Picture-less blog post

Are you ready for this? I haven't taken a picture in over a week. Shocking, I know. I usually take at least 1-2 pictures a day, so that when the mood strikes to blog, I have several pics to post along with whatever I am blogging about. But, for no particular reason, I have no new pictures to share tonight. This may be where I lose the interest of the grandparents, particularly Pappaw ;)

Although I have no pictures to prove it, we have been staying very busy and spending lots of time outside in this gorgeous fall weather. It has just been wonderful! Our windows have been open for 3 weeks and the house stays so cool. Our air conditioner is taking a MUCH needed break after working hard all summer :) It's actually cold in the house in the mornings, and we bundle up in sweats and thick socks until at least lunchtime. Add a few apple pie and pumpkin spice candles, and something simmering in the crockpot almost everyday, and our house is an autumn haven! I wish the weather would stay like this year round, but I will try to enjoy it while it lasts, before the long, hard, cold winter hits!

Our schedule around here has changed up quite a bit too. After 9 months of working weekend days, I am now back to working weekday nights. Talk about a complete 180! I like to keep things interesting I guess :) I work primarily Monday and Wednesday nights and the boys go to Mom's Day Out on Tues and Thurs mornings so I can sleep from about 9-1. I am awake for 26 hour stretches twice a week (7am Mon/Wed morning until 9 am Tues/Thurs morning). And even when I do get to lay down, its just nap until bedtime that night. It is still taking some time, and to be completely honest, an unhealthy amount of caffiene, to adjust to this new lack-of-sleep schedule. The jurys still out, but so far I think its still worth it to have the weekends off and being able to be at home with the boys pretty much everyday. I have considered several other options, but at this point, this schedule allows me the most money for the least amount of time at work, and very minimal time away from my family (they sleep while I work), so I am going to stick with it as long as possible. I am a bit emotionally fragile by the time Thursday evening comes around, but thankfully I have a 4 day weekend to recover before starting the craziness over again. Oh, the things we do for our families!! (And to pay the mortgage) :)

I am very excited about the month of October, we have plans every weekend! I am turning 30 October 8th and my parents are coming to babysit so we can have a night out with friends! I can't wait! Then it's the annual NWA craft fair weekend and mom and I plan to spend the weekend hitting as many as we can! Next we are heading to Mena for Chris to enter a BBQ contest with my dad and to see our families. And finally we are spending the last weekend of October in Branson with my parents. (My parents will definetely be getting their grandbaby "fix" next month!) Then, it will be time to start getting ready for the holidays! Such a fun time of year! I plan to work a couple of weekends in November for Christmas shopping money and am contemplating doing the Black Friday thing this year. I always talk about it but am never actually brave enough to go! I will definetely need someone to go with me and hold my hand!

The boys are doing great and both loving MDO. Ayden's "behavior issues" seem to be a thing of the past and his teachers say he's great in class. I can't tell you what a huge relief that is for us! Ethan is doing well too and making some new baby friends. He still isn't walking, he is perfectly content to stand to play, and crawl to move. It's so funny how different he and Ayden are at this age! I'm sure I'll continue to be intrigued by their differences for years to come :) One thing they for sure have in common, they are happy and affectionate boys! They make their momma smile everyday with their sweetness! Okay, I promise to take pictures this week! Until next time, happy fall ya'll! :)