Merry Christmas

From our farm to yours!!!  

It's off to bed to dream of Santa and enjoy the day watching my three beautiful girls reap the benefits of being so good this year.  

It's the most wonderful time....

Of the year!

Yes, I really, really love Christmas.  Shoot, I love any occasion that makes my three little loves dress up like the angels that they (occasionally) are!

 The kids participated in the church Christmas program.  Olivia has her own methods of participating, like here where she is assisting in directing the singing.  Always happy to do her part!

 Then it was off to my cousin's for the annual Gingerbread House decorating party.  Cousin Ava joined us all the way from Irmo!!

 I think Ava is eye-balling Mary Claire's candy.

 Emma, as usual, is nothing but business.

 And the day ended with a surprise guest!!!

Ok, maybe the day ended with a couple glasses of wine for the grown ups while the kids tore apart their cousin's play room, but whatever...

Christmas = Baking.

How in the world did I make it to December 12th without starting holiday baking???  My house... devoid of Christmas cookies and goodies?  Absolute insanity!  I finally got around to whipping up the first holiday good of the season last night: Fudge.  Plain chocolate fudge that I love with all my heart.  And so do my kids who were eyeballing it this morning as I cut a few chunks to bring with me to work.

Next on the baking agenda: gingerbread men.  I am not really a gingerbread person, but I'm pretty sure the kids will enjoy this infinitely, and luckily Farmer Allen is more than happy to eat as much gingerbread as we can cook. 

Pictures!

Hooray for Christmas

Sliding in right under a whole month of no new blog posts! 

It is definitely Christmas season.  Our calendar is crazy for the next four weeks, but all stuff I am so excited for.  Christmas Music Festival, Gingerbread House Party, Christmas dinners with all our different loved ones.... so fun.  And I love that since having kids, Farmer Allen is so much more willing to decorate earlier, put up with Christmas music, and join me in driving around looking at lights.  All for the kids, of course!!  There is truly nothing like seeing their excitement over the little things.  Looking at lights the other evening Mary Claire was going on about how much she liked them, then said, "I don't know where I get this from!"  Love it.  Of course, she also told me yesterday that I'm not allowed to ask Santa to put candy in my stocking.  I am NOT okay with that idea.  Santa - I always need candy in my stocking! 

Granny's House

Cousins.... not easy to photograph together, but we tried.  This one makes me laugh.  Mary Claire is over the picture taking, Olivia won't put down the sippy.  Emma's interested in something else, and Ava just wants her Mommy to come get her.  But, they had a fun time together as we all celebrated another cousin on the way... Caleb.  Boy does this family need a boy!

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween!!! 

As a parent, I'm devoting myself to eat at least 50% of each of my children's candy to look out for their health.  Bring on the big pants...  Holiday season has started!

I hope everyone has a fun, safe holiday... and that my two year old cooperates on this first ever attempt to Trick or Treat with all three.  Yes, Farmer Allen will get to be chuckling at me from afar as he stays home to mind the farm (read: play Frisbee with dog because we surely do not get Trick or Treaters!)

 We are doing our best to fully take advantage of this beautiful fall weather!  Evenings outside on the farm are  the highlight of my day.  This weekend we got to celebrate Mary Claire's fourth birthday with both sides of the family.  The girls couldn't get enough cousin and grandparent attention!  And Saturday we even squeezed in a Trick-or-Treating dry run at my parents and our good friends across the road from my parents' house.  As you can probably tell by the picture, Olivia decided to only take part in the candy portion of the excursion, not the costume part!  This weekend wore us all out, but in a satisfied way!  Now to muster up energy for Halloween night.  This could be interesting....

Oh October....

Around the Farm, October is the month of.... everything.  Or so it seems.  Mary Claire's birthday.  Sweet cousin Ava's birthday.  Both Papa's birthdays.  And our anniversary.  And then you have Halloween and all the fall festivals going on (which I love!!)  So if you don't hear from me much this month, please know I am either throwing a party, attending a party, or picking a pumpkin somewhere in this newly chilly weather!!

Ben Sollee

In the spirit of encouraging Emma's musical side, Allen and I were super excited to see Ben Sollee was performing in Charlotte last night.  What better musician to be Emma's first concert?  So the three of us headed up to the Big City of Charlotte.  Emma oohed and aaahed over the buildings, while Allen tried to convince her that there was too much concrete and not enough trees.  Emma stuck with her gut - that Charlotte is Beautiful!!!  (Glad to see the child got something from her mama!)

We sat front row.... mere feet from Ben's cello(s).  Amazing playing, great songs, perfect atmosphere.  And perfectly behaived 5 year old.  What more could we ask for?  Thanks, Ben Sollee, for a wonderful night.

Not familiar with him?  Here's your chance:  http://bensollee.com/

School Days

Where does the time go?  This year we saw off two girls to school; next year it will be all three.  Bitter sweet seeing them grow up!!

Emma's first day of kindergarten:

Mary Claire's first day of 3 year old preschool.

Fall... is that you??

We had the most glorious weather yesterday, and are looking forward to more of it throughout this week.  Highs below 80 - yes please!  Farmer Allen almost has the fall garden all planted, and while I love all the summer produce and will severely miss eating squash on a daily basis, I am looking forward to the different veg that fall brings with it.  And I can watch the summer garden end with a sense of pride knowing my husband canned more this summer than we have ever before, and by a lot!  We have rows of cans in the garage to provide us with a little taste of summer throughout the coming year.

Also with fall coming so soon means school.  This year Emma started kindergarten (what?!) and Mary Claire started preschool.  How the time flies!  But I am happy to report that both are enjoying it so far.  Of course, Mary Claire has only had one day, so that is not saying too much for her yet. 

And I cannot mention things I love about fall and leave out Starbucks.  Pumpkin spice lattes are back!!!  My first one was like an over-due visit with a long lost friend.  I savored every minute of it!

Family jam session

We are still here!!!  Picking.... peeling..... eating..... canning.....  and occasionally getting a little sleep!  Olivia is now two, and Emma is gearing up to start kindergarden in a month.  Mary Claire... well, she is Mary Claire!  Emma is encouraging me to continue the accidentally HUGE blanket I'm making for her to have when she transitions into her own room (a story for another day - hopefully another day in a year or so!), or as she calls it, her Art Room.  Meanwhile, I'm sidetracking on a throw for my couch in an attempt to do a project that will not require 800+ hours to finish.  Oi! 

I have pictures... tons of summer pictures.  Girls eating corn.... girls running around... puppy that has doubled in size.  Pictures of produce.  Pictures of baked goods.  Close your eyes and imagine.... because I can't access any of them right now to upload any of them! 

Summer, I love you.  But you are too hot.  I'm ready for fall.

What have we been up to?

 Crocheting....

 Puddle jumping....

 More puddle jumping

 Gardening....

And Arlow.  Our new baby Old English Sheepdog.

What have you been up to?

Veg is great.... but flowers from the garden.... they make me smile!

Green Beans

As I speak my husband stands in the kitchen washing green beans.  So far he's canned 26 quarts.  And tonight, we plan to put up another 14. Whew!!  Canning our own food definitely gives me a whole new appreciation for what my parents have done for us, and what my grandparents did for them.  But all the work is worth -- there is no small bit of satisfaction in opening up home-canned organically-grown green beans to feed your children all year round!  And hopefully one day they will realize how much love went into every jar we put up to feed them.

From our garden to your table

Our first produce "basket" of the summer has been sold!  And we've also taken our first standing order.  Hopefully Farmer Allen will be starting a weekly or bi-weekly email to let everyone know what produce and herbs we are picking each week so you can let us know if you are intersted and in what.  Shoot me your email address to make sure you are on our distribution list!!  We are looking forward to a good crop this summer and being able to share it with our community. 

Summer

Squash and zucchini have arrived.... I cannot put into words how delicious my husband's tempura fried squash is.  That's is when my mouth really knows summer has arrived!  The girls have been in raspberry heaven, and we've even managed to salvage a few strawberries that the bunnies and/or other creatures have over-looked.  Yesterday I went to the salon and got myself a summer 'do!  10+ inches gone and donated (and much over-do!)  I am now ready to put in some serious pool time!!  Maybe one day the Farm will have it's own swimming pool, because I definitely leave the pond to the dogs!

Happy Birthday Emma!

My biggest baby is five today.  She impresses me every day -- the way she acts wise beyond her years, the silly things she says, how she watches out for her sisters.  We are so lucky to have such a beautiful, sweet daughter.

This and That.

Oh April - how are you over already?  

One thing I am glad to be done with -- Easter candy.  All I have heard out of this child's mouth is "I WANT CANDY!" for weeks now.  Here she is attacking a chocolate bunny.  And with the natural energy level of a two year old, candy really is the last thing she needs.  So happy to finally be rid of the mounds of candy my children somehow accumulated this year - it was like Halloween all over again.

  

The girls, playing inside on a random day.  Not something happening often with the gorgeous weather we've had.  Still, not often do I get them all in one photo.

Finally a thank you to the few of you out there reading my sporadic blog!  My hopes of doing anything on a regular basis, aside from work and child-tending, has flown out the window.  Oh well... I guess that is the beauty of being a mother of three - there is always a great excuse for getting nothing accomplished!

Outside

The weather has been so beautiful lately that I have not been on the computer at all post-work. I love evenings outside with the kids.

I don't love the millions of little inch-type worms hanging from my oak trees, kids' payhouse, and everything else in our backyard. I guess you have to take the bad with the good.

We are definitely seeing progress in our seed tray growth. And the garden is looking ready for planting - gorgeous fluffy rows of dirt that the kids love to dig (and roll) in.

And so the garden begins....

Enjoying the weather

House full of hippies.....

Off the farm

Me. In Charleston.Had a little taste of non-farm life this weekend on a girls' trip in Charleston. Had a great time, but always happy to come home.

Boots

Every self-respecting farm girl needs some boots.Even if they do belong to your big sister

The rug.... and playhouse

So here's my rug:

And I guess I have to admit that Allen's project is ever so slightly superior to my little rug. Presenting.... the playhouse:

Three day weekend.... yes please.

I'm currently enjoying a morning of sipping coffee and watching my girls play Little People (aka - Best Toys Ever). And I cannot think of a better way to spend a morning. There really isn't anything new from the Farm, and I haven't gotten around to uploading new pics, but felt it time to move away from a sad post being my most recent.

I have once again abandoned goals of a clean house happening on my weekend. Instead I'll be happy with some quality kid time and 6 loads of laundry!

Mourning

Sometimes being an adult sucks. Today is one of those days. A day when being an adult means getting a call first thing in the morning that one of your dogs is dead on the side of the road and not being able to leave work. Not being able to throw a childish fit that it is not fair. Not being able to show your pain because you can't let the kids know something is wrong yet. Still going about your day. And, eventually, having to sit those kids down and tell them that sweet, lovable Sheeba is no longer with us. That she will not be coming back home.

I guess our lives didn't get the memo that everything is supposed to slow back down after Christmas. Allen has been working like crazy on the playhouse (which looks ridiculously good - I am ready to move in!) while I have been working, playing with the girls, and contemplating opening an Etsy shop. The dilemma: I love creating stuff, but there is no way to price to adequately compensate for the time put in. I guess we'll see how January goes. In the meantime, I'm working on a rug for the girls playhouse. I'm crocheting it with old sheets. Hopefully I'll get around to photographing it soon.... maybe even inside the playhouse. Instead you can look at a few random farm shots.