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Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to my little baby girl Kaitlyn who just turned nine and that makes her mommy sad... Happy birthday to you!

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I'm SO glad that Thomas told me to go ahead and get new pots and this knife set. I SO needed it for all the prep that was done in the kitchen this week. Thanks for my early birthday and Christmas gift!

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I rescued some parsley from the garden thinking we might use it for the dinner dishes, but it didn't get used. It did look pretty in my lovely and FAVORITE little bloom vase.

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TOO much food...and not enough stomach, lol!

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Olivia found in a no-no spot...and she just looked at me the entire time I took her picture...didn't even feel bad apparently...

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Ahh....nothing makes a mother's heart prouder than to see her son organizing under the kitchen sink...

(okay...so I made him...SO WHAT?!?!....tee hee)

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We had craft day at Kaitlyn's class today. This is the project that I found online for us to do. They had fun.

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Zachary went with his Boy Scouts troop to see a basketball game (Memphis Grizzlies vs. Utah Jazz) and brought back this souvenir...apparently he's the guy to beat when you're playing against the Grizzlies.

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Kaitlyn's party was today...she had a blast. I always love the candle blowing pictures...my favs...

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Love old books on display and loved finding these at Holiday Flea Market today for $1.00 each.

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I love these 'green' bags from the grocery stores. I have 3 from Publix and 2 from Whole Foods. WHEN I remember to put them back in the car after emptying them, they make carrying the bags in by myself SO much easier...

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Again, another late addition to my fall decor; however, Kaitlyn's birthday party is this weekend...and I found this frame while cleaning last night. Decided to stop and decorate it per season as I planned to do originally when I purchased it the first week World Market was open...oh, say....in March?

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Gotta add this in here, though it's extremely late. Makes my monthly photos of my calendar complete for my end of year printed blog album I plan to do.

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Got some fall decor at 66% off at Hobby Lobby. Was glad to add it to my collection even if only for another week. At this house, we hold off until the day after Thanksgiving to put up Christmas stuff. In fact, Zachary is in full protest this year. If you MENTION Christmas anything (the few things I've bought already are taking him over the edge) he says it's not allowed until after Thanksgiving is over. He was fully irritated the there were Christmas things for sale at some places even before Halloween stuff was out. He doesn't understand the concept of early buying...I will say, the Christmas music playing in the stores is a bit much for me, too. I understand the 'concept' of it...just don't understand the necessity of it.

So, in other words...we're hanging on to Thanksgiving and Fall decor as long as possible. And that's okay with us.

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Love my new little sign I picked up at Hallmark yesterday...

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Getting my cookbooks out for Christmas cookie baking...yummy.

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A mess of epic proportions....massive.

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The halloween candy needs to die already!

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Meet my $12.99 Home Goods puppets that I just couldn't resist purchasing for the church puppet team; however, they've since found a home with Kaitlyn and Zachary who thinks they are just HILARIOUS to play with! Who knew?

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Kaitlyn's invitation to her scrapbook birthday party.

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Pumpkins and gourds...overflowing from the dough bowl...that doesn't really have a home to sit upon as it's larger than what I really thought it would be upon bringing it home.

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We were going to take family photos today, but it's far too dreary and cold out for that. Couldn't imagine contending with the kids to get them in position for pictures in this type of weather...

so today's shot is of my pretty lavender from my herb garden that I cut the other day for the vase.

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Took Kaitlyn out to the hilltop next to us to get a few fall pictures of at least her. I needed some for her party invitations that I've GOT to get out this week.

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Olivia enjoyed the temps outside chasing the hopping grasshoppers. She's so cute and not easily distracted when doing so.

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My mini pumpkins and I visited the woods today...LOVELY. It's just absolutely gorgeous here right now. Just beautiful. No words adequately express how Fall makes me feel.

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Found these little door hangers at Home Goods the other day for 2.99. Couldn't resist since they were so appropriate for our family. HA!

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Yummy fall chili cooking on the stove...yummy.

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Zachary needed to make a rat for a class project...we found the cutest and simplest instructions online and VOILA...Zachary's pet rat...

I think it might be too cute to be a rat, though...

and it IS supposed to be white (after the character he picked from the book)

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The boys called me into the kitchen while I was getting dressed for church this morning to show me their domino creations. A hugely long trail of dominoes that surrounded the stacked up dominoes on one single solitary domino. COOL. Brandon worked diligently on that one! I, myself, thinks that is too neat that you can do something like that. Teaches him the law of physics stuff before he even gets to that point in his schooling. Weight and balances. Hmmm...now there's a deep thought that could be explored. Balanced weights on one person...hmmm...ANYHOO...

I'll save that for another day. Or maybe today on my blog.

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Just another little fall vignette to share. Love adding little seasonal stuff to the top of this vintage scale.