The Fall...

I love the fall. I love the smell of fall, the feel of fall, and putting on my jeans after a long summer, well, that is, when they fit! Anyway, Mike and I were married in the fall because it is my favorite time of year. While I don't have a poem or any beautiful words about it, I just have to say I love the fall, or autumn, as Caleb would rather me say.
This past week has once again been a whirlwind for me, and now my days go by so fast, I don't think I am enjoying them. From showing our house, to teaching gymnastics, Monday fun, swimming, this, that, and the other, I pretty much melted down last week wondering why I do what I do. And I don't mean being home with my kids, it's all that other stuff. So, this week, I am trying to let go of some of my other responsibilities. And breathe. And be a nicer mommy. And enjoy the fall.
So, today is Halloween, and we have already been to three pumpkin carving parties, and have dressed up twice already....so he are my little ones. Dorothy, Scarecrow, and of course, my Munchkin....

And here are a few from our Fall Festival, where each of my kids got to perform their gymnastics and dance...
There's Caleb and I....he really isn't that hard to spot (contrary to the look on my face)
And here are my ballerinas...
Elisa is also on the preschool showteam...
And the three of them in their bridge's...
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Comments
Oct. 31, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by SmallWorld
Those Halloween pics...there is no WAY they could be any cuter! And, by the way, you should never lump OUR party in with other measly "pumpkin-carving" parties. Ours is THE pumpkin party! (Careful, or you may fall off the invite list....)
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Nov. 2, 2007 - Just browsing this morning...
Posted by TraciJoy
and found your blog. I love it! Thanks for sharing your thoughts & beautiful family. Bless your day! Traci :-)
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Nov. 8, 2007 - see
Posted by onfire
I love your shoes ... and I am in need of a great black pair today, for a funeral. this town does not know shoes. actually, there are only two places I could even purchase a pair, and one of those places is called the Bargain Shop. need I say more? (I did try on every black pair of shoes in town. no word of a lie) most of them a size 7, which I am not. so, I go to the funeral in heels, which are obviously NOT fall wear, and the heel will likely get stuck in the grass at the interment, much to my irritation and Neal's amusement ... but at least I will have made my shoe point. hopefully. I know Neal read Sarah's shoe post ...
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In case you are interested...

My weekend with my family did go better than I thought. That is, when I got "the call." Two days passed before my sister called me, and when she did I was at the Fall Festival. (which Smallworld wrote so nicely about.) I wasn't just there having fun, I had to work. I teach gymnastics and we had shows there all day. So when the call came to " see what you were up to today," I said that my girls were getting ready to perform. To my complete surprise, my whole family, brother and all, (who I didn't know was here) came and watched my girls dance.
I got to spend time with everyone again the next day at my niece's baptism. Here was my favorite part, but first I have to put out a note that, I am not a Catholic basher, it is what my whole family is...I just thought this situation and comment were....well, interesting?? A priest came to sit next to me and my dad, and, after my dad introduced my sister Amy and then was reminded that, he did indeed have two more children, he was introduced to my brother and I. I said, "that's OK, we are just the step children." ( we really aren't, just feeling like it..) So, he asks my son, "Do you remember your baptism?" I was curious how Caleb would react because this is something we have talked a lot about lately at my house. Caleb just shrugged and the priest says, "well you should remember , you were there." To which Caleb looks at me and says, "was I baptized as a baby?" I looked at the priest and said, "We go to First Christian Church. Caleb was dedicated as an in fant, and has not been baptized." To which the priest says, "I like to think we are the first Christian church." End of conversation.
So...what else is there to say? The time I got with my family was nice, I got to have lunch with them the next day, and a little shopping for another niece who just turned 10. My sister said to me as she was leaving, "don't make yourself a stranger." Not sure what she meant since I am the one that has to do the calling... but oh well....just glad to have gotten through a family get together without tears!

Here is the whole family, minus Amy's 3 kids that stayed home in WA.

Comments
Oct. 17, 2007 - I do have to say...
Posted by fyftn
... that was the most pleasant family reunion I can remember in quite some time. The "Catholic moments" were very humorous. I particularily enjoyed the fact that the priest, although sitting right next to you for the whole baptism, never said another word or gave another look in your direction. I don't think he was very comfortable. We made it, you and I, with no tears. I'd say that's a positive step.
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Oct. 18, 2007 - thank goodness!
Posted by the other mom
I thought about you all weekend and wondered how things were going. I'm glad to hear they weren't as bad as you had thought they might be. Looking forward to seeing you soon!
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Oct. 18, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by LaDonna C.
I'm so glad it went better than you could have hoped. I prayed that you could have something positive come out of it. I've been having family issues of my own, so I feel for ya, Sista!!!
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Oct. 23, 2007 - LOVE!
Posted by onfire
the look on your daughter's face ... it's like she is saying "um ... daddy ... are YOU a part of this family, too?" looking for reassurance or something. cracked me up. and you look peaceful and beautiful in spite of it all.

Making my way back...

So, it's been way too long since I have sat at my computer and even checked blogs, let alone posted one myself. About three weeks back, on our way home from church, my husband and I drove by a house we thought was pretty when we saw it on the internet. Well, we ended up falling in love with it, and, in the next few days, we put ours on the market, put an offer on the other house, and Mike received a phone call about a job he applied for 6 weeks earlier and really wants.
That's the short of it. The long is all the packing, cleaning, fixing, painting I have done over the last two weeks. And so, I have been too pooped to turn on the computer, let alone, sit down and type!! We havne't had anyone look at our house yet, which by the way looks so awesome, but we are trying to be optimistic about the sale of it so we can buy the new house. And, yes, I know it is a bad market.
Last week, after getting the house in shape, we took three days to go down to Chattanooga and get away. It was a lot of fun, and very relaxing. We saw the TN aquarium, the Children's Discovery Musuem, a bit of Lookout Mountain, and the TN River. It was pretty much the most school my kids had had in two weeks ;) So, here are some of the 500 pictures I took while I was there...I know ,it is a sickness...and hopefully I will be back in the full blogging swing of things...please pray for us!

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Comments
Oct. 9, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Suzanne
Great photos!!!! Wish I'd known you were here! (I live about 15 miles - give or take - from the aquarium.)
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Oct. 9, 2007 - Welcome Back!!!
Posted by LaDonna
I've missed you blogging!!! And I missed you at the Mom's night out last night! GREAT PHOTOS!!! I hope you hear something about the house, it would be awful to be in limbo. But hey, enjoy your clean, organized house!!!!
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Oct. 10, 2007 - Last time I moved...
Posted by QueenoftheHill
...I said I'd never move again. It's a nightmare keeping the place show-worthy for every tire-kicker! You have THE best family photos. Love the new one at the top of the page.
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Oct. 10, 2007 - I almost thought
Posted by onfire
I was going to have to leave you a begging for another post comment. but you proved me wrong. what an excellent reason to be too busy to post. your pictures are delightful ahh ... if only I were packing for Tennessee
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Oct. 10, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by jenmcintyre
This last picture looks natural except Caleb looks a little on the stiff side. It is so sweet though. I wish my kids were so good natured about having their picture taken.