Wreaths

I did a little experimenting with some different kinds of wreaths this year. I'm not sure if you could call this first one a real "wreath" per se, but while I was shopping at a home improvement store this week I saw a whole bunch of ceiling medallions and thought they'd look pretty spray painted a pretty pumpkin color and hanging on my door. I'm still playing around with it and tweaking it a few different ways but here was the first way I had it:

I think it really pops against my black door. I just added a few leaves tucked into the bow for some extra garnishment. The medallions are really light weight plastic and you could even add some Velcro to the back to keep it from hitting against your door when you open and close it.

This next one is my wreath I used last year, the difference is this time I hung my little chalkboard behind it (it usually hangs on the outside wall by the front door) and scrawled the word Fall onto it. I guess I could also write Welcome, or Dodson's, or Hello, or Trick or Treat, or all sorts of other things. Pretty easy.

I'm sure I'll rearrange and add and subtract a ton of different little things from my fall decor as the season goes on. I've seen lots of pretty yarn wrapped wreaths that I'd like to try making one if I get the chance in the next little while.

My kids are begging me to decorate the house tomorrow and I've been dragging my feet because it just hasn't felt like it was really fall yet, but after our chilly night spent once again at the ball park and the need to cozy up in my sweats when I got home, I figure it might be time after all. I love pumpkins, gourds, mums, pretty colored leaves, corn husks and all of the other fallish looking backdrops the season has to offer. Sometimes with small children in the picture however, less is definitely more. :)

September

September so far:

I'm glad to report we made it through our first week of school without a glitch. Kendle is LOVING her new teacher and that is a huge relief to me. Her teacher seems absolutely fabulous. So far every day has been wonderful for Kendle and I think it's going to be a stellar year. She loves meeting up with her friends that aren't in her class at recess and likes that they get to eat lunch in their classrooms this year. She is in full swing of soccer and fall softball and I don't think there is an afternoon to spare in our near future.

Morgan starts preschool tomorrow and is totally stoked for another school year with his wonderful teacher. We purchased his little school supplies this morning and he has them all packed up in his back pack and ready to go for tomorrow. He is growing up so fast, and I don't like it one bit. He is still the sweetest when he wants to be though.

I was looking forward to some fall weather, but this week mother nature has decided we're not getting off the hook after all. Temperatures are going to be in the high 90's all week and get up to 101 by Friday. I guess it's one last shorts and flip-flops hurrah for everyone. And just when I thought I could start packing some of that stuff away.

I saw some mum's being put out on display after exiting the store this morning and it reminded me of how much I love fall. I've been wanting to get out all of my fall decor, but this weather doesn't have me in the mood quite yet. I always get in project mode in the fall for some reason and feel really motivated to get things done. Next on my to-do list is going to be repainting my front door a super fun color, and also installing some new outdoor lighting. And planting some mums........as soon as it's cool enough to not sizzle them away into droopy stems of nothingness. This weekend we power washed the exterior of the house and I gave all the windows a good washing. It feels good to give the outside a little spritzing up.

This week we are going to be on the go a lot and hopefully we can stay cool with the A/C cranked up and a good supply of popsicles still in the freezer. I'm glad September is here hot or not!

Back to School: 4th Grade

up and at em super early

scrubbed up like a new penny

cute outfit

new back pack

painted nails

lip gloss

 a little taller

a few butterflies

an apple for her teacher

excitement to meet back up with friends

All set and ready to go for a fantastic  school year!

Party Pictures

We capped off  Kendle's birthday week with a little get together with some of her girl friends last night. We had all the girls wear their pajamas and had kind of a mock slumber party with out the sleeping over part.

Dinner consisted of pizza, watermelon, chips, and  ice cold strawberry crush. Then  they were welcome to the candy/treats buffet I had put together to snack on the rest of the night.

They painted their nails, made necklaces, and watched a movie along with lots of laughing and being silly. Lots and lots and lots of giggling and smiling.

It was a lot of work, (especially with all of my kids underfoot the whole day) but it was so much fun and worth the effort. My favorite discovery was finding the polka dotted crepe paper at the party store. It is so cute when you see it in person.

Ok, here's some pictures in bad lighting taken on my phone because my real camera needed new batteries: