Curly Top

My kids have the most amazing hair!  I know these curls won't last forever, but they are so darn cute and I am enjoying them before he wants them all cut off!

Happy Birthday Jay!

Happy Birthday Jay!!  You can finally say you are the same age as me and not younger...you had a 3 day grace period!

Since Jay was out of town for his birthday, we surprised him when he got home on Friday night!  Max and Arabella decided that he needed to have a HUGE "Caterpillar" balloon for his birthday.  They couldn't wait to surprise him with it!

We had chocolate cake...his favorite and a low key evening!  We hope you had a fun birthday and that you enjoyed your surprises!  Here's to a great 39th year!

My Birthday

Today was the most perfect Autumn day.  I loved that it started out cool and sunny and then warmed up, just the way I remember my birthday's growing up to be.  Arabella and Max (and Jay) made sure that my day was special and since it fell on a Saturday, it was nice to be able to spend the day together as a family.

I was treated to breakfast in bed.  Arabella was so excited to give my the card that she had made me.  And it is the cutest thing to see how excited Max gets when she is excited - they "feed" off of each other and I love it.

Since the weather was beautiful, I decided that I wanted to spend it outside.  We went to Hall Family Farm in Charlotte.  It isn't too far away and it was so nice.  They had a pumpkin patch to pick pumpkins, play areas for the kids, a hay ride and 2 corn mazes.  We decided to do the large corn maze, which paid homage to Edgar Allan Poe, one of my favorite authors from high school.

We didn't hit all of the stops we were supposed to, but we can't help that we found the exit, after almost an hour, first.  Arabella loved leading the way and Max was good.  He wanted to walk some of the way and at other times be carried.  It was fun trying to find our way out!

After the corn maze, we decided to hit the pumpkin patch and hayride.  I loved hunting through the pumpkin patch to find the perfect pumpkin - Arabella does too and Max just follows after her.  We also had a blast on the hayride.  They make it fun but having you search for seasonal items hidden along the route.  We even got to enjoy fresh apple cider and warm cider donuts.

The afternoon was just perfect.  And to finish off the day, we ordered take-out from City Tavern that was delicious and then I had my favorite cake...an ice cream cake!  Arabella and Max helped me blow out my candles.

I had a wonderful day surrounded by the people who I love and who love me.  I am so blessed and thankful to God for those blessings.  Here is to an amazing 39th year!

As a side note, it is crazy to think that 365 days from now, I will be 40!  Seriously, I never thought that I would say that.  How have 38 years come and gone so that I am now 39????  I always tend to reflect on my life and what I have done and what I would like to do during my birthday month.  So I am sure over the next year, I will be trying to accomplish things that I have wanted to do for some time.  Here is to a kick ass, 39th year that I am going to make the most of!!

Gymnasts!!

I loved gymnastics when I was little and practiced for years.  Arabella has the gymnastics gene and we practice her tumbling together.  One afternoon we were doing back-bends at the same time and Max kept crawling underneath us!  Silly boy, good thing we are both pretty good at them!

Ice Cream Outing

A few weeks ago, I went to the first parent teacher conference of first grade.  I was a bit nervous - what parent isn't when you have no idea how it is going to go.  Arabella's teacher is great. She is a National Board Certified Teacher and Arabella thinks she is great teacher.  So far, everything is going great and Arabella is thriving in her class.  She us above first grade level for her reading and writing and on track with her math.  We couldn't be more proud of her.  To celebrate her great 1st report card, she and I went to a new ice cream store in town, Liquid Gold.  To make the ice cream, they add liquid nitrogen to the cream/milk and the fruit and other ingredients and mix it up right in front of you.  It is pretty neat to watch and the results are yummy too!  Arabella had chocolate peanut butter and I enjoyed orange creamsicle.  

Hello October

I love October.  Maybe it has something to do with being my birth month.  There is nothing I like more than wearing sweaters, the crisp autumn air, the crunch of leaves beneath my feet - the list goes on and on.  It also brings back happy memories of growing up in Connecticut.

These images speak to me and are what October looks like to me.  Here's to a great month!

And for fun, an October bucket list...some may be hard to complete living in the South, but I'm going to try.

(photo credit is not mine...they were found through Google images and the owners are noted in the watermarks.)

8 Years

It is hard to believe that it has been 8 years since our wedding.  Wow - time is flying!!  It creeps up on me so fast that I can hardly believe that today is our anniversary.  We have been on quite a journey these past 8 years.  Some ups and some downs but we always get through them.  This past year hasn't been the easiest here in Charlotte...mostly for me as it is quite the adjustment, but this is what I signed up for.  Thank you for all you do for me and our family.  We are so lucky to have you.  Happy Anniversary, Jay, I love you.

And thank you for the beautiful surprise that you brought me home.  I love them and the roses remind me of the ones that were in my wedding bouquet.