Fall Festival at Chick Fil A-Mccalla

We learned something this week -- Sarah doesn't like to be near the Chick Fil A cows.  When we stood far away from them, she yelled out "I love you cow".  But we couldn't get near them.  They couldn't be close to her.  We had a good time.  Evie came out to play too.  They got to paint pumpkins.

Did you know that there was a baby cow?  I had previously only seen the "traditional" cow.  This one was new to us!

I Love the Rain!!!!!

On Wednesday, it rained.  We have not seen rain in a very long time.  The Birmingham airport actully reported the highest rainfall for that date in history.  Sarah likes to play in puddles.  I think this may be because she hasn't ever really had a chance to.  Well, on Wednesday, we got out the rain boots and let her play in puddles!  She was SOAKING WET!!!!!

Did I mention it started raining on us while we were playing outside?

Look at me!  I'm wet and its fun!!

Splash Splash

Where did my rock go?  I threw it in the water, oh well, I'll go find another one!

Costume Crazy

Well, its halloween season.  A time that we look around and see cute little children dressed up as ghosts, princesses, cats, pumpkins, etc.  I bet my little bug would look really cute as a ladybug.  Don't you?  Oh well, you'll likely never see it!  We actually bought her a ladybug costume, but she cries "no like it, no like ladybug" when we try to put it on her.  You see, Sarah doesn't like costumes!  I guess she inherited my "don't like Halloween" gene.  She definitely didn't get her Aunt Mel's love of Halloween.  Here are a few of our Halloween "costumes" so far this year. 

Sarah is getting ready to go to Trunk or Treat at church.  She is a Alabama Cheerleader, but check out the pink polka-dot rainboots!  Don't you think the real cheerleaders should wear this on game day?

This was after Kindermusik last night.  Sarah went as Foofa.  That means she wore a Foofa shirt and put a flower in her hair like Foofa.  Do not be deceived to think that she would actually wear a full Foofa costume!!!

This was today.  She is dressed up for her fall festival and party at school.  Once again, costumes were allowed, but not going to happen for this little girl!  She wore a candy corn shirt and leg warmers to complete the festive Halloween attire!

Yo Gabba Gabba LIVE!!!

We recently went to see Yo Gabba Gabba LIVE at the BJCC!  We went with some friends of ours.  Both of our little girls really like Gabba.  Here are some fun pics of the craziness!



Sarah and Daddy are hanging out with Muno.



Foofa is Sarah's favorite character!

You can tell that Sarah is intently watching the show.  Yeah Gabba!!

Michael, Sarah, and Eveline are hanging out with Miss Lesley.  She taught us the peanut butter dancey dance.

Sarah and Eveline were two happy Gabba Gabba girls!

Fine Art

Check out our Fine Art Gallery!  Bet you didn't realize that we had such an amazing artist in our home!!!  It was so cute to see her when she got home on Saturday.  We showed her the wall and she instantly started pointing at the pictures and saying "i did that" she was so proud of her work.  i'm proud too!  i love that we now have a nice way to display her work!

Pumpkin Patch, by Jennifer Crawley

I'd like to share my Walgreens Photo Center photos with you. Once you have checked out my photos you can order prints and upload your own photos to share.

National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day

I am linking up to a friend's website today.  Today is National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day.  Here is my post from last year.  It is all about my special friend Brayden.  I happy to say that Brayden is going to be a big brother.  His mommy and daddy are happily expecting a new baby.  I am so proud and excited for them.  I have prayed for them many times since Brayden's death that they would one day be ready for this.  I am so happy to be a part of this exciting time!

However, in that happiness, there is also a tinge of sorrow.  Brayden won't be here to meet his brother or sister.  I know that in all of the "firsts" with this new baby, Beth and BJ will remember Brayden's firsts.  Then one day will come when this new child will have firsts that Brayden never experienced.  All of those things will bring new emotions. But, I know that they have trusted in God and are more than willing to let God take control of this situation.  He will pull them through it all, and of course I'll be right there too, on the side and cheering on my friends!!!

Is it the end of flip flop season?

Okay, I see that the temperature was 52 degrees.  Does that mean that I have to stop wearing my beloved flip-flops?  Can I wait until that is the high temperature for the day?  I promise I won't complain that my toes are cold ... I don't do well in closed toe shoes.  My feet are claustrophobic!!

Desiring Chick-fil-A more on Sunday than any other day of the week.

Desiring Chick-fil-A more on Sunday than any other day of the week.

Be sure to definitely check out this post!! It is soooooo true!!! :)

In fact, just reading about the christian chicken makes me want some right now!

Mama, where are the babies?

This mommy bird has been perched on top of one of the front porch columns for almost a month now.  I had to convince Michael not to knock it down.  We never hear the bird make a sound and she never leaves her post.  She must be guarding something really special.  We suspected babies.

Well, we were right, maybe.  We have seen an egg shell or two underneath the nest, but we haven't seen a baby yet.  The mommy bird has left the nest occasionally (presumably for food), but we can't see babies.  We never hear baby birds chirping.  Michael says he's ready to knock it down.  What do you think we should do?

Elmo ... where are you???

Where is Elmo?

Hmmm ... what is that crazy Elmo up to this week???

School Friends

Okay Sarah.  I give up.  I know that you have fun at school and that you are making friends.  I will persevere and continue to take you even though you cry each morning when we leave you.  I am sure you are making new friends.  Do you really need to take all of your own friends with you to school??

Beanie Weanie was the only one lucky enough to actually go into school today.  All the rest got to come to work with mommy -- which reminds me, can I get in trouble for leaving them in the car?  Is someone going to report me to DSAPR (Department of Stuffed Animal-People Resources)??

Now I lay me down to sleep ...

Sarah and her daddy had a sweet prayer time the other night. As you can see, Sarah has all of her babies and friends in her bed. From left to right, we have Monkey, Beanie Weanie, Pinky, Elmo and Mae Mae. Hmmm ... you may be wondering ... will there be enough room for Sarah in bed??

Sarah climbs up into bed and gives each baby a kiss and tells them all night night.  She is such a sweet mommy to her babies.

Sarah and daddy lay down with the babies to help them fall asleep.  Success, right?  Sarah is laying down in bed!!!  Take note of a few key features in this picture: 
1.  Sarah is outside of the covers.
2.  I think her eyes are open.
3.  Read her mind and it says, "are you kidding me? i'm only laying down because mommy said it would be a sweet picture!  i am about to go move into mommy and daddy's bed to sleep and around midnight daddy will give up and move to the front bed and then mommy and i have the bed to ourselves!"

Yes, I am convinced that is what she was thinking! 

On a side note, notice her bed was not a crib anymore!!  We changed it into the "toddler bed" a few weekends ago.  New bedding and everything!  Do you like the bedding?  If so, you can buy it from me for $20.  It is totally unused because this picture was the only time her little body has laid down on it! 

We have now bought a full size mattress and will be changing her bed in the next week or so.  At least this way, if she is still having to sleep with someone, at least we can sleep in her room.  Hopefully that will go far in letting her know that her room is not scary at night! 

Precious Time with Friends

This is Sarah's sweet friend Eveline.  Eveline with be turning 2 years old in just a week or so.  Sarah sees her picture on the refrigerator and gets so excited.  She really likes playing with her.  Eveline is the daughter of our good friends, Matt and Kay.

Sarah and Eveline were so good last week at lunch.  They sat next to each other and shared their meal together and then went outside to wait on everyone else to finish.  It's hard to be a kid and have to wait on grown-ups.  Oh well, at least they have each other!  Although, not so sure Eveline wanted Sarah to kiss her!

Girl Scouts, Here I come!

Look at this little girl scout!  I was in the Brownie's growing up, but didn't finish out with girl scouts.  I saw this shirt at Old Navy and just had to get it for Sarah.  She is looking like such a big girl!

Fun with Daddy

Check out the fun creations that Sarah and Daddy made with Potato Heads.  We really aren't obsessed with them.  Sure, we went to the potato head exhibit and you are looking at 3 potato heads in a family with only one child, but wait, I can explain!  We have bought Sarah only one potato head.  One was given to her at Easter by her Aunt Mel.  It was a bunny potato head.  Another one was given to Michael by me several years ago because it was "Darth Tater".  Amazingly, he is letting Sarah play with it.  I guess he didn't see any real value in that compared with some of his precious little characters wrapped up in bubble wrap hiding out in the closet!

Not Happy with Daddy

Sarah wasn't happy being told to clean up her toys.

Happy Birthday Anderson

Today a precious little boy is turning three years old.  I have been fortunate enough to work with Anderson and his family for the past year.  Anderson and his family are very special. 

In January 2009, Anderson was diagnosed with Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia.  He has been receiving treatments and is doing so well with those.  He is a very brave little boy.  However, due to his illness, he wasn't able to really have any contact with outsiders.  Therefore, he wasn't able to hear any other kids and interact with them, so he started to present with a speech delay. 

When I first started to see Anderson, he was this adorable bald-headed, super-quiet little boy ... nothing at all like what I see today.  Oh sure, he's still adorable, but now his little personality is shining through and he's cuter than ever before!

Anderson is so blessed to have wonderful Christian parents.  When he was first diagnosed, they trusted in God's plan for complete healing of their little boy.  I trust in that plan as well.  Anderson's big sister Avery started kindergarten last week in Vestavia.  In July 2009, his parents started aTeam Ministries (http://www.ateamministries.org/) with the goal of providing spiritual, emotional, and financial support to families who are dealing with the needs associated with having a child diagnosed with Oncology or Hematology diseases.  They do so many cool things for these kids.  Be sure to check them out online or on facebook.   

Anderson has come so far!!!  As I worked with him for the last time, I heard lots of laughter, words, jokes, etc.  He makes me so happy!  He no longer has a language delay at all.  He is well above his age level with his language skills.  He still has some articulation errors, but those will be addressed by the school system.  I am so thankful that I was able to meet this family.  They have been an encouragement to me in my Christian walk and an excellent role-model for Christian parenting, especially in tough times.

Good luck with everything you do Anderson!  You can do anything you want, you're a superstar!!

P.S., Sorry for the weird formatting today.  Can't get it fixed the way I want it!

Happy School Days

Happy First Day of School to everyone.  I know that some schools in Alabama and surrounding areas started earlier this week, but today is Michael's first day back at school.  Poor, pitiful thing.  It must really be hard to wake up and get dressed and work all day!  Just kidding.  Michael has been working really hard all summer with his class.  By the way, he got an A in his History class!!!  I am so proud of all he does for our family.  This year at Cornerstone, he designed a new Bible curriculum that will be used in 7-12 grade Bible.  Now, if they would just pay him more -- this private school gig might work out after all!!  Well sweetie, have a great day at school today.  Sarah and I will be asleep when you get home tonight.  I'm sorry that you'll have to stay at school for high school open house and not get home until almost nine.  We love you and are so proud of you!!!!  (We'll get you your own Elmo for school since Bug doesn't want to share!)