"Wordless" Wednesday

His new OBSESSION:

His Brand New Froggie Rain Boots

He's worn them every single day since last Friday.

 

Including to his Halloween portrait session.

 

He was the only Woody wearing froggie rain boots.

Quick Question: 

How is this even possible?

 

He's sporting a wedgie, while wearing a diaper.

Seriously?!

***** 

Hmmm... apparently I am totally incapable of not commenting on these posts. 

I need to come up with a different name for Wordless Wednesday.

Maybe I should name it something along the lines of "Keeping it nice & short" Wednesday.

I'm open to any and all suggestions you'd like to throw my way.

☺

I know this much is true

1. I have come to terms with the fact that I am quite possibly the worst blogger out there. Ever! And I should not be surprised if people aren't even stopping by anymore. I didn't mean to let it get this bad, it just kind of did. And I'm sorry.

2. But if you know me, like really know me, then you know it's my tendency to shut down when "stuff" happens. Not the good kind of stuff. But the undesirable kind of stuff life tends to throw at us every now and then. We're currently dealing with some personal "undesirable stuff" right now. Everything will be OK. This I know, for the Bible tells me so. We're just right smack in the middle of the painful and not so fun getting-through-it stage right now.

3. But it's not all bad. We have been very blessed with some REALLY good things lately as well. Things that we have been working on for a very long time have finally come to fruition. And we are so happy. And free!

4. My reading obsession is still going strong. I'm currently reading, and totally into, Still Missing by Chevy Stevens, which was recommended by my friend Ellen. For whatever reason, I keep landing on these dark, intense, and emotional reads. But they have been great. I highly recommend: The Secret Life of CeeCee Wilkes by Diane Chamberlain, The Weight of Silence by Heather Gudenkauf, and Me & Emma by Elizabeth Flock. 

5. Speaking of books, have you ever read the book from which I borrowed my post title, I Know This Much Is True by Wally Lamb? I read it as soon as Oprah selected it for her book club. Back in 1998. It's phenomenal. Again, not lighthearted AT ALL, but a wonderful book never the less. And if you like it, you may want to read She's Come Undone, also by Wally Lamb. I loved that one too!

6. I am determined to get all of my Christmas shopping done before December 1st this year. All of it! I've made this declaration before. And it has not always been met with the highest degree of success. But this year will be different! I just know it will.

7. I've lost a total of 11 lbs since starting Weight Watchers. I feel like the pounds are literally c  r  a  w  l  i  n  g off me with slug-like speed. But motivation is definitely not at all time high these days, and since it's a loss,  I think I'll go ahead and take it without too much complaining.

8. I am really looking forward to visiting my brother for Thanksgiving and celebrating our parents' 40th anniversary. All of us. Together. I can't wait!

9. Isabella's love affair with soccer is over. She says she has to run too much and it sucks up all her energy. That girl cracks me up! Anyway, she's ready to move on to something new. We gave her the option of trying gymnastics or art next. Without any hesitation, she chose art. We're looking into some classes. I wonder how she'll like art when it's in a more structured environment.

10. Sam's talking has really taken off here lately. And he says the cutest things. Things like: "No me know how" instead of "I don't know how", which makes me laugh every single time.

Awesome giveaway

Check out this amazing giveaway of Life. Camera. Actions. 

on Simple As That!  

http://rebeccacooper.blogspot.com

before:

 

after:

 

Stunning!

Simple pleasures on a lazy Sunday

Last Wednesday evening, as I was lying in bed reading,
I sneezed and pulled a muscle in my back.

Holy freak accident!

On Thursday I was in pain, but I had much to do, so I was out and about.

Isabella's fall break was Friday = no school & sleeping in.

Yet I woke up at 6:00 AM with terrible back pain.

Which now extended all way down my left arm and my left leg.

I could barely get out of bed.

Scary!

Scott stayed home from work to help with the kids and take me to the doctor.

I've been in a lot of pain and pretty much out of commission, until today.

I'm starting to feel a little bit better.

So we went to Church.

Made a quick visit to Lowe's.

Had lunch @ Humdingers.

And spent the rest of our day doing a whole lot of nothing.

Except playing with the kids (mostly Scott).

And watching them all play (me).

But I can't believe how long the healing process is taking.

Or how much it hurts when I cough, sneeze or laugh.

Or when I pick up my 40 pound two-year old.

So, I'm hoping to be back to normal SOON.

Back pain is NO joke, people!

Anyway, I leave you with a couple pictures of the simple pleasures of the day:

Riding bikes on a beautiful Sunday afternoon:

 Have a great week, everyone!

October SNL Layouts

I almost forgot to post my layouts form this month's SNL class. My themes were You are my Sunshine, Home is where the ♥ is, and Trick or Treat.

You are my Sunshine

 

I love how simple and clean, yet bright and colorful this one turned out.

It makes me smile every time I look at it.

 Home is where the ♥ is

Even though I wasn't able to include the pictures on this one, 

my plan for is to put wallet size pictures of the three houses Scott and I have lived in.

 Trick or Treat

I'm really looking forward to this year's Halloween so I can take pictures of both kids. 

These photos are from two years ago.

Last year Sam ended up getting sick and therefore we weren't able

to get photos of him in his costume. 

I'm ready for some new material :)

So there you have it.

I've already submitted my themes for November's SNL class:

Thanksgiving

Fun at the Patch

The Men in my Life

So save the date:

Saturday, November 6th

4-8PM

BIG Love

A little conversation that occurred this morning in the midst of running errands with Sam, after dropping Isabella off at school and before his drop off time:

Me: "I love you, Sammy!"

Sam: "I lub you too, I lub you more, Mommy!"

Me: "Oh, I don't know about that, buddy. Cause I love you SO much! I love you THIS much!"

Sam: "Aww, thack you Mommy for lubing me big!"

Yeah, I pretty much turned into mush right then and there.

The Butler Depot

You can do it!

They can help:

How these two managed to convince their father to buy them each their very own REAL tool set, I'll never know! But the one thing I do know, is that they are both in "Bob the Builder" heaven!

She is changing the world

One of the things that I love about our church is it's awareness of the terrible crisis our world is in, and its willingness to constantly get involved and help. Last week they had a "Change the World with Change" initiative. We were encouraged to take a baggie with us and put as much spare change in it as we wanted. The money collected would  be used to fill bags with essential dried goods, that would be then sent to Haiti. For only $.25 you can feed a person three meals in one day. Crazy, isn't it? It sure puts my needs, wants and desires into perspective.

Well, after I sat down and explained the initiative to Isabella, she took it upon herself to put as much of her own money as she could find in her baggie during the week. She was SO excited to be able to help children who have absolutely nothing.

So, yesterday morning, we sat down and counted the money in her baggie before leaving for church. She had collected $25.00, enough money to feed 100 people/children. In the midst of our excitement and celebration, she looked at me and said: "But Momma, 100 isn't that many."

Scott and I looked at each other and explained to her that we have to start somewhere. And that if everyone else at church gives, we will be able to make a difference in the lives of the people of Haiti. And that without her contribution there would be 100 people/children who would get nothing. And that her generous heart and selfless giving makes God SO happy.

And then she was once again happy to be able to do something to change the world.

But I won't lie to you,... I was so overwhelmed with sadness as my heart was crushed into a million tiny pieces right then and there. Because she's right. Because there are so many people in the world who are hurting. Because the need is much greater than anything we can imagine. And mostly, because even my innocent 5 year old recognizes in the depths of her heart that we can do SO much more.

After our church service, we picked the kids up from the nursery and took them to the gym so that they could drop off their baggies. We got to see the volunteers packaging all the food into bags: rice, extruded soy nuggets (protein), 20 vitamins and minerals and dehydrated vegetables.

Once again I was overwhelmed, but this time it was with joy!