March's Lion Doesn't Scare Me...

Destin, FL

Winter? What winter?! Just stare here and dream a little. I'm at the beach today (in my head...).

Buddy at 6.75

My Buddy amuses me daily.
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In the car, on the way to school - he informed me that my car is NOT a girl and he would be calling it a boy name (I always name my cars and they have all been female). "Mom, it's a boy. I can tell by his NUTS. And by nuts, I mean gaskets." Pretty sure he added that last part when he sensed my fatigue at yet another mention of male genitalia.

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I asked him today if he had thrown away his wrappers downstairs. "Yes, mom. ASK GOD. He will tell you that I did." Okay then.

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December

We finally got our first real snow just before Christmas. We got a day off of school, which we also so enjoy, and the kids just sat themselves outside in a drift and ate snow.

Christmas came and went and we had two terrific days of family celebrations. Santa came and left the kids just what they'd been hoping for. The holidays have been so good this year, the only word I can think to use is CONTENT. Which is the word I'm thinking of  for 2013.

Content.

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con·tent

²  [kuh n-tent]  Show IPA

adjective

1.

satisfied with what one is or has; not wanting more or anythingelse.

2.

British . agreeing; assenting.

3.

Archaic. willing.

verb (used with object)

4.

to make content: These things content me.

Some Nature

The kids and I enjoyed a nature walk at a park outside of town earlier in the month. The weather has been so warm this fall and Buddy wanted to go rock hunting! We wandered the trails and did find some rocks [gravel]. They walked through the swim pond, all emptied out for winter.

I need to remember to take more opportunities like that. To take an hour and unplug. There is beauty to be found, year round. I don't have to wait for spring or summer. It's there waiting whenever we need a break...
 

That one time...when I almost didn't get to vote...

I thought I had registered to vote when I updated my driver's license. We've lived in Buffalo County for three years, why was my voter registration still in Douglas County?!

Confession: I procrastinated figuring this out.
Confession: I often procrastinate similar grown up type tasks.

I missed the voter registration deadline.

I was SO SAD that I had missed my chance to vote this year! It would be the first time since '96 that I had missed a vote. I was SO MAD at myself for letting that happen. Kicking myself. Pouting. Frustrated. Looking for the rewind button.

I threw up a hail mary this morning and emailed our election office. I got the answer I had expected, that I had missed the deadline and was out of luck.

Then, I got a second email from the same woman. PLEASE CALL ME! I really did call her (which is kind of a big deal because phone calls are another thing I tend to procrastinate). She checked out my record and I really had registered with the DMV, my registration just hadn't made it to the election office. I couldn't thank her enough for doing that, she made my day. It was so great that she did some checking, I didn't even know to ask her to do that!

So I get to go vote today. On a provisional ballot with some extra paperwork to prove I'm not trying to vote in two counties at once. Hooray!!

A Buffalo County election official saves the day!

And I can remember how important it is to vote, I realized that after I almost couldn't. I knew it was important, but I didn't KNOW. Until that point, I had taken it for granted.

Lesson learned.

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Carving

Bee and I spent a bit of time this year on our jack-o-lanterns. We cruised pinterest, looking for what we thought would be best. Then discussed how to put the plans into action. And finally did the carving. She helped with the eyes and the tiny one, I handled the teeth on both - one of which required a figuring out a new skill!

Buddy and the Hubs went for a more classic looking one and a scary-faced guy, the result was a very diverse population on the front steps this year!

I'm mostly just excited to roast the seeds and eat them. The jack-o-lanterns are second to that for me.

Busy and crazy or not, we are coming up on my favorite time of year. Halloween ~ Thanksgiving ~ Christmas...so much to look forward to!!

Happy Halloween!

our front porch ~ with a little help from pinterest this year