Fall is here!

While the weather in most of the country has yet to feel like fall, here included, we did get a little taste last Friday. (Hence the jackets.) Here are a few more signs that Fall is on its way!











Rosemary's costume arrived... she's a pink octopus! This is so that she and her sister, who will be Ariel, will be 'themed' together. It is a Really cute costume!!!

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Tis the time for halloween candy. These aren't ordinary bags of candy... these are the 'mac daddy', two ton bags of candy. We are anticipating a lot of children.

Ah yes, the true sign of Fall... Brach's mellowcreme pumpkins and a pumpkin candle. You might think that candy corn is the quintessential fall candy, but I disagree. Try the pumpkins and I think you'll agree! If you are fortunate to find a Bath & Body Works Pumpkin candle, buy it. They are in short supply and they are fantastic! If you cannot find one, head to Yankee Candle for a Macintosh and Peach candle. It will make you feel like you're in an orchard!

The real signs of Fall like the leaves changing and colder weather are just around the corner... Happy Fall, Ya'll!!

Were you at our house today? Everyone else was!

Well, I am decompressing after a very busy day. (chocolate Newman-O's can help you do that.)

I knew a month ago that today would be a crazy one, but one that I was anxious to come. Today I feel like our house is more than 95% complete, all thanks to the built ins and closets being installed. On top of that, our bathroom vanity/sinks were re installed (after being without one for a week and a half,) and some of our window treatments were put in.
There were other folks in and out today as well, but those were the biggies!
Everything has a place to go, and I'll be signing off to go put them in their place!

Before I go, I must say how blessed I feel to have a place for myself, my children and my things. Especially when so many have nothing.

Please don't forget the hurricane victims in the coming weeks... they will need all of our help in the months to come!

Here is the Before at 9:00 this morning. A lot can happen in one day! 

The After photo. If only it were as simple as it looks!

Sunday we enjoyed a family day on the deck by the "pool". 

splish splash! 

Here is our little cutie!  

Why haven't I blogged?

Well, blogging audience, I'm back.
It's hard for me to take time away from things that I think are more important, but I didn't want too much time to pass before I posted something.
These pics are a hodge podge of some of our summer activities.
I hope that once things settle down I can do some 'guilt free' blogging!

This picture explains why I haven't blogged recently. There is ALWAYS someone at our house doing some sort of work. This guy is painting the new door frame/doors that will enclose the office. We are almost done with all the work... I think by next tues.the bulk will be done. Yea!!! Then I will post more pics of the house.

Even the outside of our house is busy, busy! 

There is always something going on!
This is the electrian's ladder, not to be confused with the painter's ladder.

Lilly's new bike! (Daddy put it together!) 

Here we go! 

after riding a grueling 2ft, of which mommy pushed, Lilly announced "I'm thirsty!" and jumped off the bike to have some bubbly lemonade from her Barbie water bottle. We are convinced she chose this bike solely for the water bottle and backpack. good to know our child is not swayed by gimicks and marketing! 

Our first haircut! This was very strange for me b/c Lilly was 2 1/2 before her hair ever got long enough to consider cutting. I was doubtful, but R. did a great job at sitting still! 

Despite being a "baby on the move", Rosemary is all girl and sat still for her hair styling. 

it's always fun to go down the slide with newly coiffed hair! 

we celebrated our new haircut with some blackberry applesauce! thankfully it did not wind up in our hair, just everywhere else! 

this was the world's fastest merry go round! I feared for the children who did not have someone to hold onto them!  

Can you tell how fast we're going? I was laughing hysterically while still maintaining a death grip on Rosemary! I think this must have been the 'g force' go round! 

Riding a pony at the State Fair 

Hilton Head, SC

After a very long stay in the Residence Inn, we moved into our house and 5 days later we drove 15 hours to Hilton Head! (we will not drive again!)
We had a great time with all of my family, despite the fact that a stomach bug was shared among some of us.
Lilly got to have a 2nd birthday party, all the cousins loved seeing each other and I was happy to be near the water!

I'm on vacation!! 

ah, the beach. 

this is the backyard of the house we stayed at in Hilton Head. we had a photographer come take pictures of all the families... it was very difficult to get all the children to pose, but thankfully, the photographer used a digital camera and was good at "doctoring" the pics! 

I know these are silly to publish, but the scenery is so pretty! 

Posing on the beach