Dicecapades

For Leui's birthday he got a new zany game called Dicecapades.  For those who like a little friendly competition and for those who like some fierce competition this game is for you.  Our crowd contained both.  It's a cute game of brain teasers, drawing skills, stacking skills, and being able to go with the flow!

We sang

 We hugged

 We ate

 Banana Grams anyone?

 Stack the teny, tiniest dice in 30 seconds...

 3 very different expressions...

 Sophia was not pleased with one of our guests...and he was terrified of her!

 One of the card activities was to arm wrestle the person on your right, which would have been Harvey against my mom, but my dad stepped in!

Here is a picture of one of the nicest guys you'll ever want to meet.  He is charming, romantic, smart, can fix ANYTHING, filled with compassion, and funny!  I met him 19 years ago right around this season.  He puts the color in my world!  He is my beloved and I am his.

Song of Solomon 6:3

Coram Deo,

E.W.

Give Them Grace

What would things look like if Satan really took control of a city?  Over half a century ago, Presbyterian minister Donald Grey Barnhouse offered his own scenario in his weekly sermon that was also broadcast nationwide on CBS radio.  Barnhouse speculated that if Satan took over Philadelphia (the city where he pastored), all of the bars would be closed, pornography banished, and pristine streets would be filled with tidy pedestrians who smiled at each other.  There would be no swearing.  The children would say, "Yes, sir" and "No ma'am," and the churches would be full every Sunday...where Christ is not preached.

I have started reading this book by Fitzpatrick & Thompson about being much more concerned about teaching our children grace than teaching them to be 'good.'  Now that I have been a parent for over 16 years I have read a ton of books, taking umpteen parenting classes and there are a few golden nuggets that if I could turn back the hands of time and have a redo this is one of the books I would say is a keeper!

Coram Deo,

E.W.

School's in Full Swing

We are off and running with the new school semester.  Two in high school and one in elementary...how did this happen, weren't they just in diapers??  For the first time all three of my children are in school full-time.  My 4th grader came home and asked, "Mom, what do you do all day?"  "I lament and cry and console myself by staring at your picture all day until you come home darling." (I didn't say this out loud mind you).  Actually, I have been enjoying my full days of being a family manager!  Sometimes I don't sit down at all or eat lunch, I am just busy being about the work at hand.

He really needs two bookbags with all the books he carries back and forth!  He is House Captain for Augustine House, directing choir, teaching piano, directing drama and taking physics, calculus, honors lit. and history, and writing a 15 page junior thesis this year.  He has got his focus on!

Girlfriend is sporting that Peggy Sue look.  After being homeschooled for all of middle school (thank you very much!) she has jumped into freshman year with a vengeance.  Getting A+ in everything it feels real good to know that all our hard work at home has blossomed into equipping her for these rigorous academics.  She is still teaching riding lessons on the weekends and is involved in drama and choir as well.  She loves her worldview class and is doing some WIKI/blog stuff in literature.

My handsome Gabinator is growing in leaps and bounds.  This year they have changed the focus to study skills and reading at home instead of the traditional homework fill-in-the-worksheet things we have been doing for a coon's age.  I have to say teaching study skills has been a fruit of the spirit engagement!  Self-control and perseverance have been exercised on both our parts.  It is a huge leap from 3rd grade to 4th grade.  New applications are tapping into his brain that are stretching him.  He is doing great!  He is playing soccer and practicing piano too.

 

I have lived out that little Norman Rockwell part of me that dreamed of warm muffins for breakfast to send them off to school and gooey chocolate chip cookies from the oven welcoming them home. That glass cake dish has had some homemade yummy treat in it since school started and I just delight in keeping it full.  Besides filling my garage with purging projects and de-cluttering one area at a time (no hurry mind you) I am blessed and content to care for my family and home.  I have been trying to write one encouraging snail mail card a week and preparing for Sunday meals with family and friends.  Maybe I will venture out and have lunch with a friend one of these days, or sit down and read, or paint my toes but for now...those 6 hours fly by in a flash!

Coram Deo, 

E.W.

A Sunny Gathering Place

This is the back of the house to the French Country post.  Pryor to beginning the project (can't find the before pictures)  the floors were carpet and tile.  There was a half-wall dividing the kitchen and family room.  Cabinets were pine and counter tops were formica.  The only things that stayed put were the light fixtures and the stove and fridge.  Her colors were hunter green and burgundy...bye-bye!!!

The new chosen color scheme yellow, lime, and crimson.  Painted furniture and cabinets.  New hardwood floors throughout the entire space.  We widen the wall between the kitchen and family room and took out the half wall too.  With this palette the room is bright and cheery. 

The television armoire was the focal point in the room and we chose a light yellow finish with a soft glaze.  Beautiful crown molding was added throughout the space.  I love the yellow panels trimmed in our green gingham fabric.

Dragonfly fabric on the chairs and ottoman that surround the fireplace.  Choosing the green paint was a challenge.  Because of the nature of paint + lighting it can cast different shades depending on the time of day and the amount of light cast on that particular wall.

I love the baskets under the table lined with the sweet yellow floral stripe.  Custom throw pillows bring in a third fabric and compliments the sofa beautifully.

We designed this chair a'la french flare.  It beckons you to sit and stay awhile!

It's hard to get a good photo of a huge picture window.  The mantel was decorated with a large flower pot of geraniums and some round picture frames on easels and candles and book.  This was the arrangement we put on her coffee table.  A green picket fence tray with some pretties.

A sweet little nook in the kitchen is filled with a half-round table, an antique pitcher with ivy, petite round mirrors on the wall hung on ivory ribbons complete this ensemble.

Somewhere I will find the original kitchen pictures.  But this is the cru de gras of the first floor.  Ivory cabinetry that extends to the ceiling, warm colored granite, and oil-rubbed bronze hardware.  What a great place to gather around!

A large hurricane votive, ivy pot and a little hidden bird on a pretty buttery placemat don her island..

An oval kitchen table with a wood stain surface and painted pedestal bottom.

This was a new kitchen window design we used.  Very soft and delicate pattern.

We made the french door window treatments similar to the kitchen window except we took out the soft gather and made a pleat instead.

This french bistro baker's rack is a great piece of furniture to tuck away wine bottles and this one has drawer's to hold placemats.  The oil rubbed bronze metal adds some depth to the ivory cabinets everywhere else in the kitchen.  What a sunny gathering place!

Murder Mystery Dinner Party

 It's my main squeeze's birthday tomorrow.  Sometimes I come up with clever ideas for a party.  For instance, one year we had an ice-cream tasting party.  I covered all the pints with paper and wrote numbers on them.  Everyone had a taste and had to write down what flavor they thought it tasted like.  Did the surprise party for his 40th.  When the big 5-0 came, I threw a murder mystery dinner party with our dearest of friends.  It was an absolute hoot of an evening.  We laughed until our checks hurt and ate until our buttons were popping!

 The theme was a beauty pagaent gone south.  Who done it quest of an evening.  All the girls wore tiara's and evening gowns and the gents dressed up in their smoking jackets (some were non-smoking!)

I am plum out of ideas at the moment for tomorrow.  I asked several times for requests...as it stands right now, we are rading the cuisine at the new Wegman's and having a get together Friday night.
Happy Birthday Love!
E.W.