Bidding November farewell

I love Fall. I'm going to miss Fall. Soon enough it will be officially Winter. We're already into the Christmas hoopla. Don't get me wrong, I love Christmas. Always have even before kids. But now with kids it's amazing. They make it amazing. They get so excited about every.little.thing. Just like it should be. 

My boy and I had fun this morning taking Christmas decorations out and placing them around the house. The girls can't wait to decorate but I had to hold them off until December. So we're a day early, so what. Then we were off to run errands. And then the playground. He was grilling me all morning because last night I promised him the playground today. He was so good all morning and we got to the playground and he just let loose. Ran this way and that, over this and over that. Honestly, I wish I had an ounce of his energy. 

Planting little seeds in his head...UMCP was a great school, great times. 

So, I'm going to be completely honest here and thank goodness no one took a photo of me trying this piece out at the playground. I think of myself as pretty in shape, but this was hard. And he whisked across it numerous times. Lucky being so young and agile. 

Only a few more weeks that I can say I have a 3 year old. 

I asked him to point to the 4 and it was the funniest display of I don't know what. We laughed like hyenas. And when I stood up I hit my head on the beam above us. The playground is for only those 12 and younger. I should learn to follow the rules. 

I am so lucky. I get to spend time with this guy. Still pretty often enough although he began preschool. I'm going to miss our mornings. 

Thanksgiving...came and went

I really do enjoy Thanksgiving. I love the build up with the changing colors of the leaves, the fall decor and of course, the Thanksgiving meal. I feel though as if it just flies right by us. One minute we're stuffing our faces with Halloween candy or donating it to where ever to just get it out of the house and the next we're carving a turkey. Well, someone's carving a turkey and in my case it's my dad. I have yet to carve a turkey. 

Charlie Brown's Thanksgiving Special was something I enjoyed watching as a kid with my brother and thankfully it's something my kids do as well. Or else would it be weird if I were just watching it all by myself, eating popcorn and jelly beans. I don't even like popcorn or jelly beans. 

I have loved the kids' Thanksgiving shows at school and this year marks Mario's turn to shine. And shine he did. He spotted me in the crowd right away and I got an "I love you" in sign language - it's a thing we do and it melts me every time he calls my name and I turn around to him signing "I love you" to me. This kid. I love him. 

We are in Maryland for Thanksgiving and these kids together are the funniest. Gianna will be right there with them next year when she's not 5 months old and running around like crazy with the rest of them. I love the long table, the constant filling of plates and glasses and naturally, the leftovers. Well, for like a day and then I'm done.

Mom wanted a nice family picture. Thanks Mason. Bored with us already? I still love this picture. Reminds of all the times my parents wanted a nice picture of our family when we were younger and Scott ALWAYS made faces. Apple doesn't fall too far from the tree.

And this is the weekend I always take our Christmas card photos. My parents live near gorgeous farm land and random red wooden sheds, so it's perfect for me. My kids favorite part is when I let them get away with making funny faces. Oh, I bribe alright too...chocolate for everyone when we're done! But I let them do the funny face because it's their favorite.

My sweet kids.

This guy has it made.

My little Mario Luca

Some days he wants to be a fireman when he gets bigger. Then he'll ask when he can get bigger.

He pouts when it's time to clean up. Why do I have to do this ALL the time? he'll ask me. Then once he's finished cleaning, he'll run to tell me he did and that he's getting bigger.

He likes to ask for 10 hugs. He likes to give hugs. And nose kisses.

He smiles so much. I love his smile. It's contagious and you can't but help smiling back. I bet you're smiling right now that I wrote that...am I right?

He pretends he doesn't know how to put on his own socks and shoes but I think it's because he likes when I do it, I tickle his feet. He still has those sweet little feet and the sound of them running through the house is a sound I want to remember for a very long time.

He is getting so big, but at the same time still my baby. He sits on my lap when watching a show with me, he leans his head on my shoulder when we're reading together and he likes to reach over and place his hand on my arm when we're seated next to one another at the table.

He still holds my hand, runs out to me at school pick up and hugs my leg when I'm washing dishes at the sink. My little man.