Casting Crumbs

My cousins wife sent me some hilarious pictures of Halloween decorations! Funny how you can take almost anything and turn it into a butt-crack joke. At least that is the way it is in my house with all the boys. Tom is usually the instigator.

Check out this pic and chuckle!

And another chuckle. . .

Jaden has been cracking me up as we drive around town. Some houses have those huge inflatable pumpkins in their yards with the ghosts popping out of them. Jaden doesn’t know what a ghost is and so he always exclaims “Look, Mom, punkins and blankets!!” Now Evely is calling them “blankets” too.

So funny!!

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Yesterday my personal mileage counter turned over another big mile stone – the big 37! Yup, I do feel like I am slowly starting to slide into 40. I plan to do it with the best “gracefulness” that I can.

As I was trying to fall asleep last night I was thinking back over my day and I suddenly began to just thank God for all the wonderful things about yesterday. I want to capture them here so that I don’t forget. Here’s my top ten list and there are many many more that I don’t have the time to add to the list.

#1 Waking up to the new sound of my AWESOME coffee pot from my parents. It’s the kind that grinds the beans and perks the coffee all in one. It’s great. When the grinder kicks on in the morning it’s noisy. Something I will be happy to get used to.

#2 Stumbling to the kitchen for my fresh brewed Starbuck’s coffee – a gift from my wonderful friend, Jules. My friend is a true Jewel! One of those relationships that I couldn’t live without. I am thankful for all the many calls and well-wisher’s for my special day. Those friendships mean more to me even than the gifts! Thank you everyone!!

#3 For it being a year later and my Mom still being here with me. What a miracle!

#4 Yesterday I heard Evely sing for the very first time! She has the absolute cutest singest voice that I have ever heard – NO JOKE! Guess what she was singing? “Hap burt day to yooooou! Hap burt day to Yoooooooou!” I just melted.

#5 Spending time with my kids in the car. Julian and I had a blast making our voices do funny things, playing “I spy”, and stopping to check out a dead groundhog in the road. Someone asked me the other day if a groundhog has webbed feet – I am pleased to let you know that NO, they do not have webbed feet.

#6 I told Jaden I loved him yesterday and he yelled in an angry voice “No!”. “Why?” I asked. “CUZ!”, he said through clinched teeth. “Cuz why?” I pressed him. “Cuz I LOVE YOU!!!” He growled at me. (I’ll take that!)

#7 I am thankful for the gorgeous pink roses that ended up on my counter. They were brought in by my wonderful hubby who loves me so much. The thing is, he doesn’t realize that I love him more! He is the best I could ask for. He sacrifices himself for our little family and provides so well for us! I’m proud to be his wife.

#8 The fillet mignon that I devoured last night at Houlihans for my birthday meal!! It was scrumptious. (Should have taken a picture of that one.)

#9 I was ecstatic to see that I sold over $100 on ebay yesterday. A new fun hobby that I have begun.

and #10 . . .I am thankful for life, health and happiness, for family, for laughter, but most of all for Jesus. Without Him, I would be a mess. He has brought me out of a miry pit and set my feet upon a firm foundation. He is my salvation, my life and I can get through anything with Him. I can smile at the years to come because I know that whatever will come my way, He is with me. He will never leave me or forsake me. He stoops down to make me great. He makes the path before me smooth so that my ankles do not turn as I walk. He is the lover of my soul and every good gift that I have comes ultimately from His hand. Praise be to His name for ever and ever!

I hope that all of you out there make a top ten list for today. Even in the midst of hard times, trials, crummy days or rain there is so much to say “thanks” for. I think I am in the mood for some turkey, mashed potatoes and stuffing now!

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I LOVE fall;it is my very favorite time of year! I think it’s because October seems to be when good things happen to me. When the weather cools down and the leaves begin to swirl it reminds me of my birthday, new things, cooler seasons, holidays around the corner and . . .love. Yes, love! Tom and I started dating in October 15 years ago and this colorfull time of year always brings back those memories.

This season isn’t right unless we do the “fall” sort of stuff to go with it. So we started celebrating our autumn activities on Friday by burning the “Bon Fire!” Every year we have a huge pile of limbs and leaves that we have collected throughout the year to burn.

Jaden acting like Tom.

This year it was even bigger than normal because our city friends brought out some of their yard waste to dump. We rounded up the kids, lit the fire and got out the stuff to make S’mores! Mmmmmm… S’mores!

The Fixin’s!

I am a little disappointed that after toasting the marshmallows to perfection and sliding them onto the chocolate bar, held between graham crackers – the kids didn’t like them! Julian wouldn’t even taste them, the baby spit it out and began to cry and Jaden just ate chocolate – a LOT of chocolate. Oh well, I enjoyed two of them immensely.

I thought I would share with you our “Green Acres” Picture. This is me and Tom and our pitch fork. (Yes, there’s a pitch fork in the picture!)

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Saturday was a beautiful day and we took the kids up to Carolyn’s Pumpkin Patch in North Kansas City. If you are local, that is a great place to go! It does cost to get in, but you get lots of petting zoo experiences, riding in the hay wagon to the patch, hay slides and mountain trike racing. It’s a fun event that we look forward to every year. Here are some of my favorite pics of my own little punkins in the patch.

Next weekend we are hoping for good weather and looking forward to the big hayride at the D’s! It’s become quite the tradition.

Autumn, the year’s last, loveliest smile.

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Yesterday my adorable little 2 year old became THREE! I can’t believe how time has really flown by. He is growing up to be such a fun guy; the toddler times are melting away from his features and body and he really is a full blown “little boy”.

He likes to make people laugh, he is sensitive and tender hearted yet very LOUD, too. He likes to please and so far doesn’t require a lot of discipline. He loves Thomas the train, trains and cars and is beginning to enjoy superhero’s too. He is a joy to have in our family!

We revved up the festivities with the D family at the local Chuck E. Cheese! The kids had a blast and so did our men. James got going on the skee ball and after several “jackpots” we cashed out with over 1,000 tickets! The kids got those all day rainbow suckers and necklaces.

We stood back and laughed at how we couples have “grown” over the years!

After visiting Chuck E. and filling up on pizza, we came home and had cupcakes and opened gifts.

Jaden cleaned up on Thomas gifts! His favorite.

My good friend, Jules, always takes a picture with her kids on their birthdays. I think it is such a great idea to see them grow and change. Plus, we mommies did have something to do with these little sweeties being here! So here is picture of me and Jaden on his special day.

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A couple days ago, Tom’s folks came over to bring Jaden his gift. One thing was Superman pj’s. The heroes cracked me up as Julian began to verse Jaden on how to be a true superdude.

He showed him how to stand just right, where to put his hands on his hips, how to stick out your chest

and of course, how to fly!

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Mom posted this under the comment section earlier. I thought I would post it here in case someone was wondering and didn’t read the comments. Thank you everyone for praying. Mom’s doing better and glad that the stint removal is behind her now! Is wasn’t too big of a deal like she thought it might be.

PRAISE THE LORD!!! In case you haven’t heard, to make a long story short, the doctor was able to remove the stint in his office today. He gave me some antiabotics, but I am doing fine after the “ordeal.”

Girls, thank you so much for the scriptures. They meant more to me than you have any idea. I read them before I left for my appointment. I needed all that encouragement not only for today, but just to keep trusting the Lord to bring more complete healing!! GOD IS SO GOOD even when “the going is tough.” Judy ~

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