Whirlwind

Life has been busy lately.  So much going on.  Last week was a very busy week and this past weekend was even busier. 
First off, after several days of chilly weather, it has warmed up a bit....the sun has come out and the temps have gone up.  It's been glorious.  The leaves are starting to change, a bit later than normal, but oh so pretty.  Early one morning after dropping kids off at school, I grabbed the camera and took a few shots....the sun was in a perfect location, shining through the trees in the backyard...

Life as we know it around here is like Grand Central Station....constant traffic in and out of the place.  Years ago we put in white carpet - not sure what the heck we were thinking - but, boy, do I regret that decision.  I can no longer keep it clean and it often sports large dirty spots here and there.  Not sure how it happens, but it happens.  I find it annoying and embarrassing.  I used to shampoo the carpets twice a year, but I'm finding that is not longer an option and it needs to be done more frequently.  I find it so annoying however, to rip apart the room and move pieces of furniture to other rooms and then wait for over a day for the carpet to completely dry.  I shampooed the carpets again last week - and already we have a few small dirty spots in it. Sigh. I just wanna rip it out.....

And we had to do some shopping.  Shoe shopping, grocery shopping, gift shopping, and just general necessities shopping.  Three trips into town last week.  Since the girls all have different schedules and they each wanted me to go with them to do some shopping, I had to find some time to accomodate them --- dang!  Ha! I say that sarcastically, of course.  I love shopping with the girls and we always have so much fun...so it was a fun time for all of us!  We did some shoe shopping too.....oh how these girls of mine love shoes.....

And I had to take this picture of Friday night at our house.  I'm glad our big kids like being home and don't have an issue with gathering around the table with one another, and including the little kids with them, and spending time with one another.  This is bliss to me.  I love it.  It makes my heart so happy. And I'm so thankful.  And so on last Friday night the three older girls and two of the boyfriends and the three little kids all sat around the table together and talked and laughed and told jokes and laughed some more and told stories and ate snacks for a good few hours...(and one of the boyfriends even painted the fingernails of his girl...awww, too sweet!)

And Saturday was a busy day, too...we trekked forty-five minutes north of us for a family wedding, reception and dance and were gone til late at night.  And on Sunday we trekked an hour south of us for an afternoon of skydiving.  I have lots of fun pictures to share of those adventures later this week....