Christmas 2012 betterlatethannever!

Well, I think blogger is going to let me post some pictures today!  Let's hope that is the case!

I hope you all had wonderful Christmas.  I hosted Christmas Eve, like I usually do. We had yummy appetizers,  salad, ham, mashed potatoes, broccoli rabe and corn.  With lots of delicious cookies, pear cake with fresh homemade whipped cream and pasta chunks (don't worry, I had never heard of them either.. lol).  It was a nice relaxing evening with family, eating, enjoying each other and playing Christmas trivia.  Christmas day we spent at my parents house.  Another relaxing, low key day.

Here are a few pictures of our decorations  and other things this year. Just snapped a few. Didn't go over the top, decorated until I was tired and stopped!  Seems to be the rule of thumb lately!

Our keeping room tree

 

 

Family room tree



 

My favorite candy cane on the foyer table 



My two cows and sheep in our Christmas pageant

A visit with Mrs Clause at Aunt Dana's!  The kids ALL loved her!

And the day after Christmas, just relaxing and playing with new toys :)

Be back soon, hope you enjoyed the pictures!!!

XOXO

40

Today, I turn 40!  It's funny, I don't feel any different.   People talk about the big 4-0 being a big milestone.  And while it is,  it only makes me realize how FAST life goes by and how I want to do soooo much more!


I know I have been scarce, if you follow this blog at all you will know this is normal for me.  I'm here for awhile and gone for awhile.  Just the way I am.  Busy with life lately!  But then I remember that I do need to be blogging to be able to read and remember this blessed life we are given.   Although, I won't lie, sometimes I do feel like I'm talking to myself, but that's ok.  I do that all the time!

This past summer we decided that we weren't going to send the boys to middle school.  We decided that we are going to homeschool again.  Despite the first day jitters of what did I get myself into!  We are in our own little routine and doing well.  I actually just finished our first quarterly reports and am shocked of all that we have covered, it certainly didn't feel that way until I saw it all down on paper!    The boys are enjoying being home and Madelyn LOVES having her brothers home with her everyday.   And truth be told, I know how quickly these days will go by and before I know it they will be grown and gone.  I'm trying to savor every moment with them.   Today we are doing school and then going to mema's to decorate her house for her.  And then we are going to make a list of ingredients so we can bake this week.  These are the things I love about it.  While it certainly isn't always easy, it's a blessing. 

I was going to leave you with a picture, but I'm apparently out of storage on this blog!  So be back soon hopefully with some Christmas pictures :)

XOXO

Sunny Summer

Why is it summer goes by in an instant?  Yes we are in upstate NY so the season is short.  You really need to make the most of it while it's here.  And we have been doing exactly that!

Between horse shows and riding, all star baseball, vacation with our extended family, camp and VBS, it's been a busy but oh so fun!     My big girl is turning 4 this week, so we are gearing up for her birthday party as well.  Hard to believe that little infant I brought home (what feels like yesterday) is turning FOUR!   I wish time could stand still.

Here are some pictures of what we have been up to!  And look for a sneak peek at the end! ;)

My sweet boys getting merit badges from Boy scouts!  Hard to believe my little cub scouts are boy scouts now!



Found this chair at consignment last year and got the cushion at BJ's.  The pillow I found at TJ Maxx.



Picked up this patio sofa on Craigslist for $45!  Got the cushions on Overstock and pillow again at TJ Maxx.  Love the little sitting area on the wrap part of the porch!



My loves on the last day of camping



All smiles at his All-star game!

Loving her wheelbarrow that daddy found at a yard sale!  We spend lots of time in the garden together!

 And now for what I have been working on!  The white just wasn't working in the "MUD" room!  Sooooooo a lil emporer's silk chalk paint transformed it!  Just put the lacquer on last night!  Will post the whole room soon! :)

Thanks for stopping by! 

XOXO

Love, kids and horses

You know your husband loves you when he calls you while driving from one job site to the next and saw  a yard sale with your favorite things for sale!  Yippee!!!  Apparently the people were moving and everything must be sold.   My darlin' found this beautiful birdbath, these three beautiful urns with stands and this ADORABLE gnome!!!  And I just LOVE that he has a little basket he's holding for flowers!! 

I have been working on a perennial bed in the circle in the front of the house.  My friends mom gave me a TON of her perennials that she had divided! There are roses and irises in the back round!

He even got to keep the plants they had in them, LOL!

How cute is he????? :)

The last few weeks have been filled with lots of busy-ness!  Horse shows,my mom's 70th birthday party,  baseball games, swim meets, baby animal days and sooooo many other things!  Here are a few pictures of our adventures :)


Noah and I competed at the Saratoga Horse show (same as Madi below) and got champion in our division!  So exciting!  I was so proud of Noah!   Here are a couple of pics of us. :)

Madi on Top Honors (aka Tipper!) at the Saratoga Horse Show!

In front of the judge......

Posing with Linda and Tipper!

Loving her ribbon and horse she won :)

Johnny on Daisy

They had a GREAT day!

Kris on Ruby!

They also had a great day!

Smiles all around!

My handsome boys!

Happy Birthday Mommy, we love you!!!

Some of the yummy food in my sisters kitchen!

  

This was a very small party with just family, except for my mom's two good friends that she has known since Kindergarten!  She has lunch with them every month.  How blessed they are. :)

My mom through the years :)

Outside getting Gelato with all the toppings waiting for fireworks!

Madi sitting on Aunt Mary's (her great aunt) lap not so sure she likes them, lol!

Happy Birthday Mommy!  I love you more than you will ever know! :)

We go see the baby animals every year at a local farm and the magic never wears off :)

They sell the babies after and my older two were begging for goats, sheep and chicks!

It's been a very exciting month!  Stay tuned for garden pictures!  We have been working hard!

XOXO

chalk paint heaven...........

Yup, I can finally agree.... this stuff ROCKS!!!!!

Once upon a time, Mr Gypsy thought he was doing me a favor and started priming the wrong iron bed................

See the lovely gray primer?

 And it's been in our garage ever since........

Until Annie Sloan came to the rescue!   I decided to use the gray primer as my "base" coat and let it show through.  I waxed it with the clear wax. And I promise once it's in my house, I'll take better pictures, pinky swear! 

These were my first project and I just realized the "afters" are not on this camera card..... afters to come!! :)

 And my sweet girl paints while mama paints! 

Here is a shadow box  (from goodwill) I have had in the basement for years (literally).  It started out an orangy-golden oak color.  Another issue of mine, I get VERY excited and forget to take "before" pictures (like this frame...), sorry, I'll try to do better!   I used emperor's silk with graphite over it.  LOVED how it came out.  These are clay model art my boys did and I wanted to display them.



I read up online a bit before "distressing" and there is a bit of opinion about distressing before or after wax.  I did it before but could see why people would like to do it after and I'm sure I will try that too!

My two little artists work! 

Love them!

And I'm pausing the home tour a bit,  the playroom and mudroom are left downstairs.  Let's just say after horse showing all week, they aren't real "camera ready"  catch my drift? LOL!

I'll be back soon after Friday with more projects!  My last day of showing!

XOXO