This was it.  The year Luke wasn't afraid to see Santa!  I've been waiting for this day my whole life.  Okay, maybe not quite.  But it was fun to see the excitement grow as we were waiting in line.  Luke was excited to talk to his "life" even-- Mrs. Santa-- while we were waiting.  Grandma K & I had prepped Luke on what kinds of things he wants for Christmas.  We really wanted to make sure he asked Santa for things he was really going to get, so Santa wouldn't disappoint.  Luke walks up & Santa tells him how big he's getting.  Then, he asks him the big question... "What do you like to eat, Luke?"  WHAT????  What does he like to eat???  What kind of Santa are you?  But, being a good little boy who doesn't want Santa to bring him coal, Luke replies, "Carrots."  Ha ha!!!  And then Santa was done with him.  Is that not that weirdest thing ever?  Luke looked at us and said, "He asked me what I like to eat!  But I got a coloring book & a candy cane, anyway."  We told him Santa must already know what he wants for Christmas; that's why he didn't ask.  

Some of you may know that the week before Thanksgiving, we finally found out we were expecting our second child.  This came as a big surprise after we had been trying for almost two years.

Sadly, this weekend we lost our baby at a little more than seven weeks.  Yes, we're sad about it, never knowing this little person here on earth.  However, the peace I'm feeling is absolutely incredible.  God is amazing & he is taking care of me.  He has shown me what a special little boy we already have and I'm loving him even more than ever.  Even if we never have another baby, we sure scored with the one we've got!

I woke up with Joel today. No big deal, I'll get some cleaning done. I'm wiping up the counters, dump the junk into the sink with the broccoli stem. Go back to cleaning. Think, "Wait, we haven't had broccoli lately." Look back. "Ummm... that looks like a praying mantis!!! Dead!!! IN MY SINK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" I look closer. The heebie jeebies officially crawling up & down my body. Throw the washcloth in the sink. I'm done with kitchen chores for the day. Later on, I'm IMing Joel & I tell him about it. The conversation is as follows:

Me: There is a dead praying mantis in our sink. It's gross.
J: It's plastic.
Me: Excuse me?
J: It's plastic. It came in our dishwasher.
Me: Excuse me?
J: It's fake.
Me: Excuse me?

I STILL can't finish up my chores.

Here's the culprit. Don't mind the food particles... like I said, I was wiping things up. It still looks like that b/c I cannot look at that thing. Ew.



Oh and here's the latest update.  I overcame my fears & cleaned up the kitchen.  Ran the disposal.  Oh, there seems to be a sippy stopper in the disposal.  Reach down, pull out a... COCKROACH!!!!!  Plastic, of course, but you cannot do that to me!!!!  I'm FREAKED OUT now.

Ah, fall break.  It's one of the most wonderful times of the year!  We had lunch with daddy yesterday.  As we were driving by the park on the way home, I noticed how gorgeous the day was- perfect sunshine... cool, crisp air... gorgeous colors-- you know what that means?  PICTURE TIME!  We ran home, changed Luke into a sweater & nice shoes, got th camera, and went back to the park.  I love taking pictures of Luke at the park.  He is so cooperative.  I'm sure it has nothing to do with the fact that he's bribed.  "If you smile REALLY good, you can play on the playground!"  So of course, he did a wonderful job smiling.  About 15 minutes into playground time, I realized it was getting awfully close to nap time.  So I gave him a five-minute warning.  I knew something was up when I didn't get any objections to leaving.  As a matter of fact, he was ready to go right then.  We got home & he felt pretty warm.  

I decided I should check his temperature & sure enough-- my boy was sick.  By the evening, his temperature had reached as high as 103.  He was miserable.  You could never tell in the pictures.  What a great sport.  We're hoping everything clears up by tomorrow night for trick or treating at the zoo with Elijah!

While Joel was running, Luke & I did his fall pictures. The sun wasn't quite in the right place, so I think I'll redo them. But I did get some cute ones! He loved the "waterfalls" and the fact that it's finally fall & there were leaves on the ground!!!! Woo hoo!!! He's so silly though-- and nearly IMPOSSIBLE to take pictures of anymore. This kid does not sit/stand STILL!!!
Does anyone else have a kid that's mastered the "CHEEEESE!!!!" part of taking pictures, but fails to actually look at the camera? Yeah, you will understand, though. I guess I just have to think, "I'm getting his true personality." Right?

I witnessed my first 5K today. Joel got this crazy idea in his head that he wanted to RUN. So about a year ago he started training for triathlons & he completed his first tri this summer. Today was "just" a 5K-- his second Pumpkin Chase Race. I've got to hand it to him-- that's tough stuff-- all those hills and uneven grounds. I'm a proud wife. :)

Luke made his announcement before the toy was even on the shelves. He will have this toy for Christmas. From Santa nonetheless. For those of you who don't know, Santa is really mom & dad. That would be us.

I see a shelf-full of Little Einsteins Pat Pat Rocket when they first came out. That was at the beginning of September... a little early for Christmas shopping. So I obviously didn't get one at that time. Ever since that moment, Pat Pat Rocket has gone missing from all Target shelves. It's this year's "hot item." Of course my child had to pick THAT toy. Of ALL the toys in the world. He picks the ONE toy that is only found in Target stores. And that everyone else finds before me. Ebay prices are ridiculously high-- $60, $70, even $90. No way will I pay that. Sorry, Luke.

We've got a mission! (sing along with me)

So I started an international search via every message board I'm a member on. No one had them instock.

Then, the glorious day came. We had just gotten home from a camping trip in the backyard of my in-law's house. (Well, kind of. I slept inside. But that's a whole 'nother story.) I get on target.com to check the availability in the 90 mile radius around me. What? The Target I was JUST at the night before has PPR AVAILABLE??? I give them a call. They have TWO on the shelf. Yes, they'll hold one for me! My wonderful in-laws agree to go and pick it up. AND they got the other one for us for another friend going through this same ordeal. Oh happy day. Luke will now have a Christmas. Ha ha. The things parents & grandparents do for their kids.

Mission completion!

I'm a horrible journal-er. So this is my effort to keep track of my life. Not sure what my purpose is yet... maybe just to jot down my thoughts when I feel like it. Or to show off my creations... to vent... to celebrate... to brag on my boys... whatever it is, I'm an open book.