The Treat of the Trade

The cooler days have set in. We had one more last warmer weekend where he could roam in a diaper and shirt. He longed for an ice cream on the last warm weekend. Anything to hold onto that cool refreshment. Anything to have the sun melting it before you can eat it. Play barefoot all day...outside in the warm breezes. He loved this past summer. And I loved that I was able to stay home and enjoy it with him. We try to keep its memory alive any way we can!! :)

I watch "The Talk". Its a new talk show. Better than The View in my opinion. All the host are moms and its really supposed to be geared towards everything parenting. I cant get passed this dog they had on their last week... It has like an 11in tongue. It cant put it back in its mouth. I could not have a dog like that nor adopt a dog like that like the lady did that was a guest on the show. I snapped a few pictures of it so i can remind myself that when my dog and cat lick me at least their tongues make it back into their mouth!!

The kids have been bugging me to make carmel apples. "Its almost Halloween!! What's October without carmel apples?" It was really simple since I bought the premade carmel dip. I wasn't about to spend hours taking off the wrappers, heating up the carmel candies. I look for quick and easy! Plus 2 out of these 3 kids are very impatient when it comes to stuff like this. (or anything for that matter) I'm not naming any names but one is a boy and the other is wearing a brown shirt. mhmm. Finished product! Yummy goodness on a stick! I love fall and everything that comes with it! The crisp air. The yellow and orange leaves. Baking. Spending more time with family. Love it! HAPPY WEDNESDAY!

Every 6 weeks when Jill gets her report card she gets treated to something fun of her choice. Dinner, a movie...whatever it is she wants. She's an A-B Honor Roll student. She works hard for those grades so it's only fair she gets rewarded for the hard work. She chose dinner at Chili's for the first 6 weeks. It's also a nice treat for the whole family since we hardly ever eat out anyway. It's a nice break from the normal routine we have. I think she's going to pick a movie the 2nd 6 weeks. I can't wait! :)

Jaxon treated all the kids and his sitter to some Halloween doughnuts the other morning and they were a huge hit with the kids! The local doughnut stop broke out of their shell of the boring orange frosting and sprinkles and put some love into their decorations this year. Made the kids laugh and not only did they get to eat the yummy goodness but they got to also keep a little treat too!

Another sure sign its fall around here is the annual corn maze. This year they had so many new things for the kiddos to enjoy. Cow rides, hay hills, Ducky Derby's, pumpkin patch, goats, bunnies....we all had a blast! These goats LOVED Jaxon. Then I realized they just wanted to be in a picture. Daddy and Jaxon riding these cool little bikes. The course was set up like a go-cart track. They had fun. So I decide to get on one and again realized something....I'm outta shape!! Jaxon and his friend Mark in the corn maze. We had to snag a wagon to tote them around in. But they carried the flashlights, drinks snacked on a banana. So they were really along for the ride . This is me Jillian and Jessie at the end of the corn maze. Even though it was a bit chilly as the sun set we all had a great time. And cant wait until next year! HAVE A GREAT SATURDAY!!

It's the latest diet craze that might sweep the nation...or my house. Who knows. I guess all you do is put a potato in a glass and..... .....toss it in there for a bit and...drink it?? or stare at it. That's a good way to lose some weight no? HAPPY THURSDAY !!!

It was bound to happen. Mambo would get tossed to the other side of the bed. No covers. Left to fall asleep alone. Poor Mambo . He found a new friend. Hooey the bird. He's from a Dr. Seuss book that he also got one day and since then the bird has been his sleeping buddy. He sleeps with alot of stuff in his crib now. Sometimes I have to take out the cars and anything that makes noise that wind up in there. No one wants to hear that at 3am! So for now it's Hooey and Jaxon . Mambo just goes along for the ride. I know it won't last long, as Mambo does get to go everywhere with us.

As much as I hate to say it...I had to go back to work.....outside of the home. Meaning I gave up alot of time with Jaxon. It was harder on me today to drop him off than it was when he was 7 weeks old and his sitter was a complete stranger to us then. He wasn't sure what to think this morning, so I know his schedule is a little off today. As he loved to sleep in after a busy weekend, eat breakfast with me and watch Sesame Street and Word World. I too was in that same mode this morning as I looked at the clock at 1030 and sang the Word World song to myself. I hope he was doing the same. :) I will miss our time. Play time, lunch time, nap time, crazy time, fussy time...I will miss it all. It just didn't feel right today not being at home with him. But like I said as much as I hated to go back to work this will benefit not only him but everyone in the house.

He loves this new game he made up. Going in and out of the screen door. He thinks when he is inside we have NO idea where he is. He does this every time we are outside. I have been loving the fact that the weather is getting a bit cooler. I have been letting him take advantage of it as well. Even if it means we (I) have to deal with him having a runny nose the next few days. He is growing up so fast and developing such a great personality and good attitude. He is a happy kid. Very go with the flow but determined at the same time. Before I know it he will be walking out the door but he wont turn around right away to come back in...

I've been slowly but surely putting my Food Network Magazines to use. This was a recipe for bacon cheddar wrapped chicken breast. My only fault in this is that i should have cut the chicken in two. Live and learn. Regardless if it looked just like the picture or not, everyone loved it and we thought of a different cheese to put on it next time, what side dishes would also be good. I love when everyone at the table shares input of what would be better next time or we should try it this way type ideas. That way we are still trying new things and putting our family twist on it.

Jaxon was *not* wanting to go to bed the other night and it was waaaaay past his bedtime. There are certain TV shows Josh and I watch once the kids go to bed. We only have a small window of opportunity being that he has to get up so early the next morning and got to work. So Josh carefully climbed into Jaxon's bed. Covered up with his blanket and snuggled with his bear and monkey. Let me tell you...Jaxon was *not* a huge fan of his daddy being in his bed. He yelled at his daddy to get out. Josh did, told Jaxon that it was his turn to lay down and he couldn't wait to get in bed at that point. He stayed in bed and feel asleep with no problem.

Our cat doesn't always get treats. There are more days than not that she is a bad cat. But she has been being good here lately, so I thought Jaxon could start giving her some treats. (on the days she deserves them) He did pretty good his first time around. Didn't give her to many and poured them right on to the plate. And the good thing was he didn't try to eat any of them!! She waits patiently as he learns his new chore. He has become such a good little helper. I am going to miss giving up *some* of my days with him when I start back to work next week. I know he wont mind me gone, but I will miss showing him new things and learning from him everyday! HAPPY WEDNESDAY!!

10-9-10. What a simple ceramony. What a laid back wedding. You two are the most relaxed people I have ever met. This was beautiful. Those were just some of the things we were told Saturday after the wedding. It was a small simple laid back ceramony....but your wedding reflects you as a couple. We are laid back and compliment each other well. I do however have to say I am glad this day has come and went. Even though we had a simple wedding it was still stressful to get all the minor details worked out. The girls were gorgeous, Jaxon just did his own thing, and 30 minutes later we were husband and wife. To have and to hold.

There is never a dull moment when this girl is around. The outfit she is wearing was my uncles when he was a little boy. Hes almost 50, if that tells you how old it is. Shes rockn the afro wig the cat costume and the Elmo guitar. This is sad kitty. I love this little girl. She brightens my day. She is one of a kind. I wish everyone was as carefree as her.

Jillian has started to go to church with my grandma on Sunday mornings and she has become a part of the youth group. She informs me one Tuesday evening that they are going to make and deliver scarecrows to area nursing homes and that she was supposed to dress up. The next day. I wanted Jillian to be able to dress up, but the fact that it was the last Wednesday in September, I wasn't even close to having her costume ready. She wants to be a pirate for Halloween. But for this we made an exception. Pulled some things together from the house, called Jennifer to see what she had available and TAA-DAA...she was transformed into a gypsy. Not to bad for finding out 24 hours prior. So again I awarded myself with a mommy-merit badge for being "spur of the moment creative". She was able to make 20 scarecrows that night to be delivered the next week to the elderly. I am glad she is growing and experiencing and learning all at the same time! HAPPY SUNDAY!!

Today is the day I marry my best friend. I have realized as it has been getting closer just how good life is. Although we have been living together for almost 4 years now and we have a wonderful son, I am lucky to become his wife. Nothing really is changing in our daily lives, other than a stronger love. Today I marry my best friend.

H A L L O W E E N !! I don't have many decorations for this holiday. It's snowmen and reindeer that I have my heart set on. (sorry ghost and goblins) My sister Jennifer had a cute little craft for her and Jillian to do one Sunday afternoon. The green and white ones are Jill's and I made the orange one for the little pumpkin of the house. I guess as the years go on i will have the collection going for homemade decor. Being that school art will take over this house. I think between now and the 31st I will teach Jaxon to draw a pumpkin...or color the ones that I draw....I will need decorations for next year! HAPPY FRIDAY!!

He plays very well with his feet might I add. His aunt Jennifer got him this guitar and he loves it!! Plus it has Elmo on it...and that's huge bonus points for her!! He plays and plays with this guitar. The neat thing is, is that it plays the Sesame Street theme song on its own. But of course he can still add his own touch and rock out. This was a good find Jennifer!! Now he will have someone to really thank for "that first guitar" when he makes it big!!

So watch out! He's looking for you! You can actually bribe this one. He loves M&Ms, chocolate milk, goldfish crackers, French Fries, kisses, to be tickled (even though he tells you to stop), and any opportunity to be funny....and we let him just be....

Well it came and went as fast as most to all Friday nights do. My Bachelorette Party! My little sister planned the whole thing, and what a great job she did! This is me with my little sister on my left and my friend Mallory to my right. We started off eating my favorite food...mexican...and having my favorite drink...margarita...frozen! Me and Jennifer...we all know how much I love her. A few more of my friends at the restaurant. I wont post any pictures from the rest of the night at the bar where many many shots were consumed. Many many dances were danced. Many many laughs were laughed. But all in all it was a good time. Like my life is....a good time. Like my relationship is with Josh...a good time. I think I want to reinvent this whole bachelorette party thing and make this a once a month thing and call it ....the married girls good time!!