Fall Traditions

Loved this post I read about fall traditions. It’s got me thinking this morning…

The story my kids will tell someday depends on me. I am writing their book, and I want their childhood chapters full of traditions and stories and memories of the comforts of home.

What do I want our kids to remember about home and family? What warm memories am I filling them with these days?

In all honesty, the last few days have been days that I kinda wish they wouldn’t remember! Kaylia’s had a nasty cold, none of us have gotten enough sleep, I’ve been grumpy, and life has been hectic.

I was making a casserole yesterday to bring to a potluck, turned away for a second, and when I looked back, Kaylia was pouring a cup of water all over my half-finished casserole.

It was kind of funny. Kind of not. Some moments are just chaotic. I don’t like having to do five things at once. But some days leave other choice.

So today, with fall traditions on my mind, we went outside, where I can only do one thing: enjoy the moment. But I can enjoy many things all at the same time – my girls, the sunshine, the smell of fall, the colors, the wind, the day.

We’ll just forget the crazy moments. Or better yet, we’ll learn from them and move on to bigger and better things.

I’m making a list of fall traditions we’ve got around here:

-rake a huge piles of leaves and run wild

-eat turkey at Thanksgiving!

-carve a pumpkin

-go to Look-Out (which is THE most beautiful place to go in the fall – pictures coming soon!)

-take family pictures for our Christmas cards

Hmm, what else? I’m definitely open to suggestions!

Here’s my list of traditions I wish we could add:

-actually getting around to decorating our house for fall

-visiting a pumpkin patch

-going to a corn maze

-making some kind of fun treats that only get made once a year, for Halloween

So, help me out! I need some traditions…

Fresh Ambition

Okay, new motivation to finish strong! Came across this quote today:

Brett’s away this week, training for a new job, and I find that more responsibility for me comes with more ambition. I like the challenge of holding down the fort, giving extra attention to the girls and maybe–just maybe–I’ll blow his mind when he returns to a clean house and trash cans that I actually remembered to drag to the curb.

I like that. I want Ben to come home to a happy family, not one that’s falling apart. I’m not interested in playing the part of a frazzled wife. With more responsibility comes more ambition! That’s how I felt last week, so we’ll look on the Blueberry Poop Episode as a slight set-back, and carry on!

By the way, that quote comes from an amazing blog I discovered today. You should check it out. And definitely read the “Start Here If You’re New” section – she shares the birth story of her daughter who has Down Syndrome, and it’s beautiful. I sat there with tears streaming while I read it.

Anyway. We’re off to make this day fantastic. The house smells like blueberry muffins – how can I go wrong?