Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Our Exciting News

I can finally share our exciting news!
It's a 


We can't wait to get her


We already love her.



But her mother and father are especially ready for her to be home.


Our daughter, Jessica, and her husband, Ryan, are adopting a little girl from China.  We have been anxiously awaiting the official OK to share the news and they finally got it.  They are looking to travel to China hopefully in April.

Our little Claire.


How sweet that my grands are bookended by my grand girls.  Elizabeth is the first born and dearly loved granddaughter.
She is followed by Benjamin, Cooper, and Jackson.
Each a delight in their own special way, and I often say, as I watch them at play, I know why God gave me 2 girls.  Boys are ACTIVE and LOUD.  I do love every minute though, even when they wear me out.  Each of my boys is so different from each other, and they are so different when you can get them in some alone time.  Together, well, watch out!

And, sweet little Claire will probably be my last.  We can't wait to meet her!

Laura and I had a shower for her {and her mom, Jessica} last Sunday.
I struggled with an Asian theme, but it all came together.
{I know the tablecloth is a little big}



My centerpiece was bamboo {which was also the prize for the game we played] and some little lanterns I found at Pier 1 and some Chinese blocks that I gave Claire for Christmas.




I already had the bamboo flatware and it was perfect for this theme.


The kitchen table held this centerpiece.  Our theme also included hearts because we used that favorite adoption poem:

Not flesh of my flesh
Nor bone of my bone,
But still miraculously my own.
Never forget for a single minute,
You didn't grow under my heart,
But in it.



Jessica made that cute map of China and I stole borrowed it.






And, finally, the favor, made by Laura.  The cookies were darling ~ and now Jessica has a cookie cutter in the shape of China!  We wanted to tie chopsticks to the ribbon, with out the wrapper.  But when I undid the package and saw that the chopstick holder had Oh! Happy Day! inscribed on them, we had to leave the wrapper on, because it is a VERY HAPPY DAY for our family.


{are those not the cutest cookies?  
my girls do not get their talent from me, not a crafty bone in my body ~ or baker either
notice the little heart at the bottom of the cookie?
that's where Claire is waiting for her mama to come and get her}


Our menu was almost entirely from Costco.  They have some yummy Asian food, orange chicken, egg rolls, wontons, etc.  We all enjoyed our little taste of China.

We can't wait to get our hands on that little girl.
She is very loved and we are so lucky to have her in our family.



Thursday, February 14, 2013

Sweets for the Sweet

Happy Valentine's Day

I found this cute little heart shaped dish while out thrifting the other day.  I love the little heart border.
and I love the dark chocolates that it holds:-)



We had the family over for pizza after church on Sunday to celebrate Valentines' Day.  Since we just returned from WDW we are a little Mickey crazy so I thought this trio of boxes from Target was cute for a simple centerpiece.



Grandchildren's places.



The grandchildren have a heart on their plate because we always read this book at Valentine time and always have a chocolate heart in our hand.  Lily looks and looks for a place to hide her chocolate and at the end unwraps it and pops it in her mouth.  We wait to unwrap ours till that part in the story.  The 3 older kids remember doing this every year and it was fun to watch Jackson this year.  He is only 3 so he probably wasn't allowed to pop a whole chocolate in his mouth last year ~ but he loved it this year.

You know, that's just a little silly thing to do, but I am convinced that little moments like these become memories, and I hope that when my grands are big, those little red hearts will hold a sweet memory.

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Sweet treats.


{we do use silverware and glasses, this was obviously a table in progress:-) }


I hope your day is full of love and sweet treats!

Sharing at Richella's Grace at Home party.

Monday, February 11, 2013

I Do Love Disney


       For the third January in a row we packed up our gang and headed to the most magical place on earth!
                                                                   

We spent 7 nights and 8 days doing all things Disney.



On our first full day we headed to Hollywood Studios minus Laura.  She woke up with strep throat and spent the day trying to get meds.  {she did}

These 2 kindergartners were trying to screw up their courage to ride the Tower of Terror.  {pictured behind them}
They were much braver than Grandma ~ they both went on and said they liked it.  They did it last year and did not like it a bit.


Here are my boys on the behind the scenes movie ride.  I show this pic to contrast it with the one below.


Here comes the flood and the fire ~






After narrowly escaping we found some friends of at least 3 of our gang.


Look at Jackson ~ he wasn't really scared, he just didn't want to go up to them.  I thought this blurry pic was pretty funny.
{won't this be wedding rehearsal ammo some day? lol}


Bob couldn't wait for the gang to eat.  I show this to show you how deserted the cafe was ~ we love the smaller crowds in January.


Then we ran into this famous duo.  Elizabeth explained which was Phineas and which was Ferb but I retained that info for about 3 seconds.  I have never seen this show and have no clue who is who.  Look at Jackson, he ran right up to get his book signed, and then...


P or F pleading with him to come back.


He was not successful:-)


Day 2 we headed to Epcot to breakfast with the princesses.
My camera died right after these pictures so I think that's why they are so blurry.










As I said, my camera died right after these shots so I took the rest of my photos on my phone.
I just got a new phone right before Christmas and I still can't sync my phone because I need to update my software.  I haven't done that because I was debating just getting a new laptop.
So, while I try to make up my mind, my photos are trapped!
I wanted to at least get a little of our trip up on the blog for the memories.

My 2 cents worth:

Each time we go to Disney we learn a little more about what to do and what not to do.  We love the fast pass system and use it a lot, but the concierge at the hotel said they are looking to change it up ~ just when we are getting used to it this way.

I definitely think that lunch reservations are a pain.  You have to stop what you're doing or not chance getting in a queue for a line because you might not make it in time.  That means a big block of time in the middle of the day wasted.  We had character dining at Animal Kingdom for lunch and ended up waiting almost 45 after our reservation time.  Never again.
We love the breakfasts before the park opens ~ that's our favorite way to do character dining.  You can take some great photos without a million people in the background:-)

The new Be Our Guest restaurant in Fantasyland is just beautiful.  We ate there 2 different days for lunch and the food was pretty good too.  Hopefully I'll get the pics soon and share a bit.




Sunday, February 3, 2013

So Many Books, So Little Time

 I LOVE BOOKS!

Always have, always will.

When I was a little girl, I would bike to the library and check out the limit of 4 books, then, sit on the lawn and read a few of them and return them and get more before I went home.  I remember reading Trixie Belden books, Happy Hollisters, and of course my favorite Little House books.

I like to read all kinds of books now too, fiction and nonfiction, books for kids, both little and not so little.  The only genres I usually steer clear of are westerns and sci~fi, and nowadays ~ romances.  {Used to love those back in the day!}

I have just finished these 2 books.

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This is quoted from Amazon.

"Andy Barber has been an assistant district attorney in his suburban Massachusetts county for more than twenty years. He is respected in his community, tenacious in the courtroom, and happy at home with his wife, Laurie, and son, Jacob. But when a shocking crime shatters their New England town, Andy is blindsided by what happens next: His fourteen-year-old son is charged with the murder of a fellow student.

Every parental instinct Andy has rallies to protect his boy. Jacob insists that he is innocent, and Andy believes him. Andy must. He’s his father. But as damning facts and shocking revelations surface, as a marriage threatens to crumble and the trial intensifies, as the crisis reveals how little a father knows about his son, Andy will face a trial of his own—between loyalty and justice, between truth and allegation, between a past he’s tried to bury and a future he cannot conceive.

Award-winning author William Landay has written the consummate novel of an embattled family in crisis—a suspenseful, character-driven mystery that is also a spellbinding tale of guilt, betrayal, and the terrifying speed at which our lives can spin out of control."

This was good, but I was surprised by the ending.  If any of you remember the movie The Bad Seed, this reminded me of that.
{not a spoiler, as I am not giving away how the book ends, but just the feel of the book reminded me of the way that movie made me feel.}

This is the other book I just finished.

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Again, from Amazon

"Marriage can be a real killer.
   One of the most critically acclaimed suspense writers of our time, New York Times bestseller Gillian Flynn takes that statement to its darkest place in this unputdownable masterpiece about a marriage gone terribly, terribly wrong. The Chicago Tribune proclaimed that her work “draws you in and keeps you reading with the force of a pure but nasty addiction.” Gone Girl’s toxic mix of sharp-edged wit and deliciously chilling prose creates a nerve-fraying thriller that confounds you at every turn.
   On a warm summer morning in North Carthage, Missouri, it is Nick and Amy Dunne’s fifth wedding anniversary. Presents are being wrapped and reservations are being made when Nick’s clever and beautiful wife disappears from their rented McMansion on the Mississippi River. Husband-of-the-Year Nick isn’t doing himself any favors with cringe-worthy daydreams about the slope and shape of his wife’s head, but passages from Amy's diary reveal the alpha-girl perfectionist could have put anyone dangerously on edge. Under mounting pressure from the police and the media—as well as Amy’s fiercely doting parents—the town golden boy parades an endless series of lies, deceits, and inappropriate behavior. Nick is oddly evasive, and he’s definitely bitter—but is he really a killer?
   As the cops close in, every couple in town is soon wondering how well they know the one that they love. With his twin sister, Margo, at his side, Nick stands by his innocence. Trouble is, if Nick didn’t do it, where is that beautiful wife? And what was in that silvery gift box hidden in the back of her bedroom closet?
   With her razor-sharp writing and trademark psychological insight, Gillian Flynn delivers a fast-paced, devilishly dark, and ingeniously plotted thriller that confirms her status as one of the hottest writers around."


I am currently reading this book for my February Book Club.

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It is embarrassing how little I know about American History.  I think most of my knowledge of the Civil War came from reading Gone With the Wind about 50 times when I was in junior high.  {I can still recite the first paragraph if you'd like...}

So, I am enjoying this book.
I did read a book about Lincoln and his wife when I was in high school called Love is Eternal by Irving Stone.  The reason I remember the title is that is what was engraved in the Lincolns' wedding rings.  That appealed to me and I remembered a few years later and had it engraved in our wedding bands too.
I don't really remember the book, I think I should reread it.


I am also reading this book.

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I have a lot of design books and I am enjoying going through them for inspiration.

And then I just finished this book.  This is a book for my granddaughter that I had never read before.  She is in second grade and I think I will wait till next year to give this to her.  It is a delightful book and I know she will like it, but the characters are a little older and I think she will like it better next year.  I like to read most of the books I give to children so we can talk about them.  

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This book is in my devotional basket.  I'm almost finished, the goal is to be done by Ash Wednesday.

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And lastly, I am reading this classic.
I have really tried to keep a classic going at all times.  I just read a little of it every morning, and you'd be amazed ~ you'll be through a big fat book in no time!

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So that about wraps up my current reading material.  I will start a new children's book soon.  I am always open to suggestions.  Especially if you are in a book club and have read something great.  I think our club needs 2 more titles to finish the school year.

I may do a post like this every now and then, I thought my blog should reflect a little more of the things I like {besides my grands of course!} and reading has always topped my list of favorite things to do.

Please share your favorites, for both big and little people:-)

{Sorry for the big random space at the bottom of this post.  I can't seem to get rid of it.}

Joining Richella for her Grace at Home party.   



       








                


Thursday, January 31, 2013

Around the House


I don't think I've ever been gone from my blog this long before!
I've missed it, and missed visiting so many of you too.

After Christmas we had my sister's family until the New Year, and then a few days later my parents' health began to decline.  They live in Arizona and so I have been there, and been on the phone a lot to try to get them into a different living situation.
They are now in a care center, and so I feel much better knowing that they are being looked after.  One thing I have learned from this is to live by at least one of your children as you get older.  All 5 of us live very far away from my folks and it has been difficult for all of us.

Throw in 2 trips to Florida and it probably won't surprise anyone that I am still taking down Christmas decor.  I had 8 trees this year and I am happy to say that as of last Sunday they are all put away!

It feels so good to have something back to normal.


We had our floors done last summer and I am still recovering.  Here you can get a glimpse of the new color.  This was hardwood before and we just had this area sanded down and restained a little darker.


As I put the house back together I am trying to be very purposeful about what I keep out and am trying to fill the back of my SUV with things I no longer need.

"Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
William Morris

This quote has always been a favorite and I am keeping it in my mind as I slowly work through each room.


The dishes have been washed in the top of the hutch.  


I have begun to look for gold and white china when I am at flea markets and antique stores.  I have 12 inexpensive plates I bought at Nell Hill's ages ago, and I use them quite a bit.  I have a few different Christmas salad plates that go with them, but nothing that wasn't seasonal.  It is fun to hunt for them and I always try to buy even sets, either 2, 4 or 6 of a pattern.


I am trying to add more live plants.  I do love them, but it is hard to keep up when I am gone so much.  I am picking pretty hardy plants so far.




I am also keeping a punch list.  Little, or big, jobs that need to be done, or things I would like to add to a room.  The granite on this little server has been broken forever and I don't plan to replace it, but next time I have some stone work done I am going to see if they can mend it.  If it wasn't on the list I would totally forget about it at that time.


I moved this little dish of foreign coins to try to cover it a little.  I don't shop that much when we travel, but I love this dish of coins.  I am so glad I saved them, because I think the year after we went to Germany and France they switched to the Euro.  After our cruise this summer the dish is overflowing.  I've always liked this dish that I bought in London at the airport.  


The far wall has 2 oil paintings that remind me of Italy.




The wall color is not accurate in the photo below.  It is more like the picture above.


Faux flowers I know, but I love the colors and the flowers.


Here is a better picture of the floors.  You will be hearing more about the floors in more posts about the house.  We had the entire first floor done, except for the library and the guest room and 2 bathrooms.


In ridding the kitchen of the red, I had some extra pots.  I think they will go to the consignment store eventually but for now they found a home in the dining room and these 2 are strategically hiding the cord from the hutch.

I do like them, I just don't know if they are unnecessary clutter.  
Probably yes, huh?



And just to show you the before, this is the house as it looked when we were house hunting.
We had all of the woodwork painted SW Designer White.
The walls in the living area are SW Jersey Cream. {the color of butter}
The dining room is SW Anjou Pear.






The only thing we kept was the chandelier:-)

We have lived here 5 years now, and the room is still basically the same as I first decorated it.  I really don't plan any changes except for perhaps getting upholstered chairs at each end of the table.
The rug and the chair covers are from our previous home and so are about 8 ~ 9 years old.  You can see that I don't change much over time.

I'll try and share the living area next week.  It'll motivate me to keep on cleaning:-)

Joining Richella for her Grace at Home party.