Something about snow...

   The first snowfall of 2010 has arrived. It makes me feel like a kid again. So many grumble about it but wow, it is beautiful and part of being in Minnesota. I know I will get tired of the cold, but I always love snow. It just make everything so fresh and new. So many fun times when the kids were little...coloring snow ( no red or yellow,please!!!) Wet mittens and snow pants, and of course the digging out of all those winter clothes was an adventure in it self! The seasons seem to fly by. I always try to embrace each one and appreciate it's beauty. Plus knowing we get to escape to a beach or two does help a bit...
    Trying to be patient and wait to decorate for Christmas until after Thanksgiving but I think I will at least bring out the nativity. Need to unclutter a lot of the living room anyways before the tree goes up. Chaz loves his couch by the window so will leave it there and place the tree somewhere else in the room. Will be leaving them for the holidays so at least let them have a room with a view!
   All the kids home next weekend for Britta's birthday dinner and Grandpa and Grandma's 65th anniversary party. Hoping to get a good family pic for a Christmas card...seems so hard to get all in one place so this is my chance. Thought of not sending cards, but going to go for it.
I love this time of year... just need to get organized early so there is no need to rush.
  Still not sure if I am a "Blogger" ... I am a texter, facebooker, website recipe collector, e-coupon user etc. but not so sure about this yet...and not a Tweeter for sure!
   Looking forward to the weekend. It is coming fast so hope to be very productive tomorrow.
Did get grocery shopping done tonight with Mike so that mean I get to stay home and clean.
The day goes so fast when I have to be out and about. Wondering if Jordan is going to have laundry this time. Last time only bedding and a few clothes.
   Spent part of last weekend at Josh and Jen's. They spoiled us with yummy meals and even dinner out. Mike helped with their basement project. Was nice to spend time together on a snowy weekend. Have projects here...like ripping off wallpaper. Ewwww that does not sound fun. One of these days I will begin. So excited to redo bedrooms. Looking for ideas online and in magazines. So hard to decide on colors. Need to check Craigslist for furniture for rooms here and at cabin. Bedding gets expensive so hoping to be thrifty in other ways.
  
   

Always a welcome sight to see the swans on the lake. They doubled their number from 4 on Saturday to 8 on Sunday.
Could hear them Saturday evening when we returned from Moorhead. Hoping they stay around for Josh and Jen next weekend.

One chick home...

 Jordan made his first trip home from college. It was over 2 months since we dropped him off!!! He and his friends made it home to celebrate ZHS homecoming football game together. Was a sweet night...warm weather, kids and parents and a victory to boot. He got to hangout with most of his buddies, squeezed in a movie with gals and then had a "sleep"over here. Ugggg, did not sleep much. Winnie was not used to the noise downstairs so barked at every noise,real or imagined! We went to dinner with boys and parents. Nice to have something in common and to get to chat about it. We have been so blessed with the people we have gotten to know through our children. This little town is filled with so many memories.
    Mike and I have decided we have adjusted fairly well to our empty nest. We love to spend time together. And we kind of appreciate the quiet. Not that we do not love to have them here, just their plans start so late. I guess we are getting old. Took two walks today. The weather was just too wonderful to stay inside. Doggies got to go on the morning walk but not later. We went to see if we could spot the otter that lives in the Woodlands pond...nope...bummer. Maybe tomorrow...
    Well had my warm cinnamon/vanilla/ honey milk to help me sleep so need to actually lay my head on a pillow for it to work. Good night!

October~Couples Fall Getaway...16th year of our tradition!!!

Light Up the Sky - The Afters - Worship Video with lyrics

Sunday~back home

Relaxing weekend with Mike at the cabin. I did some reading and cleaning and napping, he painted. Regatta Blue for the Lake Room. Should have painted it this from the start but now it is complete. We had planned to stop at Compenero's for dinner Friday but they did not open until 5 and we were 45 minutes early. So went to West Forty instead and there on Saturday. Their final weekend for the year so good we stopped in Was so awesome whent we returned back to cabin I was out side with the pups and saw a huge glowing falling object! Too large to be a shooting star so maybe a meteor. Was so bright and had a tail. Looked like it was going to land in the lake as it went behind the tree line.
 Chaz woke us up last night barking at deer in the yard...scared us!
 Sunny but cool. Fall is here! You forget how gorgeous the colors are! We were going to make a trip to Itasca but got carried away cleaning and it was getting late so we headed for home. A new week...hoping to feel well and get a lot accomplished.

a NeW Fresh DaY~

    A new day. Morning is such a good idea. So glad God thought of a fresh start each day. Refreshed and ready to start again. Make a plan, lots of projects. Things I could not do when the kids were little or for that matter when they were older. Always running for sports etc. Loved it all. Miss it. But now I can get somethings done. Take time to be creative. Time to clean. Time to organize. Time, time, time. I pray I use it wisely. I am hoping to feel 100 percent soon so I can help neighbors and friends more. But maybe this time of healing is just that...a time to heal. I am ready. I want to make sure I have learned from it all. Help me to be compassionate, aware of others and their pain.
  Baked some cookies. Mike and I do not want to eat them so they are packaged up and ready to send to Jordan and his college friends.
Things I want to do:

•   Find all of my favorite music and get it uploaded in my ipod ( Jordan's old one) Jordan usually helps but I believe I can do it :)
• Work on my photos. Organize. Enhance. Print. Use them. Enjoy them.
• Paint rooms.
• Decorate rooms
• Read books
• Organize recipes
• Clean out the junk. DeClutter!!!

Not easy.

     Beth home for weekend, just called made it back "here" which is Moorhead, MN. Had a soccer game Friday and Saturday. Team pasta dinner here on the teams way home. Beth stayed here instead of taking team bus back. Nice treat to have her here. One little chick in my nest...even if brief, I will take it.
   Jordan has been gone since labor day weekend.Missing him and his constant influx of friends in our home. He just texted me. Wants me to let him know when I send something. Making sure his mailing address is correct...so I better send something. Maybe something edible...cookies. That would be a good thing! Text included "Love you too" (yup~tears. Just a few.)
   Found out Britta has a "secret" blog she just shared. Intrigued, I have set out to make my own. Wow, lots to learn and so many other things to be doing. So it will be a work in progress. All self contained and no added mess to my now clean house. ( Thanks to the soccer dinner, the house is pretty tidy.) Not sure I will share this with anyone. Right now it is mine to do as I please.
   Tears when Beth left. My heart feels sad. But she is so independant. So grown up. She does not need me. I guess that is what hurts...after always being needed for the past almost 27 years it is a huge adjustment. But it is the way life goes. I want to embrace the change. Look at the possiblities. Time to spend with Mike. Time to clean and decorate. Plenty to do, just need to get a plan or better yet just jump in, start somewhere. So here I go...ready to fly. Feather my nest and make it ready for when they come home to roost~