Monday Morning Coffee: Halloween Week Edition!

Good Monday morning, and Happy Halloween Eve! We celebrated this weekend with our annual Family Halloween Party. We sure missed Peyton and Chris, who were here last weekend, but she surprised us by sending down these amazingly delicious cookies for the party! The kids went all out with the costumes this year! We ate, played games, and had lots of fun together. I was thankful that the dining room furniture arrived just in time!

If Saturday was all about Halloween fun, then Sunday was for cozy and quiet and the beauty of an ordinary autumn day. 

Today is going to be beautiful here, so Flynn and I are going to do school earlier than usual and then head to the beach. The rest of the week is going to be much more fall-ish, so we thought we'd get one more beach visit in. Thank you for all the love for Cosmo, our furry new family member. He is absolutely precious and, so far, quite the snuggler. Mocha is warming up to him, too! I hope you have a wonderful day, my friends. And have a Happy-Not-Too-Spooky-Halloween!!!

BillieJo

An Extra Special Saturday Post

 Because something this special deserves its own post! 

Introducing...

Cosmo!!!

Steve found him and knew Kirby didn't want him to be lonely. Wednesday afternoon, Steve, Flynn, Rhett, and Kyrstin went to pick him up while I stayed and got things ready. I soon received photos and knew Steve had found his new best friend.

The first meeting went very well, and Mocha is cautiously curious about her new brother.

Cosmo is a five-month-old Cavapoo and has stolen our hearts.

Especially this guy, who has so much love to give this fluffy little friend.

Happy weekend, my friends!

BillieJo

All The Fall

Well, here we are. Friday again. And it is the last Friday in October! Soon, all the cozy fall vibes will be replaced with Christmas joy, so before we jump headfirst into Mariah Carey and the Elf on the Shelf, let's enjoy all the fall we can. First up: Fall here, in the schoolroom...

In the front yard...

And in the backyard.

.

On the beach, where Flynn and Steve head for late afternoon walks...

Back home at Madison's house...

And at Peyton's, too.

Fall looks different in different places. I truly learned that this year. Fall can be a feeling, too. It doesn't have to be trees with leaves of glorious shades and perfect pumpkins on the porch (although those things are amazing!). It can be a cozy feeling of contentment, a cup of pumpkin coffee, or a walk on the beach at sunset. All that is fall.

I will wrap this up with a few random pictures from this past week here. Mocha, forever by my side, Peyton, Christopher, and Flynn, having so much fun last weekend and breakfast on an October morning. A perk of having a husband in retirement is having meals prepared and cleaned up for you! Who knew??! 

Have a wonderfully, not-too-spooky weekend, my friends. Madison and Nicolas are heading down here, and we have lots of Halloween fun planned! Thank you for visiting. I am always happy you do.

BillieJo

Happy Fourth Of July!

Good Monday morning, my friends! I am feeling better and no longer have the added effect of pink eyes, so I could enjoy our little family fireworks celebration Saturday night. One of the benefits of our place on the lake is that it offers the absolutely perfect spot to view the fireworks each year. Some years we have a big party, others like this year, we keep it smaller. The weather held off, and the rain began as the smoke cleared from the grand finale. Here are some pictures of our family fireworks festivities.

Our actual Fourth of July will be quiet and low-key. I hope you all have a festive, fun, fabulous time celebrating however you choose! Thanks for visiting. I am always glad you do!

Billie Jo