Back in the Game

Hello, friends!  I don't know how many of you are left, but I find myself needing my go-to creative outlet.  I miss blogging.  I feel like Instagram has somewhat filled that void for me, and that is partially the reason why I haven't blogged in such a terribly long time!  Last time I vlogged, it was the beginning of summer, and I had promised lots of new posts.  I guess we see how that ended!  But I have so much to share, and I feel like these are the days that I'm going to really want to look back on someday, with Scarlett still so young.

So here's my plan:  I'm going to try to get back into blogging.  Things are finally slowing down at work after a very hectic fall, and with only two weeks until Christmas break (a glorious sixteen days off!), I thought now would be a good time.  Plus, there are so many fun things happening right now, and so many fun Christmas memories to share. 

So anyway, let's play a little catch up.  We are still loving our new house!  It is so quiet and peaceful, and we are little by little fixing things up and making it ours.  Here is a sneak peak of a few details:

 

Here it is the day we bought it in May.  It's a simple ranch-style house that will be just big enough for our family for years to come.

Our backyard (after Scarlett's birthday party...more on that later)

View from our front yard, which still has not lost it's luster.  I can't wait to see it covered in snow!

Sometimes cows come to visit across the street, and it's always a highlight of our day!

Here is a sneak peak of our living room -- my favorite spot in the whole house.  We recently painted this room and decorated for Christmas, and it feels so cozy!

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I feel like Scarlett needs an update too.  She is almost two-and-a-half now, and we love this age! She is talking so much, and getting really independent.  We hear "No, I want to do it myself!" at least 10 times a day.  But she is the sweetest thing, and I know how blessed I am to have her in my life!  I try not to take any time with her for granted. 

 

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And just a life update:  the past few months have been pretty great.  I enjoyed summer at home, and then went back to work in the same position I was in last year.  As much as I miss Scarlett, it is really a job I love in a very "high needs" school district, so I feel like I am going to work and doing something rewarding.  I love my students, and look forward to seeing them each day, and for that I feel so blessed. And even better than that, I get to look forward to coming home each day to see my beautiful family whom I love so much.  There have been big struggles in the past few months as well, as there always seem to be.  My family had a scary brush with cancer in the past 7 or 8 months, which luckily we are on the other side of now.  And dealing with more fertility struggles as we are ready (and have been ready for quite some time) to grow our family.  But that is life.  

Hopefully you will be hearing from me sometime soon!  I know better than to promise anything, because I have had such a hard time finding time to blog in the past couple of years!  But I so miss it so much!