I'm on vacation. What can I say??

Yeah, that's right. 5 days off of work. No where to go, nothing to do.

Wait a sec, did I just say nothing to do? Who am I kidding?

And lest you think I'm trying to bore you to death with my to do list for the week, well... I pretty much got nothing.

I mean this weekend was just not that fun. I came home from work at lunch on Friday with a stomach virus. No fun.

Saturday we shelled out $750 to replace our hot water heater. No fun.

Later that night, on our way home from dinner, we stopped by the library to let Ashton drop off some books she had checked out. She got out of the car and Joey had to pull up a bit so she could get to the box. Taylor said "Daddy, why are we moving without Ashton in the car?"

Joey, playing along, said, "Oh, we're just gonna leave her here."

It took Taylor all of about 2.5 seconds to come out with "well let's go then!" And he was completely serious!!

Now that was fun!

Peace out, my bloggy friends! I'll try to be around, but I'm not making any promises. You saw my list!!

Oh, and before I forget, Blogalicious Designs has just ventured into Graphic Design and we're now offering photocards (with much more to come)! Check us out for your holiday cards!!

If I don't talk to you again, have a WONDERFUL Thanksgiving!!

"My Husband Rocks" Friday

Welcome to MHR Friday. I feel like I need to clear something up. I've received some emails questioning my lack of MHR posts over the last few weeks, so just to be clear, no, Joey hasn't done anything wrong, he's not in the dog house, and he STILL rocks!!

I'm sorry for letting everyone down and not being consistent in declaring how fabulous my hubby is EVERY Friday, it's just that when I brag about him all the time, sometimes I feel like I'm just repeating myself to do it specifically every Friday.

But this Friday is not one of those...

I know I've said it before, but there is no one on the planet that can make me laugh like my husband. Grant it, he does get funnier after he's partaken in a drink or two, but even without an alcoholic treat, he is the funniest person I know. And I love him dearly for this.

Exhibit A.

No, he's not trying to do "The Running Man". He was showing us all how he could jump through his leg while holding his foot.

Where was I, you ask? On the couch, dying laughing.

I'm beginning to think this is how I stay so thin. Laughter is GREAT cardio.

Two can cheat at this game!

Last weeks soccer game was quite an eye opener.

Let me set the scene... here's our cute little soccer team of 4 and 5 year olds.

And then there was the other team. The team that was clearly a plant from Mexico. The team that was playing futbol, not soccer.

Our cute little guys didn't have a chance. Especially since the other guys were playing in positions.

Ahem. We're not supposed to have positions in 4 and 5 year old soccer at the YMCA. But the miniature Olympic team that we were playing against? Yeah, they planted a midget at the goal.

I may have gotten a little upset. I may have been that mom. I also may have screamed "two can cheat at this game!" when our fabulous coach decided halfway through the game to plant his own little midget at our goal. (Go Ethan!!)

Too bad the score was already 21-0. Or something like that.

Oh well. It's about learning, right?

No, it's about winning. Sorry peeps, I'm just a little competitive.

At least the boys had tons of fun at the soccer party - eating hot dogs, a soccer ball cake (yeah, Chris' wife is pure genius!), and getting their trophies.

Aren't they cute???

Look what I came home to...

Yeah, I know. I'm married to the absolute sweetest man on the planet.

And what I didn't take a picture of was the nice, clean house, too!

The cards were numbered... card #1 made me cry... card #2, well... let's just say that my hubby can't be all sappy. He has to throw something sexy in there. Something about my butt.

If he didn't, I would definitely start to wonder. :)

I love you baby, more than you know. Thanks for thinking of me... for no reason at all.

Look Mom! No hands...

... or better yet, "NO TRAINING WHEELS!"

I came home from children's choir last night to find Taylor learning to ride his bike without training wheels.

Don't my children read my blog? I mean, don't they know they are not allowed to grow up?

But just look... he's so cute!! Here he is after Daddy took the training wheels off. He was so brave and practiced until he got it.

Yeah, that's my boy... riding BY HIMSELF! I don't think I have ever been more proud.

And I'm pretty sure he's never been more proud either!

Yeah, that's my boy. Crazy as ever. Always being silly. And so proud of himself and his new big boy bike with no training wheels.

Way to go, Taylor!!

Ever wish you could freeze time?

**Before you start reading, click play on the playlist... (click on pop-out player... I don't know why it's not coming up.)

Do you ever wish you could make time stand still? Or even rewind a bit?

I was looking through some old pictures on our old - very old - computer that I never use anymore. Ashton needed some pics for a timeline project she has at school, so I was browsing through all sorts of pics of my babies when they were, well... babies.

I found this pic of Taylor when he was first learning to walk.


And this pic of Ashton that a friend of ours took when she turned 4.

Then I heard this song on the way home from work the other day. Every time I hear it I tear up. I mean, I just can't believe how fast time flies. It literally seems like just yesterday when we were having to block off the stairs to keep Taylor from trying to crawl up to Ashton's room, and now he's 5 and running, and playing, and independent.

And Ashton... I can still remember when we found out we were expecting - 1 month after we were married! She was such a good baby, sleeping through the night, never fussing... and now she's about to turn 9!

Where does the time go?

She's alive!

So I have this best friend, Staci. Some of you may know her. We own a little business together designing blogs. Like this one.

I don't know what happened to her, but somewhere along the way she was sucked in to Photoshop and she can't get out. Most of the time I'm happy about this because she's designing great blogs and we have very happy clients.

But other times I'm sad. Because she doesn't blog any more. Or read my blog. It's a good thing that we live in the same city so I can actually see her or I might think that PS was holding her hostage.

Yesterday, I was thrown a lifeline.

She read my blog! It was a miracle from God, I tell ya! And not only did she read it, she commented.

Now last night she tried to tell me that she reads it all the time she just doesn't comment, but I don't know... for now, I'll take what I can get and hope that some day, she'll post another blog herself so Staci's Heart will jump back to the top of my blog roll where it belongs!

**On a completely different topic, last night, at Taylor's soccer practice, he kept picking the ball up with his hands - which is a major "no-no" in soccer - so I yelled over to him, "Taylor, no hands!" to which he promptly responded, "You're not the boss of me, old woman!"

And you wonder where yesterday's post came from?

The epiphany

I'm 31.

There. I said it.

Why this was such an epiphany driving down the highway at lunch today, I have no idea, but needless to say, it completely ruined my entire lunch time.

I was on my way to Old Navy for a little lunch time shopping, but this harsh reality ruined it all. There was nothing cute, and what was cute wasn't in my size.

All because I'm 31.

Yes, I know it's been 44 days since this cruel turn of events. But I think I was blinded to it's effects by the fabulousness that was the "8 Days Of Stephanie". So blinded, in fact, that it hadn't even hit me until today, 44 days later, that not only am I 30, but I'm 31.

The only good thing that came out of this lunch-time epiphany was this:



Some nice cozy slippers. These should make me feel better.

Well, those and some Diet Dr. Pepper and Flipz!

A few of my favorite things...

Ahhh... I never thought I'd see the day. But last night, driving home from worship rehearsal, I saw gas prices that had finally fallen below $2.

Just to prove that I'm not a liar, I took a picture.

Most of you are aware of my love affair with Sour Patch Kids...

... but now I have a new love.

It's horrible, I know, but I counter-act the calorie intake with this:

That does work, right? I mean all of the calories from the chocolate covered pretzels are balanced out by the zero calorie Diet Dr. Pepper, right?

RIGHT??

Is anyone there? Bueller?

The Presidential Prayer Team

Did you even know there was such a thing?

I didn't, until I heard about it on the radio while I was driving to get the kids yesterday.

I've read so many blog posts over the past couple of days expressing a wide range of emotions. Some are so excited about this era we seemed to have stepped into as a country. Some are devastated that we've elected someone to the highest office with such polar-opposite view as their own.

But the common thread that I seem to see in almost every post and comment string is a call to pray for our nation. For our President Elect. People reminding others that no matter who serves as the President of the United States, God Almighty is ultimately in control. He is not surprised by this election.

KatyLin wrote a great post about this. You should check it out. It prompted me to check my attitude and take a step of faith - so I joined the Presidential Prayer Team. We can't change what's happened, nor should we try to. Our duty as Christ followers (and privilege) is to lift up our President and place him at the throne of God.

I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.

--I Timothy 2:1-2

Deep thoughts...

Taylor had a red spot on his forehead this morning that was really hurting him badly.

It caused much whining.

Did you hear it?

After he fixed his hair he looked in the mirror and said to me is his most concerned voice, "Mommy, I think I know what it is. My brain is working too hard."

That's it. No more Power Ranger cartoons in the morning.

Just a little overboard

So Joey got Ashton her cell phone... and me a new phone... and him a new phone, too.

How does this happen?

I mean all I asked him to do was get Ashton a phone. How did this turn into new phones for the whole family? We all ended up at the Sprint store with Taylor asking where his phone was.

He's 5.

Seriously. I have to draw the line somewhere.

He was very good, though. He hung his head and conceded (much like McCain) and said, "I'll wait 'til I'm 12."

It's ok though. Joey deserves his phone that can do everything except make his coffee. And it was super nice of him to buy me a new phone - without me even mentioning a word about it! Now I can text with a way cool slide-out full keyboard. :)

And most important of all, Ashton can call me from the bus stop.

Mission accomplished.

What can I say...

I LOVE Christmas!!

I know, it's only the beginning of November, but I can't help it. I was itching for less of a "summer" blog design - and I LOVE CHRISTMAS - so I went for it.

What do you think??

I mean, the malls and all of the stores have their Christmas stuff out already, so why not my blog?

I'm thinking of having Joey put up the Christmas lights this weekend.

I kid, I kid.

Don't kill me freaky Joey.

I'm giving in.

This morning I asked Joey to do something I never thought I'd ask him to do.

I asked him to buy Ashton a cell phone.

Something happened to me when I saw Ashton get on the school bus yesterday. It was like I saw her grow up right before my eyes. And I worried about her my entire drive to work.

I mean, I saw her get on the bus. I waved to her. I waved to the bus driver. But what if something happened? What if she never made it to school? What would she do?

I know, some of it is completely irrational, but c'mon, this is who I left at the bus stop - my 3 year old baby girl.

But this is who was at the bus stop - my 8, almost 9 year old, growing-up-way-too-fast little girl.

How did this happen? Where does the time go?

So, to calm my nerves and to keep my dear hubby from having to check me in to some sort of mental institution, I'm giving in. I'm buying my 8 year old daughter a cell phone.

So help me God if she doesn't abide by the extremely strict rules that will be placed on the use of that cell phone, but yes, I'm buying it. Because if the bus doesn't show up, or should she need me for any reason whatsoever, I need to be only one phone call away.

I love you baby. Please slow down.

Scary stuff

The kids had a great time Trick-or-Treating on Friday. We had our second annual visit to a friends neighborhood and joined them for the fun.

Here's my little Darth Vador and Vampiress:

And the entire group...

Now for the scariest part of all - my little girl at the bus stop. Not part of Halloween, I know, but it's pretty scary to leave my baby at the bus stop.

Not for her, though. She was completely embarrassed that I was waiting for the bus to arrive and even more embarrassed that I took a picture.

Is it just me or does she look WAY too grown up?