My 2016 Halloween Tree Reveal

It’s that time of the year when I start getting the antsy to unpack Halloween decorations.

I spent most of last weekend getting our annual full-sized tree decorated.

Handmade ornaments mixed with lots of vintage Halloween picks collected from estate sales, fill the branches.

For those of you who have followed me as long as I've been blogging, you know that our family {loves} Halloween!

NOT the icky, scary, gross-kind of Halloween, but the fun, vintage, Orange and Black Halloween! This year, marks our 25th annual Halloween party.  

I can hardly believe we've been doing this for 25 years.   

As you can see, my Halloween tree is extra full this year.  It’s definitely our favorite time of the year!! Happy "early" Halloween!

Feeling crafty!

I've been needing some crafting time BADLY.  My latest Instagram obsession is Heidi Kenney from mypapercrane .  Although I will never quilt, or knit or sew, or design amazing fabric (and she does all of these things and more) she made an absolutely awesome wreath that I couldn't stop thinking about. 

You really need to go visit her blog if you aren't following her on Instagram.  Her wreath version is different from my own featured here.  She's so clever!

You can find all sorts of faux gourds at Dollar Tree and Dollar General right now and then it's a matter of getting creative with paint and putting together some type of wreath base.

The possibilities are endless!

This is just such a fun project. Happy fall crafting!

PS.   I'm so behind on blog visits.  The new university semester start up always kicks my butt, but I promise to start visiting again.  Pinky swear. 

College Adventures!

Thank you for all the kind words regarding the death of my father in law.   Each night, we keep expecting the phone to ring and for him to ask about in our latest West MI happenings.  It's going to take time.  Sigh.

In the midst of sadness, we are also celebrating major milestones... such as Emma's move to college!

On Monday, we transported a very full van to the GVSU Allendale campus.  Her dorm room is apartment style and it's pretty darn amazing!  Thank you Jenny (our awesome niece) for suggesting that Emma request her former building.

Emma is living with her best friend.

They have a private bathroom.

Decent floor space.

And a mini kitchen.  Yes!  They've successfully cooked a few mac-n-cheese meals already!

Josie has had fun visiting and checking out her big sister's college desk/study space.

It's been a week of new transitions for everyone.

Josie has missed her big sister like crazy and Emma's cat (Luna) continues to sit outside of her bedroom door each night waiting for her to come home.

Overall, we're so excited for Emma's new college adventures.  She's going to do amazing things!  

Go Emma, go!!!  Welcome freshmen GVSU class of 2020!

A big loss...

I've been absent from blog land.   My father in law died last week. 

My husband had spent the last several weeks traveling back and forth across the state and living out of hotel rooms to be closer to the hospital, but none of us really thought he would be really gone from our lives.  73 is much too young.  

I have to share part of the obituary that my husband wrote.  Leonard Kenward will be remembered for his giving nature, his generous heart, and unwavering wish for all of his children and grandchildren to be happy and successful. 

He was a constant thread in all of our lives and was the first person we went to in times of struggle, need, or great celebration. His presence and daily involvement in all of our lives will be greatly missed. 

We anticipate Heaven to be filled with lots of golfing, plenty of fishing, daily video poker, reminiscing with those who have gone before him, and lots and lots of laughter. 

Goodbye, Papa.  We love you lots and lots.

Summer fluffing...

All my patriotic decorations have been packed up at home and I’ve pulled out a few of my favorite summer treasures. 

 A few of them were recent additions from estate sale land, including the sand pail shovel with the mermaid.

The shells were collected from our recent trip to Florida in April. The vintage sailboat teapot was a Goodwill steal. My grandmother had the exact same style teapot and I remember it fondly.

I’ve been picking aquarium figure and castles from estate sales. I just love their onion top shaped roofs.

 I’ve shared this picture in previous blog posts, but the little girl in the sunglasses is me with my Dad probably around 1970. Love those big purple sunglasses.

 I hope you are staying cool. Have a thrifty crafty weekend, friends.