{new to our home...}

halloween.

well, not really, but I have only ever decorated for

fall, not halloween.  as many of you know, my

upbringing was rather strict and skewed and i 

always just stuck to fall.  it was "safe."  so, my

mom can blame mrs. t.h. for this.  TOTALLY kidding! ;)

 but, the boys are REALLY into halloween this year.

and, of course, the scarier stuff.  no longer will they let me

drape a super-hero cape on them.  so, what's a mom to do?

i prayed.  i know that must sound so silly to most.  i get that.

but, when you were raised as i was...it's pretty much a part

of who you are now...good or bad.   so, i started trying to 

come up with answers for our family.  and, in doing so, i will

completely admit to having flashbacks of some of my VERY favorite

halloweens...the ones in witch i was a witch.  i made a VERY good

witch with all of that 80's hair.  and, my witch days were before things

went really awry at home in that department.  i LOVED it and it didn't

damage me and i didn't go to the dark side.  it was just FUN.

so, a couple weeks ago, i started collecting a small supply of

halloween decorations.  today, after i got back from the oil change,

tire rotations, wiper blade change, etc...i started pulling it all out.

i had about 45 minutes between returning home and picking up the boys.

i am spent.  primarily because of the events of the last 24 hours which

led to probably about 2 hours of interrupted sleep last night. 

and, i felt almost "wrong" for pulling it all out when so many in my family

are so sad.  and, didn't think i would blog it at all.  but, then, i realized...

terry was a GREAT mom.  i feel like i've let so much work and just 

life circumstances override the part of my mom heart that loves doing

little things for the boys. the little things i always want to them to remember

long after i am gone.   unfortunately, me putting so much off because

of all of my deadlines and unexpected interferences, i am not guaranteed

a next halloween nor a tomorrow.  so, i pulled it all out and the smiles

i got from the boys said it all.  it is nothing much at all.  and, it is contained 

in just our little area off the kitchen that will probably always be termed

the "train room" thanks to our lifelong friend thomas. ;)  but,
they were so surprised and keep telling me how much they love it.  evan
does say it could be scarier and his favorite thing is the spider.  yuck. 

and, this is the "after after" pictures thanks to having to baby proof due

to savannah.   at picture time all lights were unplugged and all things "dangly" as in the

cute spiders were piled in heaps thanks to puppy teething. 

and, overall i think it looks much more whimsical than "scary" anyway. ;) 

i have many fires that need to be put out tonight, but, for tonight

i think i will wrap myself up with the boys and savor. 

 tomorrow, i will start fresh again.   

{blissful thinking}

it's a constant struggle right now.

this time of year makes it that way for me.

i am literally "craving" domestic activities from decorating, to purging/organizing, cooking yummy comfort foods, reading multitudes of big books {as evan would say}, snuggling in winter pj's {even the ones that noah destests. the ones with the moose on them.}, listening to loads of christmas music, burning candles like there's no tomorrow, watching movies, folding warm laundry {yes, that is true!} but, typically i only want to do that for about a week or two. the laundry that is.

but, not yet as this computer is still beckoning me loudly.

i may, however, slip in a break or two this weekend.

happy weekend everyone!

ps...thanks for all the texts/emails/messages re: scott and evan. evan is doing well with no further complaints. fingers crossed there. poor scott...it is hard to watch this.....it is like the never-ending labor. i feel so bad for him!! he's being a trooper though. not sure we'll make it through this night without a trip to the er. my poor mom could not take it today and actually laid hands on him to pray. very sweet.

{pumpkin patch}

Our little pumpkin patch is planted. Depending on how it does - it may be bigger next year. Hopefully this one will produce enough that we can share the wealth!!

The end. Because I really don't want to think about fall yet. I just got to really enjoy my first day of summer today. And I won't even talk about the Christmas decor they are shelving at Hobby Lobby.

Nope.

Going to fully enjoy summer and water the pumpkins.

{fall is in the air}

or, at least i'm ready for it to be. i've had a rush of work lately, so, nothing fun is getting done and it's KILLING me!

so, for now, i will not think about mums, pumpkins, finishing the patio {will it EVER end?}, the boxes in the attic and....get back to work. but, i'll light a candle first! :)

a marathon weekend is about to begin!

ps...okay, most of you know that i am "preschooling" evan at home this year. for no other reason than the schedule, driving times, etc. but, i will say......that i am LOVING it! we have had a loose schedule up until this point - meaning, he has done alot of workbook pages, writing, etc. but, now, we are actually "schooling" and today was apple day - so a sweet apple craft, caramel covered apples with sprinkles (of course) for both boys, A writing, etc. and, even better, HE loves it!

{happy}

i am burning my first christmas scented candle....hot spiced cider by colonial candle. ahhh...just to walk into an area that smells like that makes me feel good. That brand has come to be my very favorite....although i especially love their fall scent indian summer and pretty much burn it...... year round. and, i "adorned" the candle with some pretty ribbon and a brooch. fun.

i am very conflicted right now. i have friends who have decorated for christmas and it's killing me. not that i even could right now with all of the workload, but, i am a little green-eyed. but, i still have my fall stuff up and am making myself stick with it until thanksgiving. it's tough!

what a great thing to be conflicted about! if everything could be as difficult as that! ;)

addendum: cannot get angela's link to work?

{yummy}

It's my favorite time of the year. Forget that I will say that again around March. And, the reason I am singing the praises of this time of the year........simple: Coffee Mate (the liquid variety) in Peppermint Mocha. Enough said. And, yes I am drinking a cup in a whimsy little Santa mug as I type this. Long, long night ahead. But, I'm loving the company!!