just a walk in the park

No, we don't go on date nights every night of the week; that's just how these posts are stacking up. 

This date night was one of the most fun, purely for its simplicity. We'd planned to go to Panda for dinner, but as I was looking over our fall list I realized that Manito Park was near-ish to a Panda Express and that there was enough light to make a walk in the park a fun thing. 

We walked by the duck pond, through the Japanese Gardens, the Rose Garden, Herb Garden and Botanical Garden, around by a community soccer practice, and back to the car. We talked, took pictures, and prayed as we walked. 

We did finish that up by getting some Panda, but the walk was the best part! 

Here are a million pictures of our adventure :)

sweet smelling roses

a "peppermint twist" rose

mr gorilla

bird eating berries. 

dahlia

such large dahlias!

a friendly little guy

definitely a new favorite picture. ha!

new york asters. i like the different colored centers.

herb/perennial garden

i feel like this garden belongs at Versailles 

dinner and a movie

Date night, a couple weeks ago: 

Italian for dinner (he got a calzone with pepperoni and sausage, I got seafood manicotti). I think I had four bites before I had to have mine boxed up (too much salad).

 Ben and Jerry's for dessert (he got chocolate something, I had vanilla heath bar crunch [which has nothing on coffee heath bar crunch, by the way]). 

Following that, we went to see Courageous. We were the only ones in the theater until the previews... then we were joined by a whopping two more couples.

All in all, a successful date night.

reilly retreat

The Reilly Building went on retreat the first weekend of October.

We had a marvelous time in Idaho, relaxing, watching movies, reading scripture together, swimming, canoeing, paddle boarding and enjoying the fellowship.

Though we were enjoying ourselves, we failed to take a group picture.

Unfortunate, because now that there are 12 of us, times where we're all around are few and far between.

meanwhile, here are pictures of our retreat:

click to make bigger.

Seasonal

Fall happens to be one of my favorite seasons. I like crisp mornings, changing leaves, apple picking, sweater wearing, bonfires, pumpkins... all the things that make this season seem so special.

This fall, I'm welcoming all those things, albeit a bit sadly because I know that the chill of winter is soon to come. 

Though this is the case, it's going to come whether I welcome it or not, so here's what I've been doing to celebrate the season! 

So many people have made Fall bucket lists. I was inspired to do the same. I thought Carson would hate this idea, but he got really excited when I showed him the things we can do this fall. 

In addition to that, I had him bring up the Christmas boxes, where the fall decorations were stored as well. 

I had the silk leaves as part of our decor last year, found the branches at the Dollar Store (we now live in the city, or else I could have found my own sticks) and stuck them in the vase I'd been using all summer. 

I pinned this idea and actually used it. Love it!

Carson has asked me to please tell him not to eat these, otherwise his hands would be dipping in to grab some candy corn all the time. 

I sprinkled more fake leaves by the entryway and moved around the vases which used to hold springy paper flowers... I think it works for fall.

We also had these Styrofoam gourds and pumpkins from last year. 

I sprinkled fake leaves on the tops of bookshelves and tables in the apartment. John came in the day I decorated and said "It looks like fall in here!" I was happy to see that someone else noticed. 

This is one of my favorite seasons to decorate for because the things you can use are so obviously seasonal. 

fall birthdays are the best.

Years and years ago, I became blessed by the friendship of one Brooke Mixson (now Kauffman). 

Early on, we would spend our time jumping on her trampoline. Over the years, she's introduced me to coffee (I have the pictures), explained the game of football and corrected my earliest papers in college. 

She got engaged 8 months after I did so we were able to share a month where we both planned weddings together, though we'd theoretically been planning since we met. We've survived braces, crushes, road trips and been there for each other for our various wedding stresses. 

Happiest birthday, Brooke!