the great outdoors...

we love outside. 
lately we've been spending a lot of time there too, thanks to the cooler weather.
abel currently adores this, his tippy cup, climbing up on everything in sight, a kitchen spoon & wants nothing to do with his toys. his favorite sound this week is ma ma ma ma, it's mine too. over night he went from eating nothing to eating everything & often... spaghetti squash still being at the top of his list & sweet potatoes no where on it. he's a big boy now & we better notice.
time FLYS with a baby around. pictures from a few months ago seem like a few YEARS ago. he looks so different. i'm not sure i could love this child more. he is truly the best. just a simple little guy. doesn't take much to entertain him, but boy is he keeping me on my toes... 
i wouldn't have it any other way.

joy beyond measure.

this kid! i couldn't tell you how many times a day chris & i look at each other teary eyed, filled with pure delight. he is the purest light. the perfect example of God's greatness. i am so blessed to be his mama, we are so blessed to be parents... his parents. i want a million kiddos to be running around these parts one day, but it's not uncommon for me to feel like this is it. abel is it. my heart is full to the brim & pouring over with love for him & there's no room for more! people tell me that there is... i believe them, but right now it's hard to imagine. he makes every single day worth it. i love being a mama. it's my favorite job in the whole wide world & more fulfilling that any role i've played, other than being a wife. thank you Lord for filling my life with the two sweetest boys on the planet.

girls night out, no boys allowed.

last week i had my first "girls night out".  i don't even like that term... "girls night out" it just sounds so silly, but nonetheless, i went out with my older sister & our friend shannon for the first time since abel was born. not like, me & the girls AND abel... i mean without abel. for the most part, he & i are connected at the hip (no really, at the hip) 24/7. so, this was a big deal. it was also a boys night in for he & chris... and that was a big deal too! both parties had a blast! chris sent me pictures all night without me even asking him to or texting him every 3 minutes! i'm so happy i went, & i was SO happy chris had a great night with his boy.
the place we went is in old town, called Pinot's Palette. SO MUCH stinkin' fun! i had been wanting to go since the first time i walked past it, oh you know... a year ago! it was such a great atmosphere, & the people running the place were a whole lot of smiles. blank canvas, glass of wine, cute apron... & someone willing to walk you through how to a paint a masterpiece step by step (and tell you that it looks good too)... well that's my kind of thursday night! it was seriously so awesome to look around & see everyone's paintings, and how they were all the same, yet so different from one another at the same time! canvas & cocktails officially has my recommendation. i hope you're having a wonderful week!

i'm so glad i live in a world where there are octobers...

hello october! i'm SO thrilled at your arrival. you are made up of many things that i adore... 
all things pumpkin
crunchy leaves 
50 shades of orange 
s'mores 
family
birthdays
halloween 
crisp air
warm drinks
delicious treats 
hocus pocus 
layering
BECOMING AN AUNTIE... to name a few. 
thank you for continually showing up after september each year & for officially marking the first day of the best days of the year. you're great.
in celebration of the first day of october, it seemed fitting to share with you our time at osborn farm! if you remember, we went last year, but my parents weren't in town to enjoy it with us! not the case this year. this year, they were present for this cute little farmer's market setting, complete with kettle corn, a gorgeous view of the mountains, hand holding & plenty of pumpkin to go around. it's a fun little place & it was a happy september day. i'm so thankful for this life... God really broke the mold when he made  my family, they just make life better. 
happy october!