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I’m totally stealing this idea from my friend Nicole. I loved her post and I like the idea of updating my family and friends about my life in little tid-bits like this!

1 - We booked tickets to go to Texas for Thanksgiving!! I can’t even begin to tell you how incredibly excited I am about this. My parents, siblings living at home (3 sisters and 1 bro), older sister and her family (husband + 6 kids) and younger brother and his family (wife and son) moved from California back to Texas last summer. We lived in the Houston area when I was in High School, but they moved to Austin this time. My parents have been out here to Oregon to visit, but I haven’t seen the California -> Texas family for over 2 years. UGH. It hurts my heart. I’m terribly homesick for my family.

We leave ON Thanksgiving Day and get to spend a week with them. I’ll meet my nephew for the first time (and he’s over a year old!). I’m looking forward to spending some girl time with my sisters and nieces (who are growing up WAY too fast). The boys are so excited to see their cousins!

Have I mentioned that I have a huge family? Yes, I have. Quick re-cap: I’m the second oldest of 10 (or so) kids. I had a sister who died of SIDS, and a foster-ish sister (who is now in her 20s and married). Otherwise, I have 1 older sister, 3 younger brothers and 4 younger sisters. Five of them have been adopted internationally. SUCH a cool story, people. Another post for another time. I could go on and on about my amazing family!! I am SO looking forward to spending time with them!

2 - My brother’s wife is about ready to burst. Oh, I mean, my nephew will be born soon. I am seriously sitting on pins and needles waiting for the call! I’m so excited!

3 - Cole got stung by a bee this week. Sorry, but that makes me kinda chuckle, because he is known as the “bee-catcher” around here. He literally stands out by the lavendar and catches bees with his bare hands and shows us. He was just SHOCKED that a bee would have the audacity to actually sting him!! And, it hurt, too!

I didn’t really have a game plan for when my child would be stung by a bee, so I spent the first couple of minutes flailing about trying to figure out what to do. In the end, I remembered to apply a little Melaleuca oil, and then I put a penny on it (I thought I remembered that from somewhere) and then an ice cube. In about 10 minutes, Cole was bouncing back and ready to play again. Whew!

4 - I took out my tiny little bin of fall decor yesterday. Cole was pretty excited to help me decorate. We can’t wait to go to the pumpkin patch!! I keep telling him that the pumpkins need a little more time to grow. He came home from school today and told me that the pumpkins grew. Anxious??

5 - Grant scored a soccer goal last Saturday!! It was his first ever, and he was so excited, yet humble. LOVE that child. Side note: Several moms have stopped dead in their conversation to say, “Oh, my! He is so handsome!” Seriously warms my heart. I KNOW he’s handsome. He makes my heart flutter! Killer.

And . . . one more for good measure: