Fall Update 2018

I feel like I'm finally settling into fall.  Just last week was my first week with no extra work and no kids home sick.  I had two whole days to get things done and it felt so good.

I am loving my new job so much.  I love having a reason to shower and get dressed in the morning. It's the first time in many years that I've had to make myself a priority in the mornings right along with the kids.  I eat breakfast, even swipe on mascara most mornings, it feels great.

It also, unashamedly, feels so good to get some external validation for a job well done.  To remember myself that I love teaching so much and my passion for early childhood education wasn't sucked out of me after raising my three through that stage ;o).

Working has helped tremendously with my productivity as well.  I, mostly, stay on top of laundry and other chores much better than when I was home all day with the kids.  I feel less burned out even though my schedule is so much busier between my work and church and kid commitments.

I am as excited for the fall holidays as ever.  Halloween went by without much ado this year.  For the first time I took advantage of the one day Target costume sale and bought them all off the rack across the board.  Louise was Hermione (what perfect hair she has for that), Felix was a blue Ninja (the blue was a specific need) and Ainsley was a monarch/Halloween butterfly.  I love to see the themes developing with my kids.  Louise is almost always a favorite character from a books she's read, Felix is some sort of super hero/bad guy and Ainsley is something friendly and classic.  She wanted to be a friendly spider but I was confident I could not bring her vision to life in the way she wanted and was relieved when she was satisfied with the butterfly.

Now that Halloween candy has been hidden and decorations have been taken down I am so looking forward to this season of Thanksgiving.  This year we're having Thanksgiving at Ian's Uncle's with his extended family.  I'm excited for a big family meal, slightly stressed that I'm responsible for the turkeys to feed 20+ people, and a tidge bummed that we're not hosting so I can't cook the day away in our happy home which is my favorite way to spend Thanksgiving.  It's a good continued lesson for me in letting go and being flexible.  I don't want to get too rigid with Holidays.  It'll be a great day.

I am of course already looking forward to Christmas as well.  I have more than half of my shopping done, nothing too big, but bits and pieces for almost everyone stashed away in my not so secret hiding spot in the back of my closet.  I'll have to find a new hiding spot soon or I fear I may get some pre Christmas peekers.

For the first year Felix is asking for NO toys.  All he wants, and he's been very consistent with this request for months, is a batman CD player and classic rock CDs.  I of course can't find a batman CD player so I'm thinking a black one with some stickers will have to do.  As for the classic rock?  Well he dislikes almost all pop music and the only radio station he likes is the oldies one and even on that he's honed in on his favorite genre.  I'm excited for that gift for him.

Louise as usual is asking for nothing in particular.  All that she really wants and needs are clothes as she and Ainsley are essentially in the same size now and long sleeved things are in a shortage around here. Louise has asked for a professional art kit and is very into geology.  It's always fun to find a few little things for my sweet girl.

Ainsley, as usual, is asking for some elaborate fairy concoction from Santa.  I have to admire her gumption, but come on girl!  I'm knitting her two sweaters (Louise too actually) and getting her a few small things she's asked for over the past few months.  We'll see if Santa can get away with a non magical gift AGAIN this year.

I am going very knitting heavy this year with gifts.  I have 7 pretty big projects that I'm hoping to get done.  Just yesterday I added one more very ambitious projects to my list. I found the pattern and ordered the yarn in one fell swoop so there's no turning back now!

I just love this season of anticipation and preparation so much.   We've already had multiple nights by the fire playing games or reading books.  Our craft wall is being filled with turkey projects as we speak.  AND I just bought a new charger for the switch because goodness knows there will be lots of time spent in the basement with Mario Cart and Just Dance this winter.

We're getting ready.  I love it all so much.  Happy late fall!