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?