sitting here on the edge of october, looking past the horizon to the sweet november looming nearer, i’m just enjoyin’….
10. the first fire of the season.
it’s been cold, and while the shivering northerners cackle at my twisted interpretation of “cold,” i’m not kidding…the thermometers have dropped drastically this week (much to my satisfaction), so much our little water heater got all confused. with colder…okay cooler temps, i’m embracing nubby sweaters, furry socks, the promise of my favorite season and yes, fires…real fires in our fireplace. lainey and i fell asleep on the couch together to this one.
9. hot coffee & apple butter toast
my breakfast every morning as of late. and it seems right and all being that it’s october-almost-november.
8. turning around in the car the other day to unexpectedly find this scene which made me laugh hard:
…and she cried when i took it away, too.
7. breaking the rules. as in dad’s no-jumping-on-the-bed and no-dogs-in-the-bedroom rule. 
…and check out sophie’s i-won’t-be-held-responsible-if-you-get-in-trouble face. she’s such a rule-follower.
6. watching her reunite with puppy post-shower this morning after a tearful battle from not letting puppy in the shower had occurred moments earlier.
5. when the neighbor girls come over and ask to play with lainey…
i have a kid. and other kids ask to play with her. that’s so cool.
..but when they leave her, it’s a sad, sad sight:
like i said, so sad.
4. her crusty-faced, bed-headed morning face.
…it’s kissable. …and it’s my favorite.
3. her two-second transition from serious face…
…to pure joy.
2. my writing tutor.
i tutor writing once a week and these past few weeks, my little writer began unleashing creativity and confidence that’s so real, i can almost touch it. it makes me feel so good to see young people write well and practice, on their own, the things i teach them. …and then when i see them actually start to find passion in writing…my work is done.
1. positivity…and objectivity…and creativity….and all the other -ivities that make us good.
…and listing only 10 just doesn’t seem to sum it up because there’s so much more we’re enjoying right now. …like i like being her momma.
…enjoying the small things. ~k
This was a yummy post. I enjoyed reading every line.
I laughed out loud at your dog glaring at the camera…that was hilarious. And the picture of Lainey in her chair by the fireplace…I wanted to crawl in my screen and join her. Looked so cozy!
yummy, indeed.
positively delicious, in fact. every one of them. especially her and sophie on the bed. sophie’s face makes me laugh.
you should write a book…
a girl and her dogs.
I’d buy it.
o.k…. You rock!!!!! that’s it!!!! nothin left to say!!!!!
the bed pictures are the best! i’m telling brett!!
in front of the fireplace..I love love love those glassy eyes…she looks like she can’t close them, but she’s practically asleep already.
sophie’s face on the bed…soo laugh out loud funny!!!
her fuzzy sweater and the fire photograph is yummy!
I can’t wait to go to sleep and wake up to fly down there…I will see you tomorrow and see my little trick-or-treat girl…and boys. Austyn and Brandyn, cute and sweet bookends around my widdle girl!
I love your “ten” pieces…a perfect slice of your life. Have you read this amazing article (http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200811/andrew-sullivan-why-i-blog) about blogging? yes. love it.
The dog on the bed. The last pic…oh…all those teeth in the b&w pics…her love of puppy (dang I WANT something like that for bug cause she claws at me when she nurses)…the magazine pic. Good stuff. Thanks.
She looks like an old lady contemplating life next to the fire place! Adorable!!! xoxo
back again…the first picture is like…candy. I think I can actually feel the warmth of the fire.
a girl after my own heart, she reads Hollywood gossip. i love the close up pics… her lashes are so lush!
beautiful writing…
the reading material? too cute.
i love the pictures of her sitting in the grass. the colors are absolutely breath taking!