So Long Summer...

Texas gets a longer summer than most; it's 90 degrees in the middle of October for cryin' out loud.  For most people it's super refreshing to see Fall arrive.  That means cooler temps, pumpkin everything and the start of new season/holidays.

Our family loves fall too, but summer is and will always be our favorite. We've got big plans this fall for some new favorites and new traditions, but it's still a little sad to say goodbye to summer. To lake season. To late afternoons by the pool.  To watching our boys learn their way through swimming by jumping, splashing and blowing bubbles.

We've had wonderful weekends winding summer down though. Visits from some of our favorites, trips to the pumpkin patch and lots of playing outside. There are nights when I realize that the boys have snacked their way through dinner and we are still playing in the driveway, with the sun almost asleep on a school night.  I look up and wonder, why must it get dark so early on the days where we want it all to last longer.

Recent Top 5 Moments:
*  Busting Tim & Cameron jumping in the pool (with clothes on) and running out shivering begging for towels.
*  Seeing Cameron and Payton with their "Pops & Gram", rekindling the flame after almost a year of not seeing each other.

*  Everything soccer. I'm not sure if Cameron is learning more as a player or if we are learning more as parents.  There is so much to learn and so many {very different} parenting styles out there.

*  A really, ridiculously, late night out (adults only) dressed up silly.  Best part? We took my car and I was on empty. Tim was so furious embarrassed to be seen at a gas station pumping gas dressed like he was.

*  Payton & Cameron riding around together on a "train" ride. Payton didn't want to get out and after three rounds of it we had to walk away. It wasn't pretty, but this photo is flippin' adorable.

Around Here

Making:  hmm. an introduction with the UPS man that continues to deliver my online purchases?
Cooking:  er, nothing. I've gotten worse at cooking, if that's even possible.
Drinking: skinny vanilla lattes when I get my choice in the mornings or vodka soda's when I have the evening chance.
Reading:  oh, reading you say? For myself audiobooks mostly:  All the Light We Can Not See was the last one. There is a fantastic book that has been on my nightstand since Christmas. I received it as a present and have picked it up/put it down continuously. It really is good and one day I will finish it. For the kids:  a lot of "Llama, Llama" lately. 
Wanting:  a phone that works (thanks to a water spill today) and a gym bag that doesn't get so smelly.
Looking:  at outdoor Christmas decorations and wondering if I could/would make them myself.
Playing:  outside. all the time.

Eating:  steak & shrimp tonight. definitely not the usual pizza, taco & salad rotation that you normally find around here.

Wishing:  for a way to record little snippets of moments without getting in the way of the moment itself. If I could only take pictures and videos without having to stop the moment and/or actually pull the camera/video out to capture it.

Enjoying:  family dance parties (video to come later), and this song (when I'm by myself). warning: it may not be your flavor of music.

Loving:  That Cameron is learning and remembering the songs that I sing to him or that he hears me sing. That Payton is learning how to snuggle more.

Hoping:  for peace in the hearts of all those that seek it.

Needing:  Nothing. I'm a very lucky girl.

Smelling:  the fresh air

Wearing:  comfortable clothes - I love weekends.

Noticing:  just how much the boys are growing. it doesn't seem real sometimes.

Bookmarking:  ideas for Christmas gifts. I'm really shooting for simple things this year, things that I think/hope are useful.  Eek, I mentioned Christmas twice in this blog post and it's not even Halloween yet. Boo!