Happy October!

Couldn't help but feel like a kid again, getting excited for October 31st, as I was putting up my Halloween tree... compliments of my lovely little grandmother. As you can gather from the photos below, most of them are they are hand-stitched with love - witches, ghosts, haunted houses, pumpkins, etc. Just another "little nothing," to quote my great-grandmother Elsie, that adds happiness to this time of year :)

Our Little 'Punkin'...

We had the opportunity, this past week, to see our little one via ultrasound. We've made it to 20-weeks and both momma and baby are feeling great! The doctor was happy with our little one's growth and all of the baby's measurements are on par with this stage of development. I've been feeling good so far and my appetite is quickly returning to full-force... and then some. It was so neat to see our little one moving around and seemingly squirming with joy. The technician was having a tough time avoiding the baby's eagerness to show off it's gender and was laughing at him/her for 'talking' during the entire ultrasound... I wonder what side of the family that comes from?!

 

Autumn Treasures...

Autumn has officially arrived... it doesn't take more than a glance outside at the 'painted' trees and shrubs as well as the recently harvested crops and bare, stubble fields to notice that fall is upon us. Not only that, but the daily temperature highs and lows also give you a glimpse of the fleeting warmth of summer and the approaching cold of winter. I took advantage of the energy and lift-of-spirit this new season has instilled in me and began emptying my closets of clothes, knick-knacks, books etc and held my own yard-sale a few weeks ago. I was positive everything I put out on those tables was a treasure (who doesn't think everything they own is great?) just waiting to be plucked from the treasure chest by someone who shared my love of modern and eclectic, antique and refurbished. We were utterly surprised as the amount of items we sold and the profit we made - apparently, I've got great taste?! I was also granted an hour reprieve, from running the sale, from my understanding husband who knew I could not possible spend the entire day selling my own things and miss out on the hunt! In that time, I was able to find a one-of-a-kind little chair... a circa 1970's mustard yellow accent chair for a reasonable price. Which has found itself at home in a corner of my dining room...

And, now that I have decorated the house in the hues to match the changing colors of the season and have candles releasing the scent of pumpkin spice and apple pie, I feel that I am totally ready for all that autumn has in store for me/us... take a deep breath of that cool, refreshing harvest air and smile!

Back - 2 - School!

The last weekend of summer (for my district and many others) is upon us... We will be beginning in-services on Monday and school is back in session on Wednesday. As August was approaching, I will admit I was not excited in the least. That meant that summer as we knew it was over and pretty soon we'd be back in the grind. However, now that I've been in my classroom a few times to prepare for the students I feel a little better about things. There is something about going up to the school for a bit, the week before it all starts, that helps to settle my nerves and build my confidence. Yes, I'm ready... let's do this!

New addition to my classroom this year, Walter (he's SO ready for a new school year)!

And the Journey Begins...

Now that we've shared our exciting news, I'll give everyone an opportunity to follow along with us on our journey to bringing our little one into the world...

(14 Weeks & Feeling good!)

As Summer Fades Into Fall...

Call me strange, but I love the changing of the seasons. Autumn in particular is one of my favorite seasons... the smells, the colors of fall... nothing can beat it. Winter however, by far, is my favorite time of the year. My world is somehow more beautiful, clean and crisp when covered in brand new, sparkling white snow. Most people would beg to differ... they have a difficult time seeing the beauty of this time of the year for the shoveling, icy road conditions, and cabin fever outbreaks. But, if you take a moment, you may realize that we are about to embark on a gorgeous time of the year in North Dakota... sometimes you just have to look past the "difficult" to see the "beauty." :)

It's been a while since I have updated my blog. This is for no other reason than being simply too busy to log-in and put into words all the fun we've been having this summer! We've recently returned from two weekends worth of weddings. On August 4th, we celebrated the marriage of my little sister McKenzie to her  husband, Adam in Stanley ND. It was so special celebrating with the Jarmins as they enter this new chapter in their lives! On August 11th, we were in Austin MN celebrating the marriage of Stephen's younger brother, James to the new Mrs. Emily Elkins. The first half of August was full of traveling, but it was a nice opportunity for us to get away and spend time with family before my school year begins.

So, in closing, to all the students/teachers out there.. cheers to a new "year!" And for all others, enjoy the fleeting days of summer and the changes our lives will go through in the next month or so... I am hoping it's a joyful one for all :)

SuRpRiSe!

        Stephen and I are happy to announce that we are expecting our first child in February! We've begun the initial appointments, screenings and so far all is well. Right now, the due date is the 11th, which just so happens to be my grandpa's birthday! I LOVE winter (yes, I know... I've been told before something must be wrong with me) and I am very eager to receive our first-born during such a beautiful time of the year. This next 7-months/year will no doubt be busy and hectic, but ... with God's blessings and guidance... We are excited for this new journey we have found ourselves on!