Leaves and Acorns, Anyone?

Ethan loves to do projects. So, today we made jello and then I let him use cookie cutters to make these leaves and acorns. He really liked eating the extra jello, although I made him save some for Landon. And, of course, he will be able to eat these as well.

Deer Details and Other Delights

1. Papaw Clemens can't sit at the table to eat a bite without my boys coming over for some, too. This picture looks like they are deep in thought - "Who is going to get the next big bite?"
2. Shawn went deer hunting in Bedford on Hughes property, so of course, Emily and I wanted to go too! Shawn left on Thurs. but we just went for Sat. and Sun. and got to see quite a few friends at the Bedford church. Landon really made up with Shirley Hughes. They played ball together and of course, Landon gobbled down her delicious cooking!
3. Shawn's 8 point buck! Yeah! Ethan had kept saying, "Daddy's going to shoot a deer and then I can eat it!" I cannot wait to make some deer jerky....yumm!
4. Emily and I would go to Appleacres EVERY YEAR on a field trip with our "old" school. Caramel apples were a tradition. Well, we thought we would get one for old time's sake. It didn't disappoint us!!!! So tasty!

Baby Shower

The ladies of our church were so thoughtful....they gave us a shower. Since Kristina (my sister-in-law) and I each have two boys at home, we were needing some pink things for our new babies. We got so many gifts! It was so sweet of everybody to want to help us prepare for this new baby. My cousin, Pam, surprised me by coming and helping to celebrate. It was so much fun to have her there. Thanks for coming, Pam! My mother MADE me a special quilt for the occasion and also got the baby her first doll! She had it wrapped in a blanket on top of the gift. Only my mom, right?! So creative. Oh, and she made the card. Thank you, mom, it was the perfect gift! I love you!

Don't let the bed bugs..getcha!

Last night when Shawn was taking Ethan to his bedroom he hollered out, "Don't let the bugs getcha!" (Instead of, "Don't let the bed bugs bite!")Then he said, "Don't let the lights burn out!" Well, that is a new one for me...anyone ever heard anything remotely close to that?! I have a feeling my son is taking after his mother. I am still being laughed at by my family -thanks to mom, dad, and Em- for my phrase, "In the middle of a hard rock!" (Supposed to be: "Between a rock and a hard place!")

Odds and Ends

The picture of the cake: Shawn was going to watch Landon while I took Ethan with me on a few errands. Before we walked out the door, I told him he was going to go with mommy and we were gonna "party". He said, "We going to eat some cake"? I told him maybe we could get some - he loves b-day cake. So, as you can see, we came home with cake and later put candles on it so they could blow them out...just another fun adventure at our house!
The dogs: Xander (Alexander the Great) has been with us for a few months. He is 10 months old and weighs probably close to 175/190 lbs. and has a neck width of 32". He is an English Mastiff. We wanted to get him a friend which he seemed to be needing and so just a few weeks ago we picked up Zaidee Mae. She is 13 weeks old. Xander is like a new dog. He loves having a friend.
Cousins: The two girls pictured with my boys are my cousin, Pam Asbury's children. Carli is 6 months older than Ethan and Olivia is 2 months older than Landon. We had them for a couple of hours while Pam and Glen had a date. Wish we could see them more! Carli and Ethan had so much fun.....playing with guns! Poor girl, we don't have any girl toys yet! She didn't seem to mind. She had fun, saying she was superhero Carli and Ethan was the monster!
Basketball Shot: #32 is Shawn. He is on a Christian basketball league. It is so much fun to go to his games. He loves playing and loves the exercise. Oh, he is losing more weight! I am so proud of him! He can say "no" to chocolate and such-me, on the other hand...not as good at resisting as he is!!!! haha
Family Nightmare: Picture taking with two kids is awful! Ethan had eaten a piece of some hard candy beforehand and half the pics were of his mouth wide open! He did not want to cooperate...neither did Landon. Oh well, at least we are all in the same picture and have proof of trying to get a put together shot!

Fall Fellowship

Our church had a fall fellowship on Friday night. I was asked to do the decorating for the evening. I love doing things like that, but always have my "freaking out" times before it is actually done. Shawn was an incredible help. Sheryl (Shawn's mom) took care of Landon so he could get his nap in - I'm a stickler for a schedule that has to be kept if at all possible - and Ethan went with us. He was so cute! He helped set up chairs, carry pumpkins, etc. Shawn helped hang the leaf spirals I had dangling from the beams above the tables. He even decorated a couple of trees with miniature pumpkins and did whatever else I needed him to do. I came up with the idea for the centerpiece on the table, but my dear husband is the one who made them. The wood is from a tree in our backyard (which we have lots of :-). Everyone thought it was a great idea. I made little baggies for everyone and a had a little note beside each one at their seat and it said something like ."..each leaf plays a specific role in the coming of autumn, just as each of you help make our church unique." I forgot to show a picture of a couple of things, but oh well, you get the idea. It was so much fun, but boy, am I glad it is done! Oh, I made those "frosted apples". (egg yolk and sugar) Brought them home and rinsed them off...now we can eat them! I got two uses out of them.

Ethan's Prayer and Landon's Craziness

Are you glad we are past all the ugly Halloween decor?! I am. This picture was actually taken last year. The boys had dressed up and gone to a few friends. We didn't do anything this year. Didn't feel like it.

I wanted to share with you a funny story. :-) Ethan usually prayers at meal time and it is a very short prayer. Well, he has started praying some very long prayers. "Help us to go to sleep and wake up when it's sunny, help the lion eat the snake, help....." and so on. Well, a couple days ago, Landon was trying to be patient, but finally had enough and said in his own language, "Amen!" Ethan droned on. Landon bowed his head again and squinted his eyes, and after a moment, took a bite of food. The prayer continued until Landon again said, "Amen!" Whew! Ethan was finally done! It was a cute moment.

Landon is my mischievous one. The other day I found a huge section of books all pulled off and on the floor in a pile. He didn't even act remorseful when I corrected him. Then, I found him later sitting on the bathroom floor with all the q-tips dumped beside him - except the one that was sticking out of his ear! Grr! He loves putting stuff in his ears. We have had to use tweezers more that once...to get a rock and play-do out. Aren't kids grand?!