Five on Friday

Five on Friday, linking up to share all the things I'm loving this week

-1-
Our roof is done! Looking a little red after the evening storms last night.



-2-
That James loves to help clean, he can even turn the central vac on all by himself.



-3- Fresh Flowers and Fall Candles - what's your favorite scent? I love Farmers Market from Yankee Candle.


-4- My little coffee & tea station for playgroup this morning


-5- That we are Gainesville bound tomorrow. Can't wait to tailgate with James, go to the reception at my sorority house, and let my kiddo go into Albert overload. He literally screams, "ALBERT ALBERT" everytime he sees the gator logo (both standup Albert and the standard gator head). It's gonna be a fun day. One of the pictures I sent for the alumnae reception at Phi Mu...



Ole Miss Game 2002

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Pumpkin Patch 1.0

We had our very first trip to the Pumpkin Patch this past weekend.  It was a little more than a pumpkin patch - maybe more of a fall festival at Cox Farms.  I should have realized when I hit bumper to bumper traffic a mile out on a 2 lane country road that what was in store was much more than pumpkins in a field...

I've been dying to go with my bestie Jen every since I saw her son's pumpkin patch pictures years ago, so we joined a few thousand (yes thousand) other families on a beautiful Sunday afternoon.  A little overwhelmed by the swarms of people I left my good camera in the car, that in addition to our pumpkin outfit not in just yet and daddy being at the Redskins Games, our first visit to the pumpkin patch, most certainty won't be the last.

The pictures I did capture on my cracked and fading faster than I can update my apps iphone were pretty darn cute.

We baby bijorned through the corn maze.

 James was a little uncertain at first on the hayride.

How do I get off this thing?!

 He hung onto momma pretty tight

 My new facebook profile picture - thanks to our fall adventures

 James started to warm up to the hay- he had lots of fun playing with it.

 Hey, I like hay.

 Despite all the fun around him, what was the only thing he was interested in?  Hay.

 He finally found the pumpkins to be slightly amusing.

 Then the pumpkin hat got passed on from Jen

 I died a little bit

 We both had so much fun

 I love this profile.  He just has every last bit of my heart

Can't wait for more fun at our next adventure...
Pumpkin Patch 2.0

Between my attempts to be 'unplugged' whiles James is awake, a shattered iPhone screen (when will my 5 get here?) and all our fun activities. I have not devoted any time to blogging.

Exhibit A Fun times in the park.


I'm trying to make quiet time with my bible and prayer journal happen more often AND it's just making the biggest difference in my life. While I'm very glad to fill my time this way, something g had to go and that something was writing here.

I can't tell you how many places I've read to get up before everyone else and it makes the day run so much smoother. I really want to do this, so I'm not playing catch up all day (speaking of which I need to change out of my yoga pants-right now!)

I've been able to add lots of Tweeks that are improving our lives, and I hope this wake up early one will be the addition for next week.

It's officially fall with cooler temps and my first pumpkin spice latte under my belt (I have temperature requirements of 60 or below).

A new cute hair-do, smaller sized jeans (yay) and some more "mom" cloths ordered. I have found a mom style blog I love that I want to share with hopefully a post and ideas with what I'm doing to figure out how to dress when playing on the floor is my main daily activity.

Need to finish James 8 month post (how is this possible) and about a million other things on my very long to do list.

Hope everyone has a great weekend. Ours will be full of picnics, football, tailgating, pumpkin patching, musical play dates, lots of laughing, hugs, kisses and one very runny nose.

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My mostly happy guy

James has a new love, actually two, one in the form of Colby Jack cheese, the other in the form of swinging.

I mean in a real swing at the playground.

I can't believe it.

Now that I think about it he is still quite fond of his baby swing, as I have turned to it a few times when going down for a nap was taking an hour plus.

An hour plus of crying every time I walk out of the nursery isn't fun.

I just hate to hear him cry. He's normally just so happy, like people come up to me at the grocery store to tell me I have the happiest baby they've ever seen, happy.

He has started to cry a bit more now because he cries when any of his baby friends cry. James of course usually ends up crying longer and harder than them. Empathy is an important skill for him to have according to Brain Rules for Babies, glad we've got that one down.

I just think this is the most precious picture I've ever seen, it literally melts my heart.

We've been visiting lots of swings and lots of parks, I even found our own private playground in our neighborhood, as the main neighborhood park is totally WILD. Which makes for a terrified swinging baby.

Luckily he recovered.

And is happily swinging again.

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Football Season

It's a little different this year.

No TV for baby, means a DVR Delay for Gator games. It worked this week, but not sure how long into the season we'll be able to hold off on kick off!

Forwarding the RV spot in my name to my brother for the A & M game broke my hear a little, sad we won't be there. I wasn't brave enough to handle a flight, Texas heat in September, and the noise of the 12th man in a 48 hour timeframe with A baby bijorn on my shoulders.

Enjoying game time with my guys (and Molly) was totally different, but totally fun!

James can't wait for try outs. It's great to be a Florida Gator!

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It's Time!

Did someone tell me Gator Football season starts tomorrow?




I'll be working on my Gator Chomp!






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A Wonderful Thanksgiving

It was such a joyous occasion to celebrate Thanksgiving with our friends and family.  I'm finally getting to share my fall wreath which welcomed our guests.

 I also printed up a Keep Calm and Gobble On sign to encourage our guests to eat up!

Josh and I had a solid plan Turkey Game plan and were headed up to bed after making all the pies, stuffing, ironing on linens, and prep chopping on Wednesday night when our dishwasher starting dinging 15 minutes after we started running it.  A few hours of using our wet vac and dissembling and reassembling our not quite year and a half year old dishwasher, we decided to hand wash all the dished that had been loaded in it and finally hit the hay just before 2 am and call a repairman next week.

Josh got up at 7 to stuff and put the bird in the roaster.  His parents had gone to bed early and were already having breakfast.  Since Molly didn't like being left behind while everyone else was having a party downstairs, she and I headed down.  Since I have been suffering from pregnancy insomnia for the past few weeks, I didn't really think having just five hours of sleep would phase me, plus I wanted to get my hands on all the Black Friday ads in the paper.

We watched the parade and I set the table while Josh did all the cooking.  Around noon I left to pick up some of our friends, and we had a great time visiting with all our guests while everything finished up!

Last year the turkey took two less hours to reach 180 than we planned and this year it took two more hours to reach 180 than we planned.  It worked out well because everyone enjoyed appetizers, sweet tea and wine while we waited. 

We slimmed down our appetizer offerings to deviled eggs and cranberry salsa served over cream cheese - as to not fill up before the big meal.

Dinner included:
Roast Turkey
Cornbread Dressing & Stuffing
Cranberry Wild Rice
Mashed Potatoes
Green Bean Casserole
Roasted Brussel Sprouts with Wild Mushrooms and Cream Sauce
Pineapple Casserole
Tomato Aspic
Sweet Potato Casserole
Mashed Rutabaga
Honey Glazed Carrots
Turkey Gravy
Cranberry Sauce
Yeast Rolls

For Dessert:
Pumpkin Cheesecake
Apple Pie
Pecan Pie
Served with Whipped Cream and French Vanilla Ice Cream
Coffee and Tea

It's really a shame that I didn't snap a picture of the desserts because they were truly the BEST I've ever had.  Actually everything was amazing.  Spending time with friends and family, the great food-it's what Thanksgiving is all about.

Unfortunately, I ate too much and ended up getting really sick.  So sick in fact we had to abort all Black Friday shopping.  I ended up in the hospital getting an IV and anti-nausea medicine.  Needless to say I did not finishing my Christmas shopping or do all our decorating as planned.

I was also going to host the Game Viewing Party for the DC Gator Club today, which isn't happening either since I can't even walk down the stairs.  I am taking it easy, eating saltines, and getting rest so I can get back on my feet.  Lesson learned, there is no such thing as pushing through when 8 months pregnant.  It's so hard for me to sit back and take it easy, when there are so many things I want to do.

At least my bed is made

I never planted my pansy's. I didn't let them die, I just never went to get them, or plant them.  Now as I look out on my porch I just see empty planters boxes lining the railing. 

My to-do lists are longer than there are hours in the day. 
I missed a great visitor speaking to all the Junior League Chairs yesterday. 
Our Thanksgiving headcount is up to 14, normally this would excite me, but makes my 7 month pregnant self wonder if we'll be eating on time.
I HAVE to get our Holiday Party Invites in the mail TODAY.
My husband seems to think he is going to get the nursery wainscoating up and the whole room painted in one day so he can go to the Redskins game on Sunday.  I am scared for my household!
My in-laws arrive on Tuesday, I don't feel ready for them or anyone else to come in and stay for a bit.  I can't wait to see them, just feel like there is so much to do before they come.
I didn't stick to my laundry schedule this week, and need to fold - it's Friday and I'm supposed to knock it out on Monday!
I never took pictures of my fall decor, it's been up since September and will be down in a week to make way for Christmas.
Like I said yesterday, we took our Christmas/Holiday Card picture in October and I still haven't ordered cards.
I don't think the groceries that we are going to buy tonight for our 12 friends, our house guests and ourselves to eat over the next few days will even fit in our fridge.
It's noon, and I haven't taken a shower yet.
BUT - At least my bed is made.

New Fall Scarf!

A few weeks ago, I signed up to participate in a Scarf Swap, hosted by the lovely Angela at Sweet Tea Diaries.  I've been reading her blog for years, and just love the stories of this southern belle living on the west coast.  I also love that we are sorority sisters (from different schools), too!

I was paired up with Mrs. Jansson from The Jansson Family.  She sent me the most perfect scarf, and extra goodies as well!!  I just love it, thank you so much!!  I'll be donning an ivory coat this winter, something new for me.  Most of my scarves are bright and solid, so I am thrilled with this fun pattern and earth tones.

I love the Burt's Bees-how did she know I was addicted?!? 

I have the fire roaring and am ordering my Holiday Party Invites and Christmas Cards, today.  My friend Christy is over and treated me to my first "red cup" of the season, YAY for half calf Peppermint Mocha's!  I returned the favor by treating her to lunch.  She had Josh's homemade chili and I had my homemade chicken noodle with salads-yuum.  Nothing is more fun than spending the afternoon with friends by the fire!