Our 2015 Chinese New Year tree

If you've followed me for awhile, you know that we have a year-round decorative tree that receives multiple makeovers every other month (including some made-up holidays).

Now that my vintage Christmas ornaments are finally all packed up, Josie and I spent some time over the weekend working on her special tree. 

Her tree is now featuring an assortment of decorations celebrating the approaching Chinese New Year which begins February 8th.

I've said this each year, but of all the trees that I display in the sunroom throughout the year, I think the CNY tree is my favorite.

Someday Josie might not be as eager to help decorate her special tree, but I'm glad she enjoys celebrating her heritage.

 Happy Year of the Monkey!

Return of the backyard ice rink!

Chris is at it again getting our annual backyard ice rink ready for another season. 

With our unseasonably warm winter, we've had to delay setting it up.

Now, that we've got cold weather finally coming, we're ready. 

Let the freezing begin!

XOXO
  

Welcoming winter

I’m sorry if I scared some of you into thinking I was closing down my blog. I’ve got too much invested in my blog (the original purpose was to document our adoption journey) but it’s also been a great way to record our family’s adventures over the years, so I promise to keep this going. Thank you for all the sweet comments. 

 Christmas break was so nice. A bit crazy to start out with. Chris had a kidney stone that took 4 days to pass and right in the middle of his kidney stone issues, we lost power for over 72 hours (which meant candles/flashlights and being camped out in front of our gas fireplace on Christmas eve). I swear we are the only family in our subdivision that doesn’t own a generator.

As you can imagine, my favorite part of Christmas break was getting to the lake.

It finally snowed and we spent every waking minute outside. 

 I know I’ve said this before, but I love our Aframe more in the winter than in the summer.

We are such a winter sports family.

We took long snowy hikes. 

We found new sledding hills.

Emma tested out her new snow shoes.

It was wonderfully peaceful.

So, now we are back into our school routines and my house and brain are disheveled.

Happy New Year to you, friends.  I hope your January is filled with quiet and peace as we roll into 2016.
   

Saying goodbye...

Although I cut back way back on blogging and staying on top of reading blogs, thank you so much for stopping by throughout the year. 

Thank you for saying hello or for just being a silent observer.

Thank you for letting me show off pictures of the girls, my latest crafting endeavors, playing with my dollhouses, decorating for Halloween, my quest for the perfect vintage item, or our obsession with remodeling our Aframe cottage,

It's so nice to "meet" so many wonderful people from all over the world that share my same interests. 

Thank you! I am truly inspired by all of you!

Happy New Year and Goodbye 2015.

Merry Christmas to me! Another dollhouse!

As you know from my many posts about dollhouses, I'm avid collector and I love decorating them for the holidays as much as I love decorating my house.

I just happened to be visiting my favorite antique store last weekend and this little wooden dollhouse managed to hitch a ride home with me! 

 Yes. I'm weak.

But in my defense, the price was very good.

With its red brick exterior, it looked like it was needing a Christmas holiday makeover.

At my last birthday, my mother gave me these special Victorian dollhouse dolls and made their tiny beautiful clothes.

Merry "almost" Christmas friends!  Be sure to take time and play.