Thankful For My Girls!

 

These girls are my everything! I honestly don't know what would do or be without them in my life. They are the first to have made me a mother. Sierra, Lexie, and Chelsea. All five years apart and counting my blessings everyday that they were born with that age gap. In hindsight it was good for my mental health. That five year age gap has been a blessing and continues to be a blessing. I love them all unconditionally and there is nothing in the world that I would do for them. So thankful for all their differences and for who they are. I sure do learn a lot from them and pray that I will always be open minded and supportive in all the decisions they make with their lives. Motherhood is truly the best and I'm so glad that I decided to have four instead of just one kid! 

Autumn In New York & An Expression of Gratitude For This Season!

It's been over 10 years since I've been blogging and it's been a few years since I've kept up with gratitude posts. I blame it on Covid and the lack of motivation that it has caused me to "keep up." There are times when I just want to "live" without feeling the need to post and blog all the time. The fact that my back is beginning to hurt as I sit down in front of a computer for hours doesn't help my motivation either. But alas here I am expressing my gratitude and love for autumn online. I love this time of year where the leaves change and the temps become cooler. Fall is indeed becoming my favorite season over summer. Now I know I'm getting old having written that! So let's see how long I will keep up with these posts. There might be days when I'll skip a couple days and a month where I literally write something everyday in November like I did back in 2018. But for now I want to express my gratitude for autumn in pictures. I especially love Central Park in the fall. The fall foliage, the people in the backdrop of some of the pics, the energy that you can sense by looking at them. I love it all and so thankful to live close to this magical city that can make you happy and cry at the same time! It's bittersweet not having the girls around anymore during this colorful  time for photos but luckily Noah doesn't mind being in pictures...for now! 

Thankful For Novembers.

Can't believe this is the last day of November. Where did the past 11 months go! So much has happened this month. So many memories were made. It's amazing how fast time flies when you love the life you're in. Spending it with loved ones. Even when the season changes time goes by even faster. November was filled with so much goodness. From Noah's 13th birthday, to sticking with tradition by going to the Macy's thanksgiving day parade. 

Forever Grateful For Falls!

Now that Halloween is over and the month of October has passed I can now focus on November that includes my son's upcoming birthday! Can't believe how quickly time flies and that he will be an official teenager next week! So thankful for a new month that helps us to refresh and regroup. In spite of living in a time where there is STILL so much turmoil and despair in the world there is also beauty and light and so much to be thankful for. Family, fall foliage, the simple joys of life that include going on a walk. Happy November everyone! Let's hope the weather stays in the 60's for awhile so that the colors of fall linger a little longer!

Appreciating Autumn In The Garden State.

Lately I have been really appreciating the beauty of Fall in my new hood. I feel that since turning 50 I don't want to take anything for granted. Not my friends. Not my family. Not The Lord. Not my neighbors. Not mother nature. Not the place that I live. We have been so blessed to live where we live and to have the neighbors we have. To have a couple of friends at church we can rely on, and to have a loving God who is there for us to show off his beautiful creations that he has done along with mother nature! And with that Lexie and I have been going on walks in the morning and just the other day picked up Noah after a half day of school to see the carpet of leaves in our town as well as running errands where we stumbled upon a park where the fall foliage was absolutely vibrant! I captured a few photos of my boy, and he is soooooo dang happy to be November baby and that he was born in one of the most colorful months of the year. New Jersey is no New York but in the fall...she's pretty dreamy. Just take a gander.....

After The Autumn Rain...

Fall has been so beautiful this year and I'm so glad that it lasted as long it did. We sure did need some color this year and Mother Nature did good in bringing color into our neck of the woods. Next to summer, Fall is my favorite and the fact that I have a November baby is a plus! I love that Noah and I both share autumn with our birthdays and that we make the best of this season. After the rain last week we went to a nearby park where everything was golden. The ground looked like a carpet of leaves. It was glorious and beautiful and I captured a few photos of Noah walking and running all around the park. It was a nice time for him to be able to get out of the house after a long week of zoom school to roam around free. And he really needed to get out!

More photos below...

Noah Turns E L E V E N!

One thing that has been helping us get through quarantine and this pandemic are the celebrations that we have within our family. Our family. Meaning just us. The four of us. Noah turned 11 today and this past weekend we had a little celebration of our own. We ate at one of Noah's favorite burger places and just had simple fun as a family. Since his birthday fell on a school day we ate his cake late and it was the simples birthday ever! It was simple and sweet and that's all he needed. Sure gifts are nice and all but in all honesty he prefers food! He received a few little gifts from family, and even had a singing birthday telegram via telephone from his Tia Maggie. The simple things are what truly matter the most and are what help us appreciate what's important in this life. One doesn't need a big party to know they are loved. One doesn't need many presents to feel secure. All one needs on their special day of birth is lots of love, and munchkins from Dunkin Donuts! Happy birthday chulo!

More photos below>>>

T H A N K F U L !

So thankful to make it to November. I love this month! November is the last month of autumn, the month of our only boys birthday, and the beginning of the most wonderful time of the year! So excited for the holidays, road trips, thanksgiving, trips to the city, tree picking, spending time with family, snow, and all that this season brings. I am particularly thankful for this guy right here, who makes these things possible. He's such a hard worker and wants us to have the best time as a family. Even in the smallest way. He's so great, and patient when it comes to me telling him what are plans are going to be on this day, and that weekend! He's just the best! I love him, and look forward to the holidays with my family. I hope that they are just as bright as these lit up pumpkins! 

Hello November!

HAPPY NOVEMBER from the GARDEN STATE! Leaves are quickly falling off the trees but there is still some color left thanks to all the rain we had last week. I took a few pictures before and after Halloween, and so far the leaves are still colorful and look like a big fluffy carpet. I doubt the colors will stay like this until Thanksgiving but one can hope and dream right! So thankful for November. I absolutely love this time of year when we can reflect on all the things that we are thankful for! 

For The Temple.

Today after church I was inspired to go to the temple to take in the beauty of this wonderful building. The weather was colorful, and with autumn in the air made it a perfect afternoon to spend the day. Although the temples are closed on Sundays it's so nice to go, and walk on the grounds with my family, and express to one another how grateful we are to have one so close to us. I am thankful for the temples because through the covenants I've made inside with Heavenly Father I can be with my family forever. 

a colorful autumn november day.

With Noah turning four soon I'm beginning to see the signs of independency....and it's inevitable. I want him to know that I still need his hugs and kisses, and cuddles while watching cartoons for an hour (or two) on the couch. There's no excuse for him to ever sever the ties of a very compassionate mother until he's a married man (or ever!) 

We're in the here & now and instant gratification with this boy is my happiness during the day when I have him all to myself.

Except for this week. 

The girls (excluding Sierra) have the rest of the week off of school due to teacher in service, and next week they only go to school for two days, and then have half days for the rest of the week due to parent/teachers conferences. Lucky them. 

November...

It is the shortest month for school days. Now I know why it is Lexie's favorite time out of the entire school year. She's never mentioned it before until now. i was like... is this you talking Lexie?" The one who loves school, and is a big time voracious reader! It's okay that she says that as long as she keeps bringing home them A's. Just kidding. She's a great kid who loves school, but sometimes they need that break you know. I know I did while I was in school! 

I'm kind of glad that they have the rest of the week off so that they can help me prepare for Noah turning the big four on Saturday! He's so cute, and is constantly saying, "I'm going to be four this Saturday." Of course he says that because we keep telling him that. Since it's his "birthday week" we've been asking him what he'd like to do. 

We decided to go to the library & rented Reel Steel with Hugh Jackman, and it was a really cool robot movie. Y'all got to watch it. The little kid who plays his son in the movie is soooooooo cute. Reminds me of what Noah might look like in a few years!! I hope he has his dance moves too! 

The weather was too perfect to spend it indoors, and as soon as the movie was over Noah wanted to go to the park. We headed out to the same park where we took these gorgeous photos of Noah. This park is absolutely breathtaking around this time of year because you can see the true colors of fall. 

As usual all the kids took over the swings, and Noah pretended to be the king of this castle. He's so friendly with other kids even though there are some that aren't. He is just a happy little boy in his own bubble who makes up his own kind of fun. 

^^ i'm the king of the world!"

This week is already flying by, and then before we know it Noah will be celebrating another year of living. I'm excited to celebrate, but don't want to imagine him getting older. 

There were a few moments today where he didn't want me to hold him too much, but then I grabbed him, and without forcing him, he gave me a big hug. It doesn't take much to capture a smile or get a laugh out of him by tickling him. 

My sweet boy...please stop growing.

No seriously...stop it already.

And as the colors of fall become more vibrant in color, especially in November is how I know this boy is changing & growing up with the season way too fast.  

And after his birthday, Thanksgiving will be here, and then it'll be winter. 

Welcome, November!

The last week of October was such a blur and was filled with so much activity that I neglected to officially welcome November, and I am loving this month. The fact that temps have been well in the 60's, and seeing the colors of autumn lingering all over South Jersey makes the area I'm living in so beautiful. The leaves are still hanging onto the trees, yet there are so many on the ground. It's months like this which make life worth living. You can be having a trial, or be under a lot of stress, but being surrounded with so much beauty in the world that includes your children turns that stress into a different perspective which is light...and then you realize how much we have to be grateful for.

Went to trader joe's this weekend & Chelsea helped me pick the cutest mini fall mums for some of the sisters that I visit teach...and bought some for myself!

^^ red shoes with rhinestones...perfect for fall ^^

Besides going to the park...going for a drive to see the beautiful colored leaves, and eating at one our favorite spots Chipotle seems to be the highlight of our days lately. I swear we eat more Chipotle in the fall...especially when the days get chillier. 

Captured this & looked up through the fall foliage giving it a big smile. It's as if the brightness of the sun was God greeting me with open arms. 

^^ Can't believe this little pumpkin of ours is turning the big FOUR this Saturday! ^^

Through all the struggles we have endured this year with Jon losing his job I am reminded of the things that I'm truly grateful for. Life, my family, Jon's new job, and the love that I have for nature, and God. Now I know why November is indeed my favorite month! 

Hope you all have a wonderful week!

So long November...

"How beautifully leaves grow old.

 How full of light and color are their last days."

~ John Burroughs

This November was unusual in the weather. We have had temperatures in the high 60's, and sometimes it felt like Spring. They say there will come a day when we won't even know what season it is unless you look at the trees. I believe it. I don't want to think about 'the last days', but it's inevitable. I can't think, but to wonder how the weather will be next year. I have really enjoyed this beautiful autumn weather, and now all good things must come to an end. December will be here tomorrow, and the temperatures are now in the 40's. I actually do look forward to a cold, wintry, snowy December. As long as it doesn't keep me off the roads I'm pretty content with the winters here on the east.

The month of November gave me the chance to have my mother here for at least two weeks. I am grateful for the time she was able to spend with us, and although she left before Thanksgiving it was sure nice to have taken advantage of the time spent with her to know more about what she is feeling, and for her to see how my family lives.  I pray that she is safe, and trying to figure out her life in Texas. I hope that someday she will accept change, and have the desire to live closer to her posterity. Who knows...only time will tell. I am extremely grateful for the gospel in terms on how it has kept me strong in times of stress, and adversity. I strive to live the gospel each day the best I can, and hope that it is pleasing to the Lord. I pray it's always my best.

I will always remember this time of the year.

I will always remember November.