Past, present and future...

As usual, we've had a lot going on lately. The third weekend of October rolled around (and if your an SEC fan you know exactly what that means!) so the hubs wisked me away to the Mountains for a weekend. With a little football thrown in the mix. ;)



I was so excited thinking about the trip. My parents took the boys for the whole weekend and while I waited for hubby to get off of work I relaxed and pampered. I soaked in bubble bath while listening to favorite tunes, gave myself a pedicure and enjoyed Sonic for supper while watching TiVo'd recordings of Project Runway. It was a truly girly night. And I needed that.





*Disclaimer: I realize that this is not a picture of my soaking in bubble bath but I promise this is much cuter. *

There's never a bad trip to Neyland. How can you be in that atmosphere, win or lose, and not enjoy it? We had awesome seats and to-die-for weather and despite the game outcome, it was a perfectly lovely night.


The mountains were nice with color scattered across the landscape. Since it was just the two of us we indulged in a Sky Lift trip up the mountain. We hadn't done that in a long time. We talked and walked the Gatlinburg streets holding hands. We felt like we were dating again. And it was nice. Just me and him. And we woke up to views like this from our balcony:





But so it goes that all good things must come to an end but turns out that just when one good thing ends another begins...if you let it.


We returned home to three squealing boys who were happy their mom and dad were home. Reunions are always the best with the warmest, sweetest hugs.

Then, when we weren't looking, Halloween crept up. And somehow my peanut turned five years old. I had one very unhappy camper when it came time to don Halloween costumes but a few thousand tears later and he was rarin' to go.

Oh, the agony!


We trick-or-treated with friends just as we do every year. It's fun to compare pictures from previous years to see how they've all grown.


This year I was escorted on our Halloween venture by Harry Potter, Indiana Jones and a cowboy. Handsome little lads.


Peanut's birthday was very low key but that's what he wanted. Out of all my boys he's probably the easiest going and fun loving. Laid back, really not a care in the world. When asked what kind of cake he wanted, his answer: green. Well, that was easy. So green cake we had. And he was pleased as punch.







At his birthday party, the amazing dad came up with a game which doubled as yard clean up. Now that's my kind of game! Throw the walnuts into the bucket. They stayed out there forever tossing the walnuts about. They had a blast!



When it was time to go in Jagger was the first to want to help. I'll bet that bucket of walnuts weighed close to what he does!


So, currently, at present, its a whopping 75 degrees on this November late afternoon. The sun is already beginning to set at 4:54. I've had a bit of Christmas fever and surprisingly, I've started a wish list! I NEVER have wish-lists. An occasion such as birthday or Christmas will roll around and if I'm asked what I want, my normal response is a shoulder shrug followed with something close to, "Oh, I don't know. I don't NEED anything!"

But as of late, I have run across several things that I don't need but...kinda...want. Very random things. Like an apron. Or a fabulous camera strap. Both of which I found while perusing Etsy. Man, I LOVE that website! So many creative things! Not to mention the talented people out there!





So, all the wish list making brings me to future. I'm excited. I'm already anticipating cinnamon scented candles lit, Christmas music playing softly in the background while me and my three littles place ornaments in just the perfect spots.

I'm looking forward to the annual Christmas shopping spree with another family while my kids pick out gifts for a child who doesn't have what we have and who otherwise would have a very gray Christmas. It's important to me for my children to learn to give rather than just receive during the Holidays.

I'm looking forward to a warm and inviting Thanksgiving meal with lots of family gathered 'round. The smell of cornbread dressing in the oven and fresh rolls baking. The sound of the Detroit Lions playing football coming from the family room. Babies being passed from one set of twitching hands to the other so those of us who are done having babies can get our "fix". :)



Past, present and future. It's all good, baby!

The Whole Truth, and Nothing but the Truth

Here's a glimpse of what last weekend held for us:











Last week I set out on a 5 hour drive with my three boys to visit my brother for a few days. With The Wiggles playing over and over on the DVD player I got lost in my thoughts, I think in an attempt to keep my sanity intact.

I started thinking about other blogs that I read. I had recently run across a post pleading for truthfulness from fellow bloggers, perhaps unintentionally suggesting that some bloggers paint pictures of family life that are not true. I'll admit. I was a little off-put by the notion at first. (Not that I took it personally. I mean I doubt this blogger has ever even seen my blog or read the first sentence about my family meanderings.)

I took offense because I do realize that my writings are very much in "glass-half-full" style. You won't see a post on how two of my three littles came down with some 24 hour bug and were sick most of the first morning we were at my brother's. You will read about what a fabulous visit we had, visiting the zoo, eating picnic lunches at the park, eating out with our new family, receiving stellar hospitality from my future sister. I write about beautiful things. Truthful, beautiful things. I like it that way. I like focusing on the positives rather than the negatives. We have so many tough things to face in the world today. I find that dwelling (and writing) in the sunlight, so to speak, makes me act on positive things and in turn makes me happier. So I'll take my rose-tinted glasses, thank you very much. And I'll wear them proudly.

But if "truth" is what you seek, "truth" is what you shall get. So here it is, folks. The cold, hard, ugly truth. *Deep breath*, here it comes...I'm not perfect. *Gasp!* Shocking, I know! And here I had you all fooled! Ha.

We are perfectly normal and flawed, just like everyone else. We have battles with bedtimes, battles with sharing toys, bumps and bruises, tears and shouting. We get sick (evidence below),

we go to doctors' offices, we get cases of the "mully-grubs" (as my mother told me recently). My house is messy, laundry piles up, toys are scattered everywhere, beds are not made, toilets need scrubbed. (I promise I could SCARE you with pictures of my house at times!) I battle with discipline, I battle with weight, I battle with self-esteem, I battle with balancing work and home, I battle with worry, I battle with money management, I battle with (yes, it's true) Negativity. I battle with all of these things but I do not write about them for one simple reason. I feel like these aren't the things that define me. They do not define who I am, how I parent, how I love my husband and kids, nor are they worth writing about. I do not want to give Negativity one second to sink it's claws into our world. If it takes hold, it is hard to pry off!

So, here's another truth. I like my messy, unorganized, flawed life. I think it's pretty perfect even if it wouldn't be by another person's standards. You have to take your life and own it. You have to own it all--the good and the bad. You have to accept failures, yes, but if you expect them and dwell on them...well, ever heard that life is what you make of it? I anticipate successes and beautiful moments. By writing about them it makes me much more likely to put my writing in to action and actually make them happen. Sure, they may not always turn out like the moment I have dreamed of but I can guarantee you with 100% certainty they won't be as bad as Negativity would have had me believe they would be!

So, we'll put on our old clothes and we'll open the paints. We'll paint pumpkins and yes, even our faces. :) We'll make 5 hour drives alone with three arguing boys to see family. We'll take the fussing and fighting and fit throwing because we know that in the midst of it all something much more beautiful is happening. We are living life. Our perfectly flawed life that is taylor-made for us to either enjoy or despise. I'll choose to enjoy.

Life is hard enough on it's own, without dwelling in the negative. Grab a pair of rose-tinted glasses and see for yourself how great life can be. I can promise you it will look more beautiful, smell more sweet, and taste more delicious. Doesn't mean that there will never be any bad. Doesn't mean there won't be mistakes and fall-outs and fist fights between brothers. But when you have these beautiful moments to hold on to it will rescue you from the worst "mully-grub" moments at just the right time!

The MOST wonderful time of the year

Without a doubt there are many wonderful times during a year. But to this gal, none of them come close to fall. When the low fronts settle in and the winds shift to the north--the leaves become crunchy and a little browned and begin falling gracefully to the ground. The vibrant colors come alive. In the south the humidity lets up and gives sweet relief from the last few weeks of unbearable stickiness. It's wonderful.




The air is crisp and fresh with a hint of cool. The skies are the bluest blue you've ever seen. The cotton fields are ripe with cotton and sunshine is abundant. There's nothing better than a good ol' southern fall.



We open windows and watch our curtains blow in the breeze (and not to mention watching that electric bill go down, down, down!) We sweep front porches daily and bring plants indoors in anticipation of that first frost.

We rake leaves and scatter leaves. 'Cause everyone knows the only good reason for raking leaves is just so you can jump in them, right?









We dream of bonfires and roasted hotdogs and toasty s'mores. We pull out the hoodies and sweat pants and nose dive into fall face first. We kiss it hello and beg it to stay a while. Because we all know that all too soon the nice temperatures will steadily decline and we will soon be huddled in our houses bundled up fighting the bitter cold.



For now we enjoy. We light the pumpkin scented candles and decorate our front porches with the seasonal mums. We carve our pumpkins and stay outside as long as the weather permits. And look! Argyle socks. Yep, they've been beckoned from their tucked away places where they hibernate during summers.



We plant ourselves in front of our TVs on Saturdays for SEC football and scream and sing and trash talk all day long. And yes, we even occasionally throw things but only when necessary, of course. ;)



Yes, this is the MOST wonderful time of the year.







Well, hello Fall! Won't you please stay a while?

Refelcting

Tonight as I edited pictures pulled off of my memory card I had the opportunity to reflect on just why I love a small town.

I love small towns for SO many reasons but this past week I loved my small town for its annual festival. Although not the same small town I grew up in, I relocated to an equally small town. Well, with the exception of 2000 or so college kids but that small town feeling is just the same. People come out of the woodwork for the annual Bar-B-Que Festival. The smell of BBQ wafts through the air in a 10 mile radius it seems.

Set up for the festival begins on Wednesday.

The mobile concession stands roll in.



The bleachers are assembled on the front lawn of the court house along with numerous bounce houses that will house many a giggle just a few hours from now.



Roads are blocked off and detours marked while Main Street is becoming populated with vendor tents.





The pick up trucks are parked beside the courthouse and the cookers are moved in and the men in town arrive as early (or earlier) as 6 am to begin cooking and pulling pork.







The smoke from the cookers rises and your taste buds begin anticipating the deliciousness that is undoubtedly about to follow.



Soon the BBQ stand will be covered up with crowds of people. People who are willing to wait in line for over an hour to get a taste of what's been cooking. But, lets face it. In a small town an hour doesn't seem like long at all because you are standing in line with your best friend's mom or a dear friend from church or an old high school buddy that made it back home for the festival.





And the crowds roll in.



And we join.



And we dine. We spread our quilt on the lawn across from the courthouse as we do every year. And these are good times.





We visit my favorite of all time favorite booths and I indulge on my once-a-year treat: the legendary fried oreo. And I delight in watching others enjoy their first bite, whether two years old or 76 years old.







And we buy over-priced light-up light sabers because they bring boundless joy to a certain group of boys. And we sit beneath that tree and take it all in. After all, this only comes once a year.







We stay out there until dark and watch as the tents light up. And life is good.



Yes, I'm thankful for this small town. I'm thankful that my boys will grow up with memories of weekends like this and hope that it will still bring them as much joy when they are grown. I may be obsessed with the awesome-ness of places like New York City and may even secretly (or not-so-secretly now!) want to live there for a month but I will always be a small town girl at heart and I know without a doubt I am RIGHT where I belong!