Happy Birthday, N!

This cute little guy is 15 today!!! He has brought us so much joy over the last 15 years and we are proud of the young man he has become.



N. is a history buff and much of his "wish list" for his birthday and Christmas consisted of books on various periods of history, military campaigns, and such. When you see him, ask him any history question and he will be able to answer it...or make you believe he has answered you authoritatively. History professor one day, maybe?



We love you, N!

Later Days!
Kelly

P.S. Sorry that the baby pic is so tiny...I'm not tech-savvy enough to do anything about it :).

Quick Takes 12/2/11

*1*
Our VW Beetle conked out so we're now a one-car family. Silver lining: we're saving money by only insuring one car, buying gas for one car, and paying taxes on one car plus selling the VW will give us a little more money for Christmas :)

*2*
I'm loving doing most of my Christmas shopping on Amazon. It's exciting to see those packages arrive!

*3*
We're slowly getting the halls decked...getting all those empty totes put away is a different matter.

*4*
Lots of strumming going on at our place...N. and hubby are learning to play the banjo and K. is learning guitar! M. is just making noise :).

*5*
Favorite seasonal beverages: Peppermint Chocolate Chip milkshakes from Chik-fil-A, Peppermint Mocha from Starbucks, and King's Tavern Ginger Ale shipped from Colonial Williamsburg, courtesy of my sweet hubby.

*6*
Our Christmas tree is gorgeous...my favorite ornaments are the ones chosen to represent our family each year.

*7*
I am unreasonably excited about changing the background on my computer to winter/holiday scenes! "Decking" my computer is so 21st century.

Later Days,
Kelly

It's beginning to look a lot like....

DECEMBER!

It's really too early to say it's beginning to look like Christmas because we still have 3 family birthdays, our 21st anniversary and my parents' anniversary before Christmas Day! Needless to say, this is a crazy busy time of year with all of those celebrations plus special church services and family memory-making.

While our lives have taken some unexpected turns this year, making this holiday season look much different from our usual, we're trying to make it a priority to focus on on the REAL reason for the season...the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ. Yes, we love decorating a Christmas tree and shopping for presents but we also love to set up all our nativity sets to remind of of the miracle of Emmanuel...God with us.



My youngest set up this special "utility set" and loves to move the pieces around. I love how he did this grouping of EVERYBODY (animals included) gathered around the stable, admiring Baby Jesus.

Later Days!
Kelly

Fall Festival

I know that some relatives check this blog frequently and I must once again apologize for being a slacker. Can I make it up to you by posting pics of the grandkids in costume?





Did you notice that this limited-time offer included a bonus pic of yours truly and my sweetie?

Later Days!
Kelly

10/18/11 Daybook

Outside My Window:
*Much-needed rain!

Inside My House:
*The yummy smell of a fall candle
*My whole family
*Pets snoring :)

Things Accomplished:
*Weekly library trip
*Homeschool
*Sodoku
*2 scrapbook pages!

On My Mind:
*2 of my husband's aunts--both are hospitalized and need everyone's prayers
*My father- and mother-in law

Looking Forward To:
*Seeing the grandparents and cousins this weekend!

Later Days!
Kelly

Attn: Grandparents

Hey y'all! I've been MIA since before our beach trip, but honestly, doesn't the beach deserve its own post?

Without further ado, I bring you some photos of K. & M. from this afternoon....






Later Days!
Kelly

Saturday Update

Things done:
* Homemade haircuts for both boys
* Shopping with both girls (found the elusive khaki skirt I've wanted)
* Made oatmeal craisin cookies from scratch
* Got groceries
* Enjoyed the fall-like weather
* Tried to help hubby feel better
* Watched Princess Diaries 2 with K.
* Talked about our upcoming beach trip!!!

Things left to do:
* Get a good night's sleep :)
* Wake up refreshed and ready to worship at New Hope Baptist Church
* Take care of hubby and help him get ready for surgery on Monday (kidney stone)
* Talk incessently about our upcoming beach trip!!!!

Later Days!
Kelly

Bloggy Makeover

So what do you think? After my last post, I began to play around with the blogger template and "accidentally-on-purpose" changed up my blog's look to reflect my love of all things autumn. Please let me know what you think about the new look...is it hard to read, tacky, fabulous?

Later Days!
Kelly

Long Overdue Post

How's that for a descriptive title? I really have no adequate excuse for my laxness in updating the blog...I have had reminders from friends, family, pets, etc. The truth is, the longer I put off posting, the easier it is to put off! Hmmm...that's just like so many positive changes I need to put in place.

Anyway, here's 7 Quick Takes to get me back in the bloggin' groove:

1) Hubby is suffering with a huge kidney stone at the moment. He's going to spend the weekend heavily medicated and has a procedure scheduled for Monday to get rid of that rock!

2) Our yearly beach vacation with family is approaching! We've been vacationing with my parents and hubby's parents for 18 years and we love it!

3) We'll be celebrating both hubby's and his father's birthdays while we're at the beach!

4) 14yo son got glasses last week. He looks very distinguished...or would, if he wasn't wearing a Kermit the Frog t-shirt :).

5) Our homeschooling year has started and the student body includes: a 12th grader, 9th grader, 5th grader, and kindergartner!! AND one perpetually frazzled mom.

6) I'm ridiculously excited about the beginning of Fall!!! I love the cooler weather, the pretty colors on the trees, the holidays...basically, everything about it. Of course, I live in South Carolina and by cooler weather I mean 70 degrees. Which MAY happen this weekend.

7) Speaking of holidays...if you are a member of my family reading this (and let's be honest, who else would be reading this?), now is the time to begin dropping hints for gift ideas :). For some of you, you'll also need to hint about birthday ideas, too!

Later Days!
Kelly

Party at the Park

Today we enjoyed a picnic at a local park with some good friends to celebrate their son's 12th birthday. We had terrific food, a great time with our friends, and even survived a pinata without having an AFV moment (America's Funniest Videos).

If you ever watch AFV, you'll have noticed that pinatas and trampolines provide most of the painfully funny moments. NOT that we ever watch that show. Except we do. Frequently. It's E's favorite show--I'm afraid of what that might mean about her character! Love ya, E.!

Later Days!
Kelly

Dog Days of Summer

Annie says chillax and enjoy :)!
Later Days!
Kelly

Summertime and the Living is Easy!

School's out and we're enjoying lazy days!

Here's just a few things that mean Summer to us:
* watermelon
* sitting on the backyard swing
* playing Wii games...Zumba & Dancing With the Stars for me :)
* swimsuits...I HATE swimsuit shopping!
* reading, reading, reading
* 100 degree temps :P
* fresh veggies from the garden...other people's gardens, that is (That's you, Papa!)
* ice cream
* more freckles
* kiddy pool
* sunglasses

Looking forward to:
* visits with the grandparents :)

Later Days!
Kelly

Today is my birthday!

That's right, let us observe a moment of silence. Not because of my age--just because silence is so hard to come by around here! Forty-two is ushering in some exciting & frightening changes. No, I'm NOT talking about my ever-expanding waistline or graying hair! It appears that a new "leap of faith" is in our future, as we anticipate a move back to my hometown. I'll keep my faithful readers updated on developments when God reveals them to me....though, since I'm related to most of my readers, I can just tell y'all when we come for dinner. LOL!

In other news, this post as written and posted from my new tablet computer! Happy birthday to me!

Later Days,
Kelly

Easter, K's birthday, and a sick boy

Wow, it's been a crazy few days! I'm so glad my parents came to visit for a couple of days because it took all of us to do what needed to get done.

Thursday: Mimi and Papa arrived and we went to the mall to get K's ears pierced for her birthday. She picked some adorable earrings, M spent his birthday $$ on Build-A-Bear stuff, the ladies did a bit of shopping, and we ate in the Food Court.

Friday: M began feeling bad--fever and nausea, with periods of playing. He mostly hung out at home with the menfolk, with the exception of a quick trip to Wal-Mart (which ended badly for him). I also finally had my eye exam and ordered new glasses, which, I'm proud to say, are not YET bifocals :). Mimi prepared an Easter feast for us since we wouldn't actually get to see my parents on Easter Sunday. Delish! Sadly, M still didn't feel up to eating.

Saturday: M missed the church's egg hunt but K got to go. She was proud to show off her newly-pierced ears to her friends. We had a mini birthday celebration before Mimi and Papa had to go home.


Sunday: Easter AND K's 10th birthday! M and I missed all the special Resurrection Day festivities at church, but the rest of the family enjoyed them. K sang a solo part(beautifully--thank you, E for videoing it for me). I'll try to upload that video soon...I need some tutoring from someone more tech-savvy than me, which includes my 5yo!
When the crowd came home from church, we had K's favorite meal of tacos (except for M, who still didn't have much of an appetite) and enjoyed birthday cake, ice cream, presents,
AND Easter treats!



M got to enjoy an egg hunt at home.



Which brings us to Monday morning...I think M is feeling much better because he's bothering his siblings :). THAT'S much more like him!

Later Days!
Kelly

4/15

*1*
Still unpacking boxes from our recent move. Also, discovering that some things are NOWHERE TO BE FOUND!! In other words, a typical move.

*2*
Spring Fever is rampant around here! The kids don't want to do schoolwork, I don't want to do schoolwork, the schoolbooks are hard to find....

*3*
As you've noticed, I'm also having trouble motivating myself to write blog posts...and sweep floors...and wash dishes...and unpack boxes....

*4*
On the bright side, it's almost K.'s birthday, so I have a very excited almost-10yo girl :). She wants to have her ears pierced and get DIAMOND earrings since that's her birthstone. She'll probably make do with the same kind of "diamond" earrings her mom wears :).

*5*
Incidentally, Easter falls on K.'s birthday this year so it's a double blessing.

*6*
10 is much different than it was when I was 10. I think 10 is the new 20. K. has also indicated than she'd like an Ipod and an Itunes card.

*7*
I think I was still playing with dolls at 10 (and after).

Later Days!
Kelly

7 Quick Takes 4/8/11

1. Blogging from my phone while we head Back Home for a visit.
Ain't technology wonderful!?!

2. We have moved since I last posted! Same city-bigger house.

3. Eldest turned 17 a couple of days ago! It doesn't seem possible....

4. K. will be turning 10 in a few days-Easter Sunday, as a matter of fact. It doesn't seem possible....

5. Tonight we'll be having a double birthday party with the whole family Back Home!

6. Ooops! I haven't posted in so long that I better mention that youngest turned 5 back in February! It doesn't seem possible....

7. It's far too easy to lose phone blog posts if your 5yo sneezes & you have to rummage around for a tissue!

Later Days!
Kelly

Catching up....

Sorry it's been so long since I've posted but most of my readers know what I've been doing because y'all are related to me :). To recap:

Let's see...Thanksgiving, Sis-in-Law's bday (love ya, Jen!), Bro-in-Law's bday (love ya, Neal!), son N.'s 14th bday (love ya, N.!), our 20th anniversary (love ya, Hubby!), my mother's bday (love ya, Mimi!), my parents' anniversary (love ya, parents!), and Christmas (love ya, Jesus!). Throw in multiple special Christmas services at church, rehearsals for special services, and Sunday School/Staff/Children's parties at church and you have a very busy couple of months!

And then, of course, there was a Christmas snow--my first white Christmas! Post-Christmas there's been a couple of funerals for church members :(, New Year's Eve, New Year's Day, and...another snow (today!). The kids and I have enjoyed making snowmen, throwing snowballs, and sledding down our hill on various cardboard boxes and pizza pans :).

I will now include an assortment of photos for your enjoyment before I have to sign off and make a chicken potpie for lunch!






Later Days!
Kelly