A Step Back In Time .......

On Saturday we took the kids to Brattonsville, SC for their Candlelight Tour. It was so beautiful! We did this 3 years ago when Lilee first came home and the kids have been wanting to go back every Christmas since, but this is the first year that we were able to go back. Just like the first time it was magical. It is truly a step back in time to the 1700 & 1800's. That is the time era that they are reliving. One side of the Street is the 1700 Brattons and the other side of the Street is the 1800 Brattons and how life was for them during that time period and how they celebrated Christmas. This year their were 6 reenactments instead of 4 and they were different. The paths are lighted by lanterns and the inside of the houses our lighted by candles. This is something you should do at least once!

This year it was really cold and made it feel much more like Christmas then the first time we went!

Did you know that this was where "The Patriot" w/ Heath Ledger and Mel Gibson was filmed? It is really cool to watch the movie after you have been here. I'm ready to watch it again. I am still said about Heath Ledger, he was one of my favorite actors! I just loved him! Especially in "The Patriot"!

Upon arriving Brattonsville, we got our Hot Chocolate and Fudge. Mmmmm..... Something the kids were really looking forward to!

Jordan took this picture of Karlton and I. He actually took a couple and none of them turned out, they were all blurry!

The side view of the main house.

Then we stopped to take a few family pictures in front of the main house.

I was hoping Father Christmas or the Old Timey Santa was going to be there this year and sure enough he was! He was telling the kids about what a Santa back in the 1700 & 1800's wore and carried in his sack, what the people back then got or gave as Christmas gifts. It was really neat!

The kids with Santa.

Then we headed over to make some candles. First we dipped strings tied to sticks into hot wax.....

Then we had to walk around a circle get back in line and do this over and over until you had a candle. All the kids, even the big boys, loved doing this.

This lady was cutting my candle off of the stick.

The boy was changing the wax out because it was getting so cold out the wax did not stay hot long!

A young girl helping with  making the candles. Isn't she sweet?

Some period soldiers shooting their extremely loud guns.... Every time one of them went off the kids would jump and scream.... lol...Sometimes it even took me by surprise!

Then we headed over to the Brattons 1700 house to hear about some earlier stories.

Then last but not least we watched them reenact dances that would have been around in that time! I think the kids liked this the best. My pictures did not turn out  because they would not let me use a flash on the inside of the building. But, I think these pictures still look very cool and old fashioned! I think some of these people look like ghosts ;0)

After the dance we checked out their gift shop, got some more hot chocolate , and then followed the lanterns back through the pitch black to our Yukan. We all had a great day at Brattonsville and can not wait to use our season passes to go back for their Civil War reenactment!

A Walk On The Wild Side

I worked on a slew of new products last week...They are so popular that they are selling out FAST! I took a couple of pictures of some of the items I have left for you all to see. What do you think? To read more about the prices stop by Cutie Patutuz . If you see something you want e-mail me at karlton5@juno.com .

There are 2 different types of headbands that you can get with any flower bow. The Crochet will infant newborn to size 6 and the Non-Slip will fit age 1- adult. I do have the black crochet headband to go with the matching Zebra Flower Bow and Shoes.

THE ZEBRA

                                                                      THE CHEETAH

Friday's Favorite Foto

It's a hard life for a SC doggy in the 30 degree weather. This is our oldest dog Daisy. She has a twin sister Daphanie that is apparently hibernating. We only see her when she is ready to eat. lol.... They are just now getting their fur back in. We shaved them twice during the summer. This is only about 1/2 of Daisy's fur coat! I thought she was too sweet not to get a picture of!

A Day To Party

This was suppose to be yesterday's post... just a little late ;0)

Last Saturday was a day of Partying for me...First Karlton and I took our 3 little ones to their Awana's Christmas Party. Where they played games.... (please excuse my son Joel in this picture, he was dressed up in his Christmas sweater but decided to take it off and just wear his undershirt...  ahhhh boys!!! At least the girls kept their clothes on ;0)

They had the parents to play games with their children....but someone needed to hold the babies... I was happy to oblige! Karlton took my spot since I had my hands full. ;0) This is my 2 little ones that I keep in the nursery every Sunday morning, Ella and Ellie.

After the game we headed to the fellowship hall where we were given a plate full of stuff we had to make something out of. Lilee and I created a snowman and a reindeer (just in case you could not tell)
lol......

A picture of Lilee and mommy working on our project. Karlton, Joel, and Sara Ava were at another table. I did take a couple of pictures of them too but they did not turn out and one was deleted by mistake. :0( After the kids ate lots of yummy goodies it was time to go.

After the kids party I took everyone home and got Jordan and then we were off to do a little shopping before and after a Christmas Tea at Calvary Church I was invited too. That silly boy stayed out in the car the whole time, and it was cold. It was even sleeting while I was in the church. I left Jordan the keys to stay warm though..He said he couldn't listen to music or read if he went into the church. But afterward he needed to go to the bathroom, so I took him on a tour of the church while we were in there. I also took him to the 3rd floor where the Lady's tea was. They were packing it all away but he still got to see how beautiful it was and meet all my friends.

The tea was so nice and beautiful! I was invited by Melanie who is the daughter of my friend Christine. Christine goes to my church and is my Bible Study. It was really great to meet Melanie after following her on her blog and Facebook! Melanie is getting ready to have their 5th child. She brought her 2 precious little girls to the Tea. They were so cute sitting their drinking their tea like big girls. I didn't get a picture of them :0(  I meet a lot of nice ladies and the music, and speaker were wonderful!

Thanks for inviting me Melanie,  I really enjoyed it!

This was the table I sat at #7. Melanie decorated this table...isn't it beautiful? My pictures do not do it justice. My batteries were dying so that is why most of these pictures are too dark or blurry.

This was my plate of yummy food... Scones and Tea what more could a girl ask for ;0)

I also got to meet another Blogger Friend that I have been following for years, Jenny... It was so nice to finally meet her! She is just as cute in person as she is on her blog. You can visit Jenny and her sweet family here.

This is Jenny's table that she decorated.... I thought it was precious!

 There were so many pretty tables (I think there were 58), they were all different but all came together and made the room look gorgeous!!! Here are a couple of tables I took pictures of, or that turned out I should say. I have to admit my party day was pretty fun!

Wordless Wednesday - Under The Christmas Tree Cuteness

My Terrific Kid (s)!

 I am so far behind on my post and pictures! I need to catch up! Here is a picture I took on my phone after Joel recieved Terrific kid at school a few weeks ago. He has gotten Terrific Kid every single year he has been in school! Way to go buddy! You make your mama so proud!

The rest of the pictures I have been wanting to post for a few weeks as well...... so here they are finally!

Christmas Mantel And Decorations

We decorated the inside of our house the weekend after Thanksgiving. The guys started decorating  the outside of the house a few weeks ago and finished over the same weekend. I need to take some pictures of the outside as well...they did an outstanding job this year! I ended up helping put some final touches to the outside. But mainly worked on the inside. I totally redid my mantel this year and LOVE it! I had this image in my head and it turned out pretty close! I have had this mirror in my attic for years.My MIL gave me this antique mirror and it was falling apart, so I decided to put it in the attic until now.... I Love it!

This is the 1st year that I have decorated with nutcrackers. My boys have been collecting them for a few years. I had to borrow some from them, plus I bought a couple for myself....

 I bought 2 "42 inch nutcrackers that I have wanted for years! They were such a good deal I could not pass them up this year!

BTW...... Sorry about the dirty mirror. It was really dirty when it came down out of the attic. I did clean it but apparently it still needs a lot more!

I added the lighted Christmas present lights as well,  those are Karlton's favorite decoration.

All the kids have a tree in their room. I have not taken pictures of those yet, so it looks like I still have lots of pictures to take. Have you decorated for Christmas yet?

This is the first time I have linked up to join in on a blog party but I had to join this Mantel Party!

Thanks

Update On Roxana And Her Family

I got an update with pictures of Roxana and her family receiving the food I raised money for, with all of your help! I just wanted you all to see what was bought from the money that You donated the first time and with the money that we raised through the Auction. I am still waiting on pictures for the furniture and blankets we bought them. So again THANK YOU for ALL of your Donations and Help!!!!
These are 2 separate times of them receiving their food. It warms my heart to see how happy they are with their food. I doubt they have ever had this much at one time before and I know it is a huge relief to the mother, she was so worried about the children not having any food to eat.

Special Requests

I am Sold Out of all my Christmas Hats and Gloves newborn - age 7/8. I will not be making anymore for Christmas unless you have a special request. I am working on some really cute winter hats, headbands, and things for infants.....So stay tuned! Go here to read more......

I am also working on Mommy flower pins! They are a hit so far! They are $5 ea. (+ shipping) let me know if you want one karlton5@juno.com . These make a great accessory for a scarf , sweater, coats, shirts, and hats! That is where I have been wearing mine and I have gotten so many compliments!

Almost Wordless Wednesday - Thanksgiving Pictures

Our Thanksgiving Meal was by Candlelight this year...

My helper preparing the meal. He even helped me with the Turkey washing that I hate...but we both wore gloves so I did not have to touch it ;0)

We do have a turkey platter that we put the turkey on. It had just come out of the oven so I could take these pictures. lol......

Yes, I know I have a dorky son.....who thought it would be funny to mess up all the pictures. But I got him ;0) (for all to see)

I bought these handmade candles from Guatemala a few years ago while on pick up trip to bring Lilee home, as you can see they started biting the dust.

Hope your Thanksgiving was a peaceful relaxing as ours was! We didn't even need to dress up ;0)