Thanksgiving

My mom sent us this book a couple of weeks ago:

It is about living in thanks, and the joy that comes from it. It's full of truth and hope, and encouragement to live in the present, which has always been hard for Aaron and I. So we are "growing" a Thanksgiving tree for the month of November. Every day we'll all add a leaf and write what we are thankful for on the back. I'll probably share what we come up with here...

I want my kids to grow up thankful, and I want to be thankful!

We have a lot to be thankful for.

As of lately...

Fall is moving on. The leaves are almost gone and it's snowing as I type this.

I am not sure we are ready for winter... The bears were escorted elsewhere, and didn't put up much of a fight, so we have stopped the obsessive bear hunts around town. Gabriel slept with a picture of the bear, it was the only way I could console him after I told him he couldn't sleep in the tree with him!

My sweet little nephew came over for a day, I could just gobble him up!

He eats, laughs, sleeps, and crawls like a son of a gun.

The pumpkin recipes continue... This soup turned out wonderfully! It was an experiment, love the crunchy pumpkin seeds on top.

We are looking forward to Halloween with our little munchkins in their costumes, and getting ready for a special trip to Dallas. Can't wait to see the Dawson/soon-to-be Turner clan!

There's a bear in town

Gabe and Aaron ran into him this morning on a walk and got these shots of him.

Pumpkin creme brulee, pumpkin ale, champagne, friends, brownies, games, gifts, happy birthday to me, happy birthday to me! Fun day:)

The Pirate Ship

Aaron's project over the last few days, it's pretty awesome.

My darling kids.

Happy 1st Birthday Trev!!

Trev had a Mustache Bash for his 1st Birthday! We cannot believe you are 1, what a sweet little boy you are!

Lions, Tigers, and Bears!!!

So this is a picture of the bear that has taken up residence in the town of Alamosa. Yesterday he hung out at Adams State College (which is a block away from our house) for most of the day in a tree and then he went through the neighborhood trashes around town. We followed his trash trail hoping to see him again but couldn' find him. It makes you think twice about going into the back yard at night.

Fall

I'm a bit late getting started this year! My favorite time of year is in full swing; the changing leaves, pumpkin recipes, cold mornings, sunny afternoons, yummy soups...

Pumpkin Brownies

Pumpkin Tortelini

Pumpkin French Toast

And we woke up to this... Going to be a short fall and a looooong winter.

We're back!

And I do mean all of us, plus another little guy who seems to follow our enormous friend around.

It's fall and beautiful here, and I'm finally free to enjoy it!

This is how I feel many times at work with my patients...

"Today, I bent the truth to be kind,

and I have no regret,

for I am far surer of what is kind than I am of what is true."

Robert Brault

But the last 2 weeks this has been more appropriate...

Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you mad.

Aldous Huxley

Izzie Roepke, RN, Psych ward

San Luis Valley Regional Medical Center

Alamosa, CO

Clinton Turner my hat goes off to your mother, there is a special spot in heaven reserved for her.

11 days down, 1 to go.

Will return to a normal blogging and functional person in society in approximately 24 hours.