Okay so yes I know it isn't November yet. Like not even close to November yet, but you know what? I don't care. I feel the need to give my favorite month kudos even when it isn't even here (or close... yea yea I got that). So many amazing things happen in November so of course it's my favorite! Some would think it'd be December and even though December has Christmas which is great.. it's kind of a sad month too because Christmas is over and the winter lull begins in December. Here are just some of the many reasons November is my favorite month:
1. November is when the holiday spirit hits. I mean... mine hits in July but that's not normal so I can at least SHARE that holiday spirit in November and not look like a weirdo. Telling someone "Happy Holidays" in November is perfectly acceptable. Telling someone in July? Not so much.. definite weirdo-ville.
2. I don't know about you.. but our Christmas tree goes up in November!
3. Thanksgiving! Nothing is better than waking up early and cooking all of that yummo food. And smelling it is pretty nice too!
4. Thanksgiving Day Parade.. what better way to spend Thanksgiving morning than cuddled on the couch with blankets watching the parade?
5. Two words: BLACK FRIDAY ... bring it on!!
6. This year, November is super special because my new book in the Bloodlines series comes out. Not only will it be Sydney, but now Adrian's POV will be heard. Yessss!
7. Christmas wrapping, presents under the tree, Christmas shopping, etc. (Christmas things are out in stores!!)
8. The build up for Christmas in November is amazing. You know good things are coming and you're so excited.
9. Plays (Nutcracker, Christmas Carol, Etc) are everywhere.
10. Christmas lights!!
There are probably a million more reasons I could think of, but that's plenty of reasons for me. Why wouldn't it be my favorite month??
Starting soon, we will be doing some major (much needed) renovations! We have the things we need all paid for.. it's just a matter of Ian getting the time off to do it. He has requested vacation time in a few weeks so we're keeping our fingers crossed!!! As for now, we will be replacing our back siding and adding windows and a new door. My new storm door is so freakin' cool. It has a screen that disappears into the glass. :)) My new front door is so pretty. It has oval shaped glass in the middle. We're also going to paint it red. I can't wait to hang my holiday wreaths on it. :) After we finish this project, we will be replacing the siding on the front of the house. (Well the roof comes next, but that's boring lol.) THEN we're doing the kitchen ceiling and getting my chandelier. Yay! I really hope we can get all of this done by October. That is my goal. It's a crazy goal I know, but who knows... Aim high. :))
Also.. it is so hard to believe school is about to start again. Where did summer go? Not that I'm going to miss it.. I still cannot wait until fall! The kids are all ready to go. Book bags, supplies, new clothes, lunch boxes, etc. The only thing I need to get them before school starts is school lunch for their lunch boxes, but that'll come right before they go back. School starting means holidays fast approaching!! So excited! Guess I'm in a pretty good mood today!
Every year around this time, I start feeling the Christmas bug! I don't know why.. there's just something about July that gets me thinking of the warm and fuzzies. I have several goals this year that I want to accomplish.
1. I WILL focus also on Halloween and Thanksgiving. I won't let Christmas over shadow them to the point where they get lost. Last year I barely noticed them because I was too busy rushing ahead to Christmas. By the time Christmas came, it was old news.
2. I WILL wait until Thanksgiving evening to buy my tree. (Maybe... depends on Home Depot's holiday hours lol) Last year I bought my tree so early.. it was dead a week before Christmas and I was so worried that the house would burn down. I also went all over the place trying to find a tree. (I even loaded the family up and drove to Columbia to a tree farm.) It was so much work and disappointment that I really just want to relax and get the tree this year when the time is right.
3. I WON'T focus on the presents. Last year I went absolutely crazy buying presents for the kids and I lost focus on what was really important. They didn't even play with half of them. I WILL buy presents this year, but not so many and focus that money on other things such as decorations for our home, yummy food, and the extras..ie.. the Christmas plays, etc.
4. I WON'T compete. I have already taken several steps to avoid it. I WILL enjoy MY holidays with MY family. I will do the things I do because it's enjoyable, not because it's the "better" thing to do.
5. I WON'T expect everything to be perfect. When you expect too much, it is a huge letdown. I will sit back and have a happy time and let things fall in to place.
Hobby Lobby is my best friend this year. (Target too, but they don't start putting holiday things out in July like Hobby Lobby lol.) Even though I don't want to rush it, I see no harm in starting over this year and buying things little by little to decorate and other things for the holidays. I feel the same way about presents. While I may not be buying as many this year, it sure does help to start early so everything doesn't have to be purchased at once. There's just something about being in those aisles at Hobby Lobby surrounded by Holiday things. You can almost forget it's 95 degrees outside and envision the hot cocoa and cold weather.
I am not a summer person. I do enjoy it for a month or two and then I want my fall/winter weather back. There is just something about October-December that brings family together and makes everyone feel good. :)
It is almost time to leave for our vacation to the beach! It has been so long since we've gone on a vacation, I forgot what it was like. Haha! I have been halfway packed for over a month anticipating this. We were going to go to the mountains, but decided to go to the beach instead since Ever will be with us. The weather will still be kind of cool so we won't have to worry too much about it being too hot for Ever. Plus, she hasn't seen the beach since she was 8 months old. Our other children will be with their mom/dad for the weekend so it's just us. Emily has been begging to come with us and as much as I don't mind and would love for her to come, I don't want to cause a conflict. We will try very hard to go again when we can all go. I had to promise to bring her back something very cool from Sparkles! There are several places that I have been missing wayyy too long and can't wait to go to! Planet Hollywood, Broadway at the Beach, Margaritaville, Joe's Crab Shack, Damon's, Tanger outlets :), etc... We have been living VERY frugally this past month to save for this trip. I am so excited to go!!!! The weather keeps changing from rain to sunshine to rain again and back and forth. That doesn't really bother me considering we are not going to lounge on the beach. We will have a 2 year old with us.. there is NO lounging on the beach with a 2 year old. Lol. Absolutely cannot wait!
Oh and I know one of the last posts was about a vacation, but we ended up not going and stayed home to put the money and time into fixing our kitchen. So it has been a good year since a vacation for us!
I cannot believe it has been so long since I have posted a blog. I forgot I had one! Seriously... Wow. I will post soon!
I have to be really serious about limiting everyone's time on their new gadgets! Now..even Ian has started!! LOL He keeps playing the nabi that we got for the kids.. at one point I found Ian on the nabi, Ever on her leap pad, Christian on his vreader, and Emily on her Nintendo DS. This is crazy people!!! Read a book! Ian used to joke about people being addicted to Angry Birds and now he's loving that AND fruit ninja on the nabi. I have started limiting to no more than an hour a day (if that) and I've had them playing outside with me for the past two days because this weather has been beautiful! Since my baby is turning 2 in a few days.. it looks like I better get off here because I have a birthday to plan! I'm wondering if I should just do something small here and just celebrate when we go on vacation in Jan/Feb? I know most people vacation in the summer, but we need some time to relax!! So Ian took a few days off and we have a beautiful cabin rented! :))
My babies in bed playing tablets!!
We finally got around to making our room look amazing! For those of you that don't know, the room was Emily's in the beginning and then became our room. The floor was pink and we never changed it. Now it looks like adults live there lol. Here are some pictures of our new room!!
Here is my Josie being the diva that she is and enjoying her new room!
