Happy Birthday Blake and Happy Halloween!

Blake turned 2 on Halloween! My baby is 2, I cannot believe it! We didn't have a party because I have only had first birthday parties for each, and I didn't want to have another for him and not for her, etc, etc. So we had a family cupcake night. Blake had asked for green cupcakes, so I just did green sugar on chocolate icing. The sad thing is he didn't even want the cupcake!








Kate is always happy to cheer him on!


Kate was a ladybug for Halloween, and Blake was supposed to be a monkey... but he would have NO part in dressing up. So, it was a good thing we didn't end up Trick or Treating.























My parents came over to celebrate and go out to dinner. When Blake woke up from his nap, he ONLY wanted Gigi... as in, would not let go of her. My dad (and Kate) put together his tricycle they gave him, and then Kate played with it since he wouldn't let go of my mom. We went to dinner and came home, not too eventful, but we did get to celebrate our favorite 2 year old! He is still his sweet self, but has been throwing some fits like you would not believe. We are going to nip this "terrible twos" behavior in the bud! Brandon worked most of the weekend, so we just rested and let Kate trick or treat from my parents, Blake didn't care! I don't know where I have been but I have been busy, and our computer was down, so maybe I will be back to the blogworld now!

Makes Me Smile

Something about sleepy kids makes me smile. Kate has been resisting naps lately, which means she will pass out later or be terrible the rest of the day. I let her watch cartoons so she wouldn't wake Blake one afternoon while I sewed, and I turned around and found her like this.



Blake is a typical boy- he wants food immediately when he wakes up! In the mornings, he gets out of bed saying, "I want bar," which means a Nutrigrain bar. In the afternoons, it is all about the "kackers." His sweaty bed head made me laugh today, and the fact that he couldn't shovel the Cheezits in fast enough.

First Day of School

Sadly, these are the best pictures I got of the kids' first day of Mother's Day Out. I would have tried to take them before school, but we were already running late, and they were exhausted after school. So, this is after their nap and they were a little more smiley for the camera. Kate went to "school" last year, but this was Blake's first day, and he did great! His entire class (except his buddy York) was crying and screaming, and there were a few crying moms outside the room... what a welcoming sight! His teacher was blowing bubbles as he walked in, so he was fine. They did say that he got a little grumpy and took a 15 minute power nap, and he was good to go play some more.






(Kate had her pants on backwards and you can see the dirt she collected on her bottom!)





Kate's teachers said she was a trooper and that she just walked right in like it was nothing new. Thank God, because she has been super clingy the past few weeks. I think it is a good situation for all! Kids happy=mom happy. Mom happy=Dad happy!

Trees of Goodness

This morning I was praying for friends who are suffering with where they are in life, have just lost a baby, longing for a baby, lost a loved one, etc., and I saw a verse in my devotion book, Jesus Calling, by Sarah Young (the real book that should get credit is The Bible though!). Isaiah 61:3 says, "He has sent me to comfort all those who are sad and to help the sorrowing people of Jerusalem. I will give them a crown to replace their ashes, and the oil of gladness to replace their sorrow, and clothes of praise to replace their spirit of sadness. Then they will be called Trees of Goodness, trees planted by the Lord to show His greatness." Anyway, I was so encouraged by our Father's renewing grace and how He alone can provide the gladness when all we can feel is sorrow, and the praise to replace sadness. I hope this verse reminds you of His love too. And I hope that I can look to this verse the next time I am feeling down, and be called a Tree of Goodness instead of wallowing in my own sadness (because that is what usually happens :)).

Ready to Slow Down

We have been going in a million directions! We have been out of town for a week, and just got back last night. Brandon took his Step 3 boards last week, but we had to go to Dothan to take them, so we made a vacation out of it and stayed with his Grandmother and Grandaddy in Geneva. We played with Brandon's cousin and her daughter, Rylie. We forgot our camera, so these are pictures from our last trip there. These are two peas in a pod! Blake played too, but he found a friend in Grandaddy! He would go sit in his lap and read the same book over and over again.













After our trip to Geneva, we went to Greenville to see Brandon's youngest brother play his first football game of his senior year. It was a little humid, and the kids were WILD, so the kids and I left at half-time. We have eaten well, rested, and spent time with family, so now we are ready to wind down and get back into the real world.
The kids start Mothers' Day Out next week, and Brandon is starting a busy rotation, so here we go!

Chloe

Meet my niece, Chloe. She is Derek's (my brother) little girl, and if you have seen how wrapped around Kate's finger he is, you could only imagine his own daughter!

Chloe is playing at our house today, and I could eat her dimples with a spoon. My kids are loving it, especially Kate because she thinks she is the babysitter. Better go, I am not used to 3!

Delicious

If you like Rice Krispy Treats at all, you have to make them yourself! The recipe on the box is good, but I used less rice krispies to make them Gooey-er.
Melt 3 Tbsp butter in a saucepan (on low heat), then add 40 large marshmallows and stir until melted. Then add in 5 cups rice krispies into the marshmallow mix. You will probably need to use wax paper over your fingers when you press into a pan to cool, because these are extra gooey.
Enjoy!!