Spring Into Summer Home Tour

Well here we are, almost the end of June, and fully into summer! I love this time of year {even though I'm a winter girl}. I love the long afternoons, the carefree days, and the time outside in the shade of our screened in porch. I love not planning at night and I love the feeling of T.I.M.E.

We've actually gotten a lot done around the house, you know, closets, stuff like that. And it feels good.

Usually by now I have my home decked in red, white, and blue. So I decided to put together a video home tour before it changes. I'm calling in Spring into Summer. Ya know, I looked at all of the pictures and I might just leave it this way and not totally change it - maybe just a flag here or there, we'll see. I'm really liking the light, open, airy feel of the pastel colors that surround us. Then there's the me that loves so much to create a vingette here or there and I just have to redo an area. So.... we'll have to wait and see.



And let's just talk about peonies for a moment - how happy do they make us? And why can't they be around all year? I just love them so. It is like my decorating style all summed up in a flower, pink, delicate, light, vintage {okay, so maybe that doesn't fit a flower} and romantic... they suit me just fine and make my heart swoon. My home is filled to the brim with them for as long as Trader Joes will carry them this summer.





Have you ever heard the quote, "what one loves in childhood, stays in the heart forever"? I simply love that quote because it is so true of my beautiful childhood. My Mom did it so much better than me. She made our house a home. It was cozy, warm, filled with light, and beautiful things. It felt 'just right'. So much so that I never wanted to leave. When Scott and I were on our honeymoon in Hawaii I begged him to take me home. It wasn't being with my new husband, it was homesick feeling for my parents, and the home I lived in for my whole life. It took a long time for me to make my home feel just like I needed it to to be our home. Well that was almost 24 years ago and it's the same kind of home I want for my growing girls. They are not little anymore but they learn from what I do, how I keep it, and I sure pray that they feel about their home as I did in my childhood home.

So grab a tall glass of tea and join me for my spring into summer home tour. I wish you could come over an settle on the porch - we all learn so much from each other.



Wishing you blessings today and this weekend.

College Started

Yesterday we came home from a college trip - it's time to start looking a colleges for Anna. Our school year is pretty full so we need to use the summer months to visit and help her try to sort out what kind of college would be best for her.

First I need to recognize this little trouper - she was positive, happy, and wonderful to have with us - thank goodness she's years and years away from college.



The first college we toured took our breath away. And honestly I can't stop thinking about it.



Opened in the early 1800's you could tell by the architecture - it was one of those 'they just don't make them like they used to'.



I mean look at entering the library!!





Each building, one after another was like being on a movie set.





And then we drove 2 more hours north to another tour.

This was the music building all lit up at night - in it made our little girl's heart swoon {she wants to play in the orchestra in college}



And the brand new auditorium had an orchestra pit... more swoon



We stayed in the northern college town in the sweetest area. We found a bookstore {always do}







And this came home with me.



It had the loveliest park. And the girls loved all of the ducks in the pond.





Thank goodness we have a long way to go before applying - this is going to be a fun road - visiting is fun - now dropping her off at college in a few years... that's a different story!

Abigail's 12th Birthday Party

The very next weekend we had a family birthday party for Abigail - she was so cute and designed the sprinkles themed invitations on the computer and we ordered them up.

It was a sunny and pretty spring day here and we celebrated our girl all afternoon.

{and it was sooooOooooo much fun to baking in the baking center that day - there were a few touches that still weren't done but I was already moved in}







The night before Abigail and I were busy -- we dipped glass sundae cups into melted chocolate and then rolled them around in sprinkles - yum!



It sure did make a mess but they came out dazzling!



One down - so much more to goooooo



And then we dipped strawberries in chocolate and sprinkles.



Now a word about how a birthday party changes for our family once you're twelve:
kindergarten through fifth grade (all of elementary school) I hosted a BIG *themed* over the top * birthday party for all of the girls in the class. Once middle school comes along a theme is still fine but only for the family party. No more "all of the girls in the class" big party. I think that 6 years of that is enough. So the friend part turns into something fun to do with a special friend. And this is one very special friend to Abigail. So she came over just before the family party to celebrate with Abigail. What was really fun was that I surprised Abigail - she had no idea when she answered the door that her friend was coming to be with her.

They are the cutest together!



Meanwhile, Scott was out getting the balloons and I was outside decorating.



Abigail made the favors all by herself - each family guest {and her friend} got to take home a box of waffle cones and a mini jar of sprinkles.



And then in the 2.8 seconds after her friend left and before family arrived I took a few pictures of my girl so that I could always remember what twelve looked like on her. {darling I think}













She is growing into such a beautiful girl. Losing {for sure} some of her little girl ~ness, but still as sweet as pie.



Now I know these are blurry as anything but I still love them so much {thanks Anna for taking them}





One of her daddy and our girl...



And one of me and my girl!



My favorite of the day...






We ate and talked with cousins. And we enjoyed the warmer temps {finally} of spring!





Then Anna prepped the sheet cake I made the night before.







And we sang...





Love her little cousin looking up at her.



and love this look on her face as well as Anna smiling in the background.









Birthday's belong to children... oh yes they do!





It was so much fun!











After family left and we were cleaning up Abigail noticed the sky - "look at the sky mama!" It was magnificent.



Just the perfect ending to celebrating twelve...