Halloween 2014

Halloween two-thousand-and-fourteen. I just want to keep saying (typing?) it, mostly because it rhymes and I like things that rhyme. We had a fun Halloween 'season' this year, complete with decorations and costumes planned ahead of time. What wasn't planned ahead of time was how sick poor Riggs would be on Halloween, but we still ended up having a pretty good day. It helped that we celebrated all week long.

We started with a Halloween celebration at Library Group on Tuesday. Riggs shocked me and happily wore his mask and tail, which for the record, I didn't make. I purchased them from Opposite of Far, which also carries lots of other amazing animal masks. Anyway, he wore them proudly during all the book reading, craft making, and snack eating. He chose not to wear them the second I tried to take some pictures of him and Raina out on the lawn in the sunshine. Of course. I managed to get one before he ripped it off and threw it on the ground. It wasn't meant to be anyway, because the sun was so bright that poor little red riding hood couldn't even open her eyes. 

Then Wednesday we had a little Halloween Party at Nancy's house. We planned it so that the kids would have a fun place to wear their costumes. Only problem? None of them would wear them, haha. The only ones who wore costumes were the babies who were too young to protest. We still had a great time and ate lots of yummy fall treats.

Riggs loved little Gyffy and barely left his side the whole time.
He also got in a rage over Nancy's son Griffin trying to 'wake
Gyffy up' by moving one of the nine pillows Riggs had stacked
on top of him while 'putting him to sleep' on the couch. toddler problems...

Thursday and Friday were pretty much a blur. Riggs woke up Thursday with a fever which quickly climbed up to 103.8 and hovered there for way too long. I was so sad about how bad my little guy felt, and wished I could have done something to make him feel normal again. Halloween morning he was still feverish and miserable but after a long nap he seemed to be on the mend, other than a racking cough. I dressed them up so Steve could see their cute little costumes and to take some 'official' Halloween pictures, then we came inside to snuggle. No trick-or-treating (or 'tricker treating', as I saw on quite a few IG posts, haha) for us this year, and not a single trick-or-treater came to our door either.

Despite Riggs being sick we had a pretty fun year. I think next year he will be old enough to go trick-or-treating with Steve, although our neighborhood is so rural and spread out that I'm not sure how many people would actually be ready with candy. Last year we went to town to the Halloween Carnival put on in the Fire-station, and that was fun (and for those of you who clicked back to see my post, how cute was Riggs as a hobbit?!). I was also thinking it would be fun to go to Anchorage and let Riggs trick-or-treat with his big cousins, I know he would love that!

I also plan on brainstorming months ahead of time for what matching costumes I can come up with for the kids. I thought it was so fun to have their costumes coordinate, and I know there's only so much time I have to do so before they don't want to match.

I hope everyone had a lovely and safe Halloween weekend filled with fun and lots of your kids' halloween candy. I leave you with this adorable picture of a cute little baby bat we found on our doorstep back on Halloween 2012...

weekending: fall festival at the reindeer farm

The Reindeer Farm on Bodenburg Loop is open again this year every Saturday in October for fall festival fun for the whole family. Steve was working (boo) but we went anyway and met friends there right after they opened at 10am. It snowed last night but by the time we got there it was already starting to melt, and the sun was even peeking out from behind the clouds.

 Perfect day for a fall festival, before fall is gone for good!

We moved Raina to the back seat and she seemed to do pretty good.

I think she likes to see her big brother riding along next to her.

Griffin and Riggs were so excited to explore the 'pumpkin patch' ♥

 Pony rides of the real and plastic variety...

Raina was there too. She slept most of the time.

She did wake up in the barn to watch the boys

play in the corn. Life as a baby is so exciting!

It was a great way to spend the morning, and best of all, I actually got to interact with adults instead of just watching the kids have fun! All that fall fun wore them out so much that Riggs fell asleep during the five minute (if that) drive home.

If you're an Alaskan friend I highly suggest making it out for one of the Saturdays they are open in October. See some pictures from our other visits to the Reindeer Farm, here and here.

Riggs has had a stuffy nose and sore throat for the last two days and last night Steve and I both got hit with it too. It was a restless night and to top things off Raina woke up really stuffy this morning too. So no church for us, looks like we'll be miserable little hermits for the day. Hope your Sunday is at least more healthy than ours!

another fall friday

I have just enough energy left this evening to share my fall-themed favorites from the week. Hurray!

(click on photos to link to original source)

I agree with nearly everything up there in that lovely fall essentials print. Except for the red lipstick because, well, lets be honest, I don't wear lipstick, especially not red lipstick. But I do agree that it looks quite lovely this time of year on those who choose to wear it. Also, I'd switch out the pumpkin pie for apple pie, but thats just me.

Whenever I finally venture out to the store, I'm going to pick up a can of crescent rolls and some bacon. I need to eat this amazing breakfast and soon:

Fall is for flannel and dark jeans and leggings and boots. It's for mugs of steaming hot drinks, hearty soups and baked desserts. It's for cozy, patchwork quilts, and fluffy quilts and content little smiles. Most of all it's for friends and family and spending a little less time outside and a little more time indoors playing card games in front of a crackling fire.

I also find myself that my music choices shift in the fall to more classic choices like Dylan, Gordan Lightfoot, Simon & Garfunkel, John Denver, Arlo Guthrie, ect. It's kind of like going home for me and I love it. I've listened to most of these artists for as long as I can remember, my parents played them often. I find myself not listening to any 'popular' music or radio at all (which I only do in the car in the summer months sometimes). If the radio is on in our home it's always tuned to public radio (KSKA 91.1 here). So there you have it. Hope you all have a lovely weekend filled with your favorite fall things. ♥

Welcome, October

Yesterday Steve asked me, "How is it October already?" Good question! I don't really know how it's possible that summer is already gone, but I'm happy to welcome October. It's always been a favorite month of mine, partially because it's my birthday month and mostly because it's f a l l. I actually decorated for fall this year (some pictures coming soon) and it makes me so happy. Every time I glance at one of our humble little trimmings it warms my heart. I'd need to order that print (from Lindsay Letters shop) and put it in a gold frame somewhere asap.

There are many reasons why I love fall, but out of everything I think my favorite part is the extra emphasis on spending time together with family doing crafts, baking and making precious memories. We've already been enjoying some of our favorite fall activities, including baking pies and wearing warm scarves and beanies.

I'm also working on planning halloween costumes for the kids and acquiring the various pieces I need for them. Last year Riggs was a hobbit and it was so cute and easy. But now that I have two, I'm pretty much obsessed with 'matching' costumes. Wondering what I have in mind for this year? Here's a little hint:

On a completely unrelated note, I know it's been a little quiet around here, but you guys. I have some really fun posts planned for this space. I just need to sit down and actually type them up! Next week I'm hoping to share some of my favorite mama-made clothing and accessory shops for my babies as well as a post on my field guide for adjusting to life with two kids.

Thank you for hanging in there and continuing to follow along with me despite the occasional radio silence.  I love you all! xoxo

currently {vol. 5}

t h i n k i n g  | |  about what we have planned for today and hoping I don't forget something. I feel like every time I leave the house I forget one major errand or item from the store that I specifically needed to do. two kids has wreaked havoc on my brain, I swear!

r e a d i n g  | |  blessed is she devotions every morning after they've been delivered to my email inbox. ladies...these are so encouraging and the one form of devotions I've been consistent on since having kids. first thing in the morning while I'm still cozy in bed I can pull out my bible from my nightstand, open my email, and nourish my soul. I've never needed my time with God more than since I've had kids. I beg for his strength every morning so that I can make it through the day with my babies, and make it through with patience and love rather than exasperation and frustration.

d o i n g  | |  getting into sewing projects and loving it. it feels so good to be back at the sewing table. this week I got fabric for drool scarves/bibs for Raina and infinity scarves for Riggs in beautiful fall flannels and some quilted fabric to make into a stroller blanket for Raina. next on the list? finally sewing the binding on Raina's quilt and finishing a fall maple-leaf quilt I started years ago.

e n j o y i n g  | |  the beautiful fall we've been enjoying up here in Alaska. I know winter is coming quickly too, yesterday it rained at our house, a cold rain - only about 40 degrees. And when the low clouds cleared and the rain stopped, there was snow on Pioneer Peak. Enjoying the crispy fall air while it lasts.

t h a n k f u l  | |  for the wonderful weekend with family and friends we had - birthday parties and church and (nearly) childless lunch dates with friends. for Steve working so hard to provide for us even though I miss him desperately. for apple crisp, warm from the oven with a scoop of vanilla ice-cream. for my sweet and loving babies who make my heart overflow with love and drive me slightly crazy at the same time.