2012- Year of CHANGE- Part 1

2012

This year has been a different kind of year for us. 

I started writing on this blog more regularly....and have fallen in love with all the blogs I "follow". 

But it came because I had fallen OUT of love with what I was doing with my life. It was a much needed creative outlet....and distraction.

Then, I had more time on my hands because I lost a (part-time) job that I had for many years and was completely overwhelmed with my task of finding another. Along with injuring my back around the same time by falling out of the back of my Suburban (who does that anyways?) THIS GIRL!

I was left with the knowledge that I truly didn't know what I wanted to BE or DO with my time....

If I could just make money staying home, taking care of my beautiful farm and family and home, I WOULD in a heartbeat! But that is not reality!

So this past summer, I got a job with a temp agency, and began life as a full-time working mom......and HATED every second of it. My children were home for the summer, and I WASN'T! 

Gunnar had the hardest time with it....and would cry in the morning as I left. 

One day, I held him tight and made a promise that I would NOT work another summer. And was scared to death that I had no guarentee of keeping that promise! 

As the summer drew to an end, I received a call from our local elementary school. (I had long before applied there). They had many openings and wanted to see me for an interview. 

Was this the answer to my son's request? My promise I gave him?

The interview went EXTREMELY well, I thought, and I left there with high hopes of good, steady employment. 

Good news came a couple days later!!! I am now an employee for our school! 

My official title is "Teacher's Associate". 

But my little preschoolers call me "Ms. Kim". And one semester into it, I am completely IN LOVE with 38 little ones.....and have finally found where I am supposed to be.....

....at the same school as my own children, I take them to school....bring them home....we go out for friday after-school dates to Frozen Yogurt shops.....and most of all....

.....WHEN THEY ARE HOME, SO AM I.......

{sigh}

See, sometimes change IS a good thing! But it just takes a while to reveal itself!

~Kim

Christmas Around Our Home 2012

Deck the Halls with boughs of holly....FA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA

Tis the season to be jolly.....FA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA

Don we now our gay apparel......FA LA LA  LA LA LA LA LA LA

Toll the ancient Yuletide carol.....FA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA

See the blazing Yule before us.....FA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA

Strike the harp and join the chorus.....FA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA

Our downstairs "Charilie Brown" tree...all decked out with the kids' ornaments

Follow me in merry measure......FA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA

While I tell of Yuletide treasure.....FA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA

Fast away the old year passes......FA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA

Hail the new, ye lads and lasses.....FA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA

Sing we joyous, all together......FA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA 

Heedless of the wind and weather.....FA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA

These were really the only spaces that I focused on this holiday season. Time and money constraints! But I actually like the more "simplified" theme this year....well, simplified for me anyways! :)

Besides our mantel in the Coffee Room and our front room being all Christmas-y...I let the kids decorate their own rooms for the holiday....and I showed you a pic of my son Gunnar's tree (decorated by him of course:)

While the upstairs is the style I most gravitate towards now...natural, found items....I go old-school in the basement (for the kids!)

I show my ever-growing Santa collection, and homemade gifts from years past. We DO spend Christmas morning in the basement...this is where Santa delivers his toys!! 

And here are some quick snapshots of how I chose to display our holiday cards....

burlap and clothespins of course!

I hope everyone has a MAGICAL Christmas this year!! 
I know that I can't wait to see what 2013 brings!
~Kim

Our Christmas Mantel 2012

In true Baileywife fashion....I am NEVER done decorating!

I tweek, I re-do, I OVER-THINK....

Our "finished" (for now) Mantel 2012

Sweet little Cowboy Santa given by my mama

With all the technology overload that is becoming "normal" (and fun!),

like Pinterest, blogs, etc.....I am even more perplexed on how to decorate for Christmas this year!

Not that my home will ever get into the pages of a magazine, or Martha Stewart will ever come and visit MY home....but someone inside me wants it to be perfect...FOR MY FAMILY. I want it to reflect who we are, and show what matters to US. 

I have become OBSESSED with "natural" decor, re-purposed items, and doing all our decor on a very tight budget. The only new item I have purchased for this holiday decor season is wrapping paper! :)

I had my boys cut some grapevine from our fence rows, and stuck it here, there, and everywhere.

And made a garland with some twiggy stars that I've had and jute twine that I have purchased by the truckload! 

Here is how my mantel started out...I actually thought I wanted a very "simple" look this year, and contemplated just throwing up the stockings and calling it good.

My not-so-merry start to decorating this year

My children begged me to add "more Christmas" to the room and fireplace. And to be honest, I just wasn't feeling it either....and needed that extra nudge to re-think and get more creative. 

I am so happy that I did...and looking into this main focal point of our Coffee Room, I am pleased with the result, and the fact that I did not spend a dime!

These are the Parties I have linked to....check them out!

~Kim

Our Christmas Tree 2012

When planning the layout of our home.....14 years ago, we were a very "young" family with 2 small children.

We did not know much in design or what we really wanted. But one thing we agreed on and had enough thought in was our Front Room. Baileyhusband affectionately named it our Christmas Tree Room. 

Bailey Christmas Tree 2012

Going to the tree farm is interesting for our family.... it is always a negotiation when all 6 of us go in different directions and have our "Favorite"....

It's a small one this year....just 6-ish feet tall.

 I honestly don't think we have all agreed on which one to get....and in the long run, it doesn't matter, because once it is in our home and decorated...it is agreed to be the best one yet!!

I have a sort of love affair with nature....birds.....nests......and snowflakes! And my tree is an assortment of all of that. 

feathers via Felipe our White peacock, naturally shed

My children have a tree in our lower level that they get to decorate with all of our "family type" of ornaments (i.e. hodgepodge, theme-y, personalized) and it is perfect for their space! I will show that room on another day this month....

Follow along at The Lettered Cottage to see more Holiday Home ideas....and I will be back in the days to come and will show you the rest of our rooms!

Merry Decorating!
~Kim

Our Thanksgiving Table

Warmth, love, laughter, family, food....

That is what is going to be around our home tomorrow.

Today, I am a busy little bee getting ready for the 20 feasters that will be around our dinner table!

I still like to do a centerpiece for our table, but keeping it low will allow for better conversation.

And believe me....us 4 SISTERS and our mama will sit there for about 5 hours telling stories, laughing, catching up, and planning our next holiday get-together...Christmas! (and the shopping trip we take together the day after this great meal we are sharing.)

Our kitchen island is ready for it's BIG JOB of being the "Dessert Station".

My mama is bringing all the pies....so I have left room for all her beautiful goodness.

The backdrop of our dessert station is the Turkey Platter that is a family heirloom. 

Technically, it should probably be used for serving our turkey on...but since it is so sentimental, I just can't bear to actually use it. :)

I am now working on the "Beverage Station", followed by hor d'oeurves appetizers munchies, and of course the main course and side dishes. I am clearing my counters of EVERYTHING so we have plenty of room for all this Thanksgiving food. 

The Beverage Station

For 20 people ranging in ALL ages....I like to have a variety of drinks for the meal and dessert. 

We are planning on serving tea (2 flavors), ice cold WATER....which is better for filling your tummy with actual food instead of drink....and hot tea, cocoa, and coffee for dessert. 

Planning it all ahead of time makes for a more relaxing holiday for this hostess. We serve the food buffet style...and have tables set up all over our great room so we can all be together.

Now if only this were the end of getting ready for guests....

Off to clean toilets! :)

Hope everyone has a wonderful FAMILY AND FRIENDS AND FOOD- FILLED Thanksgiving!

~Kim

Turkey Time! And no more POO.

I bet most people don't have to shoo pesky little turkeys off of their back deck!

Now I love living on a farm as much as the next girl.....but these creatures (as funny as they are) were not very well-liked by me! If they just would have stayed down by the barnyard where they belonged!!!

But, instead, this BaileyWife had to be scooping poo off of her deck, her front porch, and her patio.....

ALL.THE.TIME.

I was a little embarrassed when company would come over and I had to explain the poo.

The only thing that I enjoyed was the COMIC RELIEF that we had watching our daughter, Sierra, run from the turkeys. Here she is scaling a gate to get away from the monsters that "Are going to EAT ME!!"

Sending Sierra down to do chores was an adventure when these lil guys were around...

her FEAR of birds is actually a real phobia....and even though it is probably a cruel thing to do....a person just cannot help but laugh! 

But THIS WAS THE LAST STRAW! This is why the turkeys no longer live at Irishman Acres:

My water fountain became a daily ritual for them....kind of like "Morning Coffee". After the poo clogged  it a couple times.....and my flowers were trampled on.....this mama had enough......

They went to live at another farm down the road.....and I hope they don't find their way back here anytime soon! 

My fountain and I are keeping our eyes out! :)

I will just stick to chickens and guineas and peacocks THANK YOU!

Happy Turkey Time to All my blogger Friends!!

~Kim