love this holiday

Thanksgiving has always been my favorite holiday. Just food and family, plus the whole world seems to shut down just for that one day.

This Thanksgiving was strange because my family postponed the feast until Friday so that my sister, a nurse, could be there to join us. So, Jeremiah and I planned our own small feast, just the three of us. Jeremiah whipped up my very favorite - an italian dish that melts in your mouth made with penne pasta, spinach, marinara, garlic, white wine, romas, cream, and crushed red pepper. Oh my.

A day with the two loves of my life.

The three of us ate by candlelight, mid-afternoon.

The next day we packed up the van and headed for my parent's home to eat a traditional Thanksgiving meal, turkey and all the fixins. My parents always make a special vegetarian version of their stuffing, which I love and always look forward to. Thanksgiving felt complete with all of us together and stuffing ourselves until we needed to nap!

We had so much fun this weekend, I am sad to see it end.

sunrise

We've been witnessing a lot of sunrises lately. That is, Ammy and me.

And it's not just the time change, she has not been sleeping much between teething and growth spurts and god knows what else that has been plaguing her. For someone with so many troubles, she sure is a happy kid.

It's getting colder out there, the wind has been blowing and I'm just so not down with that, so we stay inside.

But this is Colorado, so we still get those 60 degree, sun shining, WARM fall days, and we soak it up like it's the last time because it just might be (at least until March). The birds are migrating and flying over us in noisy groups - Amelie loves this.

A couple of baby aspens that my parents gave us are now safe at home in our backyard.

Ammy and her dada enjoy time together on the weekends while I work on hoodies and try to write a novel (November is National Novel Writing Month - I totally recommend giving it a shot if you've ever wanted to write a book but need the pressure of a deadline to get anything done).

To celebrate the upcoming one year anniversary of my shop, I'm offering 10% off everything through December 18. To get this deal, use the coupon code HOLIDAYS at check out.

Teeth, claws and eyes for thirteen monsters

Before Ammy was born, I hardly ever saw the sunrise. In that old life (it seems so distant now) I was so purposeful, every moment of my morning routine was efficient and full, sleeping til the last minute, hurriedly getting ready for the work day. Now I wake to my girl calling out for "mama!", her arms reaching out for me to lift her out of her crib, her excitement to go "stairs!" and see "Neenee!" (our cat Beanie) and all the while the sun just barely peering over the horizon.

I really really really want to do these things

A couple days ago, I read this chick's bucket list and was inspired to write my own list of lifetime goals and dreams, then was inspired further by the giveaway I could enter for some great trips by publishing my list (you can too, click here).

Its intimidating and liberating to spout off my dreams to everyone, but I'm going to suck it up and do it anyway, so here goes:

1. Travel the world with my family. I feel connected to Ireland and want to go back. I want to roam around France, visit the Egyptian pyramids, walk barefoot on a sunny beach in the Caribbean and dive into a pool fed by a waterfall in Hawaii. 

2. Swim in the ocean.

3. Publish a book.

4. Help my daughter learn through experience by traveling, meeting and spending time with amazing people and doing a whole bunch of cool stuff. 

5. Live someplace open where I can be at peace and feel safe letting my daughter, my dog and my cats run around, but not too far away from cool people and lots of fun things to do. I'd like to raise alpacas someday, because it sounds like fun, and they are super adorable. 

Ummm, right?

6. Go to Alex Grey's Chapel of Sacred Mirrors in New York.

7. Learn to weave on my grandma’s loom. 

8. Go on a horseback ride with my mom.

9. Hike the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu.

10. Climb Long’s Peak with my dad and my sister. (I'm scared but just look at THAT)

11. Learn to play the piano. 

12. Take lots classes. I love to learn, I really want to continue my education throughout my life, for practical purposes and of course for enrichment. And if someday I become Dr. Rachel, I’d be okay with that. ;-) 

13. Make a difference in the world. I want to find a cause I really feel passionate about and spend a good part of my life doing that. 

14. Research our family tree and discover the stories of the people who make my family so amazing.

15. Become a minimalist in terms of material objects. 

Wow. I didn't even realize how much I wanted to do these things until I took the time to sit down and think about it. How easy it is to let my dreams slip past me in my day-to-day existence without making strides towards them. Give yourself some time and make your own list, I'd love to hear some of your lifetime goals.


Further information on the giveaway:


This is my entry in the Just Ask Bucket List Getaway Giveaway. Just Ask offers a breast and ovarian cancer screening and is encouraging people to share 15 things that I want to enjoy in my lifetime as a reminder to be aware of my health. Want to enter? Head over to TodaysMama.com to get the details.