I pulled it off !

tribute to this man and the welcoming him into the thirtysomething club-

We went to dinner with our awesome friends Greg and Kelli. Went to this fabulously nice restaurant in our town(we only have 2 or 3!).It was one of those nice, leisurally dinners, that took about 2 hours of great conversation, lots of laughs, good drinks, good food , good company.

We were celebrating Andrew' s big 30th birthday!!

Little did he know that more fun was yet to come.... we decided to go for drinks at this Irish Pub. I so knew it would NOT be hard to get him to go. and so when we arrived at the bar,

SUPRISE!!!

I had reserved a cozy corner and 20-25 of his friends were waiting there to congratute the old man!

I can't believe I pulled it off.. Andrew said he had thought I might do something b/c he threw me a big suprise party for my 31st(yeah, I was a year late...totally suprised me!!LOL).

Then when I asked him a couple weeks before about a quiet dinner with our closest friends at the Hour Time, he figured, I hadn't done anything... but was ok with it.

So, he totally didn't have a clue!!

I made him this cake too. I baked it Thursday night at my moms(after a mom's night out) so he didn't know about it.. then went back over to my mom's on Friday day to decorate it!

I so thought that a 3 year old jabbermouth was going to spill the beans.. but he never mentioned it!!

Andrew is a HUGE broncho fan.. so that was the theme for the night...although I asked my dad to bring orange,blue, and white balloons ahead of time to the bar.. and well, he brought yellow, blue and white...so we pretended they were for the Denver Nuggets(basketball)!!LOL

anyway, it was a great time and we started out the evening with our friends, and we finished it off around 2 am with a late night snack at Qdobas.

Funny how after a night of drinking, you're always hungry for a meal.. yet at home, you'd never wake up in the middle of the night to eat like that!!

...luckily we got to sleep in, because my mom had the kids. and thank goodness the smoking band was in effect, because we didn't wake up with the stinch of stale cigarettes in our hair!! YUCK!!!. and to think we both smoked during our college and pre Brigham days...

so yes, Tatum had her first night away from us!! I am not one of those moms that worries, because, she stayed at my moms, and I am pretty sure my mom knows how to handle a baby. and if not, big brother was there to help out!! LOl

Mom, said she woke once in the middle of the night, drank a bit from the bottle and went right back to sleep. Basically she slept from 8 pm to 7 am!!

sure wish she would do that for us!! we've been digressing in the sleeping thru the night department.. UGH!!

but the potty training is coming along great.. no more diapers..just pullups, and no accidents except for #2..

I've got more pics from the party to edit, and we also had our family photo shoot on Saturday.

we got a few shots in for Tatums 6 month shoot, but then she got really tired, so we're trying again in a couple days.

Hope you all had a great weekend!!!

the lion and the lamb

finally getting my halloween pics up. ughh. I have 3 different photo editing software programs.. and they all take FOR-EVER to do.

I usually just wait and edit my pics thru Walgreen's .com before I order them online.

works for me.

I have been trying to organizing my pics little by little as well.... will it ever end???

scrapped a little in the last week.

we had a great time with our friends on Sat night...smores and hot dogs and a bonfire.. and of course some drinks.. (a few of us had a few too many!!). we had so much fun just hanging out, maybe we'll get one more nice night before it gets too cold, to do it again. we'll bring the FUN drinks this time =)

Sunday we had our sunday school lesson on Families of Faith. very cool class. and fabulous book study. We were supposed to go to Morman church (but that would have been 4 hours of church for us!!! =/)

so we decided to stay for our worship service. so glad we did. it was a great sermon.

Sunday afternoon we went to some friends house to watch the BIG game.

Colts vs. Patriots.

We had our token cheerleader dressed in blue!! (though none of us were actually that big of Colts fans.. but since we live in In... we have to try)

Cleaning the house today. baking a chocolate molten cake for dessert. I am hosting my girls group tonight. Hopefully it turns out. I was wanting something more fall-ish, but nothing was sounding that great. so chocolate it is!

hope you're all having a great weeK!

a purdue homecoming & a rainy trick or treat

We went trick or treating for the third year in our little downtown . Very fun. a tad wet, although we never really got wet, due to the building coverage. The quaint streets were tainted with ghosts, and goblins and even Spiderman was going from storefront to storefront to collect candy. Brigham had so much fun, and Tatum(dressed in her costume) slept in the stroller the entire time!! So here is a peek. I just love this photo I captured of Andrew and Brigham. We're all set for some big time trick or treating tomorrow night!!

Here is a replica of the 'moon prints' leading up to the new Neil Armstrong Engineering building. The dedication was Friday night, and we got to go inside and check it out. Complete w/ moon rocks, and a capsule hung from the ceiling. Its a very cool bldg design as well, but I didn't get a pic of it!!

Brigham after the game, intensley watching the band as it marches by. He has informed us that he wants to be in the band. He was playing his 'air trombone' and having a blast. We never even told him how to, he just saw it and mimiked it. gotta love it.

(though Andrew is trying to sway him into playing football instead of the band...)

Here is the statue of the boyish Neil Armstrong as he looked during his Freshman year of campus.

the band getting it on to 'SHOUT'

put your hands up and 'shout'... Brigham never missed a beat!!

Boiler UP!!

proudly showing off his Purdue Pete with the hammer down on the ground.(the phrase he told everyone as he pointed to his cheek!)

the family =)

the weather was better than we expected, and so we took both kiddos with us to the homecoming festivities and the game.

this was the first year...that we did NOT leave early!!

Brigham had a blast. Tatum was snug as a bug the whole time. She took two naps in the snugli, and nursed during the first half of the game. what a trooper!!

wishing you a haunting good time and a safe Halloween tomorrow! I'll be back with pictures later this week!!

a mommy moment

so we were on our way to MOPS(mothers of Preschoolers) this morning, and a conversation with a three year old went like this:

Brigham: Mommy, what color is your pee?
(mind you this is totally out of the blue)

Me: um....green...(trying to be cute)

Brigham: Mommy, your pee is daddy's favorite color GREEEEEEEEN!!!! (the excitement was unreal, as he made this connection!)

another mommy moment: since Tatum is now 5 months old..sniff , sniff. She has offically graduated from being an attendee at MOPS and now has to go into the MOPPETS nursery.
Needless to say this mama's girl fussed the entire time.
I did warn the ladies working in her room and told them not to take offense, that she does this to anyone who is not mommy.

She apprearantly calmed down when they put her in the swing and then they paged me to come feed her.
So I picked her up, brought her back into the meeting where she was happy as a clam eating and snuggling with mommy.
Then mean mama took her back into that awful place, where she proceeded to cry for another 40 minutes until I got there. Just as I came in the room, the lady rocking her, said she had just fallen asleep!!
Of course she woke right up when she heard my voice!!
Luckily I am not one of those moms that gets all frantic about my baby crying. I don't let it bother me. I know she is in good hands of the caregivers, and if she really doesn't calm down, they'll page me.
This is all new to me, as Brigham was an incredibly easy going, totally content baby (thru about 3 years!!) He never made a peep when he was in the nursery, never went thru the seperation anxiety period. Nope, he has NEVER been sad to see mom or dad leave him!!
guess thats why God makes each child unique, so we can experience ALLL the joys of children =)

We had our annual Pumpkin patch party yesterday. It was perfect weather. A tad windy, but at least the kids were not all bundled up with red noses and dried snot on their faces like last year!! LOL
My friend Kim and I planned the festive menu, of chili, cornbread, apples and carmel, pumpkin dip, and vegies. Kim made a fabulous apple/carmel/pecan trifle and I made a pumpkin(flavor and shaped) cake.

As of Saturday night, I was having a complete stress attack as I thought we were going to have 45 people in my house!!! ackkk. I was freaking out a tad, trying to secure a big bounce, and some other fall games so we could be outside.
Although we were sad they coudln't join us, it actually became a blessing when 3 families of 3, 4, 5 kids actually had to cancel at the last minute!
We had a great time, hopefully got some good pictures. Our friend took a family shot of us, so I can't wait to see if it came out all right.
It could be our christmas card pic. if not, we do have a photo shoot scheduled for Tatum's six month, and while she is here, I'll have her take some family ones too.
Um, yeah I am a tad ridiculous when it comes to photography. My husband reminds me every time he gets the bill!!
Well, I hope you are all having a great Monday, enjoy the beautiful changing scenery!
we took like 6 pictures of the kids, and I don't think any of them managed to get all looking at the camera (let alone smiling!!)

the best lil' punkin in the patch!! a friend gave me this hat. isn't it adorable??

all smiles, the farm, and a cake!

OH, my goodness, I can hardly believe that my little baby girl is five months old!!

I don't remember the time going by this fast with Brigham. Maybe b/c I have two. We are always on the go.(though I feel like I did much more with just the one kid). People always say that children grow up so fast.. but in Brigham's short 3 years, we have done sooo much, grown so much, as a family, as a couple(me and Andrew), in our spiritual lives, with our extended family, with our friends. It really seems like soo much more time has gone by. And when I think about the fact that there will be another three years before Brigham is in school, it seems so far off!

Guess, thats why one keeps having babies.. to keep us young and energized. yeah, I'm almost thinking about another...almost. actually, Andrew and I came up with our name for a boy the other night.its totally secured... so we'll have to wait and see.

for now, I am having the time of my life with my cutie pie. she is all smiles right now. laughing out loud. rolling all over the place. belly 'surfing'. loving her activity mat. and her big brother. she can't get enough of him. seriously, its so adorable.

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Brigham went on his first field trip to a farm on Tuesday. Actually it was just a big pole barn with several stations and we took our turn at each one. Each kid had a little booklet that they could stamped at each station if they answered the question about that animal.. like what is baby chicken called, what is a mommy cow called.. etc.

not many 3 year olds answered , but they got their stamps anyway. I think Brigham's high light was the snack at the end. The kid LOVES his snacks!

That is always the first thing he asks about when I pick him up each day.. he runs to his cubby to make sure no one took it!

BTW, he is the only kid, that even has left over snack.. guess he talks to much during snack time.

I have no idea where he gets that. =)

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and I did my first paid cake gig!! Last Saturday, I made this one for a friend's little boy turning one.

I am doing another one this weekend for a friend's six year old.

I had no idea that this would take off like it did, but I have 4 cakes to do this month. I haven't even gotten my flyers out or gotten my business cards back yet! whoo hoo, I am having so much fun with it.

Going to start a class in November, at Michaels to learn how to work with fondant. I can't wait.

I hear a not so smiley-at-the- moment little girl needing her mama!

hope you're having a great week!

pages smages

obviously, these are in no particular order.. thats the way I scrap em'!! LOL .

been trying to finish Brigham's 3rd year, and of course I am dying to do all the girly pages. anyone have a favorite line for baby girl stuff? I actually finished another 4 pages in the last couple days, but have not uploaded them. I also realized that I absolutely have NO style. you certainly could not pick my LO's out of a magazine.. oh, yeah, they've never been there either!! LOL

just some stuff, I have done recently. thanks for looking =)

home parties,first solids,sickboy and a summery fall

Yep, the time once again has rolled around for the abundance of home parties.

Seriously, before I had Brigham and joined Moms groups, I had no idea this phenomenom existed.

While they are a fun girls night out, they are not so fun for the ol' check book!! EEEK!

but I figure, I might as well buy it from my friends who are trying to earn a little extra as stay at home mamas. and of course, because I absolutely need the new stuff!!! yeah, right.. says my husband!!

I just had a party on Monday night for a friend starting out the biz of INITIALS, INC -

Oh, my gosh, is this stuff the cutest ever!! I am closing my party tomorrow, so any of you readers want to check it out, you'll have the sassiest purse on the block!! LOL

and then last week I went to a trunk show for a children's boutique. I never knew they had home paries for kids clothes.. geeesh.... it is so NOT a good thing!!

I got three invitations in the mail the same week.. the above, and then MATILDA JANE, and RAGSLAnD kids.

all three have such adorable , unique, clothes.... . My kids need more clothes, like I need more shoes!!, but its so hard to resist.. especially, when Grandma sees it..lucky for me than my check book gets to have a rest!! LOL

I have a Mary Kay show planned for this month, and I have had two invites for Pampered Chef.

I sure am hoping this trend continues in my favor!!! I am trying to really work my SILPADA business this fall. I have four shows booked for this month, so hopefully more will book of those =)...oh, yeah, and if any of you readers want to help out this stay at home mama...check out my website =)

______

OH yes, my baby tried her first solids yesterday!!! and it came in the form of a paper napkin!

we were at the park with some friends, I was eating, and gabbing, and must have had my napkin to close to her hands(that grab everything these days) and when I looked down, I had a very soggy napkin.

And she smiled as chunks covered her tongue and ran down her chin! where was my camera!! LOL

at least she added some fiber to her all milk diet.

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my poor little guy,had his first sick day today. This is the kid who never gets sick. Last night he had a fever and we gave him cool bath and some 'medsin' , as he calls it, and it still didn't break.

He slept thru the night, and woke up at 7am. He was still hot, so I let him sleep longer. He didn't wake until after noon!! He still had a slight fever but it had come down a bit.

He actually ate two helpings of mac and cheese and some apples and pinapple juice, but he still is pretty mopey. I felt so bad calling into the school, but I am sure this is just the beginning of the sick season =/

*****speaking of seasons.... where the heck is the fall weather?? we went to a dinner at friends over the weekend, and they served chili and smores around a firepit. sounds perfect for the end of Sept/beginning of Oct, right? Except that it had been 90 degrees that day!! don't get me wrong, it still tasted great, and actually did cool down a tad around 8pm!!

yikes, it has been in the mid 80's everyday this week! The leaves are changing, my decor has been out for two weeks, football is in full swing, and I am dying to wear my fall clothes. My poor jean jacket is getting a work out lately. Its the one transition piece that has become my staple. I can wear tanks underneath, so its not so hot, but I am ready to break out my darker colors and oh, the fall colors for my nails and toes too!! its just not right to combine all that with the hot temps. UGH.

I do believe Fall is one of my favorite times... that is until the Christmas season starts..and then the flowers bloom, ok, so I like it all. Maybe thats why I am still in the midwest?

Here is some of my home all decked out. I love sitting on the couch at night , with the pumpkin spice candle burning. See the plate? I made it. This was our first craft for MOPS. I love how it turned out, not bad for a good will plate?

holy moly !!!

It has been two weeks since I last posted on this thing!!!

We're into full schedules, except Wednesdays, where we don't have anything and anywhere we have to be... so we usually sleep in, and then have a playdate or a lunchdate with friends.

Last week, I watched a little boy , Brigham's age, so that his mom and new baby of 2 weeks old, get have some peace and quiet!! The boys played beautifully together, and actually, I always manage to get more done, while Brigham has friends over, plus it tires him out, and he sleeps reeeeeely well =) gotta love that!

Brigham is loving pre-school. He is doing very well. The teacher even came down to my bible study room, last Thursday to tell me how he is recognizing the other children's names on the nametags, and how he really knows phonics. yep, my kid is a nerd. throw him in the middle of a toy store, and he'll find a book, and completely zone out to anything else!!

Ok, I am exaggerating , just a tad, but seriously , the boy loves to read and write. He is spelling and writing out his name, and mommy and daddy, and grandma, and grandpa and Tatum.

He is always sooo proud, when he has written something. even though it ususally takes the entire page to write a word...(maybe thats why kindergarten paper has those BIG ol' lines???? )

anway, he's having fun, and we're excited that he is doing so well.

oh, and he is not a complete nerd.. he does have great social skills too, and the teacher says he always compliments the other kids on the coloring. He is very thoughtful, and plays really well with others. OHHHHHH the social aspect...good at times, and then at other times ... not so much.

like yesterday, when we were at church for Tatum's baptism.

He looked all dapper in his seer sucker striped suit and little saddle shoes.

He was very proud to be up there on stage with his little sister. Perhaps a bit too much.

He talked, and talked, and squirmed... and yelled out to my cousin, sitting in the second pew.

And then said hi repeatedly to his little friend Isabelle, (whose brother born 6 weeks after Tatum was getting baptised as well).

In our pictures you can definately tell, Andrew's and I's frustration with Brigham.

We scooted out of church after the ceremony so we could get home to cook. We were having 35 people over to celebrate with us, and I had to get the casseroles and stuff in the oven.

I know we shouldn't have gotten so mad at Brigham, and especially, after everyone said how cute he was, and how they didn't hear a thing....

so needless to say, mommy and daddy were doing some serious apologizing and giving hugs and kisses (and a few pieces of chocolate) to our sweet little guy that night.

Well the guest of honor slept thru most of our celebration brunch, which was fine, b/c there were so many kids running around causing mahem, and it was nice to be able to sit and chat with our friends and family. I was so glad that my grandma, aunt and cousin were able to make it. Family is becoming more and more important to me as I get older.

Here is Tatum in her gown.. that her brother wore, and that I wore. My grandma on my mom's side made it for me 32 years ago... still so sweet and precious..

And last night, Andrew tried doing a photo shoot of me and the kids. I have a 'motherhood' page all worked up in my head...

Ya know you're a true scrapbooker, when you take the pictures just so you can do a page!! LOL

last night we went out for dinner and since we were across town, and I had my camera, I made Andrew drive me past some different storefronts, so I could snap pics of the signs!!

I have been wanting to do a page for Brig's book, on 'the places we go'.

Just got the latest kit from scrapbook obsessions and it is so gorgeous.... I am going to a crop til you drop this weekend, so I'm psyched to get a TON done!

Well, I hope you are all having a great start to the week. I hope to post some of my recent pages on my next post.

night-

check out my little guy...

all ready for his first day of preschool!!

seriously, is he not adorable??? ok, I know he's mine and everything, but I just want to eat him up!! with his cool new shades , which he just had to wear because they were BA-LOOO and he was wearing a BA-LOOOO shirt.. LOL(that is how he says blue.. no exageration!) His little backpack is just the cutest thing that I had my eye on like two years ago... just awaiting this day.

The brand is Stephen Joseph and they have a ton of cute designs for boys and girls. I thought this one would match more of his shirts... and his coats. I know I am a tad rediculous. but hey, thats me!

So Andrew left work for a bit on Tuesday , so he could meet us at school and walk in with us. Brigham was so excited and like I said earlier, he could have cared less when we said good bye to him! guess thats a good thing, b/c I have friends that practically had to pry off their kids from tugging on their legs. I think that would have broken my heart, so I am glad that he was happy to go right in.

He wanted to go back on Thursday, so I guess he likes it!! lol.. can't get him to talk a whole lot about what goes on.. I am so wishing I was a fly on the wall!! =)

So I started my new fall bible study last week too... its a Beth Moore( and if you have never taken a study by her, I would highly recommend it.. she ROCKS!!) This is my 5th one in a row, and I am completely hooked! this one , is actually the first one she ever wrote, but it has been re done and is on the old testament.. and all about a woman's heart.

I can't wait to see how I will grow in the next 10 weeks!

Hubby is gone this weekend to Detroit. he just had to go up there to cross off the Tiger's stadium off his list of the MBl ball parks that he has to visit.

I'm willing to go to some, b/c I do love me a baseball game. but drive 10 hours for a 3 hour game. no thanks.

so he'll be driving home about 3am, and I am trying to get stuff done while he's gone.

My mom and I had a girls night out last night with Tatum in our downtown. About 3 times a year they have a gallery walk, and most of the stores stay open late, and there is music and dancing in the streets, and wine and cheese and sweets, and stuff. So it was a good time.

I got a few little fall decor things, which is totally putting me in the mood to decorate the house.

I bought some mums too , so I am hoping to pot them tomorrow.

Anybody , else nutzo like me and can't put holiday stuff out , unless the house is clean?? So, thats what I tried to do tonight, so I can put out my fall stuff tomorrow.

Last week I got hit with several magazines, and I am just so ready for fall fashions, fall foods, fall scents, fall colors. I love it all !

So I have to really budget my self too, b/c of these that found their way to my doorstep:I have not bought more than a handful of outfits for Tatum, since we were so incredibly blessed by friends, and family.. but it is so hard not to when these little girl clothes are just so precious!

Actually I have not bought many things for Brigham either, in his 3 years. Guess it thats one of the perks of having family close by. Each season, his closet gets stocked. I found a few boy things in here that I am going to have a hard time passing up too.

so I am hoping to earn some big money at my open house in a couple weeks.

check out SILPADA DESIGNS for some awesome new fall jewelry =)

Well, guess I better call it a night. I have to finish baking my cakes for Monday.

its our first meeting for MOPS, and since the theme includes a butterfly, I volunteered to make 4 of them.I am hoping the decorating goes well tomorrow and that the transit to the church is smooth!

wish me luck.

hope you are all having a good weekend.

oh, yeah.. go COLTS.. and go BOILERS!!

(gotta love the start of football season =)

has it really been two weeks??

since my last post???
seriously, how can this be? I am on my computer every day.. multiple times a day... so how is it that I can't get a post done? Anybody else feel like the thought of taking the time to blog..wait..take that back... to post on your OWN blog.. is just so overwhelming?
I LOVE to browse other people's blogs, and frankly, I get sucked in , for many minutes at a time, on the ol' web. the thought about actually sitting down, to write about my own life, seems like such a task!!
well, I am hoping this is about to change..I am hoping to be more focused. Not because our schedules are becoming nil, but in fact they are just getting more hectic.
This my friends, is where the 'old me' ,- "the organized, good with time management' me" has to re-appear =)

I took Brigham to his FIRST day of preschool today!! Ahhh, he was so proud of his new backpack, and his cubby.He was so excited on the way there.seriously, it was so cute. Do ya think he would give mom or dad a hug before we left.. NOPE, this kid could care less if we were gone. He was well in to many activites of coloring, puzzles, computer.. all in about 10 minutes!
Proud papa took the camera to work to show his buddies, so I'll have to post the pics later. However,
Here is a pic of my cutie head. this was his 3 year old picture taken in July. I can't believe how grown up he is getting.. sniff sniff.

So , I guess its a good thing I have one of these... isn't she cute. Ok, I am biased, but I totally think this is the sweetest picture ever! My friend Jennifer took like 400 for her 3 month shoot. I can NOT wait to start scrapping them!!

(you can see more of Tatum's baby shoot if you click on Jennifer's link to the right)

We had a funfilled weekend and boy am I in need of a nap this afternoon!!
We had dinner with friends on Friday night.. it was a mexican theme and we played mexican train dominoes. very fun game, that we had not ever played before!
Saturday, we did tons of yard work and then went to dinner with friends. of course these are our friends, where every dinner out is followed by ice cream. So we hit the DQ. the kids ran around the patio, and we talked for ever. The weather was so nice, almost needed light jackets. I just love the fall weather on the horizon!

Our little babies had to wrapped up in blankets, so their piggies didn't freeze!!
speaking of I just orderd the CUTEST little socks for Tatum. I'll have to share what they look like when the package arrives!
Sunday we went to the Morman church. However we had to leave after the first service, b/c Brigham peed his pants, and we had no other clothes. lovely.
We will have our 5th meeting with the Morman missionaries this week.
its going really well.
I'd love to share with you about this.. but please email me at elizabethla@yahoo.com
if you want to know more or have any questions. =)

Yesterday, we(ok, I) organized a big labor day picnic at the park. It was so much fun! We had over 30 friends from our church there, and lots of kids. Besides the park equipment, we brought lots of other games, etc for the kids. I was so amazed that there was not one fight!

everyone had so much fun!!

several of the Man-boys created a frisbee golf course in the open field.
we had some really yummy food. Thanks to everyone who shared food, and for our hired grillmaster!! LOL
A few of the kids started preschool also today, so we were all hopeful that after a few hours of running around, they would be tired enough to sleep well!
Brigham did crash, and got up rather easily this morning. we all made it out the door. IN TIME!! praise the Lord!! LOL
like I said , I think the schedule thing will be good, when I got home from dropping him off, I was able to check emails, check the 2peas gallery, read some scripture, and clean the dining room and kitchen.YAY!!!
now if I could just sqeeze in exercise in too, I'd be happy.
I can't wait to hear how his first day went.
hope you all are having a great start to the week!