Piano Recital

Charlotte and Campbell have been playing piano for about 6 months now...last weekend they had their very first recital and it was beautiful!  They were both nervous but so brave and played so well...we are SO proud of you both!  We love you so much and thank you for adding music and joy to our hearts everyday!

Leaving home...

 Charlotte went first of the two (#6 out of 19 kids)...other than a little hair in her face that slowed her start she was fantastic!

Campbell's turn!

Her Daddy and our sweet neighbor who attended gave Charlotte flowers...she loved it!

Then it was off to a reception...it was a very special day!

Let it Snow...

We are currently under a winter storm advisory...could see up to 2 feet of snow!  Everyone is excited and it feels like Christmas!  We have had a very busy first week of December...here is it is in bullet points!

• Tree bought and decorated
• House inside and out decorated
• Advent Festival and hanging of the greens at Church
• Class field trip to a local performance of Christopher's Christmas
• School fundraiser "Winter family Craft Night"
• 8 hour day spent Christmas shopping...95% done...wooo hooo!
• Charlotte's dance company's performance of the Nutcracker...next year she will get her first part !  :)
• Many mugs of hot cocoa consumed
• Secret Santa gifts purchased for school and Church for community friends in need
• Rehearsal for Church Christmas play niext weekend
• Piano recital today for Charlotte and Campbell...first one, everyone is nervous!
• 3 dozen "Rudolph" cookies baked for said recital

Still lots of fun and to do's in front of us...including Christan's 3rd birthday and party, Christmas cards, parties, wrapping, and hosting my ladies circle for brunch this week!  Of course this is all material....what really matters is the reason for the season, our Savior!  I feel especially blessed to have a warm home, a family that I adore, friends and so much to look forward to!  Hope your holidays are too, blessed!

Feast

Wishing you and all your little Pilgrims and Indians a very

 Happy Thanksgiving!

Charlotte's Feast at Woodard Preschool

Nov. 24, 2010

Seasonal table

Since I am full-on decorating mode I thought I'd share another table idea...this is simple, you probably have it all on hand and it can be adapted to any season really....

 

Just start with a big tray, I used silver.  Then put some tall flowers on it (I used Paperwhites), a few pillar candles and one tall taper in a silver candlestick... and then just starting adding in and on...berries, branches, fresh Pine and Boxwood I also used fresh oranges and grapefruits.  I added in sparkly silver ornaments that caught the light and reflected candlelight in the evenings.  After Christmas, I just take the ornaments out and it a nice

Winter-y arrangement that lasts all season!  And since I can never leave well enough alone I added more silver and more candles around the tray.  I am always playing and tweaking!  Happy decorating!

Snow

We had our first snow last weekend...the kids were thrilled and I have to admit the first of the season is always exciting...and I went to a friend's open house/party Friday night as it snowed and she had her house all decorated for Christmas!  She is a talented friend and designer...it all looked beautiful...it was the perfect start of the season!

  Before it started to stick...

Early morning sunrise...fresh fallen snow!

It was back into the 70's this week but will be cold again for the weekend...

I did get some Christmas shopping done, Christmas card photo shoot, ordered cards, and will start to bring out the decorations this weekend too!  I am so excited!!!  And, as not to forget about Turkey Day...we have ordered our smoked turkey from Tyler, Texas....YUM!

What are you working on?  Are you feeling festive yet?



Thanksgiving Brunch Table

I am starting to play around with tablescapes for Thanksgiving...I wanted to show my table from last year.  It was an extra special Holiday as we were so "thankful" that my older brother was able to join our family for the long weekend...we don't see him often.  We actually went out (gasp!) for the big dinner but I hosted a delicious, all homemade, brunch the day after Turkey Day, which is kind of a fun twist I think. 

 I used a mix of brown and white transferware as well as all white transferware set a top silver and gold chargers. Do you see our S&P set...?  A very special unique tranferware pair I found in an antique shop in NC...I love them!  On the other side I used a white set of turkey S&Ps that I have had since our first year of marriage. I used Ralph Lauren gold velvet mats and matching napkins tied with chocolate brown organdy ribbon.  I tied on a delicate hand blown glass pine cone ornament as a favor.  I loved how it caught the light and sparkled.  Do you like my daughter's contribution...the silver EGG she placed in the cranberry dish?  5 and she loves to set a table like her Mama!  Our silver is Melrose by Gorham - still love it after 12 years of marriage and we use it pretty often,not just for special occasions.  Fresh "fall" flowers were the centerpiece - I added pheasant feathers for added texture and again, tied on an oversize gold acorn with the same ribbon. I used small mercury glass votives as well as a pair of silver candlesticks that were a wedding gift.

 

Everyone got a card to write what they were most grateful for...and then hung them with gold silk ribbon from the chandelier...see what Charlotte's gratitude card read...BARBIES!....aww, love it.

 

So, what are your table ideas this season...?

I am linking back to:
http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/

Go visit for great table ideas!

3 little punkins'...

dressed as...

Superman, a Peacock Fairy and a Re-con Commando soldier.

I think Halloween is the new Christmas...it was a jam-packed, sugar filled 5 days...very fun, very memorable, very exhausting!So long October, hello November!