A full Sunday.

We had a nice snowy Sunday on the Owen range yesterday. Church was really good. There was an emphasis placed on the fact that there are a lot of people who are anticipating a "blue Christmas" this year for whatever reason.... the death of a loved one, sickness, loss of a job, etc. There was a special time of prayer for those who were carrying a burden such as those listed. You can watch the sermon here.

After church we came home and Scarlett took a nap while Mitch and I enjoyed grilled turkey & cheese sandwiches... simple but yummy. Then Scarlett had her first invitation party to attend! It was a Happy Birthday Jesus party at Kingston's house (where else?). It was Kristin's idea and was SO neat. Kristin is connected with a mission organization that reaches out to families in Kentucky who live in Appalachia. Many of those families will not have gifts for their children at Christmas. So, today at the party each child brought a gift which will be given to those families. It is such a tangible way to show our kids that "It is better to give than to receive." Isn't that neat?

I did not take my camera with me to the party because I knew I would have my hands full without Mitch there to help me (his studying extravaganza is in full force!). Here we are before we left for the party...

After we got home, I realized Scarlett had been held practically all day. So, I put her on the floor to play because that is one of her most favorite things to do.

My mama and I got this little Christmas top at our favorite store Honey Beez last year. I remember looking at it last year and imagining the cute little body that would be in it this year!

Little missy is not crawling yet, but she is definitely on the move!

I am just crazy about this little gift God gave Mitch and I. What a treasure.

I hope you have a great week! The countdown has begun... T-minus 12 days until Christmas...

Fly by....

Yesterday two of the duckies came in for what I will call a little "fly by" because it always goes by too quickly. It was so fun. Beth (who was my room-mate in college), her husband (Josh) and their almost 3 year old foster son (who we will call "E") were in town so it gave us a great excuse to get together. Aunt KT came in a little early bearing many gifts for Scarlett... they were all so cute and thoughtful.

Scarlett's favorite part was eating the paper. ha!

While we were waiting on Beth and her crew KT, Scarlett and I headed to Target. It was a mad-house! But, guess what? I got a new trash can for my kitchen. It was the cheapest, most simple step-can they had, but who cares! It is the little things in life.

Then we all met up at our favorite Mexican Restaurant. Nothing says "fellowship" like warm chips and salsa. After a delicious meal and fun conversation, we came back to our house and let the kids play. Scarlett wanted to get ahold of "E" SOOO badly. He was sweet. It made me think that Scarlett needs some playmates... a little brother would be perfect. But, that is no where in the near future!

I am SO incredibly thankful for these precious friends... God had something special in mind for each of us when he put us in Kresge 1st West together over 7 years ago (that is crazy it has been that long!!!!!)

(Please excuse my bad hair day... it was a Saturday hairdo. ha!)

Saturday brain....

Warning... a bunch of this is just ramblings of my "saturday brain." At the end of the week after trying to manage every second of the day to its fullest, I just want to do what comes to mind. Can y'all empathize? I am a MAJOR list maker. I think at times it gets a little out of control, but that is how I stay sane.

Ok... we are anticipating a very fun visit from 2 members of the Ducky Suite today (and a duck-husband and little foster-duckling... yippee!). I will be sure to post about our little visit. * For any new readers... before you think I am crazy and close the page, the Ducky Suite is what myself and the girls I lived with in college have named ourselves. The story is actual quite simple. We decorated our bathroom (well, Tiffy did) with ducky decor and voila! -- We are the duckies. Simple, I know.

Mitch has been cracking me up lately. He has a new found obsession with Josh Groban's Christmas CD. For those of you who know Mitch, this is a little out of character. The story goes... we had a $10 off coupon at Joseph Beth and that is what he decided to purchase. So, anytime an errand needs to be run, he is johnny-on-the-spot so he can ride in the car and listen to Josh sing The First Noel. Oh Mitch, I love you. I need to remember this happy thought this week while he is studying for a cumulative Pharmacology and Oral Pathology test and won't give me any attention which always ticks me off! I know, believe it or not this sweet man can tick me off.

Ladies, before you go and open your email inbox today... BEWARE. The retailers are hitting it heavy today and almost got me. Seriously, I think every store is offering 40% off PLUS free shipping. AH! I was about to make a purchase online this morning when I yelled for Mitch. I said, "take this compute away from me... I don't even need to buy anything." Thank goodness his muscles are much bigger than mine because I had a death grip on this thing. So, you can't say I did not warn you...

Speaking of not needing anything.... there is something I have been wanting SO bad lately. When I say this you might wonder if this is really me typing. I want a new trash can. I know, how boring. Ha! I have had a stainless steel step thingy trash can that has been broken (thank you to my little bull in a china shop -- Mitch the darling) for 2 years. Before that, I had one that was also broken. Now, I am not wanting anything fancy just something that works a little better. Is that too much to ask? As I try to justify... how many times a day do I use the trash can? Only close to 10,000. But then again, it just holds our trash. Oh mercy.

Ok, my rambling has almost ended and to those of you who have made it this far - thank you, you are too kind. So, I decided this year for Christmas that I want to try to make a few gifts so they would be a little more personal. My decision -- fleece blankets. Quite simple. I had to go with simplicity (and I don't mean Simplicity patterns for your seamstresses out there. Ha! I don't even use patterns) because my mama has been in Africa for the last week, so I could not go running to her for help. Well, it has turned out well and has proved to be fun too. I have made 4 total and have 1 more to go. So, here is my point -- my house is covered with fuzz. I have found it everywhere. My lint roller almost caught fire earlier this week because I have had to use it so much. And, this morning after I got Scarlett out of her crib, I starting coughing because I had fuzz in my mouth. Goodness. Needless to say, I will be vacuuming TODAY.

And finally, I am burning this in my house today....

I found this picture online... unfortunately this little bungalow is not adorned with granite counter tops. This is Yankee Candle's Frosted Fir from the SoHo Living collection. It is the perfect blend of vanilla, tree, warmth... and other lovely things that I cannot put my finger on. I got it at T.J. Maxx yesterday for $9.99, holla! Aunt Barbie, Scarlett and I had a litte outing. Can you believe they let me back in T.J. Maxx after my almost-exhibitionist tendencies last time?! I was so glad.

Well, happy Saturday to you.

Little artists.

Kristin and I took Kingston & Scarlett to paint pottery for Christmas earlier this week. I try to think about that instead of our traumatic night last night! Anyhow, it was so fun. They were cracking us up. I will let these pictures speak for themselves....

Tis' the season to be jolly.... have a wonderful weekend!

Where is Scarlett?

How sweet is that little scream? We are addicted to it! Oh and by the way... Mitch is wearing a black ear warmer around his neck in this video... not a turtle neck, ha!

I am happy to say that I have not been "holding down the fort" quite as much. Mitch's dental class had a Christmas party yesterday evening and that was fun to attend. Scarlett enjoyed seeing lots of people and other children, but she did not do well after missing her bedtime. She got up 7 times last night. AH! So, I was intent on starting sleep training... well, night 1 was a bust. She cried (full bore) for a full hour. It was horrible. I wailed into my pillow for 75% of the time. My long-time friend Annie gave me a pep talk/instructions earlier today and then my sweet friend Kristin gave me moral support (she called in the middle of the crying and all I could get out was, "she just wants me to pick her up, bahhaha" I am sure Kristin was thinking she was talking with a crazy woman!). My limit was 1 hour, so at 8:28 (pm) I went in and picked her up. Sweet Scarlett... she hugged me for almost 5 minutes straight and would not let go. We have a strong willed girl on our hands. I am okay with that.... So, I bounced her to sleep. We will see what happens.

On another note... we enjoyed a fun visit from a dear friend Morgan today! Morgan was my intern for a year when I worked at our church. She is darling. It was a MUCH needed catch up.

Off to bed for me... hopefully I will dream of that sweet squeal!

Sweet dreams to you too.

Holding down the fort.

Scarlett and I had a low-key day today. I have been feeling a little under the weather with a cold, so we have not been out since Saturday. AH! Can someone say cabin fever? So, when Mitch got home tonight we ate dinner and ran to target for a few things. It was nice to get out but it was SO cold... no wonder we have been staying in.

Look at these 2 girls. These are my little sweeties (well the red-head definitely is, the little brown dog makes me crazy sometimes though).

Since we have been working on our "garage project" the fence is down in part of the backyard so we have to take Callie out on the leash each time she wants to go outside and she is wearing me out! For example, Scarlett was having a little snack in her highchair this afternoon when I heard Callie throwing up in the kitchen. Seriously, I thought I was going to just let her go like Free Willy. I can just imagine. Mitch would come home and Callie would not be trying to maul him before he can get both feet in the door (attention deprivation) and he would instantly know something is wrong. I could just look at him and say, "I freed Willy." Oh my, I may be off on a ridiculous rant now. This is what happens when you don't leave the house for 4 days and do laundry and dishes on end. Ha!

Scarlett's little personality is so sweet. I think she is a social girl at heart. I love it.

I don't know about y'all but I am already feeling the effects of winter because my skin is so dry! I think my knuckles are about to crack open. I have got to moisturize more. I love hearing about what products/remedies other people have found that work. Well my sister, Ryan, who is somewhat of a hippy (which I LOVE about her) got me the best lotion for Christmas last year. I like it so much that I think I have purchased close to a dozen bottles since:

It is great because it does not contain all the bad stuff (i.e. parabens, mineral oil, petroleum....) and is organic. It is light and has the perfect simple, fruity fragrance. I buy it here. It is a very reasonable price too!

Another winter must have... lip balm. This is what I love:

A sweet friend that I love told me about this great thing (Deanna, if you are reading... I miss you!) Mitch always laughs at this because it looks like a little Easter egg. Let me tell you, it works. I buy it a Walgreens.

Thanks for stopping by! It means so much to me that people even read this blog... it is so fun that I can be stuck at home for 4 days but get to share life with y'all.

Holding down the fort,

8 Months

Scarlett,

Guess who is 8 months old today -- you! It is hard to believe. We have been saying for months, "When it is Christmas time Scarlett will be so grown up..." and here it is! You make us laugh all the time. Today in fact you were giggling so hard while I had you on the changing table that I started crying... not because I was laughing so hard but because you sounded so sweet. You melt our hearts all the time. You are SO observant and smart. We are amazed by you all the time. Here are some other things that are going on with you...

- You weigh about 24-25 pounds

- You wear size 3 diapers

- You wear size 12-18 month clothes

- You LOVE your paci and have gotten really good at putting it in by yourself.

- You are still nursing well (although we have had to overcome some things as you have become more active).

- You are (and always have been) a really good eater. You love most veggies and fruits and have recently started enjoying snacks that you can feed yourself like puffs, rice crackers, pieces of banana, etc.

- You are not crawling yet, but you are getting close. You have never loved being on your tummy so I wonder if that has something to do with it. You are a champ at sitting up and are trying to pull up on things you can (the side of your crib, mama's legs...)

- You talk all the time. We love to listen to you. You have recently started saying mama all the time and it is precious! You are really good at saying dada (that was your first word) You also say, nah-nah and bah-bah. We don't really know what those mean yet.

- You love to play with your little toy cellphone that Nonni bought you. It rings and I pretend answer it and hand it to you and you go to town! Usually you say dada....dada....dada over and over because when mama's phone rings it is always dada. It is so cute.

- You have really good dexterity. We cannot tell if you favor one of your hands yet but you are really good at picking things up and seem to be very coordinated.

- You are very much a mama's girl. That is okay though!

- You go nuts when dada comes home everyday. It is so sweet how excited you are to see him.

- You loved being at Nonni and Peepaw's house for Thanksgiving. I think it was because you got tons of attention. It was funny because every time we walked down the stairs after you had taken a nap or been changed or something you would get so excited as if you were thinking, "yeah! who is going to see me this time?"

- You love other children. We think it is hilarious how you instantly know they are "little" like you.

- You still put everything in your mouth which makes me crazy, but I know it is just a phase!

- You are a good daytime napper, but are just an ok sleeper at night.

- You are curious about everything. Anything we pick up you want to see.

- You are very strong willed but are so pleasant. We get really tickled at you sometimes because you do get frustrated about something you want but you don't yell or cry you just clinch your little fists as hard as you can and get red-faced and do a little growl.

We love you so much and feel like you are a little treasure from God. We pray that you will come to know Jesus and genuinely follow Him all of your life.

Love. xxoxo,

Dada & Mama