Today marks the last day of 2009.  It marks the end of a year, and a decade.  I am not feeling either sad or happy about the end of 2009.  Overall it was an okay year, not the best, but certainly not the worst in my books.  In fact, its heading out on a good note.  I always tend to look forward, though with hesitation of the unknown.  But looking forward to 2010 doesnt seem to bring as much as hesitation as the years past.  I attribute that to the Bean.  Or Hamilton as the family has now nicknamed him.  Even, Hammy, for short.  (trust me, that is NOT his name!) 

Here's a recap of my year in photos.  I am SO thankful that I continue to document my life in photos.  If I didnt, I wouldnt have the ability to do this...

View slideshow

Happy New Year everyone!  I wish you all prosperity and good health!  Enjoy 2010! 

ps - be safe tonight - call a cab, a friend or family member - just be safe! 

...things like this snowman appear.  When I look at this, which is now melted and gone, I instantly smile.  Its been awesome having my sister Sharon and her kids home for Christmas.  Saturday, Sharon and I spent the afternoon together doing one of my favorite things...grabbing lunch at the pub.  A perfect afternoon to close out the holiday season. 

The seven grandkids.  Post present opening.  Not the best picture of them, but I dont think we would have been able to get a good one, no matter how hard we tried!  They were too occupied with each other and their new toys!  I dont blame them!

Its been a great Christmas.  I've thoroughly enjoyed having the family together. 

Merry Christmas to All! 

All the presents are wrapped and under the tree.  Also under the tree are a few gifts I've received already from friends.  I especially like the fuzzy polar bear my friend Robin gave to the bean.  Not to me, remember, to the bean!  I cant wait to show the bean!

Each year as I wrap each of the gifts, I get a bit more excited about giving the gifts.  I cant wait to see the expressions on the receiver's face when they open the gift and they are surprised!  (except for Zachary, who knows he is getting Legos!) I am more of a giver than a receiver.  I like to see the happiness and smiles on everyone's faces when they open their gifts.  I would rather spend the couple of hours opening gifts just watching and taking pictures.  I just might do that on Christmas morning this year.  We have the twinkies joining us...and with Sharon and the kids home, basically all grandkids will be in one room together.  Definitely spending time capturing those moments!

The Wagner family, sans Geno, arrived this afternoon for the holidays.  We were all very excited to see them.  They were very excited to be here.  The two younger kids, Erika and Zachary, went straight to the tree and saw all the gifts that Grandma had already wrapped and put under the tree.  Erika found her gifts.  Zachary, too.  Zachary blurted at dinner that he knows what he is getting.  He knows he is getting Legos, because he shook the box!  HA! 

Andrew hung out in Naperville today, he had some things to help Mom with, then they headed out to get a gift.  It was nice to have him around, just chillin', chattin'.  Though it would have been the icing on the cake if Kelly and the boys came with.  But we'll see them on Friday.  I hear that Tyler is walking now!  Holy Cow!

Today is also my oldest sister's birthday.  And when I use the word, oldest, I do not mean that in the sense of her age.  I use it in the identification of her birth order compared to me.  ;o)  Happy Birthday Laura!  Hope you had a good day!

*Heritage Place subdivision, Romeoville, IL

On my way home tonight I took a gander thru the neighborhood at everyone's lights.  There are more houses decorated than not.  What is it about christmas lights that makes one smile? 

I love christmas lights.  I love the magic they bring.  I love the comforting feeling they bring to a neighborhood.  I love the way they light up neighborhoods.  I am surprised how many people do decorate their houses.

I think if its not too cold one of these nights, I might take to foot in the neighborhood to see each and every house.  Each are beautiful in their own unique way.   (but then again, if I take the car, I can listen to christmas music while viewing the lights...)

Its good to see other people wanting to capture the christmas magic as much as I do!

*Kris Kringle Market, Daley Plaza, Chicago

This is the second year that I've made it to the Kris Kringle Market in Chicago.  This market has vendors come in from all over the world - mostly Germany, Poland and the Ukraine - selling traditional european food and trinkets.  The glass blown vases and ornaments are the best.  Unique and colorful and beautiful.  I cannot leave there without consuming some spiced wine (though not this year) or roasted nuts.  I sit here and type this all the while consuming roasted cashews and cinnamon roasted almonds.  I could have gone for the Apple Strudel, as seen above, but the line was too long to wait, especially today when the weather was raining, snowing and just all around crappy.  Thankfully it wasnt super windy or freezing cold! 

My friend Jessica believes that the city should pay all the street performers.  They were out in full force today, on each street corner.  And in the El stops. 

 

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Each time I ride the El, I am reminded of my grandmother's memories she had of the Elevators (their full name, as they are trains 'elevated' throughout the city).  She was a 'north'-sider and my grandfather a 'south'-sider.  Back in the 30's, the north side then is surely not what the north side is today.  Same with the south side.  But still, Pop-pop had to take the Orange Elevator to the Blue Elevator, all the way to the end, and then walk 8 blocks to see Grandma every Sunday.  It was true love.  I miss my grandmother's memories.  (especially the ones where she dishes on pop-pop...like the time when she locked him out of the house for coming home late! heehee! Love you Grandma!)

 
*PEHS Concert Band, Holiday Concert

Tonight was my niece's holiday concert.  It was a nice 50 minutes of holiday music.  The only thing I would have changed up in the program would be more band time, and not so much choir time.  All the students did a great job, so talented!

Here's Megan playing...
 

Today I received a thank you note from my brother-in-law Geno.  He is currently deployed overseas in the Middle East.  I had sent him some homemade granola to help spice up the grub served in the mess hall, in addition, give him a taste of home.  

It was a great surprise to see this today amongst a dental bill, many christmas advertisements and a christmas card.  I opened it immediately.  He's a funny guy in person, and even funnier in a note!  I cannot pray hard enough for it to be March/April so he can come home and be back with his family. 

I watched an episode of the Little People, Big World tonight because it was about the father of the family risking his life traveling into Baghdad to collect a family that has 3 little people themselves, to bring them to America so they can get the medical treatment they need.  If these 3 little people, and literally little (I think they were all under 7), didnt receive the treatment, they were on the road to paralysis or even worse. 

I am reading this book, A Simple Christmas, by Mike Huckabee.  Its about lessons he's learned over the years about the simplicity of Christmas and the core meaning.  Christmas is about thinking of others before yourself, having patience, sacrificing and embracing.  I know my simple gesture of granola to Geno isnt as grand as the Little People helping the Iraqi family, but its my gesture to Geno letting him know that he is special to us and we CANNOT wait for his return.  Christmas will be one less in physical presence, but in our hearts he is sitting next to us cracking the same jokes as he always does!  

Today I spent the afternoon shopping with my dearest friend Rich.  He and I wandered around downtown Naperville for a while, checking out Barnes and Noble, Williams-Sonoma, Gap and finally took a break at Starbucks.  I normally love the hustle and bustle of christmas shopping, however today when I walked into Barnes and Noble I saw the many many people I felt the urge to leave right away.   As we stood in the kids section, Rich would surf Amazon.com to compare prices of the books I was interested in. 

Here we are, me all nice and plump from my 2 shirts, one bulky sweater and a down vest, and Rich in his stylish hat.  We sat in Starbucks and dished about everything and nothing, and were witness to the constant line for trendy stylish gourmet coffee.  
 
Me + Rich, circa December 2009

Its Friday night, 14 days before Christmas.  I decided I needed to freshen up my holiday music mix.  While Deck the Halls is on the tube, with hot tea in hand and sitting by christmas tree light only, I surfed iTunes for an eclectic mix of holiday songs. 

I found I continually went to the classics, especially performed by those greats who defined a whole genre of music.  Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Bing Crosby and many others.  Below is my iTunes mix.  Enjoy!

2009 Holiday 
The Christmas Song, Diana Krall 
Silent Night, Andrea Bocelli
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, Ella Fitzgerald
I Cant Wait for Christmas, Mindi Abair
A Marshmallow World, Dean Martin
Mistletoe, Colbie Caillat
Carol of the Bells, The Bird and The Bee
Its the Most Wonderful Time of the Year, Harry Connick, Jr
My Favorite Things, Tony Bennett
Ive Got My Love to Keep Warn, Frank Sinatra
Baby, Its Cold Outside, Dean Martin
Caroling, Caroling, Nat King Cole
Santa Claus Is Coming To Town, Frank Sinatra
White Christmas (1947 version), Bing Crosby
The Little Drummer Boy, Harry Simeone Chorale
Mele Kalikimaka, Bing Crosby + Andrews Sisters
Joy to the World, Mormon Tabernacle Choir
Let There Be Peace on Earth, The Boys Choir of Harlem
Winter Wonderland, Louis Armstrong
Its Beginning to Look a lot like Christmas, Bing Crosby
The Christmas Waltz, Frank Sinatra
Jingle Bells, Harry Connick, Jr
Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow!, Dean Martin

This photo is from tonight.  I missed Tuesday because there has been so much happening in life.  But that doesnt mean I didnt think about the holidays.  I actually came up with the perfect gift for my 7 year old nephew, Zachary.  I sent a text to my sister with the idea, which warranted a call back from her with the first words out of her mouth, 'Perfect Idea!'.  I highly doubt he reads this blog, so I can safely say that my Lego.com gift card will bring a smile to his face! 

Tonight I tackle the christmas cards.  I am not all that excited about sending them this year, as I have in previous years.  Probably because over the last three years I've traveled world.  I had something to share.  I dont need to travel to exotic or wordly places to send out a christmas card, but short of sending a picture of the bean, I dont have anything else to share.  (I want to wait on the bean picture!)  But in christmas tradition, I will send the cards.  They do bring holiday cheer to me, so I hope it does the same for others!

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Lately, it seems the trendy thing to do is find yourself or someone you know make a ER or urgent care visit.  Started with my brother, before thanksgiving.  Then my father for his surgery.  Two ladies I work with had parents in the hospital.  Monday evening my step-father had to go the ER.  My Aunt Dorothy is in the hospital also.  I even had to go to the urgent care for an infection.  So, I am going to safely speak for all people I know...'nuff with the doctors.  I hope everyone mentioned here and others who have experienced the same is on the mend and feeling better soon! 

My christmas present arrived today!  Since its just me, no boyfriend or husband, I buy myself a little something each year.  This year I found the perfect gift!  Its a mama + me necklace.  I will wear this everyday!  I love it so!

My brother called me Sunday to discuss gifts for my mother + step-father.  We talked about a necklace my mother has of people charms ... one for each child and grandchild.  There are so many that the necklace throws out her neck wearing it!  It was nice to chat with my brother about christmas and life.  We dont do it often, so when he calls I make the time.  He's a good kid (I say kid, because he will always be the bouncy blonde hair kid that I remember!).  He's at a career cross-roads and part of me envies him because he has an opportunity, possibly, to make the change that we all dream of.  If he truly wants to do it, I fully support him.  I pray that you have the career V8 moment soon Andrew! 

The front door wreath.  The one shipped from Michigan, Christmas Farms.  I love the look of the boxwood.  It doesnt need any decorations to help it look like Christmas.  Plus its perfect against the red.  House isnt decorated until the wreath is up. 

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Dad's surgery was a success.  I talked to him today, he sounded good, though I think he was ready to go home.  I think he is anxious to get back to his routine, life with the new knee. 

I purchased these retro bottle brush trees a couple weeks before Thanksgiving and they have been living on my dresser, bringing Christmas magic to my dreams.  

This afternoon I met my mother and step-father at Wal-Mart to do some shopping.  Nothing special.  However, Mom needed 'Santa' wrapping paper.  It dawned on me then that I will need to have 'Santa' paper.  Each day I am reminded that my life IS going to change.  And I have so much to learn!

 
Thursday night I did something creative to release my mind from the days events.  Nothing unusual happened other than a few new changes for some of the department and conflict of auras with someone.  I came straight home from work, cleaned up the kitchen and pulled out the chocolate candy to be molded using my grandmother's candy molds. 

The end result is a container of yummy christmas chocolates.  And I know exactly who will get these great treats! 

 

Each year I usually do my best to give to someone who needs it more than my family or I do.  This year at work, the Giving Trees were for the local organization called Little Friends.  They work with mentally challenged adults.  When I saw that this was our organization I immediately grabbed two cards.  I have a special place in my heart for those individuals who have Downs Syndrome or other mental challenges.  I wish I had the ability to not have such high expectations of people, because I believe I could easily work with these individuals.  I am sure I would find great reward vs. software end user support (current day job). 

But my perfectionism and lack of patience get the better of me therefore I find myself in a position that allows me to have the money to give to others.  I guess its the next best thing!

What amazes me the most about these people, is that their wants and desires are so simple.  These two cards, one for a 54 year old man and one for a 70 year old man, are for gift cards to Subway, Burger King, Walgreens and Walmart.  Are you kidding?  No Xbox.  No WII systems.  Just simple necessities.  So tonight on the way home from work, I stopped at these places and got them exactly what they asked for.  I sure hope they are surprised and  happy on Christmas!

I was tired tonight and not in the mood to run a bunch of errands, though as I ran from store to store, annoyed with the cold weather air, I reminded myself of the definition of Christmas and giving.  Thank you Little Friends for this opportunity to do something good. 

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My father, Ken, is having knee replacement surgery today.  Its long overdue.  I am very optomistic the surgery will be a success.  He is a very active person and with the new knee, it'll get him back in the game.  Here's to your speedy recovery Dad!

**christmas card from me to my maternal grandparents, circa 1980  

I found this the other night when I was going through the bag of photos from my grandmother's house.  Its a handmade card (as if you couldnt see that!) I had made for my grandmother.  At Christmas in 1980, I was nine years old.  Apparently I was learning how to spell ... notice how I spelled 'christmas'?  It says the same on the tree and inside the card.  God Bless Grandma's heart for embracing this slight flaw of mine! 

I have very fond memories of the holidays at my grandparents house, with my grandmother in the kitchen cooking, making us cookies.  She would walk through the swinging door to the back room to smile at us every so often.  I would hear her yelling at all us kids when we were up to no good in the basement.  And my grandfather, always sitting in his chair, reading and smoking his pipe. 

This has been sitting on my kitchen table since I found it.  I think it will become a part of the regular christmas decorations.  Thank you Grandma for saving all these things. 

   

Last year post-Christmas sale at Goodwill, Mom found these light covers.  Mini Santas and Frostys.  They've added just the right amount of yuletide to the tree.  All of this for a grand .49c.

**edited ... Ali Edwards Designer Digitals photo overlays were available today (or atleast I found them today).  I knew this picture need a little something!  

Yesterday, as I as at my mother's for our annual Thanksgiving dinner (which is dinner part two, mind you!), I took a gander at these.

Out of sheer fear of being trampled to death, Mom and I decided to only go to Target this morning.  But not until 9am.  The freebie shopping bag was gone in the first hour I heard.  In the two hours we were there, we ran into one too many floor displays with the cart, fought off people in the video game isle and were able to get most of the items on both of our lists. 

I had this Christmas shopping rage come over me briefly, I mean super brief when I was talking to a Target employee and were ever so rudely interrupted by some twirp of a woman wanting to brag about scoring the TV on special at 5am.  I think I shot her a look because she just stood there looking at me...my look must have said, 'A. you are interrupting me, and 2. WHO CARES you got the tv!'. 

I had plans to drive way up north to pick up the front door wreath.  Not wanting to spend 2.5 hours in the car, I surfed the net for a nursery that was willing to ship the boxwood wreath.  Sure enough, the second vendor I looked at had Free Shipping! and the wreath at about the same price as the local nursery.  Come to find out ... this online nursery is just next door in Michigan.  I am very excited for my new wreath!

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This year I want to enjoy Christmas as best as I can.  I want to make the magic come to life.  My plans are to document something each day of December.  I dont do holiday-ish things each day in December, but I want to celebrate something about December or Christmas each day.  Starting December 1st, I will be sharing with you what makes Christmas or December special to me.  I encourage you to do the same, take a small amount of time out of each day to cherish somthing about this time of year. 

 

This Thanksgiving, what I am thankful for is different, new.

I usually always put me last in the gratitude list.  Its taken me WAY too long to finally put my foot down and put me first.  With that said, THE most important thing I am grateful for this year, is my health and having the opportunity to become a mother, something I've dreamed of for so long.  I cannot thank my doctor enough nor can I find the right words to express the amount of gratitude I have for him for helping me with this journey.  He will forever hold a special place in my heart and my child's heart.

Also new this year, I am grateful for my life experiences.  For these I wouldnt have the strength, the wisdom, the compassion and the ability to say, 'not for me, thank you'.  I mean this is relatively new....like a few days new.  It was a total V8 moment the other day, when I had enough negativity, I decided to delete email communication without even reading it.  Do I wonder what it said?  Not one bit. So, I thought to myself as I hit the delete button, 'Not for me! Thank you!'.   

Lastly, I will ALWAYS be grateful for all my beautiful nieces and nephews.  They are my first loves.  No matter what they say, do, be, they always make me smile.  

Oh wait.  One more.  My mom.  She is my rock.  I love you dearly, Mom.  

Have a Happy Thanksgiving and be sure to be thankful every day.   

My puppies so desperately want to take a walk in these bad boys.  How cool would I look strutting through the office or downtown Naperville?  People would want to be me!  (yeah, right!)

Priorities get in the way sometimes ... baby first, then mama gets a new pair of bad ass boots!

Here we are at the table to have Thanksgiving dinner, part one.  Megan is taking the photo and Kelly is looking down at Tyler to make sure he's in the photo.  As you can see he is stretching his head into the picture, around this dad!

Missing are my two sisters, three kids and a brother-in-law.  That would have made it perfect.  What made this dinner really special was the boys sitting with us.  Tyler on Kelly's lap, and Charlie on mine.  They were able to sit still, eat a little green beans and fruit, and be a part of the dinner.  It was great! 

 

Today is the start of Thanksgiving for me.  My family is having dinner part 1, so we can celebrate with my brother and his family, as they are spending Thursday with my sister-in-law's family. 

Last week I was looking for inspiration for holiday decorating.  I have this bag of old photos from my grandparents house.  So as I was looking through them all, seeing my grandmother so young and pretty and their house, brought back so many good and warm memories of the holidays spent with them. 

I especially found inspiration in this photo taken on Thanksgiving day in 1958. 
 

On the far left, you can barely see my grandmother, and to her left is my Aunt Dorothy, then Uncle Donald.  To my grandmother's right is my Aunt Syrl and finally my mother, Diana.  I believe that silver tray sitting next to my mother is actually in my mother's house! 

And by the way, totally see my cousin Mandy in this picture ... her mother is Aunt Syrl! 

This year begins a new chapter of holidays in my life.  I am no longer by myself for the holidays, I will always have my bean with me.  This brings a completely different meaning to the holidays.  I like this feeling!

I've been searching around for a unique tech-y gadget for my 13 year old nephew for Christmas. I was surfing a bunch of websites today, and came across this. I am not sure exactly how its suppose to work, with your head in a TV!. I have done nothing but chuckle at the concept of this gadget! Do share your thoughts on this...

Edited - Kelly shared some of her photos on Facebook the other day, here are two that captured the boys elbows deep in cake!

 
 **Thanks for sharing these Kelly!

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Today was the twinkies 1st birthday party.  They did surprising well with all the people in their house.  I am very proud of them doing their best.  Andrew and Kelly threw a great party and of course, are doing an awesome job with the boys! 

Charlie spent most of the party just walking around from room to room, not really stopping anywhere for longer than 30 seconds.  He just likes to walk and be mobile.  Tyler, he was definitely into the gifts.  Wanted to know what was inside! Take a look below!

 
Oh My Goodness! So excited!

 
Let me see whats in this bag!

 
Ok, enough of the last gift, what's in this bag!

 
A Card! If I shake it enough will something come out of it?  (Charlie decided to stop for a card shake too!)

 
I cleared off the table of gifts, whats on the floor??

 
I like this card!

 
WOW! Elmo chairs!  What a great gift!

 
Dont be talking smack about my Elmo chair, got it? 

This is the last picture I was able to get with my camera, then my battery died.  The boys got a slice of cake each, and I think were a bit gun shy of touching it or eating it with 25 people all staring at them.  They eventually figured it out and Charlie was all about the cake!  Tyler, I think he just like feeling it.  They were covered in it, so straight into the tub they went!  It was a great party!

Happy Birthday Charlie + Tyler!  

I never really thought of my family as a military family.  Probably because I didnt have a parent in the military.  Though today, with it being Veteran's Day, I realize that we are a military family. 

It all started with my grandfather, a WW2 veteran.  Then it would be my dad attending military college.  My step-father was in the Air Force for some time.  And it moves on to my oldest sister marrying a man in the Army and my middle sister marrying a man in the Air Force.  My sister-in-law's father was a veteran of the Korean war (i think, i could be wrong..but he was in some war!). 

Currently my brother-in-law who is part of the Air Force is serving our country in Kuwait.  I can safely speak for the entire family that we are extremely proud of Geno, and are SO looking forward to his return. 

I had stopped by my mother's tonight to help her with her new picture scanner toy ... and I go into the entertainment center to grab a photo to use while learning this new toy.  It just happened to be this photo. (I literally grabbed the first photo at my fingertips)  How appropriate, my grandfather, or as the family calls him, Pop-pop, in his Army uniform shirt and hat.  He was SO proud. 

Happy Veteran's Day Pop-pop!
 
*circa 1994

There has to be nothing more rewarding then seeing your children show affection for each other.  Especially when they can have such different personalities.  Yesterday I spent the afternoon with Kelly and the twinkies.  They are so damn cute.  They are sick right now, but they still found the energy to walk, crawl, get into things, play, smile, laugh.  Tyler with his non-stop runny nose and Charlie with his deep hoarse voice. 

Kelly and I were able to witness the brotherly love between these two last night when they decided during their playing they would kiss each other.  It was cutest thing.  And I believe Kelly's heart had swooned to about the size of Texas after she saw it. 

 

Then when it was time for bed, Charlie went down with no fussing.  Tyler, since he is in the heart of this cold, he had a little harder time.  He cried for a while.  Then as Kelly and I sat on the couch just waiting it out, determining if Tyler needed to be picked up, Charlie started talking.  He probably was saying, 'Its okay brother...just close your eyes, relax, and you'll feel better'.  Sure enough, shortly after that, Tyler stopped crying. 

These two will be one on Thursday.  Can you believe it?  One year of having these two little beautiful creatures in our lives.  I dont remember life without them.  (Well, I do, but its so much better now that they are around!).

A couple weeks back, I went with my friend Rich to see Kathy Griffin live.  I snapped this right before we went in for 90 minutes of smiles and laughter.  This is one of those photos I have taken of the city that just warms my heart. 

I promise, I'll be back to regular posting soon.  I havent been feeling all that well lately.  Too many things going on, not enough time in the day. 

I promise soon there will be so much to talk about. 

This afternoon, a good majority of us met at a pumpkin farm to enjoy the beautiful fall day and to celebrate the twin nephews first Halloween.  My mother, step-father, niece Megan, brother-in-law Ron and the twins parents (my brother Andrew, sister-in-law Kelly) all met and watched the boys wonder what in the world are these giant orange things they were looking at.  And why were we ALL staring at them while they were inspecting each one. 

 
**photo by Ron

 
**photo by Ron   
 
They are such pleasant boys.  Tyler was interested in the pumpkins, touching them and the stems.  Charlie was like, 'yeah this is nice, but I want to practice my walking over here and here and here.'

 

  

 
*nephew Zachary, circa July 2007

In my constant quest for good in my life, I found this website today, Think Simple Now.   There is an entry called Overcoming a Rough Week.  I am not having a rough week, per se, but there is always room for improvement.  In this entry, she has a step, Dwell on the Good. 

Today, I am dwelling on the good.  Doris brought me a decaf pumpkin spice latte for no apparent reason.  She has a good heart. Thank you Doris!  

Its funny how anger can creep into a perfectly fine day.  I seriously need to just eliminate any and all associations to the anger point in my life.  Unfortunately, this anger point is a human being, so tossing it in the garbage is not feasible.  Now I have to choose every day I wake to mentally put this person out of my mind.  Hopefully soon enough it wont be a chore to do so. 

I had a great day today.  My mother and I went to a kids resale event, stopped by to see the twin nephews (of which Charlie. Can. Walk.!!!! can you believe it???), made a visit to a cemetery to see my great grandmother and then finally visited with a dear friend and her newborn son. 

Why should I allow this person and their immature actions anger me and ruin a perfectly fine day?  I shouldnt even given it the five minutes I did.  Consider the source, a good friend once said.  Consider the source. 

And so I did, I considered the source.  Seriously. 

My great-grandmother Josephine Day. 

When I turn my chair around to leave my desk here at work, this is my view.  Behind those beautiful trees is an interstate.  I will be sad these trees will be bare soon.  But I do enjoy looking at their colors every day, all day long.  I do stop and look each time I leave my desk.  Since Monday, the tree on the left has gone from having minimal yellow, to now having more yellow than green.  Fall.  I love it.

*my front porch, ready for fall

Today is the last day of summer and the first day of fall.  Its a new season, new feelings of being inspired.  Pro football season is under way, the baseball playoffs are going to start soon, homecoming games and dances are coming up, leaves are changing color and falling off the trees.  All of this sparks 'new' in me.  Fall is one of my favorite seasons.  I enjoy the cooler weather, the way the sun is setting differently and anything apple and pumpkin related.  I have been feeling very inspired all day thinking of the things I want to do, to make this fall season just a bit more enjoyable and memorable. 

1.  Homemade pumpkin bread.  I will be doing this this Saturday morning.  I will get up early and read my blogroll as I smell the pumpkin just wafting through the house. 
2.  Hike through The Morton Aboretum.  I want to take my camera and capture all the different colors seen.  Usually I go to the Adirondack mountains the 1st weekend in October to visit my aunt.  She lives in the most beautiful area.  
3.  Embrace each day with a few minutes of solitude in the early morning sun.  I have been feeling at peace or just a bit relaxed the last few days and would like for this to continue.  Plus, I want to enjoy what Mother Nature is providing me.  
4.  Gain a better appreciation for my body.  Overall, my health is good, but there is definite room for improvement.  I am starting to feel like the junk food I eat.  Today, I made one small choice that has definitely started a snowball effect.
5.  Have a fall picnic with the girlfriends.  We need to pack up the food, drinks, laughs and tears (without the spouses) and enjoy Mother Nature.