, Campbell opts out...I swear I would still dress him in smocked "jon-jons" if Bryan would let me!

Houses I am Loving

Loving these houses...friends, neighbors and a random drive-by! Don't you just love to see (gawk) at other pepp's homes? ...

SWAP!

Gonna be fun...!

Scenes From A Busy Week...

A busy week it was...Halloween parties at friend's and school, pumpkin carving, porch decorating, cookie baking and decorating, treat bag assembly, costume assembly (complete with Salon up do!) a sleepover for 5 boys (and all that goes with it!) - of course trick-or-treating (can you guess Bryan's costume...?), soccer awards, Cub Scouts and all the other usual..., cooking, laundry, cleaning, carpooling, etc...It was fun but we are tuckered out and candied-out! Glad it is all over...Looking forward the happy (quieter, ha!) weeks ahead!