A few highlights from the week

We have been blessed to have Kurt off for two straight weeks. At the beginning, it always seems like it will be so long, but its already the first weekend! But we have had an awesome time doing some family stuff together.

Grant working diligently on Grammy's handpainted pottery.

Colin loves the fish at the aquarium...until one actually swims in front of him...
Several other blogger mommies have already mentioned it, Krohn conservatory was definitely one of our favorite holiday displays this year - beautiful!
Enjoying a hayride at the Creation Museum's Live Nativity Walk. If you didn't make it this year, make sure you do next year. It was a great lesson for our children and a great reminder for us parents about the true meaning of Christmas.

Grant and Mommy's cookie creation "reindeer brownies".

Even with all the new "stuff", quality time with Daddy is still Grant's favorite. We wouldn't have it any other way:-)

Colin showing off his favorite new smile for the camera. Colin says, "Thank you Uncle Chad and Aunt Shanna, I love my new tractor book!"

We pray everyone had a Merry Christmas and was able to give thanks for the true meaning of the day.

Enough for today, we leave at 7 for the airport to fly to DC to celebrate with my family. Love to all during this special season!

Love is in the air

Kurt and I just returned from a wonderful trip to south Georgia for Kurt's brothers wedding. I just love the beauty of old Southern plantation towns. I love the southern dialect and how excited the ladies seem to get over everything. I have never heard so many ohs and ahs in all my life. I think the excitement is a cultural thing and I love letting go of my very reserved normal style and gushing like any other Southern belle for a few days:-) It was the first weekend away for both Kurt and I in over two years, so it was wonderful to just reconnect and feel like a carefree couple for a couple of days. Don't worry, my kids were well taken care of by my parents and cried much harder when they left today than when Kurt and I left on Friday!!The beautiful bride Shanna and her husband Chad. See a family resemblance in the brothers??? I'm so excited to have Shanna as my new sister-in-law. She loves the Lord and is so genuinely sweet and caring. Another plus, she's an interior designer. Who wouldn't love having a professional eye help on home improvements?? Chad has always been very special to me since he is Kurt's brother. He is 34 and has waited to find the right bride - we couldn't be happier for you both! The Sexton ladies at the bride's luncheon. Yes, I was horribly underdressed. Casual in the south is much different than casual in the north. 6.5 years of marriage and I'm still learning:-)Kurt did an awesome job as best man and was so handsome in his tux. I was so proud to be on his arm:-) Christmas weddings are so stinking' romantic!!!!!!!! I am definitely in the holiday mood now!!

Clearance!

Kindermuzik is having a good clearance sale right now on their website if anyone is interested in some unique gift ideas for our little ones.
I bought over $90 worth of items for $20 plus shipping! Woo hoo!
The only bummer is that shipping is based on the regular price. Shipping on my order was $12.00
Use promotional code J4 for an additional 10% off.

Also, I am now a Discovery Toys Consultant. I am really doing this for fun and because I really do believe in their products. They are quality made toys and I love the interaction between parents and child all while the child learns important skills! I am running a special that if you buy $50 worth of product you get $5 off. If anyone is interested in a catalogue please let me know. If you are not familiar with the product line, it will be a great find for you:-) Either leave a comment or e-mail me at crystalkurt413@fuse.net. There's still time to get the products in before Christmas. Or create a wishlist that I will be happy to pass it on to Grandparent's looking for Christmas gift ideas. http://www.discoverytoysinc.com/

Fun in Indy

My parents were in Indy this weekend for a banquet so I decided to meet them at Indy's Childrens Museum. All the awesome reviews I had heard about the Museum were definitely true and I was delighted to have gotten there in under two hours.

Here are some highlights from the day (although the picts don't do justice for how cool it is):

We had to pry Grant off of this! I bet he pedalled forwards and backwards for 20 minutes.

Colin and Mommy digging for dino bones.

The brothers playing together on the train table. This is pretty well what happens at our house all day. Both boys LOVE trains!
Colin enjoying his birthday Elmo cupcake.
Colin is Nana's #1 fan.

And what did Kurt do while the wife and kids were away? My precious husband cleaned the blinds and windows, steamcleaned the carpet, and organized the unfinished side of our basement. It was awesome to return to a clean home!!

Tagged

1. What is your husband's name? Kurt Edward Sexton
2. Who eats more? him except when chips and salsa are involved
3. Who said, "I love you" first? Kurt
4. Who is taller? Kurt
5. Who is smarter? Kurt, his first B in school came his first year in college (but my sweetie says he's smart because he married me - he gets bonus points for that one!
6. Who is more sensitive? me, me, me!
7. Who does the laundry? I do the laundry but he irons
8. Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? I'm on the right (farthest from the door)
9. Who pays the bills? Kurt, he's uses Quicken and does all payments on line, he swears its easier, but I get confused going to all the different sites
10. Who cooks more? I do, but Kurt is an awesome grillmeister
11. Who is more stubborn? We're even on that, but in different areas
12. Who is the first to admit they are wrong? Kurt
13. Who has more siblings? Kurt has two, I have one
14. Who wears the pants in the relationship? Kurt - I'm glad not to have that responsibility:-)
15. What do you like to do together? He's my best friend, so we like to do EVERYTHING together. We love hanging with our kids and working out together (although that has not happened in awhile due to the kiddos)
16. Who eats more sweets? Kurt, he can't get enough of DQ strawberry blizzards
17. Guilty Pleasures? naps - even when there is work to be done!
18. How did you meet? We both worked at Toyota out of college. I bought screws and bolts (yeah, four years of college to buy bolts:-) and he was in crisis management. One of my suppliers had an issue and Kurt stepped in to save the day!
19. Who asked whom out first? Kurt
20. Who kissed who first? I say he kissed me but he swears I kissed him
21. Who proposed? Kurt at the overlook at Devou park. I was surprised and cried. Then the ring only fit on my pinkie - thats my honey, always seeing me as smaller than I am:-)
22. His best features and qualities? he is a Christian husband/father and seeks to grow closer to the Lord at all times - doesn't that say it all!

Bosom buddies

My friend took Grant the other day so I could go and vote without worrying about keeping him entertained for 45 minutes. Grant is getting much better about waiting in lines, but I knew 45 minutes was more than what he is capable of right now. I think he enjoyed himself much more anyway! Thanks Sarah for the cute pics of the best friends!

And the winner for Bad Mommy of the day goes to...

me, definitely me! Obviously, Grant's Halloween candy needed the following warning: Should only be consumed while under adult supervision. (In case you can't tell, thats a large choking hazard gumball in Colin's mouth).I also went to a playdate around lunchtime with no lunch packed and one diaper that I changed when I got there. Thankfully, a gracious friend covered me with an extra sandwich for Grant and diaper for Colin!! I don't even want to think about where I would be without my rockin' Mommy friends!

Rounding out the month..

Catch up time! It was another fun week at our house with outdoor fall activities.

The week started with allergy testing for Grant:

These are the welps that remained 24 hours after testing. The bad news, he has some pretty strong reactions to pollen and ragweed. The good news is that he has outgrown his dog allergy!:-) We finished the day with his first dentist apptmt. He did so well until the last treatment of flouride. If you haven't found a pediatric dentist yet, I highly recommend Dr. Greenhill from GFC. He was awesome with Grant and put him at ease. And the flatscreen TV above the chair showing Cars probably didn't hurt either...

In celebration of outgrowing the dog allergy. I bought Grant some new shoes! (Kurt is still allergic to dogs so no real animals are in our future) Grant promptly named both his dogs Harvey. Kurt thought I could have gotten more manly shoes. I questioned what would have been more manly. His response was "alligators or something". Hmmm, moving on...

At Kroger, I filled up for a $1.99!!!!!!!!!! Here was Colin's reaction to the "steal" on gasoline.

"If I'm dreaming, don't wake me up!:-)" Peter Pan and Grant the Pirate made peace for the evening to enjoy a little trick or treating together.

I love 3 year olds. I never got around to making a jack o lantern with Grant until Sunday. He didn't mind at all:-)

The artist deep in concentration as he works...
Colin proud of his brother's work.

Umm, Kurt, can one of the kids have a turn now???

Last, but not least. The family enjoying a 70 degree day the 2nd of November.

How a year changes things

This photo was taken Nov. 14 last year. It was a special day because it was the day we took Colin home from the hospital.:-) The tree waited and turned after everything else had already lost their leaves for the year. It felt like a welcome home tree for Colin - so bright and beautiful.

I'm going to try to take our photo in front of this tree each year as it turns red to see how we have changed. Kurt and I planted this tree soon after we moved into this house. I'm posting to keep myself accountable. So here's 2008 - how my babies have grown!

The joy of Thursday mornings

One day my kids will be grown and not so dependant on me. Older parents says this happens very fast. I was never a true believer in that statement until we added a second child into our family. In just a few short weeks my "baby" will be 1 - since he's walking, already more of a toddler! How in the World did that happen??? It has been a wonderful, joyful, hard, beautiful, stressful year for our family - I'm sure other Moms know how one year can be all of those things rolled into one.

Anyway, when I look back I know that Thursday mornings will be a time that I remember fondly. What's so special about Thursday mornings at my house? The garbage truck picks up our trash. Since Grant was about Colin's age, he has had his nose pressed up to the window as he hears the truck change gears coming down the street. Its even more special now that Colin loves it as well. Its a time that I get to step back and watch my children be in awe. Its at that time I am so thankful God has allowed me to stay at home and witness this simple, but very special moment with my boys. So thank you, trash men you are a blessing in my family's life!

False Advertising?

I was looking for new ways to entertain my 3 year since Daddy has had to travel the past few days. I was visiting a friend's blog and saw the cutest Halloween cookie house and knew that would be a fun, messy project to work on together.

I load up the kids and headed to Michael's. We find the house (don't worry we won't make ours scary:-)

Yeah! I quickly scan the front of the box and am delighted to read the following:
My 3 year old is now announcing to the store that this will be his birthday cake (not sure why since his birthday is in July) and my almost one year old is now way past his nap and deciding he's not gonna be nice about it anymore so I make a quick beeline to the checkout to get back home before we make more of a spectacle.

We get home and I start reading the directions and look on the side and find the following (read below the bullet points):

I actually don't have confectioners' sugar in the house. I'm just not a sweet maker. I now have no way to get to the store until my baby gets up from his nap and my naptime filler for Grant is now not possible since I don't have all the things necessary to get it done... Is this legal?? Its at least confusing. I plan to call Wilton tomorrow and let them know I'm not happy with their advertising. Who knows, maybe I'll get a coupon out of it;-)

The beauty of fall...

What other time of year can you get away with wearing a Superman outfit?

Okay, this one really doesn't have anything to do with fall but I'm a sucker for a chubber in overalls:-)

Our little squeaker

Don't you just love the age when kids love to make noises, but aren't yet capable of making realy loud annoying noises?

The Blustery Day

One of Grant's favorite books is Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day. Today, thanks to Ike, we had a blustery day of our own. We had 50-60 mph winds whipping around in seemingly every which way. Our next door neighbor had 3 trees and countless limbs fall to the ground. We even watched as our swingset tipped up. We had many smaller limbs in our yard, and Kurt suggested we help pick up limbs! It was so windy Grant actually asked for his sunglasses to keep stuff from blowing in his eyes! Kurt was trying to do the yard, but we decided that it was a little unsafe with limbs and hickory nuts flying around, despite the fact that Grant informed us today that the grass is too tall!



Here's a few pictures of our blustery day!


Daddy, where's another stick?

Oh. Here they are.

Did that thing just tip over? Maybe time to go inside...

Backdraft

Well, it was one of those days. I dressed Colin in fire engine red outfit today with backdraft printed across the rear end. Little did I know how true it would be today. Poor Colin woke up with a bug and has probably had 7-8 dirty diapers today. Poor thing's tush looks like his outfit.

On the way to Cincy for an apptmt for Grant he choked on a banana and threw up - a lot. So I had the privilege of hosing down the car seat. Also, I was driving a rental so I had to clean that out as well AND we missed the apptmt. BTW, I was in a boxy Scion XB and it has some plastic tray underneath the seat - not sure of its purpose but it was awesome for catching puke. Just something to consider next time you make a car purchase;-) Did I mention my hubby is travelling?

Yeah, it was a tough day. But God was so good and carried me through. Random things always seem to happen when Kurt travels. Before when he has been gone I have broken my hand, the burglar alarm has gone off, and now the puke episode. But through each and everyone God has met me through the daily trials and carried us through just like His words promise us. It wasn't a pretty day, but definitely a day I was thankful to be His child - so how bad could it really have been?? Thank you Jesus and I'm looking forward to starting fresh tomorrow.

How Suite it is...

A very dear friend blessed our family with suite tickets to the Reds vs. Cubs game on Friday night. The game was made even sweeter with a loaded buffet line of hot dogs, hamburgers, and nachos - perfect game fare. We all had a great time and enjoyed our covering while a light mist fell outside. I also broke my losing streak. Over the last few years I had been to 15 games straight where the Reds lost. Last night they won!! Go Redlegs!
Leftover fireworks from a Reds Grandslam!!

Umm, boys are we here to watch the game or eat cookies? After about the fifth cookie each we caught on to their sneaky ways...
Grant was a tuckered out little guy. He fell asleep before we hit the bridge to go back home. Check out the cuts above his eye. He managed to get his first black eye last night. Don't ask how, we have no idea how it happened:-)

Just a little more...

summertime fun! If its in the 90s then its too hot for my book. Here's how we cooled off.

a little of this
and some of this

made for happy babies:-)

Who needs a bidet?And after bathtime we had a little brotherly love.