remember when

Way back when I mentioned we visited a 175 room house, I'm finally going to share some of the pictures. 

Winterthur is located in Wilmington, DE. It houses the world's largest collection of American decorative arts.

What the heck does that mean you ask? Basically it is a collection of American furniture, textiles, dishes...

Henry Francis du Pont,  the former owner of this modest little abode was a hoarder. Luckily, it was all beautiful American made things. As his collection grew, he would just add more wings onto the home. 

Don't think my husband would add on to our house for my ever growing craft supply collection. 

But when you've got money like the du Pont's you can do whatever you feel like.

The home and the grounds are simply stunning. The kids even enjoyed this tour. 

If you are ever in the area, it's definitely worth a visit!

This was part of the Enchanted Forest, a wonderful children's garden.

These are actually speakers behind the beautiful ironwork in the photo above. That was the sound system for around their pool. Pretty fancy! That's not how we roll in the cul-de-sac. I actually had a "boom box" from the 80's out by our pool for a party the other weekend! Old school baby!

A great house for a game of hide & seek, don't you agree!

easy on the eyes

You all know how much I love to look at houses. In fact, if I could have any job in the world  I would want to get paid to look at houses! ( no, don't say real estate agent, I'm not very good at selling things ) The house above just  makes me want to sit on a porch swing with a cup of coffee, green tea, diet coke with lime (insert your favorite drink)  and a book and probably a brownie. And wear an apron, I have no idea why.

 

 I do enjoy a classic stone home!

 

 White picket fence...be still my heart!

 

Cute little Cape, love the bump out front door area. Probably a cute little foyer, which I don't have.

 A very stately home. Looks a little too much like an institution for my taste but grand nonetheless. And lots and lots of windows to clean!!

 

This was the entrance to a detached garage, more like a carriage house. I'll take it!

Which one of these photos doesn't go with the rest? Remember those tests in elementary school? This was in a sculpture garden at an art museum and I just thought it was a hoot. Imagine having something like that in your yard, how could you not laugh every time you went outside!

I've got houses on the brain this weekend. Friday we visited a home with 175 rooms! Hard to call it a home more like an estate and now a museum. I'll share some pictures this week, the grounds were spectacular!!

One more week of summer vacation. I'm not ready for the madness of the school year after such a nice, relaxing summer. Why must it end?????

rough day at the office

My husband had it really rough yesterday! (do I sound bitter)

Look how stressed he looks!

Breakfast with the Philadelphia Eagle cheerleaders at the training camp. Then spent the morning on the field watching the players practice.

Followed by autographs from all the top dogs on the team. What a way to start the work week!

I spent the morning at Walmart......awesome!

things I love

 

Opening up a bag of potatoes and finding this! 

2 eyes, a nose, a mouth with a tongue sticking out...

You just have to love God's sense of humor!

 

Rainy evenings, everyone in the house just relaxing. Love nights like that!

 

Cottages! Got the whole family to watch HGTV with me tonight!

 

This girl, who has discovered a photo editing site!

She is busy turning every picture into something unique.

 I love her style!! Can't wait to see where she takes it!

This boy!!! The sweetest, most loving child ever! I just can't get enough of him!

Good thing he still loves to snuggle with his mama!!

little things

 

Sometimes all it takes to make a teenage girl happy ..............

 

From a very fancy hotel!!

 

Hotel Hershey

 You make yummy cupcakes and are so very lovely! Just wish you were in my budget!!

 

A truly magnificent place!

In this heat and their flowers still look fantastic! Wish I had their grounds crew!

boys

You may remember these boys from a previous post 

9 year old boys are crazy, silly and incredibly funny!!

 A few of them stopped by to use the pool after a very warm evening at soccer practice.

9 year old boys only talk about one thing....FLATULENCE!!!!!

That is not my favorite topic. In fact, I have never uttered the F**T word, out loud . (I've got issues)

Just really hate that word for some reason. 

However, 9 year old boys really like discussing it. 

9 year old boys can be really strange. I just hope they never change!

Love my little guy to pieces!!! And his stinky friends too!!

   

 

 

On a side note, I now have 5 fans to thank from my last post!! 

Thank you ladies, I appreciate your kind words!!

in full swing - part two

 Because my one fan, Beth has been waiting with bated breath for part two of this post that I started in June......here it is!

Is it just me or is this the fastest moving summer in history. I mean really, mid July already! What the heck happened to June? I had such great aspirations for long, lazy days of relaxing by the pool, reading several books a week, inviting friends over all the time.......you get the picture. Turns out all I was meant to do was be a taxi service for a teenager! And that girl has plans every day!!! Wow, what I wouldn't do to have the carefree lifestyle of a teenager again (just for a few days anyway).

We have managed to squeeze in a few fun activities in between all the shuttle runs. Gardens, butterfly houses, mini-golf, matinee movies and lots and lots of ice cream stops!

Local friends, $1.00 ice cream cones at the Milton Hershey school Monday-Friday afternoons. That's right $1.00 cones, and it is GOOD! Seriously good!

Finally learned how to use the Macro setting on my camera! Works really great on butterflies!

 How's your summer going? Relaxing or flying by? Can anyone with a teenager chime in....How do you keep them happy by allowing them time with their friends but also making sure you have enough family togetherness?