Halloween Costumes 2012

We hardly ever accomplish anything EARLY in our household, but we have done something we’ve never done before.  We have costumes a month early for trick or treat.

I used to pride myself in coming up with original, handmade costume ideas.  I swore I would never purchase these things from the local supercenter.  Well, I gave in. 

Cade was easy.  He knew he wanted to be a ninja, and his daddy helped him find it immediately.  It’s going to look something like this…

SaraGrace was a different story. We should have known better than to let her travel those aisles with thousands of choices.  Finally, she found the one.

Don’t ask me when she became interested in Spider Girl, but apparently she is. 

I’m just so happy to have that behind me.  Maybe now we can focus on getting ready for Emmy.

My Favorite Pregnancy Product

I’ve done a few posts on my favorite things, so I thought I would share my most favorite thing during this pregnancy.

I have never purchased any miracle stretch mark creams or expensive maternity pillows (although I could benefit from both) because frankly, I’m just too much of a tight wad.  However, I have stumbled across what could possibly be the most effective pregnancy product ever…

the $1 rolling pin from the Target Dollar Bin.

I discovered it by mistake, actually.  My legs and back have been hurting something fierce.  My dr. wrote me a prescription for some massage therapy, but my insurance wouldn’t cover it.  I love a massage, but I can’t afford $60 every other day.  So I had to get thrifty.

I asked my darling husband Rob, if he would try to roll my legs and my back with SaraGrace’s rolling pin.  Can I tell you that I had a momentary out-of-body experience?  This thing works!!!  Who’d have thought it?  He has been so gracious to roll my hurting muscles every day.  I love that man!!!

Can you add the Dollar Bin to a baby registry?  My sister’s baby shower is this weekend.  I’m thinking I might just buy her a rolling pin:)

Little Monkey

SaraGrace is still loving gymnastics, and she gets more and more excited each week.  Last night was no exception.

They worked on the balance beam, the floor and then the bars.  At the end of class, they got the chance to go in the foam pit.

When I looked up to see what she was doing, this is what I saw…

She climbed the rope all the way to the ceiling!  She was so proud of herself.  She is such a little monkey!

More of My Favorite Things

It’s been a while since I posted some favorite things, so I thought I’d share two with you today.  I am not getting paid in any way to say nice things about these products.  I just like it when someone passes good things on to me, so I thought I would do the same.

We have an inside cat, Miss Kitty.  (I have nothing to do with the litter box except monitor when it has to be changed.)  I was worried about having a litter box because I CANNOT stand the smell of an animal in my house.  We have found the perfect litter.

You don’t even know she’s in the house, except if you see her with your own two eyes!  It’s amazing!!! and CHEAP!!! 

The other thing I’d like to share is the Instant Manicure by Beauticontrol.

This is heaven in a jar!  It makes your hands (and feet) amazingly soft.  It is by far, one of my favorite beauty products.  I had never heard of Beauticontrol until we started attending our church.  Everything they sell is wonderful.  If you’re interested, you can shop around at www.beautipage.com/kristiwilliams.  Kristi is super sweet, and you’ll love what you see.

Eye Black

This year, Cade decided he wanted to wear eye black with a Bible verse each week to his games.  For his first game, he chose Philippians 3:14 - 

“I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”

At first, I thought Rob had gotten it backwards, assuming Cade had chosen Phil 4:13.  But they both quickly informed me that all was right with the world.

This week, he came running into my bedroom and said, “Mom, what is  Faith’s verse again? I want to use that one.  I know what it says, but I can’t remember where it is found.”

I thought it was so  sweet he wanted to use Faith’s verse.

I wanted so badly to get a picture to remember his sweet words by.  However, he was not happy with me at all because I was embarrassing him in front of his teammates:)

But I got it anyway!!!

The really cool thing about his weekly eye black is that he has chosen to learn each of the verses.  He said if people ask him what they mean, he needs to be able to tell them.

He’s such a sweet boy!!!  Even if he is giving me dirty looks in the camera:)

Step Out

Sometimes it’s a struggle to fully comprehend what God is calling us to do.  Maybe we don’t understand what it is He’s asking, or maybe it’s just out of our comfort zone.

Recently, Rob and I were asked to teach the high school Sunday School class.  Can I just say that teaching IS NOT MY GIFT!!!  Rob is in his element while teaching or leading a Bible Study group, but I have always been perfectly happy just being a bystander.

Last Sunday was our first official class.  I was a nervous wreck all week, because I felt like I was a fish out of water.  When we sat down together to prepare our lesson, I could feel my heart pounding out of my chest.  I was feeling so sorry for all of the students:)  I told Rob he could teach, and I would just fill in where needed.

Once Sunday rolled around, I really prayed that the Lord would use us in any way He saw fit.  Can I tell you what a BLESSING our class was?  It was so much fun, and Rob and I talked about it all the way home from church.  Those students blessed us in ways you can’t even imagine.

I write all of this to say….when God calls you to do something, don’t be scared.  It’s probably not in your comfort zone because that would be too easy.  Step out and trust Him.  He knows what’s best!!!  You never know how you may be a blessing to someone.  You also never know the blessing you may be missing out on.

Meet Diesel

Last Wednesday, I got a phone call from my dearly beloved BFF, Amy.  She had been informed of a dog that needed to be rescued that day, or he was going to meet his maker.

I knew what Rob’s answer would be, but I called him anyway.  He said, “Check it out and let me know.”  Because Amy didn’t have any pictures, we started searching the animal shelters and the pound.  In the mean time, we stumbled across this pound puppy-

He was a mastiff mix, just like Rob’s best dog ever, Fender.  I thought he was a little scary looking, but Rob thought we should go check him out. 

After a phone call from Amy that the original puppy had found a home, we went to the pound to look at this dog.  I absolutely hate going there.  All of the puppies meet you at their gate to say, “Pick me!  Pick me!”  It breaks my heart. 

When we got to cage 24, we laid eyes on the sweetest puppy ever!!!  Rob was instantly in love!!!  Keep in mind, our kids had no idea we were even discussing a dog.

When we picked up Cade and SaraGrace from Nanny’s, we had this beast in the back of my little ole’ Rogue:

 

A 70 pound slobbering glob of puppy love!!!  We named him Diesel, and the kids were over the moon!

His pound name was Goober, and I thought it was a strange name for such a big dog.  But we soon learned why he may have been named that.  Every time you go to pet him, this is what he does:

He just rolls over, tongue hanging out, wanting some more attention.

Saturday, we loaded him up for his free vet visit.  That was a trip!  SaraGrace and me were going to handle it by ourselves so the boys could make it to football on time.  However, after some deep thought, Rob thought it was best if he went to handle him.  Diesel is still a puppy, and is full of energy. 

Not that he’s any different from our kids:)

Cade and SG were fascinated by the jar of heartworms.  Cade asked all kinds of questions, and fully educated himself on how they occur.

Let’s just say that the conversation took a turn for the worst when they took his temperature and checked him for worms.

Diesel showed everyone what a sweet baby he was, because he just rolled over every time someone showed him some attention.

Look at that face-

We are all so in love with our new baby, although I think Cade and Rob are the most excited!  Cade tells us everyday what his plans are when he gets home- play with Diesel.