Happy Pumpkin Day!

Christians are like Jack O' Lanterns
God picks you from the pumpkin patch and brings you into his home. He washes off all the dirt on the outside that you got from being around all the other pumpkins. He cuts off the top and takes out all the yucky stuff on
the inside. He removes the seeds of sinfulness and carves you a new smiling face. He puts his light inside of you to shine for all to see.

You can either stay outside and rot on the vine or
have Jesus come inside and become something new and bright!
SHINE for Jesus!

HAPPY PUMPKIN DAY!

Some smiles to brighten your day!

Sending love your way :)

PRAYERS for baby Stellan!!!!!!!!

If you read my blog, or MckMama's blog

http://www.mycharmingkids.net

they really really need prayers for poor baby Stellan. They say his heart condition is the worst it has ever been :(

Take some time and read their update and lift that precious baby and his strong family up to the Lord!!!

My heart is breaking for McMama...

Our Sunday :)

Since my loves are now better we decided we could leave our quarantined home and return to the real world. We went to church and were so excited about it! Since Gracelyn still had a small running nose we couldn't put her in childcare. We decided to take her to 11:10 with us and stay just for the worship and then head over to the lobby and listen to the message on the t.v.'s in there. Well, if you know 11:10 it is LOUD worship. Gigi used to go all the time when she was little but this was her first time since she has gotten older and she LOVED it. The loud drums and guitar she was jumping out of our arms the entire time squealing with joy Praising the Lord of course ;) She would start clapping and singing ... it was so cute we just LOVED watching her getting into the music!! After worship we headed over to the lobby. We all sat on the bench and watched the message and Gigi waddled along just doing her own thing. Well she started to wander pretty far so I started to follow her. She went up to this lady sitting on her own and called her "Daw Daw" which means dog... I was a little confused.... then as I am telling her no that is not a dog a little itty bitty pooch pops its head out of her purse :) haha Gracelyn knows what doggies are... she told me!

That evening we went with Alyssa and Dan to the Highland's Harvest Festival. Gracelyn loved the loud music and free food that she kept munching on all night. Since she was still too young to do any of the carnival games or jump in the bouncy we spend most of the time in the "Smalley Crawley" room.
Lots of toys to play with!
They had a great ball pit... Gracelyn could have stayed there all night!
Her first experience with bubbles :)
They kept popping in her face!
We really have to get her one of these!
At first when we put her in it she just laid there ... a little pink poodle watching us with big eyes and we burried her under the balls. Then she jumped up and went crazy... we might have to get her one for her birthday ;)
Going down the slide!
We had a great time running into great friends that we hadn't seen in a while, playing air hockey and just enjoying the BEAUTIFUL fall weather! I can't wait for next year when she will be able to do more! Such a great free event that is fun for the whole family!

A tired puppy heading home

Friendly Blog Threats ;)

After getting a few friendly blog threats (uh hm) I have finally decided to update the blog! Surely I must have been busy taking care of my sick hubby and baby girl... I am so sorry I was not able to make chicken noodle soup, run to Walgreens, give back massages, take temperatures, make naked juice runs, fill prescriptions, AND BLOG... what kind of committed blogger CAN'T do all that ;)

So here you go! To my devoted blog readers that get so sad when they see I have not updated... I am sorry! To make up for my WHOLE WEEK of not blogging I have posted

THREE NEW BLOGS!

So have fun catching up, and stay tuned for more photos of our friend's wedding, and the Harvest Festival :)

Now that I am on a roll ya'll better try and keep up ;)

My "Mini" mouse :)

Like I have stated in previous blogs... my WHOLE family are HUGE Disneyland folks! We are committed Disney travelers. We are so silly that we even know all the secrets. Special restaurants, secret doors, short cuts, all the crazy stories etc... Not to mention that all three of us sisters (and mom.. the BEST chaperone ever!) all performed at Disneyland in Jr. High so we have been to the backside of Disneyland... behind the scenes.. which of course when you are young is like going into the actual fairy tale... though just a dressing room it seems like a whole new world!!! Man I get WAY too excited thinking about it ;) I have tried to get David "hooked" but honestly I think I overwhelm him... I can't wait for Gigi to get older and be able to share my joy!!

Well, anyway my little sister and her hubby spent part of their honeymoon at THE HAPPIEST PLACE ON EARTH! I was so jealous... I tried to be excited for them I really tried but it was SO hard! I even asked my sister to call me while she was there so I could "hear" Disneyland. Well, the two newlyweds brought us all back a little piece of Disneyland. Each family got a mickey mouse pancake turner (don't laugh) I LOVE IT! Of course Gracelyn was SPOILED! They brought her back the cutest little minnie mouse skirt! I immediately made some matching hair bows and took way too many photos. Every couple weeks or so I introduce a character to her. SUrPRISE SUrPRISE I have kept all my Disney treasures in great condition in hopes of one day giving them to my kiddos! Well Gigi is now the owner of my Minnie and Mickey beanie babies. She LOVES Minnie and sleeps with her... Mickey not so much yet... that is okay we have a WHOLE year to let her meet the entire Disney crew ;)

Here are some cute photos of her in the Minnie skirt!

A day at the park!

My sisters and their hubbies and my brother and my mom met Gracelyn and me at the park for lunch! It was the last day of my little brother's fall break and we wanted to do something as a family.

For as long and I can remember my family has always gone to Disneyland every October... we were beyond blessed... we NEVER the luxury of going every year for granted! Of course it was a HUGE tradition and we go ALL OUT for that trip. Well for the last three years we have not been able to go to Disneyland. (Weddings, and babies being born) Well we are SO excited to go NEXT October! I know I know it is a whole year away but if you know our family you know that we NEED a year to plan or should I say just an excuse to talk about it every time we are together ;) We have every inch of that park planned out and laid out... we are pros... we are FANATICS!! Anyway, back to the park we spent almost the ENTIRE time talking about the trip and getting so excited!! Gracelyn will be almost two and it will be so fun to see her at MY favorite place on earth :) I will most likely (hopefully) be pregnant again but if I went to Croatia when I was 5 months pregnant... Disneyland will be possible!!

After we were done talking and EEEeee about it Gracelyn and I went over to feed the ducks. She loves bathtime because she gets to play with her duckie "duh" So when we threw the bread to them she squealed with joy! It was so fun to see her experience feeding the duckies!! I can't wait to go back again with Daddy!

Reagan's 1st Birthday Party!

One of Gracelyn's friends Reagan turned one last week. Her sweet mother C and I were in women's bible study together and we have also been in the same couple's home group for the last two years!! This was Gracelyn's first friend to turn one and she loved it...of course I think it was all the candy and balloons! C was so talented and hosted the most yummy and fun "Sweet Shoppe" Complete with cupcake lollipops, suckers and cookies on a stick!! I am sure you all can imagine the BEST part of babies birthdays is the smash cake! Reagan had to much fun eating ALL the frosting off her cake... here are some cute pictures!!

Adorable B... look at those eyes!!! His parents are also in our Couple's small group!!

All the kiddos LOVED playing with the sticks... of course they did ;)

The beautiful Birthday girl!!

This is the birthday girl enjoying that cake!!


"Hi it is my party and I get to eat cake!"

Candy Corn Cutie!

For those of you who know me I am not a huge fan of celebrating Halloween. I knew I would have to make some tough decisions once I had Gracelyn! I didn't want to completely ignore the holiday or make it some bad scary thing, but I was having a hard time trying to make it fun and not scary. My mom and sisters would always tell me it is how you celebrate it. Growing up Halloween always meant homemade nachos, dressing up (nothing scary) and going trick or treating with Daddy. My mom would always stay at home and pass out the candy. So clearly it was a fun event back then... somehow as I got older I just decided I could skip it altogether. Well, now that I am Mommy I had to make the decision to MAKE it fun!! David would always host a fall pumpkin carving party in his bachelor days complete with homemade caramel apples... so he made the holiday fun!! I asked him what he wanted to do now that we had Gracelyn. We agreed to go to a few houses in our neighborhood and then head over to THE BEST NEIGHBORHOOD EVER!! The one I grew up in. Where everyone knows everyone and we have a small reunion in the driveways of their homes!

This year however, was the first time I attended The Chapman's Amazing Halloween Craft and Cooking Party!!!

My sister and her husband go all out!! Gracelyn wore her Candy Corn Costumes I made her... well I made her bows and her tutu and then bought the leggings and shirt :)

We ate yummy spider cookies and witches finger breadsticks


drank a fogging punch

Gigi had so much fun as we painted pumpkins




decorated goody bags, made popcorn balls and somehow the guys managed to set off a dry ice bomb (really... are you THAT surprised... the footage is on Facebook on David's page if you want to see it) Anyway, my sister made it so fun!!! It really encouraged me and showed me that Halloween can be a safe, fun Holiday to celebrate! Of course we will still have some strict rules once Gigi gets older ;) For now though we will have fun decorating pumpkins and dressing up :)