Happy Halloween!

I haven't been the best blogger lately, I've typically tried to update once a week, but that hasn't been happening. Bare with me, I'll get back in to the swing of things soon.

We had a fun day getting ready for halloween tomorrow. Liv and I had a nice little mother/daughter time. We made sugar cookies, & carved pumpkins. Olivia is super "girly" she insisted on making pink, purple, yellow, and lt blue frosting for the cookies. Definitely not the traditional colors for Halloween. AND she wanted to carve out a heart on her pumpkin. That's okay though, I like our little purple cats, blue moons, and pink pumpkins--we must be reading a little too much pinkalicious around here.

As for me, I'm feeling like I'm in a little valley at the moment. I've been working a ton over this last month, way more than I'd like to be. I have learned a lot since I've started working, mainly, how much I LIKE being home with my kids, and providing a loving home. I realize how much I could actually get done, though at the time it didn't feel that way. Now I feel like I'm constantly juggling work, and my life as a mom and wife. I have a different perception on working moms now, and I tip my hat to those of you who choose to do both. I'm still not sure if I'm cut out to be away from my family, and will give it a little more time before I decide. I was ready for a balance, and break from mommyville, but not desiring it as much now. Time will tell, I'm waiting on the Lords answer for this one. It would be a no brainer if I didn't like my job, but I'm really having a lot of fun, and meeting some pretty amazing folks along the way.

Can't believe we only have a couple more days left in October!
Happy Halloween, BE SAFE!

"Each day of our lives we make deposits in the memory banks of our children." Charles R. Swindoll

This was the first Friday I've had off in over a month. Shane was able to take a half day today so that we could get out of the house and go enjoy a "family day." We had a blast picking out our pumpkins(Liv had about 15 in our cart,) playing in the trees & leaves, picking a few apples, and enjoying a quiet lunch. The first farm we went to was packed out, so we drove around and found a little quaint place and the kids had the entire pumpkin patch and orchard to themselves up until the end. It was so nice! Of course Nolan thought every pumpkin was a "ball" and was trying to eat everything around him. Liv was so docile at his age, and didn't stick everything in her mouth like her little B. He's a stinker, and typical 1 year old I'm sure. We wanted to hit one last place on our way out. It has a huge glass case which is full of honey bees and I thought it would be fun to search out the queen bee. Olivia and I did this a couple weeks ago. Liv got a rather worried look on her face and said-
"No mom, I don't want to go there, I don't want to see the queen bee with the big red back." What I think she meant was the red dot? And then I explained why the queen has the red dot. Next she says-"that poor lady bee has a big red dot on her back from the sun, the sun burned her back and she's sun burned." Oh the mouths of babes!

I have missed hanging out with my little tribe, all of us together. My husband is doing a stellar job at picking up were I leave off when I head to work, thank you babe! The kids love spending time with their daddy too, Olivia got sad on Monday when it was Shane's turn to go back to work. Our schedules have been like a 3-ring circus over the last month, but things are FINALLY smoothing out, and I feel like I can breathe again. But most importantly spend more time with the people I LOVE SO MUCH!

Happy Fall Everyone! Hugs~

Afternoon Delight

Feeling a little "mother guilt"

I was just looking at my picture files from the first week of October 07. That's right, a year ago, October 2007--I'm at least one year behind on both my kids pictures, albums, etc, and I haven't rotated pictures in my house since last fall--It's sad, I know. I used to be so prompt with picture stuff, but unfortunately, that's changed. I'm unorganized in this area of my life for the time being. Maybe the upcoming cold, Fall weather will give me some inspiration to get inside projects done. AT LEAST that's what I'm hoping for. Anyhow, just wanted to post a few dusty pictures(which at this rate are on their way to being archived,) from last October, during this same week. Not a lot of exciting things going on in our world right now. Just a sick little munchkin :-( and babysitting our neighbors goldfish(Dorothy--who Olivia insists on checking every 5 minutes.) Hope this note finds everyone well! Xoxo

I can't believe how dark Nolan's hair was--he's such a Blondie now!

We're still working on the thumb sucking, but it's at a bare minimum now--crossing our fingers she'll be over it soon!

Daddy & NJP

The good ole' days when your baby would sleep right on your chest-oh how I MISS that!

Nolan & Sis, he's looking at her with blank stares :)