Thanksgiving 2013

Thankful for a second year of hosting Thanksgiving dinner in our home. Thankful that everyone brings most of the food. Thankful that I am hosting people that know me and love me and therefore the pressure for a perfect house is off!  And of course I'm thankful for my family, and friends who love me in my crazy, and hold my hand in this thing of life. And for my savior, who leaves me speechless and in awe of his mercies and grace.

Steaming pots, roasting turkey, pretty table and reminders of gratitude.

A few of the faces I'm thankful for, dessert,  and mad lib reading.

“The heart of hospitality is about creating space for someone to feel seen and heard and loved. It's about declaring your table a safe zone, a place of warmth and nourishment.” 
― Shauna Niequist, Bread & Wine: A Love Letter to Life Around the Table, with Recipes

10 For the Girl

Happy Birthday to my spunky, kind, note writing, reading to her brothers, fort building, kitty adoring, singing in her room, roller blading, eye crossing, crafty, independent, so much more to come, rock my world daughter.

Celebrated cake and ice cream on her birthday and roller rink on Saturday with a couple of her girls.

The requested gorilla cake. Toothpick stuck into the 0 candle because it came without a wick. We make things happen around here. 

So My Mom Came for a Visit....

...a few weeks ago!  Finally sharing our wonderful time with her. I surprised the kids (except Eden who had to get her room ready for grandma) by secretly packing our things and just heading to the airport without any real explanation. She was a fabulous surprise and to top it off mom got us a room in Philly for two nights!

She always comes bearing gifts, and she took us to the Franklin Institute, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and fed us! We are spoiled.

We came back to our place and she did grandma-y things like playing cars and baking and staying up late at night with Eden in her room talking . We went a corn maze (where Beck was super excited/surprised about every ear of corn he found...in a corn maze) and collected fall leaves. 

Her last day we went to Longwood Gardens. So many beautiful flowers. It was the first day of their chrysanthemum festival. 

She also took pity and got my hair did. Like I said, I'm spoiled.

Thanks again mom for a great visit. Love and miss you!