2010 Blog Recap

This thing still on?
Yes, I'm actually blogging. My keyboard keys are a little rusty even but here I go.

While I don't see myself blogging on a daily basis anymore,  I did want to recap my 2010. I like to reflect on the year past as a way to grow from it.   I also think the blog recap at Musings of a Housewife is fun and I have the day off so...here goes.

The first post of each month of 2010 and the first line of that post.   It is also linked up if you want to click over on that post. 

January -One Word
sur⋅ren⋅der
–verb (used with object)

1.

to yield (something) to the possession or power of another

Oh, this is where I pick my word of the year.  It was truly a year of surrendering.  Over and over.  And it was not easy.  I hate to be a downer but sometimes yielding to where God is leading you is just hard.  It took (and continues) more faith than I knew I even had.   I'll be doing this again soon with my word for 2011.


February - Complaining -What I Learned This Week
I wrote a bit bout complaining this past Sunday.

Still struggle with this.  Maybe my personality lends itself to always struggle with this.  This post really follows another post that is linked up there.   This was good to reflect on for sure. 

March - Duke Basketball Game

Whenever I tell someone (mostly men) where I live, I am often asked the question of which college team I show my allegiance to.

Oh this was fun!  Someone gave us tickets to a Duke Basketball game.  Great photos here! 


Oh and because I just can't resist - on March 3 we learned that our baby was going to be a BOY!



April - Oh Glorious Day!  
Just a video of a Casting Crowns song that I love.  Worth listening to.  :)


May - Freedom
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.    - Romans 8:1


Just a Sunday Word post.   But a cornerstone of my faith for sure.



June - Same Always
I have to say that there has just been so much change in my life lately, I don't even know how to begin blogging about it.

It seems that this time of the year was really the beginning of me not blogging on a regular basis.  This is a pretty good explanation of why and this was before the Baby T was even born.   My life is very different now.  No longer a full-time stay at home mom.  Mom to 3.   The change has been both so awesome (baby and job) and at times so challenging.   Good thing one thing never changes.



July - Happy July 4th!
Normally, we are at the beach over the 4th.

Oh, here are some fun pictures.  Boy it was hot this summer.  And this is just one more reminder that I did not get to go to the beach with my family this year.  :(



August -Welcome Sweet Baby Boy!
What more can I say?  Our Baby T was born on July 30.  Here are the first pictures of him.  He's changed our life in amazing and beautiful ways.  What a gift.

September - Life in Full Swing.  How do you Manage?
Life is in full swing here..

Full swing is just an understatement.  Still looking for ideas on how to efficiently manage my life.   I'm starting to get a hold on it but I have to say that I've been busier than I've ever been in my life.  Full of awesome activities, friends and family - but WHEW!

October - Thankful for Today, Hope for Tomorrow
Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1

It's good to look back on this last year and see many of my posts were focused on scripture.  It's hard to look back on this last year and know that I was clinging on to them for dear life some days.  God is so faithful, y'all.

November - Mercy
Another Casting Crowns song.   And the only post of November.
It's a great album, by the way.  Probably my anthem album for 2010 - Until the Whole World Hears.

December - 2010 Recap.
This is it.  The only post in December.  Wow.

I am looking forward to posting some new photos and updating my friends and family with the blog this year.  I do like to archive my life this way since I don't scrapbook anymore.  Eventually, I'd like to take my favorite posts and even make them into a book for my family to enjoy one day.  I expect my writing will be few and far between.  Life is just too busy.  I've got a couple drafts I'd like to finish up and publish.   We'll see.

I hope you have an awesome New Year's Eve and had a very Merry Christmas!

2009 Blog Recap

I'm taking a break from cleaning  my house to join in Jo-Lynne's Blog Recap Carnival.    Putting away Christmas is a dirty job, y'all!  I also can't remember where any of my original stuff goes.   It's kinda like redecorating your house all over again.    So, my brain needs a break - here you go -  the first post (ok, the first interesting post) of each month from 2009.   Let's see how the year unfolded here in the Dandelion Dayz household! 

January

Well, it seems that last year on the first of the January, I did this carnival, so moving right along...

Jesus and Jedi:  This marked the beginning of Bubby really starting to converse with us.     Through preschool and into Kindergarten, he was really trying to figure the world out.   I think I recorded many things that he said this year that were just hysterical.  This particular conversation was also recorded in his preschool newsletter last January.   

February

Funny enough, it started out with another conversation with Bubby  -  Summer Hot .  However, the most important thing that happened in February of last year was that we got a new dog, Elmo, and our life has been chaos ever since - Puppy Love. 

March

Joy In A Snow Day:  Our last snow day of 2009 thank goodness.  I do always enjoy an unexpected day at home with my kiddos.   I love the when it snows here, life in the outside world just comes to a stop.  It's all about sledding and hot chocolate!

April

Insert Mommy Guilt Here:  This month marked the first time I realized that we had an issue with B and UTI's.   This started the first of many tests which ended with a surgery this past December.   Hopefully, we are at the end of those problems for my girl.  

May

Flowers of Spring:  It is by far my favorite time of the year.  I love to work in the garden during this time and see all the new flowers spring up. 

June

Her Day:  Recital time for Bennett.  She loves to dance.  We love to watch her.  She started 4 dance classes this past year - whew both my time and wallet were seriously affected.  But she finds so much joy from it that we find a way to make it happen for her. 

July

Why I Love The Beach:

Okay, so this is actually my favorite time of the year.  Our annual trip to the beach.  Love this time with my family so much. 

August

We Interrupt this Unscheduled Break We started off this month by being at The Cove in Asheville - what a retreat.  Just what I needed. 

September

My Magnificent House:  Me coming to terms with loving what I have and not coveting others stuff.  Hard thing to do sometimes. 

October

Blue Hairs 

Fun with my kids!  This is my life - a mom.     I also to fulfill a lifelong dream to see U2 in October, Magnificent Indeed

November

Color My Walls:  We started 2009 with the intention of renovating our kitchen.  Thank you, Recession, for putting a dent in that plan.  We did decide to tackle some projects that were more affordable, though.    Some carpet, new paint - it gave us the facelift we needed in our house. 

December

Scrapbooking: There Has Got to Be An Easier Way.   The reality is that it takes time to document your family.  It doesn't have to be decorative scrapbooks.  Blogs, albums that you insert photos, journals - it all counts.  I just think it's important to do something.  So, I'm trying not to be so hard on myself over this.  I actually document quite a bit right here, keep a journal for each of my kids (which needs to be updated, btw) and scrapbook some.  Not to mention the videos!  It's all good, right? 

Okay, so that's it!  Looks like 2009 was just a breeze, huh? 

O Christmas Tree

Yesterday, I joined in the Christmas Tour of Homes but I thought it would be fun to dedicate a whole post to the tree.   Not that it is that awesome or anything but it does have a little story.

I love the tradition of taking the family and picking out a live tree.  We usually head to our local Farmer's Market or christmas tree stand near our home and pick out a tall but fat tree.  I survey the lot, the kids run through the rows and finally we decide on the perfect one.  Hubby ties it to the top of the van and we pray all the way home it doesn't blow off! 

It's a beautiful picture.  Except that my kids and hubby have allergies and the tree does bother them.    So, since that picture of sickness is not so beautiful we decided to go artificial.  I miss the smell so I did buy some candles and other pine smelly things for the house.

Another big change this year is that I finally succumbed and let the kids add colored lights to the tre.  And it looks very good mixed with the white lights!   I was pleasantly surprised.

I don't have more than one tree.  My house just is not conducive to that.    Also, I'm not really keen on the idea of cleaning up two trees.   So, we have one tree.  It's in our family room where Christmas morning happens.  It's theme?  Family.  Fun.  Love.    It's not the most beautiful around but it's ours and it suits us just fine!

It's full of ornaments the kids have made over the years.  I know that will not last forever, so I cherish and display each one.   Macaroni Angel.  

And ornaments from my husband's childhood.  I think this was actually on his Grandmother's tree.  She passed many of them along to us a few years ago.

Big silver and gold balls that I stuff deep in the middle of the tree and these red sparkly things that give it some color.  Like it needs anymore color!

Jesus.

Topped with a bow.  My kids would like a star and I just can't find the perfect one.

Merry Christmas from us to you!

Check out Thrifty Decor Chick's Christmas Tree Party - click the button above!   More beautiful trees!

Christmas Tour of Homes 2009

It is time for the Holiday Christmas Home Tour for 2009!  This year it's being hosted by a favorite blogger of mine and yours - The Nester!   You have to spend some time checking out her home and the many other beautiful homes linked up on the tour.  It's so fun to have a peek into everyone's homes and decorations!  Have fun and thanks for stopping by!

I decided to try a little Smilebox slideshow this year since I had so many photos.  Oh and there is music with it so press mute if you have a sleeping baby in your arms! 

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Going to Meet Some Women I Met Online

That's what I told my husband as I headed out the door on Saturday night.   Oh, and that most of them I actually had never even chatted with online!  

I've been following Kellie at La Vida Dulce for some time now and was just very excited when she put this little dinner party together!    She is even more lovely than she is online - absolutely real and beautiful!

 Me, Kellie

Even though, I felt a little out of my league, I also had a sense of camaraderie with these women I had yet to meet.    Basically, I was heading to dinner with Blog Rock Stars!  I might be more like a blog folk singer, if anything.  I started to blog for my family and as a hobby.  I'm not really a great writer.  I'm not sure that I am witty and charming to anyone but those who really know me.  I just put what is in my head out there for the world to see!  Or at least a very small corner of the world.

Kellie (La Vida Dulce), June (Bye Bye Pie), Susan (Carpool Queen)

Turns out, they do the same thing.   They were all so warm, gracious and FUNNY!  Oh my, did we laugh.   Mostly because June is just spilling over with wit, charm and funny stories.  I am endeared to her forever.  Can you be endeared to someone?  Or do you just find someone endearing?  Now, I'm all worried about my grammar when obviously, I don't worry about that any other time!  Oh well, I like her a lot for a long time, how about that?     It was such an honor to be among the real life women behind the blogs that I've followed for a long time like Kellie and June.   I recently started reading Carpool Queen and New Every Morning and just can't wait get to know the other women through their blogs, too.  

 (I'm swiping this very organized line up from New Every Morning - thank you)

From left to right: Tracey (NC Brownings), Amy (Bambino Bliss), Rachel (NC Rachel), K2 (Secret Agent/Reader), Heather (Life with the Lords), Kristen (KR & Company), Me, Susan (Carpool Queen), Kellie (La Vida Dulce), Jessica (Chubby Dove), Sandy (Seasoned Sister), June (Bye, Bye Pie), Robin (Chosen) and Gretchen (New Every Morning) - thanks for passing along the awesome picture!

We dined on amazing food and stayed until we could laugh no more, talking all the way out the door.

Imagine that?!?  Bloggers talking all the way out the door! 

Real Life: Your Life Your Blog

Hop on over to visit Sarah at Real Life and check out some other bloggers favorite posts from the previous week. Recipes, stories, photos and more!

Local Bloggers Meet! A Party Just for Us!

Oh, now this is something I can totally get into.  Bringing my blogging world into my real world!

Kellie from La Vida Dulce is having a little get together for NC Bloggers and even NC readers if you would like to come and meet some of your favorite bloggers.

I will continue to post details but so far we have a SAVE THE DATE.

Saturday, October 24  at 6 PM.

Also if any of you have mad button making skills, it would be great if you wanted to donate them to make us a button to promote the party.

Visit for more details HERE at Kellie's blog. 

Talkin' About Thursdays

One of my favorite bloggers, Genny at My Cup 2 Yours is starting a new carnival each Thursday.  Basically, she posts a topic - next week it is my least most favorite subject - LAUNDRY!   Then we (other bloggers) write our own post and link to hers.  We can go around and read about how much others hate love laundry and manage to get theirs done before their family rebels in such an organized manner.   If you don't have a blog - that's just fine.  You can leave your ideas and stories in the comments for us all to read. 

She will also be talking about favorite fall recipes this month AND favorite fall get-togethers!  I am so excited!  Go ahead and hop on over and read all about it.

I Went to a Garden Party

I almost forgot about the Garden Party over at The Preacher's Wife today!

Gardening is a hobby of mine. It is something I really love and spend way too much time and money doing. During the Spring, Hubby is constantly reminding me of my budget and not to spend the grocery money on some new plant!

We have planted a lot in this yard over the last 9 years.

A LOT has not worked out and died. Some became overgrown this year and had to be replaced. So, a little of what you will see is actually new even though we have lived here for 9 years.

I am not a great gardener, but love the process. I just keep trying and some of it happens to work out! My mom told me this year that she thinks the problem is that I try too hard.

No, the problem is - not enough fertilizer! That's what I think it is, anyway. Plus, our full sun yard has now grown into a full shade yard and we've had to change a lot. So, I am just going to try harder!

So, come on! Come along to my Garden Party!

Here's the mailbox. It is the easiest part of my yard and it gets the most attention!

Especially when the Clematis are blooming.

But then the big tree above the mailbox completely buds out and it is too shady for the Clematis. This plant is only 2 years old, so if the saying is true then I guess next year is the year I can expect big amounts of blooms! I love love love the big purple flowers on this plant. It is great to drive up to my house and be greeted by them.

Below is our main perennial garden. Right now the Shasta Daisies, Day Lily's and Coreopsis are blooming. Shades of white and yellow against the green. Earlier it was the Peony bushes, iris, and tulips. Later in the summer something called Fireworks and the Crepe Myrtle will bloom out.

Also in there is Rosemary, Basil and Thyme.

The Rosemary bush is from a ladies tea that I was a part of and it holds some fond memories. The Thyme is from my friend, Kelly's garden. My SIL gave me a mini-rose bush the year my daughter was born and thats planted in there - 7 years ago! I have killed so much in this garden it is not even funny. I think I could have put a kid through their first year of college with just the mess ups.

I am very proud of to say that Hubby built the wall for me!

I am most excited about my roses this year. Planted just a few years ago, they have been such a delight to watch bloom! Everyone says roses are hard to grow and I am so hoping they are just happy where they are planted.

I got another hybrid (yellow and pink) rose bush for Mother's Day and I wish I had a shot of it's blooms. Maybe next year!

On to the back yard... Our new patio and a couple new raised beds there! It is my new favorite spot!!!

Here is another shot of a bed that Hubby built in our back yard.

Below is my deck and some potted plants. I love doing container gardening. I find you see the most immediate gratification from putting together a great container full of flowers.

Okay, that is officially the most photos I have ever put in one post. I wish I could post more, but that should do it for this year. I hope this is an annual thing!

Thanks for stopping by! I would love to offer you some sweet tea and a spot on the new patio to chat the day away!

The Kid in Me

Check out 5 Minutes for Mom and The Kid in You Photo Contest.

Use # 105 for an exercise ball. But this one is the most fun!!!
Bounce Bounce!

The Lesson My Mom Taught Me

Today I am participating in a Meme at the Internet Cafe. The question is this:

"What is the greatest lesson you learned from your mother or a mom like figure in your life?"

This is easy peasy for me. (spellcheck does not like that word, peasy, btw)

To persevere.

My mom has always had to work very hard. She was a single mom for a long time and never ever stopped working. She always made sure we had what we needed and often sacrificed much for herself. Even today she works 50 hours a week and is in her late 50's.

She has always just moved on. And some things were not easy for her to leave behind. She has always pulled herself up by her bootstraps. Given it a second try. Or a third. Or a 2oth! She taught me to always keep trying.

Never give up.

My Mom

This is one of my all time favorite pictures with my mom.

May 1997.

As you can see, it is my wedding day.

My mom was supposed to be helping me get ready. Here I am putting my a long wearing lipstick on her, so we could have beautiful lips all day!

She was so quiet that day. Not unhappy, just quiet. She wrote me a beautiful letter that I still have and will cherish always. I absolutely love the way she is looking at me, but didn't understand it until I had my own daughter. That is one of the beautiful things about becoming a mom - you understand your own mom so much better. It's like the biggest A-Ha moment!

For more fun flashback photos go to We are THAT Family, Sincerly Fro' Me to You.

Also, check out the fun and AWESOME Mother's Day contest over at 5 Minutes for Mom. Hop on over there and vote for your favorite photo!