Kids & Fall

It's finally fall, my favorite season of the year!

I love the golden hues of the season. Pumpkins, corn stalks, college football, church bazaars, cooler weather, and of course school starting back!

All wonderful reasons why I love fall.

The fall leaf colors should begin to really pop in a few weeks but already we are seeing dazzling reds, oranges and yellows in the trees.

It's been a busy September. Raini came up for a few days and we had so much fun going to new antique shops together and planning her daughters birthday party for November. Of course, the time flew by way too fast but having her here was so good for my soul.


The kids have been extra busy this September too.

Ashton, my oldest daughter, started dance class and she loves it. She wasn't able to take dance in Richmond so I was so excited for her to find a dance studio near our new home in West Virginia.

 

Jonathan has just applied to his first college! I am so proud of him and I know wherever he chooses to go, he will bless many lives just by his presence.

Tate will soon start playing fall basketball in a youth league next month. He misses his buddies back in Richmond so hopefully this will be a great outlet for him to make some new friends. He is loving being a 5th grader and I can't believe how far he has come since being taken off of his seizure meds almost 2 years ago.

Justin has been practicing with the high school basketball team (non formal practices). Tryouts are in a couple of months and we are all praying he makes the team. He is almost 6'3 and still growing. Making the team would be a huge lift for him. Moving 3 different times since middle school is not an easy adjustment. He is a trooper.

 

  
Karsen is walking and it is so cute. She reminds me of Papa Bud when she walks. She makes us all laugh and she has been so good for all of our hearts after we lost Papa Bud and Papaw Hanson. I don't know where we would be in our grief if it were not for her.

This weekend the temps are supposed to be in the 50's! I am so glad fall is here!

Little One @ 13 months

Dear Little One,

You are now 13 months old. We are finally all moved in and settled into our new home in West Virginia. You love the attention that your MawMaw and your Aunts show you. 

*You took your first steps a few weeks ago and  (September 6th) and  have been trying to master the art of walking ever since. (But if you need to get somewhere quick, you aren't afraid to drop back down to crawling to get there).

*At your one year checkup you weighed 20lbs and were 29" long

*Last week you started to say "Tate". He is your best friend.

*You still don't say MAMA! =(

*You are an early riser. Up by 7am and you like to be in bed by 7pm. You still won't take an afternoon nap.

*Your favorite songs are the crazy ones I have made up (I should have been a writer for Sesame Street). The one you like most goes like this:

Precious Princess, Your the best! The best dang girl from North, South, East or West! Precious Princess your simply the best. Simply, Simply, Simply, Simply the best! Yeah!

*You love to dance. Anytime music is on, even if it is just a commercial you start bouncing. Its so cute. 

*Your tiny personality is starting to shine through. I love you so very much. I eagerly look forward to watching you grow and develop into the young girl God intends for you to be.

Happy Birthday, Papa!

Dear Papa Bud,

Happy 79th Birthday to the most wonderful grandfather a little girl could be blessed with.

For 35.5 years you loved me. And I don't know how I'll be ok living without you for my next 35.5+ years................. but I know I won't have to go without you forever.

There are so many things I miss about you. Your quick wit, silly jokes, pranks and stories always put me in a good mood. I miss just sitting down and talking to you about everyday stuff. Just knowing you were there was a comfort to me.


It's so hard without you Papa. You are missed so much by all of us. Our family just isn't the same without you here.


I love you.


Happy Birthday. I hope you are eating lots of pineapple chocolate cake.

My Tiny Treasure

Sometimes the best treasures are the tiniest!

This little bisque cutie is smaller than my pinky.

She has no markings but I think she is an early German style Kewpie.

I'm going to have to do some research to see what she is.

Seems Like.....

 

 Seems like yesterday when I was a very young mom to a very chubby baby. 

He was my only child and we had so much fun together. Days were spent watching his favorite Disney movies. We enjoyed 21 months of each other before he started to have to share me with Justin, and then a few years later came Tate, Ashton and Karsen.

And now, my baby is a senior in High School. When did this happen? It seems like yesterday that I was tearfully dropping him off for Kindergarten. 

I am so proud of the young man he is, and I know I will be even more proud as he continues on his journey of life. He is a great kid----young man.

LAST first day of school breakfast!

My New (old) Nancy Ann's

My new (old) Nancy Ann's came today and they are so cute!

The brunette is a 1939 Bridesmaid. She even came with her wrist tag and box. Another surprise, she has the silver shoes!

The little blonde is also from around 1939. She is Mistress Mary and she is missing her hat and her round gold sticker. She has the cutest chubby legs.


I  was never into doll collecting until I saw the Nancy Ann's. I guess their small size and sweet faces won me over. My collection has grown to over 30 but I have sold the rarest of the ones out of my collection.

I bought these two for a great deal but will probably be listing them on my Ebay so that we can prepare for the Christmas crunch.

I told my husband one day when the kids are all grown and gone is it going to cost him a lot of money for me to buy back all these old dolls I had to sell! =)


 

Thinking of Him

I am making Jonathan a scrapbook filled to the brim with mementos & memories of his life. I hope to have this completed by early spring. I thought it would be a nice present for him when he graduates.

I'm going thru tons of boxes filled with pictures, cards, school drawings and such and I ran across this:



And instantly, I cry. Just seeing his handwriting does this to me.

It feels like forever since I last heard him call me #1. And while I am in no rush to leave this earth anytime soon, I long for the day when I will see his sweet face again. He was my world, my rock. My grandpa was the best friend a little girl could have asked for.

What would he think about me living in West Virginia? I am sure he would have plenty of West Virginia jokes to tell me.

And I think about what he would have thought of Karsen.



He would have loved her silly.

Looking thru all these old papers and cards makes me realize how much I miss being called #1.

Yard Sale Pickin'

Vintage spice rack with flip open doors.

2.00

I heart yard sales.

Fall is the Best!

It's a cool, rainy day here in the hills of West Virginia.

The leaves on the trees are beginning to change hue's. The nights are becoming crisper and the dew on the grass in the morning is always heavy.

Fall is on it's way.

Fall is my favorite season.

I love it when the leaves are golden and it's cool outside. I love it when Saturday's are spent watching college football.

Fall means church bazaars and chicken pie's will soon be for sale. And Halloween is just around the corner. I cannot wait to spend our first fall in West Virginia as a family! The mountains that surround our home will be so awesome covered in gold and red hues!

It's almost time to get out the vintage fall decor!

You Had Me At Spun Cotton, Mica Santa!

Tonight is a great night.......

because tonight is when college football returns. Fall to me is football.

Fall to me is also when I start to look thru all of the vintage Christmas decor I have scored at Goodwills, yard sales and Ebay over the year.

And nothing screams vintage Christmas to me like spun cotton, mica Santa's!

They were all the rage back in the 1940's and 1950's and are usually found attached to their original florist wire or chenille stems.

Most were used as decor for floral arrangements.

There is a simple sweetness to spun cotton cuties that I can't resist.

I love all vintage Christmas items. Even the kitschy plastic Santa's and snowmen below.