I'm baaaaack

No, I did not fall off the face of this earth.  But we have been soaking in the last hot summer days of August and I have been dreaming of the cool autumn days to come...I can smell it in the air, autumn is upon us.

Proud swimmer after summer swim lessons

Our fearless fish

The ultimate hiding spot in camping-hide-n-seek

Taking Anna to the 'zoo' (on our camping trip)

Daddy's Birthday!!

Pretty proud of her newest boo-boo

 Apple pie. Leaf jumping piles. Pumpkin spice candles. Weekend bonfires. Morning coffee on the patio. Crunchy leaves below your feet. Warm apple cider. Cozy sweatshirts. Cool evening walks. Combines (yes we are in farm country & my girls love their tractors). Hayrides. 4-wheeling.

It's by far my favorite time of the year.  I love everything about it.  There's something about anticipating the change of seasons, even if it is a short lived anticipation - enter December in Minnesota.  But I love it, I am grounded here and spreading my wings to take it all in.

I think it's the mother in me, but as mothers I believe we begin to have a deeper appreciation for the small things in life.  Why fuss about a rainy day when you have to be cooped inside?  Soak it up, breath it in and soon you'll have such an appreciation for the small things in life, you'll be begging for one of those rainy days.  Take it in stride and your rainy day might just be your sunniest day of the week.  So, when I'm stuck in the house this winter with 3 girls...someone remember to remind me of this!  Just kidding, I really can't wait to have some time to snuggle, learn, play and grow as a mother/daughter team with each of my girls this winter.  It's truly a slow season and the perfect time to keep it real and enjoy all the small things that our life here has to offer.  And autumn is just the beginning, entering the deceleration lane before getting off on the ramp to a snowy white winter.

Oooh, the excitement of choosing just the right Halloween costume for the year, which changes daily in this house.  We're going all out this Halloween, and by all out, I mean out of this world crazy awesome.  Here are just a few of my ideas...

Birthday party planning in the works along with the hubby and I's 'Tree Clearing Party'...which basically means we're going to feed and beer anyone that is willing to help us clear dead branches and knock down some super ugly pine trees.  :)

Plus something super exciting coming this Saturday!

MIA

If you've been wondering what I've been up to lately, I've been buried in eyelash yarn, with my nose up to this website...creating these...

They'll be in the shop as soon as I get a free minute!!

Gotta Love a Deal

Head on over to the shop and check out our HUGE CLEARANCE SALE. 

I NEED TO CLEAN OUT MY KNITTING ROOM TO MAKE ROOM FOR MY FALL AND HOLIDAY COLLECTIONS!!!

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF DISCOUNTS FROM 40% - 75% OFF!!!

SEE EVERYTHING HERE - http://www.etsy.com/shop/bekimaknits?section_id=6942681

Happy Shopping :)

t

Big Girl

It's really happening, our big girl is really becoming a child; not a baby, not a toddler, but a BIG TIME big girl.  She blew me to the curb last week when she apologized for doing something wrong, and just today, apologizing for a no-no before I could even say anything!  What did you say?  You're truly sorry for doing something you're not supposed to do?  You actually understand me now, and it's oh so bittersweet.  Not to be outdone by the totally random sister hug last night which included I love you's.  Talk about heart melter and day maker.

Gone are the days of Mommy come with me, and in full Bella fashion are the Mommy, when are you going? days now.  Okay, there are still events where she clings to my leg for protection for the first few minutes.  But she's really growing up.  Way older than her 3 1/2 years show on a piece of paper. 

And I'm not sure how to take it all. 

The girl has been my little mini-me sidekick for her entire life, minus the 5 weeks post maternity leave when I had a crazy notion I could actually leave my baby with an almost total stranger (GOD bless daycare providers!)...and not to forget her Wednesday mornings and dance class last year.  But for the girl's almost entire existence she's been my right hand girl.  She helps me with diaper changes, with running Kira to the toilet in desperate situations, putting laundry away, cleaning the house (she loves to clean - just like her Grandma!), and the list goes on and on.  She learned how to climb out of her crib, with the assistance of a stool, at 18 months after Kira was born by an unplanned c-section.  She's the ultimate whiz-kid if you ask me.  She has a a very strong independent side to her, as do her sisters, and I'm so very grateful that they do as children of a stay-at-home mama.

So this fall I not only have to let her do her dance thing once a week, but preschool.  EEEK!  She is so ready to go though and is really, really, really (insert way more really's in Bella's version) excited to start.  The girl amazes me with her ever-expanding vocabulary and the imagination and creativity inside that small little noggin.  And the things she asks and wants to talk about...wow is all I can really say to that.  She is a super sponge and wants to know who, what, where, when and why about everything, and I really, truly mean everything.

(first fish caught on the trip...she wouldn't hold him - He's too wiggly!)

So mom will let go (most of the way), and take a leap out into the world, Bella.  Know that we're right beside you; ready to jump when you are and okay to stay back when you're not.  We're so excited to watch you learn, laugh, live and enjoy life...plain and simple. 

Keep it real, my Bella Beautiful, keep it real. 

...and oh the places you will go...

The Blessed Garden Runneth Over

I really do have some awesome posts a'brewin.  But quite frankly, I'm swamped in the store knittin like a crazy girl.

BUT, if anyone is in my area, or willing to drive to my area, we have a very blessed overflow of cucumbers and would love to pass some on to anyone that would love them.  I just picked about TWO 5-gallon buckets tonight.  Yeah...lots of cucumbers :)  If no one speaks up, they're going at the end of the driveway tomorrow night with a free sign!

Here's what's coming though...
 * lots of goodies from our recent Joy Gathering
 * Devils Lake adventures
 * our recent annual Saints game tailgating and...game watching...or people watching :)
 * and of course lots on the girls...swim lessons and dance signups already...eeek!