Life's a changin'...

Well, last week I had orientation for my new job. Yup! I'm going to be working part-time (at night - blech) on a postpartum unit at a nearby hospital. Despite the blech, I'm super grateful for the position and hope it works out well! I'm not the only one who's been hard at work lately... (I have no clue what she's so focused on, but I'm sure it was important!)

 Grant's been hard at work making me feel loved, buying me gorgeous flowers in honor of my new job. Thanks, honey. :)

 Naomi's also been working hard to take off every single bib I ever put on her. We've now reached the sad season where the sweet monogrammed bibs are on hold and the polyester cookie monster and elmo "over the head" bibs are the only thing we use. Ha. She LOVES them.

 And one final demonstration of the blood, sweat and tears that have gone forth at our house this week...

 G polished up our headlights with one of those fancy kits. Wow! That's seriously amazing!

 (He thought these would be great pics to put on the blog. :) Now that you've been enlightened, you can go on with your day!)

Phone Pics?

Will you tolerate that? They're fuzzy, but they're all you're getting.

Somebody LOVES her baths in the new tubby at the new house!

And somebody also got a double ear infection this week. Break my heart. Big thanks to Cookie Monster, who tried to help things out on the way home from the doc.

 But it's amazing what a little Azithromycin will do! Just over 24hrs later... 

Random pic of our new place. Never posted that. We love it!

Anyway. Sorry 'bout the blog. I don't know what's wrong with me. Every day has just been so incredibly packed! Lord, send a vacation!

CRAZINESS.

The last two weeks have been nuts. I mean it. All sorts of milestones and life changes happening around this place!!! Here is the last official picture of that gummy sweet smile, because praise the heavens, our girl GOT A TOOTH!!! Her FIRST tooth at 15-months and 4 days, but who's counting, you know... (I still don't have a picture of it because it's not terribly noticeable, go figure, and what baby likes to have their mouth pried open just for a photo op? Not mine. Yes. I tried.

 Not only does she have a tooth, but she started walking the same week! She didn't quite feel rushed by anyone in particular to accomplish this task - just took her own sweet time, which I loved...

 The great and wonderful MIL came to town to help us move. Yep. That was something else that happened in the last two weeks. Now THAT'S a legit excuse not to blog! We've only had the internet for a couple of days now! Thank you, Pegs, for ALL you did for us while you were here! You're the best!

And finally, remember that sweet baby lamb we had about 12 months ago?

 Well, she grew up. We now have a sheep.

 She loved wearing her sweet costume last night, even though we only went to Wal-mart and two friend's houses in it. Grant asked if we could use it as a jammie so he can see her in it more than once. Lol.

 No, she didn't get to eat that Butterfinger. But she sure looked cute playing in all that candy!

So here's one you didn't learn in Calculus...

A tooth + A new walker + A new home + A sheep = A very tired, but grateful momma!

Happy Fall!

Cincinatti and Aquarium Fun!

Last weekend, I had a blast going to visit my WONDERFUL friend, Sommer. It was my first night away from the baby since she was born and it felt strangely normal. Don't get me wrong, I was anxious to get my hands on her at the 24-hour mark!

We had so much fun setting up her awesome, new house, that she rents with a few other people. We went to IKEA, bought a bunch of fixin's and went to town! 

 Just a couple little shots of our handiwork... we were up until the wee hours of the morning. Love you, Som! Had so much fun with you, as always. :)

 I returned Sunday evening, only to go back to the Cincinatti area with some friends to check out the Newport Aquarium with the baby on Tuesday. It was another fun trip!

 I didn't get the greatest pics, but she loved it. Was quite taken by the large sea animals swimming all around her... and beating on that drum was fun too!

 Totally radical, Duuuude.

(A reference to Finding Nemo, to those of you who just got scared that I actually talk like that.)

 Ah. There's a shot of the fascination. She kept touching the glass, I believe expecting to make contact with the fishies. It was a great few days, but I think I'm road-tripped out for a while!

 

Harvest Time!!!

One of the Fall events that is going on with the ministry here is the first harvest festival we've done! The first weekend was super fun and a great introduction for us as none of us have ever done anything like this before! Here is the invitation I made...

These were the signs I painted to flank the entrance as cars would come in. I did all the signage and it was fun to have a project like that - but it kept me busy for DAYS!!

 

  Pumpkin purchase stand... (the pumpkins on the shelf were for people who didn't want to go out to the field to pick one)

 We set up these scenes for people to take family photos by...

 This "picture spot" came about on accident, because behind the pumpkin tablecloths (ha!) is a large piece of plywood that is blocking off current construction. But the restroom is that door to the left, so we had to do something to make it attractive. So now people can go pee followed by a quick pic of the kids by the hay bale in good ol' JC Penney fashion!

 That sign says "Wanna paint your pumpkin?" This station was a HIT!! I bet almost everyone painted their pumpkin after they picked it!

 And what harvest festival can go on without face painting - by far the MOST popular stand. I was assigned here for most of the weekend and was so so busy painting little cheeks!

Was I surprised to look over and see this going on? No. Not one bit.

He got a hungry shark.

 Hay ride time!

 G and I designed the hay maze. Have you ever designed a maze to actually construct? Go ahead. Try it out. I can almost bet you you'll quit... I know I almost did - it was one of the harder things I've done in a while!

 But we finally got it.

Sweet Naomi loved exploring the maze with her buddy, Molly.

 Out in the game field, there was plenty of corn hole, coffee sack races, and...

 A WATER BALLOON LAUNCH!!!! G made the contraption on the right and the kids looooved it. Okay, the grown ups loved it just as much! 

 These were the targets I painted for the water balloons to hit.

After all those games, we had food to appease the worked-up appetite. Grant and I made sandwich chalkboards for the menu and this sign... it says "Are you feeling hungry? Would you like something to eat? Come this way and join us for a tasty harvest treat!" :)

There's the other sandwich board for the menu - a great set-up with grilled corn on the cob (in the shuck, might I add), hot dogs, apple cinnamon donuts, and of course, apple cider! 

Shelley set up a fabulous corner in the barn with fall merchandise for the moms to peruse while the kids and dads were busy playing outside.

 A shot of the true pumpkin field and organic garden...

 The hay ride would stop for the kids to pet the neighbor's horse and look at the chickens - a built-in petting zoo!

 Out of place pic, sorry. The monster cookie walk (like a "cake walk"), another favorite. Because if you landed on the right number, you'd get - that's right - a monster cookie!!!

 The men at the grill - classic.

Well, that's about it. Most of those pics were taken during set-up so I'll try to get some more pics of the crowds next weekend. If you're in the area on the 15th & 16th, give me a call and I'll give you directions! We'd love to have you join us!