Halloween

(forgive the picture -- I just realized there is a huge kid finger print on the lense :P)

Oh my goodness.....we had the cutest and most fun night! My mom brought my niece, Kenley, over to trick-or-treat and then go to the Fall Festival at church (Kenley is Sharpe from High School Musical). Well....we never made it to church because our neighborhood was so active and fun! Before we knew it it was 8pm! Our neighbors took us on a hay ride and we stopped to trick-or-treat along the way. Landon has enough candy for a year! I have never seen so many kids on a given night! People had their chimnea fire pits out and everyone was socializing. What fun neighbors!

Mommy Ideas

(Picture is from last year at this time -- hideous, I know :P)

Just wanted to give you a couple cute ideas I learned from an ADORABLE speaker we had at MOPS (Mother's of Preschoolers) a few weeks ago......

*put stickers on bananas -- it's fun!
*let your kids use shaving cream in the bath tub -- way fun!
*read books backwards -- kids think it's hilariously fun!
*make a conversation jar for the dinner table -- parents will find this fun!
*make your own instruments and put on a concert -- loud and fun!!
*lay on a blanket in the backyard and star gaze -- lovingly fun!

That's it for now.....stay tuned for more......

The Houston Zoo

Perfect weather, perfect company (my hubby and son), perfect sun, perfect day.....God is so good. We had a wonderful day at the zoo. We saw all the animals (they were ALL out!!), rode the carousel, AND the train!! Too fun!

Go Brandon!

What a blast from the past.....Spring High School homecoming football game!!

I had the honor of seeing my first nephew (he is first of 10 grandchildren on my side) be presented as Homecoming Sophmore Duke!! He's a super great kid. He makes straight A's and plays on the Varsity baseball team. He was escorted by my sister Lezli.

Go Brandon!
(you would think with stadium lights this wouldn't have turned out so dark!!)

Swing Set

My wonderful husband finished Landon's swing set yesterday. As many of you know, Landon has had an 'A' frame swing set literally with only 2 swings for 2 years. Now he has a slide!!! BJ did a great job. I look forward to MANY cool days in the backyard now that he has a slide :)

To inquiring minds....

Just to update on the potty training success......as of Saturday (4 days after training began) Landon was 100% potty trained. He doesn't even wet his pull up at night or at nap!! I know he's mine, but I must say......he's brilliant!

Cupcakes for a Cause

Isn't blogging so cool!!?? I have a new friend (in blog world) who is the wife of a fireman BJ works with and I got this information from her....(we have yet to meet, but one day we will!) http://theyoungbloodfamily.blogspot.com/
(sorry having problem inserting link??)

I know there are many of my friends who are cupcake lovers (Kyley, Jill....) and so I must share "Cupcakes for a Cause". Read below......

Cupcakes, Kids, and Cancer...Which one doesn't fit? Cancer. That's why CancerCare organizes Cupcakes For A Cause which is a sweet way to help kids affected by cancer. During the week of October 20-October 26, some of the best bakeries all over the country will team up with CancerCare for the Fifth Annual Cupcakes for a Cause. The sweetest thing of all is that proceeds will benefit CancerCare for KidsR, a program that provides free professional support services for children affected by cancer.
Cupcakes will be available in all flavors and sizes and decorated with the
smiling-face logo of the CancerCare for Kids program. Participating bakeries expect to sell approximately 75,000 cupcakes during the week-long fundraiser. Over 130 participating bakeries and in-store bakeries such as Baked, Crumbs, William Greenberg Jr. Desserts, Whole Foods, Amy's Bread, and more.
Parents and kids can help raise awareness and additional
funds for the program by visiting the official Cupcakes for a Cause website,where they can decorate and send their own virtual e-cupcake.

Happy Birthday to YOU!

Happy Birthday Landon, we love you!!

Landon's party was great. Lots of friends, family, food, and -- oh yeah, LOTS of energetic kids! Thank you to all who helped make his day special :)

Potty Update

(I thought this picture was innocent enough)
Landon is doing really well. We've DEFINITELY had accidents, but who wouldn't after 3 years of "just going" in your pants! Yesterday (day 2) he had many #1 accidents, but went #2 on the potty! That thrilled me!! (I should say, although the picture shows him on a little potty, he actually went on the big potty) Today he's had no accidents. I've been putting a 30 minute timer on to remind us to go #1 (thank you Denise). The past two nights I've set my alarm on my cell phone for every two hours. He went every time and we had no accidents. Yesterday at nap he held it also the entire time. I think the key is being there when he wakes up. He wakes up and has to go and then panics. If I'm there I help him remember to go straight to the potty.

I know y'all think I'm crazy for telling you all this, but it's for all those first time moms. Maybe my potty journey will help others :)

I love this Bible verse I read recently....Psalm 63:3
"My lips will glorify You because Your faithful love is better than life."

I wanted to share a couple points that touched me at my Walk to Emmaus:

* Marriage is not a life time of adoring each other, but a time of witnessing God's love to each other, our children and society (....it's not about us, but God's love)

*You have to have grown and prepared spiritually prior to trials. (...if you are where you should be spiritually...trials are much easier to endure)

*If we ever stop growing then we are dying. (Isn't that so true. Think of a plant -- it is either going one way or the other.)

Potty Training

What do big boy underwear and skittles equal?? POTTY TRAINING TIME!!

Who wouldn't want to potty train with these big boy underwear????!!! How cool are they?! I have finally committed........I told myself we would do it in June, then August (before school), and now he is almost 3 I guess I really have to do it!

Currrently he is going commando in sweat pants. For some reason he thinks the underwear are cool, but not cool on him....go figure. It is 9:30am and we have already had our first accident. Unfortunately it was #2, but fortunately he wasn't freaked out by it so hopefully he will catch on and go on the potty next time.

Say a prayer for success!!

Happy (early) Birthday to Landon!

I know this is as cheezy as it gets, but you know I must share any time I even purchase something crafty! I did this little frame for Landon's birthday party on Saturday. The frame was a $1 at Michaels and the paints were $.89 each. Can't get cheaper than that! I'm sure I could have done a better job, but I had to hurry and do it while Landon was napping.

Can't believe my baby will be 3 :)

The Walk to Emmaus

I was blessed to attend a spiritual adventure called Walk to Emmaus this weekend. Two wonderful women, Kyley & Lacy, were my sponsors and my encourangers to attend. There is so little I can say because I do not want to spoil it for those who may attend one day. However, I will tell you it was a much needed spiritual retreat for me. I have brought back a heart FULL of love from others, a heart ready to dive into God's Word, and a heart blessed by knowing I am a child of our Father in Heaven.

I must say a special thank you to all who took part in my journey. I will never forget it and will be touched forever. Decolores

FALL!!!

I love Fall....there is a church a mile down the street with a pumpkin patch so Landon got to pick out a pumpkin for the first time. He loved it. Dad picked out the big pumpkin (so he could carve it) and Landon picked out the baby pumpkins. Landon was not at all interested in digging the guts out of the big pumpkin, but liked putting the sticker faces on the baby pumpkins. We of course roasted the seeds too :) I love this time of year.