Somehow, in chaos of the school year, blogging 'once a week, at least' has turned into blogging once per month. That means I start again for my bucket list goal. Here goes...

I'm feeling a bit sad these days. We have been trying to get pregnant for going on 5 months now and the disappointment is starting to ware on me. I know that this span of time might seem laughable to some, but we were able to get it on the first try with Caelan and fertility issues are a HUGE fear of mine. (Many women with Celiac Disease have difficulty with fertility.) My heart breaks for all of the women out there who battle fertility issues for years on end or who have trouble maintaining a pregnancy. I cannot even fathom the heartache. We are going to stop actively 'trying' for a while, get my health, etc. in a good place and pick back up again in a few months. We'll see what God has planned.

I just realized that I have been keeping this blog for over a year now... I just recalled the picture I posted of Caelan in his little pumpkin costume last Halloween. So adorable. This year was much more difficult... getting a 16 month old to hold still for much of anything is nearly impossible. Needless to stay, the eyeliner beard and mustache for this year's pirate costume were a challenge! Regardless, you were the cutest little pirate ever to walk the plank.

There is much to write about but little energy to spare at the moment. My book and my bed are looking very inviting and I think I should give in. It has been a long week.

I really will put forth some effort to pick up my entries again. The realization that I have been doing this as long as I have will be motivation enough! I feel so proud! I don't think that any of the journals I have attempted in the past have lasted longer than a few months, at best.

I guess I finally have something worth writing about, hey?

Today, and always, I am thankful for my family. My desire for and failure to create another child has made me so, so appreciative of my Caelan. Where would I be without you? I love you so much, kiddo. You and daddy are my everything.

Fall is here: hear the yells, back to school, ring the bell

Ahhhhh, Sweet September. The air is crisp and so are the leaves and apples. We have moved into one of my favorite seasons. Heavenly autumn has arrived.

While it has taken a few weeks to adjust to our new schedules, I think that we have a nice routine in place now. I am the new Program Director for After Hours at Montessori, which means that I get to be at home all day with Caelan and then work for a few hours in the afternoon when Daddy's day is done. It works out beautifully. I am happy to be back at school, as I have missed the children and practicing the pedagogy but I can't say that I wouldn't rather be home, either. All in all, we're going to be ok here. We have a little more money flowing in and I don't have to compromise on being an at-home mom. Win-win. Smiles all around.

Caelan, you are beacon of a joy and laughter. I look at you and can't help but smile. You have such a terrific sense of humor and I am brimming over with love for you. You love being outside- too much- and love to make other people laugh. You can say mama, dada, apple, more, all done, yeah and hello. And a million other things in your own secret language. You can identify 8 body parts. You can run, climb stairs while holding on to a railing, and lift things that weigh half as much as you. You are an unbelievably determined child and I hope you never lose this characteristic. (Even though it gives me hell sometimes.) You amaze us every day and we love you more than you'll ever know.

Today the whole family participated in the first annual Heather's Teal Ribbon Walk. It was a walk to raise funds and awareness for Ovarian Cancer in honor of my dear departed friend Heather Weeks. Thanks for helping the rain hold off, Heather. We love you and miss you. Keep shining up there. Your mom and lots of other people are working really hard to continue your work down here. Lots of love, money and prayers went to your cause today.

Does it make me sound like a crazy person, that I address people throughout the content of my blog? Oh well. I am writing this for my children, so to me it makes sense that I would address them. So I don't care what you think. Never mind. And to my children who will read this someday: you must already know that I am a little crazy, so why should you be surprised?

Ok. Laundry beckons.

Today I am thankful for having had the pleasure of knowing Heather Weeks. I will celebrate your life as often as possible and continue your fight against cancer in whatever ways I can. Thanks for visiting me in my dreams so often.

Happy Birthday, Daddyo! Geoff turns 29 today! All in all, we had a great day. We both had to work for a little while (Yes, two teachers working on a Saturday) but we went out with Geoff's whole family and had a great dinner together afterward. After Caelan went to bed we spent a nice quiet night in. Who could ask for more?

Today I am thankful for the day that Geoff was born.

Wow, time is running out and I don't know where it went. It is back-to-school crunch time and I am not quite ready for it. I am desperately clinging to these final days of August and trying to squeeze out every last moment of carefree "summerness" possible. We went to Green Lakes today and enjoyed the beach and warm water with friends. I have tucked away the sounds of the seagulls, the smell of the beach and the feeling of hugging a sand-covered Caelan for the long, cold months approaching. *sigh* It has been a particularly fantastic summer this year. Honestly, if this is as good as it gets then I am completely ok. I can't complain about a darn thing.

I do not have the energy to stay awake and write a lot at the moment. My bed beckons and Caelan is sure to rise with the sun, as usual. Today I am thankful for a generally perfect summer. We had ups and downs and moments of terror, but all in all I can't imagine it being any other way. Here's to the last few days of it.

Home Again, Home Again, Jiggity Jig

We have just returned home from our three week visit with Nana and Poppy Cropper... It was the best three weeks we could have possibly hoped for. We hiked, we biked, we swam, we breathed, we talked, we ate, we sang, we laughed and we cried at goodbye. The weather was great and the company was better. We saw bears, rattle snakes, turkey, deer, rabbits and lizards. The mountains were breathtaking and the ocean breezes were revitalizing. This trip was everything that we needed and more. We are going to make sure that a MINIMUM of three weeks spent there each summer will happen. We had an absolute blast.

I haven't had the opportunity to upload all of our pictures yet but they will be coming very soon. Today I am thankful for three weeks of wonderful memories with the family. It was the best.

I am writing a disclaimer post today. We are currently on vacation in Asheville, NC visiting with my parents. Next week, we will REALLY be on vacation in Hilton Head, SC and I am determined to go on this trip 100% free from technology. This means no blog entries next week. My bucket list requires at least one entry per week for at least one year but I am adding an addendum that says vacations are the exception. I promise memories and pictures to follow.

Today I am thankful for the beauty and majesty of Appalachia. It is so beautiful here.

I love everything about summer today. I love the sounds of lawn mowers, children screaming in pools and birds singing to each other. I love dogs barking in the distance and the smell of someone else's camp fire. Today, this is what I am thankful for.