A Quiet New Year's Day Dinner

After several days of Christmas festivities, outdoor activities, and a long drive home from the mountains of Colorado, we intentionally chose to ring in 2013 in a more peaceful manner.

And Mother Nature cooperated.

A steady snowfall all day on New Year's Eve day and night painted our little corner of the world in white and quiet.

PHOTO SOURCE:  http://isaacalongi.com/spring/snow-covered-trees-winter-in-kansas-city/

So, to truly celebrate the New Year and since we did so much travel and very little entertaining over the holiday season, I decided one last "hurrah" in the formal dining room with the table decorated for Christmas would be fun.  And with freshly fallen snow outside and the beauty of my winter wreaths still on display it was a perfect setting.

A simple meal consisting of a small roasted turkey breast, stuffing, and green bean casserole was all that was called for.  No mashed potatoes...sweet potatoes...orange fluff...or cranberry sauce.  Just enough to feed our family of five for one night.

The painted stemware was a gift from my sister-in-law many years ago.  Each goblet represents one of the 12 Days of Christmas.  I just love them...but after breaking one while hand-washing (they are so fragile) I decided to fore go using them with guests and family and, instead, use them as part of my annual holiday table setting.  (So sad for my 5 Golden Rings!)

A simple white votive inside each one allows the beauty of the artwork to shine through, and tucked in amid greenery they make a beautiful, yet simple statement that Christmas is not yet over...it's actually just begun!

(Did you know that the Twelve Days of Christmas actually starts of Christmas Day and runs through the 5th of January, thus honoring those days between Christ's birth and the Feast of the Epiphany...the Biblical visit of the Magi or Three Kings!)

I love that Christmas does not end on December 25th and we actually leave our home decorated until at least January 1st, but more often until January 6th, the Feast of the Epiphany.

For dessert we enjoyed a decadent brownie pie.  Hot from the oven and served with premium vanilla ice cream it was a rich ending to a beautiful New Year's Day.  Be sure to come back tomorrow for the recipe.

Wishing you a Happy New Year and many blessings for 2013.

P.S.  No collard greens or black-eyed peas for us this year!  Hope we still find some good luck.  ;)

XXX OOO

A Colorado Christmas

We spent Christmas in Colorado.

It was the first time our children ever saw mountains.  They were awed by their beauty and it was so much fun to experience the mountains again for the "first" time through their eyes!

Here was the view upon our arrival in Estes Park, Colorado...

Rosy cheeked children in the "warming hut" at Hidden Valley Sledding Area, 

Rocky Mountain National Park...

And a mini tour of our cabin.  We stayed at The Timber Creek Chalets.  

I can't believe I forgot to take pictures of our master bedroom...we had our own fireplace!  We rented a 3-bedroom cabin...one room for Mom and Dad, one room for Mary, and one room for the boys to share.

A few other moments captured...

Downtown Estes Park, Colorado at night.

Hot chocolate after sledding and snowshoeing in Rocky Mountain National Park...

Family Game Night means Trouble!

Beautiful memories created together and captured to last a lifetime.

Linking up with The Farmhouse Porch for their Cowgirl Up! Link Party.

 

XXX OOO

 

Candid Christmas (A Quick Review!)

As you might have noticed, I took a step away from Our Someday Farm to celebrate the Christmas holiday.

We traveled to both St. Louis, Missouri and Estes Park, Colorado during a 9-day window, via CAR, but it was a lot of fun spending time with both our extended families and as a family of five.

Here are just a few pictures capturing Christmas around Our Someday Farm...

Large photo...Santa's elves love to wrap gifts...especially  using grosgrain ribbon!

Top to Bottom (L-shape...counterclockwise)
1:  Mary Catherine showing off Suzanne's winter snow boots. (Suzanne is Mary's American Girl Doll.)
2:  Luke's most-loved gift of all...a wooden car carrier from Doug and Melissa.  (Don't you just LOVE wooden toys?)
3:  Benjamin playing harmonica...a simple and highly loved stocking stuffer!
4:  Luke on Christmas morning.
5:  Benjamin insisted on wrapping his own gift to Mommy!  I love Kindergarten print...and that he spelled out our last name!!!)
6:  Mary Catherine showing off her new ear muffs from Auntie Julie and Uncle Johnny.  Adorable!
7:  Mary Catherine insisted on feeding Santa's reindeer, but we were out of oats.  She improvised with cherry tomatoes...labeling one per reindeer!  ;)

A few other captured moments...

A sweet moment shared between Father/Daughter

How DOES that Santa know???!!!

Aaaaargh, Matey!

So many moments captured on film...and so very grateful for the advent of the digital age!

XXX OOO

A Little Bit About Us

Although this blog is mostly about home decor, party planning, and everything farmhouse-ish, every once in a while I hope to share some sweet photos of my three precious kiddos.  And to start off this new year, I thought that I would share some family pictures that we had taken in early December!

Our firstborn, Mary Catherine, is 8 and a true delight to us.  She was a looong-awaited gift from God (nearly 11 years of marriage to be exact!) and it is hard to believe our "baby" is now a 2nd grader.  (And, yes, I really did keep her home an extra-year not only because she has an August birth date, but also because I just loved her company!!!)

Our middle child was the gift that wasn't supposed to be!  Doctors told us that we could never conceive on our own (okay, less than 1% chance!) and you can imagine our surprise when we discovered we were pregnant with him!  At 6, and in Kindergarten, Benjamin also delights us with his sense of humor and kind-hearted disposition.

And last, but certainly not least, is Luke!  At 32 lbs. and 30-months old, he is our strapping young toddler!  He tries to keep up with big brother and big sister and does pretty well holding his own!  At 41, he was definitely another surprise, albeit, a blessed one!

This year, 2013, my husband and I will celebrate 20 years of marriage!  While it hasn't been all "wedded bliss" it has been an incredible ride.  I'm so glad God brought the two of us together and that I get to be on this amazing journey called life with him.  Here we are in 1993...

...clearly taken before the DSLR was invented!  LOL  In fact, our photographer retired and before closing his business, sold me all of the "negatives" he shot that day for $50.00.  There are hundreds! 

I hope you enjoyed getting to know our little family of five a bit better.  Wishing all of you that drop by for a visit (whether you leave a comment or not) a very blessed and peaceful 2013!

XXX OOO

The bell still rings for those who truly believe... 

Can you still hear the bell?

Wishing all of my friends, family, and loved ones a Merry Christmas!

We are off on an exciting family adventure that I am looking forward to sharing with you!  

XXX OOO 

A Simple Christmas Break Celebration

Yesterday was the last official day of school before the start of Christmas Break.  And while some area kiddos got an unexpected snow day, today, we were already off of school and in celebration mode!

To mark the last day of school and kickoff these next 18 days together as a family, I put together a simple after school snack table for my daughter, her friend, and my two little boys.  Finger foods (cheese, crackers, and pepperonis) were served on festive paper products and steaming hot chocolate was ladled into winter white coffee mugs.  Candy canes, peppermint bark, marshmallows, and whipped cream sweetened the cocoa and their palates.

I fashioned a table runner from a remnant scrap of Christmas fabric and used some faux greenery and a coordinating serving platter to celebrate the whimsical nature of this after-school snack.  The lights were dimmed, the Christmas music cued, and the tree was lit.

The girls delighted in the table setting and the boys in the food!  Just a few simple touches that turned an after-school snack into a holiday celebration!

It's the most wonderful time of the year
With the kids jingle-belling
And everyone telling you
Be of good cheer
It's the most wonderful time of the year

It's the hap-happiest season of all (wonderful time)
With those holiday greetings
And great happy meetings
When friends come to call
It's the hap-happiest season of all

Happy Thursday!  I'm off to finish up some last minute shopping, gift-wrapping, packing, etc.!

XXX OOO

Twas the Night Before Christmas Break

Twas the Night Before Christmas Break

Twas the night before Christmas Break

and all through our house

kiddos were running and scurrying about!

A program to present

to parents and staff,

one angel, one donkey, one stable sheep en masse.

Their voices so precious,

in our hearts they remain;

Our sweet girl rocked her

"In Excelsis Deo" refrain!

Upon returning home

a few stitches still to be sewn;

Mama nearly finished with pajamas

for a Polar Express Party to be thrown.

Eagerly awaking

for the last day of school,

my little ones couldn't wait

to give teacher presents they thought were so cool!

Market bags and journals,

Christmas ornaments and (peppermint) bark,

Hand sanitizer and candy canes,

secret gifts for teachers kept in the dark!

Their eyes filled with tears

as their gifts were passed out;

but they'll never know the gratitude we feel 

so we shout...

"We love you Mrs. Herrick,

Ms. Thimesch, Mrs. Gay,

in light of Connecticut

do we thank you enough each day?"

And so break begins

where we spend time with family and friends;

We cherish our loved ones,

and pray for a peace that only the Christ Child

can transcend.     

  

Dedicated to the faculty and staff of

St. Paul Catholic School

Olathe, KS

Linking up with StoneGable for Tutorials, Tips, and Tidbits!

XXX OOO