Braces

I'm hoping Caiden won't need braces...hee, hee. Just a little "Halloween" fun.

"Hairy" Head

It keeps growing...

and growing...

Caiden made this "hariy" head out of dirt, grass seed and a pair of women's nylons at his preschool a few weeks ago. We already "cut" his hair once and it just keeps growing.

If you think I'm crazy...

...you should meet my family.

Out for a Saturday ride...

at the NASHVILLE SUPERSPEEDWAY! Yes, I said it. I was able to take a 3 lap ride in a Nationwide series car at the Nashville Superspeedway today. It was awesome! I'm a Nascar fan and was so excited when this opportunity came up (Thanks Frank & Harry too!). It totally made my year! Now, I can check that off my Bucket List. Now, I just have to save $400 to drive 8 laps around the track. Anyone wanna make donations?

Happy "Blog"anniversary to Me!

Yep...today is my one year "blog" anniversary. I can't believe it either! Its been just a year ago that I entered in to this era of technology, gave in to the promptings by a really great friend and took off on this adventure. My blog has certainly "evolved" over the course of this year - maybe not in to exactly as I had imagined it but then you know God is still working on me too. So, those who read often, I hope you enjoy this next year too. For those who don't, they're just plain missing out!

VOTE

I wouldn't necessarily call myself "political" but I am patriotic. And, I believe as an American is it our right and privilege to cast a vote in every election that we have a chance to be a part of. It is the American way, the way we each individually make our voice known. Every vote counts. Every vote can and will make a difference. Check out this video. It will leave a "lump" in your throat and hopefully motivate you to want to cast your vote on November 4th.

Thinking of having kids?

I came across this on the Revive Our Hearts ministry page and had a good laugh while realizing that I could so relate to most of these things. If you are a mom, you'll be able to relate too. Enjoy...it was written by a mother who has six children, and it was entitled, “Thinking of Having Kids?”

She gives several lessons.

Lesson 1: If you’re thinking of having children . . .
-Go to the grocery store.
-Arrange to have your husband’s salary paid directly to their head office.
-Go home. Pick up your favorite magazine.
-Read it for the last time.

Lesson 2: To discover how the nights will feel . . .
-Walk around the living room from 5PM to 10PM carrying a wet bag weighing approximately 8-12 pounds, with a radio turned to static (or some other annoying noise) playing loudly.
-At 10PM, put the bag down, set the alarm for midnight, and go to sleep.
-Get up at 12 and walk around the living room again, with the bag, until 1AM.
-Set the alarm for 3AM.
-As you can’t get back to sleep, get up at 2AM and raid the refrigerator.
-Go to bed at 2:45AM.
-Get up at 3AM when the alarm goes off.
-Sing songs in the dark until 4AM.
-Get up. Make breakfast.
-Keep this up for 5 years.
-Look cheerful.

Lesson 3: Dressing small children is not as easy as it seems.
-Buy an octopus and a small bag made out of loose mesh.
-Attempt to put the octopus into the bag so that none of the arms hang out.
-Time allowed for this—all morning.

Lesson 4:
-Take an egg carton. Using a pair of scissors and a jar of paint, turn it into an alligator.
-Now take the tube from a roll of toilet paper. Using only Scotch tape and a piece of aluminum foil, turn it into an attractive Christmas candle.
-Last, take a milk carton, a ping-pong ball, and an empty packet of Cocoa Puffs.
-Make an exact replica of the Eiffel Tower.

Lesson 5: Buy a mini-van. And don’t think that you can leave it out in the driveway spotless and shining. Family cars don’t look like that.
-Buy a chocolate ice cream cone and put it in the glove compartment. Leave it there.
-Get a dime. Stick it in the cassette player.
-Take a family size package of chocolate cookies. Mash them into the back seat.
-Run a garden rake along both sides of the car.
-There. Perfect.

Lesson 6:
-Hollow out a melon.
-Make a small hole in the side.
-Suspend it from the ceiling and swing it from side to side.
-Now get a bowl of soggy Cheerios and attempt to spoon them into the swaying melon by pretending to be an airplane.
-Continue until half the Cheerios are gone.
-Tip half into your lap. The other half, just throw up in the air.
-You are now ready to feed a nine-month old baby.

Happy Sweetest Day!

Totally gnarly dude!

I just had to share this picture with you. The guy in the middle is my cousin, Tyson (the other 2 guys are his instructors helping him keep his form). He had his first skydiving experience on Saturday, September 20th in Tecumseh, Michigan. He loved it and is thoroughly addicted. I just like to look at the pictures and will continue to live vicariously through him. Incredible, huh?!

Tag...you're it!

Carrie tagged me for this really easy meme. I still consider myself new at this blogging thing so bear with me on this one. You just have to go to your photo file, find the sixth folder, and post the sixth picture in that folder.

Of course, Carrie posted the most adorable picture ever. When I got to my folder of pictures, this is what I found in the 6th one. A picture of Dale's boat. We just sold it in August. This must be a reminder to me how much Dale misses that boat!

Ok, so now I'm supposed to tag some other people so how about Brandi, Shelby, and Janet.

WANTED - Your best "mom" advice

Since becoming a mom, I've gotten a ton of advice. Some good, some bad. I have learned so much from my family and a whole lot more from my friends. I've often wondered if you have received as much advice as I have. So I thought I would share my most favorite piece of advice when dealing with my kids. Here it goes:

When you are getting ready to leave someplace or change what you are doing, give your children a warning. Say something like..."ok, in 2 minutes we are going to go brush our teeth" or if you are at a friends house you might say, "ok kids, in 5 minutes we are going to clean up and go home for lunch."

By using this simple method, we have managed to avoid so many temper tantrums. After all, no one likes to be surprised when we change directions and do something else and our kids don't either. It just made sense to me when one of my friends suggested I try this.

Now, its your turn to share. I'm opening up this blog so you can attach your best "mom" advice to share with others. Let me hear from you! Come on, I know you have great ideas.

uhhhhh

Does this look like "trouble" to you or what?

Its been 5 years?

Recently, Dale celebrated his 5th working anniversary with Metro Nashville. In reflecting on this milestone, we have had a hard time imagining how much our lives have changed since we left the San Diego area. In those short 5 years, we've moved 2000 miles, had 2 children, bought a new home (and a mini-van), gotten connected in to a great church and met many amazing friends who are active in our lives. Wow! God works in incredible ways. We know He's been with us each step of this journey. Thank you Lord. We can't wait to see what the next 5 years holds!