I don`t like to be cold and even when fall moves in and the chill comes with it, I put off turning on the heat for as long as humanly possible. Somehow turning the dial on the thermostat is almost like admitting that winter is coming and that I am completely unprepared for the snow. This past Saturday morning I had to turn the dial...and let me tell you I could just hear the money burning in my furnace! (The price of oil these days is a bit nuts.)

The good thing about the crisp air is that it mean the holiday season drought is over and it is time to get festive. Just a week ago we celebrated Thanksgiving and we pulled out the sweaters and shoes that cover our toes and made our annual trip to the pumpkin patch.

We had a great time at Dill`s Pumpkin Patch and we came home and broke out Ghoasty (the inflatable ghost that Austin named two years ago) and decorated the front steps with our pumpkin haul. Austin had wanted to bring home the 883lb pumpkin but, unfortunately, it wouldn`t fit in the car. I think it would have made the perfect fall decoration for the front yard...I could have used it to cover my poor neglected garden!

Thanks to our trip to Windsor, I was in the mood to decorate for fall so our front entry way now looks like this:

 

and I`m working on something for the basement.

 

 

I may dread flicking that dial, but it does bring good things....now if only I can figure out how to bring home that massive pumpkin...

 



Four

I can still remember every moment of the day he was born. From the early morning call to the hospital to find out if they could take us, to the four attempts to move me from the recovery room up to the 5th floor. The most important thing I remember is the moment I changed. The moment they place my swaddled bundle next to my head and I breathed him in, the moment I became a mother.

I get to be mom to my crazy, smart, amazing little guy and his fourth birthday was something to celebrate! He wanted a Mario party even though I had been Pinning and planning a superhero party and so Mario was what he got! I started looking through Pinterest for ideas and found some awesome inspiration and some great printables. I took a day off work to get things done and with the help of Gordon and Shelley, we pulled it off. Austin was thrilled and told me that he loved it...and that is why I do the crazy birthday party thing....

We had Mario inspired cookies:

Snickerdoodles (hand shaped into the Toad)

Stars and Yoshi eggs are sugar cookies decorated with royal icing

Printables for the cupcakes, juice boxes and water bottles can be found here

Gordon made three Mario `Karts` out of boxes and set up a course in the back yard. The kids took turns with the karts but that didn`t stop them from all running at the same time! They each got a mushroom coin purse and won gold coins every time they raced.

  

Then while the parents warmed up with coffee and devoured the nacho dip, the kids ate cupcakes and opened gifts.

 

 

Any day that involves my boy looking that happy is a day that is worthwhile.



Happy Birthday Austin Walter Paul!!