Monday, October 31, 2011

365 Project: Week 40 - Happy Halloween!!


This week I enjoyed spending a daytime date on Monday exploring Indianapolis, spending cold mornings inside and warm afternoons outside, and finishing an entire book in one week! (I know get what all the hype over 'Wicked' is all about!)   I didn't have to work very many days this week, so I had a very relaxing week full of reading and Bella-walking :)

Tonight I'm super excited to pass out candy to all the kidlets in the neighborhood! We've never lived in a place that had any trick-or-treaters, so this will be the first year I don't have to eat all the candy all by myself! (Although I've all but overdosed on candy corn this week... I think I will be glad to not see it again for another year!) Justin has been at a work conference in Wichita all weekend and is missing out on Halloween at home so it seems the kids will have nothing to fear at our house! :) (he's usually the one that scares children and makes them cry and such... I just enjoy handing them candy and seeing all their cute costumes!)

Happy Halloween!! Send all your TWIX (& M&M's) my way!  Here's a little Halloween cheer for you:






Sunday, October 30, 2011

365 Project: Week 39 - Catch-up Week!


It seems I've gotten a little backlogged with my posts, so I guess this is a 2-for-1 week! For individual photo comments, see them on my Flickr page!

Happy Halloween!

Saturday, October 22, 2011

365 Project: Week 38 - A Trip to the Mountains!

Don't forget to visit my Flickr page to read individual captions for each photo!

This weekend, I had the pleasure of visiting my good friend, Liz, in Denver, CO for a long weekend! I've never seen the mountains before, so this was an extra-awesome trip! Liz humored me by driving me around to all the 'must see' places around Denver and Colorado Springs and my trip to the mountains was complete with:
• A bike tour of downtown Denver (where I was almost flattened by a city bus...YIKES!)
• A train Ride through the mountains
• A trip to the pumpkin patch - and pumpkin carving! (A true Amanda/Liz tradition)
• Afternoon walks with Oliver
• Breakfast at a good 'ol family resturant
• An 'O.C.' comeback marathon :)

Definitely a full 3 days of awesomeness! The weather was GORGEOUS the entire time I was there, which I was so grateful for!  Check out some extra photos from my trip below!

Monday, October 10, 2011

365 Project: Week 37 - Beautiful Days and a Very Special Birthday!


What a great week! The weather was so gorgeous - Bella got 2, sometimes 3 walks every day, I was out doing some sports shoots in the afternoons (which is really enjoyable when the weather is this nice!), we hung out at Happy Hollow park (which is beautiful any time of year- but especially in the fall!) and we took a drive down to Rockville, IN where there are more hills and trees, which means even MORE fall goodness! :)

I made a delicious batch of applesauce on Tuesday thanks to my brother, Josh and his girlfriend, Katie for the great crock-pot tip! It was super easy, it turned out so great and my freezer is stacked to get me through the winter! (Mmmmm Mmmmm Mmmm!)

One of the most exciting things this week is that I started AND finished a crochet project in only 2 days! I found this video on YouTube (It is a SUPER easy pattern and the video is really easy to follow, which was helpful for someone like me who took on WAY too complicated of a pattern last year and got so frustrated I ditched the project altogether) I was REALLY impressed with the way it turned out - and it fits me perfectly! (which is nothing short of a small miracle compared to last year's attempt) I was so pumped about the success I had that I also crocheted a flower and added that too - yay for a project finally coming together! This could be the start of a beautiful relationship with crochet :)

It was also BELLA'S 2nd BIRTHDAY on Monday! It's hard to believe we've only had her for 2 years, seeing how much she's grown and how hopelessly in love we are with her :) We celebrated by giving her a extra-thick peanut butter sandwich 'cake' 
She LOVES peanut butter sandwiches... look at that longing in her eyes when we were holding it up for her :)
Just to put things in perspective, here's a picture of Bella on her very first walk ever in early December 2009, when we first brought her home:
How was she EVER this tiny?! :)

And here she is now - Supersized:


I hope your week is off to a good start - I'm off to Denver on Friday to see my very good friend, Liz - I'm excited to bring back photos of the mountains!

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

365 Project: Week 36 - Fall is in the Air!


Remember to check out my Flickr page for captions to the photos - I don't always have time to explain them all here!
This week, it really started to feel like fall, and was pretty dreary most of the days. I've been enjoying the chill in the air and the changing colors and cozy nights - fall really is the coziest season ever! This week was topped off by a quick little trip to Wisconsin to see my brother and sisters - Thanksgiving was just too far away!  I've been pretty busy at work, but in the next few weeks, things should slow down significantly - and I'm REALLY looking forward to a short trip to Denver in 10 days!! Woo Hoo!! 

I hope you're enjoying all that fall has to offer - have you visited the pumpkin patch/apple orchard yet?!
The sista's at the Pumpkin Patch!

All the sibs loving us a warm bonfire on a chilly night!