First Day

Well this isn't looking good. It's the first day of NaBloPoMo and am already resorting to posting something worthless. Dun dun dun.

Happy November!!

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween! I'm not really a Halloween fan but I got into it a little more this year. For the kids. Right...we don't have kids... So, ok, for the dog. I know how much it means to her and all.

We bought Maia a costume (50% off at Petsmart - there was no paying full price for this thing, no way). And the intention was to answer the door for trick or treaters and have Maia greet them in her costume. However. Maia is not exactly IN to her costume. It's not really her thing I guess. If dogs can talk (and I'm somewhat convinced they CAN because I swear, sometimes Maia is telling me things with her eyes.) But if I could hear dogs talk here's how it would have sounded the night I tried Maia's costume on her....

This is SO embarrassing! Why did you have to dress me up like a cow Mooooom??

I'm taking it off.

Now if I could juuuust reach this velcro right. heere. Uh.

But sweetie, loook. It's so cute! It even has udders! Don't you think you just look so cute?! Can't I take just one picture? Just one??

Fine. One picture. See? (smile) There.

Now get it off!

I hate my life.

I'm going to my room.

Soooo, I decided that I would not force her to wear the dreaded costume tonight. I don't want my poor Maia hating her life. And thankfully for her I found out from one of my neighbors that kids don't even come trick or treating in our neighborhood. I was so disappointed! I finally thought I was going to see some cute little kids in costumes this year. Since it didn't sound hopeful, I decided to go to the football game instead and took the candy I bought to the office (but not before stashing some away for me and DJ...mmm...Reeses and Kit Kats.)

I hope the rest of you enjoy your Halloween! And don't forget to set your clocks back tonight!!

God's Fingerprints

Where do you see God's fingerprints?

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This post is part of "Fingerprint Friday." To see links to other posts, visit Pampering Beki's blog.

The Great Outdoors

I had the best childhood a person could ask for. I can look back on any part of it and be filled with warm fuzzies and regret that I don't have a time machine to take me back to those amazing days with just a flip of a switch. (Who cares about the consequences from using said time machine that would result?? And the fact that memories grow sweeter with time and how, when I was young, I didn't want to be young, so I didn't realize that what I had was so fabulous. We're going to say all that doesn't matter for purposes of this post. Agreed? Moving right along....)

Sometimes I wish I could go back and just tell my 7 year old self (the age I was when we moved to the campground) that what she is about to embark on are some of the best days of her life and should NOT be taken for granted. So carefree and easy.

I had constant friends. Either from our next door neighbors (pre-middle school) or the stream of children that ran through the campground every summer, Chace and I never had a problem of being friend-less.

We had "fun" responsibilities. Checking in campers, taking care of their needs, working with my friends each summer to earn money. They weren't always fun chores, but at the same time, I spent more time with my parents then most children can say they do. Both my parents. And those responsibilities that I had were part of the business. I did feel important sometimes. Kids like that.

Then there was all the space. We had vast amounts of space to run, hide, play, swim, dig, climb, you name it, there was a space for it. The greatest thing about my childhood was all that time I spent outside. I think my love for nature directly stems from all that wonderful time I spent outside as a child. I am forever grateful to my parents for giving me and my brother that love of the great outdoors.

My hope and dream is for my children to share that same love. There is something so raw and real about being outside. I feel closer to God. I feel an instant happiness when I just stand and look around. Just now, even thinking about being outside, brings a rush of endorphins.

The problem is, there are many, many, many distractions to keep children these days (and adults for that matter) from going outside. TV is the obvious culprit. Setting restrictions on the amount of tv that our kids watch will help with fueling this love. Obviously I don't have kids yet and it's probably easier said than done but really, if my goal is to establish a love for "outside", then it's a necessary step in the equation.

And, as I stated a couple of days ago, this is something I am striving to do even now, for myself. When I shut the tv off, I have to find other things to do and one of those things can be to go outside and find branches and leaves for my next project (or whatever it is that needs doing outside at the time. That's my current project though. Finding free things in nature to dress up my house. I'll post on that later. That'll be a fun one.)

I have discovered that having a pet helps a great deal in getting me outside. And one day, I imagine it will aid in getting my kids outside. Every time I take Maia on a walk, I am so grateful for that "excuse" to get outside. Otherwise I would probably have never walked around our neighborhood. It's a sad fact, but I think I would have felt like a crazy wandering lady if I just walked around without an obvious purpose. (Our neighborhood isn't really a "neighborhood" as you would normally picture a neighborhood. There are no sidewalks and walking around the neighborhood is actually walking across and through the front and back yards of my neighbors' homes. So yes, it would look a little crazy if I didn't have something at the end of a leash pulling me along.) As it is, I have really seen where I live and not just the front stoop. I have also met some great people!

My goal, when there are DJ-itos and Nichole-itas running around, is to have a reason or purpose every, single day to get them outside. Even if it's simple like running around the yard playing a game of tag. There will always be a time when they must go outside. I would consider it a failure if my kids grew up and did not fully and personally understand the sheer magnitude of what is right outside their front door. (I'll update this is in a few decades to let you know how successful I was. Stay tuned.)

Playmates

This is one of Maia's best friends at the apartments. Her name is Nala and she lives just a couple of doors down. I'm pretty sure she loves to play with Maia too. And guess what! Her owner is an athletic trainer as well. What are the odds? Her name is Heather. Maia might go visit Nala on Halloween when she's all dressed up. (Did I mention Maia has a costume? You'll have to wait just a couple more days to see what she'll be dressed as... Trust me you will not be disappointed. So cute.)

Maia has made many new friends at the apartments. We always knew she was a sociable dog. It's great most of the time. Sometimes it gets her in trouble. But irregardless, she has DJ and I wrapped around her too-long pinky claw.

Book Club

I am starting a book next week called The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Families. It's by the same guy that wrote The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People - Stephen Covey. This book was chosen by the book club hosted by one of my favorite blogs - Simple Mom. The woman that started the blog (and turned it into a very successful business) is Tsh. I think she is pretty cool. I have learned a lot of neat things about living a simpler life in general and lots of things that are preparing me to be a mom one day.


So I thought, if any of you would like to read this book too, we could be connected across the miles and read the book together! You can join the book club too (or not) and get even more out of it by reading and writing on the forums with the other women out there that will also be reading this book. Just click on the picture above and it will take you to where you need to go.


Let me know if anyone decides to read the book too! This is part of my initiative to watch less t.v. during the week and spend more time on developing habits that will make me a well-rounded person.

Our Neighborhood

I took Maia on a walk the other day. (Actually I try to take her on a walk every day. Good exercise for both her and me.) It was absolutely gorgeous and the trees have finally decided to change their colors. Here's a glimpse.

This is in the yard to the side of our house. I have been waiting and waiting for this valley to just bloom into full color but I'm not sure I will get to see that this year due to all the rain.

Maia plays in this yard a lot. I've started letting her run around without me holding onto the leash. It's fun to watch her run and play unhindered. I can just imagine her screaming inside her little head FREEDOOOM!!!!



This is our house. We're the one on the end. Number 56. Isn't it cute?? I love the brick.

This isn't a pretty fall picture but I wanted to show you were I always walk Maia. (As you can see these trees are all still green - seriously, I don't get it! Some trees have already lost their leaves completely and yet these still look like we could be in the middle of summer.) This is another yard that is further down the hill from our house. I let Maia run around here too. Except that kind of backfired on me not too long ago when I didn't see a little wiener dog. But Maia did. And she shot off after it. Apparently the little pipsqueak, I found out later, was a rescue dog. The owners swooped her up really quick while Maia swiped at her with her dagger-like claws. At least that's how I felt weeny's owners saw her. I was so embarrassed. My dog is a bit much for a meek little rescue dog.

This is back up by our house.

I just love the red trees. They are my favorite. Either those or the fiery orange ones. It's kind of toss-up because they are both just so rare to see everywhere else I've lived!

And this is not a good picture since I was driving when I was taking it but at least you can see the amazing color. This tree is along the way to work and I have watched it sloooowly change from just a little red on the very tip-top to this.

Are you still seeing fall colors where you're at?