It's the most wonderful time of the year!

I get butterflies around this time of year... EVERY year... It starts in November and lasts through the end of December. I started decorating houses for Christmas with a good friend about 5 years ago. It started out slow and gradually our clientele grew and grew. Last year I/we decorated 6 houses and a large church. That doesn't sound like a lot of homes but when you consider the VERY short time frame... it's a lot. Most women want their homes done right after Thanksgiving in time for Holiday entertaining. So we are busy little bees the first week of December. I am passionate about decorating for Christmas. I love it.. I adore over the top rooms as well as simple peaceful decorating that feels like coming home. I love a mantle that is spilling over with garlands and ribbons. I enjoy shopping for our clients and planning all the little details. Last year I had a full time job outside of the home (i used up vacation time to decorate)and a full time nanny to take care of Hoot... This year I am a SAHM with no help and the Doll will have surgery the last week of November! One of our clients is going to be on our local parade of homes this year so it's an honor to showcase our work. I traveled to Dallas this week to decorate my mom's tree which turned out fabulous (if I do say so myself). I'll post her photos after Thanksgiving. I won't be as involved this year, but I am so looking forward to filling homes with Christmas joy this season.
These photos inspire me and get my creative juices a flowing!




I am helping two of my favorite friends host a private Gingerbread party that we acutioned off last year at Hoot's school. I can't wait for this event. I would love to have these centerpieces.





I love these ornaments. I collect them. what a great display



What a great quilt


But first we will celbrate Thanksgiving and count our many blessings. We have so much to be thankful for this year! My heart is filled with thanksgiving as I look at my beautiful children and wonderful friends and family. Hope you enjoy this season and reflect on the many blessings all around.

Romance

I wanted to save this for a Valentines Day post and I will probably recycle it at that time, but I was afraid I would forget the exact wording so I'll post it now... Hoot came home from school yesterday to tell me that he knew what romance meant... I wasn't sure I was ready for his definition, but I braced myself and asked him to explain.

"Romance is when a boy and girl kiss in Paris France and have chocolate creeps." He meant crepes, but he said creeps. I think Hoot and I share the same definition of romance. He's gonna be a great husband someday! I asked him how he came to this definition and he said, he just always knew... later I heard him tell Lambert that he saw it on Ratatouille.

I madly love these two sweeties. Never could I have imagine how blessed my life would be! I am so thankful for my family.

All Hallows Eve

What a night. The kids had a ball and there is more candy in our house at this moment than there is collectively for the entire year. Today we will sort, save a little and throw out the rest. If it's not in the house... I won't be tempted. I'm reading Candace Cameron Bure's book Reshaping It ALL and it has been such a blessing in more ways than one. The book is very encouraging. In chapter 10 she addresses bullies... We need to avoid trouble when it's lurking around, pretend to be brave even if were not and find a buddy who will stand by our side... we've all encountered bullies, even as adults. They turn when you go to address them, or they give you the look over... it's always easier to avoid them, and it's much easier when you have a buddy to stand with you. I love that Candace addresses food much in the same way... "instead of focusing on conquering the bullies, we need to focus on conquering our thoughts since harassment travels throughout our brain before settling in." She goes on to say that "We can't change the world, but we can change the way we react to it. Neither words nor people can affect us without our thought pattern allowing them. Temptation acts much the same way. It's a smell, a sound, or a visual cue that travels through our thoughts before it becomes a desire." What she's telling me is take the CANDY out of the house , AVOID the bully, pretend that I am brave while tossing it in the trash. Okay I may have to invite a buddy over to help me on this one! James 1:14 tells us that "Every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust and enticed." But here is the good news and the hope... "So I say live by the spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature." Gal 5:16 and here is even more hope for us today. "Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." Heb. 12:1-2... Wow that is some good news for me this morning. I'm ready to press on and conquer the bullies and the candy.
Good to spend time with Him this morning!

Random photos from All Hallows Eve.. Enjoy



Hoots best buddy, a neighbor friend came over to pass out candy. These two are hilarous together. They are both rebels in their own minds


They crack each other up. This is the cutest kiddo

This year we stayed in our neighborhood to treat and it was awesome. I had no idea the traffic and we even had a couple trailers with loads of kids come through.


A few houses in the neighborhood go ALL out.. Really ALL out. I wasn't sure how Hoot would respond... but he did okay. His buddy kept reminding him... it's just a costume with a normal person indisde." Good to have that buddy by your side:)






My dad would have LOVED these houses. He's a big kid at heart and loves to scare the littles! We did this every Halloween at our house growing up. He had several creepy masks that he would bring out only for Halloween... the kids loved it. Last night Hoot shook a lady's hand and it fell off when he grabbed it...He was sooooo scared. My dad would have pulled this type of stunt
Then we had the sweeties too..







She went from cupcake to KIKKY KAT as she likes to say.. Time for bed. She was out in two minutes and so was Hoot

But before Hoot drifted off... he reminded me that he did not like this guy at ALL

Me either!

Trunk or Treat

What an awesome day for a fall festival. The weather was perfect and there were NO mosquito's to be found. Hoot donned his first ever spooky costume. He was a mummy this year and a frightening one to boot. he could not have been more thrilled. Now this is not his REAL costume.. Tomorrow he will be THE DARK KNIGHT... that's the official costume. Libbie was a cupcake. I've wanted this costume for the last three years. I splurged when I found one on e-bay. It was perfect. she was not sure about the whole big fluffy collar, but she warmed up to it quickly. The kids had a ball trunk or treating. Our church put on a first class festival. The participation was great and there were so many wonderful cars and truck decorated for Halloween. We had lots and lots of fun with a great church family.




His teeth look terrible next to the white paint... they are not that bad... I may need to photshop this one! I didn't touch up any of these photos. I wanted to get this posted before time slipped away and before I khew it was Thanksgiving and I hadn't posted!!!
















Happy Halloween!!

Tricks and Treats around the house

Lots of fall festivities and fun around the house.

We tore down some shelves in our kitchen and the whole family participated in the demo... fun!!


We painted and I finally put up the Ceaser recipe I've had for months




We've had lots of comfort food





The weather has been so nice, I've opened the windows a few times in the morning to air out the house

Halloween mantle... we have a really long mantle that is difficult to decorate. It always looks cluttered and over done when I finish with it. I wish I could be a minilamist, but I just keep adding accessories (junk) and don't know when to stop.




We had a little pumpkin carving fellowship over the weekend. INDOORS!!! I threw down the drop cloths and covered the table in craft paper and we went to town







It was so much fun!

Hoot had a tailgate party at his school for spirit week. He found the smashing booth and went to town


Libbie wanted to bring home a new puppy. She was so cute. I could have brought her home, but Lambert would have killed me!

The girl has a mean arm and winds up like a major league pitcher


She liked put put too


If there is a face painting booth to be found... Hoot will find it


The packaged arrived today and the kids had a ball... they know... it's gonna be good



Thank you Granna!!







AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST>>> Hoot thinks these plastic rubber bugs are sooo much fun. he leaves them all around the house to scare his mother and sister. I think this little fellow is by far the creepiest trick we have around the house. Happy Halloween.. enjoy your week.