There’s a ham in the oven, baking, and making the house smell soooooooooo good. There are sweet potatoes boiling cheerfully on the stovetop, getting nice and soft for a casserole of candied sweet potatoes. The house is turning dim, it’s getting toward evening and my yummy youngsters are all bundled up in blankets on the couches, watching a movie. . . . . .
Soon Rich will come home from work and this contented feeling will get even more intense. I love that man!
It has been a relaxing day, with lots of much needed rest for me, but the children did need some fresh air so I went out as well, to keep an eye on everyone David and Caleb.
The outdoors is getting older looking as we move into late fall. The leaves are almost all gone now, but still, I saw enough color to get my tripod from the house and set up the camera for a group photo. You will notice all the winter coats. Seems like just the other day we were looking at pictures of them all swimming. . . . . .
I spend my days with these precious children, so many hours, so much togetherness. It’s not always easy, but the highs more than make up for the lows!
This next one is of my two youngest boys with their still-baby faces. I remember taking photos of Jacob and Ethan like this all the time when they were this age. . . . . .I love love love this picture. That bush behind them is giving me so much pleasure lately, it’s one of the only things left that is bright and red, most all the other leaves are a dark rust color.
If you lean in and squint, you just might see the snowflakes! The children were absolutely thrilled to see the first scattering of snow while we were on our little walk.
That’s my boy Ethan with his dog behind us. When you live in the country you just don’t care if you have a pink hat on. Or your mother’s boots and father’s big gloves for that matter. I said these children were yummy and I meant it!
When I came inside, I noticed that we now have mittens on our nature table on the porch next to the front door.
MITTENS! Where O where did summer~time go?
Have a glorious evening, all!
~Shanda
Good to be Home 
Once again, you have me longing to visit your home. I want to cuddle up on your couch with that dinner in the oven and be all snug. 🙂
lovely photos =]
What a nice post!! Enjoy your yummy meal and evening with your loves!
These photo’s were so cute! Where did summer go??? good question.
Sound scrumptous! We are happy to have some fog today to cool off this hot hot fall. So amazing to hear the leaves are gone there, and see the first snow flurry. Lovely to see the mittens
I love the picture of you and Grace! Your dinner sounds yummy- can I come over?? Since we have had snow (and COLD) for a while now, it seems that boots, coats, snow pants, gloves/mittens, and the such like have overtaken my house!!! Enjoy your evening!
I’m with you, it’s suddenly… WINTER. AHHHH! I’m not ready for snow and cold just yet. Your ham sounds delicious! Enjoy dinner with your family.
I was thinking the same thing today. Where did summer go?
Awesome pictures! Last week we were running down to the beach and enjoying the nice breeze, NOW we have the heat on and are bundled up! I’m ready for summer! LOL Suz
What a lovely WARM post!!! It just made me happy and snuggly inside I LOVE the group photo, and the one of your two youngest… well, actually, I guess I love them all.
You are right – where DID summer go??! Just yesterday there were pictures of bullfrogs and swimming, right?! Wow, time flies, especially when the seasons change. Thanks for sharing your summer… and fall… and now winter with all of us.
Oh! Walking to class earlier this week I saw snow flurries, too!! It is supposed to warm up again at the end of the week, though.
We had a teasing blast of cold and the rest of the week should hover around 70 – 75 degrees. It will be chilly again. I’m not worried. Our leaves will start turning and falling in the next few weeks.I bought some acorn squash and will try baking it cut side up and with maple syrup. Yours looked really good!Keep sending pictures of your trees and bushes . . . it makes me envious, but happy!
I made a yummy cheesy, potato, kielbasa soup for dinner today with fresh, warm biscuits from the oven. Molly pretty much made the biscuits herself with a little guidance from mom. My girls were out bundled up for the snow flying around in the air – trying to catch the first snowflake of the year. Stay warm and toasty in your home with your young ones.
Love You!
The picture of you and Grace almost made me cry. Beautiful and so touching. A yummy brood indeed!
The picture of you and Grace shows amazing contrast; beautiful mommy huddling her girl! The little guys are definately still showing the last bit of baby quality; SO cute! I, too, love that beautiful bush. It looks so Happy!!! Have a good night! hugs, Gail
Our burning bush is just now turning red ~ one of my favorite things too ~
Dinner sounds so good!! Enjoy your evening with your family. Your day sounds nice getting out for a nice walk. Your kids are so cute! But you already knew that:)
are those snowflakes in the picture of you and Grace? What a lovely memories you are making for your children….warm smells, cold walks, big family dinners at dusk….those are memories I have from growing up and I still go back home to share those moments with my family!
I’m glad you had a restful day. You are such a blessing!
Where DID summer go? You post make me feel a sense of calmness and happiness!I love to come here and read, then read my bible then go to bed.
oh —a change of seasons! how wonderful. 90 here today:( thank you for the pictures and sharing!
its been cold here too…I love love love the pic of you and grace!!! so nice! I am so ready for snow here in Alabama…it has been YEARS since we have had snow!! Have a good evening!
Yeah it feels like cold weather cooking time! We had corn chowder with fresh rye bread and warm apple crisp with vanilla ice cream.
There is so much love in your photos!
Mmm your dinner sounds lovely. I was outside on my first day on the job…when those snowflakes came down. The kids went nuts, it was really great. Yes, this is the time of year when time flies for me, it seems like winter closes in fast. I do love summer, but I just adore fall and winter. I love the pictures, your kids are just so dear. I hope you had a great evening, and I hope to talk to you soon. Love, Trish
The outdoors is getting older looking — I’ve not heard it expressed that way, but isn’t it wonderful that it will be young again in 6 months’ time! I love the shots of you and the children looking so happy, and being thrilled with the first snow. It was hot here again today, but they are predicting a change for the next few days, with rain possible over the weekend — that’s our winter coming in Southern California…
I LOVE that picture of Caleb and David! What sweet little faces! Yes! They still have a bit of the chubby cheeked look. Your children are decidedly yummy! After reading what you made for dinner, I put sweet potatoes on my grocery list. It has been a while since we had them, and I did find a place which has them for not too much. Sweet potatoes are not so popular in Denmark. ~~ We just found out that the baby our daughter is expecting is a boy! She even sent us ultrasound pictures! I love his tiny little feet! So, she and he husband are searching for names, too. They are sure his middle name will be David, as that is a tradition for her husband’s family. He is a David, as is his father. Blessings to you and your merry band!
I’m with DanishDoll. I just wanted to kiss those little cheeks. The color of the trees and that glorious family. I could smell the ham from here and it made me so hungry for it. It was 36 degrees here this morning. I had to find where in the world I had left my gloves. But there they were, tucked into the top drawer where they have have been hiding for three whole seasons now. Have a blessed day darlin”. hugs to all in SC
you guys are so adorable! u look like a catalog family! :]
Great pictures! Thanks for making me hungry!
Beautiful pictures! I hope you enjoyed that ham!!
Hello Shanda, I found you from the moms of boys. And let me tell you that you are so awesome. I went back and read like a years worth of your blog. Your family is so beautiful and inspiring! I have got so much motivation from you and I want to Thank you for just blogging and sharing your life with us. I hope you don’t mind that I subscribed and can’t wait to read future entry’s. Thanks again so much for being a wonderful mom to look up to! ~Marissa
wow! it sounds homey!! i am looking forward for Autumn in Aussie now =)
I had to stop by because I made that cake this morning that you posted last year, the harvest cake. It smells so good!
Can I get a copy of this shot of you? A 5×7 if you are taking requests. It tops the charts as the best one ever taken of you!!!!