The changing seasons...or not

I have come to realize that EVERYTHING is different in Texas. The tea is sweeter, the grass is prickly, and the weather is...the same.

For most of my life, the first of September meant cuddling in warm blankets, crispness in the air, apple picking, pumpkin flavored everything, and curling up around a warm fire. It's hard for me to believe that it's actually the fall when I'm still wearing shorts 99% of the time.

This weekend, I decided that the Texas weather is not going to stop me from enjoying my favorite fall pastimes. On Sunday, I dragged Ben out of the house to purchase our first pumpkin spice latte of the season. While it seemed strange drinking the hot latte in 90 degree weather, I enjoyed every sip and am already looking forward to my next fall activity. Chili anyone?

Corning Museum of Glass

When Ben and I were up for the Wineglass Marathon, we stopped by the Corning Museum of Glass to do one of my favorite things: glass blowing. Having grown up in Corning, glass blowing is not new to me. Our Christmas tree can be found adorned in glass ornaments and icicles that our family has blown over the years. We even have a few glass flowers strewn about the house from class field trips.

One of my family's favorite ornaments is a little purple egg shaped piece of glass my sister blew at a very young age. She was so young when she blew it that she could barely get any air into the pipe leaving us with one of the heaviest ornaments on the tree. 

This is the second year Ben and I blew pumpkins together, and the second year was better than the first!

Last year, Ben's pumpkin ended up getting broken in a rowdy house full of boys. Here's hoping we can  get these pumpkins safely through the holidays!

Things that make me happy

Seeing our headboard every day reminds me of how blessed I am to have Ben in my life. I love being reminded of that every day.

Funny pictures reminding me to not take life too seriously.

Books. When Ben and I first got married, we had to keep buying bookshelves because of our large combined collection. You can find them in almost every room of our apartment.

Every time I walk up the stairs, I am reminded my favorite season is upon us. 

It's the little things in life that can make you smile the most. 

Liberty football

This football season, Ben and I have had the opportunity to go to our fair share of Liberty football games. It has been a blast enjoying this time with friends and family. 

The boys may love the game, but mom and I didn't mind the cupcakes, coffee, and band performance that came along with the gig too. 

Mom and I at the game. We're the bands biggest fans.

These boys love each other, I promise. They also love that I constantly have to take pictures of everything. You will thank me one day, I just know it!

Pumpkins and apples

I love traditions of any kind. Starting traditions in my own family has been one of the things I have been looking forward to the most, but for some reason, Ben and I could not find a time to carve pumpkins this fall! We tried to plan a time to get together, but something seemed to always come up. 

Halloween came and passed and our pumpkins remained untouched. 

November arrived  and we had pumpkins needing to be carved! Maybe the Spivey tradition will be carving pumpkins the day after Halloween. I feel a new trend coming on.

November is for pumpkin carving and caramel apple eating!

Ben hard at work

What a cutie

Ben's groundhog. He is so proud.

Caramel apples!

Here's to many more years of pumpkin carving and caramel apple eating!

Surviving Hurricane Sandy

How to survive a hurricane:

                       - Bundle up

                       - Get out your Smartwool socks

                       - Make pumpkin cookies

                       - Paint your fingernails

                       - Cuddle in bed

                       - Watch a movie

                       - Listen to the rain

Falling into fall

A weekend ago, Ben and I decided to make the most of this time of year and fill our whole day with all things fall. I had been wanting to go to an apple orchard all season, but we just couldn't seem to make it happen in any of our weekend adventures. 

I had been dreaming a little at work and hoping that there would still be an orchard open in Virginia this late in the season when I stumbled across Gross Orchard Apple Harvest Festival. I convinced Ben Saturday morning that this would be the most productive way to spend our day, and we packed up our car and headed toward the Blue Ridge mountains and the festival.

The drive was absolutely beautiful with all of the leaves changing color and the festival was fantastic. Between the food (fresh fried apple pies, homestead creamery ice cream, hot apple cider, and pumpkin whoopee pies), live bluegrass music, local vendors, and the perfect fall weather, the day couldn't have been any more perfect. 

After the festival, we were so close to the mountains that we just had to hike. Ben couldn't possibly be so close to the mountains without visiting and exploring. We decided to hike Flat Top since I had never done it before, and let me tell you, there was nothing flat about it! After huffing and puffing (at least on my part), we reached the top and the views were stunning. Hiking in the fall is beautiful.

After we returned to the bottom of the mountain Ben and I headed home to take a quick nap before our friend's birthday party. 

Overall a very successful day filled with all things fall. The only thing left to do is carve pumpkins and roast the seeds!