Where has this year gone? I know they say that time goes faster with every year you age, but this year has blown me away. I cannot believe we are living in the midst of magical December - that my baby girl is almost five months old, that I'm in the weeds of completing annual performance reviews and drafting 2019 work goals, that Christmas is less than three weeks away. Cody has almost reached his one-year anniversary of his "new" job already, the boys' birthdays will be here before we know it, and I'm still getting used to writing 2018 on my checks! And our Christmas cards? This is the latest I've ever sent them out. I'm just not quite as on top of things as I once was. ;)
Before we move on to a new season, I have a few more images to share from the past few months. Our fall looked different than years past. We didn't make it to Hartman Reserve to notice the leaves changing colors, I barely spent time in our backyard, and we spent most every waking minute on a football field or in the cozy confines of our own living room. Having a baby around again has forced me to slow down in the best of ways - and having two older boys that are becoming increasingly active in their own interests has also changed how we plan our days. I'm learning how to release some control over them while also making sure we stay true to some of the things that are important to our family culture. Dinners around the table, family time before bed without video games and iPads, trips to the pumpkin patch and Santa's lap because Kaitlyn deserves those same childhood memories her brothers have created. And as if I wasn't already thrilled with having a little baby again, watching Jaden force a smile while sitting on Santa's lap a couple of weeks ago only reinforced it more. ;)
A few more memories and happy things from our autumn season.
|| The boys attended every football game in the Dome this year, while I went to some and stayed home for a couple. Nana Deanne watched Kaitlyn when I went to the games because I just wasn't ready to introduce her to that craziness yet. She of course still sported her Panther Purple on game days though. ;) It was interesting to listen to Jaden talk about the games this year - having a new perspective and increased knowledge thanks to playing in his own first season of tackle football. And Brandon? By the end of the season he was watching the games in their entirety without relying on the iPad for entertainment. :)
|| Continuing to make this house a home. We've been here just under a year and a half now, and I've been slow to hang things on the walls or make permanent decisions about decor and furniture. I want everything to have meaning, have a place, and have a purpose. And turning our four seasons room into my office has been one of the best decisions we've made. I love spending my days in here with these cozy and bright views, and I can't wait to continue to transform different areas of this home. We didn't get around to working on our basement family room this fall, but now have plans to start once basketball season is over - spring is much calmer around here. :)
|| Basketball season started in September with evening practices, and tournament play started in October. The boys have a new look to their team - both in personnel and uniform - but the same competitiveness and success. And Cody has taken the reigns as full time assistant coach. So many memories being made through these opportunities we've been given.
|| School is going well - we have great teachers and great kids that are making great decisions about how they represent themselves and how they treat other people. The only conflict is that Brandon has homework every night, and Jaden's teacher doesn't believe in homework. ;)
|| Our trees shed their leaves late in the season, but the view from Kaitlyn's room when the colors change is phenomenal. I can't make pictures do it justice.
|| And this girl? Our 6pm oatmeal feeding is one of the highlights of my day. She was only so-so about rice cereal but loves her oatmeal, and she looks so big and cute sitting at dinner with us every night - right at the head of the table where she belongs. :) As soon as we put her in her little booster seat, her arms start flapping and she starts making excited facial expressions because she knows what's coming! Watching her personality continue to develop has been the highlight of our season. And there's so much more of that to come.
That's a wrap! Coming up: Thanksgiving memories, some basketball news... and it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas. ;)
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