Monday, December 7, 2009

it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

I finally got some decorations up!  This is the garland that I have over the fireplace in our family room.  Instead of the traditional bows at the corners, I used a different spring of garland that has pine cones and snow, some ornaments that look like wrapped candy, glass snowflakes and glittered white wooden curly cue sprigs.



This is picture shows the whole garland.  I usually don't put a tree in here because I don't like clutter so I usually put the tree in the entry way.

This is the veiw of the entry way.  I put one small pencil tree, and two prelit trees that are potted that I got on sale last year at Bed Bath and Beyond. 

I love the feel of the garland on the railings and trees at the entry.  I also like how it all looks next to one of my favorite pieces of furniture.  This was my grandmother's desk that she did her homework on while she was growing up.  Todd's uncle Charlie did an amazing job refininshing it for me about 20 yrs. ago after an unfortunate flood Todd and I had in our first home. The chair is a Hitchcock chair and has beautiful acorn detail on the back. 

This is a train that I always put under our tree.  Todd's mom, Marjorie, got it for us after Evan was born.  They still like to see it work every year.  It smokes and whistles and lights up.

This is a veiw of the dining room off of the entry.  I made my own center piece for the table and put garland on top of the china cabinet and the nativity scene on top of the buffet.





This was my grandmother's nativity scene.  She used to put it high on the mantle with colored lights.  My mom never used colored lights so that is what I loved about it first but then when I got older my grandma let me wind up the music box on the side on the manger.  It plays Silent Night.  Every year I play it and think of her and how much she enjoyed it too.  It was the only Christmas decoration she requested we put out, on the small ledge in her nursing home room, for her last Christmas in  2004...and we used colored lights!



This is the center piece that I made this year.  I used flower vases for candle holders, some pieces of garland, scented cranberries and red and gold Christmas bulbs placed on a red charger plate.
 
Snowmen always remind me of my sister Lori...she loved snowmen!  Pam LaValley, the wife of a gentleman that works for my husband...(and the sweetest couple you'll know in New Jersey!) made these for me and I just love them.  I too put them on a red charger plate and used them as a center piece instead of a floral arrangement or candles.  I think of Lori everytime I look at them:)

Well, look what fell out of the sky durning the weee early morning hours.  Our first snow!!  It wasn't much, but it did keep me from traveling to bible study this morning so I am using this time wisely to post on my blog.

Isn't nature just beautiful!  I just love how the evergreens are a background to the red twig dogwood bushes and the white snow its blanket.  How beautiful!

Speaking of beautiful...look at this holly!  I know now why my mom named me Holly! Ha! Ha! All kidding aside, I do love the bright red holly berries next to the waxy green leaves with the sparkling white snow kissing its branches.  Just makes me happy looking at it!

Another one of my favorite evergreens, canadian hemlock, looks so pretty with its lacy foliage covered in snow propped next to some more holly bushes.  The wreaths in the windows I have had for 10 yrs now.  I got them at Big Lots when we were building this house.  I added some poinsetteas and ribbon...but I think that they need a face lift next year.  The wreath on the front door was given to me by my bff Julie when I was helping her design her house back in the 90's...still one of my favorite wreaths!  Speaking of Julie, I will be seeing her and my other bff's tomorrow.  I will post some fun pictures from that get together:)  Enjoy the snow!

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Colt/Deebo " A Dog Named Christmas"


Chad and Becky recently became parents of a deaf American Bulldog they named "Deebo" previously known as "Colt". While Deebo was at the Hamilton Cty. Humane Society he was entered into Hallmarks "A Dog Named Christmas" contest. He is now in 5th place but with your votes he could win! Just press below
and vote...it's free! You can vote until Dec. 15 every 24 hrs!
Colt | A Dog Named Christmas

Posted using ShareThis

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

little kate mcrea...


I have been praying for 5yr old Kate since early summer. God lead me to this sight and I joined her caring page www.caringbridge.org/visit/mcraekate to get weekly updates. I am blogging so that you too will pray for her and her family this holiday season. Also, she is going to be on the Dr. Phil show December 2. No child so young should have to be subjected to such earthly trials. In this season of miracles please pray with expectancy!

Just copy and paste the www below.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GAuUUZX9INM&NR=1

Monday, November 23, 2009

Okay, one more "elf yourself"!

This is a link to Becky's work! She put Kiely in it too:) So cute Becky! I love the tans and smiles!
http://elfyourself.jibjab.com/view/gpwibikmRp0O0Yty

Saturday, November 21, 2009

evan, caitlyn, graham and desire' hip hoppin' it up!

Okay, I might be gettin' a little crazy with this whole "elf yourself" thing...but hey, if you can't embarrass your oldest son when he has his date over then life isn't fun, right?!
Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Caitlyn is Evan's girlfriend (blonde) and Desire is Graham's girl (brunette). The funny thing is, you can't choose which elf gets what face...whew! Good thing Jib Jab put the right elves together!

Friday, November 20, 2009

it's open again!

I have had several people tell me that they want to leave comments on our blog but can't...well, I had to change my settings due to some creepy comments, but I have changed the settings back to where anyone can comment. So, please leave a comment if you stop by our blog:) Thanks!

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Friday, November 13, 2009

strippen' fools...

Last weekend Todd's mom and I stripped...stripped off all of her kitchen and family room wallpaper that is! We then prepared, primed and painted the walls and woodwork. We HAD to do this because we went shopping earlier in the week! Mom bought some new furniture and it was delivered on Friday. I got there Friday morning and left Sunday early evening. Although it was tiring it was an awesome weekend! I just love how it turned out. Not everything is finished so I can't show it all right now but here is a sneak peak of one before and after.

Here is the before picture of the family room.

And this is the after! The walls are a soft french vanilla ice-cream color and the sofa and chair are the cutest sage green gingham. The picture above the sofa was given to mom by a great nephew and his wife in remembrance of Dad. It has a lighthouse and beautiful verse on it. I am going to hang some china that Dad gave Mom when they were first married on either side. Amy M. do you recognize the carpet? It looks so pretty in there doesn't it?! Remember the icy cold windy evening we loaded it up in my neighbors truck and hauled it over to our garage...good times, good times! lol!

Isn't this the cutest rocker! Mom just fell in love with it. She always has loved to rock ever since she was a little girl:) The colors are so soft and the chair is very comfortable as is the rest of the furniture. I will post the kitchen before and afters later. We are waiting on some fabric to make window treatments and an ottoman for the green gingham chair. It feels so warm and homey!

date night...awww!


Tonight Graham and Desire' went to the movie in their new letter jackets. They looked so cute! I am so proud of them as there were only a few freshman who earned jackets. Graham played Varsity tennis and Desire' is a Varsity cheerleader.

Thursday, November 12, 2009

fall break '09

With some much needed rest and relaxation we headed home to Fripp. It was hard to be there knowing we would never be there again with Paps. Evan stayed in his room a lot missing him so. But...
Todd took the boys to Berkley Hall, on Hilton Head Island, to golf one day...thanks to Uncle Gary!! They had a great time. Todd had the best game with Graham nipping at his heels at only one stroke behind. I loved the play by play from Graham when he came home and I loved that Todd took the time to be alone with his boys and take pictures for our blog! Don't they look so handsome, my three boys!This is the clubhouse at Berkley Hall Golf Course.
I woke up early the last morning and went outside to take some pictures. I love this one and the one below because you can see the deer that are out there every morning.

I came outside because I really wanted to take pictures of the ornamental grass. Amy and Tina, can you believe how beautiful it is? It looks like cotton candy! Our hard work paid off!Look! My vinca is still so pretty! I wish that I could have stayed longer to enjoy it. However, my double knock out roses only have a few leaves and only one bloom. The deer have eaten all five of the plants up! I need to rethink what I am going to plant in front of the entry stairs...next year!


I love this view of the back yard. It shows some of the beautiful palms that were planted when the house was built. This is one of three Palmetto trees that Chad dug up on the Fourth of July and Todd and I transplanted. The root system on these trees was incredible and the thorns were so painful...just ask Chad and I! I absolutely love this view! Whenever I think of Fripp I think of this view! It is on Ocean Creek Golf Course. After I took this picture I picked up Todd and we just rode around the island for an hour or so...like we were seeing it again for the first time.
We passed these beautiful flowers, with so many butterflies flying around them, on our way to the beach. It was the most beautiful sight that morning. The beach was sunny on one end but so hazy that you couldn't see to the other end.
As we walked down to the beach you could see and feel the mist evaporating into the air.

Not too many people are on the Island in the fall. It is like having the whole beach to yourself. When we turned around to walk back I took a picture of our footprints.
While I was taking the picture Todd wrote this in the sand...I love him too!!!!!!!!!!
The waves were so calm that morning and the sunlight just sparkled and danced off of the sea.
Next, we were off to the Marina. The marsh is so beautiful in the fall. It reminds me of our corn fields up here in Indiana...green in the summer and such a beautiful golden color in the fall.
The Cyprus tree is my FAVORITE tree in the south! The moss is very prevalent now because the green foliage is gone.
The golden marsh, blue sky and placid ocean at the Marina that morning was breath taking...I could have sat there all morning and watched the boats come in and out!I then took Todd to a street on the Island that has only three homes on it. This is the view from one of the empty lots that I always say we will build a house on one day! It has the most wonderful view of the marsh and ocean.
When we started out on our golf cart ride this little guy had crawled out of the water to be warmed by the sun. He was still lying there as we passed him on our way home.
And this beautiful bird was just a few yards away from the gator! He obviously didn't read the sign that warned him about the danger that lurks in and out of the water!.Graham and I then went for a our last ride that evening. We were standing on some rocks and spotted this dolphin. It was swimming very slow and gracefully. As the sun was moving West it was as beautiful that evening sparkling on the water as it was in the East that morning while it was burning off the fog. What a beautiful day God gave us. One of my favorite days on the island. It was like He cued the deer, fog, sun and animals to come out just for me! God is so good!!
What a perfect fall break on Fripp! We all got some much needed rest and had a lot of time to reflect on the past months events. I am looking forward to the spring when I can once again spend time at our home in paradise !

Sunday, October 18, 2009

my steve...

On Friday afternoon, October 16, I said goodbye to "my Steve". I always called you this and loved to get a big hug and chuckle when I did! I will miss your laugh!

I will miss your willingness to help anyone at anytime with anything
I will miss your kindness towards my boys
I will miss how excited you got when you and Todd talked engineering and magnetics
I will miss eating out with you...always a great time and experience
I will miss dancing with you most of all..."Last Dance" was our favorite song

As I held your hands last Friday afternoon while you were taking your last breath, I couldn't help but think of how many people were healed, touched and comforted by them. It has been a privilege to know you, to be your friend, and to be present when the angels came to take you home. Your earthly struggle is finally over. You were a great patient for being a doctor:) I have no doubt where you are and that I will see you again. Please know that your girls, all 3 of them, will be in good hands!

I love you "my Steve",

Holly

Monday, October 12, 2009

slam dunk!

Look who got his braces off today! Doesn't he look so handsome?! Graham celebrated by eating some Laffy Taffy and Now and Laters!

Thursday, October 8, 2009

video tribute to paps


I just wanted to share this beautiful video tribute that the funeral home put together for Paps. I could sit and watch it all day! Enjoy the music:)

Video Tribute

Saturday, October 3, 2009

our sweet dad and pappaw...


Tonight we had to say goodbye to Paps. Our hearts are breaking...there are no words to explain the loss nor the love we have for him.


Posted by Picasa

Thursday, October 1, 2009

and the birthday's continue...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JULIE!

Today is my dear friends birthday and I wish that I had a picture but I don't...well, I do have one, but I don't know how to scan it! As Julie always says about herself, "I'm June Cleaver when it comes to electronics!" So here's to you June...I mean Julie...enjoy this beautiful Fall day that God chose to be your special day!

I love you so much my sweet friend!