I promise

to do a proper post very soon.

We bought a house!

We finally did it. Six years and two children later, we are (in a month) homeowners. Technically, we've owned before. I tend not to think of our leaky condo in glowy "our first home" ways. It was a nightmare that is pretty much over (except for the ongoing lawsuit).
We moved out to Wheaton last year and love love love it. We love the area, the community, our church, the space, etc. We're buying the house thinking "this is it." This is where we plan to settle down, if two non-commital people can actually choke those words out. We were in our condo for almost 3.5 years. That is the longest either of us have lived anywhere since high school. So, this is a big deal. We're buying a fence and a playset and a dog! We're going to measure the boys against their doorframe every year and mark it in pen! (pencil) We're going to get to know the neighbors, paint the walls, stain the carpet and settle in for a good long stay.
Probably.

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday, Seth. You are more lovely, more dear to me each day. You are the hardest worker, the best father, the most patient, loving husband. I knocked it out of the park on the day I married you. If all fell away and all I had left was you, I'd still have everything.

Dallas

October

Oh, Halloween!

We were SO looking forward to Halloween. Brice and Harry got their store-bought costumes from Target, we got them pumpkin baskets, face painting stuff, and more candy than I've ever bought in my life. We were ready.

Our good friend Dawn came to share in their first Trick or Treat.

I knew it was coming. I KNEW Harry would not take well to his new outfit. The child doesn't even like getting his diaper changed. He'll cry for half an hour when you put a coat on him. So, I knew what to expect. Harry screamed BLOODY MURDER for well over an hour. Even after we got Brice up and dressed and painted, Harry was still screaming. We trickortreated for a half hour, and still Harry screamed. Poor Seth had terrible ringing in his ears, as that is where Harry was perched.

THEN we forced Harry to get down and had Brice drag him to the door. The door opened. Candy was placed in his fat little fist. And Harry was hooked. Oh, man. He and Brice went running from house to house. Harry waved to everyone who answered the door, then ran to me (every time!) to show me what he got.

So what started out as a total train wreck (this post was almost titled, "SCREW YOU Halloween!!!) turned out to be a really fun, really special time.

My list

I've been thinking about the things that make me happy. Not soul searching, just taking notice of what makes me smile. Herewith, a small sampling:

* freshly fluffed bathmats
* when my boys play and laugh together
* a nicely made bed--mine, preferably
* a new bottle of a tasty red
* spending time with my husband
* kicking leaves on a fall walk
* talking on the phone with my mom
* the fact that my boys have all their grandparents, all healthy
* traveling to new places
* staying at hotels
* sleeping in
* the first cup of coffee
* landing in an airport in a different country
* the hotdogs at Wrigley Field
* emails from Amy
* discovering a great book
* in the same vein, the Starbridge Series
* steak
* IKEA