Happy Halloween

... and the sweetest clown!

And, skeleton! Rattle your bones!

Enjoy the festivities!

Double Trouble

I love when my plans go flying out the window. Ok, so I really don't but I've learned to roll with it, try not to get overwhelmed and just do what I can. 

As we work toward getting ourselves ready to leave, I thought I'd have everything set just so. Perfectly coordinated with my timeline, etc. 

On Friday, in the middle of a play date I was hosting the power went out in half of our house. Long story. Nightmare. Fast forward to today. The power is fixed and back on but our beautiful deck is still in complete disarray. 

Complete wrench in the timeline. 

I'm at the point of surrender. If it doesn't get done, it doesn't get done. I've managed to get 2 bags 98% packed, 2 bags 100% packed and 2 bags 0% packed. We've bought all the last minute things. We're working on getting Daredevil and I healthy again ASAP! Items have been dropped off at friends' houses, library books returned, letters mailed, prescriptions refilled, errands ran, emails sent, last minute lists made, etc. I've done about all I can do. 

I'm praying that even with the hiccups, I don't forget anything too important. At this point I'm adding things as soon as I take other things off. 

The Sickies

My poor guy has the sickies. We're going on 10 days of the crud. I'm sick, too, as is Twin. Mr Tech Guy has a bum shoulder so we are quite the fun group to be around lately. Twin can't breathe. I can't stop coughing and wheezing. Daredevil is beyond fussy and his low grade fever just keeps coming back. After anothea stop at urgent care yesterday we got Daredevil some antibiotics for his rash and crud. I'm praying it helps. 

He has been so pitiful. 

You can just tell he wasn't impressed. 

He had to take his own temperature today, too. Poor kid. He just looks sick. 

Here's to a quick recovery for all of us.  I'm already wondering about music class later today. I guess I will just see how he's acting. 

Playroom Reveal

The playroom is finished. Daredevil loves it. He's loved it since his toys got moved in there, but he really loves it now that there are places to play, explore and learn.

I thought I'd share some pictures of our new space. 

Welcome to Daredevil's favorite space!

Daredevil's measuring stick growth chart is tucked in there as well. 

The room has a large magnetic chalkboard wall. I'm sure it will get more use in the future. Right now we pick out animals and look at letters on the wall. I'm hoping to do some chalk art up there sometime but it has yet to happen. 

There's actually a felt numbers banner up there now, but this is largely what the back wall looks like. 

Daredevil's art paper is attached to the bookshelf so we can easily get to it.

Daredevil loves to play on the magnetic "road" on the wall. He vrooms, booms and beeps his way along the road.  There is a lot of traffic right now. 

More storage for all those toys. Gee-whiz... And I'm certain my pregnant self said he would have few few few toys. As in a few. Like a handful. Not two rooms full. Oy! 

And a tiny space to hang up anything as needed. 

All in all we love the space- especially that it's basically done. Daredevil wants to play in there for hours a day. The other day he was down there playing with Twin for nearly two hours. I thought I'd hit the lottery! 

Filter

I really enjoy taking pictures. With my iPhone, with my DSLR, doesn't matter... I just like capturing the moment. 

I've still got a lot to learn about my manual DSLR settings but I've taken some classes and I think I can get some ok shots. But anything from my DSLR comes directly to you SOOTC (straight out of the camera). No editing, cropping, filters, etc. You're getting it exactly how it was taken. 

Photos from my iPhone, on the other hand, are largely edited. Typically cropped, sometimes adjusted with filters and lighting. The apps just make it so easy to transform your photo with a few swipes. My favorite is Pic-Tap-Go but there are many you can use. 

Here are some sweet pictures I captured while playing outside yesterday. 

This one is just as I took it. A little dark, he's obviously hidden in the shade, and the coloration is just off. 

Here's another photo where I lightened up the photo and then added some warmth so Daredevil wouldn't look so washed out. 

On this one I lightened it and then used the filter "fade to autumn" to give it a deeper, more saturated warmth. 

Do you use photo apps? What one am I missing? What one do you prefer? 

Free Time

Despite the sadness, we really enjoyed our time with family. Sometimes laughter is really the very best medicine.

This visit, it seemed, we had the free time to play a bit and enjoy.

 And, we had the time to be goofy.

And, run around in the random fields near our hotel.

And, find out of the way playgrounds at dusk.

And, give and receive lots of hugs.

Of course, we made time to make a splash as well.

There's nothing like a cheerful, energetic toddler to keep your mind occupied. We had a good time with our free time.

Patty

We gathered together this weekend to grieve and remember a very special woman. It was a beautiful time of tears, smiles, memories and sweet celebration of her beautiful life.

I met my dear Patty over a decade ago and she just wrapped herself around my heart. She had an amazing spirit that could brighten the darkest day. She was so incredibly loved and will be missed.

Her visitation was filled with those whose lives she touched. The funeral was a beautiful representation of her full life. The grave-side service was short and sweet, a bit like her. Her grave is beautiful, surrounded by a lovely cemetery that is both serene and full of life. It is a gorgeous place to be laid to rest.

We headed home today and although we are ready, it's bittersweet. It was a nice (and quite long) visit to Marshall for us. We had more time than we are used to and it was nice to not have to be in a rush. But, leaving seems final. Proof that she's really gone. No stopping by her rehab center, no mailing silly cards her way, she's gone. 

We'll see you on the other side, Pat.