Celebrating my sister and bride to be Bethie

A couple weeks ago my sisters (all except Ruthann) and Beth's maid of honor, Bethany all came together for a little celebration of Bethie! We had so much fun with a mall scavenger hunt that Bethany planned and then we had a good time back at our brother's house where we had food and fun! Tirzah of course had to join the girl time and she had a wonderful time because she follows in her Auntie Maddie's footsteps and she LOVES the mall! I have never seen such a difference between boys and girls but Gideon would happily stay in Barnes and Noble than walk around the mall but Tirzah--she LOVES to just walk in the crowds, grab clothes and she talks and coos the whole time! So she was definitely assigned to a team...we were given clues to stores and pictures of items to find and get our pictures taken with. It was so much fun!

The lovely ladies to celebrate the evening!

My team!

What can I say?

Eating one of the clues as she plays the game with Auntie Maddie and Miriam

Bride to be and Maid of honor!

Don't I look lovely???

Making faces in the mirror

She finally got Auntie Bethie's hat

Gorgeous sister Maddie

A dress from the past...

Many years ago when my baby sister Ruthann was about the same age Tirzah is I made her a little cotton dress! I loved making something so small and she looked so adorable in it...well it got passed on to some friends at our Church that had two little girls and they got some great use out of it. Then when I had Tirzah I was visiting my families Church and the young mama came up to me and said that her girls had loved wearing the dress (with pantaloons) but she wanted me to have my handiwork back for my little girl! So the other day I was able to put Tirzah in it for the first time...and boy does she look cute! I am inspired to make her many more dresses!

So happy!

I just love this girl!

Picking Chestnuts

Our little home on the mountain has been blessed with a big chestnut tree and every year it rains down on us many chestnut balls...of course if you don't get them almost as soon as they fall the squirrels grab them and steal the chestnuts leaving just the prickly shell. So this year we are trying to be fast and gather the chestnuts whether they are completely open or not and then setting them in the sun so they split and make it much easier to get the nut inside. If you have never seen a chestnut pod, they are extremely prickly and their thorns are very sharp. They go straight through your gloves, but once they split it gives you enough room to squeeze out the nut. The squirrels are fast but this year I am determined to make them share!

Closed pods, drying in the sun

Open, empty pods

Beautiful chestnuts harvested

Shells left by the squirrels

Fall Friendship Swap

So last year I discovered the most amazing blogger named Kristen, then I found out that she grew up with my husband and live close by. So I was able to meet her and I was instantly drawn to her charming personality. She is so creative and I learn so much from her blog and I draw a lot of inspiration. She shares hospitality tips, wonderful recipes and just creative things she makes or does. She also introduced me to thedatingdivas and that has endeared her to me as well because she is very much in love with her husband and shares fun things she does to keep that love alive!

All that to say, she is hosting a Fall Friendship Swap where you put together a small box of fallish things that you make or buy and you send it to someone new that will send you one as well. Doesn't it sound like fun? And I think it will inspire me to decorate my home and put aside some time to make some cute things! So go and check out her amazing site and sign up to do the fall friendship swap!

Updates on the Children

Gideon turns the big two next month and I can hardly believe it! He is as cute as a button and is talking up a storm now. He likes to do what mommy and daddy are doing and he is repeating most words we say. He can put words together now in short sentences.


Tirzah is getting to be quite the big girl as well. She is seven months old and can sit quite well, roll over and scoot wherever she wants to go. She loves to eat her applesauce but she still nurses great. She is starting to sit in the high chair to chow down while we eat meals so she doesn't feel left out. She is also starting to talk up a storm. And she LOVES the mall!

In some ways he is growing up...drinking "tea" every morning

In some ways he can't let his babyhood go...

Tirzah is eating crackers in the high chair now!

Shelor Family Pictures

The Shelor family all got together this past week and we had lunch at Firehouse Subs...then we all had fun getting a family picture. The people at Firehouse were very obliging allowing the guys to put on the jackets and take our picture...Look at our growing family---three sons, three daughters in law and three grandchildren with one on the way...all within the last three years (Benjamin and Jamie will have been married three years next month)

Guys: Dad, Joshua, Daniel, Benjamin; Ladies: Mom, Stephanie, Alaina and Jamie; Gideon, Tirzah and Judah

Yes, I can shoot!

Target Practice

The Guys!!!

Joshua...he's really good!