getting back into the groove monday

1. when the fall begins...

you embrace it! routine is back. cooler weather has arrived. kids are in school (well, other people's kids). summer BBQs (that's what they're called out here...even when it's not BBQ that you are eating) are coming to an end. pumpkin is back on the menu. for us, classes at the Y are in full swing, Bible study and MOPS are going strong, and we are settling right into what is, i think, the most normal weeks we have had since arriving out west. this creature of habit and routine-craver is pleased. i feel like our home and my kids and our life run a lot more smoothly when there's a bit of normalcy.

our family at the fair. a good fall thing to do!

2. when your son is more adventuous than you....

you rejoice. or, at least, i do. adventurous is not my middle name and risk-taking is not my game. and, i'm ok with this. on the spectrum of adventure, i'd like to think i sit happily (and safely) in the middle! my oldest son, on the other hand, is a little farther along than i. he doesn't completely throw caution to the wind, but he does love a challenge, or a risk, or just plain fun. he rode his very first (kiddie) roller coaster at the fair this weekend. he ran straight for the front car and smiled the entire time! as soon as he got off, he wanted to ride it again. i was so proud. never mind the fact that my first roller coaster (that i rode willingly) was when i was in my 20's! looks like this adventure boy is going to be like his dad in more ways than one. i couldn't be more proud.

first roller coaster!

my adventure boy (and his crazy hair!)

3. when there's a tent on your backyard...

you might end up sleeping in your own comfy bed instead. that was us this weekend. we decided that a family campout in the backyard was our first step towards real camping. all four of us, even our seven-month-old. so, we all put on our warm jammies, grabbed our pillows and blankets (might as well be a little cush, since we were in our own backyard, not the Rockies), turned on the lantern, and headed out back. we read our Bible story, sang some songs, and all laid still, my husband and i hoping that this might actually work. the adventure started out well. everyone was quiet. baby boy was snuggled up next to me, not asleep, but quiet. little boy was quiet and settled until he started to realize that he wasn't as into this camping thing as we had hoped. he started asking to go "home" (hilarious). he asked for his bed. we assured him that this was fun (!) and that we would all sleep in the tent tonight. he cried. then he curled up with me for a while and, again, we thought we were on to something. well, about an hour after heading out to the backyard, we realized we were getting nowhere fast with this camping gig. we took the boys in, put them in their beds, and curled up in our very comfy bed inside and all went to sleep. oh, well. can't blame us for trying. maybe next weekend...

4. and when you just want to give up and cry...

so sad. i almost didn't post this because he looks so pathetic, but i decided to post anyways because a) you may never see him like this again-- he's such a happy boy and b) he looks so adorable, even when he's crying! not to worry-- less than 2 seconds after this picture, he was back to his smiley self! this was just a bad combo of waking up from a nap and mommy trying to get a picture of him in his cute outfit when food was in sight. mistake!

 

...you lift your hand and smile instead. 

 

another day, i held up the camera and called his name. this was what he did! hilarious!

 

i. love. my. boys.

 

 

linking up with carissa