turkey lurkey

we're all sorts of excited for thanksgiving this week!

max has one last day of school tomorrow then it's going to be all pumpkin pie and cranberries and trying to talk our little guy into tasting a bit of turkey. 

(last year he woke up in tears at the thought)

hoping your weekend was a swell one.

we got in one last bike ride of the year saturday night. it was lovely roaming empty streets lit by christmas light trees and fancy store window displays.

 late november bike rides are my new favorite!

happy happy monday!

katie and patsy

 

patsy cline- stop look and listen

november tuesday's are made for two helpings of afternoon pumpkin pie and toe tapping with patsy! she really knows how to keep a gal company...

all the windows are flung open and i'm taking in every last bit of the warm weather today. 

there's a chance of snow on thursday and max and i have our fingers crossed for it!

p.s don't remind me i said that when i complain of ohio winter come february...

<3

scattered leaves

today was one of the good days. 

the kind where your little one wakes up and does the pee-wee herman tequila dance first thing and you never look back.

it's been good company, plenty of sunshine, and after school mama-max chores.

our backyard tree finally gave up the ghost...or the leaves...and has been littering the yard the past few days! we've been raking and jumping and itching the afternoon long.

 and really half the fun of raking leaves is scattering them back out again...

i hope everyone had a wonderful weekend!

mine was one of the happiest in memory.

happy monday!

now to retrieve leaves from my hair and under my shirt.

thankful thursday november

i love november and its promise of holidays near and turning weather!

its the sneaking up of a closing year and a chance to count up blessings...to put words to thankful thoughts.    

today i'm thankful for the quiet rain and falling leaves, busy hands and a clear mind. for matt finding plastic mistletoe and following me around the house with it.

i'm thankful for my max slipping into bed with me this morning...for the moment when he asked me to tuck his shirt in extra tight before school...for that one last glance he gave me as he walked into his classroom.

i'm thankful for the tiny, good, and happy moments that can define a day. a month. a year. 

they are many and many. 

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come join me for thankful thursdays this month!

and be sure to add a link to your list or thoughts or stories so i can read along!

p.s. the picture above is from a little photo shoot max and i did for the next volume of kinfolk!

i'll share more about it in the coming weeks...but for now...i'm pleased as punch to be contributing!

apple tree farm

i'm sure by now you all are a bit tired of me gushing on and on about fall...but will you indulge me one last post? and i promise to not jump into christmas too soon! but i have to be honest...christmas music is already being played on the radio here! 

(which is a dangerous thing for a gal like me with very little holiday self control)

and if i'm being completely honest, i'd have to tell you that i listen to christmas music all year round, especially if i'm feeling down. it's my happy place. 

but this is supposed to be about fall....

my favorite place to visit this time of year is the apple tree farm!

we've been taking the little ones there for years and years...when they were actually little ones! 

matt and i took max and my nephew and niece this past sunday for a bit of last minute fall romping in hay, getting lost in corn mazes, squealing at baby goats, bumpy hayrides, and warm donuts.

it's been such a lovely fall!

and i'm so happy we got to squeeze in one last bit of fall goodness at the farm.

p.s. besides being a mama, is there anything better than getting to be an aunt? especially when they share your reddest red hair!

candy apples and gum

trick and treats was especially lovely and spooky last night!

matt and i power-walked around town trying to keep up with our ninja and his candy-filled pillowcase. he was a man on a mission! 

we were going to bring mimi along...but i think i depressed her by putting her in a banana costume. she stayed home to sulk.

anyways, it was the perfect night to be out and about. 

chilly air and leaves crunching under foot...hot apple cider and frequent stops to sneak into the candy bag.

we're left this morning with bits of costume strewn all around the house and a huge bowl full of candy hidden on top of the refrigerator. i may or may not have already sneaked a few pieces for breakfast.

here's hoping all of you had a wonderful halloween!

happy happy halloweeeeen!

our halloween party saturday night was a real hoot!
matt and i went as a creepy ventriloquist and his dapper doll!
needless to say, we both looked pretty disgusting. haha.
i'm usually not the kind of gal to wear overtly sexy costumes ( i learned my lesson when i was 18...i wore a school girl uniform to a party and hit a deer with my car on the way home. i had to wait for my dad on the side of the road in the middle of the night dressed like a tart. never again, halloween!)...but this year, this year...i was oozing with sensuality. haha. i think it was the plaid boy pants.

we karaoked and danced and jigged the night away. amy and nate made the finest cleopatra and mark antony!
i have more incriminating photos on my facebook...they truly are terrible. and i think it's safe to say matt has never looked better.

i hope all of you had a wonderful hallows eve weekend!
and happy happy halloween!

 

 halloween spooks- lambert, hendricks & ross

my favorite halloween haunt in town is in downtown fairborn. the whole street is lined with costume stores and halloween goodies. it's open year round, which is a treat, but it really comes alive around this time of year...spooky scary music playing over loud speakers...ghosts and goblins flying on the rooftops. 

oh, it's the best!

 tonight is tricks and treats!

and i have a little ninja to get ready. 

happy halloween, loves!

5 favorites of fall: small gatherings

hosting small parties, purposeful ones and for no good reason parties, is something i cherish. 

and it's definitely something i look forward to this time of year as the holidays roll around.

tonight matt and max and i are having a small gathering of friends and family over for soup and pumpkin carving...caramel apples and kettle corn and bluegrass records.

there is nothing better than making a fuss over the people you love the most!

happy happy weekend, friends!

tomorrow, matt and i are heading over to my sister amy's house for her and nate's annual halloween party. our costumes are pretty ridiculous this year! 

i'll have lots to share come sunday.