elle turns seven.

  

my sweet elle belle turned seven over the weekend. it still is very hard for me to grasp the idea that she is really seven. how is she growing up so fast?

this year, at her request we celebrated her birthday here at home. in recent years, we have been in new jersey and by the shore. but, she really insisted on being at home this year.

and so, we celebrated on our back deck with some singing and dancing and a simple family dinner. country music is their favorite right now and jeff and i took lots of pleasure in watching them sing and dance and giggle together.

and then, we invited some friends to stop by for cupcakes. also at her request this year- vanilla vanilla cupcakes and cupcakes with an espresso buttercream (one of my very favorites too).

happy, happy birthday my sweet elle belle!! 

 i hope you enjoyed celebrating your birthday here at home!!

a room of his own.

Finally... after living in our home for almost 3 years, I feel like Slade has a room of his own. A couple of months ago I painted his room a (dark) Alligator Skin green. It was his choice and I went with it. However, it wasn't until this past weekend that I actually hung anything back on the walls and rearranged his furniture

Since, the walls are such a dark color, I decided to accent the room with red. And, it is one of Slade's favorite colors. He has been very helpful in telling me what he likes and doesn't like. After all, it is his room and a place where I want him to find comfort.

Still on my list to do:

1. decoupage the desk with old maps
2. make a large calendar on the bulletin board that hangs on the wall in front of his desk
   
3. replace his ceiling fan
   
4. hang a few old signs that were just too heavy for me to do alone

So, although there are still things I want to do, I finally feel like the room is his. It is all about him and what he likes and enjoys. It's now his place of comfort.