Around the house

It’s been chilly and rainy these past few days.

Even our promised sunny, warm weekend never happened, but we made the best of it.

And there is nothing like gray weather to inspire some small changes throughout the house.  Truth be told, gray weather inspires grand design remodeling (my inherent cabin fever coupled with Pinterest, blogs and my most recent Southern Living make for a dangerous combination), but I’m settling for small updates for now.

Even though Christmas is over, I kept a red and green theme on our kitchen shelves.

Sorry about the blurry picture.  Gray days also make for crummy lighting.

I loved this white orchid that I found at Target for next to nothing. 

I just bought the candles today, which is why the wicks have yet to be touched.  If you can believe it, I actually light candles during every dinnertime even if it’s just the kids eating on their own.  Those small flames have such a calming influence on them and I love the way they make the table look.  Even a mac n’ cheese dinner deserves a little style, right?

This corner sofa table has been empty (except for the lamp) since Christmas and I’ve been undecided on how to accessorize it. 

The sunroom is one of our high traffic play areas and both kids and dogs have been known to destroy a variety of nice-ish things housed on these tables.  But it just looked so vacant and sad that I decided on some nearly unbreakable items.

The tray is plastic, the books are sturdy and the flowers are silk.  Only the green vase is at risk.  I’ll keep you posted on its survival.

I know there is something spectacular I could be doing in this bookshelf space below my cookbooks, but for now it’s a grouping of all-things-white.

And I finally got around to adding some updated family pictures to our den wall.

The top picture is by-far the best family shot we’ve ever been able to capture thanks entirely to my talented brother-in-law who took the picture and my incredible sister who was behind the lens talking like Donald Duck so that George would smile.  The bottom picture I took at the park one day after school and is reason #1 why I love my iPhone.  Even blown up to a large 11x14 size, it’s still great quality.

My decorating partner hard at work.

Marshall has been a huge help as I fuss over all of these minor changes around the house—quiet, agreeable, and always there with an encouraging lick.

Happy Monday, everyone!

Our week

The days since Christmas have been fairly uneventful and (dare I say) a little boring.  But that’s just how I like my New Year to begin.  We have 11 more months of excitement--trips, lessons, camps, and commitments--and I’ll relish in the chilly, dull days of January as much as I can.

Including, an ordinary weekday stop in Starbucks with my favorite three-year-old:

 Such a demure little boy.

*****************************************************************

Saturday morning play accessories:

Do kids ever need more than a laundry basket, Lightening McQueen, and a stuffed bunny to keep themselves entertained for a good hour?  I hope not.

********************************************************************

Frances, George and Daddy checking on our itinerary for our upcoming summer trip to Disney World:

Flights are booked, Princess tea is reserved, hotel is (almost) done.  It’s official!

********************************************************************

George and me on a typical outing to the park.

Every cell in my body is happier when we can spend an hour (or more) outside.  I think the same can be said for George.

***********************************************************************

During the after-Christmas sales, I picked up this great bench seat from Target for a steal.

It was exactly what I was looking for to help organize Frances’s many doll accessories that had taken over her bedroom.

Frances thought it was the perfect unit to house her stuffed dogs.

 I have yet to "clean" this up.  This is where no amount of organization training can help me.

*************************************************************************

And speaking of Frances, since she is underrepresented in pictures these days I can’t help but share one of her drawings from school:

My favorite is the lion, but I also love the picture of her rescuing one of her friends from a mud puddle.  I think it is safe to say that she has inherited my sister’s incredible artistic ability (and thankfully, not her mother’s).

*************************************************************************

George and his indoor playground pals:

We have the greatest (free!) indoor playground at the local mall.  These kids have been playing together since I stopped working almost two years ago.  (Wait, did I just say that?)

**********************************************************************

I finally finished a shadowbox for Max’s memorabilia (so sorry for the crummy picture):

It contains his collar, favorite red ball, paw print impression and tuft of hair.  He’s sitting in the room where our family spends the most time, just like he would in life.  We miss you, Max!

And a happy Friday to you all!  I’m ready for the promised mild weather this weekend and some much-needed Will time.

My yearly detox

Pretzel Rolo cookies.  These were the death of me this Christmas.  I made about 200 (as gifts) and ate about 150.  Shamelessly, unabashedly. 

Yes, friends, it is that time of year again.  When I realize that I’ve spent the last three months and three holidays downing more sweets than anyone should be allowed to ingest and the sugar to water ratio in my blood is grossly out of proportion.

Pumpkin cookies--another partner-in-crime.

I fancy myself a relatively intelligent person, but for whatever reason each Halloween through New Year’s my stomach convinces my brain that one more cookie, chocolate, handful of M&Ms, or second (third?) piece of cake won’t hurt.  I don’t know why I’m surprised when January 2^nd it appears that those stretchy jeans just aren’t stretching quite as much as they used to and my loose-fitting J. Jill tops are suddenly body-hugging.  But here I am—surprised once again.

I should also mention that this is Will’s favorite time of the year, too—when Lucy gives up desserts and she puts him in charge of hiding them all.  I know that I am particularly charming to be around when a chocolate craving hits and there is none to be found in the house.

And so, no sweets it is for an indefinite period of time—until those stubborn jeans fit, my cheeks look a little less round, and I just generally feel better (because as sad as it is to say, something that tastes soooo goooood actually makes you feel pretty awful.  Oh sugar, you are a cruel mistress).  It's not much of a detox I know because I eat vast amounts of sugar in other areas as well--yogurt, cereal, fruit, and pretty much anything else that goes in my mouth.  But it's all I can give up for now.  And I'm not even very good at that.

Wish me luck!  Or better yet, wish Will luck.  He may need it more than me.

Happy Wednesday, everyone!

Self-control

Sage advice on a Monday afternoon.

The first episode of Downton Abbey, Season 3 is sitting patiently in our TiVo box waiting for the one fan of the house (ME!) to start it.  I'm pleasantly surprised by my ability to withstand its charm until George's nap time.  But if anything deserves my full attention (besides my children, I suppose) it is this incredibly wonderful show.  Seriously, if you are not watching it, please start today.  You will not regret it.

And with that, I am off to find out whether Matthew will ever marry Mary (fingers crossed on that one, even more so than with Ross and Rachel) and what brilliant one-liners will come out of the mouth of the Dowager Countess.

Happy Monday, everyone!

This and that

On New Year’s Eve, we kept my parents’ dogs (Maggie and Calvin) so they could visit my sister's family for the night.

The three Bichons get along famously, particularly when Maggie and Calvin eat their lunch and dinner.  Yep, these dogs get three meals a day.  Sometimes I forget to feed Marshall all two of his.

*********************************************************

New snow boots, coat (for George) and mittens (not pictured).

It is now certain not to snow this season.  But like any good Girl Scout, I am determined to be over-prepared.

********************************************************

George and I visited Maymont on a freezing, but sunny day this past week.

He was sweating, I was shivering.  I’m sure all parents of preschoolers can relate.

Sizing each other up.

Apparently wrestling is innate.

***********************************************************

Family game night.

I think the bunny may have been beating Daddy.

***********************************************************

The hardest working husband.

Truly.  He spent most of the day on New Years’ executing all of the heavy lifting in taking down the Christmas decorations.  I happened to capture him during his 30-minute catnap when he was trying his best to catch up on the many hours of lost sleep from the month of December.  I’m not sure what Marshall’s excuse was since he spent most of December asleep.

*************************************************************

My Christmas earrings from Will (that came in the most beautiful robin’s egg blue box).

Their beauty almost makes up for the fact that I look about 100 years old here.  Ugh.

**************************************************************

Santa brought these adorable (and surprisingly useful) blanket ponchos for the kids.

I can’t resist taking their picture when they have them on.  Little Red Riding Hood meets (even Littler) Obi One Kenobi.

Happy weekend, everyone!

Starting fresh

January 3^rd and our Christmas decorations are down and packed away, the carpets and floors are newly vacuumed, and our kitchen chalkboard is proudly displaying the year “2013” in place of the Christmas countdown gingerbread man.

I’ve found that the older I get, the earlier I want to decorate for Christmas, but the quicker I want it all back to normal once the day has come and gone.  It’s a combination of the post-holiday blues coupled with the desire to start the New Year off in a clean, de-cluttered, organized, and calm house.

A nothing is quite as calming (at least to me) as a brand new, nearly unused calendar.

I hunted for this baby for weeks.  I wanted one exactly like the one I had last year, because I had spent a full twelve months getting used to that style.  

But alas, like running shoes and cars, calendar manufacturers never make the same model twice.  So I picked up one as close as I could to it and began a quest to jerry-rig the part that I liked best about my old calendar—the to-do list:

My new calendar doesn’t have this clever side-bar and I was a bit afraid of the shambles my life would become if I didn’t have my weekly list of must-dos.  All kidding aside though, I had gotten so used to organizing my week (and my head) this way that I knew I had better figure out a way to duplicate it.  And then, wouldn’t you know it, my girl Martha was right there for me when I needed her most:

Large post-it notepads from Martha Stewart.  She always knows best.

It’s only been a week, but I think I actually like this floating to-do list better.  Then, if there is anything I don’t finish that week (not that that ever happens), I can just move the entire list over to the next week.

2012 - well-loved, but time to move on

2013 - so much potential!

As silly as it sounds, that last picture makes me want to go aaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhh!  And now, it makes me want to go tackle some of those unchecked items off of my to-do list.

Happy Thursday, everyone!

Happy New Year!

Wishing you all a wonderful 2013 from all of us crazy Homillers!

2012 was a fantastic year for our little brood.  We lost our younger fuzz ball, Max, and still find ourselves sad in our observance of his absence (the good news of course, is that Marshall has become the lucky recipient of extra attention and extra dog bones.  Don’t think he doesn’t notice).  But overall I can say with great confidence that this past year was my favorite one yet.  Every day, I get to wake up in a lovely house, kiss my sweet, thoughtful husband good morning and spend the day with my adorable, (mostly) well-behaved children while juggling such life-ending struggles as what to make for dinner, what blog post to write next, and how should I best organize that cabinet in the corner.  Believe me when I say that I had no intention of using my college and law degrees in this way; but I also could not be happier doing it.

For my 2013 New Year’s resolution, I am aiming to be more patient.  Because while I do lead a fairly charmed life, those same adorable, (mostly) well-behaved children can sometimes make me want to check in to the nearest loony bin just so I can get a little peace and quiet.  But if the last month of 2012 has taught me anything it is that every single day with your family, your friends, your children, and your husband is a blessing and we should try our best not to take them for granted.  And while I will continue to run a tight ship in our house, I can certainly use a lesson in the art of taking a deep breath, slowing down, and counting to ten before I correct behavior.

NYE date night courtesy of my parents - thank you!!

Here’s a THANK YOU for a wonderful 2012 and a wish for a happy, healthy and patient 2013!