Insta Friday = Phone Dump! (+ ETC)

We are totally in full blown Christmas mode here, so it seems kind of weird to back track with a November phone dump. The beginning of November and the end of November are completely different from one another, aren't they? November starts like Hey, it's Fall and finally chilly enough for gloves and boots and it ends with Christmas lights and Jingle Bells. And a few extra pounds from all the festivities, but let's just not say anymore about that.

So... Fall. Can we give it one last hurrah?

Because I love it.

It kicked my tail in all kinds of ways this year (Soccer Season, why so merciless?), but it's still my favorite season. Love it!

The kids and I went for a little hike out of the blue one day, and this was my footwear. Make it work.

I know. I have twinkly lights beside my head and I'm looking at candy corn at the same time. It's blowing my mind. Is it Fall or is it Christmastime? Or can it be BOTH?

And you've tried this combo, right? Right?! The peanuts with the Indian Corn is my favorite duo. Indian Corn is a blessing and a gift.

Trader Joe's Tomato & Roasted Red Pepper. With a "grown up" grilled cheese made with pesto and Italian cheese blend (preshredded... I'm okay with that). Put garlic croutons in your soup. You will LOVE it. And me.

Of course, as always happens in mid-November in Ohio, there was a lovely, lovely warm snap. And the shorts busted out. And the sunscreen. Crazytrain. So, we played hookey from school all week long and called it Fall Break.

It took five children, a looooong day outside, and a very clean park for me to allow this unseemly practice. Drinking fountains freak me out only a little less than hotel bedding does.

Oops! You MISSED!

Either I'm talking too much or I've gone far too long between phone dumps. This post is getting long. Less commentary. More photos...

Embracing the Camera. Boom. Didn't even plan that. Link up!

More Embracing... and squirrel crashing.

(There is an app for EVERYTHING).

I'm still talking.

I was supposed to just post photos. Less talking. But, it's stupid late and I've had entirely too much caffeine. Isn't this fun?

I think that should be a new strategy of mine. To only blog whilst hyped up on caffeine and sugar. This blog might go places.

This was taken on my birthday. 37... thanks for asking. I think my birthday might be a pretty major reason why Fall is my favorite season.

Yes. My birthday and googly eyed turkeys. (Artistic credit belongs to my niecey weesies, LuLu and Wumple). Wumple likes eyes. A lot.

The End!

How long do you wanna bet it's going to take me to fall asleep tonight? I drank a cup of coffee at around 2 this afternoon because I needed to paint some closet doors instead of take a nap (unfun) and then a Coke Zero at 6:30pm.

Yes, I am an idiot.


AND linking up for the first time with Jeanette at Life Rearranged.

BIG DADDY Phone Dump!

I knew it had been too long since I last downloaded my iPhone photos. I admit, though, I was a bit surprised that there were over 1100 of them! That took a while.

I'm still thinking a lot about composition these days, and as I looked at my instagrams, I thought - you know, Instagram is a wonderful thing. It forces you to squeeze a story into a 2" square and a caption. I think that's helped me improve my dslr shots. Looking for interesting lines, using the background/foreground, arranging things for a balanced whole... I've been working on composition while only half realizing it!

It's been a crazy fall. Full but full of good things. From this point on, though, it looks like we'll have a little breather before the holidays. So needed.

Here's the fall so far, via Instagram. Enjoy!

See? I told you it was a big ol' phone dump.

My instagram feed is private, but if you're interested in following me, just send me an email (jamandsacky@yahoo.com) with a link to a blog or some kind of online presence proving to me that you're not a weirdo with a sketchy plan, and I'll give you my Instagram username :) Easy.

Peace!

why am i such a dork?

Seriously.

I say 'yes' to things I should not say yes to.

This week, for instance, I'm smack in the middle of organizing the food for our church's 50th anniversary dinner. Nevermind I'm solely responsible for the education of these children. Nevermind we're about to give in and just move in to the soccer complex. Nevermind I have no clean underwear for tomorrow. Nevermind we don't have groceries. Nevermind I have no business adding anything to our schedule at this point in our lives. I'm just going to go ahead and organize dinner for a whole bunch of people! Because that is such. a. great. idea!

Ridiculous. Someone please kick me in the head.

I'm trying to learn from this. I really am. It's hard to know when to say 'no' when it seems like your particular gifts are needed. I don't like to pass it off to someone else who I know it's going to likely burden. It feels like I'm saying here, you do this because I don't want to do this. But, I'm learning to trust God with what I can't do. To say 'no' when everyone else who has a lick of sense would say no.

So, guess what all that means. No posts for you!

Except more iPhone posts. Because I can at least take twenty minutes to get some iPhone pics up. Then the blog doesn't look so lonely and forlorn with a week old post date.

I dumped my phone again. Just so I'd have something for you.

Such love.

I had a very nice Mother's Day. My gift is always the same. I go out and buy my annuals. I love, love, love shopping for plants. Some women get a thrill out of buying shoes, I get spine tingles from a perfect shade of salmon geraniums to go beside my salvia.

And even more than I love buying them, I love planting them and watering them in.

Watering plants is just about one of the most relaxing things on earth.

We spent a lot of time outside this weekend. By Saturday night my eyes, all around my nose, and even around the outside of my mouth were tingly from the pollen assaults. Thank you, massive cottonwoods.

But, it was worth it. I think.

My iPhone was dead on Sunday, and I never charged it up. Not a single picture from Mother's Day! But, it was still a really sweet day. I woke up to a small crowd gathered around my bed with tart cherry jam on toast and coffee. Perfect. And all the children pitched their money in together to buy me a gift just from them this year. It was waiting for me on the kitchen table when I came down. A Twix bar and a Coke Zero. I felt so understood.

SweetP and Shug are sleeping in their new room now. As of last night. There's no door on the room, mind you, but they were beyond ready. We ordered a new bunkbed for them, and it was delivered last week. Sam was able to put it together after many hours of travail on Saturday evening. They really love it. Very fun.

Baby is getting TWO teeth. But, I don't have a picture of those, either. Mainly because whenever I try to get so much as a glimpse of her little teethers, she pinches her lips up tight and shakes her head.

She's doing well with it, but I do feel like the teething is wearing her out a bit. She fell asleep just like this beside me earlier today.

We're closing in on the last of the soccer games this week. Two of the kids finish up on Saturday and then we have a game on Monday and one on Tuesday and that's it! I've really loved watching them play. They're so into it. And I've loved watching them learn and improve. But, I'm ready to be done. I'm ready to wrap it up. Ready for the pool!

And the 50th anniversary thing is Friday night. So, that will be over before we know it, too.

Then we'll be back to our regularly scheduled programming.

Unless I'm a complete dork again and commit to organizing a block party or single-handedly running VBS.

Y'all pray for me, 'kay?