Friday, October 30, 2020

High Five for Halloween

Halloween falls on a Saturday?! Halloween falls on a full moon?! Halloween falls on the one night of the year we gain an extra hour?! 

And then a pandemic walks in and squashes all of our dreams for a perfectly epic Halloween celebration.  

I love looking back on what the kids - and Tom and I, once we started putting together themed family costumes - wore on Halloweens past.

2006

2007

2008


2009



2010


2011

2012

2013

2014


2015


2016


2017


2018

2019

Though our plans for tomorrow look different than they would have if we weren't still dealing with COVID-19, we have high hopes for an enjoyable holiday. Have a fun and safe Halloween, friends!

Tuesday, October 27, 2020

Falling for Fall

I miss home most of all during October, November, and December. I have always loved fall, and when I see friends - those who live in areas of the country that actually experience seasons - posting pictures of themselves picking apples, drinking hot apple cider, indulging in apple orchard donuts (I'm not sure what makes it so, but orchard donuts are the BEST), wearing cozy sweaters, and sitting by the fire, I feel a little homesick. I know I'll have the opportunity to comfortably participate in all of these activities eventually, but it just doesn't feel quite the same doing so in February rather than during the autumn months. I also miss watching the leaves change from bright green to vibrant shades of red, orange, and yellow, and walking - swish, swish, swish, swish - through piles of dried leaves collecting on the sidewalks.

Thanks to those who knows how much I miss home right now and send me pictures of fall at its finest.












Even better, my mom texted me a video of her feet walking - swish, swish, swish - through the leaves, and my mother-in-law mailed the kids me an envelope of leaves from Northern Wisconsin.


Happy fall, y'all!

Friday, October 23, 2020

High Five for Friday (10.23.20)



One
After two weeks of work-related travel, Tom finally comes home this weekend!

Somewhere in the midwest, on his drive through.

Two
I voted. It took 47 minutes from the time I joined the line until I walked out the backdoor of the building, so if you add in the four-minute drive to the polling place and the four-minute drive home, I accomplished this "feat" in under an hour. 


As I walked back to my car, I felt accomplished and proud and ever so slightly hopeful. Anxiety and fear still swirled around inside of me, deep in the pit of my stomach, but I tried as hard as I could to - at least for a few moments - allow space for only my positive emotions to flourish. 

VOTE, friends! 

Three
Wow.




That's my Lily, by the way. These are from her dance company photo shoot.

Four
As a member of the Ballet Brazos Publicity Committee (I think my official title is Vice Chair, but I prefer "Assistant to the Regional Manager"), I've spent the last few weeks working toward an important upcoming event. Taking place next Tuesday, October 27th, Brazos Valley Gives is a community-wide day of giving built around strengthening nonprofits, empowering donors, and building community. We're proud to be a part of this second annual fundraiser, and we'd like to invite you to visit www.brazosvalleygives.org to learn more about the event, the many participating organizations, and the efforts of Ballet Brazos to instruct, educate, and enrich the lives of young people through the art of dance to share quality classical ballet performances with audiences of all ages.


Five
These delightful little babes have been so fun to play with and love on...especially after they stopped pooping all over my house. 😉


Hallie's American Girl doll was on the top
bunk so they had to share the bottom bunk.

This girl can't say no to a tummy rub.

That paw up by her right ear? That's her BACK paw.
She could not love having her tummy rubbed more.

Dorothy, on the other hand, loves science.

Engaged...

...and participating. She's pretty
solid on the Periodic Table now.

Six
A bonus high five - happy birthday, Nuria!

And a bonus bonus high five for Jenn's back porch, without which these socially distant (excep for a photo) birthday gatherings would be possible...

Have a great weekend, friends!