Smoky Mountains

Family Vacation Photo Book

Undisturbed

 Love the whiteness all around....tree branches, deck rail and the torches that transformed it something resembling an ice cream cone:)   God is amazing!

Leafy Windows

 After all the Christmas stuff comes down, things look so blah!  I decided that after 6 years of feeling that way, it was time to get the sewing machine out and attempt to fix the emptiness in the room.  What do you think?  I love the pattern and I really like how it makes the room feel so warm.  I even had just enough fabric leftover to try my first pillow!!!!!

Night Table

This was Kailyn's heart's desire for her birthday......a nightstand!!!!!!  And of course I had to get a few accessories to go with it:)  So cute, and this is actually a nightstand we had in the basement because the one I got for her was junk and I had to bring it back.  Still searching for the perfect fit....but this one sure looks cute in the meantime!

Tie-dye, face jems and sleepovers, oh my!

 Somebody turned 7 at our house in January!!!!

DIY artwork

 From this.....

to this!!!!  All branches were drawn by Ryan and I added all the dots.  Love how this turned out and perfect for our living room after taking down all the Christmas stuff.

Natural Beauty

Lego Mania!

 The day after Christmas was spent in PJ's, drinking coffee and putting together millions of legos for both Kailyn and Will!!  What a blast!!!!!

 The Friends' lego sets are adorable. Kailyn has a whole city set up!

So proud to have new legos to add to his collection!

Like Father, Like Son

So happy to have the same kind of shirt that daddy has!!!!!! 

Tuck

 Waiting for paws to dry so he can come in the house.  Too cute!

 Good Boy!

Hard to believe that this pooch has been part of our family for a year already!!!!!

Christmas Highlights

 Had only a few crafts that I attempted this Christmas.  I was teaching so much I hardly had time to wrap presents. ( A really good problem to have.)

 Our family reindeer this year!

 Fun baking projects:)

 Making glitter ornaments!!  The glitter is on the inside= no mess.  We had so much fun making these.  Definitely a redo for next year!

 One of the many weekly fun gifts we gave to our school teachers!

 Stockings!!!!!!

 All decked out....too bad our season didn't end well:(

 Ryan found this channel with a fireplace on it....added some ambiance to our Christmas morning!

 Putting together Barbie's beach house....notice the smile!

Kailyn and Brook.....cute cousins!

U cut

This Friday, we piled in the truck (including Tucker) and headed to Prince Tree in Borculo to cut down our first Christmas tree since the kids were born. 

Above...our picture without Tucker.  Below....our attempt with Tucker!!

All decked out...the perfect tree!

Thankful

Our thankful wreath!  Thanks to Family Fun for this super cool idea. I simply wrapped a styrofoam wreath with fabric and cut out different colored leaves from construction paper.  Each night we would each write something that we were thankful for and attach it to our wreath with a pin.  As you can see, there was little to no room left on our wreath by the time Thanksgiving rolled around.  I loved listening to the things that my precious children were thankful for:)

Beauty in the simple things!

One of our many breath-taking sun rises this fall!

Crafty Christmas Tee

I came upon this adorable Christmas tree tee on Pinterest and couldn't resist.  So....I grabbed a white shirt from Meijer for $6 and then picked out some ribbon and ric-rak and headed home to create some Christmas cuteness!  I am so happy with how it turned out....and so is Kailyn!!!!

Phonetic Phun....

 Kailyn has been reading and spelling things left and right.  Needless to say it has clicked and she has taken off.  The top picture is one that she drew me after I was a guest teacher in her classroom.  The bottom picture she entered into a drawing contest and WON!!!!!!!  They loved all of her phonetic spelling:)

Carving fun:)

 Kailyn was not at all grossed out by the pumpkin "guts".....Will wasn't so brave!

 Drawing out a picture so that daddy would know how to carve it they way they would like.

 Tuck....not so sure what in the world is going on:)