Are You Ready?

While there were a few years back when I was in high school and college where it meant cheerleading, cool Saturday afternoons and pep rallies, in general football has a different meaning for my family.

Soccer.

We have a family history of playing as well as having a history of watching. While we dabble a little with the Premier League, the team that we really cheer for is the national team. This past summer, we watched our team in the World Cup, very excited that Brazil wasn't too far from us in time zones. That did not go so well for us.

Oh well, there is always 2018.

Linking up with Mama Kat

3.) Write a blog post inspired by the word: football

Wordless Wednesday: Toddler Slides

Thoughts On Staying Private in a Social Media World

This blog is currently not linked to my real name. When I first set it up, I wasn't sure where I was going to take it (and I'm still not sure where I am headed), so I didn't tell anyone I know about. Even now, only one IRL friend has ever seen this blog. But while I have so carefully tried to keep my real life separate from here, so many of the bloggers that I follow do use their real names. I am beginning to wonder if that is something that I should do as well.

We are definitely in a social media world, even more so than just a few years ago. And as life gets increasingly more public, I'm finding it hard to navigate the world that I have set up.

I am not good at Facebook. I have created a Facebook page for this blog, but I am not very good at keeping it updated and have not been able to grow it at all. I am trying to be better, but with no interaction, I am not as motivated to update. Although, I am sure that a big part of the problem is that I'm not updating.

I have also created a Google+ page because I was trying to keep my personal page separate, but now I'm not sure that was the best option. It seems that most people link to their personal page.

I'm late to the Bloglovin train, but I have signed up. I'm still working on figuring that one out.

And Twitter. I am the worst at Twitter. Mostly because I refuse to put it on my phone, since I know that I would just check it all day long, and I have children to raise.

I seem to barely have the time to use social media for personal use, I am clearly no good at using it for this blog. Part of the problem for me is that I am not always telling stories that are mine to share. Do I use my real name, and forever tie these stories to my family? I have to admit that I have been tempted, but I'm not sure that I am ready to take that step. How do you handle social media? Do you use your real name, or are you attempting to be anonymous?

Photo by Anonymous Account

The Rookie Mom Challenge Part Two: Before They're Two

Last year, Peanut and I took the Rookie Mom Challenge, and while we came no where near completing all fifty-two challenges, we did enjoy our time together. The Rookie Moms have recently posted a list of activities for before they turn two. Peanut and I have a little less than four months until that happens, and we are going to try to complete as many as possible.

Some things we have already done, such as sitting in boxes, but there are quite a few that I am looking forward to trying.

Let the fun begin.

Currently

Making: Plans for Thanksgiving Day baking
Cooking: Pasta sauce in the slow cooker.
Drinking: More water, but probably not enough.
Reading: Lots of board books, as Peanut is now very interested in reading.
Wanting: The King's Curse, but waiting to get it.
Looking: At a mess that I don't feel like cleaning up.
Playing: With lots of Mega Bloks.
Sewing: Still nothing.
Wishing: That I would win the Mega Millions.
Enjoying: The cooler weather with two outdoor boys.
Waiting: To pick Munchkin up from a birthday party.
Liking: Big smiles on little faces.
Wondering: Why my dvr keeps saying that it will record something, and then not record it.
Loving: Morning snuggles.
Hoping: That both boys keep their sense of wonder for as long as possible.
Marveling: At how LONG the boys are getting.
Needing: To unpack my cold weather shoes.
Smelling: Fallen leaves, wet from yesterday's rain.
Wearing: A sweater. It's a little chilly.
Following: The boys as they explore large piles of leaves and other autumn wonders.
Noticing: How much Peanut likes to sing and dance, be it with Mickey Mouse, or even just the radio.
Knowing: That this will be a long month with lots of posts to write.
Thinking: That I should start working on getting photos for our Christmas cards now.
Feeling: Cold, and not particularly happy that it won't be warming up again.
Bookmarking: Possible Christmas gifts.
Opening: Boxes with fall and winter clothes.
Giggling: With a silly, dancing toddler

Here We Go

I've not been at all good about posting, but I've decided to jump into the deep end of the pool and participate in NaBloPoMo. I know that we are gearing up to the busiest time of the year, but that is all the more reason to record what is going on in our lives right now, especially while the boys are still so small. We are a young family, in a new home, building new traditions. I'm hoping that writing things out will not only give me something wonderful to look back on, but will help me to focus on what matters now.

So here we go.

An Autumn Update

I've been quiet on the posting, but things have been pretty busy around here. We've been working on our fall bucket list, and while there are definitely things that we missed (I'm looking at you, decorating pumpkins), we've made some great progress.

I've already talked about picking our pumpkins, which also allowed the boys to play on the tractor. We attended a local costume parade, and the plethora of fall birthdays in Munchkin's class means that there is no shortage of costume parties.

Boo at the Zoo is happily becoming an annual tradition for us, and it allowed the boys to spend time in a hey maze, and Peanut to feed some animals (with an assist from Munchkin, who has decided that he doesn't like the animals tickling his hands).

And finally, Peter Pan and Captain Hook took some time out from trick or treating tonight to play in a very large pile of leaves.

I am really enjoying this season.