Numero Uno

"Sha la la la la la la la la la la dee dah, my brown-eyed girl"

Big number one, numero uno, one and done, onesies, #1, however you say it, that's what day it is for Miss Sadie.  We're just as overwhelmed with her day as she was.  So many feelings...gratitude, humility, joy, our cup runneth over.  She has been such a force for good in our family since she came to us at four weeks old.  I still remember the phone call.  "Is this Mrs. Marturello? Do you have an infant car seat?  We have a four week old baby girl and her four year old brother, when can you be here?" 

 It's been emotional, but completely worth every single minute.  There's a song by Maroon 5 that has been running through my head for the past few days.  The chorus repeats over and over, "she will be loved, she will be loved." Yup, pretty much sums it up.

Spiced pumpkin with the world's best frosting.

"Is it really for me?" 

We think she likes it!

Presents!! 

A HUGE shout out to Dean for unofficially becoming our official photographer, pretty good for an amateur.

She will move mountains one day.  We can't wait to say we knew her when.

Happy Day, Baby Girl!

National Peanut Festival

The National Peanut Festival rolled into town this week.  We were told it was a "must see" and it even made it's way onto our bucket list.  I'm not sure what we were expecting. It was a little like the State Fair and Lagoon but with a tich more "redneck-ness" (is that a word?)  Anyway, we went and we ate fried Twinkies and Snickers Bars, elephant ears, and corn dogs.  The boys rode their first Ferris Wheel and Dean got to see a camel that reminded him of his favorite commercial ("Guess what day it is?").  I was happy because with temperatures unusually low, 

 it actually felt like November.

Um, yes, that's the official "Welcome Peanut" with a Confederate Flag waving behind us. Gotta love it.

Ben is learning about George Washington Carver in school and asked for his picture to be taken by this commemorative statue.

Apparently you are only supposed to eat corn dogs purchased from the official "Corn Dog Man" booth.  Dean had heard that sometimes the line for these famous fried dogs can be up to an hour long.  We lucked out and got ours fast.  I personally felt bad for all the other corn dog vendors, but it was a pretty tasty corn dog.

Oh my goodness, they were soooo excited to see some real live jousting.

 

Getting ready for the Ferris Wheel

Ben - "Dad, I want to go on the Ferris Wheel"

Dean - "No way, unh uh, you're not going tonight because I ain't goin' with ya....

 Ask your mom, she's crazy enough to get on one of those things."

They were so excited to go in the front car.  Ben kept his hands up the whole time.

The funny thing was they actually spent the whole ride home discussing what name to bestow upon the prize goldfish.  In the end, I found "Goldy" written with Sharpie in 7yr old penmanship on the top of the lid.  

Until next year, Peanut Festival.  Thanks for a fun night.

Crepe Paper Crown

I started knitting these delicate headpieces a few years ago and I never dreamed I'd get to craft one, in pink, for one of my own.  She'll be one tomorrow and I can't wait to see her in it, even if it's only for a few seconds.

There are a lot of feelings as I contemplate this milestone, honestly it's one I never thought we'd see.  I am full of gratitude and humility and peace and overwhelmed that we have bonded so well over the last ten months that have been full of chaos and flux.  My little brown-eyed girl found me and she continues to amaze me. Tomorrow is her big day and I can't wait to share it with her.

Botanical Gardens

 A few Saturdays ago we visited our local Botanical Gardens.  I was anxious to check out some local plants and the boys wanted to visit the "Scarecrow Trail" which had a display from their school.

Two more minnions lurking in the Highlands Elementary Scarecrow Trail entry.  

They ended up winning the "People's Choice" award.

New plants we aren't familiar with are proving to be an interesting challenge.  

There was a wedding going on just over the hill and I think Ben was helping Alan be quiet, but I'd like to think there was a little bit of spontaneous brotherly love involved too.

Our visit was inspiring and gave me hope that things will grow in this very different and challenging climate.  I will still long for lavender and peonies and lilacs, but I'm optimistic about other plants in our future.  

We'll be growing brothers and plants out of the Alabama clay.

Tom Turkey

I've been seeing the daily "gratitude posts" on Facebook and other social media sites.  You know the ones, where you choose something new to be grateful for each day and share it.  Well, as wonderful and good intentioned as I think those posts are, I just couldn't get excited about doing something like that myself.  A- I know I would forget and get behind and then it just becomes an annoying read for others, and B- I have way more then 23 things to be grateful for and most of them are silly things like my food disposal and good yarn.  

Of course I'm grateful for faith, family, friends, health etc..., but isn't that a given?  

So for this post consider me grateful for all the things one should be grateful for this time of year.  

Now, let me introduce you to "Tom Turkey", table centerpiece, party decoration and colorful novelty.  I found him sitting all alone on a thrift store shelf.  A bargain at 75 cents.  I fell in love with his vintage packaging and since true Thanksgiving decorations are scarce at our house, I brought him home to fill a spot on the mantle.  

Some other Thanksgiving decorations we were able to scrounge up (although severely politically incorrect) 

and two random recent thrift finds I just had to share. 

 A jumbled post, but that's how I roll nowadays. 

We hope you all have a wonderful month full of grateful moments and grateful hearts.  

Tricks, Trunks, and Treats

 HAPPY HALLOWEEN

 Clearly we have some "splainin'" to do.  The annual Trunk or Treat brought us all to the church parking lot for fun and games.  Lucy, Ricky, Merlin, a "very scary" sleleton, and a baby Pac-Man ghost all came too.

 Even the Elders got to cut loose a little

He doesn't have the hair, but he actually does a pretty good imitation of Ricky Ricardo.

 The Marturello's spooky trunk decorated by Dean, supervised by Ben.

 "Oh Lucy", "Waaaah" 

Ethel and Fred, we missed you, you know who you are.

 Spooky Treats

How could I deny her the one thing that made her so happy.  She really should have been a baby vampire because of her fangs.  We hope everyone had a Spooktacular Night.

New Wheels

Yup, we did it.  Meet the newest addition. I recently had a conversation with a dear friend about eating your words.  I'm not sure Dean or I ever saw this coming.  It's like we're officially parents now, or something.  Seating for eight, and still room to breathe.  I keep telling Dean we only have to make it last 10 years and then he can get whatever car he wants.