I can't believe this picture is already a year old!

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It is that time of year again, time to close up the windows, send the kiddos off to school,or put the little ones down for a nap. Then grab a blanket and a cup of tea and curl up in your favorite reading spot. I like to call it Mommy Fall Time. I find that reading an inspirational book during this time is the best way to recharge me for the upcoming year of homework headaches with my oldest child and cabin fever with my youngest. This year I was sent Intimate Conversations by Alicia Britt Chole for the MOPS Blog Tour. This is a wonderfully written book. I found it easy to read because of the way it is broken down not only by small chapters but within each chapter there is a section for reflection, whether you choose to keep a journal of your thoughts along the way as I did or just reflecting on what you have read. I do want to say that I found myself many times during this book wanting to share with a few close friends. I would suggest if you are going to read this book do it in a book club or just with a friend. You can find Intimate Conversations at the MOPS website www.MOPS.org

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Well I hear it every week from my working mom friends, "TGIF". I said that too when Friday @5pm meant something. No more responsibilities well till Monday Morning that is, the time when you call all your girlfriends and figure who's house you were meeting at and where were you going for the night. Or even 9 years ago when I had my son and was still working I would look forward to that same time so I could get home and spend the weekend with my son. I worked really hard to be where I am now, A hap plied married mother of two great kids who runs her own business out of the house so I don't miss out on anything with my kids. I don't feel like I have the right to ask for me time when I am not the only parent in this house. But on the other hand I am completely jealous of my husbands ability to go places and not think twice about the kids. Even if I do get the opportunity to go out with friends or just shopping by myself for a few hours all I can think about is what are the kids doing and are they OK. So I have to wonder will this feeling ever stop do I make my self go? I think this week has been harder than most for a few reasons, first my son and daughter have been sick over the past few weeks and that always makes things complicated. We also are in the home stretch of our Kitchen/living room remodel and need to have certain things done when my parents get back from vacation this week, that is the other thing my parents have been gone for two weeks and that is always hard on us because my kids are so attached and love spending time with them, as well as we take care of there house and animals while they are away. We also this week took my father in law back for some tests. In the past he has fought testicular cancer. That alone puts us all on edge. As we hit this milestone in this particular week I too find myself saying TGIF (then I look at our family calendar and realize that there is not a day free till after the beginning of November.)

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The time is upon us, Fall. I love this time of year it cools of from all those scorchers of the summer months and the leaves start to turn. Since we live in Northwestern Pa we get some great views during this time of year. There is one reason I do not like fall tho. The heaters! Where we live we do not have whole house heat, each room has a built in heater and they are regulated individually. My husband and I debate every year when it is time to switch them on. My theory is if it is going below 45 at night they need to be on at night. I feel the perfect sleeping temp is somewhere between 50 and 60. At night I am the one who goes to bed first so at night while he is up he will turn them on and or up. I end up waking in the middle of the night in a sweat. At my age this is starting to scare me, is it menopause or my husband messing with the heaters again? I know we are not the only family who goes thru this I can remember as a child, visiting my Grandmother and being told to distract her so that my father and his brothers could sneak over and turn down the thermostat during family gatherings. Do you and your spouse agree over the temp and when that heater should kick on?

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My BFF and I at our bonfire this weekend

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