Happy Halloween 2011

Happy Halloween! Well, tonight was a great night. I had so hoped this day would be fun for the kids and it sure was. Yes, Little Will had school today but that was ok. He got his homework done in a flash and played outside a little until it was time to go. Cole's best buddy, Jo Jo came over and we all went trick or treating around our neighborhood together. We started early (I think we were the first ones out!) and trick or treated for 2 hours straight! Fun night, best friends...I couldn't ask for better times for my kids and for me :) We are lucky. Hope you all enjoyed your holiday too!

Pinterest...Just another obsession...

Oh my Lord...I love Pinterest. I had no idea. I tried that website about 2 weeks ago and had no idea what was going on. So, I instantly gave up. Then, 2 days ago, I decided to give it another try. This time, my eyes were opened to it's wonderful world. Pinterest is amazing. You can find any craft/DIY idea in the world. I have found solutions to my headband ball (now I know I can use an oatmeal container wrapped in fabric to make a headband holder), my ribbon mound (now I know you can use a tie hanger) and I have found the cutest snack ideas on the planet. I'm addicted. I may even become that mom...you know the one that has it all together?? Well, I'll probably never be all that, but I can at least look like I have it all together to my 3 munchkins :) Now, I need to go...it's Friday eve and I have 10 minutes before I have to wake up Mollie and go pick up Little Will from school...Pinterest is calling!!!!!

Fall Friends...

Here's a picture of my baby boy, Cole and his best buddy in the world, Jo Jo. These two found one another last year at preschool and it was a friendship at first sight. They get along and always have fun. Today, they both just looked so stinkin' cute, pumpkin pickin' together. I thank the Lord for a friendship like this for my little boy :) Another answered prayer...one grateful mama :)

Pumpkin Mollie

This is the cutest ever...I just had to share...my friend, Kathy took this picture today at the pumpkin patch. She captured Mollie at her cutest...a little mischievious and always happy...and p.s. I made that bow :)

Daughters and Daddies...

I am one lucky girl...I have a wonderful husband, 3 beautiful, healthy children and now, I have my Daddy. I never thought this day would come. I am 35...35 year old women don't all of the sudden get a chance like this. I thought my chance had passed. I had almost given up.

Then, one day things changed. My step-mom, Donna, who I had never met, reached out to me. She opened the door and made a way for that huge gap to close. God used her that day. She thought beyond her own life and took a chance on a complete stranger...me. She didn't know me. She didn't know if I was nice or weird or crazy. She just took a chance. I believe God led her to do that. I will always believe that.

Now, after 35 years, I have a relationship with my daddy. He is everything I hoped he would be...funny, smart and affectionate. He hugs. He hugs me a lot :) That makes me smile. That makes up for lost time. We are so much a like, it's nuts. Even simple things like what his favorite candy is (Reese cups), is my favorite too. I don't take those little things for granted. They are all special and important to me. The best part of all of this is that my children have a wonderful grandfather now (Pops, as they call him). They always had a wonderful grandfather in my husband's father, but now I have something to offer too. They get to see my side. I needed that in this life. Now, I have it.

So, today, Monday, I'm sitting here missing my dad but things are different than they used to be. I don't miss him the same way. I know I'll see him really soon. I know I can pick up the phone and call him. I know that he thinks my baby girl is the most beautiful girl in the whole world. I know that he loves my boys more than I could have ever imagined. I know that he is my real daddy and that can't ever be taken away. God answers prayers. Prayers of a little 8 year old girl and prayers of a 35 year old woman....all my prayers. He answers and I am grateful :)

My baby boy...9 years old?

Tomorrow, my baby boy will be 9 years old. I can't believe it. Didn't we just bring him home from the hospital yesterday? I know everybody says that time flies, but after you have a baby, time really does fly. The last 9 years have gone by like a flash. I truly feel like I just blinked and now, my baby is standing almost as tall as me.

On October 20, 2002, William Walter James III was born at exactly 9:00 am. He was 8 pounds and 10 ounces and 21.5 inches long. I can't believe I survived to be totally honest. He was a week late (actually due on October 13th). My water had broken at home and two very scared twentysomething soon-to-be parents rushed to the hospital and waited all night to hold that sweet baby. He was precious and perfect and a true "piece of gold" as Nanni used to say. Everybody loved Will. Everybody still loves Will. But to me, his mama, that was my first baby....and the love I felt the day he was born has only grown over the last 9 years.

Here are some neat things about my firstborn son:

1. He loves science...I mean, he truly loves it. He wants to be a scientist when he grows up. I'll be on the front row for every science experiment, I promise.

2. He has a beautiful singing voice. My baby can sing. He sounds like an angel. I am so glad. I wish he would sing more but he's a little bashful nowadays. One of these days, I'm going to hear him belt it out and once again, I'll be on the front row.

3. He has a tender heart...he cries when he sees a commercial about kids with cancer. He begs to give food to hungry people. He worries when we see a homeless man or a child without good clothes. He cried in the movie Soul Surfer and Dolphin Tail....I love his tender heart.

4. He loves Jesus. Will gave his heart to the Lord when he was really little. I wondered if he even knew what he was doing back then, but now I know he knew exactly what was going on. He prays everyday and if you're his friend, I can guarantee that he prays for you. He tells little Cole Bible stories and listens in church, like he was 35 years old. One more reason that I'm proud...

5. He's just like his Daddy...yes, if you have seen my husband, then you have seen my son. They are identical, not only in looks but in personality. I have always wondered what it would feel like to have someone look so much like you and also act the same...it's really neat to see. I am proud of those two. Little Will sure lucked out to have such a good Daddy to be like :) I wouldn't change that for the world.

6. Will loves to read...I mean, he LOVES to read. He is surrounded by books this very moment in his bed. Science books, history books, baseball books...you name it. He usually falls alseep with a book under his pillow. I hope he never loses that eagerness to learn. I'm so proud of him :)

7. He loves his family...Will would do anything for his family...anything. He loves his baby brother and has set such a good example for him. He is like a mini-daddy to Mollie, who absolutely adores him. He would give his right arm for time with his grandparents. Will is a family boy and I know one day, he'll turn into a family man.

8. He has the cutest freckles in the world :) Enough said. They are literally the.cutest.things.ever

9. He can hit a baseball like nobody's business...yep, I'm a proud baseball mama every spring. I love cheering him on and the best part is his smile from ear to ear the whole time. He would do anything for his team. That's my guy.

10. We grew up together...yeah, I was a complete ignorant mess when I gave birth to that sweet boy. I had no idea what I was doing and couldn't believe the nurses were actually going to let us take him home. I grew up real fast...I learned most things the hard way with Will but it was worth it. I remember rocking him for literally hours and hours (since, remember I learned everything the hard way) but those days of just us...well, I wouldn't trade it for the world. It was never that way again.

So, there are just a few of the wonderful things about my baby boy...yes, he's still my baby boy until the day I'm gone. Little Will, if you ever read this, remember that I am so proud of you and I love you. I love you more than all the stars in the sky and all the grains of sand on the beach. I love you as far as the ocean and the sky. I cherish every day with you. You are my piece of gold.

Love, Mama

The Office...Episode 4...much better

Ok, this week's office episode was MUCH better...sorry I'm so late with this blog (cause I know you all are all on the edge of your seats). The Garden Party...funny idea. I loved Andy's parents and the fact that Josh Groban was his brother...good casting there. His dad and mom had been on about 100 Lifetime movies in the past and who could have forgetten Andy's dad from 7th Heaven? Anyway, very cute episode...not the best it's ever been, but better than last week. But really anything would have been better than last week...

Alrighty, enough of The Office for today...it's Monday already and I'm just not feeling it...I'm more in a Sing-Off mood now ;) Maybe I should blog about that!!??

Happy Monday!!