Happy last Wednesday of the month, friends! Can you believe we're staring at the end of October? It's right now that I am starting to want to pause time. Most of you know that it's not the day of Christmas I love, it's the whole season and the reason why we celebrate. People seem more willing to hear about Jesus, they're nicer, kinder, more generous and loving...I am excited about it this year! I'm linking up with Shay and Sheaffer for this monthly blog post, where we talk of all the things from the month so far. I love looking back on posts like this!
What we're eating this week:
Well, I made meaty Rotel with chips for us all Monday night, but only Todd, Noah and I were here to eat. They all laid down some sod really quickly, then we had that for dinner. On Tuesday night we all went out to one of our favorite places—Texas de Brazil! All the guys love all that meat...who am I kidding...so do I! Two of my favorite things there are parmesan chicken bites and their bacon wrapped fillet cooked to medium rare. My mouth just watered! On Wednesday, we were on our own and tomorrow night I am making chicken, cheese dip and rice (in the crockpot). We (I) eat leftovers on the weekend, or sometimes I'll grab something like sushi or pizza for whoever wants to eat with me.
What I'm reminiscing about:
Oh, just these days. We used to LOVE going to the zoo once the fall weather hit. We discovered that when it's cool outside, the animals are extra frisky and fun to watch. I think we spent at least a third of their lives at our local zoo. We were members at one point, but my dad just kept up his grandparents pass and let us all go with him. It would get him, all his grandkids and one extra adult in on that one pass. It was the way to go! Zoo memberships were about $100 a year back then and it paid for itself after we would visit one and one half times. (This was probably ten or eleven years ago...left to right are Jonah, Noah, Drew and Graham.
Those were the days.
What I'm loving:
Our flower beds and the front porch on our house. These little croton plants are thriving, as is the mum that I added after I took this picture. Our flower beds need to be weeded and we need to replace these impatiens with pansies, but everything is so pretty right now! I will never regret spending the money to have them done professionally.
What we've been up to:
Todd and Graham work a lot, either with their full time job or with the sheriff's department, so that takes up lots of their time. Drew, Jonah and Noah are also working full time jobs and when all of them are NOT working, they love spending time with their friends. They all went to a car show over the weekend and were in heaven seeing all those fancy cars. They also love to have or go bonfires, or spend a night around a fire pit. They all have such great friends. I'm grateful! I have been the keeper of them all. I've been going to Bible study, writing, reading books, cleaning, watching movies on The Hallmark Channel. Those are all my favorite things.
What I'm dreading:
I can't really think of anything that I'm dreading right this moment. Unless you count the stress of Christmas shopping. I always sort of dread this each season for our sons, because once they're a certain age, their stuff is expensive and no fun to buy.
What I'm working on:
Everyone to be on board with early Christmas decorating. I'm thinking the second week in November. (I just stopped to tell Todd this and he completely disagrees, but it's fine. He'll be fine. It's going down and I'll have everyone convinced it's normal. We did this same thing last year and it was a good thing, because we all came down with covid the week before Thanksgiving and would not have felt up to doing it all the night of Thanksgiving!)
Also, I'm working on some writing projects.
What I'm excited about:
We also decorate our church for the holidays as a member of the worship ministry.
What I'm watching/reading:
I am watching all of these! Plus some old favorites.
Almost everyday I watch a movie while I eat lunch.
I'm working on a post about the books I read this month, so check back on Friday! I postponed it until the end of the week because of other things I already had scheduled. I'll make it a part of my Friday favorites post this month.
What I'm listening to:
Currently, the sound of my dogs being excited over neighbors coming home from work. We have some windows open and they love to stand there and people watch. Music wise, I am listening to Pandora radio and podcasts that involve friends talking.
What I'm wearing:
Currently, black pants, a charcoal gray poncho with a cowl neck and black and leopard flats. I love my cooler weather wardrobe.
Currently, black pants, a charcoal gray poncho with a cowl neck and black and leopard flats. I love my cooler weather wardrobe.
What I'm doing this weekend:
I have absolutely no idea. Probably nothing out of the ordinary...I know that Halloween is this weekend, but I don't think anyone is going to be here. If nobody is here, I don't pass out candy. I honestly keep the blinds shut and the porch light off, because the dogs always go crazy with people walking around! I think all of the boys are going over to Drew's for a Halloween party. I think that sounds fun! I've heard about some of their costumes that they have....and well, let's just say gone are the days of the cute costumes. I do have one son that is going as a Teletubby.
I have absolutely no idea. Probably nothing out of the ordinary...I know that Halloween is this weekend, but I don't think anyone is going to be here. If nobody is here, I don't pass out candy. I honestly keep the blinds shut and the porch light off, because the dogs always go crazy with people walking around! I think all of the boys are going over to Drew's for a Halloween party. I think that sounds fun! I've heard about some of their costumes that they have....and well, let's just say gone are the days of the cute costumes. I do have one son that is going as a Teletubby.
What I'm looking forward to next month:
All the things! Thanksgiving and all that yummy food, time with family, traditions that we keep each year...all of that is what makes this time of year so magical. I will say that some of that has dimmed now that all our sons are older, but it still makes my heart happy. If I could say one thing it's to slow down and cherish all the moments while your kids are young. Everything changes after they start to drive.
What else is new:
I think that pretty much sums it all up.
Thanks for reading my blog, friends! Love to all. ❤
You are so right, things definitely change when they are grown up. I still love the holidays, but it's just not the same. We're leaving next week for almost 3 weeks, and there is the slight possiblity that I will put our tree up before we leave, so it will be ready when we come home. I love to have the lights in the house as long as possible. I just don't let it show from outside until after Thanksgiving.
ReplyDeleteI finally figured out how to watch the Hallmark Christmas movies without cable! We did it last year but for the life of me I could not remember which app we used. I'm slow - but I got it. (Frndly TV for the win) and let the movies roll!!:)
ReplyDeleteI've always wanted to live somewhere where we get trick or treaters so I could hand out candy. We never have... We spent so much time at our local zoo that my boys knew many of the zoologists there by name!
ReplyDeleteRight, Cathy? How fun to be gone for a few weeks...I don't blame you a bit for wanting to get that knocked out as soon as you can so you don't have to do that when you're home. I hope you had a great day!
ReplyDeleteJennifer- YAY!!! How exciting for you! That was me last year. I had been without it for a couple of years and I finally invested in the Frndly Tv app. Woohoo!
ReplyDeleteJoanne- It's weird here, we go back and forth from having a lot to barely any. I guess the older the neighborhood gets, the less we have. I haven't passed any out in two years. That is so much fun that y'all were at the zoo so often. We were too and I loved those days! We never did the same thing twice.
ReplyDeleteAfter watching Hallmark movies for the first time last year, I'm excited to get into them for this year too. But to keep things fun, I'm holding off until mid-November. I just can't get into the Christmas/holiday spirit too early.
ReplyDeleteAnd all your food sounds soooooo good!!! Yum!!!