Fall is here

17 reasons why fall is my favorite season:

1) The pretty, pretty leaves changing colours
2) The brisk air
3) Getting a chance to wear all of my beautiful scarves
4) Frost on the grass in the morning sun
5) It's the season of our wedding anniversary
6) Hot pockets of warm air in the bed covers! 
7) Wearing slippers in the house
8) Warm meals on chilly nights
9) Tea (not really just a fall thing, but it still counts)
10) Time off with family for Thanksgiving
11) Preparing for Xmas!!
12) Comfy sweaters
13) Walks in nature
14) The smell of bonfires
15) PUMPKINS!
16) Apple picking
17) Baking

*hugs*

365 is a go!/17 Monkey Facts

I decided to start my 365 photo challenge today.

My Monkey had kindergarten orientation and I wanted to mark the occasion which would usually just be forgotten as any other day.  It was wonderful and too cute to see all the little faces - some excited and some crying in fear - as they met their classmates and experienced the classroom for 45 minutes.

My first baby is growing up fast!  With all the challenges she has faced in the past 3 years, I couldn't have been more proud of her.

::sigh::

On that note:
17 Monkey facts

1) She's SO tall for her age.  Everyone thinks she's 7+.
2) She has the best laugh.
3) She is the splitting image of me at the same age.
4) She loves cars, trains and trucks.
5) She has been in speech therapy for almost 2 years.
6) She loves her sister so much!
7) She loves routine - and is put off when it deviates.
8) She has the thickest hair you've ever seen on a child.
9) She was the flower girl at Mr. Penguin and my wedding.
10) Her favourite colour is blue purple RED at the moment.
11) She is a pasta monster.
12) She is obsessed with the movie 'Cars'.
13) Due to her speech delay/impairment, she has the most awesome words for some things - and I will be sad when they are corrected to 'proper' English.
14) She loves to help me around the house - whether baking or doing laundry - she loves to be my shadow.
15) She tells me she loves me at least a dozen times a day.
16) If tickled enough, she will snort - a female trait on my side of the family (not that *I* do that or anything... ::cough::).
17) She makes me smile.

*hugs*

17 Penguin financial facts

1) We have too much debt.
2) Divorce isn't as expensive as people think...but it is costing me/now us.
3) Our van is worthless before it's paid off.
4) The interest rate on one of my credit cards is high astronomical crazy ...there aren't words.
5) We know how to budget, we just can't seem to follow it.
6) Student loans are not always worth it.
7) Mr. Penguin was less 'poor' when he was working a minimum wage job than he is now - making more than he ever has.
8) Looking around our house...I'm not sure where we spent all our credit.  So was it worth it?
9) Some debt, although a pain to repay, was totally worth it.
10) About 1/3 of our income goes towards debt.
11) Our grocery expense should NOT be that high...and I'm ashamed at the average our financial system spat out (and that doesn't even include dining out!!).
12) We have almost paid off my parents, the bedroom furniture and the van.
13) We paid for our wedding in full ($10,000 with honeymoon), but it hurt us in other areas.
14) Our need desire to go home to the ocean 3-4 times a year has caused some financial strain.  Is it worth it?
15) I am the worst offender when it comes to spending.
16) Our new budget will be strict.
17) Our love for each other, our family and our life will help us join together to make our plan work.  We are working on the life we want -- now and in the future.  <3

*hugs*

17 things...

...I love about Mr. Penguin.

1) his shoulders -- very manly and they make me feel protected.
2) his voice -- I could listen to him talk for hours.
3) his brain -- he's beyond smart and so very talented in his field.
4) his butt -- ::pinch:: ;)
5) his laughter -- it just makes me smile, even if I'm in another room when I hear it.
6) his extreme pride for our kids -- all accomplishments are noticed and recognized, no matter how small.
7) his willingness to get me chocolate -- enough said.
8) his lips -- they're soft, but I also like to watch them while he speaks.
9) his cooking -- he makes an amazing pasta dish.
10) his hair -- I like to run my hands through it. And it's red so I can find him easily in large groups. ;)
11) his height -- he's 6'4" which makes me feel feminine in comparison. And it helps in the group thing too (see above).
12) his friendliness -- as a Maritimer he's naturally friendly to most folk. Women tend to see this as flirting where we live (people keep to themselves here) and it makes me smile knowing he has NO clue about it.
13) his hands -- they always seem to find mine.
14) his eyes -- green or gray or blue. Depends on his mood and which colour shirt he chose to wear that day. Green is my favorite.
15) his thoughtfulness -- he makes me tea every night and tucks me into bed on nights that he has to work late.
16) his scruffiness -- Mr. Penguin sports a goatee and some serious 5 o'clock shadow most days...I LOOOOOOVE it.
17) how he looks when he's sleeping. He's just so CUTE!!

The end.
*hugs*

Random.

17 random things about me:

1) I love the smell of fresh laundry.
2) I'm craving dried cranberries, peanuts and yogurt right now.
3) I'm a brunette.
4) I produce cute babies.  ;)
5) I can't wait to get my T4 so I can complete my taxes this year.  No, I'm not completely mental -- I'm expecting a return.
6) I bought a new purse today -- and picked one from my collection to sell.
7) I made a scrapbooking kit last night to complete my page of the week this weekend.  It's going to be of the girls...too cute!
8) I am excited for Mr. Penguin to get home so I can huff him (well, hug and kiss him too).  LOL  It's one of my favorite times of day.  :)
9) I'm currently wearing my blue Crocs.
10) My emerald green suede shoes make me smile.  Where's spring so I can wear them?!
11) I'm making homemade chili for tomorrow night -- Mr. Penguin's fav
12) I'm a Flybaby...starting over...for like the 20th time.
13) I have added this song to my download list.
14) I need a manicure -- badly.
15) I am super excited that I have bought my own lunch things -- Tupperware containers, a glass container for microwaving, a coffee mug, etc. -- for when I go back to work.  I'm not kidding, I'm totally excited.  LOL
16) I cleaned the tub today.  Woo!
17) Green is my favorite colour.  I surround myself with touches of it to make me smile daily.

*hugs*