sugar&spice: playing catch up...SUPER long post

A few days ago we went to the north side and enjoyed us some Cracker Barrel. When we all left and our plates were empty and tummies full, our sugar high took us to a park where we needed to find some way to get our energy out. It was just another wonderful Woosley memory, which we love to make many!

This has been a beautiful Autumn. Today as I write this it would be a great day to put cozy sweaters and hats on and play outside, but instead we are cozied up on the loveseat watching Polar Express. We are daydreaming about which Christmas tree we are going to pick out, which baked goodies I'm going to make, and which Christmas songs Ruby is going to love!

I know, I know, a little soon to be excited for that, but honestly, I can't wait to experience Christmas again through a child's eyes. The magical feeling it brings the beauty of The Christmas Story and all the Christmas lights. I can hear Ruby now as she sees all the lights. With her eyes open wide, she will let out a big "WOOOOOOW!"

OK, back to Autumn... ;)

We have taking every day that is nice and spening some time at the park. She is getting braver and sliding down all the big slides, going on the little and big swings. We pretend to be flying in the worlds fastest airplane and sliding down the biggest mountains.

Welcoming much imagination.

This is one of my favorite pictures!

As fall comes to its end and a new season starts, I realize my plans for this fall looked a bit different than what they turned out to be. I had BIG ideas and excited what God was going to do in our lives.

OH, wait...I love this one too!!

Your sweet kisses are the best. They make any bad day go away!

I am prone to believing that I would make a pretty great event planner for God-at least in my life, right? I know what is best for me, or do I?

I have such good ideas, why doesn't He consult me more often?

Regardless of what I think is best, after all my consulting with God and thinking we are on the same page, He has bigger and better plans for us.
He is constantly challenging me. The minute I think I've got it under control, he goes and changes it up and allows the rug to be swept out from under me.

As I look back on my life and I think I've got a great plan, it doesn't always work out. I'm crushed for that day. Upon my pondering life's events I realize that it ALWAYS turns out better.

I'm glad I'm not in control. That's too stressful.
Could you imagine?

Ohhh, daddy's turn to get a kiss. Goodbye bad day! Hello a slice of heaven!

I don't like the rug being pulled out from under me.
But which is worse?

Staying the same...
...or changing for the better?

We wore Converse shoes at our wedding. In fact, when I first met Tim, he was wearing them with a tux! So now he wanted Ruby to have a pair.

I was OVER THE TOP when I opened mine up. It was a good laugh, though!

The sun set so pretty. You are a delight to be with Miss Ruby Grace!

Good night!

I praise her for her good choices, and gently guide her in the right direction. Yet as I sit here and attempt to teach my daughter patience, I realize that I have only a few short years to teach her BIG stuff. Stuff that right now she won't understand but it will benefit her in the future.

I don't want to miss the sweet small things or take our time together for granted. I want every day to be intentional. The last thing I want is to just get by. For one day to run into the next and then someday wonder where all those important years went.

I wonder if maybe that's exactly what God is trying to teach me.

******

VALA'S

We always look forward to all the wonderful things that fall brings--the smells, the colors, and the events.

Vala's Pumpkin Patch definitely has a very fond place in our hearts. We've gone here every year since I've known my husband and even some years before I knew him. We've watched this place grow like crazy. Every year they add many more family things to eat, ride, play or watch.

Ruby absolutely LOVES horses. She had a smile that never stopped.

Ruby was here when she was only a few months old. I carried her in a moby wrap, which I think I wore for most of her first year of life. She slept through the majority of it, but we were so proud to have a child we could share this with...awake or asleep.

Ruby at 8 weeks old

Yep, she's growing fast. And a ton of fun!

Although she is a little dramatic at times...Wonder where she get that from?

She was doing all the right moves. "I'm a little tea pot, short and stout..."

"...Here is my handle. Here is my spout." So Darn Cute. We got some on video!

This park area is all new and pretty cool! You can build your own log cabin or just play on the super fun play set!

She had a ball on this slide except when she came out upside down. She gave us that look of terror on her face. That was the last of that slide.

Tim made Ruby laugh so hard bouncing up and down.

Watching a dog show here! (hence the HUGE smile on Ms. R's face!)

Good-bye Vala's. You never disappoint.

****

I wanted to see the interstate where it was flooded. It had been cloudy all day and raining here and there. When we went to this lookout point, the sky opened up and the sun now owned the heavens just as it was going down for the day.

It was stunning!