The best Book Club EVER!

I don't have many things that I insist on doing on a monthly basis, but one thing I try never to miss is my wonderful Book Club! We call ourselves B.A.B.E.S and for almost 4 years now, we have met every month to discuss a book one of the members picks out. There are 12 of us, so we each host a month, and we each get to pick a book each year. There is quite an age-range (25- *ahem* 50-something) and quite a range of book tastes as well! I look forward to this each and every month and have so enjoyed getting to know these fabulous ladies and reading lots of great (and some not so great!) books!
This past month the pick was Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen and Corrie hosted. Kathy, who just can't help it, brought the circus to town (the theme of the book) by decorating Corrie's house. We were welcomed by this:

 And ate our yummy alfredo pasta with capers, grilled chicken, garlic bread, salad, and brownies on plates that look like this:

Which Kathy made and decorated herself! So clever. Here are some shots of our fun group:

The "elderesses" table (I feel the need to point out that that empty chair actually belonged to me who was an elderess this evening apparently!)

The younger gals, still of breeding age! haha. 

Jenna and Corrie fixing their coffee (assuming Jenna still calls her coffee flavored creamer coffee!)

Kathy brought "Rosie" and "Marlena" from the book as decor. Hilarious!

Jessica was holding our special guest Stone, who won't be attending anymore since he is not our kind of "BABE:" but he was a good guest tonight!

Anna has our "microphone" and its her turn to tell what she thought of the book. Stone is asleep until the next time we all burst into laughter! It happens a lot!


Looking forward to next month at Carol's home where we will discuss The Reliable Wife by Robert Goolrick, can't wait!

Warming the House

We are loving our new home and have already received our first "housewarming" gifts! I just LOVE this funky owl stepping stone from my sister Jessica and have found it a fun home in the flower beds by the back patio:

 Jessica also gave us a Willow Creek figure with a pineapple that is the symbol of "welcome" which is what I want my home to exude to our guests! I hope that our family and friends will always feel welcome here and that our home is a welcome safe-haven for my children:

Our realtor gave us this super fun piece of EttaB pottery from the Square Cupboard (LOVE that store!) and I am searching for the perfect spot for it in my kitchen, which my mom and sis helped me unpack and decorate:

Aren't presents fun???

We have been in our new house almost one week and I just fall more and more in love with this place each day...but not in a superficial way, more in a sentimental way. Its strange, but I can already envision my children opening their gifts in the living room on Christmas morning...riding their bikes in the long driveway...climbing the trees in the front yard....swimming with their friends in the pool...
I can see Micah reading a book curled up on one of her (two!) window seats and I can envision her room changing with her style as she grows into her pre-teen and then (eek!) teen years. I can see Haven running in our gloriously large back yard and twirling under the trees in her princess dress-ups--complete with tiara and "high shoes" of course. I can almost envision Stone climbing to the tops of the trees and riding his skateboard off the brick steps on the wrap-around front porch (one of my top 3 FAVORITE parts of this home!) and playing pirates in the playset out back. This is the home I want my children to grow up in, that we create memories in, that I grow older with my husband in. I want to watch college football on our couch with Gary, entertain my entire family on Thanksgiving in the dining room, read the story of the Nativity on Christmas Eve with my girls and son, and sit on my porch in rocking chairs with my close friends...In other words, I want "LIFE" to happen in this home...

I feel so blessed and I mean it when I lean back and sigh and say..."Home SWEET Home!"