Finally Breathing Fall!

With everything that has been going on, we haven't gotten to do many fall activities. We are working to get our decor out, hit a few festivals, and make our trip to the pumpkin patch! Hoping we get into the swing of FaLL soon! The season brings one of favorite things as a Mom...dressing the kids up for Halloween! I LoVe it~
The other night, I took LM to get his Halloween costume. Long gone are the days where I can shape and mold his costume. Over the years, I have tried to bring some creativity. He wants to be a STAR WARS character this year. This is truly uncharted territory for me. I have NEVER had any interest in this movie...EVER! I have decided to do what good moms have to do in certain situations...LET GO! You just have no idea how difficult this is for me! Luckily, I have a little girl that is just waiting for me to create a cute little costume for her! One of my favorite Halloween costume catalogs is WISH CRAFT. They also have an amazing clothing line called CHASING FIREFLIES. I really want to get Princess Peanut everything they sell, but would settle for the pettiskirt and ruffle jacket. I am not at the point where I can splurge on the clothing yet, but I am going to keep dreaming! Who knows my dream may come true some day! Happy Costume Shopping!

Sporty Jayme

Yes, I know...Sport and Jayme do not belong in the same sentence together, but let's play make believe for a bit!

Not too long ago, we went to our nephews' (Brian's sister's kids) birthday parties. At one of those parties, I had a time warp flashback to my Whitman Elementary days. I used to play tether ball every day at recess. We would scarf our lunch down and jet out the door towards the tether ball courts. I like to say that I mastered the game to some degree. My father put a court in the backyard of our house in Mesa AND Oklahoma. It was serious stuff! I will never forget the one girl that I could never beat...old MONA...she was so intimidating and twice my size! As I got older, the love of the game began to fade and shopping became my sport of choice. The passion for the game returned when I could see the court, in the distance, at the pool where Little D was having his b-day pool party. I tried to teach LM how to play and then Brian wanted in on the action. I held my own, but couldn't never beat him. Please note I was in a skirt and wedged flip flops. The sweat was profusely pouring down my back (even had to take a shower afterwards). Yet, this didn't change my desire to beat someone...ANYONE! My bro-in-law, Tom, walked up inquiring about the game. Brian and I gave him the objective and rules of the game. He is a good guy, health nut, and athletic. Believe it or not, we actually have a lot in common. We know our way around the kitchen, love to bask in the sun, and are rather competitive. I guess our competitive nature appeared because one thing led to another and we began to play each other. Proud to say that I beat him a couple of times, but he is no fool! Tom quickly learned to use his height to his advantage and beat me ragged. I wish I could say that I let him beat me, but I didn't.

This little incident leaves me wondering where in my backyard I should put my tether ball court so I can begin training to beat Tom. Would any of you come over and practice against me?

SIDE NOTE: Literally, after an hour of trying to upload my most recent photo of Tom, I have nothing to show for it. I decided to quit and use one of him holding Annie from...um...two years ago! UGH! Good photo of him, but PeAnUt looks crazy like she is super hungry! Oh, well, that is technology and my ancient computer! Hey...I just bought a new fridge...why not a new computer too! Don't think I won't!

Glimpse Into the Last Month or MORE!

Okay, so my sister has been hounding me to update this blog. I really wish that I would have recorded each of her texts because they got downright funny! One of the funniest was: "BLOG! WOMAN!" Just when I thought no one reads this or cares...Kelley comes through with one of her demands and here I am at the computer once again! As true to "JayMommy" style, I had overextended myself to the point that Brian has requested that I don't plan any parties for awhile. Which means no Halloween party...ugh...we still will decorate and deliver treats with the kids in our sneaky way. The sad thing is we have been so busy we haven't had the chance to enjoy the Fall festivals. Why don't I just give ya a little peak into the last few weeks and I can elaborate in separate posts?



Enjoyed Kings Island Passes...


Went to our nephews' parties and taught my favorite Brother-in-Law how to play Tether ball...








Watched LM play soccer...



Planned a bridal shower for my good friend...




Organized a block party....


Worried and fretted over Peanut dislocating her elbow...




Shopped for a new fridge because my original wimped out and was replaced by the one from college...it ain't cutting it...my new one will be here on Friday...




Prepped for a wedding...got airbrushed...be prepared to say..."Oh, my!"...promise the color mellowed, but not before we had some good laughs over it!




Girls' Night out...Bachelorette Party...who looks crazier...me or Missy or BOTH?



Styled Little Man for his appearance as Mr. Future Wildcat at Homecoming...



Enjoyed family visiting...



Participated in a wedding...

NOW I AM TRYING TO GET MYSELF RESTED AND READY TO ATTACK MY GARAGE, START TOT SCHOOL, AND DECORATE FOR FALL!

Honestly, three days after all of the crazy whirlwind of busyness is over, I am still feeling exhausted!

Bringing your children UP

One of the heaviest burdens I bear is making sure that my children know the Lord and have a personal relationship with HIM. We have been working on memorizing some memory verses. This has been great for me and Brian too! It is kind of like going back to the basics. Looking at God's word in a simple way that you can ponder and apply.
Lately, both of my children have provided moments of joy to confirm that what is being taught is clicking! Not too long ago, LM and I were talking about communion. He wanted to know when we were going to "drink Jesus's blood" and "eat his body" at church. I laughed, but began to cry. He is listening and learning!
Can't forget P...you should listen to this girl sing her praise and worship songs. It is hilarious and precious all rolled into one!

Family Fun...Halloween Party?

If you are a parent of young children, you MUST subscribe to the FAMILY FUN magazine! It is like Christmas for me every time it arrives. I like to pick and choose a few activities that I can do with the fam and/or my students. I have been getting it for the last several years and I KEEP EVERY SINGLE ONE! It is filled with wonderful ideas.

Today, I got the Halloween issue. Now, I am not into all the ghosts, goblins, witches, and demonic stuff...BUT...I love to dress the kids up and love FALL activities. For the last two years, we have had a kids' costume party. I was thinking this year that we wouldn't do it, but LM saw all of the Halloween decor in the stores and wants to do it! What to do?

It actually is a lot of fun. We work together to do a goodie bag invitation. Then we dress in black and deliver the invites...only we never let anyone see us! We run to the doorbell, drop the bag, and speed off in the car. SO FUN and quite an adrenaline rush! At the party, the guests bring their own spooky treat to share, we play games, and then have a Halloween parade (trick or treat at designated houses). The kids and adults love it. Now, I just have to decide if we should go for it or not? I want to have the Christmas Brunch again too, but don't want people go get sick of us!

HELP ME DECIDE! SHOULD WE OR NOT?

Flower Factory and Peanut don't MIX

I have a real love/hate relationship with a local store called Flower Factory. It is filled with some great bargains...kind of like a Michael's or Hobby Lobby...just bigger! When LM was around Peanut's age, one of the workers got on to him because I let him walk outside the cart. I know children have a tendency to induce havoc, but this wasn't the case with LM on this particular day. I left there so irritated and embarrassed; thinking I would never return. Well, I had to return because I am addicted to good deals.
Not too long ago, I took Peanut in to get a present for my mom's birthday. She had to use the restroom! My little buttercup was afraid of the restroom and couldn't go! Later that trip, she stood up and urinated everywhere including the items in my cart!!!!!!! People...if you know me...I am a germ freak and get easily embarrassed in these kind of situations. There was a huge PUDDLE of PEE under the cart. This left me in a panic and with a decision to be made. What to do? LEAVE or do the right thing. I opted to clean it up the best I could and to my dismay, ask for help! I just recently went back to Flower Factory in search of some items for a shower I (with bridesmaids) throwing for a friend. I had my mother-in-law and the kids with me this time. Peanut said she needed to go potty, so Debbie (MIL) took her. Again, she wouldn't go...afraid of the maroon toilets, I guess! Near time to check-out, she did the potty dance again. I took her in the restroom to find that she was carrying merchandise. While trying to figure out what to do with this item (that is not to go into the restrooms), Peanut wet all over herself and the floor. There was no way that I could leave with pee all over her. So, I did what every good mom does...gave her bath in the sink while she was standing up! I had to laugh when I looked into the mirror to see her little tooshie shining back at me! The trip ended with me leaving the store with Peanut wearing nothing, but a little tank top. Good times!