Fall Vibes (plus Christmas teasing)

Friends, it has FINALLY happened. The temperature has dropped, cue the Christmas music and crockpot meals. But seriously, Michael Buble' is crooning "I'll be Home for Christmas" right now and chili is simmering. We love this time of year around our house.

{scarf, yes please}

Red cups have made their appearance at Starbucks and it's the only time of year I stray from my beloved black coffee. Triple tall with whip, no nutmeg eggnog latte, delish.  

I've ordered the kid's Christmas jammie's they get to open on Thanksgiving and my itch to cook and bake is overwhelming. While my Sammy snuggled with popcorn midmorning, I pieced together enough ingredients to bake chocolate chip cookies, and my other two learned how to multiply two digit numbers at the breakfast bar. 

Don't be deceived all this coziness isn't absent of bickering, spills and messes. We keep it pretty real over here, even so I'm thankful for these morning of togetherness. The learning and the growing, the challenges and the creativity all woven together strengthening the fabric of our family. 

Fall has arrived, Christmas is around the corner and right now, in this moment, we are good.

Thankful

We are four days into my most favorite month of the year. Since we last "spoke", my boy has turned seven, Drake and I went to Cabo, we celebrated Halloween and there's been thousands of "I can't believe this is my life" moments both good and bad.

Honestly, this has been a tough year. We have learned firsthand that sad things happen. In the midst though God continues to prove that He is faithful and that in every hard thing there is an opportunity to draw us closer to Him and closer to each other. While there has been hurt there has also been immense joy and much to be thankful for.

 {backyard picnics on homeschooling days}

 {God's artwork}

 {coffee mornings with my shadow}

 {salted caramel sundae}

{disney with grandma: my most favorite lady ever}

 {this boy}

 {time away with my honey}

 {poolside champagne and great friends}

{nobody puts baby in a corner}

 {our favorite restaurant, EVER}

{pumpkin carving}

 {best daddy}

 {matt kemp, minnie the witch and wonder woman}

 {happy halloween}

{strong coffee + matching nightgowns}

Each of these photos could be there own blog post, there's so much behind all of them. I mean that salted caramel sundae...mom and I decided to split it, I think after one bite we both were wishing we got our own. My sweet boy who I blinked and now he is seven, SEVEN!!! Don't even get me started on Drake and I thinking we could reenact that Dirty Dancing move in a pool. I am so thankful for all the memories behind all these photos and the people that share them with me.

We have been having a lot of dialogue in our family about those who are less fortunate than us. Doing our best to explain that God loves us all even though our circumstances are different than other's. It can be just as difficult to wrap your brain around that at 32 let alone 4. "Why doesn't God give them a house like us?" when she sees the mom and her daughter asking for money outside of Target. These are hard questions. "Sammy, I don't know, but that doesn't mean that God loves them less." 

I am approaching this holiday season being thankful for a God that has the answers when I don't and trusting Him. I am practicing living in contentment in hopes that our children will glean from it. Happy November friends.