Annual Morton Pumpkin Festival

My husband hails from the small town of Morton, Illinois. He refers to it as the Emerald City but Morton is better known as the pumpkin capital of the world. Joel has told me about the annual Pumpkin Festival since we first met and has often urged me to attend. Finally after years of pining, I grabbed Ainsley and headed down to my in-laws house for the festivities.
Ainsley was quite the trooper. She faced the brisk September air with her trusty North Face and a pumpkin hat. We dined on pumpkin chili, pumpkin pasta salad, pumpkin cookies, and pumpkin ice cream. The little lady polished off a piece of pumpkin pie all by herself! Then she went on a ride down the giant slide with Grandpa and the carousal with Grandma. We topped the night off with a cup of coffee and early bedtime.

Thankful Thursdays- 9.15.11

For two years now, Joel and I have met once a week with a wonderful small group. Each year the group has looked a little different with new couples joining and old couples filtering out, but for these last two years the group has really been a blessing for us. We always leave our Tuesday night meetings feeling loved and challenged. Our leaders, Trei and Amy, have been such mentors to us. I am very, very thankful for the influence they have had on our marriage and on our spiritual health.
We are now beginning a third year in this group. A lovely new couple has joined and we are studying  pulpit curriculum about becoming stronger disciples of the Lord. This week, our homework was to answer some questions about what area we each desire to grow in our walks with God. I have decided that the aspect of my faith that needs the most attention is gratitude. I used to think of myself as a grateful person- positive thinking, open minded. Lately, though, I feel discontented and truly cranky. I am so far from grateful when I have received so much from the Lord. Foolish, I know.
In thinking of new ways to voice my gratitude I thought that I could add a new element to my blog- Thankful Thursdays. Perhaps "Thankful Thursdays" stinks of cheesiness and English teacher- cliches but I can't help myself. I heart alliteration. SO, Thankful Thursdays will be a weekly opportunity for me to be thankful for the blessings from the Lord I have experienced...starting today.

Today, I am thankful for:
-Coffee dates with old friends. Truth and grace flow nearly as free as the java.
-Yesterday Ainsley took 2 naps. Ahhhhh.
-Last night over late night dinner, Joel and I had a really wonderful chat.
-Timely reminders from God's word. My friend Christina has this amazing gift of knowing the perfect verse to shed light on whatever my mind is consumed with at that moment. I've been processing Hebrews 6:10 since Tuesday, thanks to my sweet friend. I love when the Lord uses someone to speak directly to me.
-To continue, I am thankful for the promises found in Hebrews 6:10-12. God will not overlook the work I do for Him even if no one else sees it.  There is so much joy in knowing that when I am serving my family by doing laundry or preparing dinner, the Lord see my work and is blessed.

A small start to Thankful Thursdays. Baby steps.

As I pull out my fall wardrobe...

Air finally crisp
Sweaters wait expectantly
Hello, wooly friends!

Teething...

There is a new villain lurking in our house. This monster is vicious, relentless, imminent. Pain has a name- Ainsley's new teeth. Who knew so much chaos could come from teeth? My sweet baby girl has transformed into a whiney, clingy mess thanks to four incoming teeth. Thankfully, I've heard that as soon as teeth break through the skin, the pain is virtually gone. Here's hoping that event happens in the next ten minutes...
Giving into nostalgia, here's an old picture of my then toothless lady:

Laborless day before a labor-laden week...

How we spent our Labor Day...

Ainsley's spectacular birthday week...

 I am so thrilled to post some pictures from Ainsley's birthday week. In one week, our little lady had three birthday celebrations. Prepare yourself for a lot of pictures!

On Monday we had a joint birthday party with Ainsley's one day younger friend, Maverick. She wore a red polka dot dress and new shoes. I teared up several times just watching our friends and their kids play with my kid. Community is a true blessing from the Lord.

 If you're itching to see a little video of the birthday babes tearing into their cake, watch this video!

On Ainsley's actual birthday we had a quiet three guest party- the birthday lady, my foxy husband, and me. We played with her new picnic basket (thanks, Kristi!) ate macaroni-and-cheese, and went out for gelato. Ainsley might not have loved the Elmo cake from her birthday party but she was quite into the strawberry gelato!

Finally, on Sunday we had a family party for this one year old Miss. BOTH sides of our family make the trek to Elgin. I baked three dozen cupcakes from scratch, making myself very proud. Everyone sat around talking, eating, and laughing- the perfect birthday party. 

When the last guest had left and the last piece of wrapping paper was picked up off of our hardwood floors, I sat outside on our deck with my husband and felt oddly sad. My daughter is no longer an infant. While moments of this past year were really stretching for us, it has easily been the fullest, most joyful year of my life...and now it is done. When Ainsley was first born, a good friend told me that the days will be long but the years will be short. This year was so very short. Challenging, messy, humbling, memorable, fun and short. 

The party girl was a little pooped after all the merriment had ceased. 

Haiku for Friday

Upcoming weekend

Deep sigh, shoulders fall relaxed

see you soon, lesson plans