October, From Sunrise to Sunset

This past month we enjoyed time in the yard as much as possible.  I'm so glad that we have all four seasons where we live, as each new season brings something to renew the outdoor interest of my kids.  Fall brings with it the excitement of playing in leaves.  The girls made mazes out of leaves, jumped and slid into leaf piles, and of course, found ways to fight over the leaves as well.  

 Lucy and Emma are reading so much these days, that I told them to get outside at least, so they are getting some sun and fresh air while they read.  October reminds us that there is little time left for sitting outdoors.  We discovered some interesting insects in our yard this past month...

...and were able to get out to some parks for some fall hikes.

The kids kicked off October with a lingering cough from a cold they had in September, so I took them to a salt cave near our house to see if that would give them the boost they needed to get their lungs healthy again.  They loved it, and so did their lungs as the cough was gone two days later.  While in the cave, the owner gave us sand toys for the kids to play in the salt that was all over the ground.  It was a great way to add some interest to an otherwise ordinary day.

I took the kids the shoe store this past month so they could get their yearly athletic shoes.  We don't buy our kids very many shoes, and I want this one pair they wear on all of our walks, hikes, and playing to fit them well.  We utilize hand me downs for all other shoe needs, and we are lucky that Will's parents buy the kids snow boots every year if the hand me down boots don't fit.  Even still, it was a big price tag when I walk out of that shoe store each fall.  In the photos below from top left in clockwise order:  the girls waiting to be fitted at the shoe store, Opal getting her foot measured (she was the only kid who didn't get new shoes as she is still small enough to utilize hand me downs, but the sales associate humored us so that Opal wouldn't feel left out), Violet at her weekly mouth therapy session, the girls with a friend at a local Children's Garden, and finally, me, meeting a friend of mine's friend at a local rock and gem show.  I've only heard about her, and when we started talking, I had a feeling like I knew her - and sure enough when I asked what her name was, I had to take a selfie of us so that I could send it to our now mutual friend.

The day I took the girls to the shoe store, we also hit up the local cider mill and craft store, and then came home and had a crafty afternoon.  Will was working late that night, so it was going to be a long day.  We decided to embrace it and have a girls day.  Behaviors and moods of certain children put a damper on things, but as I always say, there's no free ride!  The photos in clockwise order from top left below: Opal and I making pony bead and pipe cleaner harvest corn for a table decoration, Emma and Violet wearing the blue light blocking glasses I bought for all of us this past month for when we watch TV or use screens after dark, me trying to organize all of the dress up clothes and doll clothes into the closet in Opal's room, and finally, Lucy baking cakes and some delicious caramel apple cookies.  She loves baking, and I love being able to eat homemade baked goods that I didn't have to make.

 Charlie went missing this past month, and had us so worried.  Fortunately, we had him microchipped as a kitten, and so we utilized his microchip membership to send out a notice to all of the local vets and shelters, as well as posted on social media sites for missing pets.  We met a neighbor during our search that we had never really talked to before and she told us that she hadn't seen Charlie either since the last day we had seen him, and that she was worried sick.  Then we found out that she feeds Charlie every single day, and even when she is out of town, the person who takes care of her own pets is instructed to feed Charlie as well.  What a well fed cat we have!  She sent me the photo in the top, right hand photo below of her dog Coco hanging out with Charlie.  Charlie came home four days later, well-fed and no worse for the wear.  We think someone may have taken him inside since he wasn't hungry when he showed back up.  Talk about a happy and tearful reunion though.  We may have never known what had happened to him, and I am just so grateful he is back safe and sound.  He is a one of a kind cat to us, and irreplaceable.  The below pictures were taken moments after he returned home, and I can tell you it was worth every single hive to snuggle him.  I text my neighbor when Charlie returned, and she came over to see him for herself, and imagine Charlie's excitement to have two of his gravy trains together in one place.  We have talked about putting a GoPro camera on him to see where he goes, but not sure if that would be hilarious, or make me even more worried for his safety.

We celebrated Will's birthday this past month - with Will's family one night, and then on Will's actual birthday we spoiled him with all of his favorite foods.  The top left hand photo below are the girls at an Instant Lotto Ticket kiosk, buying their daddy his birthday present.  What else do you get the man who has it all?  Well, the girls and I also bought him his favorite kind of pillow, because one by one, he has given it away to a daughter, and each time it is replaced, another daughter claims it as her own.  Finally, all daughters have the same pillow as their dad, and this pillow is finally his for keeps.

I love the photo in the bottom right hand corner of the girls with all of their cameras, taking photos of Will and his birthday candles, like a regular lot of paparazzi.

I participated in an outdoor craft show at the end of this month and had a lot of fun with my friend who stayed to help me the entire day.  The crowds were minimal and I didn't make much money, but it was a laid back day, hanging with my friend and holding the tent down from the gale-like winds.  I probably will be hard pressed to do another outdoor craft show that late in the season again, but memories were made for sure!

 We had fun trick or treating at our Farmer's Market, which is one of my favorite days of the year.  This year Lucy was Amelia Earhart, Emma was Eleanor Roosevelt, Violet was a dentist, and Opal was the honey bee that each of her sisters were before her at that age.  Lucy and Emma read a book called Amelia and Eleanor Go for a Ride by Pam Munroz Ryan that inspired their costumes, and Violet's was inspired by all of the great people who have been working with her at the dentist.

 Opal was old enough this year to understand the concept of saying "trick or treat" and getting candy. She was amazed and delighted and if she could articulate her feelings, I think she would have said, "what a world we live in!!!"  The night of Halloween was freezing cold with sleet and snow, and so we only went to the neighbors that we knew and then headed off to a Halloween party at our friend's house.

 It was a great night, and memories were made yet again.

 Here is a photo of the sunset that Lucy captured in our own backyard.

I am trying to make it a priority to witness more sunrises and sunsets, and I hope that I can continue to find balance in my life to do this.  The days go by so fast, and most of the time I can't even tell you what made my day or my week so busy.  Caring for four darling daughters and finding time to spend with Will, not to mention taking care of my own needs leaves little time left for extras like a missing cat, holidays and projects.  But, as I head into November, the month of thankfulness, I am reminded of my blessings and any day with all of the people and the cat that I love in it is a good day - throw in a sunrise or a sunset or both, and I have everything I could possibly want.