Random Fall Fun

We've been really busy lately, so I just wanted to share with you a few of our adventures!

Sarah poses with anything, anywhere ... here she is at Hobby Lobby in a sea of pumpkins.

 Sarah got to go to a birthday party recently at a jumping place ... she has a love of jumping!

Sarah and Coco

Sarah is practicing for Pinkalicious by eating lots of cupcakes.

 

Sarah and Steven Riley

My Little Turkey

Look at my new hat ... I'm pinkalicious!

Mommy take my picture ... sarah cute!!!

Little Ballerina

Isn't this little ballerina the cutest thing ever!!??  She has started taking dance from TeriDona School of Dance.  They come to her school once a week to teach ballet and dance.  The first few sessions weren't a success, but she is starting to like it now.  Parents aren't allowed in the class to watch, but I did at least get to see her in her outfit recently.  I'm so proud of her!

Boo at The Zoo

Every year, our wonderful zoo transforms itself into a Halloween Wonderland!  We had been in previous years, but Sarah didn't really enjoy it.  That certainly wasn't the case this year.  That may have been because we went with a few special people ...

Frankenstine (John Colton), Mario (Steven Riley) and Pinkalicious (Sarah)


We all know how much she loves these two.  Well, we were super impressed that they all wore their costumes the whole time and everyone got along.  Sarah was such a big girl and played all the games and wasn't scared of any of the ghosts or goblins.  She has also discovered a new love for 3 Muskateers candy bars and Hershey chocolate bars.  Enjoy the rest of the pictures ...

Pinkalicious is dressed and ready to go.

Little Frank wasn't so sure as to what was happening.

Sarah and Daddy on the backwards carousel.

Mommy and Sarah on the carousel ... of course, we rode on a giraffe. 
Is there any other animal on the carousel???

We didn't know these kids, but they are the Gabba characters that we almost dressed
up our three kids like.  Sarah and Coco loved seeing these characters.

Sarah dancing to the music!

The Griffin Family

The Crawley Family

All of us together in the Alice in Wonderland scene.

We were also able to meet up with one of Sarah's friends from school.
This is Dawson and his mom.

 Of course, Sarah couldn't understand why we couldn't see the animals.  She knows where they are supposed to be and she wanted to go find them.  Finally, we were able to convince her that they were asleep, but then she wanted to know where the beds were.  Of course she did ...

Fall Festival Fun

We have had a very busy fall season.  We recently attended Sarah's Fall Festival at her school.  I'm so glad that she has made some friends at school and she really enjoys going.  I was so excited because she is actually wearing her Halloween costume this year -- first time ever!!!

Sarah (Pinkalicious), Hailey (Tangled Princess), and Eli (crab)

Sarah and Hailey are such sweet friends.

My sweet little princess gets tired of posing for mommy and the  camera!

This is Dawson participating in the St. Jude Trike-a-thon.  Way to go Dawson!!

Sarah has decided she loves Bouncy Houses.

Mommy, look at me ... I'm jumping!!

Sarah and her "frenemy" Presley

Ran-Dom!!!

Okay, so have you visited this fairly new addition to the Patton creek shopping center?

God's Little Princess Devotional Bible Book Review

I received this book for free a while back as part of the Booksneeze Blogger team.  This is a great devotional Bible for a little girl.  When we first received it, Sarah was still so young that I would simply read some of it to her, but it was over her comprehension level.  I would say that any little girl receiving this Bible should probably be at least 4 to really benefit from this book.  I read parts of it with my (almost) three year old, but I have to pick and choose.  I really like that this book allows us to focus on some of the issues that matter to little girls.  It also has some fun art activities that you can use, some simple drama/plays that your little actress can perform, and Bible stories that focus on women of the Bible.  One of her favorite things is reading about "herself".  She sometimes will pick up this book and ask to have the story of "Sarah" read to her.  Even though she was named after a family member, it was also important to us that it was also a Bible character name.  I have really enjoyed having this book in our library of resources for Sarah.  I know that as she gets a little bit older, we will be able to use it even more. 

Sarah's "friends"

Sarah really likes her mannequin friends.

Homemade chicken noodle soup

Super yummy!! Of course, Sarah still thinks chick-fil-a soup tastes better!

Sarah's birdhouse

Praise Girl

Sarah is learning early to praise the Lord!!!

Roll Tide

Unexpected Blessings

I really don't know what to say ... God is Good.

That is really enough and it totally sums up everything else that I could tell you.  I had just finished writing the previous post and I got a phone call from Michael.  But first, let me back up ...

While at church yesterday, I got a phone call on my cell phone telling me that I had an envelope with my name on it at the church office.  I didn't listen to the message until we had already left church, because my phone was on silent.  Well, today, I got an email about an envelope and we also had gotten a message on our home phone.  I asked Michael to go to the church and get it because it must be something big. 

It was $200 cash.  No name attached.  If you had any part in this ... thank you so much!!!!  God has used whoever individual or group to prove Himself and reveal His faithfulness to us once more.  Thank you Lord for bringing us back to you when our faith wavers. 

Unemployed

I haven't written this post because i secretly don't want to believe that it is true.  Michael doesn't have a job.  He has taught school for the past five years at Cornerstone Christian School in Columbiana.  Two weeks before school started, his "principal" sent out an email to all teachers requesting that they all make appointments to see him the next day.  Well, when Michael went in for his appointment, he was told that he was being let go due to financial reasons.  They also let 11 other people go, including the Head of Elementary, all elective teachers and some lunchroom/office staff.  The children are the ones who suffer.  i know that is the reality, but why do i feel like michael is being punished for doing a good job.  i feel that jay was threatened by michael and dawn, and that he didn't like them having more advanced degrees than him and subscribing to the "traditional" way of schooling our children.  oh well .... i know that God has a much better plan for us.  i'm just tired of waiting on it.  i get frustrated with michael being at home, even though the house is clean! :)  i know that he is frustrated being there, although he has enjoyed having a break and getting to clean the house! 

ready to see the big picture and get on with things ....

Killer Mosquitos!!!

Well, for a while now we have noticed that Sarah has extreme reactions to bug bites.  Several months ago, she got bit by some ants at school and they had to call me because it was so many and causing some swelling.  Several weeks ago, she got bit by something on her ankle and it swelled up and turned an odd color.  We always try to spray her down when we are at home playing, but do you spray bug spray on a toddler's face ... well, now we do!  Here was Sarah this past weekend.

Poor thing got bit on her eyebrow.  Her whole eye was almost swollen shut, but she was such a trooper.  She tries really hard not to scratch, but you can imagine!  She now asks that we spray her all the way down and she squeezes her eyes shut so that we can spray her face.  Of the few of you who read this blog ... do you think that these reactions will lead to an epi-pen in our future?  Meaning, if she's having these reactions to mosquitos, what about bees?  just curious!

coincidentally, my friend Susan was making some "Bug-Off Spray" on this same day.  be sure to check out her post here and also at Babypalooza this weekend!!!

Teddy Bear Clinic

On Saturday, we took Sarah to the Bham Zoo for Teddy Bear Clinic. The zoo had pre-vet students from Auburn there taking care of all the hurt animals. Well, since Pappy Bear goes everywhere with us, it was only natural for us to get him checked out.

We didn't realize until Sarah was providing the intake information, that Pappy Bear had two broken legs.  Sarah told the lady that he had fallen off the bed that morning.  Oh no!  Here he is getting his temperature taken.

Well, I don't know why I can't turn the pictures around ... but here is Pappy Bear being evaluated.  Sarah got to choose the color of the splints and she chose green.

Sarah also got to choose the color of the casts.  They didn't have pink, so she went with green to match the splints.

Here is Pappy Bear getting the casts put on.  We aren't sure how long they will have to be on.

Pappy Bear is getting a shot of antibiotics.  I sure hope it helps!!!  Poor thing, Pappy Bear maintained a smiling face even though I'm sure broken legs must be really painful! :)

Blast from the past

Look at Sarah. She's wearing a "vintage" apron from Country Manor!!

Meals to go

Sarah enjoys using her new meal box in the car. It helps keep everything near and tidy.