Autumn at the Arboretum

We took a trip to the Dallas Arboretum on Saturday afternoon for the annual fall festival. It was a fairly uneventful outing, except for Aidan wandering off at one point. **panic** There was a wedding taking place when the park closed...I most certainly did not tell my daughter that Glinda, the Good Witch of the North, from The Wizard of Oz was getting hitched and she didn't want the public ruining her event. Alas, amid the craziness of large crowds, we were able to experience autumn in Big D...80 degrees and not a cloud in the sky.

Imagine this conversation...

Little Ms K., Ms. M. and Ms. A.
(the sunshine was getting in Ms. K's eyes)

You know what he's thinking...

"In about five minutes, I'm going to disappear...Mommy and Daddy will be so surprised 'cause they won't be able to find me. I'm really good at hiding!"

Little A loved all of the pumpkins!

Happy 3rd Birthday

Three years ago today I walked into the hospital at 6:30 in the morning, ready to begin induction. Your original due date was October 28th, but the doctor said you were going to be a little bigger than your sister (7lb 9oz) and felt induction was the way to go. After being hooked up to various IVs, machines and monitors, I sat...anxiously awaiting your arrival. As the medication started kicking in and contractions increased, I anticipated your birth, but oddly relished the last few moments I would have with you in my womb. I spent eight agonizing hours in labor only to be told that you had no intentions of making your appearance the "normal" way. After much hush-hush discussion, the doctors felt it would be best for both of us if you were delivered via c-section. Because the medication had not worked properly, they informed me I would have to be put under general anesthesia. I cried. I was crushed that I would not get to lay eyes on you the moment you entered this world, but...it was all for your health and safety. I was so nervous...I prayed for you, my sweet son.

After I awoke from surgery, Daddy told me you had been born at 4:09pm and weighed 9lbs 2oz. WOW! What a big boy! Daddy was so sweet and waited patiently for me to "come to"...he wanted you to meet both of us together for the first time. The nurse then wheeled you into my room in your clear plastic bassinet. Even for a "big" baby you were still SO small. I studied your chocolate brown hair and your steel blue eyes. 10 tiny fingers, 10 tiny toes. You were truly a beautiful newborn...I know I am biased but several people stopped and confirmed my opinion.

And now here we are...three years later. Your smile lights up the room. You have an amazing sense of humor with FANTASTIC comedic timing. You are so smart and so sweet. You are a joy to have as a first born son...you still are a truly beautiful child.

I love you Aidan Michael. Happy 3rd Birthday.

Improving My Time

Just a quick update...I ran 5 miles in my neighborhood this afternoon in 46 minutes. Granted, there are a lot less hills in these parts, but I improved my time by over 10 minutes.

I will catch that turkey on Thanksgiving morning and what a mighty fine feast it shall be. :-)

Twas a Good Run

Inspired by a friend who recently ran from his home in Woodcreek to Chandlers Landing in Rockwall (woo! a total of 11.8 miles!), I decided to map a run of my own using a VERY cool website (which he also introduced me to), MapMyRun.com.

Yesterday, my sweet husband dropped me off at Harry Myers Park in Rockwall...and I ran home. I mapped it as a 5 mile run.

Overall, it was a rather unevenful run with a little more hills than I anticipated, the occasional dog barking from behind a fence (and two that were not contained), a decomposing cat in the middle of the street and a dead corn snake near the newly harvested corn fields. Unfortunately, I did not take pictures of any of these amazing sites...I was too busy keeping pace and trying to make it home in time for dinner. I was impressed by the courtesy shown to me by on-coming traffic. The only concern I had was crossing FM 549 at 5:00pm, but traffic was surprising light when I crossed.

I completed my run in just under 58 minutes. Time to start shaving minutes...getting revved up for the 8-mile Turkey Trot!

My Pumpkins at the Patch

On Friday, we met some friends for an afternoon at the pumpkin patch. The kids wandered through the hay maze, rifled through baskets of baby gourds, and splashed in the sprinkler run-off (well, at least my boys did). Here are a few photos from our excursion...

Middle "A" in the maze



Big Sister LOVES to pick flowers!



Baby "A" checkin' out the pumpkins...I think he found just the right one!



Big brother and little brother comparing gourds...too cute.



My sweet middle child (such mischief behind those big blue eyes).


(photo courtesy of JC Originals Photography)

Thanks to Jill and her amazing photography, more pics from our outing can be seen on her blog.

Little O.C.D. Me

First off, I do not want to offend anyone that may truly have O.C.D. This is meant only as a light-hearted poke at me...and anyone else who chooses to comment.

There are a few areas in my life where I do the same thing, the same way, every time. I thought it might be fun to share a few of them.

• When folding laundry, I have to stand in the exact same place next to my bed. I place each family members clothing in the same place on the bed every time...including the piles for their shirts, pants, PJs, underwear, etc. This only happens on Tuesdays...laundry day...every week.Ashlyn's clothes go at the foot of the bed on Jerry's side of the bed... her PJs are at the very end followed by her shirts and then her pants.

• When I change a diaper on the changing table, my childs head must be on the right, every time. I can not change it if their head is on the left (which is odd in, and of, itself because I am right-handed).

• When I clean my house, I start in the same room with the same chore, every time.

• When I take a shower, I wash my body first, shampoo second, conditioner third, and shave fourth, every time. If I run out of conditioner, I'm screwed...can't function...seriously.

• I put on one sock and then my shoe before putting on the other sock and shoe, every time.

• Every time I make my bed, the top sheet has to be folded down and the pillows have to be positioned just right. Ask Jerry, I rearrange them when he helps out. But nevertheless, I am grateful for the help he affords me.

• Every night when we go to bed, NOTHING can be out of place in the house...toys, throw pillows, kitchen chairs, dishes in the sink. It can be 2:30am and I'm loading the dishwasher.

• Toilet paper must come OVER THE TOP of the roll, every time. C'mon people, get it right! :)

Now it's your turn...you down with O.C.D? Do share...

1 Corinthians 14:40
Let all things be done decently and in order.