December Happenings - Tree Farm Fun!

We set out to find the perfect tree for our family room.

Some say we're crazy to have two trees now, and believe me, I thought so too after decorating both.  We broke down a few years ago and bought an artificial tree to make things more simple, i.e. lights, no mess etc.  But then, you guessed it, we missed the smell of a real tree and also the fun tradition of going to the tree farm to cut one down as a family.  So last year we decided to get a smaller tree for the family room that would be just for the kids to decorate. In continuing the tradition again this year, here are our pics!

It just so happened that Grandma and Bumpa LaPerle were going to get their tree that day too, so we went together.

Tyler was working so hard to cut it down!

Playing around with dad!

 and Grandma and Bumpa too!

Then back to the barn for some hot cocoa.

(not sure what she was thinking there, but just too cute!)

Here are the after shots, of the tree decorated, (obviously a few days later...)

I love how all the lights just sparkle in the room!

Dear Santa... We're dreaming of a white Christmas!

photo: www.wishfulthinkingphotography.blogspot.com

Christmas pictures with Santa went so much better this year than last...

Nice...

These were taken at our ward Christmas party last year.  You can tell Tyler had just come in from throwing snowballs outside because it had just started snowing that night, that's why his pants look so dirty!

(I really don't let my kids out of the house with dirty clothes!  Well.... it might have happened once... :)

In thinking of that first snow we got last year... (which was a TON, mind you) we're wishing for some this Christmas too, like this:

This was our view from the kitchen, Christmas morning.  Ahh... it was perfect!

 View from the front porch

So, we're dreaming of a white Christmas again this year!

  (As long as the UPS truck can still make it to our house!)

Fall is Fleeting

photos: wishfulthinkingphotography.blogspot.com

These are some of my favorite photos that my friend Heidi Lawson took of Maddie.
(more to see soon of Tyler!)

I was visiting another great blog today, theinspiredroom.net,

and she made a little list of 20 things to treasure in Autumn. I loved it so much I figured I would join the party and tell you what I love about fall! So here it is:

1.  Fires in fireplaces

2.  Flannel sheets at the end of a long day

3.  Candles Flickering

4.  Smelling cinnamon, oranges & cloves

5.  Roasts, Potatoes & Carrots

6.  Watching movies snuggled in soft blankets

7.  Cozy socks and slippers 

8.  Squash with buttered brown sugar

9.  Chili and corn bread smothered in honey

10. Wind blowing through leaves

11. Glow of lamps through windows

12. Sweatshirt and jeans weather

13. Family dinners

14. Coming into a warm house on a cold night

15. Falling Leaves

16. Apple crisp

17. Pumpkin patches and pumpkin carving

18. Hayrides and corn mazes

19. Freshly baked pies

20. Cherished moments with family

What are your favorite things about fall? (now that it's almost over!)

Don't forget to check out theinspiredroom.net and if you do this on your blog, link it back to mine!

My Ideal Holiday Season

Trying not to have it be like this...

image: Norman Rockwell, taken from http://memoriesoncloverlane.blogspot.com

With the holidays upon us, it's hard not to feel overwhelmed.  For me, the biggest procrastinator, this is my struggle.  I'm trying to do things earlier this year and to KEEP IT SIMPLE.  As you know, I probably spend too much time reading other very inspiring blogs and not spending enough time on my own. But once in awhile I find something that really does inspire or motivate me and I have to share.  (But still hoping to give credit where credit is due).  I love the goals listed here from the gal at clover lane. She hit it on the nail for me, and I want to adopt the same goals this season as well.  So here's what she shared:

___________________________________________________

Here are my goals this coming Christmas season:


1. To remember IN SPITE OF WHAT EVERY MERCHANDISER BELIEVES, the Christmas season, FOR ME, starts on the first day of Advent. That day falls on Sunday, November 29.


2. To stay CENTERED. Not have my heart and mind pulled in every direction by super cute craft ideas, millions of delectable recipes, decorating photos that make me swoon. There is NO way I can try everything, have my house look like a magazine and stay focused on how I really want my heart to feel this Christmas. I promise I will take away ONE new recipe, (already have it...caramel and chocolate dipped pretzel sticks), one new craft idea (?), and one sweet little addition to my house (already have that too...a Jesse tree.) THAT'S IT! I will admire the rest...admire, no more.


3. By November 29, I will BE DONE with the gifts. Before you gasp in surprise, know that I have accomplished this goal for years. I have found, through trial and error, that if I really want to enjoy the TRUE MEANING of the Christmas season, I must not be standing in line, buying, listing, stressed, annoyed, snappy, away from my family at some dreadful store, buying, buying, buying! Barf! I use the month of November, avoid the crowds, shop in peace, and steady and sure, I'm done. December brings silent nights, peace and joy and peace and peace.  (I so want that this year!)


4. To keep in mind Christmas pasts...not MY Christmas pasts, but Christmas's really past. When one gift or two was enough. When the season was more about the sweet stuff and less about Walmart. More about crackling fires and crackling record players and sweet anticipation and a family meal... and less about Lights at the Zoo and craft bonanzas, loads of gifts and fancy trees. I WANT the old-fashioned Christmas...not the new-fangled one.


5. To, like my mother did for us, concentrate 99% of my efforts on the real meaning behind the holiday. To REMIND them constantly what Christmas really is...that does not mean NO fun...I love the fun stuff, trust me. I think kids need to reminded constantly what we really are celebrating, just to build up a wall of fortitude against the constant barrage of materialisim....or they'll never get to know the sweet stuff!
_________________________________________________________

Isn't that just perfect!  I shared it at a recent Enrichment meeting we had about beating the holiday stress and remembering the true meaning of Christmas.  I love all her goals and will be trying real hard to keep it simple this year. 

Now off to Michaels to get some craft projects for Maddie's upcoming birthday party! 

(Oh Heidi, do remember this when you are browsing through the aisles and seeing all the inspiring Christmas decor and projects!  Do you really need new wreaths and more garland???)

What are your goals this Christmas season?

Land of the Free ... Because of the Brave

(image: Google images, Veterans Day 2009 poster)

To those who serve...

not just today, but every day.

Thank you for your commitment,

your bravery,

your sacrifice.

Our gratitude will never be enough, but from us...

Thank You

for all that you have done and continue to do.

Favorite Scents

I've never done this before but I thought I'd join a Friend Making Monday linky post about my favorite candle scents for the house.  So I'm joining over at Amber's blog.

What are your favorite candle scents?

This is the time of year to burn candles because when it's cold and rainy outside, it feels so cozy when it smells good inside!  For me, my favorites are all about the fall scents!!  I'm really enjoying the scents of Cachet Candles right now that my friend Christina got me hooked on.

My favorites right now are:

Wassail

Anything that includes cinnamon, ginger, orange, lemon, apple and cloves just does it for me -- yum!

Citrus Splash

Studies show that citrus scents actually lift moods.  We definitely can use that here during the rainy months in WA!

Cachet's "Heart of the Holidays"

Top note of almond, with middle notes of cinnamon, clove and nutmeg, blended with bottom notes of vanilla, cream and cake. 

My mouth is now watering!  There is something comforting when the house smells like yummy food.

What are your favorite brands and scents of candles??

Happy Birthday Madeline!!

Our sweet little baby turned 6!

image http://wishfulthinkingphotography.blogspot.com/2009/10/madeline.html

All I can say, is she is growing up way too fast!  It seems like just yesterday she was handed to us and we brought her home.  (That is definitely a story I plan to share more about with precious pictures soon.)

She was definitely the missing link in our family chain and has added so much flair and spice to our home, not to mention PINK!

She is such a joy and we are so grateful to have her in our family!

Happy Birthday sweetie!

Our Halloween Scene

Barbie & the Three Musketeers

Maddie absolutely loves this movie!

It's all about the 'girl power'...

Maddie's favorite line is

"don't mess with the dress!" LOL

Love that hat we made together! 

Tyler as a werewolf again!

(Hmm, I wonder if it has something to do with New Moon coming out!)

Trying not to look quite so scary!

Ready to start trick or treatin'!

We started in our neighborhood and then drove over to meet some friends and go through a bigger development with some pretty scary houses.  Tyler loved it, Maddie not so much!

We then went over to Grandma and Bumpa LaPerle's for doughnuts and cider.  Can you tell what kind of doughnuts were Maddie's favorite?

What a fun, spooky, Halloween night!

Crazy Weekend ... Still Recovering

It's Monday night and I finally feel like I have a minute to sit down and breathe... relax. Still trying to recover from a busy Halloween weekend/busy Sunday going right into Madeline's birthday today! The past few days have been very fun but crazy! I have lots of fun pics to post here, and a tribute to our sweet Maddie who is now a big 6!! More to come... hopefully soon!  Wow -- November is here!!

Fall Decorating

One of the many things I obsess about and absolutely would love to spend all my time doing is decorating my home.  Well it hasn't helped that I recently came across home decor/DIY blogs.  I love getting new ideas of how to decorate and improve our home and could spend hours reading all these blogs.  But there are a few that have become my favorites.  Not because all the rooms portrayed are picture perfect like a magazine cover, but because they are real, decorated with things they love, but with family in mind.  Here's a few that I frequent:

(She has beautiful style, but keeps it real with all her boys!)


Another one I enjoy is:

http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/
(Such great, can-do ideas, and I love her kitchen!)

This one is based on the address of the home where George and Mary lived in "It's a Wonderful Life".  Remember Mary secretly makes a wish that they will get married and live in that house one day?  Then boy did they make that old house their home!  I love that.  It's a fun blog!




Well, I thought I'd add some shots of what I've done to add fall decor around the house.  I'm gradually getting into the "spooky" items a little more for the kids sake, but really prefer just the fall decorations.  Posting these also helps me as a reference for next year, because I never remember what I did the year before!

Starting at the front door...

Into the family room...

The fireplace mantel...

Oh, there's Maddie watching t.v. on the couch, while mom is taking pics!

The coffee tablescape...

The kitchen... and finally ...

The dining room hutch.

Haven't done much, but just little bits of fall color here and there! 

Maybe next year, I'll do more spooky stuff for the kids, and really get creative and crafty!

(I just realized I have 4 signs that say "Boo!" -- how funny!)