My heart

I've been trying for a week now to post this on Facebook and it won't let me, so I'll post it on here. :) This kid has my heart. Both of my boys do, yes, but there's something different about your first born. You don't love them any more, just differently. He's such a funny, smart, amazing kid...even when he's talking back and shouting "NOOOOOO, I don't WANT to go pee-pee!" (or whatever other million things he doesn't want to do at any given time). He's a special kid. And I'm not just saying that because I'm biased. 

ha, well maybe I am. 

Family fun-ness

My niece turned 13 yesterday. It's so weird, I was there when she was born and for the first 3 years of her life...and it does NOT feel like 13 years ago. She has grown into such a little lady (13 going on 25), and I think she is a fun, sweet girl. Most years I am not able to celebrate her birthday with her, but this year I was not only able to make it to her family party, but to also see her on her birthday too.

We love you, Jess. Happy 13th!

The day after, we had our annual Harrison family Christmas fiesta...

This is a fun bunch, really. I always enjoy being with them, laughing, eating and singing with them (which we weren't up to doing this year, boo). I love my family and am so thankful for those God has put into my life.

And these are some outtakes just for fun:

Oh, and I fixed a new, killer recipe...zucchini casserole. Stay tuned for the recipe!

Family, is there anything like it?

Is there anything cuter than your kid playing pretend with his toys? Jude just started doing this and I have to say, it melts my heart. I am awed by kids and their imagination, how it seems so pure and yet untainted by cynicism and the bitterness that seems to come with age and unfulfilled dreams. Sometimes it makes me want to be a kid again. Sometimes.

Jude really enjoyed letting his Buzz play in the johnny-jump-up and feeding him puffs like I do Ezra...

We enjoyed being with our families over thanksgiving. Even through all the mess you go through when being with family, the holidays are a chance to learn, grow and love people like you never though you could. Not to mention, I got to meet the sweet Lucy Meade, 

see some old friends, have a great meal with my family, and enjoy a much needed night out away from the kiddos. I'm so thankful for those who love us no matter what!

Welcome to the family, Lucy. We feel so blessed to be a part of your life!

Video of cute

Thought you might enjoy a little dose of baby cuteness today.

I thought for sure that my 9 month old would be crawling by now. He just can't seem to get it down. He's doing the army belly scoot crawl thing, but no real crawling. Ahh, well!

Ahh, fall

The park is so lovely this time of year, we couldn't resist a visit last weekend. And where there's a trip to the park, there's a mama not too far away with her camera, snapping away.

Ross skipped a rock 7 times, he was real proud!

Still here, staggering on...

And when I have to crawl

Will You crawl too

I stumble and I fall
Carry me through 
The wonder of it all 
Is You See me through

When everything I was is lost
I have forgot where You have not
When I am lost You have not lost me

I love lyrics. Sometimes they say the exact words I need right then, or explain some feeling I have in words that I can't quite form myself at that moment. Sometimes they're just clever, or soothing, or fun, or just plain awesome. I found this song earlier and I fell in love with it. It so explains what I go through at times, crawling, stumbling, but thankfully I never have to do it alone.

I have been trying out a ton of new recipes, some I have liked and some I have not. I'll have to put them all together some time, when I don't have 2 small kiddos running around. But, I am enjoying cooking and baking bread like never before. Who would have thought, I would actually enjoy cooking! 

What's been going on in my world:

Making new friends, developing existing friendships with amazing ladies, missing my sister, cooking, baking bread, exercising, running, ZUMBA!, potty training, studying Isaiah and 2 Timothy, raising 2 boys, dealing with poop, reading a parenting book, a marriage book, expanding my knowledge on preschooling an almost 3 year old at home-and actually doing some preschooling too, looking for fun activities for us to do together, finding new music to listen to, searching for ways to eat/live more healthy, and really just loving life. (whew! is that a lot? naaaaah) Not to sound like a Perky Patsy or anything. I mean, who wouldn't love life with these 2 cute, sweet, funny, challenging, lovable, did I say funny? boys...

 I'm not too happy about the composition of this photograph, but it was so sweet I had to post it. (this was not posed, I looked over and he was sitting like this, maybe pondering something really intellectual, you know, poop, food, candy, Buzz Light Year...the things 3 year olds think about)

 I am really enjoying watching this little boy's personality form more and more everyday

He loves his mama, for sure :)

Things

It's been a bit since I posted last. Not because I am neglecting you, but because I have been preoccupied. Which, I just realized is the same thing. So sorry, faithful four. Since getting home from the retreat, so much has been swimming around in my mind. I'm honestly not sure I have been able to post a complete thought. There's a lot of good stuff going on up in there (in my mind, that is, and no thanks to me), so I am still trying to sort it all out. 

And then I didn't want to deal with Monday. Laundry, a messy kitchen and housework catch-up loomed over my head, but I just pretended it didn't exist. That Monday itself didn't exist. Even through my not-so-subtle but complete denial of Monday's existence, I realized I couldn't sit around ALL day. So, I did a little housework (just a little), went to Zumba to shake my bootay and cooked tacos for all my mens. Speaking of my mens, you know you want to see them...and I can't resist showing them off. :)

I had to get pics of Ezra this past Sunday in his cute little button down shirt. Doesn't he look so grown up??? My, that boy is getting big so fast.

 Jude's expression and hands say, "but why Dad???" This kid is so darn cute, what did we ever laugh about before he came along?

And a few books to read to your little ones for Halloween: I can't get these book pictures any bigger, so I included the names of the books and the authors also.

Ollie's Halloween by Olivier Dunrea. Cute book with cute pictures that had a sweet message at the end about sharing.

Trick or Treat, Calico! by Karma Wilson. Karma, really? A lift-the-flap book that Jude really enjoyed.

What's Under the Bed by Joe Fenton. The illustrations in this book are quite interesting. It was dark grey and black mostly, but with small splashes of color makes it neat to look at, and the story itself was cute too.

Enjoy!

Things that make me smile today

Smooshed baby face

baby hand fat---I looove me some baby hand fat

Not only babies in Halloween pjs, but babies in dinosaur pjs too ("silly" stitched on the arm makes it even better)

 And cute boys with silly grins

I could use some things to smile about today. After all, it is Monday.

Oh! To those who have so missed my food posts (all 2 of you), don't fret. I haven't forgotten about posting my menu and recipes. It just takes lots of time. I will hopefully post my menu for this week later on today. Happy Monday to all!

My confession

I have a confession to make. I am obsessed with children's books. There. I said it. There is just something so cute and fun about those hardback, picture filled, fun-loving story books that make me giddy. I search and search for ones at the Children's Library until I have found the perfect ones, take them home and can't wait to read them...to Jude, that is. No, I am not THAT person. You know,  the one who reads children's books by themselves, just for fun. (but I have been known to look through them on my own a time or two). 

In fact, I think I love them almost as much as the books I get for myself! 

And what do I love more than just regular children's books? Topical, seasonal or holiday children's books! Jude is at that age where he is learning soooo much, so this year, I wanted to get him some Halloween books to get him familiar with the subject. Right now, I am really into monster books. Don't ask me why. I'm not even really that into Halloween. And not that I'm trying to scare my kid or anything. They are just cute! I personally won't read any vampire or ghost books to my toddler who is easily impressionable. But for some reason, I don't feel that monsters are all that bad. Here is our first stash of Halloween/monster books.

Most of them are fun monster stories, not scary at all. A few I liked. A few weren't good enough to read twice. And that one was really creepy, but true to the Halloween vampires, werewolves, mummies and dead people theme. We'll be going back for round 2 tomorrow. So, there you have it. My confession, photo included. It's all out there for the world to see now! eeek!

Another confession:

My love for babies in Halloween pajamas...

 They love each other. Promise.

Fergus boy photos

I usually take photos every day of the boys. You moms know what I'm talking about. You do it too. So, with all the pics I take, I always have cuteness to spare!  Here are recent photos of both my bundles of sweetness. Ok, not always sweet, but cute nonetheless.

Here is Jude with bread dough all over his face and hands. He kept calling it a donut. So funny!

 Car-jamming!

Snuggled in mommy and daddy's bed watching The Incredibles. A great way to start out any morning!

Heartbreaker

He's going to be a heartbreaker, you think?

This face melts my heart. Really.

And this baby is just too darn cute..

Things I love today...

Sweet sleeping puffy baby cheeks.

Cats in funny sleeping positions. (that would be my purse)
Making funny pictures with my big boy.
In the camera cute grins.

Funny nose squinched grins.

Glaze

I searched and searched for salmon glazes, but they all had honey, or bourbon or something weird in it that I don't have. So, I think I'm going to go with a brown sugar, EVOO, melted butter, salt & pepper (can't forget those), cumin, paprika and roasted red pepper flakes.

A sweet friend pointed out that I didn't post any daily pictures of my boys, but to be honest, I was just being lazy. Here I am catching up!

A taste of fall

Before it got scorching hot again, we decided to take advantage of the nice weather and take the boys to the park yesterday. It was so gorgeous and serene out that I didn't even want to go home.

Ezra spent his time in the stroller, but at long as he gets to be outside, he doesn't mind where we park him at. (I don't know why this is blue. Blogger is stupid and won't let me change it to black)