A Family Day~

Trying to keep Calla from catching a germ at church, we decided a day outside with family was the perfect idea.
We drove to Curahee Mountain to hike but the road was blocked so we ended up
at Toccoa Falls for a picnic~

 Macy even got to come~

 We loved the falls~

 and most of all playing in the stream~

 Everyone had their walking sticks and I thought this was the BEST photo~

 On the way home, we got those yummy blizzards~

And enjoyed our day immensely!!!

What a Weekend~

With the spring comes lots and lots of yard work which we LOVE!
We had moved our big 'Parenthood' table into the grass but mosquitoes and ants were terrible so~

 We decided to make the space better with a brick and river rock~

We had super wonderful helpers~

 Gave the table a little love too~

Spent Sunday enjoying outside with Macy~

Exploring our dried up cove~

Watching these sweet ones play~

and enjoying beautiful sunsets~

Such a wonderful weekend!!!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year from our family to your's~

We are all dressed in shirts given to us by Mike Cain, Millstone Homes, Inc.,
the builder Scott is building homes with in Hartwell and Lake Hartwell area.
Please let us know if you have new or reno building needs.
We would love to make your building dream come true!

Lovely Moments~

The Art Stories are really improving our drawing skills.
The boys loved drawing planes when we read The Glorious Flight~

 I have been printing paintings online to give the kids examples to inspire them~

 I'd say it's working!
We had the pleasure of keeping sweet Slate this week,
and it gave us a glimpse of having a toddler back in the house~

The boys finished a whole set of Bob books, and believe they are readers now~

Macy celebrated her first birthday~

Rosie and Hayden are home for Spring break~

AND I pulled out my sewing machine again to make boutique bottoms for the bitty girls.
It was broken, so I bought a serger with my birthday money, and just look at the cuteness~

Can't wait to make more!!!

Another Protégé~

Evie woke up from nap and wanted to shoot some pics of Macy~

Imagine her surprise when I said YES!
Another Protégé!!!

A Snowy Day~

Because we live in the south, the threat of snow is a big deal! Schools close, people rush to the store for groceries, and children stare out the window all day long wishing to see the first snowflake.

Our kids waited all day long yesterday and finally by night, the snow had started to cover the ground~

 By morning, there was enough to play in~

 We bundled up and headed out right after breakfast~

 The first order of business was making big snowballs to throw at daddy~

 The second was building a snowman~

 Both dogs loved being out~

 Don't laugh... it's the best we could do and they were proud~

 Then after lunch, our day had turned to this~

That's the kind of snowy day I like!

Macy~

Macy is growing and learning with every passing day~

She weighs 50 lbs and feels just like she looks~ a shag rug. :)
ALL the kids love her now and she is settled down quite a lot around them.
She spends all her day out in the house with us and enjoys walks with EK and SJ.
She's a keeper and so glad we brought her home!!!

Thanksgiving 2015~

It was so great to have Rosie home for the week as well as a house full of family in and out.
Thursday we enjoyed my whole side of the family over for an amazing meal~

Everyone ate, visited, napped and enjoyed such a beautiful day!
We have SO much to be thankful for and family is certainly at the top of the list.
Sure did miss my sister's family being home but that just makes longing for Christmas all the more sweeter!!!

Macy our Mascot~

Macy spends most of her days wherever we are and she is learning the drill of posing for photos~

 Our days finally turned sunny and warm this week so we had a lunch picnic~

And Macy got a bath! Much needed and I have the best groomers!!!

The Keeper of the Dogs~

EK is number one Keeper of the Dogs~

She bathes them all by herself, walks them many times a day, brushes them,

and plays with them any part of the day she is able~

 Macy is beginning to get the family thing down and enjoying her kids~

When they are out and she is in... 

she is watching them out the window constantly.

Love our doodle Macy and lab Sadie!

{Need to get some pics of Sadie too. :)

Home!~

Haven't seen this big of a smile since we left for our vacation~

I think Macy is even smiling!!!

 Best friends back together!

Fun Friday Turned Cook-a-Book Friday~

Do you know the Laura Numeroff books?

They are have a circular theme and are sequence oriented.

Earlier in the week I had begun thinking about a cooking activity for Friday

and came up with Cook-a-Book Friday.

Then as I was scrolling on IG I saw someone making homemade donuts for their child's birthday.

{I see my own circular story beginning!}...

I remembered making donuts with my kids when I was a teacher so I looked it up online.

Once I found the recipe, I looked for a book to go with it and found

If You Give a Dog a Donut...

(which we don't have)

and that took me to YouTube.

All this starting coming together since we had spent tons of time acclimating Macy into our school day~

She needed a celebration and we did wonder if she liked donuts so~

 We watched the book and gathered all the others we have.

I pulled up the recipe and EK read us the directions while SJ gathered the ingredients~

We used a playdough cone to make the holes and dropped them into the canola oil.

Once they were golden brown

we put one in Macy's bowl and she gobbled it down in a sec~

 For our donuts we drizzled chocolate icing and heaped on the sprinkles~

 I had everyone do one math sheet from their caddy

then we watched the story again and sequenced it on a circle.

This was super easy for EK and SJ but they helped the bitty girls keep up~

With reading, writing, and math done as well as cooking, we called it a FUN Friday

and decided Cook-a-Book is here to stay!!!

Can't wait to think up something for next Friday!