oh dear, is it really that time again??

{don't worry! you didn't miss it!}

just simply click here
and go to 'pictures with santa' for AZ or OH.
PICTURES WILL BE IN OHIO ON SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 22
ARIZONA ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25
due to time crunches, i only have one day in each location open this year, so sign up quick!

{be sure to sign up so santa will know EVERYTHING on your list}

***for my OHIO friends...i will be taking pictures with this santa this year for the first time! i'm very excited about it!!!

bigger pictures

i've had a couple people ask me how to make the pictures on their blog bigger like i have....so here are the directions: just click here.
good luck, and have fun!

ode to fall

“Don’t you love New York in the fall? It makes me want to buy school supplies. If I knew your address I’d send you a bouquet of freshly sharpened pencils.“
- Tom Hanks in “You’ve Got Mail”

today was a little cooler, a tad bit overcast, and i spotted several leaves changing...and even some falling, sigh...this is hands down my favorite time of the year. ever since our move to ohio, and after one fabulous fall...i'll never be the same person, and when i don't get to experience this beautiful time of year when we move back to az {or wherever else we may end up}, my heart will long for my ohio falls. to top it all off, when i went grocery shopping today, the store had honey crisp apples...mmmmm, my favorite! they are the perfect blend of sweet and tart...and when you bite into them, the juice trickles down your throat. so the picture above is my "bouquet" of apples. {before these apples, i really wasn't an apple person}. also, don't you just love that quote from you've got mail? {i know you do, sarah b. remember how obsessed we were with that movie!??} maybe it's the teacher in me, but i love newly sharpened pencils and school supplies...one more fun thing about fall.

J went back to school on wednesday, and little G starts on Monday...i love, love, love their school and teachers. jack has already reported back with several friends, and his behavior has improved drastacally! i think he just needed more to keep him busy...here's hoping the same thing works for G!

much needed...

{ROAD TRIP}

i took my first ever road trip without hubby...
here are a few things i learned:
1. i can drive for 7.5 hours by myself {with 2 kids}
2. i really get bugged when people don't use cruise control
3. the portable dvd player revolutionized car travel with kids
4. ring pops are awesome
5. only give the kids a drink when they are dying of thirst
6. i don't want to use a public restroom for a VERY long time
{we stopped 7 times on the way there!}

matt left for a dental conference, and i couldn't bear to be alone, especially because it was in arizona {and i'm so lonley for az and the people there! it will be an entire year before i get back there!} well, i talked to my mom, and she was lonely because my dad was going to be out of town for 3 weeks on business...so we decided we could help ease our lonliness by being together. so i packed the kids up, and headed for virginga. i was really nervous b/c i hate driving for long periods of time, but it wasn't that bad. the kids did really well. we had so much fun being with nana. she is such an involved grandma, and it was nice for me to have some help. the kids loved to sleep in her bed and snuggle with her in the rocking chair. i feel so blessed to have such a wonderful mom that i LOVE to visit. this whole move to virginia is working out great for me! now that i know i can do it myself, i'll go more often!