4 Things.

1. Jeff has been measuring our kid's heights since they were able to stand.
He pulled out the tape measure a couple weeks ago...
Not sure when number 2 passed up number 1??? But it happened..sometime in August. Crazy!

2. Back to granola baking season. It's also what Alex wanted for breakfast on his birthday.
This is my favorite recipe...not healthy, but it tastes good.

3. 37 1/2 weeks and counting....
My babies usually come early, but Jeff asked if I could please wait with this one..busy work schedule.
"No problem honey...I'll stay 100 months pregnant as long as you need me to.
Just keep the Tums stocked, okay?" {that was sarcasm if you didn't catch it}

4. First cider candle of the season. It's my favorite kind!
Our house smells like fall now.

Happy Tuesday to you.
XxOo

Fashion Tip Friday ~

Happy Friday Everyone.
Told you I'd be back with Fashion Tip Fridays.

Let's talk fall/winter colors.

I cannot tell you how happy I am with the color trends this season!
I love, love orange with a hint of brown mixed in...otherwise known as the color
..*Sound Trumpets*...Sienna.

{Aka...Rust. But really, do you want to say..grab my rusty sweater?
It sounds like the color on the bottom of our wagon that's been left in the rain one too many times!
Sienna is much more sophisticated. So say sienna, not rust, okay?}

Sienna....the Hot color of the season...paired along with navy or grey....perfection in an outfit.

Not sure who the girls in the pictures above or below are...I stole them off the world wide web...
...but I love their sweaters and wanted to use them as an example..
..and since my favorite sienna sweater just doesn't fit quite right and I'm not really model material these days...the above and below stolen ladies will have to do.  

Sienna is warm and cozy and screams Hello Fall, let's have a cup of hot cider together.
So go get yourself a sienna colored sweater....
...and a cup of hot cider with whip cream, caramel drizzle and cinnamon sprinkled on top.

...and finally for you indie folk lovers, a cute little song I just adore! ;)

Have a fabulous last weekend of summer...
...next week, it's time to break out the pumpkins!

A little story concerning the baby I haven't told.

Jeff and I went into our marriage without a "plan".
We wanted to be married young (we met in high school)....
..and we wanted to have kids while we were young. and that's what we did.

I was 20 and Jeff 21 when we had our first baby.
Throughout our first years we never planned a pregnancy..if it happened fine, if not fine.
In 9 years we had 5 kids. Three boys, two girls.

And then things changed...
When I was 31 I miscarried a set of twins. I lost one at 9 weeks along, the other at 12.
I was told by the specialist I was seeing and the doctor associated with my midwife...
....I would most likely not be able to have anymore children.

At the time I had 5 little ones, ages 2 to 10 years old.
I was in the midst of sippy cups and board books...nearly everyone was still riding in a car seat...
...so the news didn't seem all that bad.
Don't get me wrong..I loved my life! I've always loved being a mom...and I love babies.
..but when your plate is full...you usually don't care about adding anything more to it.

Our's was full...and though we would have happily accepted another baby...we were content.

We moved on....
Our kids would often say how they wished for another baby.
Sometimes we wished for that too...and sometimes we didn't.
We were laid back and lived life with the attitude of...whatever God had in store for us we'd take.
We still do...I should say we try to. Sometimes we get a little attitude problem. Ha.

Okay, let's fast forward six years....
It was a cold and snowy Saturday night in February, we were in bed....
....TALKING! ;) about life.

Earlier that evening we had gone to dinner with the family to celebrate my mom's birthday.
Jeff and I sat at the table watching my pregnant sister and my sister in law with their babies...
..they would leave the table to change diapers, feed babies, cut up food, wipe little mouths...etc.

While in bed that night we discussed how different our life was compared to just a few years ago when we were wearing their shoes. It was nice to not be busy in that way anymore we decided!

We had lots of freedom. The self sufficiency of our kids made life easier in so many ways....
I could Christmas shop alone. I could get my hair done AND run through Starbucks...by myself.
Date night was great...Bye Kids! Call if you need us...or don't. {joking, joking!}
No diapers. No diaper bag. No bibs. No sippy cups. No car seats. No strollers.
Everyone could bathe themselves, feed themselves, wipe themselves!!!

That was Saturday night.
Tuesday afternoon ...{10,000 or so pregnancy tests later}
....we found out God had a different plan for our family.

When I first saw the two pink lines, the plus sign and the "pregnant" {remember, 10,000 tests}...
...I burst into tears.
Not because I was upset or sad...I was shocked. I was completely and utterly shocked.
More shocked than I was the first time around! A happy shocked of course.

All those above thoughts about freedom and Christmas shopping?
Yeah, they really didn't matter anymore. They paled and seemed selfish in the light of...
...We're having another baby! Yay!!!

Our girls had prayed every night for me to have a baby for 2 years! Seriously, every night.
Me of little faith brushed it off...I let them pray thinking their prayers were fruitless.
But God heard them...He knew the desire of their little hearts.
...and I suppose quietly, without even realizing it, the desire of mine.

We were all very excited...but I was also nervous.
I didn't want to tell anyone...and I was afraid to see my midwife...
I thought perhaps she would tell me the {10,000 or so} pregnancy tests I took were actually wrong.
Was I going to miscarry again?  Was everything fine with the baby? How would we do this?

Even now with only 3 1/2 weeks left to go in this pregnancy I still wake up and remember...
"Oh yeah! we're having a baby!"
I still say this to Jeff all the time and he says the same thing back to me..."Yep, I know."

It doesn't feel real.
I'm sure once I have that first labor pain, things will be put into perspective real quick.
...and to hold this new baby in our arms...Oh I can't wait!
...and to find out if the baby is a he or a she...I can't wait!

..and that's my little story concerning the baby. Now I've told it.
XxOo

Orchard Breakfast Weekend.

Saturday morning found only our three youngest home.
{The two older boys were working Farmer's Markets with my dad and brothers}

It was sunny, but temperatures only in the 40's. A perfect fall morning in the beautiful Midwest.
Early we left the house...early we went to the apple orchard for breakfast...it's 7 minutes away.
Apple Cider doughnuts, hot cider and one cup of coffee.

{Photo credit goes to...Sam ^^^}

Back to Monday now.
I have herbs to clip and dry. School to teach. Change clothes over for the next season.
Tomatoes to turn into sauce...{so I can make gravy} A messy house to get in order!
And laundry, lots of laundry....
should you stop by our at this moment house to take a shower, well, you won't have a towel!

Hope your week is off to a great start!
XxOo

Fashion Tip Friday {sort of, but not really} ~

It's been so long...but now that fall is upon us, and life will {hopefully!} be slowing down a bit...Ha!
I want to get back into Fashion Tip Fridays...because, well, they're just fun.
So, Fashion Tip Friday will be returning....starting....next week.

Today it's a whopping 46 degrees outside..lots of rain.
Feels more like October, rather than September.

We are currently taking an afternoon hot chocolate break in our house..first of the season.
A dear friend brought us back a container of "Cadbury Drinking Chocolate"
from England last spring. We saved it up in cabinet for the perfect time..which would be today!
(I MAY have had a tiny, tiny taste over the summer.....just to make sure it was safe for the kids. ;)


I'm looking forward to the weekend...we don't have much going on. I love that.
And I also love that Jeff will be around. It's feels so much more like home when he's home...
...if that makes any sense.

Weekend breakfast idea ~ English Muffin Breakfast Sandwich.
English Muffin
Leftover ham (or new ham ;) or bacon or sausage or no meat at all!) warmed up
One egg fried
One piece of cheese. {we used muenster this morning}

And I know people always post Friday links...here are three I want to share.

This is my current favorite song. {Jeff sent it over to me} The video along with it is sweet too.

Would you get tired of seeing blue?  

Finally, I leave you with this....

Mahatma Ghandi, as you know, walked barefoot most of the time,
which produced an impressive set of calluses on his feet.
He also ate very little, which made him rather frail and with his odd diet,
he suffered from bad breath. This made him.....
A super calloused fragile mystic hexed by halitosis.

You can find a few more laughs over here.

Have a Fabulous weekend.
XxOo

Nothing Really #73

We started school. I love homeschooling the kids.
It's only 48 degrees this morning. Love it, so ready for fall.
I bought white, fluffy socks and one cloth diaper for the baby.
I am SO torn on whether to use cloth or disposable diapers. I'm driving myself crazy!!!
I've been eating too much sugar..but cannoli doesn't count. Go to Al & Joe's and get one!
My midwife has the most amazing gardens..they are huge. and beautiful.

I am thankful for math programs on the computer...
two boys in high school..a mom bad at math...yeah, I love the computer.

I'm having a hard time not buying a pumpkin! Wait until fall Liz, wait until fall....or maybe not.
My dusty attic needs to be cleaned out and organized...anyone? anyone?
Something including cinnamon will be baked in my kitchen today. It's just that kind of day.

Off to do school now...
Happy Thursday to you. Hope you have a wonderful day.
XxOo

Dear Summer,

Society has officially, unofficially ended you with the start of September.
People are excited for their "favorite" season...crisp, colorful, beautiful fall.

You probably have hurt feelings,
people rushing you out of here with pumpkin spice lattes and apple cider doughnuts.

But listen...people are upset this year.
Let's take a look back at what you've done during your short visit...
...the visit we all looked forward to soooo much during those frigid February days we had.

Here we go....
June...cool and rainy...my pepper plants were ruined and many people lost plants due to a fungus that comes from too much rain. Yeah, you gave us lots of rain. Too much rain.
....but we looked forward to July where the days would be hot and sunny.

But no....
....you gave us chilly weather in July. One night it was even 49 degrees..unheard of in summer!

You mocked us in August with your hot, humid yet rainy, un-swimmable weather.
Time and money wasted keeping our {ever turning green} pools algae free and clean.

Now...the kids have gone back to school, public pools closed, cucumbers are tasting bitter...
....and all of a sudden you decide to be you! Summer!

Today 85 and sunny. Tomorrow 95 and sunny?!? Really?
We haven't had this all year long.

I get it, you're feeling bad, you want us to still like you. You're trying to hang on.

Okay, we forgive you for letting us down...we know there's always next year.
But for now, people are ready to move on....it's not you, it's us. Really.

We'll welcome you again...I promise.
I know next May I will happy when you return....so will everyone else.

I'm thankful for the last few days we have...
and for that sharp, sapphire, blue sky you only give in September.

We'll have ice cream and pick tomatoes and most likely swim for the last time this week.

After that, watch out!
Scarves and boots and pumpkin bread and chili and soup and bon fires and apple sauce and salted caramel mochas and sweaters and soon after that...Mittens! Okay, I'll slow down...but seriously..

...I'm so excited it's almost fall.
Because I just love fall AND our new baby will be arriving!

Happy Evening.
XxOo

...and just like that she's married.

Morning broke.
It was raining..a gentle peaceful, slow rain.
The make-you-curl up-snuggle-and-hit-the-snooze-button kind.

The bridal breakfast and primp festival was to take place at my house...6:30 am. Sharp.
My mom's 6:24 am text was what really woke Jeff and I up from our cozy Saturday morning bed.
Yikes!!!

Within minutes ladies began to arrive at our home. {including her fabulous photographer }
We had a lovely, girly spread. The air was thick with hair products and perfume.
Flower crowns put together. Photos snapped. Coffee guzzled..uh, sipped.
Everything you'd expect a pre-wedding celebration to be...from the female perspective of course.

My brother and sister in law own an old feed store with a giant barn connected in the back.
The place is very unique and overflowing with potential.
What they've done to restore the place so far is amazing. It's beautiful and rustic and I love it!

My sister Gianna has worked at the store this past year and
really wanted her wedding to take place in the barn.

Lots of work in a short amount of time (especially from my brother!)...
...and our awesome family (and a few friends) working together....
....that is what pulled the whole thing off.

It was an early wedding...10:30 am {a light lunch followed}
By the time we arrived at the barn there was barely a sprinkle falling...
....the weather cooled off and the rest of the day {for the most part} was beautiful!

Jason {my new brother in law} is in the military.
He recently graduated from West Point in New York and is now stationed in Texas.
So...she's gone. My baby sister now lives states and states away.

Here are a few pictures I took...
I'll put up a link for you when Evangeline Renee puts up the "real" pictures.
I've seen a couple in her sneak peek....(and you can too if you click the link,
it takes you to her fb page where she put a few up...I am excited to see the rest. :)

(Stole this picture off facebook ^^^
Love my old friend Maggie...who I actually used to babysit for...
...I was a REALLY young babysitter! ;)

A few of the boys. Some old, some new.
Something you'll never lack for in our family...a cousin.

Marriage is such a beautiful gift God has given to us.
I am so excited for my sister and her new husband as they begin their journey in life together.

Not to say there weren't lots of tears Saturday afternoon as they pulled away in that old Ford. Ha!
We'll be looking forward to Christmas...that's when we'll probably see them next.

And I won't get all teary eyed on you as I think about NOT seeing her working at the orchard, or going to get Salty Caramel Mochas from Starbucks together like we do in the fall, or having my girls jump in the car with her for a quick run to the store.....Okay, I'm stopping now. *sniff, sniff*

Happy evening...hope your weekend was grand.
XxOo