Halloween Fun

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The other day I went to put in our latest art projects in our art portfolio, and I took a few minutes to slip back in time and admire my firstborns' art work. Wow! I was completely taken back at all that I used to do with him compared to what Fletcher has done in his two short years. Colton had so many completed art projects in our "portfolio" just in his first two years that all I could think was "my poor Fletchy poo!". Oh how it saddened me that so much time has slipped by and all the opportunities that I've already missed out on doing art with him. Typically Colton, Gracie and I do art while he is taking his nap so "the baby" doesn't "get in the way". What was I thinking. Well, I know it was easier that way so I didn't have the extra mess to clean up that he surely would create, but no mess will stop me now!
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{counter clockwise starting at the top: Gracie's, Colton's, and yes, Fletcher's artwork!}

{I love how they all turned out uniquely different. Just as the artists are.}
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{these two sweet cousins are excited to scoop!}

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{little kaya enjoying her cookie}
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{these two have a very special bond}
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{me and my brother, aka: the carvers}

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{colton helping kaya with her flaming 'mellow!}

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{One beautiful mermaid and one silly clown. I was so happy with their cheerful and innocent choice of costumes. I am not into the gory side of Halloween. At all.}

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I still don't have any pictures of little Fletch in his costume. He got attacked by ants just after going outside to take pictures so daddy stripped him of his ant filled costume and took the screaming boy inside. Hopefully tonight!

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Fall Delights

Oh how we love fall! If you haven't noticed by my lack of blogging, we have been spending every minute possible outdoors and enjoying this beautiful weather while we have it. We've even been doing school outside which is so invigorating. I love it! It seems to magically put everyone in a good mood.
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We can be seen playing at the park more, going on more bike rides, nature trail walks and the such, and the children have thankfully been spending much more time enjoying our swing set and trampoline. We've even been playing more family games of soccer, baseball and basketball.
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I'm feeling led to say it again, oh how we are loving the fall!

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So the computer has been collecting dust, which Josh says "it's about darn time"!
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Anyhow, we are excited about the plans that we have for the next four days in celebration of Halloween and I will surely post some pictures of my little trick-or-treaters (soon to be finished) costumes real soon!

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Hope you all are enjoying this season as much as we are. I've finally gotten over my little pity party of not having a true fall season and am finding greatness in what we've been given : )

Homeschool Sweetness

One of my all time favorite families were featured in a great article about homeschooling in their local newspaper. The Moore family, who we came to love, respect and admire through church and also homeschooling, moved to Highlands, NC close to two years ago after buying the Kilwin's chocolate store in Highlands.

I will forever be grateful to Kaye for her support, help and encouragement in homeschooling, as well as her children (who are sweeter than words can say {and it's not from all that chocolate}), whom my kids formed close friendships with. Colton looked up to Davis like a big brother (and he was the perfect role model), and Gracie and Anne Marie were two peas in a pod. Colton still holds on dearly to his homemade bow and arrow that Davis made for him on his birthday one year. There's just something about homemade gifts that I love. Not only are you getting a gift but you're given a piece of their heart too.

Oh how I miss them...

Check out the article here and if you're ever in the Highlands, stop by and say hello to this amazing family. Oh yea, did I say how sweet they are?


{davis, blakely & anne marie enjoying some sweetness}

{they also have another sweet son, baby james, who must have been too young for sweets :-}

Music? Or Not?

Yes, I did temporarily (or not) turn off my music playlist. I'm debating if I want to keep music on my blog. I haven't changed the songs in a long.. time so I'm sure by now you are so sick of them but honestly, when I go to a blog that has music, I tend to instantly push my mute button. Maybe that's because usually when I'm on the computer it's night time and my house is as quiet as a mouse and I don't want to risk the chance of having a little one crawl out of bed. Is it just me thinking this way or do you guys like it?

I'm also in need of a blog facelift, don't you think? Even though green is my absolute favorite color, I think I need a change...

Party Pictures

I promised I would add pictures from the parties we attended on Saturday, so without further ado, here they are...
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We first went to the beach in celebration of Aunt Kelly's birthday. I really didn't make good use of my camera a whole lot, but here are the few I took...


Best friends & cousins forever! {Although Gracie is 7 months older than Ava, she is a tad bit shorter. In this picture, I'm thinking Ava was standing on a rock.}


Adorable Kaya!


Beautiful Ava!


Uncle B. was helping Colton catch some waves while I was trying to distract my thoughts of the 10 ft. shark seen at this beach last week.

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Our second party of the day was a super fun fall celebration in honor of Ethan and Maddie's fourth birthday's and cutie pie Ian's 1st. Some of the activities included pumpkin painting, pumpkin rolling, sac races, a bounce house, and of course, nothing other than good ole fashioned bobbin' for apples!



{i think this next picture of fletcher is so cool!}


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Wouldn't you know it, my camera battery died right at cake time! I wasn't able to get a picture of Ian but did get one of the big birthday kids, Ethan and Maddie. They have been friends since birth.
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Maddie's mom made the cakes. You should check out some of the other amazing cakes she's made here. Oh, the talent!
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One last picture before I go to bed is one of my silly boys doing what they would do all day if I let them... catching lizards. Colton gets so excited to see that Fletch is really getting into it too! His baby brother is now following in his footsteps and that makes him proud! Our school days allow for lots of lizard hunting breaks and they love it!

Happy Columbus Day

Too Many Projects, Not Enough Time

I have been all about projects lately. In my life I go through stages where my creativity (or lack of sometimes) steps in the way of my already busy life and tries to take over. I have such a long list of projects that I so badly want to do and I am trying to figure out how I can make time for them without taking away from anyone or anything else this is important in my life. I have been finding myself wanting to skip out on my daily walk to work on projects instead. This CANNOT be good! And I've been putting off making Gracie's mermaid costume like crazy. I need to get serious and get it done though because I still have mine and possibly Josh's to make as well. AHH!!! Oh well, knowing me, I'm sure I'll wait until the VERY last minute and be forced to stay up till 2 am trying to get everything done.

Here are some of the projects I've been working on...

{distressed flower pot candles... everything I had on hand except for the ribbon}

{there are a pair of these on both sides of the front door}

{made paper mache pumpkins which I thought the kids would totally be into, but it turned into a majorly messy and involved project that they wanted nothing to do with. they look really cool with contained candles inside} *check out my new chair (well new to me), that it's sitting on!

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{Okay, this is so... cool to me! I was one of those wives who yelled at her hubby while driving "pull over!" I grabbed this chair sitting in a garbage pile and after slapping two coats of black paint on it (which I already had) I recovered the worn out rush seat with this material which cost me about $3. Is that cool or what!?! I absolutely LOVE it and it's more solid than our black table and chairs from crate & barrel.}

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{recovered the cushion of an old chair that was passed down from my mom with the same fabric as the chair above}

{growing basil which the kids plated at church and hoping to make some pesto sauce. not really a project but it is on my "to-do" list ; )}

{made a tree silhouette to put on this awesome green scrapbook paper that I had to occupy an empty frame} {spray painted and added a ribbon to an old tin container that I had to use for misc. sewing storage}

{made silhouette's of colton - gracie - fletcher (and put on that same paper) to hang above our bed}

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{this was about a month ago but we added a chair rail in the "princess's" room and painted the bottom portion bubble gum pink. then I hung some enlarged pictures and made the silhouettes to match. are you noticing that I'm into silhouettes right now?}

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{I replaced the fabric on her armoire to match her room better}

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{and... this is what awaits me! I purchased these three directors chairs for $10. what a bargain! I have some fabric that I love and paint waiting to make these chairs beauties! can't wait to have the time!