Wednesday, November 30, 2016

Selph Family Christmas Tree!

On the day after Thanksgiving, the Selph 5, along with Granna and Papa set out to find a real, live Christmas tree. It's a fun adventure that we almost always enjoy. Almost. =) It can be hot or freezing, fast or slow... but mostly slow, exciting or boring, fun or not. Hahaha. But no matter what I think we always love and appreciate the memories we create!

On last Friday the weather was warm and the boys were pumped. They are always sooo excited until we actually get there and they get bored or hot or tired of walking. =)

Austin spotted this tree right away and thought it was pretty special. It could've been our very own Charlie Brown tree. 

#photobombed 

Austin was also pretty entertained by swinging branches around like a bat. Ha.

You can't tell from our pictures but the tree farm was super crowded... so when my parents found one they liked right away, they made a final decision in record time and chopped it down within the first 5 minutes. #fastestChristmastreefindever

So then the pressure was on.... and despite by indecisiveness, Terrell and I found one quickly too!! Not within 5 minutes but super fast for us! And this year the boys approved!! So we knew it was a keeper and went for it. Yay.

Us and our tree!


The big boys were proud assisters of daddy and we had possibly our most successful experience ever at the tree farm. It was fun and easy and kid approved. =)

The boys drank hot chocolate, played on the playground, and this one posed by the tractor before we left. We had a great afternoon. 

Of course things didn't go perfectly smooth once we got our tree home because that has never happened in the history of our marriage and cutting down on our own tree... SIGH. But, with the help of my parents, we finally got it secured in the stand........ and it's still standing!! Last year was a bit of a fiasco but everything eventually turned out okay. This year we've had a different kind of adventure. The tree has been great but our lights have let us down. Ugh. Oh well. #Memories!! Haha. 

Friday night Terrell and I got the lights on...Terrell went and bought more lights... we threw away lights.... we bought more lights, and then finally on Saturday morning our boys were ready to decorate!

They are always soo excited about this tradition! 

Thankfully we've finally discovered a safe system that works for everybody. Terrell prepares the ornaments and then the boys and I hang them. I typically get the final say and always hang a few super special ones myself in certain spots. But overall it's a group effort and we work together. I do have to go behind them every now and then but for the most part they do great.

We had such a fun morning and loved pulling out all of our ornaments. The main colors in my tree are red and silver but it's also just a hodgepodge of a little bit of everything. So many of our ornaments hold special memories or meaning and lots were picked out for us or given to us from various places or for the kids or just because they were gorgeous and would match my red and silver color scheme.  

And here you have it! We love it and are enjoying it so much!! The Selph Family Christmas Tree turned out beautiful and is pretty special to us. 

Even though the lights have given us some trouble (again, boo) we're so thankful we get to enjoy this beautiful tree full of special ornaments all season long. =)

Now for wrapping presents!!

Monday, November 28, 2016

Our Thanksgiving

Our Thanksgiving was pretty wonderful. We enjoyed time with lots of family, feasted on the best food ever, and gave thanks with our favorite people. It was filled with joy and sweet memories and more than once I caught myself totally amazed by His grace. I truly enjoyed every minute. Except for maybe the post Thanksgiving meltdown by Layton due to exhaustion. Ha. Despite the meltdown it was such a special day.

We started the day bright and early at Nana and Pops' house! We had Thanksgiving breakfast with them this year. =) It worked out perfect and was soooo good!!

We had such a fun morning! We watched the parade and the boys played and colored while they waited for breakfast to get ready. 

Terrell's mom found the perfect napkins for them! Between the napkins and watching the parade, they were happy and occupied while they waited. =)


We had a huge, delicious feast for breakfast!! It was sooo good and the boys probably ate at least 7 waffles combined. Haha. After breakfast the boys played a game with Nana while we watched the parade and enjoyed hanging out together. It was a fun morning and great start to the day.

After leaving the Selph's we came home so I could put some things in the oven and then headed over to my parents' house. And we made another family picture as soon as we got there because this is the spot we've taken our Thanksgiving picture since Layton joined the family. My boys are growing so fast!

Thanksgiving 2015...

Thanksgiving 2014...
 

My parents always host a HUGE group of family for Thanksgiving and we have the best cooks in our family. Everything is always DELISH. So the Selph fam enjoyed another huge and wonderful feast Thursday afternoon. =)

Shortly after eating the boys were ready to change into play clothes so they could head outside. And since it warmed up quite a bit they changed into shorts. Gracious. Crazy Georgia weather. Layton drove around while his brothers played front yard football and hide and seek with their big cousins. 


They had so much fun and played hard non-stop until it started cooling off and getting dark. 


We ate the most delicious leftovers for supper before loading up our kiddos and heading home. Layton was already melting so it was time to go. Playing non-stop with no nap has never been a good combo for toddlers or preschoolers in our fam. Haha. We got everybody in bed as soon as possible and got settled in for the night. We were pretty worn out from our full day!

We wrapped up the evening watching the Thanksgiving episode of This Is Us. We love this show! It was the perfect ending to our day. 

We loved Thanksgiving 2016 and had the best time spending it with both our families.

I also thought often throughout the day about other families in our community who recently lost loved ones who are heartbroken and devastated. I can't imagine what their Thanksgivings were like this year. I enjoy counting my blessings and offering thanks for what we've been given because it flows from a grateful heart and I want to testify of His goodness. But I also am reminded that we aren't just called to give thanks for all things, but in all things. And I know that's so much easier said than done. I am praying for several families this holiday season and this morning during my quiet time I read Romans 15:13 and the Lord led me to pray this over these families. May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. 

Wednesday, November 23, 2016

So Thankful

It's Thanksgiving Eve and we are right in the middle of our Thanksgiving Break. My heart has been so full this week as I've listened to my boys play, enjoyed the Christmas lights around me, and started preparing for Thanksgiving. I am just so thankful for so much. I can't even put into words the gratitude I've felt over the past several days.

The week hasn't been perfect... the boys have come down with some sickies (Garrison came down with strep!) and I've had some moments of just about losing it because of the loudness and craziness and sometimes fighting going on around me. But this week I've been so reminded of my blessings and all I have to be thankful for. It's been a sweet time of preparing for Christmas but still enjoying all that comes with Thanksgiving Break and getting ready for Turkey Day. =) 

Here's what we've been up to recently which just so happens to be some of what I'm most thankful for...

I LOVE the Fall Season and love decorating for Fall, but Friday morning I also really enjoyed putting it away in preparation for decorating for Christmas. It's the most wonderful time of the year and we are so excited for advent. I lined all of my Fall decor up on a shelf in the basement before getting it all packed away into boxes. I love how my decor has grown over the years and the sentimental value and memories so many of my little decorations hold. 

Friday afternoon my little pilgrim and Indian were excited to kick off Thanksgiving Break. =)

Austin didn't feel so great after school so he stayed in my lap most of the afternoon while Garrison and Layton played outside. We enjoyed watching his brothers play so much. And I'm especially thankful he still loves being in my lap and I can still help him feel better when he's under the weather. 

Sunday after church we got most of the house decorated for Christmas! For the most part the only thing we'll have left to do after Thanksgiving is decorating our tree. We celebrated our newly decorated great room by watching Frosty on Sunday night. The boys started it while Terrell and I were still cleaning up from supper and then we all 5 watched together on the same couch. #overflowingwiththankfulness

Layton has been the most excited and wowed by all of the Christmas decor and lights. His reaction to everything has been PRICELESS and my mama heart is loving every second!



On Monday morning I decided to pull out the boys' little trees and their box full of ornaments so we could decorate together. It turned out a little chaotic. Ha. While I was sorting ornaments and getting them out of the box the big boys were working away at record speed. And when they finally finished and I had a chance to look up at their tree, this is what I saw. Hahahaha!!! Soooo, mama had to do a little rearranging. I mean tangled ornaments and a top heavy tree just weren't ideal. Haha! I'm still cracking up at this! 

After a little assistance and basically starting over, we got their tree decorated again and it looks awesome. =)

Layton laid out all of the ornaments I gave him on the floor in his room and then when we were ready to move to his tree to decorate he handed them to me one at time. It was the perfect system and his tree turned out awesome too. Layton's tree is more transportation centered (which is perfect for him) while the big boys' tree is more sports centered (also perfect). They also have superheros, Frosty, Noah's Ark, Cookie Monster, etc. I just love our "boy" trees!!

So I mentioned that I bought an old, antique buffet for our dining room and that my mom was "restoring" it for me. Well here is the before picture the day I went to look at it. It was almost exactly what I was looking for and since I was able to get it for a great price I went for it. I picked a new color for it, new hardware, got rid of the decorative top piece, and then my mom went to work. We ended up removing the decorative piece at the bottom in the center too. She did all the hard labor of sanding, painting, painting some more... and some more, waxing, getting on hardware, etc....

 

And she did an amazing job!! Here is my brand new buffet in my dining room!!! I love it soooo much! It's vintage (from the 40's), it's a little bigger than what I originally thought I wanted (but more room for storage), and it just has character. It's added so much to our dining room and I can't wait to show off the rest of the room. We finally have it almost completed and it's so much more special now! I am loving decorating our home. If only money grew on trees! Haha. HUGE thanks to my mom for doing such a great job for us!! 



 This book is so good. And this week I've had an opportunity to press pause a little more often. It's been so encouraging and full of reminders and convictions. 

Playing basketball against my big boys was a workout! Haha. But it was so much fun. And I'm thankful I was invited to play. I'm pretty sure I'll accept the invitation for as long as they'll include me. =)


My middle baby was in the paper yesterday! I am LOVING his PreK experience and soooo thankful God led us to big school and his teachers and sweet little class.

Last night we let the boys pick another Christmas movie to watch. They chose Santa Claus is Coming to Town. =) It's a classic and I loved watching with them. 

17 years ago tomorrow, Terrell and I became us. Life with this guy has been one adventure after another and I am SO especially thankful for him, our marriage, our family, and our story. God orchestrated every single detail, details that occurred well before November 24, 1999, and we give Him the glory. God's goodness and grace truly knows no bounds. 

I am so thankful for this break and for a day and time set aside each year to be intentional about thanksgiving and gratefulness. God has opened my eyes to so many little things that really are huge things. Special moments, family, gifts, time, health, friends, home, laughter. So, so thankful.

Happy Thanksgiving from my family to yours! I hope your day is filled with family, good food, laughter, and sweet memories. 

Friday, November 18, 2016

Friday Favorites: It's Almost Thanksgiving Break Edition

Thanksgiving Break is almost here! Yay!!! We love and appreciate our school breaks sooo much and are super excited to welcome the break this afternoon. =) 

This week has been a busy one! I worked several days, Bailey got sick, I had a couple of meetings/appointments... so basically it's been a bit of a whirlwind. And I still don't have my Christmas decorations out and I still haven't started shopping!! Ahhhhh. This is not like me. For some reason I'm way behind this year. But we have a game plan and will hopefully get on track this weekend. I'm determined. I'm motivated. Where there's a will there's a way! Ha. I sure hope so!

Here's a look at my faves from the week...

*Monday morning alphabet puzzles with my favorite 2 year old. This was before having to head into work. My time at home with him is becoming even more treasured the busier I am. 

*Monday afternoon basketball with my loves. These 3 were chomping at the bit to play Monday after school. The second we were done with homework they bolted. =) I think it's safe to say the new basketball goal is a HUGE hit. PS... Layton loves it just as much as his big brothers but because daddy is the only one who can give him a turn to shoot, he plays with our mini goal until daddy is home and available. 


*We finally managed to fit in another Game Night and we had SO. MUCH. FUN! Layton asked to play Zingo and he was able to play and participate and even win! He just matched up the pictures and followed the rules and did awesome. We had the best time together.

And it was so laid back because we could play early and play more than once. #offseasonperks

This may have happened a few times too. Haha.

*Wednesday I had to work half a day and my wonderful hubby surprised me with a lunch date. I picked up my littlest man and we enjoyed a rare lunch date with daddy. It was a big favorite this week.

*Layton's big boy bed is built and just needs finishing!! We are so excited! It's the same design and style from Pottery Barn Kids as the big boys (except it isn't bunk beds) and Terrell's dad is working hard to have it finished by Christmas. How blessed are we to have Pops building another bed for us?! We can't wait for Layton to have a big boy bed and room!!

*Last night Garrison's soccer team had their end of season party. This was our table. =)

*We had a great season and enjoyed celebrating with everybody last night. We loved this team.

*The boys just started a brand new chore that is mama's favorite. Every morning after breakfast they sweep up their own crumbs!! The crumb count around here is HIGH and under the bar after breakfast is terrible. So Terrell decided to have them start sweeping it up themselves so they'd hopefully be a little more careful while eating. They don't get every single crumb and it isn't perfect, but they're getting better, using teamwork, and it's a huge help. So I'm loving it. =)

*Favorite Not-Pictured Moment: Watching an old, antique buffet I bought for our dining room be transformed by my mom.... the furniture restoration expert. Haha. She's painted and updated a few pieces of furniture in the past and now she's adding my buffet to her list. I'm so excited to have it finished and in my dining room soon!

This weekend we don't have any plans! Which means we're planning to pack up Fall and pull out Christmas. =) Plus we're going to get a start on Christmas shopping. We're looking forward to a very productive but laid back weekend. Happy Friday and Happy Thanksgiving Break!!