Just about 22 hours of heaven....

Wow....getting away was...incredible. Isn't it amazing how you don't realize how much you NEED to get away until it happens. Sometimes it seems like too much effort/money/production/etc., but it's so worth it, and necessary. I feel like I need to step back at times from my role as mommy, teacher, house cleaner, and all of the tasks that go along with each of these roles, and just....be.

Tommy and I left one sick kiddo, and one, hmmmmm...."extra-energetic" kiddo with my parents on Thursday...well, actually, with Tommy's parents at first, they were then picked up by my mom later that afternoon--gotta love having two sets of grandparents near by! ;) We drove about an hour until we reached our gorgeous destination. Nestled into the hills and trees, among 120 acres of incredible landscape, we checked into the charming Scottish Inn. There is something about the feeling of not having to rush to do anything, be anywhere, or tend to someone else's needs that allows one to completely relax. We arrived at 3:00pm, and the cocktail hour before dinner wasn't until 6:30. My first thought was to take a nap (of course), but instead we decided to take advantage of the beautiful setting and get outside.




One of the foundations of Tommy and my relationship is exploring the terrain together--doing physical things, and being outside. In the summer, we love to go for long walks together. When we vacation on the beach, one of our most favorite things to do is walk the beach all day long. Some of the things we used to do all of the time are no longer regular occurrances due to the kiddos. Don't get me wrong--we do get outside together as a family quite a bit. But to be together, just the two of us, amidst the most beautiful backdrop I have witnessed in quite some time was divine. Ahhhhhhhhh.......I felt like I was myself. Just me....a glimpse of who I used to be in my earlier years! ;) And together, we felt so young and carefree!!! It was invigorating and romantic just the same! It made me realize just how important it is to take time out in your marriage to do the things you adore doing as a couple. So often we do things by ourselves, or with the kids, or with our respective friends....but neglect to do things as a couple. This was so good for us, and made us appreciate each other so much!




Can you believe the size of the icicles in the gorge? Amazing!





Here's Tommy hanging out next to them, for reference of their size!



Remember when I posted about getting new boots? My old UGGS have had it, and it's time for some new ones. Well....still never got them. Soooo, it was a little treacherous, hiking through the snowy trails in boots with no traction what-so-ever. I did slip and fall quite a few times. So, when Tommy decided to go down into the gorge, I stayed at the top and looked on. He disappeared down at the bottom, exploring and galavanting through the caves. I enjoyed the quiet. It was breath-taking. Sooooo quiet you could hear a pin drop. The only sounds were that of my breath, and the occassional rustle of the wind through the trees causing a gentle mist of snow to cascade from their sheilding branches. God's creation at it's finest. Glorious.


After hiking, it was nice to return to our cozy room, turn on the fire, and get ready for dinner. Six courses. Divine. Dinner was served by candlelight, and as we ate, we watched the flicker of the candle reflect in the window next to our table, illuminating the dripping icicles hanging along the roof line. The main course was filet mignon...usually one of our favorites. Unfortunately, the chef prepared it in a soy sauce making it a little too salty for our liking, but it was still amazing, and we were soooo full from the previous four courses, that it didn't really matter, anyway.



We were able to get out and hike again the next morning after a delightful breakfast, which consisted of the most wonderful homescones and Scottish oatmeal I've ever tasted.

So refreshing, renewing, and nice to be together. 22 hours of heaven...that's what it was!

Happy Anniversary!!!

Nearly eight years ago, Tommy and I said our "I-do's" on a bright, sunny, 50 degree day, that made conditions perfect for taking pictures outdoors! I wore a strapless dress, and was so warm due to the brilliant sunshine, blue skies, happiness and adrenaline, that I was able to get all of my outdoor shots without wearing a cape around my shoulders! My poor bridesmaides must not have been quite as high on adrenaline, as I do believe they froze in their strapless gowns, taking pictures outside the church with bare shoulders and arms! ;)

Our wedding was perfection, aside from the groomsmen (and women) dropping like flies with various illnesses...Tommy's one and only sister was so excited to be his best (wo)man, and was over-taken by the flu during our rehearsal dinner. God bless her, she made it to the wedding, flu and all, but was in no shape or condition to walk down the isle...I can't believe looking back, that she made it at all--unable to keep anything down! Poor thing! Thankfully her husband stepped in as a groomsmen!
One of the problems with holding a winter wedding, and flying people in from all over the country, is the germs that come with them...especially on planes! Tommy's poor eldest brother (who had graciously stepped in as his best man) made it through half of the ceremony, until, over-taken by strep throat and the overwhelming urge to faint, had to step down and sit out the rest....meaning Tommy's next brother stepped in as the best man, and was forced to write a speech on the way over to the reception--which was actually very well-written and poignant!

But, other than all of the illness in Tommy's poor family, our wedding was perfect--a dream come true! :) Eight years ago on February 23rd we promised to love each other, respect each other, be true to each other, in sickness and in health, through thick and thin, kids and tantrums, puppy training, potty training, breastfeeding, no sleep, times when the money is flowing, and when it comes to a complete hault, grumpy times, and happy times, through moves, new jobs, lost jobs, births, and deaths, new wrinkles, balding heads, and graying hair (all due to the two who joined us since our wedding ;)...we've seen a lot in eight short years. And though at some points I'm sure we've re-neged a bit on our promise to respect, I know that we have never stopped loving. And that promise remains true today, tomorrow, and always! (And the respect thing--well, that's always a work in progress, and has gotten a lot better over the years! ;)

In order to celebrate eight years together, we are going away tomorrow night. A beautiful Scottish Inn amidst a hundred acres of hiking trails in the middle of the snowiest winter we may have ever seen, awaits us. A six course meal, and a beautiful room looking over the woods...and, no kiddos! For 24 hours....bliss! ;) We are very excited, and although our time away will be short, it will be worth every second, I am sure! Happy anniversary my love...looking forward to an eternity together with you!

xoxoxoxo!

I WON, I WON!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm soooo excited! I jumped on here to check on all of my lovely friend's blogs, and as I hopped over to With a Chirp, a Buzz, and a Lion's Roar by the lovely Jess (who just so happens to be one of my earliest childhood friends :), I was in shock and awe as I realized I WON HER GIVE-AWAY!!! Woohooo!

Jess is an incredible seamstress and designer of children's clothing, and I'm off to email her Brookie's size and will be overcome with anticipation and excitement, waiting to see what she creates!!!!!!!!!!!!! THANK YOU, JESS!!!

xoxoxoxo!!!

Rockin'

My awesome friend Heather made this hat for Connor...she needed a project during our winter snowstorm, so she tried something new! How cute is this??? :)

Taken....

I've been "window shopping" today as I sit from my couch, comfy and SNOWED IN!!! I spied this in the Boden catalogue that came today...I'm taken. I'm contemplating attempting to hand-make one...what do you think? :)

Snowmagoodness....

The snow began on Friday--the heaviest, fattest, flakes I've seen in a loooong time, falling at the rate of an inch an hour! We had some dear friends over for a playdate...some of whom got to be snowed-in with us a good part of the day!




And, it kept falling all of Friday night until noon on Saturday! I think we had snowfall totals of 15 or 16 inches....





We had a couple of really cold, sunny days, and voila, it's snowing again! Another 5-8 inches today! Eeeeks! Tommy just got home early, and I cancelled my classes this morning...we're snowed in, again! Thank the Lord for our wonderful neighbors up the street who had Connor over this afternoon, because cabin fever has set in, big-time! ;)

I think I'll attempt to bake shortbread cookies with my new cookie press that was just delivered from the Pampered Chef this afternoon....it's a shortbread kind of day! ;)

Hope you're all staying safe and warm...I know a lot of you are snowed in, as well!!!

xoxoxoxoxo!!!!

Five for Five....

Copied from. Ms. Marie's blog Every Day Matters

Here’s how it works:

The first five people to leave a comment on this post will get something from me.
But in return, you have to do the same thing on your blog and make something for five other people. The details are as follows, and if you want to play, copy the following onto your blog and leave me a post:

1. I make no guarantees that you will like what I make. Whatcha get is whatcha get.
2. What I create will be just for you, with love.

3. It’ll be done this year (2010).

4. I will not give you any clue what it’s going to be. It will be something made in the real world and not something cyber. It may be weird or beautiful. Or it may be monstrous and annoying. Heck, I might bake something for you and mail it to you. Who knows? Not you, that’s for sure!

5. I reserve the right to do something strange.

6. In return, all you need to do is post this text on your blog and make 5 things for the first 5 to respond to your blog post.

7. Send your mailing address – after I contact you.

Progression of the White Paint Project

So, we started painting some of our trim last week.....the living room is done, and I was so excited to hang my new espresso colored, silk dupioni drapes from the Barn (as my husband so lovingly refers to it ;), but alas, I'm not too happy with the purchase. To the right, the gold drapes that we already had, and to the left, the espresso colored new drape. Not digging it. Oh well...I have a lot of other stuff to buy still, so that's okay. What do you all think?



Here's a close-up of the mantle:


And, a close-up of one of the pics on the mantle. I found it in the basement last week, and it's hilarious! I can't believe how young we were--16, and 18 respectively...right before T's senior prom! ;)



We still have a lot of work to do--I'll keep updating as more progress is made...but first, that means I have to get back to it...yikeys! ;)