Mid-August

Hello everyone!  I hope you are enjoying the summer.  It's really hard to believe it's mid-August.  We've stayed close to home this summer with a few day trips here and there, but mostly home.  I'm definitely missing normal life, and I hope that next year brings more normality our way.  I'm planning to homeschool our daughter for fifth grade.  We are going through an online classical Christian school program where she will have live classes throughout the week.  This will start up in September.  I'm excited for this new adventure.  We feel that it is the right choice for her and us for this upcoming school year.  

I made a strawberry cake, which was just delicious!  I ordered a new lampshade and matching pillow cover from Peony and Sage.  I just love it!  Also, you will notice in the last photo that little Rosie had her first grooming appointment and got a nice summer haircut.  She's feeling much cooler now, which is nice since it's 90 degrees almost every day.  

 

Take care and stay safe!

 

Christmas Recap and Happy New Year

Wow!  I feel like I'm finally starting to bounce back from all the busyness of the holidays.  Charlotte came down with bronchitis the day after Christmas and strep throat for me the day after New Year's day.  It seems like for most of her Christmas break one of us was under the weather.   I think all the busyness of the holidays caught up with us.  Anyway, we had a nice Christmas.  We celebrated with my family at my brother and sister-in-law's house on Christmas Eve.  And there was snow, so that made it feel extra festive!

I think Charlotte got everything she asked Santa for - including a new bike.  This past weekend it was unseasonably warm for this time of year and she was able to get out and practice riding a bit. We have a chance for snow showers this coming Saturday, so go figure.

I've been taking it slow the past few days and resting a lot, as strep was much worse than I remembered.  I'm feeling much better today and seem to have a burst of energy, so I'm doing some much needed housework.  Also, I'm going to make out a big market list along with some meal planning.

I love to put the tree up along with all my Christmas decorations, but I'm always very ready to take it all down by New year's day and freshen up the house a bit.  Earlier last week, we made a trip to Ikea and bought a lovely new white china cabinet/bookcase.  I'll share photos with you soon!

Charleston

We took a trip to Charleston a few weeks ago and we had a great time!  I love Charleston for so many reasons - it's just such a charming, historical city.  The food is always fabulous in Charleston and the homes and gardens are breathtaking.  

We stayed on Isle of Palms by the beach which is about a twenty minute drive from downtown Charleston.  Our daughter loved spending time at the pool at our resort and we all enjoyed taking walks on the beach looking for shells.

We can't wait to visit again!

A Ninth Birthday!

We celebrated our sweet girl's ninth birthday this past weekend.  I really cannot believe she is already nine - time please slow down!  We started off with brunch at her favorite French cafe/bakery on Saturday, and it was delicious, as always.  They treated her to a yummy plate of macaroons for dessert!  After brunch, we did some shopping at Paper Source for wrapping paper and ribbon for her gifts.  She chose the all-pink floral print, and I chose the multicolored floral print next to the bottom, but I basically wanted them all!  I really do appreciate nice gift wrap, and so does my daughter.

On Sunday, I made her birthday cake - chocolate cake with cream cheese frosting (her favorite) topped with lots of yummy sprinkles.  It was delicious, and she loved it!  We celebrated at my parents' house for a little family party.  It was fun and she enjoyed it!  She received lots of sweet gifts - new outfits for herself and her American Girl Bitty Baby doll, some games, and a really sweet locket from her aunt and uncle.  And on Monday, her actual birthday, we brought cupcakes to school so she could celebrate with her classmates.  

It was a great weekend, and we were so happy to celebrate our sweet girl turning nine.

Happy New Year!!

Hello!  And Happy New Year!!  Just dusting off my blog a bit - it's been almost Two years since I last posted.  Wow, I suppose life just got really busy and then there is Instagram, so I seem to be posting mostly there these days.  But I miss blogging and hope to pop back in more often this year.

We had a wonderful Christmas with our families and a very Happy New Year!  Oh, and I made some yummy dutch oven bread this past week which has been perfect toasted and topped with butter.  Also, making lots of soups and chili and spaghetti with homemade meatballs, as the weather has been very cold and blustery for the past few weeks.  We've also written thank you notes for gifts and bought a new lovely calendar for the kitchen.  It's winter and I love it!  Hopefully, we will get another snow before it's over.  My eight year old has her fingers crossed!

Happiness is...

Spending time with my precious family!
Date day brunch with my sweet husband!
Picking flowers with my daughter on our evening walk!

Christmas Recap and Happy New Year

We celebrated Christmas Eve with my family at my brother and sister-in-law's home in Blowing Rock, and their home was decorated beautifuly for the holidays, as always.  Charlotte had a wonderful Christmas and was spoiled with many wonderful gifts from my family.  We enjoyed a delicious Christmas Eve dinner consisting of caesar salad, prime rib, twice baked potatoes, creamed spinach, and an absolutely divine raspberry cheesecake, prosecco and good wine!  I loved spending the evening with my family.  We were missing my grandparents this year, as my grandfather has been quite ill.  I had a nice visit with him today at Hospice which is where he is now living.  

We are enjoying a cozy and quiet New Year's Eve at home.  I am feeling very blessed, content, and thankful this evening.  And I am looking forward to an AWESOME New Year ahead!!

Happy New Year, friends!!

I wish you all peace, good health, and much happiness in 2015!!!!!