It finally happened....

Last night one of my biggest fears was realized (read a touch of sarcasm and over-dramatization here). We couldn't find Logan's special blanket.

The one he has slept with for 3 1/2 years.

The one that goes EVERYWHERE with us, but must stay in the car.

The one that puts this mama into a panic when it is temporarily missing in the house.

The one that got lost in a park only to be found again because it is so worn that even an animal would pass it up as nesting material.

As with the big things in life, I take the seemingly small things to God - if you combed through my prayer journal over the last couple years you would see things like:

- Prayer for potty training - Check! (both kids)
-Prayer for poopy training (because lets face it, 2 VERY different things) - Check! (both kids)
-Prayer for giving up pacis (I FORCED my kids to take pacis, I was a thumb-sucker) - Check (for Olivia, still waiting on Logan)
-Prayer for giving up Logan's blanket

While this may all seem so trivial in the big scheme of life, I believe that if it has the potential to steal your joy it can be given over to God, who promises to take our cares if we just offer them to him.

So last night in a moment of sheer panic for us (Tommy was so panicked that he said "He will be fine", got on the computer to check his email and catch-up on facebook. Guess we all show panic in different ways, he was CLEARLY in denial), I experienced a calm that can ONLY be from God, since in the past I had not experienced anything related to calm in the lost blanket situations. I found a substitute blanket (that had not worked in the past) cut the tag so that it was "just right", gave it to Logan, explained that his other one was lost, said a quick prayer and left him to fall asleep.

Although he is up a little earlier than normal this morning, and has asked for his old blanket a couple times - WE MADE IT!

Hugs to my blogging buddies!

More fall memories

Tommy's awesome pumpkin carving!!!! Every year they get better!

My little guy.

FALL!!!!

I have always loved this time of year.



In high school it was sectional, regionals, semi-state and state for cross-country. Some very exciting times.



In college it was football games, and bundling up to walk to class (try to picture me trying to walk as fast as Jill) :)



Now it is watching my blessings from heaven play in the leaves...




Logan's shirt says "Boys will be boys" - A perfect fit for him!

Tippy Toes and Trains

This weekend was full of surprises for us!



First Logan got his new bed. It is a bunk-bed set but we are just doing one bed for now. He was so excited, he even slept with the picture of his new bed the night before!



After the bed excitement we discovered our car battery was COMPLETELY dead, at a local restaurant, which although not convenient was such a blessing that we weren't far from home and that AAA could come to us so quickly.



Here are some pictures of our Sunday at home:



Olivia has ALWAYS walked/run on her toes! I love this picture of her on her toes while coloring her body-drawing on the wall.




Afternoon craft time - we traced her body on brown paper and she colored it in! Love how she gets more detailed as she gets older. There was a bow on her outfit and eyebrows!

Logan's new bed: there is a top piece to make it bunk beds, we are thinking when he turns 4? He is just such a climber! I need to get him some dinosaur sheets and comforter, or airplanes, or cars :) but for now he gets a quilt! I am SOOO ready to repaint his room too, I am thinking brown on 3 walls and green on the window wall....

Tommy and the kids put the Geo Trax train together, but I am confused, there aren't any little people in this picture... They had moved on to other activities and daddy was trying out the train.

Some of you know that I have a serious love/hate relationship with my treadmill, but NOW I have a love/hate relationship with the 30 day shred dvd. Kerri (my fab sis-in-law) warned me it was very tough, I HAD NO IDEA! It is comprised of 20 minute workouts that are designed to kick your butt , I mean, get you toned quickly. Lets just say, the first day I only made it half way, Tommy was out of town, and for the safety of the kids I quit early. Didn't want to completely pass out with no one to care for the kids. How is that for an excuse, I mean responsible parenting??? So tonight I will attempt again, and I am going to attempt to do 30 workouts in 35 days. (this was Kerri's goal and I think it is a great one!) Check back to see if I am still alive and toned!

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Prayer Request: Please keep my friends Christie and Adam in your prayers, their baby, Zek, (they will be going to get him in Ethiopia soon) is having complications due to pneumonia. It is so hard for them to be so far from him at this time. Thanks so much blog buddies!

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One more thing: Just for the record, I love change (most of the time) but I am not in favor the new Facebook look! Why do they keep messing with a good thing?

And yes Susie, it is TIME for you to get on facebook. :) Love you!

Cleveland

The kids are I are so thankful to be able to travel with Tommy when he has to travel for work. This trip was to Cleveland for a wine show.
The kids loved running around by the lake, but really wished they were swimming in it. Maybe next time!

Getting to swim when it is cold outside is such fun, I never get tired of it!

Quote of the day:

Logan: "I want to go to Chi-cleveland!"

I believe that is Chicago and Cleveland combined. :)

Tailgating - ND/USC

Some of my favorite pics from our afternoon tailgating at the ND game yesterday...

The kids (and I include Tommy in this group) LOVED running around on the practice field!

Candles

I LOVE FALL! and one of the things I love about fall is candles. For some reason I go on candle hiatus in the summer, I really don't have them on much at all. But the other day I got a new one (nothing fancy, just a Glade one) and it has just perked up my kitchen!

Our home is cozy, so a candle in the kitchen can be smelled throughout the whole house. At times Tommy is fooled and walks in the door thinking I have just made cookies.

I just love to look at them. I love to light them first thing in the morning, right next to my beloved coffee pot.

And I love to put it in the bathroom after the kids have gone to bed.

Isn't it fun when something that costs $4 can just be so fun!

My favorite scent is anything cookie or coffee related in the fall/winter and clean Cotton scents in the spring, what's your favorite scent?

"Bob and Wendy"

God's hugs

I have been thinking alot about Tommy's role and relationship with our kids. God has used it to remind me of the love He has for me. I love to watch the love Tommy has for Olivia and Logan, the look in his eye when he sees them, as if they are the only people in the world at that moment. The HUGE hug sessions he has with them when he comes home from work.

Oh how my heavenly Father loves to hug me! There are days when He just feels so close, and days when He seems a little distant. On the distant days, He is right here, but for some reason I am too busy or distracted to feel Him.

Today I felt Him wrap his BIG arms around me and fill me with warmth. I was sitting outside, on this beautiful sunny day and I looked up and realized there wasn't a cloud in the sky! It was as if I was seeing the beautiful sky for the first time, it was breathtaking!!! Just one of the gifts He has given me today. Just one reminder that He is always there. Just one more thing to thank Him for.

I am so thankful that God gives us just a "glimpse" of his love for us, In the way a father loves his kids.

American Girl Day!

Today was Olivia's big day! American Girl Doll Day! The doll is an early birthday present from Grandma and Grandpa J, and since we were going to be in Chicago anyway they decided she should have it early. She was so excited, to say the least, and by this time even Logan was excited!

My "American Girl Doll" on the day she got hers. (She asked me if I wanted an American Girl Doll too and I said that SHE is my American Girl Doll!)

We bought the doll and had the cashier open it so she could carry it while we shopped for outfits and accessories.

Logan's favorite part was the pumpkin cookies and the escalator. He was such a good sport on Olivia's special day.

Even daddy was excited! (As I write this I just heard her say: "I can't believe I got my doll daddy!" they are trying on the different earrings, Thanks Susie!)

There is just something about Chicago. I have been many times, and I could go a million more. I just haven't seen or done enough there.

It was nice to take Gigi and the kids and just enjoy the city on a beautiful Sunday morning. (Thanks mom for the help with the kids!)