Life Lessons {Halloween edition}

Oh, hey there...it's been awhile, hasn't it? 

Despite my lack of enthusiasm for blogging lately, life is marching along and things are going quite well.  Like the rest of the Internet (well, the northern-hemisphere set of it anyway, I guess?), we are enjoying fall, pumpkins, and slightly cooler temperatures.  No pumpkin spice lattes here, though.  I do not share in the popular affinity for all things pumpkin-flavored.  Pumpkins are only for carving and decoration in my house.

Speaking of pumpkin carving, that's a fall activity that was a first for our family this year.  I realized Jeremy and I had never carved one together, and that the girls had really never even seen a real jack-o-lantern up close.  (We always do the pumpkin patch and have them around, but usually they just sit on the porch and look pretty.  One year we let the girls paint pumpkins, which was...messy.)

So, about two weeks ago, I picked up a good-sized pumpkin that looked about right for a smiling jack-o-lantern, and we got to work.  As we began the process, Jeremy proved to be quite clueless about the whole process, and admitted he didn't think he'd had a carved pumpkin, EVER.  I have not verified this fact with his mom yet, so we'll see what she says about that.  That husband of mine 'misremembers' things pretty often.

I drew out a simple face and J got to work with the kitchen knife.  No fancy carving tools here (and yes, it shows).  We ended up with a passable jack-o-lantern, not bad at all for our first try!  A & M were thrilled, of course, and had many questions about each step of the process.  They enjoyed digging their hands into the pumpkin guts and cheered when we lit the candle.

One thing I forgot (or 'misremembered', maybe?) about carving pumpkins?  It's best to wait until a couple of days before Halloween.  Our two-week-old pumpkin is currently collapsing into a pile of mold and ooze on the front porch railing.  Jack-o-lantern fail.

On top of that Halloween misstep, rain and thunderstorms are predicted for tomorrow night.  Our neighborhood is a prime spot for trick-or-treaters, so we have stayed home the last few years and enjoyed handing out candy to the crowds of kids that come by.  I gave the girls a choice of staying home and handing out candy or doing a little trick-or-treating of their own this year.  Of course they chose trick-or-treating, and have been rather excited about it.  I'm still not at all sure what we'll do since it's likely to be pouring rain, but I have begun preparing them for a bit of disappointment.

At least their pink rain boots will match the Batgirl costumes!

The State of Affairs: September 2013

We have been dreaming of September for months and months, for one simple reason:  VACATION.  (Well, Jeremy has been dreaming of it for something like eight months, for another reason:  college football.  But I digress.)

This year's annual visit to Gulf Shores was every bit as fantastic as we hoped.  We had a solid week full of the beach, pool, naps, food (and more food), shopping, and just being together.  There was not one rain cloud in the sky during our entire vacation, and it was just about a picture-perfect trip.  I have lots of pictures to share, but none on this computer, so that will have to wait.

Beach naps are the best!

Other than our trip, September was relatively low-key.  Football season began, which means it's officially fall in the South, regardless of what the calendar or the thermometer says.  That makes me think of this passage from Rick Bragg's All Over but the Shoutin', that has resounded through my head for weeks now:

Before the hot, wet air even begins to give way to the odd cool breeze, before the oaks and maples have begun to turn even the slightest bit red and gold, football banishes summer and announces, with crashing cymbals and an earth-quaking "Roll Tide", that it is now, officially, fall.

 So yeah, fall has been here for awhile, even it is only just beginning to feel like it.

Books read: 4

Pretty much all of these were read on our trip, at least in part.  I kind of had a little reading slump after that, but I'm back on a roll again now.

Perfect Match, by Kristan Higgins--A rather cute romance that was (sorry, bad pun intended) the perfect match for my first few days at the beach.  It's a series centered around a family of three sisters, apparently, but each can stand alone.  I won't be rushing out for the others, but I wouldn't necessarily turn them down, either.

The Moon and More, by Sarah Dessen--Ms. Dessen is almost always a win for me, and I was looking forward to reading this, her latest book.  Unfortunately, it did NOT have the Dessen magic for me.  The small-town coastal setting was near perfect, as always, but something was missing.  I also pretty actively disliked the main character and thought she made some pretty boneheaded decisions.  Not liking this book made me a little sad, but I will hope for better with Dessen's next venture.

And When She Was Good, by Laura Lippman--This book, on the other hand, I LOVED.  The main character is a professional escort who has built a fairly successful business, not usually the kind of character I would find absolutely charming, but I confess that I did.  I appreciated that she was never characterized as someone we should be pitying...though she'd been through a lot, she was shown as a woman who did whatever it took to survive.  I loved it; you should totally read this one.

When Will There be Good News?, by Kate Atkinson--I had this book sitting in a TBR pile for quite some time, and I nearly quit on it during a particularly slow part.  Kate Atkinson is an outstanding writer, though, so I stuck it out and was rewarded with a much-improved second half.  Fantastic characters.

Notables
I celebrated 15 lbs lost!   I ran more miles than ever before in any previous September, I can guarantee that. 

Addison & Mackenzie are really enjoying the 4-year-old class at MDO.  I can see much more of a preschool-type focus this year.  Their class is working on writing skills, and both the girls have come so far since late August.  A & M are constantly talking about something new they have learned or heard at school (mostly good things, but a few less-than-desirable behaviors...newsflash:  4-year-olds can be gross).  They have never been happier to go to school, and I'm so thankful for that, especially this last year before "real" school begins.

And now, all of a sudden, it's October.  Pumpkins, fall mums, Halloween...like every other person on the internet, I love it all. 

Happy Fall, y'all!

Gratuitous Kid Pictures {Fancy Dress Style!}

Last weekend, Addison & Mackenzie attended their first wedding AND got to be flower girls!  I was a little nervous, mainly because the wedding was in South Alabama, which meant a weekend of pretty substantial travel for us.  I was afraid the girls might be so tired from the long trip that they might not be on their best behavior.  Plus, this would be only their second time to stay in  hotel, which could mean less sleep than usual.

Love, love, LOVED our historic hotel!

To my surprise, the entire weekend was better than I dared to imagine.  We packed in the car early Friday morning and had a very uneventful trip down to Mobile.  It was about six hours and we only stopped for breakfast and gas, and Addison & Mackenzie even took a pretty good nap.  A success!

After a quick rest, sandwich, and change of clothes, we turned around and headed thirty minutes north to the rehearsal.  A & M complied well, but quickly grew tired of all the standing around and waiting the rehearsal itself involved.  I assured them that the next day would be better--they would only have to run through the process once and it would be finished!  At some point, the girls started holding hands as they walked down the aisle, which of course, was completely adorable.  I asked if someone told them to do that or they did it on their own and they told me they just wanted to hold hands.  Melt my heart!

With the groom on the morning of his wedding

We were able to spend some time exploring downtown Mobile on Saturday morning, along with Auntie LJ, who came over from Baton Rouge for the wedding.  (We crammed six of us in one hotel room--me, Jeremy, Addison, Mackenzie, Laura Jo, and my mom--and it worked beautifully.  It was actually pretty fun!)

Addison was terrified to stand on the wall

They seriously spent nearly an hour in the hotel lobby, watching Mickey Mouse on an iPhone.  Ha!

I'll just let the pictures speak for the rest of the day.  I pretty much put my camera up once the wedding started and didn't even take a single picture at the reception, but everything was absolutely beautiful and we all had a blast.

Hands on the hips!

 

A little blurry, but I still love it.

After a delicious brunch with the bride, groom, and some other North AL friends on Sunday morning, we took a few last pictures with Auntie LJ and started the trip home.

I love this moment!

Again, the trip was fantastic, with only one stop this time and some pretty great naps for the girls.  Jeremy drove the entire way (thanks again, honey!!) and I was able to get cozy in the small third row and read most of Looking for Alaska. It was probably our smoothest car trip yet.  Wedding weekend success!

Five Minute Monday

(I've been having a bit of trouble getting back into the writing habit lately, so I decided to just go with it tonight--just write something and publish, as random as it may be.)

A few random things for this Monday night, free-association style:

It was cold and dreary here today, my favorite kind of early fall weather.  I like the chill right now while I'm still excited at every opportunity to pull out a sweater, jeans, or boots.  Plus, it was a holiday so the girls and I spent the entire day holed up at home, watching movies, reading books, painting with shaving cream, dancing, and napping.  It was glorious!

Related:  My favorite affordable item of clothing for fall/winter is a Target cardigan.  I wear a cardigan at least 3-4 times a week...I'm sure my coworkers are tired of seeing them, but I just can't help myself.  How else can I extend the wearing of my summer tank tops all the way into December?

What is your favorite cold-weather piece of clothing?  

I pulled out my favorite ratty, tattered Alabama sweatpants today, and I smiled about it all day long.

One fall trend I do NOT get into is the pumpkin craze.  I love the pumpkin patch (dying to take the girls, but I'm not sure it's going to happen this year!), pumpkins and mums on the front porch, and of course, Halloween jack o' lanterns.  But pumpkin pie, pumpkin cookies, and pumpkin spice lattes?  No, thanks.  Luckily, Jeremy's relatives step in and make sure he is covered with at least a couple of pumpkin pies every fall. 

Are you a fan of all things pumpkin?

 In very uncharacteristic style, I have already started making plans for Christmas and ordered one of Addison & Mackenzie's gifts.  What's happening to me??  I'm just so excited for all that the next couple of months bring; I just can't help myself.  I rarely pick up the computer on weekends, but yesterday I happened to check my email and realize that Rosalina was on Zulily.  Again, in a quite uncharacteristic move, I clicked over, saw a dress I loved and bought it within thirty seconds.  (When I clicked, there were only two left in the girls' size, so I pretty much HAD to buy immediately, you know?  And, the two of them together were the same as one regularly-priced dress, so Jeremy was totally on board.)  So, Christmas dresses...done.

It seems my five minutes are up (plus a few!) and I have an episode of Revenge waiting patiently on the DVR.  Happy Monday evening!

State of Affairs, September Edition

Outings
We kicked off September with a trip to Atlanta to see the first Auburn football game of the season.  Though I can't quite bring myself to cheer for AU, I don't exactly cheer against them either, and it was a fun day with friends.  Addison & Mackenzie had a great time with their NiNi & Grandpa, as always.

The big event of the month, of course, was our beach vacation.  Not much left to say there....except it stinks we have to wait an entire year to go back.

Last Friday night, I went with two friends from work to the Atlanta Braves game.  The season is winding down and this was our last chance to see Chipper Jones, a player we have all watched since childhood.  I was bummed that Jeremy didn't get to go (work--boo!), but it turned out to be a fun girls' trip.  I need more nights like that in my life, I think!

Books read: 5

A Wilderness of Error: The Trials of Jeffrey MacDonald--A fascinating look into the life of Jeffrey MacDonald, the so-called "Green Beret Killer".  Did MacDonald kill his pregnant wife and his daughters?  Maybe.  Did he get a fair trial?   Definitely not.  If you're interested in legal dramas or true crime, take a look at this book.  (Full review here.)

This Lullaby--Sarah Dessen knows her craft, and she does it so well.  This wasn't my favorite book of hers, and the plot was pretty forgettable....but still, it's always a joy to experience another Dessen book for the first time.

The Candidate--Not as great as I hoped it might be, but a fun look at some of the behind-the-scenes aspects of national politics.  (Reviewed here.)

The Guy Not Taken--A collection of short stories by Jennifer Weiner.  I suppose it says something about my opinion of the book that I didn't realize I had read it before until I was halfway through the first story.  I have a lukewarm relationship with short stories--they have to be really outstanding to make a lasting impression on me--and nothing here struck me as extraordinary.

Sad Desk Salad--An interesting first novel from former Jezebel writer Jessica Grose.  Review to be posted next week.

Music/TV/Movies

All hail the return of fall tv!  I'm cutting down to only the shows I really enjoy and deem worthy of my time, but I am super excited for the return of my favorites.  (For the record, current favorites would include Grey's Anatomy, Revenge, New Girl, and The Big Bang Theory.)

The new Mumford & Sons album was my splurge purchase of the week, and I'm loving it right now.

Notables
-- The dynamic duo spent their first night ever in a hotel.
-- I made my first semi-long-distance drive alone with the girls--from home to Montgomery.  It was just fine, not really a big deal at all, but I realized that was the longest trip I'd made with them by myself with them in the car.
--A & M tried calamari for the first time at the beach.  Addison liked it quite a bit and kept eating even after she found out what it was!
--Addison also had her first run-in with a crab at the beach.  We were playing in a small tide pool, looking at shells and little fish, when A saw the tiny legs of a sand crab poking out a shell she was holding.  She dropped it quickly and was ready to run, but finally calmed down and examined the creature from a slight distance.  It was pretty amusing.  : )

How was your September?

The Busy Season

It's back to business as usual for us this week, after a fabulous vacation last week.  We had a great trip this year, definitely our best yet!  Of course, that just makes it even harder to return to the daily grind, but I'm thankful to have this quiet little life to return to...even if the view isn't quite as nice as last week's was:

Our big vacation may be over for the year, but we have plenty going on in the next month to keep us busy.  Fall is shaping up to be quite the action-packed season around here.  Just today I realized that I will have to take an afternoon off to visit the pumpkin patch before Halloween, unless we can go on a Sunday afternoon!

Here is a look at what's on our calendar for the next month:

--An Atlanta Braves game this weekend, with one last chance to see our beloved Chipper Jones 
--A trip with Addison & Mackenzie to see the Fresh Beat Band Live tour...their first "concert" experience!
--A quick pediatrician visit for this year's flu vaccine
--Two birthday parties
--A family picture session, during which we will hopefully get this year's perfect Christmas card photo
--A wedding weekend in Mobile, AL...six hours from here, practically back down at the beach again
--The Mobile weekend will not only be A & M's first wedding experience, but they will also be the flower girls!  That should be...interesting.
--One more wedding the next weekend, a little closer to home.  Thankfully, we will just be attending that one.
--And finally, we will round out the month with a little Trick-or-Treating.  The girls already have their butterfly costumes ready and waiting!

What's on your agenda for these first few weeks of fall?  Are you as excited as I am about this glorious season?

Saturday Snapshot: {Team} Colors

Here in the South, we have been waiting for this day for approximately eight months.  The trash talk is flying and all across the region, team colors are making their fall debut.  It's college football time, friends!

Jeremy and I are traveling to Atlanta to watch his team today, and though I can't bring myself to cheer very loudly in support of the enemy, it's impossible not to relish the excitement in the air.  And yes, this does make the second game I have attended with him in 2012 (we went to the Chick-Fil-A bowl in January)...meaning it is most definitely my turn next!

Just this morning, I finished the skirt part of the girls' football outfits for this year.  I still have to do the shirts to match, but I can't wait to see my little fans in their team colors.

And because it's not ALL about football, I've been working on another project for our favorite little man.  It was my first attempt at doing small letters to fit a whole name on a shirt, and I'm pretty happy with the way it turned out.  I love the way the stripes stand out against the blue shirt:

I'm linking up with Marcia and Mandy for Saturday Snapshots today.  Be sure to check out the other posts and watch for more themes on Saturdays during the month of September!

Phone Photo Dump

I'm really tired tonight, but I have blogged eight days in a row so far...I'm not quitting now!

Here are some Instagram pictures from my phone over the last few weeks:

Fall trees around the courthouse square.  Love seeing these trees when I come to work every day.

Mackenzie at dinner a few weeks ago

Addison painting pumpkins

Mackenzie and her pumpkin

Movie night with my two favorite girls!  The Wizard of Oz, of course.

Mackenzie at the library Saturday morning.

I hope to use this picture again after the Alabama/Auburn game!  : )

One of my current favorite pictures.

Jeremy is taking the day off tomorrow and he promised the girls a breakfast date before he takes them to school.  They went to bed really excited about it.  : )  

I am taking the afternoon off and J and I are going to lunch and to do a little shopping.  Combined with the holiday on Friday, it should be a great long weekend.  Hopefully a relaxing one as well...we could use it!

Perspective

We have had such a busy fall already.  It seems like every weekend is packed full of places to go and people to see.  Not that it's a bad thing...it would just be nice to have a free day in the midst of the go-go-go.

For instance, this weekend alone we...

Attended our town's Homecoming parade

Ate "messi-cans" (that's A&M-speak for 'Mexican') with family

Went to the Homecoming football game

 

Took a Saturday morning trip to the library

Visited with my sister (who made a very quick trip home) until late in the night

Made a short shopping trip for a birthday gift

Went to church (a little late, as usual)

Taught Sunday school

Ate lunch with the family at our favorite Sunday restaurant

Attended a Sunday afternoon birthday party

Skipped naps

Left the party early because the girls were grumpy

---------------------------------------------------

It's tempting to complain about the constant rush of this season, especially knowing that it only gets worse the closer we get to Thanksgiving and Christmas.  But there's one more thing we did this weekend:

Attended the funeral of a precious two-month-old little girl, taken too soon from a family that adores her

...that really puts it all in a different perspective.  And I remember, again, how blessed we are and I am grateful for every single second with my family.

Evolution of a Photograph

Isn't this a cute picture of my four favorite toddlers at the pumpkin patch last Saturday?  (Left to right, that is Wyatt, Addison, Mackenzie, and Brenna)  

Are you curious how we managed to get all four little faces through the holes at the same time?  It wasn't easy!

Here's a look at the process....

We started with one little face and an extra set of fingers.

Hey, there are three of the four!  Just gotta get the baby up there.

There's Brenna, but we are losing Wyatt.  Not bad overall, though.

Oh, did Jeremy want to be in this picture?

Oops, there goes Mackenzie.  The other three look great!

Aren't toddlers fun??

It's Fall! (Sort of, anyway...)

The official arrival of fall has those of us in the south eagerly anticipating some cooler temperatures.  Though we are in for some very nice weather this weekend (morning lows in the 40s!!), I'm afraid we can't turn off the air conditioning just yet.

So what do we do when all the stores have out pumpkins and winter clothing?  We fake it!  We dutifully buy our pumpkins and mums and begin to pull out long-buried pants and closed-toe shoes.  We wear hoodies and sweaters for the cool mornings, then shed them by lunchtime when we start to sweat.

Y'all might be able to guess that one of my favorite things about fall/winter is the food.  I love soups and stews, and the idea of a warm dinner simmering in the crockpot all day makes me giddy with excitement.

I have already broken out the fall recipes in our house (faking it!), and I thought I would share one of my favorites.  Plus, I don't think I have it written down anywhere and I am afraid of forgetting it one day, which would be nothing short of tragic.

I feel the need to add the disclaimer that I have no idea where I originally saw this recipe, but it has been adapted just a bit from the way I originally remember it.  If by chance I got it from you, thanks!  Also, I do NOT eat regular chili, so if the idea of chili turns you off but you like Mexican-style soups, this is definitely for you.

White Bean Chicken Chili

 2 or 3 cans Great Northern Beans, drained

16 oz. jar of salsa

8 oz. Pepper Jack cheese

chicken breast, cooked and shredded

10-12 oz. chicken broth
Edited to add:  CUMIN, 1/2 tsp.  (kind of important here, duh!)

Cube the cheese into small chunks, combine all of the above in the crockpot, and simmer at least four hours on low.  Top with shredded cheese and/or sour cream and serve with tortilla chips.

A couple of notes:  I use a small-ish crockpot, and this recipe fills it up.  I usually do two cans of beans and maybe about 3 cups of shredded chicken.  I add the chicken broth last, using however much it takes to fill the pot, usually a little more than half of a 16 oz. box.  

I could seriously eat this stuff at least once a week.  If you try it, let me know!

Now tell me...

What's your favorite cool-weather recipe?