October

Oh how I love October. For many reasons, most of them selfish. My birthday is in October, my anniversary is in October and my favorite holiday is in October. Me Me Me. Honestly my whole family loves October. There are pumpkin patches. Last year there were four patches but I have promised my husband fewer this year. There is apple picking at Carter Mountain. I think we just go for the apple donuts but picking apples is awesome, too :)

Then comes my birthday/anniversary. Yes, they are on the same day :) October 30th. Then, the very next day is HALLOWEEN. When children run around in cute little costumes and beg for candy while their parents yell at them to say "thank you!!" There is a smell in the air of fireplaces and falling leaves. If I seem uncharacteristically bright and happy it's because I just love this time of year. I feel like I am coming alive again after a hibernation.

We have been having a rough go of it lately. Mark hurt his back and has been out of work for 6 weeks on disability. And, at the ripe old age of 31, I am only now coming to terms with a life long battle with depression. Oh, it's not that bad but lately....it's been worse. Mark hurt, combined with the absolute worst time to be running a small business in the last 80 years had me sink to levels of depression I hadn't known before. I haven't summoned the strength to write a full blog entry about that yet. Thankfully, things are better and Mark is better. And now, I can enjoy this time of the year with my family. Even more so this year because we are celebrating birthday/anniversary/best holiday of the year in Disneyworld!!!! I know, I know. It seems a little cheesy but, dammit, I have earned this happiness and I am going to roll around in it like a dog rolling around in butter (this reference comes to you from what my husband gave the dog last night, seriously).

Please enjoy the following pictures of our first pumpkin excursion of the year. It was lovely.

 First let's try without the bink? No? Ok.

I know we are going to have to get rid of the bink soon. It's going to be rough...hella rough.