DEAR LORD...

Please make the laundry go AWAY!!!!!!!!

I was just upstairs folding the MOUNTAIN of clean clothes that I washed today and yesterday. I do 1-2 (large) loads of laundry EVERYDAY... except Saturday - and sometimes Sunday. But I pay for that on Monday!!!!!! The actual act of washing the clothes is not so bad. Folding them isn't SO bad either... assuming I don't let loads and loads pile up (as I just had done)!!! Putting them away, however, is just so daunting to me! I usually get the kids' clothes put away when I get them from their naps... or while BJ is bathing them at night. Mine and BJ's...... it can sit outside our door for DAYS!!!! BJ is usually my 'putter-awayer' which I am SO thankful for! It's probably because he gets tired of stepping over them to get into our room! Whatever the reason, it's extremely helpful!

BUT..............

I was folding my clothes just now, and thinking about all the people we have come into contact with recently who are hurting - they're sick, their kids are sick, they've LOST a child, they've LOST a spouse - or their spouse is overseas, they want to FIND their special someone, their loved ones are sick, they're out of work, they're going through rough times in their marriage or with their family....... the list goes on --- and on --- and on --- and on......

Suddenly, I am so HAPPY and THANKFUL to be doing my laundry - and my family's laundry! I am healthy and able to do it. My husband is at work and affording me the LUXURY to be doing our laundry, my children are happy and HEALTHY (and trust me, I am reminded daily of what a BLESSING their health is), my family is happy and healthy... I am blessed to be doing my laundry!

Thank you LORD for my laundry... every last bit of it!!!!

Halloween 2009

Halloween was a fun WEEK of celebrating and wearing costumes for the kids! Sam LOVED wearing his costume... mask and all! Jake did ok, but didn't like the 'hat' on his head so much! But they were cuties... of course!


We were supposed to go to Boo at the Zoo, but we ALL came down with an awful stomach bug that rampaged our house for about 5 days or so. It was terrible - in one night, we changed Sam's bed SIX different times because he threw up in it! I was incapacitated for an entire day, and Jake got it and puked a few times a night for at least 4 nights in a row... requiring a bath and bed change each time! BJ (thank God), didn't get the puking part, but he still suffered some of the symptoms... it was NOT a fun few days!!! BUT, we were all better and ready for Halloween when it finally got here!

Sam dressed up for his "Character Parade" at school and got to wear his costume for that...
Here's Batman... ready for school!

Sam ready to get out of the car at school as Batman!!! Buzz ready to go to Bubby's school for the Parade!

Sam marching in the 'Character Parade' for the parents... all the kids were SO CUTE!!!

Jake enjoying the parade...

Sam's class...Buzz at the after party...

Jake and Sam both enjoying snack time!!!

Time to carve the pumpkin!!!! (FINALLY!!! The kids were just beside themselves with excitement ALL DAY!!!)Scooping was their favorite part!

Sam helped his Daddy with the 'sharp part' and did a great job putting the design on the pumpkin!

Jake doing his part!

Jake was still scooping...

Hard at work... Jake found something else to get into!!!

The finished product! We steered the kids toward a simple design since we had all been sick and weren't able to carve the pumpkin until a day or two before Halloween! And we only had/did one pumpkin this year because we just weren't up for going to pick another one out! Thank you Mimi and Pop Pop for letting Sam pick one out while yall were here!!!!!!We went trick or treating with our neighbors. Here is Buzz, Batman, Woody and Tinkerbell.

Best Friends... Buzz off in his own little world!

We took these pictures, and started to our next door neighbor's house. Then it promptly started raining. UGH!!! We got umbrellas and decided to tough it out. About two houses later, it was coming down so hard that we decided to go home and wait it out. After waiting for about 20 minutes, the rain had stopped and we went on our merry way again! WHEW...

HOWEVER, Sam really wasn't that interested in going out again - he said, "Mommy, can you just go get candy for me? I think I've trick or treated enough!" (For the record, Batman Returned!!!)The kids enjoying their 'loot'!

Next item on our agenda... GARAGE SALE! I'm attempting to get rid of some stuff and clear out our basement so we can create a make-shift playroom/train station for the kids downstairs... and the proceeds will all go toward paying Santa to stop at our house this year!

It's Saturday, November 7th if you are interested in buying stuff I don't want anymore! Haha!!! One man's junk is another man's treasure... here's hoping!!!!!!!

Jake's 2-Yr-Old Pictures

Really, there's no words necessary on this post... just my (adorable) boys posing for fall pictures - and Jake's 2-yr-old pictures!!! Enjoy!!!

This is Sam trying to get my attention to tell me something! He finally just got RIGHT in the camera so I HAD to pay attention to him!!!!

Now... time to play!!!