Last of Summer, First of Fall

Aris really enjoyed it this year. It is amazing what a difference a year makes.

Zoe & Dean

Our second year of going to the Great Reno Balloon Races. We woke up early and got there as the sun was coming up. This year was a little overcast but it was still so magical watching all of the balloons go up into the air. Kinda makes you feel like a kid again. Come on, who doesn't like hot air balloons?

Grandpa Erick

Grandma Cindy

Little Miss Hotsa-mot-sauce in her socks and "waffle" shoes as she likes to call them. This girl has suddenly become obsessed with belts and socks. It cracks me up. Oh ad if I let her she would wear mittens everywhere. I'm not kidding you.

Sweetest guy I know

Erick & Cindy

I thought I would share the last of the b-b-q pictures. Life has been good to us. So grateful for so many good memories. The b-b-q was a great way to end the summer & the balloon races were a great way to start the fall.

I Finally Won!

This darling cake can look like this or..........

this!!!!!

I can't believe it! I finally won a Grosgrain Giveaway! I had all but given up on the idea of ever winning something from Grosgrain & what do you know. Little ol' me won the felt giveaway! Jessie from the darling blog Clouds in Chicago provided the giveaway on Kathleens blog. Be sure to check out her Etsy shop. It is chock full of the cutest felt kits I have ever seen. I got the cake in the mail last week and it is super cute. All the little pieces came in a bag so that the girls could dress the cake however they want. I am going to sew the pieces on before I post a picture of it. If I don't sew them on they will be lost before the end of the week. I love the idea of a decorate as you please, my little ones are just to good at loosing things. This would be a perfect gift for any little girl or boy. I think it would be great for a school classroom too. My girls can hardly wait to get their hands on it. Me either. I might have as much fun with it as they will. Run over and say hello to Jessie. Take a peek at her newest pattern for Halloween. So cute!

P.S. Did I mention that we both have little darlings with the same name? Aris! She spells her daughters a little different but how fun is that?

Two

See the movie trailer ::here::

See clips from the film ::here::

I just finished reading this book. It was one of the best stories I have read. I first heard about the book & how it is hard for some people to read. Some people can't make it through the book. I couldn't put it down. It is a story of a father and his son and their fight for survival in a world gone wrong. The son was born after the calamity that ended the world as we now know it. 8 or so years have passed & the earth has changed,a good portion of humanity has passed on. There is no longer a system of justice. It's every man for himself. What is left the man likes to call "the good guys" & "the bad guys". The good guys, which is what they are, survive by humble means. The keep to the road, heading south in hopes of salvation. Whatever that may be. Doing whatever they can to keep one step ahead of the roving bandits. Bandits are the bad guys. They go to extreme measures to stay alive, mostly feeding on human flesh. It sounds gruesome, and it is, but not because of what is written. The horror of it all is far worse in what is not said. It is beautifully written & I couldn't put it down. It is a bittersweet story. One of a fathers fierce love for the last thing that matters to him in a dark and decomposing world. I cried when I finished the book. As a parent I read it, the whole time wondering would I be able to do what he was doing to keep my children alive? It made me feel the need to be a little more prepared.

I have a sneaking suspicion that the movie will disappoint. The world in the book is a lot more desperate and bleak than the one portrayed in the movie. I am a little puzzled that they show so much of Charleze Theron as the wife in the trailer. She was only mentioned briefly in the book. I am sure it is to bring the story full circle. I feel the simple dialect between the father and his son along with all of their struggles would have sufficed.

If you are looking for a book to read I highly recommend The Road.

See the trailer ::here::

The second book that I read & couldn't put down was The Lovely Bones. It was very interesting and I really love the way it was written through the eyes of Susie Salmon. Susie Salmon is the 14 year old daughter and sister of the Salmon family who you find out in the first few sentences has been murdered. What happens next is life as she sees it after she has died. I really enjoyed this book. It only took me a couple of hours to finish so it's a pretty easy read. I can already tell from the previews that they have changed a few things. I am sure when I watch it that number will go up. Books are always better than the movie anyway.

What books are you reading right now?

Simply Sweet Septembers Card

I know I am way behind in sharing this months love card with you. You can download it for free here & give it to your sweetie.

Simply Sweet Marriage's blog is having a most wonderful giveaway right now. Run on over and say hello, offer a thought on what you would love to have and if you win Heidie will send you what you wish for! She's even choosing two winners! There are oh so many fun things on her website for you to use with that special someone. The website is very tasteful.

Giveaway!

Run on over to this delightful blog and enter for your chance to win a cute wand from Janet of It's an Evolution.