continuous and others

taken in the driveway, whilst mommy and joy were painting the back door. 

it's funny. the hot weather has gone away, cooler temperatures are setting in, thanksgiving has passed. like you're caught up in the moment and then suddenly pushed back into reality, realizing that the year is almost over. my birthday is in sixteen days. talk of decorations and meal plans fill the house, over the clink of silverware on ceramic plates holding the thanksgiving leftovers. i feel as though i have to wait for everyone's birthday to pass until it comes to mine. but then i realize, it's all relative, our birthdays are all the same distance apart. and we don't take the time to understand that we're getting older each second. we don't acknowledge our growing maturity. longer hair and stature, and the wrinkles creep up on us, even though it seems so far away. speaking of birthdays and maturity..

i am amazed how generous my grandma can be. sells her summer house in michigan, buys a house close to us, and opens it up so we can drop by anytime, for football, puzzles, the word of the day, among other things. i love my grandma. she's always cheery, quick to respond with a witty, memorable answer, and one of the first things out of her mouth is hello, love! how are you? would you like some hot chocolate? this morning {with nine minutes to spare} i'm at grandma's house, with a mug full of hot chocolate and the michigan game on, about to make blueberry muffins from scratch, and talking with mommy over birthday party plans. 

how are you, today? 

-kiss kiss kiss, hug architecture-