Jessica Kelso

After a long hot summer, we finally have our first day of relief. I know these first few cold fronts are just a huge tease that leave us wanting more so I’m loving today to the fullest. I’ve spent the morning making potato soup and cleaning the house thoroughly, with every window open soaking it all in. Tonight I’m planning to run the lake and I don’t think I have ever been so excited to exercise. I’m running another 5k this weekend and would love to work in the yard so I’m really hoping this weather sticks around for a couple more days. Picnics, sweaters, and boots. . . ahhhh, I can’t wait.

We’ve been pretty busy around here and I know we’re both ready for a much needed break soon. We’ll be leaving for the mountains in 10 days and we’ll have a whole week to enjoy ourselves. I’m thrilled about seeing the leaves change this fall because that’s definitely something we don’t get here in Florida. We’ve spent a lot of our time lately preparing the nursery for a BABY. That still seems crazy! The room has come together quickly and I’m completely in love with it. I think I could design nurseries for a living and be content. There is something so sweet about a baby’s room and I think it can make anyone happy in an instant. (Or is that just me?!) We have one more trip to Ikea, and a few things to purchase for the walls. . . then it should be picture worthy.

In preparation for me to be able to continue staying home when we become foster parents, we’ve had to figure out how to make things work financially. I’ve been receiving unemployment and should be getting that until at least December which has been a HUGE help with me still not working. It’s been 9 months now! Craziness. We’ve been learning how to be creative and find new ways to cut expenses. I never knew how much money we were just throwing away until we really sat down and looked at everything. We canceled the data service off of both our cell phones and have been saving a lot just not being able to use internet on our phone everywhere we might want it. We’re still able to use the internet anywhere there is wireless (including at home) and everything else on the phone still works exactly the same. It was amazing to find out how much money was going to waste just on our cell phones. With Kevin being the genius tech-guy that he is, we’ve also found ways of canceling our DVR service but still being able to record our favorite shows. After noticing how little television we actually watch, we’ve also decided to go ahead and cancel our cable. Most of the shows we like we are able to watch on Hulu or Netflix, and Kevin has all of that hooked up to our television. I’m glad we’re going ahead and making this decision now, because I’ve always said I don’t want to raise my children hooked to the TV. . . so it’s a pretty good start in that direction. All of this along with trying to be better about using coupons and just being more cautious where we spend our money. . . is hopefully going to make it possible for me to stay home and I’m very excited about that!

This past weekend was spent lakeside with good friends and it was soo nice to be able to relax and do whatever we wanted whenever we wanted. Friday the weather was nice to us and we were able to soak up some sun and cruise around on the jet ski’s, but Saturday wasn’t so kind. We were still able to get out a little bit despite the rain but most of the day we were indoors. Sunday morning was nice, and rest of the day was pretty much a big tease. We were out on the jet ski’s when a storm came  in and we had to drive them back in the middle of it. For a good few minutes, I thought I might possibly die out there. I couldn’t see a thing, and was trying to stay behind Kevin and follow him but in the process I was hitting his waves and flying all over the place.  It was a scary ride for sure.

As much as I love spending summers at the beach, water parks, and lakes. . . I am all about some fall and winter. I mean, if I didn’t love my friends and family so much I would be out of here in a heartbeat. To witness a true change from summer to fall would absolutely put me over the edge.  Since that’s not happening anytime soon I have learned how to bring the fall to Florida. Fall to me is pumpkin scented candles, earth colors, a decaf pumpkin spice latte, cinnamon broomsticks, and lots of different color leaves.

I am not a person who enjoys clutter but decorating for the fall and winter season turns me into a totally different person. If I could, I’d probably have decorations every square inch of my house. Each year I spend just a little bit more on decorations, and I’m surprised by how much I’ve already been able to accumulate. After-thanksgiving sales have been good to me, although it’s really hard to buy things and put them away for almost an entire year. I’m finally learning though . . .  that by the time September hits I have lots of new decorations that I got for uber cheap. I’m always really proud of my bargain finds. I can’t wait to come home and show Kevin what kind of goodies I got and how they were 75% off, which is almost free. It’s a huge thrill for me!

So summer has officially ended in my book. Fall is here despite walking out my front door and breaking a sweat, not being able to open my windows, and still keeping the air conditioner at 73 degrees. I won’t be able to break out a jacket for at least another month but you better believe I’ll be baking up some pumpkin bread and making lots of soup!

There are certain places that just make me really happy. The Omni Resort is definitely one of those places. My parents stayed a couple of nights there so we made plans to go spend Labor Day with them by the pool. Unfortunately Kevin woke up feeling really sick and I woke up with a little bit of a sore throat. I didn’t feel bad enough to stay at home all day though, so I headed over and spent the day soaking up some sun. My mom said a couple of times, “I could get used to this!”. Laying in our tubes, we went round and round the lazy river. They had a huge slide that’s not pictured but it was amazing although my mom said it made her sick. She’s not one for water slides. After spending the day pool side we went back to the room and showered up for some dinner at a nice Italian restaurant which was absolutely delicious.

After dinner I headed home to take care of my poor, sick hubs. I felt bad for leaving him to fend for himself while he was sick (he’s kinda pathetic and cute when he’s sick) but I really think he needed a day to himself to do absolutely nothing. He worked so hard last weekend, helping a friend lay tile and setting up/tearing down at Access that I think it just took a toll on his body. Two days of rest and he seems to be doing better. Me on the other hand, I’ve got this massive headache and cold that doesn’t seem to be going anywhere anytime soon. We’re leaving tomorrow night after our class to go on a 3 day mini-vacation with our friends to their lake house. So I guess I’ll be getting by with the help of Mucinex and Tylenol! We’re really looking forward to this weekend and a little cold isn’t going to stop the fun.

Lots going on in the Kelso household that I’ve neglected to write about in here. We’ve been faithfully attending our MAPP classes every week and will be licensed foster parents within the next couple of weeks. We are slowly but surely getting all of the things we may need. We found a modern crib and dresser for a GREAT price, which I am still so stoked about. We just purchased a stroller this weekend and I’m hoping to find a nice rocking chair soon. I was tempted to take pictures of the changes in the room so far, but I want it to look complete so it may be a while!

I’ve been sewing and creating quite a bit lately, and I finally feel like I’m catching on to things. Patterns still scare me so I’m staying far away from them, but everything I’ve been doing has been so simple that I’m thinking I should probably attempt something a little more difficult one of these days. I made a couple of kerchief bibs the other day and couldn’t believe how easy they were. They are just bibs to catch drool and whatever else but a little more fashionable. I tried one on to model and was surprised it actually fit. I’m thinking I should start wearing these at dinner, what do you think? I may be starting an Etsy shop soon and I will probably sell these along with other baby items.  I need to find more baby boy fabric but the girl stuff just seems to be a lot easier to find.

My new friend Christy was awesome enough to make me this super fabulous apron out of an owl fabric that I found and fell in love with. I knew I wouldn’t be able to make something like this yet so I was so happy when she offered to make me one. It’s going to get so much use out of it and I can’t wait! The fabric reminds me of fall and gets me really excited for the months ahead. I know we don’t have an actual fall, but that whole time of year is just my favorite. And on top of it being my favorite, we just have a lot of good things going on in the next few months that I can’t help but to be excited. I’m trying to wait until the beginning of October to get down my fall decor from the attic but it’s hard, especially with some stores already putting their stuff out. I’m spending quite a few days at the pool and lake in the coming week, after that summer should start to feel officially over. . . then maybe it’ll be time for all the festivities!

(Sorry for the poor quality in the last three pictures as they were taken with my camera phone. )