i'm dreaming of a white halloween...

let me just tell you, i've been ready (mentally and emotionally speaking) for christmas since...like...august...

like ridiculously, desperately longing to hear the songs, watch the movies, make the cookies...for all the sights smells and warm fuzzies that surround the time of year...

and if anyone can offer a great excuse to put up the tree RIGHT NOW...i'll take it...'cause try as i might...i got nothin'...

today we went to the market in search of "pumpkin-like" gords (which we actually found) so we could carve jack-o-lanterns with the kids...it was snowing, roads were slippery, we were all bundled up... and i'm confessing i was wishing we were celebrating a different...more "yuletide" holiday...

but...alas...it is only october...and the pictures i have to post are not only "yule-less"...but not even very "halloween-ful". we did carve the gords...bought the kids a sucker...(trick or treat?)...and abby decided to dress up in one of her ballerina outfits as we settled in for a family movie.

happy halloween.

*note: no small children actually wielded knives in the carving of these gords*

we're back in the game...

we got back last tuesday from a great family vacation in beijing...and are feeling rejuvenated to jump back into life in the fast lane...maybe :)

there's not enough words or cyberspace to share all that happened...but here's the top 10 highlights for me:

* eating fresh at SUBWAY! (turkey how i've missed you)...hot fudge sundaes, papa john's pizza, auntie ann's pretzels, starbucks...

* cheddar cheese...on my lips...for the first time in TWO AND A HALF YEARS!!!!!!! (so amazing it deserves its own highlight)

* smiles on little faces enjoying days that are all about THEM

* smelling fresh cut grass

* strolling through peaceful parks

* the colors of flowers

* walking through the doors of an honest-to-goodness, real live MALL!!! (do you have to be a shopaholic to understand that rush?)

* retail therapy at IKEA...ahhhhh

* hearing my kids say "i miss mongolia" (missionary moms everywhere will understand why that makes the list)

* getting to mongolia...and feeling "home" again

stepping out of the everyday always gives a little perspective shift...and i'm thankful for that shift as i step back in...