Thankful Tuesday

Today...when I am lacking in sleep and have just had a rough day,  I will choose joy. 

"Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body." Proverbs 16:24 (ESV)

1.  Parks. Seeing a park through your child's eyes is a picture of pure joy. 

2. Halloween! The spooky day hasn't arrived yet, but all of the preparations from decorating to fall festivals leaves me full of festiveness. 

3. Pumpkin, pumpkin everywhere. As in, pumpkin caramel froyo with Heath bar on top. Yes, please. 

Want to play along? Simply comment below with 3 things you arethankful for this Tuesday?

Thankful Tuesday

Have you ever read Ann Voscamp's 1000 Little Gifts? I've read about 50% of it. She is a good writer, y'all, don't get me wrong, it's just very....literary.

And in my free time, I like to stick reading things that don't make my brain hurt. But, I will say, the book has a beautiful premise. Every day, she wrote down 3 things (mundane to major) that she was thankful for.

And it totally transformed her perspective on life. Instead of focusing on what was lacking, it focused on the blessings that lay right in front of her.

So, here I'll be, every Tuesday, challenging you to list 3 things you are thankful for today.

"Perhaps it takes a purer faith to praise God for unrealized blessings than for those we once enjoyed or those we enjoy now." A.W. Tozer

1. Loving childcare. Whether at my friend Jamie's house or daycare days, I am thankful that Lucy is loved when she is not in our hands. { This picture was at a fall festival at daycare last week!}

2. Boot weather.

3. Costume parties. Who doesn't love to dress up and pretend you are someone/something else for a day!

Want to play along? Respond with your 3 thankful things in the comments section below...

Falling for Pumpkins

In our quest to find the perfect pumpkins this year, we went to Hillridge Farms a couple of weekends ago where we celebrated my sister's birthday.

For $10,  you get a hayride and a pumpkin, along with entry to the giant slide, corn pit, mini zoo, mazes and hay jumps.

It's like the state fair sans all the crazy people, and much, much cheaper.

Lucy loved the pumpkins. She wanted to touch each and every one.

It is absolutely hilarious to try and get 5 children to look and smile at you. We got one to look and smile, success!

They had pig, duck and goat races too. (After the animals ran by, Lucy was equally as interested in the rocks at her feet.)

At first, I was a little apprehensive about the corn pit.

All I could imagine were fistfuls of hard corn being shoved in her little mouth. So, I had to join her in the giant pit of corn.

She was in corn-heaven and didn't try to eat a single kernel. 

And, I have to admit, it was quite relaxing being surrounded by silky kernels of corn. 

She also found a chicken she wanted to take home...

We love starting new family traditions, and will definitely be back every fall!

Where are your favorite places to go every fall? 

Herby Roasted Sausage and Vegetables

Autumn has finally arrived in North Carolina. In true NC fashion, this weekend it was 85 degrees, and today....60.

To say I love the fall is putting it mildly.  Leaves changing, leggings, booties (the shoe kind) and all things pumpkiny and roasty re-enter my life.

It's glorious, y'all.

And with a very busy toddler, roasting equals an easy dinner for us. I even had tiny toddler hands helping me add the herbs.

She may or may not have made a ridiculous mess, but I think it might be just why this meal is so delicious.

Feel free to add any veggies you like, and to throw handfuls of herbs all over the counter and floor. It's more fun that way, I promise.

Herby Roasted Sausage and Vegetables

1 14-oz package of Kielbasa, cut into 2" pieces and halved
1/2 lb new potatoes, rinsed
1/2 apple, cut into 1/2 inch pieces
1 small parsnip, peeled and cut into 1/2 inch pieces
1 small carrot, peeled and cut into 1/2 inch pieces
1/2 squash, cut into 1/2 inch pieces
1/4 cup red onion, cut into 1/2 inch pieces
1 tablespoon paprika
1 teaspoon rosemary
1 tablespoon oregano
1 tablespoon parsley
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.

In a large ziploc bag, add all ingredients and shake until all ingredients are well coated. Add to a jelly roll pan to spread out ingredients evenly. Roast for 20-25 minutes until potatoes and carrots are fork tender, turning 2-3 times.

twelve months!!

It sounds so cliche to say that I can't believe my sweet Lucy Mae is now one. One year of a wonderful adventure I feel blessed to take a part in. One year of sleepless nights and sleep training, breastfeeding to learning to eat, teething, and learning how to roll, crawl and walk. 

And I find myself wishing time would slow down just a bit. 

Because I see right before my eyes a toddler where my baby once was. 

Sweet baby girl, you are so smart and excited about this world around you. You are running and trying to talk, and love to help mom and dad do everything. You love hair bows and animals and love to play outside and to wash your hands.

My sweet sis made the beautiful smash cake.

Which was almost too pretty to smash. (almost.)

Before:

This was the best picture of the three of us we got. I love that she is blowing for the candles...but in the wrong direction!

After:

Happy Birthday sweet baby! 

 As long as I'm living, my baby you'll be.