Category Archives: Behind the scenes

Summer Horse Camp

This past week was a very special one here in the Chardo home.  Our little girl went off to her first “summer camp”!  And she loved every minute of it!  The hardest part for me was leaving her, but not for the reason you might think.  I wanted to stay and join the campers!  They enjoyed lots of horse-related activities all day long, from riding and grooming to arts and crafts.  What could be better than learning about horses and playing with a family of pot bellied pigs, a lamb, a goat, and the most lovable dogs you’d ever want to meet?  I am so happy to have found this beautiful farm that is owned by the most wonderful family.  Clechachar Farm (http://www.clechacharfarm.com/) is an exceptionally run riding facility, and the summer riding camp program they offer is outstanding!  Enjoy the pictures of these ecstatic kids and their four-legged friends! 

Horse Tattoos!

The charming Bubba!

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  • paigeJuly 30, 2010 - 4:49 pm

    Love the pictures. Look like everyone had fun. What a great experience!

Good ‘Ol Family Fun

A few weeks ago we travelled to NJ for my cousin’s college graduation picnic.  I treasure every moment I get to spend with my family.  They’re the greatest!  But sadly, as the years have gone by, many of us have moved away, and so it’s not often that we can all be together at the same time.  There are unending memories of years ago that we all share.  Memories of almost every holiday together, every birthday, every picnic, every graduation and every celebration of some sort.  How I wish it could all still be like that.  I miss those days!  But our family has been growing by leaps and bounds, and now we have new, little people running around (and running US around) at every family get together.  And now, the two “youngest” of my cousins are college graduates!  Our family has a lot to be thankful for.   Here are a few pictures I wanted to post from K’s graduation picnic.  We had a wonderful time, K, and as always, we treasured the time we got to spend with you and the rest of our family.   We love you!

There’s nothing better than playing with water balloons on a hot, summer day! 

 

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  • Julie SowersJuly 21, 2010 - 10:42 am

    Looks like a day of fun!!!

Another one of my favorite, “nutty” things!

If I had to quickly ramble off a list of my favorite things, there is no doubt that peanut butter would land pretty high up on that list.  I know this may sound a bit nutty (no pun intended) but when my day calls for a quick snack between meals, you undoubtedly will find me reaching for that peanut butter and typically a banana to go with it.  While I love, love, love a spoonful of peanut butter, anytime, anywhere, I love it even more when it’s accompanied by a not-too-ripe banana.  And since PB&J is a frequent lunch here in our home, there is seldom a day that goes by that I don’t think of my peanut butter.  And this morning I finally realized just how deep my love for peanut butter is.  I had enjoyed my banana while spreading peanut butter on it after each bite.  But while picking up the container and walking back to the pantry to put it back in it’s place, I actually looked at my dear JIF and said out loud “I love you!”.  I mean, I actually said it out loud!!!!!  So yes, that probably does make me a little bit (no, probably a lot) nutty, but it’s true.  I do love my peanut butter!  And after all, it is the #1 choice of choosy moms!  And so with that, it is worthy of having its own place on my blog as another one of my favorite things.

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Happy 4th Birthday, My Sweet Sunshine!

This day, four years ago, my husband and I were blessed with our precious baby girl, Catherine Grace.  When I look back to that day, I remember it like it was yesterday – that feeling of overwhelming joy!  Our beautiful Catie, so full of energy and spunk yet so sweet and loving, turns four years old today!   She is our entertainer for sure – readily willing to sing (in its entirety) “Delta Dawn” or “On the Way to Cape May” or “You Are My Sunshing” or “Wild Thing” or any other song she has grown to love.  She LOVES to sing!  And she loves to dance too.  Although, I frequently compare her dancing talent to that of Mary Catherine Gallagher.  But she loves it and it makes her happy.  And that’s what matters.  And to top it all off, and make a great day even more special, Denise from Matilda Jane Clothing posted Catie’s picture on her blog today.  What a great birthday surprise!  I am so honored!!!   (click here http://matildajaneblog.com/ ) for the Matilda Jane blog.  You may have to scroll down to today’s date (March 22nd) to see Catie’s picture).  And when I tuck her in at night, and listen silently as she says her bedtime prayers, I can’t help but get a tear in my eye as my heart overflows with thankfulness for this little beauty.  We are so very proud of her, our tiny baby that has grown into such an amazing and adorable little girl. 

Happy 4th Birthday Catie!  And thank you for the most wonderful 4 years of “my” life!  I love you and ‘you are my sunshine’!

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The Beauty of a Grandmother

This past weekend was a very special weekend.  It was March 13th.  And the reason March 13th is such an important day in our family is because it is our beautiful Nana’s birthday!  And this year, Nana celebrated her 90th birthday!   And you would never know it by looking at her.  She is a woman who has been through so much in her life.  She is a mother with five very devoted children.  She is a grandmother who has always shown so much love and support to her eight grandchildren.  She is a great-grandmother to ten beautiful little ones who show such amazing pride for their great-Nana.  Each and every one of us were there this weekend to celebrate this momentous occasion and to thank the dear Lord for blessing our family with our beloved Nana.  Nana has been like the beacon in our lives.  She is always there to listen, to offer her wisdom, to pray for us, to do just about anything her family asks of her.  At 90 years young, she is still driving around town in her own car, maintaining her own home, still going to dances and parties (I still joke that Nana has a bigger social life than I do), and has remained almost completely self-sufficient.  So full of wisdom, love, beauty (both inside and out) and grace, she is just simply – amazing – in every way!  So despite the torrential downpours and the barely hurricane force winds that were howling outside the windows of this New Jersey restaurant on Saturday, the sun was shining brightly in the room in which we had Nana’s birthday celebration.  And the light in her eyes shone brighter than even the candles on her cake.  And so, with much love and pride and admiration in my heart, I wish you, Nana, a happy 90th birthday and a 90th year that makes your heart and soul sing with happiness!  

I LOVE YOU, my beautiful Nana!!!!!

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  • carol jacobyMarch 19, 2010 - 8:35 pm

    Christine,
    The photograph and your wonderful comments about Mom say it all. You are an incredible photographer and an awesome niece, daughter and Mom. I’m so proud of you.
    Love,
    Aunt C

  • Jane HeckmanMarch 19, 2010 - 11:55 pm

    Your beautiful Nana certainly is amazing and so are you my dear. Your lovely description of Nana projects her inner beauty perfectly and the photo you captured turned out wonderfully. Great job Christine! You make a Mom very proud.

  • LaRae NeubauerMarch 30, 2010 - 10:50 pm

    Christine your grandmother looks fantastic, she is the same as I remember her so many years ago. May God continue to bless her. Your photographs are beautiful and catch the very heart and soul of the person. Wonderful work.