wow.

october is now just a memory.

and, here we are…

dark at 5 pm.

wearing jackets and rain boots.

flag football season is over.

thanksgiving is coming.

christmas displays and merchandise are all over the place.

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my husband and i celebrated his fantastic year at work and our 15th anniversary at a fabulous resort near playa del carmen, mexico.

it was our first kid free getaway in over 6 years.

i have been blessed enough to go on some pretty fabulous presidents club vacations that my husband has earned through his hard work. this one was, by far, the most amazing one we have ever been on.

it was a quick trip…three full days in paradise. one full day of travel on either end.

my parents came to stay with the kids and the dogs.

we returned to happy {but tired} kids and tired {but happy} grandparents. i know they all had a fun adventure of their own together.

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the first week back was filled with hours spent volunteering at the kids school.

art lit.

baby girl was star of the week.

normal volunteer hours.

AND

finishing up the rest of our family halloween costumes…

it was a dark and stormy halloween night here in portland. we braved the downpour to go up and down the street.

ryan was the yellow brick road, the little guy was the tornado that landed dorothy’s house on the wicked witch of the east, i was the wicked witch of the west, and baby girl was dorothy.

one of my favorite family costumes to date!

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i was hoping to have some much needed “normalcy” in our routine this month, but the kids had three days off from school and then we have thanksgiving late this month!

so, we’ll just be THANKFUL for our extra time together…i figure there will be nothing “normal” about our routine until next year given the coming holidays…but that’s what makes life fun, right?!