Family Photo Shoot

I just realized I never shared our newest family pics here on the pitifully neglected  blog. So, better a bit late than not at all, right?

My guys (that would be all 4 of them...) are SO happy that family photos are done for another year. We tried at least 3 different times, all with no success, so we finally said phooey on it and took the best ones and edited Weston into the pics later. He was so not cooperating. And our patience was so running out...

And I would like to know when these little guys got so BIG! Jackson's almost a tall as his mother. Wow, I'm starting to feel old...

Me and this handsome guy celebrated 14 years together this past fall - and I wouldn't trade him for anything. 

I loved the sunshiney leaves bokeh! Too bad he was such a sober faced little thing...

The middle blue eyed boy is growing up, too - he just had his 7th Birthday party. He's the family entertainer - keeps us in stitches all. the. time. Just last night he said to Jackson, "If you don't watch it, you'll get sent off to college at a very young age." Gotta love him! 

I gave up trying to get a good shot of the 3 boys together. It's hopeless I tell ya.  Here's a few samples... (pay no mind to the photo quality...I didn't even take the time to edit these!)

And then he makes his escape! 

Sigh...maybe next year...

Happy New Year!

Can you believe it's already 2013? Me neither. But I'm looking forward to a great year. I love a fresh start, new goals. Thanks to my Mother-in-law, I've already met one of my goals - she helped me take down and pack away ALL the Christmas stuff! It would have taken me weeks...

I have to share my latest thrifty find with ya. I wanted some new parsons chairs for our dining room for Christmas. I found a set of 4 tan fabric covered chairs on craigslist for....

wait for it....

20 bucks. 

Yep, as in 5 bucks per chair. Unbelievable! I was so stoked. The covers are even removable and washable. Awesome. So my sweetie got me 2 new ones to go with them, giving me a total of 6. Yay! 

He also promised me some new flooring for our kitchen/dining areas. So I'm really excited about that!!

All the garlands and stockings have been safely packed away for another year...

 I decided to leave the cards up for a bit longer. I just love seeing all of your faces! Thanks to everybody who sent us cards - it's one of the highlights of Christmas for us :) 

And just in case you didn't get a card from us, I'll post  it here...

Happy New Year from our house to yours!

Tis the Season!

How 'bout a totally random Christmas post? Just various samplings of Christmas cheer around the Parsonage...

The outside looks exactly like it did last year. As a matter of fact, it was the easiest part of my decorating! I left the trees and wreath all decorated and set those babies up in the attic as is. Alls I had to do was carry them down the stairs and plug 'em up. The best part is, most of lights still *worked* - that's a Christmas miracle for ya right there. 

A few scenes from the kitchen...

 My very crooked little kitchen tree...

And then here's a few shots from around the dining room.

(I still love these old skates!)

I'm enjoying the battery operated candle lights scattered around - they make things look so festive!

Ok, so hydrangeas aren't exactly a Christmasy flower...but I needed some filler. It works for me.

 There's a certain lil reindeer around here that is very curious about the Christmas tree...

What's not to love about a pouty little guy sporting a milk-dribbled chin, wearing reindeer antlers and monkey jammies?!? 

Carson asked if I would please make a Birthday cake for Jesus, since it was His Birthday. I couldn't turn that down, so we had red velvet cake to celebrate Jesus' Birthday. 

 We've been enjoying the Season...the glow of the tree, hot cocoa, fresh baked cookies, Christmas music...it's the most wonderful time of the year!

Merry Christmas to all of you!

It's Beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

We'll be doing a little Christmas tour over the next several days, as I try to play catch up! So for today...

Welcome to our Living Room.

 (And please forgive me for the ridiculous amount of photos in this post.)

I stuck with neutrals this year, and used lots of natural things - twigs, pinecones, birds, burlap...

Our poor Christmas tree...it was so beautiful when we first brought it home. But since then it's survived a toddler, a nose dive, a rewiring of the lights, and a number of redecorating sessions... it's starting to look a bit worn out!

 I got a new rug (on clearance!!) for this room a few weeks ago, and I'm LOVING how much brighter it is! 

I had fun with the mantel - gotta love those free chalkboard printables! 

 The fresh greens came from a pretty little tree in our backyard. It smells so good!

 (The little guys do have stockings, too  -they're in a different room.)

So that's the living room... till next time, Be Merry!