About Last Week And Maybe The Week Before Too

Hello friends. It has been non-stop party party party here for the past couple of weeks leaving little time to blog. I will hopefully not feel the need to tell you absolutely everything here today, but I make no promises. 

Two weeks ago hubs trekked over to Tennessee and brought his momma back to the lake to spend the week. While she was here we had a minor repair to the flashing and shingles around the chimney which meant a lot of hammering and banging. The actual work made a bit of a mess, but the roofers did a great job, tidied up before they left, and it's done now which is what matters to me. 

While this was happening we also had our front door refinished. It takes a beating from the sun, and we've been in this house nine years now so it was time. The job was supposed to take just a couple of days but ended up taking the whole week (minus the day the roofers were here). 

That's because they had to remove the door, seal the opening with plastic, sand the door, restain it, then tone down the stain on the interior because hubs thought it was too shiny and amp up the stain on the outside because hubs thought it was too matte, then seal the whole thing, and re-hang. It looks like a brand new door so a job well done. 

This is interesting, isn't it?

Hubs mom and I got out every day to do something fun, and she got to spend time with the greats which made her so happy. They all came here for dinner one night and it was the right kind of weather for a fire so we made s'mores. 

That Friday our neighborhood social committee hosted a Veteran's Day event and she enjoyed that too. They do a really nice job with this evening and everyone brings an appetizer or dessert to share. My mother-in-law and I had gone to a flea market on Wednesday and I bought some beautiful tomatoes there.  I made a Caprese style flag that turned out really pretty. 

The 'stars' are black olives. 

Hubs and I took his momma back to Tennessee Sunday after church. We spent the night at hubs brother's house, then drove home on Monday morning because we had our monthly wine dinner that night. 

Let's pause for a moment and give this cake its due. So delicious! It's a Portokalopita aka Greek orange phyllo cake. I will be tracking down a recipe online to recreate. 

Tuesday I had book club and Mah Jong, oh and daughter2 and her littles arrived to spend a few days. She stayed over at her sister's this time which was fun for everyone. The cousins had a great time together and so did the sisters. 

Cousins...

Be still my heart. 

Wednesday everyone came over here in the afternoon and I gave the kids their Christmas pajamas so we could take the most adorable photos ever! and also have dinner together. I'm not posting any of the pics as I'll use one in our Christmas card. 

Congratulating myself for not overthinking the pajamas, for buying as soon as I saw them, for remembering to take a picture of the grands all matchy matchy. I got the LAKE pjs, holly jolly for the boys and sugar plum dreams for the girls. I've never bought any of their kid wear, but their women's pajamas are really comfy. 

Hubs snapped this photo of the night sky-

Thursday the boys had school but the rest of us met for breakfast at a local spot we love. 

Hubs went on to the office for a bit and the girls and I (plus the three littlest littles) went to Hobby Lobby and Belks. Here's my haul-

The bedding was from Belks. I've been wanting to add Christmas linens to the bedrooms and decided this was the year to get started.  As we were leaving the restaurant hubs snapped this picture-

It's one of those pictures that plays tricks on your mind. You see moms walking their little ones to the car. I see teenage girls who dreamed of raising babies together living their dream. 

Hubs and I had plans to meet up with friends later that afternoon to talk about a potential trip in 2026. It sounds exciting so hopefully it all works out. My daughter invited us to come for dinner, but we were tired (ya think?!) and said we'd just eat leftovers at home and let them have sister time that evening. 

Friday morning everyone came to us after breakfast so the girls could divvy up my Snow Village. I've had the Snow village for decades and I love seeing it all set up around Christmastime. I don't have a great place for it in this house, and honestly the set up and take down was starting to bring me more stress than joy. Recently Daughter1 said she wished she had a snow village in her new house, and I told her I'd happily hand mine over. Half anyway, and half to her sister. 

So we pulled out the boxes and they took turns choosing who got what and in the end I think everyone was happy. I'll enjoy seeing the village in their homes and am glad they're excited about setting it up. 

Still here? 

Daughter2 got on the road back to Tennessee about noon, Daughter1 took her gang to the library and hubs and I had a day date. I'll save that for tomorrow. You're welcome. 

Saturday Daughter1 and her hubs had a day date of their own, and we were in charge of the three grands. They were excited for a sleepover at Nana and Pawpaws and we were excited too. They were dropped off here about one and we started the afternoon with ice cream sundaes. Or Saturday 'sundae's as Max likes to say. 

The weather was beautiful so we went to the park for a while. I played a little soccer and y'all it's been a minute. Hubs helpfully yelled from the sideline, 'don't hurt yourself' and you'll be relieved to know I did not. I called for a sub and hubs played the rest of the afternoon and I pushed Little Miss on the swing which felt less risky. 

We came home and everyone played here before dinner. We watched some football which the boys also enjoy and played some games then had dinner, Mississippi roast and mashed potatoes which everyone loves. After dinner it was baths and showers and then movie time. Hubs made popcorn and we watched The Incredibles and then everyone went to bed with nary a complaint. 

Sunday morning we went to church and met the parents there for the switch. After the service hubs and I stopped and got Mexican food for lunch and then it was home for some afternoon r & r, which translates to blogging on the couch for me, and football at a friends house for hubs. Watching, not playing just in case that wasn't clear. 

And I think that brings us up to speed. 

Mostly. 

So, what's new with you? 

This post is linked with Hello Monday hosted by Holly (Pink Lady) and Sarah (Sunshine and Books).