Fall Beginnings

This has been a strange summer, that's for sure. We had multiple 100+ degree days in June and July, and now that August is here, generally the hottest and most humid month, things are cooling off. We even turned off the AC this weekend! At night we cranked it back up because the dogs (and we) get hot while we're sleeping, but during the day I was bundled up in sweatpants! And today it has been so dark and dreary and full of thunderstorms, it seems like it's late Fall instead of technically still Summer! We planned to take Morgan to the zoo yesterday, and we were so psyched for it but it started sprinkling around noon when we were getting ready to leave. And with a 50% chance of thunderstorms all day in DC, we decided it wasn't worth the risk, especially after paying to take the metro there and back. With rain coming down, we knew the animals wouldn't want to be out in that weather if we didn't want to be either, so it would be a waste! We'll try again in a couple of weeks. Instead, we headed to Johnny Rockets for lunch, and thought about going to see that new movie ParaNorman, but decided to save that for another day. Instead we stopped for Costco and Giant for some errands, and spent the rest of the day inside. Josh started turning Morgan towards the dark side, teaching her how to play World of Warcraft! She seems to really like it....better her than me! I attempted it for 15 minutes once, and that was the end of it for me. Except for Donkey Kong Country and Super MarioKart, I'm not much of a video game player. If we ever have a son, we'll let him be the one to get into all that!!

When we were heading home from lunch, Morgan said she was excited about Monday with school starting because she likes her teachers and gets to see all her friends, but she was also sad because summer was coming to an end (and what an action-packed summer she had between her two houses! Ocean City, Pensacola, Niagara Falls, Myrtle Beach...no wonder her summer vacation seemed to fly by!). She also said she is bummed that Spanish is her first class of the day because she hates Spanish. How funny that people are so different...she loves science and that kind of thing, but I would have been psyched to have Spanish first class of the day, I always loved language classes. Listening to her talk about getting ready for the new school year made me miss those days of being a kid...both younger and then transitioning into the teen years. I have so many great memories of those days...random ones that seem to be sticking out in my mind lately, mostly taking place in the Fall. Must be due to this chilly weather. I had the biggest craving for my mom's chocolate chip cookies the other day, fresh baked from the oven. I remember when she'd make a big batch of them, especially around my birthday in October, and then pack a Ziploc bag full for me to take to snack on at lunch (and let's face it, during class). Or walking home in the cool Fall months from the bus stop, only to step inside the nice warm house and smell my favorite beef stew on the stove and crescent rolls in the oven. And on the weekends, having friends stay the night for sleepovers, when we'd be up all night watching movies and eating junk food. Waking up Sunday morning to the smell of Pillsbury cinnamon rolls in the oven. Even the smell of woodfire outside makes me think of my dad burning all those Fall leaves around November, after he raked them into a big pile and my German Shephard jumped into them headfirst. I think this is why Fall is my favorite season....new school years and new beginnings. Most people view New Year's Eve and Day as the time to start fresh, but for me it's the Fall. It's the start of all the best things....football season, chili simmering in the crock pot, decorations for all the holidays coming out, the best Yankee candle scents appearing in the stores, my dog sitting on the deck all day long in the cool crisp weather, and best of all, sitting on the couch all day in jeans and a hoodie and not feeling a damn bit guilty about it because let's face it, it gets dark too early to be productive!! So even though I'm not in school any longer, I've decided I'm going to be just as excited about this year as Morgan, and I'm going to set a new Fall resolution instead of a new Year's resolution. It's time to incorporate all those memories from my childhood into current ones, and be thankful that I have a wonderful husband with whom I can enjoy all of these little blessings. And the best part of all....even with Summer not officially ending until mid-September, in my mind Labor Day = Fall, so in one week I get to put out my seasonal decorations!! Who else out there has great Fall memories?? I'd love to hear them!!

Back to school!

Last night was Morgan's back to school night...not only the beginning of her 8th grade year, but the beginning of her last year at the school she has attended since she was about 3 years old! It's a private school that used to go through 12th grade, but they had too few high schoolers so a couple of years ago they decided to end the school at 8th grade. So she is now the most senior of the school! She has most of the same teachers which is good, because she already knows them. Her first day is Monday, and she is ready to go with her school supplies and everything to deck out her locker! I cannot believe she is already in eighth grade; when I met her, she was 3 and a half years ago, and I think was in 3-year-old preschool. Time really flies, that's for sure. All of you with babies and little kids, hold on to this time because before you know it, you'll be sending them off to college!!

I have to admit, I miss the beginning of school years. After about a month or so, I was ready for vacation again, but my favorite thing was getting all my new school supplies. Fresh new notebooks, the fun sparkly gel pens...and when I was little, the Aladdin pencil box that I thought was the coolest thing ever. And who could forget being so excited to pass out cards and candy on Valentine's Day, and having your mom bring cupcakes for the class on your birthday?? Birthdays don't seem to be quite as exciting when you get older and start wanting to count backwards instead of forwards! So for all of you who have kids starting school next week (or maybe they've already gone back), here's to wishing you a great school year!

Can you believe it's been 7 years since she started her first official grade at this school??

Nationals Game

Awhile ago, Josh and I found an online deal where you pay a set amount for 4 Nationals games, and then you get a 5th game free of your choosing. So we were given tickets for the 4 games which were against the Yankees, the Mets, and two games against the Cardinals, and then the one we chose was for July 3 against the Giants. We also were fortunate enough to go to one back in the Spring thanks to a friend who was selling her tickets. We have a couple others we are going to as well, but last night was the game against the Mets. We usually go during the day, but it was a night game which was really fun. They actually had a free concert afterwards, Third Eye Blind was performing, but I only know a couple of their songs and so I wasn't really too concerned with staying. Next month Dierks Bentley is performing though, to make up for a concert he missed a few months ago, so I'm really excited about that! Unfortunately the Nationals lost last night, which is a bummer but we still had a great time. Even if we WERE sitting next to Mets fans lol! But for the Yankees-Nationals game, we DID wear our Yankees jerseys so I guess I can't say anything haha. I normally bring the camera, but I knew we'd be pushing and shoving people to get on the metro at 11pm at night and I didn't feel like bringing too much stuff to keep up with, so I left it at home. But I did take some pictures at the other games we went to so I can eventually put together a DC scrapbook of our adventures :)

Desmond hit the ball in practice (above)....and Josh caught it! (below)

Pensacola, Florida - Summer 2012

In case you can't tell from my layout, my absolute favorite season in the world is Fall. I'm still searching for a place to live that is Fall weather year-round! But until that day comes, I just have to enjoy the few months a year when it's cool enough to wear jeans and hoodies every day! I do have to say I've had a great summer so far though. Our goal for next summer is to squeeze in as much outdoor fun as possible, but we got a good start this year. Took lots of walks, enjoyed outdoor eating at restaurants, went to DC several times, squeezed in a few Nationals games, and spent a week in Pensacola Florida for the family reunion! You've probably seen the pictures on FB but I put a few in here as well.

We had a great time seeing all our family, several of whom we hadn't seen since many reunions ago. We ate great food (though we never did make a trip to Waffle House, or Krispy Kreme run for some of those freshly made donuts first thing in the morning....gotta put that on the list for next time), laid out by the pool, spent way too much money at the boardwalk, played putt-putt golf, tried kayaking for the first time, and enjoyed several late night walks back from the boardwalk. Can't wait to see everyone at the next one!

Josh and new cousin Silas

Cousins at the Sunday brunch after church

Josh and me after brunch

Outside our condos...lots of memories at this place

Grandma and grandson

Cousins having a sleepover!

Morgan at the Fish Fry

Cousins

We know we've arrived when we see this

Love this father-daughter pic!

Ready for some beach time!

Father-daughter

Family

Josh and little Morgan



Putt-putt time



Cousins

Sunset!

Posing in front of her park ;)

Funny car time! AND it was a Texas Longhorns one!

Jet-skiing

Morgan and Nana

First post

Welcome to my blog! I don't know how interesting it will be to read, but I love to write and and share experiences with people and find out about what other people are going through, so here I am, returning to the wonderful world of blogging. You probably already know a bit about me....I live in Leesburg, Virginia with my husband Josh and our "children," Toby and Lucy, two American Eskimo dogs that we rescued. Some people think I'm obsessed with my dogs and I'm okay with that, because I am. Giving a second chance to an amazing dog that deserves a lifetime of happiness is something that makes me so happy every day, and we were fortunate enough to be able to do it twice. In addition to Toby and Lucy, I have a stepdaughter named Morgan, who is 13 and a half years old. I met her when she was 3 and a half, so it's hard to believe a decade has gone by since then! She is entering 8th grade this month, and is really growing up before our eyes! In addition to spending time with family, Josh and I like to go for walks, bike, watch movies, go to sporting events, and keep up with our favorite shows. We also tried kayaking for the first time and plan to get more involved with that when we get a chance. My other personal interests involve working out, reading, scrapbooking, photography, craft stores, decorating the house, and eating healthy. I think our bodies function only as well as what we put into them, and I try enjoy life as much as possible so I'm doing my best to be around as LONG as possible! If you are interested in keeping up with me, stay tuned for my next entry!

My family: