Tom & Alison: Fall

No excuses. It has been too long since I have updated this thing. I hope I can remember most of our lives since July!

In August, Tom and I jetted off with some friends to Vegas for a long weekend. While Vegas might not be my dream vacation, it was nice to get away with people our own age, leave the kids at home, and relax. We didn't see any shows, or even gamble that much, but opted to spend quality time with some of our dearest friends. I am happy to report that I came back a winner (a whopping $60) and managed to carry the team for my Hubby as well (thanks for all the Blackjack advice, Tom!).

We also went up to the lake for a week to spend some quality time together as a family. Tom and Sam joined Michael and I part way through the week, since he was in the beginning phases of his new job. I have to admit, as much as I love my boys equally, it was really nice to be able to spend some one-on-one time with Michael. It seems that he is changing before our eyes and continuously surprising me with his intelligence and humor that it was nice to take it all in for a few days. I loved every minute of it.

We have managed to squeeze a few neighborhood events in during the fall months as well. It is nice to get to know the people that will be involved in our lives for many years to come. Tom and I hosted a movie night in our back yard, that I think might need to become a "thing" for us. It was the perfect way for the adults to all get together, get to know one another, and for the kids to be calm and in one spot for 2 hours. Ha! Tom joined the church choir with the men in the 2 houses next to us, and they even coordinated their own carpool (is it so that 2 of the 3 can drink at the bar afterwards?)- I am loving the involvement. We have a couple other neighborhood parties coming up and I am looking forward to many, many years of this to come. This is what I had hoped for when we bought our house.

Last weekend, we loaded up the boys and headed to the local pumpkin patch right by our house. Michael is at such a fun age to do these activities, as he now fully understands them and gets excited for them. He was such a trooper to pick out one for his little brother, since "he is just a baby." We also went to Afton Alps and bought Michael his very first set of skis. He tells us that winter is his favorite season, so lets hope that is true!

Sam is such a joy and blessing in our lives as well. He is fully on the move, and curious about everything. 3 weeks ago he started crawling, and just this week he has started pulling himself up on anything possible. I fear walking is not far behind... While I should be celebrating these milestones, I find myself a bit sad when they happen. The last 9 months have gone by in the blink of an eye and I wish things would slow down just a bit.

We are gearing up for Halloween and the holiday season, since it will be here before I know it. It is hard to imagine that Sam will be one in just 3 months and that we will have a toddler and a preschooler. How can time keep speeding up when I feel it is already going so fast?!