S'mores

Ever since we moved in with my parents I've been dying to use the wood burning stove on their deck to make S'mores. At last the weather, a good nap and time to make some homemade marshmallows that I've been wanting to make all came together...

The marshmallows were a bit of a flop, but melted with chocolate on graham cracker they were delicious!

Not pictured is Lily. She is sleeping. Sorry lady, you around a fire is enough anxiety to put me in my grave right now. Maybe next year!

Apple Pickin'

I've never been apple picking in my thirty-one years of life until a few weeks ago when we went with some dear friends. Friends whose daughter happens to be Weston's Prom Date 2024. Here they are holding hands within seconds of greeting one another...

As it turns out, apple picking is pretty Lily friendly. There's just not much trouble you can get into in an apple orchard!



The group consensus ranked Golden Delicious as the favorite.


Sweetest. Face. Ever. Don't lie, you want to scrunch those cheeks right through your computer screen...


Happy husband and wife. I may or may not have had a hand in getting us turned around in East St. Louis on the way there. He was not a happy husband then...



Much to my surprise, Weston followed Sophie on a first ever pony ride adventure.


He did great! Didn't even want me walking beside the pony.


Later he told me he wanted to ride a horse because ponies can't run and he wants to ride a running horse. We'll see about that Mr. Serious Cowboy...


Apple picking is definitely a do again for next year! Thanks friends for a great time!

Stats on a Random Thursday

It's 10:45 a.m. on a simple Thursday and I'm a bit impressed with the stats so far:

Awake for almost 6 hours

Off to a nutritionally healthy start already having consumed 2 cups of coffee, 2 cupcakes, 2 pieces of pizza and 1/2 a beer

Lily is on her 3rd outfit of the day

1 trip to the Sprint store (1 more left for the day)

1 Child to Mother's Day Out, 1 child already napping

At this rate everyone will be in bed about 4 p.m and we'll call it a day :)

Blog to Book

I started this blog a little over two years ago with the purpose of documenting our days and making this into a book each year (in lieu of my nonexistent scrap booking skills). Well, I finally got the kick in the rump I needed to do it when I found a Groupon to Blurb, one of a few companies who "slurps" your blog into a book (still leaving much of the work to you to my dismay!). It's not always easy to find time to blog, but after making this...


...I'm so glad I've disciplined myself to update this regularly. I learned a lot making this book and I'll do it differently next year (including not cramming the creation into the 3 days prior to the coupon expiring). I also learned how I can blog better so it will fit more easily into a book format.

Someday I'd like to move up from point and shoot land to a nicer SLR camera...and learn how to actually take pictures (can you tell I'm not getting tutorials from my best friend?!). But I think this little place will grow in many ways through the years and for now I'm doing the best I can with the time and resources given to me in this season.

Grateful for...

#74 A family to create a blog/book about

#75 The sanctification of parenting

#76 Sunny, wind blowing leaves everywhere day

And I Quote...A Catch Up on Weston

Lucky for Weston, he has said some pretty great things in his third year that have made us at least smile if not belly laugh. If he weren't so funny, I might just pop him in the mail to Alaska some days. Or perhaps Africa, he'd like the animals better.

Just kidding, you're a great kid Westie...

(Erin Duggin Photography!)

...I mean who can resist that face? Not me, and I frequently kiss his cheeks repetitively until he pushes my head away.

I digress, here are some funny things he's said recently before I forget:

(In response to whether he would ever like another brother or sister): "Yes! But I want a grown-up sister who can talk to me...not like Lily."

W: "Mom, is there grass in my heart?"
M: "Why would there be grass in your heart?"
W: "For Jesus to stand on. Doesn't he need something to stand on?"

(Driving down the highway, he spots a motorcycle): "Mom! Look! That guy's not pedaling!"

(He has a bull bouncy jump ball toy that sits high up on a hutch waiting for him to wear underwear. This comment came as I'm cleaning his massive out diaper poop explosion): "We're not going to get a bull like this are we?"

(After Lily had just torn up our favorite Jesus Storybook Bible, Weston brings in a different Children's Bible): "Lily, you canNOT tear up this book because THIS is the Holy Spirit of Jesus."

"Last night when I was sleeping with Noni, I thought I heard a lion roaring...but it was just Noni snoring."

I'm sure I'll remember more later and have to post again. Meanwhile, it feels like Lily has a new word everyday and is starting to put two words together. Can't wait to hear what's going on in that little mind!

Crib Schmib

This little bit is crawling out of her crib already.


Are we surprised? Not. One. Bit. Third percentile for size? Not a problem when you're part monkey. I wouldn't quite call it a habit yet and she stays once we put her back. I'm partially in denial and praying she just forgets this little trick. But we also don't want her to get hurt. Although I think she's managing fine... one morning she quietly marched herself right upstairs...didn't even bother to stop in our bedroom to say "good morning". Luckily, Noni was already awake upstairs and took care of her until I had that freak out moment when you go to get your child and she's not in her crib.

Oh, my sweet, sweet Lily. Never a dull moment with you. We're thinking of legally changing your middle name to Sass. And I couldn't be more proud of you.

Grateful for...

#72 finding a dinosaur on my nightstand before bed

#73 beautiful, crisp Autumn weather so many days in a row