Dreams for a New Year

In years past, I've been sad to see the year go. However, this year I'm looking forward to a new year and am full of hope for all that is to come.  2013 has been full of happy memories and watching Owen and Lily Caroline grow. However, it has been full of loss and sadness for many that I care about.

Also, I like even numbers so 14 is better than 13 to me! ;) Both my babies were born in even years-2010 and 2012. 

Here's a few dreams I have for 2014! Some are small and some have deeper meanings!

-Keep our cars from looking like we live in them. 

-Organize our "bonus" room. We want to turn this space into a family sitting area as well as our guest room. 

-Get closer with our church community and new friends.

-Spend less on things that aren't necessary. Someone has developed a bad a habit of buying clothes for their little lady! :) 

-Continue to go through and declutter. 

-Travel somewhere new 

-And even though its cliche, exercise more;) Let's just say that my activity has decreased since Lily Caroline arrived! 

I hope that 2014 is full of blessings, happiness and our family being brought closer to each other and to Jesus. 

Happy New Year friends!! 

Christmas 2013 Recap

Our Christmas was full of sweet memories! We enjoyed spending time together as a family, reading scriptures each night, praying that we would make it through the Christmas Eve service with two little busy bodies, eating lots of treats and celebrating Christ's birth. 

Owen and Lily Caroline enjoyed family gatherings at my Mom and Dad's houses playing with their cousins and extended family. They are spoiled rotten very loved! 

Hope all of you had a merry and bright Christmas! 

Christmas "Adam"

I think this will be a new tradition! 

Tidings of Joy...

We have enjoyed all sorts of festivities...here are a few highlights...

Annual dinner with the Cruices

Heather made Owen and Lily Caroline this puppet theater. Owen was thrilled!

It has been such a blessing doing Naptime Diaries' Advent Calendar. Each day has a beautiful scripture card. Owen has asked for his verse each night.

Wearing her Bub's Christmas shirt...

Here's Owen wearing the same shirt...

A certain someone thinks they have to have a snack on every Target trip...which ends up in a whole lot of Goldfish all over the floor! Sorry Target friends! 

Owen made chocolate covered pretzels at school and some artwork as presents for us! He ate most of the pretzels, but we were happy nonetheless! 

I made these Candy Cane play dough jars for Owen's class. They were fun and easy to make! 

We met our dear friends, the Snipes to take the boys to see the St. Francis Festival of Trees.

They were moved excited to look at the fountain and play in the water. Oh well...it was fun anyway! 

Christmas Cookie Party

The laundry pile is rivaling the size of Mt. Everest, I can't find two matching pairs of socks, and my to-do list gets longer by the second...but "Oh by gosh, by golly" we are celebrating Christmas this year! 

We lived in our house for about a year before we really knew any of our neighbors. We don't live in a neighborhood and our closest neighbors are cows-literally! So this summer, we were borderline stalkers thrilled to meet some of our neighbors across the street who have kids around Owen's age.

Owen and I thought it would be fun to have them over to decorate Christmas cookies. He was so excited all day-asking when his friends were going to come over! It was a little bit of a different story when his friends wanted to play with his new truck and cars...but I digress...

For some reason, I CAN.NOT bake cute cut out cookies...they NEVER turn out...so I saved myself some heartache and enlisted my friends at Pillsbury's pre-made squares. The kids had fun filling up on sugar and decorating their cookies. I think Owen has an artistic ability of decorating--his goal was to get as many things as possible on his cookie! 

It was a fun night and we're so glad to have neighbor friends who could come over! 

Wishing You A...

Getting fun mail is one of the highlights of Christmas for me! I wait all day for the mail to come! I love pictures and cards-so when it comes to combining them, I'm in heaven! :)

I'm linking up with Faith for her Christmas Card Carouse

Annual Ornament Exchange

The Hudsons hosted our annual (I think this is the 7th annual...) ornament exchange and Christmas dinner. Over the past 7 years, we've celebrated new puppies, houses, babies, jobs. We've also prayed for each other over losses, hardships, and uncertainties. Thankful for these friendships. I am especially grateful that Owen has these little buddies in his life.

Owen and Mallie cheesing...Love this picture of the two of them! I want to freeze them in time! :)

Lindsey, Heather and I...we were missing Katie (and Jonathan)

The ladies and the little ladies (Owen and Lincoln were hanging with the boys during the picture!)

The Tomlinsons drew Owen's name and got him a Dr. set....which he LOVED! Of course, he didn't want to share with Mallie...

Then we came home and added a few last minute touches to our outside decor...

Just kidding... this is the Crazy Christmas Light House in Mauldin! It is very festive! They have hot chocolate, popcorn, and play movies...It was pretty chilly and the kiddos were partied out, so we didn't get out but you can walk around! If you're local, just google "Mauldin Light House" and it should pull up the info about it.

Peppermint Bark Popcorn

Joining up with Natasha today for a Holiday Recipe link up! This is one that we love to make for friends and neighbors! And if you keep any in the house, it is guaranteed to be gone within 24 hours! 

Family Ties

This was a weekend full of family get togethers which was nice. Even though a lot of my family lives within 30 minutes, we hardly get to see everyone.  

We celebrated Christmas with my mom's side of the family on Saturday! We were supposed to watch my hometown's Christmas parade but it was cancelled due to rain. The kids had still fun playing with their cousins and exchanging gifts. Owen got a helicopter and Lily Caroline got her favorite, SNACKS! :) I find so much joy in seeing Owen (and Lily Caroline is starting to) play with his cousins. 

On Sunday, we had another celebration...my niece Riley (better known as "Riley Kat" had her 2nd birthday party! 

I have been laughing at the top left picture...the kids are like, "Huh?" and poor Riley looks trapped between my two crazy kiddos in the next one!

AND THEN...while I was shamelessly eating my cupcake, a certain someone decided to take a bite of it! So, of course I let her have another bite. She does look pretty cute with a cupcake mustache! :)

Mommy/Son Christmas Date

Owen and I went on our first annual Mommy/Son Christmas date! I told him earlier in the week that we were going to get donuts...he asked every single day if it was the day! I couldn't wait either! 

This boy LOVES donuts! Sprinkled ones, mini ones, chocolate ones, basically if it's a donut, he loves it! 

Our festive donuts! We promised daddy we'd bring him one home! It was a miracle that we didn't eat all of them!

After donuts, we went to the Little Theater to see Rudolph play! It was very cute! We met our friends Liz and Daniel there. I was impressed, both boys sat quietly and watched the entire show. When I asked Owen if he liked the play, he said "I liked it a little"...Oh well, we still had fun! 

This boy is one of a kind! He is smart, learns learning (has started spelling a few words-CAR, CAN, DAD, MOM, OWEN), he is sweet, sassy, athletic, adores his daddy and sister. He says that when he grows up, he wants to be a daddy! I am lucky to be his mom! I look forward to many more dates with this little one. And I'm going to soak up every time he holds my hand and gives me a kiss! He often wipes them off but I'll take what I can get! 

Holly Jolly Home Tour and 5 on Friday

It has been a week of fun and one of staying up way too late trying to get gifts made, treats baked, wrapping presents, and making memories. This weekend is going to be full of friends, family and celebrations-Christmas and my niece's birthday! But for now, I'm linking up with Darci and friends to talk about my my 5 things from this week....And I'm linking up with Kelly for a Holly Jolly Home Tour and The Nester for It Doesn't Have to Be Perfect Christmas! I always love looking back at blog posts from years past to see the same ornaments on the tree or new decorations! 

One: We made a spontaneous decision to go to Hollywild Zoo Lights on Tuesday! The lights are pretty good but the most fun part is the "Enchanted Deer Forest"...which we really don't know why they call it a forest because it's a field...but any who... 

 

In the "Forest", deer, enormous cows, ostrich and zebras roam. They come up to your cars, as you can see below...It's wild!

This little boy LOVED it!! He told the animals, "We're not here to hurt you, we're here to feed you".

It was a much different story than the first time he went.

2 years ago...he wanted to stay in his seat and looked scared to death!

TWO: We have been munching on this popcorn all week...

THREE:  Target and the Silhouette have made my Christmas gifting much easier this year...although I am beginning to be a little obsessive over using my Silhouette machine...I'm adding vinyl to everything!!

FOUR: Little Miss Merry Britches! I love these fancy Christmas bloomers! 

FIVE: This boy! He has been loving all the Christmas festivities and is always excited to read our advent scripture card each time (We use Naptime Diaries Advent). He even reads from his Jesus Story Bible to Mollie after we put him to bed. 

Doesn't get much better than snuggling with him, eating popcorn and watching Christmas movies! 

Owen and I are heading out on a date tomorrow to get Christmas donuts and to see Rudolph at the Children's Museum. 

And now for the HOLLY JOLLY HOUSE TOUR...

Every year when we get a tree, I wish we could keep it year round...they are just so pretty and smell so good! 

These little angels are my favorite Christmas decoration. I picked them up at my favorite antique store. They are so simple and sweet.

I was so excited to personalize our $1 stockings this year with my Silhouette machine. They aren't Pottery Barn but they'll do! ;)

A little Target chalkboard countdown. It's serves two purposes-1) Countdown to Christmas and 2) Help Owen learn his numbers

My husband is the best! Not only did he take care of both of the kids, help me clean the house for friends to come over, but he had this beautiful arrangement delivered! I am very blessed to have him!