Oh Fall How I Love You

Let me count the ways....

It's a Wrap

Summer's a wrap and I have to admit it wasn't the little shop of horrors I imagined it would be.  With the addition of a plethora of scheduled activities, an upped dosage of anti-anxiety meds (for myself), and a whole lotta grace between my children and myself, we created some fond memories.  The neighborhood pool and a collection of super rad neighbors assisted in the fondness aspect of summer, without a doubt.  My patient and ever enduring husband nurtured me through a short stint of medically induced menopause and didn't argue when I decided to stop the course of treatment.  Not even a slight head tilt did I receive from the man.  I sent him off for a weekend of racing, followed by a weekend of Fantasy Football drafting to make up for the trauma he endured.       

My camera wasn't a constant appendage this summer, which was partially intentional and partially because I dropped it on it's face at the roller skating rink (speaking of little shop of horrors with that place).  A podcast I tuned into recently encouraged me to put the camera away and actually live the moments I'm trying to capture.  It also gave me permission to use my phone appendage to document things when truly worth documenting.  I've been giving in to the challenge a bit and it feels kinda sorta good. 

 This was one of those moments worth documenting.  An afternoon in the creek with sweet Kristin and her girls and my other children from my sister wife Dara.  

 Kindergarten picture day.  For the love, this child.  Her beauty is undeniable, as is her sass.

 The adoption group we lead through our church is a gem in our world.  All our children (20+ of them) are a picture of God's workmanship.

 Neighbor friend, Jason, is a rock and mineral expert and has worked in oil and gas for years.  When he learned of Dude's interest in minerals and gems, he arranged a "play date" to show Dude his collection.  Deliciously darling.

 This little evil creature lived in our house for 2 weeks without our knowledge.  He dove past me one Wednesday night as I was sitting at my desk.  Enzo and I thought we expelled him out the back door until Dude woke up 2 weeks later complaining of a "FLY" in his bedroom.  Or a FREAKING BAT!  Dude is still none the wiser as we told the kids he showed up dead on the front step the next morning.  Tim actually killed him.  On accident.  Between a book and a pillow.  

 This is my happy place.  Too many, I know, but I have an Amazon problem and I can't quite figure out how to fix it.

 We purchased our own parking spot at school for this year and it's coming in handy daily.  Unless jerk moms with no respect for signage choose to park their gold mini van in it.  Yes, our name is spelled wrong.  This is round #2.  We're waiting for sign #3 to arrive.

 Nashville.  Oh sweet Nashville.  I was there last weekend for a women's infertility retreat.  This is a loaded post to come, but these two shots were too darling not to share right away.  Can you tell which shoulder is still thawing from Frozen Shoulder Syndrome? My new friend, Sonya is below.  We met through adoption group and traveled together from Denver. 

 This fuzzy shot signifies the conclusion of Dara and my very first Peace of Home design job.  Our clients gutted their entire first floor and we designed and decorated a majority of it.  Tammy had these plates of goodness waiting for us on what we call "D Day."  We decorated our pants off that day and unveiled the finished product to her at the conclusion of the 5 hours.  So much fun.  So so much fun.

 Squirt is a full time mom, minus night feedings.  She is nurturing, strict, thorough, and exasperated in her parenting.

 Dude is full time living in his imaginative world.  I saved this project of devising a potion to turn Pokemons into real life friends to a babysitter one day and arrived home to this nauseating concoction.  I did have to say "NO" to his request to put this into a squirt bottle and spray us all with it.

 And then I come home from Nashville to this next to my dinner plate.  Again, for the love.

 Now that the kids are at school every day, this is often my view.  As if I haven't said it enough, for the love.

Through my incessant pod cast listening, I've learned of so many amazing women doing amazing things with their gifts.  These products cause my heart to smile so many smiles.

Fall is on the horizon and I'm pee your pants excited about it.  Fall is joy to my temperature sensitive self.  I so much as turned down an October trip to Hawaii with Tim because of my love for this time of year.  True story.

Maxin in the Mitten Part 2

We're missin' the Mitten.  Colorado is dreamy, but Michigan summers just can't be beat.  The second half of our trip was fantabulous.  Dude was back in his typical joyful spirits, Squirt continued to rock the fun category and we had quiet time to just chill as a family (with Nana and Papa of course) and enjoy all that Michigan has to offer.

Our sister-in-law, Carin came with our awesome sauce nieces and nephews for a day.  They were a few days away from moving to DC for the next few years and managed to fit us in.  

 Dude looks a bit possessed here huh?

 Happy 15 year anniversary love.  A winery in the middle of farmland? The wine tasted like Boones Farm, but the setting was perfection.

 Nothing sweeter than a $35, hour long horse back ride through the woods.  These two went on their own and did great!  

On our way back to Chicago we stopped at Daddy's race.  He trailered the car out from Colorado and met his fellow race fanatics in South Haven, MI for a weekend race.  One of the highlights of his year.  We don't go to his races due to the loud noise, chaos and predictable heat, so we were excited to check it out. If you'd like more information about the actual racing circuit, see Tim.  Not my arena.

 Pretty hot right?

That would be my family on top of Tim's buddy's trailer, Squirt crying to come back up, and Enzo hiding under our truck.  Not a fan.

 Shermans is a staple when you're driving from Michigan to Chicago.  I've been here countless times growing up and it hasn't changed one bit. 

On our very last day we met up with our friends, who are brimming with children.  Look at these triplets.  I wanted to take them home.  Not pictured are the 7 year old twin boys.  Yes, they're that busy.  My sweet friend Rachel handles this troop with grace and patience.  It hurts my heart that we can't see each other more.  Or talk really.  You just can't find time to talk when you're balancing 7 children between the two of you.

This concludes our time in the Mitten.  We're already booked for a cottage in Holland next year and we're counting down the days.