The Fair and being unplugged

Every year we go to the "Fair".   I think the first time my parents brought me I was 2 years old and we have been going ever since.  So of course this tradition has carried over to my children.  The boys' first trip was when they were 8 months old.  And Madi's first trip she was about 4 weeks old.  It's just something we do every year. We bring Mema and Papa with us every year too.   The kids love seeing the animals and of course the rides.  And my all time favorite, funnel cake! Yummmmm

One of the sheep decided to kiss Madi's hand, she loved it

Petting the horses that were there for the shows

I love this picture, it makes my heart happy :)

runnin' with the chickens!

Kris loves chickens and has plans for a chicken coop at home

Indian Ladder had a display for the orchard.  Another place we visit a few times a year.

Having fun in the hay maze

Of course, the RIDES!!!

Madi loves them too now

Havin' some greasy fair food, of course we can't skip that! :)

I have been without a phone  now for a few days and honestly, I don't miss it.  Is that strange?   My phone broke and I have 1 month left on my contract.  Let me give you a little back round.   I did not have a cell phone until 2 years ago.  My husband surprised me with an iphone.  While I loved the gesture, and it was convenient to text or call when I needed to, the $106 bill always made me cringe.    I can think of so many other ways to spend $106 and a cell phone isn't one of them. I was on the lowest minute plan they offered (450 mins) and I ALWAYS had more than 1000 rollover minutes!    My family is insisting I need a phone and I can understand their reasoning.    I think I'm going to get an "unlocked" phone and just do a $25 plan from Virgin Mobile or Straight Talk.  It will allow me 300 mins and unlimited texting and Internet use.    Do any of you use this type of service?  

  I also deactivated  my Facebook account.   It was for a few reasons, but nothing really big.   I feel FREE for some reason.  I think I just like the "unplugged" feeling.  Who knows maybe I'll go back, but maybe not.   I miss being able to text my favorite southerner whenever I want.   But other than that I can't think of reasons I love it.  I'm not much of a tv watcher, I probably watch an hour of tv every month or so.  I make up for it on the computer, that I am sure of!     Since when have we as a society need to be in constant communication?  Maybe I'm just behind the times........

XOXO

I'm alive and a sneak peek :)

Yup, I'm guilty, GUILTY of pretty much abandoning this blog for a few months!  Not only was I busy setting up house here on the new home-front.  But Blogger has been making me crazy for months as well.  Is anyone else having the commenting problem?   I try to comment on blogs, it makes me sign in, I see my dashboard, go to comment again and it makes me "anonymous"  Can you say FRUSTRATING?


 Anyway, it's been a very busy and fun summer here!  We have had our favorite Southerners here already.  Just wouldn't be summer without them. :) Then we had summer camp, horse camp and a few more activities to go.  A day trip here and there. 

Note * before front door was stained....

We also landscaped.... however,  that deserves a post of its own!!!  When I say "we" I mean, John and I, no other help.  Luckily we work well together!

I have been decorating and feathering our new nest.  I'm the type of person that I can only do these things while I'm feeling creative.  I simply cannot force it.  I'm all or nothing.  

So here is a sneak peek of the keeping room, which is right off the kitchen.  This room has functioned like I imagined it would, I can't tell you how that makes me SO HAPPY!  

I have learned this.........

It's hanging in my kitchen and it is so very true!

I promise to NOT go as long inbetween posts, promise!!! pinky swear!!!!
XOXO

What I have been up to......

I know, I know, I have been bad and haven't shown any pictures of the new house.  Here is a tease of the kitchen cabinets! ;)     I got my new riding boots and they are like BUTTA!  Very soft and NO break in time!  I did my first show last weekend and was Reserve Champion!   I think I uploaded the video (I hope!)   I am hopefully showing this week in the St Clement's horse show in Saratoga.  Can you say EXCITED?????  I feel  like a kid again!

I'll be back, with house pictures, I PROMISE!!! :)

First show in 14 yrs!!!

ps- don't get sea sick!  Kris videoed this with my iphone!  My little helper was with me all day! 

XOXO

Playing house

                                                                                                                                    Madi's cute toes :)

It's official.    I am playing house  here and having a B L A S T ! ! !   The first week we were here we unpacked bedrooms minimally, unpacked the kitchen (as best as we could) and then concentrated on getting the old house ready to close.  I will let you know that it was overwhelming  to get it all done in that little bit of time.  

But it has been so GREAT to settle in here.  Well,  settle is a funny word.  Does "settled" mean unpacked, decorated and all done?  Or does settled mean home?  For us right now it means home!

Mainly because we don't have all our furniture yet, my sofa is being reupholstered as we speak.  It will go in the family room.   We did buy a new one for the keeping room and it was delivered today, more pics to come.    Taking it slow and doing things little by little.  Like deciding if this picture should go above the mantle.......

Or one of these instead?

You get the idea! :)

XOXO

Last Day

For years I thought about this day.

I know I have been non-existent, but been so very busy.  Our house sold after being on the market for 3 1/2 weeks.   I feel so very blessed that it has sold and so quickly in this terrible economy.   However, I can't help but feel so bittersweet when I see this home (not just a house) empty.  Empty........

So many memories made here, so many firsts.   First visit from Santa,  first steps were taken here,first words were said here.   First place to realize that one of my sons was not developing at the same rate as his twin and to understand why.  First place to overcome the sadness and embrace his diagnosis and realize it was a blessing to us all.  First place we took the training wheels off.  First visit from the tooth fairy.   First place to swing on a swing set, play in the sand and stay outside from dawn till dusk in the summer.   First place to play in the neighborhood and first place to be shunned when someone else had "cooler" toys.    First place to bring home baby sister.   First place that our love has grown beyond what I ever imagined.  

 It's hard for me to say goodbye.  But I know that there are many more memories to be made.   Please come with us for the ride, will you?

XOXO

Little by little....

Things are moving right along, and honestly, it's almost done!  They are staining and polying the floors this week so we have to stay out until it dries.  Then, the kitchen goes in.  Then a re-roll of paint (walls and trim), the counters , plumber  and some "punch out" things (aka-things that get forgotten or need fixing) and we are DONE! 


This part had me biting my nails a bit.  I ordered this out of a stair parts catalog and while I could picture it in my head, I was HOPING it was going to turn out that way!   The stair guy said no one has ever ordered iron newels from him nor the panels.  So I had no pictures to see if I liked it or not.   Just a drawing of all the parts in a catalog.   I'm very, very happy with how it turned out! :)


Progess so far..............

sneak peek of the mudroom!

And this leads to the basement.  We opted to keep it open and put a doorway at the bottom of the stairs.  This of course was before it was stained.  And he had just put it all in , hence the sign!  

XOXO

Happy Birthday Johnny and Kris!

My boys turned 10 on Saturday, TEN!  I can't believe it.  I can't believe that a decade has gone by since we became parents to these beautiful boys.....

Posing on the kitchen floor for a quick picture!

And best of all, blowing out candles with our family!!!

Can you tell the boys like wrestling?!?! 

XOXO

Happy New Year! (and a book review)

Happy New Year!!!  I hope everyone has had a wonderful Christmas season and New Year.  Ours was definitely different, but we enjoyed it just the same!

Now for my book review.   I just got done with this book and I think everyone with kids or grand kids should read this book.   Despite the title, it is not a Christian book.  It is one mothers view of juggling it all, career, motherhood, activities and etc.  And her active role in learning how to say no and limiting all the things that impact on our true quality time with the limited amount of time we have in our kids lives.  

I have done some of what she is talking about in the book before I even started reading it. 

I think even if you don't agree with everything in this book you will still enjoy it!   Parenting is HARD work!!!

  It's a very easy and quick read.

I just ordered her second book  The Gift of an Ordinary Day.     I believe this is "part 2" of her life when her kids are getting older, teenagers and etc.  And I can't wait to read it!

Things are moving right along at the new house.  This week the railings are going in and I think they are starting to stain the floors.  Will be sharing pictures soon!

XOXO