The Cold Weather Approach.

I can tell that the cold weather is approaching more rapidly, our moods signals it sooner then later. We are starting to retract in outside adventure, we are becoming home bodies, dinner sounds good for lunch, we leave to get the necessities from the store and quickly return home, Italian food for lunch always sounds comforting and warm, coloring and crafting all day long is completely normal, movies are in full force, as well as books, and Nate and I drink coffee in the afternoons.

I have a love hate relationship with the winter, the cold is exciting at first, it is new so many possibilities and ideas. And then it happens, about two months in I am so over it, I just want to scream at Mother Nature and tell her to stop it.

Right now we are loving it - right now we have holidays to motivate our crafts, something to look forward, something work towards. I am so excited for the holidays this year, Ian is all about Christmas [I mean in his head, he wants to know who needs to Thanksgiving - bring on Christmas] - he asks me about every 5 minutes if it is Christmas time yet, I can't wait for it this year. It is going to be truly magical.

Here are some little things that we enjoyed over the last few days.

Little thing #1

Homemade spaghetti sauce is the best. After this delicious recipe, nothing out of a jar will ever come close again.

Little thing #2

Spare of the moment family lunch dates in the woods, are the best for getting out to get it together and then return to our cozy little fortress.

Little thing #3

First introductions to suckers are the so sweet. Hayleigh has never had one, but this week that changed, and I am pretty sure she is ruined. What a sweet sight she was, so giddy and excited. My girl is growing up!

Little thing #4

Family movie/nap time. Yes, she took a nap instead, but we got to watch a new animation we have no yet seen, while snuggling a beautiful little girl, is a win win. One of the things I will miss the most when they are big. Naps on my chest!

Little thing #4

Building a fort, well let us be honest, we really need to work on this skill, a lot. Looks like a indoor teepee is in our near future.

Little thing #5

Dinner for lunch, yes please!! Thank you Smitten Kitchen for never letting us down. If you haven't check out her blog, do it now, you will thank me. Also buy her cook book, again you are welcome!!

Little thing #6

Family color time, I forgot how awesome and relaxing it can be, that is of course when everyone is coloring, and someone little person who will not be named is not creating chaos. We will for sure have more of these sessions this winter!

These last couple of days have forced me into a new feeling of gratitude for the little things we have, bur mostly my family. Yes, some days I want pull out my hair, and some days I yell more then I probably should [well I should probably never yell] but at night when all is quiet and I reflect on my day, I am overcome with thankfulness.

Happy weekend!!!