Happy Halloween 2010

Happy Halloween

2010..."that Halloween was real real fun!" -Griffin

We had a great week of events! Griffin had an "orange & black" party at school and I got to be the parent helper! It was so cute and he had a great time! We played some games, had orange and black snacks, and painted a pumpkin patch! His favorite activity?? Ghost bowling!

On Friday Ryan & I tried to have our very first date night since before we had Sawyer, but in the middle of the movie we went to see we got a call that Beanie was hysterical and wouldn't calm down, so we went home to sooth our sweet boy...we'll try again soon!

Sunday we had a jam packed day with church, Trick or Treating and lunch out down town Naperville, and then Trick or Treating around the neighborhood. Griffin LOVED it this year and was super into it! When we told him it was time to eat dinner after we were out he said, "hold on, me need to finish my candy first!"! Ha ha! Oh to be a kid again, he was really planning on eating every piece tonight! He got lots of chocolate this year, so he may be fighting off mom and dad for a few bites! Beanie lasted only a few houses before sleepiness set in, or according to Ryan, the sadness came from the "tights" he was wearing! They were so cute though, come on! Overall, our little duck and fire fighter had a great night and we loved sharing it with them. I can't believe it's over already! We decided what we are really going to miss is Griffin announcing randomly all month, "Halloween gonna be here any minute??!!" It seemed like it passed by in just a minute! And he's already onto talking about Christmas:)!

A concert for one

Do you think she's enjoying this...or scared for her life?

October Family Night

Since we had Griff I have been dying to start "family night", you know the one...your parents say, "it's family night" and all the kids let out a slightly disgusted sigh before agreeing to participate in the ridiculous activities the parents...scratch that....mother has planned! Yep, that's the one, and with me being a former school teacher/lover of parties with a theme it's inevitable that this tradition needed to get started! Griffy is the perfect age for it, and hopefully won't give me that "sigh" for a few more years at least! We had such a fun night with him and it's just heavenly to me to add Beanie to the mix and watch Griff pull him into our family. Ry & I felt so blessed & blissfully happy as we just spent a night investing in our family and getting in good quality time with each other. Griffin & I had a great time planning and shopping for the night too!

We started off the night making our own pizza, the boys did a great job....it was, as Griff would say, GaLISHIOUS!

After dinner, it was time for a craft, of coarse! The boys may not always want craft time on family night, pretty soon it will probably be replaced with a good ole fashion game of Madden football on X box, but I am going with "craft time" for now! We made some "tato head" pumpkins, they are a hoot!

Beanie was all smiles over his potato head pal!

And Griffin was "on deck" with his pirate "tato head punkin" RRRRRR!

Boys all around lovin "craft time"!

We then moved into the dessert and show portion of the evening, here is Griffin enjoying a pumpkin cupcake with a designer sprinkle job, done by him.

Followed by a viewing of "The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything - A Veggie Tales Movie" and it was delightful!

We all went to bed with smiles on our faces, including both Mr. Potato Heads!

Fall Fun

Happy Fall friends!!

Well here we are already, mid Fall! It really did sneak up on me, but I think that's because we have been so busy. All this gorgeous Fall weather, stunning colors from the trees, pumpkin spice coffee in the air, football, and activities we have to squeeze in before we see....I don't even wanna say it....SNOW has kept us running! We have loved each and every second of it, although I am beginning to feel quite behind on laundry and the floors could use a good scrub...but hey, there's all winter for that, right??!!

We started off October with the "MOMS" birthdays! Yes, it was meant to be since both Suzi & Lori just happened to be born on October 1st! We sent love to Nebraska for Grandma Lori and worked our baking skills for GG! Ry has been really working it in the kitchen lately and loves it! He's really very good, (maybe even better than me...shhhh! don't tell!) He made Ina Garten's Carrot Cake and Cream Cheese frosting and then I did the decore...hey, I had to help some way! It was so delicious, you are amazing hunny!

We have had the chance to hit up many a pumpkin patch, some more "sincere" than others! We had an awesome time as a family at this really sweet one in Saint Charles that only charged $2 to get in and Griff had a great time just running around without all the rides and flashy stuff!

We loved getting in some play time with this crazy pumpkin!

...and this little pumpkin just slept sweetly, dreaming of Halloweens to come I am sure:)!

Would it be a visit to a Pumpkin Patch with out this photo??

...and what gave Griffin his biggest scare this season?

That's right! No ghoul, ghost or goblin can get us down, but don't get us too close to this shady character!

Of coarse in all the craziness we have stopped just a few times along the way to capture the moment....

And, we also took a trip to Nebraska to visit the Eccleston's, get in a Husker game & say Hi to family! It was a short trip, but good to at least bop in for sure! Sawyer came to the game with us and he didn't make a peep, a Husker already, he felt right at home in Memorial Stadium! Even though we lost, it was, as always, just great to be in a place that Ryan and I love so much!

Enjoy the rest of these Autumn nights, gets on your cozies, warm up some hot coco and snuggle in with your lovies...that's what we'll be doing (when we're not frantically chasing around little boys!)

3 months is Magical

Hello little Red Headed Wonder,

You have been alive a whole 3 months and they have truly been magical for me! You are just waking up and becoming more and more alert. I have loved EVERY single day of it. You are just the sweetest little thing & I am so enjoying being your mom!

We love your smile.....

and laugh (you did for the first time at your brother in the bath tub, 10.29.10)!

We love the funny faces you make....

The way you shove you teeny fists in your mouths....

The way you never go anywhere without your bink...

OR your orange blankie...

and the BEST part about the last 3 months is that our little family feels just that much more complete. I love you sweet boy, and I am cherishing every snuggle, every time I get to hold you, every sweet baby moment! Happy 3 months...can't wait to enjoy #4!

xoxo

It's been a while...we'll more than a month to be exact since my last post was Sawyer's 2 month birthday! He is now well over 3 months....it's going so fast! I will post pics of what we've have been up to the last month soon, but in light of the last few weeks I just wanted to post something that's been on my heart. In just 2 weeks we have had a friend pass away from a car accident involving a drunk driver, friends decide to get divorced, and another family we know lose their baby at 17 weeks and have a deliver and say good bye to him. It has seemed to be just so much sadness everywhere I turn. My heart is so so heavy with all of this. I can get so down and wrapped up in a spiral of worry, fear and anxiety about this world that we are living in and the waters that my kids are going to have to wade through as they get older. I have realized that having a family, first a spouse and then children is not only the biggest JOY this life has but is also such a risk. It terrifies me to imagine my children in pain, suffering....or having to live in this world without them. I have been doing a lot of thinking on this.

Thankfully, I have been quietly reminded that this is not the way that God wants me to live...wasting my time and energy in a spiral of fear instead of just trusting in Him and his promises, remembering that "he's got the whole world in his hands"! Knowing that the trails we go through can only stir up God in our lives more and remembering how much joy and good things this life has to offer has given me a lot of peace as I wrestle with the hard stuff. Also, how disappointed would I be if I wasted any precious time with my kids worrying instead of telling them how much I love them in the event that something tough did happen. I read a quote from Michael J. Fox, "So let me make this suggestion. Don't spend a lot of time imagining the worst-case scenario. It rarely goes down as you imagine it will, and if by some fluke it does, you will have lived it twice.", and that just put things into perspective. In the last year I have truly struggled with letting anxiety fill me up instead of the peace that God offers. I wasted so much time letting it control my life. With the arrival of Sawyer, I finally got the hint God was throwing at me, TRUST IN ME, and suddenly it has made all the difference. I have no idea what the future holds, but I do know who holds the future and that has to be enough for me.

I was reading "Moms" devotional and this is a prayer that they posted for protection over your children. When I start to let my mind "go there" I just go back and re-read this with confidence and remember that the one who makes these promises is good all the time. It makes me realize that I just need to be all in or not at all with God, and I just get that " he'd rather we be hot or cold than luke warm" verse all the more now, when I am in the middle I just don't feel "held". So, here's me buying in....I'm HOT! And I am lifting you up to him boys!

"God's Word promises divine protection for the children of God. Therefore, I proclaim that no evil shall come near me or my family. No plague shall come near my kids; though a thousand may fall at their side and ten thousand at their right hand, it shall not, will not, cannot come near my children.

God's angel's encamp around my kids. The angels of the Lord have charge over them to protect and keep them from danger, harm, and injury of any kind.

Though they walk through the fire they will not be burned. If they find themselves in flood waters, they will not overtake them. Though they walk through the valley of the shadow of death, they will fear no evil, for God is with them. No weapon formed against my children shall prosper.

God is their refuge and fortress. He will deliver them from the traps of the enemy, and He will deliver them from deadly diseases. Under God's wings they take refuge, and His truth is their shield and protection from all the dangers of this world. I plead the blood of Jesus over them, over any vehicle they ride in, over their school, and over any house or building they go into.

They shall not fall prey to the schemes and traps of Satan. They walk with wisdom and discernment and quickly heed God's voice. My children shall live long on the earth. They will fulfill the plans and purposes God has designed for them."

Hebrews 13:5

Psalm 17:8

Psalm 91:10

Philippians 4:7