Tag: seasons

  • A season of Change

    A season of Change

    Happy Fall. Finding joy in simple things

    I love the fall. Absolutely my favorite season of the year. When the trees begin changing colors, and the weather gets a little cooler. I find we seem to move shortly before the fall a lot, which means along with the seasons changing, we’re usually changing up our routine, and trying to figure out our new home.

    Living here has really been wonderful so far. We live where I can see the kids elementary school, which encourages me to get out and walk them every day, instead of driving. Since we’re already out walking, the Little Prince and Princess R and I like to take our time coming home. We’ve found some pretty fun things on these adventures – things that otherwise we may have just passed by.

    The top picture is just down our road – but it’s not where we normally walk. We had decided to take the long way around one day, and found the trees to be turning a delightful yellow and orange. Another day, we strolled off the sidewalk and discovered an apple tree on the University Campus next to us.

    Apple Tree. A season of change

    It is now all of the kids favorite stop on our walk home from school. We haven’t quite decided what kind of apple they are, and if they will get any bigger, but it has been a fun discovery and time out from the hustle bustle of life. It’s also provided a wonderful, sly way to get the kids eating a little healthier. Since we found the tree, they consider apples more of a “treat” than just a fruit.

    Discovering Apples

    Finally while playing in the front yard, we came across this interesting plant. From a distance I thought for sure some animal had laid an egg and left it, but upon closer examination found it was just a mushroom.  I’ve never seen this particular type of mushroom, but ever since discovering our first one, we are finding them more and more.

    Mushroom
    Change isn’t always easy. It wasn’t too long ago that I recall complaining a bit about a move that was unexpected, and not something I wanted to do. Since then, however I’ve learned to embrace the change. I seek out the good, and simple things around me. It makes it easier, and a whole lot more enjoyable for the whole family. 
    Perhaps this is why I love fall. It helps remind me that I like the change of seasons. Fall especially reminds me of the simple beauty that can come with change, when we focus on it. 

  • Goodbye Summer, Hello Fall {A birthday letter}

    Goodbye Summer, Hello Fall {A birthday letter}

    Today is the last official day of Summer. Tomorrow it will be Fall, or Autumn. Today is also Princess V’s 8th Birthday.

    In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, this is a significant age as they can now choose to be baptized. My baby, my first born, the one who turned me into a mom, has decided to make this choice and Saturday will be baptized. My heart couldn’t be more full this week, and today as I think back over her 8 years of life.

    Dear Princess V, 

    I’m sitting here at home, thinking of your 8 years of life.  As we move from Summer to Fall, I can’t help but compare it to this specific time in your life.  

    When I think of summer, I think vacation! It’s the time of year we do more as a family. The weather is warm, and more time is spent being carefree. Schedules are rare, and we figure it out as we go. It’s also a time when I like to fit in our doctors and dentist appointments. I also sneak in learning lessons to make sure you haven’t forgotten anything from the previous school year. 

    As summer changes to fall, we leave those carefree days behind. School begins again, and life is more structured. We must schedule our time better, and follow more rules. As we spend more time around others we also must learn social cues, how to be kind, and to control our emotions. Although life may seem to get more complicated in the fall, it is also a beautiful season – and my favorite.  

    Summer is like your first 8 years of life. You are on a bit of vacation per se. Life is warm and sunny, and we are carefree. Of course I have done my best to sneak in life lessons with our daily activities. I began reading to you at birth, and we went almost straight from the hospital to church. These were things I wanted you to learn the importance of, but without stress. 

    Now as you turn 8, it is as if fall has come in your life. As you’ve chosen to be baptized, you are choosing to take on more responsibility. You are telling Heavenly Father this week that you are ready to take on more responsibility. No longer carefree, your decisions and actions have consequences. Just as fall is a more complicated season, your life will slowly become more complicated. You are now old enough, as we say, to be “accountable” for your choices. 

    So my dear child, I ask you –

    choose goodness 
    choose kind words
    choose love over anger
    choose to be an example to your little sisters and brother 
    choose God
    choose to find the good

    And finally remember this, life may get tough, and the weather may turn cold, but it’s still beautiful just like the changing of the leaves. Now is a time for you to start fresh and really choose who you want to be. 

    All my love and more,
    Mom 

  • Scarf Season is Here

    Scarf Season is Here

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    Brrr, is it cold where you are?  We’ve got snow in the mountains here, but it’s still that perfect fall weather. Not too hot, and not too cold. Perfect weather for a pretty and fashionable scarf!

    Unfortunately I haven’t quite figured out how to tie a scarf so it looks pretty, but I’m really good at draping them . Then I did a little browsing this morning on pinterest, and found this awesome website all about scarves.
    They have over 40 different ways to tie a scarf, with some video and picture tutorials as well. You all know what a visual learner I am, so I need those to learn these right.
    So are you in the market for a new scarf this fall?  I have the deal for you! Cents of Style is having a sale this weekend on their Chevron Infinity Scarf.  
    SOLD OUT!!!!
    Use code November1 to get one of these scarves for $7.95 and FREE Shipping

    Wow! So the Chevron Infinity Scarf sold out yesterday!  But Cents of Style is awesome like that, so they are bringing back the Stars and Stripes Scarf (like I’m wearing in the picture) this weekend for you, at an amazing deal –

    Expired
    $4.99 and FREE Shipping!  with code STARS2 
    Stars & Stripes Scarf- $4.99 and FREE SHIPPING with Code STARS2

    I just love my Stars and Stripes scarf so much!  My kids do too. This is an amazing savings since it’s normally $30!

    Also, if you happen to live in Utah, this Saturday (November 2nd) Cents of Style is having a HUGE $5 Exclusive sale at Pioneer Hall in West Jordan from 4pm-10pm.  I wish I could head up there tomorrow, but I have other plans. Glad I bought my awesome boots a few weeks ago at their home party!
    What are your Fall Fashion Essentials?
  • Fall vs Autumn – Think About It!

    Fall vs Autumn – Think About It!

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    This weeks Topic
    Fall vs Autumn
     
    What do you call it? Is it fall or is it Autumn? 
    Me, I intermingle the two. Neither of them really sound right to me. I feel if I call it Fall, I’m being laid back, and not educated enough. However, when I say Autumn, I feel like maybe I’m being a bit snooty.
    Can’t we find some inbetween name to call this beautiful season?  I’m thinking something like Fling…Ya know because we have Winter and Summer, we should have Spring and Fling.
     
    Ok maybe not. That sounds a bit funny. So here is what I learned on my quest to figure out why the two names for one season.
     
    • It was originally called Harvest, because it is when the crops are harvested.
    • Around the 16th and 17th centuries, more people began living in cities, so Harvest had less meaning
    • Fall possibly came from the middle english term “Fall of the Leaf”
    • Autumn came from the Latin term autumnus
    • Both Fall and Autumn have origins meaning to fall from a great height.
    So basically, our neighbors across the pond like to use their high class Autumn, while us colonizers over here were just content with the simple Fall. 

     

    So all this to tell you how much I love this season! Fall, Autumn, or Harvest – whatever you call it, is the best season of the year! It’s this time of year, I dearly miss my beloved New England. The trees out here in the west just don’t compare. I won’t complain too much though. We still get the perfect chill in the air here. Allowing for the season change to bring a change not only outside, but inside the home as well. Blankets are pulled out, fireplaces prepped, and comfort foods planned.  
    As some take the time to slow down in the spring and smell the flowers, I’m inviting you to slow down and get cozy around your front room with your family. 
     
    Welcome Harvest!
    
    PS I’m totally going to start calling it Harvest now, because I live in a small farming town, and Harvest has meaning here!  
     
     
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    As a Child, What was one of your biggest Fears?
     
     
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  • Decorating for Fall {Wordless Wednesday}

    Decorating for Fall {Wordless Wednesday}

    I love Fall/Autumn
    I bought my scarecrow girl on sale a couple years ago…to Mark’s head shaking….
    The corn we grew ourselves, but when we moved, it got left behind. We went and picked the stalks over the weekend. I love the look!
    The Pumpkin came from Princess V’s first ever field trip! We’ll add some more when we go as a family.
     
    Join us tomorrow on Think About it Thursday, as we talk about Fall vs Autumn.
    What do you call it? Why the two names? Is there a right term?