Deck the Halls

It is November 30th (my precious cousin Elizabeth's birthday!) and the Owen range is officially decorated for Christmas. Woohoo! I do love Christmas, but I don't think I could ever love the fesitivities as much as Mitch does. Seriously. All the time through out the year he looks at me and says, "it's almost Christmas Erin." My word. Well, we got our 3 big tubs out of the attic a couple days ago and let the elves go to work (that would be me!). It is especially fun to decorate because it is Scarlett's first Christmas. She loves looking at the Christmas tree. It is sweet to watch her little eyes glimmer as she looks at something that I may have thought was simply ordinary.

So, I realized today, as I wanted to take a few pictures to document Chrismas 2010 on the Owen range, that I have never done a post(s) about our house. I love our little bungalow and want to be able to look back on our home in years to come, so I will have to do a little "home showcase" one of these days. Plus, decorating is seriously one of my top 3 things so it would be fun to share.

Here is a little look at some of our Christmas cheer...

The bungalow. We will always cherish many memories here because it is our first house that is our very own. It is going on 86 years old so it has seen better days,

but that is what we love about it.

This is what you see entering the front door.

The mantel. Which reminds me.... I have GOT to find a stocking for SJ.

The dining room. One of my favorite additions to our home is this chandelier.

It was fun to give it some Christmas garb.

And here is the little angel in the highchair eating her cracker.

The crazy dog that sits under the highchair hoping for even a crumb to drop! Callie=nuts!

The Bybee Pottery that my mama adds to each year. It currently adorns the top of

the china cabinet (btw. the china cabinet is one of my favorite finds to date. $250 at a peddlers mall... I somehow talked the booth owner down.)

And then a couple months later this "dresser" showed up in the same booth! It was a Christmas present last year. It might be hard to see but there is a really special nativity scene from Kenya that my parents brought us... I love it.

Here is a closer look.

This is a nativity scene that my mother-in-law gave me the first year Mitch and I were married. I enjoy putting it up each year.

I had to show my precious friend Lori this.... she made it years ago and now it adds a little winter cheer in Scarlett's room!

And last but certainly not least... these are one of Mitch and I's most favorite Christmas treats... CUTIES. I picked these up at Sam's Club and the bag will probably be empty by the weekend. Yum, this is a healthy and delicious treat.

From our home to yours... Happy decorating!

Thankful.

I am back! I plunged beneath the surface of Thanksgiving gatherings, food and relaxation, but I have now come back to the surface!

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite Holidays. It is perfect for putting things into perspective.

We enjoyed a nice gathering with our family... which we are very thankful for, but still missed those who we are separated by with many miles. As Memaw (Mitch's grandmother and my kindred spirit as we like to say) always says, "Why does it seem like we have to cross the Great Divide just to see each other?" Oh my, she is darling.

Scarlett enjoyed her first Thanksgiving, though she won't experience the smorgasbord until next year since she is still eating just baby food and mama's milk. She already loves being with her family. She enjoyed watching the action at Mitch's parents' house as there are people almost her size... She loves all the attention she gets at all of her family gatherings, but what girl wouldn't? ha!! I have to be candid... I was so immersed in visiting, eating, trying to help my mama that I did not get even 1 picture of Scarlett on Thanksgiving Day. She looked so cute in her little red, sweater dress... oh well!

Mitch and I are so thankful for the Lord's unfathomable grace in our life. We talk about it daily. This year we are particularly awe struck by the precious gift He gave us -- Scarlett.

This bib Scarlett is wearing is very special. My sister, Ryan, made it for Mitch and I when we were hoping and praying for God to give us a baby. This bib hung in my room for almost a year as a symbol of what we were hoping for before we found out we were pregnant. This is actually the first time we put it on Scarlett and how fitting because it reminds us of our gratefulness.

Aunt Ryan, the artist! Thank you, Sissy, for always encouraging me. I love you so.

Here are some pictures of our time together.....

Lovin' from Nonni and Peepaw.

Playing some tunes with Daddy while wearing a beret, ha!

That beret caused some hair-do!

Uncle Chaz taught Scarlett how to turn the lights on and off...

I hope that you had a wonderful Thanksgiving! So thankful for precious friends near and far that we get to share life with through this blog.

Love,

A little tranquility before the festivities.

Scarlett and I went in town a few days before Mitch because he was able to get a ride with one of his class-mates (we are currently a 1 car family and have been for the past 2 1/2 years because Mitch just rides his bike to and from school, plus it majorly cuts down on costs). Scar and I had an afternoon alone at my parents' house so I decided we needed to soak up the scenery and enjoy some tranquility before the somewhat unavoidable yet wonderful "hustle" of Thanksgiving started. The wild-woman Callie joined us.... My parents have a pond behind their house. Callie is obsessed with water so she usually heads right for it. We had a nice time... Callie played fetch with a tennis ball while Scarlett and I held down the dock.

A pink hat!

Thank you Spencer family for this darling little hat...

Hope we can see you guys soon!

Captivity

I often wonder how mama's with any more than one child get anything done. I mean, nap time already feels like a sprint everyday for me so I can only imagine! Well, sometimes when I need to put in some laundry or brush my teeth (which, as you other mamas know usually does not happen before 12:00 noon on a good day), I put Scarlett in her crib to play and make sure Callie is corralled somewhere. Here are my girls in their brief "captivity" today ---

It's not so bad, right! How is a girl to get something done? When I asked my mom this question a couple weeks after having Scarlett, she laughed. And in her sweet voice she said, "Honey, you have to prioritize. There were many days when you all were young that we stayed in our pajamas until 3:00 pm. But, nothing was as important to me as playing with you all and giving you attention." I often think of that conversation when I start to have a mini panic attack because I have not accomplished any house work. I think that was the same conversation where I asked my mom when I would get my life back in order and she laughed and said, "my life has not been in order for the last 28 years." Ha! Thanks mom!

Here are a few more of little missy...

"Ready to come out mama!"

"Oooo, that would be fun to play with while I am in here!"

We had a nice Sunday. Church was great. Mitch had to come home and hit the books so Scarlett and I ran to Target for a few staple items. It seemed like the entire city was out... probably because it was a beautiful day and everyone was Christmas shopping! I am almost done decorating our house. But I have seriously got to get going on our gift list! ah!

I don't know about y'all but I am looking SO forward to Thanksgiving this week... it is so close!

Daddy's Shoulders & Happy Birthday Uncle Chaz!

Scarlett enjoyed riding on Daddy's shoulders for a little bit today....

But then we he stopped moving the fun ended with a few tears.... aw....

We have had a low-key weekend. Mitch has a big pharmacology test on Tuesday so he has been studying all the time. We did HAVE to rake some leaves though because it was getting a little out of hand in our yard. At least we had a sunny day to be outside!

----- I have to give a shout out to my little brother Chaz today -----

Happy Birthday Uncle Chaz!!! You are the best!

HA! HA! I thought Chaz would like me to put up this picture as we celebrate him! (J/K Chaz!)

But seriously, you are one SPECIAL guy. We love you!

Outta here.

Here is an update on our garage project...

As you can see... it is outta here!

The guys arrived at 8:30 this morning and were done and pulling out of our driveway by 2:15 this afternoon. They made quick work. It's funny, that thing probably stood there for 50+ years and it took a little less than 6 hours to bring it down. Well, it is only up from here. Now to the drawing board. Trying to figure out something to do with this space that is within our budget.

On another note... it has been kind of rainy and windy around here lately. It is perfect napping weather. Here is my sweet little napper doing one of her most favorite things... tearing her bed apart after she wakes up. As you may notice, even her mobile is in the bed with her... well she might have had a little help from momma with that. ha!

Happy Thursday to you!

Wordless Wednesday

When we play the drum...

Scarlett has a new toy... a drum. She really likes it. It goes through the ABC's, has songs, etc. Well, there is one song in particular that I cannot get out of my head! Ah! Seriously, I walk around all day singing, "We sing, we dance, when we play the drum... bum, bum, bum... we clap our hands, to the beat!" Poor Scarlett is probably wishing her momma would learn a new song. Here she is playing her drum:

It is a tasty drum too, apparently!

I don't know about y'all but I am trying to start my Christmas shopping... I know to some it may even seem late. Every year, Mitch and I sit down and try to make a list of all of our family members' names and write down what we would like to get them. We are hoping to do that soon. It just seems like every night after I get Scarlett to bed I am ready to go to sleep too! Mitch is Christmas crazy... so I am sure when I put that "bee in his bonnett" we will be making our list in no time. He has already asked when we are going to decorate the house... we will try to wait until after Thanksgiving.