"that's my mimi."

It's October. Probably my favorite month. I can't get over the gorgeous-ness of the leaves that are starting to blanket the grass. Or how you breathe in the last of the warm days like it's food for your soul. And as I mentioned before, it's a big birthday month in my house.

But also? October is a month that I can't help but think of my mom everyday.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

And I know, my mom, would want her story to be shared so others may learn from it. So that's what I do. I share. And bring awareness. This isn't something I normally would bring up on my blog. But I truly believe it is so important to spread the word.

My mom was such a fighter. And a Bob Marley don't worry about a thing type of person. Most of the 4.5 years she battled Breast Cancer, you wouldn't have known that she was going through radiation and chemo almost the entire time. She was diagnosed at the young age of 44 with Stage Four Breast Cancer. You see, Breast Cancer doesn't run in our family. She also nursed all her six of her kids, for a long time. The thought of cancer never popped into my mom's head. After having gallbladder issues and severe back pain, she was eventually diagnosed with cancer. She survived for longer than the doctor's expected.

I wish so badly that she could have met her grandchildren. She lived for her kids and becoming a grandmother one day. But,  I'm thankful I can still teach my children about their Mimi. And if you ask Audrey, she knows. She will tell you.

"That's my Mimi."

One of my older sisters, Lisa, my mom, and me, two months before she passed. See those brown eyes? My girls have them!



So, let's do this. Check ourselves and remind our friends and families to do the same. 

Also? Celebrate with the survivors this month!

[Squeeze your mom for me too. Call her. Because I want to be able to do that so bad.]

A Pumpkin for you A Pumpkin for me.

I wasn't about to let October slip by without taking Audrey to her first pumpkin patch. So yesterday we headed to Melton's Orchard. [Actually first we drove about 25 minutes to another orchard, that was closed.] It a cute a little shop with pumpkins, mums, apples, and deliciously-tempting peanut butter spread. And there was hardly anyone there, so the kids had free range.

Audrey and her cousin Jonathan enjoyed smacking, attempting to pick up, and rolling the pumpkins. It was nearly impossible to get a good picture of them two together. Two toddlers=one always on the move.

But I did manage to snap these:

After spending about 45 minutes there, I walked away with only spending 26 cents. And it was well worth it. Audrey did not put down her apple until it was gone.

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An updated note: We were scheduled to close on our house this past Monday. But to make a long story short, last Thursday we were notified that closing was being delayed. It was a rather stressful thing to hear, but fortunately everything got worked out and now we are suppose to close on my birthday! Yay! (October 30).